New in 2012: Ball Bunting

I'll be the first one to admit it. I adore bunting and garlands. Adore them!! Like our entire home is covered in fresh garland and lights, from mid November to mid January. I spend hours and hours on Pinterest, looking for new buntings and garlands. I look for any excuse to put them up. Like one made out of cupcake liners. :)

Recently, I was on Pinterest. Looking for a new idea. And that lead me to this blog. And this post. Wow! Something about it, called to me. And I knew, I needed to make it. :)

Let's take a side "trip," right here. I adore that Jessica has decorated Harper's nursery, for Christmas. It's just so adorable! But I might be a little more excited then most. Remember Lauren's adventure. Ya, the twins are totally into decorating this year too! We just adore decorating for holidays!

This year, we let our twins pick out Christmas decorations for their room. To be like Lauren. :) Yes, it happened back in October. The people at Hobby Lobby thought we were nuts! But I had to do it. We LOVE the holidays too much.

Our little project, started before we headed to Texas. And headed to Hobby Lobby. Everyone picked their "colors." Lauren went with pink and red. I wouldn't expect anything less. Although, the red shocked me a bit. Maybe Marissa, is now having some influence on Lauren and her "pinkness!" Abby, got lavender and pink. And Mr. Robbie, he went with red and blue. :)

I don't know how this garland was made. But I bought 2 packages, of each color of pom-poms. And a long "doll making" needle. I consulted with my bestie, and my momma. And packed up my supplies. Headed to Texas, for Thanksgiving with Billy's side of the family. :)

I've spent the last 2 nights working on our buntings. After the kids go to bed, and it's just us adults chatting. I pull out this crazy long needle, lots of thread, and bags of pom-poms. I've got 4 done. 2 to go. Fingers crossed, tonight, after the kiddos are asleep....I will finish!

Hopefully, by the time we get home, everything will be done! And my kiddos will have some more "charm" for their rooms. I'm hoping to make a few for my office/studio. Maybe a strand of each of pink, black, and white. How fun!

~Manders

Bedroom Ideas

With our "Big Girl," turning 5 yesterday, we've been wanting to do something. Something special! Lauren has pretty much, had the same room, for 5 years. It's beautiful! Lola designed it for us. Sewed everything! Cari painted beautiful murals.

But Lauren is 5 years old. And we think, it's about time, that she got a "Big Girl" room. Something more special. More Lauren. So we talked to Joe. A good friend of ours. Who is also a very talented carpenter! And Lola. A very talented designer, and organizer! We've decided, to give Lauren, a new bedroom.

So I've done a little research. A little digging around. With Lauren a bit. And a bit on my own. And this, is what we've come up with, so far.



Maybe something "Fairy Tale" inspired! Believe it or not, Billy and Joe found this. Lauren LOVES it! And from what Joe told us, this is very doable!



How about a Cinderella carriage? Maybe a little over the top for us! But this definitely reminded me of Sarita!



How about this? Much more Lauren's style! But honestly, would my daughter, ever get rest? Would she sleep? Or would she want to play all night?



This is the same idea, but I think is a little more "sleep friendly." A place that Lauren, could actually sleep! But still have some fun in. :)



Or should we go with something more "Grown Up?" Something that Lauren can "grow into." That say, in 5 or 10 years, she can still use.

So many decisions! But our Big Girl deserves it! We might not know, what the details are. What "theme" we will go with. But Lauren did tell me, it's definitely going to be pink! Oh sweet girl! I wouldn't have thought differently. This from the girl, who dreamt of pink Christmas trees!

What do you think? Are we crazy? Do you have any ideas? I do know, it's not going to be as detailed, as Miss Emma's Snow White room. But it will be something special. Just for Lauren!

~Manders

New in 2012: Sewing Curtains

I know. Another post about sewing. But I'm so excited about this project! Technically, I order this fabric, late last week. But it just came in. Yesterday evening. I was so excited! You see, Billy and Lauren are working on a project. They're repainting her Little Pink Playhouse. :)

It's going to be pink with white trim. But the little shutters and doors, are going to be red! So fun! And I thought, with a new paint job, Lauren's Little Pink Playhouse, could use some new curtains. Maybe a few pillows, and a little blanket. :) So I got started, last night, after the kids went to bed. Just look at this fabric!



Now let me start off with this. I sew. A little. Very little! I've made a few simple blankets for my kids, my nephew, and some of my friend's kids. Nothing fancy. I've worked on some other simple projects. And I've started these projects. Do you remember them?

Well, I started with measurements. I figured it was a great place to start. Then, I sat and stared at my fabric for a long time. It was expensive! And I didn't want to mess up. (On a side note, I want to order some more fabric. It's expensive. But Mwendas has such cute prints!) A few late night calls to Lola, and my mom, got me through the bumps. I didn't want plain curtains. I wanted something with a little style. A little fun. And these 2 ladies had the perfect ideas to add.

A few minutes ago, I pretty much finished the curtains, and I pinned the pillows and blanket. I still need to add a little trim. I'm actually stuck between 2 different trims. I had hoped to have them done, by the time I had to go pick up Lauren from school. But I just couldn't decide on a trim. So I'll wait until I pick her up, and let her decide. This was such a fun and easy project! I'm not so afraid of my sewing machine now. :)

~Manders

Dreaming of Snowflakes...

Am I the only one, that thinks snowflakes are for the entire winter? My mother-in-law just sent me this picture. And it has me dreaming of a window, decorated with these snowflakes. :)



I grew up in the mountains. And I'm used to months of snow. Now just a random day or two. Oh, if I could just find a snowflake pattern. And this thread. I'd get started right now. There's something very "vintage" about these snowflakes. Something playful. And oh so fun! I wish I had a bunch, to make into a garland.

~Manders

Love This Glow

It's Fall time. And I always think of glowing candles, in the cool Fall weather. But they can also be so expensive! Well, when you're looking at the ones, that I'm looking at. :) I don't just like a good smelling candle. I like a beautiful candle. When I saw this picture, I immediately, wanted to try and make these.



What do you think? I have so many, gorgeous smelling candles. But they look pretty generic. This idea, can just take them over the top. Best thing, it's pretty much free. Who doesn't have some sticks. And hot glue! Can you tell, what I'll be working on this weekend?

~Manders

Violet Rings

I really like this pattern. It's really different from the crochet blankets that you see. I really want to make this. So not only did I save the pattern, I also printed it out. Maybe that will make me start moving quicker.

But I'd definitely pick some different colors. Something to go with our den. It just makes me excited! Now all I have to do is go yarn shopping. :) If you want the pattern to, go to Free Patterns. It's the pattern of the day!

~Manders