This week I finished my most recent work in progress...another sequin & beaded bird soft case for either glasses or phones.

Find it in my Etsy shop!

I'm joining in The Quilting Gallery's {QAL} Aiming for Accuracy.

If you are interested in joining in the fun, click here for all the details.

Roughly a year ago, while reading a favorite quilting magazine, I found this tulip quilt pattern. However, the quilt in the magazine fit a twin size bed. I am always on the look out for ways to minimize my ever growing scrap box. I decided on scrappy tulips, adjusting the magazine's suggested block measurements to my liking.

A pleasant afternoon and a warm cuppa was enjoyed choosing fabric - bright, cheery, "Spring" colors for the tulip petals; vibrant greens for the stems; put-a-smile-on-your-face polka dots, checks, and florals for the filler blocks.

It's not perfect. It's handmade.

And, I am delighted with the finished product.

First of all, let me say, "HAPPY EASTER!"

Secondly, I apologize for the lack of posts. I've been visiting friends in Florida.

Florida was beautiful! The weather was perfect. The fellowship sweet. And the fun never-ending.

I hadn't seen my sweet friend, Valarie, in six years! We were missionaries together teaching at the same school. Today, I am living in Australia, and she is baking for Disney. We had a great time catching up and spending the day at Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

Happy Snaps

Top Row (left to right):
1) Waiting in line for the shuttle from the parking lot to the monorail or ferry. We chose the monorail.
2) Classic pic taken in front of Cinderella's castle. Tip: Disney cast members will take a photo for you with your phone, camera, or iPad.
3)Be Our Guest Restaurant inside the Beast's castle for lunch: french onion soup, and a chocolate creme puff, with bottled water. We ate in the dining room decorated as the Beast's bedroom with the enchanted rose.

Middle Row (left to right):
1) Waiting for the train to take us from Fantastyland to Adventureland.
2) Ready for a spin on the tea cups.
3) Enjoying a Dole Whip from Aloha Isle - pineapple and vanilla ice cream...refreshing!

Bottom Row (left to right):
1) The Dumbo ride lit up at night.
2) Mrs Speech flying high with Dumbo.
3) What a Magical Day!

Mr. Speech and I want to wish all of our readers a very happy and blessed Easter.

My previous post with tutorial led to this sequins and beads soft purple case. I enjoyed making the pink sparkly case so much I just had to make another one.

Each bead and sequin was sewn on by hand. Needless to say, it took me a few days to finish. I took it with me over the weekend while I visited my nephews. Whenever I could find a few moments of quiet, I would work on it. You know those small snack size zip lock bags? They worked great for traveling with sequins and beads. Just the right size and no spilling. I even had room inside the baggies for my thread and thimble. My nephews, an 8-year-old and a 4-year-old, were curious about what I was doing. I showed the 8-year-old how to sew a bead onto the center of a sequin. He gave it a try. The 4-year-old like touching the beads on the colorful bird and watching the purple sequin and bead outline grow. "Hey, you gave it a beak!" He impressively exclaimed.

This little beaded beauty is now in my Etsy shop. Just click the Pink Scissors Design logo on the top left - you can't miss it.

Two days.

It took me two days to sew on each sequin and bead - by hand!

Surprisingly, I didn't mind.

Hand sewing is relaxing.

I enjoyed watching the simple felt become a thing of beauty with every sequin and bead I added.

Materials Used:

raspberry Felt (hot pink)
tangerine Felt (bright orange)
batting
white cotton thread
pink cotton thread
pink sequins
pink beads
silver seed beads
light pink sequin trim (it's like a sequin ribbon!)

Tools Used:
pink scissors
pins
thimble
needle
Mom's sewing machine
my own nimble fingers
reading glasses*

The Creative Process:
Measure Twice, Cut Once
I "measured" my cell phone case. By "measure", I mean I eyeballed it...placed my cell phone on the pink felt added an extra inch for seam allowance and mistake making, and cut out the size felt I needed. Then, I placed that piece of felt on top of the orange felt and cut out the same size. Finishing up the measuring by placing the felt on top of the batting and cutting out the size I needed.

