Feature Friday - Turtle Magnet

     Here's a happy little friend for your fridge!  This little guy is so so fun to make!  I came up with the pattern after a special request from a customer at last summer's craft fair.  The magnet is the same type as my chicken magnet.  They can securely hold five pieces of paper without slipping.
     Here's one interesting fact about turtles: in some breeds, the temperature the eggs are exposed to determines whether the turtles will be boys or girls!
     Check out these magnet turtles at my shop.
       Happy Friday!  Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!  :)

Cute Chair Decor

     I love looking through decorating ideas!  I stumbled across this one today while waiting for some work on my car to get done.
     On our family's birthdays, I decorate the honored person's chair with balloons.   I have to say, I like this idea too! It's simple and clean.  It would be a great way to decorate for a special dinner or holiday too! I found it on http://www.karaspartyideas.com/2013/05/spring-cookie-decorating-party.html.
     Have a great day!  Thanks for stopping by! :)

Mason Jar Lantern

I have a "thing" for Mason jars! Just ask my family! This one is my latest find! The glass top is still intact! I found it garage sale shopping with my husband!  (A great date, if you ask me !)
Mason jars lend themselves to so many uses! Just Google "mason jars" once and click on images to see what I mean! I love them because they remind me of simplicity and frugality! :)

  I got this Mason jar project (pictured above) in my inbox today. Aren't they pretty?  I've seen this before and have always wanted to do it.   My only problem is, I have no deck or place to hang them. But I won't let that stop me! I've been looking for something that sparkles to catch people's eye at my craft fair this summer.  I think this will do the trick! Maybe I can find mosquito repellent candles to put in! :)  (Anybody know where I can find some of those?)  Here's the link to the one that was in my inbox: Mason Jar Lantern.  There are many others out there too, but this one is good and basic to get you started! Happy crafting!

Monday's Reflections

     Happy Monday!   I like Mondays.  They are a fresh new beginning to a brand new week with lots of potential!  Saturday we went to a wedding!   I had to share these photos.   I thought these were simple but elegant ideas!
     First, I love the table set up for the wedding party! White tablecloth,  white lights under white tule, flickering candles, and fresh flowers.  Gorgeous!
     Second, the cupcake tree! I love the shading of the cupcake wraps! And on top, the cake for the bride and groom!  Very clever display! (They were very yummy too!) :)
    Congrats David and Daydra! :)

Feature Friday - Wispy Willow Booties

Yay!  We made it to Friday!  Today's feature is my Wispy Willow Baby Booties.  They are crocheted from acrylic yarn with eyelash yarn in the bottom of the cuff.  They fit babies tootsies that are 0-3 months. :)
Contrasting brown soles complement the wispy cuff.  I love these in white, but they would look adorable in yellow or pink or... you choose! You can order a pair by clicking here. If you want something other than white please let me know.   These would make the perfect baby gift! They would be cute as an ornament or as a decoration to commemorate baby's first accomplishments!
I love making them!
Thanks for stopping by! :)

Now Online!!

Did you know that you can now shop online at Michaels?  It's one of my favorite stores! I could spend hours there,  although I usually have a schedule to keep which prevents that. :) I've often wished I could go online,  even if it's just to look to see if they carry a particular product!  Right now if you do order online you can get 25% off your order.
Click here to visit the website.
(I am sharing this info by my own choice.  I am not being compensated by Michaels to do so.)

Hummingbird Syrup and Ramblings

     I love hummingbirds! Their tiny features are so stinkin' adorable!  My husband spotted one yesterday, so it's time to get the feeders out!  I make my own syrup, and I'll share the recipe in a bit. ... But first, some wild ramblings!
     Call me crazy, but sometimes I notice the weirdest things!  For instance, have you ever noticed how when you are stirring the sugar in the water to dissolve it, that the pitch changes as you stir?  I have. ( I know, super crazy.) If I ever go blind, I'll still be able to tell when my sugar is dissolved. :) So, I always wondered why it happens.   Well, I found out yesterday! I'll attempt to explain it without boring you to pieces!  I think it's cool, and you know,  it's the little things!
Sound waves travel through air, liquids, and solids. They travel the fastest through solids and the slowest through air.  So when you stir the sugar  solution, it is mostly liquid, but as the sugar (a solid) dissolves, the solution becomes more saturated with the sugar molecules, and as a result is more dense than it was before the sugar dissolved. (More solid like.)  So as you stir, the pitch changes because the density changes and the speed of sound changes.  Cool, huh?
OK, enough of that!  Here's my recipe for hummingbird syrup: 1/4 cup of sugar dissolved in one cup of water. Don't add any food coloring.  After the sugar has been dissolved,  boil in a microwave safe bowl or on the stove.   Cool to room temp before filling your feeder.  Store any extra syrup in the fridge for up to one week.  Clean feeders weekly and replace the syrup.  Hummingbirds like it clean and will not drink from moldy or bug ridden syrup.
I sometimes put in 1/3 cup of sugar at the beginning of the season to draw the hummers in, but after about 3 weeks or so I switch to a healthier amount of sugar.
Now, when you make your batch, notice the pitch change when you stir! Hmmm, music to my ears! :)

Mmm...Monday - Goldfish Crackers

Don't these look yummy!?  I've been wanting to try homemade crackers.  These caught my eye! To buy a 10 oz box of goldfish crackers in the store will cost you around $3.  I haven't done all the math, but a quick guesstimate puts you at $1.50 a batch! Granted, time is money, so you be the judge. But if you're looking for something fun to bake, try it with me!  I don't have a mini fish cutter, but there's a fun tutorial on how to make your own cute fishy here.  Or, if your lazy (like me), cut into small squares with your pizza cutter. I guess you couldn't really call them fish crackers then, maybe we can call them "cheesy goodness"!
Here's the link to the recipe.  http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2010/03/homemade-goldfish-crackers.html
Enjoy!  I'd love to hear if you try them.  Tell me what you think by posting a comment below! :)
Happy baking!!

Feature Friday

It's Friday!  You have no idea how much I've been looking forward to the different pace of the weekend! :) Today's feature is my wristlet/ clutch. It is fully lined with a nylon zipper closure, and a ribbon handle. The crocheted flower is a pin! It's kind of a bonus accessory because you can play with placement, or wear it on part of your wardrobe.  It could even be pinned onto a headband! Cute kitties adorn the wristlet with fun red fabric lining the inside. Use it when you don't want to carry a large purse.  It would also make a great gift!  You can check out the other details of this fun accessory here.
Have a fantastic weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

My Little Devotional Moment

     My stated goal in blogging is "to show beauty in the little things and moments of life. " Most of our lives are made up of little moments, but some little moments can have big impacts!  For example, in my morning devotions (a little thing) I read a passage from 1Chronicles.
     In Chapters 11 & 12 there is a description of the mighty men who aligned themselves with David. These were excellent warriors, strong men who had amazing skill.  Benjaminites who could "shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the left hand." Gadites who were "mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear".  It also states that "these Gadites were officers of the army; the least was a match for a hundred men and the greatest for a thousand."  Imagine being able to take on a thousand men! At the end of chapter 12 it says that these mighty men came and made David king over Israel.
     I also had read 2 Samuel 5.  These two passages are from the same period in history.  It says in verse 12 that "David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel." That is the key to my point! It wasn't that David was so great in himself, or because of the mighty warriors who were loyal to David that he became king. It was all because of THE LORD! 
     Why does that matter for me?  Well, it it this: "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." (Psalm 127:1)  See, lately I have been working on getting myself organized: organizing my house by making a cleaning schedule, organizing my children (their schoolwork, helping them organize their rooms), organizing my menu, my pantry, etc... And there are many other things I would love to organize, my life (my closet), my husband's life, my children's lives, (i.e. relationships, choices, activities, etc.).... BUT, even if I had a PhD in organizing, I could end up being a failure!  See it isn't me, or my skills, or the amazing skills of others around me, it is the Lord Yahweh!  I need to depend upon Him as I seek to use the skills and resources that He has provided me to build my house for His sake.  It is for His glory!  May He be honored in the choices I make.  So a little thing like taking 10 little moments (minutes) to read my Bible can have a big impact on how I live!