Avery and Winslow

Stuff & Organizing & More Stuff

2012-01-27T10:15:00.000-05:00

How's your January going?

Mine is flying by. I thought I'd have my entire workroom organized by February...and while I'm making progress, I think that goal might need to get pushed back a few months. I knew I had a crafty addiction going on, but there are moments where I stand in the middle of my "stuff" and just get overwhelmed by the ridiculousness of it all.

So, what's happening during the moments when I'm not sitting in a pile of fabric having a meltdown?

My free time often shows up in little bursts - - 10 minutes here and 5 minutes there, so I'm focusing on quick ways to organize. I sorted my paints by color, organized the scrapbook paper by style, and turned my ribbon scrap disaster into mini bolts of ribbon.

Not only does it look better, but I can peek through it quickly and not worry about tangles and such.

Every once in awhile, I get a few hours to myself. I've been using those bigger chunks of time to tackle harder projects, like turning my fabric piles into organized bolts. Want to make your fabric look like a quilt shop, too? Check out the mini bolt how-to HERE.

I won't blame you if you feel jealous. I look at this picture and feel jealous of me. ;)

My lovely husband gives me a good dose of alone time every weekend. I'm using that on a project that fills me with excitement, but also makes me crazy ... painting my workroom!

Painting paneling is pretty much hell, but that white is going to look SO much better than the orangey faux wood.

Any organizing projects on your radar? I'm loving my fabric bolts, but kind of stuck on a good way to organize the extras (zippers, buttons, trims, etc.). How do you organize yours?

♥ Cath

The One Word Resolution

2012-01-08T11:53:00.000-05:00

Have you seen the one-word resolution idea floating around blogland?

I’m a big daydreamer, so it only makes sense that I’m a big resolution girl. I’ve filled a whole notebook page with resolutions in the past. I even started a page this year. We won’t get into how quickly I fail, but rest assured, I do ... and it's quick.

Why do I fail? I set too many goals. I try to overhaul my whole life. I try to make myself into a totally different Catherine, one who is completely organized, always careful with her money, the queen of time management, optimistic, and 120 pounds. My resolutions basically turn into a long list of everything that's wrong with me.

"Live" is my word for 2012. I didn’t do enough of it in 2011. Heck, I haven’t done it well in years.

To live a less stressful life, I need to be more organized.

To live a more comfortable life, I need to be healthier.

To live a happier life, I need to dedicate more time to the people that are important to me.

To live a more satisfying life, I need to take chances (when creating, socializing, cooking, etc.).

Need some inspiration? Lara at Less Cake, More Frosting has a whole guest series dedicated to one word for 2012.

I used this printable from Thirty Handmade Days to organize my thoughts. Check it out.

I'm kissing my long resolution list goodbye. Care to join me?

♥ Cath

::: Reindeer Ornaments & Rambling :::

2011-12-20T15:23:00.001-05:00

Christmas is five days away and I have officially accepted the fact that all of my holiday crafting is not getting done. I passed on my dreadful, neverending cold to the boys, so we're taking it easy.

We have some salt dough ornaments to paint and did manage to make some new handprint ornaments for this year. Last year, we made snowman ornaments. This year, we went with reindeer.

This Christmas fabric has been sitting on my worktable for weeks now & will need to wait until next year to be a tablerunner.

And even though Christmas is yet to arrive, my brain is already starting to think about the New Year. Do you make resolutions?

One goal I have for the new year is finishing all of those unfinished projects cluttering up my workspace.

While I sit at the computer, I have these unfinished projects in arm's reach:

* a basket of t-shirts waiting for heat transfer images (while my sons can still fit in them!)

* a box of homeschooling books to be sorted by grade level

* pulled magazine pages to go in an inspiration binder (that needs to be made)

I'm excellent at coming up with project plans and incredibly talented at buying the supplies to make them, but I lack the follow through.

This fleece fabric is waiting to be made into a throw for the living room. I also have home dec fabric for curtains and pillows collecting dust.

And I really, REALLY need to finish this stitchalong quilt that I started in May. The blocks are together and the stitching has started, but there's still a lot of work to do.

Are you thinking of the new year yet? Any resolutions planned? How about unfinished projects - - please tell me I'm not alone!

♥ Cath

::: Tutorial Thursday ::: Fabric Headband

2011-12-15T11:30:00.001-05:00

Here's the deal. I have a big head. Seriously. This isn't one of those weird insecurities...just a statement of truth. "One size fits all" does not include me. Big and round. So, keep that in mind when you check out today's tutorial. You probably won't need quite as much fabric or elastic as me. ;)

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All of the gals in my yoga class have these comfy looking cotton headbands that they wear. I walk out with a big halo of sweaty fuzz around my face (yup, that's possible when you have hair like mine) and they walk out looking cute.

I hadn't made a headband before, but decided to give it a whirl. If you like how mine turned out, you should give it a try, too. So quick to make!

Oh boy. This is the "not feeling well enough to shower and change out of my cozy sweatshirt" photo. Be kind.

To make one, you need:
a large fabric scrap (or fat quarter)
sewing machine & thread
rotary cutter (or scissors)
2-6" of 1" elastic

Let's get started!

Cut a 5" wide x 21" long rectangle. If you would like your final headband narrower than mine, lessen the width. If your head is of a normal or petite size, you might want to cut a rectangle 18-9" long.

Choose one side. Fold 1/4" and press. Fold another 1/4" and press.

Stitch down the center of your folded section.

Repeat the "fold, press, & stitch" on all sides.

This rectangle is the top of your headband. Put it on your head and measure the gap between the ends. Cut a piece of elastic to that length. (My sizable noggin had a 4" gap, so I cut a 4" piece of elastic.)

Now, let's make a tube for your elastic. Cut two rectangles measuring 2 inches wide and 3 inches longer than your elastic (my length was 7").

Place the rectangles on top of each other with right sides facing. Sew along both long sides using a 1/4" seam. Do not sew on the short sides.

Turn your tube right side out and press. Feed the elastic into the tube

Pin the fabric ends to the ends of your elastic (with excess fabric gathered in the middle).

Stitch along each short edge (where you have pinned). I stitched the full length and then reversed back over my seam for added security.

Lay your large rectangle down with the wrong side facing up. Put your elastic tube in the rectangle, overlapping 1/4".

Fold each side of the large rectangle over the elastic band and pin.

Stitch over the folds to secure the rectangle to the elastic. Once again, I did a full stitch and then reversed back over the seam.

To complete the headband, set the large rectangle down with the wrong side facing up. Set the other end of the elastic inside the rectangle, fold, and stitch. Before stitching, make sure that your headband is a full loop that is not twisted.

I'm not an excellent sew-er, so I may have made this waaaaaaay harder than it needs to be...or my instructions might be confusing. If so, let me know!

Do you have any favorite headband tutorials? I'd love to check them out.

♥ Cath

::: A Little More Christmas :::

2011-12-12T11:39:00.000-05:00

My souvenir from our recent family trip was a two week long cold. Yup, two weeks of hacking and sniffling and headaches. My crafty productivity is suffering, but at least I woke up today feeling a bit more alert and alive...so I'm looking out for healthy on the horizon!

Since I have nothing new to share, I thought I'd share a little more Christmas inspiration with you.

Use fabric scraps and styrofoam balls to make this simple ball garland.

Grab some felt, ribbon, and buttons to make mini stockings for gift cards or little treats.

Still need a gift for Grandma? Have the kiddos help you with this handprint frame.

Need a gift for a friend/sister/stylist/etc? Try your hand at these easy painted earrings.

What handmade gifts are you giving this year?

♥ Cath

::: Peppermint Wreath ::: THURSDAY TUTORIAL - - adding bells

2011-12-08T06:01:00.000-05:00

Sounds like you gals are whipping up a crafty Christmas frenzy in your houses - - I love it!

My latest Christmas craft will come as a big surprise.

Okay, so I lied. It's probably the least surprising craft possible. ;)

I made a wreath! I gave this little sneak peek on Tuesday:

I love peppermint stripes...

and glitter!

And there's something about jingle bells this time of year. Obviously, right? There's a whole song dedicated to them. ;) I added some to this wreath - - just to try something different.

I have to admit that I spent a little time trying to decide if I should trust hot glue to hold the bells down. What can I say? Between sick kiddos and being exhausted myself, lazy can be awfully tempting.

Instead, I decided to stitch them on, which actually turned out to be a fairly easy (and more permanent, I would bet) solution.

Be sure to use a foam wreath base. Needles pass through foam easily. Also, you're gonna need a big ole needle. Check for them in upholstery or the notions area. Mine is a "cording" needle. Cut a piece of narrow ribbon 10-12" long and thread your needle.

Push the needle through the backside of your wreath, leaving a a ribbon tail on the other side. String your bell onto the ribbon.

Pass the needle back through the wreath and pull tight. If you leave the ribbon loose, your bell will be loose and hang on your wreath looking all sad...and this is Christmas, so that's not allowed!

Being careful to keep the ribbon pulled tight (I give a pretty firm tug on both ends at this point), tie a knot. Tie it again. Maybe if you're really worried about a bell jumping ship, you'll even tie it a third time like me. Then, trim your ribbon ends.

And put that bad boy on the front door. :)

If you made a wreath this year (or last!), I'd love to see it. You can leave a link in the comments and we can play virtual neighbors. :)

♥ Cath

::: Fa La La La La - - Christmas Projects :::

2011-12-06T16:34:00.000-05:00

Christmas is in full swing here. The tree is up, the stockings are hung, and our little Christmas village is full of happy elves.

Are you working on Christmas goodies?

Do you need some inspiration?

Here are some Christmas projects from my past:

Mini grapevine wreath ornaments - - decorate a package or string on a garland.

Personalize your tree with handprint ornaments. These are some of my favorite ornaments on our tree!

Make an easy Christmas tree out of a styrofoam cone - - use beads or yarn.

And a peek at a project I'll be sharing on Thursday:

I love glitter during the holidays. I have a friend who can't wait to bake. What's your favorite Christmas project?

♥ Cath

::: Thursday Tutorial Assignment :::

2011-11-24T07:06:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I met a friend for coffee. She was in that fun stage of pregnancy where strangers might start noticing your tummy and clothes are getting too tight. She chatted about how they would arrange the other kiddos to make room for this new baby and how her 2 year old would have a little playmate.

One week ago, she delivered her little boy stillborn.

I fell into tears when I read her message.

My heart hurt for her.

So, instead of a tutorial today, I have an assignment.

Find someone (or many someones!) and feel true, intense gratitude for having this person in your life. Be thankful that you are given the time to know them.

And have a Happy Thanksgiving!

♥ Cath

::: Thanksgiving Projects & Jewelry :::

2011-11-21T06:32:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday, everyone! I'm still exhausted from the weekend, but hoping to wake up a little before David comes racing out of his room in twenty minutes. ;) Kids and their endless energy - - I'm envious.

Still wanting to squeeze in another Thanksgiving project before Thursday? Here's a peek at some goodies I put together last year (maybe one will inspire you!):

Another spin on handprint turkeys

A ruffled dishtowel

Our thankful banner

Besides crafting and birthday parties, I've also done a little work on my shop and finally squeezed in time on some new jewelry.

This little scalloped sailboat necklace is awfully sweet - - and can be made with any shop image, not just the boat. I think I need one with a lotus flower. :)

Slightly bigger than the itty bitty rings in the shop, this one features a gingko leaf. I'll also be adding a feather and crescent moon on the same disc size.

A little message that I'm working on remembering each day, these "let go, let be" earrings were inspired by a particularly excellent yoga practice.

Like little stamped jewelry, but getting bored with circles? I added in this rectangle style recently ... and like all the jewelry in the shop, it can be stamped with a different image, if desired.

