Baby Flower Sandals

Hard to tell what these are from this picture, but think cute little baby girl toes peeking out from the bottom of the flowers, like this:

In the tutorial she warns that they are addicting to make...

I needed a fast shower gift, and was able to use materials on hand, things in my sewing studio...Made 3 pairs in less than 45 minutes.

A Wedding to Create A Marriage: Public, Official, & Permanent

Me & husband of 25 years.  He is a keeper, yes.

 Weddings are fun!  Celebrating is fun!  I love to see couples starting out together...

How cool is an OREO tower?  There was a fountain of milk next to it (instead of a chocolate fountain, same hardware).  Below is their cake (top layer was an actual cake, rest of tiers were triangular cut cheesecake brownies).

Butterflies everywhere, because she loves them, and he proposed with one:

Cute story:  they love to Geo-cache, and he planted a "fake" one, complete with log.  When she found it, she tried to put it back, saying it was somebody's proposal, turned around and saw him down on one knee with a ring..

Jon Schmidt played the prelude--so we have something in common with this couple!  The groom sang a song to her that was swooning romantic.  The bishop married them in a nice ceremony.  She is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He is not.  He comes to Church with her and attends John's Sunday School class so we have gotten to know him a little bit.

They obliged me with a photo kiss.  Actually, I have never seen such a kissy couple at a reception! Super happy, sweet vows exchanged (she loves him more than milk.  And more than bacon.  Made everyone laugh, but by the end we were all teary).

Part of our gift to the newlyweds was a Mr & Mrs.  Actually, it was really just a fun way to decorate the package.
During the reception there were several drawings--at the guest book spot there was a big jar we could put our name in to win one of her beautiful vases and pots--she just graduated from BYU-Idaho with an art degree, emphasis ceramics.  It made me want to stay to the end!

I am convinced that all the details of the party don't matter as much as how the newlyweds treat each other, if they stick together at the reception, if they kiss and kiss and kiss blissfully unaware of anything but each other in that moment...Dancing is fun.  Details of decorating can be memorable.  Food details can be forgotten.  But how happy the new couple is, how they hold on to each other, how you can feel their love for each other--that is the celebration.  That is what you think about as you walk back to your car hugging your sweetie and feeling grateful for marriage and love and couples who want to be together!


Psychology Today article:  Marriage is the process by which two people who love each other make their relationship public, official, and permanent.

Spooning, Rubberbands & CDs

Using everyday objects for crafting is crazy fun!  I had to try a plastic spoon mirror as seen all over Pintrist  (I pointed spoon fronts towards mirror) hot glued to round mirror.  Spoons are a metallic gold from Ollie's, took almost 3 bags (so just shy of 150 spoons for 3 rows).

Rubber bands wrap a gift, and CD's cut with regular scissors into star shapes and hung from drapery rod with fishing line.  I love to see them twirl and reflect light from window in the morning!  (LOOK, blooming azalea bushes!  Spring is gorgeous here in Maryland!)

Grandma Lucy Necklace & Kathy's Wedding Reception banners turned QUILT!

My Grandma Lucy loved jewelry.  Fun costume pretties.  Before she passes away she had labeled a lot of it with granddaughter's names, and then when Grandpa Jack died we went through everything dividing up the rest, taking turns.  I came home with several broken necklaces, pretty beads, but missing clasps, and one choker was too small for my neck, so I combined the beads...

...and made my daughters Grandma Lucy necklaces, using 26 gauge wire crocheted to hold the beads.

Fuzzy picture proof of delivery.

Emma & Dean's gift is a picnic blanket--with handle sewn into binding and a button closure.

Emma's mother-by-marriage made beautiful banners for their CA reception, perfect triangles zig-zag cut.

I auditioned a couple of different layouts...

And ended up deciding on an IKEA upholstery green fabric for the backing and a little on the front.

Ready for a picnic with a romantic wedding reminder!

 

Button, Button...Necklaces

Enough buttons to color block long necklaces, my cheap jewels, crafted diy.

Button vs. bead:  flat, one "sided vs. in the round, but still beautiful colors!  Thanks to a sister at Church whose mom was an avid sewer, I have a collection of vintage buttons to share.  I pre-stung them on crochet cotton to make hostess gifts as we head west & take advantage of family hospitality.

Finished up some t-shirt rose necklaces for a sister missionary's wardrobe going to Brazil.  These help with modesty, a way to cover that too low neckline.  Trying on chain new idea from sister missionary serving here from Pleasant Grove, UT!  This is how she makes them, instead of recycling the t-shirt hem..

