Smarty Pants

We all know I can’t sew……..yes yes yes…….it’s true……..and we all know how much I hate when women show off that they CAN sew……..but then you have women who, not only can they sew…..they bump it up a notch……..and sew bedding…..QUILTS!  Whatev…. I am flabbergasted by these women.  There is nothing like an old quilt or a new one to be passed down through the generations.  The blood, sweat and tears that must go into making them…….and maybe a few curse words if you sew like my mother.  She was always so cranky when she sewed. She never made a quilt, but school clothes….oh how I just wanted to buy that new pretty skirt at JC Penny’s……but no…..my mom had to make it…..She would always forget a few straight pins when it was time to try things on…….hmmmm, perhaps that’s why I shy away from sewing?  :)

But I doubt there are many curse words in

Diary of a Quilter

with Amy Smart.  I met her at the Utah GNO, and she seemed well adjusted……and very very nice.

You’ll find lots and lots of quilts on her site. She even sells quilt kits in her Etsy.    She sells quilts too…….this one below is for sale.  Here’s her fav…….it’s gorgeous, but WOW!  I can’t imagine the curse words my mom would have been saying.I think this baby one is my faav…..love all the fabrics……Pretty darn cute. And you know she can sew other stuff if she’s talented enough to sew all those fancy quilts! 

Fancy burp rags……A baby needs to burp in style.  Those are way cuter than anything my son had.

Go surprise her and tell her I featured her.  I never tell people………I let you guys surprise them. 

Do you have a favorite quilt?  Come post a photo on my BlogFrog Community.  We’d love to see it!

But!……before you go, be sure to enter my Lisa Leonard Giveaway by leaving a comment on any and all August posts.

EnviroTex!

Before I introduce today’s feature, I thought it was high time I got off my rump and chose a June winner for the Lisa Leonard necklace.  June’s winner is CHAR WITH CRAP I’VE MADE

One more thing before I set you loose for creative goodness…..I’m now a contributor for The Daily Brainstorm.  Check it out!

 

I just can’t help it.  So many crafty creative women that I got to meet at the GNO (girls night out) in Utah.  I just gotta feature another one.

Every Crafty Endeavor

Amanda’s on the left….right next to me, then Stephanie and then Topsy Turvey….She is such a cutie patootie.  Loved her hair……I went the whole night not even knowing she was pregnant….I hate it when pregnant women have a better figure than me.  But the justice in all this is that she’s got a 10 mo already…….evil laugh.  :)  

 

She makes the sweetest stitched family portraits.  And she’s cheap very reasonable.  Yes, she sells them….better get your order in now before she’s got 2 babies to run after.She dabbles in all things creative.  My favorite kind of gal.  She’s been making these cute charm necklaces………and I think she’s doing a giveaway.    And you know I love a gal who can walk the isles of Goodwill with vision.  She found this poor little table just screaming to be spruced up.    Unbelievable transformation!  She’s on a blue kick…….you’ll have to head over and see what else she’s painted blue.Another fun re-do…….this one not so sad looking, but it is oak…….shudder….Paint the oak! Paint the oak!  Say it with me people…….It’s not blue, but it’s perfect!  A little spray paint and it’s just perfect.  Love it. While we're talking spray paint……I must admit, I’ve never thought about spray painting a canvas bag…….until now.She’s got a tutorial……gotta love that.

Now one tutorial she’s got on her site…….I am SO excited for.  I have wanted to play with EnviroTex forever.  It totally intimidates me.  But she’s got a pretty good tutorial…….She made these tiles for her bathroom with it.   I’m ready…….I know I can do it now. 
And if you’re just not the crafty kind…..she’s got great recipes too.  I’m sure you eat.

   These cheddar biscuits look pretty good…….Numm numm num.   

Alright everyone.  Do what you do best.  Enjoy!

Enter my monthly Lisa Leonard giveaway by leaving a comment on any of the July posts….the more you comment the better your chances.  I’d also LOVE it if you’d join my Google friend and Google feed.  I’m obsessed.

 

Make it Do!

While in Utah, Jyl from Mom it Forward and Marie from Make and Takes threw together a quick GNO (girls night out).  They sent emails to all their Utah blogging friends, we tweeted etc…to spread the word.  It was so nice of them, as I was so excited to meet a few bloggers! 

Calli was there…..although I didn’t get a chance to talk her ear off like I do most people.  I do remember her telling me her blog had a quilt image for the header, which being a visual person, I knew right away she had been in my FFF for a bit…….and now here she was standing right there in front of me…….cute as a button.

I remember when I found her blog awhile ago…….

Make it Do.  If you’ve been reading my blog for some time, then you know I have a small love affair with recycling and that it drives me crazy when I go to Utah and see garbage overflowing on my sisters street.  So I was tickled pink to see this cute gal who not only is crazy talented but recycles, lives in Utah and makes do with what she has.  Such a great message and reminder for all of us.

Being from Utah……of course she sews….of course.  But even I could probably master my way with this craft. 

Tablecloth Weights!

She has GREAT tutorials if I do get lost.  My sister and I were thinking that she really needs these.  Living near the canyon in Orem, she gets a wicked wind whipping through at night and we are forever smoothing the table cloth out. We should have done this craft….All you need is some cute paper, a few hardware washers and some ribbon.    You’ll need some outdoor Mod Podge too if you’re using the decorative paper. Isn’t that adorable?  And see that rolled up napkin thing on the plate?  It’s actually a utencil holder roll up.  CUTE!  And yes, she has a tutorial.

