(More) Recent Projects

First, here are the balloon shades in the master bedroom I've been claiming to do for so long. They're finally finished.

Before:

After (I'm a firm believer that window treatments just make a room!):

Then we have this fun little tote. I cal it a "picnic bag" because I fill the inside with picnic goodies (plates, cups, pitchers, tablecloth, etc.) for gifts. This was an early birthday for Bex this past weekend. I monogram the last name of the family on it which is why it's blurred except for the A. It's much cuter without my amatuer paint shop skills that I've displayed here. This is a store bought canvas bag (it's very sturdy!) and I sewed on the ribbon and rickrack. I think I may also put a cute button closure on the snap. What do you think?

The bag has a hooks inside and a snap closure on the outside. I like the way it looks when the inside is hooked. It's very cute and holds your goodies in better. I made one of these bags for J and I and it's also good for traveling or family outings of any kind. I just really love the picnic idea for it. Ours is a different color scheme, I'll post pictures sometime. And how cute are these? HAIR DOTS! These are great for children's hair, especially the fine baby hair. They're much tinier (with room for only one initial) and are made with those little clear rubberbands. I made these for Sydney's Easter basket and hid them in the eggs. She sported them all weekend in her cute pigtails.

Isn't she cute with them? (yes, I know I've shown you this picture here, but it's so cute! And I'm shocked that I took it!)And here's the cute little basket, complete with eggs that the hair dots were hidden in. I wanted to get a basket she could use again and found this one that will be perfect for holding books in her bedroom. J and I filled it up with bubbles (Pie's favorite thing!) the apron, ruffly panties, eggs with hair dots and gold fish, candy necklace and bracelet set, two cute little eating trays (we have not plastic items at our house) with matching water bottles, sidewalk chalk, playdough, crayons, coloring books.....geesh, why didn't I make one of these for myself?
Here is an upclose of the apron:

And of the ruffly panties/diaper cover with her monogram on it. I've made her several pair of these in tons of colors. I did these as white on white because I think they look so classy and she can wear them with anything. I officially think I need some cute ruffly panties with my monogram on it!

Vacation Scrapbook

J and I had such a nice, long, Easter weekend with out wonderful friends. Mrs. A and I have been best friends since the days of big bangs and Paula Abdul lace trim leggings. We see them quite often when I visit my family that lives near them, but they've not been here since our wedding last year. (Ohmygosh! Almost a whole year!)

Here's the cutie patootie Miss Pie helping J cook (he made delicious big breakfasts for everyone the entire visit!). Isn't that a precious little apron she's wearing? It was made by her doting Auntie La La! And I know you're admiring her stainless steel cookware.
Here is the precious little A family at the Zoo. Oh, and a big elephant bum.


And here are a couple of wild things we saw at the zoo. Luckily, they were in cages.
Our day at the zoo was perfect. The weather was great with a jacket and there seemed to be absolutely no one there. Thus, the animals weren't quite afraid and hiding yet. Several of them walked up close, which Pie enjoyed until they were too close. We also saw several animals get treats. Did you know that they give cheetahs frozen blood? Yup, that's their treat. Oh, and the gorilla took a big poop in front of us. Lovely. Here is Pie running up to the elephants when she first saw them.

The evening after the zoo we sent the A's on a date to a great restaurant and with movie tickets. We loved having Pie all evening. Especially my husband. Pie learned super quick that he was wrapped around her finger. Several conversations went like this:

Mommy: No Pie, we're not going to blow bubbles.
Pie: (super sweet to J) J, you wanna blow bubbles?
(pause)It's ok Mommy, J wants to blow bubbles!

