Grandma's Flower Garden Quilt - English Paper Piecing

 Why did she make things? Well, she enjoyed it, of course,
but it also somehow helped her remember who she was
 and where she came from. 

Hey there from Nannyland,

Yayyy! I finally finished my Grandma's Flower Garden quilt and I really love the way it turned out, imperfections and all.  I've been sewing the English Paper Pieced hexagons together to create my flowers since the dawn of time and I was excited when I realized I had finally accumulated enough for a quilt.  I used THIS Flowers For Emma pattern by Sherri McConnell for my inspiration because I loved the way she pieced four low volume fabrics to create the backgrounds for her flower blocks.  

My EPP flowers are truly scrappy because I used small, very old scraps from my stash that I had collected over many years and none of my flowers are the same.  I used yellow dotted fabric for the centers to create a unifying element.  

I chose a cute flower pantograph for my quilting to mimic my flowers.   I added white sashing to add some contrast to my blocks and a green Lori Holt "sew cherry" border because many of my fabrics had cherry or fruit motifs.  What's not to like about cherries!   As usual, I added striped binding to finish my quilt. 

Although this quilt certainly has a handsewn vibe with lots of imperfections, it will always be one of my favorites because so much time and affection went into it.  This one won't end up on some careless person's lap in front of the TV in danger of getting snacks spilled on it.  I'll just carefully lay it on my lap when I want to reminisce about all the wonderful years I've spent blissfully playing with beautiful fabric and quilting. And all the fun hours I spent watching Hallmark movies while sewing my hexagons together.  I'm already starting a new batch and can't wait to see where they land. 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Another Meeting of the Nannyland Craft Club - Martini Twins Help Me Get Organized

 

Hey there from Nannyland,

Okay, I admit it, sometimes I prefer the company of kids over adults. They're just so full of curiosity,  openness and excitement, and they know how to have a good time creating. Oh, and they're beyond hilarious!  I have two lovely grown daughters and, if I had been able to control my fate, I would have had a few more. I substitute taught K-12 students very blissfully for fourteen years and spent many years teaching and supervising kids in my church.  But I just can't seem to conjure up any grandchildren! My daughters have refused to cooperate. The nerve. 

Thankfully, I have been blessed with good friends and neighbors who are happy to share their bounteous passels of little ones with me.  My dear friend Dona, who has loads of artistic talent,  has some amazing grandchildren of all ages.  Brielle and Hadley (whom I affectionally call the "twin-adoes") love crafting with their grandma every chance they get.                                                 

I'm constantly purging in Nannyland to make room for the new treasures I keep buying.  I enjoy putting things aside that I think the twins and Dona could use in their art sessions.  When I collect a few boxes of  assorted goodies, I invite the girls to my house to relieve me of my surplus supply bonanza and join me in a McDonald's cheeseburger lunch.  We also discuss some fun things we can do on their next visit, like figuring out how to make some journals with my neglected Cinch Machine. 

It didn't take long for them to paint up a storm at grandma's house on some small canvases and note books.  Dona said they are so excited to use the gems, stamps, stickers, paper, card bases, pens, doilies, die cuts and much more for future art projects.  

I love that my overflowing stash can be put to good use by my sweet little budding artist friends.  My drawers and cupboards are a lot neater and now my friend Dona has lots of supplies to keep her darling granddaughters busy.  Win/win! 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

"Cutesy" Art Journal Page - Mo Manning Friday's Child Digi

 What wings are to a bird, and sails to a ship, so is
prayer to the soul.    Corrie Ten Boom

Hey there from Nannyland, 

The tiered ruffles on the dress of this darling digi from Mo Manning have been asking for a little rainbow magic for years now, so I thought it was time to make her the focus of some fun bird-themed  journal pages in what I call my  "Cutesy Journal."  It's not a surprise that most of the pages in this journal are the delightful art of Mo Manning. This adorable digi is called Friday's child, after the nineteenth century poem that assigns the nature of a child according to the day of the week in which he/she is born.  Years ago Mo Manning created images of children depicting each day of the week,  and I have several, so I googled this old rhyme:

