It's beginning to look a lot like....

I've been doing a ton of looking around at Christmas ideas galore and I just wanted to share some of the amazing ideas that I have found!


Adorable bath and body stocking stuffers


Adorable Christmas outfits for my littlest pumpkin (definitely check out this entire etsy shop!!)



This is another fabulous Etsy shop. I've also seen lots of tutorials for these adorable bows on the web. I might try my hand at a Christmas shirt like this too!

Has anyone else found any adorable ideas for this holiday season?

Have a blessed day,

Step by step... day by day...

Does anyone else remember that show? It had Suzanne Summer in it pre-ab cruncher infomercials.

Wikkipedia

I used to love that show. I remember always watching Friday nights on TGIF. Anyone else remember the line-up of shows?

Now at nights, what do I do isntead of watching tv? I cut out pattern pieces!

I'm one step closer to finishing hubby's jacket. I actually have all the pieces cut out and ready to be sewn together. It took me awhile to take the plunge since I had to manipulate the pattern a bit. He wanted the contrasting pieces but also for it to zip all the way up like a jacket and not be like a pull-over. Hopefully I can get to sewing some of it this weekend.

In the mean time, I thought I'd do a quick search to see about some different Easter crafts. Afterall, it's 2 months away... surely if I start now I can get something done!! Here are a few of my favorites:

 Look at those adorable jelly bean cookies at the decorated cookie. I think these would be perfect for my pumpkins!

 I love this basket over at Moda Bake Shop but I think this is a bit too adventurous for me!

I have a ton of little boy baby socks to be able to make some of these adorable little bunnies from elsie marley!

I know that this is technically for Valentine's Day... but go with me here. Imagine, instead of hearts, little eggs and baby chicks instead! This is from over at emmyloubeedoo. Adorable, right?

I made one of these little guys from Chez Beeper Bebe little K for Christmas and her big brother absolutely loves, loves it too! I might try making one of these next ones for him.

This one is from allsorts. Too cute and a free pattern!

Dittle Dattle has these over at there page. I haven't done any block type art like this. But I mighthave to so I can use some perfectly Spring-ish paper like she did! 

I hope that these help you get Spring Fever too! With our wonderful weather lately, I can't hardly wait for it!

Have a blessed day,

Continuing with the inspiration...

So, I spent the day today visiting with my dad by taking my wonderful family to a local pumpkin farm. We had a ton of fun! It was really great to do all the hay rides, petting zoo, and pig races...

yep. 

pig races. 

I'll post pictures soon!

Anyways, I thought I'd continue helping you with some Christmas inspiration. Now, for me, the most difficult presents to find are the ones for my sister-in-laws... well, them and my brother-in-laws. But I'm still stuck on my BILs, while I at least have a clue for my SILs.

Here are some ideas:

Sweet Little Smoothie has this adorable framed monogram done in a whole new media : buttons!

Sweet Little Smoothie

I love this for one of my sister-in-laws in particular because she loves to decorate her house. She currently has a very blank wall above her couch that I think this would be perfect for!

Just Make It has these really cute baskets that I think would be perfect to hold my (very unimaginative) back-up plan of Bath and Body Works:

Just Make It

One Pearl Button has an adorable tutorial on how to turn a tea towel into an apron! It's simple, straightforward, and would be great for several of my sister-in-laws (2 of the 3). I could create them so cute that they might even cook! 

One Pearl Button

Last but not least, if you're go-to, back-up plan (like me) is always Bath and Body Works or Yankee Candle, maybe you could try this next one. It could still help your loved one relax but has a bit more personalized feel to it.

Sew Mama Sew

Sew Mama Sew has a whole category on Christmas ideas from years past. This is one of those hundreds of ideas. I remember when rice heat therapy bags hit the scene (so to speak) back in the 90's. I had one and thought they were wonderful! Definitely better than cherry pits because I'm not sure where you buy just the pits... I know where to buy rice!

Any who....

So, I'm not sure how my quilting and piecing would make this look, so I might alter it just a bit and use full pieces. But still, it's a very nice gift that could be homemade somewhat simply out of some scraps that you have in your fabric bucket.

