Do You Dare?

I gladly took Kim's dare, a craft a week leading up to Christmas. Our 1st assignment was a Thankful Thanksgiving craft.

I was especially thankful that my mom was in town visiting while I created my craft. After all, she (& my grandmother) are the ones who taught me the love of crafting. And she helps me solve all my difficulty crafting problems, mostly because she has more patience and skill than me. :)

I love fall leaves and fall trees. So my Thankful Thanksgiving craft was… a Thankful Tree. Using simple and inexpensive supplies (and not much time), I made a fall tree for my dinning room table. There are fabric leaves (I hot glued wire to their backs, so they could be attached to the tree in realistic directions) and cardstock leaves. On the cardstock leaves we can write things we are thankful for. In theory, the fabric leaves will remain attached and the cardstock leaves will be replaced yearly. While, we aren’t hosting Thanksgiving dinner, it will still be a nice tradition for us to start. And it would be pretty cool to do with a big group gathered around the table for the Big Feast.

Thanks for all your help Mom! (She made the card stock leaves, and helped find/arrange the twigs, and tagged along on my shopping trip.) I’m glad you were here to do it with me!

Supplies-

Ikea hurricane (whatever their funky Swedish name for it is)- already owned= $0

River Pebbles- already owned = $0

Twigs- back yard = $0

Leaves- Joann and AC Moore- $5-$7 (there are tons leftover)

Floral Wire- already owned =$0

Card Stock- Micheal's $3 (with leftovers)

Ribbon- AC Moore- $7 total (with coupon, plenty leftover)

Go check out Kim's list to see what the 30-some odd other crafty bloggers have created. Do you want to join the party? It isn't too late, there is another challenge this week.

String Them Along

***wow, I just realized how boring this post is- sorry.

For a few years I have hung my necklaces and bracelets from thumbtacks on bulletin boards covered with white fabric. In my apartments I hung the 2 boards in my bathroom. But the bathroom in our current house is smaller than any of the closest in my old apartments, so they hang on the inside of a closet door.

I never found a great way to organize my earrings and if I don't see something, then I don't wear it. Over the years I've tried a few different methods, from putting each pair on a little piece of grosgrain ribbon to varying jewelry boxes, but nothing really kept things neat and visible. So, when I saw a post last spring (that I can't find now) on Young House Love, about organizing earrings I was hopeful they would have a creative solution. And once again they did not disappoint.

It is a store bought bulletin board covered, just to the edge of the framing, with a double layer of cheap white cotton fabric. I used double sided tape to attach the horizontal ribbon to the frame, and then used more tape to stick black ribbon around the frame. I could have glued it all, but I hate the bumps left by the glue and this way I can easily change the ribbon if I want. There are also a few pins stuck in the horizontal ribbon. I learned the hard way, earrings crashing to the floor in the middle of the night, that pins were necessary. It hangs, from a ribbon attached on the back, from the side of my dresser using one of those Command hooks.

I guess I could have used a smaller board...oh well a good excuse to buy new earrings.

October Flashback- number 5

One thing I really wanted to do was take a drive down Skyline Drive to see the fall colors. Sadly, the weather on peek weekend was nasty, lots of rain and just generally overcast.

Saturday morning, wasn't pretty but it was dry. In an effort to enjoy some festive fall foliage, we took a walk along the George Washington Parkway. This very pretty road, leading into DC, runs parallel to the Potomac river and offers views of the iconic DC buildings and monuments.

Fall Leaves- at last

What a stately puppy!

We are signing him up to be an LL Bean model

This one reminds me of a screensaver photo from college

We got caught in (about half a mile from the car) heavy downpour

October Falshback- 4

October was National Fire Prevent month, to increase awareness John's Volunteer Fire Department sponsors an open house. The open house is chocked full of demonstrates, and fun games for kids.

For his part, John climbed the 100 foot ariel ladder.

And then let go when he was at the top. (He was attached via a cable)

When he got down a group of kids asked him from his autograph!

October Flashback- Weekend 3

In mid-October we made our annual pilgrimage down for JMU's Homecoming.

The weather was cold and dreary. The rain held off till halftime of the game. Which was fine with me, because I care a lot more about the tailgate than the game (which we lost badly).

It is hard to tell in the photo- but she made a cake in the shape of a football helmet in JMU colors.

Even with the weather, John getting sick and me getting a speeding ticket, JMU was awesome- as always.

Fall Comfort

Last night I was on my own for dinner, and I was a little frustrated about some school things. So I wanted a simple (no cookn' or cleanen') and comforting dinner. I came up with this fall inspired, simple comfort meal.

French bread, Brie cheese, apples and roast turkey. It hit the spot! (Chester enjoyed sharing it with me too)

This evening we are experiencing our 1st "real cold" (barely below freezing) night. So of course, we lit our inaugural fire of the winter season. I am loving laying next to the warm crackling fire wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, cuddling with John and watching TV/blogging.

What fall comforts are you enjoying?

October Flashback- Weekend 2

Just a few days after our anniversary trip, we had to travel to Va Beach for not such a happy event, a family funeral. While it was not unexpected, it was sad nerveless. However, I was able to spend time with family I hardly see any more. There were an equal amount of tears and laughter...and of course being an Italian funeral lots of food and wine. And, of course, talking with our hands.