Across The Miles.......

We had such fun on our families Women's Day this past July that we women decided to do a little something once a month, together. We are spread across the United States, but, with skype and cell phones, it has been possible to successfully join up and have fun together across the miles.

In August, we took our Women's Day photo from July and did a little something special with it.

We worked on our projects as we talked and chatted....across the miles.

Each of us had picked a favorite piece of fabric from The Ice House Quilt shop while we were up north on vacation.

Then the creating and cutting began.


Working and working, and talking and visiting...enjoying each others company near and far.



Got to love a glue gun.

And, what fun results......one--- ...two--

....three-----

Done and fun! Great memories for each of us to have and enjoy for the months and year ahead...until we can all meet up in person again.

Its possible to close down those road miles between us all, and come together.

Ta-duh!

And, hopefully, we can catch a picture of Jenna's framed picture. She used gorgeous fabric and pages from a book to frame her picture. J...tell your computer to hurry and get fixed. Been a super long repair job.

Oh---September our Women's Day group read a most inspiring article on womanhood, by Julie B. Beck entitled...."And Upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit"... that Jenna suggested. Great discussion and contribution of thoughts from everyone. Was another great evening.

This month for our Women's Day group... fall apples. We will be putting on our aprons and making something yummy with apples.....and i do believe we will be able to smell the deliciousness across the miles, as we gather in 4 different locations....to bake, to visit, to laugh, to enjoy each others company, as we carry on our this new and wonderful tradition. xo

Today's Challenge: Learn a New Hobby

A Mom's Ultimate Survival Kit

I was catching up on one of my favorite DIY blogs, All Things Thrifty and came across this BRILLIANT project: A mom's ultimate survival kit. (Or, a date night survival kit?! A boring class kit? A trip to the park kit? An overnighter kit?!)

You know how you have to dig to the bottom of your purse for keys...you know you put a pen in your bag but where is it? Voila!

She picked up items at a dollar store. If it was a date kit I'd put in lipgloss, safty pins, money, gum etc. Boring class: sudoko, colored pens, candy, straws and spitwads...

Made pockets for each...

I actually think I look more at the beautiful pillows in the background here, ha!

How awesome is that?! This way, you're not a tote-bag lugging, backpack exploding crazy person. She must have known I needed this!
She even includes a tutorial for making the cute flower on the outside!

To make it go to the site here

Happy Monday!

Snip-Snip!

Here is my son, in his Halloween costume....Edward Scissorhands. He had a music concert at his school last night and the kids all dressed in all kinds of costumes. It was so fun and funny. A little closer look at the scissorhands that we made out of sheets of crafting foam and 75cent black cotton grocery store gloves. I used my glue gun to adhere the foam to the gloves. It was so easy and super cool.
Really excited for all the Halloween activites coming up! What are you dressing up to be for Halloween? Do tell!

A Favorite Chair.......

This is one of my favorite pieces of furniture. We bought it while living in Bordeaux, France. It is a little, pretty, telephone table. I just love it. And, I think it looks like Autumn. The woven fabric is heavy and beautiful. The little drawer is just plain cute and we do use it. Instead of a telephone on the little side table, I have placed a beautiful pumpkin that someone gave to me several years ago. And, as luck would have it........

.....I just came across the HOW-TO of this amazing, crafted pumpkin. I was so surprised. I had no idea what went into making one of these.


Check it out here.... htpp://www.favecrafts.com/Halloween-Crafts/Playful-Pumpkin-Patch#

Fall Favorite......Sun Catcher Project!!!

Took a Fall walk around our property!

Gathered up a bunch of this and that...ya know...Fall yard stuff! Leaves, flowers, herbs, etc.



You're gonna love this...I think! Get out the ole wax paper. I used two large pieces of wax paper, for this project. Make sure they are both the same size. Drape your ironing board with an old light weight towel or cloth. You don't want anything to spill out onto your ironing board.




Next, display your colorful Fall leaves and such, all over one piece of the wax paper.




Then, get out your crayons and a pencil sharpener.

This part is so much fun! Just start shaving the crayons and spreading the colorful pieces all over your leaves and wax paper.

Set the other piece of wax paper over your beautiful piece of artwork. Line up the edges. Set your iron to a very low setting. When ready, barely tap around the edges of the wax paper to melt them together. This will keep your top piece of wax paper from moving off of your bottom piece of wax paper, and will keep all your yard contents in between the wax paper. You are basically sealing the edges shut, by lightly melting the wax paper together.

Gently drape a cloth or light towel over your art piece. Turn your iron to medium high. When ready, begin to iron the entire piece of art so that the crayons melt. DO NOT use your steam setting.

It will look something like this......when done.

Hang your new piece of artwork in a window and let it catch the sun. It is magical, to say the least. Loving all the beautiful colors.

Thanks to Mrs Marshall, my Kindergarten teacher, where I first did this project many, many, many years ago....and have continued to do for many years since. And, to my Mom, for always being cheerful and positive as we children brought much of the wonder and the curiosities from the outdoors, indoors. She has always been my best teacher---- ever!
xo

This week I've been working on this scarf. Nevada weather is still too hot for a traditional thick scarf but this is just right for that end of summer-into fall weather. The tutorial utilizes a lot of different stitches so this is a great starter project for beginner sewers or a refresher for those more advanced.
It took the most time cutting out the pieces because I don't have a large cutting mat but you could get it done in an afternoon.

