Tie Onesies!

Can I just say that these are adorable?!?! Like, now I need a baby to put one on ;)

My good friend from high school, Arie, just had a baby shower this evening and I wanted to give a gift that had a little crafty flair. One thing that I've found with boys though is that you can't really give them a cute little flower hair clip. It's a LOT harder to think of something practical that has a personal twist. I saw this idea on Pinterest and just couldn't stop thinking about it.

Long story short, all that I did was cut out a little tie shape from a  cute manly fabric and sew it on with a zigzag stitch! I think the more crooked and wonky the better.  Really really easy!! And Arie loved them! I did have to tell her they were handmade though...  :)

Now go make a bunch for all the little men in your life. Linking up to:

My pretty little Entryway & DIY Trunk Bench

My entryway used to be boring. It was nothing special. It didn't say, "Hello there, friend. Please come in and be very welcome." It said nothing. Sadly (as you may have figured out if you've followed me much) I forgot to take a before picture. So all you get is this:

This was my attempt at an in-progress picture:) Lots and lots of tape.

Ok, and here's the after!

Don't you love my stripey wall?

Here's the breakdown:

:: Shelf- Hobby Lobby, where else? It was waaaay more than I normally spend on ANYTHING. Normally $100, at 50% off, I couldn't pass it up. Also funny is the fact that two of my close friends bought it at the same time...we all saw it at the same time and each separately thought, "MINE!".

:: Bench- I know you are all wondering.  This trunk is from Goodwill. I found it a few years ago while I was off at school. I paid a whopping $10 for it (a lot of money when you're a poor student;). I had the great idea one day to turn it into a bench. I said to myself, "Self, you don't know how to work a jigsaw." So I did the next best thing to DIY---MYHDIFY. As in, Make Your Husband Do It For You. I love having a handy man. So I just asked him (kindly) to make something pretty out of wood and this is what he came up with!

All I can tell you is that it is 4" high. And that he used a jigsaw. That's the end of my knowledge. Although I do know that he used some of those screw-hole-filler-inner things. You know, so it looks all professional (unlike I sound). Here it is after the foot was attached:

Uh-huh. I knew you knew what I was talking about. Those things.

I actually really loved all the writing on top.

So then (silly me) I painted the foot AFTER we attached it. I do not recommend this.

Then we got to making the cushion for the top. I found this sweet burlap at the B (thrift store). When I brought it home, I didn't realize that it had this awesome stenciled pattern on it! I'm assuming it was for some type of embroidery or something.

It was a full circle, so I still have some left. I love it!!

So all we did was cut out some plywood for the seat, cover it in batting and then wrap it and staple. We did set this beast on top of it while we wrapped and it made a BIG difference in how tight we got the fabric.

This thing probably weighs 50 lbs.

BEFORE you upholster your seat, make sure you have holes drilled where you want your buttons to go.
After the cushion was wrapped, I picked out my cutie little buttons and, using crafting wire (really thin), "sewed " them on.. We used a straight piece of thicker gauge wire to act as an anchor on the backside of the board.

Aren't these to die for? I bought a big lot of buttons on eBay for $5.99 including shipping!

This is the cushion after it's been buttoned.

Oh goodness, it's love.

And here's the finished product!

Ahhh. Entryway perfection. Now it says, "Come in. Make yourself at home. Sit your butt on me and take your shoes off." Linking up to:

Spoiled

That's me.

I just got to enjoy the most wonderful day with my sweet friends. Yes, after I went shopping all day yesterday in the city.

We all went to the spa this morning and chatted the day away soaking in the hot tub and getting pampered with massages, facials, and pedicures. Plus the complimentary chocolate bowl they left out took quite a beating. (No it was not mostly me....pssh)

Follow that up by lunch at my favorite restaurant, Laughing Ladies (in Salida), and you can call it a glorious day! Oh, and presents. For you knitters out there, I am the proud owner of a new set of addi click knitting needles. I love my friends.

This little post is just to show you what I've been doing with my time lately. I promise you I have crafts on the list...I've just been enjoying myself a little too much lately:) Although I did sew my friend Jami a pretty cute little burlap table runner with white ruffles. Compliments of The Beast (that's what I decided to call my new sewing machine:) And of course I didn't take a picture. Bad Blogger.

Enjoy your beautiful weekend!!!

Oh happy day (of birth)

Or rather week, that is! Yes, today is my birthday and what a wonderful one it was!

My mom called to sing me a happy birthday this morning and tell me that I had a birthday *pumpkin cranberry walnut* muffin awaiting me (she is a baker at a local coffee shop). So that was good thing #1. I mean reallllllly good. Lick your lips and ask for another good.

Then my sweet husband got home from work at 10:00 this morning (ugh!) bearing gifts! Gorgeous flowers and a HUGE box. I was giddy with excitement as I tore into it. What was it you ask? A sewing machine case. That's right. JUST a case. I looked up from the package with what I can only imagine as a look of bewilderment. "Is that it?" (thankful I know) "Ya," he replied, "I couldn't afford the actual machine."

People. He got me a machine. Not just a machine. The machine.

Yes. I'm spoiled.

I proceeded to spend the next 2 hours reading the manual and playing with it. This thing does EVERYTHING. I mean, it could probably cook you dinner if you asked it nicely. It is totally computerized (I wasn't too keen on this at first...I'm old fashioned), it has an LED display, 100 stitch options, and, get this, an automatic needle threader. Not sure if I'll use that one or not. Isn't there a line between convenience and laziness people?

 It. is. AWESOME. Especially compared to my old one. 

Anywho. On with the terrificness.

Then our dear friends, Steve and Leslie, took us out for lunch. Mmm.

Then I got to go shop around downtown Salida (Who doesn't love to shop?!)

Then some other great friends, the Saewerts, brought me roses and cheesecake.

Then I went out to my parents house (sadly Robin had to work) for pot roast (my absolute fave) and cheesecake! Oh, and don't forget the presents:)

And throughout this whole gem of a day, all of my friends and family called. I LOVE this day. 

OH! I forgot to tell you the best part! This came in the mail today:

from Shelley @ Custom Slipcovers by Shelly

I won it. That's right. F-R-E-E. I entered the giveaway at Playful Decor! Nan was giving one away and I won. I never win anything. And it's my birthday! And I just got a new sewing machine! And there's a hole in my couch cushion (from Bella's not so sweet puppy days)!

It's Fate.

Leslie told me that if she came over and my dog was slipcovered, there would be an intervention. Watch out Bella. My new machine is unstoppable.