Wednesday’s Show and Tell: Sewing and Crafts Projects In Progress!

 I finished the tote bag for my 2nd place winner and will be shipping it in the morning...but I made up a few extra yo-yo flowers while I was at it. Congratulations Melissa of  Oh My Darling!  This was too fun to keep to myself so I've posted it at my favorite home decor blog, Shabby Chic Cottage as part of Gina's Thursday Transformations. Talk about great ideas! You should drop by and see them!

 Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage

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As I’ve mentioned in the past, for those who love the FlyLady home organization system, Wednesdays are designated “Anti-Procrastination Day!” What that means, in a nutshell, is just to decide to do a few of the projects that you’ve been putting off.

For me, that’s a lot of projects. Actually, some of my projects have been put off, and some I’m addressing right away, but they are the projects that I’m working on today.



To tell you the truth, I’d like your advice!  I’m having a great time picking out fabrics and buttons for the totebag that I offered in the SewMamaSew Giveaway. Melissa wanted the Yo-Yo flower tote bag and since she prefers more subdued colors, I’m embellishing a creme colored bag. I would have done this on Saturday, but I had a cold..so this project had to wait a bit. All the other prizes were shipped off two days ago. 





I need to decide which of these lovely buttons and quilt shop fat quarters to use. I know what to make the leaves and stems from—I’ve got the perfect shade of dusty green. But their are so many choices for the flowers!! I just can’t decide! I’d love to know which ones you think would look best together. I have four fabrics to choose from, but I'm only making three flowers...so I have to leave one of these fabrics out.

Just deciding which buttons to use is hard enough! They are all so pretty!  I have ALWAYS loved buttons and collected them as a young girl.  Wish I had that collection now! I’ll just have to visit Diana at DJ’s Storeroom…she sells some awesome button sets. If you guys could let me know, I’d so appreciate your feedback. I really feel stumped on this one. :o)


Are you wondering about the bag at the top? Well, if you can believe this…I don’t own my own YO-Yo Flower totebag!! I know..depressing isn’t it?  I’ve made so many and sold or given them all away. Click here for a tutorial.  So I thought that I’d make me one too while I was at it. I plan to do a quick machine quilting job on the block I made ages ago for a quilt top that never quite came together.  Then I’ll add a Yo-Yo flower in the middle. Finally, my own tote bag!!





Speaking of buttons, Kylie at AntMee did the most innovative tutorial on how to make fabric covered buttons. I begged her to let me share it with you. Here’s a picture of one of the steps. You can read all about it at her blog, Antmee. Be sure to tell her that I sent you!  And now…what about you?  I know how crafty you all are and I’d love to show everyone what you are working on too! Just send me a photo and link to your blog, and I'll add it to Next Wednesday's post.

Happy Homemaking!

WeekEnd Reader: Sewing and Craft Projects You've Shared

 This week...most everyone seems to have been really busy with their sewing machines!

But they are painting too as you can see here....Enjoy!

 

 Whimsical Owl Cabinet by Deb at Jeremiah 29:11

I loved Deb's pictures of this refurbishing of her tall wooden cabinet! Amazing! This is only two of the four panels she painted.

 

Cute pouch from recycled denim  by AntMee

This is a cute little pouch by Antmee and she has a link for the pattern on her website.

I love the applique and the zipper pull! 

Spring 2010 Top Contest Entry

by Melissa at Until Wednesday Calls.

As I said yesterday, I would have voted for this gorgeous refashion in a minute. Melissa shows darling pictures of herself modeling this. You will want to read about how this came to be. 

 Skirt and Matching Flower Embellishment from Thrift Store Nightie

by Pitterpat and the Stickycat

Pitterpat is a new reader who shows you several things she bought and refashioned recently on this post. I love the flower on the blouse especially though the skirt is cute too.

Fake Silk Screening/Refashion by Making Do With the Not So New

This is absolutely amazing! I love what Melissa did with this! What a great idea...you will want to see how she did this and the cute dress she refashioned!

