Aunty-Crafter

This is how it all started...

Actually, it started at the Swap Shop earlier that morning when my mom, aunt, and I found these discarded window frames just waiting for us. We picked up 3 of them, and only Aunt managed to successfully transform hers. And what a job she did too!

Dad of course helped out by running the tool show and hooking up the compressor to the nail gun. He also of course gets major points for having extra Ballasters lying around which could be transformed into legs...



From idea to actuality in less than 48 hours is quite impressive, and I'm loving it! I'm quite jealous of this in fact, and I can't wait to see what she does with it in the NYC apartment that this table will now call home.

Four simple holes drilled in the frame, Ballasters cut down to size, inserted with a little wood glue, and then a serious cleaning and we have one amazing table!

One more crafter in the family now! We are proud!

The Gallery Wall update

A Gallery Wall is something that's going to evolve over time. That's the nature of it and I'm excited for it and it's progression.

Right now though, I think I'd say ours in the "growth" stage, and not yet at "evolution." Because now, if we have something we'd like to add to the wall, we add it without having to replace anything else, because there's still room for it to grow on the wall.

The first new addition to the wall is that top frame with the major glare in this photo. That used to be a silver frame that I used my new black paint to convert.

The picture in that frame is of me and my dad on a Father's Day fishing trip. I had hooked a Huge fish!! I had to get help pulling the rod because the fish was so powerful that I couldn't do it on my own. Just as the fish jumped out of the water and let us get a look at his massive size dad and I went to pull back on the rod, and the line snapped!!! Mom happened to snap a photo right at that moment, and our faces are in full shock in this photo.

The other new addition is below that one, and slightly to the right. This feature is my tribute to my Man and his Irish roots. I framed a picture of Guinness for him, and I'm pretty sure he'll love me forever for it :)

We're both on the wall and it will evolve with us!

Project Alert

There's nothing that gives me as much instant gratification pleasure as good project. Something that is simple, not too expensive, and start-to-finish doesn't take too long.

This week, I've been amassing items that will be a part of our wedding come June. But there's still 4 months until that day (thank goodness, I have too much to do for it to be any closer yet!). So my dilemma is, what do I do with all of that stuff until then?

I saw a nice big basket at a store a couple weeks ago, but my Man took a page out my own book and talked me out of spending the $25 for a large basket. So yesterday I put my crafting hat on. I had this big box sitting around from an order of items from the engagement party back in November. I measured the space where I knew I wanted to put this project when it was done, and low and behold my box was too tall.

So I brought out the trusty Leatherman knife and trimmed the flaps of the box down, and then taped them up to get the most height out of it.

With my box now the right height, I got out my fabric. I had stopped at JoAnn Fabric on my way home from work and luckily my 1 1/4 yards was just the right size. I chose a fabric with a little bit of texture that matched the living room where it was going to live, but not too much pattern that it would look busy, because the whole point of this project is to hide the clutter.

My next step was to get out my trusty clips (seriously I use these things for everything, from bundling wires to keeping bags of chips closed, they're worth the $4 at Staples) and start wrapping my box.

Once I had it all wrapped and the fabric trimmed I got out my mighty-mend glue and glued the flaps and the overlapped corners. It wasn't perfect by any means, but I ended up with a well covered box that fit perfectly in the spot I wanted it in to hide all the schtuff that I'll be accumulating over the next 4 months.

I call this a project success!

This is Life

I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth, I promise.

I was merely swallowed by the wedding planning Faerie for a couple of weeks. We've had some changes and some planning bursts, but after 2 weeks of insane planning and about 1000 phone calls, and finally some decision making, I'm thrilled with how everything is coming together.

I'm also thankful for a mom who's been a great sounding board and source of ideas. And most of all a fiance who has put up with all of these changes and my stress level.

And his patience is what makes me love him, even when he does this.....

Yes, that used to be our ice-cream scoop!