home art: November 2009

Full of thanks

This post was supposed to be written last week, in preparation for Thanksgiving, but life throws you curve balls that interfere with plans. And that was precisely the point I was going to make. It's how we deal with those curve balls that matter. I'm one of those -- an optimist, through and through. :) I can't help it. I think it stems from my teen years, which I've mentioned a bit on this blog.

Full of thanks

This post was supposed to be written last week, in preparation for Thanksgiving, but life throws you curve balls that interfere with plans. And that was precisely the point I was going to make. It's how we deal with those curve balls that matter.I'm one of those -- an optimist, through and through. :) I can't help it. I think it stems from my teen years, which I've mentioned a bit on this blog. I

A Christmas mantel, au naturale

I’m so glad you all loved the mantel inspiration photos! I was so inspired by the natural looks and all the “fluff” – I think it worked for our mantel as well. I spent much of today messing around and having fun with it. I’m so pleased with the final result, I hope you love it too! I started with natural looking pics of greenery from Big Lots – I used three at $3 each. I just laid one on each

Christmas mantels

Hello there! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had a lovely day with scrumptious food – all made by moi thankyouverymuch. I done good folks. I don’t cook often, but when I do, it’s pretty darn great. (YES, you heard right Dad, I DO cook.) :) I’m getting closer with the Christmas decor – not sure it’s going to happen by Monday, but I’m having fun with it, and that’s what matters

Our holiday porch

I’ve always loved my tried and true Christmas decorating for our front porch and yard – it’s simple and elegant. (I told you how I do it back on this post.) But this year I was feeling like it needed a bit more fun…I think it’s because our son is getting older and becoming more and more obsessed with Christmas -- just like Momma. ;)So I wanted to make it a little more whimsical and

The hardest easiest DIY wreath ever

OK, so I have seen this all over blogland for the past year, so it’s nothing new. I believe Eddie Ross did it first. Then I think I saw it over at Rhoda’s last year. And Chris shared hers last week. The more I saw them, the more I was mesmerized by them. Then one of you lovelies (thanks Su!) suggested this wreath when I shared my Christmas dining table last week. I found a huge container of

Gorgeous jewelry giveaway!

**This giveaway is now closed. One of my favorite bloggy people is Beki at Pampering Beki. She is such a sweet person and blogger. She makes some beauuutiful jewelry to boot. :)Beki has some gorgeous new pieces I can’t wait to show you! The first is an ornament I just absolutely love. I know it’s because I’m in the Christmas clouds right now, but it just makes me smile:What a sweet way to

A glam christmas table

OK, a few things before I start this post. I’m writing this one in Live Writer for the first time ever, and holy canoly, it’s freaking awesome! I love how easy this is to work with, and that it’s so easy to change and move photos! So this post may look a little different. (Let me know if it works OK for you!)Second – YES, it’s a Christmas post. YES, I am decorating now. Well, this is the first of

How to test for lead.

I know, bor-ring topic! But this is pretty important to know, and it's sooo easy to do, so I figured I would share. I received a comment back on my post on fall decor about the plates I bought from Goodwill that concerned me. The reader mentioned the dishes were recalled years ago for possible lead content. By the way, YES, I read every comment and love them. ;)Well, there are a few things that

Comment love, a winner and announcements.

WOWZA peeps -- that was a HUGE response to the Scribble It giveaway. That was FUN! :) The winner (I feel like I need a drumroll for this one!) is...Kat at Measuring my life in loveYippee Kat! Please email me and I'll connect you with Cammi.I have a humongo favor to ask of you all! My son's nursery was featured on Design Dazzle awhile back and has been chosen as a Design Dazzler and one of the top

Sunday night.

It's about 10:15 and we're finally settled for the evening. A load of laundry is going, the football game is on, the Bub is back in bed for the third (!!) time tonight. ;)Most Sunday nights, I try to do a few things to make the start to our week a little less stressful. It's not much, and it's not so much organizing us for the week as it is clearing our minds of clutter.Some Sundays I do more

Fantastic vinyl giveaway!

**This giveaway is now closed!Well this is a good one folks. (Aren't they all?) I can't wait to share my latest fab giveaway with you!Although it's supposed to be an unlucky day today, it's going to be a great one for one of you Squeezies! Cammi at Scribble It has graciously offered one of YOU a gift card for her vinyl products! You know I love the vinyl -- I use it all over the place. The great

Table runner wall art.

OK, well I kinda lied about the not mentioning molding for another month thing. It wasn't deliberate, I swear. This project just kind of came to me today and molding was the perfect touch to finish it off. Sorry. Not really. :)So I was feeling the itch for a Goodwill trip today -- it's been about a week, and after that long, I start daydreaming about it, and getting hives at the thought of

Fall around the house.

I think it's time I show you the rest of my fall decor around here, because, well...I'll be honest...Christmas stuff is finding it's way out.Keeeeeel me. I love it. I don't apologize. Christmas decor is just dreamy, seeing it makes me giddy. Like, when it was out at Lowe's two months ago, GIDDY.So sue me. The fall stuff is going to be boxed up soon. :)I decorate on the cheap whenever possible,

The squares on my walls.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! We had a great one -- full of marching band. ;) I swear I feel like I have 300 more children every weekend, I am so proud when I watch them perform. Sniff.Today I'm not feeling so great -- no fever thank goodness, just general crap. Hopefully I can sleep it off tonight. I cannot stand being down and out. Gives me hives!!So yes, this is yet another post about

The difference molding makes.

Well it's done. Not completely, but I gave up on "completely" when the Bub was born. ;) There are a few touch ups to do, but I'm sure I'll get to them next week, next month, in a few years.I am soooo pleased with how this project turned out. After looking at it now, I wonder why it took me so. many. years. for it to occur to me to add picture frame molding in this room. DOY. I had done the

How to install molding (with videos, yikes!)

For a few weeks, I've been feeling like something was missing in my life...an itch that needed to be scratched. I felt a longing for something, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. Then, one day, looking around our house, it hit me...I haven't done a molding project for EIGHT months. Good God, that's like a millennium in Sarah time.I needed to squelch the need for molding STAT. I knew

Countdown to Christmas!!

This another "rewind" post of sorts and it includes a couple of my all time DIY Christmas projects that I did last year. I wanted to highlight these now so you would have plenty of time to work on them if you are so inclined. :)I'll show you a couple of my advent calendars and then show you some inspiration for advents. FUN! First up is my vinyl countdown. I had an Uppercase Living party just to

Before and After Party!

It's a par-tay people!! I feel like I should title this post "Lamp Pass and Lamp BIG FAT FAIL." I recently redid two lamps and only one turned out like I had hoped. The other...well...notsogood. The first started when I found this cutie little drum shade at Goodwill for $2.99:I am quickly becoming obsessed with drum shades. I just think they are uber cool. I had been wanting a new shade for the

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