Bloomin' Tuesday...

I'm so excited that I can actually publish a "Bloomin' Tuesday" post. I know in other parts of the U.S. spring sprung more than a month ago, but here at the base of the Colorado Rockies, we're just beginning to pull out of winter. There are no leaves on the trees yet, but grass is starting to green up and some perennials are peeking out of the soil.

Night before last we got some sprinkles, so yesterday morning I went out to the garden to take a few pictures. Last weekend I planted a couple of pots with pansies. Since pansies are perennials, I can plant them in the early spring and not worry about frosts or snowstorms, which are still a possibility in Colorado until mid May. I usually wait till Mother's Day weekend to plant any annual blossoms in my garden.

Did you notice these cute planters? I bought them {so reasonable} at Marshall's. I'm loving these luscious pots {and the birdbath that I filled with pansies}, ranging in colors from cobalt blue to turquoise to sea green. Also, I don't know whether you noticed my prince charming in the photo above. He's devilishly handsome, don't you think?

I also have a different birdie in the birdbath planter {above}. Beau, our puppy, got ahold of the other one and "took care of it." Not a pretty sight. Anyway, I'm glad to have another little birdie to grace the birdbath.

I cannot wait to start planting the garden. 

Spring can't come soon enough for me this year!

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye some...

Mother's Day gifts.

Clockwise, starting top left:

Mixing and Serving Bowls

Phone Case

Mother's Day Card

Embossing Rolling Pin

Love Pears

Wishing you a wonderful weekend. 

Bloomin' Tuesday...

Some of my neighbors have daffodils and crocus blooming in their yards {although most of those got nipped in the buds with our last snowfall}, but it's still a little too early for much to be blooming in my yard. Spring comes late in Colorado. However, there is one thing that seems to weather storms and cold dips in temperatures... weeds. There are plenty of dandelions in my garden right now.

For awhile I have wanted to try a homemade, less toxic week killer, and when we adopted Beau {our new puppy} I figured there was no time like the present. I mixed up the following concoction in a bucket to take care of our weeds:

Organic Weed Killer

• 1 gallon white vinegar
• 2 cups Epsom salts 
• 1/2 cup Dawn dish detergent

I poured this mixture into a spray bottle and the rest of the mixture back into the plastic white vinegar container and labeled both.

I wasn't sure this homemade weed killer would do the trick, but I shouldn't have worried. Yesterday morning I sprayed the dandelions you see on the left side of these photographs...

Several hours later I took the photos on the right side of the same plants...

Needless to say, this concoction works well. Although it's "organic" I still wore gloves and kept the puppy away from the plants as I was spraying. Obviously, even though it's organic, it's still toxic! I did notice a little green peeking out from the center of the dandelions, so I may have to spray a second round this morning, but that doesn't bother me. The cost of making this weed killer was about $6. This makes it about six times less expensive than the traditional 24 oz. spray bottle of Roundup, plus it makes more than a gallon, so I can refresh the spray bottle as needed.

I hope some of you have more to show in your gardens than dead weeds. In a month I'll be able to brag about some of my blossoms too!

Ric-Rac Receiving Blankets...

A few years ago I created a tutorial for my Ric-Rac Receiving Blankets. These are large 42" x 42" soft, flannel blankets that accommodate a growing baby. Most receiving blankets that are offered in stores are 30" x 30", which is barely large enough to wrap a newborn. The store-bought kind are also only one layer of fabric and are made from cheap flannel, so they don't hold up to frequent washings. I still use some of the receiving blankets I made for my babies for our grandbabies today, so that gives you an idea of how well these receiving blankets hold up.

Recently I made a couple of these blankets for our granddaughter due in June. One soft soft gray with pink whales...

And another with pink giraffes and chevron...

I bought all of these fabrics at Hancock Fabrics. They have some adorable flannels. Did you hear that Hancock Fabrics is going out of business and closing all their stores? This makes me sad, and I think this proves the online fabric stores are taking a huge toll on brick and mortar businesses. Plus, I think Hancock Fabrics was always two steps behind at keeping up with trends. In any case, they will be having some good sales as they liquidate their stores. I'll be heading there later today to check out their sales.

These receiving blankets take minutes to make and the double thickness makes the blanket so soft and durable...

Find the tutorial for making these blankets here.

Have a wonderful day!

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye...

a party.

Clockwise, starting at top left:

Tissue Paper Pom Poms 

Printable Cupcake Toppers

Tassel Garland  

Personalized Rustic Planter

Peach Colored Raffia 

Wishing you a beautiful April weekend.

Dwipes -- Diaper & Wet Wipe Tote

Last week I devoted a few hours to sewing. It felt heavenly. I've mentioned that we have a little granddaughter due in June, so I've been buying fabrics with her in mind. I wanted to make sure I made our little princess a "Dwipe."

