« March 2011 | Main | May 2011 »
Most of you know that my son Christopher is a student at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and I just wanted to let you know that he is OK, and survived the tornado that destroyed the town yesterday. The tornado hit just one block from his house, so he was very lucky. My thoughts and prayers are with those who lost so much.
I made a journal out of an old ledger and here's how I did it...I actually took the ledger apart, and because the front and back covers were exactly the same, I can make 2 journals! To make the back cover I cut a piece of chipboard and covered it with a sturdy embossed piece of vintage wallpaper. I covered the inside panel with vintage ledger paper and did some machine stitching.
I used an exacto knife to cut out a window in the front cover and added a piece of vintage wallpaper...
I backed the wallpaper with a piece of cardboard, and then covered that with decorative papers. To bind the journal I used some twill tape...
I really liked the cover image, and didn't want to hide any portion of it. I decided to sew the twill tape under the cover, instead of on top of the cover.
I cut 5 sheets of 140 lb. watercolor paper and folded those in half to make my signatures. I sewed each signature to the twill tape "spine".
The pages have lots of room for adding lots of stuff!
One ledger=2 journals, and 5 pieces of paper=20 pages! I may sew ribbons to the front and back so that I can tie it together when I am done. My next project is trying to make a slightly more elegant version of this to be used as the Guest Book in my daughters wedding! I can't believe she's going to let me do it!
1. It's Azalea time, and I have dozens of Azalea bushes in my yard just bursting with blooms.
2. This creamware sugar bowl (missing the lid) purchased at the Goodwill for $2.00. Perfect for Azaleas, or about a million other things!
3. This chippy green and white stepladder is also from Goodwill...$3.99! I put it next to a chair as a little side table and hung a vintage linen from the rail in back. The steps are green and could hold a votive candle or two. I may put it on the porch this summer as a plant stand. Oh, and I think I spy a happy #4...the white kitten is under the chair!!
I just got back from a Girl's Trip to Kansas with some dear friends of mine : Heather, Lori, Karla, Jennifer, Andrea and Carol. Spending 4 days with these girls was HEAVEN..laughing, shopping, eating, crafting and talking till the wee hours! Karla is an AMAZING hostess, and can out-craft anyone on the planet. Her studio is to-die-for, and I loved being there again.
Karla taught us a project that she will be teaching at an upcoming event, and we all just LOVED it!
We also had a fabulous evening at Carol's farmhouse and enjoyed the outdoor room and fireplace. Dinner was delicious, and we had enough wine and desserts to make everyone happy!
I visited Carol last year when she had just moved in, and now everything is complete ( and published: Romantic Prairie Style).
I have to be honest, Carol's home is even prettier in real life than it is in the photos! Such a peaceful, serene, GORGEOUS home. We all wanted to go home and redecorate...Carol style :)
Seriously...EVERY nook and cranny is photo worthy...even the kitchen sink!
We spent one day antique shopping in the city...
And one WHOLE day {I mean a solid 12 HOURS} in the studio, making stuff. That night we were all tired, except Karla. She is the energizer bunny and can just keep going...
Thanks girls for a great weekend...can't wait to see you again soon!
