Shout Out!

I just want to take a moment to give a shout out to the beautiful Abbigayle! She is a designer and created my header for me! Isn't it cute? 

I appreciate her talent and love for what she does. She takes your ideas and molds them into a design just for you! I love it. And I love her! So, if any of you are looking for some design work, check her out HERE. She also has some cute downloads, including Christmas cards! :) 

Thanks Abbigayle! And thanks everyone for stopping by! 
Merry Christmas and don't forget to check out these babies below!!!! 

Sugar Cookies
Advent Calendar

Loves and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Rachel

Owl Cookies

These owls are so fun! I donated them to my little mans bake sale for school. Giving never felt so good! 
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 
Loves,
Rachel 

BOO Sign

Halloween.

It's the spookiest time of the year and I couldn't be happier! 

Bring out the spider webs! 

Bring out the flying witches! 

Bring out the kids in their cute costumes! 

Bring out the carmel apples and candy. 

Bring. 

It. 

Out. 

Cause I love Halloween. 

So, if you need something new to bring out, look no further. This wood project is so simple. It is the same one I did HERE. The only difference is that I glued on wood letters, not paper ones. :) HAPPY SPOOKING! 

Loves

Rach

Materials:

Wood Plaque

Wood letters (Michael's)

Paper for background (Halloween Print)

Mod Podge (Matte Finish)

Wood Glue

Paint (Black)

Sand Paper

Paint Brush (or foam brush)

Step 1: Paint Plaque and Sand

Paint board desired color. Let dry. Sand edges for vintage aged look.

Step 2: Apply Paper & Mod Podge

Apply glue to back of burned paper and stick in place. Then apply to entire front in long strokes to cover entire board .(including wood and paper) Let dry.

Step 3: Glue Letters

Once it is dry, glue the letters down with some wood glue. Let dry. 

Viol'a! You have a happy Boo Sign! 

You could drill holes in the top and hang with a fun ribbon. Set it on a mantle. Have fun with it! 

Happy Halloween everyone! 

Kindergarten. It starts...

 I have mixed feelings about Kindergarten. 

I think it is because I don't want to let go of this. But I have to. 

My little man is turning five in a couple days! Five! Can we say that again? Five people! Now, I understand that he may not be off to college or I may be freaking out just a little bit, but life as we know it is going to take a big turn come next week! To tell you the truth, I'm not ready for it. I know I'm being selfish, but that is the honest truth. I. Am. Not. Ready. To. Let. Go. (He is super excited and couldn't be happier to go to school!)

Do all Mother's go through this? 

Do all Mother's hearts wish they could hold onto that little boy or girl for forever? 

Do all Mother's wish they could keep their children untainted from the world or protect them from everything that could hurt them?

Do all Mother's have a hard time letting their children go?

I do. 

He is my little boy.

And, I'm sure a piece of my heart will always hold him as that "little boy" forever. 

Even though I may be nervous to turn down this big stretch of "new road," I know it will be a great adventure! 

I know my gentle giant will take on this world and let his light shine! 

I know he will be an example for good.

I know his little brain will come home overflowing with excitement for what he learned that day!

I know he will make great friends. Be silly. Have fun. 

I know he will face challenges and learn to overcome them without me by his side.

I know he is strong enough when I am not. 

And, I think that is all that matters. 

He has to do it. 

He has to learn it.

In order to become all that God has meant for him to be, he has to leap. And I have to let him, however hard that may be to watch. 

Goodness gracious I know he is only five. But, it's the oldest he has ever been and I am learning to let go. 

Maybe in a year or two I'll change my mind. But as for now, be sure to look for me. I'll be the Mommy outside his Kindergarten class frantically waving goodbye to him. With tears in her eyes. Or all over her face. Ya. I'll be "that" Mom. Sorry, but it's true.

How have you dealt with letting go? I'd love to hear some tips. 

The Moustache

My sweet friend's little guy got baptized. 

So, I thought I'd make him some CTR cookies. 

Rule of the mustache cookie. You. Must. Take. A. Picture. With. It.

Enough said. 

Hope you like them. I sure do! 

Loves,

Rachel 

Happy 4th of July Cookies

Here's wishing you a Happy 4th of July! I hope your day is filled with scrump-true-lessant food and great fireworks surrounded by the people you love! 

Loves

Rachel

Sail Boat Cookies

Here we are sailing into Summer again! 

The hot weather.

The long nights.

The fireworks.

The barbecues.

The beach calling my name. Or at least I think it is. Or wish it was..... hmmm....

