The Good And the Bad

Hello dear followers! I cannot even tell you how much I have appreciated you hanging in there and patiently waiting for me to get back online! I would check into my blog every few days to see if there was any news, emails, questions or comments that I needed to tend to and was always so thrilled to see that you all have stuck with me and that I had even gained a few new followers! Much thanks to you all - I am so happy to have you visit and support this little blog of mine!

Well, I have bad news and I have good news. 

I will start with the bad first. My pregnancy was unfortunately unsuccessful and we lost the baby at 16 weeks into it. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to go through - especially because I have hyperemesis with my pregnancies during the first trimesters. I really thought all the hard work, the hours of bed rest, the sacrifice of not being able to spend quality time with my husband and son would all pay off in the end when I finally got to hold the little baby in my arms. I am heartbroken that it won't. The ONLY reason why I am telling the news on this blog is to let you know why I haven't felt the need or desire to blog again but also because people always anticipate a pregnant blog author to post about their pregnancy and any fun baby finds, DIY baby projects, ideas for a nursery and then await for the big announcement when the baby has finally arrived. I too love to read those kind of things from some of my favorite bloggers around the web who are expecting and it always makes me feel like I am one of their closest friends! I love being allowed to read the details and happenings of their exciting time and how much they look forward to their new addition and how they are preparing for it! I will continue to read their incredible blogs and cheer them on from my living room! It really should be a time of celebration and sharing! I simply just wanted you, my friends, to know why I can't share such things with you! 

The good news is that I am doing well! I am healthy again, my spirits are up and I have been making up for lost time hanging out with my loving hubby and my favorite silly little 3 year old! We have an amazing support system of family and friends around us and our faith in God to lift us up whenever we are down! It feels good to see Spring around the corner, to feel the sun on my face and be able to see my apricot tree in blossom. Those are all the things that help a wounded heart heal! We are so hopeful for the future and this little bump in the road will not detour us in any way. Also, on a good note, while taking the needed time off, I have been brainstorming and getting inspired about some new DIY projects to post on here and I have a few goodies up my sleeve! It feels good to get back in the saddle again and I look forward to moving on, pressing forward and finding happiness in working with my hands once again! 

See you real soon!

Allow Me to Explain

See this tree? 

This tree and me are the same.

With that being said, you may understand how sitting at the computer is quite unappealing to me at this time. I am unfortunately not one of those women that gets to skate through the 9 months of gestation! My pregnancies are filled with medicines, IV's and a lot of rest so that both baby and me stay safe and stay alive! Since I am only in my first trimester, I have to take it VERY easy. I will be putting this beloved little blog on hold for the time being so that I can care for the beloved little baby inside of me, instead! Please hang in there and know that I will be back in the blogging world in no time! While I am on leave and spending most of my time lying in bed (or hanging my head in the toilet), I will be taking full advantage of my down time by conjuring up some good craftiness for you when I return! Thanks for all of your support and understanding! Until next time....

List Them and Love Them

Resolutions can seem a bit daunting at times. Especially come September when you realize you have fallen short in your ambitious intentions and the year is nearly over! Instead of making demanding and dreadful resolutions (i.e. loose weight, run a 1/2 marathon, cut out carbonated beverages from diet....), why not make goals that you look forward to doing, that will enrich your life and that you will have fun with? Love your resolutions! For example: build something with power tools, go see a foreign film alone, enroll in an adult education course at your local community college or maybe start a gratitude journal? Does anyone remember the Friend's episode where Monica got her credit card stolen? That's what I'm talking about! Last year I made a goal to enter cookies into our State Fair's competition and it was so much fun! It was something that I was completely unfamiliar with and I was appreciatively introduced to a "culture" that was all very new to me! I will do it again this coming year! 

Here is a simple printout that I made where you can jot your aspirations down on. Tape it to your mirror, your fridge or the inside cover of your daily planner. Seeing them each new day will be a slap in the face friendly reminder of how thrilling it is to empower ourselves by learning something new and how riveting it is to step out of our comfort zones! Maybe if the resolutions are on pretty stationary, it makes them a little less intimidating? 

P.S. I only put 5 numbers on the stationary - why overdo it? Let's just keep it sweet and simple, shall we! 

Loved your visit! Until next time...

Saved!

I don't know about you guys, but I am a little overwhelmed with all the last minute details before Christmas on Saturday! I still have so much to do! I promised myself that I was going to be really on top of it this year. I was going to start early so that I could avoid days like this. I told myself that I was going to take it all in, savor the season and not get caught up in the whirlwind and chaos. I have failed miserably! With that said, I have not had the time to craft up any projects for you guys! I have, however,  saved ideas from other crafters/bloggers that I think are beyond fabulous! Thanks to them, and their kindness for posting the how-to's on their blogs, I have been saved from posting my own tutorials and will now get to take the week off. I will now go and enjoy my time with my family and get back to my "handmade holidays"!

