The Southern Institute

Framed Family Embroidery (Free Download).

2012-01-26T23:09:00.000-06:00

We have had quite a bit of sickness in our household this week and I've had a lot of time at home... I got a little antsy. I became inspired by all of the time I've been spending with my sweet children and I decided to do a little bit of needlework, since it had been awhile. I sketched out this little pattern and went to work...

I really love the way it turned out, although my letters aren't perfect. Guess what? Neither is our family, so I guess it fits!

I added a little satin stitched heart for a pop of color and dotted the eye with a french knot.

If you'd like to make one of your own, click here for the pattern!

I really love embroidery! It's mindless work, quick, and you can be as creative as you want with it. Sublime stitching has a great how-to page with easy to follow tutorials and bunches of cool patterns. Magpie Patterns also has great patterns for sale.

My next embroidery project is to embellish an old cardigan. I can't wait!

I Love This Kid!

2012-01-26T07:00:00.001-06:00

This just makes me happy...

Tutorial: Recycled T-Shirt Pillow Cover.

2012-01-24T07:00:00.001-06:00

It's not news to anyone that I like to recycle t-shirts. One of my favorite Goodwill finds is either a solid color children's t-shirt for freezer paper stenciling, a big t-shirt for making into a superhero cape for the boys or a ruffled tank top for myself, or a fun printed t-shirt to make into a shirt for the boys. The other week I found an awesome t-shirt and knew I had to make it into something, so I made this...

Making a pillow cover is about one of the best beginner sewing projects you can find. The instructions are simple, and the knit fabric of a t-shirt is very forgiving. This works great with a regular cotton fabric or a heavier decorator fabric as well.

Step One: Measure your pillow insert from side seam to side seam, then top seam to bottom seam. Mine was a 16"x16" square. Add about 1" to each measurement before cutting the front piece of your pillow cover. In my case, the front piece was a 17"x17" square. (I forgot to take a photo of this, SORRY!)

Step Two: The great thing about a t-shirt is that you don't have to finish any raw edges! I used the bottom edges of the front and back of the shirt to create two pieces for the back of the pillow. No matter what size your pillow insert is you will cut one back piece about 3" shorter than the top to bottom of your front piece. Then cut a second piece about 9" shorter than your front piece. The width of the pieces will be the same as the width of the front piece. These two back pieces will overlap the back of the pillow. Notice how the bottom edges are the bottom of the t-shirt.

My back pieces were 8"x17" and 14"x17".

Step Three: Place the front piece of the cover right side up on the floor. Place the larger back piece, with raw edges matching, finished edge at the bottom and right side down, on top of the front piece.

Step Four: Place the shorter back piece on top of the other pieces, bottom raw edges together, finished edge at the top, right side down.

Step Five: Pin the edges together and sew around all of the edges with a 1/4" inseam (or serge). Turn the whole thing right side out, put in the pillow insert, and you're done!

(I think he likes it.)

Creative Me Link Up!

2012-01-22T17:03:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone! Before we get started today I want to make sure that you check out the My Memories review and enter the giveaway for your own digital scrapbooking software... AWESOME!! It's a great giveaway that you won't want to miss!

Onto Creative Me! Last week you all submitted over 200 links! That's awesome! I consistently get comments about how people love this link up and how inspired they are by what they see...

... that's all you!!!

You are what makes this link up great! So keep those projects coming, and the more the better, because you are inspiring other people and I think that's amazing!!

This week's featured link is from Kenda's Crafts. Kenda has her second child on the way and dolled up this doll bed for her little boy. He has a baby doll and now that doll has a sweet little bed, complete with handmade custom bedding!

Thank you for linking up, Kendra, and congratulations on baby # 2!!! I'm so excited for you!

Okay, now it's your turn! Just a few guidelines for linking up. Please:

Follow The Southern Institute and display the Creative Me Monday button somewhere in your post or on your blog. The button html is at the top of the post. Just copy and paste!
Don't have anything new? Show us something from your archives...old to you is new to us!
You can link up as many things as you'd like, the more the better your chances of being the featured link next week!
Visit at least two other blogs and leave some comment love. We are a community that supports one another, right? Right!
No shop links please. You can link up a giveaway as long as it's attached to a project that you're linking up.

