christmas-ne hat & keychain

i made these ne hats for my big girl and my two 'adopted daughters'.  they all live in jersey.  but they loved their summer visit.  who wouldn't?? fireworks are legal here, a little, sand, water & sun.  and our crazy family. so i wanted to give them all something that would remind them each of their ne family.    

i have new appreciation for anyone who sews on hats.  

this heart key chain probably had the most meaning for me as a given gift.  two years ago for my birthday, a gave me the bracelet in the picture.  on the front it says mom.  on the back is 'every princess needs her queen'.   i have twice had to fix the band.  i don't often take it off, it means that much to me.    

so i gave her this saying 'my princess gives more meaning to being a queen'.

late heart day decor

so a few weeks ago, nebraska was blessed by storm kayla.  it wasnt the most snow that i have seen, but the wind was CRAZY!!!  thank God that part only lasted for a day.  we had a monster drift/pile across the majority of the driveway.  we are very lucky to have awesome neighbors!  so since i was prepared to be stuck at home for a few days (who doesnt love a good snow day???) i got some of my craft projects completed.  

i know it isnt the best lighting picture, but i love how this one shows what it looked like outside.  this was the ONLY window we could see out of.  the rest were all covered in snow.  somewhere out there is my driveway, under at least 4' of snow.  i did a quick and cute valentine's bunting to hang up in the picture window.  i love the lace. 

this was a pinterest idea.  she had used old window trim.  i happen to have an old barn door lying around.  it was again super easy to do-hardest was getting the nails out so that i could use the wood.  just measure, mark & cut.  then determine placement of boards, carefully flip one up, glue and just in case add a few nails.  then i cut old scrap boards & nailed them to the back of the smaller squares so that i could have my heart 'o's-one cause they needed some support to stand & two cause the big silver heart below broke in half.  free hand a little heart, fill it in with some paint & your done.  i really like how they turned out.  also gave me an idea for a christmas gift.....

#3 and final post of quiet book

last pages of the quiet book... 

i can remember buttoning items onto our quiet books when i was younger.  and what could be more fun than matching a fabric gumball to the button?

puzzles.  i think this was the 2nd page (well set) that i made.  there are 3 different puzzles to complete-flower, butterfly and heart.  each has their own pocket to be tucked into when not in use. i got the idea for the gumball and puzzle pages from 

http://craftychiclyric.blogspot.com/2009/07/girls-quiet-book.html 

zip, buckle and snap... all kids want to learn how to do 'big' things themselves.  

and then the cover.  i did this last cause i wanted to make sure that i made it big enough.  while had an idea of how big it needed to be, i wasnt sure how thick the pages would be laying on top of each other.  and that was the measurement i was concerned about.  i added about 2" to the final addition of the height & length (times 2) so there would be a bit of cover overhang. Then  i had to find the middle of the cover and the ribbon i used for the binding so that they could be sewn together and turned right side out.  

you can kind of see how i sewed the ribbon down leaving a channel for the binder ring to go thru.  then i put a ribbon all around the outside of the cover with magnets in the ends to close the book.  with the cover all done, it was time to loop the pages onto the binder rings and then thru the book binding.  

hope you enjoy your quiet book t!