A Trip Around The World. twice!

I made a trip around the world. But then I thought...hmmm. With a little cutting I had two!

This one just needs a border.

Have you made a trip around the world?

Sarah's Wedding...

I was fortunate enough to decorate 

for a the wedding of these two fabulous people!

Shawn and I went to school with Sarah's parents and my kids went to school with her. I was thrilled when her mom asked me to decorate for the wedding. It was a PLEASURE for sure! 

The only bummer was that Nolan really thought 

Sarah would one day be HIS bride!!!

You can see why. 

She's everything Nolan would want in a wife! 

But alas, she is Isaac's. And he is a lucky guy!!!

Congratulations to you two! 

May God always bless your marriage!

P.S. Photography by Ben Christensen

My First "Real" Pattern!

I'm so excited! 

I designed my first pattern! 

I just had to share. 

Hopefully it will be the first of many!

if you are interested in purchasing a pattern, 

click here for the link to fat quarters quilt shop.

A New School Year

These cute kids started a new school year!

Masyn is in 7th grade

Nolan is in 2nd grade

And Evyn Rose is in kindergarten!!!

I love them so much! 

Fireworks!!!

I'm in love with this quilt. 

It's an original pattern by Cheri. 

Indygo Junction published it a hundred years ago. 

You may still be able to get it.

This one is my moms! Just finished quilting it. 

Happy summer quilting!!!

Ohio Stars

Well, I broke a promise. Sorry! We've been sick around here...

Vanessa from V & Company 

has a great tutorial to make these blocks. 

(photo from V & Company)

So gather up the

2 1/2" red square

(8) 1 1/2" red squares

(4) 1 1/2"x 2 1/2" muslin rectangles

(4) 1 1/2" squares

And using this tutorial make four star blocks.

Happy quilting!!!

Inexpensive & BIG white board

I needed a large whiteboard for our classroom but I didn't want to spend a fortune.

Enter Michaels!!!

They have these 24x36 frames in many colors. I got mine for $12 on sale!!!

All I did was take the display paper and turn it over to the white side. The plastic cover is perfect for dry erase markers and now I have a big, inexpensive white board!

YAY!!!

Happy Thursday!

Dresden Borders...

Sorry. Yesterday flew by...

Sew the (4) 15 1/2" squares together to make the center of the quilt.

For the borders, sew a red 1 1/2" strip to each side of the 2 1/2" muslin strip.

Repeat for all 4 sides. Then trim these 4 units to 30 1/2". 

I will be back tomorrow for the stars. I promise :)

Dresdens...the cutting

Welcome back!

Ok so let's get cutting.

From your muslin, cut:

(4) 15 1/2" squares

       (these are the block backgrounds)

(4) 2 1/2" x WOF strips for the inner border

(16) 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" units for the stars

(16) 1 1/2" squares for the stars

From your color fabric, cut:

(8) 1 1/2" strips x WOF for borders

(4) 2 1/2" squares for the stars

(32) 1 1/2" squares for the stars

(4) 2 1/2" strips x WOF for binding 

Using the directions for your dresden plate ruler, cut your (42) charm squares into (84) plate pieces. 

Happy cutting and have a very happy Easter!!!

Come back Monday!!!

Easy Dresdens!!!

Have you wanted to make a dresden plate quilt but haven't wanted to invest the time? 

I'm teaching this wall hanging at the shop this weekend and I have decided to invite you to quilt along with us!!! 

The more the merrier!!!

You will need:

1 1/4 yd of Muslin

1 yd of a color (surprise! I chose red)

1 charm pack with at least 42 squares

1 easy Dresden ruler

Ok I will see you back here tomorrow with cutting instructions :)

She is FIVE!!!

Holy smokes, the time is flying by!!!

This sweet sugar, just turned FIVE!

At five Bub is still her all time favorite!

She LOVES Minnie Mouse, Max & Ruby, Sophia the First, and Doc Mc Stuffins.

She dances like a teenager (that's all I'm saying about that) she loves to sing and play just dance.

Her daddy bought her a pink BB Gun. She can hold her own with any boy that tries her patience or pulls her braid.

She loves to get dressed up. But ONLY when she wants to! She isn't bossy but she sure doesn't let others boss her around. 

She's independent like all my kids. Maybe a tad more than the rest. She is THE BEST hugger and still loves to snuggle.

Her favorite color is pink. She loves all things sugar. Thus the nickname, Sugar. Which, by the way, she loves it when I call her that.

She's excited to start kindergarten but is sad she's leaving her preschool friends. 

By far, she is the most social. 

We adore her! I can't wait to see what the future holds for her ❤️

A {Joyfu}l Heart

We had our RS Woman's Conference today.

What a WONDERFUL group of speakers. i got so much out of it.

as i mentioned before, i was asked to decorate.

i love decorating, but let me tell you.

when it's for someone else, it's a whole 'nother ball game

and i was stressed out.

how do you decorate a cultural hall???

well let me tell you how i did.

i obviously had a budget to stick with,

so i went with burlap and lace runners.

i have a friend that has a meal planning business and gave me all the

large soup cans i needed for the centerpieces.

white flowers and eucalyptus made it simple.

i had nothing to do with the food. 

thank goodness, because i could never have

come up with this.

it was a vietnamese meal and it was deelicious!

chalkboards, bunting, burlap and more bunting

made a big statement without a big price.

i put all these together in a day.

get old books from a thrift store. 

i just used twine from the jewelry dept at joanne's 

and ran a zig zag stitch over it to hold it in place,

burlap is great.

if you cut strips, you can gather it by simply and gently

pulling a thread from the center.

i start a thread from each side, i have better luck that way.

shawn made this 4ft square chalkboard for me.

its masonite trimmed in moulding of your choice.

paint with chalk paint and you are good.

TIP! i haven't had any luck with chalk pens and chalkboard paint.

be prepared to repaint if you use it.

a joyful heart

makes the face cheerful!

enjoy...

Cupcake Liners!!!

I was asked to decorate for a woman's conference at church. So I decide to make lots of garlands to fill space. 

Cupcake liners and ribbon from Walmart turned out to be my best friends!

They are really so easy. 

Don't be afraid to mix colors and textures. 

The more the merrier

YeeHaw!!!

Tonight is the father daughter dance at Masyns school. Reluctantly Shawn took her. Poor guy, he really HATES this kind of thing. But he REALLY loves his girls, so to the dance they go. It's a country western theme. 

Jethro and the tale of the not-so-big dog bed...

So about a week ago, I came home to yet another dog bed disaster...

The fifth dog bed, destroyed by our resident Great Dane. He has a love-hate relationship with dog beds. Haven't quite figured him out yet.

To say the least, I was mad. I refuse to buy another XXL bed. So he has been banned to a bed of blankets.

Except! He seems to think that Wilsons bed will suit him just fine. For the past week he goes to bed before the other dogs with the intent to get to Wilsons bed before Wilson does. He succeeds for the most part until we have to force him out of it. 

I'm not sure why he thinks he will fit.

Or even why he finds this, at all, comfortable. But he does. 

It's amusing.

Happy Sunday!!!

Red Calico...be still my heart

So I just couldn't help myself.

I had to share the red calico...

I found these images on Pinterest.

By tinkerbell240677.tumblr.com

By jamaicabyles.blogspot.com

By burleigh.co.uk

Have a great day!