Cheesecloth ghosts and fabric pumpkins!

Hola! So remember how my friends and I made that Autumn banner like a month ago? Well, we made even more fun fall crafts a couple weeks ago: Stiffy ghosts and fabric pumpkins. They were both really easy to make.

This is all we needed for the ghosts (there are lots of tutorials online if you want to try them yourself): cheesecloth, Stiffy fabric stiffener, scissors, plastic wrap, tape, a cup, wire (for the arms), and a grocery bag (for the head, all balled up and wrapped in plastic wrap).

 

Here are my ghosts after they'd dried and I'd taken them off of their little mannequin (made out of plastic cups and wire) things:

And with their faces:

Ta da! It's been fun having them around the house; they're so friendly and smiley when I walk into different rooms.

The pumpkins were easy too. We used the tutorial found here (with a few modifications): Squash Softies. You only need fabric, a stem (a.k.a. stick you find outside), some stuffing (we used plastic grocery bags), thread, a needle, and a hot glue gun. Here's how to make them:

1. Cut a fabric circle for each pumpkin. We made different size circles, which gave us different sized pumpkins. The big pumpkins were 17-18 inch diameter circles, the middle sized ones 12 inch diameter, and the little one 8 inches.

2. Thread the needle and knot the thread several inches from the end. Sew wide stitches around the edge of the circle (about 1/2 inch from the edge). Holding one end of the thread, pull the other end so that the fabric gathers. Stuff grocery bags inside.

3. Set the stem in the hole, and pull the thread to cinch the fabric around it. We used hot glue inside the hole to help firmly set the stem. Tie the thread off and cut off the excess. And you're done!

I really love my pumpkins, especially the orange leafy one. And the burlap one. :) (I know that's two out of three, and I should probably include the little red one in my favorable assessment as to not hurt its feelings, but I really do love each of the other two more. Sorry, little red one. Stay strong.)

One of my favorite things about Fall

As I've mentioned before, autumn is my favorite season. I love it for so many reasons. One of those reasons is General Conference, a semi-annual meeting for all the members in our church where we get to hear from the prophet and apostles. It's pretty sweet, as you can imagine.

One of the stories that I loved, loved, loved from general conference this year was told by President Monson in the Sunday morning session. You can watch or read the whole talk here (it'd be worth it to watch it. President Monson tells the story in such a wonderful way that doesn't quite come across just in text. You can just jump in at 14 minutes, where he starts telling the story.)

He tells:

"I am always humbled and grateful when my Heavenly Father communicates with me through His inspiration. I have learned to recognize it, to trust it, and to follow it. Time and time again I have been the recipient of such inspiration. One rather dramatic experience took place in August of 1987 during the dedication of the Frankfurt Germany Temple. President Ezra Taft Benson had been with us for the first day or two of the dedication but had returned home, and so it became my opportunity to conduct the remaining sessions.

On Saturday we had a session for our Dutch members who were in the Frankfurt Temple district. I was well acquainted with one of our outstanding leaders from the Netherlands, Brother Peter Mourik. Just prior to the session, I had the distinct impression that Brother Mourik should be called upon to speak to his fellow Dutch members during the session and that, in fact, he should be the first speaker. Not having seen him in the temple that morning, I passed a note to Elder Carlos E. Asay, our Area President, asking whether Peter Mourik was in attendance at the session. Just prior to standing up to begin the session, I received a note back from Elder Asay indicating that Brother Mourik was actually not in attendance, that he was involved elsewhere, and that he was planning to attend the dedicatory session in the temple the following day with the servicemen stakes.

As I stood at the pulpit to welcome the people and to outline the program, I received unmistakable inspiration once again that I was to announce Peter Mourik as the first speaker. This was counter to all my instincts, for I had just heard from Elder Asay that Brother Mourik was definitely not in the temple. Trusting in the inspiration, however, I announced the choir presentation and the prayer and then indicated that our first speaker would be Brother Peter Mourik.

As I returned to my seat, I glanced toward Elder Asay; I saw on his face a look of alarm. He later told me that when I had announced Brother Mourik as the first speaker, he couldn’t believe his ears. He said he knew that I had received his note and that I indeed had read it, and he couldn’t fathom why I would then announce Brother Mourik as a speaker, knowing he wasn’t anywhere in the temple.

