Has anyone ever made a quiet book for little kids? I haven’t but the concept intrigues me to no end. A co-worker has asked that I work up two for her little twin girls, so off to Pinterest I went to find ideas. And man, the ideas are sure there! Most of the ones on Pinterest are made with felt pieces, but I’d much rather work with fabrics to keep them stronger longer. Take a peek at some of the fun ideas:
Quiet Book Idea #1
I adore this idea….
Fun snowman….
Let’s cook!!!
There are too many ideas out there on the web to insert here, but it’s been fun investigating the different pages.
And as you all know, I don’t cook. But this Tuesday we are having Mexican food day at work so off to Pinterest I go again trying to find something Mexican, easy, and made in a crock pot. We’ll see if I’m actually the one to make this or if Bill steps in to kick it up a little bit. :)
Easy……
There hasn’t been any creative things going on, but Pinterest had some fun ideas for sweater remakes into handbags, too. Plus some very fun crocheted purses that would be great for summer.
Cute, huh? African Flower Crochet
Have a blessed week, and we’ll see you next time around! :)
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As life changes, obviously some of my goals change, too. My 10-year goal of getting the TygerLily name into the public’s eye is morphing yet again. As much as I adore making unique items to give away or sell, my focus has got to be my real job and doing my best there. Everything else that’s creative or crafty has just got to take a back seat – and it has to be kept fun. I’m not in a spot yet to make TygerLily what I had dreamed.
Hence my decision to leave The Artisan Group. What a wonderful group of artisans they are – professional, unique, and dedicated to their craft. My error in not getting my business cards to them in time for the Oscars only proved to me that I was pushing too hard, and too fast. Because of my error, someone else more deserving did not get to send their business cards to the Oscars. And that’s just not right. I have to admit that the year or two I was a member, it was a daily inspiration to look at their incredible designs over on Facebook and dream.
The point of TygerLily is to celebrate uniqueness, design, creativity – but mostly FUN! I was getting to where the fun part was getting ignored. As much as we had wanted to be successful with our name and product, we must step back and incorporate the FUN part back in again. No more pushing – at least not right now. So what you will be seeing here on the blog will be updates on what’s happening in the Creation Room to bring either a smile to your face or an idea into you own head! 
Now THIS is using your noggin!
Let’s make this a fun adventure together. The good Lord knows what he’s doing here – and I’ll be patient and wait on Him.
Have a creative and FUN day, everyone!
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Today would have been my mother’s 99th birthday. Gwendolyn Verona Brown Smith. The petite woman with a strong influence on us all went to be with her Lord in 2005, just shy of her 92nd birthday. Some of my favorite memories were her asking me to go shopping with her to the fabric store in Lincoln, Nebraska (where I live) because she had found a new quilt block pattern she wanted to try and just wanted an extra set of eyes to help her color coordinate her pieces. That always made me feel like a million bucks.
My mother left a quilt diary, to which my daughter now has the original and all of us siblings have a digital copy of. So I got out my CD of her diary this morning to pick a quilt that would show her true talent. I can’t pick just one – there are too many that show my mother’s precise and professional looking quilts.
But I shall start with the largest quilt she ever worked on, and that was for a high school play as the backdrop for “Quilters”. Hopefully if you click ‘Quilters’ you’ll be taken to a video of one of the scenes and songs from this play, “Never Grow Old”. I remember it being extremely good and thought provoking about life on the prairie. This is the quilt that she helped construct for the play. If I remember correctly, it was 12 foot by 12 foot.
Quilt made for David City Aquinas High Schools’ play “The Quilters”
Too bad the picture isn’t very quality, but what do you expect from a regular camera and gym lighting. It’s huge, isn’t it
I own only a few of her quilts, our daughter has at least one. But there is one that sits in its storage bag in our home, never again to be used. Our son’s transportation theme quilt she made when he was very young. How ironic that transportation was his way of leaving here to be with our Jesus.
Transportation Quilt (at top of page) for our son Tyler, circa 1985
The bottom of the picture shows an elaborate embroidered scene that mom made also. I have no idea where that is or even IF it is anymore.
With all the beauty I’ve been able to enjoy reading mom’s quilt diary, she would have had many quilts showing at the University of Nebraska’s International Quilt Study Center and Museum. Yes, she was just THAT good and I was very proud of her.
