My Sweet Belle

On hold...

2010-08-21T15:27:00.000-07:00

I'm partially sad, partially relieved to make this announcement, but a lot has changed in our lives in the last few months and everything is on hold until further notice. Sorry, folks, I'm not taking any more vinyl/sewing orders, or teaching lessons. I go back to teaching Monday and all my spare time will be reserved for my family. Thanks for all your past support!

Feel free to keep checking back for ideas. I'll still try to post some things on here once in awhile, maybe even more that I won't have to worry about finding time to make more once I've made one. It all depends on where life take me with these new adventures.

I'll leave you with a quick picture from Girls Camp. Our theme was "Oh, the Places You'll Go" and our color was...purple (as if you'd wonder). Here's a picture of all of us in the Dr. Seuss hats I made and added a flower too (got the instructions for the hats here), and after spending 20 hours searching for affordable arm warmers, I just bought $2 pairs of knee-high socks from Target, we tie-dyed them and cut off the heel and toe and viola! We had such a great time - and looked great too!

*not pictured - the cute and simple drawstring bags I made and filled goodies including purple pens, bubbles, their camp shirts, and mini camp songbooks.

Something else important to me...

2010-05-05T14:22:00.000-07:00

I know it's been awhile. I'm not even sure I have any followers out there any more, but other things have been consuming my time lately. But I promise, many good Girls' Camp crafts to come as that is my current church assignment. So if I do still have followers, I know many of you don't know me personally, so I am going to take a minute to let you in on a little personal family info.

Nearly 9 years ago, my husband was diagnosed with a horrible disease called Crohn's disease. (You can learn more about it here.) It is an awful disease that I would not wish upon anyone. He had this disease when I met and married him, and with each defining moment in our lives it continued to get worse. (It tends to react to stress.) One year ago this very month, Eric went in for a routine colonoscopy that ended up being anything but routine. It turned out the doctor perforated his colon during the procedure. Eighteen hours later (because the perforation went undiagnosed that long) he was rushed into emergency surgery in the middle of night. I honestly believed that would be the last time I saw him because infection had taking over his body, he was becoming septic, and so much pressure had built up against his lungs and heart. Little did we know that this was all a blessing in disguise. Eric's surgeon made the decision to remove his entire large intestine leaving him with a permanent ileostomy. Eric's Crohn's was essentially gone and he was the healthiest I had ever known him to be. It changed our lives completely for the better. My kids had a new daddy, I had a new husband, my in-laws a new son.

Well, just months shy of our anticipated anniversary since surgery, Eric's Crohn's returned. Although it's not as bad (yet), it is even more scary. Since his colon is already gone, we are left with fewer options for treatment.

Not long after Eric's surgery, I discovered this walk that would be 1 year almost to the day of his surgery and made it a family goal for us to participate. Because we knew our options would be few if Eric's Crohn's ever returned, it was more and more important for us to do our part to find a cure for this evil disease. After the Crohn's returned, I sort of pushed this to the back of my mind while dealing with the issues at hand, but I was reminded today that this really is the important to us as well as to the other 1.4 million Americans suffering with Crohn's or Colitis. And some of my children and grandchildren will likely suffer from the disease as well.

So in just a short week and a half our family will be walking. All of us. Together. Because we LOVE our Daddy. And we LOVE him healthy. Although you may not know me, us, or Eric, you most likely know someone who has or is suffering with Crohn's or Colitis, publicly or privately. For this reason, I ask you to join our cause. Walk with us or donate, whatever you can do. Please support us, however you can, even if it's just your prayers. You can view our team page and join or donate HERE. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Need a denim skirt?

2010-01-25T14:31:00.000-08:00

My cute niece did! And after looking EVERYWHERE for MONTHS her mom came to me and asked me to make one. I said "Sure! Just bring me a pair of jeans." Off to Kohl's and out with a $9 clearance pair and we have a skirt people! I hear she LOVES it. Unfortunately, she does live in Oklahoma, so I haven't seen it in person, but here's one they sent me via cell phone. Still waiting for the better picture, but until then...enjoy!

