Welcome Spring Door Hanging

Hi!  I hope this finds you enjoying some sweet Spring sunshine.  

Are you a wreath person?

Do you put a new wreath out for each season or holiday like clockwork?

Or maybe just at Christmas time?

(Hopefully you don't still have your Christmas wreath hanging.  Not that I would mind, it's your door!)

Do you make your own wreaths?

Out of grapevines and wire wreath forms and pool noodles?

I admire you if you do.  

Here I am...a 'so called' DIY Home Blogger with absolutely no wreath making skills. 

It's a little bit shameful...hanging head in embarrassment.  ;)

Sigh. 

And Pinterest is no help.

About every 6th pin is another DIY wreath tutorial.  Ugh.  So many reminders that I'm failing in the wreath creating department.

But recently I was inspired by a couple of talented and creative bloggers:

Ann of On Sutton Place

and

Chelsea of Making Home Base

Ann did an amazing wreath making tutorial that I am hoping will inspire me to dive in and make my very own wreath creation:

Ann's How To Make A Wreath Post

Ann is an amazing decorator...and not just wreaths.  

You should click through to her site and see the way she makes everything special!

And the sweet and creative Miss Chelsea fashioned a gorgeous Spring Door Hanging that made me forget my wreath envy: 

Just click photo to be taken to Chelsea's post!

Isn't it lovely!?  I am in love with Chelsea's blog.  Her creative perspective is so young and fresh.  I can't get enough of her projects!  You'll just have to go see for yourself.  :)

So, today I compromised and started creating a Spring door hanging using a plastic wall planter I bought at a yard sale last summer.

First I had to cover over that horrid green.  Hey, green is my favorite color but THIS green just isn't doing anything for me.  

A nice crisp white will be so much fresher, don't you think?

Add in some pretty pastel flowers with staying power (aka faux)

Pretty and fresh to welcome our guests!

And I love the fact that I can change out the flowers for Summer and other special occasions.  I even have a few dollar store Easter decorations I might poke in there for this weekend....Yeah!

Okay, I've now got a floral door hanging under my belt.  Thanks Chelsea, for the inspiration!  And Ann, I'm going to be tackling an actual wreath project next...using your wonderful tips as my guide!

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My To Do List - I am so glad you are here

I am so glad you are here

My To Do List:

I'll never find the time
To do all the things I want to do.

Like learn how to write
In a proper sort of way.

Or take pictures
That move people without words.

I really want to!
Especially since I'm still working on those words...

And what about the chaos
Still waiting to be calmed?

The objects staring at me
from every surface in my home?

It will all have to wait
Until the part of me that gives it value,

Recognizes it for what it is...
Just a bunch of stuff;  Not so worthwhile.

Once we clear some precious space
Our project stories can be told.

Creativity will have free reign
In the space that we unfold.

Friends and Family should always feel welcome ~
Both in our hearts and in our home.

Without them our lives
Would feel so cold.

And don't let me forget
That my family needs the biggest part of me.

I guess that means I can't forget
My health and fitness as a priority.

For the energy I'll need
Just to keep up with all of this.

But when it feels too much ~
That it has me feeling crushed...

PLEASE help me remember to Thank God
And present him with my Heart.

For only He can truly love
Each and Every Unfinished Part.


When I was in the fourth grade, we had a poem writing assignment.  I got so scared and insecure about standing in front of class and reading a poem out loud, that I was frozen with fear.  I couldn't write a single word.  Athough my parents raised me with very good values...my need to turn in my assignment outweighed my sense of wrong and right that day.  I copied a cute little poem from a huge book on our shelf.  I believe later I realized it was called "The Book of Well Known American Poetry".  Lauging OUT LOUD!  It didn't seem such a big deal.  It only had a few lines, and it said
~ Author Unknown.

How could I, a child, have known how recognizable that poem was!  That my teacher would instantly recognize it as not my own.  He was very diplomatic in how he pulled me aside.  He let me know I had to write my own verses that night.  Shamefaced, I went and did just that.  Even though he had been kind enough not to blab to anyone in the class.  He did not tell my parents.  At least they didn't say.  I was so very naive.  Boy, the lesson I learned that day.

