May 29: Herb Identifiers

After some rain last week and a lovely, sunny (although a little hot, but I won't complain, but I guess I kind of am complaining, oh well) weekend, the balcony plants are growing (except for the lettuce, the cabbage worms and aphids have already got most of them). We have already enjoyed the herbs in several dinner dishes. I do know what is what with the herbs, but still I have been meaning to put identifiers by them just for fun. Today I did just that, taking inspiration from two ideas I have seen floating around the web and Pinterest, wine cork plant identifiers and stick identifiers. Both were super simple to make. Here are a few pictures and my tips.

Supplies: corks, wooden  skewers, sticks, peeler, Sharpie

Using peeler, shave a flat part at top of stick

Write plant names with Sharpie

Write plant name on cork with Sharpie,
press wooden skewer into cork
(pushing skewer into the hole from cork screw made it easier)

May 25: Cell Phone Case Change

You may (but probably won't since it was in Jan.) remember the post on my Cell Phone Case. It went from Christmas wrapping paper to a fabric scrap that matched my wallet.
Here is a little reminder:

Today I decided it was time for a change up again. In July I will be traveling to Port-au-Prince, Haiti with a group of people from our church to support Child Hope. Part of the work Child Hope does in Haiti is run an orphanage, Maison de Lumiere. (To learn more, check out Child Hope's website.) So, I decided to use a picture from Child Hope's website for my new phone case insert. 

I hope that seeing this picture will remind me to regularly pray for the upcoming trip as well as the children and staff of the orphanage. I am most often a last minute planner, (want to have a cookout tomorrow, sure, why would I already have plans for tomorrow, it is only today?) and therefore I often find myself "forgetting" about the trip. This will be a tangible way to help my looking ahead memory.

May 24: Summery Blanket

When I work an early morning, opening shift at the coffee shop I often find myself on the couch taking a little nap mid-afternoon in hopes of not falling asleep by 8pm that evening. I love snuggling up on the couch with a blanket whether it is for that nap or to watch a movie with J.

Yesterday as I napped under my favorite snuggling blanket I found myself sweating but still wanting to be under the blanket. Today, I resolved to make a more summery blanket. I used that favorite snuggling blanket as a template for the size and 6 rectangles front layout of my summer blanket.

You are probably getting tired of seeing these fabrics in all my projects, but I used pieces of sheets I picked up at Good Will so that the blanket would be lightweight (just a side note, those fabrics are almost gone, maybe one more project out of them).

This was a pretty quick and easy project. I refused to use pins or properly measure for most of it. I started by cutting out six rectangles (same size) and sewing them together to make the front of the blanket. Then I cut a large piece of fabric the same size as my front, to be the back. I then sewed the front and the back together, right sides facing, on all 4 sides, leaving about 6 inches open for turning. I turned the blanket right sides out and top-stiched using a zig-zag stitch around all 4 sides. I also zig-zag top-stitched where the front rectangles were sewn together.

Now I am off to the coffee shop for the afternoon where I will be dreaming of a nap on the couch with my new summery blanket or, perhaps, using it as a picnic blanket on this nice, sunny, spring day.

May 23: Embroidery Afternoon

Working on some more simple, little embroidery pieces that will be a part of something else.

The something else to come in a little while. 

So fun and such gratification in finishing up a few while enjoying a cup of tea on the balcony.

May 22: Hello Sunshine Embroidery

A night spent snuggling into a comfy couch embroidering is a night well spent in my book. This is going to be a part of a larger project to come. But, J made a good point that it would also look good on the front door. 

May 21: Graduation Cake

Well, here it is, the finished graduation cake. It was a big hit both visually and in taste; although, I will admit to a gluten-free box mix and icing. I took inspiration from these two photos on Pinterest.

http://www.karaspartyideas.com/


http://www.bakerella.com/candy-cup-caps/

I love the garland draped around the cake in the first image; I decided to spell out CONGRATS CHRISTA on the garland. The cute little graduation caps out of chocolate candies are adorable, and so they topped the cake in style. I added some yarn pom-poms for a festive, fireworky, celebration look. And, if you missed the post on the faux cake stand, check it out. They say presentation is everything (who is that they anyway?).

I cake filled, happy family.

(graduation garlands)

May 19: Potted Plant Gift

Today we celebrate my sister-in-law, C's, graduation for her Master's Degree. Yes, that is the happy something I talked about yesterday. Part of her gift, an aloe plant in a pretty painted pot. About a month ago, I painted the pot at a local paint your own pottery studio (a fun night out with the girls). A few days ago, I replanted this baby aloe plant from our large one; here's to hoping he firmly plants his roots and grows as big as his mama.

Happy Graduation C!

(cake pictures to come, I am still putting on the finishing touches)