tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88583531112104423182024-03-19T04:47:18.381-04:00Greener Grass Handmade- BlogMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-68284068740913929752016-01-25T14:56:00.000-05:002016-01-25T14:58:44.750-05:00Meet Jill!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCgePpwBFsRzwLs4oV-b9D7LBHNxEHbQVuXE0xEs_3GOzMHjI9BVZHdzKtHvpnpRFm0mDp-Bnv4clhqBZpK45uf1opuod1D9GZlTHi3tzYvf84bDIb7Z7exLI7CLqOo7qjofMtIGbABE/s1600/BoPeed9mo-0043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCgePpwBFsRzwLs4oV-b9D7LBHNxEHbQVuXE0xEs_3GOzMHjI9BVZHdzKtHvpnpRFm0mDp-Bnv4clhqBZpK45uf1opuod1D9GZlTHi3tzYvf84bDIb7Z7exLI7CLqOo7qjofMtIGbABE/s400/BoPeed9mo-0043.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Jenny Evelyn Photography</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hi! I'm Jill Peed. I live in Forsyth with my husband Silas and two little boys, Si and Bo. I am a Greener Grass graduate! Before Greener Grass, I was scared to death of my sewing machine, but now it brings me so much joy! I am excited to be teaching a class because I am a teacher at heart, and I hope I can help others find joy in sewing like I have found. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We are so glad to have Jill join our team! She'll be teaching Sewing 101 starting in February in Macon. Be on the lookout for her event page tomorrow on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreenerGrassMelissaDark/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. In the meantime, you can show her lots of love in comments. :) We couldn't be happier to have her teach!</span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01622494327771937208noreply@blogger.com72tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-56070480012723374822015-10-05T09:30:00.000-04:002015-10-05T09:30:00.997-04:00DIY Fabric Covered Notebooks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have a great tutorial for you today! This project is a fun way to use beautiful fabric for those of you who don't sew and a great way for you sewers to use those scraps that you just can't bear to throw away. These fabric covered notebooks are easy and quick to create and make excellent gifts (How many days is it until Christmas?! *wide eyed emoji*</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk94e2nbbEmGbj6Z9d9qMiyiPGIc8RzhYc8iFMAIX4X4FQdo2LdDzksO7Xjo0FNwu3NlM5ElW9fowiwtQ9EJk9ToYGKtWGQN6e7rl5Isek1pnh1TMXzE52RreO-HE1_Rz6lHxPBz9-nX43/s640/blogger-image-466102902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk94e2nbbEmGbj6Z9d9qMiyiPGIc8RzhYc8iFMAIX4X4FQdo2LdDzksO7Xjo0FNwu3NlM5ElW9fowiwtQ9EJk9ToYGKtWGQN6e7rl5Isek1pnh1TMXzE52RreO-HE1_Rz6lHxPBz9-nX43/s640/blogger-image-466102902.jpg" /></a></div>
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I'm a little obsessed with notebooks. I keep all of my notes and plans in one single notebook. I figure if I have that notebook and my planner, then all of my important information will be in one place. If you looked through that notebook, you might think that I'm a crazy person because it skips from design consultation measurements, to drawings of decorations for a birthday party, to fabric orders, to billing notes, to grocery lists… But for me it helps to know it's all in one place so I'm not constantly looking for little scraps of paper. I think most people have a use for a beautiful journal or notebook, so why not make one for them (or one (or 10) for yourself!).</div>
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<b>Supplies:</b></div>
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<li>Durable Cover Notebook</li>
<li>Fabric</li>
<li>HeatnBond <b>Ultrahold </b>(found at fabric stores)</li>
<li>Pencil</li>
<li>Scissors</li>
<li>Iron</li>
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For this post, I'm using a spiral notebook and only covering a portion of the front. At the end of the post, you'll see pictures of the same process used on moleskin notebooks in case you'd rather do that. Both really turn out beautifully. Side note: just make sure that if your notebook has a design on it, like mine does here, to pick a fabric that is dark enough so that you won't be able to see through it. If the notebook is solid colored (like the moleskin) this won't matter. </div>
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Ok, these instructions sound a little complicated but I promise it's not AT ALL. You can make these in about 10 minutes. Here we go!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiF6jM42iRTBv_SE4_L9UPYGYmiYMa0ekt3m3UNjRUnmr9U4gxeDw-pgao4OioJv-WYo1v-LW00Nw9e_k1inMIkOhEUAEmH2UtY0ym4p6K9gYBGl8lVjoO3feFSEMcvw6WUugb0ujKiG7/s1600/Fabric+covered+notebook-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiF6jM42iRTBv_SE4_L9UPYGYmiYMa0ekt3m3UNjRUnmr9U4gxeDw-pgao4OioJv-WYo1v-LW00Nw9e_k1inMIkOhEUAEmH2UtY0ym4p6K9gYBGl8lVjoO3feFSEMcvw6WUugb0ujKiG7/s640/Fabric+covered+notebook-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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1. Iron your fabric so it's nice and straight and a little easier to work with. </div>
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2. Open up your HeatnBond Ultrahold and lay it on your work surface paper side <b>UP</b>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXz9ImeUpyGvYvFOXDRSSYVCWvLVVrBf3SBcJA33mMvdvBkJEwpIRIpWFLBvRWrCkgxFpWC6dxwWS913NIbDj736fyB1097UA7Q3XivZkzR8_jRR1EQQvvYFAwF5FGUiKN6HropZ3uOiSU/s1600/Fabric+covered+notebook-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXz9ImeUpyGvYvFOXDRSSYVCWvLVVrBf3SBcJA33mMvdvBkJEwpIRIpWFLBvRWrCkgxFpWC6dxwWS913NIbDj736fyB1097UA7Q3XivZkzR8_jRR1EQQvvYFAwF5FGUiKN6HropZ3uOiSU/s640/Fabric+covered+notebook-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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3. Trace the cover of your notebook onto the paper side of the HeatnBond with your pencil. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46xbZJ2sU2YaVW_8x-cOqHws53hu9yj5iMaXYY7t0SExNKM3MhgX2G-79p60SQLOljkyZocJdieRXVLUYLrcQ-A-Y7okBwLHDRUg2T5bKGyhmk5pMrH1ZgDok54w62omVZ2zX8IWerDRb/s1600/Fabric+covered+notebook-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46xbZJ2sU2YaVW_8x-cOqHws53hu9yj5iMaXYY7t0SExNKM3MhgX2G-79p60SQLOljkyZocJdieRXVLUYLrcQ-A-Y7okBwLHDRUg2T5bKGyhmk5pMrH1ZgDok54w62omVZ2zX8IWerDRb/s640/Fabric+covered+notebook-3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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4. Cut the HeatnBond about two inches outside of the line that you just traced. DO NOT cut on the line you just traced- cut a larger shape around that line. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstBU1e4JWIUaIXzjt5YeWn_ET4WEW6uSdFCyEvycHBGIYJXdEiYhbweObH6kP0e1eYxX5Tzbi0R-zhsbDFsFeEdoP_iD_38AYMvnxwRYEZUTVAXyZAK8PZ0c-uoEeR_dKuBFBYFk4K06E/s1600/Fabric+covered+notebook-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstBU1e4JWIUaIXzjt5YeWn_ET4WEW6uSdFCyEvycHBGIYJXdEiYhbweObH6kP0e1eYxX5Tzbi0R-zhsbDFsFeEdoP_iD_38AYMvnxwRYEZUTVAXyZAK8PZ0c-uoEeR_dKuBFBYFk4K06E/s640/Fabric+covered+notebook-4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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5. Following the directions on the package, iron the HeatnBond (I promise this is not an ad for HeatnBond. It's just really good stuff!) onto the BACK of your fabric. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHj4266rC_HGAncOr90jnnNZC7q1cd3OSz-pLQ-BU8NOdvo8sz0lmsTTL7LPHeH6PYkIRy4rPHHiKo3SssK-vEnbO4P1aXkeiAIWT5dS6mR4U3IdMCoNU7ZEH42h-slq7Fx9Yyi5aHtY-n/s1600/Fabric+covered+notebook-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHj4266rC_HGAncOr90jnnNZC7q1cd3OSz-pLQ-BU8NOdvo8sz0lmsTTL7LPHeH6PYkIRy4rPHHiKo3SssK-vEnbO4P1aXkeiAIWT5dS6mR4U3IdMCoNU7ZEH42h-slq7Fx9Yyi5aHtY-n/s640/Fabric+covered+notebook-5.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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6. Now cut the fabric very close to the paper (so that the fabric is the same size). Then you can pull the paper backing away. Your entire piece of fabric should have a layer of plastic-y film on it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1kCKwuNYrTqVNGZW5YQUgLaywdlUSKF99_Vf1sPIAIYmCAgnMXVfqMX1dSgDxPv07al9CoCHF4eyy8-wZjxdB8WAhDAJwVb8zkYzsRX1G4BEDEao03OdUUdlrT5U6V9zQ0ZSxXQ7vxhA/s1600/Fabric+covered+notebook-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1kCKwuNYrTqVNGZW5YQUgLaywdlUSKF99_Vf1sPIAIYmCAgnMXVfqMX1dSgDxPv07al9CoCHF4eyy8-wZjxdB8WAhDAJwVb8zkYzsRX1G4BEDEao03OdUUdlrT5U6V9zQ0ZSxXQ7vxhA/s640/Fabric+covered+notebook-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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7. Now position your fabric on the front of your notebook (leaving about two inches hanging off around the sides). Next place your iron CAREFULLY in the middle of the notebook and heat the very center of the fabric until it stick to the front of the notebook. Try really hard not to heat the edges because they are hanging off the notebook and will glue themselves your ironing board!! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfWW5dXibgi2MNMTK0YxwaHQCvnzBgFmg2IOqbwp_qdzvMc7F6j1Dq4eipAY5o1HR6m2M-3sVMBLIiln_j-Y2nhlO5V6d-mNiMKgnwyeCFe5d_zhNqQQrVdpjHOFvPDHJW7WT3TyvdFMl/s1600/Fabric+covered+notebook-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfWW5dXibgi2MNMTK0YxwaHQCvnzBgFmg2IOqbwp_qdzvMc7F6j1Dq4eipAY5o1HR6m2M-3sVMBLIiln_j-Y2nhlO5V6d-mNiMKgnwyeCFe5d_zhNqQQrVdpjHOFvPDHJW7WT3TyvdFMl/s640/Fabric+covered+notebook-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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8. When you have the front "tacked down" with the iron, turn your notebook over and fold one flap in and iron down.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGVqb5PpuVbxYQzru9jKMO8ZrXAPu78-YNFQHAcUuVqlHNqhGP48SwkVF9BEFKojtKP6VI9sxQqsY4f2qKxImir9tRkt_BZEy7FiHZevMYHuNWhkcVC8blKOuH2gYBcChy7Wkmw4ozZe5/s1600/Fabric+covered+notebook-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGVqb5PpuVbxYQzru9jKMO8ZrXAPu78-YNFQHAcUuVqlHNqhGP48SwkVF9BEFKojtKP6VI9sxQqsY4f2qKxImir9tRkt_BZEy7FiHZevMYHuNWhkcVC8blKOuH2gYBcChy7Wkmw4ozZe5/s640/Fabric+covered+notebook-8.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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9. I like to trim out the corners (see photo below) so that there's not a lot of excess fabric and then fold the other sides in and iron them down too. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUmpWBNZkJbOcl0otOqrTDJjYfzrx_njFquf16Xa19PFQD2RK4kqdMbD9dBrgg6S5CXVQUTBZROMJHdnFjQ8t-nC3toXTm0ysyXUzRJd67nB8tyGjs_Uog6RKRncH7096foBZY57ugA-o/s1600/Fabric+covered+notebook-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUmpWBNZkJbOcl0otOqrTDJjYfzrx_njFquf16Xa19PFQD2RK4kqdMbD9dBrgg6S5CXVQUTBZROMJHdnFjQ8t-nC3toXTm0ysyXUzRJd67nB8tyGjs_Uog6RKRncH7096foBZY57ugA-o/s640/Fabric+covered+notebook-9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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10. Finally I go back and iron the front and flaps again just to make sure they stick really well. Please be careful though, not to burn the paper. You are using an iron on cardboard so exercise caution! lol </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztvep1nkByxs_IUoGD5WCgSTGc4qhtzdebmlSBr4Nx-nnnZ1mTAjj4Xk9_2muV5JTyFN2MpjrWb7lpUVtVp2dT806rIu2ikAv5w-c-2uyfo5a60qZ7uEzY5bj8Z4Ztb91DJez1LBUhQJ1/s1600/Fabric+covered+notebook-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztvep1nkByxs_IUoGD5WCgSTGc4qhtzdebmlSBr4Nx-nnnZ1mTAjj4Xk9_2muV5JTyFN2MpjrWb7lpUVtVp2dT806rIu2ikAv5w-c-2uyfo5a60qZ7uEzY5bj8Z4Ztb91DJez1LBUhQJ1/s640/Fabric+covered+notebook-13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's one of the moleskin journals- With these, the only difference is that I didn't use the "flaps." I traced the journal on the the paper side of the HeatnBond and then cut about an inch around my traced shape. I ironed the whole thing to the journal while is was laying flat and then used sharp scissors to cut around the edges really carefully. The HeatnBond (Maybe I should be getting paid for this…) will keep the fabric from fraying, so you don't have to worry about the raw edge. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5Vb44wKB8doqEAT9-9i0d16NJEOn5bfHoEWa6lyqSeFcwu9Dq6z-ipBrqaxV8jeXjLDLRF833T_lLbWdY6o-9Gutjl5p8Cizru7r8keunMCzYTBikWbJ91OOOT4C8tzNpY7eqOckTNt_/s1600/Fabric+covered+notebook-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5Vb44wKB8doqEAT9-9i0d16NJEOn5bfHoEWa6lyqSeFcwu9Dq6z-ipBrqaxV8jeXjLDLRF833T_lLbWdY6o-9Gutjl5p8Cizru7r8keunMCzYTBikWbJ91OOOT4C8tzNpY7eqOckTNt_/s640/Fabric+covered+notebook-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qrp_dnmV7RIYv05ONwpaBdRSopgq2F7eS9iCTQqv1B3RULl2TEsvQQWkepikB17TSGMkuEdxlkxvtp8UgwkjMho6VBUuDXdN5u2uW5MuWtBK29ph443_QW_6syYpWxmipe62dw2n3Ijj/s1600/Fabric+covered+notebook-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qrp_dnmV7RIYv05ONwpaBdRSopgq2F7eS9iCTQqv1B3RULl2TEsvQQWkepikB17TSGMkuEdxlkxvtp8UgwkjMho6VBUuDXdN5u2uW5MuWtBK29ph443_QW_6syYpWxmipe62dw2n3Ijj/s640/Fabric+covered+notebook-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There you have it! Beautiful fabric covered notebooks…Perfect for gift giving or for making your everyday organization a little bit happier! </div>
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<br />Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-16968615902023779902015-04-21T09:09:00.001-04:002015-04-21T09:09:27.433-04:00Store Opening!! <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">Hooray! My little shop is open!! Opening an online store has been in the works for what feels like a really long time, and I am so excited that we can finally swing the virtual doors open wide and invite you to come in and shop in the Greener Grass Handmade </span></span></span><a href="http://blogspot.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9ad3dea39919f3520e01a1b4f&id=078ca5bc83&e=70a4bc8b31" style="color: #6dc6dd; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">online store</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">! </span><br />