Pin in Place & Sew Straight Lines
I "sandwiched" the batting between the pink and orange felt, pinned it all the way around, flipped on the sewing machine, and stitched all the way around my rectangle shape. Once I finished securing the batting in place, I decided on a diagonal design, and started sewing from corner to corner. I lined up the foot along the completed stitching line, insuring straight stitches. Now, I had a design to follow to sew the sequins and beads on by hand.

Busy Hands Are Happy Hands
Grandmother always used to say this to me. She was right. I happily followed the diagonal lines as I secured each sequin and bead in place by hand. And, the time flew by! First, I stitched a sequin in place. Next, I threaded a bead on the needle, carefully drove the nose of the needle into the pink felt, through the batting, and out the orange. Good...bead tightly fixed in place. I moved on to the next and so on, and so on, and sew on! One more thing to do before I stitch it together so that it will hold the cell phone...hem the top edge. I trimmed off excess felt/batting, leaving a clean straight edge, folded down the top edge, and stitched it down by hand.

Seams to Me
Ah, the tricky part! The quilting the felt and batting sandwich helped flatten down the bulkiness of the three layers, but it was still too thick to fit under the sewing foot. I had to sew the seams together by hand. This was not easy and quite time consuming. Especially since I did it once by hand with a blanket stitch all the way around. Right sides together, I turned it right side out, and discovered that it needed something more. A flash of inspiration. I unpicked the beautiful blanket stitch and hauled out my silver seed beads and light pink sequin ribbon. I covered up the remaining white thread with the silver seed beads. I pinned the light pink sequin ribbon right side facing the right side to the pink felt now with sequins and beads. By hand I stitched it in place all along the seam line. Finishing off, I turned the case right side out...BEAUTY! I now have a pretty pink sparkly case for my cell phone.

Comments, Please
I'm so pleased with this project that I've already begun working on a second one and will be adding this item to my Etsy shop, Pink Scissors Design.

What color would you like to see offered?

*reading glasses - these came with turning 40 this year!

Linking Up
I'm linking up with these fantastic craft link parties!

Why I Love My Husband (the never-ending list):
16.) He keeps up with the housework while I'm away. While I'm in America visiting family, he is back home doing dishes and laundry. Thank you, Honey!
17.) He keeps a watchful eye on the budget and makes sure the bills are paid.
18.) He kills bugs and spiders for me...cockroaches, too. And, those Australian bugs, spiders, and cockroaches are HUGE!
19.) He treats me like a lady - holds the door open for me and pulls out my chair.
20.) He has a great smile!

I'm joining in the fun with the Happy Wives Club and linking up every Thursday! I encourage you to share your "Why I Love My Husband" list with your husband. Shower him with some praise and affirmation. In doing so, may the Lord richly bless your marriage.

Why I Love My Husband (the never-ending list):
11. When I cry he kisses my tears away.
12. He always compliments me on my cooking, even when I know I missed the mark on the recipe.
13. He surprises me with with gifts. For example, he bought me a large jar of Nutella last week, even though I'm out of the country. It's waiting for me to enjoy when I return home.
14. He remembers our anniversary (6 years on Sunday!).
15. When I'm fretting over the gray starting to appear in my hair, he tells me how beautiful I am. Knowing I like to take care of my appearance, he brings home a hair color kit for me to hide the gray.

I'm joining in the fun with the Happy Wives Club and linking up every Thursday! I encourage you to share your "Why I Love My Husband" list with your husband. Shower him with some praise and affirmation. In doing so, may the Lord richly bless your marriage.

Easter is early this year - March 31st! Passover is Sunday, March 24th. Start a new tradition this year with an Easter Tree. Use a branch from a tree in your yard and every day during Passion Week hang a new ornament. The idea is similar to a Jesse Tree. See this post. Each day you read the Scripture that accompanies each ornament as you hang the ornament.

