Time For A Change: Stage Two

Please forgive me for the tardiness of this post.  My husband and I lost two very special loved ones in the last 10 days and things that didn't have to do with sickness, funerals, and family came to a grinding halt....as it should when you lose a loved one.  

With out further ado: here's stage 2!

 

Once the walls were painted and dry it was time to start organizing and getting things together.  As I went along I figured out what I needed (and what I needed the hubby to build). 

Here's the finished (mostly finished - I'm still tweeking things a bit) product:

You can see (bottom right hand corner) that I still have a few things that I am finding homes for.  I decided to keep my totes as storage for fabric. Although it isn't my favorite look it gets the job done AND keeps mice/ spiders / dust off my fabric.  I had decided on a folding table to put my sewing machine on.  I used it once that way and there was way too much vibration so I went back to this ugly old heavy as crap desk that I had been using.  I am going to try and spruce it up but haven't decided how yet.  

Here are some close ups on the desk we "made":

Scrapbooking items moved to the back and sewing to the front.  We used 8 scrapbook organizing cubes from Micheal's and three four foot by 10 inch shelves from Home Depot to create my desk.  I believe that you can buy the piece to make the cubes into a desk but we were having difficulty finding them (and the price was high).  Hubs screwed the shelves to the top 4 cubes to make my desk top.  It is super sturdy.  

Here are the four sets of two cubes high that make up the desk: 

  There are shelves for paper/ Cricut boards. There are drawers for scraps, punches, Cricut cartridges, paint, markers, cards, stickers - just about anything that you want to put in a drawer. I've never been so organized!

On the left hand wall - I have my scrapbooks on a floating shelf built from pine by the hubby, 8*10 pictures that I have entered in the fair and couldn't stand to put in folder, tote storage for fabric, and of course - my peg board that we made for my thread and bobbins.  

 

I love this room and hopefully the organization will help me.

And of course after you organize - you must accessorize. This was quite possibly my favorite part!

 The shelf is an old wood crate screwed to the wall.
The coffee cans are holding adhesives, pens and punches (I may modge podge these later).

The cute red clock is from Hobby Lobby.

The jar is full of random buttons - for decoration and use.

The "S" is a large cardboard S that I modge podged book pages onto over the period of a few days.  

I had bought the chalkboard thinking I would use it to make a gift but it's found it's home here. 

I hope that you like my craft room make over!

I certainly do!

Stacey

Celebrating the life of Debbie Stoddard

Today our family mourns the loss of my mother in law, Debbie Stoddard.
But we also celebrate her life and the lives of all those she touched through the years.  

Child of God, Daughter, Mother, Wife, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, & Friend.  

I know that Debbie knew the Lord. Today is the sweet day when she gets to sing that song of victory.
Victory over cancer and the pain that was in her body.  We know that her body was merely a vessel.  her soul now dances on those streets of gold and her voice sings with the angels.

From one of my favorite church songs:

I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
The song of victory.

O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.
Composer - Eugene Monroe Bartlett, Sr

 

Time for Change: Stage One

It's beginning to feel like SPRING which after this cold winter sure is a welcome feeling. 

Every year in the spring I get the itch to do something to brighten up the house. 

A friend at work showed me the pictures of where she painted an accent wall in her living room and foyer.  It was a bright and sunny teal that just made me smile when I saw it.  This got my brain churning but it hasn't been long since we painted most of our upstairs walls so I couldn't imagine repainting there.  So my ideas of painting something to freshen up the house kind of died.  

Then I walked into my basement (where I have my craft/ sewing / scrapbooking room set up) and looked at all the junk I had piled on my tables.  I haven't worked on any projects lately and it is very easy to just lay down whatever you have in your hands on the closest stable....which happen to be my work stations.  Then it hit me.... I need to get organized in my craft room.....and this could entail my painted wall. Because we all know that painting helps with organization! 

To start you off - my house was built in the 80's.  It has light colored paneling as its walls in the basement.  We don't have any windows - which is great for storms but kind of depressing when it is so nice outside & I want to be inside working.  

So the hubs and I moved the bed frame, headboard, foot board, and box springs that had so conveniently gotten propped up against the back wall in my craft area.  It went to storage and out of my way.  Then I started stripping down everything on the walls.  I pulled out my craft tables out and made a huge mess....so I could start painting.

You can laugh at my huge mess you can see in all the pictures.  I do!