During the time all of this was taking place, Peter Mourik was in a meeting at the area offices in Porthstrasse. As his meeting was going forward, he suddenly turned to Elder Thomas A. Hawkes Jr., who was then the regional representative, and asked, “How fast can you get me to the temple?”

Elder Hawkes, who was known to drive rather rapidly in his small sports car, answered, “I can have you there in 10 minutes! But why do you need to go to the temple?”

Brother Mourik admitted he did not know why he needed to go to the temple but that he knew he had to get there. The two of them set out for the temple immediately.

During the magnificent choir number, I glanced around, thinking that at any moment I would see Peter Mourik. I did not. Remarkably, however, I felt no alarm. I had a sweet, undeniable assurance that all would be well.

Brother Mourik entered the front door of the temple just as the opening prayer was concluding, still not knowing why he was there. As he hurried down the hall, he saw my image on the monitor and heard me announce, “We will now hear from Brother Peter Mourik.”

To the astonishment of Elder Asay, Peter Mourik immediately walked into the room and took his place at the podium.

Following the session, Brother Mourik and I discussed that which had taken place prior to his opportunity to speak. I have pondered the inspiration which came that day not only to me but also to Peter Mourik. That remarkable experience has provided an undeniable witness to me of the importance of being worthy to receive such inspiration and then trusting it—and following it—when it comes. I know without question that the Lord intended for those who were present at that session of the Frankfurt Temple dedication to hear the powerful, touching testimony of His servant Brother Peter Mourik.

My beloved brothers and sisters, communication with our Father in Heaven—including our prayers to Him and His inspiration to us—is necessary in order for us to weather the storms and trials of life. The Lord invites us, “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me.” As we do so, we will feel His Spirit in our lives, providing us the desire and the courage to stand strong and firm in righteousness—to “stand … in holy places, and be not moved.”

As the winds of change swirl around us and the moral fiber of society continues to disintegrate before our very eyes, may we remember the Lord’s precious promise to those who trust in Him: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

What a promise! May such be our blessing, I sincerely pray in the sacred name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen."

I made a pillow!

And it is a beautiful, beautiful pillow and I love it so much.

When my friend Jill and I were at Joann's Fabrics a couple weeks ago, I saw this one fabric that I instantly fell in love with. Which is weird for me, because that never happens. I'm never like, I love this THING and I must HAVE IT. But I LOVED that fabric and had to DO SOMETHING with it. And so, standing there in the aisle, clutching the beautiful, wonderful fabric I had found, I thought, I'll make a pillow! And it will be a wonderful pillow. And every year at fall we will bring out the pillow, and it will be the fall pillow. And thus it was.

I made the pillow using a combination of the instructions found here and here. I mostly used the first page, except for I stuffed the pillow using batting (like in the second tutorial) instead of another pillow (like in the first tutorial). I got the batting from, well... let's just say I don't have a pillow on my bed anymore. (It was old and cheap anyway, and I've been wanting a new one). I also did not use buttons like the first tutorial, but I did get some brown bias tape piping for the edges (which I think add a really nice element to the pillow).

And here it is!

Sewing sewing sewing...

It's hungry for more batting

All done except for hand-sewing the final opening closed

To close, I used the "invisible stitch" found on this page.

All done!

 Ta-da!

Autumn Banner How-to

So, remember those craft projects I mentioned yesterday? Well, here's the first one! My friends and I decided to do this project after we saw something similar (and way cute!) on Etsy.

It's actually a very easy project. All you need is some burlap, scissors, some twine/jute, paints (in whatever colors you want), a paintbrush, and a hot glue gun (or a sewing machine would work). 

 
First, cut out triangle pieces from the burlap.

Next, paint the pattern you want (we did polka dots) on the burlap. After that dries, paint the letters.

After you've painted all the triangles, cut a long length of jute that will be long enough for all the pendants and for being able to tie it off on your wall. Folding over the top of each pendant, hot glue them to the jute. (You could also sew them to the jute if you have a sewing machine).

Trim the edges.

And you're done!

We really enjoyed doing this project. It was fun, easy, and the finished result is really cute. I put it in me and Jason's family room, and since it's a nice focal point it kind of ties all the fall decorations in the room together.

