Take a tee shirt out of your closet and turn it into a dress with a few simple sewing instructions.  I designed this child sized “T-Shirt Flounce Dress” for Sewing Savvy magazine.  The pattern and instructions are on their website for free downloading so that you can sew a few before school starts  The dress is embellished with ribbon and has a ribbon flower that you can make.

I chose a yellow and orange color combination, but you can come up with your own color combinations based on the tee shirt colors you choose.  And why not enlarge the pattern and make one for yourself!!  It would make a comfy dress to shop in or even a cute dress for the beach!

Best to you and all that you do!

New sewing projects on the horizon!  I just completed a sewing project that I designed for a publication due out in a few months.  I can’t give any details but thought I would give a sneak peak of the fabrics I used.  I am a fabric junkie and just love bright colored fabrics. Its inspirational just looking at my fabric stash because of all the colors.  This is just a small part of my fabric stash.

I’m leaving Thursday for the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) trade show in Chicago.  I just read a comparison somewhere that its like the World Fair of craft shows.  I agree and wish I could remember where I saw that, but my brain is in overload right now.  I am displaying in the Designer Showcase at the show and am working on last minute preparations.  The show is so exciting to attend and check out all the new products available to the crafters of the world

Best wishes for a happy day to each of you! 

Embroidery is a fabulous way to embellish your jeans (or jean jacket).  I just received the July issue of Sewing Savvy that has the “Hot Mama” chili pepper iean embroidery that I designed.

Embroidery designs will add some colorful and spicy accents to your jeans, so check out this issue of Sewing Savvy, curently at your news stand, for the instructions and patterns.

To see more jean embroidery designs that I created, click “Denimbroidery” in my category list to the right.  This link will show jean embroidery kits that I designed for Janlynn, Inc.

While you are looking through the July issue of Sewing Savvy, check out the ad for the Meow Meow cat fabrics that I designed for Quilting Treasures (Page 55).

I hope that you will give your jeans a little tweaking with a needle and a few strands of floss.  I would love to see what you stitch.

Home made ice cream – what can be better?  Hummm, home made peach ice cream.  We decided to pull out the ice cream maker that had been gathering dust and churn it out while celebrating the 4th. My friend Denise Clason had just sent her “Mothers Best Ice Cream” recipe last week, so we decided to give it a try.  Yum – really good.  We had our friends and neighbors, Billy and Shirley, over to help eat it. 

Here is Denise’ recipe – I added 8 peaches cut into small pieces.  Delicious! 

My Mother’s Best Ice Cream recipe

8 C Lt cream

4 eggs

1 pkg powered sugar

2 T vanilla

¼ t. salt

2 C milk or whipping cream, or 1 C milk and 1 C whipping cream

10-12 pounds crushed ice

1 box rock salt

1.  Heat 4 C lt. cream until scalded (not burned) in heavy sauce pan.

2.  In medium bowl with wire whisk, mix eggs and powdered sugar until blended.

3.  Gradually stir in 1 C of the hot cream.  Gradually pour egg mixture back into cream.  Heat for approximately 15 minutes or until the liquid becomes slightly thick – it does not need to boil.

4.  Add remaining 4 C lt. cream, 2 C milk or whipping cream, vanilla and salt and mix.

5.  Pour into the freezer container and chill in the refrigerator until cool.

6.  Follow manufacturer’s directions for freezing

20 minutes prep time and about 25-30 minutes freezing.

***Add these ingredients to get a flavor like Cold Stone:  1 C raspberry jam, 1 C cut up blackberries, ¼ C raspberry syrup, ½ C baby chocolate chips.  Stir together and freeze longer.

We started the 4th off with breakfast at Billy and Shirley’s house, with breakfast cooked outside on a huge grill. 

Billy, Shirley and hubby Danny (white shirt) chat after breakfast. 

Then there’s me relaxing in the hammock.  Actually Danny didn’t think I could get in it without flipping.  Piece of cake!

I hope each of you enjoyed the 4th in your own special way.  

I went to visit Audrey Jeanne Roberts blog today and it was gone!  She is a very talented friend who does wonderful scrapbook kits.  (This is her latest kit – beautiful isn’t it!). Needless to say, I immediately contacted her to find out where her blog moved to.  Not only does she have a new blog address, she has a new blog store as well as a new website!  Boy, has she been busy, but that’s nothing new as she is very productive.  I’ve often wondered when she sleeps.

I had hoped to see her this summer either in Atlanta or at the summer CHA show in Chicago, but she will be taking a fun trip with her husband.  That had to be an easy choice to make!

So if any of you have not been able to find AJ’s blog, check it out with the links above and in my blogroll.

While enjoying all the beautiful glass art pieces in the shop at the Seattle Glassblowing Studio, I had a very hard time deciding which piece to purchase (no one was twising my arm, but I just had to buy something).  The decision on which piece to get was helped by airline regulations, you know, weight and number of checked pieces.  After a lengthy bit of time with a paperweight in each hand, trying to decide between the two, I saw this one, picked it up and walked to the register. I have a small collection of paper weights as they are easy-to-tuck-in-the-suitcase items so this one feels right at home.

I did a lot of walking on vacation and just have to show you my very you my very comfy red walking shoes.  Brenda Pinnick – eat your heart out!!!!  (My very talented, fun friend who just happens to love red shoes!).