With paneled walls (unless you are going to replace them with dry wall - so not happening at my house) you have to prime them before you can put on actual paint so that your paint will stick.  After talking to the guy at Lowes I went with this Bulls Eye Primer.  I didn't have it tinted so that if there was any leftover I could use it on another project.  The picture on the right is my 80's paneling.  

I started with a brush and painted in each "crevice" in the paneling.  I also did the tops and bottoms of the boards.  Our basement isn't finished so there is exposed ceilings.  I doubt we'll ever finish in the ceiling because it is easy to get to when we have issues.  After painting all the crevices, tops, and bottoms of the board I broke out the roller and rolled on two coats of primer.  I have a nice primed white wall.  I really liked how it already brightened the room...it made me almost a little remiss to want to paint it the teal color.   

But after one coat of teal I knew it was a good idea.  I used the same process for painting the satin paint.  Brush to fill in all crevices and then rolled two coats of paint on the whole wall.  (don't you love all my junk piled sky high?!?!?!?!)  The cabinets on the right are ones that my husband built for storage and I LOVE them.  I have a floating shelf on the left hand wall that he also built to hold my 12*12 scrapbooks.  You can't see it really good here.  I am thinking that I MIGHT paint the wall on the left.  What do you think?  Paint it also (because I have the supplies still) or leave it the natural wood paneling color? 

Tune in soon for Stage 2!  I am using cube storage from Micheal's to make a desk and for scrapbook paper/ item storage on the back wall.  I also have a super cute red clock from Hobby Lobby,  A modge podged S and a vintage crate to use on the wall.  Can't wait to get my craft room organized and sunny.

Stacey     

Share the love - angels among us

It's amazing how friends, coworker, and strangers can even be angels among us in our everyday life.  

I asked a few friends for help in finding an Origami Owl designer that would be willing to have an impromptu Origami Owl party at my mother in laws house sometime soon.  Debbie had been showing me her Origami Owl jewelry and telling me how much she loved it.  She talked about how she wished that we could go to a party even though she hasn't felt much like getting out lately.  I thought it was a long shot but I decided to try & find someone local that would come to the house.  I shot a message to a few friends and within 24 hours I had 2 consultants willing and ready to come on such short notice.  These two ladies aren't just selling jewelry - they're serving a higher purpose to make someone who is feeling pretty crappy some days to have a few hours of fun.  I can't thank either of them enough.  I'll try to post some pictures from our party that we have this Sunday but in the meantime I am going to share their Origami Owl websites with you.  

Thank you Heidi for so readily agreeing to do what ever you had to in order to make this work and for sharing your story with me.

Heidi Austin's Origami Owl Link

Thank you Aurora for also contacting me back and for the words of encouragement and light that you sent to me.  

Aurora Daniels Origami Owl Link

These two ladies are angels in disguise just like the sweet friends that jumped at the chance to help me find someone to make this party happen so quickly.  My friends know me.  They know my life.  They know when a simple call, card, or word of encouragement will push me through the day.  These ladies didn't know me but they did the same for me.  God puts people where you need them them most.  

I have had the love shared with me today in so many ways it's hard to count.  

Please go out and share your love!  The world needs it.

  

Share the Love 2014

Last year I participated in a February Share the Love event.  February so far has been super busy so I haven't even looked at many blogs lately to know if there is an event going on. 

So - I am challenging YOU during the month of February to SHARE THE LOVE.....

We all lead super busy lives (as evidence above) but if you can slow down for a minute to do just a little something nice for someone - a friend, family member or even a stranger - it'll make your heart full.  I am not talking about spending tons of money, in fact you don't have to spend any at all...just do a random act of kindness

Let that person with 3 items check out in front of you at the store

Help someone less able to pump their gas or open a door

Send cards to friends just to say thanks for being my friend 

Bring donuts / bagels to your office

Call someone who you haven't spoken to in a while

Spend uninterrupted time with your spouse / children / grandchildren

Pay for the next person in line's coffee 

Offer your time to a charity - or to a friend with kids in need of a night out

Visit with family for no special occasion

So often we let these types of opportunities pass us by because we simply don't have time.  I challenge you to make time. 

So take one step back from your day to day...slow down...and make someone else's day.

How to clean blood from your carpet....

...after you've gotten mad and rampaged...Just kidding - about the rampage part anyways.