And gift certificates! This is my first year offering them in the shop. I think they're kind of cute. ;)

Hope you're doing well, making lots, and staying sane! Something about the holidays just leaves me teetering between being overjoyed and a meltdown. ;)

See ya Thursday!
♥ Cath

::: Tutorial Thursday: Quick Holiday Gift :::

2011-11-17T17:27:00.001-05:00

Every Christmas season, I like to have a few extra gifts on hand to give to party hostesses, neighbors, therapists, and friends. Our holiday budget is a bit tight this year, so I've definitely been thinking more about handmade.

This year, I'll be passing out some pretty glittered candleholders that cost only $3 each. Want to make some to add to your gift stash?

First, clean your glass with rubbing alcohol. This helps both the image and the paint adhere well.

Next, cut your image on contact paper. You can use a cutting machine (Cricut, Silhouette, etc.), a punch, or trace the desired image and cut with a xacto knife.

When you stick your contact paper to the glass, remember that the paper part represents the glass that will stay clear. Any part of the glass not covered by paper will be covered by glitter when you are finished.

I used Martha Stewart's new glitter paint and a stencil brush. I started with a foam brush, but that spread the glitter too much. With a stencil brush, you are able to blot on a thicker coat.

Add coats of paint until you are happy with the coverage. I used three coats of paint to get the desired thickness of glitter.

When completely dry, peel off your paper slowly.

You can add a tealight for a subtle glow.

Or, add a larger candle and a ribbon with gift tag.

Be sure to check out all of the colors in the Martha Stewart line. If red and peridot are too bright for you, she has some subtle silvers and golds. Want to give a gift that isn't holiday themed? Try the recipient's favorite color or something that goes with her home decor. I was impressed by the variety of colors available.

Not only are these quick to make, but they are also quite inexpensive. I used a dollar store candleholder and candle. The paint was on sale for $2.09 a bottle and one bottle covered two candleholders.

Total cost for two holiday gifts: $6.09 + tax

Hope this helps you cross a couple names off your list! :)

♥ Cath

*** I am not affiliated with Martha Stewart or her company. I was not given any product or asked to write about her paint. I just saw it at the store and gave it a try! :) ***

I shared this holiday idea with Where Women Create.

::: Gobble, Gobble :::

2011-11-14T07:25:00.000-05:00

I guess I've been living under a rock over here, happily avoiding the passionate debate brewing elsewhere. And then last week, my mind was blown.

What I thought was sweet & sentimental, a classic craft, was being called lazy, uncreative, and corny. Say what?!

I’m talking about handprint crafts. I lived in my little bubble of "these things are so cute - - who wouldn't love them?" ... and now I live in "these things are so cute - - how can you not love them?" land.

We made a turkey Thanksgiving banner using our handprints & feathers. I love it. I'm not running around calling it art or entering it in a contest anywhere, but I know that ten years from now when my boys are 6 feet tall and flirting with girls whose names don't rhyme with "Tommy", I'll be happy to have this little memory of their little hands.

Also, David finally finished stitching his pumpkin that was started during my big burlap stitching kick. Funny that I say he finally finished it when I’m the one who actually buried it under other crafty stuff. Oh well. It turned out super cute (I’m a little biased!) after some reverse applique and a new home in an embroidery hoop.

We make a thankful banner every year, so that’s one project we still need to finish before Thanksgiving.

Do you craft for Thanksgiving?

♥ Cath

Sorry about the lack of a tutorial last week. My kiddo was at the hospital, so our midweek was chaotic. I’ll be back this Thursday with a quick project that you can use for holiday décor or quick gifts.

Just because you can, doesn't mean you have to.

2011-11-07T06:47:00.001-05:00

Last Monday, I invited you to try something that you might have thought you couldn't do. Have any of you started a new project? If so, how’s it coming along? I painted a dresser black - - not "perfect", but I'm happy with it!

Just because you can doesn’t mean you have to (or that you should!).

Crafty folks seem to have that little voice in our brains that likes to insist “I could make that”. I hear it at home dec stores, craft shows, and while playing on the web. And I know I'm not the only one. I just watched two gals at Hobby Lobby arguing over whether to buy a pillow or just buy the materials to make it.

Sure, we can make a lot. And while it's fun to create, we also put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do it all by ourselves. But just because you can, do you have to?

Sometimes, it’s nice to just splurge on that thing you want (but could make!) and save yourself the time and trouble of doing it yourself. This weekend, I bought fall garland for our mantel. I actually stood at the store trying to decide if I wanted to buy it...or just purchase all the fall foliage and wrap my own. But let me tell you, there was a sense of relief watching the checkout gal shove it in a bag and knowing that my Sunday afternoon was now freed up to take a long walk with my family.

I don't love my fall mantel any less when I see that storebought garland on it. Actually, I love this fall mantel more than any other I've decorated. The storebought goodies actually let our thankful banner stand out. It's a good mix of "I made that" and "I could make that". ;)

Just because you can, should you?

What about all of the popular craft trends that pop up? Do we have to do all of those? It’s easy to get caught up in the “everyone is doing it” rush to cover everything within reach in chalkboard paint, but is chalkboard paint authentic to you? If you came across it in the craft store, would you squeal and think it was fabulous…or are you more of the “ew, chalk dust is so 1986” crowd?

I tried out the whole "I made this fabulousness out of dollar store stuff" trend. I forced it and was unhappy. Is there a trend that you got caught up in (because you could!) and wish you hadn't?

♥ Cath

::: Tutorial Thursday ::: Corn Husk Monogram Wreath

2011-11-03T06:48:00.000-04:00

::: Last week's cheerful organizer is in the top 5 of the "Iron Crafter" challenge over at Fireflies & Jellybeans. If you liked that project and would like to vote for it, you can see it here. Thanks! :::

I used burlap on a fall wreath last year and knew that I wanted to use burlap again this year...but I wanted a bolder wreath.

I think I achieved that goal. :)

Want to make your own? It's super easy. You just need corn husks, cardboard (or foamboard), burlap, a wooden initial, some paint and a whole lotta faith in the power of hot glue.

Start with a fairly large foamboard circle. I made mine with a diameter about one foot smaller than my door.

Use hot glue to attach corn husks around the exterior.

Add an overlapping row of husks.

If you have the space, add a third (or fourth) row of corn husks. Just make sure your wreath is looking full at this point. I ended up using two 2 oz bags of husks.

Cut a cardboard rectangle. Wrap it in burlap. I used staples to attach my burlap.

Use a generous amount of hot glue and pressure to attach the cardboard rectangle to the center of your frame.

Paint your wooden letter. I used two coats of espresso brown and then dry brushed metallic gold to give a more textured look.

Glue the letter to your burlap rectangle.

Cut a strip of burlap (or use ribbon). Hot glue the burlap to the back of your wreath and tie a double knot. I also used a row of tacks to make sure this piece was very secure.

That's it! You're done! I told you it was easy.

If you're having a hard time finding them, corn husks are used to make tamales and are available at Mexican food stores. You can also grab some on Amazon.

Hope you get a chance to make a bold corn husk wreath this year. I can't stop smiling at mine every time I come up the driveway.

♥ Cath

P.S. Not only is this wreath easy, it's also inexpensive! Here's a quick cost rundown:

Foamboard (half sheet) - $1

Letter "H" - $1

Paint (a little bit of two colors) - $1.20 (with a whole lotta paint left over)

Hot Glue - $0.25

Foam brush - $0.10

Corn husks 4oz - I got mine for $0.50 at a garage sale ($1.50 for 4 oz when you buy a pound here)

Burlap (1/4 yd) - $0.75 with at least half left over

GRAND TOTAL - - $4.80 with supplies left over

Have a project that cost under $5 that you'd like to share? You can link up with A Little Tipsy (or share a link or description in my comments!)

::: Just because you haven’t, doesn’t mean you can’t. :::

2011-10-31T09:45:00.000-04:00

With all of the beauty and talent on the internet, how can we have moments where it's hard to feel motivated to create anything?

Seeing so many incredible projects can actually prevent me from trying new things out of fear that I can’t do it … or that I can't do it as well as she did. All of that beauty and internet "perfection" causes me to place some unrealistic expectations on myself and makes some of my every day craftiness feel too ... well, normal.

Although I've recognized this crafting insecurity issue about myself before, I really thought deeply about it this weekend. What would I be doing if I didn't have a computer...if I couldn't see all of the blogs, tutorials, and websites? What if I was creating just to try something, just for my eyes and my own enjoyment?

I was wandering Michaels while thinking this and, although I've never really done much in the floral department, I kept feeling drawn to it. I told myself to stop worrying about if I knew what I was supposed to do with the stems, bought my favorites, and brought them home. I didn’t read any books or look up any blog tutorials. I didn't worry about whether I was doing it right or wrong...or what anyone else might think of my skill or lack thereof.

I think we can all agree that my floral arrangement isn't going to be splashed all over Pinterest this week. No "big" blogger will stumble upon it, be blown away, and feature me. But is that what really matters when we create? Is that what our mothers worried about thirty years ago when they were stitching on plastic canvas? Or, is it possible that they created because it brought them happiness, a feeling of accomplishment, and appreciation for a more handmade life?

Is there a craft that you’re interested in but have never tried because you think you "can’t"? Or is there a project that you want to try, but worry won't appeal to your blog audience? I challenge you to do one of those projects. Don’t do it for something to share online or link up somewhere. Just do it for you.

I plan on painting a large piece of furniture (a first for me!) and signing up for an upholstery class (something I’m terrified to do!).

What will you try?

♥ Cath

::: TUTORIAL THURSDAY ::: Cheerful Organizer

2011-10-27T17:09:00.002-04:00

It's Thursday. That means it's time for a tutorial.

I stumbled upon the blog Fireflies & Jellybeans this week...just in time to join her Iron Crafter Challenge. This week, crafters are invited to share projects made with toilet paper or paper towel rolls.

Lucky me! I have a child that has a "recycling" box where he keeps stuff that Daddy would love to throw in the garbage and instead uses it in projects. I did some digging and found some rolls.

And I made them into this:

David just had a birthday and Grandma surprised him with colored pencils.

50 of them

Maybe your kids are more organized than mine, but 50 colored pencils is a big ole mess just waiting to happen.

I started by figuring out how many tubes I needed (10) and then painted them in colors to coordinate with his pencils. It took two coats of cheap acrylic paint from the craft store.

Once the paint dried, I glued the tubes down on a piece of foamboard. I used Elmer's white glue on the rim of each tube and then just kind of flooded around each one when it was in position. I kept them all touching eachother.

Wait for the glue to dry. It takes ~~basically forever~~ a couple hours. Trim off excess foamboard. Use hot glue to wrap a piece of ribbon around the tubes.

I added David's name to his organizer at his request. I used cardstock, permanent stamp ink, and hot glue.

It was fun to take "garbage" and make it into a cheerful organizer. It looks so happy sitting on David's school desk.

If your child uses crayons, try cutting the tubes in half for a shorter organizer.

Like the idea, but want a more grown up look? Change the paint color to a warm cream and tie a purple velvet ribbon in a bow. Coordinate with your desk and have a place to toss pencils, sharpies, and pens.

Thanks for stopping by!
♥ Cath

Link up with Jamielyn.

::: An Award & Blog Plans :::

2011-10-26T07:27:00.000-04:00

Maybe you've noticed my sporadic, sometimes nonexistent blogging. Maybe you haven't and just saw "Avery & Winslow" in your reader and said "who's that?". Ha.

Anyways, I need to have a little heart to heart with you. I love blogging...most of the time. Other times, what should be a fun way of sharing & bonding with other folks morphs into this uncomfortable, pressure filled beast.

