crafty in Nashville

So I've been spending time with Holli in Nashville this week.

One entire week.

Tuesday to Tuesday.

Bliss.

We've shopped, dined, run errands, exercised, and shopped a little more.

Holli worked too.  She is getting ready to take kids to camp and there is plenty to do in preparation for "the best week of their lives". 

But, since this was sold to me as "the best week of my life" we've been on the go for days, building up to Holli's 26th birthday.

There is so much to see and do in Nashville and we have so much fun together.

But let's face it, for Holli and I nothing is as fun as our craft time together.  Holli had saved an idea from a blog and we spent her birthday afternoon on our Book Page Wreath.  We started out by stopping by a used book store to pick up a book from the free pile.  This is a very inexpensive craft project. 

In addition to a couple books

you need a foam wreath

some brown craft paint is nice

a glue gun

and lots of glue sticks!

The project could be finished in an afternoon but we started late in the day, stopped for snacks and birthday dinner out, and even made cupcakes.  So our wreath wasn't finished until after church the next day.

Here's a few photos we took along the way but, if you want the real directions to do this yourself please refer to the original blog.  She even has a video that we thought was helpful.

 aging the edge of the pages with a little brown paint

 starting the ring of rolled pages on the back of the wreath

 the completed back

 working on the first row from the front

 lots of variation in rolling the paper

sometimes in an S, sometimes loosely, sometimes not

 looking good but still a ways to go!

 finished!

or

was it

that we were out of glue sticks?!

 the original instructions said to glue a piece of ribbon to the back to use as a hanger.  I didn't trust that so we stuck a piece of wire around the wreath and twisted it.

much better!

 the end

Check THAT off my list Holli!

Daniel graduated from high school over 10 years ago so it was finally time to paint his Cary Imp Green walls a different color!

One of the walls has a floor to ceiling world map and I think the whole family wanted to keep it that way.  Holli and I are always brainstorming decorating ideas.  We came up with a great way to incorporate the world map while still making the bedroom a welcoming place for Daniel to "come home" to and friends and family to feel comfortable in.  

We decided that since we have all been blessed with trips outside the United States, we could print photos of those adventures and hang them on the wall.  Black and white photos in black frames.  So many ideas, so much to do to make the ideas a realty!

So, a few weeks ago Jeff painted the other three walls a color called Bagel.  Then last Saturday when it was so beautiful outside, I took on the task of converting an antique door into a head board.  

 I scrubbed it.

I scraped it.

 I even found the brass door knob plate under all that paint.

 I got down to the wood in some spots and kept two shades of cream and some white visible in other spots.

 I found a can of green paint called Twig in the garage.

perfect.

I mixed it with some glaze and painted it on.

I rubbed it off.

Within minutes I was sanding some areas to reveal the wood beneath again.

I love how the green mixes with the dark wood.

a nice surprise.

Jeff and I used the existing hinges to hang the door on the wall.

SUCCESS!

Really, the only thing missing from this project was Holli.

We're a great project team.

Just like my mom and I used to be.

In fact, I inherited my 'you can do anything' attitude from my mom and dad. And I'm happy to pass it on.

I also like to surprise people and check things off my list.

So Holli,

SURPRISE!

check the painting and the headboard off the list.

I hope you're pleased.

Next up...the photos in the frames.

not to mention

 the lamp

the rug

the windows

the quilt

baby steps....baby steps...

sometimes you win, sometimes you don't win

but you never lose!

Every now a then I get my ducks in a row and enter something that I have designed into some sort of publishing 'competition'.

My first experience was simply a pair of earrings that were published in Stringing Magazine in 2009.  They landed on the '17 earring designs page' and I was thrilled!  I think I even received a check for $15.00 for that big event.  But it was simply the accomplishment that I enjoyed.

Then about a year ago I tried my hand at needle felting and turned it into a pillow for my bed.  A short time later I saw that a publishing company was looking for 500 felted projects.  I thought, what the heck, I'll send photos of my felted pillow.  I waited months and months for them to decide.
Finally only weeks ago, I received the news...
Thanks, but no thanks.  That's OK, I love my pillow.  And after all, it WAS my first attempt at needle felting!

So, that's when I didn't win.

Here's when I won!
In the very same week I that I was turned away from the felted projects book I heard word from the magazine Cloth, Paper, Scissors. I had entered a reader challenge titled 'all buttoned up'
I'm pretty sure that I sent my photos in October or November.  I heard that I was a top contender in December!  I sent in the actual button necklace for further judging and low and behold....
I was published as one of the 17 winners to the challenge.  No prize money this time, but more joy and excitement!

what does this mean?  Just keep pluggin' away, keep tryin', keep creating!