Craft Corner: Yarn is Cheaper Than Therapy Cup, and Birthday Gift Idea

Yarn Is Cheaper than Therapy Mug

This was the month for gifts,  And craftiness is where I'm at right now.  So if you know me better be prepared to give me ideas on the types of gifts you want.

Got a knitter in your circle? This gift idea is perfect for those crafters that have every colour of yarn and knitting accessory made. Again find your font on DaFont, and create with your Silhouette Cameo machine. You may have to play around with the offset button to get just the right letter thickness. I had a few goes at this one before I got it right.

This was a last minute gift for a Birthday party my daughter was invited to. The child's name written on a glass storage container, great for filling with anything from candy to hair accessories.

Have fun crafting! 

Craft Corner: Hello Beautiful Mug Design, Made With a Silhouette Cameo

Hello Beautiful!

Who wouldn't want to wake up to a mug Like this?

You can get the font for free from daFont here: https://www.dafont.com/

I was able to buy this particular one from the Silhouette store for half price when they had a sale.
I'm having way too much fun with this new craft. Pop me a message if you have ideas or suggestions.

A WONDERFUL JOURNEY THROUGH AUTISM

What do you think when you hear the word Autism? I think about a red vest, a wagging tail, and a warm hug from my super poodle. These are my thoughts. I have Autism myself.

Autism affects everyone in different ways. it's nothing to be ashamed of, it's a gift that makes us special. we are all different and unique in our own ways.

I find that some things are more challenging than other things like sometimes it's hard for me to fall asleep.
So here are some things I have tried.

For sleeping: Melatonin, not looking at screens an hour before bedtime, a magnet blanket (here's a link for the magnet blankets
https://hippohug.ca/product/weighted-blankets/ you can choose your fabric and stuff too)

For concentrating: a wiggle cushion

https://www.amazon.ca/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=wiggle+cushion&tag=googcana-20&index=aps&hvadid=214944427820&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12971209018011902399&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001610&hvtargid=kwd-303530307756&ref=pd_sl_5jr15g23yq_e

and a wiggle chair

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B075JS51KV?aaxitk=nc2JPhEs3m5wrjpiy38joA&pd_rd_i=B075JS51KV&pf_rd_p=4cca1e3c-4d42-4151-86ab-9344d5a24403&hsa_cr_id=3584102480601&sb-ci-n=asinImage&sb-ci-v=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-na.ssl-images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F61B4G42oZAL.jpg&sb-ci-a=B075JS51KV 

Overall the biggest thing that has helped me is my service dog Jovi The Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides is a national charity dedicated to providing Dog Guides to Canadians with disabilities at no cost. Its Autism Assistance Dog Guide program, founded in 2009, trains Dog Guides for children aged 3-18 with autism. Jovi helps me concentrate, sleep, self-regulate, he clams me down and is my very best friend. I could not imagine a life without my faithful poodle!

I'm hoping my blog post helps other kids who have Autism and their moms. If you want to ask me any questions I'm here to help, just do so in the comments section. I also love to read just about anything so if you have any good suggestions let me know!

                                                         I hope this has helped you.

Craft Corner: Dorm Decor Pillow, Made With a Silhouette Cameo 3

Dorm Decor, Dorm Sweet Dorm pillowcase

I created this pillowcase for my best friends son who is now in university.

It was so much fun that I also made one for a neighbours son! It is easy to find cost-effective pillowcases in packs of two, most students in a small dorm only need one so I was able to utilise the other one for another gift.

It's easy to find the font you want by looking at examples online and then going to  https://www.dafont.com/and finding your match.

What are you waiting for go get your craft on!

Craft Corner: Silhouette Dog pillow Idea

Do you have a dog loving person in your life?

I am always looking to make unique and fun gifts for the people I know. Since I bought the Silhouette making this has become so much easier to do!

This is one such project I created for my neighbours, they recently adopted a dog and it became their "best friend." So I thought it fitting to make them something to commemorate their special pet.


This project was quick and easy, I found the font and a preformed pillow. I have never tried to use my press with such a bulky item, but it worked fabulously! I have the clamshell style heat press from Middle Graphics, see picture below. This was a costly purchase but so well worth it!

