A Day Shopping in My Old Neighborhood

Today was one of those days where I wonder why I don't have more like them.  After dropping off my oldest child at school, I decided to spend the day in my old neighborhood in Dunedin, FL. 

(not my house but wish it had been)

Dunedin is a fabulous historic town with cottage homes and perfect rocking chair front porches along brick paved streets.  It is right near the water where you have view of Clearwater Beach.  The town sports a fabulous downtown area with restaurants, antique shops, and boutiques. There are a ton of weekend activities like antique and craft festivals, a weekly farmers market, and holiday celebrations.

And we used to live in walking distance to downtown.

I miss it.

But...we rented because a place like this is pretty touristy, and can be pricey.  But I miss being able to walk downtown for dinner and an ice cream cone, or walk to the library.  We even had an AMAZING playground and park in walking distance next to the marina. It really is a sweet place to live.

So today I took my Ella to that very park after knowing exactly where to park before the crowds came.  Local knowledge is rather handy. :) And I decided to take photos of my day to let y'all get to know me a little bit better.  So come shopping with me. 

And I did get permission from all the shop owners to take photos.

First we hit the Farmer's market which is always packed.  Produce, cheese, fresh bread, homemade salsa, gourmet coffee and jams, fresh flowers and plants...all just fabulous. I about fell face first into those pastries there. 

This place, Merchants on Main, is pretty sweet with so many beautiful antiques. I fell in love with that ticking bolster pillow white tool box looking thing. Oh that round table!  And I was so bummed when this woman scored this chippy blue window frame with hooks on it.  I even made suggestions how she could use it!  I am either really nice or highly stupid. (wink)

This antique place is called Knot on Main Street and actually had another location ON MAIN STREET but it closed.  And this just reopened after BURNING DOWN!  Talk about a town with some resilient local merchants!!  I love this place and was actually on the hunt for something specific. No go but these old windows, chalkboard frames, and crates were talking to me and making my heart so happy.  I ached to take it all home with me.  And that dresser still might!

Then there is this amazing shop, Rainbow's End Quilt Shoppe.  It is the largest quilt shop in Florida and they boast 20,000 bolts of fabric.  I walked in and almost fell over! They carry every designer I have ever heard of and it is so GORGEOUS...a total happy place for me.  And I bought nothing.  If I bought anything...I would have spent $500 in 2 minutes. But I did love those little handmade cinch bags tied together like a little garland.  How cute is that? (top left photo) ♥

Well, there were more places I visited and I could show you my daughter Ella swinging on the swings or eating an ice cream cone but are you even interested?  Well, heck...I'll share anyway.
Here's Ella enjoying our day...

Such a fun day doing what I love with someone I love.

Can't get better then that. :)

A Sweet Valentine Breakfast

Oh Happy Day! 

♥ I am actually writing a post! ♥

It feels so good to be using both my arms and crafting again.  I have to tell you that all your emails to see how I am doing has filled my heart to overflowing.  It never ceases to amaze me that blogging has brought so many of you beautiful friends into my life. To sum up, I am about 70% healed and I am about to start a little physical therapy to get this old elbow to straighten. But I am doing great!

So getting a little crafting in has been soothing to my soul!  I feel like I am using a part of my brain that was lying dormant this past month. And I have to tell ya...Valentine's Day is one of my FAVORITE holidays to create for...maybe it is being a mom to girls?  Or my love of red and pink?  Who knows but this particular project was fun because I used my favorite method of crafting:  USE WHAT YOU HAVE to make it SIMPLE.

I came up with a little Valentine breakfast for Daddy (or Hubby ♥).  Obviously, the men in our lives may possibly get the short end of the stick on this particular love day so what better way to celebrate them?  And a little attention to detail makes this oh so fun!

Your first little project is this easy DIY tray made from a large picture frame.  Attach two handles by screwing it in on the sides and put pretty fabric or a Valentine message inside the glass and you have a perfect tray for your breakfast!

Next, I gave some coffee mugs a little "heart."  A fabric heart, that is.  As many of you know, I will cover anything with fabric or yarn if I am able. And how fun to make an everyday mug festive that can be removed later?  

 I cut out some hearts from scrap fabric and used my little Xyron sticker maker.

Then I simply attached them to the mugs.  Um, so simple I probably did not need photos. :)

 Now fill your pretty mug (In this case we used tea since that is what my husband and I drink).  I also attached a pretty paper tag made from scraps with a fabric heart.  

