Change it up + packages galore!

Back in March I experimented with a couple things in my bedroom - you know that room that gets totally ignored because you only go in there to sleep? I was using what I had and trying to make other things worked (see here for the full horrific post complete with unbelievable grimace-inducing photos).

The picture hanging over the bed was introduced to the burn pile and they became great friends. That space has been blank ever since despite the multitude (one might say plethora) of spare items to choose from. Well I finally picked something to put up there to give me a new look. A pair of candle sconces from my brother along with the fabric yardage from the post mentioned previously (don't worry I don't ever plan on lighting the candles) make a nice frame.

The sides needed to be held up to give it a better shape so I used a couple scraps of Tejas suede cord and two keys off a keyring my grandpa found in the desert years ago (wouldn't you love to know the story behind them?).

The fabric's tails were still a bit long so I wrapped them around the bed post. And one post is home to my metal punched heart from Beyond the Garden Gate and the other heart came from Missie - I love it Missie! Look how great they go together.

(I apologize for the flash, I don't know why it doesn't occur to me to take some of these photos during the day.)

Which brings me to my packages - one being from the wonderful Missie of Crafting with Cat Hair. There was squealing as I opened my treasures.

I also got my prize I won from Legally Blonde's Proceedings in the Christmas in July party. My santa bubble light is absolutely stunning! Thanks Kara!

It's one of those days

The kind that sneaks up on you and makes you introspective. It would be my dad's birthday today so while I'm thinking about him I thought I'd share some photos I found while organizing my mom's closet.


So cute but I know for a fact that he was in trouble a lot. Can't you see the mischief there?


My dad loved anything that had a motor or an engine or wheels or some kind of get-up-and-go.


There's hardly a photo in existence of my dad when he's not next to a car - and all different ones!

And here he is taking my mom on a date. See? A different car!

Miss you, Dad.

A Claim of Her Own

"Not a soul in Deadwood doesn't have something in their past they'd like to forget. Shoot, there's not a person alive doesn't have something in their past they'd like to forget."

What if you could leave all your mistakes behind and start completely over? That's what Mattie O'Keefe is searching for in the town of Deadwood where everyone is searching for something. Searching for hope, hoping to strike it rich, and above all hoping to start anew. But the past, as well as the hardscrabble way of the West, has a way of catching up to the hopefuls, and Mattie is no exception.

With all the essential elements of a good western: white hats, black hats, plucky women, good cooking, legends, multicultural wild (yet lovable) characters and even a little gunslinging are perfectly married to the essential elements of Christian fiction: genuine faith and friends, and God's love and grace.

What I appreciated was that our plucky heroine wasn't felled by sap and sentiment. Mattie is a strong and determined character who is gradually softened by those genuine friends and she learns faith by witnessing the grace of God.

This book won't sit long on my shelf, I already have a list of friends waiting to borrow it and I am already searching for more to read from this author.


Interested in reviewing books for Bethany House? Go here to find out more.

Fun with felt

It's hot today...abnormally hot for our area.


I've been several hot places where high temperatures seem normal (Arizona, Texas, Israel) and when it goes that way here it really causes a stir!

The dog I'm dogsitting is a Samoyed and, though he got a summer haircut, he's still so furry I brought him in during our three hottest days to sit in front of the air conditioner.


All this and yet I feel inspired to make things out of really fuzzy material. We'll blame that lapse in judgement on the heat.

I finished up a play tea set with cookies and tea bags for my friend's little girl. I've seen this kind of thing around and decided I wanted to try it - I mean they are just so cute! I used real cookie cutters to trace the "cookie" part and I freehanded the "frosting." The "sprinkles" are embroidery floss.



For the tea bags I drew my shape on a piece of paper, cut it out, and used that as a pattern. I stuffed them with some polyfill I found in one of my craft drawers and finished them off with two styles of tags to indicate the "kind" of tea. Personally "heart tea" doesn't sound like something I would drink but it's cute for little girls, right?

Missie has a couple of cute tutorials for M&M cookies and tea bags.


I've also seen plenty of needle books floating around on blogs as well as etsy and I wanted to try my hand at that as well.

I made this tag-style cutie using the instructions from Wool Felt Central even though I didn't use wool felt - don't tell them! It was easy and quick - I finished it in an evening - and I love how it looks!

The other needle book I made I based on designs I've seen that makes them more "book like" in that they have "pages." It was way harder than I thought it was going to be but I blame that on my newbie sewing skills.




Even if it's not perfect at least it's still cute.

And let's not forget the snowflake garland I just completed for Christmas in July and the mini-cake I made for the Mad Tea Party.

Felt and sewing...things I just never saw myself doing...especially in this weather!

Christmas in July - the final day!

Merry Christmas in July!

Come in and have a drink...

Eat a treat...

And open yourself a gift - I picked it out especially for you!

I'm thinking about having a colorful Christmas this year - bright colors to warm up the winter blahs.

This whole week has been Christmas in July for me and I've posted lots of ideas - all with economy in mind - from everything from decorating to giftwrap. Feel free to browse through and see if anything tickles your fancy!

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

Looking for DIY gift ideas? Check out my tutorials - trust me, if I can do these then so can you!

Cell phone cozy
Flowered headband
Flowered hair clip

Green projects:

Starbucks bottle vase
upcycled yarn holder
moss orbs

Enjoy some of my photos from last winter - brrrr!

Horse hair collected on the fence - it rained one night and froze the next day.


We had unusually warm weather for quite a while and were hit with a cold snap - the poor roses were so confused!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have fun blog hopping!

Before you go have a listen to my favorite Christmas album: