All Buttoned Up--Scraps to Cards

I'm looking at a pile of scraps - snipped out from beautiful papers that I've made envelopes with, scrapbook pages, tags and cards. It's fun to whip up little meaningful cards, just with my scraps!

Today's little card:

 The most import thing on this card is a vintage button. It came from this jar of very old buttons that belonged to my beautiful Great Aunt Sis. Her name was actually "Nancy" but we all called her Aunt Sis. She looked like young Kate Hepburn, and she could do anything. She and I share the same birthday, and she passed away when I was little - but she loved me dearly and we spent time together. I had misplaced these buttons and just found them the other day! (they were hiding behind where I had stored my daughter's old Disney Princess sewing machine) Oh happy day. Now one had to go on a card or something right away!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Scrap

Quick-to-Quilt Pillow with Embroidery and Applique

 I am not really a quilter...but I dabble in it and one snowy afternoon this winter, I made an easy little patchwork quilted pillow.

Isn't it cute? I got the idea from Quilting Arts on PBS, but then I kind of did my own thing. The basic concept of cutting the fabric into strips, sewing, and then the quick cutting and piecing really works though. Fast!

You just measure and cut your strips, then sew them together. Easy peezy lemon squeezy! First cut six 16X2-1/2 inch strips. You will need six different fabrics. Lay your cut strips in the order you want, and sew together with a quarter-inch seam allowance.

Cut one 2-1/2 inch strip to use in the construction of the block. Take the remaining piece and fold the right sides together and sew. Now for the part you might not like - getting out your seam ripper! No really, this is healthy! We all need a better relationship with our seam rippers. You will cut 2-1/2 inch strips and use your seam ripper to undo each section on a strip that will then coordinate to make the new block with the variegated step look. You're going to realize how fast and easy this is.

 Continue sewing your strips together and you will have a finished 12-inch patchwork square in no time. I can't want to make another one with some actual fat quarters, since I just grabbed some fabric scraps to do this one.

So I admit, I'm not a practiced quilter and my square of matched-up strips did not turn out perfect - and yet I love it! It's a little wonky, but loveable. So now came the fun part. I cut strips of light fabric for the sides, did some diecut hearts using the same fabrics from the patchwork, and then appliqued the hearts. 

After that, I did a little doodle stitching embroidery and added some words--Bliss, Joy, and Peace. Love this part!

Then I was ready to make my quilt sandwich. I went to the sewing machine and simply stitched around all the squares, and added stippling around the border. I still had the applique foot on my machine--since this project I've actually ordered a quilting foot, because I want to do more machine quilting now. Fun!

I sewed on the back with right sides together, turned it out, stuffed it, whip stitched it closed, and I had my first handmade quilted pillow. My mom would have been proud. ♥

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Quilt

Messy But Happy - WOYWW 247

Happy What's-On-Your-Workdesk Wednesday! Visit Mrs. Dunnit's Stamping Grounds to see wonderful workdesks all over the planet! Add yours! Here's mine in the USA's very cold Ozarks.

Even though I am enjoying a nice office job in my fifties--I spent my younger years as a copywriter in the crazy stressful advertising world--my creative urges stalk me! I can't help it. As I told you last week, I'm going to join my local arts and crafts guild this spring, and I'm looking for a craft show to participate in--I just want to make things! Cards, necklaces, mug rugs, all kinds of things. So, by george, I think I'm growing up to be a professional crafty artist! I love it. And I'm dreaming of a little craft shack to be built someday soon in my backyard. Wouldn't that be cool? And thank you all for your amazing love and support on the subject of me joining my local arts and crafts guild! I really needed that. In the meantime, here's my messy, happy domain on an early Tuesday morning. I can't show everything today--I'm working on getting on a design team. Woo hoo! Hugs and love!

P.S. Loved the season finale of Downton Abbey, by the way. Smashing all the way around, and of course, as usual, I'll be in agony until the next season starts and I'll have to watch every episode over again until then. Mom would have loved it. *sigh* I hope Call the Midwife (my other addiction) is coming soon!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Live a Little

Pots, Boxes, Trays, Jars and Baskets of Happy

I find happiness in the funniest places around my house. I saw a saying this morning that said, "If you want to be happy, be." So true! It's like that childhood song. If you count your blessings and name them one by one...there's really no room for misery. Enjoy your day and I hope you are blissed and blessed. ♥

My sugar-n-cream yarn stash makes me happy every time I look at it.

This was the last basket of tomatoes I picked in November. *Sigh* of happiness.

Tea pots-o-happy.

A happy pot of parsley on my sun porch - and Minnie.

Darling daughter's yarn stash - cute.

A box of happy from a co-worker on Valentines.

A simple jar of happy.

A basket of pearl cotton floss really makes me happy.

A dollhouse full of happy!

A basket of kitty love!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Be Happy

Sunday Threads

My kingdom does not belong to this world.
John 18:36

The Best Crafty Ideas Start at Your Worktable--WOYWW 246

Here's what's on my worktable on a random Tuesday evening.

Now, go visit dozens of worktables all over the planet at What's-On-Your-Workdesk-Wednesday.

Sometimes my worktable is up against the window--but I'm back in the mood to have it pulled out in the middle of the floor so both leaves can go up if needed. That's because I'm swamped with ideas. I keep those creative thoughts and lists in my little black book there. Not to mention the random recipe or two. Ooh--this is the first time I've shown my new glasses! I can see!