Christmas Stockings

2009-12-18T11:21:00.000-08:00

Wow! Now that I seem to have everyone else's Christmas projects done, I can begin my own. Not that I am complaining, I have been loving it! My sister-in-law asked me to make some personalized stockings for family this year for them to use in their early Christmas before my brother was deployed to Afghanistan. So, I remembered the stockings of one of my friend's over at Crafty Chicks and asked her if I could borrow them to use as a template. I did and LOVE how they turned out. I planned to make some for my family this year, but I don't think I'm going to get to it. Definitely for next year though. Good news is, my brother's family loves them, and Santa filled them early, and my brother is now "safely" in Afghanistan and I pray he stays that way.

The best burp cloths since cloth diapers

2009-11-14T20:25:00.000-08:00

These things are great and so absorbant! These cloths are oversized, double-sided with flannel and an extra absorbant filler in between. This is one item I do keep an inventory. Get a set of 3 for $8 or 1 for $3.

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-03T13:44:00.000-08:00

This is a little late, but my camera died on Halloween, fitting isn't it? I had to wait until I got the pictures from my friend.

Here's just a cute idea I took to our neighborhood Halloween party. They are called "Ghost on a Broom." I saw someone make them on tv 3 or 4 years ago and wrote down the idea with hopes that someday I'd have something to make them for, and sure enough, I finally did. All you do is cut and fringe a little strip of fruit roll-up and wrap it around the end of pretzel. Then pour some melted white chocolate over the pretzel to look like a ghost. Add some chocolate chips for eyes, and let them cool. They were such a hit! Not only are they cute, but they are surprisingly delicious as well. You'd never guess fruit roll-ups would go so well with chocolate and pretzels, would you? In the words of my husband, "You have to shove the whole thing in your mouth to mix all the flavors." Yummy!

Christmas Advent

2009-11-03T13:27:00.001-08:00

I was contacted last month by a lady asking me to recreate the vinyl for this advent calendar she had seen on someone's blog. I was more than happy to do so and made about 30 of these for her and her sisters. Of course that meant I had to do one for myself too! I sell the vinyl for $7, then you put it on a pizza pan that you can get for $4 at Wal-mart. The little Santa that you move on the numbers is a 25 cent pre-painted wood piece from Michael's that I glued a magnet to the back of, and then I glued ribbon to the back of the pan. So simple and fun!

Semi-Annual Mary Kay Order

2009-11-03T13:22:00.001-08:00

It's that time again! I will be placing my Semi-Annual Mary Kay order November 15th. My next order will not be until May. All orders receive 20% off retail price (tax is charged on retail cost - blame the IRS). Please check out the website. You can also view the catalog online. If you would like to order, please call or email me at kristenkohler@marykay.com All orders must be placed by 10:00pm November 15th. Thanks!

Halloween Costumes

2009-10-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

And just to show off my cute kids...today was the first chance to get all decked out in their

costumes. Actually, they'll be more decked out for Halloween, but this was pretty close. Sorry I couldn't get better pictures. It's a killer trying to get them to hold still, but anyway, introducing ...

Peter Pan

and Tinkerbell!

The Peter Pan costume was a piece of cake. Tinkerbell, on the other hand, well, let's just say I'd better have another girl because I'll be furious if I put all that work into a costume that only gets worn one year.

Even Cuter!

2009-10-26T21:07:00.001-07:00

I've been so busy with sewing and vinyl lately, and I LOVE IT!! Thank you to all of you! As I have more time to sew, it gives me more time to experiment, so B, here is your first car seat cover. I've added bows instead of just buttons. I hope you love it like I do! And more projects are to come, so stay tuned.

And here's your second.

Pillow Cases

2009-10-25T20:31:00.000-07:00

So, I've started teaching mini sewing classes to my Relief Society group. Last week was our first class and we made pillow cases. One of the ladies brought the cutest Halloween fabric and told us about her family tradition growing up where her mom made each of the kids a pillow case for each holiday. Then sometime as that holiday approached she would sneak those pillow cases onto each of their pillows so as they went to bed that night and pulled down the covers they would be so excited to find their pillow cases. I couldn't pass up this opportunity to start a new tradition that involved my getting to sew! So here are my kids new Halloween pillow cases that they got surprised with just tonight.

Bows

2009-10-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

I had a friend over a few weeks ago and we made so bows for our little girls together. I love crafting with company!

More Capes

2009-10-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

These are for you,, Lisa! I hope your boys have as much fun playing in them as I did making them.

