under construction

we had a baby shower for some friends expecting
since they're having a boy we knew it had to be construction themed
everything had cute little names related to construction

and everyone constructed their own cupcakes

and we constructed a story about the birth

duke loved having all the laps to occupy

and then was the after party
where we enjoyed some wine, self-portriats

and constructing our own babies

flea market goodies and other stuff

I realized I didn't even show you the few goodies I got at the flea market.  There weren't many though.  I have a shell collection from all my different trips that have been sitting on the edge of the bathtub for years now.  It's gotten too large now so I needed something to put them in.  Found this to hang on the wall.  Now there's so few shells in it I think we need to get a ton more vacations planned!

We have our "head to Maine" date set and I can't wait to hang out in the day bed again.  Found a cute linen I'm going to make into a pillow for it.

At the last minute we found an "all things bacon" booth.  I headed home with bacon ketchup.  I've tried it out and it's not too bad.

I also picked up a hanging basket I'm going to plant an herb garden in once we get to Maine.  I'm sure there will be more about it later.  I also picked up some plants that I need to find time to plant now.

******************************************************
I finished assignment 2 for my painting class.  It was all about using stamps with your paints.  SO FUN!

******************************************************
and just because he's so cute, I'll leave you with Duke sporting his new bandanna I made from the fabric we found on our trip up to Maine last year.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend.  We are - more to come soon!

one down a lot to go

So I've been in my house for 7 years already and decided it was about time I put up some curtains.  But you know me, I can't just run to the store and pick some up - I have to take the hard road.  Remember the fun girls trip I took with Tamara and Amy to find fabric?  No?  Well you better get caught up and go read about it (here's the link).  I finally used one of the fabrics I picked up.

I decided to start with the easy ones - my office.  You know the drill - sew the seams (yes, I'm sewing on printer paper - the backing I chose had a little stick to it under the presser foot)...

cut the holes (that was the absolute scariest part - thanks to Tam and Lizzy for the support) and add the grommets.

Add a curtain rod and voila!

Don't you just love this fabric - I SURE DO!!!

Notice the little window on the side?  I want to add a venetian blind like the one I made for the kitchen (check them out here).  Should I make it with the same fabric as the curtain I just made or a fabric that matches the wall color?  Thoughts?

christmas decor ala london

Sean was in London the last two months of 2010 for work so he wasn't able to enjoy all the American Christmas decorations.  His complaint was that there really weren't any decorations up over there.  Well, you know us Americans (I can say this cuz I am one!), we always have to overdo everything and Christmas decorations is definitely no different.  We have decorated trees inside and decorated trees outside and wreaths and snowmen and Santas and lights and who knows what all else.  Since I had so much fun taking pictures of all the decorations around the States I just had to find some in London - and that I did - and amazingly beautiful ones at that (Sean must have been looking in the wrong place!).

I'd like to receive this package - what about you?

or this one on the Tiffany's box

But of all the decorations I saw around London this was, by far, my absolute "favourite"!  It was found in a little pub.

christmas around the house

the Texas house, that is...

finding just the right fabric...in sketchy land

One of the other places I like to shop at is the fabric warehouses.  It's in a sketchy neighborhood but you can find great deals.  If you can't find the fabric you want here then you probably won't find it anywhere.  I was having issues finding just what I wanted.  Luckily I came equipped with all the necessary items - wall color, rug, pillow cases, etc.

I pretty much found one of the fabrics I wanted within the first 5 minutes and the other one I only found after I "gave up".  These are the ones I went home with.  Can you guess what I'm making?  Projects to come after the new year - stay tuned.

All that fabric shopping made us work up an appetite.  I figured this place...

was going to be a great option to take care of that hunger.  I was completely wrong.  If you ever see this place - do not stop, do not pass go, do not collect $200.  You should just run...and run fast...in the opposite direction.  And if you have a friend that tells you it will be alright - do not listen to her - tell her she is smoking crack or something and suggest the "two daughters" place instead.

Notice the TV - you know it's a great place when they have the wrestler guys playing in the background.

When you find things in your food you cannot identify...I think Tamara's face says it all...

What's the sketchiest place you've ever eaten?  What made it sketchy?

finding cool stuff...the consignment way

When Amy was visiting I had to take her to my new favorite store - LHO Design & Consign.  I learned about this store in Canton when we were looking for a sign for the Camp.  You don't realize how many times delivery people deliver to our neighbours.   So anyway, they sell the cutest customizable signs but they're also a consignment store.  The consignment part is cool.  Everything starts at one price and if it doesn't sell then the price comes down a certain percentage.  If it still doesn't sell then it comes down again and then if it still doesn't sell they send it back.  Makes for ever changing inventory - I like!

Here are some of the items I found I liked.   I really liked this painting - I guess because it's bright and cheerful.

I've been looking for a floor lamp for awhile but the set-up of the living room requires something substantial.  I like the idea of using a stand and a smaller lamp - that might be a good alternative.

I like this stool.  I can totally see one of my many plants sitting on it.

I like this table, too, but didn't have a good place for it.

I can totally see several of my plants on this, but yet again I didn't have a good home for it.

My all time favorite piece (that went home with me) was this!!!   Doesn't it look great on the blue wall (although the picture doesn't do the blue justice - it's actually much darker)?  I completely L*O*V*E it!!!

You should totally check out their blog and my favorite, "what's new Wednesday".

*****************************************************************
I by no means get anything out of writing this post other then sharing with you all a store I love.  I did get $5 off my purchase because I had won something from a game they played on Facebook though (that had nothing to do with this post) - that's totally cool!