My America Bucket List

I was watching on TV the fireworks go off in front of the Washington Monument (no live fireworks for us since it doesn't get dark here until 10pm) and thought to myself, "I want to be in D.C. for the 4th of July." My husband and I began brainstorming our American bucket list.  It's a big one.  How many have you done on our list? 

See the Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA
Watch the groundhog come out in Punxsutawney, PA on Groundhogs Day.
Be in Chicago to see the green river on St. Patricks Day
Be in Washington DC to watch the fireworks on the 4th of July
Visit the Northeast during the Fall
Watch the Ball drop on New Years Eve in New York
Visit Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, New York, Navuoo, Charleston, New Orleans, Philidelphia, Portland, Denver, Maui
See the Hill Cumorah paegant, Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Redwood Forest, Yosemite, Ellis Island, Central Park, Statue of Liberty, Arch rock in Utah, Salt Lake, Smokey Mountains, Biltmore estate, the vineyards in Napa Valley
See a Broadway performance in New York
Visit the coastline of Maine
Hike part of the Applacian Trial
Explore New Mexico
Go white water rafting in Jackson Hole
Go to the beach in Malibu
Watch a Civil War reenactment
Visit the Amish
Drive on Route 66
Take the family to Disneyworld
Take my family on an American History road trip.
Visit Mark Twain's hometown and explore the caves
Do the boatride to Niagra Falls
Visit a grave of an ancestor


My list could probably go on but this looks pretty daunting as it is.

Happy Belated Birthday America! 

Freezer Stencil America Tee. 

Thunder Stolen

Several weeks ago we were garage sale hunting and we found a couple wreath frames.  Ever since I got them I started brainstorming ways I could use one of them.  I was doing this the same time I was organizing my craft room.  Hooray for that!  As I was putting away the yarn I started thinking about this trend of wrapping wreaths, frames, letters in yarn.  I have some pretty green yarn that might make a nice spring wreath but summer is upon us.  That's when my 4th of July wreath idea was born.  I kept thinking about it and started loving the idea.  I couldn't remember seeing anything like it on blogland. 

I also would like to add that I haven't joined pinterest yet.  I'm afraid it will consume too much of my time but that's a whole other blog post.  So in my mind my wreath was 100% orginal.  OK so maybe someone out there has done something similar but to my eyes I hadn't seen it yet.  Though I'm not on pinterest I do follow a few craft and sewing blogs.  That's when my bubble burst, my thunder was stolen and I realized my idea just wasn't that original. 

Lil Luna posted 25 4th of July crafts to try.  See here.  The very first craft listed is a flag wreath and if you scroll through you will find two more.  Three flag wreaths in that list of 25!  I couldn't believe it.  So much for originial ideas. 

Then I send a picture of my completed wreath to my mom who texts me back that a girl from her ward just made a flag wreath too.  See here.  Who writes that she got this idea from Pinterest (aaah!) from this girl.  See here. 

I just have to laugh about it.  I guess we all came up with a really cute idea (right?) or it wouldn't be so popular.  It's time for me to reflect on the recent buzz speech regarding, "You're not that special".  :)

Without any further ado MY flag wreath! 

4th of July Bandana Outfit

I've wanted to try to make something out of bandanas ever since I saw them being used on other craft blogs.  I took inspiration from this project found on the blog Tatertots and Jello by guest blogger at http://demilunes.co/ and just made it my own. 

There are two pieces.  A skirt made out of a single blue bandana. 

As well as a top/dress made with two bandanas.  I can't decide if I want to make it just a top or leave it long so it can be a dress or a top. 



Put it all together...

This is the first time I've tried shirring/smocking.  Wow, so easy and yet gratifying.  Here is a tutorial for shirring.  Elastic thread is fun to use. 

Bird Mobile

Remember when birds were all the rage?  Owls, sparrows, bluebirds...they just seemed to be on everything crafty.  I'm a little late to join the party but I made a bird mobile.  I really did it because it goes with the theme of the room.  I love how it turned out. 

When a fan or the A/C is running each branch will begin to circle independent of the others.  I attached the branches using clear fishing string.  I found the idea here at Homemade by Jill.

Child of God

When I finish a doll and the extension to the curtains I will finally post a picture of the baby's room with all the details.  For now here is something I made for my little girl. 

I saw this project here. I love this idea!

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Matt and I made a t-shirt for him for his third birthday that is coming up.  It's still over a month away but I've been itching to try some freezer stencil tees.  I've got a couple more planned that I'll get done in the next month.  Here is the first one.  I got this particular idea from I am Momma Hear me Roar and her tutorial is here. 

Easter Ruffles

I made Easter outfits for my two cuties and I'm now finally getting my daughter's pictures up.  Here she is! 

I was inspired by Dana's ruffled skirt but went my own route on constructing it.  I liked her construction but it didn't make sense for a baby who won't be twirling around in it. 

There you have it!  More seersucker love later.