What a Hoot!

This lil' guy is now available at SWAKembroidery.com!

He's quirky. And I think he's kinda cute. :)

I Love Where I Live

Don't you just love it when you wake up in the morning, look outside, and gratitude just fills you all over?

Today was one of those days.

The apple trees below pictured with the snow-capped mountains above....

And the apple blossoms are now in full bloom...

And in a few short months, this blossom will become a branch full of golden, delicious apples.

It's like a fresh, new beginning. I love these little reminders that miracles do happen. Every. Day.

The DIY Dish: Make a Hooded Towel and Tote!

This week's episode is now LIVE! You can view it here below, but you'll want to be sure to head on over to www.theDIYdish.com so that you can enter to win the AMAZING Hemingworth Thread Caddy Drawer filled with 42 GORGEOUS thread colors!



Here's a sampling of what we've made!

I'm having so much fun making these, that I am now going to make a whole lot more for baby showers and birthday gifts! Only 2 seams on these towels, and you're finished with the basic towel! Add some cute trims or embroidery, and you've got a real personalized look for summer!

The DIY Dish: Make a Picnic Quilt and Placemats!

Just in case you haven't seen...

Are those fabrics GORGEOUS or what?

This week we shared how to make a VERY EASY picnic quilt as well as some fun little roll-up placemats! You can check it all out at theDIYdish.com! Oh, and we've also got a coupon code from one of my favorite online fabric sites- Fabric.com! (And there's a $100 gift certificate for fabric they're giving away! Woohoo!)

Have a great weekend everyone!

A Mother's Day Filled With Birthday Wishes

What a wonderful day it has been. Some think that by having a birthday and Mother's Day fall on the same day, they may be "jipped" by the double occasion.

But I can't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than celebrating that I am also a mother. Being a mother is the most noble calling I coud receive in this life. I am so, so grateful.

At the dinner table this evening, my sweet husband asked the kids to say something that they were grateful for about their mom.

My 10-year-old said, "I am grateful that Mom was born." :)

So today I do celebrate that I was born and was blessed to be able to come to this earth with my twin sister. Some ask me what it is like to be a twin. However, I don't know what it's like NOT to be a twin. But what I do know is that it has been one of the greatest blessings of my life to have a sister.

I remember when Kim and I were in grade school and we sang the song, "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Mother" in the school talent show. Do you remember that Kim? It went like this...

When I grow up, I want to be a mother and have a family:
one little, two little, three little babies of my own.
Of all the jobs for me, I'll choose no other.
I'll have a family. . . .

And I will love them all day long
and give them cookies and milk and yellow balloons,
And cuddle them when things go wrong,
and read them stories and sing them pretty tunes.

And so it goes- many years and 4 children later, I can't imagine my life without this greatest blessing in my life. It reminds me of a favorite quote of mine:

"If you think my hands are full, you should see my heart."

I am truly the happiest when I am with my family. Oh, sure there are days that are hard, but there are even more days when I sit back and look at my husband and my children and say, "This IS the life. This is what it's all about."

As I get one year older, it's sure a good thing my children keep me younger!

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day!

My Day on Studio 5: Make Frayed Applique

What a day! Today I had the opportunity to go on KSL's Studio 5 representing The DIY Dish. It's always, always so nerve-wracking. I keep thinking it will get easier one of these days, but I'm just so nervous having that it is completely LIVE and there are no re-dos!

But all in all, it was a great experience, too. I truly enjoy working with Brooke, Darin, and the entire crew there. Genuine kindness rings true as soon as you walk through the doors.

Here's the video where you can watch me share with Brooke some ideas for frayed applique! It's one of my most favorite things to do!

And here are some of the projects we showcased!

And be sure to go over to theDIYdish.com where you'll be able to find the FREE download of the pattern to make the truck for little boys as well as the giant flower for the picnic quilt! (BTW...we have a fun and EASY picnic quilt and matching placemats to show you for next week's show!)