 After letting our sweet doggie out to do his business last night, my hubby let him back in and sat down on the couch.  It was late.  I was already asleep. Nothing unusual going on....until 11:00 when I hear the carpet cleaner going.  Now I have had some issues with our carpet cleaner in the last month and I had sat it on the back porch because it was leaking when I used it....and I THOUGHT that the hubs had decided to try to fix it at 11:00 last night.  I rolled out of bed and walked down the hallway all groggy eyed to see him scrubbing the carpet.  My next thought is that Hunter(sweet doggie of ours) has gotten sick and hubs is trying to clean it up.  Then I look down and realize that there is blood...trails of blood...puddles of blood...smears of blood all over the couch, the linoleum in the kitchen and down the whole length of our house in the carpet...WHAT HAS HAPPENED!??!?!

Well what has happened is that the ground is frozen solid at home and while our dog is out running hot laps around the yard he broke one of his toe nails plum off.  The lights were off in the living room so hubs didn't notice it until he got up to come to bed.  There was literally blood all over.  

For accidents on the carpet I normally use this stuff that we get at Ace Hardware called Carpet Butler Enzymatic treatment.  It's a little spray bottle and I use it for stains on the couch and misc carpet issues.  We only had half a little bottle left so at a little after 11 I traveled to the local WalMart to find more carpet cleaner.  I picked up Oxiclean(which we didn't open), two bottle if 409 carpet cleaner, & Bissell carpet cleaner foam (with its own little scrub brush attached).     

Just in case you're ever in a similar situation here's what we found out:

Don't even buy the 409.  It worked but only with REALLY vigorous scrubbing that is likely to damage your carpet. 

The Bissell Spot and Stain foam worked well and the attached brush is very convenient & not too stiff to damage your carpet.  There is still a good bit of scrubbing involved but all the spots came up using this.  It even worked on the upholstery on our couch.  

The Enzymatic by Carpet Butler from Ace did the best job - especially on the pools of blood.  

You could spray (or pour - some spots were really bad) this on the stain and it would start dissolving really quickly.

My only request of the hubs today was to go and get several more bottles of the Enzymatic from Ace so we have it on hand for future spills, spots, or blood stains.   

Hunter is fine.  He has a sore toe.  

We put some baking soda on it last night to clot any remaining blood.  It looked a little tender this morning but nothing he won't get over.  

Oh what a fun night of carpet scrubbing.  

Stacey  

 

Mississippi Chicken

We've been making Mississippi Roasts at our house in the crockpot.  They are super tasty and I found the recipe through pinterest here.  We've used both beef and pork.  What we've liked best thus far is getting pork picnic.  Admittedly I don't love having to cut the skin off because I am slow at doing so but it really has been the best tasting meat we've done.  I normally get bone in and when it is done cooking I can grab the bone and it pulls straight out - no cutting involved.  

After making a roast with the pork picnic last week the hubs asked me if I thought it would work with chicken...well - there's only one way to find out.  

And the answer is YES!  It makes quite a tasty chicken.  

1 five to six pound chicken - skin removed

Sit it right down in your crockpot.  DO NOT ADD ANY WATER

Lay 1 stick of butter on top.

Sprinkle 1 package dry Au Jus seasoning and 1 package dry ranch seasoning over the top.

Add 7 - 10 pepperocini peppers (I only had 4 or 5 left in my jar).

Cook on low 8 - 10 hours.  

When I got home from work my plan was to pull the legs and wings off and then strip & shred the rest of the meat.  I grabbed a hold of the leg bone and it came out clean.  This chicken was super tender and plenty moist.  You can see in the picture on the right how much juice it made.  

The only change I would make is that instead of using the seasoning packets I would probably just season with salt and pepper.  The chicken didn't absorb the seasoning well like the roasts do so next time I may just make my own seasoning recipe to see how it turns out.  There was not an ounce of waste with this chicken.  All the bones fell out and the meat shredded super easy.  

Yummy chicken night at our house! 

A Christmas Decoration Story

Background Story  

Several years ago when I first bought my sewing machine (and I had never sewn anything in my life) I decided to make Christmas stockings.  (see original stockings here)

They were super cute stockings but not very functional due to the fact that I was VERY inexperienced sewing.  Although the pattern was probably plenty big the stockings kept "shrinking" because I wasn't getting all the layers in my seams and kept having to re sew and re sew seams.  Please keep in mind that I was self / blog / online tutorial taught to sew.  I had a little instruction at the store where I bought my machine but it was more of a "how to turn your machine on and make it go" than a class of how to make items.  I have a great friend Kathy that I email with questions and send pictures of all my sewing projects because she KNOWS how far I have really come in my sewing skills.      