 I would not attempt this with an iron.





If you are looking for a fast and fun gift this may just be what you are looking for.

Book Review:The First Love

From the Back:

.3+

Jah, that was undeniably a difficult time, one that opened my eyes in countless ways. And my heart, most of all. It was a season of sorrow and searching, of questions and answers.

It was the summer of my first love.

It's the summer of 1951, and Maggie Esh is in need of some hope. Sweet-spirited and uncommonly pretty despite struggling with illness, she is used to being treated kindly by the young men of her Old Order Amish church district. Yet Maggie wishes she were more like other courting-age girls so she could live a normal, healthy life. When tent revival meetings come to the area, the words of the preacher cause her to reconsider what she knows about faith. Can she learn to trust God even when hope seems a distant dream?

My Reflections: 

Beverly Lewis is the queen of Amish fiction, she was writing these novels before the Amish fiction craze began. You can always expect faith-driven characters and a heartwarming, engaging plot. I have never been disappointed with her writing, and her newest book was just as expected, a fast and joyful experience!

Maggie yearns to be whole like the other young people in her community. Having Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis has affected her ability to participate in her life to its entirety. She dreams of a family and life of her own someday but she is not sure just how this is able to come to fruition with her current state of health. In spite of her difficulties, Maggie joins the church and sets out to see where God takes her. Could her future include Jimmy Beiler?

The story also gives us a glimpse into Rachel's life, marring maggie's father, a widower could not have been easy, especially with a ready-made family in tow. Rachel puts her dreams aside instead focusing her attention on making this knit together family live in harmony. Will she have the courage to find happiness as well?

I adored Maggie's devotion and pure love for her Lord, she was a character I felt drawn to instantly. Rachel'd devotion is definitely noteworthy and I'm glad it all turns out well. 

Beverly Lewis fans won't want to miss out on this tender yet very compelling new release!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc

Love when you have help reading!

Beverly Lewis

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, has more than 17 million books in print. Her stories have been published in 12 languages and have regularly appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA...

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Book Review: A Season of Grace

From the Back:

Just as Opportunities Unfold, a Danger from Her Past Returns
Nilda Carlson's dreams are coming true. Though her first few months in America were difficult, her life now resembles the images that filled her daydreams in Norway. Together, she and her family work their farm and fell trees for lumber. Everything is finally going right.

When Nilda is offered a job by a wealthy businesswoman in the nearby town of Blackduck, she can't believe her luck. Here is an opportunity to learn how to navigate the worlds of commerce and high society. But life in town comes with a catch: the man who tried to assault Nilda in Norway has arrived in Blackduck. He claims to have turned over a new leaf, but every time she sees him, her fears come flooding back. Can she learn to forgive him and move on, or will she always be stuck in the past? And can he truly be trusted?

My Reflections:
A Season Of Grace is the third and final installment in the "Under Northern Skies series." I would not consider this to be a standalone, it is definitely a read in order type series. The story is very interwoven and far too good to not get the full backstory. 
We are blessed to watch the progression of characters from past series prosper in their new America, this brings all kinds of opportunity and conflict.  
In A Season of Grace, we travel to Benson's Corner, Minnesota, the year of 1910. 
Rune and Signe are thrilled to be in their new homeland, they have decided to bring Gerd along since she has become so much a part of the family! 

The main character in this installment, however, is Nilda. Nilda has been given the opportunity of a lifetime, To learn the necessary skills such as reading, writing, and proper etiquette, not to mention living in a much larger town!  Everything seems to be going well until a man from her past appears and threatens to ruin her chance at happiness. With post-traumatic stress wreaking havoc on Nilda she must decide what she will do and who she can turn to for help.

This last installment has done a fine job of wrapping up all loose ends. I found it to be a heartwarming tale with a charming community filled with supportive pleasant characters. If you love historical fiction with little romance, this is a light and easy read!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc

Lauraine Snelling

Lauraine Snelling (www.laurainesnelling.com) is the award-winning author of more than 70 books, fiction and nonfiction, for adults and young adults. Her books have sold more than 5 million copies. Besides writing books and articles, she teaches at writers'...

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