My New School Bag

Tomorrow is my first day back at work after a 3 year break. I am really excited about going back to teaching. It is the perfect situation too...teaching preschool at my church, lilly will be just down the hall and it is only 2 half days a week. I feel like this job was meant for me and it is a true blessing. I blogged last week about Lilly's back to school pants. Well I need a back to school treat too, right? I really have been wanting a new purse/bag lately. I decided I would make one for myself. After all, I have always looked forward to getting a new backpack or bag for school. I thought about going out and buying some cool new fabric but then I thought that was a crazy idea because I have drawers of fabric and ribbon. So I decided I would make this new bag only out of things I already had on hand. Very green and economic of me, dontcha think? :) I used some tan gingham fabric left-over from a chair cushion re-covering project, I lined it with some turquoise plaid that I bought from Walmart years ago because I liked it, and finally, my favorite part, I embellished it with a vintage embroidered table runner from a thrift store. I actually came across this runner in the bottom of my hamper yesterday when I emptied it to do the laundry (I had forgotten I had it, also found some of Lilly's baby booties and a vintage apron...my hamper is like a black hole) I used some instructions I found at Wipster (via One Pretty Thing). I worked on it off and on all day in between cleaning and playing with my Lilly. I am so happy with how it turned out. Can't wait to take it to school tomorrow and fill it with books and lesson plans. P.S. it is actually gathered with elastic that I stitched ribbon to the end of, on "wipster" she made hers gather with ribbon but I wanted to use thick elastic that would hold up to the daily wear and tear of books and binders.

here is the back..

Stationary Revamp

I wanted to send my BFF Amy something personal for her birthday (which btw was nearly 3 weeks ago, I am such a slacker). I was shopping in Michael's the other day and came across a pack of orange polka dot cards. I immediately thought of her. She loves to write little notes and she loves orange and blue (we are both big gator fans). I started thinking "how can I make these more personal, more cutesy and add some blue to that orange?" Well you know how I feel about ribbon. It makes everything cute and extra special, right? So, despite my overflowing collection of ribbon at home, I headed over to the ribbon aisle and picked out some "gator blue" grosgrain. I took the cards and ribbon home and got to work right away. The stationary at the left is what I ended up with. They remind me of old school baby announcements or fancy schmancy cards you buy would buy at a pricey stationary store, but these cost pennies a piece to make. I decided to include a tutorial in this post so you can whip some up as a gift or make some for yourself.

step 1: Open the card and lay it flat in front of you. Measure about a half inch down and 2inches in from each side and make 2 small pencil marks.

step 2: Next, use a craft knife to cut two small slits, 1 inch apart (only cut through the front of the card). The slits are about a half inch long (my ribbon is 5/8 inch wide, make smaller slits for thinner ribbon).

step 3: Cut about 7 inches of ribbon and feed it to the back of the card, through the slits. Make sure the center of the ribbon is at the center of the slits. step 4: (this is where it gets a little tricky)Turn the card over feed the ribbon on the right through the slit on the left and vice versa.

Here is how it looks on the front of the card at this step. Pull each end of the ribbon through to the front of the card.

Finally, you will end up with this super cute card!

The possibilities are endless with this project. Think of all the blank cards and all the ribbon out there! Have fun.

Back to School!

Yep, I'm going back to school and Lilly is starting preschool. I taught elementary school for 6 years before Lilly came along and I loved it. I was born to plan lessons and be bossy(just ask my "little" brother who used to have to sit with my dolls while I played teacher everyday after school, I even had a blackboard in my room). So this year I decided to enroll Lilly in the preschool at our church 2 half days a week. Come to find out they were looking for a teacher and asked me if I was interested. I was. They interviewed me, offered me the job, Iaccepted it and so here we go...Lilly and I are off to school together this year. Very exciting. So of course I had to start thinking about what she was going to wear on her first day of "school", that's just the fashion obsessed momma I am. I decided to get some little khakis for her and embellish them with a school theme. Here's how they turned out...I cut out and appliqued the tree and apples from small scraps of fabric and hand embroidered around them. I didn't turn under the edges because I like that frayed edge look. I used a navy embroidery floss for a contrast. Pretty cute huh? Yeah that's what I thought, but little miss prissy britches won't wear her back to school britches. She only wants dresses and skirts these days. I have tried for 2 days to get these pants on her to no avail. Hopefully some time in the next 2 weeks I will be able to convince her to wear them...I wish they fit me. Come to think of it, I don't know what I am going to wear the first day. hmmmmm...I don't know, but I promise I'll refrain from stitching apples to my clothes:)

Fall Leaf Garland

I took a trip to "The Dollar Tree" yesterday. What a fun adventure that can be! I only spent 2 bucks on this trip. $1 on rubber bands for Lilly's pig tails and $1 on these fabulous leaf doilies (see photo at left). I had never seen leaf shaped doilies before. I love the color and the intricate cut-out designs. I immediately had the idea to thread ribbon through the top cut-outs and make a garland. As soon as I got home I dug through my ribbon stash and found a burnt orange color satin ribbon. I threaded them on and used clothes pens to attach them to my kitchen window. I love how it turned out. It is so pretty and simple. Of course I will take it down until it is officially fall but I had to take a picture first. Hope you like. Now head on down to your local Dollar Tree and pick some up then string 'em up across mirrors, doorways, windows, or between bedposts. Can't wait until fall. Can you?

