Apron Making with Grandma

Grandma taught us how to make aprons. We cut them out today but we needed more time to actually sew them so we left that for another day.Victoria was the first to cut hers out and start sewing.
Adina and I just got them cut out. . . . so on to another day. Victoria has more pictures of that tuesday on her blog here.
Victoria and I finished ours about a week later.

. . . and then she thought it would be great to make one for Merrick.
Voila . . . a cars apron for Merrick.

Here are the aprons we have finished so far: Victoria's is on the left, my apron is in the middle and the one for Merrick is on the right.

On the right in this picture is one that Grandma made from my same material.

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Today we celebrated birthdays at the office with this delicious Orange Buttercream Chocolate cake with Chocolate Mousse filling. Make your mouth water? Wish you were here.Happy Birthday and Anniversary to you all.

Photo Challenge #30 - Simplicity

Melissa and Kristi have another Photo Challenge today entitled simplicity.
My mind went a different direction at first but I was thinking of Japan and how the disasters there have brought us all to what is really important such as family, food and shelter. I didn't know how I could show what I was thinking. However that would equal the word Simplify, not simplicity.
So I did a mind shift and here is my take on Simplicity.
What can be more simple than a food product that creates it's own packaging.

Kristi, you are in our thoughts and prayers!

Snow today!

This is what we woke up to this morning. And I thought it was spring . . .hahaha, joke's on me.

1st Cricut cuts

Today I tried the cricut for the first time!
It works so we are up and ready to cut other projects. Happy Spring!

Relief donations for Japan

Cheri from I Am Momma - Hear Me Roar is creating a pattern as an incentive for those who want to donate to help Japan and help with the relief effort. I found this link on U create today. She has named this bag Tohoku in honor of the Japanese people.
If you donate $8 or more she will send you the pattern for this cute bag and the tutorial. Check out her blog post here. You really need to read what she says.

Our hearts, prayers and thoughts go out to the people of Japan at such a hard time. Thanks Cheri for this great idea. It makes me wonder if there is something more any of us can do.

Fondant Cake Decorating Class

If you want a piece of this cake you will have to fight Mike for it. It was the demo cake for the class I taught for the Young Women on Tuesday night. It has a Chocolate Mouse filling with an Orange Buttercream frosting.First I showed the girls how to cut their cake into layers and put in the filling. Then we did a thin coat of icing to keep the crumbs under control. Then they got to be creative with the fondant and decorating.



We even tried fondant bows.

They were all very creative.

Making fabric flowers with Grandma

Grandma and I decided to make fabric flowers while we waited for the BYU-New Mexico game to start. First I taught her how to make these flowers. The one on the left is out of chiffon and the one on the right is out of lining material. Next I showed her how to make the flowers that Natalie and I made for the sisters.
They were fun and simple. We even had fun burning the edges and making them more finished looking.
I had a special request by a local photographer for two small flowers on head bands. We had showed her the necklace that you made Natalie. I made two of these flowers for the photographer to use as bows for a pair of preemie twins when she takes their pictures. Grandma helped me know the right length to make the headbands.
We used a cabbage patch doll to try to guess the size of the head. . . remember those girls? I hope it works!
Anyone remember who had the green eyed doll?
Next Grandma taught me how to make a Kanzashi flower. My first attempt. They are unfinished. We need to find something to use for a center.
Then we watched the game and Jimmer Fredette's historic 52 points in one game! Go BYU!

Grandma's Teddy Bears on her new bedspread

Grandma made these two cute little bears to match her new bedspread. They are darling.

"Lenni" - Marg McCullough's quilting machine - Jul 2011

Dorothy Hart invited us out to Marg McCullough to learn how to use the long arm quilting machine, they named "Lenni". Dorothy had done some practicing before we got there so we were able to see how they pin the quilt on, check on a sample edge and then go ahead and quilt. It was really interesting.Dorothy did a baseline for her pattern and has started adding the swirls and holly leaves on her Christmas runner. You can kind of see the pattern on the back. This is the finished product! It went quickly too! We showed them my first quilt, the alien invasion quilt, and they suggested that we bring it back and quilt it on the machine. A little scary but we will see what happens.

Photo Challenge #29 - Blur

We have another Photo Challenge from Melissa and Kristi and this week it's all about Blur.
I like this for blur because the background adds to her own motions.
This one spotlights the little cowboy!
Another study of blur while these two were watching the family photo shoot in Utah.
Original
Trying to lighten the flower.

I tried to darken the background.

Photo Challenge #28 - Black and White

Melissa and Kristi have put up another Photo Challenge. The challenge for this one is Black and White.

I love the back lighting on Bela. I tried to clean up her face but I don't know.

I am a amateur who loves taking photos. However, I am trying to learn to do better and improve my editing skills better so any comments, tips and suggestions are welcomed! Thanks for stopping by.

Grandma's Aprons

Grandma has been making aprons again. Check out these cute ones.

Letters Craft Day ready to go

The rest of the letters are here! Decide what day you want to get together and we'll have another family craft day. If you can't remember check out Victoria's letters here and here.
Pick out your paper and bling or embellishments while you wait for us to decide on a time and day.If you are interested in some of these other things please comment and we will share our newly acquired knowledge as best we can!

Victoria's first's quilt

Victoria has been busy. We came home from Texas and found her busy creating quilts. She has pieced and hand machine quilted her very first quilt!

She has cut and laid out the design for her second quilt. I'm sure she will have it pieced together soon. She bought the fabric at Fabricland.

This is the fabric that she bought in Utah for her next quilt! She is being ambitious but Grandma Saunders says she is very impressed with her work and that Victoria will be a good quilter!