Country Living Fair / Post 3

13) I loved this idea. This vendor took old books and used the covers and some of their pages, along with blank pages for journals. He used damaged books or those recycled from libraries.
14) Burlap & Lace. I really like the formality of lace pair with the utilitarian burlap. These were simple table runners. There were also place mats and matching napkins.
15) & 18) Quilts. I have never really been one to quilt nor have I had an interest in quilting until this trip. There were so many quilts on display. This vendor had a lot of kits available as well as other kits.
16) There were quite a few vendors selling their own pottery. This gentleman had his potter's wheel on display and I do believe there was an HGTV crew filming him so maybe we will see him on TV. He did a great job of explaining his process.
17) More fabric pumpkins! I actually fell in love with this one which has a pocket. I think this has made it on my to make list!

Country Living Fair / Post 2

7) Fabric pumpkins! These were everywhere. Each vendor had their own take on them. This display was pretty cool. Not only did I love the pumpkins but they way she displayed them. Think, tiered cake stands but with tables.
8) I just loved this arrangement / display. It truly was incredible to see some of these displayed in the middle of a park.
9) I couldn't resist snapping a photo of this artist's work. He had maps of the US as well as other sculptures. I loved the idea of reusing jeans in artwork.
10) Re-Purpose!!! I got to visit this booth twice. For those of you that watch HGTV, this is Cash & Cari's store. Scroll down to see a picture of me and yes Cari!!!! I was so giddy to meet her.
11) Snapped a photo of this dog all ready for Halloween. Couldn't resist! This little fellow followed around his owner very loyally without a leash. Actually there were quite a few dogs around.
12) Beauty. All around us there was such a wonderful display of color. It was truly breathtaking and I so want to go back to Stone Mountain to explore it further.

I got to go!!!

I can't believe I got a weekend away with my Mom. It was so wonderful. The perfect fall weekend to make it to the Atlanta Country Living Fair. The weather was absolutely perfect for fall. I plan on posting several times on what I found. I basically have broken into some categories of, what I saw, what I want to make and what I purchased!
So

Here begins my first post of what I saw.



1) Pumpkins! There was a central pumpkin patch which was very impressive and was used for many a background for a photos shoot or two!
2) Under a pavilion was the general store, they sold some country living items, including t-shirts. They also had some very pretty table-scapes. I loved this with old keys.
3) This was a display at one of the many food vendors in the "farmers market" area. I loved the wagon and flowers.
4) This was such a cool furniture booth. I loved the creative way she re-upholstered this chair. It wouldn't ever occur to me to do this asymmetrical treatment with ribbon.
5) At the same booth was this wing chair. I absolutely love how she adorned the back. What a great addition to a back of a chair that faces another area.
6) There were many witches shoes, but I loved these. This booth had candles set all over their booth and they smelled so quintessential fall!

I have wings!

Again, thank you Pinterest for giving me ideas! I created the bird wings that were featured on Pinterest for my niece Celia. I love any project that I can get rid of some of the fabric I accumulated. This was such a easy and fun project. My two kids have requested some. As you can see I had to model the wings myself as I had no models at home at the time I completed these. Celia was nice enough to pose for a picture!

Autumn Wreath

I can't find the link where I got this inspiration from but the idea wasn't solely my own. I am sure most of you out there love it when we can create something from scraps. This wreath cost me about $4.oo (for the wreath form and the pumpkins). The rest were scraps found in my stash!

This and That and some cards

Best laid plans . . .well you all know the phrase. When you have fibromyalgia you often have to put all plans aside. With the change in weather here (was 100 degrees on Saturday and supposed to be a high of 68 on Monday) it triggered a "flare" "Flare" is a term used when your symptoms of associated with fibromyalgia all appear at once. Think the flu combined with being run over by a truck.

I have managed to create some cards inspired by ones I discovered on Pinterest. This is such a great resource! Here are the cards I created. September and October bring a bunch of birthdays in our family.

I hope (again best laid plans) to photograph my office this week. Want to get one more item up before I do.

Our newest members of the family

Meet Harry and Harriet. They have been coming by every now and then. It has been exclusively them for pretty much the last week! Yes I am talking about Hummingbirds!


We purchased the feeder at Lowes back in July. There has been off and on traffic for a little while now, it increased tremendously over the last two weeks. Over the weekend there seemed to be a little fight over whose feeder it actually was. My hubby took some great photos of the handsome couple.

Two items of note. I switched the nectar to homemade, with no red dye. Secondly that is basil and yes I know you are supposed to deflower it! Just hadn't gotten around to it and I am glad that I hadn't as Harry (I think) really enjoyed it.

The kids and I have so enjoyed these birds. My four year old Emmett can actually distinguish between the male and female pretty accurately. We were both hanging out on the back porch and heard them flying around and chirping. It is breathtaking and a constant reminder of God's hand.

They must be getting used to use being around, when we approach the windows to look at them they are getting bolder by hanging around. Harry clearly was enamored by Emmett as he fluttered and hovered around the window as he was peering out watching him.

