52 Week Challenge - Week 35

This week's project is a bit lame I'm afraid.  I made this sand and shell magnet as a sample for a childrens fellowship craft for church. We also made tambourines out of  paper plates and jingle bells (the children loved making those), but mine got lost somehow.

I have several projects in process, so hopefully next week's post will be a little more substantial.

If you would like to add a finished project of your own, click on the Linky tool below.

To read more about the 52 week challenge, click here.

Treasured Tuesdays

These photos are all clickable links, so shop away!

Thankful Sunday

Today I am thankful for my church, the teachers and ministers, the workers, childrens fellowship, and each individual member who fulfills a place that no one else can take.

There is only one of each of us, no carbon copy has ever been made of any person born. None can say that another is not needed, or less important.  We are each made by God, for His purpose. 

This morning I shared this message in childrens fellowship to a group of 4-6 year olds.  I used the seashells below to illustrate the uniqueness of each individual.

Every shell is different and so beautiful

What are you thankful for today?

 

Folly Beach South Carolina

This summer our family vacation was to Folly Beach, South Carolina, just a few minutes south of Charleston.  We found it a laid back, casual-beachy area with very friendly people.

My husband and youngest grand enjoying some kite flying

We rented a large house across the street from the beach high up on stilts, no doubt because this area has been hit by hurricanes an average of once every 10 years, including hurricanes Hugo and Andrew.

This is a common house style in Folly Beach

One unique local attraction is a fishing boat that was washed up next to the highway during hurricane Hugo in 1989, and is now used as a free billboard.  Anyone with a bucket of paint can leave their mark.  We painted it for my husband's birthday.  There is even a website - follyboat.com where you can see pictures of some of the billboards people have painted.

My Artistic Skills at Work

Another local feature of note is the abundance of reasonably priced seafood, especially wild shrimp.  We ate shrimp a lot.  We made low country boil, (sometimes known as frogmore stew) and enjoyed it thoroughly.  On the other hand, dairy and meat products were more expensive than in upstate New York.  For example, ice cream averaged $5.50 for a half gallon.

One day we drove into Charleston and spent 5 hours walking through their huge downtown open market, the pier with public wading fountains and porch swings, and the historic district with all its gorgeous old homes.

The market stretches for blocks

Lots of beautiful basketwork available

I think the fountains were meant for kids, but we couldn't resist

 

We spent a much of our time at the beach, boogie boarding, fishing, walking, and just hanging out in our beach cabana.  My son caught a huge fish which we had for dinner one night.

I'm told this fish is called a Red Drum

There were a few jellyfish stings among us, but they healed quickly and didn't keep us out of the water.  Of course there was the requisite souvenir shopping, we ate out a couple of times at some local restaurants,and played board games in the evenings. Mostly we just enjoyed being together.

My husband and I found two starfish washed up on the shore

Sunrise walk on the beach our last morning

All in all, it was a satisfying vacation, and not very expensive either.  We've found that you don't need a lot of money to enjoy time away.  A few years ago we stayed at a hostel in Nantucket at even less expense, and most of us agree that was our best vacation to date.

I hope you have been able to take some time to enjoy the summer, whether at home or visiting someplace new.

Happy End of Summer,

52 Week Challenge - Week 34

I made these pincushions out of batik scraps, seashells, embroidery thread, and buttons. I like the beachy feel to them. They remind me of our recent vacation.

If you would like to add a finished project of your own, click on the Linky tool below.

To read more about the 52 week challenge, click here.

Treasury Tuesday

Thankful Sunday

Today, I am thankful for home.

We have been away all week enjoying a family vacation in Folly Beach, South Carolina (more about that later).  Although it is exciting to explore new places,  my husband and I are always glad to get home again.

Home doesn't have to be one place, it can be different places at different times.  Home can be a person too. I can be at home where ever I wander, as long as it is with the right person.  Most of all, I am home with my Father God Who promises to never leave me.

What do you call home?

52 Week Challenge - Week 33

Scrapbooking is one of my favorite crafts, but since starting my Etsy shops there hasn't been time to do much of it.  Instead, I document our family birthdays and vacations by putting together scrapbook albums online.  Here's one I finished about our family vacation last summer in the OBX.

If you are not familiar with these albums yet, check it out.  You choose the album size and style, upload your pictures and place them where you would like, and add text.  There are a number of companies that provide this service.  The one I have used for years is called Snapfish. I have been happy with their customer service, plus you can sign up to receive notification of special sales by email.

My family enjoys looking through these albums over and over.

What project have you finished this week?  I would love to see it.  You can add a link by clicking on the Linky Tool below.