Don't forget to grab and proudly display the "featured" button if you're project has been in the featured spot on Creative Me Monday.

Have a great day, everyone! Come back tomorrow for a simple recycled sewing project!

My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Review and Giveaway!

2012-01-22T11:12:00.001-06:00

I have something fun for you this week!

A little while back I was contacted about reviewing digital scrapbooking software from My Memories. Let me preface this by saying that I have never been one for scrapbooking. Back when Abby was a baby (and we didn't have a digital camera) I took lots of photos with my manual SLR and had grand plans to create a baby book for her. I think I got to her first steps and never finished the book. The problem is that I get overwhelmed by all of the cutting, embellishments, stickers, paper, and everything that it requires... so I gave up, and I had mommy-guilt about it. What I have enjoyed doing is putting together photo books with our digital photos (of which we have many)! So... when I took a look at the My Memories Suite software and saw how easy it was to put together scrapbook pages on my laptop, with our digital photos, I got really excited! I had a chance to play around with it last week and put together a few pages in no time at all. I took screen shots of a couple of them so you could see what the software looks like when you work with it.

There are a ton of templates to choose from with this software, or you can create your own.

It's easy to add text to the pages that you're working on, making your pages even more personal.

Each template has several pages to work with. You can use all of the pages to create a themed scrapbook, or you can pick and choose the pages that you want from different templates and put them together in one custom book. It's as easy as dragging and dropping your photos into the template! It simply could not be simpler, which is what I LOVE about this software.

If you're wanting to create custom pages, the My Memories Suite gives you everything you need from digital "papers" to embellishments that you can add to your pages.

There are calender grids that you can use to create a custom calender for your family or as a gift.

Planning to make your own Valentines? Take a look at their Valentines papers

and use word art to personalize it... this is so cute!

You create memories with your children every day, and if you're like me you document them with photos. The one drawback to digital photography (in my opinion) is that you download them and then they sit on your computer for an indefinite amount of time. This software solves this problem because you can create beautiful pages to display the photos that you love! Have a blast creating your pages, cards, and photo books, then print them out at home! Frame the pages and hang them on the wall... the possibilities are literally endless with My Memories! There are several pages of free kits to choose from when you purchase the My Memories Suite software kit, and even more to buy at very reasonable prices! Here's a tad bit more info:

So you know how I feel about this now, right? Here's a little incentive to try it for yourself...

You can get the My Memories Suite for $29.97 using the code STMMMS62653, plus get a $10 coupon for the My Memories.com store! Just visit this link and add the Suite to your cart, enter the promo code at checkout to receive the $10 off.

One of you will win the My Memories Suite ( a $39.97 value)!

To Enter:

Visit My Memories and leave me a comment telling me what caught your eye.

For extra entries:

"Like" My Memories on Facebook and leave a comment.
Follow My Memories on Twitter and leave a comment.

I'll take entries through Wednesday night. Good luck!

Thank you to My Memories for giving me the My Memories Suite for review and giveaway! All opinions are my own.

My life in Instagram.

2012-01-20T08:10:00.001-06:00

It has been a busy week! Nothing out of the ordinary, just a lot of running around visiting with friends or watching other peoples' children. As a result, I have not done much as far as crafting or sewing goes, but I have taken some photos. I love Instagram, and since I hardly ever use my SLR since I got my iPhone (shameful) I though I'd share some of my favorite recent Instagram photos with you. Photography is one of my hobbies. My favorite would be lifestyle photography I guess... just capturing people in their natural surroundings. These are all of my family...

I'm hoping to have a simple t-shirt recycle tutorial for you next week, so y'all come back! (Did I just say "y'all"?)

Sisters In Bloom: a New Community Encouraging the Hearts of Women!

2012-01-18T07:00:00.007-06:00

I am beyond excited to share something with you today... something that I am humbled and honored to have been asked to be a part of. I truly believe that it will be a blessing to everyone who visits. This short video will give you a taste of what you can expect to find at Sisters In Bloom:

Sisters In Bloom Is Coming Soon from Denise Thompson on Vimeo.