The Christmas Tree Skirt and Stocking Story

Once upon a time on a day very close to Christmas 2013, the hubby and I visited the local craft / fabric store to look for fabric for stockings and a tree skirt because it was on sale (one of my favorite words).  Our fake tree had bit the dust this year and I wasn't motivated to start or finish this project because the tree that we had up was about a foot and a half tall and had a total of 10 ornaments on it. I was waiting for the after Christmas sale (there's that word again - I got my $359.00 tree for $97.00!) to get the tree that I really wanted.  So making a tree skirt for a tiny tree was NOT high on my priority list.  We got the fabric that we liked(on sale!!!) and when I got home it was just laid to the side.  

Too many other fun Christmas things to be doing...like opening gifts with these three cutie pies.

   

The story continues on cold night in Tennessee weeks later.  I was putting away stuff (you know - the stuff that you just lay down when you come in a room) and picked up my Christmas fabric to take it to my sewing area.  I picked up the retiring tree skirt because for some reason it didn't make it into the Christmas boxes that had been put away.  I knew that I was eventually going to make the tree skirt and I wanted to get the diameter from my old tree skirt before putting it away.  I went ahead and started measuring then just decided to make a tree skirt. 

I've never made a tree skirt. I don't have a pattern for a tree skirt.  I did know what I wanted so I jumped in feet first.   

     Things I wanted in a tree skirt:  double sided, a ruffle, & ribbon closures.

I used my old tree skirt for the size estimates.  Cut my circles. Made my ruffle. Made my quilt sandwich with a layer batting, ruffle, and ties included.  Then I started sewing.  I think the end product turned out quite nicely.     

The next day it was time for new stockings because if I don't finish them now they may never get done. 

I went back and used the same tutorial that I had on my original stockings.  I only made two changes.  1. I put the stocking pattern onto a piece of card board and made my pattern an inch wider ALL the way around.  This allowed for bigger stockings which we find more user friendly. 

2. Then I matched a cute little green ruffle from my tree skirt onto my stocking.

Here's the result. 

    And they all loved happily ever after.

The End

Cold Saturday

Well - It's been a while.  The last couple months of the year are always a busy time for us and more so this last year than ever before.  I go back in my head to my New Year's resolution to do one tutorial blog every month in 2013.  That SO did NOT happen.  It was a great goal just not one that I was able to make happen.  Too many other things were more important and hey - we all have to prioritize.  

One of the things that I also let fall behind this year was my scrapbooking.  I love to have a full 12 * 12 album with pictures of events and special occasions that have occurred through the year.  I old fashion scrapbook with paper and adhesive and actual printed off pictures.  Don't get me wrong.  I have some digital albums and I think that they are wonderful but I like taking the time to embellish pages and tell stories from my pictures.  I love sitting down with family and friends to look them over and see the laughs and smiles that they bring.  But it too was something that I let fall to the side.  

A couple of Saturdays ago I was unexpectedly NOT BUSY!  Alone in the house, crappy weather outside, no where I had to be, nothing I had to get done so I glided down to the craft room for a little bit of scrapbooking.  It was wonderful!  I had to put away the sewing and fabric paint supplies to make room.  I flipped on the TV, made a cup of hot cocoa and got started.  

First I sorted....

       Not only do I print pictures but I keep mementos from our trips.  Ten years can pass and I will look back in a scrapbook and say oh remember that - but I might not necessarily have a picture of something but a memento that reminds us of a good time.  I sorted all my pictures and mementos.  

Then I prepped my work area...

I had to clear a space off my tables.  My scrapbooks - top right- stay near my work area.  I ran out of bookshelves for them in our living room plus they are great inspiration when I get stuck.  If I don't clear everything out and have a good clean space to start in I get way off track. I hot cup of coca was also a yummy way to start off the morning. Got me energized and ready to go. 

Then I worked.  I stopped and changed out a few loads of laundry.  Stood up for some stretches.  Worked a bit longer.  Ate some lunch.  Came back and worked some more.  

And the end result was - 25 pages done and a feeling of accomplishment. 

I was able to get all my events done that I had the pictures printed for except our vacation to Las Vegas.  That will be another cold wet Saturdays work.  