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<a href="http://greenergrasshandmade.storenvy.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQGE6V0Df2YgW5osCwPrxtap76KcLSChhhaQq9yIa3G5rBQcBjhKzdUTO2skj-7aPnGrxs57LnudcPXGKGZkNhmASBFXt7uy6J21bZ_CRVpiXTQgpwpRUmniB-JatNKh5FWsy0VXvcmo/s1600/IMG_1100.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #606060; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Segoe, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em;">This first line of spring products is full of things that I know you will love! You'll find <a href="http://blogspot.us9.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=9ad3dea39919f3520e01a1b4f&id=bb3f5fa6c7&e=70a4bc8b31" style="color: #6dc6dd; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">bow ties</a> for little boys and coordinating </span><a href="http://blogspot.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9ad3dea39919f3520e01a1b4f&id=a6c3e473a0&e=70a4bc8b31" style="color: #6dc6dd; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Segoe, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">hair bows</a><span style="color: #606060; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Segoe, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em;"> for little girls, the BEST <a href="http://blogspot.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9ad3dea39919f3520e01a1b4f&id=309e5d3c67&e=70a4bc8b31" style="color: #6dc6dd; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">most snuggly baby blanket</a> that you've ever seen, and of course our adorable teepees and all the matching accessories. Each one is handmade with the utmost care and quality using the cutest designer cotton fabrics; I am absolutely head over heals in love with them all.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">The new shop is also making it easier than ever to order one of our </span><a href="http://blogspot.us9.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=9ad3dea39919f3520e01a1b4f&id=7ebed4cabb&e=70a4bc8b31" style="color: #6dc6dd; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">custom teepees</a> <span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">or purchase a gift for an upcoming baby shower or special event. Yay! We hope you enjoy browsing our through our products and having everything easily accessible in one place. As always, we'd love to hear from you if you're looking for a special custom piece. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">I love </span><strong style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">making beautiful things</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">, and am</span><strong style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;"> </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">grateful to you for </span><span style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.6em;">being a such a supportive community </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">of</span><span style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.6em;"> friends who are letting me live my dream! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">Y'all are the best. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">Now, go look around. I hope you find something you love!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">Melissa</span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01622494327771937208noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-52795338210681667852015-03-11T15:27:00.000-04:002015-03-11T15:27:24.754-04:00Fancy and Official- The New Greener Grass Handmade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Um. Y'all. </div>
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I. CAN'T. EVEN.</div>
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I am so very excited to share the brand new Greener Grass Handmade website with you! Look around! Stay awhile! It's Ahhhhh-mazing. </div>
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Greener Grass has changed and grown a lot over the last year and we wanted our site to be a better reflection of me and of this little handmade business that we love so much. We also wanted to make it more user friendly and informative for YOU! </div>
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Here are a few new things we're excited about:</h4>
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We have a new web address and landing page! I feel so fancy and official now because you can find us at <a href="http://www.greenergrasshandmade.com/">www.greenergrasshandmade.com</a> When you go to that address you'll find a link to the blog, a link to information and scheduling details about our upcoming <a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/p/sewing-school.html" target="_blank">sewing workshops</a>, and a link to the shop. </div>
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Which brings me to the next exciting change: A new <a href="http://greenergrasshandmade.storenvy.com/" target="_blank">Greener Grass Handmade shop</a> is coming soon! We've loved selling a few things here and there on Facebook and I can't tell you how happy it makes me to sew handmade goods that end up in your home. In fact, I love it so much that we're opening a shop to make it easier for you to see all of our products at a glance and find something sweet for your little one. *Yay!* More info coming soon...</div>
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Lastly, we're starting a newsletter. If you're interested in upcoming classes, <a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/p/craft-parties.html" target="_blank">parties</a>, workshops, sales, etc. then sign up for our brand new Newsletter to have updates and information sent right to your inbox. We've been doing most of our updates via Facebook up until now, but because of some changes to their policies we think a lot of you are not seeing our information. (Boo.) Though we'll still have our Facebook page, signing up for the newsletter is the best way to stay in the loop! (By the way, this will only come about once a month…I pinky promise not to clutter up your inbox!) </div>
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Our logo and website (and lots of fun branding and packaging products that you'll get to see soon!) was designed by the wonderful <a href="http://lifemadelovely-blog.com/" target="_blank">Heather of Life Made Lovely</a>! She's probably my dream graphic designer and I was so pumped when we were able to get on her calendar. Not only is she amazingly talented and made everything look even better than I had imagined, she's also so sweet and <i>patient</i>! Bless her. </div>
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Can I tell you that I am not a good decision maker? And can I also tell you that I am not a good communicator? But I need to also confess that I have really strong FEEEEELINGS about the way things look. </div>
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Let's just say that I am pretty confident I am designer's nightmare. </div>
