Kate's Quilt {first step}

rainy weekend = design my quilt

made quite some progress, and I am so exicted to see the final piece...

go here to see the prep I've already done

I have such a knowledgeable mother...THANKS MOM, without you who knows what my quilt would look like....SCARY!

Counting...decisions...picking favorites..ha!

writing up the directions and designing the actual quilt...adore it!

this is the center of the quilt....ekk...happiness!

hope you are all as excited as I am...even if you're not...pretend :)

Shower Caps?!

I made shower caps...

I know you may be thinking..."WHAT?!" they are SUPER cheap at the store, why would you make them...

my reasons:

1. I have curly hair (that I straighten sometimes)....and I don't wash my hair every day! I really disliked how with normal shower caps the hair around my face always got wet still.  They never seemed tight enough?!

2. I wanted to see if a clear one made me look more normal....

3. Companies never seem to 'finish' them properly.  The elastic eventually streched out and made the cap looser!

4. I love food shower caps for bowls.  So, I figured with the leftovers I'd make some :) AND these are clear so you can see into the bowl to see what deliciousness is inside..yum!



Draw your circles on the clear plastic (purchased at JoAnns)

 

Cut out the circles (I discovered it was almost impossible to use the serger with the smaller circles..oh well)



Our Epic FAIL....we (my mom and I) cut the elastic to fit our heads.  Then when we attempted to strech the elastic out to the edge around the circle....no go!  So.....

while using my mom's serger (sp?!) I pleated the plastic as I sewed around: PERFECT!

working my magic

Finished caps! They are perfect and my hair NEVER gets wet now, we'll see how long they last.. 

I do still get belly laughs from my hubby Geoff....it does kinda look like a space helmet (which is why you don't see a picture of me modeling it...hehe)!

With the other cap who wouldn't want to cover this delicious dish (p.s. one of my summer favorites-YUM)

can I just tell you how truly excited I am by little things....

I saw these beautifully decorated candles over here at Butterscotch Caramel and became instantly obsessed and intrigued...

It was Saturday evening and I had to try it IMMEDIATELY....around oh 11:00ish (bedtime for this old woman).  My husband even took part in the trial run (it is just that cool), he couldn't help himself...ha, how I love that man! 

This project truly takes ~10 min. and I absolutely ADORE my finished candle!!!!



...DAYTIME...



...nightime...

It makes me smile every time I see it!  I created the emblem on publisher and followed the technique shown on Butterscotch Caramel (you HAVE to go see it....it is so easy and cool).  Mine turned out more 'vintage' looking and I'm not sure why, but I LOVE IT!!

Doesn't it look GREAT?!

I'm watching Newsies tonight per a student request and drinking my delcious Oregon Berry Smoothie out of my Just Married mug....and enjoying the gorgeous flickering of my candle (which by the way I got on a GREAT sale at kroger for a few bucks)!

How much longer am I considered 'Just Married'?! HA, or am I already past that!?

.happy.mother's.day.

I created this for my sweet mother! It has been on my craft table for oh....probably years, and I (well my husband really kinda inspired me to do it) decided this year was the year to finish it!

I LOVE IT....lets start at the top! (kinda wanted to keep it....)
...reminder: click on the picture to enlarge!...

mom and dad on their honeymoon



left: me right: brother, cousin, me fishing in MI



left: brother and mom right: me and mom



far left: me left: mom/dad
right: brother far right: mom/dad on honeymoon

"family tree"

 I hand painted/grained the wood and then created my picture ornaments to hang!

~happy mother's day~

.have a celebratory weekend.

when life gives you lemons...

Another thrift store find upgrade, everything you see (except for my assistant pup) was purchased for under $5.00 TOTAL! I (Kate) did this over spring break and have been enjoying it on my mantle!
Simple easy project....

gross bottom of the candle stick



removed a gross tin decorative plate (not pictured) and cork...then sanded!





this is hand painted and with a 'faux wood grain' LOVE IT!



I super glued the candle stick to the wood!



"When life gives you lemons...make a display case!"

(p.s. bought the lemons at the thrift store as well... for a huge bag only a $1.50--smell like lemons too)



On the mantle!



Spring Project

Before:

I bought all of the items at a local Thrift Store! 2 plates and a candle stick for $1.50 total--LOVE a good deal!

I stacked them ahead of time (see below) before I painted the candle stick.

I stuck with painting the candle stick a simple dark brown to pull colors from both plates.

I super-glued the candle stick first to the top plate then to the bottom!



final beautiful product...I can't wait to use it to display yummy treats!

I entered this project above to The CSI Project for their Unique Gift Challenge! I think this would be great to give as a Mother's Day, Teacher Appreciation (being one I know I'd love this!) or just an anytime gift. Go check out the other projects who linked up, enjoy and be inspired.

I fought the lawn and I won!

oh how the skies opened and the rain fell...
Cincy has seen the most rain in one month EVER....
and we've all truly felt it...



Mower got stuck a LOT...rocking and rolling!



You can tell how I felt about this....



Mid-break to distract the concerned pup...

  
Geoff and I finally finished...we weeded/plucked/whacked/kneeled and 100% felt the pain!  I think I bruised my right hand from extreme digging!

We purchased a weeding product that is new to us called Preen.  We spread some out and I'll let you know if it works!
                                           
Planning on starting the garden this next weekend...we'll see!!

How I felt when we finally finished......sweaty and gross, but FINISHED!

(as you can see, bless them, my neighbors hadn't started yet...HARD WORK)

I think all Cincinnatians spent their weekends in their yard.