Still Calling All Quilters!

Jenni is still in need of some assistance in making twin-sized quilts for the Mexican orphanage.

If you can help with sewing a quilt top for this special project, please contact Jenni at jennia@peoplepc.com as soon as possible. The fabric and thread for this special project will be provided to sewing volunteers. This project won't cost you anything...just your time and energy to sew together a simple quilt top is needed. (See more details regarding this philanthropy project in an earlier post.)

After the philanthropy project is finished, as a thank-you, I will randomly draw one name from Jenni's list of contributors for a special fabric *treat*!

Thank you sew much for considering donating your time and energy to making a comforting, warm quilt for a child in need. A few hours of your time and sewing talent will mean so much to a small child.

Melly & Me

I'm feeling a bit creative today with the impending snow in our Colorado forecast. I love crafting, sewing, and quilting when the weather outside is less than ideal. I love the idea of my sewing machine humming along while my little Rudy-dog is curled up in a soft circle near me and my little guy is busy coloring away in his sketch pad at the kitchen table. Next, fill the house with some relaxing music by Josh Groban and the smell of freshly baked brownies and we are SET! (Now, if the laundry fairy could make a visit and possibly Paula Deen to make a delicious dinner for this evening, we would really be set! A girl can dream!)

This website and design team inspires me with their creativity...

http://mellyandme.typepad.com/melly_me/

These animals are just too cute for words! These little animals have so much personality they speak for themselves!

Find Melly & Me patterns at http://www.fatquartershop.com/!

Happy Easter!

Hello friends!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend!

Calling All Quilters!

I am leading a Quilt Ministry at my local church. We are making 30 quilts for an orphange in Mexico. Dr Greg Woods and Commerce Communinity Church in West Des Moines are partnering in this endeavor.

We have the majority of the funds to purchase quality fabrics and supplies. We are missing the hands to sew the quilt tops!!!

Do you have a heart for God? Are you mission minded? Are you led to help keep a child warm?

We are sewing a very simple pattern consisting of 6 1/2 in blocks into a twin size top. If you would be willing to sew a twin size quilt top for our ministry, you can contact me at the following jennia@peoplepc.com.

The fabric and thread will be provided ... I need your hands and your heart!!

If you'd like to verify the validity of this ministry feel free to call C ommerce Community Church in West Des Moines, Iowa at 515-225-6651.

Thank you an advance for your hands and your prayers!

Sweet Time

"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it, you can never get it back."

~Harvey MacKay

Oh, sweet time. To have endless time with the ones I love, to make the most of every minute I've been given, and to recapture the best moments of my life, and let them stand still in time... that is what I wish for. (And, of course, uninterrupted time to lovingly create items for the ones I love....)

Aviary

Another fabric crush... I love Moda's Aviary fabric collection by 3 Sisters!

Moda's Aviary is inspired by vintage prints and field study engravings from a time when the world outside was shared through drawings rather than photographs. Full of detail and texture in a supple palette of pinks, greens, aquas, and cream, this refreshing collection is elegant and sophisticated. Classic florals and masterfully crafted paisleys make this a collection that exemplifies beauty.

I can't help but fall in *love* with the soft colors and the egg drawings. Wouldn't a bundle of this beautiful fabric usher in Spring so nicely?

Fun New Website!

Eric Carle, the children's book author, has opened a museum in MA called The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. I just found this website and am blown away at all of the incredibly fun stuff!

http://www.picturebookart.org/Shop

As you may know, I *love* all things that are Eric Carle-related! Books, fabric, toys, stationary, you name it, I love it!

The dishes and flatware are adorable, as are the Brown Bear, Brown Bear square stoneware banks. The Brown Bear, Brown Bear ceramic ornaments are simply sweet. The posters are really cool and colorful. They would be perfect to decorate the walls of a little one's bedroom.

1st Day of Spring Planting

March 21 is Dad's birthday. He would have been 77 years old on Saturday. Dad was so proud to have been born on the first full day of Spring. In honor of his birthday, my son and I planted some seeds. Planting seeds in his honor seemed like a great way to celebrate his life and to remember him. We went to the garden center after preschool and looked at all of the available seeds. My son decided that rainbow-colored flowers were best, and we picked up a seed packet of Wildflower Butterfly Mix. It's a lovely assortment of Cosmos, Chinese Forget-Me-Nots (How appropriate!), Marigolds, Zinnias, Blanket Flower, Sweet William, Shasta Daisies, Gloriosa Daisies, and Foxglove.

In about 7-14 days we should have some signs of growth in our mini-greenhouse. I'm excited to see what happens!

GROW!

National Quilting Day is March 21

The theme for National Quilting Day this year is “Welcome Home”. The NQA writes: “As our country looks forward to 2009 with a new president and new hope for our country, we at The National Quilting Association thought it would be appropriate this year, to devote National Quilting Day, to the home. The housing market is in decline and foreclosures are on the rise, with greater numbers of homeless families to follow. We would like to encourage our members, guilds, and sponsors to join together and give their effort and energy to those who may be struggling for warmth and comfort.”

What are you doing for National Quilting Day? What a lovely day for a random act of kindness...whether it involves quilting or not! I'm going to try to find a way to brighten someone's day this weekend. The world needs more kindness... so why not?

Easter Basket Ideas

Okay, I know, Easter isn't until next month. But, I like to shop (a lot), and find good deals early. I hate shopping at the last minute and settling for whatever is left on the shelf. Pick up a couple items each week until Easter and you'll have a great stash of goodies to hand out.

Some ideas for a quilter...

New needles

Fat quarters in spring colors or pretty batiks

Spools of thread in soft, muted pastels

Charm pack of 5" fabric squares

A new quilt pattern

Hand lotion (I love the new Aromatherapy line at Bath & Body Works called Optimism. It's a sunny and bright fragrance...just wonderful. http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3342300&cp=&sr=1&kw=optimism&origkw=optimism&parentPage=search)

A handmade pincushion

A handmade table runner

A beautiful journal

A CD of relaxing music

Meltaway mints in pastel colors

Jordan Almonds (Typically a wedding favor....but why save them for only weddings? They are almost egg-shaped and come in beautiful soft colors!)

Some ideas for your favorite kiddos...

A fresh new pack of crayons or beautiful colored pencils from the art store (Pack them up in a cute little tool box or art bin instead of an Easter basket.)

A small sketch pad or sturdy spiral-bound tablets

Stickers (the Dollar Store has a great selection)

A handmade apron for helping mommy out in the kitchen (Tie the apron to a cupcake mix, add sprinkles and a fun spatula too!)

A handmade pillowcase (This is great item for packaging other goodies! No need to buy an Easter basket! Add a new bedtime book or two, a bedtime snack, and a stuffed animal for a gift with a sweet, thoughtful theme.)

Bubbles

Bird feeder kit

Sidewalk chalk

And of course....the child's favorite candy or treat!