God bless America

I have the privilege of serving at camp this week with some fab young ladies. Today, we celebrate America.  Stand beside her and guide her... My home sweet home.

test

SOOO... if I wanted to provide designs for my readers, would it work?  For example, if I gave my viewers this embroidery design

and I posted a link like this: Happily Ever After embroidery design
would it work?

Scrapbook for a Superstar

This past weekend, I was so thrilled to attend Martha Pullen's Sewing Market at the Arlington Convention Center.  The market in and of itself is FABULOUS!  But the most thrilling part of the weekend for me was being present alongside a dear friend, Carla Crim aka The Scientific Seamstress!  She was the celebrity guest for Saturday morning's presentation.  It was such fun to spend a bit of time with Carla - and it was fantastic to see her shine in the sewing world.  

To commemorate the event, I decided to make a scrapbook for Carla that contained a few memories from dear friends, along with notes of encouragement for her big day.  She can fill the book with pictures and memorabilia from the weekend so that she will always remember the event.

The front of the cover ready for presentation

Front of album

inner page with familiar faces

one of the inner pages from the album

the  right flaps remove from the pocket to expose a fold out

area for photos and journaling

This album was created using Kathy Orta's Soft Spine album tutorial.  I've found Kathy's tutorials very straightforward and they produce fabulous results.  If you're a scrapbooker and are looking for a fast album with high impact, I highly recommend her!

creating JOY! - a lesson in burlap!

Next weekend I will gather with 700 of my closest friends for a women's retreat.  It's a yearly event, and always proves to be lots of fun!  I have the joy of being assigned to assist with the "Cup of Joy Coffee & Karaoke Bar" on Saturday evening.  My task is to provide table decorations for the event.  I was provided vases and earthy dried natural elemants to fill them.  I felt they could use just a bit of color, so I've added a simple stem to complete the filling of the vases.  I wanted something to place under the vase to help to fill the table area.  SO, drawing inspiration from the natural elements, as well as a current trend in home decor, I decided to make burlap table squares. 

Now,. you may ask (as the cutting table attendant at Hobby Lobby did this morning) - WHY BURLAP?  Here are my simple reasons.

1.  It is earthy, natural looking.

2.  It is inexpensive (I purchased the burlap I'm using at Hobby Lobby for $3.99/yard).

3.  It doesn't have to be sewn - making this an easy, no sew project.

I decided that I would make each square approximately 20" square (give or take).  After cutting the squares, I simply pulled a few of the pieces of weaving so that the burlap would fray. This is the square following squaring and fraying.

Then I took this handy dandy stencil that I also found at Hobby Lobby.  (I was really glad that I found a stencil that said "JOY" - it was perfect for this project!)  I applied stencil adhesive to the back of the adhesive and used this pie crust roller brayer to make sure that all of the edges of the word were pressed down well.  I also made sure to put a piece of paper underneath the area that would be stenciled so that ink would not seep through the burlap.

Now, this is where I went commando.  I had purchased stencil paint and daubers.  I carefully applied the paint to the first square.  It looked great.  However, because of the texture of the burlap, the dauber was messed up after just the first square.  I didn't want to have to go buy a boatload of daubers.  SO, I improvised.  I pulled out my bag of sharpies.  After testing a small patch, I realized that the sharpie would work on the fabric.  That helped me to decide to complete the project with sharpie instead.  I'm really glad that I did, too.  Each square were very quick to stencil using the sharpie.

After the stencil is filled

And with the stencil removed

With a completed square and the sample vase (the real set up will have coffe beans sprinkled around on the burlap square)

Rinse and Repeat - 15 times!  And this is what you end up with - ready to be on display for the wonderful women of Texas!

I've been wanting to do a burlap project for a long time.  Now that I know just how easy and quick it is, I'll be making up some projects for my own home.  I hope I've encouraged you to do the same!    If so, I'd love to read your comments on what you plan to create!

Go make some JOY!



Will I Ever Learn?

That blogging is good for me?  That sharing my thoughts and creativity is therapeutic?  That others actually LIKE to read my blunderings?  SIGH! 

Once again, it's been a long time.  I could make a list as long as my arm of excuses, but they really don't matter.  All that I can do is try to remember that I really should enjoy this means of sharing.

Since my last post, our family has been on the move.  Twice.  And, yes, you guessed it, we are on the move once again!  This move will take us to the city of McKinney, Texas.  We're very excited about the opportunities that await us there, and are in hyper packing mode!

We're also very much ready for summer (at least for summer break!).  Shortly after our move, we have a big, fabulous, relaxing vacation planned.  To someplace really cool.  No, I mean REALLY COOL!  As in icebergs and such.  We've booked a cruise to Alaska - and we can hardly stand the excitement!

So, until I get back into the groove of blogging, let me post some pics of some projects that I've worked on since my last post.

Frayed rosette necklace.

For a special little girl undergoing a very difficult time right now.

Digitized the button cover design and made several hair ties for A's hair!

yellow dress was a test of the new Jamie dress by Sis Boom

stitched up an in the hoop Mini Kimmy doll!  LOVE these!

casual pillow case top for AbbyGrace to wear for casual Easter gatherings

Tshirt for AbbyGrace

Another Tshirt for AbbyGrace

Test of the new Sis Boom Rosetta bag

Test of new Sis Boom apron (one side)

Test of a new Sis Boom apron (opposite side)

Test of the new Sis Boom Marissa dress - AbbyGrace wore this to her first Father/Daughter dance!

I promise I'll try to do better!  I'm making it a goal - post once a week!  Until next time - enjoy the JOY!

SWEETNESS!

There's no other way to describe it! 
It was so much fun to create this set for Miss E!

and look at that SMILE!  Isn't it just contagious?  What a beautiful, beautiful child!

SO, the details!  I used the always dependable, never let it leave the table Simply Sweet Top and Dress and Easy Fit Pants patterns by The Scientific Seamstress to create this adorable set.  I modified the bodice slightly (shortened the top and the bottom) and made the ties so that they would knot through the buttonholes rather than using buttons.

The totally adorable, mix and match with every pattern (garanamil matching easy!) fabric is by the fabulous Jennifer Paganelli!  Can't ever get enough of these two!

New pattern!

I've been away for a few weeks - visiting with my BFF, and tied up with several events.

Since I last posted, life has changed tremendously!  We've gone through the roller  coaster ride that is "move day" in our professional life.  We have learned that we will be transferring from our current appointment, and will have a new home.  We will be moving to Houston at the end of June.  SO, lots of things to accomplish between now and then.  Which includes packing up the sewing room - UGH!

BUT, between now and then, I've got a few things to accomplish!

I've had the privilege of testing a new pattern for Carla (The Scientific Seamstress) in connection with the AMAZING Jennifer Paganelli.  It is the greatest pair of BOXER SHORTS!
I had to make them for myself in a new Jennifer Paganelli print from the So St. Croix line.  The beautiful Genevieve is just GORGEOUS!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them!

(and if you promise not to tell, I'll even post a sneak peak!)