Signs of Spring . . .

I worked in the yard for several hours this morning

mowing

clipping

pruning

watering

&

planting

and I was rewarded with little blossoms like this...

I hope you're having a sun-filled weekend!

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye something...

robin-egg-blue.

Clockwise, starting top left:

Flower Geometric Earrings

Eggs in a Nest 

Exotic Bird Brooch

Cinque Terre Clay Houses

Crane Mobile

Summer Art Print

Have a wonderful weekend!

Egg-tastic

 

This is my kind of Easter bouquet...

My youngest and her husband are living with us this summer. Last week they graduated together with their bachelor degrees. They'll be having their baby in June and will be starting law school in August, so they are living with us for the summer before they move back east. Here's a picture of them at graduation. (I can't take any credit for the one on the left, but I birthed the one on the right, so I'll unabashedly ask, "Is she adorable or what?!?")

Yesterday my daughter and I had two projects going on. Mine ended up in the trash, and hers ended up on display. I won't bother to show you the details of my sad project, but let's take a look at my daughter's fast, inexpensive, and adorable creations...

All you need are these materials. Like us, you might have most of these on-hand:

Materials:

Tissue paper - variety of colors

Mod Podge

Paint brush

Paper mache eggs ($.39 each at hobby stores)

From those materials these cute Easter eggs are constructed...

Just coat the paper mache eggs with some Mod Podge and apply some white tissue paper. Apply Mod Podge over the top of the white tissue paper and add strips of colored tissue paper. Apply Mod Podge over the top of the colored paper and let dry! (Option: Sprinkle a little clear glitter over colored tissue paper before the Mod Podge dries.)

This is a fun, easy project that is so inexpensive and cute!

Linked to:
Favorite Things Friday @ The Speckled Dog
Show Off Your Stuff Party @ Fireflies & Jellybeans
20 Below @ Christina's Adventures

Nesting . . .

I published this idea a year ago, but I think it bears repeating. This is a fun Easter activity and a great treat to give to those you love this time of year. There are several different ways to make them -- some recipes use chow mein noodles -- others corn flakes. Mine uses shredded wheat. These are an easy, inexpensive treat because they only use three ingredients -- shredded wheat, chocolate chips, and candy eggs. Second, they are adorable! And, most important, they are delicious...

To make eight three inch nests use:
3 rectangles (about 1 1/2 cup crushed) of shredded wheat, crushed (Original Brand)
1 - 11.5 ounce bag of milk chocolate chips, melted
candy eggs

Purchase "Post Shredded Wheat Original"  -- The wheat biscuits are packaged in paper within the box, 3 to a package. Use one of those packages for each recipe. (Note: You can substitute any fiber-type cereal for the Shredded Wheat.)

Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or in microwave until all the chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Pour the melted chocolate over the shredded wheat and mix well. Let it stand a few minutes to cool. The mixture is difficult to work with because it is very sticky. You might want to coat your hands with cooking spray or margarine so the chocolate mixture doesn't stick to your hands.

Make 8 round mounds and place them on some wax paper. Then using the back of a spoon, make an indentation in the middle of the mound and build your nest. Fill with eggs and let nest cool completely. It takes about 1 1/2 hours for the nests to firm up. I ask you -- What could be better with your fiber than chocolate! If you're giving them away, place them in a cellophane sack and tie with a ribbon!

One more . . .

I can't seem to get enough of this pattern of Anna's found here on her blog "Noodlehead."  This is a version I made last week. Love the gray and pink tones with the muslin on this one...

Yesterday I was waiting in line at the grocery store with the version I made for myself, and a young mother behind me commented on how much she liked my purse. It's so nice to get a compliment on something you made yourself!

I've had many people ask me what I do to make my bags more "sturdy" looking. I do this by using fusible fleece (a thicker iron-on interfacing you buy off the bolt at fabric stores). I use it on almost all the pieces of fabric for the tote except the lining of the pockets. That means I apply it to all the outside and lining panel pieces of the purse. I also apply it to the outside of the pockets. It makes the cost of the purse a bit more, but it's well worth the extra money in my mind. Fusible fleece ensures a sturdy, well-crafted tote.

Once again I added an extra couple of inches to the width of the purse and added two inside pockets into the seams.

This is the most comfortable purse I've had in ages. I love the long, thick strap that stays put and the roomy pockets both inside and out!

Just a reminder ... Mother's Day is fast approaching. Just sayin'.

Scrappy Bibs

You might be wondering why so many projects of mine are baby related lately. There's good reasons for that, but first let me tell you about the adorable bibs I created a couple of days ago. Early last week I got inspired by this Scrappy Baby Bib Tutorial at Zaaberry! I loved her scrappy bibs, so I decided to make some too. Heaven knows, I have plenty of scraps!

I gathered some coordinating scraps of fabric, cut them into strips, and sewed them together. Then I added a piece of flannel to the top and bottom ...

I followed the tutorial at Zaaberry by placing my bib pattern over the fabric and cutting it out. I used a plain piece of flannel for the back, and I attached a piece of fusible fleece to the underside of the bib front. I didn't need to buy any fabric for this project -- all pieces were scraps I already had!

Now to tell you why I am making all these baby items. You must know by now that my youngest daughter and her husband are expecting a baby boy in...

