2.20.2014

lunching and treasure hunting...

this morning the sun was actually shining...
{until the rain kicked in...}
 
my mom came over to take me out to lunch as an early birthday treat... {i'm turning forty next week... i can't even believe it} we went to o'charley's which never disappoints... those rolls!
 
we stopped by pier one which i like to do occasionally... it's always fun to check out their pillow selection, hand towels and seasonal items... today i left empty handed but it was still fun to look around...
 
then we headed to lou berry's and ichabod's treasures {i've talked about these shops before}... you never know what you might find...
 
the ichabod's side of the store was getting rearranged and the owner was working on some projects so i'll have to stop back in soon to take some pictures there...
 
over on the lou berry side, there was lots to look at...
this tray almost came home with me... should i have bought it? i'm still contemplating... i kind of want to hang it on my wall...
 i haven't perfected the art of digging through old linens yet...
 but this crazy quilt was really cute... perfect for a picnic... or a photo shoot prop...
 i did grab this tin... i love the colors and patterns on it... and i'm pretty sure i have supplies of some sort that can be stored in it... the milk glass banana boat was pretty, too... but i already have one in a different pattern... i don't know that i need two, do i?
 in the right setting this old chippy table would be perfect...
and these pots and pans look like something straight out of the kitchen in my barbie house from the seventies... silly enough to make me smile :)
 
i like days like today... hope you're having a good one, too!
 
now... i'm off to help marina with her homework...
 
xo
angie


2.18.2014

today...

hello...
 
how have you all been?
 
me? eh... i'm sitting in my breakfast nook with sun streaming through the window typing this post...
 
it feels warm and cozy but the sun is deceiving... {and my windows need cleaning!}

the girls had another snow day today and i woke up very early this morning to the sounds of thundersnow... so bizarre... and loud...
 
it was hard to get out of bed... 
you know when you're all snuggled in... knowing that you really have no place to be... it makes it easier to pull the covers up a little bit tighter...
 
this was the view from my window... 
 
things could be worse...
i'm trying to focus on the good in this day rather than the stir crazy setting in... {because believe me... it's setting in!}
 
i got our room cleaned... and a couple of loads of laundry done... the girls are hanging out nicely together... a friend of theirs is over... i enjoyed lunch with john... he whipped up steak nachos and they were delish!
 
and i spent a little time trying to figure out how to make a granny square flower... don't ask me why i decided to give this a whirl now... there are plenty of other things that i should be doing...
 i actually think i let myself get sidetracked like this in order to prolong doing something that i know really needs done...
i think i've finally got it though... there's one spot that's bugging me so don't look too closely...
 it's tricky when tying off with several colors... 
 i'm happy that i figured it out though... {i can check that off of my list}... it's pretty cute... not sure what to do with it exactly... maybe i'll make a few more and turn it into a sweet, little garland... we'll see...
 
so... how was your day? did you get anything accomplished? do anything fun?

xo
angie


2.12.2014

tissue paper hearts... a tutorial...

every year growing up i would always receive a little surprise from my mom and dad on valentine's day...
 
i've always done the same for my girls... this year i decided to make them tissue paper hearts that will hold some of their favorite treats... and sweet wands that will have a special note on the back for each of them...
i found the cutest red and white polka dottie tissue paper at target that was perfect for the heart... {that target never disappoints, does it?}
 
the first thing i did was iron the tissue paper on a very low heat setting to remove the wrinkles...
 
i placed two pieces of tissue paper wrong side up under two pieces of tissue paper wrong side down... i did this so that when sewing, the polka dot pattern would remain on the outsides...
 
i used a heart that i made for one of our projects at the valentine's day make and take as a template...
i held the template in place and began to sew around the edges {being careful not to catch the paper}
i started in the dip of the heart, working my way around, leaving about a 5 inch opening on the top of the one side of the heart so that there was an opening to tuck the treats inside...
next, grab the treats and fill the heart... carefully lift the heart back under the presser foot of the machine to close up the opening...
 
snip strings and begin embellishing...
i used a paper doily and a fun felt pinwheel that i made to add some texture and cuteness to the top of the heart... and finished it off with a personalized gift tag...
i love how they turned out... i can't wait to surprise the girls with these on valentine's day...
 
xo
angie