Local Places to Craft/Sew/Fun

With the holidays season right around the corner I get excited about all of the possible crafts I can create! I often look for local listings of craft workshops, sewing classes, demonstrations at local Home Depots or craft shows. I also look online for http://www.youtube.com/ videos to offer me some direction with conquering those little sewing techniques that I am clueless about! Soon I will be hosting a Craft Night with some of my girlfriends. A night of crafts, cocktails/coffee and gossip!! Ohhh sooo cozy!

I have researched my local area for classes and workshops that you can take advantage of in you live in the South Florida area. Here are a few gems!

1.) Quilters Choice: 561-747-0525 in Jupiter, FL Great girls own this shop and everyone is always very friendly!

They offer all types of sewing classes that range in price from $20-$60: Beginner quilting, Basket classes, Gift Box class, Embroidery, Green Bag class.......so many great sewing projects to learn and have fun with. The new calender came out and most classes start in October but continue through December.

2.) Laura's Sewing and Vacuum 561-799-5228 on Northlake

Sew Like A Pro Classes $80 for 3 weeks at night to learn to sew an apron or throw pillows

These classes start in October. Call for more details.

3.) www.art-sealiving.com in Boynton Beach. This is a cute boutique for artsy gifts that also offers classes in the store for jewelry making, pottery and glass designs. 561-737-2600

4.)Lunch with Celebrity HGTV Interior Designer Michael Payne April 15

Log onto www.excitingwindows.com/LWM

Now places to craft in Fayetteville, AR area:

1.) Stamping and Card Making Oct.2 Siloam Springs, AR

Contact: Jessica the organizer at raising_4babes@yahoo.com

2.) www.meetup.com is a great resource to find local people to meet up with that enjoy the same arts and crafts that you do!

3.) www.sewtown.com is a sewing center in Fayetteville who offer classes in both the Ft. Smith location and Fayetteville location.

4.) Sit'n & Stitch'n Quilts 479-935-4884 They are a quilt shop that offer a variety of classes. They will be closed in October because they are relocating. But stay in touch through their Facebook page

Get your friends together and have some fun! Pick a project that everyone can do and each person can bring something to the group that can be shared. It's fun to get other people's input and get all the creative juices flowing!! Our Crafts-Cocktails & Gossip night will be some time in October. I will be sure and post some pics of our fun and the projects we design!!
XXOO-Jamie

My Wreath!!

After searching all over the internet, I found a great wreath idea from Sunset magazine.  A ribbon wreath!!

So, I went to Hobby Lobby and bought 3 spools of autumny ribbon, (30 ft each):

a 12" steel macrame ring:

and a wooden letter "P" to paint:

It's actually pretty easy to make!  You start cutting ribbon strips first.  The way you decide how long the strips should be is to make your first ribbon.  Then, untie it & see how long it is.  I'm thinking somewhere around 18-20 inches.  I used my rolls almost completely up, so you should feel fine cutting them up entirely.  

Then you start tying them onto the ring:

Here's a close-up of how I tied my bows:

Now, don't fret if it seems like you won't have enough ribbon!  You are going to puff this thing up like an 80's hairdo!  That will make it almost double in size:

Then, I painted my P for Presley:

After that, I tied it to the wreath hanger by a ribbon and VIOLA!!!!

Fall happiness greeting us at the front door!!!

I'm interested in seeing what sort of wreaths other people are putting up, so please, email me your pics & we'll post 'em!!!

Show us your Fall Wreaths!!

Today, being a balmy 55 degrees outside, I finally felt a sense of fall settling in.  Cold enough to break out the pumpkin candles, autumn flower arrangements and mainly, get started on a fall wreath!

So, I have been scouring the internet looking IDEAS!!  Here are a few I found:

Tatum Family

The Yuppie Gardener

Bleubird Vintage

Country Living

Country Living

Country Living

Better Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens

I have the beginnings of a wreath & I plan to post pics when I'm finished.  In the meantime, get started on yours or send me pics of one you've already made, so we can be inspired by your handiwork!

Just email me & I'll post it here in all its glory!

Fun Giveaway on my Friend's Blog

One of my best friends from college married this adorable girl, Sandra.  They just had their first child and she keeps up a blog called, "How to Grow a Grasty."  It's worth following.  

Anyway, she's doing this great giveaway for some red beaded jewelry:

She tells an interesting story about them & tells how you can enter to win them here:

http://growinggrastys.blogspot.com/2010/09/red-bead-tales-my-very-first-giveaway.html

DIY Dry Erase Board

Lately I've been seeing a lot of these dry erase boards:

Greg and Jennifer's World

Shanty2Chic

Little Birdie Secrets

So, I thought I'd make my own:

Renegade Craft Fair

Jamie and I are so excited to attend the Renegade Craft Fair this year in Chicago.  Posts to come.

