St. Patrick's Day - Lunch Box Notes - Free Printable

I loved getting notes from my parents in my lunch box. Maybe it was a hard morning or even a fantastic one, but to open my lunch pail and get a note of love was the best. Children are always hungry for reminders of how precious and loved they are, but it can be hard to remember to tuck one in. There's homework to pack, teacher reminders and more. 

I thought it would be fun to watercolor a few St. Patrick's Day lunch box notes to share. There are a dozen formatted to fit on letter sized paper. Print them off tonight on some medium-heavy weight cardstock and tuck them in the kitchen junk drawer. When it's St. Patty's Day week, you can toss in a note of love. I think these are so fun, I will probably hide a few in my husband's coat pocket and gym bag. Who couldn't use more love, right?

You are my end of the rainbow.. These would be adorable with a snack pack treat of Skittles!

You are my pot o' gold.. Mmm, Maybe a few Rolo chocolates to sweeten the day?

You are my lucky charm.. My kids always cheer over a serving of Lucky Charm cereal. They promptly eat the marshmallows and are no longer hungry for the healthy bits!

A fun printable that is sure to bring a smile to those you love! I am lucky to homeschool my brood, but it seems like more often than not, they are on the go during lunch. I can't wait to sneak a few in their lunch pails!

Easter Pillow Tutorials

Am I the only one that gets a little nutty when Easter lands in March? In my brain, Easter is in April, that way I have proper time to enjoy it. Alas, it is in just a few weeks. Time for the Easter Bunny to get moving on baskets, decor and treats.

If you are looking to add to your Easter holiday decor, I have a couple of pillow tutorials that you may want to check out -- everything from faux chenille to free motion sketching. Running short on time like me? You can use these techniques on gifts for Mothers and Father's Day!

1.) Shabby Chic Eggs

2.) Foundation Pieced Cross Pillow - this also makes a beautiful Baptism/Christening gift!

3.) Faux Chenille  and Reverse Applique - Good or Bad Egg Pillows

4.) Free Motion Sketched - Bunnies at Church Pillow

5.) Crochet Embellished Easter Egg Pillow

Starting to Look a lot Like Christmas

We have spent today decorating for Christmas. Oh isn't this the best time of the year? I love the decorations, the food, the nostalgia and cheerful mood that seems so contagious. I hope whatever holiday you celebrate, that you are having a wonderful time.

If you have followed my blog for a bit, that you are familiar with the Disneyland silhouette tree. I love having the silhouettes created with every visit. Such a treat to see how they've grown through the years on this very special Christmas tree.

And well... we have to get the doggies involved in the decorating. Needless to say they are not feeling the holiday cheer!

A sweet little candid shot of Baby enjoying the tree decorating. It's wonderful to feel their excitement!

And I was inspired to create a little holiday collage textile art. My nativity scene is almost done and will be listed in the Etsy shop tomorrow afternoon..

Happy Holidays to you!

First Pattern For Sale & Free Tutorial

I'm going to be listing the Patriotic Pennants - paper pieced pattern is for sale . I'm very excited to be starting this new adventure. I have so many ideas and lots of designs to share. If you ever have any questions or design suggestions, please let me know!

Prim Patriotic Banner

You will need

- an odd number of completed paper pieced pennants from the pattern

- a couple yards of 2" wide coordinating ribbon or fabric

- burlap scraps larger than your completed pennants

1.) If you have not already done so, carefully remove the paper

foundation from the back of the pennants.

2.) Trim pennants down to exact size -

you will not need the 1/4" seam allowance for this project.

3.) Pin a pennant on to a piece of scrap burlap -

make sure you have at least 1/2" border of burlap on all sides.

4.) Sew pennant to burlap, stitching with 1/4" seam allowance.

5.) Trim burlap giving the pennant about 1/2" border.

6.) You can either run your ribbon/fabric string

through your ruffler foot at level 12

or run a long basting stitch down the center and hand gather.

7.) Arrange pennants on ruffled ribbon/fabric and pin in place.

Stitch in place.

That's it! Super easy and such a great prim touch for the holidays.

Have questions?

Let me know!

Linking up to:

Craft-O-Maniac

Tatertots and Jello

Warning - Sweet Factor Reaching Maximum!

OK.. I had no foresight into the possible Project Run & Play themes

otherwise I would not have made

Isabelle's first Valentine dress a couple themes ago.

What to do??

Well several friends suggested making a dress for their little girl.

And I'd be happy to, but usually there are tons of little revisions

that require fittings.

((Even my bestest bestie suggested I make a dress for

her little boy..he's just that darn pretty..lol!))

And I'm addicted.

I couldn't miss a week.

I am learning so much by forcing myself out of my comfort zone

and creating these items without a pattern.

This week is my favorite outfit!

Her sweet black velvet tank and silky bubble skirt

is all Valentine in my book.

She looks ready for a special dance with her Prince Daddy.

Wood You Turn Me On?

This year I'm opening my new and 2nd Etsy store

A Quiet Stitch.

I will be featuring my personally designed quilt patterns

and embroidery patterns that I have collaberated with another artist.

In addition, I will sell ready made gifts and DIY kits.

