Cute Valentine Bookmarks

Karen at Sew Many Ways has a a great tutorial for a heart bookmark that is perfect for Valentine’s Day.

http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2012/01/tool-time-tuesdayfabric-heart-bookmark.html

These literally take minutes to cut and sew.  The only change I made was to trim the seams and do some decorative top-stitching.  I made these to enclose with my Valentines to the family this year.

Red fabric is good for Valentine’s Day but I couldn’t resist making one in an animal print for a daughter who loves it.

The back has a little pocket which slips over the bottom corner of a book page to keep your place.

To accompany the bookmark and to help explain how to use it, I looked through my collection of vintage cards for something with a book and came up with this one.

I scanned it and added the caption, “A Valentine Bookmark just for you”.   The bookmark was slipped onto the bottom edge…

….and I wrote a personal message on the back of the card.

I think this will be a nice surprise as I continue the tradition of sending Valentines to special people.
This Valentine was sent to my mother by her first grade teacher in 1923

A Trip to Amish Country (Ohio)

Last week, my oldest daughter and I made a return trip to Holmes County (Ohio) Amish Country.  We have been visiting this area since 1998 and always stay at Mel and Mary’s Cottages in Charm.  They converted part of their Mennonite farm to cottages for visitors.

On either side of their property are vast stretches of fields and hills.  Sitting on the porch, this was my view to the right….. (click on pictures for a clear view of this beautiful countryside.)

…and this was my view to the left….

We had to get a close-up shot of these beautiful horses.

In my opinion, the area ranks right up there with Vermont and Switzerland for having the most beautiful scenery in the world.  Around every bend there is another stunning view.

In addition to the peaceful, quiet stay at Mel and Mary’s and the gorgeous scenery, there is a large shopping area with restaurants, quilt shops, gift shops, antique malls, wonderful Amish markets ….. the list goes on and on ….. and amidst all of this, the Amish go about their daily lives in their black buggies with the beautiful sleek trotters.

I got quite a bit of fabric, including yardage and fat quarters ….

And one of my favorite things to buy – a bag of scraps left over from making quilts.

I found one piece of fabric I especially liked – Windham Fabrics Floursack by Whistler Studios (Style #33073).  The vintage floursack labels have borders of floursack fabric.

A Google search pulled up several sources for this fabric including Amazon.com and Hancock’s in Paducah, KY.

At an Amish market, we enjoyed huge scoops of homemade ice cream and I found Concord grapes which are difficult to find in our area.  I made my favorite Streusel Concord Grape Pie as soon as we got home.

Another beautiful trip to Holmes County.