New Beach Cruiser Basket Liners

Yes... I'm still making beach cruiser basket liners. Very slowly but still making them. They're being sewn up for those that send me Etsy messages asking if I'm still making them and if they can get one. I'd love to fully stock my shop but because each liner takes roughly a day to make I've had trouble making a sizable quantity.

Here's another lovely fabric combination.

Most of these liners are being shipped to coastal states.

I've made three or four liners using this fabric combination.

This color combination is one of my favorites. It's cool and refreshing.

The red and blue paisley combination that started all of this bike basket liner making is still requested.

I also made this lovely little liner for a child size Avenir basket w/handle.

It required a completely new pattern to accommodate it's oval shape and handle.

So yes—I am making and selling liners. Some have asked if I'd sell the pattern. Right now I'm not, but never say never.

Convo me via Etsy if you'd like a beach cruiser, basket liner of your own or as a gift for someone you love.

Thanks for reading!

Treasure Hunt

This past weekend we ended the IEA Riding Season with a bang! I volunteered to put together a treasure hunt complete with a map of the farm, riddles and puzzles. I'm not sure who had more fun, me or the kids. Jury is still out on that. Some of them weren't thrilled that they had to run.

So here's what I did... First came the invitation and the map:
Both print pieces were designed in Illustrator. The farm landmarks were done using photographs that I took which I silo'ed in Photoshop and then applied the "Live Trace" option in Illustrator. I wanted to hand draw each building, tree, pet and fence line but that would have taken me a week just to illustrate the map. The team colors are teal and black and the farm colors are black and gold. So it was easy to establish the color palate. There are 30+ horses on the farm and only one on the map. I took some creative liberties.

Once the invitation was mailed and the map was illustrated I proceeded to pen some clues in riddle form. Because I was writing these clues for high school students I decided to make them a bit harder to figure out. I think I succeeded because I did stump them with a couple.

Each team had their own set of puzzle pieces that were hidden with each clue. When they'd find one the clue packaged with the puzzle piece would send them to the next location.

Once they found all nine pieces they had to run back to the riding ring where their coach gave them written instruction on setting a jump. Each of the three treasure hunt teams were responsible for building a jump to specifications.

When they completed the jump building task they had to run out of the ring and assemble their puzzle. The first team to finish won money!

I had so much fun! I love these kids. They're all great riders and great kids. I wish the team well this upcoming season and I wish the seniors well in their future endeavors!

Thanks for stopping by!

So Proud of My Daughter

This past weekend was the first home barn show of the season and my daughter took home Grand Champion in Student Equitation! I was so, so proud of her and had to hold back the tears.

She has been working so hard at excelling in horsemanship and equitation and this weekend her hard work paid off.

In student equitation the jumping course is set at 2 ft. once she masters this she will move on to 2'6" and higher.

Both of her blue ribbons came from the two flat classes. Her jumping course went okay until the end when Banjo, the large pony she was riding, decided to go one direction and she wanted to go another. That resulted in a fall and being disqualified. However, her two blue ribbons in the first two classes held the spot of Grand Champion for her! She was over the moon thrilled and so was I!!!

We are looking forward to this show season (our very first show season outside of the IEA Team) and we're hoping and praying for great things.

 

My daughter loves this little pony and all his naughty antics. You can never get to comfortable on him because once he notices you've relaxed that's when he'll unseat you. He's also a handful in the wash stall. He HATES baths more than my four and six year old do and he will throw a tantrum the entire time.

But it was all worth it in the end. They did well together as a team.

After the Student Equitation division she showed this big boy in the Pleasure Horse division and took home a 4th & 6th place. He was very excited to be at the show and became a bit tough for her to handle so she bowed out of the 3rd class in the division. He's a jumper and that's what he would prefer to do but until she has mastered him on the flat there won't be any show jumping.

His name is Rebel. His owners offered to have him board at the barn my daughter rides at so she can ride and show him. She's learning his buttons. He is more horse than she's ridden in the past so there's a learning curve. We're hoping this is a match made in heaven and there are lots of ribbons in their future.

Wish them luck! They'll be working hard!

Thanks for reading!

Treasure

I came across a tutorial on how to create glitter in Photoshop. It was an older tutorial for CS3 but I was able to figure it out in CS5 and create some gold glitter. The glitter didn't make its way onto the invite I was designing so I decided to use it with this scripture that was playing over and over in my head today while seeing the word treasure on my computer screen most of the day.

The invitation is for an upcoming treasure hunt party that I might share on the blog at a later date . When it's all said and done there will be an illustrated map and clues written in riddle form. I love this kind of work but in putting the invite together and thinking about everything on my to-do list and Easter this weekend and my sons 6th Birthday just around the corner and the plane ticket I need to purchase and the horse show coming up the following weekend, the weight I need to lose before pool season arrives and my graphic design business that I want to grow and my etsy business that I want to grow and so on and so forth I was really feeling stressed!

