A few of my favorite things...

A few of my favorite Christmasy traditions.... baking way too much candy and spending time with family!

Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas!

I'm gettin' hitched!!!!

Mark it down! October 2oth!!!! Be prepared for all kinds of wedding crafts... that is if I can stay up to date on my blog... I'm the worst blogger ever! Chance made me get facebook but now I can get Pintrest! Off to figure that one out...

<3, Ash

Making a list... and checking it twice

I have approximately 10 to do lists going right now. I can mark this one off though. I made this sweet little baby blanket for Chance's cousin Chase and his wife Jessi, who are expecting a baby in February.

It was simple by design, but I am very happy with how it turned out. I think I googled "minky blankets" and looked at a few ideas then took my scissors to the fabric. I used my table top as the pattern... it looked like the right size. After cutting out my two coordinating fabrics, I sewed right sides together. Then after pressing again, I sewed up the turning hole, then zig zaged a border around the edge.

I hope they like it, I think they will. It really is a perfect present, very easy to adapt to a nursery theme or such...

oh my goodness

Here is what you must do:
1. go to the store
2. purchase seasonal cinnamon flavored cool whip
3. make coffee
4. put giant scoop of aforementioned (still frozen) cool whip in coffee
5. accomplish great feats

(what's that in the background you ask? Oh those would be some freaking adorable invitations I am crafting up. Did you know that 2 books of stamps cost over $17... shesh)

In progress...

My bathroom started out four years ago as a shabby chic black, white, and pink number... If you have been reading my ramblings for long, you might recall I made my very own shower curtain and started the update to something more retro/modern? Its my own mix, I'll give it that. Now after a very invasive update to my bathroom, I am painting my vanity to add to the shabbyretromodern theme...


We will see how this works out. Also stay tuned to see how my $63 flooring update goes. Also, word to the wise, when your dad tells you to wipe off a paint can really well and use a hammer to reseal it, you should listen to him. In four years when you need some more light pink paint and you open up said can of paint to find it half solid with chunks of rust from the uncleaned lid, it can be rather disheartening.

Not ready

There is Christmas stuff at Target already... whaaaattt? I am not ready. I can't believe how fast this year has gone by.

If however you are in the mood to Christmas shop, you should save all of your dollars and come to the Indie Craft Fair that is happening the first weekend of December. I don't know all the details yet, but when I do... I will fill you in... I need to get back to crafting mania and stock up, I'm way behind Target!

Of this I am certain...

Every day of my job is different. There is not much that is certain, some people I see love me, others maybe not so much. I am the same person everyday, or at least I try to be. I try to always be kind, understanding, and empathetic... And yet sometimes my patients think I am the worst part of the day, which makes for the worst part of my day. I try however to find something that can brighten their spirits. There are another kind of patients too... the ones who think I am the best part of their day... the ones that make me have a good day. These patients don't always know this is the case, which makes it even better.

The other day I had the pleasure of treating such a patient. This patient was close to 90, but you wouldn't guess that. They were kind and soft spoken and wanted to work hard to get better. During our session this patient had a visitor... I could tell right away they had been friends for a long long time... They spoke in circles, answering their own questions before the other could answer. I asked how long they had known each other, and the reply was something along the lines of "all our lives." It was pure entertainment to listen to them catch each other up on the happenings of the 85 plus generation.

Right then I knew, someday this would be me. Someday I would be visiting, or would be be visited by a life long friend....


You can't ask for much more in life.

<3
Ash

Apple Butter Makin' Days

I have never been more proud of my crafty self than I am now that we have officially completed our first craft festival. She takes/and has way better pictures of the tent so you'll have to go to her blog and check it out. I liked this one the best because of that sexy plexy reflection in the mirror. Haha.

I'm still tired from the weekend, but oh so happy!

Now I just need to unpack my car. Oh and clean up my disaster of a house that has tiny bits of fabric and felt strewn about the living room floor... alas.

I can't believe I could even have a desire to craft but I am thinking about those train cases I have been collecting all summer... what to do what to do...

