As you probably already know, my family was on vacation last weekend...and it was wonderful...we spent the weekend with some dear friends of ours who have a house on Pine Lake in Wisconsin...they have 3 children the same ages & sexes as our kids, so everyone has a someone to play with...just perfect...I just wanted to share a few of our happy moments with you...

You read that right...WhipperBerry...wanna read it again? WhipperBerry. Yep, I said it. WhipperBerry.

Oh. yeah.

Come on over to see today's project!

This project was originally posted a couple of weeks ago at Positively Splendid...if you've never seen Amy's blog, you must check it out...it's jam-packed with wonderful projects & tutorials...

So, if you didn't see them the first time...or if you just need to see them again (which I know you will...), here they are...

Well, we're home from vacation...we had a wonderful time & we all came home rested & relaxed and ready to start "life" again...I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

I'm guest-posting over at The V Spot today! You know The V Spot...home to Vivienne, the "Daux Coral" queen??? She is one of the funniest and most creative women I've met in blogland. Oh. yes. To say I'm excited is an understatement...ecstatic beyond belief is more like it...

Come on over and see one of my favorite projects to date...this Ruffle Pillow...AND, the tutorial...so you can make one for you...


I hope everyone has a great weekend! And make sure to get outside in between ruffle pillow projects...

A few weeks ago I was driving home from the grocery store when I drove past a garage sale that seemed to have some interesting items...so, I stopped...despite all the protests from my kids...

...that I changed up my blog a little this weekend...(it's not quite done...I'm having a little trouble getting my background image - from The Graphics Fairy - behind my header...ideas???)

Some people have a very hard time with change...here's something you should know about me...I have a very hard time keeping things the same for very long...things like home decor, linens, my wardrobe, things like that...my husband & kids are welcome to stay as long as they like...(and they'd better stay...if they know what's good for them...).

So...I was starting to think that my blog was looking a little messy, a little scattered...
I wanted something a little more fresh, a little brighter...and I think that's what I got...

Here's something else you should know about me...I'm a font hoarder. Yes, I admit it. I love fonts. I know, I know...you're thinking, "yeah, so, who doesn't?" But I reeeaaallly love fonts...like I think I need another external hard drive just to store them...just kidding, honey - I don't need another one...yet (wink).

Anyway, when I was searching for the fonts I wanted to use for my new design I came across some awesome ones...wanna see?

First off, here are the ones I used...


And here are some more from my stash...

I know...I love them, too...

Want 'em?

Lobster Two
Century Gothic - (this should come standard on your computer)
The Blue Cabin
ROSEWOOD STD
PENSTRIPED
Trashed
Selfish

Long live font designers...

If you've ever checked out my Pinterest boards, you'll notice that my "yum" board is longer than any other...

I am always on the look-out for easy, delicious, quick recipes and I've come across quite a few on the web... but my absolute favorite so far is, without question, these Vegetable Pot Stickers from the For the Love of Cooking blog...oh my heck these are out of this world!

OK, confession time...I've never been a pot sticker (or Chinese dumpling) fan...in fact, I was well into my 20s before I would even eat in a Chinese restaurant. Once, in college, a friend of mine ordered pot stickers at Friday's and I decided to try one...I think the majority of it ended up in my napkin...sorry, restaurant laundry service...it was yucky...although Chinese food in Champaign, IL (and at Friday's...) probably isn't as good as it gets anyway...

However, after I was married, I noticed that my tastes started to change...no longer was Chinese food yucky...in fact, now it's some of my favorite (next to Mexican...oh, man...I loves me some carne asada). And that change included a new-found love of pot stickers...

And this recipe is AWESOME...

...heaven on a white plate...

...as in so amazing my husband had me make it twice last week...yup.

Give it a try...you will not be disappointed...

