Baby Shower Gift

A friend had her baby boy recently, and along came a shower invitation. I am the kind of person who likes to give original gifts, but I have a hard time coming up with the ideas for these gifts. Recently, though, I found my inspiration while at my local craft store: plain white letters to hang on the wall!

But they were too plain for something as special as a shower gift. (Although the first ones I gave as a shower gift, I gave plain because I liked them that way then. -- Inspiration struck later!) So, along came toille-patterned wrapping paper, decopage glue, and clear-coat finish spray.

And HOURS later, here are the letters:

"JONATHAN" is a very long name!

Zinnia Pillow

We've had too much going on at our house, thus the lengthy pause in blogging.

My husband and I had a fabulous 10-year anniversary celebration at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. (We backpacked in, and spent three nights in the canyon.) Awesome experience, and a 10-year dream fulfilled for both of us.

The weather has been dry, dry, dry. My poor garden! I've hardly touched it in over a month, as it's been too discouraging to put the effort into something that might not make it, anyway. Amazingly, some things have kept on blooming even though the ground is cracked wide open with fissures of drought. Other plants definitely need to go!

Since the outdoor garden isn't doing much, I've been working inside. My family decided to go "homemade" with gifts for Christmas this year. Awhile back, I found the cutest pattern for a decorative pillow at my local quilt shop, and upon showing my mom, she squealed in delight and begged to borrow it, whereupon I plied her brain till I found out what she would make when she got the pattern, and I made it for her myself. The pattern is by Amy Butler. (See her blog under my Favorite Links, to the left.) Anyway, I thought it turned out really cute. I'd love one for my own bed, but my husband balked at that. "Too girly foo-foo." So maybe I'll make it for my daughter's bed. -- Like she doesn't have enough pillows! Anyway, here it is:

And a close-up:

Thanks, Amy, for the inspiration! You've made a happy customer.