Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse {Delightfully Bookwormish}

The School Library Journal's Top 100 Children's Novels #76

Title: Out of the Dust

Author: Karen Hesse

Genre: Children's Fiction (10 and Up); Historical Fiction; Poetry

Awards: 1998 Newberry Winner

The Recipe: Growing up in Oklahoma during the Great Depression, 14-year old Billie Jo faces the horrors and tragedies of life and death amidst the turmoil of the Dust Bowl.

The Frosting and Sprinkles: I was pleasantly surprised by how well Hesse develops a plot and characters through free verse poetry. I'm not usually a huge fan of free-verse, but I definitely see why Hesse won the 1998 Newberry. It takes a talented writer to develop such a harrowing and beautiful story in such few words. 

Her prose is powerful and had me in tears through most of the novel. She puts her main character, Billie Jo, into a deeply tragic plot, but her writing is what invokes the emotion.

You know I love redemptive themes in books and this one is definitely one of those books! Though Billie Jo's life is tragic, the novel is full of hope in the depths of despair and a beautiful story of her redeveloping a relationship with her father.

Out of the Dust is not the typical novel I enjoy and I probably would not read it again because it is so tragically sad, BUT I liked it for it's hopeful and redemptive themes and I appreciate Hesse's talent.

The Hair That Fell Into the Batter: Like I mentioned before, I am not a huge fan of free-verse, but I can appreciate it when it is done well. I think Hesse did it well. 

There are graphic and harrowing scenes of tragedy-I don't love these in children's novels, but to each his own! Just beware when you let your kids read this-especially if they are afraid of fire. 

My Rating: 

 4 Out of 5 Cupcakes!

 

St. Patrick's Day Projects: Blasts From the Past {Delightfully Creative}

I will not be doing any St. Patrick's Day crafts this year with a new baby and all. So, I thought I'd share with you some of my St. Patrick's Day projects from the past. Enjoy!

I made these little pot o' gold treats last year for my niece and nephew. I filled them with Rolos because they are wrapped in gold paper...and are yummy.

 Here is my St. Patrick's Day Centerpiece:

And my little splash of St. Patrick's Day decor:

I did manage to get these back up while Claire was sleeping! I was thinking the Valentine's decorations might be up until Summer!

Delightfully Creating,

Partying With the Following:

MONDAYS

Craft Catwalk with Embellishing Life

TUESDAYS

Terrific Under Ten Tuesdays with At Home With K 
One Project at a Time with A Bowl Full of Lemons 

WEDNESDAYS
 Home Decor&Organizing Party with Organize and Decorate Everything

Uncommonly Yours with Uncommon 

FRIDAYS

For the Kids Fridays with Sun Scholars 
Friday Frolic with Pocket Full of Pink
Anything Goes Party with Bacon Time with Hungry Hungry Hypo
Everybody's Creative Endeavor with Every Creative Endeavor 
Whatcha Got Weekend with Lolly Jane Boutique 

Delights of the Week: Fabulous Fabric Finds

The Following are some of my favorite projects from other bloggers that I saw throughout the week. Please click on links for details and tutorials!

I'm back with Delights of the Week-at least for this week. :-) With a new baby (who just a couple days ago decided to get colicky from about 11:30pm-4:30am two nights in a row), I'm taking it a day at a time! 

It just so happens that a lot of my favorite projects this week feature beautiful fabrics-hope they inspire you too.

No Sew Ruffle Tote from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom

 I love this ruffle tote trend! Can't sew? No worries! Jamie gave us a tutorial on how to hot glue one of these beauties together.

Pretty Bloom Baby Quilts from JAQS Studio

 I LOVE this beautiful fabric! You can buy this and other beauties from Q's Etsy Shop.

Vintage Scrap Fabric and Twine Banner from Live.Laugh.Rowe

 Beautiful shabby chic decor!

Ruffle Sandals from The Mother Huddle

 Love these cuties made from fabric and Old Navy flip flops!

Free Printable of the Week:

Create Printable from Stay At Home Artist 

 Love this quote! This is a perfect little printable for a craft room or area.

Thanks for Inspiring!

Hello World, Meet Claire

As I briefly posted last week, our baby girl came early, which I am thankful for because she weighed 8lbs 3oz! And I had a kind of miserable labor experience (no one warned me that some women get really nauseated and throw up the entire time). I won't get into all the details or complain because honestly, though I don't want to sound cliche, the end result more than overshadowed the misery. Truthfully.

So, I want to introduce you to our precious, little Claire.

The first week has been an adjustment with little sleep-plus my mom has been here helping, so after she leaves tomorrow, I am sure it will be another adjustment!

I don't intend to make this a mommy blog and probably will not post many photos of Claire, but thought ya'll might like to meet her! 

I hope to get back to some form of posting here soon, since I enjoy blogging, but I'm in no rush since precious baby girl is my priority now. I hope that in weeks to come, I will figure out how to make the most of my time once I "get used" to being a mommy. If that ever happens.

I am learning that small goals help me feel better. For example, if I get some sleep and a shower-or one of those-I consider it a successful day. Everything else is bonus! So, being able to post this is a bonus today.

Our Little Girl Is Here!

Just a brief note to let you know our baby girl was born February 24, 2012! We named her Claire and are absolutely in love. Don't know when I'll get back to posting, but see you then!

