Burlap Ruffle Wreath

This week I led a group of ladies in a "Mom Project." We made the satin flowers on the wreath pictured above. As promised, I'm posting the instructions for making the ruffle wreath.

You will need:

:: wreath form: foam or straw

:: 1 1/2 yards of burlap

:: floral or straight pins

:: tapestry needle

:: embroidery floss

You can purchase all of the supplies at Hobby Lobby or JoAnn's Fabric. I used a straw wreath on this project because my sister and I found them on clearance at Hobby Lobby for $2.

Step One :: Cut burlap into long strips 4" wide.

Step Two :: Wrap strips of burlap around your form. Use floral pins or straight pins to secure on the back so they are hidden.

Step Three :: Make a loose stitch at the bottom of one of the strips of burlap. Be sure to secure the end.

Step Four :: Pull the floss to make the burlap ruffle and tie at end to secure.

Step Five :: Attach ruffle to wreath using pins. I used three ruffles on my wreath: one in the center and two on the back.

Step Six :: Satin Flowers. Click here for a tutorial.

I used pin back to secure my flowers on my wreath so that I can change the flowers according to the season.

Enjoy!

New Project - House Rules

Today, since the world is coming to an end thanks to Snowmageddon 2011, I thought I would hit all of my favorite blogs to see what the latest and greatest project is. As always, the blogs did not disappoint. The newest, hottest project is creating a house rules canvas. Fantastic idea! We are close to our house being opened to accept foster kids and I'm thinking this could is the perfect project for me to complete in the coming weeks.

Tatertos and Jello is one of my new blogs to hit, check out how she created her house rules.

Ministry Opportunity to Foster Families

As most of you know we are traveling down the road to become a foster family for children in our county. We are half-way through training and hope to have our house open by March so we can start receiving children.

There is a huge need for foster families when it comes to simple everyday things like: clothes, socks/underwear, diapers, wipes, new sippy cups/bottles, new pacifiers, cribs, pack-n-plays, swings, bed/bedding, toiletry items, toys, etc. If you have any of this stuff laying around your house and you've been thinking about giving it away, consider donating it to The CALL of Benton County to help foster families in need. If you have items to donate but don't have the time to get them to The CALL, send me message and I'll be happy to pick up your items.

Thanks for Caring!
-Lindsay

Below is a message from Dionne, a CALL family:

Did you know that Benton County averages 175 foster children and only 62 foster homes?

YOU can help these children and their foster families! The CALL in Benton County is opening a Foster Child clothes closet and is seeking YOUR help!

Requested Donations include New or gently-used:
- clothes (from newborn to teen in both genders)
-shoes
-Pajamas
-socks and underwear
-toys and "teen entertainment"
-baby equipment (bottles, diapers, exersaucers, walkers, etc)


The Foster Child Clothes Closet will be a resource for foster families to receive necessities for a new child IMMEDIATELY upon taking in the child. When that child goes home (or to a shelter, adoption, a different foster home, or other placement) they can take their goods with them. These children often have nothing and need everything.

The need is enormous! A foster family may have a newborn boy one month and a sixteen year old girl the next. The CALL Foster Child Clothes Closet is JUST starting and we have very little!! We also need storage tubs, hangers, rolling clothes racks, laundry soap, portable shelving and monetary donations.

There are about 15 families (including ours) that will be completing training in the next month and open our homes to foster children. Can you help us as we help them?

For more information on The CALL please check out this site:
http://thecallinarkansas.org/about/counties/benton-county.html


Your donations are tax-deductible as The C.A.L.L. has been granted federal 501(c)3 non-profit organization status.

Are you being CALLED to get involved in a bigger way with the orphans of Benton County? I am HAPPY to discuss the MANY different ways you can help...from donating clothes to opening your home... and much more in between!

Thank you for reading this far!! Please contact me for information on where and how to donate!
Dionne Smith
dionneam@yahoo.com
479-531-6998

*Are you a foster parent interested in learning more about the CALL Clothes Closet? Email for info!

Snow Day Projects

We woke up to this scene outside the backdoor this morning. This means two things: no school and project day.


While Alex was catching up on his Netflix movies, I decided to make these little babies.



JoAnn's has their decor fabric on 50% this week and I found several prints to make slip covers for my 2,394 throw pillows around the house. I scored some terry cloth on clearance at HobLob a few weeks ago and I figured making burp clothes is easy and also provides me opportunity to restock my baby gift stash.

What winter projects are you working on?

Did it Without My Mommy!

Some ladies like to post "I did it without my Hubby!" projects and I want to declare, "I did it without my Mommy!" This is my test pillow that I made today before I cut and destroy my $10 a yard fabric. I figured ruining 75% off Christmas fabric was a good way to test my rusty sewing skills.

Just in case you are wondering, the back is an envelope closure to make it easy to sew and also change out the covers according to season, whims, and desires.

If I can sew pillowcases, I'm pretty much ready to sew a prom dress. Okay, maybe just hem a pair of pants.

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

I can't make pies but my Hubby is getting quite good at it. In fact, he is the closest person in the world that I've found that makes pie crust like my Grammy. That is tough because she has been perfecting her craft for over 65 years.

We found this recipe on Tasty Kitchen. I do not like pecan pie, but I liked this one!

Easy & Useful Teacher Gift

Thanks to the Shanty 2 Chic sisters for this awesome gift idea. If you don't follow the Shanty gals, you should. They have great ideas and easy tutorials.

My sister was here earlier this week and we cranked out a few of these babies. This one is headed to Mrs. Farrell tomorrow since it's the last day before Christmas break.

What? Last day of school is tomorrow?!?!