AUTUMN VASE

Oh my, we are having some awesome rain here finally!  It's been a long, hot summer and I am pretending like it's fall already.  I wanted to bring some more fall color into my decor so I made this little vase.

 This was one of my easier projects.  I have four of these white vases that I got for $1 at my grocery store in a clearance basket.  Seriously!  I have no idea why they had vases at all in the grocery store, and there was only one box of them.  Believe me, I dug through that cart to see if their were more!  But at 25 cents a piece...at least I had one box of 4!!

Anyway, I gave this one a shot of spray paint in a nice fall color, tied a ribbon around it and put a little jewel on the ribbon.  That was all.  

So easy, but so pretty....don't ya think?

Linking up to any or all of these fine parties:

FALL WREATH #2

Ahhhhh!  I love these cooler mornings!   We are still seeing temps in the 90's in the day, but the mornings and evenings are just beautifully cool and a welcome reminder that Fall is just around the corner!  If that's true, I'd better get crackin on a few more projects because I have a lot of Fall and Halloween ideas!  Since I'm welcoming Fall, I thought maybe I'd better make a pretty Fall wreath for my front door to welcome my friends!

Remember this basic burlap wreath I first showed you how to make HERE?  It was one of my most popular posts. The secret of this wreath is that it can be redecorated for any season! I'm telling you, I have redecorated that wreath so many times!  So why not use it for a base for my fall wreath?  Seems like a good idea to me! 

Keeping in mind that you'll want to take this wreath back to basics after the fall season, remember to use straight pins to attach your ribbon, flowers and leaves.  If you want to add something a little heavier or more awkward, like the cat tails, you can make U-shaped pins from floral wire in about 2 seconds.  Works like a charm for those kinds of attachments.

So before  I go, let me just show you a few of my other projects using this very same wreath.  

 Burlap and Clover Wreath

St. Patrick's Day

Spring Butterfly Wreath

Easter

Patriotic Wreath

4th of July

Fall Wreath

That is the same wreath redecorated 4 ways!  I love a project that I can reuse.  Even more, I love being able to just pull that wreath out and get started on decorating it without having to make the base first.  
You'll be seeing this wreath again soon.....but it might look a little creepier!

Linking up to any or all of these fine parties:

FALL ALCOHOL....I'm going there.

This post is not meant to be a reflection on me or my tastes in alcohol.  Okay...maybe just a little.  Some of you know that I have a job.  A few of you know that I work 2 days/week at a liquor store....don't judge.  It's not everyday in a small town that a part time job just falls in your lap. The fact that it's owned and staffed entirely by women is pretty cool.  The fact that they have an awesome selection of wines and craft beers.....even better.  If it's not your thing.....stop reading right now.  If you are intrigued.....follow me for a look at some fun seasonal brews/ales and ciders.  (The packaging alone is worth the look.)  If any of these have you intrigued, you can click on the brewers link for a description of the product or ask your local liquor store employee...they usually know their product!

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale

The St. Louis Brewery, Inc.

Dundee Oktoberfest

 Dundee Brewing Company

Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale

Blue Moon Brewing Company

Paulaner Oktoberfest

 Paulaner Brewery

Samuel Adam's Octoberfest

The Boston Brewing Company

Angry Orchard Hard Ciders

(Apple Ginger, Traditional Dry & Crisp Apple)

 Angry Orchard Cider Company

Crispin Natural Hard Apple Cider

 Crispin Cider Company

 Redd's Apple Ale

 Redd's Brewing Company

(A personal note here...I really am not a big ale drinker...but I do like Redd's Apple Ale....a lot...enough that I'm going to recommend that you give it a try!) 

 So that's my rundown of some fall alcohol.  I'm thinking about doing a wine post next....yes??...no??  Really, I want to know.


Linking up to any or all of these great parties: 

INSPIRATION CAFE #13 - WRAP BRACELET

Welcome to the

Natalie from Northshore Days is here today with a really beautiful bracelet and an awesome tutorial so you can make one for yourself!
 

 

Hey Everyone,

Hope you all had great weekends. Its time for Inspiration Cafe again - yay, so lets get started.

Today  I'm going to show you how to make a Wrap Bracelet

There are so many of these wrap bracelets around blog world with loads of great tutorials. I have to admit that when I first saw these bracelets popping up on Pinterest I thought they would be too difficult to make. That was until I saw a tutorial from Happy Hour Projects. So simple and so easy.

Here's what you need:

Cord, cotton for sewing, a needle, beads (uniform in size) and a button. 

I also used a clipboard to secure the cord so that I could work neatly. 

I roughly measured my wrist and allowed for a bit extra. Double the length and cut the cord. At the bend in the cord (halfway mark) knot the loop for the closure, make sure that your button will fit snugly through the loop.

Here's how to sew it:

Thread the needle with a double thread and secure to the cord.

I worked from left to right in a figure 8.

Thread the first bead onto the cotton and pass under the right cord.

Loop over the right cord and thread back through the bead.

Pass under the left cord and loop over - thread the next bead on.

Again pass under the right cord. Over.

Thread back through the bead.

Under the left cord and over. Thread the next bead on.

 

Continue until you are happy with the length, then secure the end of the cotton onto the cord and cut off. Thread the button onto the cord ends and secure. I liked the end pieces sticking out but you can cut them off for a neater look.

 

  

Pretty easy right?

I love it - its by far my favourite bracelet to wear. And I get loads of compliments and "where did you buy its" when I wear it.

 I haven't had time to make more yet, but I definitely will, and I think next time I will make it longer so I can wrap it twice around my wrist.