If you desire to bloom where God has planted you, then please come visit Sisters In Bloom. You will find a group of women who have a heart for God and a heart for encouraging women in their daily walk with God. I'm so excited to see what God does through all of us;

You and I,

a community of women,

sisters in bloom!

Creative Me Link Up!

2012-01-15T21:09:00.000-06:00

We are now two weeks into 2012! I hope your year is off to a good start. I've enjoyed seeing your projects and visiting some of your blogs. I wish I had the time to visit each and every one. Thank you so much for linking up and making this link up fun for everyone involved!

Did anyone try their hand at Adrianne's glass tile pendant? It's still on my to-do list. I can't wait to try it. The featured spot this week goes to Sherry at Pondered Primed Perfect {P3} and her Tripod Lamp. You have to go over and take a look at her inspiration and then the finished product. She and her hubby did an AMAZING job with it. I love it!

Thank you so much for sharing with us, Sherry! Remember everyone, the more projects you link up, the better your chances of being chosen as the featured blog for the whole week!

Okay, now it's your turn! Just a few guidelines for linking up. Please:

Follow The Southern Institute and display the Creative Me Monday button somewhere in your post or on your blog. The button html is at the top of the post. Just copy and paste!
Don't have anything new? Show us something from your archives...old to you is new to us!
You can link up as many things as you'd like, the more the better your chances of being the featured link next week!
Visit at least two other blogs and leave some comment love. We are a community that supports one another, right? Right!
No shop links please. You can link up a giveaway as long as it's attached to a project that you're linking up.

Don't forget to grab and proudly display the "featured" button if you're project has been in the featured spot on Creative Me Monday. It can be found on the "Buttons" page.

Have fun being creative this week!

Will You Be My Valentine?

2012-01-14T08:12:00.000-06:00

Hello friends! It's Saturday and I thought I'd share something fun with you. Adrianne, over at Happy Hour Projects, is hosting a Valentine Exchange. Do you want to join in with me? I signed up this morning. It's nothing too big and involved, just a fun way to connect with another blogger, and you get to post this cute button on your blog...

Just click on that button if you'd like to find out more! Have a great weekend!

Don't forget... You can still link up your projects with Creative Me through tonight! It's another chance to add a cute button to your blog. Ha ha!

Pick Your Plum: Head Warmers!

2012-01-12T08:50:00.000-06:00

You can keep your ears warm and look cute too!

Which color will you pick?

Get it here for $3.95!

Kwik Sew 3833: Boy's Cap

2012-01-11T07:00:00.002-06:00

Our boys look awfully cute in caps. I saw this Kwik Sew pattern forever ago and bought it to make a cap for the boys, who are just about the same size. It sat in my project pile for months, along with a pair of corduroys that didn't fit me anymore. Incidentally, the little boy in the picture reminds me so much of Luke!

I FINALLY got around to making the cap last week, and although it turned out very cute, it totally does not fit. I measured twice, no three times, around Luke's and Levi's heads and decided on the size large. I was afraid the medium would be just a tad too small, but it turns out that the large is so huge that no one in our family can wear it!

It's even too big for me! I'm not the greatest at estimating how things will fit as I go along. I kept trying it on Luke while I was sewing it, and it seemed big, but I thought that once I put the elastic in it would fit him better. Nope. Totally too big. So I'm really bummed. I know it's all part of sewing and being creative, but it stinks when you spend the time and materials on a project that you won't even be able to use. Wah, wah. I did get a cute picture of Levi in it though!

If I make this again, I'll definitely make it in the medium, maybe even the small. It's really a fun hat to make and I love the way it looked when it was finished. The lining and the ribbon made it unique and boyish...

... I just wish the boys could wear it!

Don't forget to link up your recent projects at the Creative Me party!

For All the Moms Out There... a Video.

2012-01-09T08:13:00.001-06:00

As I have said, we have many talented friends here in Nashville...

This is Alli and Andrew with a parody of Justin Bieber

(or as Abby calls him, Justin Dweeber).

Moms, this one is for you!

It's the New and Improved Creative Me Linky Party!

2012-01-08T21:00:00.003-06:00

Hello, everyone! I did it... I decided to change things up a little bit here and I had a new button made for my linky party and changed the name just a tad.

Welcome to the Creative Me Linky Party at

The Southern Institute!

