Creating Garden Decor

       Memorial weekend is just around the corner and for us that means our annual family get together. I've been searching for a craft project that the ladies and I can do together. I've really been in the mood to add a couple of small flower gardens around our patio area. With 6 acres to mow and trim, flowers gardens have not been on our priority list.We have added lots of wildflower seeds which is perfect for larger areas and requires little or no maintenance. It's been so much fun watching the wild flowers spread year after year.

Now I'm ready to add some small flower gardens around our lower patio. This has become our favorite place to sit and relax when the weather turns steamy hot!
I've been looking at some decorative garden items and have had some sticker shock at the cost. Plus being a crafter my first thought is always how can I make this myself.

Today I found what I think could be a easy idea for some garden stones on a blog called Sunset Gurl Design. Plus what I like about this idea is it uses something everyone should have or can get easily find which is leaves. I really like how the bottoms of large plant leaves look with all their veins, and it really makes quite an impact in these garden stones.

It's very similar to a project I saw last year on The Martha Stewart show. Cement garden leaves, and once again using plant leaves. I have kept this idea on my "to do" list as a future project. Items like these at your local garden centers would not be inexpensive. So making them seems to me to be a cost effect idea.
The main ingedients are ready mix and sand and of course leaves of your choice. Wouldn't this be fun to do with your kiddos. My grandsons would enjoy a hike down the creek in search of a variety of interesting leaves, just don't pick the itchy ones! It's kind of like combining education with creativity as well as an outdoor experience.

If this ends up being the project that we choose I will share the process good, bad or comical as well as our photos. But really the best part of any project we choose is just being together, laughing and chatting and creating great memories!

What does your Memorial weekend look like? I would love to hear what traditions or activities you and your family enjoys on our nations very popular three day weekend.

A Proud Shop Owner

        Today was a typical busy day in my life....I know,I know when isn't it. But while I was doing what I do at my day job I suddenly realized that today's Martha Stewart show was all about Etsy!
Just in case you missed it here is a link to today's episode.
I couldn't have been more proud to be a shop owner......well perhaps I could have ya know if I was lucky enough to be on the show. But I am delighted that Etsy is receiving some great exposure. Exposure like this could give all of us a better chance at higher sales!
One shop I must tell you about that was featured on her show is called Focus Line Art The owner Tracy Melton is a fellow Hoosier!! Woot Woot....go Indiana artists!! His shop's shingle hangs in Indianapolis Indiana. I love his work,it  is so vibrant and so unusual,your eyes will be held captive!

But today was also bitter sweet for me having learned that Martha's show has been cancelled by the Hallmark Channel. I am not happy! I have always loved her show and I hope she finds a new home channel. Because it just will not be the same without her.

Cleaning Out The Craft Closet

           A while back I decided to clean out my craft closet in my work room, mostly because it was bulging at it's hinges, and I promised myself I would get control of this! I tend to hang on to just about anything that seems useful or could be made into something. I have saved some goofy stuff over the years, all in the name of future craft projects.
Like for example I saved a couple of pop bottles because I had this idea. I always felt like the neck of the bottle and part of the center would make a great spy glass or kids.

So finally I made one. My stash of clear flat plastic came in handy for the wide end of the spy glass. After I completed this and came up with a pattern for future spy glasses I pulled out more interesting items.
Some items I had to stare at for a while to try and remember what in the world I was thinking when I saved it.

 Like these for example. Prescription bottles because the their shape and the colored soft rubbery rings around their necks.....really made me nuts to toss them out. But after months and months of holding onto them without any craft idea, it was time. Another item I hold onto is the brown paper wrapper below that comes off of the paper towels we use at the office. I believe that they would be perfect for stamping and using on a small gift as wrapping paper,or to homemade gift bows.

So to say I'm a pack rat is an under statement. It's just that every time I start to toss something in the trash bin I stop and think can I use this for something? These trays from Healthy Choice frozen meals have made me crazy for a long time. All I could think was I bet they would make a great stencil for something.

I was right it worked! Lets see what else can I do. While I never did make anything of any real usefulness then I still believe they will come in handy someday. So back into the craft closet they went.

