Spring is Finally Here!!

This morning I was out taking pictures for my shop and ended up next to the lilac bush. This year is it's best year to date. It has a bumper crop of blooms. All of them full and healthy looking.

I only wish I could upload the smell! Have a great day!

The Best Baby Shower Gift!

I don't know about you but it's baby shower season around here. In my neighborhood there are at least 4 baby showers in the next couple of months.I have been trying for years to find the best gift. I have finally figured it out. I have been giving it at parties for the last 2 years and have found that it's a hit.

I use these Extreme Receiving blankets. They are double layered, big and super soft.  I like to give diapers and wipes, maybe because I’m getting practical in my age.

First, lay out the blanket and set the diapers and wipes in the middle.

Pull up the four corners, bundle the top edges of the blanket and tie with a cute ribbon. Add a card and you’re ready to run out the door.

I hope this gives you a good idea for your next baby shower.

Easter Eggs?

I am so excited about my Etsy shop. It's really taking off. I have been surprised by the feed back I have been getting from customers. One of them, Susan, was so kind as to send me a photo showing me how she was using the Riley Blake Chevron Charm pack.

 

Who would have thought Easter Eggs? Such a cute idea. Another woman is planning to make a dress with a fat quarter pack.

I get so focused on quilting I forget to go outside the box. I see all the creative ideas friends are having with applique.

I hope this will spark your imagination and get you going on your next fun project.

Friendship in the Most Unlikely Places

Unlikely:
     1. Not likely; improbable.
     2. Not promising; likely to fail
             *http://www.thefreedictionary.com/unlikely

Friendship must be an important topic for me. As this is my second post on the subject.

As I was falling asleep last night I was reflecting on the friendships that I have had in my life. Without disclosing my age... we'll just say it's been awhile. 

I started to think about how I have come across some of my best friendships. I even started to think about some of the relationships I missed out on because I had a first impression of an "Unlikely" friend.

About three and a half years ago there was a lady in my war, part of my church congregation, who I thought was a little prickly. Both her and I were giving talks in our sacrament meeting, our Sunday service, when we were both done  and everyone was excused to move to the next session, I leaned to her and said, "You did a good job." Her reply was, "Thanks, yours was short."

Maybe six months later I was invited to join a walking group that included this women. Time passed and the two of us were the only people left in the walking group. We were both committed to walking and just kept going. My health was benefited. However, emotionally and spiritually I grew more in those early morning walks than I ever had. We were able to talk about life and how it associated with our faith. We could talk about scripture and the meaning of everyday decisions. One of my best, most fulfilling friendships started in a most unlikely way.

Now I find that I have friends in all shapes and sizes. I am grateful that I was given the blessing to have an open mind to look past the first impression and focus on the inside.

I like comparing people to candy bars. Maybe because I love candy and people. When I meet people and see on the outside they are all crunchy and hard I can't help but laugh. When I have looked passed the crunch to see a creamy, chewy, nugget center there have been many people that really want to be cared about, they just don't know how.

I also remember a tall, redheaded girl in high school. Looking back on our relationship I realize now that I missed out on a good friend. She had integrity, kindness and a cheery disposition. In retrospect I didn't put the time and energy into that possible friendship. A friendship that I'll never know what I could have put into it or gotten out of it.

What's the moral of my ramble? Keep an open heart and realize that the pricklies people put out are not  always meant to harm, just self defense. You never know when you may have a Positive relationship in an Unlikely place.

Have a wonderful day!!

Super Cute, Super Quick, Super Star!

Here it is! The finished project for my next Riley Blake Tutorial! COMING ON JANUARY 21,2013

UPDATE! http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/cutting-corners/2013/01/21/super-quick-super-cute-super-star/

DIY Hair Flower Loom

As an instructor for Riley Blake I get to do all sorts of fun things. My most recent challenge was these fun hair flowers. I really went crazy with them. On the Riley Blake site I am publishing a tutorial how to use a loom to make these hair flowers. That will be published December 17, 2012. When that happens I will edit this page to include the link to find it. I think it's a really fun way to use your creativity and make something for your loved ones.

