Candlelight Walk 2013

This poor little blog ~~ I am back to post follow up from my last post from March ~ ;)

Pictures from my humble house (1877 farm house) for the Candlelight Walk 2013 in cute Marshall, MI I will definitely post and journal here. ~~ So much fun and met wonderful guests. ~

Here we go, a home Christmas view in pics ~~  Welcome!

Front porch view ~

Lights and highlights ~~

Room by room ~ and such ~~

Candle Light Walk 2013

Hello!

A quick note ~~

Getting Spring fever, (sigh nowhere in sight as of right now) but have Christmas on my mind briefly to send a shout out that ~

My house and the Staab home will be on the Christmas 34th Annual Candle Light Walking Tour, Marshall, MI  Dec. 7-8 2013.  A wonderful festive walk of old and historic homes to get you in the Christmas spirit.

Exciting huh?  Planning for Christmas this year should be fun! :)

I will add a link to the event below and stay tuned for updates this year ~

http://www.marshallmi.org/events/152

Just One Of The Folks....

Hi there!

I just got a new publication in my inbox and couldn't wait to share it with you!  It is beautiful. :)
So inspirational to see young people with a passion for capturing everything American.  What does American mean and say to a young generation?   It is simple, charming and of course displaying a contemporary flair.

Introducing FOLK Magazine

Open publication - Free publishing - More beauty

This is their first published issue in digital form to share.  Consider subscribing and supporting if you truly love what you see.  The link here http://folk-magazine.myshopify.com/ will take you there and to their great blog too.

I am sure you will just love it ~~ I know I do! :) 

New For 2013

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone is settling into the swing of things.  It was a really good end of the year.  Fun, family, rest and good times.  It is nice feeling blessed going into 2013...

So what is on everyone's plate for the new year?  Do you ever have those times in your life where you feel you are either putting pieces of your life puzzle together or you are creating, scattering and looking for them? Well....with the passing on of my Dad late last year and the coming together of other circumstances, I feel like it is a time for putting the pieces together.  And so decided to share at the beginning of the year some personal projects to get underway.

The thing with loved ones passing on and leaving behind their whole lives (my Mother has also been gone for 2 years now...) is that it overwhelms your life with work, treasures, sorting, blessings and decisions.  Some good some melancholy but much filled with special graces and gifts I will always be thankful for.  Finding things you forgot or may never have known about, can be great too and a bit bittersweet.  Having said all that ~~ it is time to get to work. :)

I have two important things I would like to do.  I want to put together a family history.  There have been forms of this done by others in my family, but I need to put together this legacy gift for my kids, with my own touch to it.  You know what I mean. I also would like to put together a family recipe book of sorts....so many things you just never want to forget.  Memories are heavily tied to scents they say, and FOOD is #1 on the list. :)

I am still sorting out the decisions.  Do I do a family tree? Photo albums (both digital and hard bound) do I scrapbook?  Do I do a combination of all three?  Daunting, yet exciting.  :) As I get older I think one of the best things we can pass on to our kids is WHO they are and WHERE they come from.  On some level, in everyone's life, to feel fulfilled, we need to come to terms with this in our own lives.  Everyone.  It brings peace. Both the good and the bad.  I think it is one of the attractions to the show Downton Abbey.  Why would so many be drawn to a family, steeped in old tradition?  Because I think deep down we all know that one of the important rules of life is (and what the British has done so well for centuries) know thyself!  Especially in modern thinking, you may want to forget it, run from it, change it, but eventually  (if we desire)....it comes full circle and that is good.

I believe identity crisis' can lead to BAD decisions anyway...so, enough on that and back to work...

I love, love, love all of the old pictures we have gone through and found from my parents ~ grandparents.  Many I haven't seen in years or forgot were even taken....amazing. Technology has blessed us with preserving like no other time in history.

                                                             What fun ~ huh?

                                Mom ~ as bridesmaid.  Love the dress, love the colors.