When is Passion Week? It begins Palm Sunday and ends Resurrection Sunday --- that's an 8 day week!

This set includes 12 hand-crafted felt ornaments embellished with beads and sequins and a list for daily scripture reading for years of use.

Ornament themes listing, scripture readings, and symbols:

Day 1 - Palm Sunday/Triumphant Entry - Matthew 21:1-11
symbol: donkey and palm branch

Day 2 - Alabaster Box/Mary Annointing Jesus' Feet - Matthew 26:6-13
symbol: alabaster box

Day 3 - Last Supper/Bread & Cup - Matthew 26:17-29
symbol: cup of wine with unleavened bread

Day 4 - Jesus Washes Disciples' Feet - John 13:3-20
symbol: pitcher and bowl with water

Day 5 - Arrest in The Garden - Matthew 26:47-56
symbol: sword/dagger

Day 6 - Crucifixion - Matthew 27:33-44; John 1:29
symbol: cross and lamb

Day 7 - Prophecy of Three Days Buried - Matthew 12:40
symbol: whale

Day 8 - Resurrection Sunday - Matthew 28:1-10
symbol: empty tomb

Please visit my Etsy shop, Pink Scissors Design, to order your set today!

Why I Love My Husband (the never-ending list):
6. He holds my hand when we walk to the bus.
7. He helps with the housework.
8. He always thanks me for the meals I prepare.
9. When he can't sleep, he uses headphones so that I can sleep without noise waking me up.
10. When he wakes up before I do, he has a hot cup of tea and a bowl of cereal ready for me when I wake up.

I'm joining in the fun with the Happy Wives Club and linking up every Thursday! I encourage you to share your "Why I Love My Husband" list with your husband. Shower him with some praise and affirmation. In doing so, may the Lord richly bless your marriage.

Today, I'm linking up with Marie of Blooming Homestead. I whipped up this cute little craft especially for today's link up.

Raise your hand if you keep your fabric scraps.

{Both hands raised high in the air.}

Yeah, I have more than one box marked, "Scraps".

I do enjoy small sewing projects that I can complete in a day...an hour - even better! Thus, I keep my fabric scraps...perfect for those small projects I love.




Materials
8 1/2 x 11 Document Frame
Muslin
Fabric Scrap for the bird silhouette
Fabric Scrap for the branch silhouette
Coordinating Colored Thread
Thimble
Scissors
Scotch Tape
Iron

Technique
Blanket Stitch - here are a few good places to learn this technique:
Tutorial: Hand Sew Felt Using Blanket Stitch from Future Girl
Blanket Stitch from Stitch School
Blanket Stitch - hand video from Connecting Threads


Step One: Cut
Using the thin piece of card board that came with the frame, cut our your muslin...just a bit larger than the size of the card board.

Keep that piece of thin card board. You're going to need it later and use it for framing that sweet little bird.

Tip: Iron your fabric after you cut it.

Save time and your sanity. A smaller piece of fabric is always easier to work with when ironing. No sense ironing yards of muslin when you will only be using a tiny portion of it.

After you have cut and ironed your muslin and fabric shapes, decide which whether your bird will be framed vertically or horizontally.

I chose vertically, leaving plenty of space to embroider a verse or quote later.

Step Two: Pin.
Pin the branch shape wherever you like, keeping in mind which direction you want your frame - vertical or horizontal.

My inspiration for this craft came from a picture hanging on my sister-in-law's living room wall. I thought the darling bird silhouette would translate perfectly from print to fabric. So, one day while visiting her, I did a free hand sketch to create my own templates. No copying or tracing - - - free hand.

This craft would have gone down differently if it was more detailed than a silhouette.

This bird is a basic shape which I encourage you to try. Doodle and sketch. Draw a bird and a rough branch and put your own signature on your craft. Own it!

Step Three: Stitch.
Bird and branch pinned in place, thread your needle, grab your thimble, pour yourself a cuppa, put on your favorite show/movie, and stitch.