Today also marks the day our 17 day old granddaughter Lily was taken in to the arms of Jesus in 2006. My hope is that Lily and my mother are making heaven just that much more beautiful with their beauty, and creativity.
Celebrate your family. Pay attention. After this week and the tragedy in Connecticut, please hold that loved one just a second longer, and tell them you love them.
Thank you for reading. :)
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I wanted to do a little word play with you all this morning, but it just wasn’t coming together in my head correctly. Do any of you have that issue ever? :) So I just decided to focus on the ‘cheer’ of the Christmas season and see what fun things we can find on the internet for you (that are free) to enjoy and hopefully inspire you.
How about some miniature Christmas hats? These can be ornaments for your tree, or better yet a great top for a bottle of wine or cider for your holiday host and hostess. So darned adorable! (click pic for free pattern)
Miniature Hats / Christmas Ornaments (Knitting)
How about a mini sweater? Make it in your school’s colors or child’s team number on the front. Great way to remember sporting events every year.
Miniature Sweater (knitting)
Here’s some sewing ideas for wine cozies (totally free) that you can make: FREE WINE BAG PATTERNS from SewingSupport.com
My personal fave is this burlap bag, as it reminds me of my husband who refuses to say the word ‘burlap‘ correctly because he knows it irritates me. :) This is a super pattern that uses inexpensive burlap, found at your local fabric store, and simple stencil embellishment. It’s so simple, it’s crazy! I think rice bags would be a super idea if you like to recycle and repurpose things.
Burlap Wine Bag (sewing)
I didn’t give myself enough time this morning to give you more ideas, but take these and get a little creative in your gift giving and memory making.
Thinking I need to go to Trader Joe’s and get some 3-Buck Chuck and find some burlap! What do you think? :) Have a safe and memory filled Christmas.
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The second Sunday of every December, there is a candle lighting ceremony – around the globe.
Please click on the candle to get to their website to see if there is a community service being held in your area.
This is such a uniting experience, even when it is done privately in your home. There are so many families who are hurting during the holiday season. We will be lighting our candle to remind us the Tyler’s light still shines in our lives.
The Compassionate Friends
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With so much that has gone totally wrong in our lives this past week, I feel the need to tell you all about “Gratitude Journals”. They are the simplest way to journal your day. And there need to be a huge thank you to my sister, Donna, who introduced this process to me many many years ago. So may we all pick up our pens and get writing. Find yourself a booklet, notepad or blank journal. Even sticky notes will work to start off until you can find or afford to purchase a journal. Here’s some ideas for you:
Articles to Inspire Your Writing:
“The Power of Gratitude” by Oprah
“Simple Abundance” by Sarah Ban Breathnach ‘Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.’ -Melody Beady
Online Journaling:
Gratitude Journal at Simple Abundance Online
“I Am Thankful” online sign up for personal journaling
Creative Ideas for Journals:
Find something that makes you happy, keep it simple, and start writing. Write FIVE things per day you are grateful for. If you enjoy the writing process, write for FIVE minutes about what you’re grateful for.
This is such a simple and inexpensive way to keep focused on all the good that we really do have in our lives.
May each of you be blessed and have a wonderful start to your own journaling experience.
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4 comments | tags: Arts, gratitude, Gratitude journal, Handmade, Health, journal, journaling, journals, online, Online Writing, Oprah, Oprah Winfrey, Post-it note, printable, serenity, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, thankful, Thankfulness, writing | posted in Random
I was looking for something that would make me feel better this morning and came across this little poem by the author of one of my favorite books, “The Giving Tree“. There won’t be much crafting going on today – not a fan of being under the weather at ALL! But enjoy this great little poem about kids – it’ll make you smile. And when you’re done reading, click his signature and you’ll go direct to his site filled with things for kids and adults. He’s a genius.
Sick
by Shel Silverstein 
“I cannot go to school today,”
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
“I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I’m going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I’ve counted sixteen chicken pox
And there’s one more–that’s seventeen,
And don’t you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut–my eyes are blue–
It might be instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I’m sure that my left leg is broke–
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button’s caving in,
My back is wrenched, my ankle’s sprained,
My ‘pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb.
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow’s bent, my spine ain’t straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is–what?
What’s that? What’s that you say?
You say today is. . .Saturday?
G’bye, I’m going out to play!”
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Bill & Karen
