These moments are what life is all about

It is my pleasure to introduce you to my nephew, Sawyer Brooks Connally. He was born a couple days before Christmas... and oh what a wonderful Christmas present he was. I am so in love with him!

In this photo he is wearing a precious little hat that I purchased for him from Baby Gap in Pentagon City.

Quickie Project

Pheww....I just survived one of the worst stomach flu's I think I have every experienced. It was one of those sicknesses where, at the time, death sounded like a sweet release....(*slight sarcasm*)....but I do remember having that thought. As soon as I recouped a little, and could stand up straight again, I grabbed my staple gun and did a quick craft project.

So...Ryan and I bought two old coffee bags a couple years ago when the original Greencastle Coffee Roasters was closing...and I got very close to throwing them away a couple times. But then it dawned on me that I should just staple them to a canvas. The coffee bags make a great statement piece and would look great on a wall in a coffee shop (or just in a home).

This project was one of the easiest projects ever. The hardest part was just trying to keep the coffee bags aligned correctly on the canvas before stapling them into place.

These canvas' are up for sale for $25 buckaroos a piece so feel free to contact me if interested. The dimensions are 24'' x 30''.

I hope that this project inspires you.

Stay healthy ya' here ;  )

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Sweet Sweater Pillow!

This year for my mom's christmas present, I designed a pillow made from a thrift store sweater. The sweater was an XL mens sweater that had never been worn. The BIGGER the sweater the better because  you get more material to play around with. For this pillow I was using a 24" square pillow insert I purchased from Ikea.

First, cut your out your sweater,  and sew the sides together, leaving an opening on the bottom so that you can later on insert your pillow filler.

For the finishing touch I added a rosette pin. To create the rosette pin you cut your fabric into about a 5'' strip, and make a small knot at the end of the fabric. You then fold your fabric and wrap it around the knot  and glue and twist until you have your rosette. Add fabric on the back to secure it and and add a pin and your are done. The whole project took just about an hour to complete. Super simple and super cute.

Here are some pictures of the finished product.

Merry Christmas Eve EVERYONE!!!!!!!!

I know this is a last minute post but I wanted to really quickly wish everyone a Merry Christmas and to also share an awesome movie suggestion to watch with your family over the Christmas break. Of course Miracle on 34th Street and It's a Wonderful Life are the classics....but this year in addition to those classics I am taking Seven Brides for Seven Brothers to watch with my family this year. It is a great older movie with lots of humor and and in the end they all get snowed in together so it is a great Christmas movie : ) You will love it. So this year if you are looking for a new movie to watch with your family as you are cuddled up on the couch with your new fuzzy reindeer socks that your aunt got you for Christmas....maybe watch Seven Brides for Seven Brothers?!?!...ok...haha.

Merry Christmas Everyone and God Bless you as you enter the new year!!!

Stiffel Lamp Renovation- For Sale

This is my second lamp renovation within a 2 month time span. For some reason I just keep finding old lamps with great potential pleading for a makeover!!! And me being the nice...thoughtful person that I am...I just can't refuse :) This new lamp renovation is one of my favorites. It is a little more involved than the first one I did, but the results make the extra work so worth it.

First off, I found an old Stiffel lamp at a local store in Frederick, MD for a great price. I loved the details on the lamp base and the shape of the shade. Some of the things I did not like was:

1. The lamp shade fabric was old and yellowing
2. The brass on the lamp looked dingy and dark
3. The wiring in the lamp was old and no longer worked.

I know this is a long list of negatives.....however, I was willing to take on the challenge because I really wanted to learn how to rewire a lamp, and I also wanted to try a new idea I had for a lampshade. This lamp was a perfect candidate!

Once I got home I researched the Stiffel lamp and found out that they are a collectors item and are worth  anywhere from $180.00 to $300.00 on ebay. How exciting! I had no idea it was worth that much when I bought it. I knew then that instead on painting over the brass I wanted to just enhance the finish so that the lamp still retained its signature look.

So here is the reveal.........

Before:

Not quite the looker!!

Dark Brass....ewe.

AND AFTER!!!!!

The first change I did with the help of my husband Ryan was to re-wire the lamp. The old cord not only did not work, but it looked like a fire hazard. So I bought a rewiring kit from Home Depot. You can find them in the lighting section.

I then added a new 3-way bulb and held my breath as I turned the knob....and it WORKED!!!!!

So now I have a functioning 3-way lamp!

Second, I refinished the lamp. To do this I used a little product called rub'n buff, in the color: Antique Gold. The antique gold color gives a warm finish as apposed to the cold brass. This stuff works great! You buy it in a little tube but one tube could refinish two floor lamps!

I applied mine with a paint brush as apposed to a rag. I liked the texture that the paint brush gave.

The last step was to transform the lamp shade. I cut off all of the former fabric to reveal the inside frame. I then sewed a linen fabric with a lining underneath to fit around the frame. Be sure to allow some extra fabric to be able to create the gathers. Then I added the grommets to the top and in the middle. To create the gathers you insert ribbon through the grommets in the middle and tie them around the fabric with a bow.  I love the look of this shade. Plus the shade is completely adjustable due to the ribbon which is another great aspect of this design. The shade is fun and flirty and takes away some of the formalness of the lamp!

I am putting this lamp up for sale so if you are interested in buying it please send me a message. Until then I am going to enjoy it in my own home.

Thanks for reading!!!!! And Merry Christmas!!!!!

Kiss Cookies (Smoochy...Smoochy!?!)

Okay...I am about to share one of my most favoritest cookie recipes in the whole world. The cookies taste sooooo amazing and the recipe is very simple. Once you eat your first coookie you will be so overcome with joy and happiness that you are going to kiss the first person you see...haha. Maybe that is why thay are called Kiss Cookies....of course it has nothing to do with the fact that there is a hershey kiss in the center ; )!!!!

So here is the recipe...

1 c. butter, softened
1/8 tsp. salt, scant
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 c. chopped nuts, optional (I never put nuts in mine : ) )
5 3/4 oz. chocolate kisses

Cream together butter, salt, sugar, vanilla. Add 2 cups flour, nuts. Chill dough 3 - 4 hours or overnight. Unwrap the chocolate kisses. Press 1 tablespoon of chilled dough around each kiss. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet, 350 degrees for 12 mintues. Cover cookies in powder sugar once they come out of the oven and have cooled...and enjoy!

                                     

Hope you love the cookies! Oh and FYI, I am working on lots of craft projects right now. They are all currently in the spare room of my apartment so it looks like I am a hoarder. Can't wait to complete the projects...blog about them...and then sell them so I have more space : )