As I was working on my set of Valentine embroideries,

I came across The Iron Craft blog.

I love craft challenges - of course!

And this week I was able to incorporate their challenge of

"Lighting the Winter Gloom"

with a sample of one my embroideries.

This night light and collection of Valentine embroideries should be in the store next week.

Happy Holidays!

Hope you have a Happy Holiday!

I'll be enjoying a small break and will return to blogging the first week of 2010!!

Thank you for such a wonderful, busy year...

**And that funky new hat is in the shop!**

Something For Me

I have been itching to make myself a skirt to match Isa's Christmas dress that I sewed for her. Finally this past weekend, I found some time. I really wanted a bubble skirt. Honestly, I don't know why. They aren't especially flattering on my hourglass shape, but I just *wanted* one!

I used Vogue's - Very Easy Pattern.

I love what some "easy" is defined as..

It took me just over 2 hours. It is fully lined

(I used this scrumptious red silky lining.. why not it's the holidays, right?!)

My only word of caution is checking the measurements against what you actually are. I did 2 sizes up from what my jeans are, and it's still snug.. granted there has been a fair amount cookie nibbling and eggnog drinking..

And alas it turned out I didn't have enough fabric. I improvised and I think it makes for a fabulous change. I had enough fabric for 1 full skirt side. For the other, I just folded up the pattern till it fit the amount of fabric I had left. This worked in this situation because there is a serious amount of fullness and lots of leeway for less fabric.

When putting the dress together, I simply added a faux seam an equal amount of room away from where the 2 sides joined. The only other changed that followed was that I moved the zipper from the side to now the back. Thus, there is a visible seam on the yoke in the middle of my belly, but I honestly think it looks awesome and fully intended...which it partly was..

Ginger Lover

Yes, I love Gingers! What can I say, my pops was a red headed freckled faced Ginger....

I also love *Gingerbread* (which surprisingly, my Ginger pops hates..lol) We took Isabelle to a fabulous Gingerbread village display at the Grand American in downtown SLC. This hotel is swank with a capital S! And of course our angel in her fur coat stomped around the joint like she was a Hilton heir. You can see the pics of our outing on my personal blog later this evening.

In honor of the this tasty holiday treat, here are a few of my favorite Etsy ginger items..

Gingerbread Man (Multicolor Felted Soap) by SoFino

Gingerbread Man Bowl by Thebrickkiln

Gingerbread Fudge by VintageConfections

***Pictures are owned by their respective Etsy shop owner and they retain their copyright***

Time Out For Cookies

I take my Holiday cookies seriously.. very seriously. I have all this coming Saturday blocked out to bake and watch my favorite holiday flicks: "A Christmas Story", "It's A Wonderful Life", and "Elf".

My daughter is still a little too young to make sugar cookies with, she's barely 21 months. I really wanted to find a way to include her in one of my favorite holiday activities. As if Twitter read my mind, I came across this posting about pie crusts cookies. And in my freezer I have an obscene amount of pie crusts, why I do not know..but I do!

This is the *perfect* baking activity for a toddler! It's low mess, quick, and a great way to introduce your littlest baker into the kitchen.

(recipe courtesy of Rachel Hobson over at Craftzine)

1. Leave pie crusts out till the are room temperature. Roll out very thinly on a lightly floured

surface. Pre heat oven to 350.

2. Cut out fun holiday shapes with cookie cutters.

3. Brush cookies with melted butter.

4. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

5. Bake for about 17 minutes & enjoy!

** 10% All Etsy orders till 12/15 - enter code "Cookies" in the notes to seller. **

Chocolate Damask Taffeta For Isabelle

Isabelle has 2 meetings with Santa this week and I'm hoping to get "THE" Christmas card photo from one of them. Tomorrow is the Tree Festival and on Thursday she'll be in her jammies heading up to the North Pole on "Polar Express". I sewed Isabelle a holiday dress with some gorgeous chocolate brown damask taffeta (I will be creating a bubble skirt for myself later so that we match this holiday season!)

This was supposed to be an "Easy" pattern. It took me about 3 hours, and I still have to hem it. It's close to midnight, and I'm not waking the

baby to see where it falls. Also the pattern included hand slip stitching as well as a zipper. Not the hardest things in the book,but I think for a new seamstress it would have been aggravating. I did make some changes to how I

placed the yoke on the skirt,but that can be a tad dry reading.. so if you make it and want to know what I did, feel free to drop me a line.

All in all,I'm pretty happy with it.

I will probably add a hook & eye

above the zipper later. Just a thing that is bugging me, but no biggie. And if I made it again, I

would definitely use my serger.. for first time

around projects I only use my sewing machine (don't want unwanted cuts to the fabric!)

Insane Goodness

While surfing the Internet today for new ideas,

I came across this recipe/tutorial that could only be defined as a gift from the Gods!

Pie in a jar

Go to their site.. right now.. Did you go?

Do you have buckets of drool on your keyboard now?!

This is my primo family project for December. I'm thinking some kind of apple cobbler for the weekend we drag out the Christmas decorations and set up the first fire.

Hope you enjoy - now go wipe your mouth!