My cute beast

Feelings of "go big or go home" start taking over my mind. My personality is either do it right or don't do it at all, so the pressure to blog daily leads to feelings of failure when I don't...and then never blogging at all.

I needed time to reflect and decide. Do I make this blog work for me (and you!!!) or do I hit the delete button? Yes, it does get that dramatic in my head. Please tell me I'm not alone.

As tempting as that delete button is on days when I feel overwhelmed and comments are non-existent, I just can't do it. There are still ideas that I want to share and conversations that I'd love to have. So instead of disappearing into the internet's black void, I'm going to focus on quality over quantity.

Avery and Winslow will now publish posts on Mondays and Thursdays. This two day schedule it more manageable for me (and more manageable means I'll actually do it!)...and hopefully, it works for you to know what is happening when.

So what is happening and when? On Mondays, it's a bit of a free for all. This is the day where I'll share inspiration, blog favorites, challenges, kid stuff, contests, giveaways ... basically things that'll get the creative juices flowing. On Thursdays, I will share a tutorial.

Sound good? I hope so!

In other (fun!) news,

Brittany over at Crafty Mischief recently awarded me the "Versatile Blogger Award". Love it! Thanks, Brittany. The award asks that I share seven things about myself, but first let me share a little bit from Brittany's blog.

Kiddo projects make me all kinds of happy & I love, love, love her Ghost Footprint Pillow:

The struggling baker in me loves these pencil cookies.

And how can you resist making some pumpkins this time of year? Brittany's is super cute. Can you guess what she made it from?

Now, for seven things about me (probably more than you ever wanted to know!):

1. I can’t stop buying ribbon even though I rarely use it. I actually have to rush by it in the store or else I inevitably bring more home.

2. True Blood has made me paranoid that people can hear what I’m thinking.

3. I’m in the middle of a weight loss journey. Currently, down 35 pounds from my high and looking to lose 30 more. See more here.

4. If I’m not buying ribbon, I’m buying nail polish. I don’t do my fingers often, but feel naked if my toes aren’t colorful.

5. I freak out over having social gatherings at my house. I just threw a Halloween themed birthday party for my son last weekend & it nearly killed me.

6. I can be overly dramatic (see #5)

7. I have a foul mouth and a sense of humor that is often inappropriate…but thankfully, married a man who thinks it’s funny.

Phew! If you made it to this point, congratulations! I was a wordy girl today. See you next Monday!

♥ Cath

::: Drip Pots (DIY) :::

2011-10-13T07:25:00.000-04:00

My son's "Spooky 7th" birthday party is a week away. I needed a creepy way to hold the utensils for lunch. After a little searching, I stumbled across some extra terra cotta pots in the garage and got to work.

Aren't these dripping blood pots fun? And they're super easy, too. Let's make some!

Choose your spray paint color and cover your pots. I used Krylon in satin black.

After your pots have dried, choose your acrylic paint color. Then, slowly squirt a line of paint all the way around the rim of your pot. Stay a little closer to the outer side of the rim to keep your drips outside the pot. Be sure to have some newspaper covering your surface - - those drips can be quick!

Let gravity do its job.

And let the paint drip some more.

That's it! Super simple, right?

I'm thinking these would be pretty cool with layered drips in three or four colors. Hmm...maybe I'll get on that idea after the party.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
♥ Cath

::: Letting it Go :::

2011-10-10T10:26:00.000-04:00

It can't all get done.

Days when I realize this always seem to be my happiest.

There will always be stuff around the house to pick up, emails to respond to, projects to finish, topics to blog, etc.

Sometimes, it's best to just let it go.

Get outside and enjoy the sun.

Skip town to check out that thing that you've heard about, but never seen.

A Zorse. Weird, right?

Find new places to explore.

Share sweet glances with people you love.

Surround yourself with things that make you happy.

And people who make you happy.

Happy Monday, everyone!
♥ Cath

If you've wondered about my weight...

2011-10-03T09:09:00.000-04:00

A few times in the past, I've brought my weight issues onto this blog.

I realize that they don't really go with the whole crafty, kid friendly thing I've got going on.

Today, I'm joining a friendly weight loss competition over at Win, Lose, or Blog. In addition to posts about weight loss and health, they also host many giveaways. Be sure to check them out if you're interested in either of those things.

If you'd like to follow my journey, I will be blogging HERE.

Hope you're doing well!
♥ Cath

DIY Halloween Countdown

2011-09-21T08:39:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone! Sorry it's been so long. Between Thomas's surgery & recovery (which went well!) and starting the school year, we've been busy, busy, busy!

I shared this Halloween tutorial over at the CSI Project last week & thought I'd post it here for anyone that missed it.

David asks “How many days until Halloween?” while I’m still trying to squeeze in beach trips and icy drinks on the back deck. To help me solve the whole “must do math quickly in my head to answer how many days until Halloween” dilemma, I made a Halloween countdown for our mantel.

Want one for yours?

Start with a plain tray. I found mine at the thrift store, but they are also available at the Dollar Tree. Use chalkboard spray paint to cover the front.

Next, punch circles out of orange cardstock. The number that you need will depend on the size of your tray and circle punch. Nine fit nicely on my tray. Be sure to leave some space at the bottom (or top) for your countdown text.

Give each circle a jack o’lantern face using a black marker. If you happen to have an adorable mini-me hanging out, be sure to hand him a marker and let him make a variety of happy, scary, and cute jack o’lanterns.

Cut a 1.5” piece of green ribbon for each pumpkin. Fold the ribbon and attach to the back of a jack o’lantern with a brad. I found it easiest to use a teeny hole punch on the circle first and then on the doubled over ribbon, so that the brad slipped right through. Repeat until all pumpkins have a stem.

Adhere the pumpkins to your tray. I used 1/8” thick sticky squares to elevate the pumpkins.

Use chalk to keep track of your countdown. I wrote the text with brilliant chalk markers that little fingers can’t erase and let my son record the number with traditional chalk.

If you don’t decorate for Halloween, make your circles out of autumn colors like mustard, rust (that's orange, too!), and cream. Add an olive ribbon to each pumpkin and display in a rustic frame.
40 days until Halloween! ♥ Cath

Boo boos, long nights, & tears

2011-09-07T12:06:00.003-04:00

This sweet little peach

had surgery yesterday. He will be recovering this week. And hopefully at some point, will sleep for a stretch longer than 40 minutes.I am on call 24/7 (when isn't that true for mommas?).I won't have time to craft or write, but know that I'll be back next week (hopefully with some fun goodies to share!).Hope you have a fantastic week & lovely weekend!♥ Cath

A Necklace For Gals Like Me

2011-08-31T08:01:00.000-04:00

Between prepping to start the school year, too many medical appointments, and our rush to squeeze as much as possible into the end of summer, my shop has been underloved.

It's difficult for me to feel motivated to create when my brain is in so many different places and my emotions are all over the board. I've heard that being overwhelmed actually stimulates action in some people - - I'm more of the plunk down in front of the computer & munch type. And I made basically nothing for awhile.

Until I decided to make a necklace for me. One that pretty much sums up where I'm at in my life.

I'm a stay at home mom. I'm a homeschooling momma. I'm a work from home (if I ever get time!) woman. I'm a wife.

My home is where my heart is.

Handstamped & personalized with the initial of my last name (since my home is about family), this necklace hasn't left my neck since I finished polishing it. LOVE.

The simpler version is in my shop now. The personalized version will be up later this week (if I survive our garage sale - - please remind me to never commit to one of these again!).

Happy Wednesday, everyone!
♥ Cath

DIY : Personalized Quote Tray

2011-08-29T06:51:00.001-04:00

I love quotes. There, I've said it.

So when I saw this tray at Anthropologie, I was a bit smitten.

While I loved the concept (meaningful phrases & simplicity), the words weren't really speaking to me. I pulled up some of my favorite quotes and set out to make my own tray.

I started with this beauty that I picked up for fifty cents. She's a little dinged up and rusty, but she'll work. (If you need a tray, check out your local thrift store or the Dollar Tree. I just saw some there yesterday in the tableware aisle).

I pulled out my trusty Rustoleum 2X spray in a satin finish Blossom White. Satin finish is matte, so the tray will maintain some of the feel of the pottery version.

Time to stamp! I love, love, love StazOn ink. It dries quickly and...well...it stays on. ;) Thinking black would be too much contrast, I settled on dove gray.

With quotes in hand, I got to stamping. Don't stress about any crooked or off center letters. They just add to the handmade feel of your tray.

Voila! My own quote tray, personalized with text that is meaningful to me.

I had all of the supplies already in my ~~hoard~~ home, so this was a pretty cheap project. If I had bought everything new without any coupons (tray = $1, paint = $5, ink = $8, stamps = $5), this tray would cost $19 as compared to the original at $48. And, of course, with coupons it would be even less...and you will have plenty of supplies left over.

So now you have a tray. What can you do with it?

Put your favorite crafty goodies in jars and display them on it.

Use it to hold the extras (napkins, silverware, etc.) when you have a few guests over.

Corral candles on a table.

Prop it on your mantel to add vertical space to a decorating scheme (mine’ll look pretty with our winter snowflakes).

Hold your coffee extras.

Hang it on the wall.

And in case you're wondering, I used the following text on my tray:

If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.

Live simply.

Enjoy the little things in life for someday you will realize they were the big things.

Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.

You were born an original. Do not die a copy.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you had an awesome weekend.
♥ Cath

Hello, August!

2011-08-05T19:12:00.000-04:00

Whenever the calendar turns to August, I start to panic that Summer is almost over...and life gets twice as busy trying to squeeze in as much as possible before snow flies.

We've been...

...admiring the flowers.

..."adopting" toadstools.

...riding bikes and racing wheelchairs.

...spray painting goodies.

...and getting way too excited about veggies that survived a summer of hungry bunnies!

Oh, and I've been daydreaming about a girls' weekend, too! Have you heard of Creative Estates? Last spring, I noticed a sudden flurry of blogposts about the event and became jealous of all the gals that got to hang out and create together. I decided I must go, but my budget decided otherwise. Why do budgets have to be so difficult like that?!

Fast forward to this week when Shey announced a ticket giveaway...not just for one lucky winner, but also for a friend! How generous!!! Yup, generous enough to earn three exclamation points. I instantly thought of a friend who I recently reunited with after 10 years apart...a gal who is after my creative heart with her budding passion for a crafty life. How bad would I like to head to the Southwest with her in March? Um, SUPER bad!

What is Creative Estates? Well, I think it's about...

Community
Retreat
Elevating creativity
Adult conversation ;)
Taking chances
Inspiration
Vibrant bloggers
Excellent opportunities

Enthusiasm
Seeing new faces
Talented ladies
Arizona (hello blue skies & sunshine when MI is dreary!)
Trying new things
Engaging activities
Shey (the brilliant mind behind it all!)

See what I mean? Sounds incredible, right? Check out more info here.

And if they aren't already busy crafting, cross your fingers for me! ;)

Have a great weekend!
♥ Cath

Simple Starfish Banner

2011-07-22T10:14:00.000-04:00

Our mantel is now covered with seashell collections from my childhood trips to the Gulf of Mexico and my little pieces of driftwood picked up during adulthood.

But what's a fun summer mantel without some kind of nautical banner? Not as fun as it could be. ;)

Trace a starfish silhouette onto white foam.

Choose paint colors. Hate cleaning up after a paint activity? Try using egg cartons - - just toss 'em when you're done.

Now, paint all of your starfish.

After your starfish have dried, find some nautical rope. Have a Hobby Lobby near you? I bought this white rope in the spooled trim section of their sewing area for only a buck or two.

Hot glue your stars onto the rope, leaving a foot of extra rope on either end.

Tie a couple knots in each of your ends {so nautical, right?} and hang your banner up.

