Sharon Thacker, January, Birthday Banner

Greetings!!

I'm Sharon, Nora's twin nine years late. It's true, we think very similarly so when I need validation for anything in my life, I call Nora and she supplies it.

I live on the East Coast with my Husband of 10 years and 4 kids (9,7,4,2). I grew up in Utah but haven't lived there since 2005. After graduating from college we lived in Michigan for six wonderful years (for my husband to do more school) and have lived in Maryland for two years. We'll see where we'll land next. I stay at home with my kids and love the three Rs: Running, Reading, and Relaxing......and talking on the phone and Netflix.

For February I made a birthday banner for my family. I actually got the idea to do this many years ago. We love to celebrate birthdays with a fun cake, streamers, and balloons. A reusable banner would be a perfect and practical addition. I knew exactly what kind of fabric I wanted to use and I even found a couple tutorials here and here (I ended up merging the two tutorials together to make by banner). But then.....nothing!

After my first baby was born my dear Mother-in-Law offered to buy me my first sewing machine. I remember going to the Singer Store by my house and picking it out and working on my first projects. I made quilts for my boys beds, baby gifts, bags, etc. I had a good friend who was project motivated and pulled me along. Years have gone by, my friend lives far away, I have been blessed with more kids, and the sewing started to die off . I realized I didn't sew anything fun in 2013 (I did patch some pants for my boys) . What happened? Excuses. I love this talk by President Uchdorf. My favorite part below:

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.

Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.

Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty—and I am not talking about the process of cleaning the rooms of your teenage children."

I know that I am the best person, mom, friend, daughter, and neighbor when I dedicate time in my life to create things. It doesn't have to be sewing but creating anything does wonders for my soul.

Thanks to Project(s)Connect (and THREE upcoming family birthdays) I decided to "create" and make the banner. It's embarrassing how easy this was. I went to Joanns and purchased seven fat quarters, bias tape, heat n' bond, and I was ready to go (total cost was under 15 dollars). It took me three days with a few hours each day and it was done. I am very happy with the results and my kids love it too.