Down but not Out!

I have been fighting a cold this week, but it hasn't stopped my excitement of making my own quilt. I decided to make a king size quilt out of 4 inch squares.....this means I need 840 squares!!!!I chose this size because I like the idea of something big enough to share over all 5 of us during a family movie night and it will be long enough to hang over the edges of my queen size bed as well. I found enough fabric and cut all my squares this week! (So many other things didn't happen though....like my laundry!) I have started sewing squares together....it is harder than I thought! If it is not even, then the corners will not line up. That is the perfectionist in me. I am going to have to let that go--after all, its my first one!

I bought a square ruler so I could cut the squares with my rotary cutter. It worked pretty well. I will post a pic of my first strip when I have it done. This is a project that can re-purpose old clothes, sheets, or fabric you find at a yard sale! Mine is very random colors and patterns. I will post more as I learn....

Simply Peachy!

I decided I should share simple recipes that we use in our own nest....I am not a huge cook or anything, but I do love a good meal and dessert....and presentation is important to me when sharing with others.......click below and get the recipe!

Peach Crisp | Real Simple Recipes

This has become a fast Maurer summer favorite when peaches are ripe! It is so easy and very yummy for company....or for just a fun family dessert! Enjoy!

Vintage

Vintage fabric is so beautiful! There is something so wonderful about finding a sale with old vintage scraps. I just went to an Estate sale today. The woman who passed away clearly loved the art of quilting....she had so many neat quilts! The two I love the most were crazy quilts. The pieces are randomly placed and sewn with a stitch--or sometimes with several different stitching styles. I picked up her fabric and felt inspired to make my own crazy quilt....I will post a picture of her crazy quilt soon, and then, eventually my own!

Jars

I love jars. I love that you can see what is in them and yet they bring a sense of "tidy" into my crafting space. The splashes of color from all the buttons and the felting wool....not to mention scrap ribbon and the straightness of glue sticks.....I just think they add craft power to my corner! When I walk by, I want to be creative. Try it! Jars are very inexpensive at Walmart in the canning section. Other places I have found jars include yard sales, canned foods from home and thrift stores for a fraction of the price. Jars are a great way to begin organizing your craft space--even if you only have a very small space, like a few cupboards or a desk. As you collect new supplies, find a jar to house them. You will be amazed at how quickly your tools and supplies become easy to find and look inspiring at the same time!

I Feel Inspired.

Our family moved to Louisiana 10 months ago. We (my husband Jon and I) have 3 children and it was a new journey for us. We are so happy here! Something interesting happened to me though. I became "crafty" and started trying everything from crocheting to re-covering chairs! My husband still grins at me and wonders where I have been storing all this creativity for the past 10 years (10th anniversary on Sept.1). I make tutus and baby blankets and love to find treasures at yard sales to fix up too. Here's the deal: Even though I get my ideas from many creative women/places, I have decided to compile them here for you. I will give credit where it is due, but I want to share beautiful ideas and creative solutions for not only decorating, but for the family! If I have an "ah-ha"moment on a storage system, I will share it. If I have a new way of cleaning something, I will share it. If I find a craft that is beautiful, I will share it. If I come across a great way to love our children better, I will share it! It may end up being a very eclectic blog.....but I hope it inspires you to make your nest creative and beautiful. We have one shot at this.....lets love our surroundings and enjoy creating them~with both people and things.

Kate