Summer Fun Party Kick-off...

It's here, the summer schedule--or lack thereof is running full swing at our house!!  It's actually been going well, maybe because we've only had ONE week of it!!  I was contacted by the lovely Danielle from Blissful and Domestic about co-hosting a Summer Fun Party with 15 other bloggers--what a great idea!!


This means that all 16 bloggers will be sharing summer fun ideas to keep the kids busy.  Picnic ideas, parties, crafts, activities, food--all different kinds of inexpensive and fun things to keep us and the kids happy this summer and hopefully avoiding the dreaded whine of, "Mom, I'm BORED!!"
And the best part is, you get to share your ideas that work for keeping your kids happy too!! There will be a link party where you can link up your fabulous ideas!
Here are the contributing co-hosts to the Summer Fun Party--go check out their blogs and follow them so you can keep updated with all the Summer Fun Party posts!

Ready to Meet all the Fabulous Hosts?

Here they are.....
you know this first lady already:)


Shannon @ Sew Sweet Cottage 


Marilyn @ The Artsy Girl Connection


Holly From @  'Lil Blue Elephant


Molly @ Just a Little Creativity


Jill @ Two Yellow Birds Decor


Shirley @ Motivated Mommy of Two


Athena @ The Stuff of Success


Sarah @ Alderberry Hill


Jessica @ Mom 4 Real


Melanie @ Bear Rabbit Bear


Heather @ Life As We Know It



Nicolette @ Momnivore's Dilemma 
The Classroom Creative


Kara @ Happy-Go-Lucky


Priscilla @ Thrifty Crafty Girl 


Alesha @ Blessed to be a Blessing


Danielle @ Blissful and Domestic

Now let's get to linking up and remember to check back each week to see what new summer fun has been linked up. I hope you will link up and follow your hosts, so you don't miss out any Summer Goodness over the next three months. If you follow, let us know, so we can return the favor. Oh and please grab a button and help spread the word!!

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Little Miss’ pillowcase tutorial…

I had someone ask me for measurements for Little Miss’ pillowcase on her bed, so I’m going to share that with everyone!!  It was really easy to make.

The white background fabric center is 22 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches.  Next I sewed the two sides of polka dot fabric which are 3 x 17 1/2. (I used 1/4 inch seams)  Then add two more polka dot fabric strips on the top and bottom measuring 3 x 27 1/2 inches.  Pin ric rac on seam of with and polka dot fabric (2 1/2 yards will give you enough) turning the corners by just folding the ric rac.  Sew jumbo ric rac with invisible or red thread. Cut a contrasting piece of fabric for the back of the pillowcase, 21 1/2 x 27 1/2 fabric. Sew to front of pillowcase right sides together.

Cut on the bias a 2 1/2 by 45*inch (*a little extra to play with)strip to be used for the binding. Pin and sew right sides together.  Top stitch the binding so it will lay nice and flat.

It’s the perfect compliment to my PB Inspired quilt!!

Sunshine Blog award…

My favorite part about blogging is all the new friends I have made. Michelle from Michelle’s Tasty Creations is one of those friends!! She is always sharing great recipes and is such a nice person—which is why she received the Sunshine Award!!

And she was nice enough to nominate me!!   

The Sunshine Award is given from bloggers to "Bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere."

The way the award works is this:

Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them.  Answer 10 questions about yourself.   Select 10 of your favorite bloggers, link their blogs to your post and let them know they've been awarded the Sunshine Award!  Don't forget to copy and paste the award on your blog!

Here are my answers…

1. Favorite Color – Just one?? Currently, it is teal.

2. Favorite Animal –miniature schnauzers, used to have two, and hoping to get another one someday.

3. Favorite Number –my favorite number is 26, ever since elementary school.

4. Favorite Drink – Sprite, sprite, and sprite..

5. Facebook or Twitter – Facebook.

6. Good Book or a Good Movie – What about Bob is my classic favorite, although I love a good mystery! 

7. My Passion –capturing a memory with something tangible. It’s how I feel I’ll never lose the beauty of that moment. Scrapbooking, taking pictures, creating something all make that dream come true.. 

8. Giving or Getting Presents – Giving!  I love plotting for months what I’m going to give people for their birthday!

9. Favorite Day – Any day where my whole family is home together.

10. Favorite Flowers – I don’t like red roses, other colors are okay but I really love spring bouquets with wildflowers..

The 10 blogs I’m awarding the Sunshine Award to are (in no particular order).

Craft Interrupted

Blissful and Domestic

Queen B Creative Me

Sunny Vanilla

Apples and Peanut Butter

Our Pinteresting Family

Just Jenny

Here’s to Handy Andy

Happy Hour Projects

Crazy Little Projects

Go check out their blogs and you’ll see why I love following them!!

 

 

 

 

Sew and Show Saturday—#10. My Kaleidoscope Endurance quilt…

This queen sized kaleidoscope quilt is the biggest quilt I’ve ever made, and was one of the first ones I attempted years ago.   This was a quilt that my mom and I  saw hanging in a store and the second I saw it—I knew I had to have it!!  Once I started making it, I realized how hard it was going to be to line up all the triangle pieces…UGH!!

In the middle of trying to finish this quilt, years ago before we had kids, I miscarried.  I was so devastated.  I had so many thoughts running a million miles an hour through my head—it was our second miscarriage over a 2 1/2 year time period and I started to wonder whether we would ever be able to have children.  Needless to say, I couldn’t sleep very well and “turn off” all those thoughts.  So I decided late one night that I was going to dig into this quilt and finish it—because at least I could say I did something positive during my miscarriage.  Sounds crazy, but it helped me get through it—both the quilt, and the miscarriage:)

So here’s my labor of love…

I had someone else machine quilt it for me and then pieced the binding together with different fabrics—my favorite look!!

I love the quilt pattern she chose for the kaleidoscope blocks.  It turned out so happy and cheery—and a nice ending to my endurance quilt!!

I am linking to the following parties!