Thursday, January 28, 2010

Craft Hope

So, there's this website called Craft Hope, and it's really a project that a woman named Jade started. Here's how she describes Craft Hope:

Craft Hope is a love inspired project designed to share handmade crafts with those who need them. It is our hope to combine our love for crafting and desire to help others into a project to make a difference around the world.

For example, Project 1 collected dresses for little girls and shorts for little boys in an orphanage & shelter in Mexico. Project 4 collected sock moneys to give to the Little Heroes Preschool Burn Camp through the Firefighters Burn Institute in California. Now they are on Project 6, which is collecting red scarves for the Orphan Foundation. Every year, foster kids are aged out of the program as they head off to college. The Red Scarf Program was started to send scarves to these youth in Valentine's Day care packages.

The requirements are pretty simple - basically you need some red yarn and know how to knit or crochet. The guidelines are on the Craft Hope page under Project 6. The only catch is they need to be at The Orphan Foundation by February 14th to be included in the care packages.

I think it's pretty cool to get involved in things like this. I have been wanting to contribute to this effort, but have felt under qualified for the other projects. This time, though, I know I can contribute!
I found a really soft red yarn at Hobby Lobby for a great price and I started a scarf the other day. We'll see how long it takes me to make one scarf. If I have enough time and yarn, I may try for 2!

I Love This Yarn in Cranberry

Anyone with me?


Rosette Wreath

Several weeks ago I saw the neatest wreath tutorial on a blog I read, though I can't remember now who posted about it. The tutorial is here. It's a rosette wreath made from a Styrofoam wreath form, felt circles, straight pins, and some time. I found some charcoal felt that I love at Joann and I even had a 50% off coupon!! I did use the easier method of cutting out the circles with a white ink pad and a large mouth Ball canning jar. I know it made a big difference in how long this project took. I love the white wreath that she made in the tutorial, but we have all white walls, so that wouldn't work. My pictures don't look nearly as good as the ones on the tutorial, so do look at them!


the back

the top with the ribbon to hang

hanging on our family photo wall!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

some random thoughts

Ainsley has a fever this morning and she watching a video about the stillest I have ever seen her sit. Poor girl!

Do you ever have good ideas that flop once you actually do them? I bought one of those three-tiered hanging wire baskets for our kitchen a couple years ago. There's a place to hang it by our sink that I thought would be perfect for our fresh fruits & veggies that don't need to be refrigerated. It's been hanging there since I bought it, but has been nearly empty most of that time. I found that the sun hits the basket through our kitchen window much too often for fresh produce to last very long. Mostly it's been a place where I lazily toss an opened package of cracker or nuts, rather than putting them away. And recently, it has become an eyesore. I'm going to take it down today.

As long as we're talking about that kitchen window area by the sink...I think I'm tired of the current curtains, too. Perhaps it's time for a new window treatment?? Keep an eye out for a before & after post...

in light of the previous post...

Obviously there are many ways to help in crises like the one in Haiti. These are a few of the options that I have heard about:

Through a CHURCH - our church is taking donations for MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship), an organization some members are working with in Haiti.

Through a large ORGANIZATION - like The Salvation Army or the Red Cross or Compassion International

Through an ART SHOP - the Craft Hope shop on Etsy is selling donated items from the crafting community in order to raise funds for Doctors Without Borders in Haiti. As of Monday, they had raised over $27,000!!

Through an INDIVIDUAL - a friend of a friend is raising funds to go to Haiti this Spring. She is uniquely situated to go as she's been there before and she is a nurse. Check out her blog!

Most of all, let's pray for all the mommies & daddies, grandpas & grandmas, aunts & uncles, boys & girls, and friends who are hurting in Haiti - and for all those who helping & serving them.

the honest truth

I'll admit it. Since the earthquake hit Haiti, my reaction has been merely a passing thought here or a twinge of compassion there. I think I have subconsciously steered myself away from the news and pictures, kept myself busy enough to not think about the effect of such a disaster on that country. The past few days, though, things have been changing, opening in my heart. Heath & I were talking about Haiti and our reactions this weekend. As we asked ourselves, "What do you do when disaster hits one place after another?", the answer came loud & clear.