 

Family Holiday Traditions

Just finished YA novel:  Sean Griswold's Head, by Lindsey Leavitt and was inspired by a family Valentine's Day tradition described (pg 141).  Names chosen (doesn't discuss, rotation, picked from a hat?) to make a Valentine card from...trash!  All the cards are gathered at dinnertime and voted which is the worse/trashiest, honoring the Mom & Dad's first Valentine exchange.  To continue the trash theme, Mom makes gummy worm & dirt (crushed Oreos) sundaes, the family eats fish & chips from rolled up newspapers, sitting on the floor, and an out-of-town brother mails his card so it arrives in time for the festivities with Skype appointment to see family reaction when his card is opened.

Funny, fun, wishing our family had something like that each year.  But it isn't too late to start one...

Let the brainstorming begin!  This Christmas will be HUGE with family gathering, all our children home.  We need some good (new) traditions, memory-making silliness.

We've discussed name-drawing in the past.  It never worked in my growing-up-family (too big?  Age spread?  Maybe someday we will try it?) but mother-in-law's sisters draw niece/nephew names and give great Christmas gifts.  Brother Michael's married-into-family does elaborate, thoughtful gifts with emphasis on labors of love and time rather than $, and they are super creative...John's sisters talk about it every once in awhile.  Pros include cutting down on costs if you are focusing only on one family.

I think we may try it, if we can be united on it.  Date-night discussion topic #1.  Come up with a plan.

We are planning on visiting some caverns in VA over the holiday.  That's all we have so far. 

Stockings
Christmas play
Caroling
FUDGE
guacamole/Mexican food
piñata for our birthday celebration?

Last year for New Year's we included extended family in Reindeer Game Competition, silly fun.  Maybe more of that?

Recent Projects

Crocheted-edge 2 flannel receiving blanket gift, in a toy bag with clear pocket changeable label.

Burp cloths, for all the new baby boys of girlfriends in our Church congregation!

Zig-zags on other side of kitchen to match.  Contact paper, so easy to put up.

Marriage Thoughts

It has been a week full of loving! I look forward to continually growing old with this marvelous man.

Wednesday John-husband drove down to the NIH for check-up pre-malaria testing, and was asked: "So, you've been married a long time, right? What is your secret?"

He talked about the importance of dating your spouse, and the great advice he got from a college professor: if you only have an hour a week to spend with your family (between work/school) take your wife out. Show your children that you love each other first, and they will feel more secure.

Thursday I took the train down to meet John at work so we could go to the DC Temple. We did not get in a fight on the way down, felt pretty united and happy to be there together, and were still asked to sit up front. We missed the 6 pm meeting, but had plenty of time to wait for the next one at 6:30--so we sat side by side with two big Bibles and I showed him some of the things we have been talking about in seminary this week: Jacob falling in love with Rachel (kissing her before they started dating!) and his volunteering the 7 year work-off for such a beautiful bride, tricky father-by-marriage, Leah's lovely eyes, Jacob's dedication to marriage, his courage, his responsibilness and trustworthiness, his dedication to marry within the covenant and obey his parents.

We talked about our children, our hopes and dreams for them and our helplessness. It is out of our hands whom they choose. We can't send our most trusted servant to go and pick, by prayer, the first one to water the camels (I really wish we knew the name of Abraham's servant--so faithful and believing). We pray for our children, we keep dating and trying to be good examples of a happy marriage, so they will seek a relationship that can last through this life and after death. That is what we believe. It is what we hope. It is why we do everything we do.

We went to a wedding reception last night. The young groom looked a little dazed. They got married last week out west, where she is from. They were late to their reception--but look so happy, well-suited, matched evenly! Rolls, a dozen soups, cake & hot cider. We gifted them with some practical home stuff (no, not toilet paper, but I thought about it) and movie passes, for some dates!

Who Needs the Quilt Gift of Love MORE & Apples?

Log cabin blocks set in Courthouse Steps pattern.  Individual blocks made by Sister _______, (can't remember her name!  We can call her Sister Generous Soul) who gave me boxes and boxes of "antique" looking fabric before she left on her mission from Baltimore Stake to Guatemala.  Sister Generous Soul was once the sister-by-marriage to our first landlord (D. Bradford) in Springville.  I wish she could see this quilt! 

I sewed the blocks into two quilts and taught the Relief Society sisters how to quilt.  The first one using "Crow's Foot" stitches-my personal favorite tie method, and this one, using traditional knot ties.  The first one I got bound, finished and delivered to Salt Lake City Welfare Square as a donation.  This one has (embarrassingly) sat unbound for....years?   Too long.  It is finished, finally, and going to a good home today:  new baby girl and family in need of some extra love.  Yes, it is great to donate to rescue missions, disaster areas, Church projects, but sometimes help a little closer to home is what is needed more.  I hope it helps this family stay warm this winter, and that they know lots of love and learning hands went into making it.  Everyone helping a little bit can make a difference!  Thanks to Tiffany for organizing friends and helping us be aware of a real need locally.

Happy Rosh Hashannah meant a day off of school.  Both of these children are in a serious growth spurt.  Good helpers.

GIANT mitsu apples.  Thank you to friend Laura who taught me where to find them!