Monday's child is fair of face, (that's me)
Tuesday's child is full of grace, (my husband and older daughter))
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living, (my younger daughter)
But the child who is born on the Sabbath day,
Is lucky and happy and good and gay 

Of course, I had to google what day of the week each member of my family was born, and was pleased that none of us was born on a Wednesday.  But it's only a made up poem, after all, so I won't get too consumed with  random foretelling. I'll leave that to my horoscope...😀 

I thoroughly enjoy all the planning, coloring and zhuzhing that goes into creating my journal pages.  I feel free to do anything I like, so there's really no mistakes.  I love the Spellbinders bird house dies, and while the scale is a little off in this case,  I think  this one made a fun background scene for my cute girl.  I used Spellbinders birds, branches and flowers on my inspiration page and created my sentiment tag in Cricut Design Space with the writing and cutting features. 

Another fun set of art journal pages for the books and many more blissful journaling hours ahead for this "fair of face" artist.

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

                                                                       Playing along with:

Crafty Catz Challenge 676

As You Like It Challenge - Non-Card Project (more room to create)

Craft Rocket Challenge #116

Just Us Girls Challenge #735

Word Art Wednesday Challenge Week #655-656

Try It On Tuesday Challenge - Things with Wings

Dream Valley Challenge #318

A Perfect Time to Craft Challenge #7

Classic Design Challenge #6

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #78

The Nancy and Hallie Craft Club

 

Hey there from Nannyland,

My adorable six-year-old neighbor absolutely loves Nannyland and enjoys shopping in my drawers and cupboards for her own art supplies.  More than once she has grabbed a handful of some very special embellishments and put them in her pocket to my chagrin, but I just can't say no to her precious smile.  

This week she didn't see me at church and learned I was a little under the weather.  She asked if I wanted her to bring over a craft project  that we could do together to cheer me up.  Of course, I said an enthusiastic yes.  She showed up at my door with a rock painting kit her father had bought her on a recent "daddy date."  It included several rocks of varied shapes, paint brushes, acrylic paint and gems for embellishments.  The tools and paint were of questionable quality, so we went to work finding suitable replacements in my boundless stash.  

She turned out to be one of my favorite craft partners ever and we agreed we should start a Craft Club with regular meetings.  I'm having fun thinking of all the things we can do together.  What a good way to make use of all the neglected supplies taking up space in my craft area.   

Hallie went home with some very artistic rocks and came back later in the day with some cookies to thank me for letting her join me in my special getaway.  And, of course, she was wearing a dinosaur costume because, why not? 

Peace Begins With a Smile Journal Pages - Julia Spiri Girl With Dove

Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, 
but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.  
 John Lennon

Hey there from Nannyland,

I think we all reach a point in our lives where things seem to be whirling around us at breakneck speed, and we realize we need to slow down and find a peaceful space to rest, both physically and mentally. Nannyland is by far the most peaceful place for me and art journaling sooths my soul like no other pursuit.  

Coloring this absolutely gorgeous digital stamp by Julia Spiri was just what I needed to rejuvenate my frazzled spirit. I'm trying to adjust to some new meds, and my body needs a place to practice faith in a good outcome. My original plan for  my journal pages was to use a laurel wreath die on the inspiration page, but I couldn't find it in my stash.  Once again, Cricut Design Space came to the rescue.  I found a heart-framed peace sign and added a fabulous layered dove with heart cut-outs to the center. I used the curve and writing features for my sentiment. 

I love this beautiful lady's graceful arms encircling the dove and the tranquil look on her face with the slightest hint of a smile. She seems to know that God is in charge and things are going to turn out fine.