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Heather was so wonderful, though. She was kind and always wanted to get everything just right. Just the way I wanted it. </div>
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Heather, you are the best! Thank you for our beautiful design! </div>
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And thank you guys for reading and for encouraging us along the way! </div>
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Love,</div>
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mel</div>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-52829812475727160692014-11-30T16:14:00.000-05:002014-11-30T16:14:20.409-05:00How To Decorate Your Christmas Tree Like a Pro: Tips from Roxie of The Southern Mercantile<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">
Y'all! Today we have an awesome and timely guest post from my friend, Roxie. She is the creative genius behind <a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-peak-inside-christmas-open-house-2014.html" target="_blank">The Shoppes at Fourth and Cherry</a> AND the their new online store, <a href="http://www.southernmercantile.com/" target="_blank">The Southern Mercantile</a>.<br />
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Before Thanksgiving, I shared pictures from the beautiful <a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-peak-inside-christmas-open-house-2014.html" target="_blank">Christmas Open House at the Shoppes</a> and today Roxie is sharing her secret for decorating all of those beautiful Christmas trees in her store. Decorating a Christmas tree can feel a little overwhelming, but whether you're working on a designer style tree with themed color coordinated ornaments or your hanging your kid's popsicle creations on your tree, I think these tips will help you to create a cohesive beautiful look for your tree this Christmas.<br />
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Merry Christmas! I'm Roxie and I have owned a retail store for the past 11 years and Christmas, of course, is our booming time of year! We go all out! This year, my team of elves and I decorated 7 large trees for the store and countless table top trees. Over the years I feel I have perfected my tree decorating methods and wanted to share them with you! I like a Christmas tree to be very full and to have lots of layers. Whether your tree is fresh or faux, follow these simple steps and you’ll have your tree looking as fabulous as the ones you drool over in magazines!<br />
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Step 1: Lights </h2>
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<br />My Dad (to whom we lovingly refer as "The Wizard") would tell you that this step is the most important one. He has a 10ft tall faux Frasier Fir that he puts over 1100 lights on every year. You have to put your sunglasses on just to enter his home through the front door. I am not as patient as he is, though I do believe you need a well-lit tree. If you have a pre-lit tree, then just plug in and you are ready to roll, unless of course some of your lights won’t come on! If you are putting your own lights on your tree then start at the bottom of the tree at the back and begin to work your way around. You also want to run the lights up and down the branches as you work your way around so that your tree has lights in the center as well as the outer branches. Remember you should have no more than 3 strands of lights connecting to each other. If you have a large tree you may need to run an extension cord up the center of the trunk to start a new strand of lights. If you end up with extra lights at the top of the tree you can run them down the center of the tree to help illuminate it from the inside out.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Step 2: The Topper </span></h2>
Many would save the topper until last but I like to put it on before I do anything else. If you choose to use a classic simple topper then this will not take you long. If you like to have a bow at the top of your tree, it is good to put it on first so you can place the tails where you want them without having to worry about bumping your ornaments. I like to put unusual things in the tops of my trees. You will see from the sample pictures that the sky is the limit! From wooden reindeer to chandeliers, we are willing to try anything!</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you choose something like a chandelier that lights up, you will need to run a separate extension cord up the middle of your tree to the top to plug the topper in. Do not plug this item in to your lights! If you choose to use a bird’s nest, or bird cage, wooden cut out, etc. you will need to affix it to the top of the tree with a little floral wire. If you will wrap the wire with floral tape first it will not damage or scrape your decorative items and will be easier to work with. Sometimes I also like to add large branches, or stems of berries in the top of the tree. These will usually secure themselves in the braches but if you have trouble, just grab your trusty floral wire. </span></div>
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<h2>
Step 3: Garland </h2>
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If you are using any type garland or ribbon around the tree, now is the time to do it! You want to wrap the tree before you fill it with stems and ornaments. With paper or stiff garland you want to tuck it in at certain points to create a billowy effect. If you are using beaded or glass garland, you want to drape it loosely so it doesn’t look too tightly wound on the tree. </div>
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<h2>
Step 4: Stems </h2>
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I love to add glittery stems or berries of some sort. I even love to add picks of pine and different greenery. You can see in the sample pictures that I added butterfly picks to the garden tree. This really adds some depth and interest to your tree and helps to create a nice full look. I usually have a higher concentration of picks at the top and then intersperse them through the tree all the way to the bottom.</div>
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<h2>
Step 5: Large Ornaments</h2>
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I like to put on all the larger ornaments first. Be sure to work your way from the inside of the tree outward. You don’t want all of your ornaments dangling on the end of the branches and have emptiness in the middle. The larger ornaments are great for filling the spaces between the branches on the inside of the tree. Concentrate most of your large ornaments in the middle and the bottom of the tree. Sometimes they can be a little overwhelming at the top. </div>
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<h2>
Step 6: Small Ornaments and Ornament Clips</h2>
