butterfly love

It's hard to see a blank t-shirt without wanting to add a little something.  She wanted a butterfly, so I made her a Valentine butterfly.  She added the glasses herself. 

shop update

I finished 5 pendants for the new etsy shop this weekend!

sweet baby girl blanket

I made another rag time quilt for my friend's baby girl. I made it a bit larger than the one I made here this summer. I made each strip 36 inches long and anywhere from 3" to 8" wide. The strips on the side are only 3 inches wide. When I helped my mother in law clean out her house in November, she gave me a lot of her fabric so that is where I got the floral flannel, light pink flannel, pink chambray and the warm and natural batting. The pink corduroy came from Wal Mart for only 2.50/yard. The pink floral cotton is Moda's Fruit Cocktail by Chloe's Closet and the stripe is Moda's Bias Stripe by Sandy Gervais (which reminds me of Fruit Stripes Gum). These quilts are fairly easy to make. The tool that I would recommend the most when making a rag time quilt is Fiskars #7 Utility Cutter. It is spring loaded which helps making all the little snips very quick in the blanket. I've heard these are good too.

it's open - the esty shop, i mean

Finally! It took us getting together yesterday and just DOING it. I am so excited because I am in this venture with one of the most creative people I know. Seriously.

So far Melissa (of The Polka Dot Chair) has two pdfs in the etsy shop. One is for The Love Pouch and the other is The June Bag. Both are pdfs files with complete instructions (photos and all) for each project.

I plan on having Valentines pendants in there by this weekend. Wish me luck!

so cold

I am just checking in to report that I can see my breath up in my sewing room. Yes, it's that cold. We are trying so hard to save money this winter on our gas and electric bill. Last year it was outrageous at this time of the year and we usually keep our thermostat at 65 degrees! So, we are just heating the downstairs and that room above the garage that I fondly call my craft room is closed off and freezing. So, until I come up with a good plan to heat up that room or move all my supplies downstairs, I am only to dream about what I would like to make!!

giveaway winner

Thanks to Grace for offering to have such an amazing giveaway.  Truly a prize worth winning. And, the winner is......

#59 - kim

Thank you to everyone who signed up for her newsletter and the giveaway.  Grace has the giveaway winner posted on her blog here.  Check it out and also, Kim I need especially you to  check it out so you can be thrilled and get in contact with Grace. 

 

Click on her button to go to her shop and check out her new birdie print that can be given for Valentines Day or any day.  Sweet. 

snow day and giveaway update

It only takes a few inches to get a snow day here in the country. Plus, with the expectation of freezing rodes, you get another one the next day. So, the kids have been home with me the past two days and it has been full of rides down the driveway in the vintage sled I have for our Christmas decorating and hot chocolate. Not too bad. It's the making up of the days at the end of the school year that stinks a bit. But, nonetheless, it's fun and very very cold.

Giveaway update - it is closed and Grace will pick a winner this weekend. I will post the winner here and she will post it on her blog as well. Exciting stuff.

she knew

She knew of my love for the fish - swedish. I love them so much and I love the fact that Dana over at Made was sweet enough (oh so sweet enough) to send me this surprise in the mail -

Dana's photo from her blog Made

It's a zipper pouch that is lined with vinyl covered red and white polka dot fabric. I was so surprised and delighted with it. She also sent me a bag of red swedish fish that were hiding inside. It was one of the bags she made in last week's SYTYC and also the winner of last week's competition. Check out the tutorial for them here. I am so lucky.

Both of these photos are from her blog too!

I was figuring... I could keep this in my purse and ALWAYS keep it stocked. That way, I will never run out or be sad. Because I relate happiness to swedish fish. Okay, there are other things that make me happy, but this candy brings me such sweet memories. When we were little kids and would go to the mall with my mom, she would take us to the candy counter at the department store and buy us each a few ounces of swedish fish to keep us occupied while we rode on the stroller or walked along side my mom throughout the mall. Very Fond memories. When my little girl first started saying the word candy, she would say "bobby." I think it was because her first candy was a lollipop and all she got out of that word was "bobby" like "lolly." So, when she and I go shopping while the brothers are in school we usually (always) pick up a bag of "fish bobbies," which are swedish fish. So, I think I have passed the love down to the next generation.

Here is my photo of the sweedish fish pouch. Notice that there aren't fish because these little ones (and me) ate them all. But, soon this pouch will be filled again and all will be right in the world. Thanks again Dana.

