Take a walk in my garden ...

Today is the last day of June and we are finally into the summer here - we've waited a long time for it in northern New England. And the last few days have been really beautiful. Today it's sunny and warm yet there's a beautiful cool breeze blowing which makes the curtains dance and makes you happy to be alive.
I am so happy this year too, that my favorite flower bushes - my hydrangeas - all have MANY blossoms on them! When I first got them they had them and then each year after that they produced nothing or only one bloom if I was lucky. But this year, I don't really know what happened but each plant is full of blooms! It's silly what makes me happy!


Our little strawberry patch too is the same - doesn't look like much in the pictures but has produced many edible, good-sized berries. Super fun for the kids to pick and eat. Especially when they're out swimming in our new pool that my husband put up this year. Our summer now revolves around that - sunscreen, swimming, and then hanging out the towels to dry for the next time. :) I could think of worse things!


Here's a wreath I made today which will go in my shop Trinkets tonight.
Hope you're all enjoying your summer so far.

Thank You Teachers! :)

Welcome to the final installment of the "Thank You To Our Teachers Blog Hop"! It's been a pleasure having all of you come visit - I really appreciate all your kind comments and I hope you'll become a follower and come back and visit me again sometime! :)
If you want to start again at the beginning head here: Memories with Jen..
My last project is another fairly simple thing to make if you can sew a straight stitch! These are stress-relieving pillows filled with plain white, uncooked rice. The pillows can be left in the freezer and used as cold packs for all kinds of injuries and little bumps and bruises. The can also be heated in the microwave for a few minutes for a re-usable heating pad. When I pulled a muscle in my back these were a lifesaver! Imagine what a great gift this would make for a tired teacher!

Thank you to everyone who has come by already and left comments! I am excited to meet you and see your blogs as well! Here's the next blog in the hop! AnitaAndBugs.



Also - check out this month's "Simply Handmade" magazine for a tutorial on one of my rolled flower headbands! :)

Teachers Blog Hop Post #2

Welcome to the Thank You To Our Teachers Blog Hop! If you have arrived here from Say It With Letters then you are on the right track. If you just happened to stop by my blog for a visit and want to hop along with us, start from the beginning with Memories with Jen.
This is a week long hop and we will be posting on 3 separate days. (June 5th, 8th and 11th). Please make sure you hop on those days or throughout the week to see all the wonderful inspiration on what to make our teachers for thank you gifts.

This is my second project idea. Here I've used fabric scraps to make some pretty and functional drink coasters. For these, all you need is some clothesline and a sewing machine, and lots of fun scraps. I made sets of these for Christmas gifts, and people really loved them! They're highly absorbent too, which is especially great in the summer!


Another fun project using these same supplies is little fabric bowls. These are fun to make up and don't take very long. They look super cute holding craft supplies or paper clips. These would make a great teacher's gift too if you filled it with something yummy or useful!


Thank you to everyone who has come by already and left comments! I am excited to meet you and see your blogs as well! Here's the next blog in the hop! AnitaAndBugs.
Also - while I have your attention - go check out my friend Natalie's cute Etsy shop Hot Glue Hangover. (Isn't that a cute name?) She has the most gorgeous handmade wreaths and other fun stuff! She recently did a feature on my shop, just to be nice! And now I want to return the favor! Go see some cute stuff!

Thank You to Our Teachers BLOG HOP!

Welcome to the Thank You To Our Teachers Blog Hop! If you have arrived here from Say It With Letters then you are on the right track. If you just happened to stop by my blog for a visit and want to hop along with us, start from the beginning with Memories with Jen.

This is a week long hop and we will be posting on 3 separate days. (June 5th, 8th and 11th) Please make sure you hop on those days or throughout the week to see all the wonderful inspiration on what to make our teachers for thank you gifts.

Here's my first project honoring teachers. This gift is neither functional or edible (ha!) but I do think it's cute and a constant reminder to your teacher that you value them. I have made many of these this spring and also sold a lot of them in my shop Trinkets .


Each one is made from text printed on my computer and heat set with an iron. I then stitch it on to the front of the pillow in a zig zag stitch and add a cute little owl or other decoration. They are filled with polyester fiberfill but could also be filled with lavender! These would look super cute as a gift topper as well or with a bouquet of flowers. Thanks teachers! :)

Here's the next blog in the hop! AnitaAndBugs. Thank you for stopping by - please leave a comment! Have fun! :)