Free Downloadable Print

After my great friend Allie had given me multiple compliments on this print, and after seeing Kim at Yellow Songbird post prints she'd created for a free download and then after I got over my negative feelings of thinking no one would benefit from me posting my print download I finally did it! 

I hope the resolution works for you all...it wasn't made on any fancy program, but it worked well enough for me!

Right click, save & print!

This text was taken from Song of Solomon 5:1, which is right smack dab in the center of the book, kind of like a turning point. Steven and I read it on our honeymoon and we said "that is going in the dining room!"
I hope you all like the print and can use it for something!

Sew Inspired!

I've been dreaming up project after project that I could tackle if I only had more time to get acquainted with my barely used sewing machine!

Exhibit A:





BananaSaurus Rex

    Exhibit B:

BananaSaurus Rex

More reasons to start using my sewing machine...

And I truly don't think this is humanly possible for me to make, but I can dream!:

Scout & CATALOGUE

And even more lovelies! 




Ashley Carter Designs

  

Ashley Carter Designs

Maybe soon I'll make what will literally be my third sewing project (made a pennant banner  & "puff" balls last year) since Home-Ec in Jr. High!

I Joined the Challenge!

Hey everyone! If you're feeling already the slightest bit motivated to begin Spring cleaning or start organizing...or at least motivated to find motivation, then join the Bowl Full of Lemons Cleaning & Organizing Weekly Challenges!

Each week A Bowl Full of Lemons will present us with different challenges. Some very challenging, and others totally conquerable. The best part is that this is a great way to stay motivated and held accountable, while at the same time you aren't required to complete each weekly challenge.

I think this is a great idea, because I know there are things that need cleaning and organizing in my home, but usually I spend more time just sitting and thinking about what to do next! I'm hoping this opportunity will point me in a constructive directions!

Find all the details here & challenge yourself to join! It'll be fun! (hope this optimism sticks through the process!)

In Anticipation

I am so excited about my next project idea that I thought I'd give you all a little sneak peak hint!
This project involves:
Glass Hexagon Jars, the Silhouette, spices, and two magnetic strips.

Any guesses? Go easy on me now...sometimes I think I'm being tricky, when in reality I'm probably not!

If this project is a fail then I have totally set myself up for having to blog about it anyways! But I'm choosing to be optimistic and it will all turn out grrreat! :)

Project begins as soon as the glass hex jars are on our front porch! Hopefully Friday!

Yellow Songbird Fabulous Fabric Giveaway!

I've been following the super sweet and incredbily talented Kim, creator of Yellow Songbird for just a few weeks now and can't get enough. Check out her shop Oh Sweet Joy! and her awesome blog, including sewing tutorials and inspiration! She makes me want to get the sewing machine out and go for it!
Well, today she's partnering up with My Little Sunshine fabric shop for a free giveaway!!

Click here to head over to Yellow Songbird and enter for your chance to get a $20 store credit to My Little Sunshine etsy shop!

Here's a sneak peak at some of the awesome fabrics...

Happy giveaway entering & fabric browsing! 

Etsy Loves Valentine's Day

In light of the upcoming romantic holiday, I spent some time on Etsy browsing through tons of handmade cards. These are super sweet and adorably creative! There's a lot more out there too!

1. Love Card Hedgehog by supersobo

2. Valentine's Day Card-You are My Heart by MegNMade

3. You're My All Thyme Favorite Card by DapperPaper

4. Llama Series Love at First Sight by supersobo

1. Heart and Doves Card-Gocco Screen Printed by atelier22

2. I'm Sew in Love with You by DapperPaper

3. You Complete Me Gocco Valentine Card by papermichelle

4. Ewe R Deer 2 My Heart Valentine's Day Card by uluckygirl

And my favorite would have to be...



...from uluckygirl 

And check out more from MegNMade! She lives here in Johnson City and our husbands work together!

I Love Getting Mail!

I finally got my Someday Cottage print from The Wheatfield on etsy.com! I can't wait to get a frame and find a spot for it!

Check out all of Katie Daisy's amazing prints on The Wheatfield!

Craigstlist Hutch Before|After

Remember the $70 Craigslist hutch?

Well, I'd like to introduce you to our new and improved addition to the dining room!!

We started with Old Fashioned Milk Paint. Loved the outcome, didn't so much love the process of mixing my own paint.

First, we used Snow White as a sort of primer, which was painted directly on top of the old paint...I skipped the stripping and sanding part!

Then it was onto the black paint, which turned out very flat and chalky...perfect for what I had in mind! The last thing I wanted for this project was a hutch that was sleek and shiny.

Then I sanded the edges and exposed the white paint underneath. In some places the old red paint showed through as well as the natural wood.

Now all the hutch needs is some hardware! If only I could get this perfect set from Anthropologie out of my head! Too pricy!! But so right!

And just one more time side by side....the before & after!

I'm linking this up with WhisperWood Cottage's 2011 First Project of the Year Party!

Old Fashioned Milk Paint

I want to take a moment to share with you all a fascinating discovery I made yesterday.

It's Old Fashioned Milk Paint that's environmentally safe and non-toxic! It comes in 20 colors and in powder form. So when you get it you mix it with warm water and presto! Safe paint!

I was so excited to find this stuff...My amazingly helpful husband and I started painting the hutch insde our dining room, because who needs a well ventilated area when you're working with all natural products?! It actually smelled like a barn and I felt like Huck Finn whitewashing a fence or something. No more waiting for the cold weather to leave!

The only danger associated with this stuff is that for some reason our dogs love it and were actually caught licking it off the hutch(well, Banjo anyways).

For any locals who want to try it out you can find it at Woodcraft on Boone's Creek.

Check out Old Fashion Milk Paint Co.'s website here.

Jamie's Craft Nook

When Jamie sent me a picture of her newly created craft nook in her just finished basement, I had to share it with you!

The desk she picked up from an old dorm room in college-perfect for the sewing machine! And check out the storage case on the side, just right for holding magazines. The hutch hanging above the desk was a Craigslist steal from Birmingham. It adds so much to this area and even more functional space. The rug is from Ikea...a great buy for just $20! And the lovely yellowy golden chair in the corner? A thrift store gem! I love the gray and yellow theme-looks perfect and so well put together!

Jamie kept the hutch looking clean and simple by adding a few mason jars and an M for Montgomery!

And who knew a paper towel holder could be just as functional for craft storage??
Head over to Jamie Montgomery Photography and check out her growing talent!

Anyone feel motivated to make a creative space to call their own? I do!!

Antique Printer's Box

For Christmas my older brother Greg gave me this really neat antique printer's box! 

I added the doily & then realized I didn't get a true "before" picture!



I researched a little on using old printer's boxes for house decor, but didn't find too much...these two were my favorites. I likes how they both held a certain theme and I thought it'd be nice to do that with mine.

And here's what I've come up with so far! I decided to fill it up with objects in all shades of white, ivory, cream, etc. Most items are nature themed, but I'll just be keeping my eye out for whatever fits in those tiny compartments! I also hot glued a white drawer knob to the top! What's great about decorating with printer's boxes is that you can change them out as often as your tastes and interests change!

Any ideas? Thanks for an awesome Christmas present Greg!!!