Make May Day Cones

(Photo by Armstrong Pitts Studio)

Have you heard of May Day Cones? Little cones, often paper, filled with a small bouquet of blooming flowers from the yard, hung on the front doorknob for friends and neighbors on the first day of May. The perfect way to announce “Spring is Here”.READ MORE

In Defense of the Small Project

mini quilts
Time in my studio and how I use it has always been important in one way or another. When the kids were younger, I felt pressured to use that time to its fullest while I had it. Inevitably, creative time was short and precious, usually last on the list of needs in our days. As the kids got older, I found myself spending more time in my studio, but those were days I spent a lot of time thinking about exactly what I wanted my creative time to be. Writing a book has given structure to my studio time, but in between those books my time in the studio has become more and more my own. With teenagers, and one away at college, my time in the studio is blissfully mine. No more trying to keep kids busy while getting creative things done, or trying to create a project for them so that we could craft side by side. These days, I have lots of time to make what I want, or to create a real body of creative work that I am very excited about. This usually involves quilts, and quilt-related things (like pattern writing). I love every minute of it, but being the sole proprietor in the studio has created a schedule of working on lots of long term things a little bit each day. In some ways I really love that, but in some ways I’d love to see results more often than I do.READ MORE

DIY glass ball ornaments two ways

Neon Glass Ornament DIY
 
 
PomPom Ornament DIY

DIY holiday ornaments are my favorite, but I also like to buy unique handmade ornaments, and to exchange them with friends. In fact, I probably have an ornament problem. But I can’t stop!READ MORE

Halloween Wreath Made of T-shirts

Halloween T-shirt Wreath
This is a fun wreath to make with the kids and decorate the house for Halloween. Find black and dark gray (or your favorite Halloween color) t-shirts at the thrift store, or perhaps upcycle some from your closet. Note: I cut all the strips I needed from two men’s shirts. Cut them into strips measuring roughly 1-2″ wide x 3-5″ long. Bend a wire coat hanger into a circle and just start tying strips onto the wire. Keep the strips close together and vary the shades a little for a more interesting look.READ MORE

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