Will blog for Thank-yous {a Mom-day post}

I will be the first to admit that blogging, for me, is largely a selfish, personal thing I do.  It's for my sanity, my ego, my inner need to create something that stays done.  But once in a while, I get to share the fun with my family.  This past weekend I had the opportunity to take my children up to see the Kennecott Bingham Canyon mine.  The largest open-pit mining operation in the world.  It was so fun to see and learn so much about this amazing place.  And it was really interesting to me that my husband's grandmother actually grew up in that canyon, in a mining town that no longer exists as it was swallowed up by the mine.  My 8 year old said "This is really interesting, and by interesting, I mean fascinating."  He's a keeper that cute kid of mine. :)
It was fun to share with them this fun chance to do something that even growing up in that very area, I have never done.
And while I have had the opportunity to share a few experiences like this with my family, as I said before, at this stage in my blogging life- it is still largely for myself that I do it.  I don't have tons of sponsors, or get lots of free stuff to create with (I'm working on that one. ;) ), or really even generate much income or traffic with what I do.  So when it comes down to it, and all the work blogging requires, there are days when I wonder if it really matters.  Will anyone miss it if I don't post this project, respond to this comment, link to this party? 
And then, every once in a while, I get an e-mail or a comment saying that they really appreciate what I do.  That I have inspired someone to try something, or finish a project, or that they understand how I feel in one of my Mom-day posts.  And those thank yous mean more to me than any amount of money, any opportunity, any swag bag.  And suddenly I feel like it really does matter.  That my voice, my opinion, my idea- has purpose and weight in this world.  And that even if my reach is small, and doesn't go much further than my children and my family- it matters, I matter.  And I am inspired all over again to keep going with my blog.  To let my creativity have it's place in my life, to let my blog have it's place in my life. 
And I realize that if a Thank you means so much to me, perhaps it means the same to other people as well?  So I am trying to be better at saying thank you to those who inspire me, and lift me up and encourage me.

To you, my wonderful blog readers, my Friends (for truly you are my friends)- Thank You!  I so appreciate the time you take to stop by and read, to comment, to participate in My life.  You bless me in ways I cannot fully express.  You matter to ME- more than you know.  Thank You for being you.
xoxo,
Amy

April Point of View reveal- Teacher Appreciation/ Link Party

 Are you ready to party?  Ready to get some ideas for celebrating the end of the school year, or to say "Thank You" to a wonderful teacher?  Let's get this party started.

 So many fun ideas:  For details click the links below-
Gwen- Gwenny Penny
Leanne- Organize and Decorate Everything
Amy- keep reading!
Jonie- Just Between Friends
Ashlee- I'm Topsy Turvy

And now for my project:

The Life's a Beach tote bag

Teachers have a hard job.  Anyone who is willing to spend their days working with/for other people's kids for little pay and no recognition really is someone special.  I have been lucky with my children that we have always had wonderful teachers, and finding a way to tell them how much their hard work means to me has become pretty important- I mean everyone wants to be told they're doing a good job and their efforts are noticed and appreciated, right?  When summer comes around- I think teachers deserve a nice break- hopefully with lots of relaxation and low stress.  So to encourage that thought, I decided to make a "Life's a Beach" tote bag.  This bag is made pretty simply by using a premade canvas tote (you can find them at Wal-mart) and by including Heat n' Bond, there's no sewing involved.

 

The first thing you will want to do is decide what font and size letters you need.  I used my Cricut, so unfortunately I don't have any files to pass on, but if you also have a Cricut, I used the cartridge Cherry Limeade.  Cut your letters out of cardstock if you can, it will make the next steps much easier.

 Next you will gather the rest of your supplies: fabric (scraps are PERFECT for this) and Heat n Bond (make sure you have the NO SEW kind, so it will have the stronger adhesive on it).  You'll also need scissors and a pen or pencil, as well as an iron.  Then you're set.

 

The first thing you will want to do is trace your letters onto the heat n bond.  **Important** make sure you trace them BACKWARDS onto the heat n bond.  (this is where double sided cardstock comes in handy, you can make sure you're tracing them correctly)  To review- we are creating the MIRROR image of the letters onto the heat n bond.  The next step is to separate the letters from each other- this is only necessary if you are using multiple colors of fabric.  If you are doing all one color, you can leave them connected.  Cut around the letters, but not directly on your traced line.  You will want a border of heat n bond around the letter- it will make cutting out the letters much easier.

 Following the instructions on the package- fuse the heat n bond to the fabric.  Now cut out the letters on your traced line.  I use my paper scissors for this step because I don't want the glue to mess up my GOOD scissors. :)

This collage is just a tip for how I cut out the inside portion of the letters.  Take your letter, fold the area where the portion to be cut is, in half.  Snip a small hole on the fold- it just needs to be big enough for the scissors to fit through.  Then slide your scissors through the opening and start cutting down toward the traced edge.

