Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Annual Time Capsules

It's the end of one year, and the start of the next. What will you remember most?


During our year long renovations last year, we found quite a few ways to leave "our mark" upon the house that we have called our home for 12 years already. As they tore down walls and built new walls, I decided to pull together a slew of items that if ever found, would give the new owners a sense of who lived here before them, and all the changes the house had been through.


I would have loved to find a time capsule in one of the torn down walls, but we didn't. Who knows - maybe there is still one in a different wall we didn't tear down? If there is, now there are two. We packed up all the things in the (picture up above) and watched Darold nail them in, and watched Steve seal it and paint over the seams. This is all the proof I have that it's there. Hoping that I live long enough to never see it again, but know that its here, hiding, waiting to be found.


We started making these other "Annual Time Capsules" earlier in the year, and put them in our ViewTainers. I only have a few things from my childhood to look back on endearingly, and have to search the web for things that happened, that I just might remember. I thought it would be a great opportunity to capture some of the items/toys and other things that my girls would want to remember and see in 10 or 20 years from now. I love the Viewtainers because they are not made of breakable glass, making them very kid friendly. You can seal them up at the end of the year with duct tape, silicone, or packed in a box and locked up, not to be opened for another 10 or 20 years, you decide.

Not sure what to include?

Here's what we put in some of the time capsules: Silly Banz for the 2011 container, because just two years ago, my girls were among the masses that wore quite a few on each wrist, and traded them on the playground (and now for 2013 it's the Rainbow Loom bracelets). A Twinkie (because everyone knows they last 20 years, and when they went bankrupt, I bought a few boxes too. It was all the rage). The duck tape craze and now washi tape madness that has swept the nation for the past couple of years, has reserved a place in one of these capsules too, among many other squinkies, trinkets and movie characters from cereal boxes.

I have also included a short list of facts from the past few years, things we will remember, or want to remember: Movies we saw, tragedies we witnessed, and triumphs in and around the world, etc. The ideas are endless, and the capsules can be personalized as well to include birthdays, celebrations, milestones, etc. The Project Life cards are perfect for this, and can even capture favorite family recipes and so much more. Write it down. Record it. Treasure it.

I hope you all have an absolutely amazing 2014, filled with joy, laughter, charity, hope and love. Thank you for reading my blog. Thank you for being a part of my life and journey. If you want to be in the know of all the fun things to come this year...click that link below and sign up to receive my newsletters. I have yet to send one out, so please know I won't spam you like crazy and send you an email every day or week! Happy New Year everyone!






Monday, December 30, 2013

Banners of Hope

For those of you that don't know about the Banners of Hope project, you can visit the Craft and Hobby website to find out all the details or click on the Banners of Hope link above. It's such a great idea and I knew months ago I wanted to make one...maybe a bunch....and show my support to those in need of "hope" among other things.


I have come up with a few ideas, and am already working on a second banner, but wanted to share the first one with you all.

This one came from a couple of different areas of inspiration. I grew up in Texas and moved to NY when I was about 8 1/2. Everywhere I went, I saw the I (heart) NY logo on t-shirts, billboards, and bumper stickers. It still remains a strong reminder and symbol of my childhood. There is also the pop art "LOVE" design by Robert Indiana, that will be available on special license plates in the state of Maine to "show your love for the arts", through the Maine Crafts Association.

The final inspiration came from my sewing studio and all the little bits and pieces. It made me think of the word hope and what the word really means. I thought of "hope" as a "notion" of being. It's that something that some people have a hard time grasping in times of trial, grief, or affliction. It requires and action. It requires us to do something, to believe even, that there is something beautiful waiting for us, that can come from all the little pieces. This is my banner of hope. Hope is a powerful word. You just have to believe in it.

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Monday, December 9, 2013

It's a Sewing Tales Giveaway Day - Who Wants to WIN?

It's giveaway day on Sew Mama Sew - and I decided to participate in a BIG way...not just 1 person will win, not just 2 people, but 4 people will win the following giveaway package. Isn't that so exciting?

A (signed) copy of my book Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love (don't want to wait for it? I don't blame you - you can get a copy of Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love on Amazon right now in time for Christmas)

8 awesome goodies from Dritz Sewing

1 Bag of PolyFil from Fairfield

1 Yard of Create-A-Pattern paper from Bosal Foam

What do you have to do to win?

Share a story about a favorite toy you were given when younger (handmade or otherwise).

Enter your name in the Rafflecopter form below. It's the easiest way for me to track and notify a winner. You will have until Dec 13th 8pm EST. I will email the winners and the winners will also be mentioned on the Rafflecopter board. Due to cost of shipping, I will open up the giveaway for just 1 international winner. So international friends, please enter also, as I will pick 1 giveaway package to ship internationally. Yeah!

Good Luck and thanks for stopping by! Click the link below to sign up for my newsletters. Have a great day.






a Rafflecopter giveaway