Sharing from my clever, creative friend KMS (Kathy S.) I present . . .

What can you do with a thrift store globe?

Spray paint it with chalkboard paint and turn it into a centerpiece. Her son Michael (NEVER Mike) has been awaiting papers announcing where his mission call will be.

Michael, on the other hand, has a different view on what to do with a globe.
I loved that the "missionary photo" session was just from the waist up. . . love the shorts Michael.

And the "call" has come! Look out Little Rock Arkansas! One terrific young missionary is headed your way to serve for 2 years.

"God's speed" Michael. I'm so happy for you and hope you don't mind that I raided this photo from your facebook account :)

Happy day, msk

Not Complaining If...

...someone says my children aren't creative.

The Queen

I am the queen of unfinished projects. It is embarrassing and almost shameful to admit. Here I am at my last sewing project.

So why am I excited and passing along yet another idea, craft, sewing project...because I think you might like it too and I have a lot more faith in you than I do in myself. How pathetic. But just in case I do get around to it, I'll let you know. Any of you have a shirt you want to send my way???? Feeling rather sheepish asking.

Some of you know that the pillows on my sofa are STILL not sewn but just safety pinned. Now that is pathetic. At a recent bridal shower at my house I had to warn a guest to be careful when she picked one up to cuddle. People don't usually pick them up but just lean into them and I've felt safe.

I like the idea of making pillows out of worn out Aloha Shirts for summer patio chairs and then old flannels for winter. Not my idea but a comment on the MS website where I found this idea.

P.S. I actually got my/Mom's old Singer out last week and repaired Kirby's leash and mended 1 other item. I'm not completely pathetic.

With this project, you can transform a button-down shirt with a torn sleeve or stained collar into a decorative throw pillow. Just create a square paper pattern, cut out the shirt material, sew the pieces together, and insert the pillow filling.

Tools and Materials
One shirt with a button placket
Seam ripper (optional)
Measuring tape
Paper, for making pattern
Scissors
Roll cutter ( think this is optional and you can just use scissors)
Pillow filling

Blue Shirt Pillow How-To
1. Using a seam ripper, remove any shirt pockets.
2. Determine the size of the pillow by laying the buttoned-up shirt out flat and measuring the width. The larger the shirt, the more options you will have.
3. Cut a paper pattern 1/4 inch larger than the pillow on all sides. (For example, a 16-inch square pillow will need a 16 1/2 inch square pillowcase.) To make a pillow with a decorative flange, simply add the desired flange size to your pattern on all sides. Using a roll cutter, cut down the center of the pattern, stopping and starting about 1/2 inch from the top and bottom.
4. Place the pattern over the placket so that the buttons poke out through the center cut. Slide the pattern up and down until the buttons are centered from top to bottom.
5. Using the roll cutter, follow the pattern, and cut out the front and back pieces of the shirt. Pin the pieces right sides together. Sew the front and back together, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance. (There's no need to leave a space for turning, since you will turn through the placket opening.)
6. Turn the pillowcase out, and press. The front of your shirt should now be the front of the pillow. If you're making a flange, topstitch a border around the edge of the already turned and pressed pillowcase. Insert pillow.

Now I think that seems doable. Kids would love having one of these on their beds don't you think.

D Day's Idea

I loved this idea of Trevlyn's last year so I thought I'd bring it forth again to share. Go either here or here for details.

"Walk a little slower Daddy,"
said a child so small,
"I'm following in your footsteps
and I don't want to fall.
Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they're hard to see;
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.
Someday when I'm all grown up,
You're what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who'll want to follow me.
And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true,
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you."

Photos from PA

Today we went to Knoebels Amusement Park and had a marvelous time. This is a little Disney.land. Pictures do not do it justice. Also pictures at dinner tonight. PA is a beautiful state and I'm really enjoying my stay with this great family.

Blogging Blahs

Maybe my blogging blahs have something to do with my silly foot situation. I want this foot to be well and done with. I want to be out visiting my church sisters, serving, grocery shopping, playing and especially putting on my walking shoes and doing my daily 2 miler with Kirby. I do feel blessed and the foot is doing okay and I am in no pain so I shouldn't complain.

Here is my foot Sunday as I lounged on my bed so the foot was "up" watching an inspiring second day of church conference. I was watching the inspiring conference not my foot.
When I wasn't taking notes during conference I was crocheting around flannel baby blankets. I completed the burpee for the brown with aqua polka dots, completed the remaining 2/3 crocheting on the pink floral and the white "blessing" blanket from start to finish. Feeling good about these. I'm naming the white blanket the President Monson blanket.
Sorry I can't be more exciting but like I said, I've got the blogging blahs. 3

Everywhere Scarves!!!

. . . and I love them. If I'm just noticing them I'm sure they have been very popular for ages. My fashion awareness is not out front. But if I'm a bit slow on this matter - it does not matter. I can still enjoy scarves and am delighted with mine. I started crocheting and knitting scarves about 3 -4 years ago (so maybe I'm not so slow after all) thick ones and skinny ones. Yarn ones and ribbon ones. One of my challenges is being a warm blooded, desert dweller and the scarves make me too hot. To my delight, we've had some chilly weather this winter and I've gotten out my scarves and worn them. Linny made me a pretty one for Christmas and I've worn that also. Much thanks again Linz. I also picked up a couple of scarves-bordering-on-shawls while traveling last year and have finally started wearing them. I'm finding this fun and I may look silly or awkward but I'm enjoying it.

I also enjoy a blog called The Satorialist which I found through Boo's blog-thanks AK. All these scarf photos came from there. When I visit this blog it's like a mini vacation to a new country. Not only are the photos from France, Italy, New York etc. but this fashion-industry-world is really a very different world than mine. It's fun to peek in and see what other people are wearing on the street. Is that admitting too much. I did not realize that the scarf was such a guy thing also. Why not!

Are you wearing scarves this winter? I'm open to fashion tips from you savvy people.
You can click on the photos to enlarge and my personal opinion is do it, these are really sharp and fun to see in detail.

Look at all that scarf!!!!

The photo below is from a Martha site with instructions for knitting the hat. I was so disappointed those scarf directions were not included but I think a basic knitter could figure it out with large needles and the right yarn. I bet Skippie could give me the help I'd need. She's quite the knitter.

Toastie Tootsies

Even in my lovely desert I'm feeling a chill. I found these super simple instructions to make some warm slippers that requires no sewing. Now I'm keeping my eye out for wool socks on sale. You can get all the instructions here. It's one of Martha's ideas. Loving toasty tootsies and I know you all don't have custom made slippers from Aunt J. I'm one of the lucky ones.

Cats & Dogs

Yes, it is raining that hard with a little thunder added for excitement. When you're a desert dweller the rain is a big deal and we love it. Like yesterday, K and I got home from our walk this a.m. before the heavens unleashed on us. Thankful for small blessings. SLK is putting lights on the tree, I've made Annette's delicious wassail - you've got to make this - and a batch of beef and vegetable soup. Such cozy, rainy day activities. Now to slice up that loaf of ww bread and the meal is on.

Yesterday I belatedly got my paper white narcissus's planted and some for forcing inside too. Here they are at the kitchen window . . . do you see those cats and dogs coming down in the background. No, I didn't think so but it's still happening.

Close up with flash. Love those little green shoots of life. I'm already excited over the wonderful fragrance these will provide. These 2 containers may end up on the mantel . . . or not and I'll tie some Christmas ribbon around the glass containers ( you can't tell they are a loverly shade of green). I've got a white pot with 7 bulbs planted to go on the front steps and another pot of lilies planted to anticipate. Did you know I was a little crazy over flowers. Yes, you did and you know it's a genetic thing. Just ask my darling sisters and sister-cousins . . . they do the gardening thing so much better than I. Remember the Geiss Thumb! How about you-what are you planting or cooking. Hope your day is super fine. 3

P.S. Spellcheck doesn't like it when I type loverly. Too bad.

She' like the Engergizer Bunny

I've told you about her before here. She's the fun and exceedingly talented daughter of my cousin. I'm so very pleased to be getting to know her better. I really like her. She has a blog where she shows you creative scrapbooking ideas and the page below is one of her new ones I just love. I like to click on it and see it in "big time". Since some of you scrapbook I thought you might like to know about her site so you can have fun and get inspired too. When you go there please leave a comment and tell her who you are. Just strengthening family ties folks.

MARYSUE MarySue marysue

Want to get a little creative? Go to this sight and have fun spelling anything your heart desires. I hope you're not the type to get carried away though. It would be embarrassing if you just kept repeating your name over and over and over like the universe revolved around you. And what if your family saw all this and just kept shaking their heads. You might even appear to be unable to make a choice. But I know you won't have a problem with any of that and will just have fun.