Saying Goodbye to February

February is one of my favorite months---how could you not like a month filled with hearts and love.  Oh and it also just happens to be my birthday month.  I turned 45 on February 8.  (Yikes) 
From the time I was a little girl, my mom would prepare us a birthday dinner of our choice.  I was really looking forward to my choice this year---Halusky, Kielbasa, and Pirohies--A  real Slovak dinner.  I woke feeling just a little achy but it was my birthday and I refused to be sick.  As the day went on I began to realize that I was indeed sick--Rats!!! the flu for my birthday.  My mom promised to keep my dinner until I was feeling better and I snuggled in my bed waiting for my fever to break.  I had to be better before Saturday.  My mom and I planned to spend the whole day together and then meet my best friend Heidi and her daughter, Jenna for dinner.  I also planned on spending the night at my parents--my Mom was going to teach me to quilt.  Thankfully by the time Saturday arrived I was feeling like myself again.  Mom and I got an early start and headed to the most amazing quilt shop.  I chose the fabric for my quilt lesson and then it was on to the local farm market--which just happens to have the most amazing gift shop.......

After a wonderful afternoon, it was time to meet Heidi and Jenna.  We did a little shopping....

had a little dinner, and then went back to my Moms for muffins and chi tea.

Mom gave me my quilt lesson--Heidi and Jenna headed home--and I got into my pj's and headed off to bed in my childhood room.  I know they say you can't go home again but I must say it was really nice for at least one night.  I slept so well--until 10:00am--that never happens.  Dad and I had muffins and coffee for breakfast.  Then later that afternoon finally my birthday dinner--YUMMY!!!

So goodbye to February and welcome to March--looking forward  to all this next month will bring.

Learning to Quilt

I have been blessed with a very talented mom who is an amazing quilter.  From the time I was a little girl I can remember my mom creating things with her sewing machine.  She would sew Barbie cloths for my family of dolls as well as dresses for my sister and I. We always had the best Halloween costumes made with the loving hands of my mom.  When I was about 12 years old my mom sent me to sewing class with the hopes that I would catch on and also develop her love for sewing.  Needless to say that love never came about.  I can remember the day that my mom purchased her first quilt magazine.  We looked through the pages together admiring those beautiful works of art.  Before I knew it she was creating her own beautiful works of art.  She would encourage me to give it a try but I loved to scrapbook and work with paper.  Recently I have been creating my paper quilts so the time seemed right to give fabric quilting a try.  This year for my birthday I asked my mom to teach me to quilt.   

We took a trip to the local quilt shop to choose the fabric.  I just love this fabric by Moda--Lily and Will.  By the end of the evening we had most of the quilt top completed.  My assignment--to finish the quilt top on my own so that I could return to have my lesson on completing the quilt.

Adding the batting

Making the binding

There you have it-----my first fabric quilt.  It is not a large quilt--just a little wall hanging but I was really excited with the end result.  Feeling pretty confident, I thought I would try one all on my own.  This time I used my cricut to cut the image for the middle of the wall hanging. 

A little help with attatching the binding.....

And Ta da.........

I think I may be hooked.  Creating these little wall hangings was really very fun.  I hope I have enough space in my craft room for all my new quilting supplies (lol)  Thanks Mom for sharing your talents with me. xoxox

Pretty in Pink

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I just love all things girly---the color pink, dainty flowers, sparkling gems, pretty pearls, oh and did I say the color PINK.  Of all the paper quilts that I have created so far I think this might be my very favorite.  I was looking through my stash of frames the other day and I came across this shadow box frame from Martha Stewart.  I had purchased  this frame probably over a year ago and put it away until I found just the right project to use it for.  I just loved the sweet scalloped edges and thought it would be the perfect place to frame my newest paper quilt. 

Because this frame is actually a shadow box,  it allowed me extra space to add some paper flowers....

tiny vintage mother of pearl buttons......

and to "pop" up the image created with my Cricut....

I just loved creating this shadow box.  That sweet little girl image just made me smile :)  Walking barefooted in the grass among the flowers.....