2 days left for grace's giveaway

Only two more days for Grace Hester's Family Keepsake Print Giveaway. It is so simple to go to her blog and sign up for her newsletter. Then, come back here and comment. I am excited for this one and if you don't win, head to her shop and get one of these sweet personalized prints for your wall. Worth it. Okay, it ends on January 7th. Go down to the giveaway post and leave a comment.

resolutions and show & tell

Kids are back to school...am I the only one who started out by exercising today? I tried to start exercising during December so that when January and resolutions came around, I would already have that one down. I fell off the wagon when the kids were home for two weeks, but I am happy to say that I am back on. Plus, I have no excuse (other than I would rather sleep sometimes) because I have many options in my own home like DVDs, the Wii, an elliptical, etc. Plus, I love the way I feel after exercise and I have to remind myself that although most the time I don't lose weight when I exercise, I still need to do it for my health - mental and physical.

I kept my resolutions super simple this year. This way, I won't get disappointed and give up at any time. No diet ones - just trying to take my vitamins and chill out a bit.

I want to get back to sewing too. I get in to something like soldering and only have just enough time to do one thing at a time, so I don't get to other things I love. I love sewing and want to find some projects that inspire me to get on the sewing train. Is there such a thing? There should be.

Okay - show and tell time, Here are a few gifts that I wanted to share from my friends and family.

Melissa made me this amazing calendar with photos of my family and ephemera. I can't begin to express just how much I love it. I really love it.

My mom knitted (it still amazes me how well others knit) me this gorgeous vest for my birthday. How? I have knitted a potholder and never tried it again. I will take a photo of it this week.  My mom also sent me her version of the block calendar like I made here. She folded her own boxes to put them in too.  She does things so well - quite the example growing up. And, she made us one of these bears with a music box in the back. We had one at our house while I was growing up.

Kathryn made me one of these scarves.  I really wanted one and am so grateful it was gifted to me.  

I have too many generous people in my life and for that, I am blessed.  

the wreath underneath

Here is what the wreath looks like without the cards clipped on. It is so simple. You could make one now and have it ready and waiting for next year. One reader said she was going to make it and put Valentine Day cards/decorations on it. Great idea. Mine is still hanging on the door (although all the other Christmas decorations are down) and I am contemplating whether I want to clip other stuff on to it and leave it up. We'll see.

36

Today turned out to be a wonderful surprise. I didn't expect much (with a busy husband and 3 sons and a 2 year old girl, you just can't expect too much) and they really made a nice day of my birthday. I had a few friends that really made it special too. You might be surprised to find out that one of my favorite presents was the Muppet Show seasons 1 and 2 on DVD given to me by my husband and the kids. I love those Muppets and I have wanted these for a long time, but couldn't justify putting them in my virtual basket as I shopped. We went out to breakfast at a cool restaurant called Wild Eggs here in Louisville. I did a little shopping all by myself. Then, tonight a friend came and babysat the kids while we saw "Sherlock Holmes." I loved it.

Melissa (thanks for the birthday wishes) has posted the soldered post cards on her blog right here. Thanks to you for all the kind birthday wishes. I really do read all the comments and appreciate your words. I love when you tell me that you have tried a recipe and it worked or when you show me something that you have crafted. Thanks for always being such dang cool people in this virtual world. It makes life fun when sometimes it can be a bit hard!!!

So, as the day winds down, I have to say 36 is pretty great.

soldered ornaments

I always have friends that have more confidence in me than I have in myself. To them, I am grateful. I have a friend who asked me to solder 7 necklaces for her friends that she serves with at church and that was a great compliment. I have another friend who asked me to take vintage postcards to and from grandparents and great grandparents, scan them, and then turn them in to Christmas ornaments with solder for her mom, brother and sister. I was a little nervous. If you know me, than you know that this is a common feeling I have. But, I was also excited. I was able to get them done and then, because I liked how they turned out, I made a few for her and her family for Christmas with photos I stole (from her blog) of their recent family vacation.  I, of course, made just a few for myself. Since then, I have ordered more chandelier pendants and made (asked) my husband to cut more glass. It's fun to see something turn out all right after being a bit apprehensive about the whole thing. These photos are the ones I made for my friend with their vacation photos and of the one for another friend.  I didn't take any of the ones I made with her awesome vintage postcards, but hopefully she will post some soon.   

better late than never

I usually have a few Christmas projects every year that are unfinished.  I put them in a box for next year.  This year I pulled out the jute upholstery webbing my friend and I bought last year to make these cute card holder wreaths that my friend Lacey showed me in the December 08 Better Homes and Gardens Magazine.  There was also a tutorial for it on Little Birdie Secrets.  It was the week before Christmas and most of my "to do" list was done, so I thought I would work on the "didn't get done" list from last year.  This was the simplest wreath to make and I love how it displayed the Christmas cards and photos we got in the mail.  The webbing is only about .80 a yard and I used a straw wreath that I didn't take the plastic wrap off of.  Unfortunately, this is the only thing that got done out of last year's undone projects.  And, I did add some more to this year's list that I started two days before Christmas.  Always leaving something undone.  But, I really do get excited when I see them the next year.  I hope I am as excited to see the 10 half eaten gingerbread men ornaments that I only cut out next year in that box.   Oh, and once I take all the cards off, I will take a photo of it so you can see what it looks like underneath.  I just got too excited and loaded up the cards as soon as it was done. 