I recommend appliqueing your bird and branch onto the muslin. My favorite technique when doing this by hand is the blanket stitch. It is easy and pretty. I listed three places to find how-to's for the blanket stitch (see above).

I chose a coordinating pink thread for my pink bird. Unfortunately, I did not have a coordinating green for my branch. So, I chose a complimentary color of an orangish-brown.


Step Four: Frame.
Remember that piece of thin cardboard that came with the frame? You used it in step one to cut out the correct size of muslin. Now is when you need it.

You will also need some tape to help hold the muslin in place and keep it as taught as possible when fitting it for framing.

Tip: Before fitting your fabric bird to the frame, iron it so that it will lay smooth and look lovely hanging on your wall or perched on a shelf.

After ironing it, lay the bird face down. Place the thin cardboard face up...so that you can read the writing on it. Fold over excess muslin and tape down to cardboard.

Next, gently slide the piece of cardboard which is now steadying your fabric bird into the frame.

A thick piece of cardboard should have come with your frame. Slide this in behind your fabric bird/thin cardboard.

Finally, gently slide the frame stand...the very back of the frame into the frame.

Voila!

Your lovely little fabric bird is now ready to grace your home.

Now, it's your turn...join me in linking up at Blooming Homestead.


I'm also linking up with these great craft link parties:

Cooker And A Looker - Homemade Tomato Paste. Amanda shares how to make homemade tomato paste two ways: the thermochef way and on the stove top.

A note about a few of the ingredients for American readers, "capsicum" is Australian for "pepper": red, green, or yellow pepper. Not the spice. The vegetable. "White Sugar" is Australian for sugar, meaning not raw (which looks a bit brownish), not icing sugar or powdered, but granulated. And, thermochef is a fancy Australian kitchen appliance (I'm sure America has its own version.)

Blooming Homestead - Crafty Tuesday. I for one am glad that Marie decided to host a crafty link-up on her blog. It gives me great reason to craft today...just as soon as I finish this blog post. Marie is inviting everyone to link up projects, recipes, and crafts. Join me in linking up tomorrow. Not crafty? That's okay, craft link-ups are a great source of inspiration...plenty of pinning going on...and you'll find some great blogs to add to your reading list.

The Handmade Home - A No Sew Tee Pee. My nephews would flip for this super craft! Set aside a day or weekend (if you are a perfectionist) to create this amazing reading/play space for your little ones. Ashley says it cost no more than $7 to make. Purchase six 1 x 2 x 8′s from your local handy man store and some jute (or duct tape if jute is not available) and follow Ashley's example for the rest...raid your fabric stash! Read the post to find terrific suggestions for how to make this amazing no sew tee pee at nearly no cost.

I think I might win Super Aunt of the Universe for Life if I made this for my nephews. Hmm, I wonder how their Grandparents would feel if built this in the bedroom I've been staying in while on my American holiday. Wonder if they will mind? I do realize that I may be sleeping in it...

Happy Wives Club - 5 Steps in 5 Days to A Happier Husband. The Happy Wives Club introduces Kathi Lipp, sharing 5 steps for wives to practice for 5 days to build up their husbands. It's not secret that I'm madly in love with Mr Speech! Any time I can learn how to make my husband happier, I welcome it. Think of it as more ways to say, "I Love You!" Kathi admits that the steps she suggests may not be easy, ask a friend to work with you - encourage you and stay accountable to and pray for you. Kathi is the author of The Husband Project & The Marriage Project...I have both books...very good. I highly recommend them!

Baker's Royale - S'more Eclairs. I can't resist a delicious eclair! The recipe calls for "finely cut graham crackers". Graham crackers are easy to find in America. I have never seen them in Australia. Any Australian readers know where I can get graham crackers in Brisbane? If I want to make these beauties, I'll have to make some extra room in my suitcase for a box or two of graham crackers. Mini-marshmallows are also not to be found in Australia. I have only ever seen the large size marshmallow and in pink and white. Where can I find plain ol' white marshmallows? I can easily cut them up into a mini size. No worries. Well, that's one more item to add to my suitcase: mini-marshmallows. Clearly, I need to learn where the best places are to buy American imported goods; AND where in Brisbane do the bakers shop?