I made these fun cookies for a dear friend of mine who is expecting a bruiser of a boy in a few weeks. Im so excited for her! I can't wait to meet him. So, in honor of them, I made these. 

Simple and yummy! 

So I hope your Summer is going great!

Happy sailing! :)

Loves

Rachel

Boys

Oh the fun things I find in my house full of boys!

Loves
Rachel

Nurse cookies

To honor the lovely Nurses out there, here's to you!

Tie Quilt

I love pink. "Pink is my signature color."

I love Teal too. 

Pink and teal together.... Heaven! 

So, I guess that's why Im in love with this cute little tie quilt. 

It's pink and teal! 

Also, it was fun and easy to make. I hope you enjoy! 

Materials Needed: 

It's the size of a standard crib mattress but you can measure it however you desire. 

1 and 1/2 Yds of desired printed material (top)

1 and 1/2 Yds of batting (middle)

1 and 1/2 Yds of snuggle flannel material (bottom)

1 Spool of matching yarn

1 thick needle

Quilt binding (for edge, at Dream weavers they give a pretty good tutorial. Sorry, I didn't take pictures of it. My bad.)

Baby quilting frame (or make one, see here)

Standard needle and matching thread (for hand stitching an invisible stitch on binding)

Sewing machine

Step 1: Layer your fabric (the sandwich way)

I used the floor to help me sandwich these babies together! Start with your bottom (or top) layer of fabric. Lay it on the floor flat, right side against the floor. Grab your batting and lay it evenly on top of your bottom layer. Lastly, layer the top material evenly onto the batting. Viola! You have just layered your quilt.

You can pin the sides together if you want. It helps so you can more easily transfer your layered fabric to the quilting frame. I find ,however, that the batting helps keep it together. You happily decide for yourself. :) 

Oh and it's ok if your edges don't align perfectly, we will trim them later. ;) 

Step 2: Get-er on the Frame 

Your frame will not look like mine if you have the legs. I don't have much room in my tiny apartment at the moment, hence the legless, ghetto-ish quilting frame. Im so sorry I don't have a better picture but I hope you get the idea. 

As you clamp your material to the frame, the idea is to get a tight fit. It helps to have the layers tight so that the "tying" will be easier. 

Step 3: Marking where you are to tie

Now it's time to mark your quilt. You can mark with pins, but I found myself wishing otherwise due to pricking my fingers a zillion times. I recommend a washable pen or chalk. Then start in the bottom of your "picture" frame and mark where you would like the ties to be placed. I marked mine about every 3 and 1/2 inches away from each tie. 

Step 4: Connect the dots.. la la la la...

After your chalking attack, your blanket should have a heap of dots everywhere. Now it's time to connect them. Thread needle with a long piece of yarn and go to town. Fell free to sing, "connect the dots...lalalala.... connect the dots.... lalalala!" (humor me, it's late;)

Also, don't forget the material that is hiding UNDER the clamps. Simply undo your clamps and adjust as needed to cover as much blanket as possible. This is always my "favorite" part. :) 

Step 5: Lines and the big cut

Once you have connected your dots, your quilt should look like this. Ta Da! Grab your handy dandy scissors and cut in the middle of the line of yarn. (see pictures) You should end up with a bunch of pieces to tie in a knot. 

Step 6: Tie away baby! 

 Tie. Tie. Tie. Tie. Tie...... well you get the drift. Tie all your cute little ties together. My Mother taught me to tie Right over Left and Left over Right. She said it helps keep the tie longer, so I do what she says. She is one smart cookie. :) 

Your lovely ties once completed! YAY! That was tiresome.... go take a break and eat some chocolate for a reward. 

Step 7: Trimming

Trim your excess edges so that all your pretty layers are even and straight. :) As for corners, you can either stop here or make a curved one. I think the rounded corner is cute. Just grab a bowl, trace and cut. (see pictures)

Step 8: It's Binding Time! 

Grab your binding, unfold it and pin your edges together. Right side of cute fabric to right side of biding. Sew 1/4 inch along seam to connect binding and blanket together. (does that make sense?) After you sew the FRONT side of your binding together, fold it over your edge and HAND stitch the other side. (great tutorial HERE)

 Step 9: Enjoy the fruits of your labor and eat some more chocolate. :) 

Seriously. Chocolate helps. I love chocolate. It is my friend. Mmmmmm. 

Let me know if you have any questions. Im all ears and love to help! I love your comments! Have fun with it and let me know if you make one! I'd LOVE to see how it turns out! :) 

Loves,

Rachel