Just another personal touch to add more looooove.

These heart skewers are made with fabric and yarn wrapped pipe cleaners. 

Here's a quick how to:

1. Wrap a strip of fabric tightly around your pipe cleaner.  The color does not matter with fabric but with yarn, try to match the color because the yarn is so thin.

2. Secure the ends with some fabric glue ensuring you can't see the end of the pipe cleaner and form a heart.
3. Trim a bamboo skewer to size to twist your heart onto.
4. Twist the ends around the skewer tightly and glue to your skewer.
5. You have a pretty DIY heart!

Pop your cute skewers into some yummy chocolate chip scones (a favorite at our house) or use them in cupcakes or on a cake. Add these cute heart doilies colored by the kiddos for an extra dash of sweetness.

Cut some from flowers from your yard (if you are from Florida like me), make your own from fabric or paper, or of course you can buy some! My friend gave these pretties to me when she brought me dinner and covered it with a little sweater sleeve. Just perfect!

And look...it's a little water bottle!  How smart! (thanks Lisa!) 

Wasn't this fun?

I hope you like all the simple ideas to make Valentine's Day special. Husband's and daddy's deserve a little extra love and thought and what better way then with some yummy goodies and precious touches from the little ones?

Hugs and loads of blessings to each of you!

♥XO♥


linking to:
show and share
creative me @ the southern institute
oopsey daisy
the 36th avenue
lollyjane
a crafty soiree
tatertots and jello weekend wrap up
be different...act normal
under the table and dreaming

DIY Arrow Valentines

Did you all think I forgot you? Could never happen...you are all so dear to me. But I have been trying to let this broken arm heal and it has made me a bit restless. I actually walked around the block the other day and just basked in the glorious solidarity of it. Meaning...I was alone!! And my girls became dreadfully sick. I truly wish you could see me propelling my one armed self out of bed at all hours of the night. My husband yells at me to lay down but those are my babies...broken arm or not I have to take care of them. :)

So I got in some crafting. I almost did not post these. Taking photos was totally challenging and one arm crafting is just plain hilarious! But then I figured with all the flaws, it might impress some of you that I did these one handed. Well, one handed with some right handed holding of objects. So take these with a grain of salt and hopefully you can at least come away a wee bit inspired. 

These are made with wood dowels painted white. I glued fabric, felt, and lace arrow heads and "feathers" while wrapping the middles with odds and ends like pieces of measuring tape, washi tape, yarn, and ribbon. I love the look of the random numbers from the measuring tape. Really fun.

I attached these painted wooden tags tied on with bakers twine. From left to right the hearts are made from red ticking, pink yarn, red felt, and white lace.

A message is easily written on the back to your special Valentine. These would make great gift embellishments or even use as clues for a scavenger hunt. Leave them around the house attached to little treats for your spouse or kids. They were a ton of fun to make and I bet more so with two hands!

 I have more fun ideas coming...slowly. But they will come. :)

I am also dreadfully notorious for sharing big news here on the blog and then show up with a craft and never mention anything else. So here is the latest on my arm...I have an appointment Thursday and I am praying I can be cleared to DRIVE! I am pain free and can move a lot better but the arm is atrophied so I am working on that. I do not have a true cast. Just a splint and ace bandage that I can take off to shower and work on moving my arm. I am assuming some PT is in my near future.

We have had neighbors and friends blessing our family with meals, driving Cati home from school, and just loving our family up. I am humbled by our friends and church family.

But the reality of it all set in this week when I found out from a neighbor that the paramedics said people typically don't survive a fall like that. Then yesterday my husband was up in the attic and I literally started crying in a full fledged panic. Those who know me in real life know this is not really me. I guess seeing the ceiling move and buckle as my husband walked around that hole FREAKED ME OUT!

I'll catch up with you soon friends. Hugs to each of you!

♥

Arm Update and Best of 2011

I just have to say that all of you are some of the sweetest people I have ever encountered. All your sweet comments about my broken arm are permanently embedded in my heart! You mean  so much to me and the friendships I have developed through blogging are a treasure to me. If I could, I would write every single one of you a special note, but all this typing with my left hand takes a bit of time so I am thanking you in this post. I love you and I am so thankful to have you in my life. I truly believe the blogging community  is one of the most supportive and encouraging. I so appreciate you.

