Wordless Wednesday

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Persoanlized Wedding Gift: Monogrammed Candle Holders!

My friend, Deb, got married a few weeks ago. I wanted to make a gift for her and Josh that was personal and classy--something they could use for years to come.

Enter my cousin Julie, who is a consultant for PartyLite. They have some cool, albeit somewhat expensive, candles and accessories. Last year they had a special on their Express It candle holders and I bought several, knowing they'd make great gifts.

The premise behind Express It candle holders is the way they can be personalized. There are two columns of glass and you can put all kinds of things in the spaces between the cylinders.

My idea was to personalize it so that you could use it without anything between the columns if you'd like.


The first thing I did was to frost the inside column so that you could use it without any kind of insert. I used two coats of Valspar Frosting Spray Paint that I found at Hobby Lobby, letting it dry for about 15 minutes between coats. It sprayed on very evenly, which surprised me. I expected the spray to look uneven as if you'd used regular spray paint.

Then I got out my Silhouette SD. The Silhouette is an electronic cutter that you connect to your computer and can be used for various mediums including vinyl (like I used for this project), cardstock, and paper. It's similar to a Cricut if you're familiar with that line of cutters.

I wanted to monogram the candle holder with a "W" for Woodson--their last name. The letter needed to be at least 4 inches high. I selected black vinyl and the font was "Twilight" (from the movie series).

After cutting my "W", I applied it to the OUTSIDE glass cylinder. This will allow them to change out the items between the glasses, or leave it plain, and still have it look elegant.

If you don't have a vinyl cutter, you can find vinyl monograms at places like JoAnn Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, or even on eBay or Etsy. Don't limit yourself to monograms, however. Stickers in shapes like stars or hearts would be lovely. Think outside the box!

I think the project came out very well! I can see these being used as table centerpieces, on buffet tables, or in a living room setting. Of course, they also make great personalized gifts!

I have a few of them left. Wonder if I should make one for us?

Tipsy Pots: Leaning Towers of Flowers!

This is right after we planted the flowers. They've filled out now!

I saw a cute planter at a house in a nearby town and thought it was adorable--and about to fall over!

My sister-in-law, Lisa, said she knew the secret to the "tip" and would be happy to make me a set.

I don't have pictures of everything, but here's what you need:

--At least 3 clay pots in various sizes with a center drainhole in the bottom

--Metal rod that's at least six inches taller than your stacked pots

--Drainage material (I used packing peanuts.)

--Potting soil

--Flowers

Our pots were different shades of terra cotta, and I really like red, so we started by painting the pots red with three coats of spray paint.

Push the metal rod down into the soil where you want your tower to sit. This isn't a project you can move around after you finish it. You have to make it where it will live!

Slide the biggest pot down over the rod through the drainage hole. Add a layer of drainage material then fill it almost to the top with potting soil. Be sure to have your kids help you with this part. Mine love getting dirty!

Put the next largest pot over the rod through the drainage hole. (Now you're starting to see how this is going to work, right?) Tip it to one side so that the top edge of the pot is leaning on the rod. You may have to add more soil to the bottom pot to get your second pot to sit where you'd like it. Pack the soil down because when you water your flowers it will cause the soil to settle. Once you have your pots how you'd like them, add your drainage material and potting soil to the second pot.

Repeat this process until you get to your top pot. Plant the flowers and give them a good soaking of water.

Watering this tower can be a bit challenging in the beginning. The soil will settle and the water will run out of the pots, taking some dirt with it. As long as you filled the pots with soil to begin with, they'll be fine. The flowers will "spill" over the sides when they start to grow.

Next year I'm planning a larger tower using bigger pots and more of them! They're definitely unique. In fact, I've seen two cars stop and take a picture of them in our front yard!

I'm Ba-a-a-a-a-a-ck!

Hopefully, my hiatus is over! What a wild ride this last year has been.

My blog is going to have a little re-vamp. More crafts, sewing, projects, and recipes.
I can't wait to get back at it!

If A Child Learns

From the Internet:


If A Child Learns...

If a child lives with critism
he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility
he learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule
he learsn to be shy.

If achild lives with shame
he learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance
he learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement
he learns confidence.

If achild lives with praise
he learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness
he learns justice.

If a child lives with security
he learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval
he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with ACCEPTANCE and friendship
he learns to find love in the world!

Let Us Have Some Lettuce!

We finally harvested some lettuce and had BLTs!

The girls thought it was the coolest to eat something we'd grown ourselves!

Garden Update--Sans Photos

Our "garden" is coming along nicely!

Two of the ten tomatoes have flowers.

We're harvesting lettuce tonight for BLTs! Too bad the "T" isn't from our garden yet!

Ten pumpkin plants have poked through the ground.

The squash never did materialize. We may replant them.

We have flowers planted and look lovely on the front porch.

I have basil seeds and plan to get them into pots in the next day or so.

Check out the other garden updates at www.teachinggoodthings.com!

Garden Update!

Our pumpkins have sprouted!

Tomatoes are lined up in kitty litter buckets. This is only part of them. We have nine or ten total.

The lettuce is looking pretty good! It's laying over because the girls were a bit over-zealous with the watering can. They can't wait to have a salad! (Yes, they love salads!)

Graduation Presents!

My aunt, who is 55, graduated from college this weekend!

We went to her openhouse yesterday. Her gifts were a monogrammed market tote and matching travel mug. I'm going to be making more of these!

Thrifty Thursday--Fabric Softener

I don't have a picture of it, but I do have a good recipe for fabric softener. I found it at www.recipezaar.com.

A lot of people use straight vinegar for fabric softener, and we've tried that. We weren't crazy about it though.