Pom Pom Love

Have you guys seen these Martha Stewart pom poms around the blog/decor magazine/craft/party world lately? I have and I am in love with them. I am trying to think of a party I can do just to have these hanging around... I don't know, maybe it's because I was a cheerleader, but I love pom poms. Give me pom poms in any form, plastic, tissue, yarn or other.

The tissue ones above make me think of my trips to Cypress Gardens as a child (I am a Florida Native). When I was a little girl they sold giant, tissue paper flowers on wooden dowels and my Mom bought me one on one of our visits there. I will never forget walking through the beautiful gardens, dreaming of being a "southern belle" and holding my pink pom pom flower.

*Here are the instructions for making the large tissue pom poms*

Where's Lilly

In the post below "Lilly's Room", I mention she is sleeping so you may be wondering why her bed is empty (when my Aunt Alexa left a comment I realized this). She fell asleep on the sofa and I didn't dare move her. Let a sleepin' toddler lie :)

Lilly's Room

I thought I would continue my house tour with Lilly's room. She is napping (which is so rare!) so I snapped some shots and ran in here to the computer to post them while I have time. You mommies out there know how precious and how short lived this nap time is :) Hope you enjoy.

My New Favorite Lunch

I was reading one of my old Mary Engelbreit Home Companions (a void was left in my life when this magazine folded) the other night before bed and I came across this recipe (well this is my version): 1-Butter one side of a slice of white bread and spread pesto on the other. Place the bread in a warm skillet butter side down. 2-Top the pesto with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese. 3-Next, put on a couple slices of tomato and top them off with another slice of cheddar. 4-Finally, add another slice of bread on top, buttered on the top side. Flip it once until it is golden brown on one side and let it brown on the other side (just like a grilled cheese) It is so yummy and so simple. You really should try it.

For the Love of Ribbons

Today after I came home from church I decided to organize my ribbons. I do this about once a year. It is quite a daunting task because I have a few spools...ok I have like 100 spools. Do I have a problem? Some of you are thinking "that is a little obsessive". Some might be thinking "oh how great, I love ribbons too!" I have to agree with both. Yes, I am obsessed with ribbon. Everytime I go to a store where ribbons are sold I walk out with a spool. It's like I can't help it. Especially at Michael's because they have a stand up by the check out counter with spools and spools of ribbon for a dollar. How can I resist that? Anyway, I love ribbon and I love collecting it. There are so many things you can do with it. I put bows and ribbons on so many things. They add personality, color, and texture. Adding ribbon to the edge of a blanket or to the hem of a skirt or a bow on the toe of a shoe can turn simple into sensational! I also encourage you to buy those inexpensive ribbon spools that you find for a buck or two. They are so wonderful for wrapping gifts with. They are cheaper than the plastic bows and ribbons you buy in the gift wrap section and way more elegant. So maybe I have ROD (ribbon obsessive disorder) but I am willing to live with it.

Reds and Pinks

Greens, Blues, and Lavendar

Patterns

Ellie Belle

Happy Friday! I thought I would share with you my adorable West Highland Terrier (aka "Westie"). Her name is Ellie and she is my other baby. She is 5 years old and the pet love of my life. She is always one step behind me and is as loyal as you can get. She was very sick a few months ago and we nearly lost her. I feel so blessed that she is still here with us and I pray she stays healthy. Anyway, I couldn't let another day go by without introducing you to my best friend :)

kodak fun effects

Have you ever played around with "fun effects" on kodak? This picture of Lilly at the beach in front of the sea grapes came out so cool I want to frame it. I used the "coloring book" effect. I love editing pictures on the computer, it is so fun!

the "made" dress

This is a photo of my version of the shirt dress over at made. I promised to share this dress many posts ago. I refashioned it from a long-sleeve women's shirt I picked up at a thrift store. The fabric is swiss dot, one of my favorites. I love the texture and it reminds me of old chenille bedspreads. Lilly looks lovely in lavender. I call her "lavender blue dilly lilly" when she wears it because it is so pretty with her blue eyes.