Standing out in a crowded airport, for sure

I have wanted to do this for so long and finally, I just did it!  If you have ever traveled by air, you know there are a gazillion black bags on that baggage claim line.  I wanted ours to be easy to spot and less likely to get taken by mistake by someone else.  These babies will surely stand out in a crowd.

It was really pretty easy and I just used acrylic craft paint and lots of masking tape to make the plaid.  The plaid is on all the sides and the front plain pocket.

A word of advice:  Don't attempt this right before a trip, when you are tired and already stressed.  Give it some thought because once you commit to a pattern/design, there is no going back.  Be sure to give it plenty of time to dry.  Consider who else might be using the set of luggage.  I had in mind a lovely damask pattern but thought my husband might not be comfortable with it. 

Well, if you see this out and about, say hi...I am nearby!

Kelley

Our yard makeover

This has been the year of the yard.  My husband and I decided our goal for this year was to make our yard enjoyable and green.  We had a yard of moss, rocks and nuts.  We had never really made an effort to do more than mow and have a few flowers.

We truly did try to find landscapers to come do the work in a more timely manner.  Yep, we are totally aware that it is late to be doing this.  Sometimes, you just have to roll with it.

Living in the woods causes lots of shade and makes sun-loving grass a challenge.  Eight trees came down, logged and removed.  A professional did two of those because they were close to the house and my husband and son-in-law did the others.  Whew!  Then, a guy came and ground down all those stumps.  The dirt guy asked if we were putting in a golf course after I requested the eighth triaxle dump truck of topsoil.  A couple of weeks with my dad's John Deer was all it took to get it all over the yard and then Daddy used his box blade to smooth it.  Finally, 150 lbs of fertilizer was scattered, followed by 150 lbs of grass seed.  Oh, my!

Then, at last we rented a straw blower to scatter a truckload of straw.  I gotta say this was the most nerve wracking part of the operation.  It was "a monster" and unknown...but when we finally just did it, the whole thing was done in an hour. 

In a thousand years, when they excavate our property, they will wonder about the tornado specific to this area.  In other words,straw was forcefully blown into the trees and on the roof and everywhere.  I got straw in my grill (aka braces) and in my belly button.  And believe me, it was all covered in prayer.   

Moral of the story:  We can do this!

Blessings, Kelley

Finally, a bloom!

I am over the moon excited to have blooms on this hydrangea!  This plant was a gift when we first moved into our home, 13 years ago.  That poor thing would never really take off, and less than a handful of blooms in all these years.  This year we removed tons of daylilies nearby...wonder if it was struggling with all that competition for water/food?  We have 5 blooms so far. 

This year, our big project is getting a yard.  We have had gobs of dirt delivered and will boxblade soon, followed by seed and straw.  I know, it is late in the season but not for lack of trying.  We started talking to landscapers in February but no one followed through with a quote.  Very frustrating.  Then it became a DIY with lots of help.  We live in the woods and with all the shade and rocks, we have never had much of a yard.  We only mow 4-5 times a season.  But that is about to change.  We trying to REALLY get a yard.

One of my favorite things to do is go to parks and historic sites and play at being an artsy photographer.  This was a special day with my like-minded daughter.  We actually found lots of nice patches of moss, some even had snails hanging out, for The Moss Patch. 

Things are never boring here.  Painted front door, veggie garden, potted plants, guest room re-do (photos next post), yard sales, pup with ear infections, algebra tutoring, furniture projects...

Blessings to you and yours,

Kelley

The Moss Patch

Some exciting news...my mom and I have opened a booth at our favorite antique mall!

Goodlettsville Antique Mall has gobs of fun things to look at and I have brought home treasures from there plenty of times.  We are constantly bringing a variety of crafted, repurposed, and antique home decor and furniture items.  Come visit often at The Moss Patch for an update on our finds.

That was my shameless plug..so far things are going really well.  It has been fun to have an outlet for larger items that just don't travel well to our craft shows.  And we definitely have different styles, so there will probably be something for everyone.  Mama, aka Trudy, is more refined and polished, while I am more on the shabby side.  Somehow, it all goes together. 

On this blog, I would like to share more "life" and less "stuff".  I haven't posted in quite a while because the blog's "identity" was so scattered.  We will see how this all goes.

I have also found Pinterest and gotten quite absorbed.  Do you have that problem? 

"Providence"

Oh, my, it has been a long while since I posted!  I have been anything but bored.  Very busy creating things for my home and for the upcoming craft booths.  We have already participated in one booth locally, with plans for two more next month.  In the meantime, I have painted my living room, slipcovered a chair and hassock, gone camping, tiled a laundry room, made cards, more collages....the list goes on and on.

 

I have just finished this collage, based on the inspiration of Phil 4:13...

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

The colors requested were butter, salmon, red and neutrals.

It measures 36 x 48.

I chose a quilt block called Providence.  By definition it means "the foreseeing care and guidance of God."  It is by His provision we do His will.  The center block, in whites and pale golds, represents Jesus, the Bright Morning Star.  The block is executed symmetrically and as exactly as one can be with handcut papers.  The tree is rooted in Jesus and grows long and tall.  At times, pruning has occured, just as we all experience.  

Scattered around the collage, are stamped words, suggesting all we "can do" through Him, such as grow, worship, love, play... 

This piece is composed of over 600 handcut pieces, using over 30 prints of paper, including vintage worship music. 

I would love to hear what you think.

Sofa Table with a story

Don't you just love a good story?  This table has many years under its belt, but it was built just last week.  I come from a long line of creative homemakers who see beyond what something looks like in the moment to what it could be. 

A few months ago, my mom was watching the ruins of a burned out old house in hopes of talking with the owners.  She walks the area every day and knows the goings on, if you know what I mean.  Finally, she had a chance to talk with them and got permission to salvage a few of the porch posts.  I buzzed over there with my truck and my wonderful husband and these babies came home. 

The top shelf is barn wood, complete with red paint, from my daughter's new in-laws.  It was used as siding on their wedding wagon...long story.

The bottom shelf came from my grandmother's barn before it was torn down.  I guess there was salvaging in my blood way back then...almost 20 years ago...just waiting for the right moment to shine.

A couple of years ago, another local barn was being torn down and my wonderful husband salvaged some hickory posts and beams.  Today, a few pieces make the feet of this table.

So, when you look around your home, what story does it tell?

Hope you have a blessed day.

Linking up to Miss Mustard Seed FFF  and Addicted To Decorating

Playing with Photoshop Elements

In some of my blog surfing, I ran across Kim Klassen and her cafe.  She offers really amazing tutorials on using photoshop and is a wonderful teacher.  Oh my...I have so much to learn! 

Blessings ;)