Fourth of July SHINE T-shirt

I wanted to make something for Maddy to wear with the family this coming weekend. I initially wanted to do fireworks, but this is what it turned out to be. All of my pieces are freehand cut...meaning I do not use templates...so the stars were not super fun! But I love the result!

I used white and yellow floss and the cute yellow button to add a little something different. Plus, I love yellow and navy, so I had to stitch some yellow on the navy star!

So simple and cute!

Peace, Love, Cupcakes

I have fallen so hard for applique and embroidery. I cannot stop, I will not stop! Not until I have made everything my heart can dream up!!! Here is a shirt for Maddy with a few of my favorite things- Peace, Love, and CUPCAKES!

I'm in love with the sprinkles!!

She sort of loves it too!!

The Simple Answer

There was once a time when I, being young and precocious, thought that I had an answer for all of the questions. Even if I didn't know the ACTUAL answer, I did my best to come up with a plausible response. In college I found that a few big words, a little cynicism and a dose of humor would usually do the job.

As I have grown older, and begrudgingly found myself an adult, I find I cannot even fathom the answer to many questions. Be they questions I ask myself, or questions asked of me, I just don't have the answers.

Rather than work to conjure up something to respond with, knowing it would be just a hollow lie, the simple answer is - I just don't know.

I find solace in the fact that 1- I just don't need to have all the answers, and 2- it is barely summer and so hot you can fry an egg on the concrete. Both give me immense comfort and allow me to simple bow out of any explanation requested.

The first is comforting because I know that He who holds the answers, and my heart, will remain faithful. He has gone before me.

The second because summer reminds me of my fabulous childhood. It makes me think of watermelon on the front porch, lazy rides down the Suwannee River, and late night movies with my daddy.

So, for now, despite all of the pressing, nagging, gnawing questions....I will choose the simple answer and leave the rest alone.

Weekend crafts- Fleece Blanket and Embroidered Onesie

I got this idea from my sweet friend Harlee's mother Lisa. Harlee brought her cute fleece blanket with her to the beach a couple of weeks ago and I set my mind on making one. Easy peasy, made with 1.5 yards of zebra and 1.5 of green fleece. 2 is recommended for older kids, though. I cut out Maddy's monogram in a coordinating fabric and hand stitched it on with a little "firepop" as embellishment.

Next, simply because I was bored and antsy after being home bound with a sweet and sick baby today, I decided to put a bird on a onesie and this is the result.

So, yeah...that was my weekend in craft world. YAY!

I request that you create!!!

Hello little lovers of words and phrases. Haters of the split infinitive and dangling (gasp) modifier!!! How are your participles?? Since I last called upon you for the daunting task of writing creatively with me on this blog, I hope you have been finding time to make words do your bidding!

Tonight, I want to do another prompt. This time, it will be less open-ended. You just take the first three sentences given here and turn it into a story. We will maintain the same rules and requests. I would love you to comment on a few other submissions as well as submitting your own. Nothing but positive critiques tonight.

Are you ready?? Let's try for a 100 word limit on this one.

Your prompt- A man approaches you on the streets of a small town you have only visited once before. You attempt to maneuver around him but he blocks your way. He catches your eye and your breath goes cold in your lungs.



now go!!!!!

Fourth of July Fabric Wreath

I will not be providing a tutorial on this because it was not my idea. I will tell you that the entire thing took less than one hour to complete. I found the idea here and the flower tutorials here and here.

I plan to make one for summer also, with green, orange, and raspberry colors.

Hope you like! Hope more that you make one.

Oh, also, it all cost 15 dollars. That includes buying more thread for the flowers and some glue gun replacements.

Here are a few shots of the production:

Super easy guys! I just love it! I will get better at the flowers I hope. These are far from perfect!

Happy crafting!

  

Embroidery Hoop Monogram Tutorial

Another easy project for you here, and one I have really come to love!!


This is another project that cost me pennies and looks super cute.

Tools:
1/4 yard fabric with design
Complementary fabric left over from another project
Embroidery floss in complementing colors
2 Embroidery Hoops- small
Straight pins
Iron-on webbing (optional)- I only used it to stiffen the monogram letters

Instructions:


1. I free cut our initials out of brown fabric backed with webbing.



2.- I cut my material in two even squares just big enough to cover the hoops. After threading the fabric through the hoop and tightening, I trimmed all of the excess fabric from around the edges.











3. I tightened the hoops as much as I could and now realize I should have hot glued the underside of the hoop to keep everything in place...so I highly recommend it.

4. My favorite part was stitching on the letters. I used straight pins to affix the letter exactly where I wanted it and then stitched around the edges. I also stitched some French Knots on the flowers where there was a polka dot. I quickly retired that idea as it was tedious and the base fabric was tearing a bit. I did do a little bit of decorative stitching on some of the flowers with straight stitching and that worked better. You can see this below to the right of the E.







A quick and easy project that can double as a cute gift anytime. I also have aspirations of using this idea in other ways, but I must increase my stitching skills before then! I will keep you posted!!