A "Manly Blanket" for a Manly Man

My finace requested a large blanket "big enough for a MAN! After about 14 skiens and 11 months later (he's very patient and we live in Phoenix so wasn't in a big hurry) I crocheted out a huge king size blanket perfect for lounging around (and cuddling) in. Enjoy Baby!

Kitchen Utensil Holder

My co-workers all go out together once a quarter for a little team building time and lunch...with all the talk of As You Wish, what are the chances that we would all agree to go there for our outing? Awesome! Unfortunately, I was a little uninspirted this time around so I had a hard time deciding on what to paint. I've been wanting a new container for my spatulas in my kitchen so I painted a vase and wrote my favorite quote: "Live, Laugh, Love".

Mother's Day Present

Okay so, I feel like I talk about As You Wish, waaaaay too much, and if so, I'm sorry, but this place is just soooooo awesome! I just had to go here to make my mom's Mother's Day present. I painted a frame and completed it with with a pic of the two of us take at my wedding last year. I love my mommy!! Happy Mother's Day

Vacation Frame

I recently got back from a trip to Cali. We visited Santa Monica Beach and Venice Beach and I really had a blast. I knew that as soon as I got back home I had to go to As You Wish to paint a special frame for the memory :)

Pitcher Vase and placemat

As You Wish has struck again in my home, this time with a new vase for my kitchen table. I can't stay away from that place. LOL It took about 3 visits to the store for me to hand paint this, but I love it!

I made this to rest my new vase on, just a simple little crocheted mat made out of scrap yarn.

Another Magnet

I plan to have cutesy magnets all over my fridge that I've made from As You Wish. Here's one I recently made:

Grandma Birthdays

My Grandma Karen's birthday is tomorrow and my Nana's birthday is in a few weeks. My sister and I decided to make their presents this year which brought us back to our new addiction, As You Wish!! For my grandma's present, I made a spoon rest, complete with little lady bugs:

For Nana's present, because she can't seem to get enough plants, :), I made her a flower pot with polka dots:

Can't wait to give them. :)

As You Wish

So I've recently found a new hobby, maybe an addiction...same difference, right? I've kinda known about this place for a while but only recently decided to try it out. As You Wish is a "pottery painting place" where you may pick a piece of pre-designed pottery (anything from a bowl to a photo frame to a piggy bank to a dip dish to anything else on the shelf) and you get to paint it yourself any way you like. Then the nice people of As You Wish will glaze and fire the piece for you in a kiln. And just a few short days later, you get to take it home to keep.

I've gone 3 times in the last month simply 'cause I can't keep away!! It's so fun and inspiring, and even my family is getting involved. The first time I went, I was with my nieces and sister, the 2nd time I enjoyed painting with my husband, who surrisingly enjoyed himself quite a bit. ha ha

Here are my first two pieces that I've done, both I had made into magnets:

I haven't finished my third piece yet so be sure to check back soon to see what else I've been working on. Be sure to check out their site and, if your in The Valley of the Sun, be sure to check out one of their locations for yourself. You'll be glad ya did.

Kithen Towel Toppers

Every year I like to use one of my hobbies to make up some gifts for my co-workers, just to spread some Christmas cheer. This year I settled on kitchen towels with crocheted toppers for the ladies and home baked cookies for the men (men are too easy). I knew the theme in a few of the ladies' kitchens so I knew what type of towel to use, the rest I just sort of felt out. Each got a set of two coordinating towels. I searched through several patterns before I found one that I liked.

Polka Dot Tiered Cake and decorations

One of my niece's, Gabbie, first birthday was on July 29th and the theme was polka dots, polka dots, and more polka dots.

This is my first tiered cake! I can't believe how easy it was to do, I was so nervous, though. He he. This cake's three tiers measured (from bottom up), 10"x3", 8"x3", and 6"x3". Polka dot ribbon was wrapped around the bottoms of each tier and then used as a bow topper for the top of the cake. The cake is covered in marshmellow fondant with fondant polka dots. The cake itself was Rainbow Chip Cake so when you cut it, there were more polka dots! Well kinda.

