wish and wonder

2011-06-13T22:43:00.007-04:00

I am LOVING Forever 21 lately! Anthro has always been my first love, but their prices (and lately, quality) are not. I shopped the latest Anthro sale and was very disappointed...the only thing I came away with during the latest one was a pair of bermuda shorts. Blah! My trip to F21 was very successful (and much, much cheaper):

Silk Cropped Ruffle Cardigan

Button Back Sweater

Cascading Shift Dress

I also picked up the Bird Locket necklace & City Skyline necklace. Love them! Are you loving discounted fashion, too, or still loyal to the Anthro/JCrew/Banana Republic names? Do tell!!

Some Sewing

2010-07-19T20:34:00.003-04:00

Seems like forever since I sat down and sewed something, but I finally managed to for my youngest daughter's birthday last week, Brassy Apple's Shaggy Mosaic Jeans (sorry for poor-quality Iphone photo):

They are a great scrap-buster...can't wait to make some more!

Deep In the Heart

2010-05-03T12:28:00.004-04:00

My poor blog has been so neglected...I do have a little excuse, though. Life as we knew it took a nosedive when my hubby lost his job late last year. We did some soul-searching and decided to make a move to TX (we have family here) where he was very fortunate to find a job in this crazy market. It hasn't been easy, and it sure has been a humbling experience starting over again. I started working part-time and we have have all had to face BIG changes in our lives, but I know that God is with us, no matter how bad it seems. I feel very blessed to have a supportive and amazing family and grateful to all of them for just helping us through life's messiness.

Ok, then, back to bloggy business! Can't wait to share my crafting, decorating, thrifting adventures here in TX...it's a beautiful, friendly place, full of wildflowers and warmth--stay tuned!

Mad Hatter's Tea Party Tablescape

2009-09-27T13:26:00.002-04:00

Last night, our church had it's annual dinner where we get to host and decorate a table, no matter how over-the-top. Our table's theme was the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, and it gave me an excuse to pull out all my funky teacups!

I used thrifted teacups (held together with that gummy stuff you hang posters with), Martha Stewart tissue paper flowers, and butterflies from Michaels.

This is my favorite teacup--found at Goodwill!

Another Goodwill find, just 99 cents.

The napkins and plates were from the party section at Target, and the placemats were marked down at Kohl's
I'll post pictures of the other tablescapes at the dinner later this week!

Julia Child

2009-09-13T11:50:00.004-04:00

I was so excited to see some old Julia Child shows on PBS while lying in bed yesterday, hacking my lungs out (seriously, how long does it take for medicine to work?), and I wanted to share this clip from one of my new favorites--OMELETS
It almost makes being sick bearable!

Feeling Not-So-Good

2009-09-11T09:01:00.001-04:00

I think I caught some germs from the kids...feeling very icky and staying in bed most of this week. Stay well, readers!!

First Day

2009-08-24T09:40:00.005-04:00

I spent most of the weekend buying last minute school supplies and wading through the masses at Walmart, the only recession-proof store in the world. I haven't set my alarm all summer, but I'm happy to say that I was able to get up and function with only limited coffee intake! The girls ate Krispy Kreme donuts (a special first day treat) and happily posed for pictures:

A big thumbs-up from Ashley

Kate was a little nervous but ended up LOVING school!

My big second-grader, looking beautiful.

Here's to a great school year!

Sick, Yes, Bored, No

2009-08-17T21:35:00.004-04:00

Since I've been sidelined by a double whammy of a nasty cold followed by a stomach virus, I have been catching up on some quality TV. While drifting in and out of my sickly haze, I've picked a few favorites to share:

Cake Boss

Snarky bridezillas (are there any other kind?), practical jokes involving flour and various frosting, adorable bakery (look at that sign--I could DIE)--what's NOT to like? I'm a Baltimoron by birth, but this show is my pick over Ace of Cakes.

Psych

I'm always in the mood for rapid-fire 80's references, but add in fake detectiving (that's a word) and bewigged Corbin Bernsen flashbacks, and it's a winner. Oh, and they've gotten hip enough to have famous guest stars like Cary Elwes...yummy!

Clean House

Who wants a clean house? At first annoying, Niecy Nash does grow on you, even her SATC trademark flower. Yes, I'm a bit of a packrat by nature, and this show helps give me a dose of what could be if I don't get my uh, collections, in order.

Live with Regis & Kelly

Aw, who doesn't love Regis? I can't watch when there's a guest host (too much Kelly is too much), and I rarely make it past the opening banter between Reege & Kelly, but it gives my day a boost. Kelly pretends to be interested in Regis's tales of dinner with the Trumpster and Regis pretend to be awake during Kelly's stories of Joaquin's toy mishaps. Add frequent camera pans to Gelman's cringes, and it's perfection.

I'm off to catch another rerun!

Movie Time

2009-08-03T17:01:00.003-04:00

At last! I finally got to see a grown-up movie...The Ugly Truth. It was, {ahem} a raunchy chick flick, but enjoyable nonetheless. I loved the repartee between the main characters, and the fact that there were no CGI guinea pigs in the storyline.