 

I hope you enjoyed Inspiration Cafe today.  Be back next week to see what Mary from Sweet Little Bluebird has in store for us

Take care

xxx

FALL MINI SUBWAY ART

I love subway art and I don't know why I haven't done any before, but this is my first!  I wanted to start small and see how it went.

It was kind of fun to make!  I've had these fall stickers forever...

It's one sheet, but it has "back to school", "Halloween", "Thanksgiving" and "Fall" words.  

I also had this little tin sign that I got on clearance at JoAnn's a couple of years ago for something really crazy like a quarter.  It had an ugly rusty wire in it that I just clipped out.  

I made a copy of the sticker sheet and just cut out the words and laid them on the sign to see how they would fit.

After trimming a few of the actual stickers, I just put them on the tin, added a few beads for some sparkle and then strung a few fall beads on a pretty copper wire adding a small leaf charm on one side.

I'm pretty happy with it.  I think I'll do a bigger one for Halloween!
I put it up on my shelf next to my little fall flower pots where I had my fall wreath.

Which is better on that shelf?  The sign or the wreath?

Linking up to any or all of these fine parties:

 

Inspiration Cafe - Round 2 Wrap up

I can't believe it's the end of the second round of Inspiration Cafe!

If you are rather new to my blog....Every Monday one of 6 very creative women post a project in their area of expertise right here for your viewing pleasure!  I am so pleased to be invited to be a part of this group.  These ladies are awesome.  Natalie, from NorthShore Days is posting the wrap up for round 2 here today! 

Hey Everyone,

Its time to wrap up round 2 of Inspiration Cafe already!

We sure hope you are still enjoying your visits to the Cafe and meeting new friends along the way.

  So in case you missed any of round 2's posts, here are the links for you to check out...

Week 1  Ocean Shell Ring by Natalie from NorthShore Days

Week 2  Strawberry Rhubarb Pie by Mary from Sweet Little Bluebird

Week 4  Quilted Wall Hanging by Heather from The Beating Hearth

Week 5  White Board to Chalk Board by Danni from Silo Hill Farm

Week 6 Free Craigslist Table by Sherry from Pondered Primed Perfected

We would love to hear from you, let us know how you are enjoying (or not enjoying) our posts by sending some feedback our way.

Also don't forget we are on Facebook and you can click our handy link button to pop over and visit us there.

We also want to say a huge thank you all for your support and for reading every week, you guys rock.

Have great weekends 

xxx

PARTY IN THE PARK - WILLARD

My husband Sam sits on the board for the Chamber of Commerce in our local town.  Last year he was the President, which is a lot of work.  This year he's on the board, which is still a lot of work, but he loves doing it.  Our Chamber is a very active one and does some great stuff for our community.  One of my favorite Chamber events is the "Party in the Park", a free event for the entire community sponsored by Chamber members, as a way to thank the town for supporting their local businesses.  It was held last Saturday at the city park and it was so much fun! 

Their were free inflatables for the kids.  This one was a favorite of my two grandsons, Jacob and Kyle.  I can't tell you how many times they raced down this slide.

I found my friend Doug and his son Jacob at the basket ball throw.

My beautiful granddaughter, Mikayla was heading to the pool, which was also free for the afternoon, sponsored by our Willard Care Center.  (Isn't that a great way for a business that cares for the elderly to give something to the young people in the community?)  Our little town has an awesome new aquatic center, complete with water-slides and the cutest water-spouting train.

Unlimited, free popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy were available to all.

These are all friends and business owners in our community.  Stacia, owner of Top Hat Package made snow cones. Billy, owner of Century 21 Performance made popcorn. Mr. Buffington, retired shop teacher made cotton candy.  They gave this away all afternoon and they did it with a smile!

 

The only thing that was available that cost any money was dinner and it was a smokin deal!  For $3.00 you could have a hamburger, cheeseburger, brat w/sauerkraut, hot dog or chili dog.  Chips and drink included!  All served to you with a smile by more local business owners

(Jennifer, owner of Champion Carpet Care, Machelle, our Postmaster General, and Matt, President of Freedom Bank.)

Robert Latham, husband of Mindy, the Chamber President, is in charge of the grill and is assisted by Bradley, President of Commerce Bank.

Oh...and I can't forget Corey, also owner of Champion Carpet Care, also husband of Jennifer, who handed out soda and water and danced a little to the music provided by a DJ service.

 Guaranty Bank provided a Ring Toss game with prizes.  Their line was non-stop all afternoon!  

 The woman behind the scenes who worked tirelessly to make this all happen, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Mindy Latham.  That's my husband Sam next to her and I can tell you that he worked his butt off to help pull this all together too!

 Our Volunteer Fire Department was there with their shiny truck and let all the kids climb in and check it out.

Pam, owner of Back Porch Tea House and Joyce, owner of our local Farmer's Insurance office, held drawings for give-aways every half hour.  What did they give away?  Willard Pride T-Shirts and tote bags as well as some great gift certificates.  Every year the Chamber holds a contest for the local school students to design the Willard Pride T-shirts.  They choose a winner for the front design and the back design and the winning student receives $200 and $100 respectively for their designs.  How awesome is that?

 The playground at Jackson Street Park has something for all the kids, big and small!  My grandson Jacob particularly likes the monkey bars.

 At the end of the day, he was exhausted, well-fed and totally sugared up.  This was not his first cotton candy and there is evidence of at least 3 different flavored snow cones on the front of his shirt!  I'm guessing he slept pretty hard that night!

 All in all, it was a very fun day and an awesome way for business owners to give something back to the community, graciously provided by the Willard Chamber of Commerce!  I love my little town!  I love the people in my community....this is my friend Tracy Tropepe.  She and her husband own Century21 Performance and they are also good friends of ours.  I ran into her behind the pool!

 That's all....until next year!