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Finish the tree by decking it out with the rest of your ornaments. If you have any ornaments that clip (i.e. flowers, birds, candles etc.) clip those on the outer tips of the braches very last. Don’t be afraid that you are using too many ornaments. It is my opinion that less is not more when it comes to your Christmas tree! </div>
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<h2>
Step 7: Tree Skirt</h2>
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Last but not least, add the tree skirt. If you have a premade tree skirt that you love, go for it. If not, don’t be afraid to use an old quilt or yardage of fabric that matches your décor. I have even used table cloths before! Just find something that really goes with the personality of your tree and your room.</div>
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I hope this little tutorial was helpful! Try out these tips and post your pics to The Southern Mercantile Facebook page. We’d love to see your handiwork!<a href="https://www.facebook.com/thesouthernmercantile" style="color: #91c4f0; text-decoration: none;"><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">https://www.facebook.com/thesouthernmercantile</span></u></a></div>
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If you like some of the items you have seen in the pictures, head on over to the store page and treat yourself to some new Christmas Décor! <u style="color: #91c4f0; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0066cc;"><a href="http://www.southernmercantile.com/store/c7/Seasonal.html" style="color: #91c4f0; text-decoration: none;">http://www.southernmercantile.com/store/c7/Seasonal.html</a></span></u></div>
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-Roxie</h2>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-71607723753974556022014-11-20T22:11:00.000-05:002014-11-20T23:13:53.181-05:00Teepee Details! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Y'all. I looooove making these teepees, and I'm so happy that so many of you love them, too. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xzHD4odDuhiI1r0_ogqqCPvNugWOs9LeHzMEUn83CTg3AQQr1wFo7FDse8AtMxAMhPN6iKgaVzWFw9pbhbKBaStvPYJxu53OhyTuD-1kfsZx8fPOdbDyCdDlrD_TuXqZhvUt_tIFt-RP/s1600/Teepee+Photos-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xzHD4odDuhiI1r0_ogqqCPvNugWOs9LeHzMEUn83CTg3AQQr1wFo7FDse8AtMxAMhPN6iKgaVzWFw9pbhbKBaStvPYJxu53OhyTuD-1kfsZx8fPOdbDyCdDlrD_TuXqZhvUt_tIFt-RP/s1600/Teepee+Photos-5.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Here's some of what makes these teepees so awesome (besides being REALLY cute). They're constructed from durable canvas, making them very sturdy and safe for toddlers and children. (They do fold up for easy storage, but you have to lift the whole teepee up for it to collapse, meaning that your little one won't be able to easily knock it over on his own.)<br />
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Each teepee is about 54 square inches at the bottom and stands 5 feet tall. There's plenty of room for an adult to crawl in and play with their little one, while not taking up too much space in your house.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwvOCOF_gK8hclymbZlc8XRI6H90pv0IzO13oGUQ4EzzUrBm8VVyG33YrLd8w49L_SAvdVuWoPaV0-46-fm5gEe4PTeDURThU8z9rl1MwXwOyNoi8a1Ue91ZYX0aztSjpq43RQGARleuZ/s1600/Teepee+Photos-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwvOCOF_gK8hclymbZlc8XRI6H90pv0IzO13oGUQ4EzzUrBm8VVyG33YrLd8w49L_SAvdVuWoPaV0-46-fm5gEe4PTeDURThU8z9rl1MwXwOyNoi8a1Ue91ZYX0aztSjpq43RQGARleuZ/s1600/Teepee+Photos-8.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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My favorite part is the added detailing around the door. It is made from designer cotton fabric that YOU CHOOSE! (Check out all of the fabric options at the bottom of this post!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkXkG6bB5M-_vV3Kh-cy-T_S2DdpPaLCgYxM5S7nIyuIK9Prx58qIVW_BCB9PzjHvSTmEzvr6jEdqQMDWt07mHmI9GO5WYz2jDiikB2MMw1M5nGpYGhdmaiWhp7ZGm_uTUv2dzGwOXZWt/s1600/Teepee+Photos-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkXkG6bB5M-_vV3Kh-cy-T_S2DdpPaLCgYxM5S7nIyuIK9Prx58qIVW_BCB9PzjHvSTmEzvr6jEdqQMDWt07mHmI9GO5WYz2jDiikB2MMw1M5nGpYGhdmaiWhp7ZGm_uTUv2dzGwOXZWt/s1600/Teepee+Photos-2.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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We also have coordinating pennant banners ($12.50) and pillows ($45 for pillow, $28 for just the pillow cover) to complete your teepee hideaway. The pillow covers are easily removable for washing.<br />
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Don't you think pennants are perfect way to add a pop of color to a nursery or playroom? We're obsessed. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzilLNJaGQI41IJiwJVYfgddJBI2jeJMHRx0cn6VnpzsiH6i9Ut2NSzwNXSSZP3hyphenhyphenLdSy8lsuCpCbClmKaOD_UwlzZXmNviDpRGvNsDfAG90BXOkUWFuQ1HRQAOudeMSPfe8ARL8ynzQAy/s1600/Teepee+Photos-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzilLNJaGQI41IJiwJVYfgddJBI2jeJMHRx0cn6VnpzsiH6i9Ut2NSzwNXSSZP3hyphenhyphenLdSy8lsuCpCbClmKaOD_UwlzZXmNviDpRGvNsDfAG90BXOkUWFuQ1HRQAOudeMSPfe8ARL8ynzQAy/s1600/Teepee+Photos-4.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<b>Greener Grass Handmade Teepees are available for $165, SHIPPED. </b></div>
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(If you're local to Fitzgerald, let us know and we'll work out a pick up.)</div>
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To place your order, email Jessica, at <greenergrasshandmade AT gmail.com>. </div>
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She'll send you a Paypal invoice and get your information. Please also let her know which fabric you'd like to use and if you'd like to add a pennant and/or pillows.</div>
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Orders take <b>2-3 weeks to fulfill</b>. Each one is made with love and care when you place your order. <br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Please note: <b>THE LAST DAY FOR TEEPEE ORDERS IS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5TH. </b></span><br />
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Below are all the fabric options for this season. I've divided the fabric into three coordinating groups for your convenience if you'd like to order pennant and pillows in fabrics that look cute together. You can choose ANY fabric from ANY group for your teepee; there is no cost difference. </div>