Strawberry Trifle My Way {Delightful Morsel}

I love strawberry trifle and was craving it. So, I decided to make it for a party. However, I never actually made it before and couldn't find a recipe that sounded perfect for my craving. Authentic British trifle calls for jelly or jam, but that makes it a little too sweet in my opinion (probably because, unlike British whipped cream, we Americans put sugar in our whipped cream!)

There's a tea house near my parents that my mom and I like to go to and I love their strawberry trifle. So, I decided to take the elements I love about it and make my own recipe (which is super easy with trifle).

So, here is April's Ideal Strawberry Trifle (and it's super easy!):

Ingredients:

• Pound Cake Mix (I personally prefer Betty Crocker's) and the ingredients it calls for
• 1 Large box (about 6 oz.) of Instant Strawberry Jello (or 2 small)
• 1 Large box (about 6 oz.) of Instant Vanilla Pudding (or 2 small)
• 1 Tub of Cool Whip
• Fresh Strawberries

 Directions:

1. Bake pound cake according to box instructions and let cool. Meanwhile, prepare Jello and vanilla pudding according to directions.

2. When cake is cool, cut into small squares (about 1").

3. Layer! Here's how I layered mine for my ideal mix of flavor- pound cake, Jello, pudding, pound cake, jello, pudding, Cool Whip, fresh strawberries (cut).

mmm. Most recipes call for Jello and cool Whip, but I love the pudding flavor which stood out to me at the tea house. Of course, theirs is made from scratch, but instant pudding does the trick for an easy dessert!

Delightful Dessert-Making (and Eating!),

Taking My Trifle to the Following Parties:

SUNDAYS

Sunday Showcase with Under the Table and Dreaming
 Think Pink Sunday with Flamingo Toes

MONDAYS

Craftomaniac Monday with Craftomaniac

Making Monday's Marvelous with C.R.A.F.T

Made By You Monday with Skip to My Lou

So Very Creative with So Very Creative

TUESDAYS

Tutorial Tuesdays with Hope Studios
One Project at a Time with A Bowl Full of Lemons 

WEDNESDAYS

Show and Tell with Blue Cricket Design

Look What I made with Creations by Kara
Uncommonly Yours with Uncommon 

THURSDAYS

Crafty Soiree with Yesterday on Tuesday and Katie's Nesting Spot
Get Your Brag On with Gluesticks

FRIDAYS
Friday Frolic with Pocket Full of Pink 
Anything Goes Party with Bacon Time with Hungry Hungry Hypo
Everybody's Creative Endeavor with Every Creative Endeavor 
Whatcha Got Weekend with Lolly Jane Boutique 

Football Birthday Card {Monday's Cup of Creativity}

I love to make handmade cards for people. When I saw this football paper that looked and felt like a football, I knew I had to get a sheet and try something with it. This idea is not completely mine- I saw a similar idea in a magazine a while back and remembered it when I saw the paper. It's miraculous I remembered the concept-perhaps I should have studied for school with colorful magazines!

Here is the football card I made for my Dad for his birthday:

Yep, I drew the black part by looking at a photo of a football. Another miracle because normally I can't draw, but it turned out pretty decent.

Here how I made this card:

Materials:

• White card stock
• Football Leather scrapbook paper- Reminisce Real Sports Line (A.C. Moore)
• Hemp String (can also use ribbon)
• Happy Birthday Paper (had on hand, so not sure the brand or where I bought it)

Tools:

•   Black permanent marker
• Ruler
• Pin
• Tag Punch
• Paper Trimmer

How To:

1. Cut white card stock to 8.5" x 5.5" and fold sideways, so the card is 4 1/4"x 5.5."
 
2. Cut football paper slightly smaller than the white card stock. Draw black part of football with permanent marker (I drew first with pencil and traced over.)

3. Now comes the lacing part-there is a bottom layer and a top layer. Poke holes, using a pin, to lace string through. Start with the bottom layer-you should poke 2 holes at the top left corner (in between black part) and 2 holes at the bottom right (in between black part). Lace and secure in the back by tying off the string. Then punch and lace the second layer on top with horizontal "stripes." Secure in back by tying.

4. Punch Tag from "Happy Birthday" paper and tie onto laced part.

5. Glue Football paper onto the front of white card stock card.

And there you have it-a fun football birthday card.

Delightfully Creating,

Bring My Card to the Following Parties:

SUNDAYS

Sunday Showcase with Under the Table and Dreaming
 Think Pink Sunday with Flamingo Toes

MONDAYS

Craftomaniac Monday with Craftomaniac

Making Monday's Marvelous with C.R.A.F.T

Made By You Monday with Skip to My Lou

So Very Creative with So Very Creative
Craft Catwalk with Embellishing Life

TUESDAYS

Tutorial Tuesdays with Hope Studios

Get Your Craft On with Today's Creative Blog
Terrific Under Ten Tuesdays with At Home With K 
One Project at a Time with A Bowl Full of Lemons 

WEDNESDAYS

Show and Tell with Blue Cricket Design

Look What I made with Creations by Kara
Uncommonly Yours with Uncommon 

THURSDAYS

Creative Juice Thursday with Momnivore's Dilemma

Crafty Soiree with Yesterday on Tuesday and Katie's Nesting Spot
Get Your Brag On with Gluesticks
Crazy Cute Link Party with Between U & Me 

FRIDAYS
Friday Frolic with Pocket Full of Pink 
Anything Goes Party with Bacon Time with Hungry Hungry Hypo
Everybody's Creative Endeavor with Every Creative Endeavor 
Whatcha Got Weekend with Lolly Jane Boutique