One of my favorite blogs #1

I saw that another blog posted about one of their favorite blogs recently and realized I would like to start doing it also.

So, I only started following blogs a few years ago.   One of the first blogs I found was  ‘While Wearing Heels’   http://whilewearingheels.blogspot.com/

I wasn’t even sure what post first caught my attention so I just went looking on her blog to figure it out.  I think I first found one of Amy’s posts on Pinterest.com and was hooked from then on.

Some of the first ones that I pinned:

a) Framed postcards – I have been sending the daughter / us postcards from vacations for years.  I usually put the postcard in the scrapbook (using removable photo ‘ears’ so we can take it out and read the back), but I loved the idea of actually framing the writing on the postcard and an associated photo.

http://whilewearingheels.blogspot.com/2013/04/frame-personalized-postcard-souvenirs.html

b) United Scraps of America – I love this idea, but I plan on making it special for us.  I want to make a wall hanging and fill in the states as they are visited.  There are many that would be filled in right away between traveling for work and for fun, but it would be fun to figure out which states are still on our ‘bucket list’ (and to figure out if we can find  a reason to visit those states).

http://whilewearingheels.blogspot.com/2012/09/united-scraps-of-america-grand-finale.html

c) Steampunk Art – I thought this idea was so cool and when the Father-In-Law was selling old pieces of tractors, etc I saw piece that would be perfect.  I still have the piece and need to get it finished so I can get it displayed.

http://whilewearingheels.blogspot.com/2012/03/switching-gears-steampunk-art.html

So, what are some of your favorite blogs?

Later – H

Thumbprint Wedding guest sign

One of the presents we did for Chris and Naomi’s wedding was a Thumbprint sign.  I had seen similar ideas on Pinterest (yes, one of my favorite places on the internet), but the niece asked for a custom ‘Up House’ (with thumbprint ‘balloons’ lifting off the house).  So, the daughter helped create the Up House board.

At the wedding we used permanent Ink and tried to suggest that people put their thumbprints in the general area that the balloons would be.  Well, as you can see from the end result that didn’t always happen (I know most of the stray balloons happened after we were manning the guest signature / thumbprint table).

After the wedding we brought the sign back home and the daughter used my scrapbooking chalk to make the faint extra balloons.  When it was all done I think it turned out great.  Now the happy couple have an art piece to remind them of their special day.

Some hints if you decide to do one of these:

a) Make sure you use permanent ink (for the thumbprints and for the drawing)

b) Have baby wipes handy to get the ink off the guest’s hands (that was an after thought, but I am so glad I brought them)

c) Use blank paper, etc to block off the areas of the board you don’t want people to mark with their thumbs

What do you think?

Later – H

Projects to complete this summer

Hope everyone is having a good summer.  We had some record  breaking hot days, but recently it has been nice (before it get record breaking hot again).  I recently read the post ‘Ten Things This Summer’ on the ‘A Passion for Applique’ blog:   http://apassionforapplique.blogspot.com/  and that got me thinking.  She listed the ten things (sewing projects) she wants to finish this summer.

I recently spent two days straightening, throwing out items, etc in the back room (where company stays and where my projects are stored).  It looks a lot better, but I am realizing I have a pile of unfinished projects  I want (and need) to work on.

So, other than the Challenge Wall hanging Quilt that I need to start (for the local Quilt Guild contest) I think I need to work on my unfinished project pile.   Here are the first few of the projects I want to finish this summer:

1) This hooked rug is almost done, but I needed to find a darning needle so I could finish the outside binding.  Well, in the ‘big clean’ I found a darning needle.

I am happy to report this is now DONE and being used in front of my bathroom sink area.  (Boy that felt good.)

2) I need to finish the quilt for the couch for when Pepper (Golden Retriever) is allowed to get up on it.  I have decided I would rather stop fighting her from getting up with the family and just have a quilt I throw on before (so I don’t have to deal with her dog hairs on the couch).  I need to cut the front and back to the same size and sew them together.  I am thinking of trying some Machine Quilting at least around the outside portion of the quilt.  (Leah Day has some YouTube videos that show Machine Quilting on a regular sewing machine so I want to give it a try anyways.)

I got the back and front sewn together (straight lines for now, maybe I will add some Machine quilting also), but I still need to trim and add a binding.   At least the way it is now it can be put on the couch when Pepper wants to jump up.  Pepper ‘photo bombed’ the photo 🙂

3) Turn up a few pairs of Jeans.  I have a few pairs that need to be turned up, but haven’t got there yet.  I found a way to turn them up and keep the original hem.  I printed out the instructions since I shared it with my 4-H Teen Sewers this last year.  I will find the original post and link to it after I get a pair turned up.

4) Scrapbook – this is a never ending project and there is no way I will ‘finish’ it this summer, BUT I do want to put in the first year photos of Pepper (the Golden Retriever) into a Project Life album.  I usually do Creative Memories albums (with embellishments, etc), but I wanted to try the Project Life concept out with Pepper’s photos.  I have the supplies, but have barely started it.

5) Potholder with Scallops – In the Spring I took a class on how to do a Scallop edged potholder.  It took all three hours to learn how to make the scalloped edge and I never got back to finishing the potholder.

6) Pocket for hanging small quilts – I made some wall hanging (quilts) years ago, but didn’t know about making rod pockets for the back.  So, I took down the quilts, washed them and have made rod pockets so I can hang them back up.  Now to get them sewn onto the back and get the quilts back up on the wall.

7) Remember the post about the Dresden Plate class I took in the Spring?  Well, I never got back to finishing the first plate.  I have decided to finish at least the first plate and turn it into a wall hanging.

8) ‘Coffee’ cup wrap.  I don’t drink coffee, but I do occasionally buy a Tea or Hot Chocolate from Starbucks.  Instead of getting the cardboard wrappers I decided to make a material one that I can leave in the car.  It shouldn’t take long to finish the one I started.

I think this is enough of a To Do List for now.  It will feel great to get these done and off my mental radar.

Photos of completed items will be posted as I get them finished.

What is on your mental To Do List that wouldn’t take long to finish (once you started)?

Later – H