Knick-knacks, ric rac, and Fabri Tac!

I just couldn't stand it!  I ran over to JoAnn's (like I need an excuse) and bought some Fabri Tac, and just a few other things like fabric, thread, a t-shirt, an applique - well, you know - necessary items.  Anyway, I glued some pretty pink ric rac on one side of the table runner so that my little sewing faux pas are no longer!

And, today the kids and I joined some friends for some ceramics painting fun at a local ceramics shop.  The intention was to paint one ornament each.  We got a little carried away!  I fell in love with the little old fashioned looking ornaments and painted them to match the kitchen theme.  Where will I hang them?  Ha!  Who knows.  They were just too fun to pass up.  Oh, and the kids painted some cool things, too! 

My three year old daughter was going for the purple/black/silver camo effect!  My son could have kept painting all day if I had let him.  I'm glad my kids enjoy be creative.

And later while I watch a movie with my oldest daughter, I can sew a multitude of "sprinkles" onto my kid's new doughnuts!!

Merry Christmas!

Mona Pin It

Practice makes better!

Christmas is just five days away and I FINALLY made a table runner with material I purchased several months ago!  Well, I'm just early for next year, right?  When I made the runner for Halloween, I wished I had backed it with a material more suited for Thanksgiving.  You know, double-duty.  So, having that idea in mind, I found this great fabric at Magnolia Quiltworks and thought it would work well for Christmas, New Year's, even Valentine's Day.  I love pink, red, and yellow together and these fit right in.

First off, I am by no means a quilter!  I have made blankets, but never "quilted" them;  I have put quilt binding on different things, but not on quilts;  and I just recently learned how to "free motion quilt" on a toddler's jacket, although I'm certainly no pro at it!  So, keep all that in mind when you see what I came up with!  Sorry about dark pictures with the camera flash. I took these photos at 2 a.m.!  First side:

Second side:

I had so much fun with free-motion on the little jacket that I thought I would quilt the table runner.  So, I "stippled" all over it and added the butter-yellow quilt binding.  Stippling takes a lot of practice, but I don't know that you can mess up too much.  I tried to be fluid, relaxed, and not cross over any previous stitch lines.  I said "tried".  But, it really is fun.  If you have never done this before, give it a try.  I found a tutorial over at the Jolly Jabber that explains it far better than I can begin to!

Speaking of practice, I have much to do on binding as well.  There are tons of tutorials on the internet and on You Tube.  I love You Tube.  I think you can learn anything there!  And, don't forget your local quilt shop.  They are always so happy to help and have classes scheduled all the time for everyone from beginners to pros!

One thing I did a little differently this time was in sewing on the binding.  After stitching it to one side of the runner, I flipped it over and decided to use a blanket stitch instead of a straight stitch.  It gave it the look of twin needle work and looks very nice.  Maybe not as much on the back, only because it came off the binding a little.  Whoopee-dee-do, I'll just add some ric rac!!   And, no I'm not posting that picture!

So, a project done and my family thinks it looks just fine!  And, I'll keep practicing.  I also made two doughnuts and a cinnamon roll - in the car - on a road trip!  Nah, I'm not that good.  They were made from felt!  But, that's another post for another day!

I hope you are all ready for Christmas and to spend some fun time with family and friends over the next week.  I believe, aside from some midnight wrapping, we are ready.  My husband and I helped Santa out the other night and finished off the shopping!  I think the next few days will be candy cane dipping, sugar-cookie making, loving on my kids kind of days!

Merry Christmas,

Mona Pin It

I'm just giddy!

Look what just came in the mail!  I ordered some sweet little things from Cerri at The Little Pink Studio.  I've been looking in her shop for a while and thought I would indulge myself for Christmas (whatever excuse we need, right?)  Of course, she had it packaged up much prettier than this.  I didn't snap a photo - I just ripped it open!

I got some sweet millinery flowers, velvet ric rac, vintage seam binding, some petite dress forms, and three pink bottle brush trees!  Life is good!  This particular palette reminds me more of Spring, so maybe I can whip up some cute things for Easter!

She also tossed in one of her cute little Santa buttons.  Isn't he adorable?

I guess I now have a collection of these little trees.  I received the largest from a friend last year, found another to match it several months ago, found the white trees at Wal-Mart (looking for 50 light strands in green - I don't need 100!), and then these pretty trees in pink.  Voila - a collection!

I'll be back soon with more Tis the Season 2009 Tour!

Merry Christmas!

Mona Pin It

Tis the Season 2009 - Partie Trois

And if you'll step this way into the living room!  I would like to share with you our living room Christmas tree.  I have to say that I am a little embarrassed - it does need some work.  I can still see the branches!  My family just doesn't understand - it can hold more ornaments!

Years ago, I saw a beautiful tree in a magazine (imagine that) and fell in love!  It was covered, I mean covered with gorgeous, colorful glass ornaments.  Since then, I have collected ornaments each year just for this tree.  My family usually gives me a few for Christmas, too.  These aren't vintage ornaments, although some have that look.  Well, my kids will think they are vintage someday!

