Picture This! Sunday...yup, more snow!

Living in Iowa, there's always gonna be snow. I still like it, but it's only December.

The tree is the front yard is decorated with these big ornaments.

A neighbor guy always makes crap out of it.

It doesn't stop me...I just add more each year.

The table on the deck is so pretty covered in snow!

We have about 6" now and it's still coming down.

I have a feeling school may be delayed tomorrow. :)

We decorated the mailbox this year.

I joked that it looks more like a "pinterest fail", but oh well.

The neighbor guy had comments on this too.

What a Scrooge.

Sophie was out helping to clean off the deck.

She has no idea how adorable she looks in her Christmas coat!

I hope you're enjoying the weather wherever you are!

*Day 11 of the 31 Days of Blogging Challenge

Caption This!

I've been making a few blocks from the book Intentional Piecing by Amy Friend.

I found out about this book through Instagram.

Amy started a contest challenge for folks to use her paper piecing pattern,

post a photo and add a cute/funny/sweet little story to go with it.

I knew I had the perfect fabric to work with for this project. Among a bag of fabrics that I bought at an estate sale a few years back were two napkins with Christmas bears on them.

Perfect for fussy cutting, right?

I made a template like Amy suggests and found the "portraits" I wanted to use. I marked them with a pencil and cut them out. Just look at those adorable faces!

My first block's story:

Grandpa Bear was set for his annual Christmas photo session

when Little Teddy decided to try out his photo-bombing skills!

My second block's story:

Little Timmy liked his new hat,

but wished that Grandma had made it big enough for both ears!

Above is my third block.

He needs a story!!

Any ideas?

I'm not sure what I'll make with these blocks yet, or how many I'll make all together.

They are just so sweet to make and easy too!

If interested, you can find me on Instagram! My user name is: _duchick_

*Day 10 of 31 Days of Blogging

Hand-Made Cards

Do you ever want to make something special for a friend or loved  one,

but don't have time for a large project?

Sew up a card!

I buy plain cardstock sets found at any craft store.

Sets include multiple blank cards and envelopes.

A variety of colors are available, or ivory or white.

Use a scalloped scissors to cut a fancy edge.

Stickers are fun too!

Cut out the shapes from fabric and sew them onto fabric or directly to the card.

This is a great use of scraps, even those tiny ones!

I save all of my well-used sewing machine needles for making cards.

The cardstock paper dulls a needle quickly,

so this is a perfect use for old needles!

It's also a great excuse to play with those fancy stitches on your machine!

Use a non-bleeding pen to write a verse, poem or saying.

Or just go with strips of fabric sewn directly onto the cardstock.

Add a sweet ribbon or quote.

Or, if you're feeling like trying out some new pens and paints,

try drawing!

Your friends will love them!

(All of these cards have been made by me!)

*Day 9 of 31 Days of Blogging Challenge

City Sampler Baby Quilt

This past summer I finally got around to using 25 of the 100 Tula Pink City Sampler Blocks.

I truly loved making these blocks! Each block was so different and so easy to follow along...except one that I had a dickens of a time with.

I chose 25 of the blocks that were similar in colors to make into a baby boy quilt.

No baby in mind, but perhaps a future grandbaby!

I now have 2 baby quilts patiently waiting for a grand entrance!

Quilted with a simple wavy stitch from side to side.

Bound in a blue and white polka dot.

I still have 75 City Sampler blocks that need a project.

I showed this quilt to a friend over the summer.

She loved it and after a bit of hesitation, she offered to buy it for $30 for a nephew.

She left empty-handed.

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!

Today, I am joining in on Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day!

One lucky winner will receive both of the following prizes:

KimberBell's "May Flowers" Bench Pillow Pattern

I think this is just adorable and want to make one myself for my porch.

and

Moda's 5" charm pack of Feed Company by Sweetwater

Responses will be accepted through Sunday, Dec. 11 at 6:00 PM Central time.

I will ship internationally.

More giveaways can be found at Sew Mama Sew

What do you need to do to be in the draw?

Tell me something quirky about yourself.

I'll start to give you an idea and warm you up to your quirkiness....

~~I never sew with shoes on. Socks or barefoot works best for me.

~~I also have a thing with even numbers.

My alarm clock and car thermostat have to be set at an even number.

Those odd numbers just make me uncomfortable!

Your turn:

Tell me something quirky about yourself!

If you are a follower of my blog by email or Bloglovin,

let me know in a second comment for an extra chance!

*due to the amount of comments on this post,

I will be unable to reply to each individually.

I have a quilt to finish by Christmas Day!!

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!

The winner's name will be posted on Monday, December 12th

Day 7 of the 31 Days of Blogging Challenge

One of Those "Gotta-Create-Something" Projects

If you have a shred of creativity in your system,

I'm sure you know the feeling of having to create something like RIGHT NOW!

I was between projects this past summer and needed to quiet that nudging inside me.

I strolled through Pinterest for inspiration, as I often do.

I came across this photo and was instantly inspired:

(not my project above...my inspiration photo)

I turned to my stash and scrap baskets for the perfect fabrics.

I FMQ'd a neutral background with a brick-patterned border on one side.

I made flowers.

I made leaves.

I sewed them down.

 I zig-zagged over green yarn to create swirly vines.

I added cloud-patterned fabric for clouds.

I even cut out a butterfly and added it  to fly near the clouds.

This little project got put on the back burner because something else got in the way of finishing it.

I think it was a quilt.

It's like yelling "SQUIRREL!!!" and off I go chasing a new adventure.

All she needs is a binding. It will get done and I will post updates.

Promise!

*Day 6 of the 31 Days of Blogging Challenge

Presenting Marie's Lap Quilt

Remember this quilt?

I made it last summer for my husband's aunt who lives in Springfield, Missouri.

We delivered it to Aunt Marie in October.

Here she is admiring it.

I must've held it up at least a dozen times so she could see the entire thing.

She loved it...just as I had hoped.

*Day #5 of the 31 Day Blogging Challenge