If you would like to learn more about the 52 Week Challenge, click here.

Let's get busy,

Treasury Tuesday

All these items are clickable links, so shop away!

Thankful Sunday

Aren't these flowers glorious!

Mallow, Morning Glory, Rose of Sharon, Hydrangea

Today I am thankful for flowers. Specifically the flowers in my yard. And particularly because many of them were here before we moved in, planted by the woman who lived here before us. So I am also thankful for her, even though I never met her, and she has passed on now.

She planted, I watered, and God gave the increase.

What are you thankful for today?

Blog Facelift and New Buttons

If you have visited my blog often enough, you may have noticed it has a new look.  I like to change with the seasons.  Along with different colors and a new banner, I've added some contact buttons on the sidebar - Email Me, Join My Mailing List, Twitter, and Facebook.

They look kind of like this:

I got them from a Etsy seller for only $1.00.  MoxieTonic  is selling social media buttons in a variety of styles at this special price for a limited time.  It was a bit of a learning curve for me to get them up and running, but Natalie from MoxieTonic was very helpful during the process. I love how you can just click on the button and be transported to an email form, or my facebook page. 

If you aren't already on my mailing list, there is a button to join.  Occasionally I will be sending coupon codes for specials in my fabric shop (and I promise not to spam you).

Thank you also to  SweeterThanSweets for recommending these buttons on your blog. I love learning something new.

Happy Blogging ♥

52 Week Challenge - Week 32

One dozen scrub hats, count 'em - twelve.  That was my project this week.

This was my husband's request.  His current hats are all worn out.  Apparently it has been awhile since I last made him some. Since I had to make so many, I decided to have fun with the fabric choices.  He has everything from Dr. Seuss to My Sunshine Garden Florals to the latest Batiks.  And he is game to wear them too. It's no wonder that I l♥ve that man.

What have you been up to this week?  Leave a link below, I would love to see.

Let's get busy,

P.S. - to learn more about the 52 week challenge, click here.

Treasured Tuesday

Start shopping by clicking on any of the pictures in these treasuries.

New ~ Layer Cake Batiks from Anthology

Just in - gorgeous arrays of batiks from Anthology, cut in 10" squares, forty to a bundle.  Over 2.5 yards of beautiful fabric in each package, precut and  ready for many projects made just for layer cakes.

There are four different colorways available:

Have you made a project starting with 10" squares?  I would love to see it.  Just leave a link in your comment.

Happy Sewing ♥

Thankful Sunday

Today I am thankful for God's provision.  He promises to always meet our need.  He says to open our mouths wide, and He will fill them.  He tells us that He will do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. 

God constantly amazes me with how personally he answers prayer, so that there is no doubt that it is Him, and not pure chance.   Like the children's song says, we truly do have a Great Big Wonderful God.

What are you thankful for today?

July Round Up

Participation has dropped off in this challenge as the months have worn on, but still I am thankful for every one who has left a link of a project they have finished. 

Here are the projects I finished in July.   All holiday items to go along with my theme of Christmas in July:

These artisans also posted in July:

Jan Beane

 My Jewelry Box

Memories for Life

I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge each week, and have lots of new projects to show for it.  Hopefully participation will pick back up in the cooler months ahead.   Anyone is welcome to post their projects,  either every week, or just once.  Any type of project is welcome.  Just jump in anytime,  I love to see what everyone is up to.

Let's get busy,

The Non Quilt Challenge Results

KimsCraftyApple, who hosts Project Quilting, runs off season challenges as well.  I had the honor (and fun) of deciding on the July's challenge, which was a Non-Quilt Quilt challenge.  The entries could be anything from a bag, to a sculpture, to a wearable, anything really, as long as it was made of fabric, and was three dimensional (not flat like a quilt).  The entry also had to incorporate at least two items or textures that were not fabric.  To sweeten the challenge, I offered a fat quarter bundle of fabrics to a randomly chosen participant.

Here were the entries for the challenge:

(You may recognize the stocking )

I especially like the diaper cover that Kim made.  To see the entries up close, read about their creative process, and find out who won the fat quarter bundle, check out Kim's blog post.

Happy Sewing ♥

52 Week Challenge - Week 31

This week's challenge was especially fun. I enjoyed working with a scrappy bunch of fabrics from Anthology cut into triangle shapes. Adding the bird was a last minute inspiration. I embroidered the feet and found a tiny button which worked perfectly as an eye.

What have you been up to this week? Add a link to a project you've finished by clicking on the Linky tool below.

Let's Get Busy,

Treasury Tuesday

All these pictures are clickable links, so shop away!