This then lead me to some foam stamps I have had for years. I saw them once on a show I use to LOVE called the Carol Duvall Show. It was a great show which was on HGTV, back when they use to show craft programs. This was before their executives decided we all wanted to see only gardening, and flip your house kind of shows. A guest on her show was demonstrating these stamps and I immediately felt I needed them. I did some research and found them online.

You can use these stamps over and over again. Heat them with a heat gun and then immediately press them against something else and they will take on that image. I like to look around the house and press them against the corner of a ornate picture frame,or a drawer handle,or my mothers vintage cookie and butter molds. I have also used antique silver ware to make beautiful tags and cards.But remember whatever you press them against it will give you the reverse of that image,and that makes it even more fun!

Mine look stained and rather well used. It's because the uses for these are endless, and that makes them addicting. I have used them for gift tags and cards and scrap booking for many, many years.

After I played around for a while with my foam stamps I pulled out the linoleum and carving tools. This is a hobby that is relaxing to me like coloring a page in a coloring book. It's an instant satisfaction craft. So easy to do like carving butter, smooth and soft. So every now and then I just have to drag them out and make something with them. I must admit the linoleum isn't a cheap craft product so I tend to be stingy with it. I always make sure I have my sketches just right before I begin to carve.

My favorite stamp that I have carved and used over and over again is the fish (in the center of the photo). It has been great for gift tags,cards and wrapping paper. Well I must admit, I have used the bumble bee quite a bit too for gift tags. It's fun to stamp out a bunch and then have the grand kiddos color them for future use. My 9 yr old grandson has wanted to try his hand at carving and I think he's probably old enough to do it now. I use to be scared to death to let him try it with these sharp carving blades. Then I remembered my parents giving me a wood burning tool with it's lava hot tip at a very young age! Different times, different rules I guess. How did we all survive without all the new guidelines on safety haha!!

Spending an afternoon just playing can be very relaxing for me. I rarely accomplish much when I am in this mood. It's more about the act of experimenting and just plain old fashion playing. And sometimes during this process I might actually clean out my craft closet!

Celebrating Easter

       As I prepare for our family to arrive today for our Easter celebration I wanted to wish all of my blog buddies a Happy Easter! I finished up the baskets last night for the kiddos and all of the eggs have been stuffed with tons of goodies. The house is as clean as it's going to get and all 6 acres has been cut and neatly trimmed in preparation for the chaos that will happen today.
You may remember our traditional confetti egg hunt and ultimate egg war. Here are a few photos from last years fun!!

Run Lindsey run haha!!

Family spreading the luck of a confetti egg being cracked on your head!

His clever idea of a scarf tied around his neck still didn't stop the confetti from going down his shirt

I have 10 dozen more for this year. I'm so hoping 46 dozen will be enough. It always goes so fast each year that it is a blur of bright colors flying through the air. Really makes capturing these moments on camera very difficult.
The little kiddos love doing this so much. They asked Papa if he can make them an egg rocket so they can get their Dad's on top of their heads. We couldn't figure out an egg rocket but we did come up with a dollar store sling shot,so we'll see how that works. Everyone must bring a change of clothes and shoes because we get very serious about this tradition! Afterward most of the beautiful colors will end up in my  house....haha!
 After dark we hope to do another egg hunt using glow sticks inside of the eggs. These we have to sneak out in the early evening to hide. So as the sun does down they will begin to show up and glow.

Since my knees are bad and my husband has twisted his knee we will be driving in our little gator and will be launching them as we pass by......moooohahahaha!!! I usually lose my whole bag to one of my sons as they run by and snatch it from me. I am a sitting duck for most everybody. But not this year!!
Either way it is a blast of fun!!

So now I am off to finish all of the last minute touches for today. But before I go I did want to give you a recipe of some Bunny Bait I made last night, it is yummy!! Bloom Designs online blog has recipe for this sweet treat. Stop by and  check it out it is simple, and very pretty. I wish I could have found the Easter M&M it would have looked better, but trust me it stills tastes great!

And if you still need a last minute craft then stop by Rosy-Posy for a tutorial on wet felting Easter eggs. She has a wonderful blog always full of so many great family crafts and recipes.