After fussy cutting her, I adhered her to a lacy white die cut with a gold scalloped panel in the center and surrounded her with sparkly blue gems. I used pink gems for her earrings and a Spellbinders flower to embellish the feathers in her hair. A white gel pen was used for extra detail.

I'm a believer that peace starts with the small gestures and kindnesses we share with those around us every day.  I know the incredible makers in our crafting community are full of smiles and encouragement for each other, whether virtual or in person.   That's why I love hanging out here so much. Sending smiles and hugs all over the place...pass it on. 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

                                                                       Playing along with:

Digi Choosday Challenge Wk 5

A Place to Start June Challenge

Gem of a Challenge Wk 12

Allsorts Challenge Week 786

Creative Artiste Challenge #105

Pattie's Creations Challenge #219

Through the Purple Haze Challenge #216

Classic Design Challenge #6

The Paper Funday Challenge #66

Word Art Wednesday #653-654

Preview of Millie's Dresses Wall Hanging Quilt

Fashion is the art and you are the canvas. 

Hey there from Nannyland,

I've had my eye out for a really cute dress quilt block and I've definitely found it with this darling Millie's Dresses pattern by Lori Holt.  I've been planning a special wall hanging for years, patiently waiting for the right design to complete my vision. 

This adorable Lori Holt fabric collection is called Mercantile and it perfectly suits these nostalgic vintage-style dresses.  I almost hated to cut into my fat quarters, but it was super fun coordinating the collars and belts with the main dresses. 

Lori's original quilt design calls for 16 dresses, but I only needed six for my wall hanging.  I had such a delightful time piecing them, I may decide to make the whole quilt at some point.  The borders Lori has created for her setting are amazing.  I  have a specific spot I want to hang my smaller quilt, and it's a little bit of a squeeze, so I'll save the fancy borders for a bigger quilt.  

I've grown accustomed to cutting my pieces on my Accuquilt Go, so rotary cutting several small pieces was a little bit of a stretch for me.  I had to rely on my questionable math skills for accuracy instead of depending on the precision of die cuts.  I don't mind doing this, though, because there are so many beautiful quilts out there that don't quite fit  my Accuilt dies.  I was able to cut my 1 1/2 inch sashing and borders with my Go stip dies, thank goodness.  

With my hand cut pieces,  I really felt I had hold my tongue in the right place while sewing the blocks so that I preserved all my corners and the pieces lined up where they should.  I failed in this attempt a few times, as always,  but I still think the dresses look adorable. 

I have a really fun idea for the hanging of my quilt that will make me happy every time I look at it.  Stay tuned for the unveiling in a couple of months when everything comes together. 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Dreaming Tree Super Dad SVG - Happy Fathers Day

Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and transform us. And on my soul, I swear...
until my dream of a world where dignity, honor and justice becomes the reality
we all share --I'll haver stop fighting.       Clark Kent

Hey there from Nannyland, 

My struggle to create guy cards is real, but I have to admit I had a delightful time creating this Father's Day card for my hubby.  I downloaded this fabulous svg from the Dreaming Tree website and had a blast assembling their incredibly clever card.  After cutting the layers on my Cricut Maker, it took only a few minutes to do all the assembly and add a few fun embellishments.  All the pieces in this design fit together seamlessly like a puzzle

I didn't want to bother with messy sponging, so I added a few light shadows with Copics and colored pencils, which are always at the ready on my desk.  I paper pieced the tie because my husband would rather die than be seen in a boring one. The sample on the website had pearl buttons but I drew  small circles with  my pencils instead for a more masculine look...because, of course, the flowered tie and flower in the lapel are so manly. Hey, I was just trying to keep things balanced. I thought of adding a clever sentiment to the belly band, but the Happy Fathers Day was so cute, I went with that.