 

This is a picture my Dad had of his great grandfather (grandpa) Valentine Sobie.  My great~great grandfather, my kids great~great~great grandfather obviously ~~ and so on.  Love my Dads handwriting at the bottom of the pic.  If you haven't tried www.ancestry.com you should! I believe I found him listed, with name and birth (approx. 1853) with Detroit, MI listed ~~ how many Valentine Sobie's would there be? ;)

When looking for ideas for compiling recipes of course Pinterest almost never lets me down!  This handy dandy recipe binder download with printables, may come in handy.  http://pinterest.com/pin/231020655855613687/

I actually found this binder in the clearance @ my local Barnes & Noble.  Susan Branch thinks of everything! :)

                How about this sweet family record printable page found on Pinterest?

Many great ideas, glad to get started and I will make updates through the year on my progress.  YOU and my blog can help keep me on track.

Bye ~ bye for now ~~~ :)

Fur Babies

Wow ~~

I have needed to get to this blog for sooooo long.  I have really missed it.  :) With additional events and merchandising work along with family I have taken a much needed respite. 

I am glad to be opening up this blog and writing again. Ya!

How was your Thanksgiving?  Good I hope.  It is turning colder here and time for Winter.....

Since merchandising for me includes some fashion exposure and it has been keeping me busy, I decided to share one look this season that really has me excited.  Shut your eyes if you are a PETA person ~ (I am not), but I am hooked on the fur accessories and trends this season.

Now earlier this summer I was out and about at an estate sale and I could not pass up these adorbale and girlie mink collars I spotted for a modest amount.  What a steal!

Pretty colors and SO vintage!

 

Look how cute when topped on an Ann Taylor sweater. :)

 

There are some lovely looks out there this season in many stores as well. 

 

                           This sweet little faux collar sweater is from Banana Republic ~           http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=233674002

                      ?
                                       How about this cute little number?  Just lovely.
                          http://with.woman.excite.co.jp/coordinate/C20111122174952022/

I am just loving it all.  Now I was planning on putting those estate collars in my Etsy shop but somehow they have not landed there just yet.....you can look for them.  Maybe.......

So sorry for the long hiatus but it is almost the end of the year and I knew I needed to high~tail it back into the good graces of the blogging world. 

Thanks for being here. :)

xo Julie

There's A Summer Place For Music ~~

~All The Way~ Duet Frank Sinatra & Celine Dion 2001 ~ Not only is this song beautiful I get a charge out of the lovely subtleties of love in this song that I don't think many even understand or give a thought to these days. ~~

I love linky parties! I don't do enough of them and it is a good reason to update my blog ~ ha!

How about a little love song summer fun?  I am sharing my quick list of songs to add on www.bettybuigles.com ~ on her blog ~ check it out! How about a top 5?  I am going to indulge and add some of my favorite love songs here to share.  A couple of just personal favorites (like the one above) while others have sentimental strings. 

Moonlight Serenade ~ Sinatra  Another favorite ~ *sigh* ~~ :)

Any guy who *understands* (let alone sing this tune) is a WINNER! ~ Try A Little Tenderness~ Michael Buble ~ music my husband bought me. :)

Elton can do a love song for sure. More music given from the hubby. :)

Something About The Way You Look Tonight ~ 2007 

Bon Jovi ~ Thank You For Loving Me. Because...well...it is dripping with that wonderful combination of rocker sweet perfection and I am an 80's girl. :)

Nat King Cole ~ Unforgettable. In honor of my parents.  I remember this music as a child. :)

With a summer wedding to attend next month it is great *mood* setting stuff ~ enjoy! :)

Bleachy ~ Beachy

More bleached/to~dye for stuff... Had to try my own version of dipping/dying denim in bleach....really neat! This was a pair of old Levi's maybe even from Goodwill ~~ I forget. :) I have been inpired by all of the dipping and dying going on.....fun!

Source: shesfancyfree.blogspot.com via Julie on Pinterest

To Dye For Pink ~

Hi again! Back just like I promised ~~ I wanted to show the tye dye fushia T I did. Liked it so much decided to model it for you. :)

I used just a quarter of a tsp of die for this color. Deeeper and darker would be great too! I really like the season of coral colors this summer....I am trying to get that color right on another shirt. Lets see if I can pull it off. :) Stay tuned......