Retro Coloring Pages

2009-06-18T17:59:00.002-04:00

Just when I said I was bored with thrifting, of course I started thinking of all the gems I could be missing out on, so I dragged the kids to Goodwill. The toy shelves were pretty picked over and they didn't really see any good books, but I noticed this on the bottom shelf...

I love the fun, retro illustrations. And it was in perfect condition...not a single crayon mark in the whole thing! And best of all, only 79 cents! Feel free to use them for your projects & coloring fun!

Have a great weekend!

Crafting Not Thrifting

2009-06-16T17:53:00.007-04:00

Can it be possible that I'm bored of thrifting right now? I don't know, but I haven't felt much like getting out there lately. Maybe since the kids are out of school and they run out of steam fast! I find that my attention span/interests fluctuate depending on how I'm feeling, so it's no surprise. However, I did find a couple neat things on my last Goodwill trip:
Love the frame & the stitching, just not sure if they look good together.
Just love anything with tapestry. Isn't the frame perfect? Both of these were around $4 each--not too bad. I finally got around to spray painting my Goodwill cubby (thanks to Rhoda for the seashell idea!):
Since my thrifting mojo is gone, it seems my sewing/crafting mojo is back in full force. I'm working on some Shrinky Dink charms, polymer clay cupcake charms, soldering pendants and making purses. I whipped up some for a friend of mine and her daughters as a thank you for a HUGE box of Webkinz they sent to my girls. Here are my happy girls with their new Webkinz:They are so excited to have some new ones to play with! It's great that all three of my girls can find something to play with together. Here's what we're sending my friend & her girls:
The first one is based on Creative Little Daisy’s basic purse tutorial and the other two are made from Made by Rae’s Buttercup Bag tutorial. The only changes were adding vintage buttons to the straps and leaving off the placket on the front of the purse. They came together very quickly and are the perfect size for teenagers! I'm making charms from Saucy's tutorials...just have to give them a quick bake in the oven tonight.
I need to make dinner for these hungry chilluns. Here's a parting shot of Bootsie, caught mid-yawn. It never gets dull around here. Seriously.

Weekend Fun

2009-06-01T09:55:00.008-04:00

This weekend, we went downtown for Sail Jacksonville. Pirates everywhere you look, lots of tall ships and activities for the kids. And, best part, it was free! Shiver me timbers...

My sweet little scallywags building sand castles...

A balloon flower for Kate...I'm wondering if the smiles and perfect posing has something to do with the name of the ship behind them...

My favorite ship, of course...

Did I mention that it was hot? Like, seeing mirages hot.
After we recovered from that, we stopped at an outdoor arts & crafts festival just down the street to see what they had. Too bad everyone was closing up shop as we got there. They had lots of cute clothing booths (with some of my favorite Amy Butler fabrics)...

A booth with some cool bottle creations...love these windchimes!

And look at this--love the color.

I wanted these whales (my favorite sea creature)!
And how about this collage? They also had the cutest tooth fairy pillow (you can see them in the top corner of this photo). I feel motivated to get my sewing machine out again!

Have a wonderful day!

Jazz Fest

2009-05-26T22:24:00.008-04:00

Every year, we head downtown to the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. We've witnessed some impressive performers like Tony Bennett and Michael Buble. Admission is always free (perfect for our tiny budget), but the weather is usually iffy...we were lucky enough to have semi-clear skies this year! Here's Kate, anxious to hear some great music.

Mommy & the girls clowning around Jacksonville Public Library-it was closed that day, so we didn't have a chance to go inside.

Cool silver platter & cutlery art (it could be yours for a mere $400!!!)

Old church used as a venue for Jazz Fest

Love the detail on this clock (check out the lion heads at the bottom)
Daddy & KateSilly sisters

Low country shrimp boil...mmmmm!

Chris Botti onstage. He played for over two hours!Near the end of his act, We headed towards the stage to get better pictures, just as he walked into the crowd! We were basically right in front of him and got to hear an amazing solo just inches away...

Such a great performer!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day!

Thrift Store Thursday

2009-05-14T15:07:00.006-04:00

Thought I'd participate in Holly at Homebody's Thrift Store Thursday, especially since thrifting is one of my absolute favorite things to do! So here's what I got at Goodwill this week...

Ironstone Pitcher-$3.99

Don't you just love the little corncob relief? Adorable!

Vintagey lamp-$9.99

I'm running out of spots for lamps--they are my weakness!

Display case, all ready for me to paint-$1.99

Any ideas on what to display in those tiny cubbies?

I'm starting to gravitate towards peacock-blues, so these candleholders are an amazing find!(from my favorite antique store-$8.99)
Ivy topiaries to replace my Christmas ones-$3.99

And I just had to post my sweet girls' artwork and crafty creations. This one is Ashley's Mother's Day gift to me--the flower is a pen (so cute!):

A painting of Elvis by Emma, inspired by listening to 50's music:

A beautiful creation by Kate:

And something I'm working on (reverse window painting):

Happy Creating!

