I couldn't resist...

...it's the trendy and iconic mustache!

I say it's been begging to be digitized. :)

Now available at SWAK!

"Your stitches have to kiss..."

This is what my friend, Shelli tells her daughter when learning to hand-embroider.

And how cute is that?

Shelli, of Needle in a Haystack and YouCanMakeThis.com appeared on Studio 5 today to share a FREE project that was "totally wicked." (Sorry, I had to.)

Shelli, you did an amazing job today. I couldn't have been more thrilled to watch you present and you did so well at it. I LOVE the pattern you came up with. I've got to make some right away.

You all know how much I love machine embroidery. HOWEVER, hand-embroidery is what I truly enjoy doing when I want to sit down and relax. I think it's a good thing that Shelli happens to have some of the cutest patterns out there. Her artistic talents and attention to detail just come shining through in everything she does.

Be sure to get your free pattern download at YouCanMakeThis.com!

Off to stitch some spiders! (The only kind I like! LOL)

The DIY Dish is BACK!!!!

Phew! Our first episode of season 2 is now here! I hope you like it. :)



Be sure to head over to theDIYdish.com so that you can enter for an amazing giveaway! Janome is helping us give away an embroidery machine AND a serger!!!!

To Heather....

Dear Heather,

Wish you had been here. With every attention paid to detail, I know you would have loved this. Inspiration at its finest...just like you my friend.

Your friend,
Kris

Though this post was written to my creative friend, Heather, it is also for everyone. Different circumstances didn't allow her to make the trip from Georgia to Utah for this conference, and so I promised lots of pictures. :) I hope you all enjoy them as well.

This last weekend Kim and I attended the SPARK conference which was held in Lindon, Utah. With a beautiful autumn-filled atmosphere on the outside, the inside of the building was just as beautiful in its ambiance. Margie Romney-Aslett, Rhonna Farrer, and Elizabeth Kartchner were the creative geniuses behind the event.

It was absolutely amazing from start to finish. My creativity has been "sparked" once again and I could hardly wait to come home and madly write down all of these ideas and thoughts that were brought to my mind throughout the weekend.

Here are just a few pictures that I hope will inspire you. These first pics are from the main hall. Talk about a wonderland. An eclectic, vintage charm was in abundance.

Sponsors were extremely generous in the oodles of fun, new products to try. These hand-sewn burlap bags were given to each of us filled with goodies.

I was fascinated in taking a photography class from the amazing Wendy of BlueLily Photography. She was such a good teacher and just a genuinly nice person as well.

Encouraging quotations were found all over the building to help kindle our creative spirit.

The centerpieces on all the tables were so striking to me in their own artistic ways!

I got to dabble with fabric, mixed media and wool. It was lovely.

Old friendships were renewed and new friendships blossomed. I'll share more of those pictures a little later.

Even the food and its presentation was absolutely delightful.

So it's back to reality now. ha, ha. And that's perfectly OK with me. :)

Music from the talented Mindy Gledhill was also a highlight from me. Talk about real. Mindy shared her experiences with us on the ups and downs of getting to where she is now, and what led her to write different songs. What an incredible gift she has and is so willing to share.

Here is a video from YouTube featuring one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in a long time. It's called "All About Your Heart." She wrote this song for NieNie. Everytime I hear it, I get chills. I'm just mesmorized when I watch this little girl spinning round and round. So full of joy and innocence, you can't help but smile when you watch this.

And when I came home from the conference, guess what I did. Yep, that's right. I put the CD into the player and blasted it while twirling around with my girls. That's called bliss. :)

I walked away from this with such a lift in my soul.

I've had a chance to really reflect. To take pause.

And this is what I know.

I truly believe that creativity is a gift from God.

I also believe that we ALL have been bestowed with that gift. I know some who don't feel they are creative. And that couldn't be further from the truth.

It comes in different forms. We can become creative in our homes, as sisters, wifes or mothers. We can create delicious and healthy meals for our families. As women, we have gifts to share such as a smile, a warm hello, or a listening ear. Our creativity can come through music, dance, gardening, or even through our abilities to nurture others.

It can also come through the PROCESS of creating.

No two people nor things are alike. And that is what is so beautiful to me about being creative.

Anyone want to join me next year?