The Mint Needle

Making ribbons has come to an overhaul. I ended my "bow time" with some cute fabric bows made from left over material. Aren't they adorable? I started by cutting thin strips, (less than an inch), and applying fusible interfacing to the wrong side. I used small shears to snip the fabric where I would originally 'puncture' them. The slits eliminated the cause from broken pins. (And yes, fused fabric is so durable that it can break plastic pins if enough pressure is applied. Sincerely, the women who broke three just to be sure.) I think these will be cute to send out with my aprons! But... I will add that next time, I'll cut with pinking shears for a zig zag look to the bow. Wouldn't it be soo cute? And if you can't get enough green and are feeling a little crafty ~ I know the perfect fix. Check out these little door swags made from our trimmed tree branches, sage, lavender, and wild berries. Making these were a cinch and didn'...

Once again we visited our friendly near by farmer for some Christmas tree shopping:) This year.... the unlikely occurred. Weather in the 50's??? Yup, I couldn't believe it either! The girls had their usual fun, chasing the chickens and running around the grounds. Farmer Jim is great in that he has dedicated much of his time re-inventing these little homes and barns into mini historical museums. Every year, he adds something new. This time, it was a green house and some century clothing displayed in the various rooms. Here's a look at another fun filled trip finding our perfect tree. I love this Nativity set! A little display nestled on top of our old chest. It lights up and plays Christmas music. Thank goodness for extra quilt batting!  This is the first year I can honestly say the girls did most of the decorating ~ and they did such a great job! The rubber boots have been washed, the tree decorated, and the hous...

There's no better time to re-introduce this forgotten & clever tool more than now. With presents getting wrapped and Christmas shopping galore, Janell's Dial-a-Bow makes a perfect return for some holiday cheer! Our super sweet neighbor passed this handy tool along to my girls. The set came complete with gorgeous, vintage, satin & velvet ribbon. I spent the morning playing around and creating some beautiful bows thanks to a well kept guide. Who says it's for kids? I loved it! Ya know, I hear bow making used to be quite the crafty thing. And yeah, even though you can get a giant bow bag for 99 cents, it's not quite the same as making them yourself. So.... here's a look at some experimental bow making:) The clear plastic top in the removal pin which holds your bow together. My first bow The bow is created upside down.  When complete, just press on the red dial and your bow pops right off! Getting the hang of it! ...

I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving spending it with their loves. I lucked out this year and got to enjoy some delicious food, none of which I slaved over;) At home, we've been enjoying sleeping in & lounging around since the girls are on a mini holiday break ~ hot peppermint cocoa, fireside family time, & fuzzy blankets. The weather here is cold, cold, cold and there's enough snow for two more states! But I gotta admit, it's beautiful & peaceful. We've been spending time cuddling up with books, making craft projects, and of course stitching. Here's a little look! ~Words to live by~ Here's to welcoming December!

I recently saw a great quote on Pinterest: If you want it, but it doesn't exist. Create it. That pretty much sums up the idea between putting these patterns together. A two-tone dress, clean lines, retro shape, and knit fabric for comfort.   This dress falls at perfect mid calf length & was pieced together rather easily considering I didn't pay attention to measurements as tediously as I should've. I only ended up re-doing the waist once for a better fit. In my world, this means success. So are there any ideas I shall note, if ever attempted again? Well of course there are! 1. Pay attention to the main lines of the dress. Don't pick tops that can't be easily attached to the bottoms. The narrow waist in the top is what made this do-able with the bottom. 2. Make sure your 2 patterns have the same fabric choice recommendations. This will help overall in the flow of your garment. 3. Note measurements before anything! (This should have been ...

I've had Amy Butler's  book, Style Stitches, sitting on my shelf for quite some time. (Yeah.... the copyright date will tell you I'm long overdue.)  I've been wanting to make Amy's bags for sooooo long but it seems I've always had too many other projects going on until now . From the go...let me say Amy Butler's patterns get a typical review of 5 stars and I can totally see why! These directions were simple to follow and in the end... an adorable wristlet. Of course, I'm already debating on how to manipulate the pattern for a different look. (Gotta love my mom for some good tips.) I only did pleats on one side. The reason... I wasn't sure about how they'd look. Needless to say, the next bags will be pleated on both sides! The interior is finished completely showing no open seams. I love it! What have I turned my attention to now you ask? Well, has anybody tried combining two different patterns for a tota...