I hope this helps out some of ya'll! Please feel free to share any of your own ideas if you have come across anything that you are using for a gift this year.

Remember, the sooner you start the better!

If I keep telling myself this, I'll get busy!!

What about the little ones?

Christmas time is always a ton of fun just for the simple act of being able to watch the little ones in your family open their presents and seeing their faces light up. I'm hoping that some of these links will help you be able to bring that light to your little ones this year.

Over at Making the World Cuter, there is a great project known as a Quiet Book. I think both of my little ones would love to have these for when we go to restaurants or long distances in the car.

I also love this Memory game tutorial. There are a ton of different versions out there on the web. I have seen some super personalized ones, fabric ones, and these cute wooden ones too!

Over at homemade by jill, there is this simply wonderful present for my adorable little man. This is especially great for a car-crazy little one!

See how I'm getting into trouble with my To-Do list? Too many great ideas and not enough time!

It's been a while...

What a crazy school year this has been so far! About the time I think things are about to settle down... they get a little bit more chaotic! Any who... I've been looking around all of the wonderful talented blogs that I follow for some Christmas-y ideas for this year. Now I just have to have time to complete all of the projects that I have picked out! But I thought that some of you might want some help finding great ideas for your loved ones, so for the next couple of days I'm going to be posting the great ideas that I have found. Starting with the following project:

 Hope Studios

This is an adorable scarf made by the ladies over at Hope Studios. You can get the directions for this particular scarf here. They have a ton of really great ideas for crafts, family gatherings, and even yummy recipes. I'm thinking about making a couple of these scarves. But there is also this scarf below that looks great too:

 Hope Studios

Isn't it just gorgeous? You can go here to see the detailed instructions on how to make this one. Again, I'm thinking of several wonderful people on my list who might really like this scarf to keep them warm this winter.
Hope these ideas help to encourage you to make some memories with handmade gifts this year! Stay tuned for more ideas :)

How many ways...

Have you ever had a crafty item that you could use in so many ways it's just staggering? Well, I love the Kanzashi flowers. They are beautiful and oh so easy to make! So I set out on a mission to get this wonderful image of a flower picture out of my mind and into reality. I have the perfect excuse too-- it's my Nanny's birthday this week. :)

So my helpers and I set out on a crafting adventure! Aren't they cute helpers? 

They're both adorable if I do say so myself (I'm only a bit biased anyways).

So we set to work and this is what we came up with:

I'm pretty happy with it. I already had all of materials (except the muslin required a quick trip to JoAnn's). It was simple to hand embroider the stems, leaves, and grass. Then I just attached the flowers I had made. 

Very happy!!

So was my helper... and his  ball :)

Have a happy Sunday!!!

Dina in the kitchen...

Silly title huh? It's the first thing that popped into my head when I though about the project that I just completed. I'm really really happy about this one! I've been looking at this project for MONTHS on several different blogs. I'm really really psyched that I finally got a chance to be able to do it. What do you need for this amazingly fantastic project? Why a pot holder, a tea towel, thread, needle, and a button! How easy is that?

Okay.. a drumroll please..... here is what has me so psyched!

I know that I have seen them on several different blogs but I forget which ones to give credit to. (Sorry ladies!) However I will tell you the insanely simple steps to make these.

** My goal this year is to get organized with my tutorials so that I have pictures of each step!**

1) Find the middle of your tea towel.

2) Then (using your sewing machine) sew straight across the middle using the longest stitch on your machine. Pull one string to gather when you are done sewing.

3) Find the middle of your potholder. Line up the two middles (potholder middle and tea towel middle). Pin together. Sew across using your sewing machine.

4) Fold the potholder up so that the two edges meet. Using your thread and needle sew the button onto the front of the pot holder so that the "holder loop" will slip over it.

5) Hang up on your oven door and do a happy dance!!

Easy peasy right? I am adding these to my "Make for Christmas 2010" list. I've seen some gorgeous ones out there on the web. Keep your eyes open the next time you are at the dollar store! I just looooooove the cute vintage-y ones I found to make these!