O' Happy Little Dots

I received dozens of entries for my Name the Ornament Contest. Some of them were heartwarming, others were pretty funny. I received one entry that I really wanted to share with you. Tom W. of Texas wrote this wonderful poem about my little Polka-dotted ornament that truly represents Christmas. Even though the name he submitted didn’t win, I think his poem takes the cake! I hope you enjoy it.

Beam on, O’ happy little dots,
Though like twinkling stars, you’re not.
The simple grace of your design
Reminds me of a simpler time
When green was for the life Christ led
And red was for the blood He shed.
Forgiving all who believe on him
And turn their hearts from lives of sin.

Who inspired such an inviting scene?
White like snow colored ice cream
Dipped in circlets of red and green
And showing off the Christmas theme?
I’ll tell you, I’m not blowing smoke,
It’s the lady at the Dusty Oak!

You catch my eye with colors bold
And make me hope that you’re not sold
Until I can send the fee
And place you on my Christmas tree.

So, now I say, let’s celebrate
The season of His birth with grate-
ful hearts family and friends,
Gifts and food that never end.
Then renew our lives in the New Year
To live in faith and not in fear.

Tom White

New York Giants Challenge - a kimekomi ornament DIY

One of my lovely repeat customers asked me to make a NY Giants ornament for her… “I’d love to!” I said.


So, I ordered the fabric and a few days later it arrived…. Wow! The Giants aren’t kidding…. Their logo is “GIANT” LOL and therein lays the challenge. How do I get that great big logo onto a 3” ball?

I decided to wrap the logo around the ball and quilt it using the Kimekomi style. The logo is about 13 1/2 centimeters long and the balls circumference is 24 centimeters. If I divided the logo into five 3cm panels, I could use 3 panels for the helmet.


I cut the inside of my pattern 3 cm at the widest point and also marked where the bottom line was in order to keep all the pieces straight. I would need two sections of fabric with the logo to allow for overlap.


I measured the 1st, 3rd and 5th panel from one logo and the 2nd and 4th panel from another. I did the same with the helmet, the 1st and 3rd panels from one logo and the middle one from another.


This gave me the eight panels I needed to complete the ball.


I cut out 8 panels of quilt batting that are cut the same size as the panels on the ball. They are like little orange slices.


Once everyting is cut out, I finished marking the panels on the ball and cut them out. This makes the edges rather rough, so I give them a lite sanding with some fine grain sandpaper to smooth them out.


I used a tacky glue to attach the batting panels to the ball and let it dry for a couple of hours. Then I began positioning the fabric panels into place. It was a bit of a challenge to keep the lines all matched up so that the logo would flow from one panel to the other… but I think it turned out really nice.


Here is the NY Giants ornament all color balanced and ready to show my customer.

The Pink Present Giveaway 2010

Once again the cottages at Shabby Cottage Shops have out done themselves. This years giveaway is chalk full of truly gorgeous gifts!! It's easy to enter and O' so much fun. So, pour yourself a cup of java (or tea) relax and enjoy your stroll through the charming boutiques at Shabby cottage Shops.



My donation to the Pink Present is "Tea Party" an adorable handmade quilt ornament featuring the sweetest little girls all dressed up and serving tea. Tea pots and tea cups on an ecru background add a touch of whimsy and delicate pearls lead up to a lace and ribbon bow.

3rd Annual Name the Ornament Contest

Here it is! My newest ornament for the “Name the Ornament” contest! This crazy quilted ornament is bright, fun, festive and oh, so cute… I love it! I will be accepting entries until November 22nd . The winner will receive the ornament FREE! So, be sure to stop by my website, put your thinking cap on and …Name that Ornament!

An Acorn Sprouts

I spent the morning stacking firewood and thinking about Pastors sermon on Wednesday night and how much I’m missing this 70 year old tree we just cut down…. These words came to me.


Guided by the Unseen Hand,
An acorn sprouts and begins to grow.
Its mighty boughs, stretching high and straight and tall.
Rustling leaves, whisper secrets when the spring winds blow.
Its canopy opens like an umbrella to shade the ground.
Deer feast on its seed, like candy, eagerly they feed.

Years pass by as season follows season
And now, in the spring winds, the old tree groans’
Its heavy branches splinter and crack and fall with a thud.
To protect our house - we cut the old tree down.
Made a pile of its branches and set them on fire.
Its wood is split, along the fence, neatly stacked.

For 70 years that old tree stood by
Shading from heat and protecting from storm
Now the shade is all gone and the yard is bare.
I’ll miss that old oak and the plunking of acorns
As they roll down the roof in the cool of fall.
Guided by the Unseen Hand...

~Sandy K.

Walking at Dawn

Walking at dawn, I was chilled. Creeping slowly across the pasture, warming rays of sunlight stretched to greet me. Enfolding me in His arms, God loves explodes with warmth and love within my heart, lighting my path. I sing praises…with the birds.

~Sandy K.

My ride with the Northwest Arkansas Miata Club

During the Labor Day weekend, my hubby and I drove to AR to help my Dad celebrate his birthday and to participate in a Miata Club scavenger hunt and ride.

