Earl Scruggs

It is with sadness that I heard Earl Scruggs has passed at the age of 88.

I adore his banjo pickin' and the great music of his time. Where would we be without it?

Sit back and enjoy a few of my favorite Flatt and Scruggs tunes. Be sure to turn your speakers waaaay up, sing loud, and be sure to have lots of room for toe-tapping!

March Tutorial Blog Hop - Recycled Wool Pin Cushion

Yay! So happy to have you visit for today's March Tutorial Blog Hop! It's been a great month of some fantastic tutorials and I'm honored to be able to wrap-up the month for you.

Surprise! My tutorial is creating with recycled wool!

I hope you enjoy this playful look at creating your very own recycled wool pin cushion. And most of all.....have fun!

Blog Hop Bliss

Are you itching with anticipation for the last blog hop of the month? It'll be here...tomorrow!

I'll give you a hint...it involves WOOL!  (Well, duh, huh?)  :-)

Check back tomorrow for how to make your next wool project.

March Tutorial Blog Hop month at-a-glance:
Deborah: http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/2012/03/hand-writing-on-fabric.html
Paula: http://paulajoerling.com/2012/03/easter-download-and-tutorial.html
Jackie: Part 1 http://stitchworks-jackie.blogspot.com/2012/03/blog-hop-tut.html and Part 2 http://stitchworks-jackie.blogspot.com/2012/03/stitched-blog-hop-tut-part-2.html
Mollie: http://wildolive.blogspot.com/2012/03/project-blog-hop-honeybee-candle-mat.html
Cindy: http://artfullivingonthebluff.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-blog-tutorial-hop-my-turn.html
Jennifer: http://sewhooked.com/2012/03/14/stitched-tutorial-blog-hop-make-an-oven-mitt/html
Kelli: http://ephemeralalchemy.blogspot.com/2012/03/paper-button-tutorial.html
Tracie: http://radicalrecycks.com/_blog/BLOG/post/Plastic_Egg_Transformation_Tutorial/Tracie
Alma: http://www.almastoller.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-to-make-cardboard-canvas.html
TOMORROW!! - Ann (Me!): http://thelavendartree.blogspot.com

March Tutorial Blog Hop - Alma Stoller

Only two more blog hop days left. Today's tutorial is from Alma Stoller and is fantastic!
Alma shares with us how to make our own canvas to work on. I love it!

March Tutorial Blog Hop month at-a-glance:
March 1: Deborah http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/2012/03/hand-writing-on-fabric.html
March 5: Paula http://paulajoerling.com/2012/03/easter-download-and-tutorial.html
March 6: Jackie Part 1 http://stitchworks-jackie.blogspot.com/2012/03/blog-hop-tut.html and Part 2 http://stitchworks-jackie.blogspot.com/2012/03/stitched-blog-hop-tut-part-2.html
March 8: Mollie http://wildolive.blogspot.com/2012/03/project-blog-hop-honeybee-candle-mat.html
March 13: Cindy http://artfullivingonthebluff.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-blog-tutorial-hop-my-turn.html
March 15: Jennifer http://sewhooked.com/2012/03/14/stitched-tutorial-blog-hop-make-an-oven-mitt/html
March 20: Kelli http://ephemeralalchemy.blogspot.com/2012/03/paper-button-tutorial.html
March 22: Tracie http://radicalrecycks.com/_blog/BLOG/post/Plastic_Egg_Transformation_Tutorial/Tracie
March 27: Alma http://www.almastoller.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-to-make-cardboard-canvas.html
March 29: Ann (Me!) http://thelavendartree.blogspot.com

 

Newly Found Blog Love

While doing a little "pinning" on Pinterest today - I ran across a blog that I am completely taken with. 

When I first opened it here, it was written in a different language than my own. I didn't care - the photos themselves are wonderful enough. But after quickly inputting the address into a blog translation page, I was able to read it as well here.

It hold the most beautiful, cozy photography that immediately transports me to a "good place". I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

March Tutorial Blog Hop Day 22

Day 22!  The March Tutorial Blog Hop continues!


Today's tutorial is a must see - it's transforming plastic eggs!

Here's a nicer look at this month at a glance:
March 1: Deborah http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/2012/03/hand-writing-on-fabric.html
March 5: Paula http://paulajoerling.com/2012/03/easter-download-and-tutorial.html
March 6: Jackie Part 1 http://stitchworks-jackie.blogspot.com/2012/03/blog-hop-tut.html and Part 2 http://stitchworks-jackie.blogspot.com/2012/03/stitched-blog-hop-tut-part-2.html
March 8: Mollie http://wildolive.blogspot.com/2012/03/project-blog-hop-honeybee-candle-mat.html
March 13: Cindy http://artfullivingonthebluff.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-blog-tutorial-hop-my-turn.html
March 15: Jennifer http://sewhooked.com/2012/03/14/stitched-tutorial-blog-hop-make-an-oven-mitt/html
March 20: Kelli http://ephemeralalchemy.blogspot.com/2012/03/paper-button-tutorial.html
March 22: Tracie http://radicalrecycks.com/_blog/BLOG/post/Plastic_Egg_Transformation_Tutorial/Tracie
March 27: Alma http://almastoller.blogspot.com
March 29: Ann (Me!) http://thelavendartree.blogspot.com

 

Paper Buttons

It's day 20 of the March Tutorial Blog Hop! (See...I told you I was very late. Darn it!)

Today's tutorial is very cool - it's making paper buttons. They are awesomely cute - and how easy! - you just must check it out.