Yes that's a major run on sentence and I feel guilty even listing all of my to-do's because I know EVERYONE has a B-I-G  L-O-N-G list.

As I put together this simple graphic with the word "TREASURE" in gold glitter I looked up Matthew 6:21 and the scriptures surrounding it. As I began to read I realized that God was speaking to me in the middle of my mess. Even when I felt so far away and disconnected from Him. He used this simple invitation design and graphic that I had been been working on to gently convict and remind me of what is important in this life and for all eternity. If you get the chance read Matthew 6:19-34.

Worry and stress have been robbing me of my hope and joy. I need my joy to return in order to begin creating again. To be honest that's why I haven't been doing much blogging. I've been really busy just like everyone but my soul has been so heavy for months now. Watching the current state of the economy, people losing their jobs, agonizing over the house we paid way to much for 8 yrs. ago and being sick to my stomach because of it, wondering why spring is taking so long to show its face and stay for a while—with all of this cluttering my mind and my heart steadfast on all the heaviness I've been robbed of time creating things with my hands.

I've developed a "none of this matters" attitude. This doesn't pay the bills so it doesn't matter. Asking God why he bestowed artistry and creativity in me when it doesn't bring a sizable income. And with those words I snuffed my very existence and being out. Can you tell I'm working through a lot of things at this point? Trying to validate myself as an artist and crafter, as a mother and wife and even as a Christian all while being reminded that my treasure does not lie in earthen vessels but in my eternal, heavenly home.

I haven't posted in so long and then I begin again by dumping on the few readers that might still peek over here to see if I'm still kicking. Sorry.

Thanks for stopping by.

Top Posts of 2012 & More

I thought I'd share the most popular projects of 2012 being that it's New Years Eve. Tomorrow marks the start of a new page/chapter/book.

First up and by far the most viewed and read was the Feather Making Tutorial. These can be made with yarn, embroidery floss, bakers twine and maybe even jute twine. I haven't tried that though.

Then the Feather Hair Picks made using wooden skewers from your local grocery store. Paint the skewers gold or any other color you'd like.

The Four Leaf Clover tutorial, made with clippings from shrubs in my yard.

Posts that continue to garner readership even though they're not 2012 posts are the following.
This Paper Plate & Cookie Sprinkle Wreath tutorial still brings visitors.

Then there's this Front Door Decor that I love and will reuse from time to time.

These sweet little Beach Cruiser Basket Liners have been popular. I designed these and make and sell them on Etsy.

A favorite Blackberry Cobbler recipe from Southern Living. All I have to say is very few ingredients, simple, rustic and yummy!

I pray that 2013 brings continued ideas and creativity which in turn grows Blue Sky Confections readership and opens up doors of opportunity for this work-from-home momma.

Thanks so much for reading in 2012!

Market Tote

I had already crocheted a hat for my mom earlier in the year. So for her Christmas gift I made her a linen market tote. She had given me an old bag of hers this past summer that she absolutely loved in hopes I could figure out the pattern and make her a new one. The bag was completely worn and tattered and it had been purchased years ago, so it was no where to be found in stores.

I took a few measurements, deconstructed the shoulder strap to create the pattern for it and got to work. It's a very basic style and once I got it figured out it became simple to me.

My mom prefers neutrals and really loves linen. So I chose a classic, neutral stripe in linen and then for the interior I used a navy and gold floral linen.

I love the navy and gold linen print. I wish I had ordered more of it now.

Thanks for visiting.

Hand Crocheted Christmas Gifts

I can share these with you now because everyone's received their gifts. This year I crocheted hats. A lot of hats. I had some in my family request these as gifts and you know as well as I that you can't do for one and leave others out. So about a month-and-a-half ago I started crocheting each night when I would settle in for a good nights sleep. I'd crochet until I couldn't keep my eyes open and then pick up where I left off the next night.

Here are the girls and women's hats.

The neutrals are for the adults and the bright and colorful are for the little girls. I especially like the red and turquoise combination for our most recent family addition. My sweet niece Emerson. It's itty bitty and the flower is bigger than her little head.

Then here are the hats for one little boy, teenagers and adult men in my family.

One done in school colors, a couple mainly orange for the hunters in the family and the rest made to match winter coats.

Then for my mother-in-law who I don't think would ever wear a hat I crocheted a cowl that is large enough to double as a hood if necessary.

My oldest daughter modeled the cowl so I could take a few photo's.

All of the family members that received these cozy gifts live way up North. So I know they will be put to good use.

Thanks for reading!