Well, all good things must come to an end...and this week it was my turn to leave the One Month To Win It competition...but I had the best time! And I got to know some amazing bloggers...so thank you SO much to everyone judging/organizing/competing in the competition...and to everyone who voted for me - you guys ROCK!!! ...even if you didn't know it was me you were voting for...

I have to admit...this past week's challenge was especially challenging for me. We were to create something with natural items...in other words, items that could be found in nature...not manmade. I threw around a few ideas and decided on something that I have wanted to make for a while...a starburst mirror. Here's my version...

First let me explain just how much my kids LOVE to take baths...they ADORE getting clean...they would take a bath twice a day, if I let them...

OH WAIT...did I say "love" and "adore?" - what I meant to say was ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY HATE & ABHOR taking a bath or shower...seriously...I think it cuts into their playtime...or their used to the funk, or something. Getting them into the tub is like pulling teeth...truthfully. Soooo, I made this quick and easy project to make bathtime just slightly more appealing...and they all were able to help me...and I don't mean the kind of help like "You'll be the most help if you just sit there on the couch, honey" help...I mean like honest-to-goodness help...

Here's what we're making:

Today I'm guest-posting over at Positively Splendid! And I can't begin to tell you how excited I am!


I have been a huge fan of Amy's blog since I first started following it a few months ago...she has got a million amazing projects with fabulous tutorials, mouth-watering recipes (check out this one for Chocolate Pudding Cake she just posted yesterday...yes...I said Chocolate. Pudding. Cake. - 3 of my absolute favorite words...all mushed together...yum.), aaaand she hosted this amazing series earlier this year...the Summer Survival Guide...that you must check out for some fantastic summer inspiration.

Come on by and see my latest project...here's a little sneak peek...


Curious??? Well, get on over there, then! Can't wait to see you there...

OH WAIT! Before you head over to Amy's blog, and if you have a minute, will you please swing by the One Month To Win It blog and vote for your favorite project? Thank you so so much!

I hope you all know just how much I truly appreciate you...and that's for reals, yo.

Wow! Thank you so much to everyone who entered to win this fantastic giveaway from Bohtieque Designs!

I am soooo jealous of the person who won...and, if that person happens to feel the overwhelming urge to give me a gift, I can think of a $30.00 gift card that would do nicely...(smile)...

OK, without further ado...the winner of the giftcard is...

Lucky #16!

After my post about my Vintage Circus Pillow I got a load of questions about how to print on fabric...so I decided I'd share my secret...which, by the way, is absolutely no secret at all...but it makes me feel cool to pretend it is...

This is all you do: (the next few paragraphs are taken from a post I did a few months ago...)

I'm taking a break from Saturday's 2-minute makeover to bring you some really important stuff...

A few simple summertime rules I hope you're all following...

Yay! I made it through to round 3 of the One Month To Win It challenge! Thank you so so much to everyone who voted!

This past week's theme was "Animal" - here was my project...

I adore the look of anything vintage...furniture, glassware, clothing, anything...so as soon as I learned of this week's theme, I knew what I wanted to do.

Vintage circus posters have always been something I've loved..the colors are amazing and the artwork is out of this world. I thought it would be super-cool to incorporate some of this iconic artwork into one of my projects...this little throw pillow.



I found some images that I loved online, printed them out on some linen & attached the printed fabric to some vintage pillow ticking I got at an estate sale. ($2.00 for 12 yards! Oh. yes.)

Next, I cut a little triangle out of a vintage bedsheet and created a flag for my little dancing bear to be waving during the circus parade...a couple of stitches on my sewing machine to outline the flag & create a handle for Francisco to hold (yes, I named that little bear) and done! ...and, oh my gosh...every time I look at that little guy I just want to giggle...



Some white pom-pom trim on the sides of my little pillow completed the "Under The Big Top" look I was imagining...


I had a blast creating this...

And I love love love it...it's got it's own special little place on a chair in my dining room & I see it every time I walk into the kitchen...love...

Again, thank you so much for voting! Please don't forget to vote again next week at the OMTWI blog!