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<b>Group 1:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOw5sNEr5tC1uL7_A4-ZCIUivgd9B6ucfCBNx-cM21Cmt-h-acDcG-CTzgJCZ_3j4Qhwn9u05ANNIuPH1MMB4kFdZJ1S1XJZ4k68yFoPiMylJ_nFqrHFC8Pghyphenhyphen-vfoH9f57efe8012zOsP/s1600/agf_studio_littlest_cottontails_in_sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOw5sNEr5tC1uL7_A4-ZCIUivgd9B6ucfCBNx-cM21Cmt-h-acDcG-CTzgJCZ_3j4Qhwn9u05ANNIuPH1MMB4kFdZJ1S1XJZ4k68yFoPiMylJ_nFqrHFC8Pghyphenhyphen-vfoH9f57efe8012zOsP/s1600/agf_studio_littlest_cottontails_in_sand.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sweet Dots</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Fuz_CmrEbAuZp-Mb1YkXEsaPm968mIKTNlSKdEn8k6a-0sPHmxJBZzeexZG0Z2uQ8C5M_dIdPyq12PkOATlDiYYMWptPtpt6LpYB9f4hssFJZ98WG-iVpLGkrXdy2xx40PCvKp-BHHzW/s1600/agf_studio_littlest_floral_frolic_in_apricot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Fuz_CmrEbAuZp-Mb1YkXEsaPm968mIKTNlSKdEn8k6a-0sPHmxJBZzeexZG0Z2uQ8C5M_dIdPyq12PkOATlDiYYMWptPtpt6LpYB9f4hssFJZ98WG-iVpLGkrXdy2xx40PCvKp-BHHzW/s1600/agf_studio_littlest_floral_frolic_in_apricot.jpg" /></a></div>
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Frolic</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCFUcZpxzoDzVgZdKeQ4mNy_iqewMtW2k7wvqhtfhAmgc9f4w2PLVCH-rQHmvdERNQ6p9ntTYaQkIwxiIog7qHdiU8dWQNrSHmAh2IFhUZ0TfEUOP5oa2oE4en39mNcYSay2gD7Ydxt92/s1600/agf_studio_littlest_simply_simple_in_silver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCFUcZpxzoDzVgZdKeQ4mNy_iqewMtW2k7wvqhtfhAmgc9f4w2PLVCH-rQHmvdERNQ6p9ntTYaQkIwxiIog7qHdiU8dWQNrSHmAh2IFhUZ0TfEUOP5oa2oE4en39mNcYSay2gD7Ydxt92/s1600/agf_studio_littlest_simply_simple_in_silver.jpg" /></a></div>
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Silver Waves</div>
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<b>Group 2:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauqFGdObrgxOjeomN74tUhCx-_uVpF_q24zD-b-bWYQDTQA3_5ONzfxvwbh0DOOscWarSTsW08NPOJfomGcNFrOFsViAhOuzh9YyqV_2cZ2-20xSyIhr_gOzHAOz7a6nBRpvhjswS4liJ/s1600/michael_miller_house_designer_petal_pinwheels_pegs_a_plenty_in_multi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauqFGdObrgxOjeomN74tUhCx-_uVpF_q24zD-b-bWYQDTQA3_5ONzfxvwbh0DOOscWarSTsW08NPOJfomGcNFrOFsViAhOuzh9YyqV_2cZ2-20xSyIhr_gOzHAOz7a6nBRpvhjswS4liJ/s1600/michael_miller_house_designer_petal_pinwheels_pegs_a_plenty_in_multi.jpg" /></a></div>
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Bright Blocks</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugNWPjnB8aXAjrTJ5mGbCxskyXGdC2ZFazq2pFlARnbBA-3NSaNNfWM-N_EqcA_3aaqsywcYs8StqOVzlmovbSOjU92LVt96xgOVFpovaxhSxWaGM2RKD9t03vPaKDTuM841RKxJOvsfd/s1600/amy_butler_lotus_full_moon_polka_dot_in_lime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugNWPjnB8aXAjrTJ5mGbCxskyXGdC2ZFazq2pFlARnbBA-3NSaNNfWM-N_EqcA_3aaqsywcYs8StqOVzlmovbSOjU92LVt96xgOVFpovaxhSxWaGM2RKD9t03vPaKDTuM841RKxJOvsfd/s1600/amy_butler_lotus_full_moon_polka_dot_in_lime.jpg" /></a></div>
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Lime Dots</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZj6NxyEYrNSHMuybOHogomEa-G1qBJqVnO-p-pJ9edAJgQWEbvb5MKgoOwBPXSy0RKXQ8RCgZHtNrvfw5IJVKoNqQufUDT5XvNeNQkua74kw6r6_r-lOCPEsM1sVdeO2MbyAxr2YaDN-/s1600/michael_miller_house_designer_mod_basics_tile_pile_in_coral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZj6NxyEYrNSHMuybOHogomEa-G1qBJqVnO-p-pJ9edAJgQWEbvb5MKgoOwBPXSy0RKXQ8RCgZHtNrvfw5IJVKoNqQufUDT5XvNeNQkua74kw6r6_r-lOCPEsM1sVdeO2MbyAxr2YaDN-/s1600/michael_miller_house_designer_mod_basics_tile_pile_in_coral.jpg" /></a></div>
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Moroccan Coral</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_H6XliveZAyZBsMJTBpVgOu3evOi0XJ5ix5EDpXUA-v1tLnOtdmo2eXzrrwNcY_eiHnngqPjaCLuIscVcK2igjv8NtaUOkzbPekNoBzlRIwQ1ysm95oxXD-pfgHtnmGyuwGSMKX7PZ_-/s1600/michael_miller_house_designer_petal_pinwheels_in_seafoam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_H6XliveZAyZBsMJTBpVgOu3evOi0XJ5ix5EDpXUA-v1tLnOtdmo2eXzrrwNcY_eiHnngqPjaCLuIscVcK2igjv8NtaUOkzbPekNoBzlRIwQ1ysm95oxXD-pfgHtnmGyuwGSMKX7PZ_-/s1600/michael_miller_house_designer_petal_pinwheels_in_seafoam.jpg" /></a></div>
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Pretty Pinwheels</div>
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<b>Group 3:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FeGx8AOroUI9xS7SwLoQ8B5qwKDTNUmLBfpi7oerMKOj_zqIPhuBmgM9vmE8I4Por4chj51fuufHZEjAIamxB10-dmcg80JPMbMOZovHwpf5VX_rODMsVAGOtZThr323SDFbYIKPhnyH/s1600/riley_blake_designs_house_designer_gingham_basics_large_gingham_in_navy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FeGx8AOroUI9xS7SwLoQ8B5qwKDTNUmLBfpi7oerMKOj_zqIPhuBmgM9vmE8I4Por4chj51fuufHZEjAIamxB10-dmcg80JPMbMOZovHwpf5VX_rODMsVAGOtZThr323SDFbYIKPhnyH/s1600/riley_blake_designs_house_designer_gingham_basics_large_gingham_in_navy.png" /></a></div>
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Navy Gingham</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYbQ7plloi8iGYp6Anqzx053GT5fR8FZK3DFdPffNWJDI16iOX5tlSI8C45tSt2HYwdtQY38XOPhG5I8i89dZOnE9_ASq5hBG675UniEHmxxYVVWIDG0Wr22Q3ssSEmmSGA1LeEhKHhFb/s1600/ucllpbichhhnecdifjfrubhmaxufnytqhxsuolazrrylxxflfz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYbQ7plloi8iGYp6Anqzx053GT5fR8FZK3DFdPffNWJDI16iOX5tlSI8C45tSt2HYwdtQY38XOPhG5I8i89dZOnE9_ASq5hBG675UniEHmxxYVVWIDG0Wr22Q3ssSEmmSGA1LeEhKHhFb/s1600/ucllpbichhhnecdifjfrubhmaxufnytqhxsuolazrrylxxflfz.png" /></a></div>
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Circus Dots</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGFlVigHHfwrZJWkniGsF9RHv3AdhnilaVypNwzqJDG7xr2M9dKwdjpW9_rIhSo-x9L8qLCitR-P_F7NhrTq6XTlxYicySTukua2obhy3ibp_VogwUBalRa8GYnQhQ0DU5-nUofWLC5hS/s1600/bonnie_christine_sweet_as_honey_rooted_in_eventide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGFlVigHHfwrZJWkniGsF9RHv3AdhnilaVypNwzqJDG7xr2M9dKwdjpW9_rIhSo-x9L8qLCitR-P_F7NhrTq6XTlxYicySTukua2obhy3ibp_VogwUBalRa8GYnQhQ0DU5-nUofWLC5hS/s1600/bonnie_christine_sweet_as_honey_rooted_in_eventide.jpg" /></a></div>
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Tree Hugger</div>
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The hardest part is deciding which cute fabric to choose! If you have any other questions that I left out, feel free to ask away. (Facebook is a quick way to get a hold of us!)</div>
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If you are in the Fitzgerald area, be sure to go look at a teepee in person at <a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-peak-inside-christmas-open-house-2014.html" target="_blank">The Shoppes at Fourth and Cherry</a>. They also have a swatch deck of all the fabric options if you're having trouble picking. You can even place your order there! Friendly folks there would be happy to help you.</div>
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Thanks so much for supporting our business and for buying handmade! We love making special things just for you!</div>
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Back to the sewing machine…</div>
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mel</div>
<br />Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-52397722075232968662014-11-19T11:46:00.000-05:002014-11-19T11:46:12.687-05:00A Peak Inside Christmas Open House 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last week, some of you may have seen me mention on Facebook about going to the Annual Christmas Open House at The Shoppes at Fourth and Cherry. It was such a fun event and I thought you might like to see some of the pictures! </div>