As I was preparing my Etsy shop to sell the supplies to make the hair flowers a good friend of mine gave me the idea to use these "hair" flowers as a broach or hat accessory. The ideas really are endless.

Well what you all come here for... How to make your Loom!

Supplies

1- 4"X4" Block of wood. I used MDF because it's fairly inexpensive, light weight, and relatively stable.

16- Grip-Rite #13 x 2 in. 6D Bright Steel Finish Nails 
Sand paper
Hammer

Mod Podge

Finish sealer spray that is compatible with metal

Pencil

Ruler

Optional supplies
1- 3 1/4" X 3 1/4" Piece of decorative paper (optional, but if your going to go to the trouble why not make it look pretty?)
Acrylic paint
Hand router
Compass (if you don't have a compass try measuring a string to 1 3/4", place a tack on one end of the string and a pencil on the other)


Preparations
Once you have the MDF cut it's a good idea to sand it to make sure the paint will adhere to the wood and make sure the rough edges don't catch and pull on the ribbon as you weave it.

Optional Preparations

I also used a router on my block for the top four edges. It gave me a smooth edge that doesn't poke and looks nicer.

Next I painted the block on all 6 surfaces. First the bottom, let that dry then the top and sides.

After that I used Mod Podge to seal the surface and glue the paper down to the block. Once that was dry I added a second coat of Mod Podge to the top of the paper to make sure it was also sealed.

Assembly

Using a ruler find and mark the center on the paper side of the block by measuring in two inch from the outer edges of the block.

Use the center mark to place your compass and measure out 1 3/4" from the center. If you don't have a compass try measuring a string to 1 3/4", place a tack on one end of the string and a pencil on the other. Place the tack on the center mark and let the string be your guide.

Place a ruler to measure in 2" from the side of the block. Mark where the ruler and circle you just make intersect on both top and bottom of the circle.

Turn the block 1/4 turn and repeat the same mark for the intersecting lines on the top and bottom of the circle.

Measure in from the side and mark at the intersection of the ruler and circle for both top and bottom intersections.
Repeat marks for all four sides of the block.

Now use the ruler and placing it diagonally mark top and bottom intersection of circle. Repeat for the other diagonal line.

This picture shows that there should be 16 marks around the circle

Insert nails into each of the marks you have placed on the front of the block.

Now you will want to wash your hands. The nails leave a dirty grey film on your fingers. 

Spraying the entire top of the block, including the nails, with sealer spay. This will prevent rust and keep the dirt and mess from the nails off your ribbon. While spraying the block I turn the block a full 350 degrees as you apply the sealer. This will help make sure you get all sides of the nails. I also added a second coat of spray again making sure to hit the nails from every angle.

The friendship star pillow cover for friends!

Can you believe Thanksgiving is right around the corner? That means Christmas will be here in a flash. So it's time to find the time for gift making. A lot of my gifts go unappreciated but there are those few occasions when I made something special for someone and I knew they really treasure it... those are the times it's all worth it.

I was thinking of sharing some of this years gifts that are ready for giving, then I remembered this is a public blog and that would take away all the surprise :)

Instead I'll share with you a class I taught last night to some friends in my church.

 I demonstrated the friendship star block and how to  made it into a pillow cover for a decorative throw pillow.

This is the block I taught. It was fun to be presenting to good friends. I could really joke around and enjoy myself. I like teaching... but I really like hangin' out with my friends and sharing what I love with them.

One of the lucky ladies walked away with the above kit. Everything she needed to make the pillow cover except for the thread.

Here's the finished product... drum roll please:

As you can tell this last picture is different fabric than the first, which shows how versatile the friendship star can be!

Happy Holidays