"home sweet home"

Reader Challenge!

I saw this mixed-media challenge in a magazine and decided to try it. 

Below is my submission.

This little house is only 3 1/2" tall. 

For my collage I used vintage sewing pattern tissue, a map, an old church hymnal, a recipe my grandma wrote down on a page in an old cookbook, recycled magazines, stickers, postage stamp, letter stamps and acrylic paint. I paper quilted the roof and then attached it once I assembled the house. 

A very fun project. 

fabric postcard

The Sisters Quilt Show was my inspiration for this Fabric Postcard which I mailed to my friend as a reminder of the upcoming event a couple years ago. She and her husband joined us for a fun filled day of quilt viewing. 

The Fast, Fun & Easy Fabric Postcards book by Franki Kohler has instructions for making fabric postcards. A fun keepsake to make and give away. 

Remember,

only 11 days left until the

2011 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show!

Patio update

Lights & Ceiling

Sunday Ron finished the electrical work for the lights and can now continue working on the ceiling which is being built with the cedar boards from our old deck. Over the winter he prepared the boards which had to be planed to remove the well worn outside layer of wood and then cut to size. 

For a little extra character he is also using some charred boards (above) from a small deck fire we had a couple years ago while smoking some salmon he had caught. We decided the perfect place to put them would be above the grill so I'm anxious to see how they look when they're up. It should be a fun conversation piece.  

The lights are on two switches, one for the lights on the inside of the beam and another for the small lights on the outside of the beam. Both switches are on dimmers which will be nice.

This is how the lights look at dusk.

Meringue Cake

loaded with fresh local strawberries...

...a family favorite!! 

Strawberry Pastries

Starting our sunny Saturday off right with: 

Homemade Strawberry Pastries

Link Sausage

Hashbrowns

Scrambled Eggs

Coffee, Milk & Juice

Then it's a little yard work, an alumni baseball game and a BBQ. 

Summer has arrived!

fun "firecrackers"

These fun "firecrackers" are made out of fabric, easy to assemble and make a great addition to 4th of July decorations. I like to scatter mine on tables, fill bowls or jars with them and have also given them as gifts. 

To make your own fun "firecrackers" you will need:

assorted patriotic fabric

string, twine, or your choice for wick

1. Cut strip of fabric 8"x 2" (makes 1 firecracker)

2. Fold each end of fabric towards center so that raw edges meet in the middle. 

3. Cut 3" length of twine for wick. 

4. Hot glue wick to folded edge of fabric.

5. Beginning with wick end, roll fabric around the wick. Hot glue opposite end of fabric and finish rolling.

It's that simple!! 

It's fun to bundle them too. 

These "firecrackers" are fun and safe. What could be better? 

Hope you enjoy making some of these for your celebration!

summer soccer

Yesterday we took the scenic route to the first soccer game of the summer. I love this drive through the country on the narrow, curvy, uneven road especially now that the farms are in full swing.  Fruit stands are open, tractors are plowing, animals are grazing and the fields are covered with new crops, neatly planted in straight rows. Beautiful old barns, houses, granges and churches are scattered across a patchwork of fields framed with tree covered hills. A great backdrop for a summer soccer game.

This was the view we enjoyed through the car window.

Soccer, sunshine and a picturesque drive on the backroads,

a perfect way to start summer.

recycled tags

Aren't these the greatest tags?! 

I had never really paid that much attention to clothing tags until recently when I noticed one I was removing from a top I had purchased. I'm not sure why it caught my eye because I had thrown one away that was just like it a few days earlier but this time I noticed the interesting shape, the size and how easily the barcode sticker came off. I also like that they are made out of heavy card stock and have metal grommets. One of the tags even had a satin ribbon attached, a nice bonus. 

 Needless to say, I have started a collection of recycled tags. 

This is a cute reversible tag. I cut the words off the bottom since they were so close to the edge and it is now ready for decorating. If there is printing that can't be cut off a tag it could be covered with paper, ribbon or just about anything. 

  

This is the first tag I have created since starting my new collection.  

Other tag decorating ideas might include stamping, transfer, stickers, mixed media, collage, etc.

So many possibilities! 

Happy EVERYTHING....

Happy Flag Day!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Last Day of School!

Happy Graduation!

Happy Summer!

Flag Day

Flag Day + Birthday = A Party!

Birthday Day

Can you guess who this is????

Graduation

Congratulations to Our Graduate!!!
Peter ~ June 11, 2011

Also, congratulations to Elliott and Daniel on their High School graduations on
June 10th, 2011!

We really enjoyed this soloist at the THS graduation

and also the Color Guard.

So many reasons to Celebrate!!

sparkles & happy eyes...

....was the theme for our "baseball moms" get together to celebrate my upcoming Birthday. Everyone wore something with sparkles and their "happy eyes" which is a reference to a cute story I shared with my friends awhile back regarding a sweet remark our boys made about my eyes on a camping trip years ago.   

This is the fabulous food everyone made

 and it was just as good as it looks! 

The Birthday dessert was this amazing homemade Mango Raspberry Tart.

It was not only beautiful but absolutely delicious!

A pleasant summer evening sitting outside enjoying delicious food and the company of great friends...
what a wonderful gift!

strawberry season

The local strawberries are finally ripe!

Just in time too

because

we are almost out of homemade jam. 

I have had this strawberry strainer for years and use it every summer. It's a cute and convenient way to serve healthy snacks. I keep it filled with seasonal fruit, usually berries or cherries, throughout the summer. I love it! 

First batch of jam this season.  

My mom made the cute strawberry kitchen towel.

There's nothing like fresh local produce.