Now there is no confusion, this linky party is open all week long... not just on Mondays. I had Lisa at My Little Buffalo create a button that coordinated with my header and other buttons (designed by her as well). I love what she came up with! So, if you'd like to replace the old button with the new button you can , but if not that's okay too... the old button should still link to The Southern Institute.

Let's get on with the party, shall we? I thought I'd share something with you that I made last week. The third graders at Abby's school gave all 75 teachers a New Year's goody bag on Friday. All of the classes contributed healthy snacks and filled gift bags with them, then delivered them to the teachers' desks, were they would find them when they arrived to school on Friday morning. I was responsible for decorating 13 bags. As usual, I waited until the last minute to decorate them... i.e. the night before. I thought I would play on the teaching theme by using chalkboard stickers and a chalkboard pen (my new favorite writing utensil!). I found some quotes about teaching and wrote them on the fronts of the bags...

They aren't very fancy or elaborate, but I really liked the simple and clean look! I love the red and black and white together, and I thought the quotes were really fun. Plus they are reusable. The chalk wipes off with a damp cloth. The teachers loved their goody bags!

This weeks featured blog link is Adrianne from Happy Hour Projects! Adrianne is no stranger to The Southern Institute. Do you remember the yarn ball pumpkin tutorial? Last week she linked up this awesome New Year's Ever glass tile necklace.

I totally love this necklace! I have got to get myself some glass tiles and make a few of these. I think they would be so fun as gifts, don't you? Thanks for linking up, Adrianne, and for sharing this great tutorial!

Okay, now it's your turn! Just a few guidelines for linking up. Please:

Follow The Southern Institute and display the Creative Me Monday button somewhere in your post or on your blog. The button html is at the top of the post. Just copy and paste!
Don't have anything new? Show us something from your archives...old to you is new to us!
You can link up as many things as you'd like, the more the better your chances of being the featured link next week!
Visit at least two other blogs and leave some comment love. We are a community that supports one another, right? Right!
No shop links please. You can link up a giveaway as long as it's attached to a project that you're linking up.

Don't forget to grab and proudly display the "featured" button if you're project has been in the featured spot on Creative Me Monday.

I can't wait to see what you link up this week...
the more links the merrier,
and the better your chances of being the featured blog!

Two Coal Train Railroad Giveaway Winners!

2012-01-07T17:14:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone! I almost forgot to pick the two winners of the Coal Train Railroad CDs... so without further ado...

Jess and Pattyann, you both will receive a copy of Coal Train Railroad Swings!

I hope that you and yours enjoy this CD as much as we do,

and thanks to Coal Train Railroad for a great giveaway!

40 Tags for $3.50 at Pick Your Plum!

2012-01-06T09:07:00.000-06:00

Hurry! They're almost gone!

Get them here.

Tutorial: Romantic Valentine's Lamp from Janae at The Letter 4.

2012-01-05T07:00:00.001-06:00

Time for another guest here at The Southern Institute! You know how much I love these posts... I love seeing what other bloggers are coming up with. There's always something new to share and try for yourself. Today's guest is a ton of fun... have you been over to The Letter 4? Seriously fun blog, ladies. There is so much to see there, and never a dull moment. Scroll down to the end of this post and take a look at that gorgeous photo of today's guest, Janae...

Now check out this photo of Janae after being styled and photographed by their family friend...

... is that not totally fun??? She looks like a supermodel! Well, enough of the introductions. You'll have to go over and see the blog for yourself. Right now, please welcome Janae to The Southern Institute!

Hey there Southern Institute readers! I'm Janae and I blog over at

THE LETTER 4

My sisters and I started our blog as a way to share our projects and ideas together since moving away from each other. My oldest sister Julianna does a lot of crafts, Jade is our amazing chef, Jamie is our designer of printables, and I usually like to throw in some hair tutorials.

Today I wanted to share with you a Valentines light idea I had!

I thought this would be a great way to dress up a valentines day dinner table. And you could personalize this too! All I took was a piece of paper that I drew hearts all over, a flameless tea light. Rolled the paper inside of the vase and put the tea light in the center.

Tada!
Now you have a homemade dim lit table. You could use scrapbooking paper (the thin kind), or write a love note piece of paper, funny doodles about your relationship, whatever!

