Inspired by Martha

You know how sometimes you get a magazine in the mail and it's a dud? Nothing inside the cover that speaks to you? Always a bummer.

Or how about those times when you get a magazine in the mail and it has a few lovely little things that you can't wait to try? Always a plus!

But how about those rare times you get a magazine in the mail and it appears to have been hand written JUST FOR YOU? That just happened to me. It was this one...

And I will probably NEVER let it go.
What's so great about this "To Rana, Love Martha" issue?

Well how about this great collection of magnifying glasses:

All things apples:

I am pretty sure this laundry basket would make doing the laundry less of a chore:

Pretty no-carve pumpkins:

FABULOUS popcorn on the cob:

I am hoping this salad will turn my guy into a broccoli lover (instead of the hateful hater that he is):

And speaking of good food, how about roasted carrots with chimichurri:

Or escarole and bean soup:

Chicken Chile Stew:

For the nature lover in me, there is this "virtually fool-proof" watercolor inspiration:

A branch for the coat closet...brilliant!

How about a fabulous gray kitchen (and I don't even like gray!)

Kitschy light bulbs:

Organized drawers:

Pumpkins to greet your guests (and yourself):

And last but not least, this great firewood containment system:

Now, in an effort to be a doer and not just an admirer...

I have assembled some watercolor supplies (I even have a few leaf tracings inside):

I picked up my first magnifying glass:

I have apples just waiting to be cooked up:

I have friends in mind to invite over for chicken chile stew (Theresa and Laura, this means you!).

I have also broached the subject of a gray kitchen and a branch for the closet with my guy. It seems that at this point in time these things are completely "impossible"....and I may have heard him utter the words "stupid Martha Stewart"...which I take to mean I should hide this treasured issue before it mysteriously disappears...maybe I should start a Pinterest board too, just in case...

All of these images, of course, are from the October 2014 issue of Martha Stewart Living.

New Napkins

I found this fabulous fabric at a LQS and could not pass it up.
I had napkins in mind.

I used this tutorial (link here).

Not fast, but easy. And look at those perfect miters!

Royal Mail

Look what came in the mail today!

It's ROYAL mail.

No doubt these are average-everyday-run-of-the-mill supplies for the Brits, but they are new and exciting to me. What a great stamp! And that little envelope was kinda weird too.

So what was inside, you ask??

I have been seeing this ADORABLE tea cozy all over Pinterest and I just had to have the pattern.
So I ordered it!
It was advertised as a "vintage pattern", so that is what I was expecting.
Turns out it is just a copy--typed right into a computer, printed out, and popped into a protective sleeve.

Oh well. At least it will make an ADORABLE tea cozy.

Have A Cupcake!

Well, it's official.
I have a married daughter and I am a year older!
A brand new son-in-law and a few more gray hairs all in one week. Fortunately, the son-in-law did not cause the gray hairs!!

Between hair dying sessions and wedding planning, I have managed to get a few things done. Like a little free pattern to help celebrate my birthday! It's called Have A Cupcake and you can download it here.

Cute, yeh?

I put mine on a tea towel. But wouldn't it look cute on a bib or party napkins. Polka dot party napkins! Or maybe as a little 4 block table topper. Or......

It is about 8" square as is, but reducing and enlarging are simple enough. So change it up if you need to. And....let me know what you do with it!

Happy stitching.

POM for.....May?

Yes, that is right. I am finally posting May's POM.
(No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth or get admitted to the booby-hatch. I just got consumed by Spring Market preparations, and Spring Market, and Spring Market recovery. WHEW!!)

And did I mention the wedding. Oh yeah, that is taking up a goodly amount of time!!
The next big thing on my to-do list, (besides finding a dress!!!!!!!) is to help my daughter make a cupcake chandelier. Oh boy......I will let you know how that turns out. Pray for me friends!!!

Anyway.... This month's (err, last month's) POM is Shortcake for One.

This little cushion measures about 5" in length and has a silver stem (made from an old spoon). And, it is just as adorable as it can be!!

You can access the patterns here. Or look for then in your LQS.

Basket Makeover

Do you have a favorite basket?

This is mine. I use it when I deliver meals to families who are needing one. (New babies, surgery, illness, that sort of thing.) It is nothing special. But it is big and sturdy and I can pack an entire dinner in it.

But, I wanted it to look cute, so I made a little liner for it.

I used some shabby chic kind of fabrics and one of the leaves galore rulers to scallop the edge.

Cute huh?

You should totally give this a try! A new look for an old favorite.

A New Desk

This block of wood...

plus this board, a great piece of fabric and some hot glue...

became...

my new computer lap desk.

You should definitely make one of these.
You'll just love it!