And the Countdown Begins...

10 days until James and I will be hanging out here.

Fun with the Camera

I don't claim to be a photographer, I don't have a nice camera, I have way too many hobbies already. But I would LIKE to take good pictures. I ADMIRE those who are extremely talented at it (have you visited some of my links on my sidebar, I'm jealous, let me tell you). Anyway, here are some pictures I've taken recently, not great or anything, but I like them.

Table Runner. Check!

It's always nice to cross something off your project list. I pieced together, quilted and bound my table runner. It is done! I quite like it, too.

These Girls Love to Sing

And they've got soul.

My First Ever Tutorial - Jewelry Organizer

This jewelry organizer is perfect for those who don't have a lot of horizontal space for their jewelry and don't have a huge amount of jewelry either. It involves no sewing or measuring, just a pair of scissors and a glue gun. So here goes with my first ever tutorial!

Materials needed:
Old unused frame(s)
Fabric scrap a bit bigger than your frame(s)
Batting scrap a bit bigger than your frame(s)
cork board (I got a 12x12 sheet at a craft store with a sticky back)
glue gun
straight pins

Steps:
1. Pick out a frame. I picked diploma frames, they were being stored in one of my closets! Take out the glass and backing (but save the back, you'll need that).



2. Use the back to measure what size the cork board needs to be. Cut to size.



3. Make sure the cork fits nicely into the frame, not too loose, not too tight.



4. Pick out your fabric, and iron it, you don't want creases or wrinkles!



5. Put your cork on top of your fabric and cut about a 2" border around the cork board.



It should look like this!



6. Do the same with the batting, I used a pretty thin cotton batting on this, but I actually think a little thicker one might have worked better. Just use whatever you have on hand though.



7. Place the fabric, right side down, on a flat surface. Place the batting over that, then the cork board right side down on the batting. If it has a sticky back, take the peel off, if not, just use a glue gun for this next step. Stick (or glue) the corners down first.



8. Stick (or glue) the long edges down now, trim the corners with scissors so they're not too bulky.



9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 with the fabric layer. (In this picture I forgot to take the sticky back off, so that's why it looks different)



10. I glued the back of the frame on as well, you can do this, but you don't have to. I did, because it was cardboard and kind of flimsy.



11. Stick it in the frame and secure! (No glass)



12. Now the fun part, stick the straight pins in (get them in there good) and organize your jewelry! Make sure the pins are angled down so your earrings don't slip off. I had to be careful and put heavier necklaces balanced with heavier bracelets on either side, but if you have a sturdier frame then the one I used, it probably won't matter. I hung mine in the closet, but it's cute enough to hang in the bathroom or even the bedroom!

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Let me know how I did! :)

A Lovely Afternoon

The girls and I went with my good friend Katie on a sunny afternoon to Baby Beach in Dana Point. I loved having the beach all to ourselves, what a wonderful way to spend a January afternoon.

More Snow Pictures

While we were in Utah, we went up to the Park City cabin and had a snowman building contest with all the cousins. James, as expected, was really into it and created this guy. The kids helped him out and put on the face and other accessories.

 

Julie girl, she's the sweetest girl you'll ever meet. Natalie and her get along so well, finally Natalie has someone that won't argue with her when she tells them exactly what she wants them to do.

 

Pretty girls: Whitney and Jane

 

Cousin Alex, finally not the only boy anymore!

 

And the best part about playing in the snow...coming back inside to warm up!

Snow Pictures

Snow pictures always turn out so cute, it must be the light reflecting off the snow. Annie is wearing one of James' hats he had growing up.