Almost Designer Pillows

Did you know that when JoAnn Fabrics discontinues a special-order, designer fabric they sell the samples? Some of these scrumptious fabrics can retail at $35/yd (or more)! *and you don't get to use the 40%-off coupon on special orders* you just have to wait til they go on sale.

Well, during one of my visits to JoAnn's I discovered several racks of these discontinued sample squares. They were marked down to $2 a piece but were placed in the 50% off area. So I got each one for $1!! AAAAAAAH *I sang that... with vibrato!* They measure about 17" X 17". I was working on the mad bench makeover at the time and thought a few decorative pillows would look nice on it.

I picked through each option, my eyes all a-glitter, selected 6 that seemed to coordinate but not be too matchy. My FAVE is this red paisley by Waverly.

And the back is by Liz Claiborne!! : ) I just stitched them together on the machine & stuffed them.

On this one I used leftover trim.

And on this one I used leftover piping.

If I get tired of one side I can simply flip it and it's a whole different look! And the final cost for each Almost.Designer.Pillow was under $4.00!!! Now that makes me smile *with teeth*!! Isn't it funny how sometimes the little things can do that to you? : )

Blessings!

MLE


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Outdoor Oasis

After 3 years in our house and much hard work on Handy Hubby : )'s part, the yard and landscaping are looking 200% better than when we started. The yard was weed-ridden with grubs and sick looking plants. Now there are no bare patches (although I think we're still battling grubs) and most everything blooms.


My long term dream is to create a gorgeous outdoor oasis complete with water features, multi-tiered bricked patio with a fireplace and a pergola to wile away the summer hours... *dreams are free and effortless*. Since that day is not today I'll relish what we DO have which is a neatly manicured yard, a peaceful view and a few of my favorite people to enjoy it with: ) I'm really very lucky!

As we continue around the house you'll notice the planter Handy Hubby : ) installed for me around our light post. We simply took a regular 14" hanging planter with a circular base slightly wider than the post and removed the chains. HH cut out the cross bars on the very bottom, removed the top of the light to slide the planter onto the post and secured it with the decorative bar from the light.

On the side of the garage we have a row of salvia that experienced a tremendous growth spurt this year. They are almost larger and taller than the bushes behind them!








The Stella Doro lilies are doing really well this year and the row of Canna lilies along the house will be a nice pop of red when they bloom.

The crowning jewel of my garden is......

Wait for it......

Wait for it......

The over-sized, rusty, disgusting Attack Frog!! *eeew* The previous owners left it behind. Hmmmm, imagine! My family laughed 'til they cried when they saw it because I have a thing about *hate!* frogs. It's pay-back for something, I'm sure!! Please forward ANY and ALL of your crafty makeover ideas to me on this one : ) Perhaps I'll make it my first Bloggy Giveaway!!

The orange lilies were a housewarming gift. They are really thriving in that spot. I marvel that they not only come back every year but actually multiply! They are a little stumpy though, I don't know why?



A feature that has turned out to be one of my favorite things about our house is the pond and the wildlife that come to visit daily. My daughter named the heron 'Gilbert'. And the bright gold finches make me smile. I saw Mama duck waddle by with her ducklings yesterday. I'll admit, I totally freaked out the first time I spotted the hairy alligator *muskrat* swimming in the pond! I did NOT want him anywhere near the house. But he mostly keeps to himself. Probably because this lady was screaming hysterically one day so he thought, "Note to self: Stay away from shore. There is some kind of CRAZY going on over there!!"

Now that I think about it, our yard, which was once a headache with it's fluffy dandelions, clover patches and sickly foliage has really turned around. I guess what they say is true, 'Three, is the Magic Number" because it takes 3 years to establish/rescue a yard.

Anyhoo, we don't have grand travel plans for the summer. We've got lots of activities going on here. At the end of the day though, I love sitting outside with a bowl of watermelon and chatting with the Fam.


Come join me sometime, won't you? Grab an iced coffee or tea *or other 'Mommy Juice' of choice* and let's visualize serenity and tranquility together for the next few minutes... don't mind the crazy woman running around the yard shaking that cow bell like the dickens, she's just shooing the geese away : )

ps this post is dedicated to my friend, Helensdecor, who nudges me out of my comfort zone!! ; )

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Blessings!

MLE

Picture Perfect

A few years ago I attended Holiday Mart in Indianapolis. There I found a booth that sold framed picture letters that spell out a word of your choice. You pick the letter photos from their selection and they frame it for you in a simple black frame with a black mat. I had seen pre-framed words like 'FAMILY', 'CREATE' and 'LOVE' at Target or Bed, Bath & Beyond and special order on-line. What I found so appealing about the photos at this particular booth was that they had a box of photo letters taken in and around Indianapolis. I decided to splurge and get a frame with our last name for my in-laws (aka The People Who Have Everything). Thrilled that I could use the Colts horseshoe for the 'U' so my FIL would be represented! I had the pictures installed in a 5-slot matted frame for the low price of $150!!! Say What??! *Uuuuum, No, I did not forget the decimal point!*

Boy! did I want one of those for myself but I would never hear the end of it from Handy Hubby : ) if I bought 2! I loved the idea sooooo much that I thought to myself - as I know many of you do too - "I bet I could make my own". Now, I'm not a professional photog but I am a girl with a camera and I do know my ABC's. How hard could it be? What I discovered is how FUN it could be!! Now I see 'letters' everywhere *sometimes even sitting in church - sorry God!*. I made several frames for the people we drew names for that Christmas. What fun we had thinking about each family, their interests, places that are relevant and significant for them.


I've taken pictures at church and have come up with 'FAITH' and 'LOVE' frames. The 'FAITH' frame I donated to the church auction titled "I Spy 'FAITH' at ***". (do you think God forgave me for my wandering mind?)




The 'LOVE' frame I have given as baby/baptism gifts because the 'O' came from the baptismal font.










My daughter & I each made one for our French-speaking friends. We used the same word 'AMIE' *'female friend' in French* but her letters were picked for a 16 yr old girl.






And mine were picked for a high school French teacher who is my shopping/ lunch buddy.

I have the pictures printed up in sepia or black & white depending on the color of the mat. Sepia prints against a white mat can create a dirty look. What I learned is you can see the 'letters' better when you remove the color. Pictures with high contrast work best. And I've learned that some people are letter purists and think that taking pictures of actual letters is cheating...


Here is a frame I put together that represents my little family. Each letter is the first letter in each of our names. The first 'S' is for Handy Hubby : ) who always says "Our door is always open, just knock first..." 'E' is for me. Home is where my heart is *see the bird's nest?*. 'C' is for my son who is away at college most of the time, so his letter is to remind him that any distance can be bridged with a phone call *or text, whatever*. 'A' is for my daughter who spends a lot of time at church. For me and my house, we will serve the Lord. & 'S' is for my younger daughter. The picture is of the sidewalk in front of her school. Her letter is a reminder that I'm glad we are traveling on life's journey together. So, although our pictures are simple, they are meaningful to me!

Because each frame was highly personalized, I decided the original $150 price tag was justified because it generated lots of special gifts! And with Father's Day right around the corner YOU have just enough time to get out there with your camera and come up with something special for the Dad's in your life : ) I would LOVE for you to share your creations with me!!

ps sorry about the pictures - I'm crafty, not computer savvy...


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Blessings!!

MLE