There are a few really great tutorials by Autumn over at Design Dump on how to add some seriously beautiful package toppers using felt. Find them here and here.

Lola Nova shows you how to make this adorable d.i.y. Christmas tree garland by sewing fabric scraps and trimmings to card stock paper. 

Lisa over at Moore Minutes had the best idea! Her family has a tradition of taking a picture of their tree every year and hanging them up to see how they have changed! Love this!



This lovely little excuse to give your loved ones a big smooch was made by Kacey at Stay at Home Artist. I think I will hang one up at every doorway!



I was really excited to see this tutorial for this holiday poster by Lisa at Her Beautiful Mess.  I think the simplicity in it's design is so perfect for our little modern eclectic home!

My search for the perfect tag came to an end when I spotted these free printable gift tags by Eat Drink Chic via For the Love.  I am really hoping they will help relieve some stress come wrapping time!

Loved your visit! Until next time...

Scrap Fabric Tree - Tutorial

As promised - here is a nice little craft to start off your already busy week! I used items that I already had on hand so I actually didn't need to buy any of the supplies. But if you do, it still would be pretty inexpensive.  This craft also only took me 40 minutes to complete so it may even be something you can fit into your festive schedule!

Materials that you will need:

scraps of fabric (I choose fabrics in reds and greens but feel free to use whatever you have on hand)

paint 

paintbrush

canvas 

glue gun

glue sticks

 Start by painting your canvas. It may take a couple of coats but if you use an acrylic paint like Folk Art or Ceramcoat, the dry time is very quick! I chose Folk Art's metallic Champagne color because I liked the shimmery look of it. 

While your paint is drying, start cutting long thin strips (about 1/2" wide) out of your scrap fabric. Once your strips have been cut, you can now cut them down to approximately 1.5" in length. Your cuts and sizes don't have to be perfect because it actually looks better when there is a variance in measurements. 

 After your canvas has dried, measure out and draw a triangle in the middle of it. This will be your template to guide you on where to glue your fabric. 

Now take the strips you have just cut and begin to glue them onto your canvas. Start with the bottom layer and work up.

Hint: If you are only working with a few colors, it helps to not only keep your cut scraps in separate piles by color, but also by fabric. 

When you are done gluing your fabric and your tree has taken shape, you can add any kind of embellishment to adorn the top! I purchased a frame from a thrift store for $1.00 and painted it red. I also added a piece of brown fabric for the trunk of the tree.

Voila! You are done! See, that wasn't so bad - now you can get back to your cookies and present wrapping! I know I need to!

Click HERE to see a list of blogs that I linked this project to!

Loved your visit! Until next time...

Gift Giving Ideas

I am sorry for the lack of posts and also lack of tutorials! I have been so very busy this week and it seems as though the holiday festivities began very quickly this year! My family made a pact to have a "Handmade Christmas" so I have been working my little hands away at making some wonderful things for the wonderful people in my life! It has been so much fun sitting at my table letting the creative juices flow while listening to my Christmas station on Pandora radio and eating homemade cookies! To cover up my absence from this blog, I have provided a little band-aid of a post: I have dug deep in my archives and rounded up a bunch of my tutorials just in case you feel so inclined as to participate in a handmade holiday as well! If you are anything like me, any ideas are greatly appreciated not only for all those hard to buy for people, but to protect the ol' pocketbook, as well! I will be back next week with some DIY crafts just for YOU...I promise! Thanks for hanging in there!

Felt Chrysanthemum Pillow

Customized Journal 

Lace Earring Holder

Puppet Theatre

Display Stand

DIY Graphic Tee

Infinity Scarf

Loved your visit! Until next time...

Beehive Bazaar Goodies!

Oh joy! As I mentioned before, 'tis the season for winter art and craft shows! It makes me gitty just thinking about it! This weekend my precious and sacred spare time will be spent at this year's winter Beehive Bazaar. I am counting down the hours until it starts! And when it does, it starts with a bang!  There is a raging VIP party on Thursday night starting at 9:00 - with a small admission fee of $4.00. And guess who will be helping you check out at the registers? ME! If you are in the area, please come and support this incredible show and stop by the checkout counter and say "hello"! 

I know, I know - not all of you can attend these markets but you can still check out the goods via the vendor's Etsy shops or blogs! Isn't modern day technology wonderful? 

