Acorns everywhere!

Not that I didn't have enough to do — house is a mess with dishes and laundry piled high, my new part-time job working the nursery at Joseph's school, woefully behind on the 2012 St. Rose yearbook — I decided to have a booth at the Art in Avondale Park fall festival. It's a crazy idea. So crazy that I enlisted a partner in crime because I wasn't sure I would have enough stuff . 

The festival itself is great. The main goal is to get kids creating. Lots of hands-on activities and music — just a good community spirit. It will be a good place for my first booth. Very out-of-the-box for me and I'm feeling a tad nervous. I've debated backing out but no, I should do this. It'll be fun. And I'm having a lot of fun stretching my creative muscles the last two months. 

So why the picture of the acorns? They are my main crafting component! Along with wire, beads and pilers OH MY. I'm making several types of pendants with acorn caps and button bouquets and play dough (okay, the play dough is a weird choice but I wanted to have something small and affordable that kids could purchase.) Will wanted to contribute so he's making acorn jewels. 

One of the main problems I'm having is finding the right time to craft. When inspiration hits, I usually should be making dinner instead. My second problem is getting distracted by all the possibilities. I love crafting with acorns — the textures, the feel, the colors. First I was just making one type of pendant, now I'm up to four and I'm trying to resist another design. I saw a picture of mini-acorn cap candles and immediately wanted to make a few dozen. It's hard to keep myself on track and making just what I decided to make for the fest. My third problem is booth design. I need to keep it simple but boy, could I have fun with some burlap and shutters and I'm definitely making a twig tree to hang the necklaces. Again, got to keep on track.

Pictures of the booth and art fest to follow. It's exciting. Did I mention I was nervous?!

Come and sit awhile

My neighbor and friend Christine is starting her own decorating business — Reinspired Living. She can help you redecorate, restyle, repurpose and reorganize. In other words, she takes what you got and makes it look a hundred times better!!!

Christine offered to redecorate my porch to fatten her portfolio.* Took me about five seconds to say, heck yeah! It could use it! In the winter, the area turns into a dumping ground — stuff that should go in the shed but it's too cold to walk the extra five steps. In the summer, the area turns into a dumping ground — stuff that should go in the shed but it's too hot to walk the extra five steps. But in the junk, Christine found a few pieces to transform with a little paint and a lot of creativity and now I have a wonderful space to relax, entertain and/or enjoy dinner alfresco. 

Before she could get to work, I had a lot of work to do. From the porch and shed I took six big outside trash bags to the curb! All the stuff on the porch that should go into the shed finally got moved to the shed. It took several days but when I was finished, Christine pretty much had a blank slate to work her magic. I got out of the way (okay, I tried to stay out of the way).

BEFORE I CLEANED

(I know, can you believe it?!)

AFTER I SWEATED IN THE HEAT CLEANED

CHRISTINE'S MAGIC 

She painted the chairs to give the space some color, using the pillow/tablecloth fabric as inspiration. The desk now acts as a buffet. The file cabinet is repurposed to hold napkins, candles, plates, stuff for entertaining while the bottom has a cooler for cooling drinks. Cool!

BEFORE I CLEANED

(A toilet?! So ashamed.)

AFTER I SWEATED IN THE HEAT CLEANED

CHRISTINE'S MAGIC 

You're welcome to come over anytime for a visit. Be warned, you must follow the rules!

*Christine did not ask for anything in return, like this post. Of course I was going to show off my new digs! Love it too? Contact Christine — reinspiredliving@gmail.com

Keeping track of time

I had an uneasy feeling the last week of December. I hadn't yet gotten my 2012 desk calendar. January was around the corner and I hadn't written down birthdays or appointments or the most important thing, when school started back! My left eye started twitching so I ran down the street to Wally world and instantly felt better.

However, my desk calendar, while useful, is plain. I want something pretty to hang on the wall. I have found lots and lots of options, FREE to print, designed by some very talented folks.* I'm sure you'll find one or several you'll want to print too.

U Me It

The TomKat Studio

Skip to My Lou

Pizzazzerie

Living Locurto

My Owl Barn

JeannieJeannie

A Number of Things

Kid Independent

Dollar Store Crafts

Clementine Creative

Lula Louise

What's perfect to pair with a calendar?

A Pair of Pears

*Check back here soon for my very own special Lego calendar! 

Placing the last bricks now!

Here comes the bride

My friend Vivi's getting married! I'm excited for her. And excited that she has asked me and another friend to play design consultants for the big day. Oh, decisions, decisions, decisions! 

The another person, Kim, and I have not met so Vivi wrote wonderful paragraphs to introduce us. I thought Vivi did a spot on job reporting on me:

"I met Christina after she got engaged to Chris Tutor and moved shortly after he did to Birmingham in 2003 to work as a designer for the B'ham News, and she subsequently became my closest friend in the city. Christina was the brains behind the Young Journalists' Club of Bham. She quit working at the paper to be a mom full-time to her two really cute boys. She is constantly doing really creative crafty things with the kids, blogged here: http://www.prettylittlenest.com, and is the owner of approximately 5,432 Martha Stewart magazines. Christina and Chris got married at the lodge at the Birmingham Zoo — it was fall and everything had a fall leaf design and candles everywhere and it all felt very warm and intimate."

Her words about our wedding made me happy. Chris and I worked very hard to have a cozy event for family and friends. And yes, we do get a kick out of telling people we were married at the zoo. 

There is one thing Vivi wasn't kidding about ... I do have a quite a few Martha Stewart magazines. Case in point:

Of the MS Weddings magazine, I have 17 issues including the premiere issue from 1995. 

And these three special editions. All full of good ideas to share with Vivi. 

I better get busy doing my research!

Fabulous Friday

Less than 100 days until Christmas. I know, scary to think about that! But I've got two presents in the closet and I've started the annual "what to buy for who list" because this year is going to be different. This year I'll mail the Christmas cards on Dec. 1 and I'll have all the presents under the tree two weeks early in matching gift wrap and perfect bows. 

HA! HA! HA! That's a good one. 

While my Christmas plans may not be perfect (and who likes perfect anyway!) at least I know that I'll do my best finding perfect presents for friends and family. 

Like this tea mug. It is perfect for Will's godmother. It falls under the category, why the heck hadn't someone thought of this before?! I know I'm not the only one that loses tea bags habitually. The design is crazy good. Which is why I saw this first on Design Crush. I'm still tracking down where to buy it but my understanding is that it is sold in the U.S. 

Tie Tea by George Lee, founder Le Mouton Noir & Co.
(photo by Joseph Hsu)