The Rustic Farm House Table

I was telling my good friend and neighbor

that I needed to find a dining table for the cottage.

So she says to me,

"Why don't you just build one?" 

Sure, right.

But as I walk away I start to think...

The wheels wouldn't stop turning. I started to scroll through plans for the Knock-off Wood's "Salvage Wood Farm House Table". I didn't like the legs so much. But was inspired by this table, and I decided to go on a search of some table legs, as a starting point.

My daughter and I headed to a flea market and found us a table for 20 bucks.

Then I went and got me some wood, cut by Rich, at Lowes,

for specific Rustic Table measurements. Thanks Rich!

Armed with a power drill, long screws, my new countersink bit and some sandpaper, I went to work.

A close-up. Couresty of my son.

Some cross-slats would support the boards that create the table top.

My friends stopped by (with their kids) and joined in the fun

of distressing the wood using forks, screws, washers and girl power.

While we worked, our children (9 of them) played in the back on the playset-turned-waterslide, and on with a slip-n-slip, snacks, drinks, water balloons, games, music and self-appoined lifegaurds

(not captured very well in this picture, but I was eager to get back to the distressing).

After attaching the legs, with the help of my husband, and making dinner (not a "real" dinner mind you; pizza for the second time that week). My friends were back to help out with the staining.

And now: presenting my hand-made Rustic Farm House Table!

I can't wait to get this in the cottage! I'll blog about the bench some other time.

Head over here to see the table in my cottage! We love it and it get a lot of use!

Teacher's Gifts

Here's a couple of quick & cute ideas for teacher's gifts. Start with this,

and this,

and this.

And turn it into this,

or this,

and this,

and this,

I can only take the credit for crafting up these great ideas. Check out these creative gals at Eighteen25 for free templates and how to make these for your teachers.

The Birthday Bag

From bed sheeets to a Birthday Bag... this is my latest creation.

I am in the middle of another project, making duvet covers, and used these bright bed sheets from Target.

 I created the cupcake bag with some left over ends of the sheets, the packaging that contained the yellow sheets, and with the guidance of my new book from Sandy Henderson.

Hot Pink & Zebra Print

As the kids get older, I feel that I need to be more creative with my party themes and activities. I was inspired by this napkin for the theme colors for Sidney's 10th birthday party.

 With the napkin setting the theme, I created these invitations:

The following are my examples
of what the girls would be making at the party.

A bookmark out of a jumbo paper clip, ribbon & punched paper

A goody bag made from a
brown (white in this case) paper lunch bag & paper

And lastly the girls will create this cute little notebook for jouraling, writing notes or keeping a grocery list. I made a pocket inside mine to keep my coupons
(made from a file folder, paper & ribbon).

And a matching pen too!

Happy Birthday to my dear Sidney

So she’s 10 years old.

Where does the time go?

On most days I feel inadequate as a mother. I am thankful to God for entrusting me with such a sweet, caring, smart, beautiful, innocent, loving, daughter who loves Jesus as much as I do.

God is so good. He’s so good to me.

It was fun to make her this skirt and to surprise her with it.

She happily modeled it for me and I’m delighted to share her with you.

To Welcome the Spring

I LOVE the Amy Butler fabric used to make these dresses for the girls. The perfect way to say hello to the sun!

I had a little extra fabric to add to the bottom of a pair of Katelyn's jeans that had just gotten too short.

Not your typical Easter dress

 My girls in their "Easter Dresses." Instead of something pastel & foofy I decided to make their dresses a little more fun, something they could wear any Sunday to church.