For the love of hemp

     I never buy candles.  All the candles I own were either gifts, or have been around my house since the dawn of time.  My brother and Sister-in-Law gave me a set of gorgeous mercury glass candle sticks for Christmas.  I love the look of Mercury glass.  (I actually have a little diy project for my bedroom redo involving mercury glass lamps, stay tuned...) Due to a very unfortunate mis-hap, my set of three is down to two.  But, I love them and it got me thinking about candles.  I took a look at my inventory and it wasn't looking so good, am I right?

Candle on the left has a sister who was
too ashamed to get in the picture.

Here is what I came up with...

Hemp!
I always have a ball of hemp sting in the house.  I use it all the time and  it only cost a couple dollars.  You can pick it up at Wallyworld or any craft store.

Supplies:
Candle : You can use any size and it can be new or used.
Clear Tape or glue dots :  I've used both.  If you don't want to see the tape, use glue dots.
Jute/Hemp String

Now focus, this project is extremely complicated...


Step 1:

Secure string with tape or glue dots. 
I used tape since you won't be able to see the back once placed.



Step 2:

Wrap, wrap, wrap, wrap, wrap...

Step 3:



Cut, secure with tape/glue dots and enjoy!  They are very Ballard Designs like don't you think?

Here they are placed on the mantle in our Family Room.



So, now my wheels are turning.  What else could you use to make those old candles beautiful again?

Wrapping Paper, buttons, Coffee Beans (that would smell good!), Thumb Tacks, Ribbon/Electrical Tape (a striped pattern would be really cool!), Glass Beads, Sheet Moss (that might be pushing it.),  or scrapbook paper!  The possibilities are endless! 

*Caution: Remember your fire safety.  Leave some space between your decoration and the top of the candle if you plan to light it!*

I had some extra scrapbook paper lying around.  Here are the candles all dressed for Spring!

Now go and decorate those candles and send me a pic! 

I want to see!

On another note: 

Look what I found at the GW today. 

I have big plans for these and it involves my new power tool that Santa brought...

Can't wait to show you!

Katie

The Details…

So, it’s a pretty well know fact that I love a good deal.  I live for them, really.  There’s nothing like finding the perfect gem at Goodwill and being able to say, “shut up!” right there in the aisle.  It just gets my blood pumping thinking about it…
Here’s the skinny on the dining room:
Wall Color:

I can’t say enough about this paint color.  It looks blue in the morning and green at night.  It’s all out lovely.
BTW, did you know there is a blog out there that shows you real person rooms that have been painted in certain colors?  You just search the color you are interested in and up pops someone’s room in that color!  Brilliant.  It’s called My Favorite Paint Colors.  You have to check it out!

One of my favorite things about the inspiration room was the lantern light fixture.  When I came across this one at Lowe’s I grabbed it and the hubs installed it with a dimmer switch.  I think it did the trick.
The furniture was a steal too.  I got it at a yard sale about 8 years ago.  I literally went 6 times, not counting the 2 trips we made for pick up, before I beat the seller down to the bargain price of – the original asking price.  Sweet! 
(I think I paid $600 for all of it.  Table that seats 12 with table pads, 6 chairs, china cabinet and serving piece.)


Here’s where I’d like to put that beautiful Martha Stewart paint.  I think this server would be so beautiful painted blue and the lamps would really pop.
Here’s what I have in mind:



I can never go to a store without visiting the clearance section.  It’s a sickness.  Ask me a store and I can tell you the location of their bargain bin!  On a trip to the “OOPS” section at Lowe’s, I came across a roll of this wallpaper. I didn’t know what I was going to use it for, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave without it.
Good thing I didn’t.  This project was cheap and easy!  (I know there’s a really funny joke just waiting to happen there…) 

  
Lastly, the drapes…  To say that I just adored these would be criminal.  The fabric is to die for and I got such a great deal on it (all the fabrics really).   I drove a long way for these treasures and had a blast with a friend  I’ve been scheming with since childhood.  I’m still debating on sharing my sources on this one…
The peacock fabric is Dwell Studio for Robert Allen and retails for $56.99, I got it for $7
The diamond  fabric on the chairs is Duralee and retails for $37.25, I got it for $5.
Oh, one more thing.  Any ideas on how to convince the hubs to let me paint my our chairs in the BM soft fern?  I’ve tried everything!  Don’t you think it would be beautiful?  I bet the person who designed the room below isn’t married!

I don’t know if you did the math, I certainly haven’t, but by my estimations – this room was done on the cheap!
I have a DIY coming up…
Katie

In Transition

We’ve been slowly updating the 1980’s brick ranch that we bought a little over a year ago.   My “plan” (I say that very loosely) is to work on a room until I get bored and then start another.  Design is ever evolving anyway, right? So, I’ll share with you the rooms that I’ve worked on so far and some of my DIY’s along the way.  I hope you enjoy and maybe even get inspired! 

The Dining Room:

The Dining Room was my most recent update.  Here’s the before: 
My favorite designer these days is Tobi Farley.  If you have not discovered her yet, let me introduce you. I also love to read her blog.  She has such a keen eye for color.  She blends neutrals and pops of color effortlessly.  I used her personal dining room as a little inspiration for my own

Are you ready to see?  Here she is…

How’d I do?   I’ll fill you in on all the details tomorrow.  There’s also a few more changes I’d like to make.  One involves Martha’s  paint color, Plumage.

Can you guess what it is?
Katie

Valentine's Day

I've never been a huge fan of Valentine's Day.  Not because I have anything against all those companies making billions

off this made-up holiday,

But for this reason...

What's with all the pressure?!  I got a good old fashion love letter from my Valentine.  "Pitter pat, pitter pat."  Did you hear that?  Yep, that's my heart being showered with words from the heart. No diamond could ever compare to your words.  I love you Mister K.

My girls on the other hand loaded up!  So much fun to be had on Valentine's Day. 

Our  morning started out like this:

and ended like this:

                                         I have to be honest.  I was scared.

During the day I visited the girls' school to attend the wedding of Q and U.  It was so much fun!  There was a full-on ceremony with reception and  lots of Qu gifts.  



 I made these cute cupcakes with left over

Christmas mini-candy canes. 

(Note, put candy canes on morning of. 

They turn gooey over-night.)



 I think these kids will always remember that

Q and U belong together! 

Hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day too!



Friendship Tea Party

We kicked off our Valentine's Day over the weekend.  Our churched hosted it's first "Frienship Tea Party" and it was a huge success!  The kids got dressed up and enjoyed yummy cookies and interactive songs and stories.  It was a blast! 



Photo op as you come in the door.  It's definitely Tea Time!



The cookies were GORGEOUS and they look like perfect stained glass hearts!  They were made by Alison, who is definitely our favorite confectioner!  You can check out her blog here. 

Use 2 cookie cutters in the same shape (1 big and 1 small) and your favorite sugar cookie dough.  Cut out the center and place a Jolly Rancher for the "stained glass." Then just bake and enjoy!  If you need a real recipe to follow and not just my quick rendition, 

check this one out.

And here are the triplets!  Not really, but I can't tell you how many times I've been asked as people stare in amazement.  Thanks Jamie for planning to have Bailey at the same time as my girls.  It was so nice of you to do that for someone you didn't even know!

A new day, a new blog!

I’m so excited to be starting this blog!  It is something I have wanted to do for a long time.  I’ll be posting projects I’m working on and all the wonderful stuff we are up to as a family.  I look forward to sharing all our happy with you!