Autumn Gift Set

This little gift set went together quickly. The design is one of Sonia Showalter's gorgeous embroidery designs, found here. The design was stitched on a flour sack dishtowel as well as onto a linen square. The little 3 x 3 gift card features a wheat design from Papertrey Ink's First Fruits set, stamped in a subtle Memento Cantaloupe color. A vintage button sits atop a punched paper circle. Quick, easy and fun...and Sonia's designs give the elegant touch!

Ducky Themed Baby Gift

Several items were included in this baby gift. In the background is a fuzzy duck blanket with a froggy design. The small print blanket has the baby's name on it. The burp cloth features a cute duck and the baby's name and is backed and bordered with a cheery yellow polka dot print. A coordinating ducky card finished off the ensemble. 

Summer Fruit, Shades of Blue

I love sweetcorn. My daughters' neighbors gave them a dozen ears of the best sweetcorn ever! They shared with the whole family. We all enjoyed it, and to thank them I embroidered this dishtowel, and made a little card to go along with it. I hope they like it as much as we liked the corn!

Tiny Apron Cards!

I found the cutest little apron card on Anna Wight's blog this morning. She included a tutorial as well as a downloadable template. I downloaded the template and was inspired to make a couple of little fabric aprons. I embroidered them instead of using the pocket piece.

The next thing was trying to figure out where to put a sentiment on a fabric apron and make this into a card! I ended up using the Stampin Up Top Note die. My sentiment and stamping is on that cutout, and then the apron is clipped to the Top Note.

 

 

I found the clothespins at Stampers Ink in Shawnee Mission, Kansas (thanks Heather!) The recipient of this card could use the apron as a little decorative piece in the kitchen, or I think it is just the right size for an American Girl doll! Thanks, Anna, for the inspiration!

Black Bean Corn Mango Salsa

I made this recipe by combining several recipes I have tried over the years. You can adjust it easily, or leave out some ingredients if you prefer. This also can be used as a salad. If I serve it as a salad, I will add olive oil to give it more of a dressing. But for scooping up with chips, the oil-free salsa is very tasty and almost fat-free. The jar idea was shown recently on Michelle Wooderson's blog. She put a corn salad in her jar which sounded very tasty.

Here is my salsa recipe. Click here to go to a page where you can download a Word document containing a printable version of this recipe.

Memorial Day Party and Dishtowel Favors

Every year my sister and her family hosts an annual Memorial Day party. It is always a fun get-together, and this year was no exception. We had gorgeous weather which allowed for my nephew, Brian, to do all the grilling. A net was also set up for volleyball and badminton. Everyone who attends the party brings a dish. I took the easy way out this year and brought potato chips and baked beans....I much prefer making the party favors for events such as this, so this year, I decided that a patriotic dishtowel would be useful and pretty. I made little cards to go along with the towels. I was informed that each year I have to "top" the previous year, ha. At least with the favors, I have plenty of time to make them advance and not have to scramble to make an impressive dish to pass!

Bunnies

This cute little appliqued bunny dishtowel is available in my Etsy Shop. The white fabric is the so-soft minkee. I love this little design! My granddaughter also loves it, and when she saw this bunny she said "I NEED that bunny". She is just 2 yrs. old, so of course she will be getting a bunny for Easter. I am making little stuffed bunnies.

 

I also made some cute little Easter cards yesterday, using a dollar stamp from Michael's. 

 

I am seeing some Etsy cards shops that are doing fantastic. Wish I knew their secret! Would love to make and sell cards.

All for now. Back to embroidery.