Don't forget about the awesome giveaway.  Thanks for all those who have entered so far and signed up for Grace's mailing list.  The count down is on. 

neighbor gifts

I like to make several things to take to my neighbors and friends. It's because I can't decide on just one thing to make. This year I made the toffee as usual because I wanted to make sure there was plenty at our house as well as enough for our friends. But, I also made 14 sets of calendar blocks and some JOY signs. My mom and I made the calendar blocks from Lark and Lola's tutorial last January when she came to stay with me and we both said we were going to make them at Christmas time. I let her go first and work out the best way to make them in mass production and then have her pass on the tips for me. What are moms for. It went fast because I got started on them in the middle of November. Now, the JOY signs came because when we helped my mother in law move she had tons of cut wood that I inherited and so all I had to make was a new stencil.  They still remain my go to craft for every holiday. 

grace hester family keepsake print GIVEAWAY

You know it's awesome GIVEAWAY when it's in all caps! Grace Hester designs very beautiful and original prints that she sells here at etsy at her shop - grace hester designs. I admired them for a long time and finally purchased one this fall which she personalized for my little family. It's one of my favorite things on my new family portrait wall. Recently she asked me if I would like to host a giveaway on my blog for one of her -

Family Keepsake Print with Family Name with the little birdies - 8x10

with shipping included!

All you have to do is -

1.) go to her blog here

2.) sign up for her mailing list which is on her side bar and confirm it with your email

3.) leave a comment on this post after you have signed up for the mailing list letting me know you are now on her mailing list

So simple and so worth it. Since the holidays are here and we want to make sure everyone has a chance to win, the giveaway will end at midnight eastern standard time on January 5th. That way, there will still be something to look forward to when all the parties and celebrations have died down. Grace will pick a number using random.org. Good luck!

*Please Note - giveaway extended until midnight eastern standard time of January 7th!!!

my favorite new ornaments

One of the big reasons I have posted less this past few months is because we have been helping my mother in law move out of her house.  This has been a huge undertaking.  She has been really good at saving just about everything from letters written by her grandparents to every single award my lovely husband ever earned as a child.  There was a ton of cleaning out.  With this event came a lot of good for everyone in the family.  She shared with everyone and really was extremely generous as she tried to shed herself of all the things she had collected.  I inherited so much vintage fabric, vintage wrapping paper (you know the kind that came in square sheets), cards, and Christmas ornaments.  So, a few of the ornaments are little vintage elves and I LOVE THEM.  They fit right in with my red tree theme and I thought I would show them to you.  They look like smaller versions of The Elf on the Shelf!

her red dress and other things

When I made this dress a few months ago, I couldn't get her to put it on for a photo. And, she hasn't worn it until now since I did make it as a Christmas dress. It's the French Ruffle Dress from Mani Mina Oh, and there is a funny (now it's funny) story about her new haircut. It involves her older brother (age 5), herself and some embroidery scissors. Let's just say she now has a comb over.

Also, here is the pattern from my mom for the Magic Pillowcases that I shared here.

And, I have been making this english toffee for friends and as a favor to a friend and thought I would reshare it. When my mother in law and I made it the other night, we added dark chocolate chips instead of semi sweet and it was soooooo good. It's an elegant candy that is super simple to make.

vintage santa tutorial

Well, it's day 11 and my day for the ornament tutorial at Kristin's 12 Day of Ornaments posts on her blog wRIte iT DOwN. So, if you want to make a vintage looking Santa from a clothes pin, head over there for my tutorial!

first order

I had my first order for my soldered charms last week (thanks Vicki). It was fun to challenge myself and I really do like how they turned out. I was excited to give them to her and not dreading it. I even got another order from a lady at the hair salon I go to who wanted two for her mom who collects vintage Santas. My mother in law is staying with us right now and she is the one who I went in on the supplies with for this. We both got excited about it about 6 months ago, but when we realized the learning curve was high (at least for us), we kind of fizzled. Then, a few months ago, I was determined to figure it out and I have seen slow progress. I am getting happier with them and am even wearing ones I have made for myself. Plus, the images you can put in them are limitless. So, when we get our etsy shop up in the next week, I will put a few in!