jennifer, Author at Hopeful Homemaker

Bouquet from my garden

April 26, 2012 jennifer Gardening, Uncategorized

I’ve been a miserable failure on my birthday resolutions this year, hitting only a small handful of special dates on time. I’ve got to do a better job of planning ahead for these!

I did manage, on Saturday, to put together a bouquet of flowers for a friend whose birthday is in April. I am loving these double tulips from my flowerbeds.

The double tulips make me anxious to see how my peonies do this year. These showy blooms are so beautiful!

And my birthday observations really need to improve.

One comment flowers, gifts

“Rainbow Road”

April 25, 2012 jennifer Quilting and Sewing

On my recent trip to Logan f I worked on a project I started in February. I took an online class for sewing curves. I started this table runner for that class. Instead of using solid fabrics, I opted to use two charm packs I had sitting around. One was from the Verna collection by Kate Spain and the other (I think) was called Swell. I’d had the latter for a few years and didn’t know what to do with it. You’ll see a few pieces from American Jane’s Punctuation collection also.

I worried that I’d hate this project because it would be too busy. While it is certainly a riot of color, I like it more than I thought I would. This was a good introduction to improvised curves and I enjoyed experimenting with it. It took me a few hours to piece this together and two weeks to get around to adding a simple white border! I think the wide border (3 inch) gives the eye a chance to rest.

My one concern is that it doesn’t want to lay flat due to the curves. You can see that easily in the photo below. I’m hoping I can find a way to minimize this when I’m quilting it, which will mean very careful basting. Hmmm….

Even so, it’s nice to have the top finished. I learned a lot while piecing this, which was the whole point.

One comment quilting

I love having daughters

April 24, 2012 jennifer Musings on Life and Beauty

I was in the hallway at church on Sunday as my children came to meet me after their classes. One after one they said to me, “Mom! It’s Janice’s birthday! We need to have a party!” By the time we got home their enthusiasm for the idea had taken on a life of it’s own. A phone call was made and a time chosen.

I went to work in the kitchen and sent my girls outside to create the party scene.

A little while later I peeked out the window to see what they had come up with and smiled with delight. It wasn’t just the supplies they’d chose to use that made me happy, but the feeling of love and teamwork they displayed. I felt like I was watching a scene from Little Women or something. They were a group of sisters totally consumed with making something pretty as a gesture of love for someone they care about.

I think that most mothers feel like they have more than enough bickering among their children and I would certainly fall in that category. When afternoons like this one come along I thrill at the way they treat one another. The “payoff” moments are fleeting, but they do come and it’s an added blessing when you’re there to witness them.

My two year old is an absolute riot. I wish I had a running audio recording of her from morning till night. The things that come out of her mouth are beyond hilarious. During this little decorating event she was walking around saying “Someday when I am a mom I will make pupcakes for Sister Ingalls’ birthday! I will. I will make pupcakes when I am a big mom someday.” The picture below was taken in the middle of such a recital.

The birthday party was a success. I’ll share pictures of it this week. I also need to remember what happened before the party. I am so grateful for these daughters, for the way they nurture one another, for their creative vision and talents, for their desire to help make special memories for others. I am such a fortunate mom!

Hopeful Homemaker