Shabby Chic Tote

 I have seen these all over Pinterest and have loved each one of them....the Halloween inspired ones, the Patriotic themed ones and the plain muslin ones.  I love just about anything with ruffles and then to put a flower on top of that....I swoon.  So late last night  I decided to try my hand at one.  This is where the inspiration and basic design came from

http://www.thefoglemanfamily.blogspot.com/2010/05/finished-object-friday-its-in-bag.html
 I had the black bag on hand so that is what I used.  I played with several fabrics until I got the look I wanted and these 3 fabrics did it for me.  My advice would be to pin your ruffles well.  The bottom ruffle goes on first and it is the hardest to sew on because it is so far down on the bag.  Then each row gets easier.  I think I would even consider opening the side seam if I did another one.  That would make sewing on the ruffles a breeze.

I used the same site for the fabric rosette tutorial.  I love it and I may keep it for myself {which I never keep or make anything for myself} 

So there it is....... a Shabby Chic tote bag. 

 Hummmm, I may want to give it away after all. 

I have had a glorious week and am ready to finish up another school year.  We only have 4 busy weeks left until summer!  I think I can make it :)

Have a great Sunday!

XOXO,

Karen

Baby Malaya

A friend has a new grand baby with a beautiful name. 

She wanted some personalized things for her.  We

started with a pink pail.

The font I used on the pail is called

"Janda QuirkyGirl" and it is a free font

from www.dafont.com

I used my favorite designs and favorite fabrics and made them 

as sweet & girly as I could. 

 Every baby girl is a Princess and needs a crown burp cloth.

Candy Dot circle with her 1st and middle name.  Her grandmother said every baby girl

born this week had a "masculine" middle name.  Must be a new trend.

I kind of like it especially when it is her great grand-father's name. 

 I don't think you need a name on this one.

Welcome Baby Malaya!

XOXO,

Karen

O Spring Break!

O Spring break, how I love thee let me count the ways.  I love thee because I can sew, bake, visit family & friends and I love thee because I do not have to get up at 5 AM.  What a beautiful week of weather it has been, too.  I hope you are having a beautiful relaxing week, also.

Here are a few things I've been working on.......

{ For Sloaney}

{For secretaries}

Little bags of chocolate

My inspiration is from a favorite Stamping Up Demonstrator

Source

These are as good as the Pink Lemonade Cake Mix I shared awhile back.

Yummy!

More goodies for secretaries

Happy Secretaries Day!

Memorial Day is just around the corner.

Wouldn't a pair of red sequin tennis shoes look really cute with this?

I'm looking :)

Slow down Spring Break!

XOXO,

Karen

Spring Break Has Finally Arrived

Spring break is here.....finally!  It has been a long stretch since Christmas and teachers here are so excited to have a week off from work.  Did I say a whole week?  A week seems like an eternity right now, full of all kinds of fun and possibilities.  Since I am a list maker and a "task" oriented person I must make a "to do list" for my spring break.  How would I accomplish things if I didn't?  Anybody else out there understanding my perspective :)  If I list it then you will help me be accountable....right?  Ok here it is

1. spend time with my loved ones {that is the easiest to check off}

2. rest a little

3. attend a women's conference

4. catch up on embroidering

5. begin preparing for a summer Bible study

6. bake a little

7. cook a little

8. create something pretty in PSE {PhotoShop Elements}

9. spend more time with my loved ones

10. rest some more

Ok number 4 is looking pretty good.  This is an applique made just for hooded towels.  It has button holes made to slip a wash cloth into.  I did not have a new fresh wash cloth but I did have the end of a hand towel that I had used for another hooded towel.  So I cut it a bit and zigzagged the end and it works perfect.  It even had pink stripes on the bottom.

I think this is total cuteness. 

I normally measure the hand towels 9" for a newborn hood but since Sloan is 14 months I cut it 12".  I think the hood is a bit large now will grow with her.  If you want to make some adorable hooded towels {designs are still on sale} skip on over to Applique Corner and get a few designs before the sale is over.

www.appliquecorner.com

Noah's mommy likes giraffes and blue ones with black touches.  I searched and searched for a cute giraffe design.  This is the one I decided on.  I like him but the placement of the eyes is a little off in my opinion.  What do you think? and  that is not his nose because I left the nose off. 

 Baby Noah is coming soon

Sweetness

Happy Spring Break

XOXO,

Karen

PSE

I have pulled out the PhotoShop Elements again and started to try to learn it.  I am making progress this time.  If you use PSE you know how difficult the program can be to figure out.  I do love a challenge so I will keep working until I can make the things I want to be able to make.

I hope you are having a great week.  We are closing in on the end of testing and I couldn't be happier. 

Have a great Wednesday!

XOXO,

Karen

Judah James

My son needed a baby shower gift so I had to get busy and sew some things quickly.  I bought this design before Easter and now had a reason to use it.  I see moustaches everywhere on blogs and Pinterest.

They are very popular right now for little boys.  I made Judah a set of moustaches.

Then I made him set using my favorite crown design.

Judah James....what a great name.

JHJ

I taught his mother for 2 years and his dad works with my son.  He also has a big sister who can't wait for her little brother to arrive.

A Happy Easter picture from a handsome couple......

my son and his girlfriend.

We are 6 days away from Spring break!

Every teacher is on the count down mode.

Hurry, hurry Spring break! 

XOXO,

Karen

Good Friday

We are getting ready for everyone to come in to spend the weekend with us.  So I had to get my kitchen table set.  I saw these napkins folded like bunnies on Pinterest.  When I followed the link it was Martha Stewart's website.  The directions were too difficult to follow so I went to UTube.  I searched for "bunny folded napkins".  The first video that came up was excellent so I started folding my bunnies.  I like mine turned this way best but I think actually they are suppose to be turned the other way.  Whatever you like best goes....right?

I recently bought this package of napkins at Target.  I really had a Mexican Fiesta in mind with these colors plus two red ones.  However, the colors work for Easter, too.  So get busy folding your napkins for Easter :)

Yellow Bunny

Hot Pink Bunny

On Wednesday I shared Grayson's apron with you.  At that time I could not decide what I wanted to stitch for Sloan.  Then I remembered these 3-tiered cakes and that was it.  A cake for Sloaney! Her mommy wanted pink and yellow fabric.

No problem...pink and yellow cake it is!

On a more serious note today is Good Friday which is such an important day to Christians.  I hope everyone will reflect on what happened on this day many years ago.  I read Matthew 26-28 this morning to refresh my memory. Celebrating Good Friday means we understand the fact that Jesus Christ chose to die for us.  I hope you and your family have a wonderful day. 

XOXO,

Karen 

Wordless Wednesday

Have a wonderful Thursday

XOXO,

Karen