Notes from the Patch

It's Cinco de Mayo weekend and we're having a Fiesta!

I just cooked fifteen pounds of taco meat, grated eight pounds of cheese, made two gallons of salsa and

my

feet

are

killing

me! (not to mention my fingers are burning from the jalapenos and my kitchen is a mess)!

Before I head off to bed I wanted to remind those of you within driving distance to join us for The Heart of the Valley Shop Hop this weekend.

The store is ready

the margaritas are chill'n

and some lucky customer will win this

Now if you'll excuse me I need to get some rest because tomorrow we're going to

PARTY! 

Encourage one another,

Tutorial Tuesday #43 - Valentine Pockets

What would my life be without Peltex?  I know I promised to stop with the Peltex projects but I have just one. more. idea. then I'm done. I promise.

It's just that I got to thinking about these little pockets that could hold candy, cards, gift cards, diamonds. Whatever. And thought since next week is Valentine's Day and these take just minutes to make...well what the hay, I'd just go for it.

So I ironed fabric to each side of a piece of Peltex,

then traced two heart shapes and

cut them out just inside the line.

Next I sealed the edges

with Mod Podge so they wouldn't fray and let them dry.

I think what is so fun about these is that they can be as plain or fancy as you'd like.

You can sew on bits of trim or add lots of embellishments.

But I digress.  

With wrong sides together,

 start sewing at the heart's widest point about 1/8" from the edge

and stop on the opposite side.

This creates a little pocket just big enough for a few treats.

Here's how I made the handle:

From 22 gauge wire, I wrapped about 27" around a wooden spoon handle or pencil kind of loosely

you'll want it to look something like this (hopefully your cutting mat looks nothing like this).

Then, just above the the start and stopping points of your stitches, poke a little hole with an awl, large needle or seam ripper

and thread the ends of your wire handle through the holes.

Roll the ends to create a little knot in the end of the wire so it won't slip out.

Give it a squeeze to keep the wire where you want it.

That's it! Just leave them plain and fill with goodies

or goop them up with lots of googa.

Here's a couple without the wire handle. I think they make cute table favors.

 So quick and fun to do.

Encourage one another,

Tutorial Tuesday #41 - Valentine Tags

I swear sometimes my projects seem to take on a life of their own. I start out with one idea in mind and before I know it, I've taken a sharp turn and ended up somewhere totally unexpected. So was the case with this little project. I thought I'd make stuffed hearts using some really cool ribbon that I'd saved and somewhere along the way got an idea for fabric tags instead.

I love tags. You know those paper ones with the brown reinforcements and string ties that you get in the stationary stores? Love those. So I thought it would be fun to make some out of fabric but make them big enough that they could double as little Valentine cards. Just something that a friend could hang in her sewing room or over her desk. A lasting momento of friendship.

I must say here that this is a pretty lame tutorial. Just really a bunch of photos for hopefully some inspiration. What you decorate your tags with will totally depend on what's in your stash boxes, bags and bins.

Here's what I did:

I started with Peltex Double Sided Fusible Stabilizer and ironed fabric to each side. Peltex was the perfect choice for this project because it's thick and firm enough to support my embellishments. You can even sew through it if you want. It was the first time I'd ever worked with Peltex and loved how easy it was.

 I traced my tag shapes onto the fused fabric and cut them out.

Because some of the fabric I used was a loose weave I thought I would seal the edges so they wouldn't ravel so I painted on Mod Podge Matt around the cut edges. 

Then I just rubber stamped a message or design on the front of my little tags and decorated them with some flowers and odds and ends I had laying around. I mostly just hot glued everything down. Each tag took just a few minutes to make although deciding what to do took awhile, but that's the part I love the most - getting out all my treasures, sifting through boxes of buttons and ribbon, trying to find that perfect thing.

I've had these little decorative drawer pulls forever and never knew what to do with them. What I thought I wanted was a big eyelet but didn't have any so the drawer pulls seemed perfect.

I just poked a little hole through the Peltex and screwed the knob onto the tag.

 

 

Here's one with an eyelet after a quick trip to Michaels. Bill helped me drill a hole through the Peltex big enough for the large eyelet.

I antiqued the edges by blotting the edges with a rubber stamp ink pad.

 

If you'd like to make your own you can go here for the tag pattern.

Encourage one another,

 

Simple pleasures

So how goes your January? It's half over already. Can you believe it? Time flies when you're having fun I guess.

I've been having fun decorating the house for Valentine's Day. Just the kitchen table really, but it's enough to make me hap, hap, HAPPY!

I love filling old candy jars with Valentine candy.

Actually I just pick out all of the Christmas green candies from my jars and wa-la instant Valentine's Day! See...

Thank you to whom ever picked holiday colors. It wouldn't have worked so well if Valentine's Day followed Halloween.

This year I threw a red and white quilt on the table for an extra pop of color and bought a few additional candy jars (like a needed an excuse).

Got out mother's cake plate, which I adore, and lots of paper doilies. What would Valentine's Day be without paper doilies?

I found this old jar on a recent trip to Aguora Hill Antique Mall. It shows a bit of wear but then who wouldn't at that age?

I can just imagine it filled with chocolate bon bons in some French sweet shop and the village children coming in to buy a francs worth of candy.

