New Pattern, Rag Apron

I finally have had the time to put up my latest pattern in my Etsy Shop.  Its a really fun Rag Apron. 

Don't tell my sister that I put a picture of her silly faces.  She kept telling me she had not idea what to do.  Thanks Nat for being my model :)

Phoenix Quilt, Craft, Sew Show

After a ton of work and preparation. 

Lots of running around like a chicken without its head.

The Phoenix Quilt, Craft,  Sew show is finally here.

Day 1 is done.  Day 2 here we come!

Remind me to share my funny stories when this craziness has all ended :)

Phoenix Quilt, Craft, Sew Show

You all know that show that I have been working my butt off for.  It is this weekend!  Yippee.

I am super excited and nervous.

So if you are in the Phoenix area this weekend make sure to stop by and say Hello!

I will have many patterns, quilt kits, car seat tents, and many other baby items available. 

New Pattern: Quilted Strip Car Seat Tent and Baby Blanket

Getting ready for this huge quilt show in Phoenix has really put me in over drive for creating.  I have added a new quilt/car seat tent pattern to my Etsy shop. 

This pattern is super cute and quick way to make a different car seat tent.  It is made with the quilt as you go method.  Super fun and super cute!

Check ME Out Saturday Week 51

Welcome to another week of Check Me Out Saturday.  There were some really amazing links so make sure to stop by and check them out.  Here are my 2 favorite:

The speckled dog has a beautiful valentines day wreath. 

A Jenuine Life made this gorgeous toddler shirt dress

You know what to do.  Link up what you have been working on this week.  I can't wait to see!  

A-MAZ-ING Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

I am not a fan of Spaghetti at all.  I have always hated it.  I don't mind cooking it, but please don't make me eat it.

The other day I had some tomatoes that were going to go bad in a hurry and my 4 yr old wanted spaghetti.  So here we go I thought.  We can try it out.

This is what I did.

Brown 1 lb of hamburger.  Add 1 medium onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 spaghetti seasoning packet, a little italian seasoning. 

Then dice 4-8 large tomatoes (if all you have are smaller ones then double the amount).  Put them in the pan and simmer for at least an hour.  You can also do this in the morning and put it in the crockpot.

My family loves to have this put into a spaghetti squash.  I didn't think they would but they LOVE it.  It was a nice change to the normal but it was good.  I even really enjoyed it.

I like to make a huge batch of sauce and then freeze what we don't eat in quart size bags.  That way I have something quick to make on those nights I don't want to cook.

I no longer eat spaghetti noodles with salt and pepper when everyone else is eating real spaghetti.  It really is super delicious

Awesome Under Stairs Toy Room

Isn't that the most beautiful toy room?  I just adore it.  My inlaws have a small room under their stairs and this would be perfect for that.  Hmm wonder if they would care about a small little makeover? lol

Check it out here at Delightful Order.  She also has a ton of storage and organization ideas.  Her house is absolutely gorgeous!

New Patterns: Mod Dot Quilt and Car Seat Tent

I added 2 new patterns to my etsy shop last week and am just getting around to tell you all about them
The first one is a car seat tent.  It is a really quick and fun pattern.  You quilt as you sew the tent.  You can find it HERE

The 2nd is the blanket that my baby stole from me.  It matches the car seat tent, but not everyone wants a car seat tent so here is the mod dot quilt as you go quilt.   You can find the pattern HERE

Handmade Shampoo

Yep, you read right...Handmade Shampoo

Now I haven't ventured out and made my own.  Yet.  I have however bought some from Larks Hair Sticks on Etsy

Let me just say this.  I AM IN LOVE!

They make my hair feel really nice and clean and there is no residue left. 

Next thing on my list to buy is handmade conditioner.  I have to have the conditioner.  So I have been using about 1/2 of what I normally would have used in my hair every time I wash it now. 

What is your favorite handmade product?  I really want to know so please share below

Check Me Out Saturday Week 50

Welcome back!  Its another week of Check Me Out Saturday.

Here are some of my favs from last week:
Subway Couple Art from While He was Napping

Easy Peasy Grandma shares her most popular post from last year.  Congrats to you!

You know what to do.  Link up what you have been working on below.  I can't wait to see what you all share this week!

Quilt Kit from A Vision to Remember

Kristen emailed a while ago asking if she could post on her blog about her experience using a car seat tent quilt kit that I made for her.  Of course I said  yes!  I was honored :) 

Here is the lovely quilt that she made...you can read more HERE.  Thanks so much Kristen!

Guest Post: Creative 2x Mom

Remember this fun Minnie Mouse Party I threw for my Lydia's Third Birthday?  We had so much fun playing off the theme of Disney and along with that, I made these Minnie Mouse Candied Apples for the guests.  They took a little trial and error, but they were so worth the effort.

Here's what you'll need:

Apples (I used large ones and did one per family)

Popsicle sticks

Caramel

Milk Chocolate

White Chocolate (use the dots from a craft store for special effect)

Red Sprinkles

Marshmallows

Other materials:

Cookie Sheet

Wax paper

Bowl for melting chocolate

Boiling water

Cut bamboo scewers

1. Insert popsicle stick into top of apple and dip into a pot of boiling water for 20-30 seconds.  This will help remove anything on the outside of the apple and allow the caramel to stick better.  Dry apple.

2. Cut bamboo skewers into 1/3.  Insert one end marshmallows.  You will need two marshmallows for each apple.

3. Melt caramel in microwavable bowl.  Dip apples and then quickly adhere marshmallow "ears" before caramel hardens.  You can try to adhere them without the skewers, but I found that mine kept sliding and needed extra help.  Place apples on wax paper covered cookie sheet and allow to harden.

4.  Melt milk chocolate either in a double boiler or microwavable bowl.  If microwaving the chocolate, check and stir every 30 seconds until smooth.  Dip apples, making sure to cover the ears.  Place back on wax paper and allow to harden again.

5. Melt white dot chocolate in microwavable bowl.  Dip bottom half of apple creating a "skirt."  Place unmelted dots to create a polka dot effect before adding red sprinkles.  I didn't add the polka dots to mine, but thought they would be really cute.  Just don't forget those red sprinkles before your chocolate hardens.  Place apples back on wax paper to finish.

And there you have it.  A super cute, very delicious treat for your party guests.  I loved how they turned out and then packaged them in red cellophane baggies to send home.  A treat for the whole family and no tracking down those little party favors.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the Minnie Mouse details at Creative2xmom.  Hope you like them!

If you would like to be a guest poster please email me at boblyns at yahoo dot com.  Thanks so much to Robin for this wonderful blog post!  I hope you all will stop by her blog and say Hello!

My Christmas Present--

Welcome to our Christmas morning...

Notice the blanket covering "something".  I am totally oblivious to this.  Let me also tell you that I HATE waiting for the surprise.  I want to know NOW.  The thing is I don't even know that I have a surprise coming.

Oops...my 4 yr old told me not to look at the blanket.

Oddly enough I do know what that box is...do you?

But wait...that box was pretty cool and I was excited.

Now look at what else was under the tree I found out 2 hours later....Another pretty box.  Again I was oblivious.

Look what my hubby got for me!  Its a brand spanking new Bernina Sewing machine.  It does automatic button holes (which I must say are A--MAZ-ING! and so much FUN)  I no longer hate button holes.  

It also has a few other features that are saving me  a TON of time.   Which is what my hubby wanted it to do.  I honestly had not idea.  I knew that he wanted to buy me a new sewing machine for a long time.  I however LOVE my old machine and still have it but don't know if it will see much sewing anymore in my hands.

Look at my surprise. 

So here is that box at work.  It is a sewing machine cabinet.  It has a few small shelves in the door but most importantly it has an adjustable table where the machine sits so no more sore muscles in my neck and shoulders from my machine sitting too high. 

My absolutely favorite thing (ok there are a lot of fav things) is that niftly lever down by my chair seat.  I push my knee on it and it lifts the lever foot.  AWESOME!  I swear it saves me so much time. 

Nice?  I think so :)

And when I am all done sewing it folds up ever so nicely. 

Thanks Honey for spoiling me rotten.  Let me tell you I though I had finally outdone him for Christmas this year but once again he got me the best present EVER!

Polymer Clay Ginormous Buttons (ok just really large)

I had a customer recently request large buttons to be added onto their Car Seat Tent. 

I have seen all the adorable buttons that some are putting on their tents but I have had a really hard time finding any cute ones that would match what I make.

So then here comes plan B...Make my own.

I had considered doing this before but had been too chicken to try it out.   I decided to jump in full force and bought some polymer clay from my local Joann's.

Then I rolled 2 of the bars together and flattened it out with my rolling pin.

Next I took a large circle cookie cutter that is about 3 inches across and cut out a circle. 

Then I rolled the remaining 2 bars and the rest from the first 2 bars together and flattened it out.  Then I cut out the other circle.

Next I found a small dowel that I poked the 2 button holes through.

Then I measured how thick my buttons were and by directions on the package I baked for 15 minutes. 

They came out beautifully.  I let them cool off and then hand sewed them onto the car seat tent handles with crochet thread.  I used crochet thread mostly because it is quicker and thicker so it should hold up better.

Really this whole process took me about a 1/2 hour to complete and I LOVE they way they turned out.  Don't you?

Check ME Out Saturday week 49

Welcome to another week of Check ME Out Saturday.  Check out this awesome blog post from Vintage Wanna Bee last week HERE 

Not only does she show you these awesome candle holders (and their multiple uses) but she also has a couple funny stories. 

Now you know what to do...link up what you have been working on this week!

Can't wait!