Happy Easter 2026

 Happy Easter 2026

The Easter Basket I made for my daughter this year is even more special. The theme this year is all about "the baby boy!"

Here comes the SON!

Long COLD Winter = Lots of Creative Crochet

 Long COLD Winter = Lots of Creative Crochet

Balloon Animals

Cave Man

Colorful Bunnies

Baby Bumble Bee

And, Jellyfish too!

More Crochet - Pretty Pink Balloon Animal

 More Crochet

Pretty Pink Balloon Animal

With the winter storm predicted ... and didn't arrive, I spent my weekend crocheting the new pattern I had purchased the week prior.

I purchased the pattern on Etsy from @KnotMonster

The pattern is well written and was fun to crochet.

I won't lie ... it took me over an hour to figure out how to twist it into the actual balloon animal. HAHAHA!!!!

In the end if finally figured it out and I'm very happy with how it turned out.

More Crochet - Caveman? Troll?

More Crochet

Caveman? Troll?

I finished this crochet pattern over the weekend. Such a fun project and so darn cute.

I love his little freckles! 💖

The book pattern is for a troll but all I see is a happy little caveman.

 

Weekend Vibes

 Weekend Vibes

Quilting and bread making, two of my favorite activities.

Finally getting a few moments to stitch up the backing for this quilt. A quilt top I finished two years ago. I presently have 12 finished quilt tops that need to be quilted and bound.

Sadly, I haven't been very motivated in my quilting journey and a journey I am very passionate about. In 2026 I hope to be much more motivated and re-spark my quilting passion.

A new passion of mine is bread making and I hope it continues in 2026 as well.

Inspiration and a Super Moon

 Inspiration and a Super Moon

Fall gloriousness continues, thank goodness, it's time to finish up some homemade gifts for the holidays.

I made a few candles earlier in the year and I really enjoyed it. Which has inspired me to make a few for the holidays.

I saw this cute little mug rug on instagram and I'm considering making a few of these.

They are so cute!

Earlier in the month we were blessed with an amazing and truly beautiful Super Moon and somehow this was also very inspiring for me.

Prepper

 Prepper

... of sorts

Over the weekend I prepared several 2 quart size crockpot meals to put in my freezer. I enjoy being able to put dinner in my crockpot before I leave for work and come home to a nice hot meal ready to plate.

I'm getting much better about prepping meals in advance. I shudder to think of all of the food I have wasted and/or thrown away because I didn't get around to preparing it before it spoiled.

Waste not Want not

Turkish Mosaic Tile Lamp

 Turkish Mosaic Tile Lamp

My daughter and I attended an event by craftforart.com and learned how to make a Turkish Mosaic Tile Lamp. WE HAD A BLAST!

You can visit their website or check them out on instagram @craft.for.art 

Gibby Girl Design - Economy Block Quilt - SOLD

 Gibby Girl Design

Economy Block Quilt - SOLD

This quilt caught the eye of a friend who's grandson will be graduating from high school this year. This quilt is headed to a dorm room in 2026!

😎

Sock It To Me!!

 Sock It To Me!!

Sock knitting ... like Red/White quilts, knitting socks has become an addiction. As most of you know, I learned how to knit to specifically learn sock knitting.

In the evenings after all of the outside work, I've been cooling down and relaxing with a bit of sock knitting.

I'm not sure why, but I have difficulty with just sitting and not doing something. Just one of the reasons for learning how to knit socks. I always have a pair of socks in progress and sitting on the side table by my recliner. I would rather pick up my knitting as opposed to doom scrolling on my phone.

I'm still working on perfecting the kitchner stitch required to cast off a cuff down sock. Sometimes it looks good (the yellow toe) and sometimes it doesn't (the blue toe). I promise I did them both exactly the same but somehow ... they definitely do not look the same. Oh well, the imperfection on handmade things.

The yarn is Red Heart brand

Christmas Gift Giving Prep 101

 Christmas Gift Giving Prep 101

Homemade Vanilla

Several years ago I made homemade vanilla to give as gifts and it was a big hit. Since then I've been asked if I had anymore vanilla, so earlier this month I decided to make another batch.

As with the Cherry Bounce, vanilla takes it least 6 months to cure. This batch will be ready for Christmas gift giving.

 Christmas Gift Giving Prep 101

Candle Making

This is not an advertisement or sponsored post. This is only to reference the kit that I purchased to begin making candles. I chose this kit because it truly includes everything one would need to make a candle from start to finish.

I have never made candles before ... EVER ... but I really enjoy the process. There will definitely be more candle making in my future. 

Cherry Bounce

 Cherry Bounce

Holiday Cheer Prep

Interestingly enough when trying to live more intentionally you begin to realize that if you want to have something special for the holidays you have to plan and execute some things well in advance.

Such as the making of Cherry Bounce. There are many recipes for Cherry Bounce but basically it is fresh pitted sweet and/or tart cherries, sugar, and a liquor of choice. As I was also making vanilla at the time I used vodka. 

Combine the ingredients in an air tight container, I used a mason jar, and store in a cool dark place for 6 months. 

Come Christmas and New Years this Cherry Bounce will be used in one of our family favorites, Champagne Cocktails.

CHEERS!!! 

Handmade

 Handmade

Naturally, I love handmade gifts. As it turns out both my sister and my daughter are phenomenal handmade gift givers.

These soaps are gifts from my daughter, one from her trip to Hawaii and the pottery soap dishes are gifts from my sister. 

Island Lavender soap

I love hand crafted soaps ... my skin loves them even more.

These soaps are gentle and make my skin feel soft and clean.

My sister has an eye for beautiful handmade things. Actually she has a wonderful eye for home decor and fashion that I have forever been so envious of. 

She has a knack for beautiful things.

Such as the handcrafted pottery she has gifted me.

 

Mini Quilt For A Cellphone Case

 Requests

Occasionally a family member will request a little quilty project. In this case my sister requested a mini quilt for her cellphone. She saw a reel of how to use the mini quilt in a clear cellphone cover. I made a couple for her to work with.

These little half square triangles were leftover from the Colorful Hedgehog quilt top I completed a couple of years ago.

In Queue

 In Queue

Like most quilters I have quilt projects in progress and quilt projects in queue.

I especially have several red/white quilt projects in queue. The red/white star quilt pictured above reminds me of the Moda LOVE pattern and is possibly the next red/white quilt in my quilt project queue. I have planned for a while to make a Jacob's Ladder quilt block pattern in red/white ... I'm not sure which one I will make first. I'm presently still working on the red/white Bear Paw scrap quilt but getting closer to finishing that project.

I love having options, I love red/white quilts, and more and more I love traditional quilt patterns.

Red / White String Pieced Quilt - Hand-Quilting Project

Red/White String Pieced Quilt

Hand-Quilting Project has begun ... 

I used to do a bit more hand-quilting but piecing quilt tops is the quilting process I enjoy the most. Fortunately, I have a brilliant and wonderful friend who also is a brilliant and wonderful machine quilter. In my efforts to slow life down a bit I've decided to hand-quilt a quilt this winter. I'm learning to relax  ...  hopefully ...

Having the floor space to put the quilt "sandwich" together is a chore but when I was rearranging the living room in order to put up my Christmas tree, I took that opportunity to get my Winter 2023/2024 quilt project ready for hand-quilting.

Backing and batting ...

The pieced quilt top ... 

Pin basting ... lots and lots of pins ...

Marking and framing ... and now the quilt is ready for hand-quilting ...

Here we go ... wish me luck!