Happenin in The Valley * Beehive Bazaar

{click to enlarge}

This Mother's Day weekend be sure to stop by the Beehive Bazaar. Pick up something for a mom in your life or something for yourself. They will have lovely items from HugaMonkey Baby Slings Noelle Olpin-Noelle O Designs Sarah Wright-Sarah Jane Studios Jessie Huish-Coal Umbrella Cammi Higley-Scribble It Amber Callister-Sassy Mia Ashley Giessing-Isabell's Umbrella & Caroline Drake-Armelle Jewelry to name a few. They will also be having their first After Party with a fashion show featuring Nappi Clothing & Cherella USA, music from Mathematics Et Cetera, a raffle and treats. Sound like a fun time out for all those moms who are sure to need one.(I know I do!!)

{Location & Info }

May 9th and 10th

Women's Council Cultural Center

310 West 500 North in Provo UT

www.beehivebazzar.blogspot.com

{About the Beehive Bazaar Straight from Them}

"The Beehive Bazaar is a art and craft fair in Provo Utah that showcases the independent designs, arts, crafts and edibles of 40 trendsetting local artists. The Bazaar touts a hand selected inventory of unique, quality and most importantly, to-die-for handmade goods including jewelry, paintings, bags, vinyl, paper, clothing, accessories and one-of-a-kind gifts as well as cupcakes, jams, cookies, caramels and treats. This is in no way your mothers craft boutique, but creativity with an edge."

Sweet Crafty Creations * May Baskets & May Poles

{Image Via Tuesdays Frog}

{Image via Martha Stewart.com}

It is the first of May or May Day. There are a few May Day festivities I remember from my childhood. One of them is making May Flower Baskets. These two examples above are very easy to make. The first is made by using pretty paper that is shaped into a cone with a piece of ribbon for the handle. The lower one is made from recycled food cans. Place some pretty flowers from your garden in your baskets then hang them on your friend's family's & neighbor's door and enjoy May. Tradition has it that you ring the door bell then run. If you are caught you must kiss the one who answers the door. Another fun May Day traditions is the May Pole. When I was in middle school we attached long ribbons to the flag pole. The girls did a "dance" around the pole weaving over and under each other around the pole. Enjoy sharing some pretty flowers and weaving some ribbon around the May Pole. Happy May everyone!

Sweet Family Life * Mary Jane's Farm

Last year for Christmas my sister gave me Mary Jane's book Mary Jane's ideabook-cookbook-life book for the farm girl in all of us. It has everything from embroidery patterns, to gardening tips, to apron patterns, to how to make cherry pie, to tips on camping, to how to fold a cloth diaper. I think I love this book because she came from the same type of people I did. A large family with a small gentleman's farm in Utah. These are good people that are self-reliant, grow gardens, live the golden rule, raise animals, make things from scratch, "put-up" (can) jam & green beans & mustard relish for the winter and love their families. I recently stumbled upon Mary Jane's website. It is a treasure of information for anyone who likes to create, sew, cook, organic garden, farm, etc. etc. She has a bed and breakfast where you can stay. She has her Pay Dirt Farm School. She has a magazine. She is truly a marvel and testament to all women to follow your dreams and do good things with them. Oh and she also has a chat and chapters of The FarmGirl that you can join or create in your area. Have fun exploring her site!

Sweet Crafty Creations * Tote-Shopping Bags * Earth Day

Cut large rectangular piece of fabric to desired size. Fold each end about 1/2 inch iron flat and then again about 2-3 inches iron flat.

Cut 2 strips of material for handles to the desired length. Iron in half. Sew each strip on raw edges then finish with zigzag. Turn inside out. Iron so seam is in middle. Zigzag ends.

Pin inside-out together to form the body of the tote. Sew together then zigzag to prevent fraying. Back stitch on corners to strengthen. Sew on handle straps into the inside along top. Iron seams flat.

This is Sha's finished bag. Didn't she do a great job?!

This year for Earth Day we made some tote-shopping bags. We made them from some scrap canvas material we already had in our fabric collection. All three of the children made one for themselves. We will be using ours for shopping bags as well as bags to carry our books to and from the library. They are quite simple, easy to make and a great starter project for learning to sew. Happy Earth Day!








{A few links for Earth Day}

earthday.gov

earthdayWikipedia

earthdaynetwork

Sweet Crafty Creations * Embroidery

{images via Martha Stewart}

When my mom was young about 12 she embroidered a pillow case and my Great-Grandmother crocheted the scalloped edges. Not too long ago my mom found her pillow case at my Grandmother's house. My daughter now 12 and I decided it would be fun to make a pillow case with the same design and have my mom crochet around the edges of them. It could be a new Grandmother and Granddaughter tradition. Since my Grandmother's hands are too old with arthritis I am having my mom crochet the edges of my pillow case too. I found some nice king sized 100% white cotton pillow cases and cut the scalloped edge (the need for the king sized). I am telling you all about it now because if I write it on The Sweet Life it will put a fire under me to finish them. As soon as they are finished I will take some photos to show you all. Until then this embroidery project on Martha Stewart is really nice. You could even just take one or two of the bird patterns and make something else out of them.