Garden Party

2009-05-06T11:00:00.004-04:00

Rhoda is hosting a Garden Party on her blog today, so I thought I'd share some photos of my flowers (and my lovely assistant)...

Hope you have a wonderful day!

The Search Is Over

2009-04-28T09:37:00.002-04:00

After scouring every antique store, thrift store and yard sale in the city for months, I've finally found it...my elusive vintage chandelier!

I got it on Craigslist for a song, and it just needs to be rewired and cleaned up. Anyone out there with tips on getting it up and running (rust removal, light kits)?

Keeping Things In Perspective

2009-04-24T13:08:00.003-04:00

Seashells at Nine Mile Beach, Tasmania
Originally uploaded by Sir Francis Canker Jones

I have the world's largest collection of seashells. I keep it on all the beaches of the world... perhaps you've seen it. - Steven Wright

Here's to keeping our collections in check!

Have a great weekend:D

Coco Avant Chanel

2009-04-22T12:54:00.005-04:00

I can't wait for this movie...

Seven Things...

2009-04-16T11:04:00.011-04:00

7 Thing I Love:

Blogs with recipes. Often, I'm stumped when it comes to ideas for dinner, so I peruse my favorite blogs to see what you ladies can dazzle me with. This lovely chicken was the end result of one frantic search, and I am ashamed to say that I forgot exactly where I found it (**EDITED **you can find it right here) after I jotted it down! Anyway, it was good, so good that I took a picture of it's goodness to share with you:

Likewise, if I need a baking fix, this recipe from Saucy is perfect. And don't forget to use her recipe for buttercream frosting.

Podcasts. Mark Kermode's podcast & Jonathan Ross's podcast are two of my absolute favorites.

American Idol. It's been my guilty pleasure for the last three seasons. Best part? Definately the judges' table, although I would like to see a new seating arrangement. How about Paula-Randy-Simon-Kara?

Lisa Leonard's Jewelry. I can't count how many times people have stopped to ask where I got my favorite necklace! She has an inspiring blog and makes some beautiful, funky jewelry.

Vintage Tole Chandeliers. Rusting, chippy ones are my favorites. I'm trying to convince my husband that we need one in our dining room, but I'm not sure he's entirely on board yet...

My camera. It's a dream of mine to take a photography class and actually learn how to use the features on my Canon Digital Rebel. Tara Whitney is one of my favorite photographers, and I would love to be able to see the world through her lens everyday.

Twilight. I know, I know...I'm so cliche. Jumped on the bandwagon to see what all the fuss was about and fell in love with the love story. Everyone should have an Edward in their life (I married mine).

What are seven things you love?

2009-04-12T19:36:00.003-04:00

Easter Greetings from the kids!

P.S. Mom & Dad--our internet was down for the week after our neighbors ran over the cable box (it's right near the curb). Thanks for all the Easter goodies!!!

Easter Greetings

2009-04-12T19:27:00.003-04:00

He is Risen--Happy Easter!

Budget Bedroom

2009-04-10T17:34:00.010-04:00

Our town has a lot of great thrift spots, my favorite one being Goodwill. There is one at the entrance to our neighborhood, and I try to pop in at least once a week to see what's new. I picked up these random items there the last few weeks:

Peter Pan Kid's Table

Vintage Painting (sorry so blurry)

Garden Bench

We decided to pull up our berber carpet and paint the floor a terracotta color since Pergo or hardwood floors are out of our budget right now. Here is the floor before my husband painted:I've been on the lookout for things that would go with the English Colonial/Island theme, like this chair that I picked up last month.

Original oil painting--a steal at $9.99!

There is another Goodwill a few miles away that is hit or miss, but I've scored some decent finds there, so I thought I'd see if they had any stuff. On my way into the store, a group of pushy older ladies barged past me to the back of the store and basically camped out in front of a headboard--my DREAM headboard. I heard them trying to talk the price down and went about my business, checking out knick-knacks and toys with my daughter (we've scored about four rare Webkinz in various Goodwills in the past couple of weeks this way). I'm half-listening to the ladies, trying to see if they are going to buy the bed...yep, it's a complete bed frame. Now, I don't normally get caught up in other people's shopping business, but this bed is a beautiful thing...I'm plotting how I can sneak over an remove the paper tag when they're not looking! As luck would have it, the ladies suddenly leave the store, and I notice the price tag is still attached--with an unbelievably low price on it. My husband and I have a rule of calling each other before major furniture purchases, so I grabbed the tag and called him while I stood camped out in front of it. Another couple was also looking at it, so I may have given them the stinkeye! Anyway, my husband met me at the store since his work was close by and thought it was a thing of beauty, too. The only thing wrong was a missing finial for the footboard, but I can deal with that.

We sold our existing furniture on Craigslist and I found some dressers to match the bed at Salvation Army for a great deal.

Ok, wanna see the final look?

Drumroll, please......Da-da-da-DAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

We are so happy with the way it all turned out. It was worth the wait!

Happy Thrifting!

Ahoy, Maties

2009-03-27T08:57:00.008-04:00

I am in love with this beautiful dress from Grosgrain Fabulous...

