If you are feeling down today . . .

maybe this will pick you up!!!

This is Mercy Me's newest song.  Listen to it and try not to tap your toes and dance around the room!  It was just the thing I needed to hear today.

Blessings to you today my friends!

Days of the Week Dishcloths

It has been forever and a day since my last post.  Life has a way of keeping me busy and away from my sewing machine.  But, whenever there is a celebration to be had I like to hand make a gift.  It's just my way of giving a gift with my time and talent.  It felt so good to be at my sewing machine.  Being creative is very soothing for me, much like therapy I guess.

I have a cousin getting married really soon.  Unfortunately, distance will prevent me from attending the ceremony.  By far the hardest thing about being away from family is missing out on the gatherings.  Aren't weddings the happiest occasions to attend?

When I saw this on pinterest I knew I wanted to make it for my cousin.  What a great idea of putting the days of the week to dress up an ordinary dishcloth.  And a sneaky way to ensure a fresh dishcloth is used everyday!

I chose bright, cheery fabrics which hopefully will make dishwashing a not so mundane task! To go with the dishcloths I made some similar dishtowels.  This time I used the couples last name for the monogram.

I think these colors will compliment just about any kitchen decor.  And I pray the newlyweds will have many years together of love and joy.

BLesSings,
Kathy

Gingerbread Sewing Fun

Before Christmas my youngest son, Jacob, was in a gingerbread play.  Before the performance he mentioned he needed a prop like a rolling pin.  Sure, not a problem, but why not add to the look by wearing a chef's hat and apron I thought?  In addition to the play, they made gingerbread cookies and decorated them.  It was all tied to a unit on economics.  I found green fabric with tiny gingerbread boys on them and knew it was perfect.  I found a tutorial here for the hat.  It was an easy pattern and free!  The apron I made up on my own since I used a basic rectangular shape for it.

After Christmas I decided to make some hot pads with the extra fabric.  I had fun with some diagonal quilting.   It's just enough quilting to give it a custom look without looking overly done.

For the potholders I followed this tutorial.  I made mine a wee bit smaller  (9x9") since I am prefer that size.  With only a 1/4yd of fabric and 1 package of bias tape you can make 3 potholders.  Now, when I open my drawer for a hot pad these happy gingerbread boys greet me.  Sure beats the loved, but well worn potholders I've been using for many years!

It's been fun to get back into sewing.  Winter months are good for that it seems.  Speaking of winter after our long bout with snow and sub zero temperatures we are headed into a warming trend.  How wonderful it will be.

Love to you my dear readers!

Winter Storm

Hello my friends!

One of the many blessings of a major snowstorm is I actually have time to blog!  My family and I marveled at the pretty snowfall that turned our whole world white on Sunday.  It was a warm day but as evening came on the temperatures dipped to negative digits and the wind howled all night long.   My son and I were talking about snowflakes unique properties.  For instance, did you know they are almost always 6 sided?  And it is extremely unlikely any two would ever look alike.  There has been a lot of research about snowflakes and how different temperatures, humidity and wind factor into what they look like.  Pretty awesome to wonder at God's creation.  Winter can be such a beautiful season, the only downside is the cold temperatures, ha ha!

With travel restrictions and road closures we have been housebound since the snow started.  No work and school has us all staying cozy together.  I love how the whole day stretches in front of me with no obligations or commitments.  It has been nice catching up on things that long hovered on my to-do list.  Ever since going back to work over a year ago that list has been there.  Oh, over time I have accepted things won't get done at the pace I'd like but now I have been able to organize the home and declutter. I love the freeing feeling it gives me. I've even been able to squeeze in some sewing!  Oh, how my heart dances. Tomorrow I hope to show you what sewing I have completed.

Blessings and Peace in the New Year and stay warm if you are one of the many states affected by this storm!

Love,
Kathy

~Fall Baking~

Hello friends,

I have been making super easy dinners lately as my husband has been traveling.  Like breakfast for dinner!  We've been eating waffles, eggs, etc. because they are super easy and make for easier clean-up.  Last night I continued on the theme and tried these apple cider pancakes.  I have been a follower of the blog Country Pleasures for awhile and when she posted this recipe I knew I had to try it.  She writes about it here.  No need to run to IHOP to try their latest specialty pancakes when you can make these in your own kitchen.  They were gobbled up in no time by my boys.  The syrup is such a nice touch on top of the fluffy pancakes.  The recipe calls for sparkling cider but regular cider worked just as well.

