a wonky pineapple!

A few weeks back, I posted about the shamrock mini quilt that I made. It has been hanging on a short wall at the end of the hallway of the house, and you can see it as soon as you walk in the front door. I had intended to make something for Easter too, but it just never happened. Lately, I've found several pineapple items, including a pineapple candle holder, and a pineapple wallflower from Bath and Body Works. I'm loving them, I have to say! 

New collection, perhaps???

Then I had an idea to make a pineapple mini quilt! 

I made this over the weekend, in about two hours. It's small, like the shamrock, 

about 15" x 15," and fits perfectly in the same spot on the wall. The shamrock will have to wait until next March to come out again! Like before, it's a bit wonky, but I think it's cute, and was quite pleased with it. 

Here it is hanging in its new spot on the wall!

In addition to being delicious, pineapples are the symbol for hospitality and welcome, so this seems like a very fitting thing to be hanging in the front hallway of the house!

What did you make over the weekend? What should I make next?  :)

here comes the bride

No, it's not me.

My sister is engaged, and has been since late January, and yes, I am just now talking about it. I'll be 100% honest. Of course, I was thrilled for her, but I did not have the best reaction to her news. Here's the thing. She's my younger sister, by four years. Steve and I have been together for longer than she's known her fiance. I think it is perfectly natural for the older sister to feel like she should get married first, right? Right.

I had a few days of misery, and then I got over it. Something in my head snapped, and I realized that I was being ridiculous, and then I was happy for her. Really happy. She's happy, and that is what matters the most, right? Right.

As I said to her, this means that when I get married, she will have to be the matron of honor, which sounds much older and fuddy-duddy ish than maid of honor, I think ;)

Right, so as maid of honor, I have to plan the shower and bachelorette, among other things. She lives outside of Boston, and the wedding is in New Hampshire, the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. She has her dress, and we've also selected bridesmaid dresses, which are from Alfred Angelo. They'll be navy blue.

I've come up with an idea for the theme for her shower, which I think will be really terrific. My mother loves it too. I've decided that it will remain a secret from her, and I'm going to see about keeping the date of the shower a date too, if possible! That date is not determined yet. Since I'm in DC, and she's in Boston, that could be a bit trickier, but we will see if I can pull that off.

I did manage one surprise already though!

The weekend of President's Day weekend, in February, she and my mother planned to go dress shopping. She asked me if I could come home for the weekend and go with them, but I had a baby shower that Saturday, so I couldn't. About a week before, I realized that weekend was actually Presidents Day, so I had Monday off from work, and they were planning to go shopping on Sunday. Ding ding ding! I had also just gotten my tax refund, so had some extra cash, and booked a flight home. I told my father, but nobody else. I flew in early Sunday morning and rented a car. As I pulled into my parents driveway, my mother was putting something into her car, and just looked up at me in shock. I parked the car, and explained what had happened, and she was so happy. We went to pick up my grandmother, who was also shocked. Then we drove to the bridal shop, where we told the saleswoman what was going on, and she loved it. I hid behind a rack of dresses, as we heard Bethany coming in. She came in, hugged my mother, grandmother and aunt, who was also there, and then they all began talking about what sort of dress she was looking for, and things she didn't want. I then jumped out, holding a really awful looking dress, and said "what about this one?" She was SO shocked, it was really great. I'll never forget the look on her face when she saw me!

So! She has a dress, we have dresses. She has a date and location set. Bridesmaids are selected. I have a date with one of them next week- she lives here in DC too, so we are getting together to talk ideas, which will be great. One of the bridesmaids is also getting married this fall- she is marrying Bethany's fiance's twin brother. Does that make sense?

So, now I am considering dates for the shower, and debating if the bachelorette should be the same weekend. In theory, yes, since most people will already be there (the shower will be in NH too), and I don't want people to have to travel too many times. Trying to keep people's budgets in mind isn't easy, but it isn't as though mine is limitless either!

So, what about you? Did your younger sister get married before you, and how did you deal with it? Am I awful for not screaming with joy when she called me with the news, even though I came around a few days later? Any tips for me?

can this!

Last Friday, I ordered this book. To my surprise, it arrived with Monday's mail! I've been wanting to try canning, and this book seems terrific. I opened it, and the first recipe I saw was for strawberry and lavender jam. LOVE. I love lavender. I love strawberry. LOVE.

My mother used to make jam and applesauce, and I think this will be a really fun project. I've also found some great looking recipes on pinterest.

I'll report back on what I make, and of course, I'll be sporting a Scarlet Threads apron :)

Have you tried canning? What are your favorite recipes?

Easter egg wreath!

This is a late post, and I thought I had blogged this two weeks ago! Oh well, I still want to share this little Easter egg wreath that I made a few weeks ago!

I used a foam wreath form and covered it with cream colored batting that I use for quilting. Then, I simply hot glued colored eggs all over it! So simple and fast- it took about 45 minutes total, I think! The worst part, in my opinion, is that when using a hot glue gun, there are always the long stringy bits that pull away from the gun, and attach to the object :)

It's been hanging on the front door, but now with Easter being over, I will need to take it down and find something new to hang. I used a wide, cream-colored ribbon to hang it with.

I've been really loving making wreaths lately...I think this was the fourth that I made. I even have a pinterest board called "wreath obsession," which is where many of my ideas and inspiration come from! There are so many great looking wreaths out there, but I don't want to spend much buying them, as making them is so much fun!

Have you made any wreaths? What's on your front door right now? I'd love to see a picture! Oh, and how was your Easter? Happy, I hope!

vintage littles!

Do you remember Fisher Price Little People? I recently saw someone post a picture of these little vintage pieces on twitter, and had a major flashback. Immediately, I needed this little lady and her sewing machine! I hopped onto ebay, and scored a win at $11.47 shipped!

Look at her little quilt!

Cutest thing ever, no?

When I was a wee young thing, we had a lot of these Little People sets. We had the school, and the parking garage, and all sorts of them. I think I had forgotten how much I loved them, but was reminded by seeing all of the sets for sale on ebay! I immediately called my parents, to see if the old toys are still in our old playroom...but it seems they were donated somewhere years ago. So sad. I kind of wanted them again!

Meanwhile, this little lady will sit in my sewing room!

Did you play with Little People as a child?