Great job everyone!

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 Want to join the show for Next Week?

I love seeing your latest and greatest creations! If you would like to get in on the fun..just follow the steps below...

All you have to do is ....



1. Do a post telling about your latest creation or Work in Progress.

2. Mention on your post that you will be featured in my Saturday's Show and Tell with a link back to Comin' Home, so they can see all the entries in the show if they like.

3.Click on the McKLinky button below. A window will open allowing you to paste your link to your project.

4.. Then you will be able to crop the photo you want on your thumbnail image.

5. You can copy the  button that says "I was Featured at Comin' Home" and paste it on your sidebar if you like.

The Show and Tell will be closed on Friday at 12:00pm.

After that, we will all go visiting! 

That's all there is to it. I'm looking foward to a great Saturday Show!

Romantic Home's Friday Show & Tell: My Sunbonnet Sue Baby Quilt

It's Show and Tell Friday at Romantic Home, so I decided to share the Sunbonnet Sue Quilt I made last October. If you would like to see some really beautiful projects and pretty things from people's homes, you will want to visit!

This quilt is made with 100% scraps which for those of you who know me, know makes the project especially satisfying. I pride myself on being a 'frugal' artist.

However, some things do cost money, and the embellishments on this quilt are not cheap. Total cost for lace, buttons, and applique was close to $30.00. However, that is a cheap price for a beautiful 'heirloom' baby quilt.  Elisabeth loved it and hung it over Lena's crib.  I so enjoyed doing this for my dear granddaughter.

By the way, I'll be posting that Work Table Re-Do this afternoon!  See you soon...

Donna

Show & Tell Spring Dress at My Romantic Home

I have recently discovered a really beautiful homemaking blog called My Romantic Home which hosts a Show and Tell on Fridays. It's a big event where you can see lots of beautiful things and as part of the event I would like to post my Show and Tell item. I made this dress and helped one of my very first and youngest sewing pupils, Katie, make a dress just like it. Her mother, Beverly, wanted the girls to make matching bonnets too. They looked so sweet in these.

Beverly is on my homemaking blog roll...Frontier Farms. I'm so glad she wanted me to do this, because I think this is one of the sweetest dresses I've ever made and I learned how to use Yo-Yo's to make flowers. That set me off on a hobby that I've never quite recovered from..using Yo-Yo flowers for embellishing. You can read about it here. Yo-Yo Flower Tutorial.

If you would like some more pretty things to look at this week, check out My Romantic Home's Friday Show and Tell!

Top Ten Best Posts I Saw on Your Blogs This Week

Since I didn’t get any submissions for Show and Tell this week, I thought I’d do a surprise post on the ten most interesting posts I saw this week, while visiting those who left comments. It will make for some great weekend reading..don’t you think?   Enjoy!   Donna

Doing Bangles to Put Me at Ease by Gloria’s Blog VivalaVida!

Gloria is such a fun, friendly blogger..so easy and natural in her writing style and always says Hello if you drop her a note. I love reading whatever happens to pop up for the day at her blog whether cooking, painting, or talking about her family and what their plans are for the day. Today she posted on how making things helps put her at ease during difficult times. I can so relate to that! While caring for my father this winter, I crocheted…in the living room, the hospital, the car, the hospice center etc. Wherever, I went I had a little bag of yarn and a needle and it helped so much to just create something when everything else was in a crisis! She has lots more pictures of these beautiful bangles which she also sells in her Etsy shop and would love a visit from you., I'm sure. So drop by and enjoy!

REAL LIFE by Deb at Jeremiah 29:11 

Deb posted some really gorgeous pictures of purple around her house and I thought this one was awesome! But her article on 'being real' really hit home for me this week! She was also talking about not comparing but it was more  about encouraging you to be yourself on your blog and not feel the need to be perfect. To be the unique you that you are.  She always has incredibly inspiring articles.  This article was a great reminder to celebrate who we are rather than feeling we have to be like everyone else. :o) Thanks for your sweet comments and encouragement Deb!

