Napkins

I have heard several references recently to Christmas being only 6 months away which is crazy. However, when I think of the 109 degree high we had the other day cooler Christmas temperatures sound great. Then thoughts of Christmas turned to what can I make for Christmas? Last year I purchased a few Christmas fabrics, one of which you've seen on this blog because it's the same fabric as I am using for my Christmas quilt. The other is a new fabric that when I purchased it I thought I would make place mats but as I started thinking this week I decided that I would make napkins instead. 


Yes, I could have made traditional square napkins but that would have been too easy so I searched for napkins and came across a circle pattern where the napkins can be folded into Christmas trees, perfect! I was excited for these and have made two sets of 4 already. They aren't for sale yet as I'm waiting for Christmas in July but here you can get the sneak peak. They are stitched with a gold thread to accent the gold stars on the white Merry Christmas print and to add a little extra shimmer to your Christmas decor. 

Being Away

I have been away for awhile now as you've noticed. The first week of June was incredibly busy as I was working, teaching Vacation Bible School and came down with a bad cold and major sun burn so then I was nursing myself back to health as well. Since then work has been busy and today I finally sit down to sew and as I go to turn my project right side out I realize that I sewed it incorrectly! Yes, I was upset by this and decided that it was time for me to put the sewing aside for the day because obviously I was too distracted as I was working to really be productive.


However, I have been productive on my quilting and after tonight I should have all my small starts finished so that I can meet up with my neighbor lady and do the trim and I will finally be DONE! Yes, finally done after a 6 month project that has taught me a lot about quilting. 
1) I will not hand quilt my next quilt and I may never hand quilt again unless it's a place mat then I may consider it...
2) 6 months is too long to drag out a project
2) Sewing baby items is more my style because I see immediate results


So stay tuned for finished pictures and remember anything on the blog can be purchased! 

Beer Cap Coasters

Today I was eager to finally make some beer cap coasters so I went garage sale-ing to find exactly a cork board. As a child we went to garage sales and second hand shops which I must admit were of little interest and of slight embarrassment as I entered jr. high. Then throughout high school and college the only reason I went to such places was when looking for a costume and this has carried into my adult life. Now, with my new direction of crafting I have started sale-ing again at least a little. My favorite sales are those at churches because they often have loads of goods for very little money. I searched high and low but there was no cork board to be found at the sale. Then as I was nearing the end of my search I did come across 2 foam place mats and decided they would be perfect! 

When I got home I gathered my materials, sorted out all of our beer caps as we've been saving them with the help of friends for a year and a half and had over 225, and then I began working. All in all my project took about an hour and a half and when I was done I had 12 completed coasters or 3 sets of 4. Below is the full picture of what I completed but I've divided them into sets of Coors Light/Bud Light, Shiner and Leinenkugels/Schells. 

Envelopes

As summer is here and June is my slow time of the work year I have a lot more time to work on some re-purposed crafts. So yesterday as I was sorting through some of the items I have had for an extended period of time I came across a Road Trip Calendar. I recall when I first got it that I thought I would cut out the pictures and transform them to coasters. As I began thinking I knew I didn't have a supply of coasters on hand and was reminded of a wonderful letter I received  from a friend a few years ago that came in a unique envelope. After I read the letter I took apart the envelope and realized that it was a calendar! It was awesome and so my calendar has now become 11 envelopes. 

Jungle Babies

About two weeks ago I purchased a wonderful jungle fabric that brings smiles to my face every time I look at the adorable little animals. When I went to Hobby Lobby I had intended to purchase some blue fabric for boys but this one caught my eye and non of their blues could compete so i went for this instead. I still think this is a wonderful boy fabric more than a girl so ultimately it my original goal was met just in a different way than I assumed it would be. 

I guess that's how life is we often make a plan for ourselves and God steps in and says "I know the plans I have for you." (Jer. 29:11) and ultimately he changes our plan and at times when we can't understand we hold on for the ride and realize later that it was really what was best for us. So if you were hoping for blue items in the Baby Shop they haven't come yet but they will. My next project is the wonderful pink flannels that I found complete with cute dragonflies. Stay tuned to the Baby Shop to see what you can buy! 

Graduation

Today is the end of an era for me, my last former student graduated from high school. It is bitter sweet for me to have that chapter of my life see a full closure. Yes, that chapter has been closed for 5 years but in many ways this is the final sentence. I have always enjoyed giving practical gifts of any kind and this graduation gift was the same. But due to my new found love of sewing and the special place this student holds in my heart for multiple reasons I wanted to make this gift practical and special. So I went for practical, white bath towels, (ok maybe white isn't practical but towels are) and then I added some fabric for them. It was an easy project but definitely give the towels a little something that remind me of my former student. Below are the before and after pictures that show you just how simple of a project this was. 

Homemaker Day

I often joke with my husband that I should be a stay at home wife and his answer is always a resounding no. Stay at home mom is fine but stay at home wife won't work so I guess I will continue working. However, today is a day off and I must say that in the past 5 hours, yes, I got up at 5 am today, I have been incredibly productive.
Barry had to go to Albuquerque for work today so we were up early. I dropped him at the airport and was at the gym by 6 (don't get too excited I haven't been to the gym in a few weeks) but I got a good walk with a little running in, then I came home, threw in some wash (fabric for my afternoon sewing), and starting my baking and freezer jam. I must say I am quite pleased with the fruits of my labor thus far and below is a little teaser for you. I am going to do my best not to eat the entire rhubarb crisp before Barry returns Thursday night and to accomplish that I may just have to keep the desert in the fridge, out of site, out of mind right. 

I have the feeling that if this became habit along with making a lunch and having a warm dinner on the table every night I may be able to convince my husband that I could be a stay at home wife and then you could call me June Cleaver. What do you think? 


Rhubarb Strawberry Jam

4 cups Rhubarb
3 cups Strawberries
2 cups Sugar
2 3-oz boxes Strawberry Jello


Boil rhubarb and sugar for 8 minutes. Add strawberries and boil for 2-3 minutes more. If using fresh strawberries boil longer. (I used frozen so they were already pretty soft.) Take off stove and add both boxes of Jello. Put in jars and cool. May be frozen or keep in refrigerator. 


Rhubarb Crisp

I used the recipe from my Betty Crocker cookbook but I tripled the crisp. I grew up in a double crisp family because we would eat the crisp before it was cooked so that's our tradition. Doubling and still snacking allows for a layer of crisp on the bottom and crisp on the top, yum!