We are going to try and takes some more pictures of them close up. Hope you all enjoy!

On another note, my lovely hubby has graciously offered his unused office space to me So now I won't have to share my space with my two kids. As you can imagine I have been organizing and setting everything up eagerly! :-) Will post when I get it settled.

Just not sure how to post this . . .so being blunt and to the point!

I pride myself (yes I know just saying this is asking God to give a lesson . .read on he does) in being in control. I have it together, there is nothing I can't tackle. No project I can't meet head on. Well that is until I put together the following mix:

New house + new city + two small kids + fibromyalgia + a puppy
= A Stressed out & Emotional Mom

Maggie is a wonderful puppy. She just did what puppies do nip, play, poop (in and out of the house), pea (in and out of the house), whine. Add that to my two kids and my health problems and by day 5 I was a wreck. It takes a tremendous amount to get me to the point I was at but she did it fully. Top it off my kids were terrified of the puppy. If they were around her either I had to be right beside them or they would perch themselves on the top of furniture and scream.

So after an emotional break down we decided to take Maggie back to the breeder. It was a very hard decision and not one done lightly. If you are judging me please show me some grace. I am so thankful for the lesson that I cannot do it all. That I need HIM with me and there are just some things I can't (gulp) do right now. I HATE saying I can't or no.

It broke my heart to disappoint my hubby's 8 year wait for a dog. It broke my heart to let her go but I know there is a better family out there for her.

So I also apologize for not posting. Sometime we will own a dog. Maybe an older one, probably when my kids are older.

I give anyone that has small kids, and a puppy due credit!!!! :-)

For the love of pillows!

I had come up with idea that I wanted a round pleated pillow for my master bedroom. Of course I wanted to create it myself using leftover fabric from the valances. I tried to see if there was someone who had come up with a pattern (free of course) but couldn't. Now that I have come up with one myself of course I have decided to go a different route with the master bedroom pillows! :-) Gotta love creative creation. At least it didn't cost me anything but time. I created the muslin pattern and then used some leftover fabric from the guestroom.
I do like the results and used a vintage button to finish it off.

My loss can be your gain though! :-)

I thought a giveaway would be a great start to the weekend. Post as many times as you want, refer a friend and get entered twice! Just have your friend post who referred them.
I will draw the winner on Sunday!
The winner will receive the green toile pillow pictured above without stuffing. The pillow measures 16" in diameter, just needs stuffing and a needle and thread to close it up. I will also include the pattern to create another pillow.
So good luck and remember refer a friend and you get counted twice! :-)

Stay tuned too. . .I have a great sewing project I want to share next week. It involves the Thirty-One skirt purse and another Friday giveaway! :-)

Instructions for Pillow:

Linking up to:
I Heart Naptime
Sew Many Ways

Fun watering can craft!

I do like Family Fun magazine. Admittedly it is a little overwhelming when the issues stack up and I haven't tackled any of the craft projects. I know creating stress for myself not a smart move.

We did one of the crafts this morning. In the May (yes I said May and I am fully aware it is July) issue it was the elephant water can project. We didn't make elephants. They made their own animals.

All it took was:
4 Milk jugs (to make a total of 2)
Hot glue gun
Sharp craft knife
Awl or ice pic

Most of the work I had to do and it was a bit tricky getting the "spout" onto the milk jug but perseverance and a lot of hot glue later we have some great water cans. Oh and it killed about an hour.








Oh yeah and it does entice the kids to water the flowers. They asked if they could water again tomorrow. They even used the water cans to water themselves when we broke out the slip and slide this afternoon! :-)

Air Ferns!

My Mom and I were shopping in Franklin TN a couple of months ago. Which I should do an entire post on as this is the greatest small town ever! Seriously I could spend an entire day on the main street and never be bored.
We came across a small garden shop that was selling these beautiful simple glass vases and they each contained an Air Fern (also known as air plant).
In our new home we have a double window over our kitchen sink. It gets great indirect light, perfect for these air plants.

I hung three in front of my window hanging from a curtain rod. I plan on putting a simple valance to cover up the top. Ignore the green tape, the builder forgot to paint the entire wall and it needs to be touched up.

The other lovely thing about these plants are they are easy care! A spritz with some water every now and then.

We have been picked!

Our family has been researching getting a dog for over 2 years now. I have an allergy to dogs that ranges from hives to throat closing. This required us to go through a breeder. We decided on a Goldendoodle (an offspring of a golden retriever, and poodle).

We visited a breeder this morning and all I can say we were picked. She bounded over to us, covered us in wet puppy kisses and generally just hung around us the entire visit. She would play with her other puppy mates then come back. Honestly never experienced anything like it. I was totally smitten and also surprised that we could be so sure which puppy was right for us.