I guess all I'm trying to say is that sometimes I still just feel like that little girl...just trying to find my own words.  I hope you forgive me if they seem scattered at times.  Maybe just a little scared.  I really only hope to share something of interest with those of you who find it worth the time to read what I write here.

I am so glad you are here!

This was thrown together (literally) with some scrapbook papers and embellishments that were secured with glue dots into an old frame. I had the frame hanging around because the glass had long ago broken, and I just couldn't throw it away.  This space in our entryway is patiently waiting for it's perfect mate, The Mirror.  But it needed something to fill it until then.  And I was avoiding what I really need to be doing...Purging.  Seriously.

I hope you like it. 

We love visitors!



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Our Entryway Is Coming Together!!!

A couple years back I noticed an amazing shelf in my Mom's sewing room where she stored all her fabrics. It was a tall vertical shelf only about 12 inches wide, with a pull out bin at the bottom to store all those little scrap pieces of fabric. I commented on how wonderful that shelf would be to hold all my craft supplies, namely my scrapbooking tools and papers. It turns out my uncle Roy made that  shelf for my mom and she in turn had him make one for me as a gift. She's such a sweetheart!  I loved the shelf so much that I asked Uncle Roy to make another just like the first ~ so I would have a matching pair. It just felt like it needed a partner.  These shelves are wonderful!  Amazing craftsmanship.  They are built to last.  You can see them in our Thanksgiving photo from 2010 below.

This was the first time we hosted Thanksgiving for my family and it was a big event!  A total of 19 were present so we removed all the furniture from the room and brought in three dining tables so everyone could sit together in one room.  You can see the shelves in their natural oak finish in the background.

Even with both of these shelves I had a shortage of space for all of my art and crafting supplies.  When we finished our new craft cabinets the room became too crowded and we were left with no choice but to purge some items.  These beauties needed a new home!  About this same time I had a bright idea and asked my Power Tool Guy to cut down the legs on our console/entry table and turn it into a bench for the dining room.  This meant we had an empty entry wall.  Gasp.  An empty wall, you say? 

(Did I mention that I am a chronic re-arranger?  Yes, it's true.  No denial here.  I honestly cannot recall going more than a month or two without completely changing the furniture around in at least one room of my house.  I used to be a chronic painter too...but I've kicked that habit!)

The shelves were painted a creamy white and moved around the corner ~ where they have been sitting ever since!  No procrastination there.  ;)   I was just waiting patiently for my Tool Guy to whip out that table saw of his and cut me a board.  Sometimes he gets busy with life and my projects aren't the first thing on his list.  Wha???  ;)  He had some time on his hands recently so I finally got my board ~ and he even attached it!  That left me with a big 'ole fire lit under my hiney to finish off this entry project.  I rushed myself down to Lowe's on Black Friday and found some beadboard wallpaper.  Yes, I said beadboard wallpaper.  Pretty cool stuff. 

Let me introduce you to Allen + Roth Paintable Beadboard Wallcovering!!! 

Pre-Pasted, Washable, Paintable, Strippable.  Gah!  (I received no payment or reward of any kind from Allen + Roth for this post.  Although it would be nice :)

The wallpaper is a snap to install.  You cut it to size with scissors.  Leave a little extra just for good measure as you can easily trim it off with a razor blade once it's in place.  You just soak it in water for 30 seconds, let it sit for 5 minutes and then apply it to your wall.  I measured and marked the wall where I wanted the beadboard to be and used a level to make sure it was straight. 

It really was a cinch to put up...see...

 Once the paper was up I added the two pieces of trim board across the top to create a little ledge and added some hooks for hanging hats, scarves, keys and whatnot.  Once I've added the beadboard wallpaper to the back of the shelves I will add larger hooks inside each shelf for coats. 

Here are a few shots of the new entry area brought to you by Mr. Tool Guy himself:

The bins at the bottom open up to hold all of our shoes.  They are a sanity saver.

We each have our own basket to catch all of our miscellaneous stuff.

That photograph on the ledge is of me and my Bestie, Nikki.  I'm so lucky to have a friend like her.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and have fun with your projects! 

***I almost forgot to show you the best part...the shoe bins!*** 

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