Here's where I'm linking up...come visit these amazing sites!

This giveaway is now closed...thank you so much to everyone who entered!

Oh, you are going to LOVE this week's giveaway!






I first came across Julie and her etsy shop when I was looking for address labels for our Christmas cards years ago...not only did I receive the most wonderful address labels (that went perfectly with our cards, I might add), Julie went above and beyond to make sure I got the color I wanted, the font I wanted and the placement I wanted (I'm completely  somewhat picky when it comes to the personalized items I order...). Seriously amazing customer service...

Let me tell you a little bit about Julie's etsy shop & online store...

Bohtieque (pronounced bow-TEEK) designs specializes in amazing address labels...

...and shipping labels...


And this week, Julie is generously giving away a $30.00 gift certificate to her shop!!! And I gotta tell ya, Bohtieque has such amazing prices, you will be able to get TONS for $30.00!!!!

And not only that, but during the giveaway, Julie is also offering 20% any set of address labels purchased from her online shop with the code MWSG0811 (just enter the code in the coupon area at checkout). That means a set of 30 address labels is only $4.80!!! Wha?!?!? Awesome!


Here's how to enter:


*Visit Bohtieque online or at etsy and leave a comment letting me know your favorite item...


*Please follow Midwestern {Sewing} Girl (1 entry)
*"Like" M{S}G on FaceBook or follow on Twitter (1 entry each)


*"Like" Bohtieque on FaceBook
*Follow Bohtieque on Twitter


The giveaway will end at 11:59 CST on Tuesday, July 12. Winner will be announced Wednesday, July 13, 2011.

Giveaway is open to US Residents only...

Thanks so much for entering! And good luck!

Linking to:

Thank you so much for everyone who entered the {SHE} PAPERIE & design boutique stationery giveaway!

The lucky winner is...




Emilee who said:

"I follow her blog"


Congratulations, Emilee!!! I will send you an email, lucky girl...;)

Here's just a little something I made when I guest-posted over there a few weeks ago ...

My super-easy, super-fast, ultra-customizable beach bag!
And here's all I used to make it:

TWO feedsack towels...available anywhere (like Wal-Mart, Target) for really cheap...

regular old craft paint & stamps...

PLUS, some cotton strap material I got from JO-ANN for $1.50...and my sewing machine...

Here's what I did:

*First I laid out one of my feedsack towels, and stamped it where I thought it needed to be stamped...

I applied the paint to the stamp with a brush so that it didn't get all clumpy...

these are some Martha Stewart stamps I had...

I stamped our last name (yes, my name is Maggie Massey...don't laugh...it's not that funny...) onto the towel...and then I added some flowers & butterflies...




Here's how the front looked when it was all done...


Next, I placed this towel on top of the other one and roughly stitched around the sides & bottom of the towels...I used a zig-zag stitch in a bright pink just to spice things up a bit...

Then I took the cotton strap, pinned it to the sides of the bag & stitched it in place...I used the walking foot on my machine and a heavy duty needle...I also stitched in numerous places just to make sure the handle doesn't tear off when the bag is full...


And, done! See, I told you it was super-easy & super-quick!

Now my family has a great, personalized, super-giant beach bag to carry all of our sand toys, flip-flops, towels, whatever!

...and it holds TONS!...

Well...it's time for another change...this time my dining room buffet needed some work...

Here are some before photos...

Looks a little spotty...not too thought out...just kind of, hmmm...blah...definitely in need of a quick change...

All I did this time was switch things up a little bit...some things on the bottom shelf got moved to the top, some things were removed & I added the greenery from the living room...

Seriously...2 minutes and done...and it looks a little more cohesive...a little more purposeful...

BUT WAIT! I'm really not diggin' those cafe lamps on either side of the table...I've always had a little problem with them, but I've never changed them up because I wasn't sure what to do...

UNTIL

I remembered that I had just changed out the living room lamps recently and had the old ones in the basement...