You help. You help however you can. And you keep helping.
How can I turn my back on those who are crying out for help?

For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. Psalm 22:24

Friday, January 22, 2010

Valentine's Day Cards

I can't believe Valentine's Day is just around the corner! I just listed two new sets of cards for Valentine's Day on my Etsy site - The Littlest Daisy. They are quite different from what I have done before, but I really, really like them!

I think if it were up to my husband, Valentine's Day would go unnoticed around here. Not because he doesn't love me or want to show me so - just because it's such a commercial holiday (what holiday isn't these days??). The roses are astronomically priced, the boxes of chocolates and the teddy bears seem cliche, but the kicker is that it feels mandatory.

Now, I can't just let a holiday pass us by...so I think I'll continue what my mom started and what I've heard quite a few women talk about. We'll have a Family Valentine's Celebration! You know - finger jello shaped like hearts, heart shaped cake, Hershey's kisses, and hand made cards to say how much we love each other!

Friday, January 15, 2010

the longest lasting roses - EVER!


Heath brought home the prettiest pink roses last Wednesday (more than a week ago!) when I was sick...and they are STILL GORGEOUS!! Every morning I half expect to see them wilting in their vase, but every morning they surprise me with their beauty. Thanks, Heath, for the thoughtful gift. I love them!

Christmas Projects

Well now that Christmas has passed, I can post about the projects which became gifts. It was so hard to keep them a secret before Christmas! I know you are all DYING to know what I was making after I posted a picture of the fabrics. Haha! My brother was disappointed that he didn't get a spelling bee blankie!

I found the cutest pattern for a Toddler Backpack on Made by Rae's website. I can't remember how I got there, now, but it was well worth it! I think I bought the pattern nearly as soon as I saw it! I decided to make one for Ainsley and one for her cousin Drew for Christmas. Here's Ainsley's, but I don't have any pictures of Drew's. Silly me, I forgot to take pictures before packaging it up!

The pattern was pretty simple to follow, although I am glad that I made Ainsley's first. I always do better on the second try than the first. I did discover that she's right when she said that you should use a medium to heavyweight fabric or it won't hold its shape. I only used a lightweight fabric for Ainsley's and it sure doesn't stand up on its own very well. For Drew's I used interfacing to give it some structure and that helped immensely! And even though I don't have pictures of it, I have to show you the fabric I found because it is just TOO cute! I saw it on Whipstitch Fabrics, my new favorite place to find fun fabrics.

Alexander Henry: Traffic Jam in Blue (from Whipstitch Fabrics)


My second project was to make matching child aprons for Ainsley and her friend Sanaa. Also on Whipstitch Fabrics, I found the perfect apron material - Metro Market Apples in Red. I was SO excited when my package of material arrived in the mail! I made up my own pattern for the aprons and I think they turned out pretty well. I think the neck strap may be a little long on Sanaa's and I think both have too long of a torso section. But overall, I'm happy with the finished product.


My third project for Christmas was a purse for my sister Kendra. Of course I had to make a practice one for myself (and I LOVE it!). I found the FREE pattern for this purse on Made by Rae's site, too. She calls it the Buttercup Bag. Here are some pictures of Kendra's I thought it would be the perfect little purse to take to her sorority formals and other dressy affairs.



Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Darling Blouse Giveaway

I love this blog that I've been keeping up with for awhile now; it's called Grosgrain and she posts the neatest things. I am always a bit jealous of her skill, but more often, I am challenged and inspired to do something creative on my own. Her latest giveaway is this cute Estate Sale Blue Blouse - here's the link - Estate Sale Blue Blouse GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

Check it out and be inspired!!