JulieK | Embrace the Everyday

End of Year Teacher Gifts

June 15, 2013 By JulieK

You know how much I love to make things :) the end of the school year is no exception!! It is no secret that I LOVE the school that the kids go to… And, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the teachers there!! So, every year, at least at Christmas and the end of the year, I try to let them know how much I appreciate them with a little something that I make…

Last Year’s Kids’ Gifts

2011 Teacher Gifts

Well, this year I made Mug Rugs!! What’s a mug rug you ask? It’s also called a snack mat, and here’s the little tags that I made to accompany the mats so that the teachers know what they are too :) I found an explanation on Pinterest to explain what mug rugs are, made tags using MS Word, cut them out and attached them to some pretty paper (Fancy Pants) and added a piece of ribbon to close the bags.

Here’s the stack of mats before I bagged them and got them ready to be gifts. The fabrics are from the School Days line by American Jane for Moda fabrics… I love how they came out… Amazing how easy it is to make super cute little gifts with a charm pack and jelly roll! Here’s the stack of them… Front

and the back

I made one for each of the teachers that the kids have, including all the specialists (I’m a specialist teacher myself :) I know how hard they work too!)… Plus the main office staff and principal and asst. principal. 16 mats in all. Here’s a close up of one of them, they are all different…

and a close up of the back

The mats measure about 5″x10″ For the kids main teachers, I made a mat, but found these pretty stoneware teacups and saucers, put the mug rug, some fancy teas and a Starbucks gift card in the cups and packaged them up.

Here’s the single ones packed up

I’m pretty happy with how they came out, and hope that the teachers like them.

Happy Summer!!!

The “Kaitlyn” Quilt

June 7, 2013 By JulieK

I have to tell you… I’ve been hoarding this fabric… It’s the Terrain line from Kate Spain for Moda fabrics… I loved it the instant I saw it (almost 2 years ago I think), and bought 2 charm packs, and maybe a jelly roll too… But then couldn’t use it ’cause it needed to be used for the perfect quilt. Well, my beautiful niece Kaitlyn graduated this spring with an esthetician license and I just knew that it would be perfect for her!! I pieced the center when I went away to my quilting retreat in February, and then the week of her graduation I added the borders and quilted it… I think it’s beautiful (it’s only the second quilt that I’ve quilted myself… so don’t look TOO close at the back :), and even better, she loved it!! Here’s a few pictures of it that I took just before I sent it to her… (click on the pictures to see them bigger)

Notice the little helpers feet behind :)

Of course, the helpers needed to have their pictures taken with the quilt! Pat and Vanna at work :)

A view of the back… (don’t look too close :)

And a couple of closer shots…

I’m so glad that she loved it, and I’m so proud of her!! Not only did she graduate from her program, took the test and got her license, but she also got a job working at a spa!! The quilt pattern I used is the Missouri Star Quilt Company Disappearing 9 patch pattern… I’ve used this pattern before on the baby quilt and a couple others… You can find the video tutorial HERE. Thanks so much for taking a peek!!

A Fun Birthday Surprise!

May 30, 2013 By JulieK

Well, if you know me, the biggest surprise would be that I’m posting about my birthday at the end of May, because my birthday is in the middle of April!! But we were away over vacation, and then it rained for like a month, and I couldn’t get good pictures… But, anyway… Here is a picture of one of my favorite birthday gifts…

Isn’t he just the cutest garden ornament you’ve ever seen??? He was a gift from my wonderful in-laws because they know I have a “thing” with owls… And, the biggest reason that I have a thing for owls is THIS little guy…

My new garden owl now lives about 5 feet away from the tree that “our” owl lives in… We’ve had an owl before… Here’s a post with last year’s owl… and then there was the first owl in 2008… Clearly this is a different owl :) but this one has been back a couple of times… he was here in the fall and through the winter we saw him almost every evening and morning… Then he went away for a month or so, and came back! We haven’t seen him for a couple weeks, but in the evenings we can hear him… And also, we can hear another owl calling back to him! Wouldn’t it be cool if we had a baby owl in our tree??? Yes! Yes, that would be very cool!! Here’s some more pictures ’cause I can’t help myself! (you can click on the pictures to make them bigger…) I have a brand new zoom lens on its way to me… so hopefully the owl will come back so I can get MORE even better pictures :)

Winking…

The “What are YOU looking at” look

and one more view from a little further away…

and…my little buddy sleeping… I think we bore him :)

Why, Hello Miss Alcott!

May 26, 2013 By JulieK

Here’s another installment of “Oh, the quirky places we go!!”

It started out with Kathryn and an assignment at school where each student was assigned to “be” a famous person from Massachusetts… Kathryn was assigned Louisa May Alcott. They worked on the report at school, and there was going to be a presentation where the students dressed up as their person, gave the audience clues, and you had to guess who they were. So, on a random weekend, we were driving to the Concord Armory for an antique show… And, don’t we drive past the Orchard House, the home of Louisa May Alcott!! So, of course, we went in and took a tour!! The tour was really great!! Honestly I was a little nervous when it started because our tour guide looked like she was 12 :) but she was terrific!!

Of course we took a couple pics of Kathryn at “her” house for the report!

And, then of course, we “had” to make her a costume!! I took one of her old school shirts, that was just a little too small to wear comfortably all day, but still kinda fit… Then we went to the store and bought a flat sheet in blue and some pink hem lace… Make a skirt, overlay, and then some ruffles and lace to the shirt, and…

Voila!! Meet Miss Louisa May Alcott!

(not bad, but I’m pretty sure that Miss Alcott didn’t have neon orange and yellow sneakers)

and here’s a shot of Miss Alcott with her teacher… How much do we LOVE Miss Kasey!!

The costume was REALLY easy to make, and so much fun!! You can do so much with a sheet, a pack of lace and a sewing machine :)

Upcoming Class and Anniversary!!

May 21, 2013 By JulieK

Ink About It in Westford, MA is celebrating their 9th Anniversary this week!! How awesome is that?? I’m so happy to be a regular teacher there, and my Zutter class this coming Thursday is marking the kick-off of their anniversary celebration!! Remember, you don’t need to own a Bind it All to come and make the book in class, I always have mine, plus there’s another one in the store that we can use. We’d love to see you!! Here’s a sneak of the cover and an inside page… The papers are SO spring-y and beautiful!! There’s also pockets and pull out tags for even more space to put pictures and/or journaling!! Call the store if you would like to come!! And, if you’re there on Thursday (or also Friday-Saturday) during their Anniversary celebration, you’ll be able to take advantage of their wonderful Anniversary celebration specials!!

* DOUBLE stamping on your frequent shopper card. That’s right – double rewards May 23rd, 24th & 25th.

* Early birds receive a free gift! We have a treat for the first 25 shoppers each day.

* One $100 gift bag raffle per day. (Receive one raffle entry with every $20 purchase.)

* One Grand Prize winner will receive a Tim Holtz Vagabond (msrp: $249.99).

* Anniversary Cake and free Make & Take on Sat, May 25th, 11am-3pm.

* New product debuts from vendors like Hero Arts, Gourmet Rubber Stamps, Lawn Fawn, Character Construction, Penny Black, Artist Cellar, Dear Lizzy, Farm House, Echo Park, Melissa Frances and more!

So… Call the store and come to class!!! Plus shop and celebrate with Linda, Lori and the rest of the wonderful staff at the store!!

Ok, now… back to the sneak peek… Here’s the cover… You know you want to come and see the inside!! Class starts at 6:30 is only $25 and when you leave your book will be 100% complete, just add pictures and journaling!!