One of the biggest blessings from blogging has been the great people I have met. Michelle, today's guest blogger, has been one of those unexpected blessings. From the moment I started blogging she has been there. Just a chance meeting, one little comment that started a sweet friendship. You can always visit her blog, Greetingarts, for cute crafts, awesome crochet , perfect embroidery and some mad sewing skills. Did I mention the crochet?
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Michelle writes....
When I need to set my book or magazine down, I just grab whatever happens to be the closest, flattest thing available to use as a bookmark. It's usually a receipt or a magazine order form (you know what I mean, those horribly annoying things that fall out whenever you pick up a new periodical). My daughter, on the other hand, who is more than just a little proud of the fact that she has started reading chapter books, really gets a kick out of using a proper bookmark. Since I'll do anything to support a love of reading, I'd like to share a simple way to make bookmarks that can be customized for each individual book.
The materials are simple and inexpensive. Scrap of ribbon cut about an inch longer than the book you need to mark, some felt, embroidery floss or perle cotton, needle, and maybe some craft punches, if you want to get really fancy.
Pick two elements from your book, such as a flower and key if you're reading The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I punched some of my designs out of wool felt using paddle punches and a mallet, but you could just cut out your shapes freehand or use this brilliant tutorial and some craft punches. If you use the craft punches, do yourself a favor and only try it with the good wool felt, not the fuzzy acrylic stuff. You'll save yourself a mess (literally) of trouble.
Cut two of each shape. In this case, two flowers and two squares (mine have wavy edges, it's not your eyes playing tricks on you). I also cut a leaf to go with the flower.
Position the ribbon behind one of the flowers, and tack into place with French knots.
When you've finished one side, flip over and match up the two flowers, repeating the French knots on the other side, slip in the embellished leaf, and finish the edges with buttonhole or other decorative stitching. Embroider a key on each of the two remaining squares of felt, then sandwich the opposite end of the ribbon in between.
Let your imagination go wild, the variations are mind boggling. A horse silhouette and horseshoe for Black Beauty, a star and crown for The Little Prince, a magnifying glass and flashlight for Nancy Drew, or even just the initials of your favorite reader. You need never give someone an unadorned book again.
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"Today, millions of people who were once hungry will be nourished by milk, eggs and fresh vegetables.
Families who for generations knew only poverty will be building new homes and starting businesses.
Children who once headed out to the fields to do backbreaking work will be heading into schoolrooms to learn to read.
And people who never thought they’d be in a position to help someone else will be experiencing the joy of charitable giving.
How is this possible?
With Heifer Project International’s proven approach – almost 60 years in the making – to helping people obtain a sustainable source of food and income."
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