glassybaby...again...

I know.  I keep rambling on and on about these silly little glassybaby...but I have to tell you that I love them!  They are versatile (candle holder, organizational facilitator, flower vase, etc.) and beautiful (just look at them glow!) and bring color and light to a dark and dreary Seattle winter.

I first got some for our wedding ceremony to use as the unity candle.

Then I "needed" some to decorate my new colorful kitchen.  We registered for Fiesta Ware and we registered for six different colors!  When we were first married, we had a ledge in the kitchen that needed something.  So, I purchased some pottery on our honeymoon and I added some glassybaby to pull all that color together!  Then I decided I wanted to have some for seasonal uses.  I swap out certain colors at various times throughout the year to make the festivities bright and beautiful.

Yesterday, I went to the glassybaby Seconds Sale.  I wasn't quite sure what this meant (i.e. discontinued colors, flawed, etc.) but I knew I wanted to take advantage of the sale!  It is true; I might be one of those people who shops sales and buys things I probably wouldn't have if they hadn't been on sale.  However, the story behind glassybaby has captured my heart from the get-go.

I have several beautiful people in my life that have survived, and have passed because of, cancer just like the founder of glassybaby, Lee Rhodes.  She started making these colorful gems when she was first diagnosed with cancer as a distraction and she has thrice survived the noxious disease.  I have heard of research stating that when people are of good cheer, have friends and family around, and have distractions, they are more likely to survive.  I believe in that and Lee, as well as some dear loved ones, are living proof.  She donates 10% of all her earnings to various charities throughout the country but specifically she was donating yesterday's percentage to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research in Seattle.

Anyway, yesterday, I woke up bright and early to get in line for the Seconds Sale.  I waited for about 2.5 hours in line and then finally got in. 
 
It was a mad house, but everyone was so happy and helpful!  I purchased five new glassbaby.  Some of them are gifts for those important people above.  I'm keeping one for myself! :)

If you are able, please support this grassroots company.  http://www.glassybaby.com/.  You will not regret it!

Southwest Airlines Woes...

I have to fly to Spokane next week.  Matt doesn't want me to drive over the passes with the weather the way it's been.  I just logged on to buy a ticket for Spokane and I found out that SWA doesn't fly from Seattle to Spokane anymore! WHAT?!?!?!?!?!

Not only do I have to fly in a miniature airplane now (because the flight lasts about 45 minutes), but my bags don't get to fly for free. 

I'm throwing the penalty flag!

I am mourning today.

Live, Love, Grow!

Another "weekend" craft...actually done during my snowed-in time as well.  I cannot tell you why I made these, but there may be a surprise redecorating project in the works?!?!?!

I took supplies I already had laying around to create this masterpiece:

• frames (1 large and 2 small)
• fabric
• paper scraps
• glue
• paints
• Mod Podge (I am loving this stuff lately!)

Here's what I did:
1. Empty wooden frame...this one is from Ikea and is meant to be decorated similarly to this project.

2. I covered the frame with beige fabric and adhered it to the back with hot glue.  Staples could work too! Then I gave the fabric a few pops of color with acrylic paints.

3. Then I glued down the pieces one by one spacing them just so and making sure not to repeat the same pattern too close together!

 4. While waiting for that to dry, I prepped the other pieces.  Frames also from Ikea!  I bought these little wire things at a local home decor store and haven't found a place for them.  I thought these would go well with this project.

 5. These are just pieces of paper cut to fit into the frames and then I mimiced the same design on them as the big frame above.

 6. I painted the wire a beige color rather than the black that it was.  Then I stamped the words on the paper-pieced art.

 7. After the pieces dried into place, I Mod Podges the whole thing.

 8. This is the finished project.  I think it turned out pretty good!

 Love it!

Snow and Sew!

There is a commonly known principle among the Amish that they are not to make perfect quilts. Since they do them so well and often, they could easily make them perfectly.  So, I like to say that I'm just practicing my Amish... :)
It's snowing and I can't/ don't really want to go anywhere...so it's a good day to SEW!  I've been really into decorating for the holidays lately.  Partly because I was blessed with the most amazing gifts for Christmas that are extremely versatile and lovely and can be transformed for every possible event/ holiday!  (Thank you, PartyLite!)  But, I can't do anything too girly, so sewing wall hangings and table runners is my thing right now...I don't have a clue what I'm doing and I don't like to follow patterns...I just wing it.  If you are a quilter, you would know that my assembly is terrible, but if you don't know any different, I look extremely talented! 


So, I am working on Valentine's Day Decor...Here's what I've done so far...

1. Cut up fabric. The main blocks are 8x8 inches and the little squares 2.5x2.5 inches. 

2. This is what it looks like laid out...

3. The center pieces sewn togerther.  

 4. Assembled with borders...

 5. The hearts added to the blocks...

 

6. The complete front... 

It isn't done as the sewing machine just tweaked out and I don't know how to fix it...but here are some pics.

Soon I will do a similar one for St. Paddy's Day and then I have a brainstorm going on for Spring/ Easter...but it seems pretty complicated, so it will take some time.

Enjoy!

Candles and Kindles...

Just so you know...you have to have light for a Kindle to work. 

This is my glassybaby garden.  I'm obsessed.  It worked well, lighting up our dining room table when the power went out last night, but it didn't quite work for reading.  the light dissipated too much in that big space.

Thus, I moved some to my night stand and this was enough light to be able to read with!  Yeah!

Heavy SNOW!!!

So...I realize that for many of my friends snow doesn't create a second thought.  I remember days growing up in Spokane where we had feet of snow and we somehow still had school.  We had bone-chilling temperatures, feet-high drifts, and we still spent hours sledding down the hill at Brown's Park (next to my mom's house). 

Seattle is a different world when it comes to snow, however.  You would have to experience it to understand.  I have a developed a severe hatred for something I used to love and appreciate!  Don't get me wrong...it is still beautiful, but I hate it!

For the past 5 days, it has snowed almost non-stop.  The snow is wet and heavy as the warm air from the Pacific mixes with cold Canadian Rocky air coming down from the Frasier River (at least that's what the weather people say).  It is treacherous as the majority of Seattle, as well as the surrounding communities, is built on hills.   

 

And, because getting a lot of snow in the Seattle area is so rare, nobody knows how to drive in it!  I feel like I know how to drive in it, but as soon as I get on the road, other drivers follow too close, or drive too fast and it FREAKS ME OUT. Thus, I have been a prisoner in my own home as it snows and snows and snows.

It has been pretty, but yesterday, the snow turned to freezing rain and now everything is coated in a smooth sheet of ice. The trees along our street, and everywhere else I am sure, have more weight than they are keen to bear.  I heard two thunderous cracks from our backyard (or a neighboring yard, I cannot yet tell).  The people across the street have a tree on their house! Although, it appears to not be causing too much of a disturbance, it has definitely damaged their gutter and roof.  Matt's little car has become enveloped by our lilac tree that usually stands tall in the front yard.

And, our power just went out. Awesome! I was in the midst of writing this blog and bleep...it went out.  So, I just changed all of the above to past tense and am continuing now. 

I took a walk this morning to see what the world looked like...layers of white frosting everywhere!

Home!

Some people have requested more pictures of our little house, so here are a few from around the house at Christmas time...

Living Room with the tree. I made the wall hanging next to the tree!

The other side of the living room goes down the hallway and into the kitchen. 

Dining room area.

Old dresser and bookshelf that I refinished and made into a hutch! 

My tiny kitchen!

Kitchen Buffet I repainted and my mom made the drapes to match the window drapes I made!

Still working on the bathroom (paining and décor coming together) and our bedroom... :) More to come...