Busy

I swear I haven't disappeared... I'm busy being the queen of crafting at Apple Butter Makin' days.

If you came by today and I scribbled out my blog for you, thanks so much for stopping by! Etsy shop to come soon!

<3,
Ash

someday

If I ever get through the mountains of craft supplies that I have stashed in every available space in my house, and get all the crafts made for Apple Butter Makin' days, I'm making one of these. I have been garage selling like mad though... And I have a stash of awesome train cases.... I think I am going to decoupage /paint the outside of mine though. Mmmm humm....

<3

Accomplishment

Now that the year is more than half over, I am finally making some serious progress on my New Year's resolutions. I wrote about all that here, if you care to read about things like that. One of my many resolutions was to finish all of the things on my "master to do list". I have lived in my house for almost four years, and there are a few things I have been wanting to do since then. Its a terrible problem. Anyway, one of those things was to clean/organize my garage. The interesting little old man I bought my house from left me many many treasures in my garage. Over the years, I have just added to the piles and piles of things and the cobwebs have just multiplied.

There is pretty much just enough room to drive my car in and that is it. Note the green thing in the bottom left of the picture... that is an awesome table I snagged at a yard sale, which I am sure I will post once I am finished updating it.

Opps, ok there is a better picture of the table. Somewhere under that pile of stuff is a cockroach hotel that doesn't know it is about to be annihilated. Eeek!

This pile is out of hand. Behind those awesome Adirondack chairs I got for my birthday is my bike, my bike rack, and some shelves I snagged at an estate sale for organizing. Ha, they are doing a good job there.

See this fellow? He gets the credit for getting the job done. Sure I did all the heavy lifting but at he kept me on task. If it hadn't been for him, I wouldn't of gotten bored/tired/hot/distracted and would of just shoved everything back in and not been able to park my car in the garage.

This is what I always do, find something better to do than the project at hand. My lovely friend Mary painted me this ages ago and I have been meaning and meaning to frame it but just hadn't. This is my favorite part of the whole "makeover". It is such a happy painting that will greet me every time I pull in the garage. Anyway, after the task master got me going again, I made some more pro






Ta da!! I am so pleased with the finished project!! I like Fall cleaning much better than Spring cleaning.

Now back to the crafting, Apple Butter Makin' Days is just around the corner.

<3,
Ash

Apron Makin' Momma

Emmy and I got together last night for a crafting binge! We sewed until our fingers stopped working. We still have a long way to go before we are ready for our festival in October.

Emmy made some adorable aprons as she is modeling here....

I made a bunch of onsies and baby bibs... things someone else in this photo will surely get spoiled with as soon as I know if I'm crafting for a little girl or a little boy!

The headbands are a hit

Check out how awesome one of my headbands look in my momma's hair!
I'm off to craft, the deadline is fast approaching!

I'm Becoming My Mother: Example 101

If you know my mother personally, then this is old news... but if you don't, well read on. I have many many memories as a child/teenager hanging out at craft shows with my mom. She is amazing artist and potter. Some of my memories are fond... others, not so much. Craft fairs are a lot of work!

I'm not sure how it happened... but I have found myself signed up for one of the biggest craft festivals in the area, Apple Butter Makin' Days in Mt. Vernon. Emmy and I are embarking on this journey together.

I had a great stash of items ready but I took them to Good Girl because I wanted them there for September Art Walk. Alas...

Here are a couple of things I am working on.

The bib to the far left is a snail, the middle is a guitar in progress, and the one on the right is a half finished flamingo. I have exactly one month from today.

Its time to get serious and catch up with Emily because she is going to town with her crafting. If you haven't read her blog you should... Go here.

<3
Ashley

Playing catch up

I have been a bad bad blogger... I had a craft night so long ago I don't even remember when it was! We made amazing purses out of canvas fabric. These are still bad phone pictures but you can get the idea.

This is Maggie with her delightful cowboy purse. It is quite wonderful.

Kitty likes to help at craft night. I don't know why I don't have a picture of Emily's purse but this is the material hers was made from. It turned out quite well.


Here is Nikki with her bag. She added a cute little owl tag... very fun, but I can't find a picture with it.