(photo from http://www.grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com)

Can you believe she's giving away that beautiful dress???! She's one of the most generous bloggers in blogland...not to mention, most creative--just look at that photo!

Get over there and enter your name!!!

Out With the Old

2009-03-18T11:33:00.009-04:00

Since I'm never satisfied with the stuff I have, we got a new dining room table, courtesy of Craigslist. Our old table was just fine and got lots of compliments, but it just didn't fit in with my Paris-themed dining room. Plus, those benches were not comfortable AT ALL.So I persisted (and nagged hubby) and found this one for just $50 on Craigslist. As usual, I forgot to take a "before" picture, but let's just say it was a pitiful looking set before I got my hands on it. The wood was a cherry veneer that begged for a fresher look, so I gave it the shabby treatment, a la this furniture painting tutorial. Easy-peasy. The hardest part was putting a polyurethane coat on. Next time, I'll probably go with a furniture wax. I recovered the seat cushions, which were covered in a horrible blue & white rayon fabric covered in smudges, in a soft green velvet from Joann's--admittedly not the kid-friendliest, but isn't that what Scotchguard is for?! And, voila, a spring-y, shabby chair.

And now I have an excuse to add cute accessories (besides my kids, of course). I grabbed these Marie Antoinette plates on clearance at Ballard Design.

Goodwill plates, Hobby Lobby plate rack (on clearance):

Another Goodwill find that my daughter picked out...good eye, eh?The new color combo really brightened up our dining room. The kids are happy, too...now we don't worry about using the dining room for messy projects, like painting, which makes everyone happy.

We're Off to See the Wizard...

2009-03-17T10:00:00.003-04:00

Since the Wizard of Oz is one of our favorite movies, we had to go to the Wizard of Oz festival at our mall last weekend, cheesy as it may be!

There were fancy cakes... Guess someone already had a bite of this one!Window display at Hallmark store... Some of the original "Munchkins": Love those stockings. They would be great hanging out of a window!

I think I could make signs like these using this tutorial:

We all fought over who would be Dorothy--look who won!

Emma's Birthday

2009-01-02T18:15:00.006-05:00

For Emma's 7th birthday, she picked a Japanese restaurant for her birthday lunch.

Wowsa!! Steve & Ashley agree--yummy food!

Birthday money from Grandma (thanks, mom!)

Happy Birthday, Ems!

Beautiful Savannah

2008-12-03T13:35:00.013-05:00

On our way home from Thanksgiving vacation with the grandparents, we stayed in Savannah to enjoy the sultry Christmas atmosphere. Care to take a gander at some of the sights with me?

Food definately comes first for me, so I dragged (drug?) everyone to this extremely popular spot...If you go, prepare to wait. We had to stand in line early in the morning just to put our names down for lunch! Luckily, we got a table on the third floor. The sky lights and wall murals were beautiful.
You can order off the menu, but the buffet is the best bet, even if you can't stand buffets anywhere else. The food is delicious, full of calories and worth every minute on the treadmill. Buffet area, before the stampede. Have you ever seen fried chicken stacked so high?This is what I had...I know, too many calories to even count. I was almost too full to eat the peach cobbler they brought out!After lunch, we walked our food off and found the store I've been dreaming of, The Paris Market. As soon as I walked in the door, I knew I had met my match. More affordable than Anthropologie-and loads cooler-this store is exactly what I want my house to look like, even down to the paint color on the exterior (aren't those columns DIVINE?!).

Thankfully, my extremely patient husband and the most well-behaved kids I have ever known let me shop as much as I wanted. Look, he's even pretending to enjoy whatever's in that display case.This John Derian stuff probably isn't for sale at Target...

Tres chic! This beauty hangs front and center, and it is indeed a sight to behold:
I guess I have a "thing" for lights, huh?
Love this cloche, with its nest and cute glittery word. I bought some of those words to hang on my Christmas tree, just for their glitter-iness. Love me some glittuh. Downstairs displayThey had some great window displays, too Ashley, posing next to the tres cool window decals (waayy out of Mommy's price range, btw).
She was a shopping superstar and was as excited as me when she spotted some marbles at the register area, and for only 15 cents apiece. Score! We spent the rest of the day enjoying the sights and sounds. Savannah is a magical city, especially for kids. They even have fish drain spouts throughout the city streets. What a magical city...

Scenes from Thanksgiving...

2008-12-01T11:41:00.001-05:00

At my parents' house, The girls got to see a little bit of snow (it stuck to their hair!)

We had yummy food at my mother-in-law's beautiful home...

And enjoyed the beauty of wild, wonderful West Virginia...truly majestic.

A Saucy Giveaway

2008-11-13T09:00:00.003-05:00

Have you been to Saucy's lurrvely blog? She has a special friend that needs a home, and if you love all things girly, you should march right over there and and try your luck at winning!

Bonne chance!

