My New Sewing Space!

Here is what I've done so for now in my sewing space. It is a really big improvement from what it was before. It's just lots more organized and clean!  I love it.

I worked in here today trying to figure out my new serger.  I thought I could remember how to thread it and what tensions to set it on...but of course not!  It took me back MANY years when I first learned the sewing machine. I would get so mad at it any time something went wrong.

I reminded myself that I conquered that with help, and I will conquer the serger too. I called the place where I got it and signed right up for a class. They don't offer one until next month though, so I'll do as much figuring out until then.

My new rolly chair!

The finished pegboard.  I am loving the simplicity of it. I know right where everything is and it's only a reach away.

See how we made the pegboard here.

I got these little metal buckets at hobby lobby.  I think they were only about a dollar a piece. Amazon has several different options for pegboard hardware. That's where I ordered mine from.

I'm so excited to have a clean, organized space with places to put things.  That is the biggest help.  I can't wait to get to sewing on all my pillows!  I have lots of work to do.

Couches, Patterns, & Color

image

image

image

image

Striped Wall

My sister in law came over the other evening and gave me lots of fun ideas for our house.  I guess it just takes someone else sometimes to get you motivated to do some things that you've been too afraid to do.  I LOVE color. I love fun. I love out of the ordinary, non matching, eclectic style. Sarah helped motivate me to add a little of the color part to our home. I have been afraid of messing up, but it's just paint right?

I also love these bold stripes in grey and white. I'd like to do one wall like this in our living room. I have a can of grey from our office that I think would work...so it wouldn't cost anything!

Office Revamp...

I am still working on getting the pegboard ready to go. My mom came over and helped me organize and straighten some things up. It was much much needed. I have trouble seeing what needs to be done when I see the mess every day.

Her helping me on a few things turned in to me moving a few things around and going through lots of papers and little junk that has needed to be thrown away for a LONG time!  So thanks mom=)

It feels so good to get stuff like that done.

I got my zippers in for my pillows so I am SOOO excited to get to finishing up some of those!  I still have lots of work to do though. I am planning on having my site up and ready to go by the end of summer!!  I can't even wait.  I have LOTs of sewing, designing, and number crunching to do until then.

I just wanted to get my sewing area organized and how I like it before I go full force on the pillows.  Sometimes messes just make me get all unsettled and unfocused. I need cleanliness in order to get things done.

SO....

Here are a few things I've been looking at to help get my space feeling like a real sewing center!

This desk found at Crate and Barrel ( in white)...

Justin and my brother are going to make it for me this weekend if all goes well!  I'm so excited! It will be so nice to have more room to work with.

I was looking for a fun rolly chair too, so I can easily move back and forth from my new serger to my sewing machine...since I'll be using both regularly.  I saw this one on amazon and loved it. I've never quite seen a chair like it.

Justin was looking for a chair too since he works from home.  He has been sitting on an exercise ball for the past year. I don't know how he's done that for 8 hrs a day...but he liked it for a time.   Anyway, he ordered this one for himself... and got me the one I liked too!  He's such a sweet guy...  I'm excited!

So there you have it.  Lots of home office changes for us coming up. I think they will really be nice. I'm looking forward to some organization and some nice seating!

DIY Craft Pegboard: Stage 1

I've been wanting to make a craft pegboard for a while now to go in my sewing room.  I've been wanting one above my sewing desk to neatly store my scissors, thread, tags, notions, etc.  I bought the supplies for it the other day and started making it today after church...with the help of Justin.  It didn't take long at all!  I'm so excited about REALLY getting organized and getting rid of some of the clutter that is always on my desk!  I hope this helps.

Supplies:

Best Pear Muffins Ever!

My mom has a cookbook full of delicious muffin recipes.  This is by far my favorite!  I just bought some pears to try it out again.  It was even better than I remembered it. You have to try it!  Even if you don't love pears...you might just love these!

$6 Toms Look-A-Likes

I know Toms are a big thing right now...and I'm glad they are because they help support a great cause.  I'm not trying to take any business away from them, but I found these fun flats at Dollar General the other day. They are really comfy and REALLY cheap!

I got these for $6.  They have them in black, glitter silver, and grey like mine.  They might have more options too...but those were my favs.  Hope you can go and get some!

Have a great Friday!

More Wedding Pics

Here are the last pics I'll share with you from the Beautiful wedding.  I loved so many parts about it. There were so many creative people and ideas everywhere.  The most important thing is that they got married and are happy=)

Here is the Sanctuary.  It turned out really fun with a canopy of fabric strips and hanging paper firecrackers.  My two sister sang a duet in the wedding.  Man...do I wish I had it recorded and I would play it for you!  It was the most beautiful song I have ever heard. ( Not that I'm biased or anything) ...

Whimsical streamers made by family of bride.

Wedding Sneak Peek...