I am really looking forward to seeing what Suzanna Clements with Sorry Clementine has at the show! After strolling her Esty shop, I am in totally in love with a lot of her pieces. Check out that collar - so lovely! I think her mix of fabric is excellent! Especially this one and also this one! Her prices are pretty exceptional, as well! 

Please sign me up for one of these! Ironing may just be the bane of my existence, so adding a little flair like this pretty ironing board cover by Paula Hogan with Compelled to Craft may just be my answer to happier steam presses! 

Angela Flicker with The Artists House has done a pretty good job at blowing me away! Her sewing skills are above and beyond impressive! Her work is flawless and her attention to detail is impeccable! I can't wait to visit her booth and I will try my best to keep my drool from pooling on the floor. 

Is there a baby in the house? There isn't in mine and it makes me a little sad because now I don't have an excuse to buy these Freshly Picked baby mocs handmade by Susan. Maybe one day she'll make them in a women's size 7.5 and I'll gladly wear them around town making grown women cry with envy. 

Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? How about a green one? Then you better check out Sycamore Street Press! Eva and the gang (Kristin, Stephanie and Amy) at SSP make the most beautiful paper goods and have taken letterpress printing and design to a new level - their products are printed on 100% recycled cotton paper made from garment remnants and they also use soy based inks! 

  

Annily Green makes these incredibly cool clutches to hold all that I need: Debit card, phone and red lipstick! Her designs are modern and innovative with parallelogram shapes and vibrant colors. Her talent doesn't stop there - she also makes some killer pillows and canvas wall art! 

Hope to see all you locals this weekend! 

Loved your visit! Until next time....

Sew, Mama, Sew Me An Art Tote!

Today my children's art tote was featured on the Sew Mama Sew Handmade Holiday Gift Guide! I have been a long time fan of Sew Mama Sew and was blown away when they contacted me to have my tote be featured! Through the month of November, they are featuring a list of some really amazing DIY gift ideas for that ever so special (and hard to buy for!) person in your life! Be sure to stop over and check out all the talent and ideas to make up their month long list! 

Free Victorian Printables

  

Who doesn't love free stuff? I know I do! I stumbled upon this incredible free printable 3D Victorian carousel and theatre awhile ago by Associated Content. I fell so in love with it! I do have a little confession to make here, though. I seriously debated on whether to share it with you all or not. Forgive me for being a bit selfish, but I know I am not the only one who just wants some things to be "special" for just ME. There are in fact times that I don't want everyone to know where I got something and I try to protect it's exclusivity. I thrive on the uncommon, so spreading the word on where I got my favorite shoes or sharing my secret recipes is robbing it's originality. That's just my snobbish opinion, but I know that you know what I am talking about! Right?!

Anyway, I figure you are all pretty cool and deserve a little something special, as well! I put my selfish ways aside and will now let you check it out, too.
(The carousel is already in full color but the theatre (which is 20 pages!) is made for you to color in yourself! So cool!) 

P.S. Feel free to thank me and also congratulate me on growing up!

Loved your visit! Until next time...

DIY Faux Porcelain Leaves

Stark white porcelain and ceramic is all the rage right now. It's no wonder with it's sterile feel and subtle dimensions. It's a dream come true for the monochromatic type and also for people like me who are thrilled to see an age old trade made contemporary and classy. 

Did you catch the Host+Hostess section in West Elm? See? Told you! 

Even Esty shops are popping up with the milky merchandise

1. Whitney Smith                  5. Oenopia 

2. Wendy Jung                      6. White Earth Studio

3. Revisions                           7. Maap Studio   

4. Magalerie                           8. Alyssa Ettinger

Sooooo...when I came across a DIY faux porcelain leaves tutorial by Anna over at Take the Side Street using plaster of Paris, I was hooked! I followed her steps and made myself some pretty white leaves to adorn my walls! I would like to say that this garland would be great for Thanksgiving, but to tell you the truth, it's staying up all year long! I do have one bit of advise to add to her already great tutorial, however. I used a spray paint (Krylon) primer on all my leaves (front and back - 2 coats). This REALLY helped with the bleeding of the dye on the leaves and also made them less fragile and flimsy. You can find Anna's tutorial and list of materials here and make one for yourself too! 

(I also added some pine cones that I had collected from a recent camping trip!)

Best thing about this craft is that it cost me only $7.00:

Plaster of Paris - $2.99

Krylon Spray Primer in white - $3.00

Silk Leaves - $1.00

Thanks Anna for this great tip! You are one clever gal! 

Loved your visit! Until next time...