Ruffles and White Lilacs

The other day I made a pillow from Rachel Ashwell fabric that I have had in my stash for years, and last night I made a sweet little ruffled runner for my nightstand to match.

I love this sweet fabric but have to admit it is hard to work with. I have trouble getting a straight pin through even one thickness of it. It seems maybe the weave is very tight? I do remember at the time the fabric was pretty expensive...maybe I am just used to cheap fabric:) But it does looks lovely on my bed as a pillow, and now on my nightstand too.

A little white lilac I planted last year is starting to bloom. Makes me so happy I planted it! It is so sweet and delicate..I think it may be a dwarf lilac but I can't remember. Note to self, leave the tag on for at least a year.

I looked up what a white lilac is the symbol for and it said "youth and innocence". I so agree..it reminds me of pure innocence like a child has. There is nothing sweeter than that.

The rain is again with us here in the Pacific Northwest but forecast says we will have a beautiful weekend..may even make it to 70 degrees!

Spring is filling me with the urge to be creative so stay tuned for more projects.

Thanks for visiting! Receiving your sweet comments makes my day!

Weekend Stuff

This has been another enjoyable weekend. I love the weekends. I love being able to sleep in, I love having the kids at home with me.

One project I wanted to share if this stool I painted for my Mother. It used to be her Mother's.

I did the lace technique that I like so much. Mom likes it too I guess because she asked me to do it for her. It started out looking like this..

It is much prettier now:) Mom really likes it and my Dad called to tell me this morning that he really likes it too.

This weekend I got a lot done in the yard! But even though I get so much done there is so much more to do! If the weather cooperates I may be able to catch up!

I planted some Glads. I have more to plant. Aren't these pretty colors? I can't wait to be able to cut these for the house!

More and more blooms in the garden everyday!

I have to share these pictures of Chantel on the trampoline...I played with these on PicMonkey. She is such a crazy kid:)

I wish I could borrow some of her energy!

And last but not least..our walk to Sonic tonight. The kids, the dogs and I all walked to Sonic and got ice cream cones and snacks. I think it is about a 3 mile trip probably.

Janae bought a hamburger for the dogs to share..Bella liked it the best

Sonic has something for everyone!

Chantel thinks I take too many pictures!

When we got home the dogs were pretty tuckered out...I guess it is really a long walk for their little legs!

I hope everyone had a good weekend. Thanks for visiting!

Happy Anniversary Janae and Sidney

Today is the 5 year anniversary for my oldest daughter Janae, and her boyfriend Sidney. Five years is a long time to be together for such a young couple! They were high school sweethearts. We marked the occasion by taking their portraits at a nearby park.

I am so proud of both of them and I wish them many many more years together! What beautiful Grandchildren I will have someday:)

Thanks for visiting!

Rachel Ashwell Pillow

Several years ago when we first realized we would be moving and downsizing I started planning what I hoped for our new rooms to look like. I found this Rachel Ashwell fabric and wanted to base the whole look of my bedroom (which I do share with my husband) to look like. Well, I decorated the room and am so happy with it but still hadn't used the fabric! So last night I made a pillow.

In the tradition of Rachel Ashwell,  I didn't want to embellish it too much.  I just wanted it to be comfy and inviting and let the pretty fabric shine. I was able to find the Pottery Barn pillow form at our local thrift store for $1.15. It is so comfy cushy.

I think this fabric has been retired for awhile and I can't remember what the pattern is called. I just remember when I saw it I really wanted my bedroom to look like this fabric. I think I was able to do that!

I put some of the flowers Janae got me for Easter in our room. They are still looking so gorgeous! 

Below is a lampshade I posted several months ago. You can see the post here.  A lot of people have thought it is a coffee filter lampshade but actually it is made of fabric ruffles. The actual lamp is changed from the post when I made the lampshade. I love this lamp! Several months ago I saw it from a distance at Goodwill and did the fast walk over to it. You know, you don't want to look too excited or others will get to it first. It is from the Simply Shabby Chic line and still had it's tags. It was only $3.99. Love it!

The lamp has a vintage look. I love the Simply Shabby Chic line.

Now I am thinking I may make table runners for our nightstands with this fabric too. That will look pretty! 

Better get back to thrifting and creating...my favorite pastimes!

Thanks for visiting!

Look what came today!

I am so excited. Awhile ago I ordered a climbing Eden rose from David Austin roses. They said it would be sent when fear of freezing in our area was over. So I guess that means no more snow for us!

Today when coming home from my daily walk with my Mom there it was sitting by the front door. I thought they might send me an e-mail saying it was on it's way or something..but they didn't. I am so excited to have this rose.

Here is what it looks like when I opened the box...

I have never ordered a bareroot rose before but it seems it looks healthy to me! I have the roots sitting overnight in a bucket of water as the instructions say to do.

I can't wait until the day it looks like this...

It was like Christmas in April...because also at the front door was my paint sample from Home Depot. I love their no shipping paint samples. They are so great for making into chalk paint and doing projects with! I wanted this color after I saw Sissie had painted a chair with it. It is called Delicate Blush. I love it!!!

Well, I am off to do some sewing.  I did quite a bit of housework today so I get to reward myself with working on a project. That week I was sick really made me fall behind on the housework. I hate that. It is so hard trying to catch back up. So glad to be almost back to normal. Thank goodness for vitamin C!

Hope this finds everybody enjoying spring (April showers in our case!) and maybe finding time to be creative. Thanks for taking time out to visit!

PicMonkey is fun!

I have been hearing a lot about PicMonkey lately and so thought I would check it out. My hopes of being the Energizer bunny this week have not yet kicked in, so sitting on the computer seems like about at what my energy level is at. So please understand I never do anything to my photos. I am not computer smart at all and so what I did here is totally simple and easy! Also, it is free to use their site, which fits in my budget:) So here is a picture of some beautiful flowers that Janae gave me for Easter (I so love them!)

Here is after I played with it on PicMonkey...

Here are the kids before...

Here are the kids after...

Another flower picture, before...

after..

Before...

after...

Before...

After..



 and the same photo again..

Kind of fun to know it is there. I am sure that with practice I will figure out what effects work the best for what I like. I think I may have softened these a bit much..but I do like being able to soften the edges. 

Just thought I'd share--it is really easy! Like I said, it is free, so that makes it fun to play.

Thanks for visiting!