2013 Reflections

This year is coming to an end so it's time to look back and reflect on the days gone by.  We accomplished many things this year, but there is still so much more to do. If only the days were longer.....

Looking back at 2013 and how we spent some of our time:

2013 Winter Mantel
A chilly winter prompted the inspiration for a warm and cozy winter mantel using simple gathered items from our home.



Gray and White Striped Desk with Faux French Grain Sack Chair
Our ever changing desk is refreshed with some painted stripes in my favorite shades of gray and white. The desk chair was updated as well with a distressed gray finish and a faux grain sack seat cover. Paint is such a simple way to transform a piece of furniture.

Ruffled Pillow Tutorial
I love to create new throw pillows for our home. It's such a quick and easy way to change the look of a room. I created this 'Ruffled Pillow' and shared a tutorial on how to recreate one for yourself. I was so happy to see this become a very popular pin on Pinterest.

Bird Pincushion Tutorial

A tarnished silver gravy boat, some bits of lovely fabric and a longing for warmer days were all the motivation I needed to create this 'Bird Pincushion'. I have said it before and I'll say it again, 'a girl can never have too many pincushions'.

Pole Gate Entrance

My husband has built several pole gates over the years and I share his latest gate project in this 3-part post. This DIY involves heavy equipment and some even heavier family contemplation, but we are more than happy with the end result.

Assembly Line Throw Pillows

If you find yourself looking for a great beginner sewing project, I would suggest you try to make some throw pillows. They are a fast and easy project and are a wonderful introduction to the world of sewing. In this post, I share the method of assembly line sewing.

Reclaiming the Land

My husband and I spent many days working on this property to bring it back to life. I explain my MIA status in this post and show off the fruits of our labor.

Pleated Dropcloth Pillow Tutorial

Continuing my fixation with throw pillows, I came up with this pleated version. I combined dropcloth fabric with a pretty floral decorator fabric for the knife pleat and an iron on transfer for the welcome message. 

Terrarium Tutorial

March of 2013 found me longing for the garden. Knowing the growing season was still months away,  I created these terrariums to quench my thirst for digging in the dirt.

Tricycle Diaper Cake

An upcoming baby shower had me trolling the internet for ideas. I found this oh-so-cute project for a 'Tricycle Diaper Cake' that fit the bill. Everyday baby essentials are combined in a fun way to welcome the newest member of our family.



2013 Fall Mantel
Our Fall mantel was made up from found objects and arranged to highlight the natural beauty of the outdoors.

Prayer Request
The Friday before Christmas, we were given the sad news that our 4 year old pomeranian 'Charlie Boy'  has lymphoma and there is nothing than can be done for him. While the diagnosis is devastating, we are blessed to have him in our lives and will revel in the time we have left with him.

This year has been a mixed bag of projects, ideas and emotions. No one knows what the future holds, so we shall continue on living life to its fullest using the gifts God gave us and hopefully inspiring someone along the way.  I raise my glass to 2014 and wish you all a Very Happy New Year.