Bow Holder

2009-09-25T21:39:00.001-07:00

Here's a cute bow holder I made for my little girl. I can make one for you if your desperate, or I can just teach you how. I love it!

Car Seat Covers

2009-09-25T19:29:00.000-07:00

100% cotton with velcro or tie straps. $25 or $15 if you provide the fabric (2 fabrics, 1 yd of each).

Beaded Binky Chains

2009-09-25T19:25:00.000-07:00

There is no better way to make a binky fashionable than an adorable binky chain! A great little baby shower gift! Made from glass beads. I have these chains in a variety of colors for $6 each.

Nursing Covers

2009-09-25T19:16:00.000-07:00

My nursing covers are adjustable, reversible, and lightweight, from 100% cotton fabric, and include the boning to shape the top so you can see your baby while others can't. Straps are either made from fabric or matching ribbon. Covers are $20 ($15 if you provide the fabric, 2 fabrics - 3/4yd of each ).

"Every boy [and girl] needs a cape"

2009-09-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

A couple years ago my mother-in-law came to me and asked me to make a reversible CTR cape for her to use in role plays in her Primary class. I bought the stuff for it right away, but for some reason never got around to making it until today. When my 2 1/2-year-old came to me with his dad's tie and said "I a hero!" and took off flying, I remembered what my husband had always told me "Every boy needs a cape." I immediately went downstairs and got busy. First I made a plane blue and black cape for my boy, then I made the one my mother-in-law asked for (she doesn't even teach Primary anymore, but I guess the grandkids can play with it), and I have one left to make for my little girl.

Here's the cape -- both sides.

It's 100% cotton fabric, the symbols are felt and sewn on, and the cape attaches around the neck with velcro. Plain capes are $10 ($5 if you provide the fabric, 1yd of 1 or 2 fabrics). Symbols are an additional $5 per side and can be custom made/designed. I plan to put a "B" on my son's cape. Email or call me with questions/orders.

The blog formerly known as...

2009-09-25T17:07:00.000-07:00

This is the blog formerly known as Kristen's Korner Boutique. I decided I wanted to go a different direction with my blog. All too often I have heard "Do you sell those?" or "You should sell those!" And my reply is always "I do" or "I hope to." So here you have it. As I make my fun creations, I will post them here for your viewing pleasure and with info if you'd like me to make one for you. I had good intentions to get an etsy site up, and maybe someday I will, but for now I am too intimidated by the shipping process with online sales sites and I prefer to work with my customers one-on-one so you can custom order if you'd like.

And so you know, I do custom vinyl lettering (you can view the links on the right) and I do teach sewing lessons. If you have any questions, please send me an email. Thanks!

Custom Vinyl Lettering

2008-07-27T20:50:00.000-07:00

I have been in the vinyl business for over 3 1/2 years now. I can make or recreate just about anything. Check the links to the right to view prices, some of my fonts, and colors. Graphics are available upon request. If you would like to see my idea gallery, please contact me and I can email it to you.

Orders may be received via fax, phone, or email.
Kristen Kohler
Phone & Fax: 801.444.2781
ekkohlers@gmail.com

Please allow one week for orders to be completed.
Orders may be picked up or shipped at customer’s cost.
Receiving arrangements will be made with the placement of each order.
With each order please include:

Saying written to specifications (punctuation, spelling, capitalization, etc.)
Dimensions (height & width). Height is measured from the bottom of the lowest letter to the top of the highest letter.
Desired font and color.

Sewing Lessons

2008-07-21T17:16:00.001-07:00

Now accepting students - young and old - ages 10 and up.
1 1/2 hour classes will be taught Tuesdays & Thursdays from 4:00-5:30.

$10 a Lesson

Students may come once or twice a week.
Students will be taught based on their personal experience, interests, and abilities.

*Students are responsible for providing their own project supplies*

Machines provided or bring your own.

I am a licensed Family and Consumer Science teacher and taught high school sewing for 5 years. Sewing is my passion!
To sign up call Kristen at 801-540-7176 and PLEASE spread the word!

Mary Kay Cosmetics

2008-07-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

I am a Mary Kay Cosmetics Independent Consultant. I place 2 orders a years - May 15th and November 15th. All customers receive 20% of retail price (tax is charged on retail value). If you'd like to receive email notices when it's time to order, please email me. Or if you'd like to host a party and earn free products please contact me.