Just so you know, I keep falling asleep as I type this. Too funny.

So the arm.  Yesterday I had surgery to put a metal plate in (kind of like a bracket) to hold the bone in place. This helps it to heal faster too. They were hoping not to go that route but this was a pretty bad break and the only solution. It went great and now I'm officially on the mend.

Last night was a little tough with all the pain but I woke up feeling pretty good. I'm trying to only take pain medication as needed because it makes me so loopy and sleepy. My Ella climbed into bed with me last night and held my good arm like a teddy bear the entire time which is so unlike her.It was so precious...it reminded me that these innocent little hearts need reassuring that their Mommy is ok and they still need some snuggles and hugs so that all is right with their world. And my incredible, gentle, and  sweet husband is taking such good care of me and there is no on else who could give me better care. I love and appreciate him.  And wasn't his post just the cutest?

I'm kinda sad that it will be awhile until I can post an actual craft again, but I knew I could come up with a photo collage of my favorite projects of 2011. A wireless mouse and laptop make life easy for this newly left-handed girl, :)

Here are my personal  favorites:

clockwise from top left:

white ruffle wreath made from an old bed skirt

twine and chiffon napkin rings made from pvc pipe

fabric leaf and flower vine part 1 and part 2

twig and paper leaf place cards

fabric coil wrapped coasters

clockwise from top left:

mason jar sippy cups here and here

crazy cans game with beanbags made of ipod cozies

old fashioned ring toss game

fabric bird cage

yarn wrapped pumpkins and gourds

clockwise from top left:

pink felt ruffle garland

pine cone flower garland

textured ball garland

heart garland

clockwise from top left:

pom pom gift tags

aqua and red packaging

vintage and natural packaging

peppermint and lace packaging

pretty teacher gift and pencil coaster

Happy, Happy New Year Sweet And Dear Friends!!!

So I broke my arm today.

My right arm too.
And believe it or not, that in itself is a blessing.

Here's the story in a nutshell. I was putting Christmas decorations away. We store them in our attic which is above the garage. From the high peaks in our house, there is a nice tall walkway down the middle of the attic. However, in the middle of that is a 2' x 2' foot hole, which for some reason is missing plywood to walk on (who knows why) where you do not want to step. I must have forgotten that important point along the way because while putting boxes away I stepped in that spot, busted through the drywall and fell 10 feet to the cement floor of my garage.

(note, the shade of blue...aka Brandon her husband... in the house is typing this, and getting a little queasy as he does, but not like she can type right now. Although even with one hand and pain killers she could do a better job than me). 

Somehow, only my arm was broken, no damage to my elbow or shoulder, no damage to my ribs nor did I hit my head. The hand of God truly was around me as I took that fall. This  could have been so much worse.

Now I lay in my bed, arm in a splint planning on going to an orthopedic specialist in the morning. Chances are they will do surgery to put a plate in to aid the healing of my arm. But for now, I imagine the crafts will have to take a back seat as I heal, rest and promise my hubby that I never, never ever go up there again.

If parts of this sound nothing like my wife, it is because she feel asleep, and I took free reign of the post. please don't hold my lack of good sentence formation against her. She is definitely the creative, brilliant writer in this family. By the way, we had been texting earlier in the day about her putting away the decorations. One of her last texts to me said: But a perfect day to climb that ladder (referring to the one to the attic). I am not digging the irony at all...
Please keep my beautiful wife in your prayers.

Simple New Years Horn Favor

Well hey there sweet friends!  

I am hoping you had an amazing Christmas and enjoyed every memory making moment.  Ours was absolutely lovely until sickness fell over all of us. I have completely lost my voice! But I still have my blog voice so I still can write!  Woo Hoo!

I am on a creative hiatus at the moment. To be honest, I am enjoying just being a mom and a wife. Keeping house.  Photographing the girls instead of pretty things (though they are 2 of the prettiest things I have ever seen ♥).

In the meantime, since I am contracted each holiday to make cute favors, I thought I would share another one I did for New Years.

I ordered a bulk amount of silver party horns and decided to make a little mini subway art styled card to attach to each one with some pink ribbon. For those I used Avery's printable post cards.  I'm not even sure I did the subway art correctly...I kind of crammed some phrases together until I liked it. :) But it turned out cute so that's all that matters.