But the polka dots didn't stop there...no way. Using my wonderful Cricut, we cut out a few hundred circles and put them up all over the living room and dining room for the decorations. This is something I highly recomment for a party when funds are tight. It made such an awesome impact with minimum costs. The party was a success. Happy Birthday my little Sweet Pea!

Blasts from the Past

My parents found two cross stitch pieces that I had worked on years ago when cross stich was my LIFE. I just thought I'd share them with you:

Layla Baby Blanket

These days, baby showers can be full blown out parties with music, games, and loads of food. Sometimes it's easy to forget what the real purpose of the gathering is. And that is to "shower" the mother-to-be with gifts for the little one. When my high school best friend, Nicole, announced that she and her husband were having ther first child, a little girl, I wanted to give them something from the heart, and what can be more from the heart than something not only "traditional" but hand made? Along with a couple pairs of booties, I crocheted this baby blanket for little Layla Nicole. It measures approx. 53" inches sq. (Pictured is my niece, Gabby.) If you would like to order one for yourself, send your request to pinkdragonflyorders@yahoo.com. The cost is $80 (plus s/h); please allow 4 weeks time minimum for this item.

Hot! Hot! Hot! Chilli Peppers

My parents' kitchen is nothing but red chilli peppers. I'm not quite sure what their fascination is with them but I decided to contribute toward their collection. I love working with plastic canvas. so I searched the internet for this pattern. It will fit nicely in their kitchen.

Peaceful Dove cross stitich

"I will grant PEACE in this land. Luke 2:11" My great-grandmother gave me this kit for Christmas. It now hangs in my kitchen. Just a little touch of love.

Heart Pillow

When decorating your home, why not add a personal touch instead of all of Martha Stewart's touch? Don't get me wrong, Martha has some good tastes, but it's your home...leave your own fingerprints. I created this dainty pillow from a kit that my mother gave me that is composed of embroidery and french knots and made by ME. Seeing this precious pillow on my couch is much more enjoyable than a purchased pillow could ever be.

Eagle Scout Badge cross stitch

My father grew up in boy scouts and continued on to be an Eagle Scout. When my brother joined scouts, Daddy became a scout leader. I never did girl scouts or Brownies but I was able to tag along with Dad on camping trips, hiking trips, and other scouting events...and earned every badge! I wanted to give Daddy something that I knew that he would appreciate, I located a cross stitch pattern for this Eagle Scout badge and gave it to my dad for his birthday. I don't think he was expecting it at all, but he definitely loved it.

Perpetual Calendar

These might not be as common anymore, but they are still super cool. In case you never heard of a perpetual calendar, it's a calendar that you manually switch out the months and rotate the days of the month. You'll never need to buy another calendar again because this calendar is accurate for every year to come. Here is the pattern if you'd like to take a crack at it yourself. Enjoy!

Butterfly Cross stitch set

Everyone likes butterflies. I found a cross stitch kit for these three butterflies and stitched them up as a gift for my great-grandmother. Cross stitch pictures make unique gifts and last a lifetime.

Always and Forever photo cross stitch

Here'a a blast from my past. This is some of my early work on cross stitching. When I first started cross stitching, I discovered that I could create my own patterns using my own personal photos. I made this cross stitch of myself and my boyfriend at the time, back when I was in high school.

.................Original (on tshirt)..............................Cross stitch.................

Desert Beauty Cross Stitch

My mother loves living in Arizona. She loves the southwest and all that it represents. Whether it be the Valley sunsets, the mountainous backdrops, or the Native American inspirations, she's always been in love with the Grand Canyon State. For her birthday, I purchased a prepackaged cross stitch kit and stitched this design for her. I love making stuff for my mom because she knows how much work and love I put into them for her. :)