Emily hard at work.


Becky supervising Katie's work.

Alicia, the teacher. She is an amazing purse craftswoman. She has mad skills.
Here is my purse. It came in really handy at Silver Dollar City this past weekend when I had to be the mom and hold everyone's stuff when they went to go ride rides. Ha ha. Aren't we cute? Yeah I thought so.

Oh I almost forgot... someone left those sunglasses I am wearing at my house on the last craft night that we had. I have been wearing them because I really liked them... haha. If they are yours let me know, I will return them . They don't look as good on me as I thought they did.

<3
Ashley

Commitment

Oh commitment... How I loathe the. I'm like Pocahontas.... I go where the wind takes me. I don't go to the same job everyday, I like to make my dinner plans last minute, and I have been known to begrudge the use of the term "boyfriend." I can't even commit to a craft... I like to skip around and start new ones as soon as one is underway. Alas... everyone needs to grow up at some point.

I have committed to Good Girl now, so I have to keep crafting to keep my stock up. Also with this adventure of mine and Emmy's... the crafts have to keep rolling.

So here I am, at the salon last night with my hair in foils, toiling away at a snail on a baby bib.

Haha. I'm a classy lady.

<3
Ashley

Crafting Crack

My bestie and I are planning a little adventure in October.... hopefully it will go well.... Here was her post a little while back. I have a few things too show off too.

I have quite a lot of materials that I have scavenged from garage sales or were given to me that I am trying to incorporate into my crafts. These are some awesome quilt blocks that I am making into pillows and small zippered bags. Very cute.
This is what happens when you are having a crack crafting binge... You get a table full of craft supplies!!

I love making these handbands because I love wearing them!


If you like these you should go to Good Girl Art and buy one from me!!!
I'm sorry I have abandoned you and been a terrible blogger. This has been a busy summer I suppose. I'll try to be better.... Don't give up on me yet.

<3
Ashley

Another garage sale find

I don't remember when I went on my last garage sale, it was sometime before is got so hot outside. Emily and I nearly fought over this find... In the end I won because I made the first move.


Strawberry lemonade to enjoy while lounging...



I got the frame for this bad boy for the low low price of 8 dollars!!!!


I had to get a new cushion which was a little bit more... but overall I think I got a really great deal out of it. I need to get a storage chest where I can store the cushion outdoors. As soon as my shed if roofed I could store it in there. It is the perfect place to sit outside and read while enjoying some lemonade!!

Hipster Granny

I went on a little mother/daughter/grandmother trip over the past couple of days... we had some good times. I forgot my new camera which makes me really mad.. but my phone takes pretty decent pictures.
My grandma and mom at the Basin Park Hotel Restaurant in Eureka Springs.


My grandma is a real hippy... She doesn't need a feather extension to look like one, but I got her one for her birthday anyway. I think it looks perfect on her.

Crafting ADD

I have a serious case of crafting attention deficit disorder... I start something, but have a terrible time finishing a project.

Finally fridge is done!!! I am so pleased with it! Someone smarter than me suggested taking off the handles of the fridge to paint easier... it worked great.






I got a new camera for my birthday, there is still hope that I can get a decent picture on here...

I'm becoming my mother example number 147: Making something I could of bought

For quite some time, I have had my eye on this little gem. The problem? $34.99 plus $7 shipping. I just couldn't do it. Not to be averted from my bathroom make over plans, I found some very similar fabric at the FM store. I bought way to much of it, so I don't have a price comparison exactly, but it was $7.99 a yard, and I think I used not quite two yards. So about $15.98 for the whole she-bang... not too shabby.




As a real bonus, I learned how to make a button hole with my sewing machine for this little project. All sewing machines are different, so I won't tell you how to do that part, but if you have ever struggled to cut the button hole once made, I have the perfect solution for you. Use a straight pin and place it right underneath the top of the button hole. Then use a seam ripper to gently make the cut, the pin stops you before you cut through the stitching. I wish I had a picture to show you, its so easy and works perfectly. My momma of course taught me that trick too.







So pretty!