Head Over Heels

2008-10-17T09:12:00.001-04:00

I love this:

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Online TV

2008-10-17T03:33:00.000-04:00

The internet just got better--you can watch your favorite shows from the 80's, 90's and today. Check out these sites:

Hulu-I watch all the current tv shows I forget to watch on my actual tv, as well as hilarious SNL clips (Hall & Oates on Weekend Update is great)
YahooTV-same as Hulu and Fancast
Fancast-Lets you watch lots of season premieres
CBS Classics-Just watched the infamous "Halloween" episode of 90210 and almost fell asleep from boredom. Seriously. This was considered scandalous in the 90's?

Have fun!

Thrifty Fall Decor

2008-10-16T13:42:00.012-04:00

Some of my recent thrifting finds...

Desk w/lion drawer pulls (I use this in my kitchen to store cookbooks) Aren't those pulls amazing? Got this at a yard sale across the street. Can you believe I wanted to paint over that vintage brass finish??!! Glad my husband talked me out of it!

Here's the full view...desk from Goodwill (it has the same lion drawer pulls as my cookbook table), candleholders from yard sale, red stool ($3) from Goodwill. When I was buying the stool, a lady asked if she could take a look at it, and I thought she was going to swipe it from me! It's got a great natural shabby finish and I love the way it looks with the desk (although the lamp sure doesn't look right on it!).
Hutch in dire need of more crystal drawer knobs & some glass cleaner...it doesn't actually fit in my dining room (or match our table), but sometimes you have to "make it work!"
See, even our pets match our decor!

Hobby Lobby clearance clock ($6), grandparents' hutch, Goodwill pillows & basket. Note to self: that orchid really doesn't belong!

My new bag (made out of the new Amy Butler fabric). This baby's HYOOGE!!

Have a great day!

Turning 10

2008-10-13T09:12:00.009-04:00

My oldest daughter turned ten this week! She helped me make a Webkinz Wheel of Wow cake, which was the highlight of the day:

followed by dinner at Up the Creek (truly a hilarious dining experience--our server was named "Jersey" and he actually giggled when he told us his name). Ashley enjoyed herself, so that's all that really mattered! She got three Webkinz for her birthday and some Hannah Montana stuff, but the big finish was the acoustic guitar--she had NO idea that was coming. It's great to see her show enthusiasm for music. Can't wait to teach her how to play! Happy Birthday, Ashley!!

It's Twilight Time

2008-09-11T14:07:00.008-04:00

I have officially caught Twilight fever. Symptoms include marathon reading sessions w/lack of dinner preparation, need for copious amounts Visine for exhausted eyeballs, and overwhelming desire to book a one-way ticket to Forks, WA. Not since my Buffy days have I felt such endearment towards fictional characters! I'm nearing the end of Eclipse, stretching out the chapters so I don't have to finish too soon (also reading the draft of Midnight Sun, which is wunderbar). Looks like I will be among the way-too-old-mom-type-fans when the movie opens in November.

Here's what else I'm enjoying right now...
Listening ... Muse
Fixing...lasagna (mmmm!!)
Loving...this makeup
Drooling..John Derian's new decoupage line at Target (I got the coasters, alphabet tray and LOVE plate)
Sewing...this in a soft ivory corduroy for my middle dd--yummy! I'm also making a polka dot version for my youngest dd. Oh, and I'm whipping up my first quilt for my oldest dd. I'll post pictures when I'm finished.
Etsying...this adorable cozy mug warmer, these groovy retro cannisters:

I've also been grabbing stuff at Goodwill and a great little antique shop in our neighborhood. Who out there could pass up a vintage typewriter? C'mon, it's so much cooler than a computer, right?! Sadly, there is literally no room left on any wall or surface of my house to put anymore decorative items, so I need to stop now.

Furry Friends

2008-07-31T14:23:00.003-04:00

It's been a sad year, pet-wise, for our family. We lost two of our beloved cats within a couple weeks of each other, and it has taken several months to even think about adding more to our family. A couple of weeks ago, I started looking on Petfinder, and I saw some cats that seemed just right. They came from a kitty shelter that fosters cats (so they're used to living with people) that had an adoption day on weekends at PetSmart. We had planned on bringing home an adult cat, figuring it would get along better with Stripey, but the heart wants what the heart wants, right?! Anyway, we brought home 10 1/2-week-old sisters (a tortoiseshell and a tuxedo). So far, so good! Stripey is a little intimidated by his new friends and they are fitting in well in our lively household.

Aren't they cute?

So glad we decided to bring them home. The more, the merrier.

Quilt Giveaway...

2008-07-15T23:18:00.002-04:00

Have you seen this? Run right over and leave a comment to win that beautiful quilt, but you may have to fight me for it!!

A Little Bit of Everything

2008-07-01T12:55:00.015-04:00

Since it's the beginning of the summer movie season, we took the kids to see Kung Fu Panda, and it was as awesome as expected. If you're a Jack Black fan, you will love it. We give this movie a whopping four out of five karate kicks for a heartfelt underdog story, great action sequences, kid-friendly laughs, and enough mouth-watering food to make me want to go straight to the take out restaurant afterwards!! Next up on the family movie-watching agenda is this gem of a flick (I hope!).

