The Mint Needle

Feel like stitching up something really quick & pretty? How about changing up those coasters for the coffee table? I decided the glass ones I had, needed to be replaced with some bright colors and a soft touch. Take a look! All you need are a couple of strips of fabric all measuring the same length. Stitch them together lengthwise and cut them into equal sized squares once they are pressed. I used black felt for the backing. Sew them together face side down in a U shape. The one side should stay open so you can fold it right side out. Once again, press. Carefully fold the open end inward and topstitch to seal it closed. Continue with the topstitch over all your seams. (My bobbin thread was black to match the backing. Just want to remind everyone to switch that out.) Aren't they cute? This is what I call a great 'in between projects' project! On another note~ Could you believe January has already come and gone??? I've go...

So... what can you do with a piece of wood measuring 45 inches by 3 1/2? Well, if it's 1 inch thick, you can use it to make the cutest wall rack. But instead of using hooks, use drawer knobs!   Here's how the idea got started. I needed a place to photograph kids aprons. Now, most of you know that my girls have been modeling them, but they can't model toddler aprons, right? All I could picture was a gorgeous crystal knob rack used to display those mini aprons I love to make. And after searching in stores and online, I realized they are not very easy to find. Soo...... "oooohhh hubby.... can you drill a few holes in this piece of oak wood I found in the barn?"   Of course he did it in a heart beat & he even sanded it down too! The holes were positioned like this: I did the two outer ones first, then measured to the center in between those. And again, the middle of the center and outer one. Got it? I took some regular creamy white wall paint I had left...

A few weeks ago, Craftsy.com  had an amazing sale where all their jelly rolls were half off. (It was awesome!) More of a 'yardage' girl, I never worked with jelly rolls before. I knew that the prices couldn't be beat for that first time 'give it a try' project. And... I just loved the patterns for Tula Pink's Moon Shine:) After researching a couple of quilt patterns, I figured what better way to get me hooked than with a simple design that promised a good result. Take a look at how Tula Pink came out as a jelly roll race quilt. I loooooove how colorful it is! This  video on youtube is pretty good in case you want to try this too:) I picked one of the fabrics from the collection for the backing. This was my favorite! Now, I still have to connect the batting and back to the front. Currently, the game plan is to get a walking foot for my machine and meticulously pin everything together. I'm debating on a design for the topstitch as well...

Ohhh for the love of fabric... I just never seem to get enough. There is no better topic to start the new year off than with combining shopping and fabric! In the past, I've researched where the 'go-to' is for the best fabric deals. And...  I've noticed that some of the shops I frequent ~ just don't get enough credit. So, here's a little post about where you can find some beautiful fabric, for a really really good price! 1.  wintercreekcloth.com  - Thank you Instagram!  Otherwise, I would've never known about this little gem! This is a great site for the latest in quilting fabric. Expect an extremely organized shopping trip. You can earn points as you shop to use as a coupon later. Sign up for their newsletter so you can get insight into all the latest this shop has to offer! 2.  fabricworm.com  - This site is packed with all those lovely organic cotton prints that are perfect for the little ones. If you're looking for a place that will spa...

I can't believe it's here. As some of us are still scurrying to get all the presents wrapped and tucked away, I just wanted to send everyone a Merry Christmas! May your homes be filled with love, laughter, & good health! Happy Trails to welcoming the New Year!

Pinterest did it again! I came across this great idea (from Shannon Berrey's Design Blog ) to make some really beautiful rustic looking Christmas ornaments. While Shannon painted gorgeous images on her pieces, I decided to use some snapshots taken from our trip to Colorado. Wow, do I love the way these came out! To make these, you will need: ~ some thin slices of firewood (must be dried) - pre-drill the holes prior to adhering the photos ~ a glass or circle stencil that fits inside of the wood slice ~ some photos ~ mod podge ~ triple thick ~ two paintbrushes, one for mod podge and one for triple thick ~ twine or ribbon ~ scissors  ~ a needle and small nail My handy man, aka hubby,   cut and pre-drilled my wood slices. Brush off any excess wood shavings so that the piece is pretty clean. If it's not clean, your pics will have a tough time sticking. But... do not get the wood wet & do not try to wash it. If you do, you'll have to wait fo...

This time of year, I love to show my girls how you can make Christmas ornaments from almost anything. For example take the following two projects! The first is a twig & birds nest which requires a couple sticks, glue, glitter, wire and beads. (If you're going to do this project with little ones, replace the wire with twine.)  Start by creating a small bundle of equally sized twigs. Wrap them with wire (or twine) to secure them together. Grab the glue and start applying a thin coat to the stick ends. You really won't want to get glue in the center for a couple reasons. The glue won't adhere to the wire and if you use it one twine, you risk having it loosen from being wet. (Unless you want to make this into a two day project & have it dry overnight.) Stick the glitter in a small Ziploc bag an throw the bundle of twigs inside.  Give it a shake.  N ext you'll want to make the bird's nest. I make these by threading the be...