;;ARE YOU TIRED OF LINEN YET?::

So, I still have some linen left.  A very little bit. 

I am not sure if I ever mentioned how I acquired it.  Long story short I had an 84 inch linen curtain panel I bought at Target on clearance.  Ended up never using it because our windows here were much longer.

So far, I have made the crochet case holder and the ruler holder that you saw in the previous post and I also made a baby blanket for a new momma at church.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able get a pic of that.  But rest assured it was lovely.  I had backed it with some baby blue chenille.  I loved the feel of the linen and the chenille together.  Hoping to make one for myself to drape over our couch.

If you haven't noticed yet, all my linen projects have been instant gratification projects.  Small projects that I can finish in about an hour.  With the last piece of linen and some scrap fabric I hope to make this.

photo:

http://bloomandblossom.blogspot.com/search/label/Australian%20Homespun%20projects

She used some lovely fabric scraps and I love the measuring tape fabric on there and the button.  But what really makes it sahweet is the word "stitch."  She actually had written this pattern and it was in Australian Homespun magazine.

Hope everyone is having a great week.

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:: LINEN, LINKY LOVE::

LINEN......

I shared in a previous post I was at my sewing machine recently and have enjoyed making a few things with some linen.  Finally, some pics to share with you.  I have been wanting to make a crochet needle case for a long while now.  I found an awesome tutoroial a while back and thought I would give it a whirl.   Christina at http://www.sometimescrafter.blogspot.com/ did a great job with the  tutorial.  I am happy with my crochet case.    I used linen for the outer fabric and  a Glacee paisely print on the inside.  I just love it.  LOL, don't look too close.  I need to practice sewing a straight line some more.

Next project I worked on was a sleeve for my 24 inch quilting ruler.  I am really loving how this turned out a lot.  So much so that I plan to make one for my 45 degree quilting ruler.  I have been wanting to mix media and textiles for sometime now and finally did it.  I am happy with  the outcome of this project and plan to do more mixed media projects in the future.

LINKS.........

Lastly, I have some links to share with you.  I have been surfing and have been inspired.  So, thought I would pass on the inspiration.

First up is Christina  from http://sometimescrafter.blogspot.com/2008/12/tutorial-rachels-crochet-hook-case.html
This gal can quilt and sew up some awesome projects.  As a matter of fact, Christina is the one responsible for the awesome tutorial for the crochet hook case.  Pop buy her blog and be inspired.  If you would like the link for the crochet hook case, click here
http://sometimescrafter.blogspot.com/2008/12/tutorial-rachels-crochet-hook-case.html and click the link provided in the post.

Second, if you haven't heard of Miss Mustard Seed you are in for a treat.  Marian is a sweet, talented gal.  She shares all her wisdom on refinishing furniture that she has found curbside or Goodwill finds, etc.  She also sews.  She has said she doesn't enjoy it much, but she is pretty good at it.  You have to check out her dining room here.
http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-dining-table.html

She recently shared part I of her video slipcover series.   Part I is all about piping and how to make it.   Here is the link
http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/2011/02/video-slipcover-series-part-1-custom.html

Pop over and say "hello" to Marian and grab a cuppa and surf around her blog a bit.

Okay, that's it for a couple of days.  Gonna be a busy week this with normal day to day duties and I am hoping to sew some more.  Later in the week I will share  with you a spot I am hoping to carve out for my creative space.  The mini sewing studio if you will.   Would love to hear your ideas on how I can make the most of this possible space with what I have.

Enjoy your week!Pin It Now!

:::SEWING:::

I had the pleasure of sewing this weekend.  I had some fun making a couple of practical projects with linen.  It's my new fave fabric of choice.  Pair it with a lovely quilting cotton and you got a sweet project.

I had to work later than usual today.  By the time I got home I had to move into mom/wife mode.  We have one down with the flu; one recovering from the flu and two of us still healthy.  Woo hoo!  Let's hope the last two of us stay healthy and don't get the flu.

Long story short by the time I took care of the family there wasn't good light to take pics of my projects.  Hoping to get home on time tomorrow and take some pics of new linen projects to share with you all.

Hope everyone had a great day!Pin It Now!

::WHAT I HAVE BEEN UP TO::

My camera lense has been on the fritz of late and that's why you haven't seen any posts with my pics.  I do have some projects that I have jotted down on paper that I have dreamed up.  I would love to sit down and sew them up and make them come to life, but I have been doing a bit of this.  Can you guess what it is???


If you guessed a guitar you are right.  I signed up to take some lessons.  So, in my spare time I have been practicing.

I have also been doing some reading.  I splurged on myself at Christmas and bought myself this book.

I did a review of this book a while back based on flipping through it at Barnes and Noble.  Well, now I have this baby in my  hot little hands and I gotta tell ya hands down this is the best sewing book I have in my sewing library.  Deborah has  step-by-step photos of what she is explaining and it also comes with a CD as well which has patterns on it.  Very well done.  If you don't have this one in your sewing library, you should. 
We are due for some icy type rain this way....maybe even possibly snow. 
Stay safe  and warm wherever you are .
I will be back later this weekend hopefully to share something I have been dreaming up in my head.Pin It Now!

