Shop My Closet #2

Here is a new idea to go with my love of dressing Nautical, add orange!

To get this look I shopped my closet again. I didn't have a striped navy and white scarf but when I was shortening a knit tunic I have I used the extra piece as the scarf and it looks great. Lots of women comment on how they love the coat but can't wear orange, I wear it and love it!

Shopping My Sewing Room? Hmmm

I spent 3+ hours one evening last week shopping every store in the mall trying to find a dress for our church Easter program....didn't like anything...too low in front...too short in length...too young ...too bohemian...too expensive! So I came home discouraged and then remembered I had this blouse on my sewing table and the only thing it was missing was buttons. So I spent 5 minutes sewing on buttons and I wore it with a white cardigan and dark demin skirt with a teal belt around the waist and it was just what I wanted. Sometimes I wonder about myself and the time I waste because I don't believe that what I already have is good! (This pattern is Butterick 5464)

Thoughts For Living

To live content with small means;

to seek elegance rather than luxury,

and refinement rather than fashion;

to be worthy, not respectable;and

wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think

quietly; talk gently, act frankly...to

listen to stars and buds, to babes and

sages, with open heart; await occasions,

hurry never...this is my symphony.

-William Henry Channing

Color My World Yellow Challenge #1

I can't believe that we are into our 4th month of Color Challenge! This month is yellow, so if you'd like to join in this month feel free:) This week is putting a few things you like in yellow into a collage, the 2nd week is a craft in yellow, 3rd week is using yellow in an unusual way and the 4th week is using it in a recipe. Let me know if you join in as I'd love to see what you come up with.

Happy Spring in Color!

Ready for the Sun

What started out as a fun idea ended up being kind of a pain...especially in my fingertips...
I wanted to make a coordinating beach outfit and bag.

I started with a plain raffia style bag that happened to have a waterproof inside that I bought for $2 awhile back. I made a large fabric rectangle to fit the inside with enough overlap so I could make a drawstring top. Then I wrapped the handle in fabric strips to make it more comfortable to carry, added flowers and black buttons from the dollar store (this is the part that mangled my fingertips as I had to hand sew through the waterproof inside, raffia, and flower!)

The cover-up is knee length and I added another layer of fabric to make the top higher in front. The drawstring in front makes it as loose or tight as I like. I was so pleased to find a high quality, modest suit and matching sunglasses too!

Now I just need a sunny beach, a good book and a lounge chair:)

Green Challenge #4

Here is my green food challenge. Cowboy Caviar with lots of Avocado and...

Chicken Enchilada Casserole which is made with Salsa Verde (green salsa) and rice with lime and cilantro. Mexican food is one kind that I rarely have to change the recipe to make it gluten free so thats a real bonus for me. None of these recipes had any changes, love that!

Embellished Tank

Here's a tank top I added ruffles and buttons to. I used the same procedure as before, cutting up a matching Tee shirt for the ruffle strips, gathering them, sewing them on and this time adding matching buttons. I think summer will come eventually so I'll be able to use it, although it would look great under a cardigan or jacket too.

Green Challenge #3

When I found this vintage green swiss dot curtain valance in a thrift shop I knew right away that I would use it for my "unusual" green challenge.

I simply put elastic through the rod pocket to fit a little girl waist, sewed the two ends together,

And there you have a little girls ruffled skirt! I think it would need a little underskirt of white to look right, but would be so cute on a little girl whose mom loves vintage things. There's something about swiss dot that shouts "yester year".

Now I'm Mamma!

Today my Grandaughter finally called me Gramma, but it sounds like Mamma...so cute and just in time because her Daddy and Mommy are going on a fun vacation and she is staying with me! So just a heads up I don't know if this Gramma is going to have time or brain power to blog for a few days...hope to get my green challenge #3 done...but we'll see:) This little girl has more energy than all 5 of my kids had or maybe its just because my body is so old now it feels like it!

Anyway its just as exciting to hear the first time they say Gramma, as it is when your kids say Mama that very first time...love it!

My Scrapbooking Buddy

This is my special sister-in-law, scrapbooking buddy, and prayer warrior...
When she comes over to stay we spend the whole time at my dining room table, her at one end and me at the other scrappin'. She always is thrilled by every page she does and is positive about every one I do! We play CDs of Christian music and it is such a relaxing time.
She is also an unbeatable, believing prayer warrior who is ready for any miracle God wants to send. She prays for everyone from our government, people in the news, family, her pastors and church family. Some of her prayers have been prayed for 15 years, but her faith never wavers in Gods promises to hear and answer.