Creating this super fun card was definitely positive reinforcement to ease my guy card qualms.  I think I'll just keep hopping over to Dreaming Tree for my masculine card designs.  I've seen some really awesome ones I'm dying to try! 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

                                                                   Playing along with:

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #256

Paper Craft Crew Challenge #574

The Paper Funday Challenge #66

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #596

A Perfect Time to Craft Challenge #6

613 Avenue Create June Challenge

Tic Tac Toe Challenge #249 (layers, die cut, patterened paper)

Creative Fingers Challenge #279

Love to Craft Challenge #80

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #77

Quality Time With My Art Supplies - Conie Fong Artistic Leilani Digital Stamp

There's a flight plan in life, whether easy or hard.  It comes with a breathtaking view.
Trust your wings, trust your journey, trust you're never alone.  
See the beauty in the plan.  It's you. 

Hey there from Nannyland, 

One of the things I love most about art journaling is that I can just randomly choose a favorite image and create whatever pops into my head at the moment without thought to occasion, sentiment or  theme.  I often look around Nannyland with eyes agog, getting a little high on the delicious art tools surrounding me on every side.

I chose this adorable Artistic Leilani  image from Conie Fong for my journal page this week,  because she looks like she's contemplating an afternoon of blissful crafting ( if that huge swooping bird doesn't peck the cup right out of her hand. Yikes!).  I was excited to use my Spellbinders paintbrush dies again because I love their awesome embossed details.

I used pin-striped designer paper with flower and bird details for my image background.  I fussy cut the flowers and bird from a matching sheet of paper, added glitter and small flower centers, and popped them up for dimension.  I paper pieced the bodice of Leilani's dress with a shimmery embossed pattern and added Spellbinders flowers to her luxurious hair.  

I die cut coordinating designer paper with a Tattered Lace frame die for the background layer on the opposite page and edged it with a silver leafing pen.  The sentiment was created in Cricut Design Studio with the writing and cutting features. 

Yep, art supplies are definitely some of my most treasured companions.  My Copics, Spellbinders dies, and Cricut Maker are my besties, for sure! We have spent many blissful hours together in Nannyland. while cozily navigating life's peaks and valleys.  I thank God every day for the healing power of the gift of creativity that lives within us all in some form or another. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm just gonna close my door now and be at one with my supplies.    

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Playing along with:

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #255

A Place To Start Challenge - Anything But a Card

Dream Valley Challenge # 317

A Perfect Time to Craft Challenge #6

Ally's Angels Challenge #82

Classic Design Challenge #5

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #124

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #77

We Love 2 Create Challenge #5

Allsorts Week 783

Spellbinders Summer Birdhouse Slimline - Don't Forget to Fly

We ourselves feel what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. 

But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.  Mother Teresa

 

Hey there from Nannyland,

Recently I asked my artist friend for her opinion on why I love to collect small intricate objects de art and surround myself with them, rather than go for the large generic decorating pieces that are so popular in home decor.  As she dutifully helped me arrange my cherished treasures on shelves, she pointed to the Jane Wooster Scott folk art paintings on my walls that testify to the fact  that I obviously am attracted to detail. In that "eureka" moment, I realized that I really do have a penchant for tiny elements and it shows in my artwork. It become clear to me why I can spend blissful hours coloring fine details on beautiful images and  cutting, sponging and carefully gluing teensy die cuts together without the least bit of tedium. It's a thing. 

Spellbinders dies are perfect for those of us who have a detail obsession, with sets that contain many tiny dies meant to layer for incredible dimension.  I chose the summer birdhouse from my set of Spellbinders seasonal birdhouses to create this sunny coastal setting with a slimline format.  I used curved dies to cut layers of patterned paper sand to layer a playful base for my lighthouse.  The bird comes from a separate Spellbinders die set called  "Sweet Birds on a Branch."  I did a little sponging for shading on the bird house, clouds and fence, but I really prefer a cleaner look with my die cuts so I restrained my urge to shade all the pieces. The cute little flying birds, starfish, shells and fence all come with the birdhouse series of dies.  

