I dabble

Some people have a special talent or skill...not me.
I dabble.
I like to try different things.
Cool jewelry...I think, "I can make that!"
Oooo, that's a fun painting, but so expensive..."I can paint that!"
Bake, cook, knit, crochet, sew, garden, tile...if its a home idea or new craft, I've probably tried it.
"Hi, my name is Lori, and I'm a dabbler."
Some people might find this type of crafting life frustrating, but to me it's a challenge and an adventure.
I've had epic, expensive failures...which I will not share. (Today that is.)
But, I've also discovered that there are hidden talents that I never knew that I had.
Like I said, my world is an adventure.
This weekend, was an adventure in trying new things.
I had a pile of fabric laying around. It felt wasteful to have do many beautiful patterns with their lives unfulfilled. It was my job to find their purpose, and hopefully bring myself and others joy in the process.
So here it is...
A look into my dabbling world of crafting over one weekend.

 I needed to practice frosting and filling shapes,

so why not try to make a chocolate cream cheese cookie? 

The frosting was fabulous...the cookie...oh, it was okay.

On to the the next dabble...pillows and pillowcases!

My bedroom needed a little update and I had a stack of fabric,

so just a little stitching and BOOM...update!

 

  

I had a little fabric left over so I kept right on stitching and made a few pillowcases for the Beaverton Clothes Closet too! I hope that these bright, fun colors will bring someone a little joy.  

After all of the "hard" work I definitely deserved a little deliciousness.

So I heated up my beloved pie maker, gathered supplies, and made some quiche.

Yumma!

Now I feel better.

I have dabbled in sewing, baking, savory pie making.

In my world, that all equals up to a fabulous weekend.

I might be a dabbler, but that's okay. I don't plan in changing a thing! :0)

Maybe someday I can crown myself the Sparkle Dabble Queen! (The Shiny crown is a must.)

Cheers and happiness in your dabbles this weekend,

Lori



YOU make me SPARKLE

I do...it's true.
I heart you so much!
It's hard to even describe how much a love,
each and every one of you.

When you click on my blog,
look at my pictures,
laugh, smile, understand, or relate to my words,
YOU make my sparkle brighter.

This blog started out of a little idea,
but it has grown to so much more.
It has enhanced my world, making it sparkle bright.

If you think that I don't know you're there, I do...
and I thank you with all of my heart.
Really, I do.

Love made out of little hearts,
strung together with more love.
Little lovey hearts.






Scrolling through Pinterest,
I came across a heart garland craft from Made. 
It seemed just perfect to represent my love...

 

Dana Made It

Each of these hearts represents each of you.
Individually, we are beautiful and unique,
but together we are better.
Even Murphy loves you so much that he doesn't mind me wrapping him up in heart garland...
...well, he doesn't mind too much.
Hugs to you!

P.S.- I will be making these for my Valentine's Day Bake Sale. hehehe

Time to make the monsters.

I promised.  I must try.


Ugly Dolls

I wish that it was time to make the donuts...remember those commercials?
Let me jog your memory a bit.

Dang. Now I want a donut.

This is just one of the reasons why it's good that I don't have cable...

I see it, I want to eat it. 

Bad. Bad.

But today it's not about donuts (dang it), it's about monsters.  But these aren't just any monsters...they're cute monsters.

Late last week, I met a dear friend and her two fantastic boys for coffee and a little playing.  Of course, a little coffee and a couple shops later, and me being a sucker for a cutie with a birthday coming up...
I said, "Oh I could totally make that!"

He replied, with bright eager eyes, "Really?!"
"Yep.  I could totally make that."
"What about these ones?" he asked, while holding up two more.
"Yep."
"Are you sure?"
"What are you doubting me?"  I teased.

Actually, I had a little smidgen of doubt myself. 
But once you say something like that to a kid, you're committed. 
You have to do it.

Challenge accepted.

I'm going to try to make "Uglier Monsters."
Let the cutting begin...

And pinning and stitching...

Then, some major stitching...bring it on!

Now, repeat.  Two more times. Different monsters...different challenges = 3 cool dudes.

They're just too cool to hang out indoors...

Now you guys are just showing off...

Pretty cute for 3 "Uglier Monsters" huh?  :0)

Challenge complete.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CADEN!

Little House in the Oak Trees

I live in a little house. 

 Some people called it quaint or cute...bungalow...cottage...no matter what it tiny. 
Itty-Bitty.
In fact, it's the smallest house in the neighborhood.

But don't let that fool you...it's overflowing with joy and sparkle!

People in my neighborhood know how much I adore this little house.  I only wish that I could have seen it in the early days.  My neighbors describe it as the perfect little cottage, nestled in HUGE oak trees.  Actually, I've been told that it stayed that way until the mid-90's when someone purchased the house and land.  They divided the land to build more homes, and chopped down the trees. (teardrop) Thank goodness they left my little house standing...though it looks a bit out of place among the larger, newer homes.  I like to shield the side of my eyes and imagine what it was like in the past.

What better inspiration for today's craft, than my little house.

1. First, I cut out pieces for my little grey house and pinned them on the backing piece of fabric. Look at the little nose peeking into the picture!  I guess he felt left out of this project.

2. Second, I stitched. 

3. Next, I added a little love!

Meanwhile, Murphy napped...

4. For this pillow, I added a felt backing before I stitched it together to give it some weight because my yellow fabric is really thin.

5. Add stuffing and stitch the pillow closed.  Tada!

It may be little...tiny, and well just simply adorable, but it's bursting with SPARKLE!
Now I just need to make an oak tree pillow! :0)

Mr. Smarty Pants Pillow

Mr. Smarty Pants, aka Murphy, aka Murphinator, aka Turbo Paws

Having a Border Collie is NOT having a dog or a pet.  It is having an activity coordinator living in your home telling you what to do and when to do it.  And either you can handle it or you shouldn't adopt one.

My activity coordinator,

my best furry friend,

the healer of my heart,

and the reviver of my sparkle.

Murphy came into my life exactly when I needed him.  I desperately needed a bundle of love and someone to focus my energy into something positive. 

When I felt low, he would look at me with that face

and encourage me to play. 

Ahh...the healing powers of the dog park....in the rain, wind, snow, and sun.

So...what better pillow inspiration, than the face staring at me everyday.

First, I cut and placed pieces of different fabric...pinned into place.

Next, I began stitching...

and stitching...

and stitching.

Next, I cut 2 inch strips of this adorable red polka dot fabric

and attached them as a border to my Border Collie face.

Then, cut larger strips and created another border.

Then, I added the back piece of the pillow and stitched it all together.

Isn't this cute?!  I know that I'm bias. :0)

Finally, I added stuffing...

I think this is my fav. pillow now...of course, that's not surprising, because he's my fav. too!