She dresses up her napkins with other things too.  As you can imagine…..these cute things could be used for a few other things Because she’s all about sharing………she shows you how to make just about everything on her blog. Now this is a cute idea……but if you’re like me, you may wonder why you would EVER need a cute way to carry needles in your purse.  But apparently really crafty women need needles at any given time and why not carry them in a fashionable way.  :) 

Needle Matchbooks.

Calli, is quite the holiday maven.  She’s got some GREAT ideas for just about every holiday you’d ever want to decorate for.

I particuallry liked this

Blueberry Heart Muffins

tutorial.  She used a marble to squish the paper in…….making a muffin shaped like a heart when baked.  SWEET! When I first looked at the photo, before reading, I thought it was a gumball and wondered why you would want a gumball with your blueberry muffins.  She makes hair bobs for each holiday too….this button was SO easy.  I had no idea. And seriously….

Snowman in a box gift

Your neighbors are gonna think you’re middle name is Martha if you give these out……..unless you live where it doesn’t snow.  (tutorial on how to make the hat and scarf) Easy way to

make a witches cauldron

…….very easy. So easy, I’m already planning on doing this for both planters on my porch. This is more time appropriate.  You may want to get busy on these since….I hate to say it…….but school is right around the corner for some of you. 

Make your own book bag!

  So so cute.  (so is the little girl)

Outdoor Candle Lights-

I have a fascination with them.  I imagine them hanging from all my trees…..I love the look of them.  She’ll show you how to make the wire part.

And because she doesn’t like to waste money or resources….she decided to make her own swiffer cloths…….and you know it……she’s going to show you how too.

Homemade Hummingbird nectar-

This is why I blog.  Because I need people to knock me over the head every once in a while.  Of course I can make my own!  WHY have I been buying all this time?  DUH!   When you visit her blog, you’ll wonder how she got to be to talented…….until you see this quilt her mother made.  I know…..there is a special place for these ultra talented women…..a good place…..even if they make the rest of us feel inferior.  Actually no time for that…….just head over and marvel in the creative amazement of Calli’s blog.

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Leave a comment and be entered for my Lisa Leonard monthly drawing.

 

Also, do me a favor….have you signed up for my google feed? Or my google friend connector?  I’ve been getting obsessed with my numbers lately.   It’s just what I do sometimes.

Both are located on the right side bar.

thanks everyone…….feels good to be home.  I’m going to go recycle some boxes.

Posie Gets Cozy

Friday Fabulous Giveaway Winner is Pink Peacock Designs  - email me krjdemmon@comcast.net

 

Ok, now for more good stuff…………….

I have read this blog since the beginning of my blog reading days.  I have wanted to feature her ever since I started this blog.  I never thought I could do her justice.  I also thought that everyone already knows her…………it’s kind of like me featuring Martha Stewart.  You would just think “well DUH Kim, give us someone we don’t know about”.

Posie gets Cozy

I’m also a bit speechless when it comes to Alicia’s blog and site.  Me………speechless?  She is the queen of craft.  She’s a published author! And has had lots of press coverage.  Martha really should team up with her.  Very very very talented at all the founding crafts.  She sews, she crochets, she does all kinds of stuff with needles…..she cooks, she bakes……she’s a traditionalist with her creative adventures.  She’s also a great writer.  She’s incredibly candid, humble and interesting to read.  You feel like one of her friends just by reading.  That’s probably why I once had a dream she baked me blueberry muffins and served them to me on the cutest plate.  Mmmm, and they were the best muffins I’d ever had.  And because of her, my love for Corgi’s was born. I wanted a Corgi SO badly. Not that I would trade my girl Mabie for anything…..I’m a true Labradoodle girl now, but I can’t look at a Corgi without thinking of Alicia.

Her studio is to die for!  This is where the magic happens.

In addition to her blog, she has a site where she sells bits of her talents.  Original items, sometimes kits.  

These birds are a popular item.  She even has a few free patterns…….like these dish towels.  Do you really think she’d be without the dishtowels our grandmothers had?  She is all about celebrating the simple pleasures of the past. Her photographs are beautiful.  See?  Simple pleasures.  She’s also got a thing for vintage dishes.She can also make a colander full of Cherries look like art.

More examples of things you can find in her shop….we all love felt flowers! Or her latest project…….she even shows you a tutorial on how to block your crocheted blanket…..She has got the patience of a saint.

Another tutorial on these hexagon flowers…….this is a hexagon right? 

    Alicia lives where I do………and she shares so much with you about our beautiful Pacific NW.  This is the Columbia Gorge.

If you could see to the left of this photo and back a bit, you’d see where I live.  I should be like her and share more……..

If you have NEVER been to her blog or heard of Alicia Paulson……you have a real treat ahead of you by visiting her blog.  But seriously, I really doubt there are many of you that don’t know about Posie gets Cozy. 

OK, TCB readers………this is where you can make me look really really good…..leave her a comment, letting her know how you found her…….even if you’ve been there a 1000 times.  :)  Humor me.

And if you dream about her baking you blueberry muffins…….let me know.