Wednesday Pick-Me-Up #11

Hipster Pouch

Do you remember fanny packs?  I do.  In fact I use to have a couple of them.  Earlier this spring while out for a walk with no pockets to hold my phone and keys, I wished I still had one of those fanny packs.  I remember exactly the one I wished I had - tan with a velcro flap and a slim profile.  I had made it as a 4-H project.  When I got home from the walk I dug in my box of purses and bags hoping I still had it.  But I did not.  So I decided I would make myself one.

But then spring turned into summer and I still didn't have a fanny pack.  One weekend while visiting my parents, my mom showed me one of her latest magazines she had picked up - Simple Quilts & Sewing #125 - which had instructions to make a hipster pouch.  This was exactly what I wanted to make for myself.  Maybe not having any instructions to follow was what was keeping me from making the fanny pack so I borrowed the magazine from my mom.

But then summer turned into fall and I still didn't have a fanny pack.  Now the days of good walking weather are quickly diminishing.  It almost seemed pointless to bother with this project now but my mom wanted her magazine back.  So, on the first Saturday in November while watching a football game, I made myself this hipster pouch.
 

It was such a quick project that I'm kicking myself now for not taking an afternoon sooner to just make it.

Yesterday we had a record high temperature (69 degrees) so I took this bad boy out for a walk.

Although I would like it to be just a smidge bigger, it worked well and I'm happy I finally got around to making it.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend and have a great week!

{Handmade Christmas} Ornament Wreath

I was in Macy's the other day and they were playing Christmas music.  I LOVE Christmas music but I think it shouldn't be played until the day after Thanksgiving.  {Okay, maybe Thanksgiving night is fine.}

Now, if you are like me and love making things for Christmas - decorations, cookies, presents, etc. - it is best to get started early.  And that is what I did last weekend.  Using ornaments I purchased on sale after Christmas a couple of years ago, I made this beautiful and easy ornament wreath.

Here's how you can make one too:

Materials
floral foam wreath form
roll of wide ribbon
strong craft wire
hot glue gun and lots of glue sticks
ornaments in various sizes

Instructions
Cover wreath form with ribbon.  Every few wraps secure ribbon in place with hot glue.  Wrap wire around wreath and twist into a loop for hanging.

Hot glue the largest ornaments around the outside edge of wreath.  Be sure to work on a flat surface in order to keep the ornaments flat so the wreath will sit flush against the wall when hung.

Hot glue the medium sized ornaments onto the top of wreath.

Lastly, fill in the wreath with the smallest ornaments.

Hang your ornament wreath and enjoy!

My wreath is available for sale in my Etsy shop along with other Christmas items.  Be sure to check them out.

I am sharing this tutorial at these great parties.

Wednesday Pick-Me-Up #10

{Healthy Eating} - Vegetable Quinoa Soup

I have had a really productive weekend - I can cross three things off my project list!  I had hoped to share one with you this weekend but it has been very gray and dreary so I have not taken any pictures yet.

Gray and dreary weather is good for one thing though - eating soup.  I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to share with you a delicious soup I made last weekend.  This  Vegetable Quinoa Soup is from Two Peas & Their Pod.  I knew I had to make this when I saw that all the vegetables in it - onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, yellow squash, green beans and tomatoes - are vegetables that I like.  {That doesn't happen to often.}  The addition of quinoa is a nice bonus too, making this a super healthy soup.

You can get the recipe here.  Have a great week!

{Confidential} - November Project Board

Okay - it's time to get serious in the craft room.  The list is getting longer and the holidays are getting closer.