Have fun with it, and ~~happy valentines day!~~ happy new year!!!

Thank you so much for sharing this project with us today, Janae! I have all of the supplies here and can't wait to make one for our Valentine's Day Table.

What Is Your Word for 2012?

2012-01-03T10:29:00.000-06:00

source

I've been thinking about things and I've been listening to what God has been whispering to me. 2011 was a year of learning to rest, learning to be easier on myself. It will always be something that I have to remind myself to do. It's just so easy to feel like you have to do it all, and it's so easy to be hard on yourself.

This year is different. I've been acutely feeling the call to die to myself. Those of us who had made God the Lord of our lives are called to do this. We are called to humble ourselves and to put others first. Not in a "doormat" sort of way, but rather in an "others-centered" sort of way. I'm being shown how selfish I am. People who know me might say that this is ridiculous, but I know myself and I know my thoughts. I am selfish. I put myself first in my mind, in many situations, but the time has come to put that away. This year will bring with it decisions to be made that concern my family and my children. It may mean making decisions that cause discomfort for me. I have made the decision to lower myself and put others first, even if that means giving up a bit of what I want. I may already do this often, in action, but not always in my heart, and therein lies the difference. This year my word is...

SACRIFICE

If I am to love with all that I am then I must sacrifice.

What about you? Have you chosen a word for 2012? Just one word that you will make a part of you this year? Will you share it in a post and link it up here?

The 1st Creative Me Monday of 2012!

2012-01-01T20:00:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year, friends!

So... 2012! 2012, can you believe it?

A new year.

A blank slate.

A fresh start.

I love the new year. I love Christmas, but I also really enjoy putting all of the decorations away and taking the tree down and feeling like the house is clean and open again. Of course, it looks a bit bare, but it calms me a little bit. Do any of you feel that way too? I've been thinking about goals for this year; personal, blogging, professional, spiritual... not necessarily in that order. I can feel a still small voice speaking to me, and I'm trying to listen with an open heart. It's a little bit scary. Last year some of us in The Southern Institute community and elsewhere around blogland chose a word for 2011 and I'd love to do that again this year. I've been thinking and praying about it... have you? Let's link our Word for 2012 posts up on Tuesday, shall we?

Last week's Creative Me Monday link had the lowest number of entries in a looooooong time, but you know what? That makes me happy! I imagined you all spending time with your loved ones and being so wrapped up in the magic of the holidays that you didn't have time to link up. I know I neglected my blog last week, and I didn't miss it one bit (no offense to you all)!

Let's get down to the fun! We did have several of you link up last week and you shared some really fun projects. This week's featured link is The Fleece Boa from Athena at The Stuff of Success. This is a fun and easy project that makes a great dress up accessory for a little girl or a cozy winter scarf.

Look at her posing! You can tell she loves her boa. Thanks for linking up, Athena! Athena has a linky party herself every week, where you can link your projects up.

Okay, now it's your turn! Just a few guidelines for linking up. Please:

Follow The Southern Institute and display the Creative Me Monday button somewhere in your post or on your blog. The button html is at the top of the post. Just copy and paste!
Don't have anything new? Show us something from your archives...old to you is new to us!
You can link up as many things as you'd like, the more the better your chances of being the featured link next week!
Visit at least two other blogs and leave some comment love. We are a community that supports one another, right? Right!
No shop links please. You can link up a giveaway as long as it's attached to a project that you're linking up.

Don't forget to grab and proudly display the "featured" button if you're project has been in the featured spot on Creative Me Monday.

One more thing... I'm thinking of changing the name of this linky party to Creative Me instead of Creative Me Monday and having a new button made. Do you think having Monday in the name leads people to think they can only link up on Mondays? I'm curious.

Put A Little Jazz In Your Children's Day With Coal Train Railroad!

2011-12-30T07:00:00.003-06:00

I've been enjoying a relaxed week here at The Southern Institute. I've been laying low on the blog front and enjoying the time with my husband and children while Abby is on winter break and Tom has long weekends off of work. Now that Christmas is over I feel like I can really relax and play. We've been listening to music, playing board games, playing with friends, doing extreme dot to dots, and enjoying all of the wonderful Christmas gifts. Tonight we've been listening to the new CD by Coal Train Railroad and loving it!