Slate or Porcelain Tile in the Bathroom?by Maria Killam at Color Me Happy

I guess you probably know that I love this blog!! We are faced with the challenge of actually decorating our own home for the first time in my entire life! We’ve rented 22 years and only bought our land and home 3 years ago. I’m petrified!!! What colors do I use..what do I want? I hardly know where to start. Well, the best thing I ever did was stumble across this blog of Maria’s. This is not the only post I loved..I love all her posts. But it was a good one. The colors gave me some ideas and we are going to want to tile the bathroom and entry way at some point. If you are doing any redecorating at home..paint, furniture, etc..you will want to check out her articles! This one on tile was fascinating. She shows you pictures of several bathrooms and it really gives you an idea of why this is so important.

Wednesday on Wednesday: The Great Outdoor Adventure Challenge month by Melissa at Until Wednesday Calls

Today is the last day to enter the challenge. Read all about it here.  Melissa is a great blogging friend, wonderful writer, seamstress, and photographer. She is also crafty beyond belief! She wrote a very timely article earlier this week and today about the Great Outdoor Adventure Challenge. It made me want to run outside and play just like her and her daughter, Wednesday.  Melissa also did a fabulous tutorial on how to make a ruffled scarf from Sweatpants! She does great refashions..so go say Hello! Her post was quite inspiring!!

 

It’s All About Perspective by Over Yonder

OverYonder, that’s the only name I know her by, is the brave mother of a son with Prader-willi syndrome. She wrote the most amazing post this week, about learning to be patient with her son, who has made   such strides in his learning and yet was having some math difficulties. I’m sure she does not consider herself a ‘hero’ but in my eyes, she is.  I so admired her heart and her patience in celebrating the success of her son and her wisdom in recognizing that she must continue to be patient even if his learning doesn’t keep up with other children’s and to just enjoy teaching and learning together. How many of us, whether, homeschoolers, or teachers in other areas, need to learn this lesson! Kudos to you Over Yonder!

 

Dear Artistic Mother, Please Do Not Compare   by Trudy Callan of Artistic Creations with Trudy. 

Trudy is a dear friend, and a great seamstres who has a very inspiring sewing blog. Today, she wrote such an encouraging post on her art blog to women who are learning to create art and I really appreciated it.  She encouraged these women who are perhaps new to doing creative things, not to compare there abilities with others. That is such an important message to all of us! It’s one that I’m sure you would enjoy reading.

Wednesday Was an OFF day for this Work at Home Mother by Diana at DJStoreroom. 

This was a great article that Diana wrote telling how she never gave herself permission to take a DAY OFF and how she was doing that today. I really needed that reminder! It’s OK to stop now and then!  I’m getting mine today too! Hurrah! Diana also sells great patterns and beautiful items that she sews. She’s a great seamstress..so drop by!

Progress Not Perfection by Dani at A little Sprinkle of Fairy Dust

Dani has been such an encouragement to me, along with Deb and all the other visitors to Gettin’ Thin Together. It was her idea that we sort of be a group of Weight Loss Buddies. I so appreciated it as we wouldn’t have our ‘support blog’ if not for her inspiration. She has the sweetest little blog about her and her daughter’s crafty endeavors. The picture above is one that she did and goes with her post about their crafty adventures. You will enjoy it!

How to Make a Lovely Guest Room  By Rayanne of A Lovely Thought…Home 

I was so amazed when I first visited Rayanne’s blog on the home. Her photos are gorgeous and her articles are so inspiring. This one on how to make a really pretty and welcoming guest room was so well done. I couldn’t decide whether to feature it or her post on Tuesday Tea Time…another wonderful article on making time for tea..and company. You must visit her blog to read more!

