Birthday Banner Tutorial

Birthday Banners are a specialty of mine. They're fun and you can whip it up in no time!

Not into sewing? No problem! There's a new kid in town and its name is "Glue!"

If you sew, you most likely have a lot of fabric scraps jammed into a basket or stuffed in a drawer (stop looking at me like that!).

If you don't sew, consider yourself fortunate you don't have an out-of-control textile addiction.

Collect your supplies...if you have Joann's coupons, you can make this project for under $14. Without a coupon, about $20. But the banner will be used year after year and because it was made with love, it'll be a keepsake forever.

Oops, the tiers are in the wrong order.
The first (or bottom) tier is the larger measurement.
The second tier is the smaller measurement.

Go grab some stuff to get started:

Duck Cloth (white): 1 1/8 yard (you can just get a yard, it'll be a few inches shorter)
Cute Fabric: 1/4 yard each of two coordinating prints
Fabric for "frosting": 1/8 yd (or you can just use fabric paint)
*Option* 1/4 yard of fabric for cake stand (or you can paint this on the canvas)
Heat 'n Bond: 1 yard
Embellishments: ric rac, ball fringe, tulle, ruffles, ribbon, etc
Fabric paint
Yellow or Gold felt
Velcro

I'll be working on this over the next couple of days. At the end, you'll need a dowel or a decorative rod. But you can figure that out later. I think I have all the supplies listed, but don't hold me to it. There's usually a little "something else" I've remembered at the end of the project.

Here we go!

This is my first tutorial, so hang in there with me. If you have any questions, give me a shout, 'k?

farmyard fun!

Introducing...Riley Blake Designs and their new line, Farm Fresh.

I know you think it's cute...only Cruella De Ville would think it not!

Sometimes, Most of the time, Always, I manage to come across a fabric that captures my imagination. Last night, this happy little collection ran across my computer monitor. Later, when I went to bed, I found myself dreaming of sheep! Seriously, I can't get it out of my head!

The fabric really is just too cute for words. Three sheep, a cow, pig, chicken, ducks and happy flowers are so criminally cute.. if I buy some of this fabric, should I make a quilt? An apron? A purse, potholders, toddler dress?

Plaid...plaid. Plaid is so reassuring, practical, calming. The perfect accompaniment to a gaggle of barnyard animals!

And then...the flowers. Every farm has its flowers and these have lovely, happy little faces.

There are more patterns to this line, other color segways.There's Root Cellar, Gingham, Polka Dot, Haybale, and Farm. Then, the myriad of colors!  Not only is there cream, but green and teal as well. And I'm having a difficult time deciding which of the colors I like. Cream is neutral, but the green is bright and the teal is lusciously cool.

 I'm considering making a lap-size quilt for winter. Yes, I'm thinking winter and it's 100-humid degrees outside!

Call me a Rebel!

Even though I can piece a quilt lickety-split, it'd probably take me 3 to 4 months to get it to the quilter sew her magic. "Procrastination" is my middle name.

So whadaya think? Is the design too immature for me?

...... I didn't think so, either! Thanks.

signs of son.

I have to admit that Jason and I have a much happier weekend when the son shines on our home.

And the boats?

He parks them under the table and I love it!

Green Purse

Green Purse. Pfffffft. Don't let the uninspired name fool you. It's so much more than green!

*Note to self: "Use the correct color information, it does make a difference!"

The color palette is "Citron and Grey," a hot color combination in the world of textiles.

There's an outside back pocket, but I didn't think to take a photo of it. It's not that I'm lazy, I just didn't think to snap it until just now. I've been dusting and cleaning toilets...perhaps the bleach addled my brain.

I thought the purse needed a little oomph, so I rolled this flower, put a little tulle behind it and attached a pin. The flower is removable...it can be attached somewhere else on the purse, on your clothing or in your hair...though I think it'd hurt if you try stabbing the pin portion in your skull.

I don't know, maybe I'm over-thinking things. I think I'll get back to my cleaning, now.

Housework is sooooo stupid overrated!

I'll be putting this purse in my etsy shop within the week!

creation in pink and green!

This is a happy and bright sunsuit for a little girl...which I don't have, but still, I thought it might be fun to make a sweet little summer outfit.

This is a view of the fun rhumba ruffles. Coochi-coochi! Name that entertainer!

I should have taken a photo of the front, dontcha think?

Details, details!

4th of July weekend.

Our 4th of July weekend was lovely. It was a perfect weekend to go out on the boat, anchor in the river and gaze at the beautiful sky.

And spy on gorgeous homes with well-manicured lawns...

 ...complete with to-die-for docks and boat houses!

Ending with a ride past HOOTERS...

...then back home, to clean and unpack the boat. A refreshing dip in the pool, a little T.V. and off to bed!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

God bless America!

Ribbon Retreat Giveaway.

Are you in the mood for a delicious bowl of fabric?

I am! Who wouldn't love 6 fat quarters and some lovely jumbo ric-rac?!

Click on over to The Ribbon Retreat + Fabric for a chance to win some very cute fabric and trim...it's a great blog and I do believe you'll love it! They have the best ribbon and fabric and their customer service is stellar. While you're there, visit the ribbon web site, The Ribbon Retreat. Beautiful ribbons, fantastic projects.