The scavenger hunt was a fast food run. Each clue had three parts; the first part gave the hint to which fast food restaurant. The second part gave hints as to the specific one. (Couldn’t go to just any McDonalds) Then the third part gave the clue for what to buy. Every item was under a dollar. Dad and I had a good time but without an iPhone in an unfamiliar city… we didn’t stand a chance. LOL











On the way home, Dad drove me down the mountain from Fayetteville on hwy 71. Can’t say how fast we were going, but weeeeeeeeeee!!! It was exhilarating!

The members of the club are wonderful, charming folks and I thoroughly enjoyed my day with them.

I created this custom ornament for him for his birthday gift and also made it available to the club members.

ZOOM-ZOOM

Celebratin' da' Who Dat Nation

The New Orleans Saints winning the Super Bowl was more than just another ball game. With the city, the whole state and even the entire country behind them… this game represented faith and the human spirit to survive against all odds.

Using my facebook page, I started giving hints to my friends of what I was up to. “Look what I found and guess what I’m going to do with it.” They know me pretty well… or they are really good guessers. LOL Because mostly the comments were, “ I want one!!”


I wanted to do something fun for my family and friends and at the same time raise a little money to help my state.

Handmade Quilted Ornaments - Saints fans special!

These ornaments were available only to my family and friends and the profits were donated to the Convoy of Hope. I have worked with the COH in the past and know first-hand the wonderful work they do. You can learn more about them here: Convoy Of Hope

Two very old trees - gone.

It’s one of those sad days...
We had to take down two very old trees. The 75 year old pine was struck by lightning several years ago and the damage was taking its toll. Taking down these trees sure turned into an emotional experience. Yeah, I know that sounds weird, but I love living in the woods and having those big old trees all around me.


The red oak was also in its 70's and growing on the east side of my porch. Please don't worry, this isn't my DustyOak. Yet, I would sit in the shade of that tree every morning and drink my tea. Now, no shade '-( I will miss that tree for a long time. We had the arborist cut it into firewood lengths so we can split it for our wood burning stove. -Pretty sure we will have enough wood for several friends. LOL

The main stump is beautiful, so after it dries out a bit we are going to cut into a couple of tables. I’ll post pictures when I have them finished

Christmas in July at SHABBY COTTAGE SHOPS

Visit Shabby Cottage Shops between July 13th and July 24th for your change to win one of the daily giveaways. There is also a grand giveaway valued at almost $500.

Each cottage boutique is gorgeous! You won't want to miss visiting a single one.

Click here to learn more about SCS twelve days of Giveaways!

New wedding ornament

Summer Sage

I love the satin roses against the soft green on this ornament. It just has a refreshing feel to it. I used satin ribbons in white and sage for the ornament and made the bouquet topper with white roses, organza ribbon and matching fillers. Wouldn't these colors be gorgeous for a June wedding?

Click here to see it on my website

Just went for a short walk and was inspired to write a spring Haiku....



A tingling warm breeze
Dancing flowers welcome spring
Laughing daffodils

My favorite time of year!
~Sandy K

Tulip Festival - Hot Springs, Arkansas

My girls and I spent some time in Arkansas with my dad while he was recovering from back surgery. On our way home to Louisiana, we took a side trip and stopped in Hot Springs to take in the Tulip Festival at Garvin Woodland Gardens. It was gorgeous!!! We wandered around the trails for almost 4 hours and hopped back into the car relaxed and refreshed.

Oh, and if anyone tells you I fell into the stream, don’t believe it! I was just taking a botanical bath. Haahaaa!

On one of the trails, we came across this beautiful glass chapel. One of my girls has attended several weddings there and said that it's a stunning place to get married... We were lucky that it wasn't being used and got to go inside and take a few pictures.

Convoy of Hope in Haiti

A word about Haiti and Convoy of Hope

Just as you, my heart is broken at the horror and pain that the people of Haiti are suffering following the devastating earthquake on January 12th. I want to jump on a plane and rush down there to help in any way possible. But I cannot. However, I can help in other ways.

When Hurricane Katrina hit the shores of Louisiana, I had the opportunity to work with the Convoy of Hope to help feed and meet the needs of people, who had also lost everything, in St. Tammany parish. Never have I been so impressed with an organization! They are on the ground, face to face, feeding the hungry and homeless and meeting their needs. I grieved when it was time for me to return to my air conditioned home, hot showers and pantry of food.

The Convoy of Hope was already in Haiti and had just restocked all their supplies, two weeks before the earthquake hit. God had prepared them to be ready in an instant! I can’t go to Haiti, but I can give my time and money in other ways; for the entire month of February, I will be donating 75% of my profits to the Convoy of Hope. Any in stock ornament purchased from my website as well as brand new ornaments are included in this pledge.

Together we can go the extra mile for those in Haiti who desperately need our help.

Mocha on Ice

I dreamed and wished for a white Christmas, but no snow. Instead, we have had temps in the teens for several days, almost breaking (but not quite) a hundred year record low.

This past week is only the third time I have seen our pond frozen solid. Unfortunately, Louisiana folks don’t keep ice skates in their garage. Wouldn’t that have been fun!

I tossed a stick onto the ice just to see what our chocolate lab would do….. yeah, I sorta have a mean streak in me. LOL He couldn’t get his footing on the ice, but kept trying until I called him off. In this pic he is standing on the ice trying to decide how to reach that stick. I really wish I had a video camera, poor baby. Actually, it was pretty hysterical.