And now for something completely different--home decor!
Here's the new lamp for our tropical-themed bedroom (snagged at Marshall's): Shelving above my kitchen sink (Cafe sign & teapot/cups from antique store, flower picture from Goodwill)
Dining room (hubby bought the Eiffel Tower print for me)Flowers from hubby (goodwill owl container used as vase)
Stripey the cat investigating my new "Drawing Room" fabric (which is almost too gorgeous to cut)

Shabby table from Craigslist (should I paint or leave as is?)

I'm sure everyone already knows this, but Craigslist is the greatest. No kidding, it has been my friend lately in the furniture scoring and selling departments. We unloaded some furniture in one day, and then I promptly bought more goodies from Craigslist in the name of fair trade! No photos yet, but my latest scores are Adirondack chairs & tables for our pool area; a retro wooden office chair, similar to this outrageously priced one; and (fingers crossed) an A-frame shelving unit to be shabbied-up for my patio. And all at rock-bottom prices, I'm telling you. It definately appeals to my bargain-hunting gene!

Wanna see more great stuff? Here's what I got from Jen for the Softie Swap (love.this.panda.)...and what I sent her...

Amy Butler Lotus purse I made for a friend's birthday

Tip: those handles were repurposed from a secondhand store, my secret source for wooden handles. I can usually find two or three sets of good wooden handles (just toss the purse they came with) for the price of one brand new pair. Save a tree, right?

Finally, I made this peasant dress for Kate this past Saturday night so she could wear it to church Sunday morning (inspiration from this talented lady). Now her big sisters want one, too!

Her 4th birthday is coming up soon and she wants cupcakes...music to my ears!! I came across this idea and can't wait to make them!

Have a great day & stay creative!

Pay It Forward Giveaway

2008-04-23T13:33:00.010-04:00

Take a peek at what I found in my mailbox a few weeks ago (sent from this amazingly talented lady)...

The first three people to leave a comment on this post requesting to join will receive a handmade gift from me in the next year. All you have to do in return is you make the same promise on your own blog.

Have a great day!

Happy Easter

2008-03-23T20:42:00.005-04:00

Egg hunting in the backyard...

Modeling adorable new dresses...

dyeing eggs...

Fun!

Hope you had a great day!

All In A Name

2008-03-19T11:59:00.002-04:00

(Well, most of it is accurate!)

What Chandra Means

You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.
You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.
A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.

You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out.
Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia.
Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row.
You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace.
People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality.

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.
You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.
You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Because I Have Too Much Stuff

2008-03-18T12:05:00.006-04:00

Oh, yeah, this is sooo me......1.4 million Americans suffer from chronic hoarding & clutter...people burn 55 minutes a day looking for things...80 percent of what we own we never use. There is a bit of a tendency for me to be a pack-rat. My husband is somewhere, nodding his head emphatically. Yup, I admit that I love a bargain and will in fact create little hypothetical situations to allow myself to purchase, say, a funky (albeit threadbare) 60's chair and a mustachioed coffee mug. I'll imagine myself sitting in my imaginary adorably funky, mid-century modern garden room, sipping coffee in that mug, sitting in my crazy chair, bluebirds on my shoulder, blah, blah, blah. And then I bring said items home, where they end up next to my unused treadmill since there isn't an actual place for them in my house (except for the mug, which is on my kitchen shelf). Save me from myself!! I'm thinking about getting rid of some of my lovely unusables on my blog, so stay tuned.

Something I was very proud to get rid of, in my little hoarding world, was cookies. Since I was appointed Cookie Mom for my daughter's girl scout troop this year, it's been three loooonnnnggg months of organizing, selling, and calculating, and I still have cases of cookies in my car, waiting to be sold (still)! This is only a glimpse of my entryway from a few weeks ago:

That didn't leave too much time for sewing, but I managed to finish my apron for the Sassy Apron Swap:

I received an amazing smock-style in linen fabric, trimmed with beautiful kimono fabric and edged with embroidery (sorry no photo yet). Can't wait to do
more swapping!

Is anyone else anxious beyond words to get their hands on Anna Maria Horner's new line? I am dying to get any and all of it (I wish) and make some cute bags and clothing for spring! But first, I must clean out my fabric stash. So, after I do that hypothetical "cleaning", I plan on making the following:

Easter eggs from this tutorial
Three dolls for my three dolls
Vogue 1027

Since I'm all about decluttering, Easter gifts for the girls are probably going to be more of the edible variety, instead of toys. They all keep plugging Littlest Pet Shops and Webkins, and I keep reminding them that Mommy just spent money on Peeps, and that should be sufficient. Just kidding. You know I'll give in and shower them with Easter toy loveliness. And a beautiful cake (the pan is on sale here), which I will be attempting to recreate. There's a video tutorial on the Williams-Sonoma website, so it should be foolproof. Fingers crossed.

Off to declutter!

Let's Get Dig-i-tal

2008-02-07T09:19:00.001-05:00

I thought this blog needed a bit of a facelift, so I marched my mouse over to Shabby Miss Jenn's and got this groovy new header, complete with a cute, dangly Eiffel Tower. It's been so long since I've worked on anything scrapbook-y, so I brushed off the cobwebs and clicked away. That gave me the idea to show some of my past digital layouts, for all those non-digital scrappers out there to peep (see credits when you click sidebar link):

I used to be a paper scrapper, complete with the glue and the staples and the little strips of trim and doodads galore. Before kids, that is. The fear of having my little angels grab a handful of dropped eyelets was enough to convince me that I needed to think more digitally! So for all you paper people out there, I've compiled a list of handy-dandy linkage to help you take the plunge. Peruse & enjoy!

Getting started

It can be pretty overwhelming, but there is a lot of information to help you get started. Read this to get a feel for the whole experience. You can also look at this digital section (they have lots of tutorials here), and here, here and here. Still with me? Good. Let's move on to...

Innovators

These are just a few people who have challenged and inspired me to even scrap in the first place:

Inspiration

There are all kinds of galleries to browse through to help get your ideas flowing. The important thing is to borrow ideas, not blatantly copy. I even look through design magazines to get color schemes and layout ideas. Each person has their own style, so use what you like.

Quotes/Ideas

Shopping

Now, what would a new hobby be without some $ being spent?? Good news is, when you're starting out, there are lots of free kits to download so you can get a feel for the style you want to go with before you make a purchase (cool, huh?!). Here are some great freebies:

Designer Digitals (must be a registered user)
Heather Ann Designs
Simple Scrapbooks
Shabby Princess
ScrapArtist
Traci Murphy Designs

Remember, papers can be recolored in Photoshop, so you won't need to buy lots of paper kits. Elements, however, are much harder to tinker with, so go crazy with the Paypal (just kidding!):

Also, check out some great free fonts to add pizzazz to your journaling:

Hangin' Out

One of the most important aspects of this hobby is the great friendships with so many talented people. I have learned so much from so many, and I encourage you to check out various scrapping websites and jump on the message boards to get help or learn something new.

Hope that helps anyone looking for a great new hobby!

Finished!

2008-01-22T09:26:00.000-05:00

Since I always work better under pressure, I cut my fabric out to make two dresses on Saturday night and had a marathon sewing session! Here's what I made with my new fabric (using this pattern):

Note the sheer lack of enthusiasm? Unbelievable...
Ashley got glasses last week--she looks so grown-up now! Here she is, modeling my latest project, a reversable headband (made with leftover Chocolate Lollipop fabric). She's growing out her bangs, so I made a bunch of them to get her through the awkward growing-out-hair phase.
TV is just blah right now! I miss all my shows...at least PBS has redeemed themselves with the Jane Austen flicks on Sunday nights. I just love this series! The wardrobe is simply gorgeous...makes me want to buy lots of velvet and silk and do up my hair all fancy-like.

Have a great day!

Joann's=Cheap Chic

2008-01-16T12:19:00.000-05:00

Since when did Joann's get hip? In the quilting section, I found Alexander Henry prints(!!!) and grabbed a few to make some twirly skirts for the girls and a cute top for me:

I also picked up some Simplicity patterns (3692, 4111, 3694) for me. It seems I've jumped on the Built By Wendy bandwagon! This really inspired me, especially the color (which used to seem a bit bilirubin-ish to me). And, since I cannot stay away from anything with the Amy Butler name on it, I used my 40% off coupon for these:

The plan is to frame them (sorta like this idea).

Guess what I got for free? This desk was sitting on the curb last week (painted black). Now it just needs these to be perfect (yes, the tabletop is mighty cluttery, I know)...

Here are some more thrifting finds:

Note to self: Must join Club Little House swaps, soon!)

Should I paint the lamp base or leave it alone?

Owl-y Whisk-holder

Ok, so I'm over the whole Posh hairstyle lust. The last straw was when I saw T!la Tequ!la at some awards show with the very same cut. Not for me:(

Holiday Meme (Procrastinator's Edition)

2008-01-02T13:53:00.000-05:00

Do you have a favorite gift that you love to give?
I love making purses! They allow me to use some of my growing fabric stash, and keep me from being too selfish and keeping them all (you can only carry one purse at a time, right?)!

If you’re making gifts this year, what are you making?
Rice Therapy Bag (vintage fabric)

Purses (lots)

This one was a gift to myself...

Skirt for my daughter (tutorial here)
Do you have any good stories about handcrafted gifts you’ve given or received?
My mother made a little pillow for my oldest daughter (now 9) when she was 10 months old. That pillow has been restuffed, restitched and washed probably hundreds of times since then, and is still her favorite, most cherished possession!

What is your favorite family holiday tradition?

We love having hot chocolate and watching all the holiday movies/specials/parades together as a family.

Have you started any new traditions with your family that you didn’t practice growing up?
Probably the big thing is our Christmas Eve snackfest! We forego regular meals that day and just snack on lots of finger foods. It's less stress for me and more time to enjoy each other.

What do you love most about the holiday season?
It feels like everything is magical for that brief period of time. The music, food, decorations, everything is just "dazzling" during the holidays!

What do you like least about the holiday season?
Trips to the mall or Walmart...probably the reason why handmade is better. Also, I always procrastinate on making gifts and then change my mind/run out of supplies. It always takes me twice as long to complete projects this time of year.

