Baby Girl

My sweet baby girl is here!

So, I'm sorry about the temporary crafty disappearing act, but I'll get back into the swing of things soon, I hope.  I'll have to convince her that 11pm to 4am is not the cool time to be awake.  That could be a little tricky.

In the meantime, thank you for all of your support!

Come See! Remodelaholic Feature

You've been to Remodelaholic, right?!  Who am I kidding?  Of course you have!  If you haven't, just stop reading right now and get yourself over there. :)

They're a husband and wife team that pull off some seriously great projects, plus feature other DIY bloggers too!

Guess what else.  Today they are featuring my Trellis Walls!

Head on over to check it out. 

REMODELAHOLIC

Oh, and stay and hang out for awhile.  Hours will pass, the kids will be hungry, but you won't be sorry.

Lunch with Dad

Hi Daddy,
This morning as I was driving the boys to school the weatherman on the radio described the day as "hazy-sunshine."  It's the perfect winter day.  It's cold, of course.  What more can you expect in December, but as far as winter days go, this is the perfect type. 

Most of my days lately have been filled entirely with business.  Getting ready for Christmas, my own checklists, the kids, the house, never feels like there's a moment to stop and take it all in.

I literally felt you say to me this morning as I was rushing to get ready, "Slow down."  It was so distinct, and so clear.

I needed that.  Thank you.

I'm taking in every single moment of this day.  There are so many details I don't want to forget.  Like the hazy sunshine.  Like the boys talking about all the tractors and diggers in our neighborhood as we drove by.  Like the steam and smoke rising off the cars in the cold morning air.  Like the look on the boys' faces when they woke up.  Like the smiles they can't fight when we talked about things that excited them.  Like their sweet chocolate milk mustaches.

Like what it feels like to know that you are with me, always.  Today more than ever I feel that.  Thank you for slowing me down, and reminding me to take in every detail of everyday.

Love you forever,

Amy

Felt Flower Scarf Tutorial

Thank you for all of the sweet love on my Felt Flower Scarf!

Really, my goodness, I didn't expect so many people to be interested in it.

I'm happy to share this tutorial for you on how to make one of your own!

Materials needed:
1/2 yard of 72" Felt or Felted Wool (this measurement is to be safe... but you'll end up with some extra here for sure.)
Scissors
Needle and Coordinating Thread
*optional - Fast Grab Tacky Glue or Hot Glue
*optional - Small hook and eye


Let's get started shall we?

1.  Cut everything out

Start by cutting your long scarf piece.
Mine was 42" long by 4 1/2" wide.  You could certainly make it longer or shorter depending on how long you like to wear your scarves. (You'll just need to adjust the number of flowers you make.)

Now, cut a scallop around the edge of your long scarf piece.  (This just adds to the fullness of your flowers.)

Next, circle cutting mania.

Each flower will have 6 circles.  My largest was 5" and my smallest was 2".  With small declining sizes for each of the circles in between.

DO NOT spend the time cutting out perfect circles.  Just cut one for size, then hold it over your fabric and cut around it.
For a 42" scarf you will need 13 flowers.  So, cut out 13 of each size.

Now scallop all of the circles.
If you like deep looking petals, cut deeper scallops.  If you want a subtle look, cut shallow scallops.  I like a mixture of both.

2.  Assemble the Flowers

Stack your 5 largest circles. 

Take your knotted needle and thread and come up through the stack of circles just off-center. 

Now go back down through the stack about 1/2 inch away, on the other side of center. 

Pull very tightly, you will see this gathers your flower up.
 

Fold your flower in half with the gather, and make another stitch right over the one you just made, again pulling very tight. 

Now make an X.  So you'll make another stitch at one of the unused sides of center, and go back down 1/2 inch or so away from that on the other side of center. 

Fold the flower in half with the gather and make another stitch directly over the one you just made.  Pull very tight.  Really, don't break your thread, but pull it very very tight to hold the gather in your flower. 