I've been selling my Dwipe patterns {commercial pattern and personal pattern} in my Etsy store for years now. The Dwipe is a diaper and wet-wipe mini-tote. It's a small case where a parent can store diaper-changing essentials -- a travel case of wet wipes, a thin changing pad, and a couple of diapers.

This tote can also come in handy for the parents who are training their child. One can put a change of clothing into the tote in case of emergency. This mini-tote can then be placed in a glove compartment, a purse, or a diaper bag.

Carrying this type of tote to a restroom is more subtle than carrying a child, a package of wet-wipes, and a diaper and more manageable than a heavy diaper bag.

Fathers love the Dwipe because they don't have to carry a purse or diaper bag to take their child to the restroom for a quick change.

This -- along with some wet wipes and a small package of diapers -- makes the perfect gift for new parents. The dimensions of the Dwipe are 7"x10"x1".

Both these cute fabrics with a touch of metallic gold are found at Hobby Lobby.

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye some... 

pink roses.

Clockwise, starting top left:

Rose soap

Cupcake Wrappers 

Floral Fabric 

Washi Tape

Rose Clutch

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

Textile Wednesday...

"Textile Wednesday" doesn't have the same ring to it as "Textile Tuesday," but I'm a day late, so it'll have to do.

Today we are having a one of those spring blizzards that makes Colorado famous. Yesterday I was sitting reading a book in the chair in the photo below in 70 degree weather at 4pm in the afternoon. Sixteen hours later those chairs look like this...

It's a good thing I made a quick trip to Hobby Lobby yesterday and snatched up some of these beautiful, new metallic fabrics...

I absolutely adore these fabrics that have a sprinkling of gold metallic. So cute. I'll be hunkering down with sewing on my mind  today. It's a good day for hot chocolate and slippers. Even the puppy is content to stay inside in this kind of weather!

More of the same... bibs.

A month ago my life changed. We adopted an eight week old puppy. I don't know how one little bundle of fur can take up so much of my time, but that is the reality. Here he is after playing in the snow a couple of days ago... our own little abominable snowman.

I envision a day when I will once again be able to get out my sewing machine and sew for hours, but that time is definitely in the future, because right now my days revolve around this little guy. Fortunately, he takes a nap in the morning and one in the afternoon. That leaves me 1 1/2 hours (per nap) to do as I please. Usually, I "please" to catch up on chores, run errands, etc. Yesterday, however, I decided to do another quick sewing project.

I hope our #18 grandbaby needs bibs, because a bib takes 1 1/2 hours to make from start to finish, so that's what I've been making lately when I need a sewing fix. Here are a couple that I made recently...

The pattern and tutorial for this infant bib are found on Nana Company.  They are the perfect size for a newborn and older. I love the little patch she suggests to put at the bottom of the bib.

 I sometimes embellish the patch with a button or two.

This is short and sweet because my little pookie-wookie, pudding-pie is waking up!

It's a good life!

Textile Tuesday...

I've been working in my yard a lot lately, which seems like a miracle. Rarely do we have warm weather in February and the first part of March. It's crazy, but as a result I'm dreaming of spring and a profusion of beautiful flowers. Here are some flowers you can enjoy all year long. This collection is from Riley Blake and named "Fancy & Fabulous!"

Within a couple of months I hope to be enjoying some posies in my garden!

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye a...

childhood fantasy!

Clockwise, starting top left:

Bug House
Checker Set
Dragon Themed Luxury Playhouse
Rattle Musical Instrument
Fairy Dwelling

Wishing you a magical weekend!

Textile Tuesday...

Amy Butler is one of my favorite fabric designers. Her "Midwest Modern" line seems timeless to me, but it is only in limited production now. Still, there is plenty of this collection available online and in fabric shops...

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye...

a hint of Easter.

Clockwise, starting top left:

Wool Felt Flowers

Cross Stitch Kit

Knit Bunny Hat Pattern

Beginner Embroidery Egg Kit

Egg Cosy Pattern Kit

Bunny Sewing Pattern

Wishing you a warm weekend!

Textile Tuesday...

Here it is the first of March, and I'm dreaming of a summer vacation at the beach. These fabrics take me there. I love living in Colorado, but having grown up by the coast in California part of me will always long for ocean breezes and the sound of crashing waves.

This collection, called "Coastline", is from Art Gallery Fabrics, by Sharon Holland.

Friday's Fabulous Finds..

{In honor of Beau, our new puppy}

I spy with my Etsy eye...

some fabulous furry friends.

Clockwise, starting top left:

English Bulldog Shirt

Custom Pet Tote

Bichon Frise Placemat

Assorted Dog Prints  

German Shepherd Coasters

Hug your favorite dog this weekend!

Textile Tuesday...

Bunnies, flowers and adorable toadstools. What's not to love? These beautiful fabrics are due to arrive in stores the end of this month. Bonnie Christine is the artist, and the collections is called "Forest Floor." They are manufactured by Art Gallery Fabrics. I want to live in this magical forest!