Sweet House Keeping * Bottle Opener

{Image Via me }
I must be the weakest person there is because it is almost impossible for me to open a bottle without help. A bottle opener is an essential in my kitchen. To make an inexpensive and very effective jar/bottle opener you need the following:

-roll of grippy shelf liner
-pen
-scissors
- large cookie cutter or other item to trace

Trace your desired shape on to the shelf liner & then cut out. Simple quick and easy! Just use your shaped bottle opener to help you get a tight grip on your jar or bottle. I hope you find it as useful as I do.

Sweet Crafty Creations * Yarn Pom Pom Animals & Flowers

{images via Martha Stewart}

Pom Pom animals are an oldie but goodie craft that children of all ages can make. The directions to make these cute little Pom Pom Creatures can be found here on Martha Stewart.com Tip for making your yarn pom poms- no need to go buy a pom pom maker just cut out a rectangular piece of card board to match the size of the pom pom you want to make. You can also make pom poms to attach to socks, zippers, hats & even top at gift with one! I also love these Yarn Flowers Martha had in her crafts found here at Martha Stewart.com Make one for your daughters hair for Easter, top her Easter shoes or accent an Easter hat. Happy Easter crafting.

Sweet Crafty Creations * Sentimental Valentine's Day Wheel

{Sentimental Valentine's Day Wheel * Via Martha Stewart}

This Sentimental Valentine's Day Wheel from Martha Stewart is so sweet. You can down load the template for it here. It include fun vintage images along wit something sweet to say about your Valentine. I thought it would be fun to take this idea & create one that is specially color, images & sayings wise for someone you love. For example you could make one for you children with things you think are special about them in their favorite color or make one for your Grandma letting her know what you think is special about her. It can be simple & straight from the template or you can go crazy creating all sorts of fun Valentine's Day Wheels. Have fun!
April

Sweet Crafty Creations * Hand Decorated Boxes

{Hand Decorated Boxes ~ Jewelry * Treasure * Gift * Treats}

I am a lover of containers. I love baskets & boxes & handbags & cupboards & jars. I have never really figured out why I love these vessels so much but I do. I found these pretty boxes in Martha Stewart Living. I love the velvet covered boxes with the flowers on top. I love hearts and most things heart so of course I love the heart boxes & I adore these vintage sayings boxes that you can give to your love or friend for Valentines Day. You can download the vintage labels here. I am going to make one for each of my children with a treat & a treasure for Valentines Day. I will choose colors that suit them & decorate to their taste. Most likely a black & white hounds tooth for my skater son, a dark blue with light blue trim for my son who loves all blue & a pink velvet with a flower on top for my daughter. They can keep their treasures in them. Plus they serve as a gift box as well. I love holidays & my kids always get a little something from mom on those special days of the year. It is a perfect time to let them know you think they are great! Happy Valentine Box making.

April

{click here for ideas & directions from Martha}

{places to get boxes}

~Roberts

~Micheals

~most craft & scrapbooks stores carry lots of papers ribbons & embellishments

Other Stuff * Sweet Crafty Creations * Double Cast-On or Continental Cast-On

I began the New Year working on one of my resolutions- learning to knit. These are the knitting needles I bought myself for Christmas, Boye 11-8mm. Here is the first thing I learned- double cast-on or continental cast-on. This is a huge success for me. For some reason when it comes to crocheting or knitting I have not had success-my brain doesn't work this way so I practiced all day & made new brain connections & finally got it down pretty good. I found a great site that teaches you how-to by video. KnittingHelp.com If I can do this anyone can. I am now on to the knit stitch and after that purl stitch.
April

New Years ~ Snowflakes

{New Years Celebration Idea No.3}

I came across this fabulous snowflake while hunting for school Christmas party crafts. I kept it in my pocket just for you for a lovely New Years decoration idea. These are quite the impressive decorations that are very easy to create. I made a few with my kids. Each section is beautiful by itself so you might want to make some separate ones as well. Hang them on a spinner - kind you use for fishing- to set them spinning in the breeze. Happy cutting!
April

{Directions & Image compliments of wikiHow Click here}

New Years ~ Hats & Blowers

{New Years Celebration Idea No.1}

Leave it to Martha for great party ideas. These hats & blowers are perfect for New Years festivities. Gather the supplies & create coordinating hats & blowers. Get the supplies ready & have the kids make one for themselves or even involve your adult guests.
April

{How to make}
Martha Stewart Blowers
Martha Stewart Hats

{Hint}
Look at the local scrapbook or crafts store for beautiful papers.
In the Valley AmericanCrafts creates some really great papers.
~ Michaels
~ Roberts
~ Archivers Orem
~ Pebbles in my Pocket Orem
(images from Martha Stewart.com)

Sweet Crafty Creations ~ Advent Chain

A few years ago I made one of these Advent Christmas Count Down Chains & found it as we were getting out our Christmas decorations. We decided it should be a tradition to do one every year. To make it cut & paste a paper chain just like the paper chains we use to make when we were children. On this chain you write the 1st through the 25th on each piece along with something to do each day. On our chain we have a light ride, watch Christmas movie, see The Christmas Carol at the theater, go on sleigh ride, make cookies for friends, take family Christmas Photos etc ...etc ...etc . The craft and scrap booking stores have a beautiful selection of Christmas papers to match your taste. This is a fun way to connect with your family over the Holidays. Enjoy this fun tradition!
April


Local Stores with papers
-Roberts Crafts
-Michael’s Crafts
-Pebbles in My Pocket, Orem
-Forget Me Not Scrapbook Co, American Fork
-Archivers, Orem