Happy Birthday Bunting

Somebody's FIRST BIRTHDAY is coming!!

That's right, I'm going to have a one year old in a few weeks. Even I can't believe it.
I wanted to make her a few things for her birthday, here's a special project I have completed:

The Birthday Banner!



I just have to say, I love it. It is already hanging up in the front room because I can't wait for her birthday to display it.

I'm thrilled about this project because every year on Brinkley's birthday, I can pull this out and remember my little baby girl. I think it will be fun to watch it age as she does.

Look at me, creating traditions.

Here is a closer shot:

It was fairly easy to make.

Here's some basic instructions:

You'll need:

• 5 patterned fabrics (1/8 to 1/4 yard of each will do. I used fat quarters - that way I had leftovers to use on other projects) You could also just use scraps you have hanging around.
• About 1 yard plain backing fabric
• 1 Package of coordinating bias tape
• Thread
  

Basic Instructions:

1. Cut out 14 circles of patterned front fabric (with the top cut off about 1 inch). And 14 circles of back fabric (I used plain brown fabric)
2. Pair up a front piece fabric (patterned) with a back piece fabric (plain) and place them right sides together.
3. Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, sew along the edge of the circles, leaving the top open.
4. Turn right side out and press flat with your iron.
5. Arrange them in the order you like.
6. Print off your letters on Iron-on Transfer paper and iron the letters onto the front side of your circles according to the Transfer Paper package instructions. (You can get Transfer Paper at Walmart or Target) Oh! and don't forget when you are printing out your letters - Print them BACKWARDS!
   
7. Arrange and pin your circles to your bias tape leaving enough spare tape at each end for tying (about 8-12 inches on each end). The raw edges at the top of your circles will be covered by the bias tape.
   
8. Sew the circles to the bias tape and you are done!
   
9. Hang it up and admire your work.
   

I'm sorry I don't have photos of the process. It didn't even cross my mind until it was finished.

Thrift Store Find

I was missing my mom the other day (I miss her everyday, but this day I was feeling particularly homesick).
So, I did what she would do... I went to the thrift store.

I grew up going to thrift stores with my mom. I used to get really embarrassed, and hoped I wouldn't see anyone I knew. But as I got older, I caught the thrift store bug.
My mom is the queen of finding great stuff! And I am following in her footsteps!

So, on this homesick day, strangely enough, it made me feel closer to her! Plus, it was a good day for good finds.
This little item was my favorite. I have a thing for vases (just ask my mom!), and this one matched some pitchers I already had.
I'm building up quite the collection!
I love how clean and crisp they look. Kind of Martha Stewart-y.

Inspiration from Blogland

Yes, I blog stalk.

And all too often I see cute stuff I want to make. Here are some things I can't stop thinking about:

This Sign from V & Co. (only I want to put mine on my front porch and have it say 'stroller parking' so that when all my cute friends are over with their babies, we have a place to park the strollers):


Using old sheets to make stuff like this cute skirt and a dress for Brinks (again, V & Co.):



OWLS!! by Retro Mama:

They look pretty easy. I might be able to make one kind of close.



A cuter way to organize Brinkley's toys. Although I'll never be able afford this bookshelf from Pottery Barn, It's kind of what I'm looking for. I'm hoping for a good yard sale find:



Vinyl Wall Decals:

I have this big empty space above my couch. The problem is, the wall is brick covered by plaster. So, when we try to hang stuff with nails, it just crumbles the plaster and doesn't even come close to penetrating the brick. That's a problem.
The solution? Vinyl Wall Decals! I just need to save up a little bit of money to have my temporary stick on art! They sell lots of these types of things on Etsy.



A new ironing board cover. I found a cute tutorial on U-handblogs. Perhaps a cute ironing board will make me want to iron more... probably not.

Actually, the real reason behind wanting to cover my ironing board is so that it matches my bedroom. That way, when I am too lazy to put away the board after ironing, it won't look so bad because it will go with the decor! Heh!



The list could go on, but my baby needs me! See you tomorrow.

Spinach-Bacon Quiche

My friend Sarah gave me this recipe and man, is it yummy!
Thanks Sarah!

Ingredients:
1 medium onion, chopped
6 slices of bacon, chopped
8-10 eggs
1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 c. milk
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
3 c. chopped spinach (I use the frozen kind - prechopped!)
2/3 c. grated cheddar cheese
1/2 c. grated mozzarella cheese

2 crusts (recipe for an easy potato crust below. But I usually just buy them because I'm lazy)

Directions:
Saute onion an bacon. Set aside. In large bowl mix eggs, sour cream, milk, salt and pepper. Add onion mixture. Add chopped spinach and cheese. Pour into crust. Bake at 325 degrees (F) for at least 1 hour.

**Optional Crust: grate 1-2 potatoes and spread in greased pie tin. Bake at 350 for 5 minutes.

Find Your Decorating Style!