  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend full on family and friends,and lots of good food...... and a few sweet treats too!
God bless us all as we come together remembering the real reason for this glorious weekend. That Jesus lives!!

HE died for us so that we can live for HIM! Happy Easter!!!

My Mind and How It Doesn't Work

I love how my mind can lead down so many wandering paths. But so often never in the direction I had set out to go. I have to laugh at this because what else can I do.
Recently I was watching a show in my office only about half listening to be honest called The Revolution.

It has several hosts and they tackle just about any topic know to man. Ty Pennington is one of the hosts from Extreme Makeover. In this particular episode he was revealing his struggles with A.D.H.D. That suddenly got my attention! So I called my daughter in law and said please turn on The Revolution ( a link to see this episode and understand). Luckily my 9 yr old grandson was home,so we watched this and stayed on the phone.

Ty set up a ping pong table with two of the hosts. While they played he began to throw extra balls at them and had the audience cheering and clapping loudly. He started to throw lots of other things across the table and tossed them yummy snacks that they couldn't avoid. Then the best part he started to ask them simple questions that they were to answer while they played ping pong and dodge all of these items. I was laughing so hard by this point......I knew where he was going!

When they stopped because they were so confused and it was a messy crazy riot by then, he asked them if they could concentrate. They of course said, absolutely not. He said" Welcome to my world"
I felt like for the very FIRST time I was completely understood! WOW! Yes that is my brain and that is my daily world.
They went on to discuss how these people who deal with either ADHD or ADD are usually always creative and intelligent. Well I'm not sure about the second one but I do know that creative juices flow through my worn out brain CONSTANTLY! If I am unable to act on these ideas my day can become completely out of order. That's why I now always carry a notebook and a bag of my sewing.....it soothes this savage beast hahaha!
Gosh it brought back flashes from when I was a kid and could not sit and concentrate. It's a wonder that I made it to my mid 50's and was then diagnosed.

Dr. Ned Hallowell explaining the symptoms on The Revolution

The specialist on the show explained that 85% of adults are walking around un-diagnosed and usually have not succeeded in life due to this condition! Something like 8 million people have this. The doctor explained that left undiagnosed this condition can lead to under achievement,depression,addition and worse. He said that our prisons are loaded with people who are undiagnosed and have taken their lives down many a wrong road.How sad is that? What great minds in past centuries were thought of as crazy or were punished or hurt due to this condition?

Or did we do this to ourselves with all of our modern technology.This I wonder about this, and well a gazillion other things.
There are days I dream of life in Mayberry where people neighbored and simply sat on the porch fanning themselves and visiting each other. No purpose,no work, and no not a waste of time either. But I can't do that! I simply CAN NOT do that. I crave it, I dream about it, but I can not do it.

I must create, and must make something or I will go cRaZy......crazy I tell you!
I do take medication.............Oops.......gulp....I nearly forgot to take it again today. That's my problem I forget to take it. The very minute my eyes open and my feet hit the floor I am doing something. My mind begins to toss ideas and it's a blur after that. Sure,sure I'm not as fast as I use to be.I wonder if my bad knees are a subconscious way of making me sit and finish,oh who knows,wait a minute.....what was I talking about hahaha see!! But sitting and reading or writing a post on this blog becomes something I make myself do. I enjoy both very,very much,that isn't the point. But I must force myself to do it. Because the moment I sit down to begin, A MILLION other distractions flash before me and I am up and suddenly cleaning out a box in a back closet no one had seen in years.
So I never have ONE idea of something to create or do,oh no....hahaha....oh my I wish. No I always have dozens of them AT THE SAME TIME!

It's a wonder people like me ever get anything finished really, and see that's where it's sad because we don't not without help. But once you understand you sort of learn how to make yourself follow through to the end and stay focused........but one phone call, or a birds tiny chirp outside my window,or a leaf blowing by can change all of that, and suddenly your off in another direction or topic!!

If you only knew what I had originally sat down with my lap top to write about.............................................you certainly would laugh out loud..........oh look a chicken, hum gets me thinking!
I hope I didn't wear you all out with this post. But can you just imagine what it's like for us on the inside. Well it's exhausting to say the least.......Seeee Yaaaa got lots to do............=)
Oh look a chicken!

