Sedona & Prairie Cream Chop

 

 St. Thomas Country Manor

Brick: Acme Sedona with white mortar

Stone: Prairie Cream Chop with white mortar

Paint Colors: Fossil Stone {trim} & Dusty Trail {body}

Stain on Louvres & Columns: English Chestnut

Door Style: Harvard Mahogany in English Chestnut Stain

 

When making selections for the exterior of the house, I appreciated the few pictures online that others posted giving me a basic idea of what something might look like, so I thought I'd do the same.  We spent hours driving around looking at addresses with brick and stone we were considering.

 

We are very happy with how all the exterior elements look together.

 

We did wonder about staining the columns and louvres or leaving them natural.  We decided to have them stained and really like them stained.

We also wondered about the garage doors being the "darker" exterior paint color.  At first they were painted fossil stone, and we liked it.  But we had planned on them being dusty trail, so we had another choice to make.   I think they'd look nice either color, in the end we had them painted dusty trail.

 

 

 

 

 

And we do not recommend working with TBI Mortgage, they have caused a nightmare for us.

Happy Weekender Quilt in Happy Tones

 

The Happy Weekender quilt pattern from Moda Bake Shop in Happy Tones by Michael Miller Fabrics.

Front: Happy Tones charm packs.

Backing: Happy Tones Spotlight.

Binding: Happy Tones Aqua Cora print.

Gray fabric form Jo Ann's.  I bought 1 3/4 yards after reading in the comments that some people who made the happy weekender didn't have enough with the 1 1/2 yards in the instructions.  I made the strips as I went along and wish I would have bought 2 yards, but am glad I at least had 1 3/4 yards.  It all worked out in the end by piecing some pieces together.

 

I made this quilt for my SS who graduated from high school this year. I am so happy with how it turned out; love the fun, bright colors and it was a nice chance to try gray instead of white for the solid. I kind of wanted to keep it for myself.

 

 

 

My two little munchkins held it up for pictures for me; gotta put them to work while school's out.

 

I attached a label for the first time ever to a quilt.  I hope the micron pigma pen works out. I like the idea of having it in the corner.  I searched on line for ideas on quilt labels and this was my favorite look.  I did heat set it with the iron and washed it two days after writing the label.

 

I also did some "real" free-motion quilting for the first time on this quilt.  Previously, I have just sewn straight lines {or a zig zag stitch in straight lines} on my quilts & table runners.  I have a sweet friend who offered to let me use her quilting machine and frame to do it.  I am happy with how the loopy loops turned out.  I may try it again later this year, it was kind of fun.

 

Father's Day Scrabble Board & Tie Card

 

Father's Day scrabble board.

 

For an activity days activity earlier this month, we made scrabble boards as a Father's Day gift.

Using foam boards I cut into 10 x10 squares, the girls cut 12x12 scrapbook paper down to size and glued it onto the board.  Then using a planning sheet I printed out, they figured out what words they wanted to use and how they wanted to lay them out.  The tan squares are 1 inch square written on with a black marker using scrabble letter values with the letters and adhered with a foam sticker thing to add some dimension. All the supplies needed were on sale at Hobby Lobby, yay,  so it didn't cost much.

 

Some ideas here, and here.

 

We also made tie cards.

Directions here and here.

I used the printout from A Day in My Life so that the girls could make them at home too.

 

There are some cute google card ideas here and here.

Crayon Monogram & Pencil Roll

 

Keeping with the letter S for another teacher crayon monogram gift this school year.

Lettering is black vinyl in the font Leftovers.  The frame is from Walmart.  I used hot glue again this time.

 

And, another colored pencil roll, haven't made one of these since the Fall I think.

Fabric from Hobby Lobby and  24 crayola colored pencils.