I even made a mini one for the fridge!

If you decide to try it, have fun! I think I'll make a "Happy Birthday" one in the future.

The Panda Cake

So, I just wanted to share these pictures from a couple weeks ago, when we were still in California. Sarah, our sister-in-law, had her birthday, and in celebration Jason and I made her a panda cake. And here he is!

Moments that Matter Most

I saw this video last week and loved it. It seems especially appropriate to share on this day, when so many people are contemplating their families and friends that they love so much.

I really love this video. It fills me with hope, and joy, and I am so thankful for its beauty and its message. If you have just an extra moment today, take the time to watch it. I think you'll like it, too.

All the Birds We Saw this Summer

It can strike anywhere, anytime. It can be when I'm in the car with Jason, or spending time with friends at the park, or having a conversation with my sister, or walking across BYU campus, or at Disneyland, or at home alone, or even (I'm not making this up) in my dreams. 

What is it?

Birdwatching.

And not planned, "I'm going to go watch birds for a while" bird-watching, but head-turning, conversation-cutting-offing, I-absolutely-must-identify-that-species birdwatching. 

It's like this:

but with birds. (Funnily enough, my cousin Ashley also referenced this clip on her blog this week, but in reference to her three-year-old and butterflies. She also posted the funniest clip ever, which you should probably watch, especially since it's only like three seconds long.) But honestly, it's like that. Jason and I have made the comparison many, many times, after we'll have been talking together in some nice conversation that's just flowing along when all of the sudden my head will snap to the side and I'll yell "Bird!" and then all I can see or think about or look at is the thing with wings outside my window.

It all started about a year and a half ago, when I took a super cool class with an impossible assignment. What was it? Ornithology. Ornithology is the study of birds, and it turned out to be one of my favorite classes I took at BYU. We learned all about the biology of birds (which basically comes down to a couple key principles about the reduction and centralization of mass so that birds can fly), and we were also given a (truly) impossible assignment that forced us all to become birdwatchers.

The assignment we were given was to identify 200 different species of birds during the semester, and none of us realized at the time, but it truly was impossible. The only people in our class who even came close to that number all took a week-long birdwatching vacation together in California. I got, I think, about 130 species, and I got an A on the assignment. So, I've come to realize that our teacher and his TA were never expecting us to get 200 species. What they were expecting, however, was for us to become neurotically obsessed with every single bird that was within 2 miles of where we were standing. Anything that flew past our head, or our window, or we could see way off in the distance, we had to identify. We had to know if it was a species we already had, or if it was something new. Most of them, after a while, were birds we already had, but we couldn't stop identifying them, because the small chance that it was something we had not yet added to our list.

I didn't realize it at the time, but four months of near obsession with every single bird around me was not something that could easily be shaken off after the semester ended. Ohhh no. No, to this day, every time a bird is within my range of vision, I drop everything I'm doing and watch it like a mad-man in an attempt to identify it. I have finally accepted this as a permanent compulsion the class ingrained into me, and I really have come to enjoy birdwatching and even identify as a "birdwatcher."

Anyway, these are the birds we saw in California this summer. It's not a complete list, but it's most of them. I want to note: we never went birdwatching as an activity. These were birds that happened to be wherever we were. So yeah! If you have any interest in bird species, enjoy. :)

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Black-crowned Night-Heron
Acorn Woodpecker
Brewer's Sparrow

 

Wood Duck

Isn't she pretty?

Red-tailed Hawk

Brown Pelican

Mallard

Canada Goose

Double-crested Cormorant 

At Disneyland, of all places.

Marbled Godwit

Greater Yellowlegs

Amazona Green parrots
Ring-billed Gull

Helmeted Guineafowl

These three guineafowl had eighteen babies!

Mourning Dove

Eurasion Collared-dove
Rock Pigeon

Black Phoebe

Say's Phoebe

 

Swan (Chinese) Goose

Remember this guy?

American Crow
Common Raven
Western Gull
Various hummingbirds
Various Swallows

House Sparrow

These two sparrows were really interesting. The male (the one on the left) kept getting breadcrumbs (from like fifteen or twenty feet away), flying back, and feeding the female on the right.