We have been celebrating fall all month long by visiting our pumpkin patch, picking apples and taking walks in the crisp air.

What have you been doing this fall?

Love,
Kathy

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day my friends!  Wow, my little blog has been sorely neglected.  I am sorry.  I am in heaven with this long weekend which allows me a chance to breathe deeply and enjoy my family and home.  We've been having a cloudy, rainy weekend.  This has given me an opportunity to clean and de-clutter my home.  Those are two things that always make me happy:)

With the school year behind us now we are all looking forward to a more relaxed schedule.  The backpacks will stay in the closet for a few months which means the beach towels and swim trunks will come out.  The pool is beckoning my youngest and I promised him we'd get there just as soon as the weather warms up a wee bit more.

Have a wonderful day doing whatever you love.

Spring is Finally Here!

Spring has finally arrived in northwest Indiana and none too soon!  We had such a long winter and a cold March which made everyone anxious for Spring.  My spring bulbs have bloomed and I couldn't be happier.

 While working in my garden on Sunday the sweet perfume of my hyacinths was just heavenly.

I had been wanting a chalkboard in my kitchen for a long time and I finally found what I needed at Hobby Lobby to put it together and got it hung up in time for an Easter message.  That's one project off my list!

Meanwhile my youngest son had planted sunflower seeds at school and ever since he brought them home he has been faithful to remind me to water the tender sprouts.  Too bad his sweet pea seeds never sprouted:(

Lastly, I thought I would share a photo of my boys playing outside over Spring Break.  They are working together to make a smoke bomb.  What boys don't think of to do!

Each day I see more blades of green grass and larger buds on the plants and trees.   I love it!  Can you tell Spring is my favorite season?  I think it's exciting to see the plants waken up and for lush green lawns to appear almost over night.  Are you seeing signs of spring where you live?  I hope so.

Blessings!

Dollhouse Update

I thought I would show you some changes I made to my little dollhouse.  I can't believe it's been 2 years since my Dad finished assembling it and gave it to me.  It became very clear to me early on this was going to be a longterm project.    It wasn't going to be decorated and furnished overnight.  A lot like decorating my own home.  There are so many options to weigh.  But, I had no trouble picking out the paint color for the 2nd level bedroom:  pink!! 

Hanging the curtains added the right level of softness and I just love how the little spaniel looks right at home in the soft feminine bedroom.  He reminds me of my childhood dog, Sparky, a cocker spaniel.  I loved petting his silky black ears with wavy fur.

I found this vintage sewing machine at Hobby Lobby and knew it had to go in my home.

I added a pick chenille bedspread to the bed and teddy looks right at home.  Pretty and feminine, just the place to escape from the troubles of this life and to dream.

That completes my little tour of the bedroom.  I hope you enjoyed it!

Blessings,

Decorating for Valentine's Day

I dressed up my front porch a wee bit for Valentine's Day.   I've been noticing lots of burlap on blogs as of late.  At first I wasn't so smitten because the texture seemed too coarse for my taste. 

But, I decided it was just the right texture and color to match the beige on my outdoor chairs.  To it I added a small yarn flower and felt heart.   It kind of reminds me of a package. 

The clouds seem to have camped out for good in Indiana so the bright red is just the pick me up my outdoor space needs.  I guess it's my way of combating the winter doldrums. 

Happy Valentine's Day my friends!
 

Kitchen Love

I completed a little project for my kitchen.  Just a little something special to brighten the mood during these long days of winter.  How has your weather been?  We've had anything from warm rainy days to windy cold days. 

Today, we are getting some snow.  The ground is becoming quite white and it is pretty to watch coming down.  So these little towels with snowflake print go perfectly with our weather!

After sewing on the ruffle I decided to add a monogram - it could match your name or could correspond to the days of the week.

I think these would make lovely housewarming, hostess or bridal shower gifts.  Easy to do and easy to personalize.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend and are staying warm!!

Love to you my friends,

Kathy

Saige: Girl of the Year

It's always a good day when an American Girl catalog arrives in my mailbox.  This was my first time seeing Saige: girl of the year for 2013.  She didn't disappoint.

Isn't she beautiful?  Her eyes are a gorgeous vivid blue-green and she has long auburn hair (and freckles, too!)  Her hair is plenty long to style into braids.  Isn't it cute off to the side twirled into a long ponytail?  Oh, the possibilities!  She comes with an indigo dress featuring a flared tiered skirt paired with brown riding boots.  The dress's beaded waist is true to her New Mexico heritage.  So what kind of a girl is she?  Well, naturally she loves to ride horses and paint.  Wouldn't you?

I don't know why but I still get an excitement over dolls even though I'm all grown up and have children of my own.  I remember pouring over thick catalogs dreaming about all of the things I wanted for Christmas for my baby doll: strollers, blankets, bottles, clothes, etc.  They were all pink of course!  It was so fun to look at the photos and dream.  

How about you?  Do you like to pour over catalogs and dream?  If so, which ones cause that stir in your heart?

BlesSings!

Kathy

Happy New Year!

A new beginning dawned today as our calendars flipped to 2013.  Wow!  2012 has come and gone and we are on our way into the new year.  A new year full of hope and expectation.

I thought I would share several photos from our Christmas.  As usual, we loaded up our minivan and traveled to Minnesota to be with our families.  With Christmas music playing, movies to watch, and cookies to munch the trip went by quickly.

We had such a lovely time being together with our loved ones.  It really is what Christmas is all about.

My children were excited to play in Minnesota's snow.  They didn't have as much as previous years but they had fun anyway.   I love to watch them from inside :)

My boys exchanged gifts with one another.

And my foodie son enjoying a "bite" out of his new piggy bank.

Even though December can be so busy with all of the shopping, wrapping and baking I still found time to sew.   My sister asked me to make a doll dress and she selected this sweet pink dress.  The sheer skirt overlay has these tiny sequins that look like bubbles. 

And my biggest project was completing this quilt I started over 2 years ago!

My dear mom was the happy recipient of it.

Those are my silly boys in the background:)

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and I pray God's blessings in the New Year for you.

May you have loving relationships, great health and a close walk with the Lord in 2013.

Blessings!

Getting Cozy

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving altogether as a family.  My husband did a lot of the Thanksgiving cooking and he found this potato shaped like a heart.  Isn't it amazing?  In all my years of peeling potatoes I'd never seen one quite like this!  My oldest son was home from college and our parents were here, too.  It felt so cozy to have everyone together.  My boys cheerfully pulled out the sleeping bags and had a great time sleeping together in the same room.  The floor didn't bother them in the least.  After our day of feasting we trimmed the tree and made our home all pretty for Christmas.  Then my boys wanted to climb onto the roof to hang icicle lights at night; a task their Dad was all too happy to give up! The twinkling lights are just the thing to chase away the darkness which comes all too early in the evening now.

With the focus now on Christmas I keep thinking about making room for Jesus.  Mary made room in her womb for the Messiah.  The inn keeper made room for Mary and Joseph in his barn.  Will "I" make room for Jesus this season?  With the decorating, baking, card writing and giving I want to keep the reason for the season in my heart.  It was with a very generous heart God gave his very best to us through His one and only Son.  Will we receive Him? 

This season I intend to get cozy with Him :)

Praying you have a blessed start to your Christmas season.

fall musings and a recipe

 Fall is such a beautiful time of year.  But, if you're not careful it can pass so quickly without noticing the changing leaves.  Taking a walk or a drive at this time of year is a wonderful way to enjoy the beauty of the season. 

Two of my boys have their birthdays in the fall, so it is a season for family celebration, too.  With each passing birthday it is a time for me to reflect back on the past, reminisce and look forward to the future.  I remember when I was young I always looked forward to the next birthday, because growing older was fun.  The next "number" sounded so much older, wiser and more exciting!  Now, not so much.  Ha ha!  But, with grace I believe we can accept where we are at and have joy no matter the season or age.

 

I tried a new recipe, one just perfect for this time of year.  It is simply delicious.  It uses crunchy tart apples and candy (Snickers.)  A great combination I think!  I once heard a chef say a good dish was one that includes all of our taste buds.  I had never thought of it like that before.  Well, this recipe comes very close with it's sweet, salty and crunchy nature.   The original recipe is found here and all credit goes to Nikki from Chef in Training.

Have a blessed day.

Winds of Change

I've entered into a new season of my life, quite fitting with fall upon us.  This week found me back into the work force after 11 years of being blessed to be home full time with my boys.

Besides missing my boys what I miss the most is being able to get outside or at least see outside.   So, this afternoon with the breeze on my face I took a walk around my gardens enjoying the vibrant blooms that still speak of a summer gone by.

My double knock-out roses keep blooming their little heads off and make a spectacular splash of vibrant pink against our green lawn.

This little geranium I rescued from the 50cent table at Lowe's has done quite well. 

Our trees have begun to change colors so I know these blooms will fade all too soon.  But, for today I celebrate their beauty and the joy they bring to my heart.

Blessings!

Swinging

Swinging on our play set with my youngest recently brought back a flood of memories of enjoying this as a girl.  During recess it was one of my favorite activities.  I would pump my legs so hard with my toes pointed towards the white puffy clouds in a blue sky.  I was sure I could touch them if I just pumped hard enough.  Or maybe my toes could brush the wings of a bird.

image

The feeling of weightlessness as I went swung back down, my hair blowing in the breeze was exhilarating.  What a carefree feeling!  Robert Stevenson has a beautiful poem about swinging I thought you might like.

The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
River and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside--
Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown--
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

Robert Louis Stevenson

 

Hoping your day includes something fun, too!

Have you had your V8 today?

With the abundance of garden tomatoes I was inspired by my neighbor to make some tomato juice, something I hadn't tried before.

I used this recipe.  Super easy and pretty to look at right off the bat I think.  I added to the recipe about 8 basil leaves cut up since they grow 'a plenty' in my garden, too!

 

It is super refreshing and nutritious. 

I am headed to a baseball game this evening and I think this is coming with me.  Do you have anything fun planned for the weekend?  My prayer is you will be blessed in whatever you do!

Blanket Love

A few weeks ago we moved our oldest son into his dorm room and life is so much different with him living away from home.  We are thankful he is but a short drive away and seeing him on Sundays is a blessing.  To receive his call or text mid-week makes my mommy heart skip a beat.  Really.  The sound of his voice is music to my ears.  When he asked if I could make a fleece blanket to go on their futon I said certainly.  A few days later he asked, is it done yet?  He had gotten sick and wanted to curl up under it while taking a nap.  So, I got right to work.  It will go nicely with the big throw pillows I sewed the week before for him.  Handmade mommy goodness right there in his dorm room. 

On Saturday we will be celebrating my 3rd oldest's birthday.  He turns 12!!  He is growing up just way too fast!  What will you being doing this long weekend?

Blessings,
Kathy

Making Lemonade out of Lemons: Sewing Little Dresses for Africa

I've always wanted to sew for little girls but having all boys I don't get many opportunities.  Until now!  I found a Christian non-profit organization based out of Michigan called "Little Dresses for Africa."  You can find them here.

I had a small stack of fabric that I had purchased long ago to make nursing covers but I knew immediately using the fabric to sew for little girls in Africa was just perfect.  Just one yard of fabric is needed for these simple pillowcase dresses.  The pattern can be found at their website for all different sizes or at Nancy's Notions.  My favorite pattern is the elasticized top.  These dresses can be made for very little cost as a package of bias tape and elastic are all you need in addition to the fabric and thread. 

This last dress was made out of  fabric my sister gave to me.  I appliqued a dragonfly on the top.  Actually, there are so many different ways one could embellish these simple dresses.  It was just a lot of fun to sew for a good cause.

My prayer is the little girls who receive these will know they are loved by a Heavenly Father and will receive the good news of the gospel which is shared with them.

Blessings,
Kathy

Sew and Tell

I've been doing a little bit of sewing for dolls lately.  This drawstring dress is a Liberty Jane pattern and can be found here.  Have you ever explored their website?  They specialize in modern and historical patterns for dolls and girls.  This just so happened to be one of their free patterns.  The dress went together pretty easily and I can imagine her going to the mall in this. 

This is another dress I recently made using bright pink crochet trim on the edges.  A sheer ribbon is attached to the waistband and tied in the back.  Wouldn't it be great for those summer evenings at the park or fair?

"The Lord is my strength and song, 

And He has become my salvation."

Psalm 118:14