Royalty

While the rest of you were setting your DVR's so you didn't have to get up so crazy early and watch the royal wedding, I was making lists, double checking flower colors and if a wrist corsage was what Willy's date wanted. I have made my fair share of corsages and boutonnieres for our kids, I started when I paid to much for a bad corsage. I figured I could rip ugly petals off just as well as the florist who seemed a bit annoyed with me that I would not want my boy to hand a browning wilted flower over to his date. I start with a trip to Hobby Lobby for supplies and a grocery store or Walmart for some affordable flowers. Then the assembling, which is very fun for me to be a bit creative.

These are the two corsages I did last fall for Avery and Willy's Homecoming dates.

Lexi's corsage.

Willy and Lexi

Taylor's corsage.

Taylor and our handsome Avery.

Avery was on Homecoming court last fall, so yes I do live with royalty!

Spring time brings Prom and the fun starts all over again. I found mini roses, oh so cute. The mistake I made was hot gluing them on, I usually sew or floral tape, but last fall I glued roses on and it worked, I just think that the mini roses are a bit more delicate. They started to brown a bit before the dance(by then pictures and supper out were over and sweet Lexi didn't mind..I know 'cuz I asked and had enough time and mini roses to replace), they were however really pretty when Willy slid them on her wrist.

I also made Willy's boutonniere so that it would match Lexi's corsage.

Stunning!!
More royalty! Willy was on Prom Court (Willy is the 4th one in). By now you do realize that with 2 boys on court it makes me...ok so maybe not the Queen Mother, but something royal!

Buckingham Palace has nothing on us, to see Lexi and Willy in the grand march...
royally stunning!

rhuBarb

Spring is in full gear around here,

and my raspberries are leafing out real nice.

But its the rhuBarb that I am keeping a good eye on. I can't wait for that 1st pan of rhuBarb desert. I think the one with the custard topped with meringue will be my favorite this year, and yes my favorite does change every year.

This is the other reason I'm keeping track of it. I'm leaf looking to make some more of these. Willy and I made a few late last spring. It was a trial and error kind of thing. I had seen one at a friends house, she said she paid $25 for her's, I wanted one but do love the challenge of seeing if I can do a project for little or nothing. Willy made rounded mounds of sawdust(we have so much from the ski making business), we laid rhuBarb leaves bottom side up on the sawdust. The bottom side has more detail and that gives a better impression on the cement. Willy mixed the bags of cement and scooped it onto the leaves. We smoothed them off and on a couple built up a little flat area. The cement did go threw the one leaf that had a couple of holes in it, it kinda looks like it has warts. I broke one before it was dry because I jumped the gun a bit, moved it, and it cracked. Another one cracked on its own.

One I took to my friend Barb, she has it on her deck with bird seed in, and the birds kept her company all winter long. The warty one we put on the ground where the rain water runs off the house. I no longer look at rhuBarb leaves the same, they are for more than being fanned with:)

Grace Under Foot

At the end of last summer I rescued cotton skirts from Grace's give-away pile, 4 skirts to be exact. I started at the bottom and cut up and around making one continuous strand to crochet. I threw this one on the floor so it could start practicing. It would go from a life of Sunday morning Church...out to lunch and hanging out(or on) with young women, college bound, with hopes and dreams and enough energy to chase them, to a life of utility. To be tread upon, feet wiped on, laid on by critters, egg shells dropped upon...

...and yet there is beauty and grace in the staying put and providing comfort.
This is my first successful oval rug, I recently finished it to gift my friend Barb for her birthday. Barb has graced my life in so many ways I thought it a fitting gift, a little grace under foot...literally and figuratively:)

I Dare You

Jon and I are doing the Love Dare book from the movie Fireproof. One of the days you are to buy your spouse a thoughtful gift. I made my gift to Jon--do you think I will get extra credit or a pass when its a hard challenge???

Jon has to wear safety glasses upon entering the building at his work. His safety glasses live on the dash of the van. Every Sunday on the way to Church as he turns a corner, I'm catching his safety glasses. I actually couldn't find a case that would be open enough, I knew he wouldn't want to mess with an open/close case. So inspiration was born!

I cut a pocket from old carpenter jeans with the seat fabric still attached.

To firm it up I used an ice cream bucket lid cut to size. (we all know I have extras of those)

I stuffed the cut plastic in to the pocket and then stitched the pocket closed.

(I did use an industrial sewing machine that I borrowed from Jon's brother Dave.)

I cut a piece of denim from the same pair of jeans for the back of the case.

I cut that piece the same size at the pocket bottom,

but smaller by about 3/4 of an inch on each side at the top.

This is so it stays open.

I cut it longer than the pocket, the excess is towards the opening.

I then sewed that piece onto the back of the pocket.

Last I folded the excess fabric over and hot glued a hem in it.

Total sew time was about 3 minuets, it took longer to heat the hot glue gun than it did to sew it.
I thought Jon would Velcro it to the dash but he tucked it in the corner by the windshield and it stays put.