So in a little under 2 weeks we will be bringing home a female Goldendoodle puppy. Now the fun and hard part. Just when I thought I was over potty training! :-)

Here are some awe ain't she cute pictures! Oh and maybe you could leave a comment and vote on a name?!?! We each have our favorite which is making it hard.

So what do you think, is she a

Maggie?

Roxie?

Lexy?

Cassidy?

To do List for Katherine's Room

So I had posted yesterday my dauther's room that I have been working on. Here is the lenghthy to do list. If you are wondering where on earth I am this is where!

1) Drapes . . .I have searched for pink drapes and couldn't come up with any that suited so these will have to be hand made.
2) paint armoire and dresser -> This will have to wait for the fall.
3) Replace fabric in armoire with polka dots.
4) put shelving over the dresser
5) Find a better vanity table
6) Replace bedside table
7) Replace temporary blinds with plantation shutters.
8) Slip cover chair
9) Make duvet cover for comforter
Hmmm . . .yeah I have a lot to do.

Katherine's Room evolved.

So I was holding out to publish my daughter's room when it was finished. Well hmmm. . .yeah see you next year! LOL
So here is how my daughter's room looks right now. I have a list of items to complete and will post them tomorrow.
I absolutely loved working on this room. I am also glad that I insisted on painting the room a couple shades lighter than what she had picked.

The trees are very "Dr. Seuss" as my hubby describes them. Didn't plan on making them this way they kind of evolved. My daughter wanted birch trees, she picked them out from a book. I am going to work more on the leaves as they don't look exactly how I want them to.


The banner above her bed is magnetic. I covered metal squares in fabric, now she has plenty of space to hang her photos, momentos and pictures. She loves to draw and collect. I am constantly finding small pieces of paper and drawings all over her room. I hung each banner with the 3M hooks that will come off without marking the walls. I LOVE this product.

The butterfilies are mirrors. The light reflects off them so sweetly.

Linking to: I Heart Naptime!

I am tired!

This is a vent post! I apologize completely that my first post is a complaint. I came down with food poisoning while on vacation. Yes I said food poisoning. That shouldn't happen to anyone!
Apparently my depressed immune system couldn't handle recovery and this developed into a bacterial infection. I posted a while ago that I have fibromyalgia. Due to this I am on some heavy prescriptions, which my doctor suspects has also caused an ulcer. Really really???
I am 38, a mother of two small kids & a hubby has his own company so he works hard! I don't have the energy or time to deal with an ulcer and stomach issues.
So of course after finding all this out what did I have to do after? Of course drive home from Philadelphia to Nashville TN!
I drove for 14 hours including breaks(for my son to eat not me I couldn't eat)! I did stop overnight thankfully.
So after returning home & kissing the ground & actually looking forward to cleaning the house (3 weeks is longtime to be gone), I was ready for some stress free days.
Well no that was not destined to be. I returned home to find out my health insurance was screwed up and I was left with no health insurance. My family was covered but not me.
Being that my hubby is an entrepreneur we have to seek our own health insurance. Has any tried do this lately? Why oh why does this have to be so emotional and stressful?!?! The whole pre-existing condition thing is ridiculous! Hmmm let me see you will Cover me for everything but what I have already been diagnosed for?
So God is good, this is what I am left with. After my hubby's prayer at dinner I realize this. After talking to my Mother-N-Law who has been in the hospital for 50 days and she says she had a good day. After talking to my Mom and being able to vent. After hearing how much fun my daughter is having with my sister & niece, God is good.
Looking at this & being left with God is good is really awesome! I believe I need to start and end with this. I mean after all framing it all with God is good really colors anything after that.

On vacation!

I should posted earlier! We are on an East Coast tour. We will be gone a total of three weeks!! I have serious blogger & creative withdraw! Of course we haven't been bored, a bout with food poisoning and a 4yr old needing stitches has kept us busy! Will have a blog posting marathon when I get back!

Hope everyone is loving their new summer schedule!

Cheers!

Vickie

Daughter's Room evolving. . .

Another sneak peek of an element in my daughters room. A little galvanized sheet metal, some weather stripping and fabric cover. Working on it this week and will reveal what this is all used for soon! Any guesses?!?!?! :-)

101 uses for chalkboard adhesive paper!

I have done a previous post using adhesive chalkboard paper I found at Micheal's. I believe I payed about $4.99 for a roll (I purchased two). It is truly amazing how many uses for this product I have found. Probably would be very easy to find a 101 uses for this paper.

The first use was the re-purposed window frame.

My second use was in the kitchen as well. The soap dispensers were found at target, but we were forever confusing which was hand soap and wish was dish soap. Using my Cricut, I cut the adhesive chalkboard paper and labeled them, and used chalk pens to write on them. I found it very easy to use this paper. In fact it worked to use my cutting mat that hand slightly less tack to it.

The third use was to label the allowance jars for my kids. I needed something that I could keep track of how much was in the jar. I was going to decorate them however i love the simplicity of them. I was going to invest in the jars that are electronic but being that I had the jars and the paper these were available and cost nothing.