With Paper

I apologize for my lack of posting.  Once my sewing room is up and running I will have lots to show you.  It has been crazy around here with boxes still being unpacked and painters coming in and out. It's a good kind of crazy, as I keep trying to tell myself.  I have a very large space above my mantle and not one thing seemed to work there so last night I located the box with all the scrapbook paper I have been collecting and decided to make a wreath.  Easy peasy, just a little time consuming.  I watched "Sleepless in Seattle" and started rolling away.  I cut a large circle using a dinner plate as a template out of cardboard (we have tons right now) and began hot gluing them starting from the outside and working in.  I like how it turned out, but it's big, about 33" round.  The red walls are gone and I've been pulling out all the pretties, which is the fun part.  I'm enjoying the little gardens that I have in back. I have not had ornamental grasses before.  I'm not sure how I feel about them being an old-fashioned flower kind of girl but they remind me of being a child in the dunes on the shores of Lake Michigan, especially when the wind is blowing, so for now I'm keeping them.  I'm looking forward to the fourth and a few days away with my husband.  This past Saturday Maddie boarded a plan to Ireland, all by herself, to meet up with a missions group in Dublin.  Yes, I bawled like a baby when she left but I'm looking forward to all the wonderful things God has planned for this trip.  Blessings!

Smiles,

Paper Flowers

A whole garden of cupcake liner flowers are in bloom in my sewing room today.  Maddie and I had such a fun time making these for the window display at the cafe.  Making paper raindrops is next.  I'm dreaming of spring!

Hugs,

Raising Up Rubies

One of my favorite blogs is Raising Up Rubies.  Jaime loves the Lord and loves to make cute things. She shares how to make her adorable creations on her blog.  Her craft room alone is more eye candy than I can take in at one setting.  Recently Jaime opened an Etsy shop and I was ever so eager to do some shopping.

Jaime's attention to detail is fantastic.  Her use of color, texture and pattern just sings to me.

Each item came individually wrapped.  It felt like Christmas morning and I was a child again opening the gifts from my stocking.  Do you see the ruler the tape is rolled on?  Adorable!

Vintage trims rolled on to vintage spools and clothespins.   I will have a hard time removing them to craft with, they are just so pretty!

I had my signature tidal wave nightmare last night.  It's the one I get when life is overwhelming and I can't seem to get a handle on things.  I'm going to use one of the sparkly clothespins to clip the sweet confetti clouds (made by Jaime's daughters) on to the visor of my car.  This will remind me that I have an awesome God in heaven who is seated on the throne.  He is more than able to manage every aspect of my life from the upcoming house selling, to relocation and to ever after.  Thank you, Jaime for the reminder and for the joy a package in the mail can bring to another.  Blessings today!

With love,

Pretty Pinwheels

I hope you had a fun fourth.  It was so hot here that my husband and I went to the movies and then came back to our air conditioning.  We are so exciting over here.  I kept waiting for the sound of sirens as the grass is so dry that any touch of flame would surely burn the town down.  I haven't checked the news this morning, I'm not sure I want to.  Today I'm finishing up the items for the window display at the cafe.  This month's theme is vintage picnic.  Maddie made the pinwheels for me as I plugged away on fabric kites.  I can hardly wait to show you!  It will go up tomorrow.  The hardest part about decorating the window at the cafe is knowing when to stop!


Smiles,

Shower Gift

I attended the shower for the soon-to-be daughter-in-law of a very dear friend of mine on Saturday. As one of her gifts I found out the couples favorite scripture passage and stenciled it on to a pillow. I found the pillow at T.J. Maxx.  Even though the fabric marker is permanent, I set it with a hot iron anyway, just to be sure. The inspiration for the project came from here.

"Teach me your way, O Lord,

and I will walk in your truth;

give me an undivided heart,

that I may fear your name.

I will praise you, O Lord my God,

with all my heart;

I will glorify your name forever."

Psalm 86:11-12

Wonderful scripture for starting out a marriage, wouldn't you agree?

Hugs,

Crafty Weekend

This past weekend found me pushing pause on the quilt making and picking up a paintbrush for the Cafe.  This little cupboard was the ugliest rust brown.  Several coats of white breathed some new life into it.

The decals were made using vintage "Happy Birthday" wrapping paper.  I lined the cupboards with scrapbook paper and some crochet trim from an old piece I had in my scraps.

The bottom half is lined with the vintage paper.  I left the corner that gives the copyright of 1962, the year I was born.

The biggest project of the weekend was this cut out cupcake.  I had fun using my jig saw and drill.  It took a few hours to complete.  I hope the little ones that visit the cafe will enjoy peeking through to get their picture taken.  Tomorrow marks the 50th day of the cafe opening and we are celebrating with an icecream social.  Everything is better with icecream (and sprinkles!).


Smiles,

Little Bunting Wreath

Isn't this adorable?  My sweet friend, Chelsea, made this for me!  You may remember Chelsea and her fun shower here.  I love it!


Smiles,

Oh no I didn't - Oh yes I did!

Ever have a moment when you feel like the dumbest person on the planet?

Remember this sweater I embellished a while back?

It somehow got thrown in the wash.

Completely ruined.

sniff, sniff…

A big sigh,

Yes, He Is...

Today's gift comes from the hands of my friend, Char.  She is a wonderful lady full of faith and creative charm.  Char lives in the most beautiful log cabin out in the country with her husband Tom and their gentle horse.  A trip to Char's house is always a welcome invitation.  She is a fabulous cook, as well, and makes the most delicious pineapple upside down cake in a cast iron pan.  Every chance her friends get to eat that cake and visit her house we drop everything and go!  Char made me this picture. It took over two hours to cut the sheep.  She printed the music onto the prettiest paper and aged the frame to a wonderful color.  Such a treasure!


With joy,

Make Do

Today I want to share some of my goals for 2012 with you.  I'm telling you this in the hope that you would help keep me accountable and that I might have some companions on the journey this year.  Journeys are much more fun with friends along!


I had many comments last week asking me why I was giving my stash away, and did I have any fabric left?  Let me show you my current fabric stash ~

As you can see, I'm not hurting in the fabric department.  The amount of things I've accumulated has been weighing heavily on my heart for some time.  I'll spare you the knitting cabinet and the book/pattern cabinet so I'll still have some readers when this is post is finished.  I admit it, I fell into the marketing trap.  New fabrics come out and they aren't available forever, so I would purchase lines I like while I could get them.  Then I justified the fabric purchases by buying more books and patterns.  Of course, new fabric lines are constantly coming out so the cycle continued.  At Christmas I walked in my sewing room and decided it was time to take control.


So this is my plan of action for 2012:


1.  No fabric purchasing, none.  If I need to buy backing fabric, it will be a solid white or cream so that the yardage left over can be used in piecing.


2.  Only items to be purchased are batting, thread and backing fabric.


3.  No books or pattern purchasing.  If I used every book and every pattern I have, I would not finish these projects in my lifetime.  A startling reality.


4.  For every quilt I take to the quilter, I must hand/machine quilt two quilts myself.  This will help cut down on quilting costs.


5.  I will have a giveaway on the first Monday of the month to reduce the amount of sewing, craft and knitting supplies I have.  There may also be items I have made or items made by other bloggers.


6.  I will donate items to charity.  I have already given large cuts of fabric to my church as the college girls are making dresses for African girls.  I also have a box of fabric going to a friend who makes quilts for babies of servicemen.


7.  I have taken on 3 sewing students who will be able to use my fabric and patterns for class.


I do want to clarify some things.  I feel very blessed to have a husband who supports my interests.  I, of course, support my designer friends.  I absolutely love their work, as you can tell.  This will be very difficult for me, but necessary.  To help control the urge to shop, I have signed up for a block of the month through Shabby Fabrics.  Not only will a small bit of fabric come each month, but I will be perfecting some skills as well.  The blocks include piecing, embroidery and applique.  I am also doing two quilt alongs, so that with each block I make, I see progress.


What will happen at the end of the year when the fabric and yarn cabinets are empty?  I don't know, but I can hardly wait to find out.  So here's to a year of being productive, saving money and giving to others.  If anyone would like the button, the code is on my sidebar.  I welcome your thoughts on this post and well as any ideas to help me in this endeavor.  Blessings, dear friends!


Hugs,

Autumn Colors

Source: twohiphippos.blogspot.com via Mary on Pinterest

Source: sewritzytitzy.blogspot.com via Eunice on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via sewfunbymonique on Pinterest

Blessings,

Today I'm Thinking...

Today I'm thinking about just how talented bloggers are!

From here.

How many gifts I need to make for new babies (insert smiley face!)

What a wonderful book this is!

How I can't wait to make this...

What are your thoughts today?

With joy,

This bright summer day ~

The Minnesota Block

This post should come with a warning...may be unable to understand author at some point.  I was up at 3:30 this morning, dropping my daughter off at church so that she can depart for Arizona.  A week long missions trip to an Apache Indian reservation.  I feel a little "off" at the moment.  This forty-nine year old body is ill equipped for early morning performance.

Pretty Pearle Cotton

It looks like it's going to be a wonderful, sunny summer day.  The temps are rising and though the grass needs a major trimming, I will pretend not to notice.  It's a day for fun, not chores.  Oh, what to do?

"My Little Kitten" for Benartex

I believe I will be starting with a lot of coffee.  I'll then proceed to a cold shower and more coffee.  The sun is too bright to waste on dozing.  What will you do on a bright summer day?

Hugs,

The Bella Bag

My daughter wanted a summer bag and after looking at the local department stores and not wanting to spend an average of $65 for a purse, she turned to me and said, "Mom, can't you make me a bag?"  I certainly can, but was waiting to be asked.  You know how sometimes our kids don't want things that look homemade when all their friends are sporting the new Vera bag.

We set off to the fabric shop and found this pattern.  She then took some time picking out fabric.  I tried to stay out of it and let her choose what she liked.  She also decided that she wanted the covered buttons to give it a more finished look and longer straps so she could wear it across her body.  It was fun to make.  I hope that she will develop a spark for sewing on her own, but for now I'm thrilled that she's thrilled with her new summer bag!

Joyfully,