On my soap box

Several years ago I had the pleasure of spending a few days at the historic Hotel Pere Marquette in Peoria, IL.  I was not unfamiliar with the hotel as I had grown up not far away, but had never stayed there.  Staying at this landmark gave me the opportunity to see things from a different perspective.

Normally when staying at a hotel, I ignore the soap provided except for washing my hands.  I take my own body wash, so mostly the hotel soap goes unused and is left behind.  However, the soap at the Pere Marquette came in a beautiful box with the Pere Marquette Logo on it.  Since I was not using it, I did bring one bar home with me and have had it displayed in either the master bath or in the dressing area.  The box itself is white and the lettering and logo are in cobalt blue.  You know my weakness for cobalt blue!

Sadly, the box was beginning to look a little worse for wear -- water does that to packaging!  So, I decided to duplicate the box.

Then, it occurred to me that it didn't really need to say Pere Marquette and have their logo, it could say anything I wanted it to.  First I designed what I wanted the face of the box to say. The words I decided would be appropriate were La Maison de Campagne d'Arnold* which means The Arnold's Country Home. The crown is from The Graphics Fairy, the best "go to" for graphics.  The lines are standard in MS Word so for this project no fancy drawing program is needed.  I may do a "create a box" tutorial later -- that part is a bit trickier to make sure it scored correctly, and the measurements and placement correct.

* Oops, pardon my French! A sweet reader corrected my phrase as originally written so I've updated it to the correct words.. My future projects will be correct, alas, the ones I have now are improper French!

This first box is the same size as the PM box, but future boxes or perhaps just wraps will be the size of the soap I put in them.  Don't you think that's a great welcome for guests to have something other than a commercial box or package of soap -- even if the soap inside is commercially made.

I'm thinking I might have to learn to make soap.

Then it occurred to me that a matching candle would be a nice addition.

Just a few keystrokes and vanilla replaced the almond - oatmeal, move the location so two could fit on the page of parchment paper and then there were two candle wraps.  A little double sided tape and voila!  A matched set.

Of course, I printed out a few more of the boxes as well so I could replace this one when it needs it and to fill with soap ready for the next guest.

Hope you didn't mind me getting on my soap box today.  With all the political stuff going on, isn't it nice to just focus on making something pretty to enjoy?

Have a wonderful weekend!

xoxoXOXOxoxo

Lois

I am joining these parties:

Graphics Fairy Brag Monday

The Farmhouse Porch Cowgirl Up Party

 ADelightsomeLife

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

National Quilting Day and Dallas Hotel

Good Morning Friends!

Did you know that Saturday, March 17 (tomorrow!) not only St. Patrick's Day it is National Quilting Day?  National Quilting Day is a special day set aside by the National Quilting Association several years ago to celebrate the art and craft of quilting and friendship.  Okay, they might not have included the friendship part, but that is what friends do together isn't it?  Quilt!

You can download a PDF of a wonderful pattern designed by Martha Etheridge who is the National Quilting Day Coordinator for NQA.   Go to the NQA web site here .  Did I mention this is a FREE project?  The Mariners Compass in the center is also the theme of the NQA 43rd Annual Quilt show June 14-16, 2012.

Now I promised you a look at where I spent the 8 days in Dallas.  If you have to spend that much time in a hotel, this is the way to go!

A sitting area is so nice when you spend more than one or two nights in a hotel.  Being able to go back and put your feet up or invite a few others in for a visit with an actual place for them to sit is great!

A place to set the computer to work is essential.  Wi-Fi was not free, though, so I had to go to the lobby for that.  Sorry, it would have cost a months worth of cable for the 8 days!

A coffee maker -- yes that is a must!  Behind the cabinet doors are a microwave and a small refrigerator.  Not that I had anything to put in them, but I did heat some water for tea in the microwave so it wouldn't taste like coffee!

Of course, you do need a bed to sleep in. But look at the size of this bed!

It was HUGE!  The last night I left my suitcase on one side of the bed while I slept on the other side and there was still plenty of room!  The patio door was nice, too, since I was on the 4th floor.  It was cold and rainy though, so the door didn't get that much use!

There you have it -- my home away from home and a FREE project for National Quilting Day.

The corned beef is in the slow cooker so I'm ready for both St. Paddy's Day and National Quilting Day.

Hope you have a wonderful day today and are able to celebrate quilting and being Irish tomorrow!

Until next time!

xoxoXOXOxoxo

Lois