A small labor of love, Jon loves it,

he thinks I should mass produce them!

I have been gifted some chocolate and an African Violet (to replace the one that died when our furnace went out when we were gone over Christmas). He sure knows how to flatter and woo me! FYI I won't be taking a pass. I'm lovin' this challenge and would not want to miss out on one single blessing! I would highly recommend the movie and the book, actually I dare you!

Beading

It has been for-EVER since I have made any jewelry. My fingers have been itching to have beads tumbling threw them. To get back into it w/o much time or committement (or brain power) I worked on this easy little bracelet. It is a birthday gift our niece Danni. Are my reading/beading glasses fun or what?

Rag Rug

This rag rug, like the other one (here) had a direction all it's own. I may have it figured out, I'll keep you posted! The middle is an old green floral sheet that was my favorite. The creamy yellow was another sheet. And the cranberry was a thrifted-wonderfully-worn-soft-cotton table clothe that I paid $1 for.

It sets in front of my chair that is not far from the pellet stove (here). It feels so nice under my feet, I think it's the worn cotton that gives it that comfort feel. It's not perfect, but it has character. I love it!

Real Men Don't Wear Super Bowl Rings...But They Do Sew!

Avery had sewing class last term. He did really well, he's a wee bit of a perfectionist about his seams, and I must say I am very impressed. He sewed the manly Viking (there's always next year) pj pants and the hat that he has on. This is his official after school uniform! He also sewed a duffel bag and a pair of hot chili boxers for Grace, who, besides her shoe addiction she has a funky boxer thing goin' on!. Ave now has an opinion about sewing machines, and unfortunately he's not at all impressed with mine. I tell him it just showing its age -- 60, I kid you not!

Prayer Shawl

Sometimes when life is a struggle, it helps if you focus on someone else's struggle. My brother rents from a lady named Loni, (her and her husband were friends of our parents when we were younger) Loni has cancer and is in the last days of her life. I made her a Prayer Shawl, first to spend more time praying for someone other than myself, second to let her know that she is being prayed for.

Yarn balls all lined up to make sure I have enough.

I am finished with the shawl, but not with the prayers.

The inspiration came from here, Barb made me a comfort quilt to lay under while I recover from surgery. Since sewing is painful for me I crocheted the shawl. I have spent so many hours under my comfort quilt. When Randi and Jeremiah's baby boys were born silently, her and I both sat under the comfort quilt, sometimes alone, sometimes together. That kind of comfort is meant to be passed along.

Rag Time

I started this rag rug by following a tutorial, it soon took on a life of its own and I ended up ripping it out and just freelancing (my way of saying I winged it). The problem was that the fabric was too thick and I had cut the strips too wide. The fabric used here was thrifted curtains that cost me $1. The giant hook was my birthday present and it cost $2.49. That's alot of fun for under $5 !!!

Crocheting the rug, working on those PT chin tucks--multi tasking, and hanging by the pellet stove with Otto. I like to think he's guarding my rag ball from the cat, who can reap havoc on anything that can be unwound.

The finished product is 20 x 30 inches.

Thank you !!!

The rug was a gift for Bonice who... (deep breath cuz the list is long) brought Grace home from Wed. night Church ###'s of time's, made a puppy run many hours away, lobbied for said puppy (there are days that one doesn't count), hauled me to many Dr. appointments, asked questions that I forgot to ask of the Dr, re-answered those questions when I would call because a brain on pain can't remember which end is up, went on info seeking missions for me (a shout out here for Gus, Bonices's husband who works in the medical field), brought me food, brought me pillows (if ever you have a back surgery latex pillows are the way to go), brought me pajama's, brought me dvd's to watch, brought me books to read (still challenged in that area-- the brain on pain thing), brought that puppy treats and toys, gave tons of puppy advice, watched very large energetic puppy for 6 days so we could visit Randi's family for Christmas ... you get the idea.

Magic Tree

This is the Magic Tree in Columbia MO. It's a few blocks from Randi's home. It is very pretty

This is the Magic tree inspired hat I crocheted for Elijah while we were Christmas-ing in Missouri. I grabbed a skein of yarn from my project bucket as we walked out the door. It just happens to be as colorful as the tree. I made it there for Elijah so we could do a little bonding, we both enjoyed it. He was so compliant about trying on a half done hat, once he took off on a run but I had enough yarn unwound so I didn't loose any stitches. I told Randi that he doesn't have to wear it. The joy was in the journey!

Monkeying Around

Happy 16th Birthday Daina!!

I made this for my niece. When she was here months ago she made a sock monkey--she has a fine appreciation for anything of the sock monkey nature. I started this pre-surgery, needless to say it has taken me a long time to finish. This was my post-surgery "if I'm not back to normal soon I will go crazy!!" project. It took so much concentration and the first couple times I worked on it my neck swelled up, my kids were freaked out by the sight, I was a hurtin' unit! I paced myself after that, a couple of rows a day and finally I finished it!! Oh yea. that back to normal thing still eludes me--monkeying around in moderation!