Quilt-RRRRRRR T-shirt

Coolest idea for sibling gifts--or FATHER'S DAY T-shirts with good directions if you follow the link. You can use vinyl letters-stickers if you are spelling out words. I used contact paper (wood grained, stuff I had around the house).

Vinegar rinse will also stop the bleaching-- After you sponge on the bleach, rinse in cold water and stick in big bowl of water with 2 cups of white vinegar to stop the bleaching, then stick in washing machine and immediately wash This was a wedding gift. Since the fabric didn't bleach well, I used the contact paper backing and repositioned the letters and used white "So-soft" fabric paint and brushed around the letters. Turned out okay enough to give away and the bride & groom loved them.
You do have to make sure the t-shirt, pillowcase is bleachable. Some fabrics are bleach-proof. Test before you go to the work. Sorry no picture of end product-camera batteries unavailable, but trust me, it turned out great.

.

Project I've wanted to do for awhile: bleached out T-shirts. I had seen the idea on the blog link above and suggested the Young Women do it for their camp t-shirts. Cheaper than buying lots of fabric paints!
Think negative space--the exposed areas are going to turn white/pink and the area you protect will stay the same color as original t-shirt.

I've wanted a quilter-pirate t-shirt for awhile. Those are scissors instead of crossed bones at the bottom. This could be my new favorite t-shirt. $5.00 nice dark cobalt one found at walmart. Dark fabrics turn amazing colors with bleach!

Playing With Composition

I like the black vertical lines, trying to decide how much to crop out or leave in...

You can see the tie-dyed hand towel (over John's head on my real side of the bed) turned rice bag creation Emma made for Christmas presents. I use this every night! Best. Gift. Ever! We bought super good quality hotel towels from NPS in SLC for $1 each. Emma used Rit dyes. Personalized colors, sewn up into two long vertical channels and filled with 4 cups of white rice. Put in microwave (our wimpy one takes 3:40 minutes for perfect back-soothing relief) to desired temperature. Can also be frozen.

Where did I come from, why am I here, & where am I going?

Emma asked about the foam-on-a-ring "Plan of Happiness" hands-on-learning handout from yesterday...I filled in a few steps, had the students write in the next stages, draw pictures, put scriptures on the back that explain more about Pre-Mortal Life, Resurrection, etc.

I love how they all turned out different. Tactile and visual learning tools are important to me. I want them to feel something, inside their hearts AND using their fingers so they have a sensory memory of the day, too.



We played a simple game: inside blown up balloons were the questions of the Soul (pg 107 Preach My Gospel). We popped the balloons all at once and went around the room reading and discussing these questions:
Is there a God? (Alma 22)
What does Jesus Christ expect of me? (2 Nephi 9)
How can a belief in Jesus Christ help me (Alma 36)
Is there life after death (Alma 40)
What is the purpose of life? (Alma 34)
Why does God allow evil and suffering to occur? (2 Nephi 2; Alma 14:9-11; 60:13)
Does an infant need to be baptized? (Moroni 8)
Does God know me? (Alma 5:38, 58)
Does God answer prayers? (Enos 1)
How can I find peace and joy? (Mosiah 2, 4)
How can my family be happier and more united? (Mosiah 2)
How can I balance my family and career? (3 Nephi 13)
How can I strengthen my relationship with my future spouse? (3 Nephi 14)
How can I avoid the evils that threaten my family? (Alma 39)
How can I avoid sin? (Helaman 5)
*What am I supposed to be doing here on earth?
*What if I feel unclean, unworthy of my blessings?
*How will I know what is true?
*Why is taking the Sacrament important?
*How am I supposed to treat people who hurt and mock me for my beliefs?
*What will happen when I am resurrected?
*Does it matter if I go on a mission or not?
*How do I honor my parents when they are not doing everything they are supposed to be doing at Church?
*What do I do when I feel hopeless and my faith and testimony weak?
*How can I do everything I am expected to do and get enough sleep?

*=questions not in the book that I made up to make enough for all my students

I told them that all these questions or others they may have can be answered using The Book of Mormon!

They also made mini-bodies, self-portraits and we clipped them on a wire running the width of the room that represents time, our existence going on forever in both directions and the brief span of time that represents mortality, where we are on that time line...



We sang "Happy Body-Day to me/you/us" with the 2nd verse, "Tis Love Brings Us Here." Love of God for us, love of our parents for each other, love of our parents for us feeding us and taking care of us so we could grow up safely and be here today.



A party needs gifts. We talked about the most precious, wonderful gift we have been given, The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and I challenged the youth to think and pray about it and by the end of the year choose someone they know to whom to give a book. They don't know I am including myself in the challenge as well.



I sent them off to school with a prayer and a party gift bag and the refrain of "Ten Little Lamanites" ear worm listing the books in order(something that sticks with you all day long, you keep hearing it, thinking about it...)