One of my ideas involves vintage trimmings and linens, some stitching, and some words. More to come on that. And then another idea is a little crafty book. I've long wanted to write one--but nothing ever struck me as the central theme. Then, hubby was staring at my crafty corner last night, trying to think of better storage solutions, and we were talking, and boom. There it was. The idea I was looking for! So now I get to work on that too!

I've also done some more reorganizing--thus hubby's brainstorming and more storage solutions. He thought maybe he could put some things away for me somewhere, like the garage, but the problem is I use EVERYTHING, all the time.

A stack of scrapbook papers I use all the time.

Not that having great crafty supplies is a problem! It's quite a blessing to be able to let out your creativity and have the means to do so. For that I am so thankful. Therefore, I've also made a decision! I'm going to join our local arts and crafts guild. I've checked it out, and the membership runs from June to May. It looks like there's about 20 members is all. So they need me, right? I don't own a craft shop, and I don't go around selling my wares that much, but I still want to join. So I'll have the rest of the winter to make myself more worthy!

Downton groupies: were you surprised that Mr. Green met his demise the same day Bates took a little daytrip? I wasn't! And what about that Daisy. I was so proud she took the advice of her father-in-law (even though he was her father-in-law for about two seconds.)

Crafty hugs!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Imagine

Sunday Threads

God is love.

1 John 4:16

A Little Mug Rug Love

With some felt scraps and floss - this mug rug stitched up in no time! It's for darling daughter's Valentines bag today - she collects owls, so I couldn't resist making an owl thing. 

I use #5 pearl cotton floss - I love those rich colors and the fact that you don't have to separate it like regular floss. For the two main pieces, I just did a wavy cut with scissors and made the red base, and then the beige center which was cut a little smaller. I cut all the little pieces for the owl freehand, except the white circles were diecut. Then I did all the embroidery before stitching the beige onto the red. Also, before I stitched the two main pieces together, I embroidered a little message on the bottom - and that was one easy mug rug to make! Now I'm going to start on some mug rug flower shapes for Easter! Happy heart day everyone!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Love

WOYWW 245--A Valentine, An Art Journal, and Some Words

 Dear, dear deskers--I really think I'm gaining a little momentum as February speeds by. I mean, it's almost Valentines Day! I'm actually making a few cards...and in the process I think I'm envying those who make cards as a business. What a lovely, lovely pastime it is to make a card! I want to make a bunch. But then, I've also been better about art journaling...though I don't claim to be the greatest artist...nowhere near. I've even stitched a Valentine mug rug for darling daughter--as I trust she never reads my blog, I can share it! It snowed again Monday morning--but weatherman promises we are on a warmup! This summer girl hopes so, because this coming weekend I'll be starting some of my seeds. I've already bought about 22 packs of seeds and new trays from Wally World (Wal-Mart) - many of them for only 20 cents. Woo hoo! I can start some of my tomatoes and peppers on my greenhouse.

In the meantime, I have finished stitching the Valentine mug rug, and I'll show it here. Lately, my favorite thing to do at my worktable is to stitch and watch videos from Lindsey the Frugal Crafter on my tablet--she is full of wonderful tips and information! I highly recommend subscribing to her YouTube channel.

Okay, so this is supposed to be a surprise--so don't tell, but here is the finished little mug rug--it stitched up in no time.

Visit What's-On-Your-Workdesk-Wednesday and see if you can find any other secrets laying around on someone's desk, somewhere on the planet!

Um...Downton Abbey peeps, did you notice that Mr. Bates totally gave up his chance to visit America! The Earl was not thrilled about going himself either! Oh well, I don't care as I'm much more concerned with Lady Edith's baby!! And where's her missing beau!

Happy Valentines Day lovelies!

A basket of happy

Eat, Write, Dream, and Stitch Lovely Thoughts

WOYWW 244--A Doodle Here a Snowflake There...

It's actually Tuesday here and pouring snow outside. What more inspiration do I need to do a little art journaling?

It's not only fun to take a photo of your worktable once in a while, it's really fun to link it up to:
What's-On-Your-Workdesk-Wednesday!

 Lately I've realized the lack of art journaling going on--and I don't know why. It can be done with just ten minutes a day really. So I've decided to art journal much more often in a spiral bound XL multimedia book. Those white pages, ready for water color, stamping, gluing and writing, are just very freeing. I have old music books, dictionaries, and vintage dress patterns--plenty to tear up, glue, stamp and write on. Every day!

Whenever I have one of those 25%-off-the-whole-purchase coupons at Michaels, that's when I buy my pearl cotton flosses. They are perfect just looped around rings. No cutting or separating--they just pull off the knot, one at a time and ready to embroider.

You probably can't see the snow, but that's why it looks so white out there beyond my worktable!

A better look at my latest doodle stitching. My favorite thing to do lately is to watch Downton and embroider. By the way, fellow D.A. fans, did I miss something? I don't understand why Thomas thinks that the new ladies maid constantly owes him information. I don't even think they showed her being hired, so I know something is up with that. I do enjoy seeing her use that incredibly vintage sewing machine though! Happy Wednesday dears.

My sweet daughter and I!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Doodle