Things really haven't slowed down but  I also know that some days I need to take a little time for myself.  This particular Saturday was one of those days.  I ended the day with supper with the hubby and a chance to show off what work I had done.  It was a day for Stacey...that I really needed.  

Cheers to the new year friends!

In loving memory of Stephanie Sutherland

She has lost this battle but she has won the war.  

Our friend Stephanie Sutherland went to be with the Lord last night. 

She is so much more than a wife, mother and daughter. 

She is

a child of God 

faithful

brave

compassionate

loving

humble

graceful

caring

courageous

honest

kind

modest

considerate

generous.

She will be missed by many but will never be gone because she lives on in the hearts of so many that were fortunate enough to call her friend. 

 

 

 

 

 

It's a dirty word in my book.

It's a dirty word in my book.  The C word- CANCER. 

I don't know if it is because I am older and pay more attention, dr's are catching it earlier and some treatments are available, or if there are more cases out there but it seems like cancer is a disease that effects so many more people now than it did even a few short 15 or 20 years ago.  I am not saying that cancer wasn't prevalent then by any means but that it seems to affect so many more people now.  I don't know that I can name a single friend in my life that hasn't been affected by cancer.  Either they've had it themselves or a friend or family member has.  

I know many people that fight the hard fight daily.  They take their treatments...battle the side effects and give cancer a big wave of the finger.  They are strong and weak at the same time.  They battle and hurt and still smile through it all. They pray for successful treatment and celebrate every milestone whether it be a shrunken tumor or the regrowth of hair.  They are heroes of a different sort.  Those who have been dealt a crappy hand, put on their poker face, make the best of what they were dealt. 

As friends and family we pray and celebrate with them.  They are surrounded in love and support.  I have family and friends that have been and are currently battling that dirty word. 

From the sideline, it's hard to know what to say, what to do, to be comforting, to understand the whys.  

The harder I think about it the more I come back to the same bible verse. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3: 5-6

Trust in the Lord - give it to HIM.  It seems so simple.  Yet so hard to do.  

Everything comes in God's time - give it HIM.  

I've given it to Him. 

 I've screamed and yelled. I've asked why.  I've lain exhausted and crying at the thought of the wonderful people I know that are in pain because of this horrible disease.  And I know that those actions do me no good.  I still shed tears.  But then I pray, knowing that I might not understand or like God's timing but He has a plan.  

He will make straight my path.  

He will lead me in the right direction.  

He will give me the right words to say.  

He will lead me to be the ear to listen, the shoulder to cry on, the comforting hug, the maker of meals, the bringer of a favorite food.  It doesn't seem like much but it's what I feel led to do.  What he leads me to do.  I pray - I pray for a cure, comfort, less pain, good days, a loving family, an understanding caretaker.  

To those fighting the good fight - there are warriors that stand behind you - there to catch you when you stumble, there to pray for your needs, there to wave a finger at cancer right along side you.  

YOU DO NOT GO INTO THIS FIGHT ALONE!             

               

For those who have lost the battle - they have won the war.  They are celebrating their lives in Heaven, free of pain.  They dance the streets of gold.  They wait for us to join them in that glorious place in God's time.  We carry on them in our memories and in our hearts.  They live on here too.  

In honor of those fighting the fight - Debbie, Stephanie, Anna, and many more

Celebrating those who have found remission - Jennell, Gina, Donna, Danny, and many more

In memory of those who have won the war - Dee, Jerry, and countless others   

Pinterest Party

I will preface this whole entry by saying - there are no pictures.  :(  We partied and made projects.  I didn't even have time to snatch up my camera.  Sorry Ladies.   

Last month about 10 -12 friends got together at my house for a preholiday Pinterest party.  We all know how difficult it gets to get together at the holidays so we decided an October Pinterest party to get together make a few projects and hang out was the perfect plan.  

It was the perfect plan.  We had the best time.  

 

Since there are no pictures I'll make this short and sweet.  

We picked four projects:
Glitter Covered Mason Jars

Melted Snowmen Ornaments

Freezer Paper Painted Shirts

Coasters from Scrap book paper, tiles and modge podge

We picked these four crafts because they were pretty easy, didn't take a lot of time, and could all be done in one night.

There were 4 crafting stations where we could work on things so we all 

just rotated around to where someone else wasn't.

I don't think would have been as easy with more people....It would have been crowded.