Mirrors Over Nightstands?

I was checking out one of the blogs I frequent, Better After, and I saw this great idea that they featured from George Interior Design:

Have you ever seen mirrors like these used over nightstands?  I can't say I have and, I really love it!!!  Makes me wanna go search for some gawdy mirrors to paint!!!

Peekaboo Feature!

Recently, Peekaboo Magazine featured our blog in their September issue in an article called, "9 Blog Sites You Should Be Reading."  They had those of us who contribute to Creative Outpour living in Northwest Arkansas come and represent us in a picture with other local bloggers of note.  Heidi & I are in the front row with the black dresses and Rachel is sitting on the slide with the black tank and grey cardigan.  So thankful to be included in this group and to meet some of my favorite blog authors!  Thanks Peekaboo!

For those of you who aren't familiar with Peekaboo, it is a FREE mommy magazine in Northwest AR.  You can check them out here.

Fall Fall FALL!!!

I love this time of year! Fall makes me miss Arkansas sooo much! You just don't get that warm and cozy feeling in Florida with the palm trees like you do with the Autumn leaves! I love turning my home from yellows and blues and beachy to orange and browns and spicy!! Pumpkin spice candles...warm quilts, cool nights, decorated mantels.........
And if its Fall..then Christmas is right around the corner!!!!!! I hope these things give you a little inspiration to Fall into decorating! XXOO

Nothing says Fall like scrolls, florals, and periwinkle!! Rug By Company C

Picture perfect ideas!!

Cute mini-trees!!! Love them!

(http://www.bhg.com/)

Loooove ORANGE decor! This bold print pillow is perfect! (http://www.bhg.com/)

Instead of faces...how about drilling holes?? (http://www.bhg.com/)

Simple book shelf with festive items! (http://www.bhg.com/)

A quiet place to read a book! (http://www.potterybarn.com/) $79

Critter candles--darling! (http://www.potterybarn.com/) $10

A fall decor with purples, browns, green, tans...so very cozy!
http://www.hgtv.com/ (Designer Christopher Grubb)

Nothing says FALL like a country quilt!! Part of the museum collection at Pottery Barn

Mini Acorn candles $12 for the set (http://www.potterybarn.com/)

Nautical Bedrooms

My husband hates "themed" rooms. Basically that is a dirty word and when I'm trying to convince him to see how cute I could make Summit's room, I have to use special code words like, "Ben, lets use these CERTAIN COLORS", or "I like nautical LOOKING rooms". It's all about the verbal presentation. I say that it is because it has worked for me, this speaking in code, because my son's room has a nautical THEME. HAH!

Side note: It wouldn't have worked though, for instance, if I had tried to pull off a sponge bob or race car room, I used such diverse decorations that it's more of a color palette than a bunch of light houses and sailboats- although it does have those.

Some rooms that inspire and continue to inspire me this direction are these:

Side note #2: "Too themed, I don't want that much of a theme," my husband JUST SAID walking into the room and seeing my search for Nautical inspired room creations. *no lie*



So, this other collage is parts of Summit's room that I have done. Most of that is garage sale finds from my mother-in-law that I wouldn't have bought but mehhhh it works and it was FREE! Also, if you can't tell from the picture angles, his room was a mess... lol, I had to work around it. You may remember some of the pictures from my post on faux-finishing his furniture HERE.



As you can see, I still have a lot of work to do, but I think that is part of the fun of a room like this, I can continue to add odds and ends to better complete the room without it looking lacking right now. (other than the undecided upon mural...) I'm working on a fun bedding idea for the bunk beds and will post when I have more information!

How to Make a Fall Floral Arrangement

I saw this super cute fall floral arrangement at Daisies & Olives flea market in Prairie Grove. I loved everything about it except the price....$85.00!


So I went to Oop's in Tontitown to see what I could find. I wanted something unusual to put the arrangement instead of the standard basket or vase. I found this wooden birdcage for $10.00.


And then bought sticks, flowers, greenery, and moss.


First I put the floral base inside.


Then went outside to fill the cage with 2 bags of moss.


I started putting the tall pieces in first.


Then filled the sides and top of the birdcage with the greenery and flowers.


Here is the finished product:








Inside on the dining room table:






The draping greenery and fun flowers really make this arrangement. I will probably place pumpkins around the base as soon as I can find some for sale.


The total cost was $30.00 which is much better than $85.00! And personally I think my arrangement is MUCH cuter! Have fun making your own fall floral arrangement!