I had a blast creating this cute summer scene and am looking forward to using all the fun die cuts that come with the other darling seasonal birdhouses in the set. 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

                                                          Playing along with:

Try it on Tuesday Challenge - Small Things

A Perfect Time to Craft Challenge #5

Ally's Angels Challenge #82

Classic Design Challenge #5

Crafter's Cafe Challenge #308

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #76

613 Avenue Create May Challenge

Allsorts Challenge Wk 781

Crafting Happines Challenge #175

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #123

 

Fantasy Journal Pages - Julia Spiri Young Fairy

Choose joy!  Don't wait for things to get easier, simpler, better.
Life will always be complicated.  Learn how to be happy right now.
Otherwise, you'll run out of time. 

Hey there from Nannyland,

It's a sun-drenched Friday morning here in my lovely desert home and, as I type, I'm looking with delight at the gorgeous citrus trees outside my window.  Directly in front of me is  a lush young apricot tree full of small green orbs that will soon burst forth with my favorite fruit.  Juicy ripe home grown fruit is definitely a simple thing that brings me joy. 

If you haven't checked out The Art of Julia Spiri,  you are missing a real treat.  She is a talented Spanish artist who creates with an amazing whimsical, fantasy style that I love.  I blissfully colored this stunning digi called Young Fairy with Copic markers and embellished her for my Fantasy Art journal.   

I used a white Anna Griffin die cut to frame her angelic face and embellished her with Spellbinders flowers, pearls, colored rhinestones and a white gel pen.  My sentiment page was created in Cricut Design Space with the writing and cutting features. 

Some of the simple things I'm delighting  in today are: a quiet morning prayer, a nature walk with red hills surrounding me, lunch at my favorite Mexican restaurant, an afternoon creating in Nannyland, my hubby across the hall in his office, an orchard in my side yard, bright flower beds in my back yard, kids laughing next door.  How about you? 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

                                                          Playing along with:

Creative Artiste Challenge #104

Cut It Up Challenge #304

My Time to Craft Challenge #534

Classic Design Challenge #5

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #123

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #76

CD Sunday Plus Challenge #133

A Perfect Time To Craft

Moving Along With The Times

I Love Promarkers Challenge #559

Fancy Dress Slimline - Anna Griffin Paper Dress Dies

Dressing well is a form of good manners.
Tom Ford

Hey there from Nannyland,

I could spend countless hours creating fancy dresses from Anna Griffin's darling paper dress dies.  Oh wait...I DID!  I chose two of the three dies in this adorable set and reacquainted myself with my neglected 6 x 6 double-sided designer paper pads to use for "fabric." I got all giddy choosing coordinating designs for my chic frocks and was obsessed with folding them into stylish origami-style gowns. Zhuzhing them up with lace trim, button gems and elegant jewelry was the frosting on my girly cake. 

I don't own the 3D Anna Armoire die that was designed to hang her dresses, but I wanted mine to take center stage so I checked out the Cricut image library for "Armoire" images.   A pretty layered frame that mimics an armoire was sized to create a background for  my layout.  I chose a dress form instead of a hanger to showcase my designer ensemble and sized it to fit my dress.  

I'm thrilled that I created enough of these adorable dresses to send cards to my friends through the millennium. I can quickly cut the files I have saved in Cricut, change the sentiment in the writing feature, and add my dress to make a card for any occasion.  

I love the gold accent I was able to create in this layered frame.

 My finished image fits a  4 x 9 slimline card with room for embellishing. 

An adorable Spellbinders scissors die cut in silver and a mini flower 

are a cute accent for my sentiment tag.

These first four cards will go my dear talented friends in California to express how much I miss our weekly card making sessions.   Die cutting definitely is taking over a heartfelt place in my maker repertoire. 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

                                                          Playing along with:

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #255

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - Ladies

A Place to Start May Challenge

Get Creative Challenge #131

The Perfect Time to Craft #5

Classic Design Challenge #4

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #76

Pinspirational Challenge #313

Creative Fingers Challenge #277

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge #2418