What is your favorite holiday food?
I love making/eating Peppermint Bark. It's simple and scrumptious! This year, I made these yummy cookies...so decadent! Too bad everyone claimed they were dieting and I had to eat most of them.

Do you have a great recipe to share?
Ooh, I have one for a yummy macaroni casserole:

One-Pan Mac n' Cheese Bake

2 packages (7 1/2 oz. each) Macaroni & Cheese Dinner

4 cups boiling water

1 cup milk

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, cut up

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

24 Ritz crackers, crushed (about 1 cup crumbs)

Preheat oven to 400 F. Spray 13X9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place macaroni in prepared dish. Stir in boiling water; cover with foil and bake 15 minutes, stirring after 7 minutes.

Stir in cheese sauce mix (from macaroni box), milk and butter. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and crushed crackers. Bake, uncovered, an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and crackers begin to brown.

Enjoy!

Thankful For...

2008-01-01T11:09:00.000-05:00

Contented cats...

yummy snacks...

reaching higher... mmmm...seafood... twirling...

three blessings...
A Healthy & Happy New Year to All!

Thanksgivng, Hair & PIF

2007-11-29T17:09:00.000-05:00

We had a nice, quiet Thanksgiving at home and then put up our faux Christmas tree the next day, instead of spending money we don't have on things we probably already have. Steve bought a Wii for Ashley's birthday, so we're already ahead of the game (no pun intended)! It's been great fun, and Emma is quite a pro at Wii Bowling (like me). Steve and I are extremely competitive with each other, especially at Wii Tennis...he can sit in his recliner and still beat me, no lie, while I'm bouncing through the living room and swinging my arm wildly. I've practically got a form of tennis elbow from that game! We also have the Carnival game, but it's not so great, meaning I lose most of the games.

I just ordered some of Anna Maria's fabric from here (super-fast delivery). I'm planning on making a skirt and some totes, maybe even a pillow or two. Or just looking at it.
Now, on to more important topics, like whether this haircut is too trendy: My hair is seriously jonesin' to be cut like Posh's, but I fear it'll make me look a bit pear-shaped. And some folks aren't fans of shorter hair ("cough" husband "cough"). What's a girl to do?

In unrelated news, here's a random photo from our church's Trunks 'N Treats celebration (I made Emma's "Pocahontas" costume): Ashley was dressed like a pirate, but felt too "cool" to be photograped by me. Yikes, it's too soon for her to be acting like a pre-teen!

Okay then, on to the good stuff: PAY IT FORWARD

I've signed up to Pay It Forward (PIF) through LucyKate Crafts. The first three people to leave a comment on this post requesting to join will receive a handmade gift from me at some point over the next 365 days. In return, you must make the same promise on your own blog. Do three people even read this blog??? Anyone???

Have a great day!

Sewing, Sewing

2007-11-19T09:37:00.000-05:00

Taking a short break from sewing to update my neglected blog. Nothing much going on here, except for yucky germs floating through our house lately. Almost everyone's been sick this past week (eck), and I just hope we can bid it au revoir in time for Turkey Day, my favoritest "eating" day of the year. We'll be staying home and eating yummy stuff like turkey, sweet potato casserole, parmesan mashed potatoes (from Ina's recipe on Food Network--too lazy to link), various fattening pies, peppermint bark and probably more potato-ey casseroles. I always make extra, just so we can enjoy leftovers. Love, love, love holiday leftovers, don't you?

Dreamy

2007-10-25T18:40:00.001-04:00

If you love the music of Amelie, take a listen...

U R 9

2007-10-14T10:12:00.000-04:00

What? My baby is nine already?

Cute crowns...much nicer than plain, ol' birthday hats. Both sisters agree.

I think having Grandma here to visit was your best birthday gift. But you got some nice things, too...

(Cake decorated by the birthday girl when Mommy wasn't looking.)

Happy Birthday, my wonderful, sweet girl. U R amazing & I heart you.

Raining Again

2007-10-03T09:09:00.000-04:00

Ugh, it's been so rainy lately...Emma has been having a blast with her Mickey Mouse umbrella, though. Her kindergarten teacher said it was big hit with everyone. I'm guessing no one else in her class is allowed to have their own umbrella since they all ask to twirl it while pretending to be Gene Kelly. How is it that most kids have never seen Singin' in the Rain, but somehow know the lyrics to the song? Strange. At least the rain gives me an excuse to voraciously read blogs. Some of my favorite things on the interweb:

Anything by Lori Marie
Black Apple's whimsical prints
Pink Lemonade Boutique's gorgeous bags
Shim & Sons style
Amy Butler fabrics
Chocolate Lollipop
Belle and Boo
Lisa Leonard's jewelry. I have one of her necklaces, and it's absolutely the coolest thing, ever--see?

I've been doing some sewing, a dress for Kate:

It needs a pop of color next to the bottom band, I'm thinking a hot pink ribbon or rickrack. I'm still trying to master pattern mixing, so it's not as polished as some of the great children's clothing makers...yet.