Have You Seen These Animal Crackers?

The past two years Lilly Pulitzer has partnered with Nabisco ot produce these super cute boxes of animal crackers. I still feel a child-like joy when I see and purchase these little boxes of cookies. The Lilly packaging makes them event better.

The Lilly Pulitzer blog has a Cracker Tracker map where you can flag where you found your Lilly animal crackers. Head out and see if you can find some of these great boxes and then map where you found them!

A Very Martha Clutch

After seeing this project on the Martha Stewart show, I just had to try it. The clutch is simple to make if you follow the instructions on Martha's site. You can also purchase a kit on Etsy from the guest crafter that demostrated this project on the show., but you can also get the pruse frames alone much cheaper on Etsy if you search a little.

Here are the two clutches I've created so far. One in a Lilly Pulitzer fabric and one in an Amy Butler fabric.


This is a fun and quick project that only requires some basic sewing skills. Hope you try it.

http://todayscreativeblog.net/get-your-craft-on-tuesday-22/get-your-craft-on-24-2/

My Monogram Subway Art was Featured on 504 Main

My monogram subway art was featured on



See the post here.

A Bridal Shower Remembered

It's hard believe that my most favorite cousin Sarah has been married for two years. I, along with my mom and another cousin, hosted a bridal shower for her in the month of May 2009. The theme for her wedding centered around the color of her eyes, a gorgeous shade of blue, and her favorite flower, the hydrangea.


This is the guest table. We asked every attendee to bring a favorite recipe that we would add to the recipe box I created. We also asked everyone to monogram a piece of fabric. The fabric squares will be turned into a special gift when Sarah has a munchkin.


I created the couple's monogram from foam core nad artificial hydrangeas. These took a lot of hot glue.


For table centerpieces, I got round cylinder vases and put a blue ribbon around them. I got big bunches of white carnations. I then glittered the initials to insert into each bouquet.

As gifts for each attendee, I made bath salts. Instead of paper napkins, I monogrammed 24 dinner napkins which I them laundered and gave to Sarah the Christmas following her wedding.

Happy Easter!

I hope you have a wonderful day! I thought I would share with you some of our decorations.

And yes, I have a brown holiday tree. It works perfectly in my dining roon which is painted dark brown, and I've found it works as a tree for every holiday.







Our property used to have a country store on it that served as the local post office in the early part of the 20th century. We found the old mailboxes in the chicken coop and my dad fixed them up for me.

Have a very Happy Easter!!!

My Easter Placecards were featured on Funky Polka Dot Giraffe

Colorful PIllows for the Porch Swing

I knew the porch swing couldn't stay all white for long. I went looking for pillows, but the cheapest pillows were $6 each and were "cheap". So I bought 2 bed pillows for $5 and 2 pillowcases for $5.

I printed out a transfer of a french bee image from OliveRue on Etsy and ironed it on.

I then stuffed the pillow, tucked the ends of the pillowcase down and sewed the ends together.

Now a comfy swing to sit on.

Porch Swing Redo - All in White

I am a very colorful person and seldom use the color white. There is not a room in my house that is painted white. But my father built this proch swing for Miss K, my daughter, and it needed a little sprucing up.

The swing has been on the front porch for about 5 years. It took 5 coats of paint to get good coverage.

I am working on pillows. They will be posted tomorrow. I figured out last Sunday this is a great spot to read a book on a sunny afternoon.


Here is the link to the All White Party at 504 Main.

My CHalkboard "Wreath" was featured over at WhisperWood Cottage

WhisperWood Cottage is hosting a Chalk Talk Linky Party as part of the 1 year anniversary of The DIY Club. There are 4 great linky parties going on.


I am so pleased that they featured my repurposed table that I turned into a "wreath" for the door at our summer home.

Product Review - Monogrammed Florida Basket from The Pink Monogram

I arrived home late last week from a photo shoot to find this package. Sorry, I ripped it open before I realized what it was.