You should take this quiz by Sproost, just for the fun of it! It tells you what
your decorating style is.

I'd tell you mine, but apparently it changed. I took this quiz about a month ago and then just
now took it again ...and the results were totally different. BUT, it was fun anyway!

I dare say (according to pictures) that my style revolves around
'Rustic Revival' and 'Contemporary'

Easy Dishtowel Apron

For Christmas my wonderful mom made me an awesome apron. When she told me how to do it, I was shocked - it is probably the easiest apron to make on the planet! (no hemming involved!) Even the sewing machine challenged could make this an not mess it up. Plus, it's CUTE! It will only take you a half hour to 45 minutes - tops.

All you need is:
A large dishtowel
Twill Tape or Bias Tape (my mom used twill tape, I used bias tape)
Coordinating Thread

1. You get a cute dishtowel that you love! I found this one on clearance at Target!

2. Fold in half lengthwise and cut off the top corners with a rounded edge.
3. Pin on your bias tape following the curve you cut. Leave enough on each end to tie it when you wear it (I used the whole package of tape). Also make sure that the neck hole fits over your head, but isn't too big that it sags. No one likes a saggy apron.

(If you're using twill tape, you'll need to fold the edge over (yes, on TOP of the apron, which seems weird, but do it anyway) about 1/2 inch and place the tape on top of your raw edge to cover it up. Then match up the edge of the twill tape to your fold and pin. This will make sure the inside of the apron looks as good as the outside!) Did that make ANY sense at all?

(Here is a close up of it pinned)

4. Sew from end to end on each side of the bias tape. (Sorry my picture is so dark, it doesn't show up very well).

If you're using twill tape, you will only need to sew the parts that actually touch the dishtowel! Bonus!

5. Put on your apron and start cooking! (I know this picture makes my body look weird. I don't know what I was doing to make my posture look so strange. It's like my Wonder Woman pose or something. And the reason my head is cut off is because my hair looked awful and I made my husband cut it off on purpose. Just in case you were wondering...)


ALSO... If you are a pocket person, you can embellish this apron all you want. I personally never use pockets in my apron, so I didn't care, but it would probably be a nice cutsie touch.

Family Time

Is it just me, or does it seem that on the days when you actually sit on the floor and PLAY with your child, they are much happier all around? On Saturday I was just playing with Brinks - helping her stack stuff and what not - and she was all giggly and smiley and happy! Not that she's not happy normally, but this was a noticeably happier baby!

Well, along those same lines, I checked this book (Family Fun My Great Idea) out at the library and loved it so much that I bought it off of Amazon for $1.78. It has some great ideas (hence the title of the book) on playing, creating, and spending quality time with your family! It's simply a compilation of ideas from other parents across the country, but some of the ideas sound like so much fun! I can't wait to try them out! You should check it out.

Some ideas that I thought sounded particularly fun:

• Make your own family holiday, such as a 'sisters day' or a 'do nothing day' (where you just stay home and spend the day with your family - no interruptions)
• Have a family drive-in movie night and make little cars out of cardboard boxes.
• Have a 'read-a-thon' (do you remember those from elementary school? I loved them!) Get in your comfy clothes, sit on piles of blankets with a bunch of books and READ! I am a bookaholic, after all.
• Keep in touch with family that may live far away by sending them things your kids make in the mail along with letters and pictures.
• Create a 'Fun Zone' stocked with art supplies, books, games, puzzles, and music. Then, instead of watching TV or playing video games - your kids have a place to play and be creative!

I could go on and on because it also has tips for getting your kids out of the house on time, organizing all their stuff and teaching them things like finances and manners, but I'll stop there. When I do some of the ideas, I'll be sure to post about it to let you know how it went for us.

Cute Eastery Things

Here are a few Easter things to get the creative juices flowing! It makes me so excited for Easter!
I'd better get crackin' if I want to get all this done before Easter! We'll see.

Fabric Easter Eggs by Retro Mama: I first saw these on my good friend Joy's blog.
I love them, and I especially love the fabric choices! The bold vibrant colors just make me happy!
Not your typical pastel Easter Eggs, but that's what makes them so awesome!


Easter Birdy by Mollychicken: This little birdy is fun and cheerful.
It would look so cute tucked into Brinkley's Easter basket!

Going to make Easter Cards anyone? Because this one is sure cute!
You can find this Easter Chick Card tutorial at incy wincy stitches.

Patchwork Fabric Easter Basket

I somtimes suprise myself.
I did something totally ambitious last week. I thought to myself
"I want to make Brinkley an Easter Basket." and then... I did it! Amazing, huh?

I found this great tutorial on Pink Penguin for a really cute patchwork fabric basket. I adapted it a little to make it bigger (and I didn't even mess it up! Whew!)

Now I just need to figure out how to fill it so it looks cute. As of right now it's just storing empty Easter Eggs. Good thing Brinkley doesn't care how it looks, because it might end up looking the same on Easter morning as it does in the picture.