We took Pie to a great greenway near our house that has several little parks and playgrounds along the trail. I'm certain she is the only person who can get my 6'2" husband on a slide that is most likely shorter than he is. Darling!
And here she is swinging. I just can't get enough of the pigtails and cheeks!And lastly, J and his little darling. The night the A's left J told me that he already missed Pie. Thus he decided we should have kids sooner than planned. So, in his mind, we'll now have bambinos in 14.5 years, rather than 15. My heart was so happy that my oldest and dearest friend was able to come visit us. We had such a good time showing them around out town, taking them to the zoo, to the outlets (which by the way were very friendly to me!) and just enjoying their company at home. I can't wait for them to visit again. But we'll see them again next month for Pie's 2nd Birthday Extravaganza! Yes, the prodigy child is not even two years old yet she is fully potty trained, can sing the alphabet, count to 15, and talks so very articulate being as audible as a pre-schooler. Yes, our fabulous niece is a prodigy child! And we're a bragging and proud auntie and uncle.

More cuteness than you can possibly stand

J and I had a fabulous long weekend with the precious Miss Pie and her lovely parents. However I think we both agree we need a day off from the days off. Now that is how you know you had a good time! Really, I'll be back from hiatus tomorrow. Until then, ooh and ahh over the most adorable child in the entire world.

Updates

It's time for a few updates from the M house...

• I could really use your help here, really!
• And give your opinion here as well, just because I can't read your mind.
• Remember this? Well, I'm happy to report I've fully recovered. I went home from work and slept for four hours waking only to eat oreo cookies. Hey--I've got priorities. Then I still went to bed by 10 that night. And still whined for 3 more days. But I'm better now!
• Remember this dog? Well he's all shaved now except for his head and he looks really funny. And I'm still afraid of him and he makes me want to cry. My husband laughs saying "You're really afraid of the most vicious looking animals." Yes, I know.
• We'll be spending a little time with my boyfriend this weekend. Such fun!
• And these, well, I got another one! I know, shame on me!
• Cookout this weekend! Bring a friend!
• Lastly, because she's the darn cutest thing ever, here's a picture of our neice Pie who will be spending a nice long weekend with next weekend.

Your humble opinion, please

J and I are choosing a wedding canvas. I say "J and I" loosely because we all know I'm going to get what I want. (Sorry honey, but you said yourself that the wedding is really all about the bride!) Yes, I know we've been married almost a year and we still haven't gotten the canvas. Do you know how long it too me to narrow it down? At first I picked out 30 something pictures before going to 20 something, and then down to the teens and I hovered at nine for the longest time ever. So, down to two is rather amazing.

But we (I) still need assistance. So, I'm asking you for your humble opinion PUH-LEEZE!

Option One

Option Two

Project, Hubby Style

After (nagging, begging and pleading,) sweetly asking my husband to build me a ladder shelf and save me me from donating my kidney to the Pottery Barn, he did! He'd built this one for a friend and finally had the time to make mine. (He is a little busy with work and school. On top of a "honey-do" list that he may never finish, so I can give him a little slack.)

This is just a rough go at the decorating it. The top is a tray picture frame I made that has postcards and pictures from our vacations together. It used to sit on the coffee table which is now the leather ottoman that is J's baby and you don't put things on it that ever, might even, give it a blemish! So, now it's resorted to shelf life. You may also notice the holy cow and flying pig on the shelf. Oh, you did? Don't ask! Please, don't ask about my hubs thing for cast iron animals with wings. I mean actually, I don't even really get it so I certainly can't explain it to you! The basket is necessary for keys and such since the door to the left is our exit to the garage. Then there are the few random pics, candles (which will obviously not be burned on the shelf) and books.

Any sugggestions at decor arrangement? It needs more attention. I haven't had much time to devote to it, but would love some input.

There just might be a monogrammed hair button in it for the best suggestion. Or, maybe I'll treat to this. No, sorry, just the hair button. I'd love to take you along, but that pesky mortgage demands attention.

Pinchable Cheeks, Next 2 Miles

This is Isaac and Luke. I know, I know. You want to gobble them up all in one bite!

Their mom, Bri, is one of my oldest and dearest friends. She came to visit this weekend with the boys so that we could jump start our shower planning for TaTa, who is going to be one lucky girl!