Happy Wives, I think these would be perfect for step 4 in the 5 days to a Happier Husband.

Hey, if all else fails, do this for steps 1-5.

Methinks, ye husbands shall be very happy indeed!

Smiling eyes, rosy cheeks, and a heart shaped mouth, these sweet babushkas are cuddle ready for quiet time, nap time, and bed time. Terrific secret keepers and they love slumber parties. Perfect as a pillow for decoration or a soft toy for play.

Measures approximately 20 inches tall and 17.5 inches wide.

I made these darlings while in America. These beauties ship from America - $5.20 shipping to America!

Visit my Etsy shop - Pink Scissors Design - doll section and adopt yours today!

Happy Valentine's Day! To celebrate, I'm sharing my favorites from my Pinterest boards. Please share your favorite Valentine's Day Pinterest Boards/Pins in the comments below.

Valentine's Day Crafts
Fun Valentine's Day Fonts
Large Clothespin Craft
DIY: Heart-shaped tea bag for the tea lover
Romantic Map Craft: where you met, married, and live
Countdown to Kisses
Valentine Canvas Tutorial
50 Sweet Conversation Heart Recipes & Crafts
DIY: Giant Balloon Heart

Valentine's Day Printables
Keep Calm and Kiss Me
Keep Calm and Be Mine
Arise, My Love, My Beautiful One, and come away...

Valentine's Day Cakes
Heart Hot Chocolate {Italian site}
Valentine's Day Peek-A-Boo Pound Cake
Neapolitan Rose Cake, inside and out!
Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Buttercream Mini Hearts Inside
Valentine's Cupcapkes
Tim Tams Cake - with Thick Ganache icing! An Australian Favorite!

Valentine's Day Cookies
Milk & Cookies {A Cookie Valentine Tutorial}
Chocolate Valentine Cookies
Valentine Shortbread Cookie Sandwiches
Chocolate Heart Sandwich Cookies
Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Meringue Roses
Heart Shaped Raspberry S'more Macaroons
Valentine's Day Cookie Pop

Valentine's Day Drinks
Strawberry Sweethearts Cocoa
Valentine's Day S'mores Cookie Sticks with Cocoa
Crush Strawberry Valentine Drink

Heart Shaped Food
Heart Shaped Fruit Kabobs
Red Velvet Crepes w/ Mascarpone Cream Filling & Chocolate Ganache Topping
How To Peel A Heart Shaped Carrot
Chocolate Chip Cherry Pancakes

Valentine's Day Activities for Married Couples
The 5 Minute Exercise Every Couple Should Do
The Game of Love

I've recently discovered a new blog, The Paper Mama. She has recently begun hosting a fun meme: 11 Things. It's a way of getting to know readers and readers getting to know bloggers. I do hope many of you will join in the fun and share the link to your meme in a comment below. I know Mr Speech & I would enjoy visiting your blogs and reading your memes. For this inaugural 11 Things Meme, I - Mrs Speech - am writing it. You may recall that I am on holiday in America while Mr Speech is holding down the fort back in Brisbane. Shout out to Mr Speech! You Rock!!! {You all should know I'm not shy about how I feel about my handsome husband.}

The rules:

1. Post a photo of yourself

2. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.

3. Create 11 new questions and ask people to answer them.

The Paper Mama Asked:

1. If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to?
"Mom" or even "Mum"...I've been hoping, praying, and waiting years to change my name to Mum. And, you know what...with my heart full of hope, I will continue to pray and wait.

2. Are you a collector of anything?
Teacups. You may recall this post where I swoon over the tea cups at T2. In the past I collected teapots...whimsical and lovely teapots. However, that collection remains Stateside while my tea cup collection is ever growing Down Under. Perhaps one day the two collections will become one and I can host a huge (YUGE) tea party!

