Marriage!

I have a thing for pillows (among other things), maybe because they are simple and quick to whip up, but at the same time they can make a room feel different-just with a little color! So here are a couple more simple pillows, they are another version of Mr. and Mrs., just because I feel like I know a few people getting married soonish!I'm definitely a fan or marriage, it's the best thing I've ever done. I've been thinking about it a lot this week, and about how fast the time seems to go when you really like your spouse. Don't get me wrong, we are still human and get on each other's nerves at times, but usually there is a pretty happy feeling in our home.  One example of why I like my Handsome so much is: Saturday night I'm shot because I've been staying up late working on projects, patterns, or just folding laundry to an audio book. I don't even remember how it happened, but I zonked out on the couch around 7 or 8 o'clock that night, and didn't wake up until 6:30am. That never happens to me, I always brush, floss, take out contacts, and scrub my face before bed. Well, when I woke up, I'm disoriented and look around. I spot him on the floor asleep with a blanket, and he had tucked me in and given me a pillow too. At that moment (mind you, I'm usually very grumpy in the morning) I felt such a rush of gratitude and love for this person that happened to find me. Later he told me that he just didn't have the heart to wake me and didn't want to leave me downstairs all alone. I was happy all day and his back hurt all day, poor guy. So now that I've gotten all sappy, I shall stop! I made these by randomly chopping and piecing fabric, and by cutting out letters with my Silhouette Cameo! I love that thing, it's so handy!
 For an update, I'm working on another pillow sham right now that matches a quilt, and that will be unveiled soon! My Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Tutorial should also be getting close. I just need to wax on, wax off. But then I get distracted because I'm having the opportunity to design not one, but TWO nautical quilts for someone! I must say I love nautical and so I just ordered a bunch of very adorable fabric from Hawthorne Threads.  Now that you know a little bit about what I'm doing, how about a picture of the pillows that made me ramble about marriage?! And a fabric sneak! Enjoy!
~Rachel

In my Etsy shop here!

 

 

 

Abe Lincoln Sign

Haley has gotten me on a sign kick! I have so many that I want to make, but I'll be moving soon and it's pointless to decorate at this point! Anyway, I couldn't resist dragging out my husband's miter saw to slice up a couple of boards for this quote from Abraham Lincoln. He said, "My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right." How can you not love that? I love it when famous people who have made a difference trust in God, and this is a perfect example. Everything that I used for this project was already on hand, some boards that Linwood hadn't burned in our fireplace this winter, wood conditioner, stain (dark walnut by Minwax), some Valspar paint (Statuesque), and some finishing paste by Minwax.
I love my silhouette more every time I use it! I measured the size the boards would be when I put them together and decided on a font. Then I cut the letters, peeled off the extra vinyl, and applied it to the stained, dry surface. I tried to make sure every letter was pressed down well, I didn't want paint all up under my lettering! With my last sign it didn't much matter, it was supposed to look worn through. This one  though, I wanted to be crisp and precise. After making sure the lettering was pressed down as well as I could, I went ahead and painted on a layer of the Valspar. I never know if you are supposed to wait for it to dry or not. I try... and then give up shortly after. I don't want to wait around, I want to see what I made! So this is how it turned out in the end, after it all dried, got sanded, wood pasted, and I antiqued with Annie Sloan dark wax.
~Rachel

 

 

 

 

Silhouette Cameo

Okay everyone, i wrote this yesterday: Today when I was leaving to go to work, running late as usual, I noticed a package outside my back door. And I'll be danged if it wasn't my new Silhouette Cameo! Ahh! Why do I work?! So I can pay for things like the cameo? Oh, okay. So I grudgingly headed off for my part time gig while being excited to come home to a new toy. After work though, I headed to Joann's to pick up some supplies. I went in and got distracted by the scrapbook paper, which, as a quilter, I never need to buy! So I bought a clearance pack, an on sale pack, and some loose sheets that were too cute to resist. I may or may not have also bought a gold holographic page.. Like a magpie, I am attracted to sparkly things! (Don't judge me, lol.) Next, I picked up some Heat N Bond and some sheets of vinyl. Then on to Target because I was on a role, and got a pair of clearance pants, an undershirt, and a cute floral top. Once I start it's hard to slow down. So I took all my good junk home and got to work! Then my gorgeous and amazing husband text messages me and asked me to bring him some dinner (pretty please?!). He NEVER asks me to do that so, like a loving wife I gritted my teeth and made a dang burrito and threw a piece of chocolate cake in a lunch box and headed to the station. Then I hugged him and was like, "Peace out man!" He had to work late so I hopped back on the computer and downloaded some images and stuff to cut to my hearts content!
So now as I sit here, crossing my fingers that my new toy will cut felt, I wanted to write a little post about it! I kept reading about how awesome these machines are and about all the projects you can use them for. After hand cutting all the letters for the Mr. Right & Mrs. Always Right Pillows by hand with freezer paper... I thought I'd try the Cameo. So far, I've cut vinyl, card stock, scrapbook paper, and it's chomping the felt now! I was a little taken aback at first, this is definitely something you have to use the computer A LOT for. I got the pack with the design studio upgrade and I'm still trying to decipher all of the little symbols. However, if you have worked with any kind of manipulative software before, you shouldn't have trouble. I had read before that the sticky pad is much too sticky at first and I definitely found out the hard way (ripping off a tiny Moroccan background was NOT fun). After I finally got all the scraps off, I palmed the whole mat until it wasn't going to trash my lovely paper anymore! Then, I tried a little floral border for my "Hi" card. It worked perfectly! Vinyl words have cut the best so far though. My felt came out... not so great, I have to use scissors to clip around the edges! I'll try again later :) I also just did a little tie and bow-tie to appliqué, they worked brilliantly! Okay, a shout out to Cassie for the great coupon code to use, the email, and supportive texts! Now, off to find something else cut-able!