Coal Train Railroad is made up of two wonderful local songwriters and musicians that my husband and I have the privilege of knowing. One of the great things about Nashville is the abundance of talent! Katy Bowser Hutson is a friend of mine and one half of Coal Train Railroad. Along with uber-talented musician Chris Donohue, they make a jazz duo who create fun jazz music for children. This is real jazz music with real instruments, not some cheesy jazz muzak with synthesized pianos and horns. Katy provides the vocals with a retro jazz sound that is sure to please kids and parents alike. With songs like "I'm Diggin' Me" (for your little superhero) and "I Hab a Code", you'll be tapping your feet and giggling along.

Here's a video of Coal Train Railroad performing "Bellybutton" at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Isn't that just too much fun??? Real jazz for kids that parents will love too! If you ask me, Coal Train Railroad Swings should be part of every family's music collection.

Katy would love to give two of you your very own copy for your music collection, so were giving two CDs away this weekend! Thank you, Katy!

To enter: "Like" Coal Train Railroad on Facebook and leave a comment here. If you aren't on Facebook, then follow them on Twitter and leave a comment.

If you're not on facebook or twitter, then just leave a comment... we don't want you to miss out on the chance to win this awesome CD! Just leave a comment... you won't be sorry. :)

Please remember to leave a way for me to contact you!!!

If you want to bypass this giveaway business and just BUY the CD, you can do that too! Just visit the Coal Train Railroad store and buy your own for $10.

Thanks, everyone! I think it's so important to spread the word about great products for kids and support independent artists, don't you?

Today's Pick Your Plum... Beautiful Lace Shirt!

2011-12-28T08:34:00.000-06:00

Pick Your Plum rarely has clothing items as the deal of the day, but when they do they are a must have. Today's beautiful lace layering top would be beautiful under or over another shirt, adding the perfect feminine touch and it's only $8.95, in black or white! Get it here before it's gone!

The Runaround Bag.

2011-12-27T11:46:00.000-06:00

This year I wanted to make something for my sister for Christmas and she needed a bag. I knew just the one to try, the Runaround Bag that Anna designed. She had given me a copy of the pattern, but I hadn't had the chance to make one yet, so I was excited to get started.

My sister and I went to the fabric store and she picked out the fabric combination that she wanted. Then I pulled a move that is, unfortunately, very typical for me. I cut one of the exterior pieces upside down, which was not a good thing because it was a print with text on it and couldn't be salvaged. It was also $17/yard. Crud. Luckily I had a yard of Anna Maria Horner fabric in my stash that I have been waiting to use and my sister loved it. PHEW! I didn't quite have it ready for Christmas, but I did finish it last night. Better late than never! This is what it looks like...

Exterior

Interior

I think I actually like it better turned inside out! Now that I've made the bag, I wish that I would have made the exterior without the pleats. I wasn't thinking about how they would affect the look of the pattern, and I think it would definitely look better without that little bit of pleating. I really love the bag design though. It can be made with a slip pocket, like I used, or a zipper pocket. You can add a magnetic snap as a closure if you want to. It's just an all around functional and cute bag, and you can bet that I will be making one for myself. In fact, I have already picked out the fabric.

Exterior Interior

Perfect for the spring. The fabric is on sale at www.sewmamasew.com, along with a TON of other fabics. I'm excited about this bag!

Have you made a Runaround Bag?

How do you like it?

Don't forget to link up your projects this week!

Creative Me Monday and Giveaway Winners!

2011-12-26T09:40:00.000-06:00

Phew! I don't know about you but I am tired and happy! It was a beautiful Christmas and a wonderful weekend. In fact, we are still enjoying the weekend since my children are out of school and my husband has the day off. (YES!) How was your holiday? Did you stay close to home or travel? What are your favorite Christmas traditions? Did you start a new tradition? I hope that wherever you were and whomever you were with it was a blessed time.

I appreciate all of you that linked up last week, in spite of it being the week before Christmas and very, very hectic! You all are awesome, and I love having each one of you here throughout the week. Let's get straight to the featured blogs (I promised two this week)...