I wish you could have seen the boys with their cute little plaid button down shirts on with their outfits. It was adorable. However some soccer playing in the back yard with my husband left them quite hot. I mean, it was nearly 80 degrees outside. What's up with that? It's just March. And because it is just march, I refuse to run the AC or wear shorts and tank tops. It's one of my own little issues, but I stand by it. Here are more delicious pictures:

It was so nice to have a relaxing visit, the whole weekend was actually much like that. It felt long and lazy and I really needed it. J and I did work on giving a fresh coat of Rustoleom (TM) to our wrought iron patio furniture. I inhaled half of the paint apparently and had black snot and boogers. You wanted to know, right?

Hmm, oh J took me on an ice cream date. To a place called Mr. Frosty. It's two trailers. In the middle of a gravel lot. With a cow on top. And it is absolutely delcious!

Most Recent Projects with Pictures

By popular demand, here is a glimpse at some of my recent projects. Enjoy!

First, I've been having too much fun with artificial flowers lately. I'm not a fake flowers kind of girl, but I wanted to make a replica of my wedding bouquet to keep. For what? I have no idea, I just did. I suppose that after a brief stint on the chest beneath our wedding canvas, it will go in the wedding box. But here it is. Pretty?

Here is the original in the wedding shadow box I made. The roses there should be pink, but it didn't dry so well. I also made all of the invitations (what was I thinking?) save the dates, etc. But the fabulous fan programs were made by my friend, SEC, as a wedding gift.

And that hangs in "my" guest room, which is very shabby chic, (not to be confused with J's guest room) above this bed, of which I made the king sized duvet, shams, pillow etc. And all that pretty little white furniture....it was my little girl furniture from my Grammy and Pappy and I absolutely love it.
And here is J's guestroom (the nautical room) with the newly monogrammed upholstered headboard that he and I made. We made the headboard about two years ago, but I only recently monogrammed it.

Upclose.

And to match the monogrammed headboard would be the monogrammed valance. You totally expected this, right?

Here is an upclose view.

My hubba hubba recently made this wall long display shelf for the room as well. I'm still working on arranging everything, but this is the beginning. Didn't he do a good job on the shelf? You should see the cute decorative edge.

So, back to my faux flower fun, I also made a replica of my bridesmaids bouquets which included the same flowers as our tables decorations. It will probably sit on the dresser in my room for the spring in then be tucked away in the wedding box.

And I needed a spring wreath. I'd seen several pictures and came up with this. I love hydrangeas and I really like the berry look too. So, until the rain or wind blows it away, this will be on my door for a few months.

I also jazzed up the lamp shades in the master bedroom. Here is the before picture:
And here is the after picture:

Another project with these buttons? Cute little hairbands. Every little girl I know (and several big girls I know!) are recipients of these cute little guys:

There is a pink monogram on the gingham button, it just didn't photograph well. Here's an in the hair view.

I'll post my button flip flops soon, but it's not flip flop season yet. Not for me anyway, I'm spastic and simply cannot wear sandals until April.

And, coming soon (I hope!) are pictures of the (completed) master bedroom window treatments. If you want to see the fabric though, I can totally take a picture of that.

Projects Pictures

First, I've added a new picture here on my Jewelery Post. It's the earrings at the top.

Remeber the talk about the stairs? Here is the before, during, and after! Impressive, huh?

Before, with the "church carpet" on them.

During, with no carpet. It acutally got much worse and there were nothing but the runners because we replaced everything you see there.

After! Mahongany stained hard wood!Next up: The Mantle. Keep in mind that this mantle is from the 1930's, so it's a bit delicate to work with. It was formerly painted black with khaki beadboard on the inside and used at my headboard in my single girl days. We attempted to strip and stain it to it's original beauty, but more than 75 years of paint, etc. just wouldn't come off. If we'd have done anymore we'd have ruined the wood. So, it gets a fresh white coat, which was what it was when I purchased it. Lastly, J built me a little bench stool for the kitchen so I can easily reach the tops of the cabinets, etc. Our chairs are antiques and not the best for pulling around the kitchen and standing it. Plus, this is just so cute! I helped him build and did the paint job myself.

The inspiration came from this item at the Pottery Barn, but I think ours looks so much better, and it was a fraction of the price. Plus I was able to paint it myself (which I love!) and add the M.