Greeting Spring

Spring is right around the corner! I love the change of seasons and am thankful I live in an area that truly has four seasons!

Things are starting green up, from the grass to the swelling buds on the trees, soon it will be time to move outdoors and enjoy all of the colors of nature.

It's time to start thinking about the garden, whether it's flowers or vegetables, and remember to consider the unusal but eye catching containers you can use to make your outdoors as welcoming as your indoors.

Take a look at a few of these incredible ideas:

A Bucket with drainage holes, with hand painted lettering or vinyl letters featuring words of your choice, from your monogram, last name to your address, it makes the perfect container for an herb garden, annuals or even a tomato plant. The skys the limit!

Photo: Cherry Hill Cottage

A great old chair with a fresh coat of paint and a bucket or pot (remember to add drainage holes) to greet your guests or liven up a boring spot in your yard.

Photo: Cherry Hill Cottage

What a great use for an old sifter. So unexpected and so fun! A great way to bring some color inside!

Photo: Cherry Hill Cottage

On old drawer from a chest, night stand, etc painted with chalboard paint!

Photo: Cherry Hill Cottage

Those flea market and yard sales will be starting now that the weather is getting warmer, be on the lookout for unusual and unexpected containers for your outdoor space!

I can't wait to see what you find!

The Difference is in the Details

As the saying goes, it's the little things in life that really make a difference. Whether it's at dinner, at home, in the garden or wherever, it's the little unexpected touches that truly make a difference.

How many times have you seen something and thought, wow, what a difference a simple touch makes. Things that get our creative brains (or even those non-creative brains) churning and visualizing how you could replicate it with something similiar you already have! I especially love the little details when they utlize things that have been repurposed.

Here are some of those very things, that make me say WOW, what a great idea. Where and how can I use that idea:

What a great use for an old door... whether it's leaning against a wall, hung on a wall or supported with brackets, it's not something you expect!



Two old shutters simply leaning against a brick wall, with a plain grapevine wreath.




Old flatware framed and placed in an area of prominence...use baby spoons, family silver, old monogrammed flatware found at a flea market, etc.




A set of nesting tables used as a coffee table!



Old Sunday School classroom chairs hung from a large wall.

What do you have stored in your garage or basement that can give you that "WOW I would have never thought of that" comment from your guests? Drop me a post and let me know what you come up with!

Punch Needle 101

I have always loved to create things with my hands! From jewelry to applique clothes, you name it, I love to create. It's what I do instead of reading, I do of course read my Bible! I love the satisfaction I get from starting and finishing something!

My latest craft addiction is Punch Needle! You can create some beautiful things and it is relaxing and most importantly so easy! One of my dear customer's Karen introduced me to punch needle, she is so talented, she quilts, makes pillows using her quilt and punch needle creations, makes wool runners and candle mats featuring handmade pennies. Her work is incredible, I long to have her skills! Maybe if I hang around her long enough some of her skills will rub off on me!

Here are some of the things I am working on or will be working on in the coming weeks and months!







My sweet friend Ginger found this little cutie online and I will be working on this one for Easter! Design by: Threads That Bind



This was my first Punch Needle Pattern, there is a different design for each month and you switch the punch needle design and the wool background out each month. Design by: Buttermilk Basin.



This little cutie is going to get attached with buttons onto a little black boiled wool shoulder purse I have and will get toted around next winter. Design by: With Thy Needle

I love snowmen and want to get this one done for Christmas. I have plenty of time and it will take my mind off of the oppresive heat of July, which is when I will be working on it! Design by: With Thy Needle.

I have started a punch needle class and Karen has graciously offered to teach others this wonderful craft. We meet monthly and it is so much fun, we of course eat, laugh and punch. The fellowship is wonderful and it's so much fun to see what each other are working on.

If you are interested in learning to punch needle, just drop me a comment! Happy Punching!

Girl Meets Vinyl

It never fails, I think I have found the greatest thing since sliced bread and then I discover something new! One of my latest favorites is vinyl lettering and images, sometimes called wallart, walltalk, etc. I sold it in the store and had primarily quotes, sayings, single words etc. in the beginning and then my creative juices took over. We began applying it to anything and everything to add that personalized or special touch to various items including walls, doors, mirrors, cars, chairs, cabinets, cookie jars, beverage tubs and dispensers, vases, candle holders and more! Here are some examples of what we've done with vinyl:

An interior door, an exterior door, a label for a door, laundry, bathroom, etc.

As featured, on a chair!

Even on tired kitchen cabinets....

On a vase or any non-pourous surface, like mirrors, frames, glass and more!

The possibilities are endless with this incredible stuff! The Good Lord blessed me when he allowed my dear little friend Emily to wander into the store and introduce me to her vinyl skills and abilities! Emily has her own little company complete with her own industrial vinyl cutting machine, and loads of creativity! She has added so much to my life and I count her as one of my blessings!

Got something you want to add a little personal touch to? Emily can help! Just drop me a comment and we can help you personalize whatever it might be, the sky's the limit!

Delicious Dinner in a Flash

I love dinner time, however I have to say the hardest part of dinner time is deciding what to prepare! What sounds good at 7:00am when I am usually trying to decide on dinner, so I can take the appropriate items from the freezer to thaw, doesn't always appeal to me at 6:00pm when the cooking begins!