3. What is your first thought when you wake up?
"Tea!" - when I'm home in Brisbane. While I'm in Michigan on holiday, "French Vanilla Coffee!" Either way, the kettle is going on and having a hot cuppa is the first thing on my mind.

4. Do you prefer sweet or salty foods?
Yes! Both. I like the sweet and savory together.

5. Name one thing you miss about being a kid.
Playing. I have so enjoyed time with my three-year-old nephew while on holiday in Michigan. Playing is the most important thing in the world to him. And, I realize at my graceful age of {ahem} 40 {shocking, I know} that there is much to learn from a three year old. I miss being three.

6. Are you a morning or night person?
Ha! I would say night, but it's a struggle to stay up much later than 10 p.m. these days. I can wake up between 6 or 6:30 without an alarm, but I'm not happy about it. Can a person be in transition? I don't think I am either a morning or a night person. When pressed, I would rather stay up late than wake up early. But, there's no guarantee I won't be grumpy {poor Mr Speech...he's so patient and kind when I get the grumpies - - - that's one of the reasons I love him so}.

7. List 5 items on your life’s to-do list:
1) Write a Children's Book
2) Adopt a baby girl from China
3) Have breakfast in Paris with Mr Speech
4) Finish all of my current unfinished quilts/sewing projects
5) Travel Europe researching my ancestry

8. Share one thing that people may not know about you.
Though I was born and raised in a state surrounded by the five Great Lakes and renowned for being a Winter Wonderland, I do not water or snow ski.

9. What is your all time favorite song, movie, and book?
Song - Jesus Loves Me
Movie - It's A Wonderful Life
Book - Psalms

10. Do you have any hidden talents?
Teaching...I was a missionary teacher before I met and married Mr. Speech.

11. Are you a really clean or super messy person?
Good question! I think I am a happy mix of both. People pay me to clean their home, while my own for the most part is "lived in". Ideally, I like to have a place for everything and everything in its place, but that's not reality. Especially, when I get out my fabric. Watch out! My works-in-progress lead to clutter. Organization is an area I'd really like to grow in...share your tips in the comments below or email me!

My Questions For You To Answer
1. Valentine's Day is tomorrow, if you HAD to pick just ONE which would you choose for a gift: 1 lb. heart-shaped box of chocolates, 1 dozen long stem red roses, dinner and a movie, or other?
2. What is the name of the most recent movie you saw at the cinema?
3. Your plans have changed and you have 30 minutes to make dinner, what do you make/do?
4. Do you have a Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall birthday?
5. What is your all time favorite book children's book - favorite you read over and over again, perhaps memorized, as a child?
6. If you are a quilter/crafter, take a photo of your most current project and share it with us. If you are not, please share your hobby.
7. Are you a Downton Abbey fan?
8. List the top 3 places you would take me to if I visited your hometown.
9. What is the name of the last blog you visited?
10. Favorite Love song?
11. Tea or coffee?

Your turn! I hope you will play along and answer this 11 questions meme! If you answer my questions, please come back and put a link in the comments. I’d really love to visit your blog and learn a bit about you!

Why I Love My Husband (the never-ending list):
1. He loves the Lord.
2. He prays for me.
3. He shares his chocolate with me.
4. He watches Gone With The Wind with me.
5. He tells me how beautiful I am even when I'm not wearing make-up.

I'm joining in the fun with the Happy Wives Club and linking up every Thursday! I encourage you to share your "Why I Love My Husband" list with your husband. Shower him with some praise and affirmation. In doing so, may the Lord richly bless your marriage.

With the snow flying and two feet forecasted by Saturday, I am enjoying my wintry Michigan holiday by staying indoors sewing. A needle and thread and buttons are keeping me quite happy, as I work on this patchwork pillow. I had been collecting fabric scraps and carefully chose some pink ones for this pillow. I was delighted to discover that my mother has a very large container of stray buttons. I emptied the container of buttons, pouring them into the largest mixing bowl I could find in my mother's cupboards and took my time selecting buttons to use for decorate this charming Valentine's pillow. Are you working on any Valentine's projects?

I'm linking up with: