Valentine Ring Bling

Every year, my quest is to find a Valentine project that is simple and affordable.  I have 3 children in school now, so even a simple Valentine adds up when multiplied by 75! Enter, the chocolate ring bling.  Simple and very affordable. Perfect for our busy household.

Supplies:

Bag of Hershey Kisses (one kiss per Valentine)
Bag of Red pipe cleaners (one pipe cleaner per Valentine)
String or yarn of some kind
Tags (I purchased pre-cut tags in the scrapbook section, but you can cut your own)
Pen (I used a pretty paint pen that I already owned)

1. Take out one pipe cleaner and cross the two ends, as shown below. Give one or two twists.
2. Place the Kiss flat side down on top of the twisted part.

3.  This is where I pic up both pieces and make sure the crossed part of the pipe cleaner is centered on the kiss.  Now bring all 4 pieces up and holding securely at the tip of the Kiss, twist.  I do this a few times and then wind around the sharp ends that remain.  Try to get those hidden as they can be sharp.  Put the ring on your finger to shape.  If it needs to be smaller, a few more twists will work.

4.  I purchased a stamp for the tags, but you don’t have to, or can add a sticker or some other prettiness.  Then, tie the tag onto the ring, fill out the To and From and you’re done!

After you've tied some string onto the tag and then onto the ring, special care should be given to these so they don’t tangle.

Great for teachers and children alike.  Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Jayna

Climbing Trees and Firefly Dreams

As grand as these mountains are outside my kitchen window with their snow capped tops, they small in comparison to the vast openness of the prairies of Illinois.  I grew up in the midwest and to me, that is beauty.  The gently blowing breeze over-top the grain filled fields holds a gentle picture in my mind that I suspect, always will. 

I have come to discover that the place you call home...truly home...will always be the most beautiful.  Maybe the dirty, city streets for the city born aren't the fondest to remember, but I would bet that the towering architecture and buzzing streets hold a corner of your heart.  My husband was born here in Colorado, so the Rocky Mountains are something he continues to love and cherish every single day.  While I am in complete amazement of these hills of strong granite, somehow the prairies, wandering creeks and fireflies of the midwest make me feel at peace and at home.

I came upon Sarah Jane's new fabric line today and not only is it gorgeous, but it reminds me of home.  Wee Wander from Michael Miller is a great representation of what life is like through the eyes of a child in the Midwest.  Fireflies, climbing trees, leaves and pinecones, frolicking birds and ponies are some of the memories featured in these fabrics. In Illinois,we didn't have too many ponies, just cows.  I don't suppose cows playing in the fields and flowers would have made such a pretty print;)

While these fabrics won't be showing up my shop until January, I couldn't wait another minute to introduce them to you.

Meanwhile, take a moment to remember your childhood days.  For me, my fondest memories are playing in the creek with my brother, Eric or playing catch in the front yard.  Catching fireflies in the dark, warm nights is an amazing experience that every child should have.  If you can't have that, you can at least get an idea of what that might be like.

 Fly home, firefly.

-Jayna

Designer Spotlight: Jackie McFee

It would normally be my intention to interview said designer, but with my shop in full swing, I just don't have time for that.  However, I came across a fabric designer today and I just LOVE everything she has!  I'm not sure if it's the color I love more or her design. Her fabric designs are currently being printed by Camelot Fabrics.  It's no secret to my friends that I'm a chevron addict. I don't think there's a room in my home that doesn't have chevron in some form. 

Jackie feeds right into this addiction and temps me with additional wonders like large dots, anchors and stripes.  I know from experience that these designs will be wildly popular with my moms-to-be when ordering their custom crib bedding.  Here are some of my favorites that I uploaded today:

Kabloom

In the Navy

KaBloom

I love how the colors react with one another and seem to be the perfect combination of contrast but with a similar feel as if they just belong together.  The stripes, the dots...they are just fabulous.  Jacqueline has a great website that features her retail bedding designs and home office supplies.  You can read about her successes on her website.   Great job, Jackie!

 

Find Your Color

It's been a while since I've been to Lowes Home Improvement Store and I was so colorfully delighted by the display of Pantone Paints that I almost bought them all!

What gorgeous colors they have chosen...49 to be exact.  Pantone says that the "MyColor inspired by Pantone offers designers and do-it-yourselfers an affordable, easy-to-use solution for adding a splash of color to any paint project including furniture and accent walls. Offered in a 35 oz. size, this ready-to-go, ultra low VOC paint is odor free and provides an elegant, eggshell finish that is both durable and washable. Premixed, factory-precision color ensures an exact match every time while unique stain-blocking and self-priming qualities save time and reduce workload."

What a great idea.  Just open and paint.  Sometimes I find it so difficult to choose the color of paint that I just give up and go home empty handed.  So, if you have a dresser or table that could use a pop of color, why not take a look at these and pick one out for yourself.  Don't have a Lowe's local?  No worries, you can order them online.

Here is a great inspiration post by Houzz with some gorgeous dressers for your liking.

Happy painting!
Jayna

Out to Sea

Last fall XO Gigi sent me some fabric from Sarah Jane's newest line, Out to Sea, which is manufactured by Michael Miller Fabrics.  Gorgeous!!

These fabrics are not only printed on a high quality quilting cotton, but the colors, the illustrations...they are just so beautiful.  I pondered for so long what I wanted to make with these fabrics and knew that I wanted it to be something that I could look at every day and really enjoy the fabrics the way they are meant to be enjoyed.

I have mentioned before that I previously wasn't the biggest fan of table runners, but they have really grown on me.  I decided to do a strip-style so I could use bigger pieces of the fabric...making sure that the whole pattern was visable. 

Backed with a white matelasse, this piece turned out gorgeous.  I put it in my sewing room and that has turned out to be the most perfect place to enjoy it.  I hope you are inspired to create something new today!

Jayna

I love Poms

I just had to share a picture of this gorgeous pom trim that came in a few days ago.  It's Riley Blake's Jumbo Pom trim in Lime.

I was scared that it would be really bright...which is not what I was wanting.  In true Riley Blake fashion, it is the perfect shade of lime, which isn't too bright but not too dark, either.

This trim will go perfectly on my drapes I have planned for my office.  Hopefully I'll get those up this Spring.

Happy Sewing!
Jayna

Score!!

I just love shopping...have I mentioned that yet? 

I took a quick trip to Marshals to return some drapes and I found these two little beauties on a shelf looking for a home. 

There only used to be one kind of Mod Podge....the original.  You know, with the yellow label?  I saw a pin on Pinterest some time ago that showed all of the kinds of Mod Podge there are available now so I was personally very excited to purchase 2 new kinds of Mod Podge that I didn't already have.  What shall I do with the fabric one?  Perhaps decoupage some fabric onto some picture frames?  The outdoor one will be perfect for those summer days when I'm feeling crafty.

The website from Plaid (the company who makes Mod Podge) is actually really cool.  You can search by craft or occasion.  Just the help I sometimes need to be inspired.  

You never know what you're going to find when you're not looking for it.  What a great excuse to get crafty!

Jayna 

Chevron Table Runner

I have to admit that I used to hate table runners.  They always were so old-looking, with tassels on the ends and country type fabric.  I was not a fan.  However, last fall I created a great table runner from Sarah Jane's Out to Sea fabric and fell in love with the possibility that table runners could actually add to my obsession with home decor.

Chevron is one of my latest obsessions and has been for quite some time now and no wonder...it's everywhere!  My customers request it all the time and as a result, I'm addicted. So, I thought I would whip up a chevron table runner for my buffet for spring.  I chose one of Art Gallery's Alhambra II fabric that I had lying around and paired it with Amy Butler's solid in Mist.  The two are simply stunning together.  I have listed a quick tutorial below for those of you who would like to make one too!