She believes in miracles, angels, and that heaven is as close as next door.
She believes that there is good in everybody.
She has such a positive outlook on things that its almost irritating!
She doesn't complain.
She reads her Bible every day.
She misses her Mom, who has gone on to Glory, but converses with her every day out loud.
She loves babies and they love her.
She get nervous and sad just like everyone else.
She sees behind every cloud a rainbow.
And...
She is as stubborn as an old mule!

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong."

Scrapping Retreat

What an enjoyable day I had Saturday at the Scrapbooking Retreat! The picture on top is of what I won in an hourly drawing.

Here are some pages that I got done there....

But the best part of a day like that is all the new ideas I got, new techniques I learned, and most of all the conversations and fun that 20 ladies can have when we are all doing something we enjoy! Its an annual thing and I can't wait for the next one:)

Pink Snow?

Driving up my driveway these days is a "pink snow" experience as all the flowering plum blossoms are falling off the trees ( they bloom only a short while but wow everyone while they do it!). It really looks like a pink snowfall especially when the petals fall on the windsheild as I drive through the trees. All good things do come to an end, except Heaven. where I'm sure there are forever pink blossoms and avenues of crystal to reflect the trees!

My Week

My supplies all ready for the Scrap Retreat tomorrow! Yippee!

A pair of shorts I made to go with the pink ruffled little girls Tee.

Getting inspiration from a book on 50s Fashion....and some fabric I'm thinking about making into a swim suit coverup.

Just to say hello and one of these days my life might slow down so I can catch up on all my blogging friends! Hope you have a fab weekend:)

Green Challenge #2

Remember the suitcase that I found while thrifting? Well here is the inside on the way to a

makeover for my green craft challenge! I tore out all the old fabric from the inside...then on to refinishing it like I had seen in a magazine several years ago.

I used scrapbook paper for the lining and rick rack and ribbon to edge it. Then added all kinds of small boxes and holders, including a small clipboard that I covered with paper also. There is a scissor holder, tag pockets, rolled papers, embellishments, buttons and a larger box to hold photos.

Once the lid is shut you have a Paper Craft Carrying Case that you can take with you anywhere and look properly vintage at the same time:)

Here are some details inside and on the handle. Because I wanted it to be reusable, I did black and white with green accents. All the papers, buttons and embellishments are in some shade of green or black and white. I'm not sure if this will be a gift or a sale item...I was going to do a give away but realized the shipping could cost me a lot more than the item total, so I'll do a giveaway another time!

I Won!

I'm so excited to be a winner of a fabulous and gorgeous giveaway at http://kareneileen.blogspot.com/ ! I never win anything :) and this is a pretty special one as Karen Eileen was one of the very first blogs I started following besides those of you I know personally. Thanks for the lovely things, Karen! Be sure to check out her great blog, she has TONS of interesting side bars, links and posts.

$5 Tee -shirt Restructuring

Old Navy has my favorite T-shirts on sale for $5 this week , so instead of paying way too much for the JCrew embellished Tees, I made some myself with a little restructuring...

I used the extra T shirt parts that were left and made a little girls' ruffled tank top too!

This T-shirt I've had in the giveaway pile since summer, but I loved the color so much I decided to see what I could do with it. The very reconstructed look might be a little too "rock star" for me, but I can always use it for gardening!

A Blog Rant

Good Morning Friends and Fellow Bloggers,

I have some thoughts I'd like to share...several of the blogs I follow or check frequently have had posts about some incredibly negative comments that people have left and it has made these bloggers feel so small and worthless. I am just appalled that anyone would take the time to leave a comment that would hurt someone that they don't even know! I feel like we are put on this earth to make others lives better, to encourage, to lift up, to boost them to a place to peace and beauty. When I leave a comment I think about what would make that blogger feel proud of what they are sharing with the world. It is just one more place to encourage and stregthen our friends whether we know them personally or not! Blogging has blessed me so much and I feel like God has shown me how incredibly creative His people are, whether they know Him or not, which just goes to show His love for the whole world...lets bless others...bring joy...leave a legacy of peace ...Thanks for listening!