When I was a young girl, my mom and I always decorated our tree wtih lots and lots of blinking multi-colored ornaments.  Then, when I was a teenager, we decided to change up and go with all red and white.  We made a tree skirt just for the new look!  It was so funny - we sewed the pretty little skirt and made it specifically for the artificial tree we had used for years.  (Which may also explain why I like a ton of ornaments - you could see through the branches because it was getting so old!)  Anyway, I kept the tree when I got married but we finally had to throw it away and we purchased a real one.  Can you guess where this is going?  Well, since it had only a little four inch hole for the tree "trunk" to go through, the skirt wouldn't fit any other tree!  I guess my mom and I thought we would have that little tree forever! 

Okay, back to the tour.  I decided to buy a new skirt this year and found this one.  It is pretty red and olive satin with cutwork and beads.  I, having learned my lesson, bought one that would fit pretty much any tree and stand the test of time!  And, an added bonus - it was 50% off at Hobby Lobby.  Sweet.

I spread a few of the decorations here and there...

Notice on the picture frame above how it looks like little spoons on a wire?  Well, my son just informed my that his three year old sister keeps turning those up.  They are supposed to be ornments hanging from a wire!!  I thought it looked odd when I snapped the photo!

Next on the holiday tour will be my children's holiday decorating.  I can't wait to show you!

Merry Christmas,

Mona

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Tis the Season Tour 2009 - Partie Deux

Today's post includes some holiday decorating in my kitchen.  I have recently become very fond of red, pink, and yellow.  My walls are a pretty green, but I am thinking of giving them a soft, pale, buttery yellow.  Is that a color?   "Sir, excuse me, but I'm looking for a paint color called 'soft-pale-buttery yellow'.  Do you have that?"  Martha Stewart probably does.  I'll have to check that out!  Anyway, I added a tree to the kitchen last year and found all sorts of beautiful ornaments at, you guessed it.... the Dollar General!  Even the sweet beaded garland. 

I turned a framed mirror into a chalkboard so that we can always add a quote of the day, birthday greetings, whatever the mood or occasion strikes!  I also added some bling with some Hobby Lobby miniature ornaments.

Speaking of Martha.... I made this wreath last year and thought it turned out quite well.  I'm a big fan of Martha and have tried lots of her crafts over the years.  Some turned out good, some were tough to find supplies for or were too costly to do.  But this one went great, was fairly easy, and not too expensive.  Love it.  Go here for the instructions.

Of course, I must have glitter!  I found these at JoAnn's last year.  Are they not perfect?  My husband keeps trying to arrange them to say Leon.  Ha ha - now put them back.

I also made this Countdown to Christmas from a Country Home magazine, December 2008.  This issue had so many great ideas that I snagged it right away!  Lots of reds, pinks, polka dots!  This was so much fun and I was able to make it in one evening.  I used foam board covered with fabric and made a hanger for the back.  Then, I just used numbers I printed from the computer, scrapbooking paper, little ornaments, and thumb tacks.

And of course, what is decorating without a bowl of ornaments!  I love red glass and over several years found the prettiest red glass dishes from Target.  I grabbed everything they had - plates, bowls, platters, cups, goblets, glasses, compote dishes and a candy dish.  I just wish they had made a butter dish and gravy boat. 

And to add to Santa's cookie plate (in waiting), I had a few pretty little cupcakes.  Well, they were pretty.  Now they are gone! 

I hope you have enjoyed this little tour.  I will be moving to the living room next so please come back soon!

Merry Christmas!

Mona Pin It

Tis the Season Tour 2009

Only fifteen days until Christmas!!  Are you ready?  I'm getting there!  I usually have all my decorations up throughout the house by the weekend after Thanksgiving, but it seems like I've been working on it a little at a time.  I think it takes a day just to pull them out and get ready.  Most of my attic is filled with crates and tubs of holiday decorations.  Luckily, I have them numbered and cataloged and can go right to the ones I want.  No, I'm not joking.

We usually invite over a few of the kid's friends, put on some Christmas music or movie, break out the hot chocolate and have fun.  Although, as with everything, I have a method and the kids have learned by now to go with that!  Doesn't everyone put their ornaments on by groups and colors?

We love Christmas trees at our house and have a tree in almost every room.  I think we counted eleven last year!  After Christmas, we usually grab one on sale.  Of course, most of these are small and fit nearly anywhere.  Anyway, I thought I would share some of our holiday decorating with you - starting with my studio. 

I just have a few things here, like these pretty French blue ornaments and dried hydrangeas that seem to be perfect for any time of the year.  And, I just love my little pink tree!  My husband picked this up for me last year at Big Lots - pre-lit!  I added some sweet little dollar store glass ornaments and some pretty new beads that I found at Target for only $2.00.  I think Jessica of Such Pretty Things and I were at Target that same day.  She spotted these beads, too.  She always has the most beautiful things and does the most creative things from her Target finds!

I am going to have to make Genevieve, my sweet mannequin something festive to wear so I can show her off, too!  Next post I will share some of my kitchen decorations.  So much fun!

Merry Christmas!

Mona Pin It

How cool is that?!

I've been featured in an Indie Public article by Jessica Moreau-Berry!  Jessica writes articles for Indie Public, Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine, and other publications.  Check out her awesome blog, Junque Revival and her Etsy shop to see the beautiful art and jewelry she creates. 

These are some of the pieces that were featured in the Summer 2009 issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine.

Aren't they gorgeous?!

Thanks so much Jes for including me in such a wonderful group of artists! 

I hope each of you will visit the article she wrote.  Please leave a comment in the discussion area so we know you stopped by!

Cheers,

Mona Pin It