At my house they'll get Dum Dums! That just seems wrong somehow.

I put out some of my little Disney French Limoge boxes  too. They make me smile (especially when I just went to this sight and saw what my old collection is worth - not that I would ever sell it but note to children). Yikees!

That's me and Bill, my Valentine for 44 years!

Little signs that cupid's been here. Please ignore the holly berries on my "Valentine" cake.

I've been working on some valentines too. I'll show you those next time.

Until then,

Encourage one another,

Monday was one of those rare January days when I got an extra day off AND warm sunshine.

In my quest to savor unplugged moments, I ditched boxing up Christmas and ironing sheets for a long walk on the beach.

Good call.

What a perfect way to start the new year.

(Found sea glass too. Yeah baby)! 

It just doesn't get any better than that!

Encourage one another,

 

 

 

Twenty 12

I've been thinking a lot about my word for 2012. You know, the one word that summarizes what I want to work on to better my life in the coming year.

This year my word is simplify.

sim·pli·fy  (smpl-f)

tr.v. sim·pli·fied, sim·pli·fy·ing, sim·pli·fies To make simple or simpler, as:

a. To reduce in complexity or extent.

b. To reduce to fundamental parts.

c. To make easier to understand.

Simplify summarizes what I hope to accomplish in my life perfectly! Let me be clear. I'm not striving for a simple life, there is nothing simple about me - just ask Bill! What I hope to accomplish is to reduce the extraneous things in my life so I can fully enjoy the things that matter to me most.

Here are my plans:

1. This year I will strive to simplify my life by cleaning the clutter from my office, my sewing room and my closets; my life in general. I really want to feel and be more organized!

2. I will strive to list what I hope to accomplish and revel in the satisfaction of crossing off those lines one. by. one.

3. I will document my experiences and share my feelings more regularly here on my blog through words and (better) photos.

4. I will simplify my life by remembering that people are more important than things. That holidays aren't just about elaborate decorations and shopping lists but about spending quiet time with the people I love.

5. I want to eat simple, healthy foods (not necessarily those pictured here - sorry Peggy) and continue to strive to eat a sugar free diet.

6. I want to take more long walks on the beach and capture the simple beauty in nature through the lens of my camera.

7. I want to sip and savor this life to its fullest and share it with people I love.

8. I want to simplify my life by unplugging more often from computers, iphones, ipads, televisions and radios. In this crazy busy world I want to find quiet moments to reflect.

So, for me tonight there will be no crowded parties and fancy gowns. I will simply surround myself in the comfort of good friends and the man I love and toast to a bright and promising New Year.  

Cheers!

Encourage one another,

One more thing. I couldn't let this year go by without thanking you all for gathering here and encouraging me through your comments. As corny as it may sound, my life has been forever changed because of this blog. Your coming here means so much to me. Thank you! xo 

   

All was merry and bright

Well the tree is down and the pine needles vacuumed. I'm afraid however, the glitter from the ornaments will be with us for months.

Bill and I traveled to northern California to be with Cherene and the boys.

Nathan is nearly completely healed from his surgery

and Jake must have grown a foot since we saw him last!

We joined Cherene's family for a holiday party

and opened gifts Christmas morning before returning home to, you know, take down the tree and vacuum glitter.

I hope your Christmas was merry and bright. Ours was!

Encourage one another,  

 

 

 

Tying one on

If the number of phone calls is any indication, fleece blankets are the hot gift this Christmas.

If we got one, we got a bazillion calls asking if we carry fleece.

Not just any fleece but NFL fleece.

49'ers seems to be the team of choice.

By four o'clock we were getting punchy from all the calls. 

We jokingly called Becky our fleece Nazi as she shouted, No fleece for you! over the phone. (Not really, but we sure wanted too. She was actually very polite even after all those calls).

Sorry, but it just seems strange to us that all these people want NFL fleece two days before Christmas!

Is there some kind of Christmas tradition I don't know about where women sit around the fire tying fleece blankets for their men the night before Christmas?

Just asking.

Fleece Navidad,

 

 

 

 

Opening my jar to wish you a sweet day,

 

 

The Reason for the Season

It's just days before Christmas and the stress in some of our customers is palpable as they scurry about trying to get everything done.

Tuesday we had three customers standing at the door before we officially opened at ten.  As we let them in from the cold they apologized and thanked us as they grabbed a quick gift card or a yard of fabric to finish last minute projects.

About mid morning a young mother came in with her three small children. As she strolled her baby through the store her two preschoolers made their way to the toys and began quietly playing together.

I overhead the five year old say to his sister, Excuse me, may I play with that toy? She happily handed it to her big brother and continued to play.

As I checked on the mom to see if there was anything I could help her with I told her what I had overheard and complemented her on her young children's kindness towards one another. She smiled and admitted she had reminded them to behave themselves before coming in the door.

A little later Barabara asked the four year old if is she was excited for Christmas and Santa Claus. She replied, Christmas isn't about Santa. Christmas is all about Jesus!

As you rush about to cross those last to dos off your list and put the last stitches on your gifts, I hope you'll stop and remember the words of one very wise little four year old.

Christmas isn't about Santa, Christmas is about Jesus.

Merry Christmas my friends.

Be kind to one another and share,