Although this banner was made by my kiddos, I think it would also be a fun project for adults. Challenge yourself to make realistic looking starfish...or go for something wild & abstract. Add sand for texture or decoupage on tissue paper. So many possibilities!

Hope you have a lovely weekend!
♥ Cath

Seashell Hide & Seek

2011-07-20T19:38:00.001-04:00

If you live anywhere near me {and from what I read in the news, that means anywhere in the U.S.}, you are living in what feels like the jungle.

And living in the jungle means more time inside...which means Mommy pulling out her hair while children argue, holler, and strip the beds for pillow fights.

Need a quiet activity?

I started out with ten seashells {I chose ones that could make pairs to extend the activity, but that isn't necessary}.

Then, David hid the seashells in a cake pan. You can use any shallow dish.

Next, we covered the shells with rice. Don't have rice on hand? Try beans, lentils, marbles, or macaroni noodles.

Now, the fun part! Thomas got to dig through the rice (a nice sensory experience) to find the seashells.

Of course, be sure to supervise young children who may be tempted to put the rice in their mouths, noses, or ears. This activity is much less fun when panic is involved.

I used a bucket because Thomas needs to work on reaching and shoulder mobility {plus seashells in a bucket are cute, right?}.

After finding all of the seashells, Thomas counted them.

Then, he found the matches and made pairs.

Now (FINALLY!), it is David's turn. Thomas got to hide the seashells.

David is six, so this activity could potentially be a little boring. To keep it exciting, I set the kitchen timer and turned it into a challenge.

Want to switch it up? Let your child dig with a spoon, cup, or sand shovel. You can hide Hot Wheel cars, crayons, or blocks.

Consider using this tool for a skill that your child is reluctant to practice. I plan on hiding letter tiles to help my younger son work on letter identification and hiding scrambled words to help my older son with spelling.

I wasn't sure what the boys would think of seashell hide & seek, but Thomas cried when we put it away and David asked to do it tomorrow...so YAY! I found a winner.

What do you do to stay busy inside on these muggy, hot days?

♥ Cath

Nautical Bow Bag

2011-07-18T07:30:00.003-04:00

Although most beach trips are taken with kidlets in tow, I usually get the chance to escape to the beach without the boys once or twice every summer. Daydreams of a beach getaway inspired this bag {the first one I've made in recent memory without using a pattern or tutorial!}.

I started with red stripes and knew that I wanted a big bag with a floppy bow. The rest of the story is just a flurry around my sewing area that resulted in this:

But as much as I love bows, I wanted to be able to take this one off if I wasn't in a girly mood.

Shiny anchor buttons added a touch of metallic while keeping with the nautical vibe.

Red stripes on their own remind me of peppermints - - add in navy blue and I'm ready to set sail {okay, not really set sail -- unless of course you want to see me green & queasy}.

I’m also loving tying the scarf on the strap for a slightly different look.

I can even use it as a scarf style headband to tie back my messy post-water hair.

I should have stopped for photos along the way to share the process with you, but I got caught up in the vision. Sorry. I do have some black stripe fabric, so if you're interested in a quick tutorial {from a not expert in sewing}, let me know!

♥ Cath

p.s. Allison over at House of Hepworths is letting me stop by this afternoon. Be sure to check her blog out here.

::: July Inspiration :::

2011-07-11T10:04:00.000-04:00

Is your Summer flying by? Mine sure is. My family is squeezing in all of the activities that can't happen during our endlessly long Michigan winter. Between our trips to the beach/park/festivals and our endless list of outdoor home improvement, it's been tricky squeezing in craft time.

And by the time I actually get craft time, I'm almost too exhausted to play.

If I'm feeling exhausted, I really, REALLY need some inspiration to get creating.

I'm inspired by the work of others:

How pretty are these vases from Love & Lavender? You know I love simple & feminine!

And I'm inspired by link parties & assignments:

The CSI Project has themed link parties all month. July 14th, you can link up picnic & party projects. July 21st, share something beachy {you'll see me there, for sure!}. July 28th, they invite you to share an original sewing tutorial {talk about finding inspiration!}.

UCreate's "Create with Me" challenge in July is a lamp makeover. There's a wicker lamp in my bedroom that definitely could use some loving.

I'm also inspired when I clean my stash. I got rid of two garbage bags packed FULL of fabric this weekend. I dreaded parting with material, but it was fun {and inspiring!} to find all of those forgotten textile treasures.

What's inspiring you this month? If you know of a fun challenge or themed link party coming up this month, please leave me a comment. I need all the inspiration I can get. :)

♥ Cath

A Quick 4th of July Bangle

2011-07-03T19:51:00.000-04:00

So, I have my red tee shirt and blue flip flops ready for a day full of parades, barbeque, and fireworks...but just realized tonight that my outfit could use a fun accessory. I'm thinking cheap, cute, and simple. Sound good to you?

If you are lucky enough to have a Michael's store in your neighborhood, be sure to check out their dollar area. I found some cheap plastic bangles in there this week. They have a faceted look and come in a bunch of autumn colors {olive, orange, deep pink, and the amber shown}.

I ripped a 2" wide strip from a piece of 45" wide fabric. Yay for polka dots! I used a little hot glue to attach one end of the fabric to the inside of the bangle.

Then I just wrapped around the bangle, making sure to overlap my fabric so that the bangle didn't show through. I used a little smidge of hot glue on the inside of the bangle after every three or so wraps to keep the fabric secure.

When the fabric got short, I hot glued it to the inside of the bangle and used my little scissors to trim close to the hot glue.

Super simple, cheap, and quick!

Not only will it be cute for Independence Day festivities, but I also think it will be sweet with other summery, nautical looks -- even a fun way to cutesy up a white tee and jeans.

Hope you're having a lovely weekend!
♥ Cath

::: Summer Wreath :::

2011-06-29T09:10:00.001-04:00

Red, white, & blue

Patriotic

Nautical

Perfect for July!

♥ Cath

::: Must See Apron Tutorial :::

2011-06-27T11:15:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that I love aprons. They appeal to that part of me that romanticizes the 1950s housewife, heels & makeup on, twirling in the kitchen in her feminine apron with a casserole dish in her hands.

Did that make you gag?

Anyway, I think aprons are a way to add a little something "special" to kitchen time. I'm always on the lookout for a new apron tutorial to try.

I found a fun, tiered half apron from Maureen Cracknell Handmade.

The tutorial is packed full of photos {yay! I am definitely a visual learner.} And I didn't once throw a seam ripper across the room while cursing - - bonus!

And the apron is a quick project - -you know I loved that! I didn't keep track of how long it took me {I had to squeeze the steps in between making caramel brownies, sailing Lego pirates, and reading Garfield books}, but it was done within 24 hours of distracted worktime.

I was too nervous about my sewing skills to cut into my favorite fabrics, but am super happy with how this apron turned out and am tempted to make another in that Heather Bailey fabric I'm hoarding.

Check out Maureen's lovely tutorial for the Fabric Lover's Apron HERE.

Did you make anything this weekend?

♥ Cath

Spend the Day Playing

2011-06-23T06:46:00.000-04:00

What would you do if you could spend the day playing?

This week, Gussy Sews asked readers to find inspiration in that command.

I took the prompt quite literally and invited my boys to spend the whole day playing with me.

“No jewelry work?” David asked suspiciously.

“Nope,” I told him. “No jewelry. No cleaning. Just playing.”

We started by trashing the play room.

Then, we moved on to Play-Doh. David made popcorn and played with cookie cutters.

Thomas made ice cream and attacked Play-Doh with chopsticks.

I made a pile of colorful ric rac.

By the time I finished crawling around on the floor under the table scanning the carpet for sneaky clay, I was beginning to think that spending the day playing was going to be an awful lot of work.

Next up, Thomas's dream trip!

Oh sure, it looks simple from out here. And fries do sound yummy. But the inside of this building held one of my biggest nightmares. Playland.

I know many moms probably feel relieved when they let their children loose in the fast food playground. Not so much for me. Thomas doesn’t stand or walk which means this mommy gets to squeeze herself through the tubes made for 3 foot tall children and pray that the floor doesn’t crash under her weight...which it didn't, thank God! Can you see us in the top window?

I got a little time to recover while we sat down to a family movie with popcorn.

Then it was on to our last play activity. The boys painted their own t-shirts.

A day spent doing nothing but playing is certainly a fun {and exhausting!} one. I'm thinking my next "play all day" day might need to include the beach, the antiques market, and a fabric store. ;)

How would you spend a day playing?

♥ Cath

The “Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop” link up happens every Thursday. Check out more details here.

Father's Day

2011-06-19T10:01:00.000-04:00

Wish I had the chance to know you as an adult. The older I get, the more I understand who you were...wish you were here to help me better understand who I am. ♥

::: Inspiration :::

2011-06-18T08:02:00.000-04:00

I find it when I combine nature & solitude. A long walk {even in the familiarity of my neighborhood} or a solo trip to the beach {even on the most crowded day} refreshes me…and often leads to new ideas!

I find inspiration when I step out of my comfort zone. Trying different techniques leads to new discoveries and often builds confidence - - those two elements together are inspiring!

I find it when I become engrossed in a movie. There is inspiration to be found in the costumes, the set, the hairstyles, the furniture, the story line, etc. A really fantastic movie makes me think & daydream - - and daydreams are wonderful for new ideas!

My boys inspire me - - both with their requests and with their creativity. On our last family pizza night, while I just tossed on toppings, David made a skull. That's the creativity that pushes me to stop thinking it all through and have fun.

What inspires you?

♥ Cath

Craft Fail {kinda}

2011-06-17T05:42:00.002-04:00

Remember the Turquoise ring in progress that I shared awhile back? Well, it’s done…and not without a few bumps in the road.

As I was preparing the bezel {that’s the metal that holds the stone in place}, my gut kept screaming that I didn’t have bezel of the right size…and I plugged my ears.

Instead of stopping and placing an order for the material I needed to make my ring “correctly”, I pushed ahead.

I checked the bezel fit on the base and did sanding until there were no gaps.

I soldered on the bezel and nugget details, then blackened the metal.

I put the stone in place. The bezel was perfectly snug. I enjoyed a moment of success {all the while ignoring that nagging gut telling me not to get excited yet}.

What happens when a bezel is too tall? It folds and gets lumpy when you set the stone.

As you can see in this photo, my gut was right. Folded, lumpy metal.

The perfectionist in me wanted to get grumpy. If this ring had been an order for a client, I would have been grumpy. I probably would have cursed myself out for being impulsive.

But the ring is for me and my style certainly isn’t perfectly coiffed and pressed. So, in a way, this “craft fail” is just right for me. It has a nice organic, handmade feel that goes perfectly with my bohemian summer dresses.

And I love it. I’m rockin’ it right now.

♥ Cath

Gardening & Grandpa

2011-06-16T10:57:00.001-04:00

My maternal grandma and paternal grandpa were both gardeners. My grandma grew strawberries {and then made them into incredible jam}. Many memories of my grandpa take place in his garden - - stealing grapes off the vine, the smell of his tomatoes, and the sight of him in his gardening hat.

I've never had success with gardening, but I'm not sure I've ever really tried. I viewed it as "more yardwork" and an expensive hobby that I didn't have time for.

But under those "why would you waste your time planting all that just to pull weeds?" and "I'll just buy my lettuce at the store and spend my weekends doing something fun" comments, there was this strong desire to wander greenhouses and read articles about growing your own peas.

So, I had a little chat with myself. Why wasn't I trying to garden when my gut kept pushing me in that direction? Was it my perfectionism and fear of failure? Probably. So, I changed my expectations. I don't need {or want} a Better Homes & Gardens backyard. I just want to dig in the dirt, watch expectantly for new blossoms, and pick a tomato out of my own yard.

I gave in to the urges and bought perennials, tomato plants, zucchini, and even grew cucumber plants from seed {which I'm obscenely proud of}.

I spent 5+ hours digging through rocks and pouring in dirt to change the "yard junk pile" in our front yard into a flower bed. Then, I spent yesterday morning putting the plants in their new homes. I went out to take pictures just as the sky started to sprinkle. I came inside with muddy hands, dirty feet, and the satisfied feeling that I was doing exactly what I was meant to be doing.

Last night, I had a dream about Grandpa. We were in his backyard - - one of those dreams so intense, you believe it is real right up to the moment where you wake up in bed and realize that person is really gone...that you can only wish to be with them.

I clung to that feeling of smiling in the sunshine with Grandpa by my side until I couldn't really remember the dream anymore. And then I figured that he may not be here in body, but perhaps his spirit is there watching me garden...and that the dream I had was his way of giving me the thumbs up...

Green thumbs, of course!

♥ Cath

Do you have a garden? Share your photos over at the Bloggers' Garden Tour.

A Weekend of Slow Progress

2011-06-13T09:07:00.000-04:00

Hope you had a lovely weekend!

I spent all day Saturday {well, all of my free time at least} working on the Clover & Violet Quilt Along. My mom & sister have joined me and it is fun watching each of their progress on Facebook.

I also started a Turquoise ring. Most of my jewelry making time has been dedicated to my shop, so it's been awhile since I've bezel set a stone. I'm looking forward to seeing how this ring turns out.

Did you work on anything crafty this weekend? Have any crafty plans for the week ahead?

♥ Cath

Reverse Applique - a quick how to

2011-06-08T07:30:00.000-04:00

After I finished filling in my French knot initial, I knew I wanted to use it on a bag. I really wanted to frame the initial and make it stand out…put it on display since I was feeling pretty proud.

I started by cutting two pieces of fabric the same size as the fabric that I had embroidered on {I only need one piece for the reverse applique - - I used the second piece to make my applique into a pocket}.

Then, I put one piece printed side down. I pinned down the embroidered fabric on top of it wrong side up.

Next, I drew the “frame” shape directly onto the embroidered fabric with a pencil.

I straight stitched {with my machine} along the frame shape that I just drew.

Then, I carefully cut away the printed fabric from inside the stitching. It is super important to be careful in this step - - you don’t want to cut your stitching, but you also DO NOT want to cut through your embroidered fabric. That would be so sad!

I pinched the printed fabric and let the embroidered fabric fall away. Then I snipped just the printed fabric. At this point, you can slip your scissors in the hole and pretty easily avoid cutting your embroidery.

This was my first experience with reverse applique and I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly it went. My mind is swimming with t-shirt ideas for the boys. Have you done reverse applique? Have any tips for me?

♥ Cath

10,000 French Knots Tote

2011-06-07T10:21:00.000-04:00

True confessions time: I didn't really count the number of french knots on this bag.

And while I'm sure the final total is nowhere near 10,000, it sure felt like that many as I knotted away through an entire season of 24, watching Jack Bauer save Los Angeles while wrapping thread.

This tote has started quite the obsession for me. I want to french knot everything! You ~~might see~~ will see more french knots in my future.

To make the french knotted initial, I started by tracing a letter off my computer screen.

Then, I chose one color and scattered knots throughout the letter.

Time to add more colors!

I just kept knotting until the whole letter was filled in and lush looking. It has been fun to watch people's reactions when they realize that the initial is not a boucle or tweed, but actually knotted floss!

Tomorrow, I'll be sharing the reverse applique process {how I made my initial look framed in fabric}. You can use reverse applique on totes, tees, aprons...all kinds of sewn goodies!

Do you embroider? What's your favorite stitch?

♥ Cath

Artsy Craftsy Weekend

2011-06-06T07:29:00.001-04:00

Hope you had an excellent weekend!

We went into downtown Grand Rapids for the Festival of the Arts.

It was 95, the sun was intense, and the humidity was really ridiculous. If you were a pregnant woman wandering the festival, you definitely had my sympathy.

Acutally, in this picture, you can see I was already feeling pretty sorry for myself. The boys were using a paint that doesn't come out of clothes, so I was trying to hold Thomas up, help him change paintbrushes, and not get paint on myself. And did I mention it was HOT? Waaah.

After painting, we went to the "Glue-In". Basically, the kids get to dig through wading pools and select pieces of wood scrap. Then, they build a sculpture on a board using the wood scraps and glue. I was genuinely impressed with David's finished house. This kid has an eye for symmetry, balance, and detail.

We listened to a symphonic band play classical music and military tunes. Somebody was old enough to climb to the top of the bleachers alone. And somebody was pretty proud of himself, too.

After music {and some excellent fresh lemonade}, we made hats at the "Mad Hatter" tent. Thomas was intrigued by the dot paint and spent more time poking the spongey part and asking what it was than actually painting. But he looked cute in the final {number covered} hat.

Let's have a great week! ♥ Cath

A Friday Feature

2011-06-03T10:34:00.000-04:00

The lovely Alicia of La Famille was kind enough to invite me into her online home today. And it is a wonderful online home to visit! Be sure to look around - - Alicia takes beautiful photos and shares thoughtful posts.

Check out my spotlight HERE.

And be sure to pop over to Alicia's wonderful Etsy shop.

Have a wonderful weekend!
♥ Cath

Artwork to Home Decor

2011-06-03T08:10:00.000-04:00

I finished something fantastic this week.

Nope, I can't be humble on this one. I'm just so, so happy with it! :)

Remember this postcard from yesterday?

I traced it onto white cotton with a disappearing ink pen {which gave me a little fright until OxiClean came on the scene...}

Then, I dug into my stash and found some fabric and coordinating embroidery floss.

I stitched over David's lovely work.

Then I did a little patchwork around the finished stitching.

Another half hour at the sewing machine & this beauty was mine!

It makes me feel all kinds of happy & loved!

Do you ever use embroidery in your creations?

♥ Cath

Handmade Inspiration

2011-06-02T10:22:00.000-04:00

What inspires you?

Maggie over at GussySews launched her "Inspiration Workshop" this week.

She invited bloggers to share a photo interpretation of the prompt "handmade".

I chose this picture of a postcard that David made for me. I am endlessly inspired by his open minded, honest approach to all things creative - -the way that he can express himself and create without fear of failure is very inspiring.

Check back tomorrow to see what handmade project this postcard inspired me to create!

♥ Cath

Quilt Along with Clover and Violet

2011-05-27T07:23:00.000-04:00

The gals over at Clover and Violet are hosting a stitch & quilt along. I made my first {and only} quilt as part of a quilt along and enjoyed sharing my struggles and excitement with a community.

Clara and Jennie’s full size quilt requires nine fat quarters. I found six in my stash and need to find some free time this weekend to escape to the local fabric shop and grab a couple more.

If you are interested in making a quilt and showing off your embroidery skills {or learning to hand embroider}, be sure to check out all of the details HERE.

Have a lovely weekend!
♥ Cath

::: Drumroll Please :::

2011-05-26T09:01:00.000-04:00

We have a winner!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter my May giveaway. Thank you also for so many thoughtful responses to my bloggy question.

Welcome to all of the new followers {and big thank yous to those of you who have been following for awhile!}. I look forward to sharing more projects, tutorials, and stories with you all!

Congratulations, Amanda! Please leave me a comment with the earrings that were your favorite and I'll contact you for shipping information.

♥ Cath

::: A Little Bit of Everything :::

2011-05-25T10:31:00.000-04:00

{Looking for the giveaway? Scroll down or click here.}

This has been a crazy, busy week! At the start of every month, the calendar looks full of empty, lazy days. Wow, that changes fast!

We went to a wedding on the other side of the state last weekend and this weekend, my friend is getting married. I made this necklace for her to wear at the reception.

On Sunday, I was just straight up crabby. I moped around the house, rolling my eyes at any soul unfortunate enough to cross my path. I spent the day hiding on the porch, taking notes from my new favorite homeschooling book.

I'm obsessing a wee bit over the SNAP! contest and hoping to win a ticket! Wanna help a sistah out? Vote for me {#12} HERE.

We put up Thomas's new swing. If you have a family member with special needs, be sure to check out THIS SITE. Seriously fantastic service and quick shipping! And look how happy that sweet kiddo is.

David's been keeping me busy planning for his next birthday party. Granted, it's 5 months away...but he tells me it will be "the best birthday party ever because it's so organized."

Even though David is my mini-me, he certainly gets his organizational skills from Daddy. I'm working on a new project and this little peek will probably make the organized among you cringe. I took my floss box to a craft club meeting once and am pretty sure a couple ladies wanted to dive across the table and do some color coordinating.

Don't forget, my earring giveaway is open through tonight. And there might be another giveaway going on soon {I'll be sure to share the link with you!}

What have you been up to?
♥ Cath

CLOSED Fun Mail Challenge - Week 4 * giveaway * CLOSED

2011-05-22T11:17:00.003-04:00

This week, I’m sending a fun package to you! Well, technically, it’s only to one of you … but I hope it’s you!

WHAT YOU WIN
The winner of this giveaway will pick one of the following pairs of {handmade by me} earrings:

Itty Bitty Fish Studs – all metal is sterling silver – ¼” circles

“Prismatic Fire” – crystal dangle earrings with 14k goldfilled findings

Clear Crystal dangles – all metal is sterling silver

"Industria" - gold plated bars dangle from oxidized sterling silver

OM dangles - Dalmation Jasper & Sterling Silver

GIVEAWAY DETAILS
This fun mail giveaway is open until Wednesday, May 25th at midnight EST and is open to folks worldwide.

I will select a winner the old fashioned way {pull a name out of a box} and post the winner on Thursday morning.

HOW YOU ENTER
There are two optional ways to enter - -you may do both or just one.

Entry #1 - Answer the following:
If you read this blog, which types of posts are you most interested in?

some common themes: tutorials, family stuff (homeschooling, every day stories, etc), giveaways, project sharing, health & fitness, challenges

If you don't read this blog, what types of posts do you read most often on your favorite blogs?

Entry #2 - If you follow my blog, leave a comment to let me know.

Good Luck! ♥ Cath

Teachable Moments

2011-05-20T21:17:00.000-04:00

If I told you that every day of home school was easy breezy, would you believe me?

Yes? Okay, you should stop reading right now. ;)

Despite best intentions, some days wander way off the plan. Some mornings are filled with fits and distraction and some of the slooooowest moving children you will ever meet.

And as the days get increasingly beautiful, the boys get increasingly antsy.

Some days, school doesn't look like school at all. Some days, it is disguised as "determining the winning bike ride" when your six year old's training wheels are forcefully removed.

It's amazing {and revealing} how a child who is bored with measuring will wrestle the tape measure out of your hands to see how far he just rode his bike.

And how he'll record those distances without any complaints.

And how he'll fix the backward numbers without Mom's persistant nagging.

How he'll suddenly find joy in a scary activity...and confidence in a math skill that was boring a half hour earlier.

One of my favorite parts of homeschooling is recognizing the teachable moments in our every day lives. It makes the "oh do I have to?" penmanship lessons a little more bearable.

Hope you have a lovely weekend!
♥ Cath

::: Giveaway Question :::

2011-05-19T07:36:00.000-04:00

Good morning!

I'm thinking about having another giveaway {as a fun way to say thank you to you for hanging out with me}...but I can't decide what to give away.

Jewelry?

Crafty supplies {some goodies from my ever growing stash}?

A half apron?

If you got to pick one of the above, which would you like to see in a giveaway?

Leave me a quick note - - a simple "jewelry" , "supplies" , or "apron" would be great.

Whichever gets the most comments by tomorrow when I hop out of bed will be what I give away.

♥ Cath

Fun Mail Challenge - Week 3

2011-05-17T09:58:00.000-04:00

Back when I posted this half apron made from a fat quarter, my husband's cousin left a sweet Facebook message about how much she loved it.

When her family purchased their first home last month, I had every intention of sending a congratulations card, but joined the flock of family that left a quick "Congrats! Your house is cute." note on her Facebook pictures.

The idea of making her a housewarming treat stayed in the back of my head. This month's mail challenge motivated me to turn the idea into a project. I am sending her this apron {and that congrats on your first house card that I should have sent out a month ago}.

Have you sent out any "just because" mail this month?
♥ Cath

::: Shop Update :::

2011-05-16T11:00:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since I have shared new jewelry with you, so I thought I'd keep today simple with some pictures of the newest necklaces in the shop.

Petite Sterling Nugget

Green Amethyst, Champagne CZ, and a pearl

A larger sterling nugget pendant

Hope you have a lovely Monday!
♥ Cath

SNAP! the conference

2011-05-15T15:04:00.000-04:00

Have you ever been to a conference? No, I'm not talking about a boring one that work sent you to. I'm talking about one of those just for fun crafty bloggers conferences.

No? Me neither.

Let's take a minute to feel sorry for ourselves...maybe to get a little whiny about how jealous we are of the gals who have been.

Okay, now back to the conference chat. I've been thinking about putting my pennies in a jar for awhile with an end goal of attending one of these fun shindigs when along came an announcement for SNAP!, a creative blogging and social media conference held in April 2012.

Sign me up!

Oh wait. It's in Utah.

Um, maybe I need a few more jars...and a whole lot more pennies.

What?! They're giving away a ticket?! Well, sign me up for that!

And they asked why I deserve a ticket. Deserve feels like a big word. Why I want a ticket - - that I can answer.

How I would benefit from the guidance & motivation of successful, creative bloggers - - that's a no brainer.

Why winning a ticket makes my chances of eyelash batting my husband into a yes on a plane trip & lodging more likely - - that makes sense.

How as a mom of two little boys {who are home ALL day} a chance to take a shower and put on mascara and sit in a room with other passionately crafty gals excited by hot glue and ruffles would be priceless - - well, obviously.

Let's just say I would shriek, shake, giggle, and call everyone if I won a ticket because I love blogging, love bloggy gals, and want to learn, craft, & play for a weekend.

Pretty please?

Go here to learn more: www.snaptheconference.com

♥ Cath

Fun Mail Challenge - Week 2

2011-05-14T13:31:00.000-04:00

Between Blogger's issues the last couple days and our super busy week {it felt like Summer here!}, I almost forgot to post this week's mail challenge.

In case you missed it, I challenged myself to send out a piece of mail each week in the month of May - - a handwritten letter, a package,a postcard - - anything that requires a stamp counts.

This week, I sent out this:

I decided to make this style for myself {in grey & turquoise} and know a certain somebody who shares my style, but tends toward different colors...so I'm surprising her with this.

Have you send out any "just because" mail this week?

♥ Cath

Happy {belated} Mother's Day

2011-05-09T08:17:00.000-04:00

To all the mommas, grandmas, moms to be, Godmothers, foster moms, women who stand in as moms, mommas who have lost, and moms we have lost.

Happy {belated} Mother's Day to you!

It is WONDERFUL to be loved.

And to everyone, hope you have an excellent week!
♥ Cath

Fun Mail Challenge - Week 1

2011-05-04T10:40:00.000-04:00

If you checked in yesterday, you know that I've issued a challenge to myself (& invited you to join me!) to send out fun mail at least once each week in the month of May.

{Thank you to Sara Lynn & Debbie for the messages letting me know that they are big fans of sending out happy mail, too.}

This week, I'm prepping a package for a friend who is finishing up her first year of nursing school.

She loves owls, so this fabric went in my cart immediately.

This pouch was my first zipper attempt...and it turned out fabulous! So, if you're like me {feeling nervous about that zipper!} be sure to hop over and check out the tutorial I used from noodlehead.

Sure hope she likes it! :)

♥ Cath

A Challenge & A Winner

2011-05-03T09:40:00.000-04:00

I love fun mail. That love drives my magazine addiction and is certainly responsible for some of the unused supplies sitting around here.

We do most of our communicating online now. When I was a kid, my mom sent out birthday cards regularly. Now, we stick a thirty second message on a Facebook wall.

The challenge to myself this month:

Each week, send a piece of mail to someone. Maybe a birthday card, a letter, or a little surprise gift. I just love the idea of knowing that someone will open their mailbox and see an unexpected package.

If you feel inspired to do so, please join me.

And here’s the Elmer’s giveaway winner:

Congrats to Fonda!

You can visit her blog here.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter, super big thank yous to everyone who takes a moment out of their day to read about mine, and welcome to all of our new followers!

♥ Cath

Hanging House Number - - Door Decor

2011-04-28T10:11:00.000-04:00

What do you do when you have mini grapevine wreaths left over from a project and an Easter wreath begging to be taken down before May?

Not into the house number look? You could also do “WELCOME” or your family’s last name.

Here’s how I made them:

1. Make a folded paper flower for each wreath. I used this tutorial and cut my strips 1.25” wide.

2. Put a scalloped circle over the center of each flower {or a plain circle, fun shape…whatever floats your crafty boat}.

3. Use ribbon loops to attach your grapevine wreaths to each other. I cut my ribbon in 8” lengths.

4. Be sure to adjust the ribbon so that the glued side is on the backside. Then, hot glue your paper flowers to the wreaths. They may not stick to your wreath, but will attach to the ribbon {which is why you want to hide your seam!}

5. Add your numbers or letters. I used a stencil, then filled in with acrylic paint. To help the numbers show up, I outlined them with a Sharpie after the paint dried.

Link up your favorite wreath project with The CSI Project.

And don’t forget to check out my giveaway - - a big box of Elmer’s goodies!

♥ Cath

GIVEAWAY Host your own Crafty Party! GIVEAWAY

2011-04-28T07:33:00.002-04:00

The generous folks at Elmer’s are giving one of my readers a prize package packed with crafty goodies - - enough to throw your own crafty party!

I used Elmer’s products to make my mix & match mantel decorations.

You can stand them vertically to change up the look.

As the winner of this incredible giveaway, you can host your own "Craft & Tell" Party. You can even post photos of the event to your blog {if you have one} and inspire others to get creative.

Elmer’s will send you ALL of the following:

o 3 X-ACTO Retract-a-Blade knives

o 3 CraftBond Extra Strength Glue Sticks

o 3 CraftBond Tape Runners

o 3 Mini Bi-fold 9x12 Foam Board packs

o 1 Painters Markers pack

o 1 X-ACTO Decorative Edge Scissors pack

o 1 Circle Cutter

o 1 X-ACTO Self-Healing Mat

o 1 Glue Dots pack

o 2 Photo Corners packs (various colors)

o 1 Gel Pens pack

o 1 Tacky Glue bottle

That’s a whole lot of crafty loot for one lucky winner!

Due to shipping costs, Elmer’s is offering this package to US shipping addresses only.

The giveaway closes at Midnight EST on Monday, May 2nd. I will announce a winner on this blog and on Twitter on Tuesday.

Okay, I’ll stop chatting - - now get to entering…and GOOD LUCK!

There are FOUR ways to enter. Please leave a separate comment for each task that you complete (you can do as many or as few as you’d like!).

{Please leave an email in your comment or be sure that your profile links to your email, so I can contact you if you win.}

Ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment letting me know who you would invite to a crafty party or what you might make with all the Elmer’s goodies if you are the winner.

2. Become a public follower of this blog {click on the follow option on the left sidebar}. If you are already a follower, just leave a comment letting me know {and THANK YOU!}

3. Follow me HERE on Twitter.

4. Tweet this message: Win a huge crafty prize package from @Elmers & @CathMarissa http://tinyurl.com/3ufbzuv #giveaway #craft

Mix 'n' Match Mantel

2011-04-25T13:16:00.000-04:00

Thank you so much to Amy of Positively Splendid for inviting me to participate in her Virtual Elmer's Craft and Tell Party!

Amy sent me a package with all these lovely crafty goodies:

The biggest item was Elmer's Bi-Fold Foam Board, so I knew that would be the base for my craft. I considered a traveling activity book for the boys, a memo board for my workspace, and a jumbo card for Mother's Day.

Inspiration hit when I looked at our Easter mantel and craved a change. I wanted bright colors and pictures. So, I used the foam board for a mix 'n' match mantel project.

I started by cutting the foam board in half with my X-acto grip knife so that instead of looking like a giant card, it looked like two shorter cards. That gave me 8 different rectangles to decorate.

My absolute favorite part of the package were the adhesives. I used the CraftBOND permanent tape runner to attach paper to the foam board and the CraftBOND extra strength glue sticks to attach paper to paper.

To show off photos, I used a dressed up office clip - - great for quickly changing the pictures.

I layered paper and cork on two sides. Now, I can show off little notes that David writes to me or keep track of checks that need to be deposited, to do lists, etc.

Cute little clothespins hold photos on two of the rectangles.

I covered one side with ribbon strips.

And the last side got a coat of chalkboard spray paint. Did you know that you can spray foam board? I didn't, but love how nice it turned out!

I also used the CraftBond tape runner to attach paper to this "H".

I was hoping to use the circle cutter to add a playful garland, but couldn't quite figure out how to make it work without tearing my paper. I need some practice.

Thanks again, Amy! It was a lot of fun to play with some new supplies. ♥ Cath

Busy, busy week

2011-04-23T10:23:00.000-04:00

My six year old planned a wedding. He married a Garfield book. I blame myself. I've been known to say "I love that 'B' so much, that I want to marry it" when helping David with his handwriting. So, he loves his Garfield book a lot...makes sense to marry it, right?

The guests all got front row seats.

I now pronounce you boy & book.

And it snowed! Thomas was thrilled. The rest of us, not so much.

Inspired by this handprint lamb project, we made a fluffy Easter garland.

And the BEST news of our ~~week month~~ year:

Thomas got his wheelchair! I could say so much, but then I'd get weepy in a joy filled way...so let's just say it's a whole new world for my inquisitive little boy. :)

Watch for pedestrians!

And his sweet brother made driving signs that are posted all over our house. They make me smile.

Hope you enjoy a lovely weekend! ♥ Cath

::: Craft with Kids ::: Watercolor Wreath

2011-04-14T14:38:00.001-04:00

I have so many happy memories of crafting as a kid - - my mom was great about encouraging us to make things. I want to be the same kind of mom to my boys...and thankfully, they LOVE crafting! We had so much fun making simple wreaths for Easter

Wanna make a wreath with your kiddos?

All you need is an egg template {I used a cookie cutter}, a sheet of blank paper, watercolor paints, a 12 x 12 sheet of paper, foamboard {or cardboard}, a foot of ribbon, and some basic crafty tools.

Trace your egg template onto a sheet of white paper.

Paint your eggs with watercolors.

When dry, cut out your eggs.

Use two bowls {one large & one small} to trace your wreath shape onto the back of the 12 x 12 paper.

Next, we need to make the wreath sturdy. Cut out your paper wreath and glue to foam board {you could also use thick cardboard on this step}.

Cut out the wreath using a Xacto knife {be careful!}.

Glue down your eggs.

Add a ribbon for hanging. I just stapled ours to the back, but you could also punch holes and thread the ribbon if you prefer a bow.

If you don’t celebrate Easter, try making a watercolor wreath with flowers or birds. My boys both enjoyed this activity - - hope your kids do, too!
♥ Cath

Have an Easter craft? Link up with The CSI Project.

Share your fave bloggy post of the week with Serenity Now.

Spring Break

2011-04-13T15:48:00.000-04:00

Nope, I'm not talking about a family trip when school's off for a week. I'm talking about those days when the weather is absolutely perfect and the sun keeps shining in your eyes, begging you to put down the pencil and get your buns outside.

The boys hurried through their morning tablework {Thomas practiced phonics & David finished his Scholastic pages to earn free books}.

Then, we headed out on our adventure.

We talked about force & motion as we made our way up and down the hills.

We practiced our bird calls and had a wrestling match with a picnic blanket.

We rode to the Magic Kingdom on a bus with a very crazy driver.

We checked the plants for buds and flowers.

We stuffed our faces with pb&js and raspberries.

We laughed until Thomas threatened to wet his pants and then we headed home.

Hope it's beautiful where you are! ♥ Cath

Stitching with Kids

2011-04-11T11:00:00.000-04:00

I was probably five minutes into my burlap and yarn wallhanging project when my little tail {aka David} made his entrance.

"What are you doing?"

"Stitching."

"That looks pretty neat."

"Thanks, David."

"It looks really neat. I might want to try it."

Angel Me {who has been waiting forever for David to show interest in stitching} and Devil Me {who really, REALLY just wanted a few more minutes alone} had a little throwdown. Angel Me won.

We started with a burlap scrap in a hoop. David used a plastic yarn needle that I found in the embroidery section of Hobby Lobby. He decided to free stitch, but we could have put a paper sketch over the burlap for him to stitch on {paper can just be torn off when stitching is complete}.

We worked on the basic up and down stitching technique and how to hold the hoop.

He's stitching a Jack O'Lantern {big surprise!}. He still wants to fill in the orange and add a spooky face.

What craft(s) do you like to do with your kiddos?

♥ Cath

Large Scale Stitching on Burlap

2011-04-07T23:22:00.003-04:00

I love embroidery and think burlap is fun, so this project was a natural fit.

Last Summer, I stopped at a garage sale. It had extravagant floral curtains, high end decor, and tucked away {or maybe purposely hidden} a big stitched wallhanging.

Quite taken with it, I asked the woman running the sale to tell me more. Turns out she made the piece 40 years ago when stitching on burlap was all the rage {who knew?!}.

While I loved hers, the colors were not really my style and the yarn was in sad {moldy or frayed} condition. What option did I have but to create my own?

I prepped a frame and wrapped it tightly with burlap {held down by silver thumbtacks}. Then, I raided my mom's stash {big thanks to her!!!}.

I got right to work.

I started to see progress.

At one point during this project, my husband looked at me {sitting cross legged on the floor with a giant frame in my lap} and said he'd never forget how happy I looked. He was so right - - in that moment, I was genuinely loving the meditative stitching and the vision of a nearly finished wallhanging.

After many hours, a broken needle {I started with plastic, but highly recommend just using metal from the start}, and a few breaks to re-sketch, I have this beauty hanging on my wall.

And a little pic to give an idea of scale - - my six year old was less than thrilled, but he loves me enough to force a smile.

If you like stitching, but a folksy floral isn't your style, consider stitching a monogram and framing it or playing with typography.

If you try stitching on burlap, please send me a pic or link - - I'd love to see what you come up with.

♥ Cath

I'm linking up to the CSI Project {this week's theme is burlap!}.

New Ring for Spring!

2011-04-05T10:34:00.000-04:00

I just reopened my shop after a two month break. It was nice to take some time away and come back recharged...but also super crazy to see that silver prices have jumped to almost $40 an ounce! For reference, silver was under $10 when I started making jewelry years back, so this is a significant change. Yuck.

The first new jewelry piece in my shop is all about Spring - - the Nest Ring.

It has three sweet little eggs tucked inside a thatched nest.

Wouldn't it be a cute Mother's Day treat? I might make one for myself with two little eggs for my two little boys. :)

Hope your Spring is off to a great start! I'll be back on Thursday with my big stitching project {which is taking WAY longer than I thought, but that's how it goes}.

♥ Cath

A Peek at This Week

2011-04-01T09:13:00.000-04:00

I'm enjoying:

A trip to Meijer Gardens with my boys.

I'm working on:

A seriously fabulous large scale stitching piece {I'll share the finished project next week!}.

I'm inspired by:

Cacti!

I'm looking forward to:

Getting in good enough shape that I can wear this sweet outfit.

Hope you had a great week, too! ♥ Catherine

Terrarium Time

2011-03-30T09:45:00.000-04:00

Terrariums seem so sweet to me. And as someone with a rotten black thumb {who's really hoping to turn it green!}, they seem pretty easy to be successful with.

Dave bought me a set of little bitty succulents for Valentine's Day and we finally replanted them.

I picked up the glass jar at Michael's for $5 {after my coupon}. Then we added some marbles and cactus dirt.

And we {of course!} couldn't forget some dinosaurs to spice it up. I thought about putting in mini pinwheels, but the testosterone in the house was thinking something a little more fierce.

Up next in my adventures with ~~keeping~~ plants ~~alive~~, the boys and I are starting seedlings and making plans for an herb garden on our deck.

Any tips for a first time "gardener" from those of you with green thumbs?

I Joined the Flock

2011-03-28T10:12:00.000-04:00

Twitter here, Twitter there...
Twitter, Twitter everywhere.

So, after hearing about Twitter for what seems like ages & refusing to add one more thing to the list of things I'm doing, I gave in and signed up.

And I'm glad I did. Even though I have a little reading/exploring to do to figure the site out, it looks like it could be fun.

I'm yet to "tweet" anything, but plan on sharing blogs, images, products, etc. that interest me. I'll also link to giveaways that I think are fun...and occasionally put up some of my own shop news {It's almost April, so Catherine Marissa will be back soon!}.

I'm CathMarissa on Twitter. If you're on Twitter, leave me your id in the comments and I'll follow you. :)

♥ Cath

A Peek at This Week

2011-03-25T20:13:00.000-04:00

I'm making:

...curtains for the boys' room. I'm having second thoughts about this fabric, but I already have 6 yards of it, so I'm going for it.

I'm eating:

...homemade pizza. I used goat cheese, red onions, pesto, basil, and mozzarella. So, so good...but one of those "only okay once in awhile" kind of meals.

I'm laughing about:

...my son declaring himself "King for the Day" on Tuesday. I was worried until he gave me "the Queen's necklace" to show that I could make rules, too.

I'm drooling over:

...these wedge sandals. They are SO me. They are also SO out of my price range.

See you Monday! Hope you have a lovely weekend. ♥ Cath

Getting Healthy tools

2011-03-24T13:40:00.001-04:00

I’m not talking super pricey gym equipment, a fancy gps pedometer {although how cool would that be?!}, or a hammer & nails. The tool that is helping me the most is probably one of the simplest. And you can make one for yourself for just a couple bucks.

I love my food journal. Food journaling keeps me on track…or when I fall off track, it helps me understand why the scale went up {should have said no to that cocktail…or three} or why I’m feeling foggy & gross {that pizza buffet was a bad idea}.

Most days, the food journal keeps me accountable. I make better choices when I know I have to write them down. And when I find myself making poor choices, I can look for patterns. So far, I’ve learned that if I don’t start drinking water before lunch, I’ll barely drink any…and if I let myself have one cookie, it’s pretty much a given that I’ll have at least three.

Make your own food journal {or to-do list book…or inspiration notebook…or a kid’s journal}:

1. Cut a 12 x 12 piece of paper in half {so you have two 6 x 12 pieces}. Glue one piece to the front of your notebook {I use Mod Podge}, lining the paper up with the side and bottom of the notebook {this’ll save you some trimming later}. TIPS: If your paper is directional, make sure the pattern will face the correct direction before gluing. Apply your adhesive carefully {I like to hold the notebook cover away from the pages} - - if any glue drips over the side of the cover, your pages will be glued together.

2. Use a bone folder or ruler to smooth out your paper, removing any bubbles.

3. Repeat steps 1-2 on the back of your notebook.

4. Use a Xacto knife to trim off excess paper.

5. Cut a 4” strip from your coordinating 12 x 12 paper. Use a bone folder to score {or gently fold} your paper at the 2” middle point.

6. Apply adhesive directly to the wrong side of this strip of paper. Put the notebook binding along the fold you made in step 5 and adhere the paper strip to the front and back of the notebook.

7. Use a Xacto knife to trim off the excess paper from around your notebook. At this point, I like to gently rub all edges with a fine sandpaper to soften the edges.

8. Cut two 10.5” pieces of your trim {I'm a big fan of ribbon or fat ric rac}. Use glue to attach the trim along the seam of the paper from step 6.

9. Remove any excess trim with your Xacto knife. If your trim may fray, I recommend using Fray-Check to prevent that.

OPTIONAL:
Embellish as desired. This is a great time to pull out the rub-ons, stamps, and stickers.

If you want to cover the info/schedule/conversion table inside your notebook, repeat step 1-4 on the inside of your notebook.

COST BREAKDOWN:

Notebook: $0.50 {during school supply sale days}

Paper {two 12 x 12 sheets}: $0.50

Ribbon {2 feet @ $0.60 per yard} : $0.40

Buttons {5 @ $0.05 each}: $0.25

Chipboard Letters {7 @$0.05 each}: $0.35

GRAND TOTAL - $2

Play with different color combos & trims…or make a purse sized little notebook.

Have a crafty project you like to make for under $5? Share your skills today with the CSI Project. Or you can link up to the I'm Crafty Party.

Hope you’re having a great week!
♥ Cath

Working...slowly

2011-03-23T18:32:00.000-04:00

28 degrees and endless grey with an ice storm.

Head cold with bonus dizziness and nausea.

Kiddo not sleeping through the night...or even close.

So I'm working...but it's slow.

What are you working on this week?
♥ Cath

:: Weekend ::

2011-03-20T18:54:00.000-04:00

Life is busy. And busy can be good. But it can also be overwhelming and draining.

A busy life needs breaks. For me, the best breaks involve large bodies of water and wandering around somewhere new.

This weekend, we escaped to Saugatuck for a much needed break. It was incredibly relaxing to see, smell, and hear the water.

And for anyone feeling jealous, don’t get too upset.

It was CRAZY cold there. Yes, that is frost in the picture above. And my sad bare feet had to settle for cozy terrasoles.

It was a quick visit, but it made me promise that our beach trips will be more frequent than in the past. While Michigan’s weather can be frustrating {60 degrees last week, chilly & rainy today, snow forecasted for the coming week}, being less than an hour from the beach in the Summer makes up for it.

We warmed up while wandering an antiques mall.

I was drawn to crafty things {like this great jar of pincushions}. There were buttons galore and pretty linens. I also found all of the old school glasses super charming.

My favorite booth had this:

I want that dress - - the fabric, the skirt, the sash, the super adorable row of buttons. It made me want to do my hair, mix up a cocktail, and chat with girlfriends while waiting for the kids to come home from school {yes, in daydreams I am allowed to imagine a day with no kiddos in the house}.

What did you do this weekend? Did you get a chance to relax?

♥ Cath

Coffee Can ---> Pencil Cup

2011-03-17T20:33:00.000-04:00

Spring is coming! It's in the air {which by the way was a lovely 62 degrees today}.

The early stages of Spring make me daydream about flowers and get in the mood to organize. So, when I read that the CSI Project was hosting a Spring link up this week, I wanted to make something that went along with the must get organized vibe...and also incorporated cheerful flowers.

We are a homeschooling family, which means that our dining room table is not just a place where we eat, but also the place where we do our "tablework". This leads to pencils, pens, scissors, glue bottles, colored pencils, etc. scattered all over the table {and all over the floor!}.