Here's a nicer look at this month at a glance:
March 1: Deborah  http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/2012/03/hand-writing-on-fabric.html
March 5: Paula  http://paulajoerling.com/2012/03/easter-download-and-tutorial.html
March 6: Jackie Part 1  http://stitchworks-jackie.blogspot.com/2012/03/blog-hop-tut.html and Part 2 http://stitchworks-jackie.blogspot.com/2012/03/stitched-blog-hop-tut-part-2.html
March 8: Mollie  http://wildolive.blogspot.com/2012/03/project-blog-hop-honeybee-candle-mat.html
March 13: Cindy  http://artfullivingonthebluff.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-blog-tutorial-hop-my-turn.html
March 15: Jennifer  http://sewhooked.com/2012/03/14/stitched-tutorial-blog-hop-make-an-oven-mitt/html
March 20: Kelli  http://ephemeralalchemy.blogspot.com/2012/03/paper-button-tutorial.html
March 22: Tracie  http://radicalrecycks.com/
March 27: Alma  http://almastoller.blogspot.com
March 29: Ann (Me!)  http://thelavendartree.blogspot.com

I'm Late, I'm Late, for a Very Important STITCHED Date!

I'm so sorry - I'm late in posting about this fantastic March Blog Hop that I am thrilled to be participating in! The sad news is that I didn't post about it earlier. The non-sad news is that you can still quickly catch up with all the great tutorials that have been posted so far this month from other great STITCHED artists!


Check out the line-up:


March 1st: Deborah
March 5th: Paula
March 6th: Jackie
March 8th: Mollie
March 13th: Cindy
March 15th: Jennifer
March 20th: Kelli
March 22nd: Tracie
March 27th: Alma
March 29th: Ann


Also, great new things are happening all the time at our fun STITCHED site. Register now to catch the two new artists that will be joining the group soon!

Click on the link below to learn more about how to register!


Click here to view more details

PS. I'm having "copy" and "paste" formatting issues (and am too lazy to retype this post right now) so please forgive the oddness and inconsistency of the text. :-)

STITCHED with Kelly Rae Roberts

How exciting! Our STITCHED leader, Alma Stoller, was featured on Kelly Rae Roberts blog last weekend! How sweet!

Check it out yourself here!

Yakkity, Yak, Yak

Peeps are fed. Beaks are on. Eyes are in place. And you should hear the peeps talk! It's non-stop!

"Whew. We finally made it. We got fed, we got sight, and we got beaks! Together at last. Free to talk..... Free to chat..... Free to sing..... Free to lift up our smalls wings while we sing!"

"And, boy, we've got some catching up to do! You wouldn't believe it - I had the best fiber-filled casserole this weekend. Filled me to the brim. It was light, white, and fluffy - just like mashed potatoes.  No gravy, of course. I've never been much to like a lot of gravy. Puts too many curves in the wrong places - so they say. Dessert? Well, of course I had some! A sweet, strawberry frozen treat was just what my beak was watering for. Brought tears to my new little black beady eyes. Do you ever have tears in your eyes? I do. It's an amazing thing. Just like rain from the sky. I love rain from the sky. I love the sky. It's blue. Blue is very pretty."

"Me? Well, of course I was sooooo excited to see that my new pink-spring-fling one-sie was laid out for me to wear. I love the fit of it - it is perfect for my slightly flushed complexion - and, I must say, I think I look simply adorable! A hat? Heavens no - I don't think I need a hat with it - do you? Although with Easter approaching, a new bonnet would be quite lovely. If I get a new bonnet, I won't have to worry about a new hair style. I've always been quite particular about my hair, but as of late, it seems like I worry less and less about it. It's part of growing older, I guess. I'm no spring chick, you know. Well wait....maybe I am."

"Busy? Oh my word, I just cannot understand how busy I've been as of late. Seems I'm picking seed here - finding water droplets there - it's work, work, work. Now the penguin, do you ever see him as busy as us peeps? Oh, sure - they do they share of waddling to and fro - but is there a purpose? I suppose there is. But I've never understood the penguin. Why wouldn't they want to be bright, light peep colors like us? They are constantly stuck in their black and white suits. I think it's high time someone gives them a little makeover. When's the last time the penguin had a makeover? Why not add a dash of blue....or certainly purple. Why not purple? It's the color of royalty, don't you know? Royalty is so......royal."

"Oh for the simply wonderful weather we've had this weekend. Birds singing, breeze blowing, peeps peeping....yakkity....yak....yak...."

My Peeps Need to Eat

My little peeps are coming along - but dear, oh dear, are they hungry! And now that they have their beaks, they keep peeping, "feed us, feed us!".

Yikes, not only that, they are begging for their eyes too!

Soon to be Hatched

Spring is the time of year that chicks and peeps get hatched. Well, at least I know they are in process here in my merry workshop!

I've begun work on some new chicken paperweights/pincushions and peeps. Here's a sneak peek at what's been going on.

Many eager chicks-and-peeps waiting to be assembled.

Anxious chick-and-peep-beaks dreaming of being able to speak soon.

Bags of Buttons

One day I arrived home and a box of "craft" supplies was waiting for me on my back porch. A previous girlfriend of my son's had left it for me to use (if I could) or to pass on if I didn't think I would use them. How fun!

There were things in the box that I won't use - and that's ok - I'll simply pass them along to the next "craft" person.  :-)

But there were several bags of wooden disks that I nabbed and started working on...

Glued some decorative paper on one side of each disk...

Lots of different papers.....

Did I mention LOTS of playful paper.....

And even MORE pretty paper.... 

 Sanded them down slightly on the edges....

Drilled some holes as well as a couple coats of poly spray...

And I've got buttons!  

  

Yeah! Lots of buttons!

Grand, beautiful buttons!