The last step is to place and fuse the pieces to the tote.  Remove the paper liner from the letter and again following the directions on the package fuse them down to the canvas.  Your tote is ready. :)

One final step I did was to take a Sharpie pen and line the word "Beach" and the ball with a fine black line.  I think it just gives it a bit more definition.  Now, a tote is a nice gift in and of itself, but let's see what kind of fun things we can find to fill it with, shall we?

 The first idea I had was to create a fun "beach" bag for the teacher.  A new towel, a magazine and a treat- to inspire relaxation and fun.  The little tag I made (you can see it in the previous pic) said- "Teacher- hope your whole summer feels just like this:" 

The second tote doesn't need to wait for break time to be enjoyed.  The tag reads: "Teacher- Here are some tings to make the rest of the year feel like:"  It's filled with things teachers seem to run out of near the end of the year- cleaning wipes, treats for the class, baggies and kleenex.  You could add any kind of supplies your teacher needs or wants.
Either way you are helping to make their lives easier- and we all know teachers need a break every once in a while. :)

Thanks for joining us for this months' Point of View, we are so glad you are here.
Now it's your turn to share:  how do you say "Thank You" to your favorite teachers?  Or what ways do you celebrate the end of the school year?  Link up your point of view and share your ideas here:
Linking up to Friday Flair at Whipperberry, also linked up to Market Yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff.

Pleated Layers Pillow {tutorial}

So this is the latest in a long line of my favorite pillow ever!  I started out following a tutorial for a pleated pillow that I saw...somewhere.  I could have sworn it was on Moda Bake Shop, but when I went to get the link, I couldn't find the tute anywhere.  In a last ditch effort to find it, I went to One Pretty Thing and searched pillows and there it was- but the link to Moda didn't work!  No wonder I couldn't find it. :)  Luckily she watermarked her picture, and I could find the name of the blog from the thumbnail on One Pretty thing.  Anyway, that was a long story about where my inspiration for this pillow came from, it's from Quilting in the Rain and she calls it her Hello Spring! Strippy Pillow.  I loved the pillow so much, I immediately (well almost) went to my favorite Quilt shop (Material Girls Quilts in West Jordan, Utah) and found a couple of jelly rolls that were on sale.  The first pillow I made I followed her tutorial exactly, but then I started thinking, instead of cutting off the extra length of the strip, what if I pleated that length into the row?  So I tried it, and I LOVE it!!!
I took a few pictures to show you how I did it:
First you will want to read the original tutorial to get a basic idea of how the pillow is made.  (I am making a 16" pillow so my base for the pillow front and back is 17" to allow for seam allowances)

 

After pressing the strips in half along the length, you will cut the strip in half.  Each strip will yield 2 layers of the pillow.  

Take your first strip and line it up 1/2" above the bottom of the front cover piece. (you will notice in the picture that I did not do this- I lined it up with the bottom of the piece, it makes things a little messy in the final step, so just give yourself the seam allowance from the beginning. :) )  As you sew the strip down, using a 1/4" seam allowance, randomly add pleats to the row, using up the extra fabric in the strip so the sides of the strip line up with the sides of the cover piece.  All of your pleats in this row will go in the same direction, making it easier to sew down. :)

Your first row is done.

Now measure a line 3/4" above the top of the sewn strip and mark it with a pencil or other tool.  You will cover up this line, so no need to worry about it being water soluble or anything.  Continue marking lines every 3/4" up the front base fabric.  You may need to adjust the width just a bit so you end up with the right amount of spacing for the top row. (it should be line up with the top edge of the fabric, or very close to it- you want to make sure the seam sewing the strip to the base is covered by the seam allowance of the finished pillow)
Now we're ready to add our second row of pleating.

Now turn your top piece so you're sewing the opposite direction of the last strip and begin sewing your fabric down, lining up the to of the strip with your drawn line.  Continue to randomly add pleats, making sure your pleats are offset from each other.  I varied the depth of the pleats and the spacing to give it some variety and dimension.
Repeat for each new strip, alternating the sewing direction so the pleats are changing direction on each row.  When the pillow front is finished, press down the pleats so they lay flat against the cover.  Finish off your pillow in whatever method you like best, making sure you don't catch your pleats in the top or bottom seam allowances.

If, after you add your pillow insert, you feel like the top pleat won't lay down (mine never do) and it exposes the top seam of the row underneath it, you can take a needle and thread and blind stitch the top row down so it will lay flat and all the seams will be covered.
Now go enjoy your gorgeous pleated layers pillow.
Have a great day!
XOXO,
Amy
p.s. I am going to skip the boutique update post this week.  Gwen is flying into town tonight for SNAP and we're going to be partying all weekend.  I'll be back on Monday with a Mom-day post and next week will (hopefully) be jammed with boutique goodness.  We'll see you then.
Linking up to Tip me Tuesday on Tip Junkie.