I am a subscriber to Everyday Food Magazine from the editors of Martha Stewart. While I have found a recipe or two in the magazine from time to time, this month's issue is packed with many recipes that I can't wait to try!
I prepared my grocery list and off I went in search of some pretty basic items and last night was Chicken and Artichoke with Angel Hair night! Talk about delicious! It was easy to assemble, prepare and the results were incredible. I will make it again and may even have friends over for dinner to treat them to this amazing dish.

What you'll need:

course salt and ground pepper

1/4 cup all purpose flour

8 thin chicken cutlets (about 1.5 lbs total) - can use boneless chicken breasts, just place between plastic wrap and pound thin with meat mallet or rolling pin.

2 TBSP Olive oil

1 cup reduced - sodium chicken broth

1 can (14oz) quartered artichokes packed in water, drained and quartered

2 TBSP rinsed and drained capers

2 TBSP butter

8 oz angel hair pasta- can use whole wheat

1/2 cup parsley leaves (optional)

1. Set a large pot of salted water to boil. Place flour in a shallow dish, and season with salt and pepper. Dredge cutlets, shaking off excess. In a large skillet, heat 1 TBSP oil over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in batches, adding remaining oil as needed, until light golden, 1-3 minutes per side: transfer to dish.
   
   


2. Add broth to skillet, and bring to a boil; cook until reduced by half. Add artichokes, capers and chicken with any juices. Gently swirl to combine, bring just to a boil. Remove skillet from heat. Swirl in butter and cover to keep warm.


3. Add pasta to boiling water. Cook until al dente; drain. Serve chicken and sauce over pasta, topped with parsley.

It's that easy, and again the flavor is incredible. The small amount of butter thickens the sauce and makes it so creamy!

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Recipes and Photos: EveryDay Food

Organized Living

Wow, isn't it amazing how quickly clutter and chaos can take over our homes. Ok, at least for some us! While I always try and live by the motto "A Place For Everything and Everything in It's Place" it seems that Christmas, or should I say the days, weeks after Christmas seem to be when my motto flies out the window.

It happens because of all of the parties I am throwing or attending, the gift making and giving and the anticipation of the blessed birth of Christ that throw me into overload and I can't seem to get it all done and something has to give and it always seems to be my closet and craft room!

My closet ends up with summer sandals mixed in with winter boots and linen pants mixed in with cords and down vests. The craft room has scraps of wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue, tags and numerous other materials used in making the holidays merry and bright strewn about the room.

I will admit, I am a mood cleaner when it comes to my closet and craft room! The mood has to strike me and when it doesn't, while the mess makes me uneasy it is something I can block out of my mind, until one day I just can't seem to take it anymore!

Well, yesterday was when the cleaning, purging, organizing mood hit me and I got so much accomplished and now have a sense of peace! Of course it took some work and a good number of trash bags for the clothes and shoes I am parting with (haven't worn them in 3 mos, move them out) and various craft materials strewn about that had no purpose.

A trip to the Organized Living Store was in order and helped instill that sense of Ahhhhhh when I open my closet and enter my craft room! My dear friend Sallie told me they were closing the store, so we headed to Kenwood to take advantage of their OOB sale. I ended up with some great plastic totes that have sliding drawers to use in the closet of my craft room for ribbon, rubber stamps and more. They worked perfectly! Sallie ended up with a cool organizer to hold her shoes and another gadget that hooks to the back of the door that organizes purses!

We were both elated and couldn't wait to get home and put our purchases to use!

So, now I will live by my motto until at least November when the Christmas Maddness begins!

I would love to hear how you organize and tips for beating clutter in your home!

Happy Organzing!

Staircase Makeover

My creative juices are flowing, it happens every winter when I am trapped inside. My Christmas decorations are down, my house looks oh so empty and boring and all my attention focuses on something in my house that makes me crazy. Remember, I am unusual, odd, different and as my husband would say in need of medication!!!

Are any of you like that? If you are like me, and it's ok if you aren't, I can't rest, until I change whatever it is that is making me crazy and even uneasy! Right now, my stairs in the front foyer are making me crazy!

See what I mean! Ok, if you don't see it that is ok!




The first thing I notice is the bland and boring color, not to mention the wear on the center of each step and if you look closer you will see coffee stains, that magically appear each morning and there is only one of us who drinks coffee and isn't me. Can you guess who it is? He says it isn't him, so I guess we have a ghost that lives here that loves to drink coffee and spill it on the way upstairs!





My stairs are the first thing you see when you enter my front door and I want that site to be a pleasing one! So, I think I have the husband convinced to help me rip the carpet and padding off the stairs and then I will stain the treads and paint the risers and add some decorative vinyl elements to some of the treads, probably every other one.



I say I think I have him convinced as he is at least willing to go look at a neighbors house who indeed removed the carpeting, stained the treads and simply painted the risers, when I told him about it 2 years ago he told me all the reasons we couldn't do it, which is what he normally does when he wants to get out of doing some work, he makes me think it is impossible but little does he realize after 16.5 years of marriage, that if you tell me something can't be done, I am going to figure out a way to do it. I am not even going to tell you all of the reasons he said it can't be done, all that matters is that it can!


Check out some of cool stair makeovers to give you some creative ideas! I love the one at the top of the post with the black and white design and while it doesn't work in my house it is pretty amazing! I can't remember where I found these photos as I have been thinking about the stairs for several years, but I believe the black and white design is actually wrapping paper!


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I'll keep you posted on my progress! I would love to hear your thoughts and what areas of your home make are less than desirable to you!