To Dye For

Hi there! It has been just too long not posting here...I know, I know....tell me about it. Anyway..... Starting to get back into my projects mode once again and decided to show a little sprucing of some upcycled T's. I have a pile of white shirts that are just...well dull and boring so I decide to take the plunge and give tye dying them a try. My first attempt didn't turn out too bad if I do say so myself!

I will post and show the others too once I get them done. The Rit website is great and where I have to go to find some of the colors I am looking for ~ ordering them and waiting.... For your information, I went to Martha Stewart's tye~dye directions that I pinned on Pinterest. (Don't you just love Pinterest?)

Source: marthastewart.com via Julie on Pinterest

I used the accordian fold that was described in the directions....easy. The only thing is ~~ I used BLACK Rit dye to do the shirt above and it really turned out looking like a shade of blue??? Oh well ~~ looks great! The secret trick here is that since the directions callled for an enamel or glass bowl tub to tye dye AND the water had to be heated or HOT. I did the shirt above in my old crockpot ~ Yes, I said crockpot! Worked and cleaned up great! Hold those thoughts and ideas...and I will be back to show off the rest! :)

Spring!

YA...it is Spring!

I thought I would add a new Spring feel to my blog with a cute new banner...

There.

Now I can move on to the new season. :)

Easter is coming fast. I literally do not know where the time is going. I have been the busiest I have ever been in about a year and a half of merchandising so economically speaking, I hope that is a good sign of things to come. I wanted to start to get to a litte Easter decorating so I thought I would drop by and give an Easter egg project.

Last year I did a little Mod Podge on some eggs and have seen other versions of this project, and they turned out really well...so here I am to share my take. :)

I love all of the pretty fancy paper napkins that are on the market. Whenever I see them and see a print or pattern that strikes my fancy, I pick them up. At just a few dollars a package and all of the great prints for paper crafts ~ they are a good investment.

Pretty for Spring...

I try to pick patterns that have nice objects for cutting and pasting. Anything goes really...so no rules. I cut out the shape as close as possible for the look I was going for.

You can see I chose the butterfly here....

I did take real eggs and blow out the centers, rinse them out and dry. The better paper napkins such as these, will be 2~ply (at least). Just pull apart the top layer with the print and cut out. This is all you need. These can then be stored and made keepsakes. Decorated eggs to keep ~~ I like it! :)

Garden eggs for you ~~ Have a wonderful Easter. :)

Taking The (Project) Leap!

Oh my gosh ~~ how is everyone? It cannot be the last day of February I mean really ~~ where is the time going?

No worries, I have had quite a few events and merchandising to get done and SO busy is GOOD. :) I was putting my blog on a little break for the time being...as anyone could see. I am looking around now and I think the look and feel of my blog needs a little freshening up for Spring....so hopefully I will roll out a new look and feel soon too!

I really need to get back into my bloggging schedule, BUT taking some time off for planning, working and creating is good too and so I hope I can share all of the ideas I have been brewing up! Ha! We shall see....huh?

How about a project? If you haven't kept up with me in Pinterest ~ please do!
Just one of many places I have been gathering ideas for the 2012 year. I recently saw a chair recover job that caught my attention. Now I have several antique chairs in my house. You know ~~ the kind, that can have the seat (and sometimes the backs) removed and recovered for a new look. Well I have 2 kitchen chairs I have had for oh ~~ 15 years. I bought them in a little antique shop in Holly , MI. That cute little town has a reputation for good antiquing and has a street named "Battle Alley" of all things! Lovely place. Visit ~ www.battlealleyaracade.com ~ I have redone them over the years, here and there and recently it was time to freshen them up. If you ever get a chance to purchase old chairs such as these that have the ability to be recovered, you won't regret the purchase. I have loved these chairs and changing the look.
Now ~~ if you have followed my blog you know I like to use, reuse and upcycle etc...so these chairs were no exception. I have three busy boys in my house and have had slipcovers from Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel over time to save the furniture! Sturdy and strong and washable ~ I just love them. I had a white cotton canvas twill one that was pretty worn out and began to tear after years of use and abuse (and washing!) and so I decided to cut it up make new with it and here is the results of the project.