Giving Common Sense a Try by Life and Love in the Country

This was a great article on not letting ourselves get bogged down by too much to do. She talked about deciding to limit her TO DO list so that she could spend more time with the kids! Very good idea!  It is written by a home school mom who is also homesteading! Quite an accomplishment!

We Are Making Tiny Steps Forward..but Forward!  By Shannon of Room for More

Shannon is a good friend who is very resourceful in finding ways to raise money for their home study..part of the process of trying to adopt another child. Her article on going garage sale-ing to find things to sell on Ebay is a great one! What a great idea!

 

Show and Tell with Surprise Videos!

Better late than never, I always say! Here we are with another edition of Show and Tell. From now on, we will continue to hold this on Saturday.

How To: Cotton Bud Bunny Crafts by Melissa of Until Wednesday Calls 

Oh my goodness! Isn’t this the sweetest little bunny? I just know Neky is going to love her. (She is into cats and bunnies.) You can learn how to make this bunny at my favorite crafty blogger’s website…Until Wednesday Calls. If this doesn’t get you ‘into’ spring, I don’t know what will! Melissa’s tutorial is great!

 

It’s Spring!  Salt Dough Ornaments  by Deb at  Jeremiah 29:11

Can you believe that Deb thought these beautiful ornaments weren’t very good? I thought they were as cute as could be!They would look great on an ‘Easter Tree’ or a spring garland. In fact I think these creations are perfectly charming! Drop by and tell her how nice these are at Jeremiah 29:11.

Collard Greens Chili Cheese Quesadillas by Gloria at VivaLaVida!

 
If you have never visited Gloria, you have missed out on meeting a sweet person., another favorite blogging friend. She is not only a great painter and collage art person, but she loves to cook and garden…and cook..and cook…mmm!  I was planning  to drop by one day…except that I’m pretty sure she doesn’t live in Texas. Sooo sad…  She is the queen of Mexican cooking so if you are looking for some good cooking, or would like to meet a very friendly blogger…drop by Glorv's Blog VivaLaVida!

 Vintage Easter Eggs Tutorial by the Collage Contessa

I love vintage things…even if I do live in the country. Until we moved here my whole decorating scheme was Victorian! These would have fit in perfectly! Click here to see.. actually, I think they would be better in my sewing room. These are so unique and nostalgic!  Anyway, Kris does a great tutorial on her blog Collage Contessa and also has a nice picture of her latest crochet project. She shows you exactly how to make these Easter eggs that I think would be perfect any time of year—especially Mother’s Day!

I Will Survive…A Version for Homeschoolers Dynamic2blogs

This video was featured on a new blogging friend’s blog School For Us. Dana and her daughter Alexandra have a home school blog where they post all their educational endeavors and lots of educational travel posts! She has been blogging for YEARS! You should see her archives! Wow!  I have to say though that this was just downright funny and entertaining. She has gorgeous photos and lives in Vancouver, BC. If you love travel or homeschooling..her blog is worth a visit!

Christian, Donna’s son from Comin’ Home, demonstrates juggling.

OK, I know we can’t beat that last video…but my dear youngest son, Christian, now 15,  has been working on a hobby and amazingly agreed to let me video him! He has learned to juggle! Actually, he learned it from Shona Cole’s son Matthew, who is quite the expert juggler. Once Christian saw Matthew’s demonstration..he was hooked! He was juggling before we could get him home and he spent all his allowance on better juggling balls before the week was out. This is a great hobby for kids!  

P.S. He refused to do his really good tricks in case he ‘messed up’ but this is still cute..

Have a Great Weekend!

Friday's Show and Tell at Comin' Home

This week's Show and Tell includes several entries from Trudy's Artistic Mother's Art group which is working through Shona's "The Artistic Mother" book.  I knew everyone would enjoy seeing the beautiful work each of these women are doing....There are also several great entries from followers and friends. Enjoy!

Chore Chart by  Bethany Kartchner

Read more »

Friday's Show and Tell at Comin' Home...a little late..

