Burst of crafting

Give me a couple hours alone, and I'll give you some new things for my Etsy shop.

It's been awhile.  I have had materials laying upstairs in my craft room waiting to be finished, but something always gotten in the way.

Maybe it's just because I'm better under pressure.  It's almost time to go back to work, and I'm feeling the need to stock the shop when I have some extra time.

Brent and the kids went to move the sheep this afternoon, and I headed upstairs, turned on the TV to a random afternoon movie, and got to work.

Of course, usually when I'm finished with the things I make to list in the store, I usually want to keep them for myself!

Anyway, here is a little preview...


I didn't make these items myself, but I have had them for years with some other vintage sporting equipment in my living room.  Time to pass them on to a good home. 

Miniature vintage bowling trophies.

Distressed aqua bulletin boards...

 

and chalkboards...

Pistachio green ones...

and a mustard yellow ornate frame...   SO hard to part with.

I use all these colors in my own home, so whatever doesn't sell, I could always use for myself.

If you haven't lately, check out my shop.  Just click the link in the sidebar.

Happy Shopping!

Mother Nature...Seriously.

On Grace's birthday, Jan. 27, we had a snow day from school.  She was ecstatic!

TODAY it's Evan's birthday, March 12, and school was closed again for a blizzard.  He was ecstatic too, but REALLY?!!!

To get over my disappointment in Mother Nature, I'm posting some pics of things I would like to use in/change/try in my garden and flower beds this year...I mean, if we ever get to that point in our weather!

(Yesterday was 50 degrees, and the snow we've had all winter was melting.  Today, in the 20's with a blizzard...we must be living in a snow globe!)

Anyway, here are some ideas found on Pinterest.com.  (The links may not directly relate to the image shown, but are linked to the site where they came from.)

My patio needs some help this year...and this one is beautiful.

Every year I move around, split, change the perennials in my flower beds, maybe this year I'll add some pots...

link here

and some lavender in galvanized buckets...

link here

and maybe move my chippy white metal gates (or find a metal headboard) to the flower beds.

link here

For my porch or patio, I would like to add some points of interest.  Like painted chairs...

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or galvanized trash cans (I picked some up at an auction last year)

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I did find some pictures of things I already have myself, but it's good to see how I can use them now...

like the wheelbarrow we have that has seen better days, but would work great as a planter...

link here

or the vintage tricycle I bought at a garage sale YEARS ago...I just need to get a bike basket...

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I even have an old chandelier to try this with.

link here

All in all, I'm excited to start planning for these things for summer.  Getting my hands in the dirt of my flower beds always seems to center me.  I'm reshaping the small bits of nature I'm in charge of each year. 

Now, to get all THIS snow to melt!

Collections

I don't remember having a "collection" of anything really when I was growing up. 

At least nothing that I LOVED greatly and wanted to decorate my room with. 

Maybe I'm wrong and my mom will correct me on that later.

As a "grown up," my collections have kind of changed over the years.

For awhile it was some longaberger baskets.  Then small glass jars for the kitchen window and small tin lunch boxes.  I had (and still have some) vintage glasses and trinkets.

For now, and for awhile, my main collections have been maps/globes, and aqua mason jars.

I have a lot of both.

And I've displayed them in different ways over the years.

I've gotten my collections passed down to me and I've purchased some myself at garage sales and Goodwill.

I try to only collect the ones that I LOVE because I know too much really is too much.

Displaying them is sometimes challenging, so I try to spread them out all around the house.

I've looked at websites on how to display collections like this site: and Pinterest of course. 

I've checked out books at the library, and favored ones like this:

which you can buy here.

Grace used to have a collection of Eeyore stuffed animals and Brent STILL has a collection of toy tractors. 

What is your collection/love?

It's been utter relaxation

I can't remember a better Christmas Break.

Truly.

Once all the hustle and bustle and stress of getting ready for the Holidays was over, we've had a great time just hanging out.

Sure, the day after Christmas, we did a crazy thing and went with Brent over to Mishawaka to the mall, and out to eat.  The kids had money to blow after all, and we love FIVE GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES.

It was CRAZY busy, and the traffic was ridiculous, but we still had a fun day.

Brent took off of work alot of the time the kids and I were off from work and school, and we've had a GREAT time watching A LOT of movies, and just hanging out.

Over Christmas we learned how to play Dutch Blitz (card game for those who don't know.)

and we've been having crazy hours long tournaments after supper. 

I've had to ask for breaks since Brent wanted to play it EVERY NIGHT.    He's a little competitive!

We've went to high school basketball games, and out with friends.

I've also tried to do a lot of organizing around the house.  A new year ALWAYS makes me want to clean out the clutter of the past year  years.  Let's be honest.  I have a trunk load of stuff to take to Goodwill once the roads are good enough for me to get out.

I've rearranged some things around the house too now that the Christmas Decorations are tucked away for another year.

I've even caught up on scrapbooking (2 years worth!)

I've been putting it off for a long while, but it felt great to get it finished caught up.
 
We've had time for Starbucks (on the way to get groceries.)

and wearing new footie pajamas.

We've seen snow (currently in the middle of a storm), and dry grass.

We've hunkered down on the couch...

and LOVED it. 

It will be hard to go back to work/school, but I'm calling this the best break we've had for awhile!

Hope you all have had a great break too!