Repurposing Old Memories

            Since my Dad passed away we have been clearing out his condo and dividing up all of his belongings among family members.It was very important to us that everyone,grandchildren,great grandchildren, niece and nephews were able to have something that once belonged to our parents. Many items have ended up in my basement. Mainly to allow me to have some time to think and not just toss things out.

Among tons of items were lots of his trophy's. You see my Dad was an awesome golfer,bowler and softball pitcher. I believe had he not followed in his father's foot steps, banking, he could have been a professional golfer. He even had a few trophies from his years of living in Sarasota Fla for shuffleboard! So needless to say he had a lot of trophy's.

Below is a photo of Dad (second from the right) presenting Jim Clark a trophy for the poll position at the Indianapolis 500 in 1965. Jim Clark ended up winning that year. Over Jim's shoulder is a man named Colin Chapman who was the head of Team Lotus. This was the first year for a rear engine car.Dad was very active for many, many years with the Indy 500. It was a passion of his,and as a banker he was in charge of many of the gates ticket sales,of course before computers came on the scene.

A year or so before he died he took a large number of them, removed the name plaques and donated them. He being the ever practical man never wasted anything, or accumulated an abundance of anything that simply wasn't necessary. Waste not want not could have been his motto, if he'd had one.



Just a small group of his much loved trophies


I have been racking my brain for ideas of how to incorporate these trophies into my home..... in a useful way not just on a shelf or stored away in a box.
Yesterday I stumbled upon a blog called Just Something I made. Cathe a graphic designer,crafter,and blogger shared a great idea. Re-purposed trophies , turning trophies into cupcake stands! What a marvelously, fun idea.



Before

  First she took some yard sale trophies,took them apart,and then spray painted them silver.


After

 She then painted the bases in a bright, fun hot pink.



Before



After

 I really like this idea because we could repurpose a few of them and then give them to family members as a fun way to remember Dad. I think this is better than just throwing them in a box and putting them in the basement. I know the first one I take apart I will feel as if I'm destroying one of his cherished objects. But I also know Dad's sensible logic ,and he would be proud that we are actually using them and that they serve a purpose!



The finished product

 Here are a couple other great ideas she had for old trophies.

A coat rack by Kate Pruitt. This would be so cute to use some of my son's baseball trophies and pass them down to their son's.

Wine bottle stoppers found in this months Country Living made by Shannon Vance and Robin Sweeney from their blog Stash Style. I know I love giving wine with a wine a nice wine bottle stopper as a gift. What would make it even more fun would be a stopper from a family trophy. This I hope to do soon ,and I hope when I do they turn out as good as these.

Putting My Shop Out There

         I'm not sure if I've mentioned that I have entered into advertising several months back. I feel it's so important to put yourself ,or your shop out there in order be seen. You can't sit and hope customers will find you,you have to try and get in front of them. It's also important to find the right places to show the world your products. I will say that I am as green as they come in this wonderful, wide web world. So trust me every day has been a learning experience.

Last year I found a wonderful blog and just started advertising there this month. It's called Mr. Goodwill Hunting and his name is Rashon Carraway. He is a decorator,stylist,and thrift hunter. He has it all, I like to call it the magic of creating a look,and a style from vintage, thrifted treasures!! I admire people like Rashon who have the vision to be able see just how wonderful these items will look in a room. They can see how a new coat of  paint or some new fabric can transpire something okay into something fabulous! This talent I do not have. I wish I did because I have just filled my basement with tons of items from my parents home that I hope to add to mine someday. But this will take some magic! So of course I'm hoping I can learn a few tricks from this talented stylish man.

Rashon has appeared many times on The Nate Berkus Show. I rarely have time to watch TV during that time of day, but if I know he will be appearing I always dvr it. He often travels and does speaking engagements in various areas of the country. I am hope, hope, hoping someday soon he will visit here in my area,Louisville Ky.That would be so much fun to actually get to meet him in person!

You can find him here at his blog, here on face book and here where he sells many of his great classy finds like the one below.

You can also find him here at my favorite place Pinterest. He has lots of boards full of items that reflect his style and charm.Stop by and say hi ,you will so enjoy your visit!