 

These are the Pinterest links that we based our crafts from - with a few improvements:

Glitter Mason Jar 

This super easy Glitter Mason Jar tutorial got us started on the right road.  I got the large grain glitter and I liked it better than the fine glitter.  After we let the dry for a few minutes we sprayed a clear sealer coat to help keep the glitter from coming off on everything.

Melted Snowman Ornament

This again was another quick tutorial on what products to use in the Melted Snowman Ornament.  I wouldn't have thought of the peppercorns.  In addition to what she has, we added cut triangle slivers of bright orange scrapbook paper for the snowman nose, small buttons for the eyes, and short pieces of red material as a scarf.  Be careful not to stick your finger in the glass ornament because something didn't settle the way you wanted it to.  Said ornament will break...we know from experience.  If what you dropped on top of the salt doesn't settle right give it a good shake and then sift it back and forth and everything rises to the top.   

Tile Coasters 

The perfect tutorial to make quick a quick and inexpensive gift.  We made sets of 4 coasters for less than $1.00 for the sets.  Our only change was to hot glue small felts squares to the back instead of modge podging shelf liner on.  Either way would work fine.  

For the Freezer paper painted shirts I looked at several different tutorials.  They were all basically the same - pinterest search freezer paper shirts and you will get a bunch of different ideas.  We used my Cricut to cut state shapes from the freezer paper, ironed them on and started painting.  Just always remember to put a piece of cardboard between your layers of shirt so that you don't have paint bled through to the next layer. 

 

All in all the pinterest party was a hit.  We all brought a pinterest inspired food which made for a tasty treat.  We were able to socialize and still feel productive. We didn't spend a lot of money doing it.  And who has extra cash to spend this time of year anyways???

 We'll do this again in the spring.  Maybe we'll do just 1 or two projects but make them a little more time consuming.

 

Do you have any ideas for a pinterest party?  Please share      

Happy Halloween!

I love Halloween.  It's a fun holiday to dress up, go outside the box, and be a kid again.  

We have trunk or treat every year at our church.  Russel and I are more often than not the only adults dressed up but the kids enjoy it and so do we.  

A few years ago Russel convinced me to get him a gorilla costume.  I decided if we were going to get one we would get a "good" one not a cheap fall apart one but with the stipulation that it needed to be worn more than once.  Well - this gorilla has been worn and worn and worn again.  Below are some pictures from Halloween's for us through the years. 

 If there is one thing we do together, it's that we always have fun.  

I love these pictures because each one makes me remember something about each year.  Now would that have happened had we not dressed up and gone "outside our boxes"?

The year we were....

little red riding and the big bad wolf - Russel had just had knee surgery

little bo peep and mustache man - we had spent time at Chris' making way for his new cabin

I was the gorilla with the tutu - my friend Denise was "guiding" me walking around down town during the day and walked us out into the middle of on coming traffic (no one was hurt)

cowboy and milk maid - I saw the biggest grin ever on our friend Morris' face

gorilla and lady from king kong - I ripped the back of my dress out putting it on 

Yes - we may technically be "too old" for Halloween but we're still young at heart.  Are you?

Happy Halloween!

Baby Girl Owl Shower

So you've seen the baby boy shower that I attended for my friend Allison. It was beautiful and only got me more excited about  the baby girl shower for my friend Katie.  

Katie's only request was that I use this super cute pink and green invite she found online at Cutie Patootie Creations.(click the link to see the invite - I didn't take a picture!) 

I loved the invite too so I decided to create her shower around the invitation theme.  Who (pun intended) doesn't like some sweet pink and green owls?  And who doesn't go to Pinterest for all sorts of creation imagination!!!!

Here's the lovely mommy to be Katie.  She's such a sweet friend and I was so excited, along with a couple of other college friends, to be able to give her a shower to welcome baby Raylyn to this world. 

 So here' the shower for that little sweetie to be!

The decorations:

Outside to direct everyone to the correct house was our owl baby banner - 

It didn't last long after the shower started as it really started showering after the party started. 

Paper + Rain doesn't blend so well.  

For the hearth - A banner made from my Cricut and tied together with tulle and a laundry line with owls, onesies & bibs that I made for baby Raylyn.

 

 

All the ruffles are a result of me learning online how to make a ruffle.  I had no idea all I had to do was turn my thread tension up.  There is a GREAT tutorial at Super Mommy or Not.

 It was so easy.  The monster bib is from  Stubbornly Crafty which I frequent often for her tutorials and free patterns. 
Ladies - that is how I learned to sew - from the free patterns online.  These ladies are my sewing heros!