::THE WHITE STUFF::

More commonly referred to as SNOW seems to be on it's way inundating my family and friends.  Everyone out in the midwest and northeast stay safe and warm.

Hugs,
CherylPin It Now!

::AFTERS::

When we first moved into this house the drapes here weren't that bad.  The previous owners had denim furniture so these curtains went well with their furniture.  Our furniture is a little darker and my accent colors are red, so these curtains weren't exactly matching.  I looked high and low; on the interent and in stores, but didn't find anything I liked that was reasonably priced.  I have six windows that I needed to cover, so didn't want to break the bank covering them.

curtains before

One day I had been blog surfing and saw some really nice curtains on room makeover that someone was posting about .  I emailed her and asked her where she got her curtains and she said, "IKEA."  I was determined to head out to IKEA and buy some curtains.  You see, these particular curtains are only $14.99 per package. ...and yes, you get two panels in a package!  I was so excited !  Until I found out the nearest IKEA was about four and a half hours away.  : (  So, I went back to their website to see if I could order them online and I couldn't.  : (    Long story short, I realized, I would probably have to make them myself and would save up the money to purchase some fabric to make them.

Well, the hubs surprised me and the kids with a trip to Texas and yes, we swung by the IKEA to pick up the curtains and here they are on my windows.  I love them.

after

I bought the 98 inch long ones even though my windows are only 95 inches.  I like how they puddle and how the light filters in through them during the day.

Another after I worked on was my pantry.  I shared a few months back that I loved how House of Hepworths transformed her pantry and how neat and tidy it looked.  Well, mine looks neat and tidy, but I didn't have extra cash to by those fancy vinyl labels to label all the jars.  Lucky for me, we know what everything is.  The shelving was painted white.  I gave it a good cleaning and then I laid down some red gingham shelf paper to give the shelving a little pick me up.  I also bought a few of the glass jars from Target  to store things like rice, oatmeal and crackers.  I am pleased with how it turned out.

Now to keep it that way.

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::GIVEAWAY TIME AGAIN::

Hop on over to

http://thenestuk.blogspot.com/2011/01/time-for-giveaway.html

Sweet Samantha is having a giveaway.

She is having a generous giveaway.  The lucky winner will receive one of her many lovely pillows like these below:

and

a set of of these heart shaped slate coasters

and a little sumpin' else just because.

You can check out her etsy to see what other kinds of pillows she makes.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/samantha2818

Good luck!

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::::GIVEAWAY WINNER!::::

Meredith from

http://welcometoheardmont.com/

is my giveaway winner!

Congratulations Meredith!

I will be sending this book out to you this weekend!

If you haven't stopped by Meredith's blog, you need to.  She has some great DIY projects.  So, stop by and tell her "hello."

Have a great weekend eveveryone!

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::HAPPY NEW YEAR AND A BLOGIVERSARY GIVEAWAY!!!::

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas.  I frequent many of your blogs and I see many of you had the privilege of having a "white Christmas."  We missed the snow this year....well, just maybe I did.  I really wanted to see some white...but it wasn't in the cards here in Louisiana.  We had rain and it was pretty balmy.

As we roll into the new year, I find myself as always trying to be better....you know, a fresh start.  Most of us say this is the year we are taking over our health and we will exercise more; this is the year I will read my bible more and so on. 

All this to say that my hubby gave me a wonderful gift this year.  He gave me hope.  I received this book from him.

I am here to tell you that I don't want to be a slave to debt.  I want to be able to send my children to college debt free!  No student loans!  I want to be able to have a savings account for those times when the water heater goes up or the car needs major repairs.  I want to be able to have money saved up for retirement.  I want to be able to have my house paid off.  I want to be able to give and bless others....just because; and in that spirit I will be giving away a copy of this book to celebrate my three year blogiversary.  

I can't believe that I have been blogging for three years.  When I started this blog I think I was writing to myself and slowly, I have had some followers who actually read my little ole blog.  To all you who read, I thank you.  It's nice to read comments, they make me smile.

I am passing on the blessing of hope.  If you would like to have the opportunity to win a copy of this book, leave me a comment telling me one thing you would like to be able to do if money were no object.

Dave's tag line in the book is
"Live like noone else so you can live noone else."

Well, this is the year that we start living like noone else so we can live like noone else.  It won't be easy, but it will be so worth it in the end.

Have a blessed day!
*****THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED****Pin It Now!

::MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A THANK YOU::

A little thank you to all who follow my little ole blog.  Your comments make me smile.  Your blogs  make me smile.  So, from our home to yours we wish you a blessed Christmas this holiday season.  May your time with family and friends be sweet and your New Year be a joyous one!

image by Kim Klassen

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a saviour who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

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