A true bee quilt from the Bee Happy gals

I feel like I am so lucky to be a part of such a great group of creative women in my quilting bee. This month at the Los Angeles Modern Quilt Guild 1st anniversary meeting, a number of us were able to present Melissa a "ticker tape" baby quilt for her new baby. We each worked on a square, mailed it to Natalie and she graciously pieced it and quilted it together. The end result is a study in love and shabby chic. Ticker tape quilts are SUPER easy and fun to do, and what a treasured gift this was to be a part of giving. My square was actually so much fun to make that I kept going and made an entire baby quilt in the same manner and fabrics for Tori's new baby... (I posted about it a month ago... Link later)
In different seasons of my life, there have been different small groups of women that have inspired me creatively and pushed me further and further. Bee Happy is that current group... And I have the Los Angeles Modern Quilt Guild (much larger and insanely inspiring as well!) to thank for that.
Who do you have that keeps you inspired and trying new things?

The design director turns 6

Last weekend was Mimi's birthday celebration. It's hard to believe she is now 6 years old. She's fabulous. Creative. Non-stop cheerful. Non-stop ideas. Non-stop chatter. And very sweet.
And we love her just the way she is.
Daddy took these adorable pics of her before her fairy party last weekend...

She's wearing a shirt she "designed" the morning of the party. "it needs this cupcake and, momma, the number 6 has to be handsewn" (well, okay then!)

Key chain Wristlet - a mommy must-have

I recently made a huge bulk purchase of these gorgeous wristlet keychains. We gave them to every mom that came to our MOPS group as a welcome gift. These are the best! I've heard at least about 10 different women thank me for getting them - mommies tend to lose their keys about 10 times between the house and the car and this not only eliminates the loss, but it gives you a few more fingers free to lug whatever you might be lugging.

They've been my gift of choice for a few years, and not just to mommies of little kids... doggie mommas love them too. I'm planning on giving them as teacher gifts this year, too.
I've been using the keychain wristlets for about 2 years and when I wear one until it's hideous and filthy - I get out a new, different, pretty one. (happy)
I have a few favorite vendors for them on etsy... check out lovey duds and also gingersnappz (both of whom also list a bunch of other great mommy must-have items, the ones pictured here are from Gingersnappz)

Make your own ugly dolls - by my sister, Victory

Here’s a cute Halloween craft idea that my sister emailed to me – they are to make their own “ugly dolls” – (http://www.uglydolls.com/)
These mittens are on sale at Target – they are normally 4 for $1.50 – this last week they were $1 (not sure how long the sale lasts)
Either way, pretty darn cheap.  Just need ribbon and some buttons and voila!
 
Just thought I’d pass on a cute idea!!

Art books for kids

I was thinking the other day, along the lines of my kids' art drawer ... And I was thinking about some of our favorite project books. Thought I'd share them with you. These are all really great books. And the "Best Craft Book Ever" is so great, I agree with it's title, for sure.

The Kathy Ross books are old school, and I think out of print, but they are so great. (find them on eBay or amazon)

I won the Rosie O'Donnell one as part of a giveaway on Mod Podge Rocks, and it's also really got some fun projects in it.

The toddler art books I found really resourceful when I used to do children's ministry - toddlers are so unpredictable, their art projects are different than bigger kids and these had some projects in them that were very resourceful and clever.

The dress that wanted to be a casserole carrier

Have you ever wondered if your dear old friend Libby is insane? Wonder no longer... Proof?
...My sister asked me about a month ago if I would make a casserole carrier for her to give a foodie friend on her birthday. (of course!) But in the craziness of school starting and G arriving, well... I forgot and the birthday came and went. Oops. Victory asked if I would make it soon, so I knew I had to do it asap. I asked her to remind me of the birthday girl's favorite colors: Burgundy, wine, plum, orange and lime green. Wow. Orange and green I have, but plum and wine are not big members of my stash.
Last night I was panicking a little, knowing I had to do this soon. I stumbled onto an all but finished dress for myself that's been awaiting a ruffle hem for about a month... Um yeah, perfect color scheme... Hmmm... Would I? You bet. So long dress, hello adorable casserole carrier.
I believe I may qualify as nuts. At least that's what my sister told me when I sent her this pic.

Scrappy cute from reader Courtney

You know how much I love sharing what you all have done with my scraps... Reader Courtney made these adorable appliqué monograms for her middle-schooler to have on her backpack and lunchbox.
Great ideas and execution, Courtney!

Stuff I'm working on

I've got about 7-8 quilts I'm working on right now. I won't go into much about these shown, except to tell you that if you check out my flickr feed you can read more about them. Two of them are from Oh Fransson! patterns (Mix Tape and Crazy 9 Lattice)

and the other is inspired by a quilt I saw on the blog called "the quilting diaries" (links later as I am posting this from my iphone).

I also have 2 birthday parties I'm planning this week, the regular new fall schedule for the kids and visitations with many social workers, etc. A lot on my plate, but I am sure you've got a lot on yours too. Here's my question for you...
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOU RIGHT NOW?

Kids' art drawer

There's no way around it, our hall drawers are nearly 100 years old and pretty much a disaster to look at once you get past the "quaint" factor. (I rely heavily on "quaint" to charm visitors past the quirky parts of our house)
But, they do serve a fantastic purpose - and that is to make art accessible to every member of the family at all times.
This is really the kids' drawer, as I have an entire studio full of my own supplies. (some of which they partake in as well, more on that in a minute)
I've been asked by a few of you how we store our art supplies here, and to be honest, it's nothing glamourous, just ziploc baggies and shoe boxes inside a built-in drawer. We don't have many closets or extra rooms here, so we make do.
Here are the supplies the kids have access to in this drawer:
(most of these can be bought at the dollar store)
Paper - both white and construction
Tape
Glue sticks
Kiddie scissors
Pony beads
Yarn
A spool of stronger plastic cord for lanyards
Lacing cards - we make our own
Foam beads
Shoelaces
Stickers
Pipe cleaners in different colors
Journals/sketchbooks - I make them out of capri-sun boxes and book rings
Sequins
Coloring books
Washable markers
Crayons
Pens and pencils
Popsicle sticks
Rulers
Stencils - especially the animal shapes
Watercolors
Safety stapler
Kids sewing kit - dull needles, embroidery thread, plastic cards and felt
Rubber stamps and washable ink pads
Origami paper
Buttons

In my office, I keep the supplies that require adult help...but the kids know they can ask during any free time and they can:
* Paint - apple barrel acrylics and foam brushes
* Sew - by hand or machine. I have a huge HUGE bin of scraps. (Need some? Email me and I'll send some)
* Pixos - a strange, but engaging craft toy
* Mod Podge - decoupage is so easy for kids!

We use junk mail catalogs not just for collage, but as our placemats for painting, you can just turn the page and have a clean sheet. When the kids were smaller, I used to give them catalogs and markers to draw in them with.

I also save the babies' formula cans or coffee cans, and good food canisters to paint or cover in paper. Last year we made candy dishes and pencil holders for the grandparents from them. We've also Mod Podged the bottom half of gallon bottles to make planters out of them.

Making art with kids can seem intimidating until you realize that they are happy just gluing buttons to paper in neat shapes. Be brave! Buy a kids craft book and get going! You don't have to do messy art... (I personally hate playdoh for the cleanup! We never do it), we probably should)

(I'll post about some of my favorite kids craft books later this week)

Rude and too funny

I've been feeling pretty "Crapi" myself today... And then I drove by these apartments and burst out laughing... I had to do three u-turns to get this pic and it was so worth it.