On to the party table - a green mason jar with pink and green daisies, bingo gifts, wishes for baby cards, bingo cards and an instruction sheet with owls.  

 

I made the Bingo Cards and Wishes for Baby in Microsoft Word and then converted them to PDF's.  I took them on my flash drive over to Office Depot and had them printed on a card stock.  Three of the wishes for baby were on each sheet and two bingos on each sheet.  I cut them at home with my paper cutter (they charge $.07 a cut - so I did it myself).  This made the bingo cards about $.30 each and the wishes for baby about $.20 each.  I uploaded all these pdf's to an earlier blog entry.  This way you can use them too. 

 

 All the owls were all cut on my Cricut using the Create a Critter cartridge (actually my friend Stacy's cartridge - then I went out and bought my own).  

The mason jars (with handle already attached) came from Old Time Pottery and they had several different colors.  

The daisies came from Joann's.  I used some in jars and the remaining ones we pulled from the stems and used as table decor (you'll see that further down). 

We also had a late night diaper table.

  We used Sharpies to write on the diapers.  I didn't realize how hard diapers were to write on.  I hope that Katie and Chris get a good laugh during those late night diaper changes.  

The metal owl on this table came from Old Time Pottery.  The fabric owl is one that I have made.  I love sewing these little owls.  It was one of my first sewing projects and still remains a favorite. 

The Food and Drinks

We kept it simple - tea, water, pink lemonade, cupcakes, chocolate dipped preztels & oreos, sausage balls, little wienies, & pasta salad - but delicious. 

 

The yummy cupcakes came from The Sweet Stash and The Cupcake Collection which are both in downtown Nashville and have phenomenal cupcakes.  The Sweet Stash's almond wedding cake are my all time favorite.  Teri and I made the rest of the food and it was tasty even if I say so myself.  

We had water, pink lemonade, and sweet tea out of pint mason jars.  My hubby drilled holes in the lids so that we could thread our drink straws in and not worry about knocking them over.  Bright green tags let us know who's drink was who's.  

The Photo Booth

Out on the back porch we set up a photo booth.  It's pretty easy to do with a few cut out props on bbq skewers, a cheap flat grey sheet from Walmart, my camera on a tripod and a camera remote.

We had too much fun.   

The Take Homes

I wanted everyone to have something to remember their time celebrating baby Raylyn so I thinned my hens and chicks to plant these baby pots of hens and chicks for everyone to take home.  

I hope that they grow well.

Thanks to my sweet friends Teri and Kristie for making this shower one that Katie will remember.  

They made food, took pictures, moved gifts, motivated game plan...and had crazy fun with me in the photo booth.  

Other than the photo booth pictures Kristie took all these wonderful pictures to show what fun we had.  

  

Last plug (but definitely not least)...that adorable chalk board that you keep seeing in all these pictures came from my friend Cari Deer Owl Designs.  I sent her a copy of the invitation and told her I needed a chalk board.  She had this made up in no time flat and it was perfect. 

Hope that you thought Katie's Owl Shower was a Hoot.  We did!

Stacey  

 

 

Honea Baby Shower...

Congrats to Allison and Phillip on the upcoming birth of their sweet baby boy.

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I've known Allison as long as I can remember.  We showed cows together many years ago and when her family moved to South Carolina we were able to stay in touch.  Now with the ease of electronic communication we are able to stay in touch even better.  Don't get me wrong, I actually still send actual birthday cards and write letters to people that I send through the USPS but being able to keep in touch or reach out to friends with the ease of a text, cell call, or email is so nice.

So back to the baby shower.  Allison's sweet friends from South Carolina gave her a baby shower.

 I was lucky enough to meet these awesome girls when Allison and Phillip got married.

 She celebrated with family (below) and friends the upcoming birth of that sweet baby boy!  

   Sister - Emily * Grandmoo - Kitty (wearing the shirt I made her) * Soon to be Mom - Allison
Cousins - Fay and Kay

 

OK - I downloaded this picture 3 different times.  Not once did it stand up the right direction, so please tilt your head to the left or right to view it. 

 

 The house was decorated beautifully.  The girls even used the banner I made for Brewer's room to decorate with.  Here is the link to my post on the banner.  I didn't really have a pattern.  I cut triangles of blue jean, used heat and bond to applique the name on and some wide bias tape to hold it all together.  It's hard to go wrong making a banner.        