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The Shoppes on Fourth and Cherry is a store in the our small neighboring town of Ocilla, GA. When you see these pictures, you would never guess that this lovely store (I always describe it as Pottery Barn + Anthropolgie + Southernliving) is in a town that only has one traffic light. It's a beautiful, fresh, on-trend store that has as all the charm of a small town and the style of a big city. </div>
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At this point, you're probably like, uhhhh "Do you work for them?" I do not. I'm just an enthusiastic supporter. The Shoppes, as the locals call it, also holds a bit of a special place in our hearts. The shop owners are friends of our family and became OUR friends starting back when David and I got married. Roxie and her Dad are amazing florists and designers and we were lucky enough to have them do our wedding, way back in 2006. We actually had our wedding reception in the ballroom above The Shoppes. The whole place is a beautiful historic building with charm galore. It was dreamy. </div>
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Now that <a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-modest-house-with-room-to-grow.html" target="_blank">we've moved back to Fitzgerald</a>, we're happy to call Roxie and her husband Matt our friends and I'm THRILLED to have some of my Greener Grass items (teepees, baby blankets, bow ties, etc) carried in my favorite local store. </div>
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Each year, The Shoppes hosts a phenomenal Christmas Open House. They close down days before the event in preparation and then surprise everyone with their over the top window displays and inspiring Christmas decorations. </div>
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(All photos courtesy of Tara Rigdon via Shoppes at Fourth and Cherry)</div>
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Each year, the open house decor is based on a central theme. This year's theme was "The Night Before Christmas" and featured giant vintage storybooks (with real pages!) in each section of the store.</div>
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One of the highlights of the event is the amazing food. Heavy hors d'oeuvres served out of the Shoppes Cafe (that's open for lunch each day…yummy food + shopping? Yes, please!) on hobnail crystal party plates feel special and encourage people to linger and visit with their neighbors. </div>
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The hot chocolate bar was my favorite. I felt like a kid piling high my cup with all the fixings! </div>
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Not a creature was stirring, not even…these adorable chocolate mice.</div>
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Topping off the delicious spread was the beautiful candy bar. The best part? The homemade Carmel popcorn. Yum. </div>
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There are gorgeous displays around every corner. </div>
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The stockings were hung on the chimney with care… and St. Nick is making an entrance!<br />
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This is the children's section of The Shoppes, where you can find Greener Grass handmade items. How adorable is this bed?<br />
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Oh, hello there! I was adding my bow ties to the display and getting ready to help people place their custom teepee orders. Yay!</div>
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Isn't it all amazing? Now, I know what you're thinking. "How can I get to this store? I need to go!" That's true. You need to come and see it for yourself. (And you can come visit me! Added bonus!) But I do have some good news until we can pick a date for our sleepover.<br />
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The Shoppes is growing and starting an online store called The Southern Mercantile. Thank you, Internet! </div>
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You can read their <a href="http://www.southernmercantile.com/small-town-living" target="_blank">BLOG</a>. Find them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thesouthernmercantile/info?tab=overview" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a>. And go <a href="http://www.southernmercantile.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html" target="_blank">SHOP</a>. </div>
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Happy shopping!</div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-70599042695206712772014-11-16T21:07:00.003-05:002014-11-16T21:07:43.221-05:00A Thanksgiving Craft for Little Feet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKuzZV3ugjTUu3iHwzcXjJ-pL41koyD_8VNKylGPeifaYWcq8U2gUiMzFu8g2_L_N7zmkP6f_5z6AbavpheP3L26zWUqFaBAu-LjdNsfculBc5hSysGBQu_Tko5UpOmwLEBqZt1yGtDEX/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKuzZV3ugjTUu3iHwzcXjJ-pL41koyD_8VNKylGPeifaYWcq8U2gUiMzFu8g2_L_N7zmkP6f_5z6AbavpheP3L26zWUqFaBAu-LjdNsfculBc5hSysGBQu_Tko5UpOmwLEBqZt1yGtDEX/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-11.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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When it comes to grandparent gifts, handprint and footprint crafts are ALWAYS a home run. Always. It's a fun way to mark down the those tiny features of our babies and keep them forever! I mean, who doesn't adore tiny toes?<br />
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In light of that, I wanted to share a little Thanksgiving footprint craft with you and some tips on how to get good prints from your little ones without making a huge mess. </div>
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I made this craft with Ford for his first Thanksgiving. His footprint was tiny and cute. We made them into 5x7 cards and sent them out to family.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYpMEowp4FLX8PCkLyD6ihTpOCZ86Uc-N1c40aP-ATJ4W5_MGpmFrBeMYT4EuEnJVpFIRj7ZTDkGHdyO_vRgfAHxcntFPok_8ZpFM6Cy388WNpyWEs3ugSv0iFd2sRRujycwPevihMkpR/s640/blogger-image-1092690550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYpMEowp4FLX8PCkLyD6ihTpOCZ86Uc-N1c40aP-ATJ4W5_MGpmFrBeMYT4EuEnJVpFIRj7ZTDkGHdyO_vRgfAHxcntFPok_8ZpFM6Cy388WNpyWEs3ugSv0iFd2sRRujycwPevihMkpR/s400/blogger-image-1092690550.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This year, Ford's foot barely fit on a half sheet of paper. Ugh. Why is he getting so BIG? </div>
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Ok, here's what you need:</div>
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<li>card stock paper for the base (cut to envelope size for mailing or use up to a full sheet if you have bigger kids with bigger feet!)</li>
<li>colorful paper (construction paper or scrapbook paper) for tail</li>
<li>markers</li>
<li>brown paint</li>
<li>paint brush</li>
<li>googly eyes (optional, but we love goggly eyes around here!)</li>