Mix this up in a gallon jug--or halve it and use the fabric softener bottle:

6 cups water
3 cups white vinegar
2 cups hair conditioner (I used Suave brand.)

Stir, don't shake. Shaking causes foaming, which will eventually go down.
Use it like regular fabric softener. We use it in a Downy ball. Works great and is REALLY inexpensive!

Check out more Thrifty Thursday posts here!

Beginning Gardening 101

The girls love "playing in the dirt" and think it's all in fun. Hopefully they'll think it's fun when it's harvest time!

I've been working on several things these past few weeks.

The girls' Easter dresses are cut out and ready to be sewn.

I've made peace with my new serger...had to go back into the shop and have another threading lesson.

Other projects included more crayon rolls for a consignment shop, some new jewelry designs (mostly for autumn--I'm way ahead here), learning to use SewWhatPro for my embroidery machine, experimenting with Kiwi papers for embroidery, working on travel tumblers for embroidery, and working with new ribbons for hairbows.

My embroidery machine is getting a workout.

Nothing is completed, and it's driving me insane! Pictures to follow--as soon as something is finished.

Sunday School Songs

More video from our mini vacation last weekend. The girls love to sing these Sunday School Songs!

A New Version of an Old Favorite

Can You See Me Now?

I'll admit it: I have this strange fascination with camouflage. I love it all...greens, browns, even pinks! I'm drawn to it like a moth to a flame....well, maybe it's not that bad!

Before Christmas I made some camo koozies in browns and greens with hunter orange embroidery that say "Can You See Me Now?"--a take-off on the infamous cell phone commercials. When I saw some little camo sweatshirts at WallyWorld, I just KNEW they needed embroidery! So, some were added to the stash.

For the record, children's sweatshirts are harder to machine embroider than they look. I'll think twice before doing something like this again. On the other hand, I think they're really cute!

I've listed the baby burp cloths in my Etsy shoppe! Stop by and check them out!

Upcycled Dress

I made this dress for Bug (a.k.a. Audrey) out of a pair of thrifted overalls and some clearance fabric. Cute, eh?

Start by laying the overalls out flat and cutting the pants off about 1" below the bib. Serge or zig-zag the edge.

I cut the fabric for the skirt about 17" long allowing for 1/2" seam allowance on each end and 30" wide. I gathered the top with my ruffling foot, although you could easily gather it with a long basting stitch. Then I sewed the gathered edge to the bibs using my zipper foot so I could get really close to the bib's seam.

I then added a ruffle of a similar fabric to the bottom.

The bibs then needed a little decoration so I took the pocket off and added a ruffle. I sewed the pocket back on using a gold thread that matched the topstitching that was already there.

Voila'! Finished!

P.S. The bottom ruffle looks a little wonky in the photo because it wasn't hanging evenly on the hanger.

Baby Burp Cloths

I haven't had a lot to post about, even though the destash is underway. My New Year's Resolution was to NOT buy any new fabric. Well, that lasted about 48 hours. I got some great deals on fabrics that I've already used!

I've been making these baby burp cloths. The idea for them came from a blog somewhere....I think it was Rocks in My Dryer. Yeah, that's it! Anyway, they are very easy to make and will be great baby gifts for showers or gift baskets. I'm taking some to a local consignment shop and will list some in my Etsy shoppe. I'll link to them after they're posted.

So, you get 1/2 yard of 2 different flannels. Wash, dry, and iron them. Put the fabrics right sides together and cut rectangles that are 18"x11", more or less. You should get 4 from the 1/2 yard of fabric. You can round the corners if you like. I did on some by tracing around a drinking glass. Sew them with a 1/4" seam allowance, leaving about 4" for turning. Turn them right side out and press again. Tuck in the part where you turned them right side out while you're doing the pressing. Top stitch about 1/8" all the way around, closing up the hole where you turned it. I did some decorative stitching on one of them, but prefer just straight stitching.

That's it! They're finished.

I made some hang tags with washing instructions that I'll attach also. I think that gives them a professional look. They could be monogrammed if you have an embroidery machine.

Overall, they're a fast, frugal project that helps use up your stash!

Patterns. I Love 'Em.

Patterns. I love them. All of them. All kinds of them.

And it shows.

I would post a photo of all my patterns, but I probably couldn't get them all in one photo. Just take my word for it--I have a lot.

In the past few days I've been trying to be tough and sort them out. Patterns really are one thing I have a hard time parting with. Well, patterns and fabric. And trim. Can't forget the trim. Oh, and different threads...love threads....

But I digress.

Lately I've been getting a lot of my patterns from You Can Make This. It's my absolute favorite place for inspiration. The best part is that the patterns are in ebook form. This means you download the pattern and the instructions from the website right to your computer! You then print the pattern out and, depending on the pattern and the size, you do a little taping the pieces together. Very, very simple! Plus you get all the sizes the pattern comes in right there in one download (usually just one anyway). Once you sign up with them you also have your ebooks in their library so you can print them out at any time. They also have a section of free ebooks and patterns so you can try them out before you purchase anything.

I have to admit that I have downloaded all my YCMT (You Can Make This) patterns and have them stored on a USB file. I work between two computers and the laptop in my sewing room does not have internet access. This is a very simple way to keep all your patterns together.

Once I print and cut out a pattern, I file it in a gallon-size ziploc bag and keep it in a box with all the other lovely little patterns. They like to join their friends there once I'm done with them.

So, back to sorting patterns. I don't really have a good way to sort and store the traditional enveloped patterns. The patterns I'm keeping (and that's most of them) are filed by size, in a general way.

Tomorrow--notions.