It was a great Cocktail Florida Basket from Monica at The Pink Monogram.


This bag,like many of the other product available at The Pink Monogram, comes with so many choices of ribbons and monogram colors and styles. I have been carrying this bag for the past couple days and have gotten so many compliments. It is very sturdy but stylish. It is the perfect size for your keys, a small wallet and a lipstick. This bag will be headed to the Foxfield Races next week in Charlottesville.

And to make this bag even better.... it's not just pretty. It serves a wonderful cause.

Here is the information from The Pink Monogram Website-

Monogrammed Florida Baskets- So Many Designs! The Pink Monogram's New Favorite Pick. Our love of travel, shopping, sewing, and design lead us to create our custom made handbags. Little did we know that this diversion would have such an impact on women of all ages and that our clients would have to carry our business cards, because women constantly stopped them to ask, "Where did you get that bag!"

Our search for a "Florida Basket" lead us to beautiful Thailand; these baskets are "Green" and woven from an invasive water plant that chokes the rivers and streams of the Thai countryside. Over the years we have helped to develop this industry and have forged a close relationship with the group of women weavers who make our baskets. These women have taken this opportunity to improve their weaving skills and increase their financial independence without leaving their communities. Through our Thai contacts we have interacted with the Minister of Trade who encourages and supports our work within his country. Please be aware that when you purchase a Queen BEA Basket you are promoting more than a lovely fashion statement.

There are many different sizes of Florida Baskets to choose from.


So head on over to The Pink Monogram and check out all the Florida Baskets as well as all the other goodies Monica has to offer.


And a huge thank you to Monica for letting me do this product review.

I've Got the Sun in the Morning and the Moon at Night

We moved my daughter's bed into what used to be her closet. She is a creature of habit and has not been too happy about the move. I decided to make the ceiling something of interest to see if that would make her happier.

We did all the work to renovate our 100+ year old farmhouse, so some things went unfinished like finishing the drywall in her closet.



So I finished the drywalls. No pictures of that dusty, nasty mess. I forgot how much I loathed finishing drywall. I then painted the ceiling a navy blue and found these fabulous glow in the dark moon and stars at AC Moore.


They come with adhesive to stick them to the ceiling/wall. You can also purchase glow in the dark stickers as well. We got some of those. We might have to put those up at the river.

Here is the finished ceiling!


I'll let you know what Miss K thinks.

A Preppy Paint Chip Wreath

I started this project a couple weeks ago by getting lots and lots of paint chips from Home Depot. You kind of have to do this discreetly. I did purchase an entire shopping card full of paint for other projects. So I think they still made a profit from me that day.

So I cut out 2 3/4 inch circles from the paint chips with a circle punch and painted the wooden wreath from with a bright green paint.

Then I just started gluing.

I did use some foam adhesive circles to add dimension to the second layer of paint chips.
Here is the finished project.

Pottery Barn Inspired Easter Place Settings

I saw these on the Pottery Barn site and loved them but not at $25 for 4. So I decided to make my own.

I found the baskets at Michaels for 50 cents each.


I added grass to them.


Added the eggs which I already had.


I then cut out eggs from cardstock and glued them to wooden skewers.

I created 8 place card settings for less than $10.

Basketweave Burlap Inspiration Board

I had a corkboard in a fram that I really didn't like. I found this idea at Jones Design Company. You can find her great tutorual here.

I started by cutting 2 pieces of burlap 3 inches wider and longer than my corkboard. I then cut those into 3 inch strips.


You then want to use push pins to position each strip vertically and horizontally.


Start your basketweave pattern.


Once you have woven all the pieces. You will want ot flip the board over and staple one edge vertically and one edge horizontally.


You then want to pull the other ends of the strip tight and staple them. Work horizontally and them vertically so you can make adustments to the burlap if you need to.

Here is the finished board.


I hung it in my craft room as my inspiration board.

Hope this inspires you to create your own inspiration board.