Monday, May 14, 2012

Been busy & a New Tote...

Oh man. Life can be a whirlwind sometimes. This month I've traveled to three different states, at three different times, to see different family members! It's been wonderful, but tomorrow I arrive home from the last trip and it will be good to be home for awhile. First there was my son's graduation in Utah, then a trip to help my daughter-in-law recover from surgery in Tennessee, and last a quick Mother's Day trip to visit my mom in California.


Last week I was only home for a few days before we flew to California. I anticipated getting some last-minute sewing done for Mother's Day in the few days I was home. It's always a challenge trying to come up with something for my mother for Mother's Day. What do you do when a person has it all, and you want to give her something heartfelt for Mother's Day? You listen very carefully. Several weeks ago my mother told me that an ordinance was passed in her town recently that all grocery, pharmacy, and retail stores will no longer be able to provide plastic carryout bags at checkout for their customers. {Geesh!} My mother mentioned that because of this ordinance, she had been using one of the purses I gave her as a bag for the items she buys in retail stores. That got me thinking...


The bag I had previously made her was more purse than bag, so I decided to make her a tote to accompany her on her shopping trips. I didn't want something too heavy or too big for her to lug around, so I made it small enough (13" x 9" x 4")  for her to carry comfortably on her shoulder and deep enough for her to stash all her store-bought treasures. I lined it, reinforced it with fusible fleece to make it nice and sturdy, and put a fabric covered foam board piece in the bottom for support.


I especially like the twirly ribbon and fabric flower adornment on this bag. It adds just the right amount of bling for a practical bag like this.


On another note -- In the coming week I hope to publish a tutorial for my new ruffled Kindle case. Thanks to all who commented that they might like that tutorial. It's nice to know ahead of time that it might be well received!

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Thankful Thoughts...



What moved me this week?

I always thought my husband was one in a million, but apparently I underestimated the man. The medical establishment has put me to shame and deemed him even more extraordinary than I had imagined. 

Several months ago he was diagnosed with a rare and potentially fatal blood disease. Those first few weeks after the original diagnosis were devastating and scary. We didn't have much information until the first round of tests were conducted. With each passing week and each test result our hopes climbed higher and higher. Last Tuesday we met with my husband's oncologist / hematologist and were given the news that his was an extremely rare case. He's one of only 40 people that have been diagnosed with this rare benign (not malignant or serious) disease. Instead of being one in a million, he's one in a gabillion and a half plus two. In this case, having this rare form of this disease is a good thing because it isn't serious. There will be annual tests performed, but those tests will be more for the doctor to collect data than for the health of my husband.

Which brings me to the question, what moved me this week? The answer is simple: The faith and prayers of family, friends and strangers. These last few months we asked family members and close personal friends to keep us in their prayers. Others, who didn't know of my husband's condition but sensed a need, also offered prayers. I received emails from blog readers who wrote saying, "I had a feeling today that you needed a prayer. I just wanted you to know that I'm praying for you and your family." Those simple acts of faith and prayer from family, friends and others moved us. We felt the strength and support that prayer offers believers. I'm sure many of you have had similar affirmations of the power of prayer. For this blessing and others we are grateful.

Happy Mother's Day!

Friday, May 11, 2012

Thursday, May 03, 2012

Ruffles...

Have you noticed that ruffles are everywhere these days? Ruffled handbags, ruffled blouses, ruffled pillows -- it seems everything can be made better with a gathered fabric flounce!


This week I'm away visiting family, but last week I decided to get on the ruffle bandwagon and make myself a new Kindle case...


In the past I've made my Kindle cases with zippers, but this time I wanted a simple closure with a button and corded loop...


I really like the etched mother-of-pearl button I was able to find. It adds just the right touch of femininity against the natural muslin...


I hope to be able to publish a tutorial for this Ruffled Kindle Case that anyone would be able to easily alter for any size Kindle, Nook eReader or iPad. We'll see how that goes...


Would you be interested in a tutorial like that?


Just wonderin'...


Have a nice day!

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

Bloomin' Tuesday

Last week I featured photos from our trip to Thanksgiving Point's "Tulip Festival" in Lehi, Utah. This week I'll feature some more photos of those beautifully manicured gardens. You might remember that there were over 100 varieties of tulips on 55 acres of gardens -- with over a quarter of a million tulip plants. Amazing! While this is an annual event, the gardens are redesigned every year to create new displays and exhibit new tulip varieties. Here are a few more photos of these amazing gardens...










Linked to:
Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jeans

Monday, April 30, 2012

May's Plaque Attack -- A Tribute to Grandmothers!