Chair with old seat unscrewed....

The once wonderful slipcover now a pile of material for use on my chairs!

This is the cutting out of both the back and the seats of the chairs from the old material on the chairs. I just use it as my template so I can later wrap on the back and seat and staple gun to secure.

This is the seat ~ cut out and ready to be stapled. Now too ~ this is the Pinterest inspired portion. I saw a chair with a cute French postage stamp print on the seat, so on my seats I picked this cute French vintage chocolate print from the Graphics Fairy (see her link on the side of my blog!) to add a cute touch. Love it!

And now...(drum roll) the finished product ~~

Wha~la! Good as brand spanking new!

A New Year

Well ~ well ~ ~ long time NO blog! :) How is everyone?

I have been of course busy through the Christmas season and I took a much needed break to get through a busy last part of the year. It has been great and busier is good and it allowed me to spend some much needed time on some new work and tasks.

I am now looking out watching it snow and excited about a brand new year!

Source: Uploaded by user via Natalie on Pinterest

I plan to be back at it here with new projects and posts. January is a great time to get things in order but it is also a great time to look back and see what was right and wrong with the previous year and I think I have a lot to be happy about! I accomplished many of the things I set out to and formed some great stepping stones for the future.

It is all about reflection and planning and I am looking forward to 2012!

Happy Thanksgiving!

No....I am not lost. I have just been busy ~ busy ~ busy ~ crafting, merchandising and working! ;) Hoping everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I promise to be back soon! :)

Source: healthyisthenewskinny.com via Olivia on Pinterest

Burlap Love

Hi again!

Whew....where is the time going?  For all of you creatives, you know this can be a busy time of year and this year is no exception. 

So many fun things on my plate and things I want to try so I wanted to pass off some work I have been doing with burlap.  Now...o.k....I will admit I am having a slight love affair with this now trendy fad, but it is sooo versatile and soo wonderful.  Can't help myself.  I recently went to a local craft store and they had a whole bolt of white burlap in the clearance bin! Goodness what to do but buy it! :) I have been working and making some wreaths and wanted to at least give you a peek....I can pass off the tutorial later.....but I think they are turning out great.....  :)

   Shabby & fab. Can you imagine using this white burlap to decorate a wedding with?! Oh I can! :)

The other little thing with burlap I wanted to master was the ability to print on it.  I have seen a couple of  tutorials that I will pass on as well....

Source: limelady.livejournal.com via Vivien on Pinterest

~ Tutorial #1 ~ For all kinds of fabrics.

Source: domestically-speaking.com via Shannon on Pinterest

Tutorial #2 ~ For burlap.


Here is my attempt. ~ ~

Wonderful! Now how many things can I do with this little skill and idea? I was a little scared putting this in my printer, but it worked beautifully. Inspiration is endless I know ~~ So excited!

If you have given this a try or do let me know...would love for you to share. :)

I hope you are creating up a wind storm yourself.  :)  The days are moving quickly and the busy holidays will be here before we know it.  Enjoy your Fall and see you very soon.....

Julie

Chic Halloween

Oh my gosh ~~

Has it been 2 weeks since my last post? Shame on me.  Oh boy, I have been busy though.....but...

Enough on that.

 

How about a Fall wreath project?

I made this wreath last year and just loved it!  It is a take off of a Martha Stewart wreath project and I loved the idea of prettying up Halloween and All Souls Day (The day to remember our dearly departed).  It is SO simple but I love the dramatic effect that is the result.

This wreath is simply a large plywood wreath frame that you can get at any craft store.  You will also need silk red roses (about 24 ~ 30 large) a glue gun and floral spray paint in black.   You will take just the rose heads off of the silk stems, glue to the wreath frame in an attractive arrangement and let dry.  Hang outside and spray with floral paint.  You can put as many coats of paint on as you wish, but a little red peeking through makes for a great effect. 