 They also used a banner made by a work friend of Allison's for decoration.  It was super cute and I took some close up pictures because this is a banner I'd like to recreate.  And then we decorated onesies for baby Honea with fabric paint.  Let's just say there is a reason there isn't a picture of my onesie posted here.  I might be a little crafty but free handed drawing....not so much.  

And I finally got to give some of the baby gifts that I have been sewing for the last couple months.   

 I've been using the pattern for the monster bib that I found on Stubbornly Crafty for both monster bibs (top left) and for regular colorful bibs (bottom right).  It's a good shape and is easy for me to sew.  I am making the front of the bib by the instructions but I have been varying on how I cut the batting and back bib piece.  I'll put a short tutorial up of how I have been varying that soon.  It just works better for me because apparently I can't cut the same shape twice....even with a pattern. 

I've been making the tie onesies for a while.  I made a tie pattern (one for the knot and one for the length) a while back and it works really well.  Phillip has even asked for me to make one for him to match baby Honea.  Won't that be cute?!?!?!  I'll have to make a bigger pattern too.  

And last but not least is the cow onesie.  Imagine that - me making a cow something.  

I used my Create a Critter Cricut cartridge.  Since I had cow spot fabric I only cut the basic shape and the "accessory" (I think that was the one that made the udder and nose). I have heard and seen tutorials on cutting fabric with my Cricut but I have not gotten brave enough to do that.  Instead I put Heat and Bond paper side down on my Cricut cutting mat and cut the shapes from the Heat and Bond.  Then I ironed my desired fabric to the Heat and Bond and hand cut around the shape.  I ironed the Heat and Bond to the onesie and straight stitch appliqued around the entire thing.  I thought it turned out really cute so I made a shirt for Grandmoo with her name appliqued underneath - that is what she is wearing in the family picture above.  

I love all my friends that are having babies and I certainly am enjoying making baby clothes for them.  Now that my baby boy shower is past I have been working on baby girl items.  I have two of those showers this coming weekend so next week I will share more pictures from the showers and gifts too.  Maybe I will get a tutorial in there somewhere.  

Happy Monday!     

Cummins Falls

On my 34th birthday we decided to take a day trip to Cummins Falls near Cookeville TN.  The weather was still good and warm (84 degrees). The water was very invigorating (I'm borrowing that word from the guides for our underground snorkeling trip in Mexico- it's better than saying COLD),

After a long hike down the trails and back up the river, we made it to these beautiful falls.  

It was well worth the hike.   We spent several hours swimming, climbing the falls, and playing in the pool at the bottom.  There were quite a few people there but people were all coming and going so it never felt crowded. 

This video is of my sweet husband trying to get me to step under the falls for a picture.  Little did I know that he was videoing as he corralled me further back.  Whew!  Took my breath away.  

  

I don't know how it happened but Russel also convinced me to jump off the waterfall into the pool below.  And then I did it again!  Must have been the birthday blood pumping through my veins.  

Yep - that is me - holding my nose.

The falls from across the pool at the bottom. 

Russel before we took the plunge into the pool.  Not sure of the depth but I would suggest being a good swimmer or taking a small blow up float/ life vest if you aren't.  

Russel on the walk to the falls.  

The hiking trail deposits you into the creek bed maybe a 1/2 mile from the falls.  You have to walk up the creek to get to the falls. 

Me looking at the falls when we first got there.  It really is beautiful. 

We went to the falls overlook before hiking down.  You can see the falls in the back ground 

At the falls after climbing up onto the "lowest level" of the falls themselves. 

After a little encouragement Russel got me up the rocks and under the actual falls.  

If you want to learn more about the falls you can check out the Tennessee State Parks Website.

Cummins Falls was named one of the top 10 swimming holes in the US by Travel and Leisure.   

Quite a feat for such a new state park.

Next time we make a trip out, we will probably hit up Burgess Falls which is only about 19 miles away.  From what I understand there are 4 smaller falls on the hike out to this 250 foot waterfall.  Sounds like another day of fun!

On the way back toward the interstate we stopped at the Del Monaco winery in Baxter TN.  The ladies working were super friendly.  I am a sweet wine girl so we tried all their sweet wines.  I couldn't find a single one that I didn't like.  We purchased a few bottles and I even got 10% off because it was my birthday.  What a nice surprise. 

It was an absolutely beautiful birthday.

I couldn't have asked for anything more.  

Stacey