I wanted to share a few pics from Chloe and Jared's Wedding that I had the privilege of helping with. It was such a beautiful wedding, full of life and love.  There were so many fun people there to share in the joy.

It was tons of fun helping put some of these ideas together with the bride and her family.
Janae Hardy took these BEAUTIFUL photos.

Here are some of the beautiful sisters and the bouquets I made.

My mom completely ripped this dress apart and re-made it to fit Chloe to a T.  She changed the design and cut of the dress and it turned out exquisite! Chloe looked Gorgeous!

Here is the entry into the Church.

Thanks to All who helped!  Mary and Lauren with Bringing it Together really did bring all our ideas together and made the reception look beautiful.  Thanks.

More to come tomorrow=)

Have a great Wednesday.

Living Room: Creating Height

Happy Tuesday!  Hope you're enjoying it so far.  I wanted share a little decor tip with you today.  I have had the hardest time in our living room and dining room with knowing how to decorate and fill the space. I LOVE our tall ceilings and am so thankful we have them, but they are a bit of a challenge.

I've been wanting to get a book shelf for the living room to help fill one wall. All we had were short decor pieces; an end table, the couch and a little entry table/cabinet.  I had been looking and looking here in town for a nice one, but just hadn't been able to find one in good shape for a reasonable price.  

I got this shelf in Chicago at IKEA. Yes...we drove it all the way from Chicago to Springfield.  It was in a box, but a long one that barely fit in my mom's van. My poor sisters willingly agreed to let me try and take it home. We all rotated sleeping under and around the thing the whole way back. Thanks K&K...I will always remember our trip when I look at the shelf =) 

Pillow Prints: The Designs

I hope you all had a great easter weekend. We had some really good time with our families this weekend, enjoying lots of fellowship, food, and egg hunts.  We were able to eat out on the back deck for one meal and it was so much fun. I love this weather!

Here are a few pillow prints I am working on now. I still need to sew them all up.  I'm just ordered the zippers on Friday.  Am waiting on them to get here.

I kept putting that off because I didn't know what kind to go with/where to get them for the best deal, etc.  I kinda freeze up when I don't know what decision to make...but I think I'm happy with the one I made.  I guess I'll find out this week!

Thanks to my hubs for helping me put my ideas to life in photoshop.  They would not look NEAR as good without him!

*The copper arrow pillow is actually a foil material. It is a really neat thing to work with. The print has a shiny/metal look to it. I'm really excited about that one!

Hope you all have a great day!

The Joys of Easter

Happy Good Friday to you!  Like I've been saying lots lately...I love this time of year.  I'm sure you're tired of hearing that by now...but it's true.  The new life that it brings truly is incredible.

There is nothing more amazing than what Christ did for us on the cross and I love how he reminds us of that every spring.

New life.
Grace. 
Blessings. 
Forgiveness.
Peace.
Love.




I am so thankful.

I wanted to share some fun easter ideas I found. I wish I had time to try them all!

1.) Brownie Eggs!   Found Here

Lilacs...The Sweetest Spring Aroma

I love lilacs! It's funny how you really start to notice things later on in life. My parents have lilacs at their house and all growing up, I don't think I realized how incredibly beautiful they were.  I have been appreciate the little things more this spring. There is so much beauty in just one tiny petal!  Take time to really look!  It's incredible.

We went over to my parent's for lunch on Sunday and Mom let me take a bundle home.  I LOVE the smell! I have them in our kitchen.  They are so gorgeous!

You know what else I've noticed about God's creation lately?  Well..being an artist, I love color combinations.  I don't like when everything matches PERFECTLY, but i love different hues and colors that work well together.  I was just looking at the sky the other day and the trees and the flowers budding and guess what...there was not ONE color out of place. SO many colors...but all blended beautifully together.  It really is amazing. He truly is the Master Artist!

I hope you are enjoying the spring flowers as much as I am.  Pick some a bring them inside too!  They really cheer up the place=)

DIY Baby Headbands

Good morning!  It was a great weekend and I am ready to get back to working full force on my pillows!  I am in the schedule again for this week to get a few more things printed!  I'm really excited!  I just need to nail down a few more designs.  Until then...I wanted to share this:

Headband DIY:

We recently got to see our friend's brand new baby girl.  She is a doll!  So pretty.  We are so happy for them.  I made some little bows from some vintage fabrics I've been saving up for something special.

I love making these because they are super easy and are such a transformation. I got my headbands at a local children's resale shop. They are usually in really good shape and lots cheaper than buying new...since you're tearing them apart anyways!  I spent $1.50 for all three headbands. (plus the cost of the fabric and thread you use to re-do them...but since I have TONS of that it was free for me;)  )

So...you start by taking apart the headbands you have.  The bows on the bands that I got were just hot glued on so they came off pretty easily.