Wha~la! You have a beautiful new wreath for your Fall door. :)

I hope you are having a busy fun Fall and creating up a storm!

See you soon.....

Falling For Hair Pins

Hi out there!

What is everyone up to?  I have been busy merchandising and getting ready for the Fall with some new fun things ~ both for crafts shows and for my Etsy shop. Ya!  This time of year gets busy that is for sure and this year is no exception. 

I have been working on some hair pins and clips and I just love them!

                                                               ~ Pretty ~ Pretty ~

I have been wanting to work on hair accessories for a while and needed to get the time and inspiration around to do it.  Years ago I worked in Neiman Marcus and upscale retail and often wanted to create the fancier hair pieces I would see for young girls.  These are my interpretation. Cute! 

They are easy too.  I used hair pins and clips with tacks, buttons flowers (both cut out and scrapbook varieties), glue gun and any other embellishments I could find to try.  The hair pins and clips can be purchased from Etsy or Michaels etc.., although I have found it hard recently to find hair clips or pins of any kind in my local craft stores so I have opted for Etsy supplies for mine. There are carbons and hair pins & clips in lots of different colors, sizes and styles.  I just love how they turned out!

I have to run ~ (besides enjoying a beautiful Fall day!) hope to be busy and post more doings and projects soon....bye for now..... :)

I'm Honored ~The Liebster Award

I am excited to tell you Nancy Russell from http://nancyscrystalfantasies.blogspot.com/ has recently been awarded the Liebster Award and now has graciously passed it on to me! She has beautiful handmade jewelry, so please check out her creations & blog. :) The Liebster Award is for up and coming new blogs with a 200 followers or less.  The idea is to create a post with a link back and choose 5 other blogs with under 200 followers to do the same.  It helps to capture a few followers pass on the love, meet new friends and helps others in the process.

My Liebster Awards go to ~~~~

Handmade by HJWilke

Vintage201 

{little.green.bird} -the blog

River Girls Studio 365

Creative Life Designs

If you visit each blog and follow each one you like, the numbers will increase dramatically and you will have made numerous new friends and contacts.  Congrats to all and thanks for checking them out.  :)

Ready For Fall & Craft Booth Tips.

Source: piccsy.com via Kathleen on Pinterest

Hi!

How is everyone? Getting ready for Fall? How was your Labor Day holiday? My was great but busy. I was in Missouri and saw a little of Route 66! Love the nastalgia. :)

It is getting cool here in Michigan & the Midwest already. Right on time. Like the calendar & weather know exactly when to turn the page. The day the kids go back to school. The day the calendar no longer says August etc....it is even cool and cloudy (and could rain) today. A perfect day for paperwork & blogging, (which is what I am doing) baking apples or cookies or something in the crockpot.....

I am also getting ready for two Fall craft shows. Does anyone out there do craft shows? Or just sell on line? I have decided to be selective because of the time and attention the physical appearances take, but I look forward to them. I think they are important to marketing yourself and your handmade work. I have heard others say they use to do them and no longer do and just sell on line. I am still new to this somewhat, but am not sure I completely agree with that strategy. It is important to get out and connect. Getting out and meeting & greeting, seeing what people like, what their tastes are and what they are looking for. It is exciting to see them respond to handmade, knowing they will not find it anywhere else. It is a joy. :)

I am mapping out my table space and making inventory and merchandising lists. I try to see how I would like to display and what I may need to add for the look and feel of my booth. It takes some thought....but well worth it.

I am thinking, mapping rearranging around in my head.....

Going Home To Roost is a great blog I like to follow you can follow on Facebook too of course and I found her posting for top 10 craft booth tips so I am passing them on here. They are great and what more could I add?

You can just go to the link below ~

http://www.goinghometoroost.com/2010/indie-biz/etsy-shop-help-10-tips-for-a-craft-show-booth/

Love these! They can help you plan get inspired and hopefully have successful selling this Fall!

See you soon....

Julie