Tales of a Trophy Wife made this centerpiece out of an old can and some fabric! So cute! I love the reindeer that are hanging from the branches.

Kimberly at Creating Home made a Chamomile and Calendula Gift Set and shared it with us last week.

Read her post to learn about some of the properties of these essential oils. I love learning new things about natural healing! Thank you so much for linking up, ladies! I'm glad to have you as a part of our community!

And now I have a couple of winners to announce!

First the winner of the $50 Dayspring gift certificate is Lis at A Life Well Done.

The winner of the Pick Your Plum giveaway is Melissa at Lazy Daisy Crochet! Melissa lucked out because the 1st person that I drew to win did not leave their email address and were not linked to a profile. I cannot stress how important it is to leave a way for me to contact you... please remember "no email = no win!"

Okay, now it's your turn! Just a few guidelines for linking up. Please:

Follow The Southern Institute and display the Creative Me Monday button somewhere in your post or on your blog. The button html is at the top of the post. Just copy and paste!

Don't have anything new? Show us something from your archives...old to you is new to us!

You can link up as many things as you'd like, the more the better your chances of being the featured link next week!

Visit at least two other blogs and leave some comment love. We are a community that supports one another, right? Right!

No shop links please. You can link up a giveaway as long as it's attached to a project that you're linking up.

Don't forget to grab and proudly display the "featured" button if you're project has been in the featured spot on Creative Me Monday.

Have a wonderful week!

I can't wait to see what you link up!

The Christmas Plate.

2011-12-23T07:00:00.001-06:00

We're getting down to the wire now! Only two days until Christmas!! Are you hosting Christmas dinner? This year is the first year in a long time that we are not having dinner at our home. This year my sister and her husband are having us for Christmas Eve dinner... for the first time ever! So no Christmas table setting for me this weekend, but if I was setting the table this is what I would do.

Just a couple of sprigs from our Frazier Fir, red and white baker's twine, and a pretty folk art tree stamp are enough to pretty up a plate. It's simple, festive, inexpensive, and smells like Christmas.

This is the last you will hear from me until after the weekend, so let me wish you a blessed Christmas and Happy Hanukah! May your weekend be chock full of laughter, stories, smiles, and reflection on the reason for the season as well.

Tutorial: Sparkling Ice Crystals.

2011-12-21T10:02:00.002-06:00

Today I am over at Magazines.com with the tutorial for making gorgeous Sparkling Ice Crystals! These are so super simple to make. You can make several with your kids in just half an hour and have ice crystals sparkling wherever you please. They look lovely on the tree with the lights shining through them. I'd love to have you come by and visit me over there, and I'd appreciate it if you'd hit the share buttons and leave a comment while your there. Thanks, friends!

What beautiful things have you been making or cooking up this week? Would you link up with me and let us see? For each project you link up you get an entry in the Pick Your Plum giveaway! Don't miss it!

My ebook is Coming Soon!

2011-12-20T07:00:00.001-06:00

Some of you have read a post or two about the ebook that I have been working on. It's totally not craft related, but it's something that I'm very passionate about. The book is called Unbound Birth: How to Have a Natural Birth in the Hospital, and it comes out next month! Here's a peek at what the cover is going to look like, created by Erin at Design By Insight...

Isn't it beautiful? I cannot tell you how excited I am about getting this book into the hands of women who want to have a natural birth, but don't want to have a home birth. I'm working with a friend who is marketing the book for me and we have an idea for a book launch. Here's what I was thinking...

On the release date (TBA, but sometime mid January) I would love to have a bunch of women share their birth stories on their blogs and then share a review of Unbound Birth. It's about 55 pages long and very easy to read. If you are not a mother, but would still be interested in reviewing the book, I would appreciate that too! If you you think this might be a good fit for your blog and you'd like a free copy of the book to review then please leave a comment or email me so I can put you on my ebook reviewer list. I've got several women on the list already, but there is always room for more!

I have been working hard behind the scenes, writing this book and getting things ready. I've never done anything like this before, and it's a bit overwhelming, but I have a crew of amazing friends helping me and I cannot wait to share the finished product. You can follow @Unboundbirth on Twitter, where I'll let you know when the unboundbirth.com and the accompanying facebook page are up.