Here's a link for the full tutorial!

Hello Autumn! And, a Little Fall Craft!

This is a great project that can easily be adapted to having your little one's help, too, or even to do their very own. Start with a vase or container that you like. This is one of my favorites. It is nice and tall.

Pick out fall-like paper or one of my favorites, felt. I do love felt. Get your scissors and tape, too. Double sided tape would make this project a little easier for little hands. Begin cutting out leaves of all sizes and shapes.
I came across a packet of "maple leaves" at Jo Anne's and opted to use them for this craft...instead of cutting out leaves from felt and/or paper. They were just so pretty and really...they just jumped out at me! Buy me! Buy me! Buy me now! So, I did...for a dollar.
Begin to attach your leaves to your vase by using your tape on the back of your leaves. Make sure to press your adhesive against the glass with a little oomph! Otherwise, your fall leaves will begin to fall.

Keep on going! Round and round.

Before you know it, you will have covered your vase. Add lots of leaves or I chose to leave a little spacing between leaves because of what I was doing next......

I filled my vase with "apple orchard" potpourri...and scattered a few leaves and such. Smells so good! Wouldn't this be pretty with some acorns scattered around, too?

Simple, easy, and a perfect little splash of fall color as we begin a new season. Good-bye summer. Hello Autumn!

Really NICE Envelopes

NICE.......

I had forgotten how fun it is to make my own colorful and bright envelopes. You can use any type of paper. Take an envelope that you already have handy. Undo the envelope and use as a pattern. After selecting a paper, trace the undone envelope onto your new paper. Cut out your new envelope. Use a regular gluestick to glue the pocket flap of your envelope, so that it is ready for your letter. I also use gluestick to seal my envelopes, as well. Hint...a little gluestick goes a long way. Makes a good project for little, busy, children's hands. Over the years, my children have made many envelopes out of Christmas wrapping paper, birthday wrapping paper, magazine pages, computer paper, etc.

Happy Weekend!!

Shower Power

One day and counting! With both of us in MI, we are having a blast! Just finished the shower set-up and preparations for tomorrow! Here are some pics of what we've done!

Flower puffs for table centerpieces..

Flower detail on the girls' aprons.. (Moda Bake Shop tutorial)

(Sydney and Alyson) Aprons for the girls who are serving the brunch

More pictures to follow after the shower tomorrow!

xo Sydney and Jenna

Food and Felt

Oven roasted chicken, asparagus, and green salad with veggies, walnuts, craisons, and croutons!

While living in Linden, California, I used to go out in our backyard, behind our fence by our fruit trees, and cut asparagus. What a treat and so good, too. I don't know how hard it is to grow asparagus because I had nothing to do with the planting of the asparagus. But, I did have something to do with the lawn mower "hanging" halfway up our huge artichoke plant, incident. Not pretty. So as I got out my trusty three-legged silver steamer I had to smile...memories.

I could easily spend the majority of my grocery shopping time in the vegetable and fruit area. I love vegs and fruits. And, when I spied the circular 3 tiered display of tempting asparagus, I knew I would be adding that to our first, "Hey---it's Spring", dinner on Saturday. I love bright, deep colored vegetables and those are the healthiest for you too. I noticed a few other forgotten vegetables making a come back this spring, also. And, maybe some that have been here all along, but ignored. I've silently vowed to be more adventurous and bold in my shopping and cooking with vegetables. We shall see where it takes me.

The more you know.....10 ounces of asparagus has 68 calories and 9 grams of protein. It is loaded with minerals and antioxidants. White asparagus is cultivated by depriving the plants of light, and keeping them covered with soil. They are slightly bitter, but, more tender, soft and delicate.

Speaking of colors.........

I teach and sing music on Sundays with the nursery age children. Surprisingly, one of their most favorite activities goes a long with a song called...Rain Is Falling All Around, by Moiselle Renstrom. Last fall I cut out these felt fall leaves. As we sang the song...."Leaves are falling all around, on the housetops on the ground. Leaves are falling on my nose, on my head and hands and toes"..... I would drop the leaves over their little cute heads and they would try to catch the leaves. They just loved this activity....

Then came winter....

"Snow is falling all around", was just as popular.

Now we're onto Spring. Saturday, I cut out orange and yellow sunshines for the children. I changed the song to...."Sun is shining all around, on the housetops on the ground"...etc. They continue to love this activity. All it takes is a bit of felt and some good fabric scissors. Felt is so child friendly...when the felt leaves, snowflakes or sunshines make their way to the classroom floor, little chubby, cute hands, help to pick up the felt. They hand it to me, oft times, all waded up, held tightly in their little fists-ha! They are helping and felt just lays back out nicely and ready to go again.

This is a great rainy day activity, fhe project for families with young children, or for primary lessons or other church callings!

Happy Monday!


Sydney