Several weeks later another little grandson will join my son, his wife and their two little girls in...

And finally a baby girl will be joining my daughter, her husband and their two little boys in...

That's right. Three grandbabies due in June, July and August! Now, I ask you, "Could it get any better than that?" My answer... "Actually, yes!" Because those three little newborns will join the four granddaughters and four grandsons we already have! Life is very, very good for this granny!

And that is why most of my sewing projects {of late} center around babies!

Linked to:
FFA Friday @ Sassy Sites

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye something...

blushing.

Clockwise, starting top left:

Chain Bracelet

Cherry Marshmallows

Soft Pink Fringed Cowl

Peony Clutch

Rose Brooch

Heart Stoneware Pottery

Have a wonderful weekend!

check it out

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I had my blog design updated? Well, as time went on it I realized it wasn’t quite what I had envisioned, so Krystal from Sassy Sanctuary {a very patient woman} went back to work and came up with this fantabulous rendition. It’s exactly what I wanted. I am in love with it. My husband should be insanely jealous. When I told him of my new obsession, he had the audacity to yawn. I guess after 33 years of marriage he’s not terribly fearful of getting replaced.

Anywho. I just wanted to give a loud and enthusiastic shout out to Krystal. I appreciated her patience and design expertise so much!  If you're in the mood for a little blog design update, you'll want to contact her...

New Tote Pattern...

This week has been a busy one. My youngest daughter and her husband are graduating from college this weekend, and then they will be moving here and hanging out with us for most of the summer. So happy! In the fall they are off to law school back east, so I've been feathering the nest and doing a little spring cleaning.

I thought I'd show you the other tote I made for myself from the 241 Pattern at Noodlehead. This time I enlarged the pattern a little. I have a ton of things I carry with me, so I need a roomy purse. I took the pattern piece entitle "center panel" and added 1/2 inch along the fold line. That enlarged the middle panel by a total of 1 inch. Since there are two of those panels on the purse that added two inches to the width of the tote. Perfect for me and all my stuff...

I adore this purse. It's the only one I've had in a long time that actually stays put on my shoulder. Love that about it...

I chose a somewhat neutral fabric combination (brown and a natural linen look) -- of course there is a pop of turquoise and lime! Yum...

In addition to the two pockets on the outside of the purse, I added two pockets to the center panels of the lining (see above). I just tucked those right into the seams.

Have a great day!

Robot Pillow...

Last week I showed you this rocking chair that I recovered. In that post I mentioned that I would be making a "Robot Pillow" to accompany the rocker. This rocker will be placed in the nursery my daughter and her husband are planning for their little boy who will be born this summer. This was my second attempt at said pillow. I've decided I'm a better designer of owls and chicks than robots. I still have a lot of room to get my robot thing down, but here's what I came up with...

I do like the computer display on his tummy. A variety of sewing machine stitches work well to give a computerized effect...

I chose an outer-space fabric as the "frame" on the pillow...

and a yellow swirly fabric as the backing. I've been putting zippers on the back of my pillows lately. I love how a zipper tightly holds the pillow together...

It's kind of a goofy little pillow, but it reflects well the theme for the room, and I like the bright, cheery colors!

Linked to...
Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple
Hookin' Up with House of Hepworths
Show Off Your Stuff @ Fireflies & Jellybeans

New Tote...

A couple of weeks ago I was reading my favorite blogs when I came upon this post at Noodlehead. Anna is an inspiring seamstress who has fresh, original designs and tutorials. She was introducing a new tote pattern she had created, and I instantly fell in love with her "241 Tote." When I realized she was selling pattern for this new tote {for $7!}, I quickly snatched one up! A few days later I made this ...

This bag is a gift for a friend of mine. It's her birthday this week, and she deserves something special. Her favorite color is "mustard," so I tried to find fabric that would please her. This is what I came up with...

There are a number of reasons I love this purse pattern. The first is that I love a purse with outside pockets. These pockets are roomy and easily accessible.

Second, I absolutely love a one strap purse. This pattern has one strap that stays firmly planted on your shoulder. Not only that but the strap is nice and thick, so it doesn't dig into your shoulder. Love it!

I used a magnetic-snap inside closure for mine, which is what is suggested by following the pattern...

In addition to the outside pockets, I added two more pockets on the inside of this tote. There can never be enough pockets in a purse for me! I also used fusible fleece interfacing on both the outside fabric and the lining of this bag.

One more important point... By purchasing the pattern, permission is given to sell totes made by the "241 Tote Pattern" for home based businesses. That's huge. I'm not sure it's something I'm going to do, but it's nice to know it is a possibility! 

This is a fun, easy tote to make. The instructions and photos in this pattern provide easily understood step-by-step explanations. I usually create my own tote patterns, but it was a joy to be able to have everything provided in one easy pattern! Later this week I'll highlight another tote from this pattern that I made for myself. ;o) I changed it up a little by making it a little larger -- I'm a girl with a lotta stuff.

PS: No compensation has been made for this review of the 241 Pattern. Just wanted to share the love!)

Linked to:
Made with Love Monday @ Sew Chatty

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye something...

farm fresh.

Clockwise, starting top left:

Rustic Wood Sign

Crumby Bowl

Herb Garden Stakes

Lamb Photograph

Three Wool Carrots

Have a wonderful weekend!