I started with some test fabric to see how big I wanted to make my quilt squares, so some of these first pictures are with Riley Blake's medium zig zag in navy (in case you're confused:)

I decided I would start with 6"x 6" squares.  I cut 21 of each the patterned fabric and 21 of the solid color fabric.  It's essential that the two fabrics you choose are contrasting if you want the chevron to really pop.  With right sides together, place a solid and a patterned piece together and sew around the perimeter, with a 1/2" seam allowance.

Once you have sewn all of your squares to each other, Cut on the diagonal both ways so you have 4 triangles. Open and press seams to one side.  You should have a square that consists of both fabrics.

Sew pieces together matching solid to solid and pattern to pattern. I continued this until I made one chain the length of my entire table runner. Press well, seams to one side.  Then make another length, press.

After you have your rows sewn and pressed well, its time to sew them together.  Pin and sew, then press.  Voila!!!  The top is done, so gorgeous!

I use Warm and Bright batting as it is just the best in my opinion.  It's a little more money than the other brands but it's clear when using it that your money did not go to waste.  I chose a white matelasse for the backing and I also used it for the binding. I also stitched in the ditch on the chevron to quilt it a bit.

Don't you love my little clips?  They are the best.  Perfect for working with minky as well.  There are many places you can buy them, but I got mine at XO Gigi Fabrics:)

This pattern would be great for a quilt, but I would definitely make the squares much larger to begin with so you aren't sewing a million little squares together.  Get some crafting done today!!

Jayna
 

On the Cheap

I just love shopping.  It's called retail therapy and I'm addicted. Many times I stroll through the store looking, touching, wishing....but really have no desire to purchase unless it's something really, really special.  I've come across two of those items lately.  Two items that I simply could not go home without.

I often frequent stores like Marshall's, TJ Max and the like.  You know, designer items at bargain prices?  A new store opened up recently in Fort Collins called HomeGoods.  I'm sure you've heard of this one, too.  I know it mostly from that really happy guy on HGTV, David.  He does the cool paintings and redoes the whole room for a family.  Color something........

Anyhoo....I just love perusing these stores for my latest must-have.  Here they are:

Very current...chevron is outrageously popular right now and HomeGoods had burnt orange, lime green, grass green, brown, red.....I had to have the green.  Even better, when I got home I discovered that it matched my rug to perfection.

Number two was just purchased this last weekend at Marshalls.  Too adorable and only $4.99.  Really!!??  For under $5 I could have this adorable owl?  Did you notice that it matches my new chevron throw and the rug? 

I have learned that when you're decorating a home or a room to take your time.  You can't just go out to the store one day and buy everything you need.  These creative, decorative goodies must be acquired one at a time.  If you follow this strategy you'll end up with a room that is dressed with treasures, not just things that match.

Happy Decor!
Jayna

Not Yo Mama's Shelf Paper

What a lovely afternoon strolling with my mom through store after store when we ended up at Marshall's.  My day became even lovelier when I saw some gorgeous shelf paper that was a stunning shade of aqua blue and had a very uncanny resemblance to some Dena Design's fabric that I use in my Etsy shop.  Naturally, this made me very happy.  In case you don't know; I have a fabric addiction.

Of course, I had to buy it.  I hadn't used shelf paper in quite a few years and the last time I remember it was this hideous yellow and white gingham, which at the time was the prettiest at the store.  Maybe I'm just lagging behind in the shelf paper deptartment, but I don't remember seeing so many beautiful designs.  There was zebra print, lime and white damask, and amongst others was this gorgeous aqua.  I could hardly wait to get it home and in my drawers:)

My husband thinks I'm a big nerd when it comes to stuff like this, especially when I make him get up off the couch when reading his Sunday newspaper just to come look in my drawers.  He thought I was an even bigger nerd when I got out my camera to take photos.

Happy Superbowl Sunday!
Jayna