Ahhhh hurry Spring----we are looking forward to your arrival.

Snail Mail

Have you ever really looked at at snail??  I mean really looked at one??? Take it from me they are not that attractive.  In fact they are really rather ugly.  Well leave it to Cricut to turn something so unsightly into something simply adorable. 

This image came from the last of my new cartridges, Nate's ABC's.  It is the "brother" to Kate's ABC's and is filled with just as many adorable images.  I wanted to carry through with my paper quilting idea but found that the pattern I wanted to use didn't fit well on a square card.  When I found this package of 3 7/8" x 9 1/4" cards by Hero Arts I knew they would be the perfect size. 

In looking through my supply of patterned papers, I came across this sweet paper from Anna Griffin.  Oh how I wish I would have purchased more of this adorable paper.  I purchased it so long ago I am sure it is no longer available.  The tiny little snails matched the Cricut image so perfectly.  I created the pieced squares and then added stitching as if they were really part of a quilt. 

The end borders were created using a Martha Stewart border punch.  I added a few tiny pearls to the butterfly and two pretty little blue crystals to the snail's antennae.

The "little sweet pea" stamp is from the Paper Trey Ink --Baby Button Bits set. 

Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit.  I appreciate each and everyone of you and the fact that you spent a part of  your day with me.  I have one more paper quilt that I have almost finished.  A few more little details to add and then I will be posting pictures.  I think this one is my favorite so far.  I hope you will visit again so I will be able to share it with you.   xoxoxo



Funny Little Bunny

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Just a quick post for today.  I am having so much fun playing with my new Cricut Cartridge, Kate's ABCs.  I wanted to share with you a sweet little card that I created .  This adorable bunny image is one of my very favorites on the cartridge. 

As many of you know, my mom is an amazing quilter.  I admire her quilts and her talents.  I never really gave quilting a try but I was looking at a quilting book recently and the idea came to me.  I could recreate that pattern with paper.  The background of this card was my first attempt. 

I am happy with the way it turned out so the plan for  today is to create more "paper" quilts.  Who knows these little "paper" quilts just might lead my interest to creating the real thing.  I know my mom will be happy.  She has been trying to teach me to quilt for years :)

I love this little dragonfly image.  It is so dainty and sweet.  I added a few tiny pearls to give her a little something extra.   

Well I am off to hibernate in my craft studio.  On a cold, dreary, rainy day I couldn't think of a better place to be. Hope you all are having a Happy weekend.   Stay tuned for more "paper" quilts :)

xoxox

Baby Steps and Kate's ABC's.......

two new Cricut cartridges that I have recently added to my collection. If you are looking for all things cute, then these are for you.   These two cartridges are filled with so much cuteness I could hardly wait to play with them.   The first cartridge that I purchased was Baby Steps. 

Here is just a sample of the images on this cartridge......

I know most of these images celebrate babies, but don't let that discourage you from purchasing it.  I created this birthday card for my friend, Joyce using this cartridge. 

I used the sweet little cloths line image. Instead of hanging the baby cloths from it, I made a "HAPPY"  banner in their place. 



The banner was cut using the "Straight from the Nest" cartridge.  I added some fun stitching, a scalloped sky and some grass using the scalloped border die from Paper Trey Ink.  A pretty  green gem adds just a little bling.

I think this next cartridge is my all time favorite (so far anyway) .....Kate's ABC's

The images on this cartridge are just precious.  I had a hard time deciding on which image to make first but I finally chose this one......

I added a little white pom pom for the bunny's tail and a few tiny pearls for the center of each flower. 

A paper flower, blue silk ribbon, yellow pom pom trim and some dainty white ruffle trim add the finishing touches to this sweet card. 

I was starting to get tired of all this winter weather that has come our way lately.  But with a recent trip to the grocery store we are stocked up on the necessities and now with all of my new cartridges I guess I don't mind being housebound.  In fact this is going to be quite fun.  I do have one more cartridge to share with you.  The fedex man brought it to my door this afternoon.   I have not had a chance to create anything with it yet so that will have to be a post for another day.  Stop back for another visit soon 

xoxox