Mother's Day is fast approaching, and I think it's appropriate that May's Plaque Attack pay homage to the exceptional grandmothers in our lives. There are many special women in my life that are fabulous examples of grandmotherhood to me -- my mother and mother-in-law, my sister and sisters-in-law, and many of my friends. This plaque could be given to any one of them!


There are some beautiful greeting cards available for Mother's Day with very sweet sentiments, but these plaques actually cost less than a greeting card and give the recipient something a little more substantial and heartfelt!


Collect the following materials to make a plaque of your own:
  • 6 1/2" square wooden plaque {available online or at craft stores like Hobby Lobby}
  • 1 piece of scrapbook paper 
  • acrylic craft paint or spray paint in a color to compliment your scrapbook paper 
  • clear matte spray sealer
  • Mod Podge {matte finish is best}
  • paint brush
For a tutorial on how to make these plaques, go here!


If you are interested in receiving the document for these Plaque Attacks, simply email me with "Plaque Attack -  May 2012" in the subject line of the email. My email address is listed on the sidebar of my blog.


By requesting this copyrighted document you agree not to sell the document or sell any items that use this document. It is for personal use only. You may make as many copies for yourself or to use as gifts as you would like. If you post about your plaque on your blog, please link back to this blog post for your readers to receive the document. Thank you! 


Remember: To receive the document with these plaques simply put "May 2012 Plaque Attack" in the subject line of your email and please remember to leave a comment below!


Enjoy!  

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Thankful Thoughts...

What moved me this week?

For the last couple of months I've intimated that our family has run up against a few bumps on our typically smooth road of life. I've learned a lot about what is truly important as a result of these trials. Inconsequential things that used to concern me have lost significance and meaning. It's much simpler to determine what is crucial or what is immaterial when crises arise. I consider this new-found ability to judge situations and circumstances more clearly a huge blessing.

This week one of the bumps on our road got a whole lot smaller. About a month ago my daughter-in-law was diagnosed with cancer. Preventative surgery followed that diagnosis, and when the pathology reports came back this week it was determined that the cancer hadn't spread -- at all. No further action is necessary. We were weak with gratitude. I'm aware that not all outcomes are this joyous. I'm just grateful that hers was.

What moved me this week? 

1.) The knowledge that prayers are answered. 
2.) The belief that miracles do happen. 
3.) The feeling that God watches over us all.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Fabric.com Give Away Winner...


I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to host this fun Give Away! Fabric.com is a favorite online fabric source of mine, so I know anyone receiving this gift certificate will have a fabulous time browsing their fabric selection.



The winner of the $25 Gift Certificate is:



Congratulations Karyn... and a big "thank you" to all who participated!


Wednesday, April 25, 2012

One More Outdoor Cushion...

I love to make lists. Every morning I make a "to do" list and faithfully check it off throughout the day. There's something about a "graphic organizer" that gives me the fuel I need to get things done. My lists have been long lately. Ten to twenty items are checked off every day. Although that would give you the impression that things are getting accomplished around here, there's not much to show for it. Yesterday, however, I finally finished one important item on my list and checked it off!

Earlier this month I recovered some outdoor cushions for two of our patio sets and repainted the wrought iron furniture...

Fabric: Volary by Thomas Paul for Suburban Home

Fabric: Kimono by Thomas Paul for Suburban Home
Paint: Rust-oleum Painter's Touch Espresso 

I still had one more item on my list to check off before I finished redecorating our outdoor furniture. Our rattan bench cushion needed to be recovered. Yesterday afternoon I cranked that one out...


I chose an outdoor fabric that I found at Fabric.com for this bench seat cushion. In order to make sure this fabric would compliment the other fabrics I had already chosen, I first ordered a fabric swatch. Tommy Bahama Indoor/Outdoor Redonda Raffia was chosen from a couple of possibilities. I was so happy that I was able to buy swatches before the final purchase because the fabric that I was leaning toward, wasn't the one I ultimately chose.

   

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Bloomin' Tuesday

Last week my husband and I traveled to Utah for my son's graduation from BYU. We had a fabulous weekend with family. There were many highlights, but one for me was traveling to Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah, to take in the "Tulip Festival." It was phenomenal. Acres and acres of gorgeous blooming tulips in beautifully manicures gardens. I was so happy we were able to fit this casual walking tour into our weekend. With over 100 varieties represented and a quarter of a million tulips spread over 55 acres, it is a sight to behold! This week and next I will feature some of those gorgeous blossoms...

Above -- the entrance to "The Gardens" at Thanksgiving Point

Tucked in between the tulips are a gabillion pansies...








Linked to:
Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jean's 
Garden Tuesday @ Sidewalk Shoes