I have to send all these favors all over the country so obviously they need to be mailed. I am always challenged to come up with a cost effective way to make and ship these favorss. To avoid being crushed, I filled the inside with filler. In case you like this idea to send to people, I included what I did.

1. I cut strips of tissue paper and stuffed them all the way in to the bottom.
2. They were filled about 3/4 way with tissue paper
3. The ends are pink crinkle filler paper for a little festive look.
4. Using a hole punch, i made two holes at the top for the ribbon.
5. I attached the card to the horn with a little bow.

So simple and a super fun way to wish a happy new year.  Or even a fun birthday or New Years party invitation. They also would make great New Year party favors too (shown in top photo) as the countdown to midnight approaches.  

Grab it, print it, use it!

Oh, and soon I will be taking down my bloggy Christmas decorations and going back to normal.  

It feels like it all went by so fast! 

Hopefully the New year will bring more fun ideas and tutorials to share with you.

And I may be adding a linky party to the crafty sea of linky parties!

What do you think?

Hugs!

A Last Minute Neighbor Gift

We are in the home stretch now!  It is UNBELIEVABLE to me that Christmas is 4 days away!  Maybe because it is 80 degrees here? It just seemed fast this year. Really fast. So I think this is my last post until after Christmas. Gotta snuggle with those littles and my youngest has a fever today :( but is the happiest sick kid in the universe.  I could just squeeze the stuffing out of her she is so sweet.

But in the meantime, let me share the little treats I made for my neighbors.  

I have to give COMPLETE AND TOTAL PROPS to Jill of Meet the Dubiens and her adorable reindeer cookies above.

Now for mine...

For those of you have been long time readers know that I am...ahem...decorative icing challenged.  As in...whenever I attempt it it looks...well...it's a debacle. Let me show you with photos from previous posts...

My 4th of July cookie flags.

My daughter's birthday cake.

You get the picture. 

I am truly challenged and should be stopped if ever spotted wielding a pastry bag.

It just isn't pretty.

But when I saw those, cutie patootie reindeer, I figured those were pretty easy. It was one of the first things I pinned on Pinterest. Some antlers, 2 eyes and plop a nose on there. EASY PEASY!

Well,here they are!
They certainly don't look like Jill's but I think they are cute enough to give to my neighbors and still show my face in my hood. 

 I decided I would give each neighbor a dozen reindeer cookies. I had bought those cute little ceramic mini loaf pans at Michael's for a $1 each.  Jill made her cutie gingerbread cookies but I made sugar cookies. I decided to make 11 with brown noses (chocolate chips) and 1 with a little Rudolph nose (a red M & M) as a little giftable treat.  Too cute!

Here's the Sugar Cookie recipe:
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1 large egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
sugar for rolling cookies

Preheat oven to 350°. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together. Set aside.
Beat together sugar and butter until creamy.
Add egg and extract.  Mix well. Add dry ingredients a little at a time.
Roll  the dough into little balls and then roll into sugar placing them on parchment covered baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
Make 8-10 minutes until edges are slightly browned.  Cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes and then transfer to cooling rack.

And I think they turned out pretty adorable.

I made the tags with a 2 inch circle punch and Martha's snowflake punch that I found at Marshall's for $4.99.  Marshall's and crafty goodies on the cheap?  Who knew? 

 I wanted the snowflakes to be 3 dimensional so I folded one so the edges would be bent and glued it to the middle of another snowflake.  My message was on the back of each circle. 

I slid each one into a cellophane bag, tied it off with twine and the tag and that's it!

Another idea I had is to use a plate from the dollar store and a ceramic pen. Another great way to gift some cookies.  You could also use the pen on those ceramic loaf pans too but I just did not have the time this week.

I wrote around the perimeter of my plate with parts of Christmas songs, favorite things I love about Christmas, traditions etc. I am not crazy about my handwriting but the finished plate looks really cute and I like the simplicity of the wording in black.

  I bought two 99¢ solid color bandannas in red and white and used a fabric marker to draw snowflakes all over the white one which was super fun to just doodle for 30 minutes.

Then using my idea here, I wrapped the cookie plate with the bandanna and tied it off with a cute little snowflake embellishment. A great way to travel with a plate of cookies, pie, etc for the holidays.

Well that's it!

Knowing many of you, your neighbor gifts are already done but I thought I would still share.

Merry Christmas my Friends!