Favorite Things: Tom’s Shoes

Tom’s Shoes

 

These are my favorites! They are an amazing company and  here’s the story behind why:

In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS customers.

I LOVE it! Their website also has lots of amazing stuff in the Get Involved Section that you can do to help. Don’t forget to check out their blog,too.

DIY Mod Podge

I Love This Stuff!

But I don’t love the price! Well, now you can make your own!  Sunny shows you how on her blog.  Now that you can make your own, check out some interesting projects you can make:

Mod Podge Fabric Shoe Makeover 

Mod Podge Paper Coasters

Damask Picture Frame

Happy Crafting!

Sewing Session: Faux Pleated Pillows

I LOVE these!!!

Amazing, aren’t they? I want to make one immediately, but I have a long list of projects as it is.  But you can go to V and Co right now and look at her amazing tutorial. Happy Sewing!

Sewing Session: Girl’s T-Shirt Skirt

Isn’t she precious? I can tell that she loves her knew skirt made from a men’s t-shirt. You can get the tutorial and more charming pictures on Clay In His Hands Blog.

S.O.S

It’s been a busy week around here and I’m tired.  We started our new homeschool year on Monday and I’m still adjusting to the new schedule. I can’t seem to get as much done as I would like, now that homeschooling takes a 3 hour chunk of my day. I’m still trying to figure out how to run my errands, write my blog, network, run my etsy shop, create products for my etsy shop, keep the house clean, make treats, and teach. But, at least I’m not this bad off…

My real problem is I want to do too much. I have all these grandiose ideas of what I can get done in a day and then reality sets in and I’m depressed. I wish I could be like Samantha on Bewitched when she speeds herself up to get the chores done in half the time.

Oh wouldn’t that be wonderful? I’m probably wasting too much time dreaming about that, though. I guess I need to just do one thing a day in each area. Bake 1 things, Craft 1 thing, 1 Errand ect. and maybe I’ll feel more accomplished.

Advice, anyone?

W.i.P. Wednesday #3

It’s been a busy week around here. We celebrated Mr. Penguin’s birthday, recovered from a sugar coma, went to a quilt sale, viewed a quilt show, took a walk along the Erie Canal and started our first week of homeschooling. Did I mention we were busy? I did manage to get some sewing/crafting done, though.  I got a new magazine full of amazing ideas that motivated me. I haven’t had a chance to take many photos. Sorry. So here’s my week:

Completed Projects:

White Yarn Wreath with Removable Flowers
Fabric Coasters
Christmas tree fabric Art

 

Ongoing Projects:

$6 Quilt BOM – August-no progress

Farmer’s Wife QAL- ( weeks behind) Got 1 done

Quilted Bookmarks (for my Etsy Shop)-0

Felt Bookmarks (for my Etsy Shop)- 2

Flurry Christmas Quilt- no progress

Completed tops awaiting quilting:
Neon Mug Rug
Pink decorator’s Fabric Sample Table Runner

No progress:
Carter the Crab Softie for Lil Penguin’s Birthday
Houndstooth Pillow w/Rosettes using this method (for my Etsy Shop)
Cat and the Hat quilt for Little Penguin
Super Hero Cape for Lil Penguin’s Birthday

This week’s stats:
New projects -3
Completed projects -3
Currently in progress -7

Food for Thought: Homeschooling

Happy First Day of School

I tried to teach my child with books;
He gave me only puzzled looks.
I tried to teach my child with words;
They passed him by often unheard.
Despairingly, I turned aside;
“How shall I teach this child,” I cried?
Into my hand he put the key,
“Come,” he said, “Play with me.”

~Author Unknown~
Poem from The Perpetual Preschool

Dessert Recipes from The Help

I loved this book so much that I couldn’t put it down!  One of the many things discussed in the book is recipes. After reading about all that tasty food, I was very disappointed to discover no recipes were included. I think if you read about the same foods over and over again, there should be a recipe! So I searched and found some of the key dessert recipes from the book! I hope y’all are hungry!

Minny’s Caramel Cake

Kathryn Stockett’s original source for this cake is her own maid, Demetrie. Her recipe is in The Junior League of Memphis Cookbook. Scrumpdillyicious posted the recipe and has some great photos.

 

Minny’s Chocolate Pie (sans her secret ingredient)

Kathryn Stockett provides Demetrie’s recipe at Book Club Cookbook. Picture is from Scrumpdillyicious.

 

Minny’s Mississippi Pecan Pie

Visit The Ladies in Waiting Book Club for this wonderful recipe.

 

Mae Mobley’s Strawberry Birthday Cake

It was hard to find a recipe that didn’t feature boxed cake mix and jello! I found this one on Confections of a Foodie Bride and it looks amazing.

Which one do you want to make first? It is so hard to choose!

Sewing Session: Lap Desk

I LOVE this! They look so simple and I want to make one for me ! Visit the Brassy Apple for the instructions to make yours.

Issues & Secret Sale

I was going to post about my Farmer’s Wife blocks today, but my camera and computer aren’t speaking to each other today. So I have to mediate and the post will have to wait until this weekend.

Sam Kay Designs is having it’s first Secret Sale Weekend. Use code: SECRET to save 20% this weekend only. I’m working on more inventory, so let me know what your favorites are.