Tie a few strong knots, but do not cut your thread.

This is how your flower will look so far.

Take your smallest circle and gather it together.  You can do this a number of ways, but an easy way is to just fold it in half, then fold it in half again.

Hold it in place where you want it on the center of your flower. 

Now stitch up from the bottom and grab that center piece at it's point.  Secure it with at second stitch. 

Pull very tight and tie a strong and secure knot.

Cut thread and your flower is complete!!

Now repeat 12 more times.  :)

3.  Scarf Making Time

Line up all of your flowers on your long scarf piece with the bottom layer of each flower overlapping a bit.  This is what gives it the fullness.  Don't be afraid to get them in there close together.

Get all 13 flowers set on just where you like them then pin only the bottom layer of each flower to the scarf.

Stitch a small, but tight circle through the bottom layer of the scarf and flower.  Knot tightly.   Cut the thread as you finish attaching each flower, and start new with the next flower. 

Continue until all 13 are attached.

** This step is optional, but not for me.  I have two 3-year-olds, so scarves (and any accessory I own) have to be tough if they're going to survive.  I went around on each flower and added a bit of Fast Grab Tacky Glue to make sure they were held in place firmly.  You could also use hot glue if you prefer.

**  This step is also optional.  I hate when scarves move all around when you're wearing them, or when they blow away in the wind.
SO, I put on the scarf, and placed a pin on each end of the scarf where I wanted them to match up.  I wanted it to be one flower longer on one side.

Sew the hook on the longer side on the back of the scarf, and the eye, sort of tucked away beneath a flower, on the front of the shorter end of the scarf. 

4.  Wear!!!

If you make one, I hope you'll send me a picture!  I'd love to see the variations you all come up with!

Mesh Candy Cane Wreath

Okay, confession time.

I'm a MESH ADDICT. 

Relax!!  I said meSH.  Better than some addictions out there in the world I suppose.

I got on a kick with my Mesh Pumpkin Wreath, and then my second Mesh Pumpkin Wreath (I should have seen a problem forming.)  I was blind to it though and let my mind run away with all of the things I wanted to do with mesh.  Every holiday would have mesh draped upon it in some form or fashion!

A person really shouldn't feel like they have to have contact with mesh in order to make it through the day :)  it's just not healthy!

Okay, joking aside, sort of, after the pumpkin wreaths I really wanted to make a Mesh Candy Cane Wreath for my front door.

I'm pretty sure there are candy cane wreath forms out there in the world, but why waste my time looking when I have a few of the most terrible/useful wreath form makers in all the world stuffed at the back of my husband's closet -- thank you 'red hanger'!  Oh wait, I mean, um, I wash and press all of my husband's work shirts...  really.  Um.  Anyway... 

Wire hangers!  Hate them.  Can't live without them.

I bent, twisted, and molded two white wire hangers into the shape of a candy cane, then secured the ends together by twisting them then adding hot glue and felt (it's not a scientific thing, but it worked) and began wrapping and wiring my red and white mesh in place.

Three wraps of red, four wraps of white.  The red seemed to be taking over the white... that's why the white got an extra wrap.

Finished it off with a quick wrapping of green organza ribbon and mesh scraps left over from the mesh pumpkins.

It found it's place in the basement for a few weeks, while I PATIENTLY waited for Christmas decorating time.

Now it's in a happy spot on the front door with the garland I made last year.  (I had to add a few sprinkles of white mesh into the garland this year to tie it in with the candy cane, of course.)

Here is a picture of our front door this year. 

The wreaths are another story entirely, but since I'm positive I won't get around to posting it I'll just say I HATED how I did my wreaths last year.  Couldn't stand them.  So when I pulled them out for this year I just took them all apart and started again.  Same ribbon, same ornaments, different lay-out... and of course added MESH!!!

Merry Christmas decorating to you! May all your MESHES ... I mean wishes... come true!