Please don't win...I want to win.

Real bad...that ric-rac is awfully cute!

pretty stack of macho fabric.

Ty Pennington fabric. Who knew a carpenter could design such pretty fabric? It makes me want to go to a construction site and befriend one of those creative, sensitive dudes!

I'm loving the blue and salmon color. Somehow, I'm going to transform that fabric into a quilt for the foot of my bed. I'll be chronicling my progress, I know how excited you must be about this.

And I'm not through with Ty yet. There's more of him in a little bag, waiting to be made into a cute little bag.

On my way out the door...there's road work going on and I'm going to find me a flower-lovin', color-savvy construction designer!

my purse needs a nice home!

This is the first attempt at making this bag. "First" is never perfect..."first" comes with little mistakes. Often, a person might not really see the imperfections in construction that my eyes see. But the mistakes are present and they bother me.

I really love this fabric. It's bold and pretty. Very summery. The blue background is lovely and soothing.

The inside of this bag is just as pretty as the outside. In fact, it's supposed to be reversible. But most of the mistakes are on the inside of this bag. That's also why there are no inside pockets...if one were to turn it inside-out there would be funny-looking pockets on the outside. Hence, no pockets.

The purse is very roomy, 13-inches high by 15-inches wide and 3-inches deep. I love it, but I can't keep every purse I make. I'm listing the purse right here from my blog for $18 plus shipping (unless you live near me and we can meet), just email me and the first person who contacts me will be sent a Paypal invoice. Please include your name and address...My email is in the upper right-hand corner.

I've been known to include a little something extra when I sell a purse...just to show my love and appreciation.

a few of my favorite things.

A few things I'm in love with these days and not in the proper order...

 This sofa table. It's on order and I'm lovin' it! We ordered living room furniture and this lovely is on its way to me. I cannot wait!

 Oh, dear! This little lamb...he's my love. My first "great." And he's beyond great, he's my little lambikin. I love him sooooo much! Isn't he adorable? I know you think he is!

And then there's this beast. She's cost us a small fortune in the last couple of months. I could tell you some other personal things about her, but that wouldn't be nice of me. She is finally feeling better and acting like her old self. Playful and perky. And we love her...so happy to have her back!

I had hoped to have some projects made and photographed, but as usual, stuff is half made and sitting on my table. Maybe by Tuesday, I'll have it ready. Or not.

why am I drawn to Ghastlies?

I generally don't care for anything "spooky." Or macabre.

But Alexander Henry's Ghastlies has its hold on me...

Perhaps it's because the woman on the fabric has crazy hair like mine?

 Or maybe it's the drawings... I find them to be brilliant, eliciting an aura from an era long past.

Perhaps the exuberant expressions on the faces of the dinner guests are tickling my funny bone...a family holiday dinner!

Hawthorne Threads photo

I really, really want some of this fabric. I'm not sure what I'd make from it, but I think I could figure something out.

If you'd like some ghastly fabric of your own, you can find it here, at Hawthorne Threads. A fabulous web site and blog...

What would you make with this fabric? An apron? A purse? A Halloween quilt?

What a ghastly dilemma I'm in!

summer hats.

I've discovered the happy world of hat-making.

Living in the land of sun, it's important to keep one's head covered while out fishing, boating, gardening and/or beaching.

I didn't create the pattern, Betz White did. Check out her fabulous blog and list of patterns. This hat really is a breeze to make...and a lot of fun. 

 Here we have a summer bouquet. The colors a fabulously bright! Nice view of the side-seam...oh, and we have a nice wrinkle! The photographer must go! What an amateur...

This little frog jumping from lilly pad to lily pad is fun... 

And another hat with flowers...perhaps a tad more subdued than the first hat.

These hats (and more!) will be residing at the Avonlea Mall, come Thursday, on the corner of Baymeadows and Philips Highway behind the new CVS store. The shop name is "Green Gables" and there are loads of fantastic creations from artists residing in the Jacksonville area. Check it out, it's a fantastic mall.  You just might get lost in there.

 Next up: the Cadet hat.

happily ever-after.

You may or may not have noticed that things were pretty quiet on my blog for about a month.

There was good reason.

I was sitting in a room with my parents, watching this:



And these...

And him. My Dad. Can you believe that he could order his meals from a menu, at almost any time of the day? Room service in the hospital. Really? And the food actually looked good. Go figure!

 And we watched a lot of T.V. Fox News, Golf, golf, golf, golf...

Dad is feeling better now. He gave us quite a scare.

Thank you to our friends and family who embraced us in their prayers.

God is infinitely good.

look at a book.

One of my daily visits is to Bari J's  blog. It's a palette of beautiful colors and designs, tutorials and photos of her fabrics, family and inspiration.

I happened to be at Joann's the other day (I don't frequent near as much as I used to) when Bari's book jumped out at me and begged me to take her home. I said, "Whoa, wait a minute! Are you worthy?" So I started looking at the photos and found...

this lovely little belt. It's so colorful and sparkly and easy-looking. So I read on...

Jackpot! The moment I laid eyes on this little number, the book was mine. AND, I had a 50% off coupon... 

That belt is awfully cute. 

And it's soooooo good to be back to blogging!