Hi everyone, I scheduled this to post on Friday, but for some reason, it didn't work...so here it is!

 Ok, MJ has outdone herself with this new frugal idea at Making Do with the Not So New! These have to be the most gorgeous curls I ever saw on a little girl!(Her little girl I might add.) And how did she get them?? You'll never guess.. so I'll tell you...RAG CURLERS!  MJ's blog is so full of frugal ideas that it's like getting a catalog. Whatever you need, she can tell you how to make do or do it yourself. Great idea and beautiful post, MJ!
 

 Are these not beautiful? I love the earth tones...and I love pretty little notebooks...well...I get to have them too! That's the best part.(I won her OWOH drawing!) My friend from England, Myfanwy, of Nuvo Felt is a very talented fabric artist. Her work and creations are so varied and beautiful. She does excellent online tutorials, makes jewelry, boxes, felted fabric, and has a neat weekly post, Friday Food.etc. etc. all gorgeous!  (Her foods are very English..I never recognize them-Ha!) My favorite thing about Myfanwy, though, is that she is such a kind and comforting sort of person. I visited with her several times after Dad passed away. I had stumbled upon her blog after posting my stuff for the OWOH drawing. She had written quite a post about spending time with her mother, I believe. It was so special and I wanted to get to know her right away, so I wrote her and told her so. We've been emailing ever since. She has not been able to post much because of caring for family matters, but if you want to get a taste of English life...go see her and if you love fabric art or mixed media..you will love her blog!  Thanks Myfanwy!

Terri Smith is a great friend and she and her daughter are amazing cake decorators...and this cake, I'm sure you will agree...literally 'takes the cake'...(Gosh..there must be a better way to say that!) Is this not the most girly, blingy cake you have ever seen? If you want to see some visually stunning cakes and proof that homemaking and art go hand in hand...drop by her blog, Cakes by Terri and Cameron.

This is Together or "Junto" made with coffee ink ..you'll never guess who did this! Neky White of El Rey Gato (who gave me the sunshine award), the one who made the felt charms drew this!! Wow...I didn't quite know what to say..it's incredible...I just want to stare at it--it is so unusual and serene in its quiet beauty.  I definitely need to spend some more time looking around her blog!

Isn't this so precious! Mariesa from Ten Cow Chick made this delightful little tshirt. She's expecting a new baby!  She has one of the prettiest country blogs I've seen and I love going to enjoy the sunshine!  Drop by and get some great super craft ideas and catch some rays!  I told you I needed a long list for that Sunshine award!

 Now this is what I call true Texan Art...Yee Haw! You gotta love it!  If you'd like to see a Texan Art festival, join Trudy at Artistic Creations with Trudy...on their visit to Old Town Spring!

Ok...so now, I'm in trouble...here's more darling curls and I could never decide whose are cuter..cause I love Wednesday!  Melissa is guest posting on how to make this darling skirt. She is the queen of refashionistas in my mind!  Visit her blog Until Wednesday Calls and find out how to do this! Too bad I'm on the road or I would make one for my dear Lena.

If I was going to vote for the 'funnest' blog on the blog...Kristen at This Homemade Life would get my vote! She has a 1950's housewife vintage blog where she posts her creative projects and this is a circle journal. Apparently several bloggers are involved and send these scrapbook journal pages to each other. I think this is cute cute cute!

 Well, the Michelsons went to the zoo, and Anita, with a true 'photographers eye' spotted the perfect 'photo op'.  Now this is taking bottle feeding just a little bit far! Don't you think someone should tell the mommy to ween this baby? Anita at Thoughts, Happenings and Snippets from the Michelsons is a very good photographer, so good, that  I noticed she's doing some collaborations with Shona C. and Shannon M...This is not her photography at it's best..you have to go see that on her blog..but it is her work at its funniest! I love this picture...that's all I can say. It made my day! Great job Anita!