Not anymore! Mom, I can't find my pencil. Check the pencil cup. Mom, where did you put my scissors? Check the pencil cup. Mom, I thought we had a yellow colored pencil. LOOK IN THE PENCIL CUP!

Coffee can + clothesline + ribbon + felt flowers = pretty organizer

How I made mine:

Starting at one end, I wrapped my coffee can in clothesline.

Then, I used hot glue to add ribbon to the top & bottom {and hide the clothesline ends}.

Next, I cut some craft felt to make rolled flowers. I used pinking shears to add the zig zag texure. Never made them before? Do a quick Google search for "how to rolled felt flowers" and you'll probably have more tutorials then you'd ever want.

Finally, I hot glued a trail of flowers along the coffee can and added our school goodies. Voila!

Welcome Spring!
♥ Cath

Getting Healthy commitment

2011-03-16T12:29:00.000-04:00

I want to send a big thank you to everyone who has commented on my "Getting Healthy" posts - - sharing your own stories or keeping me positive. Every comment helps me stay on track. I wanted to write many of you back, but if you don't have a public email attached to your account, gmail won't let me...so please accept this heartfelt THANK YOU!

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What can you do if a reward loses its motivational quality? There are days when a pile of fabric is enough to make me tie on the tennis shoes and walk - - and then there are days where I just don't care.

In those moments, a commitment can be a lifesaver.

I've read stories about women buying clothing as a commitment. Maybe they have a wedding three months from now and want to wear a size 10 dress, so they purchase one as motivation. That doesn't work for me. I'd just go buy myself a new dress the Friday before the wedding...probably this one:

A commitment to seeing someone from your past can be a motivator {think high school reunion}. There aren't many people from my skinny life who I'd really feel embarrassed to see in my chubby life, so that won't work.

But you know what is embarrassing? Failing at a task while people are watching. That really does it for me. Success is motivating.

I'm in the purple bandanna.

I ~~ran~~ jogged my first 5k last Spring. And then I crossed "run a 5k" off my list.

A blurry look at my pre-race pep talk.

Now, my husband is helping organize a run for a local group, the Ambucs. Besides wanting to support my husband and the incredible organization {check them out - EVERY penny donated to this volunteer based organization goes straight to providing mobility for people with disabilities}, I also saw this 5k as an opportunity to make a commitment.

So, I told Dave to sign me up. And now I have 2 months to get myself back in good enough shape that I can run 5k {that's 3.1 miles} without stopping. That should keep me on track.

I made it to the end!

Falling on the side of the road, crying and begging some speedy ten year old to carry me to the finish line is not an option.

♥ Cath

This is Going to Happen

2011-03-15T09:48:00.000-04:00

I need to make a top like this. NEED. Vintage scarves braided around the neck and then cascading. Love.

Anthro

And polka dots! I can't decide if I'm more in love with stripes or polka dots...but add either to a piece of clothing and you have my attention.

P.S. If you're in the Grand Rapids area and haven't heard yet, Biggby coffee has 99 cent tall drinks all day today. So if you are a caffeine addict *high five*, be sure to pick yourself up a little treat on the cheap.

♥ Cath

Simple & Effective

2011-03-13T17:24:00.000-04:00

A Peek at This Week

2011-03-11T08:01:00.000-05:00

I’m making:

Cookies! I forgot to get “after” pictures, but trust me when I say they were yummy.

I’m working on:

Colorful “curtains” for the dining room. They are more like little decorative panels since we don’t want to block any light in there, but I am seriously looking forward to some color. March isn’t supposed to be this grey!

I’m obsessing over:

Pier 1

Anthro

Colored glass lamps {especially in aqua!}

I’m enjoying:

Brothers!

Hope you are having an excellent week!
♥ Cath

Getting Healthy motivation

2011-03-08T08:14:00.001-05:00

Wouldn't it be awesome if the desire to be healthy was enough to motivate me every day? If only visualizing a smaller dress size or the ability to run a 10k was enough to avoid shoving a half dozen freshly baked chocolate chip cookies in my mouth.

Some days, that's how it works. Other days, I have to keep my inner first grader happy and go peek in the reward box.

Yes, I do have my own version of the elementary school prize box. Instead of Mad Libs, rainbow pencils, and scratch 'n' sniff stickers, I get to look forward to...

..a pretty little hurricane vase...

...some rubber headbands to keep the flyaways out of my face (anyone tried these? I’m hoping they stay in place)…

…and a handful of BEAUTIFUL fat quarters.

Every time I hit a 10 pound milestone, I get to empty the reward box. Until then, every single reward keeps its tag on & receipt handy...just in case I sputter out. Not that I'm going to sputter out or anything. SERIOUSLY.

Now, please take this plate of cookies out of the room! ;)
♥ Cath

What to do? What to do?

2011-03-07T10:35:00.000-05:00

I picked up a yard of this bright, Summery fabric by Amy Butler at a local fabric shop:

I love it. Wish I could afford a whole bolt of this beauty.

But since I only have the one yard, I feel a need to pick the perfect project for it. What to do? My gut reaction is a bag {always} or an apron {can you have too many?}...but I'm also thinking it might make a fun summer top or a fabric bowl to brighten the coffee table.

What would you make?
♥ Cath

Getting Healthy

2011-03-04T08:36:00.000-05:00

I have never been a thin girl. The smallest size I’ve worn was an 8 {and I wasn’t really eating during that time in my life}. On my wedding day, I fell in a healthy weight range and was happy with my size.

Almost three years into our marriage {when I got pregnant with my first son} I was up ten pounds. No worries. This is the “happy fat” you hear about, right?

Well, I gained another 30 pounds during that pregnancy. Following David’s birth, I joined a gym and lost all but five of those additional pounds. Still, I was 15 pounds above my healthy wedding weight.

Then, it’s pregnancy number two. I start to bloat right away. Unfortunately, around three months into the pregnancy, I miscarry the twins. Hello, emotional eating.

And I’m pregnant again. I gain almost 30 pounds with this pregnancy, too. If I thought the miscarriage led to some emotional eating, I was about to realize it could be much worse.

My second son, Thomas, was born 6 weeks early. It was an emergency delivery. The doctor basically warned us that we may not be taking a baby home. After two weeks in intensive care, we did.

But we didn’t bring home a “normal” baby. We brought home a baby that didn’t make eye contact, that didn’t smile. We brought home a baby that had a momma that watched desperately for every milestone…and watched…and watched.

I started out this stage in my life at a gym. I had big hopes. Then, we got the official word that Thomas had Cerebral Palsy.

Enter guilt, numbness, anger, depression. Enter massive amounts of eating.

In the 3+ years since the official diagnosis, I have made sporadic attempts at getting healthy. I understood it needed to be a "lifestyle change", but couldn’t break the cycle of binging the stress, frustration, and desperation away.

Last month, I decided it was time to get things under control. The scale read 50 pounds over my wedding weight. I need to be in shape to carry and transfer my quickly growing four year old. I need to be a happy and attractive wife for my husband. I need to be “myself” again.

I’ve been hesitant to write this post. I worry about sounding like a sad sack. I’m really not.

In the end, I figured there might be someone out there in the big bloggy world like me who struggles with emotional eating and bad food habits…who would relate to a post about losing control and working to get it back.

I plan on blogging about my lifestyle change each week. I will absolutely continue writing about the other parts of my life - - no needing to say goodbye to crafting! Hopefully, I’ll find some excellent recipes to share and maybe motivate someone on a similar journey.

Down 6 pounds in February - - now to tackle March!

Hope you have a lovely weekend!
♥ Cath

Where Can I Find Those Frames?

2011-03-04T07:52:00.000-05:00

When writing the "L-U-C-K-Y" post, I failed to give a source on the frames and have had a few contacts wondering where those pretties were from.

I picked them up at Michael's craft store {in the dollar section!}. They also had orange, white, and brown. Wouldn't orange be perfect with "B-O-O" for Halloween...or use the white this Spring with a favorite pastel fabric.

Thinking about heading to Michael's today or tomorrow? They have a 50% off coupon on their homepage here.

♥ Cath

A Peek at This Week

2011-03-03T10:29:00.000-05:00

I'm reading:

"The Joy of Less", written by Francine Jay, was a can't put it down book this week. I am very far from being a minimalist, but Francine's philosophy and advice may lead to me taking a few steps in that direction.

I'm buying:

My head is swimming with ideas for this trim. It's got a little bit of a safari vibe. I picture it on a purse {maybe in contrast to a bright floral} or as the straps and top band on a maxi dress.

I'm discovering:

I know heels are sexy and wedges make me swoon, but the reality is that I carry & transfer a 30+ pound child all day. And my balance isn't the best. So, what's a clutz with a child in her arms to do? Look for comfy sneakers disguised as cute flats.

Are you reading, buying, or discovering anything this week?
♥ Cath

Avery and Winslow

Stuff & Organizing & More Stuff

The One Word Resolution

::: Reindeer Ornaments & Rambling :::

::: Tutorial Thursday ::: Fabric Headband

::: A Little More Christmas :::

::: Peppermint Wreath ::: THURSDAY TUTORIAL - - adding bells

::: Fa La La La La - - Christmas Projects :::

::: Thursday Tutorial Assignment :::

::: Thanksgiving Projects & Jewelry :::

::: Tutorial Thursday: Quick Holiday Gift :::

::: Gobble, Gobble :::

Just because you can, doesn't mean you have to.

::: Tutorial Thursday ::: Corn Husk Monogram Wreath

::: Just because you haven’t, doesn’t mean you can’t. :::

::: TUTORIAL THURSDAY ::: Cheerful Organizer

::: An Award & Blog Plans :::

::: Drip Pots (DIY) :::

::: Letting it Go :::

If you've wondered about my weight...

DIY Halloween Countdown

Boo boos, long nights, & tears

A Necklace For Gals Like Me

DIY : Personalized Quote Tray

Hello, August!

Simple Starfish Banner

Seashell Hide & Seek

Nautical Bow Bag

::: July Inspiration :::

A Quick 4th of July Bangle

::: Summer Wreath :::

::: Must See Apron Tutorial :::

Spend the Day Playing

Father's Day

::: Inspiration :::

Craft Fail {kinda}

Gardening & Grandpa

A Weekend of Slow Progress

Reverse Applique - a quick how to

10,000 French Knots Tote

Artsy Craftsy Weekend

A Friday Feature

Artwork to Home Decor

Handmade Inspiration

Quilt Along with Clover and Violet

::: Drumroll Please :::

::: A Little Bit of Everything :::

CLOSED Fun Mail Challenge - Week 4 * giveaway * CLOSED

Teachable Moments

::: Giveaway Question :::

Fun Mail Challenge - Week 3

::: Shop Update :::

SNAP! the conference

Fun Mail Challenge - Week 2

Happy {belated} Mother's Day

Fun Mail Challenge - Week 1

A Challenge & A Winner

Hanging House Number - - Door Decor

*GIVEAWAY* Host your own Crafty Party! *GIVEAWAY*

Mix 'n' Match Mantel

Busy, busy week

::: Craft with Kids ::: Watercolor Wreath

Spring Break

Stitching with Kids

Large Scale Stitching on Burlap

New Ring for Spring!

A Peek at This Week

Terrarium Time

I Joined the Flock

A Peek at This Week

Getting Healthy *tools*

Working...slowly

:*: Weekend :*:

Coffee Can ---> Pencil Cup

Getting Healthy *commitment*

This is Going to Happen

Simple & Effective

A Peek at This Week

Getting Healthy *motivation*

What to do? What to do?

GIVEAWAY Host your own Crafty Party! GIVEAWAY

Getting Healthy tools

:: Weekend ::

Getting Healthy commitment

Getting Healthy motivation