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First, make sure that you have everything prepared before you involve your child. Cut your tail feathers out of scrapbook paper. I free handed one and then traced it. If you feel that you need some help, I'm sure you can google "turkey feather shape" or something like that and find a template. (Bless Google.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGejqtR1PlMjCvlZNNqGAdNeL3uByfwXK6h0A6SQaFuKnm10yPGLc8OzH7DA8qhedlocFdys3TjCTIURHxMBOwHbxZ9wb0wPVm-4wxP4QxZ80ysrBGxzhnj-aRcPK-PSryDmamqsO8DCn/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGejqtR1PlMjCvlZNNqGAdNeL3uByfwXK6h0A6SQaFuKnm10yPGLc8OzH7DA8qhedlocFdys3TjCTIURHxMBOwHbxZ9wb0wPVm-4wxP4QxZ80ysrBGxzhnj-aRcPK-PSryDmamqsO8DCn/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-8.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Next, glue your turkey feathers to the card stock in an arch. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrrZ1uYVPYEOPVnnuGfQh-KoimQ6Do1HN7MoigHLVpTd3ZKGAAVFIJy-E-SfLXhWcc6Hx54B2x3HXwk_lv5-1Ehg8yTib8jGdEBIAtXwsEUkjZgBZu4-D8vbI4ifvPI7HpDYU9ao3qYnz/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrrZ1uYVPYEOPVnnuGfQh-KoimQ6Do1HN7MoigHLVpTd3ZKGAAVFIJy-E-SfLXhWcc6Hx54B2x3HXwk_lv5-1Ehg8yTib8jGdEBIAtXwsEUkjZgBZu4-D8vbI4ifvPI7HpDYU9ao3qYnz/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I let Fordycakes help with the glueing. He used the glue stick and then I arranged them on the paper. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8Tc5gDwY2M8fHsEqRssJxhkj2gPDKPKl1DDwyTfXOkNS12l-2gPGV2ot9f4l6V0g9QWZGH0K8SjwUPInY1giHqSoXJ_fgeLsJu5rFuzMcBPlCXJKE_FvtlJZjdDMuBFtiimfuYRR0YBo/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8Tc5gDwY2M8fHsEqRssJxhkj2gPDKPKl1DDwyTfXOkNS12l-2gPGV2ot9f4l6V0g9QWZGH0K8SjwUPInY1giHqSoXJ_fgeLsJu5rFuzMcBPlCXJKE_FvtlJZjdDMuBFtiimfuYRR0YBo/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Please notice his paintbrush. I told him we were going to paint a turkey and he got so excited and brought me this huge paintbrush, undoubtably from the construction supplies we have stowed around the house. He was basically disappointed in this whole activity because it didn't involve painting with this big brush. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjA6tsRlMSNiyUBrNUBA6Uf3aSQHt12MaqGKLsrLM5XvSnlpe66KM_G9qfn-BLuAY0fsMmniuLTWEb5MQP1jg9CoTddWw9eIIdEx4PegWwG3z6rAMq4TSthXwqTUvHLjR5F_86T8sU_pd/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjA6tsRlMSNiyUBrNUBA6Uf3aSQHt12MaqGKLsrLM5XvSnlpe66KM_G9qfn-BLuAY0fsMmniuLTWEb5MQP1jg9CoTddWw9eIIdEx4PegWwG3z6rAMq4TSthXwqTUvHLjR5F_86T8sU_pd/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-3.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Now, once you have your feathers stuck down and they've dried a bit, ready your other supplies. Pour out a smidge of brown paint. Get your brush (Ford bit a chunk out of ours) ready. </div>
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I like to have baby wipes ready to clean up hands and feet as soon as we are done! That way we don't run the risk of getting paint everywhere while you try to get to the sink or run to the kitchen to get paper towels. The baby wipes are perfect for a quick clean up. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxV8K0tT5qX5UbX4hTJpnnJ8YlOjFs2GnzqXJrTEcWh9HpVR_LvT7IDwhzIIQwScM1F96WTI8iaVBpAgBaYWkqWg5X1A7qHuhohYKLaWiwcfg9QQ_2hzcG4rIed-GzAFDNWXpBZVXg7qE/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxV8K0tT5qX5UbX4hTJpnnJ8YlOjFs2GnzqXJrTEcWh9HpVR_LvT7IDwhzIIQwScM1F96WTI8iaVBpAgBaYWkqWg5X1A7qHuhohYKLaWiwcfg9QQ_2hzcG4rIed-GzAFDNWXpBZVXg7qE/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-4.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Put your child in their highchair or sit them somewhere that they have to stay reasonable still. It's easier to bring the paper to your child than to try to move them with paint on their hands or feet. </div>
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Put your paper on to a clipboard or tape it to a hard book. Then just take the clipboard with the paper and press your chid's foot in the right spot. (This is so much easier than trying to get them to step on the paper! And the clipboard gives a nice flat surface that gives you an even print.) </div>
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Now take your cute baby foot...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpWjRucQiEV44rhJ-NQyzlJQBmXUtUW6blIKzsmxoOCR_ZW-r-dSbQqtTSPJIUOWBpznmJ5Ai6PmZbnv6pF2JZv7Ik8pcjposR_8xRckYi73qYfzMA_95p9xZK65mVhuaUdYYHJ3jiLVa/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpWjRucQiEV44rhJ-NQyzlJQBmXUtUW6blIKzsmxoOCR_ZW-r-dSbQqtTSPJIUOWBpznmJ5Ai6PmZbnv6pF2JZv7Ik8pcjposR_8xRckYi73qYfzMA_95p9xZK65mVhuaUdYYHJ3jiLVa/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-5.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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and paint it with a paint brush. This will give you a more even coating than dipping their foot in the paint. It's also a little easier, I think. And it tickles, which is fun. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczMeteHTDjU9lcouSdXs_gC7XKFHL1oxJD9UFQks7vf3Ewq2n1C5f_fGPickLbI22ViBig3A-kLHuomEVxL4NFRUoQnydzcclBiYis56JVq01fZc-MJ0c54Hwrf3bgjNXk7DeClZ729JQ/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczMeteHTDjU9lcouSdXs_gC7XKFHL1oxJD9UFQks7vf3Ewq2n1C5f_fGPickLbI22ViBig3A-kLHuomEVxL4NFRUoQnydzcclBiYis56JVq01fZc-MJ0c54Hwrf3bgjNXk7DeClZ729JQ/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-6.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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I couldn't capture the clipboard pressing to the foot action. I only have two hands. Sorry, guys. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOQwPnOC8jGHTMTum4ztKQ3NYUn_lhGeMjfmY9w12YgHaHN5EOZ4iaspqHME_CEC71ALhBJ_s8-5cwLnMNW9vgPASVB041KDuyH-z7960tM_VTvNo2yI6yqdMJw2BhvqhGx8VdtUTZ_Sg/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOQwPnOC8jGHTMTum4ztKQ3NYUn_lhGeMjfmY9w12YgHaHN5EOZ4iaspqHME_CEC71ALhBJ_s8-5cwLnMNW9vgPASVB041KDuyH-z7960tM_VTvNo2yI6yqdMJw2BhvqhGx8VdtUTZ_Sg/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-7.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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But you can see the result here! If it doesn't turn out absolutely perfect, it's ok. If you're missing some toes, use your fingertips to add them in, if that bothers you. I cheat sometimes. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcxmbosaYGwxCfVQ7WxAmNVNGrFQ0MyZMxM-tLz9FTaLIbreBjp6-qjuOSYui5uE9dLAVTEWlbMwMTut7B40-WIVZIGbtPLb84V7eC-q6SLg0jRx91guw0ZwnmB4-e3tGmdJimoj5aZfP/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcxmbosaYGwxCfVQ7WxAmNVNGrFQ0MyZMxM-tLz9FTaLIbreBjp6-qjuOSYui5uE9dLAVTEWlbMwMTut7B40-WIVZIGbtPLb84V7eC-q6SLg0jRx91guw0ZwnmB4-e3tGmdJimoj5aZfP/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-9.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now draw some feet with a yellow marker and add some sort of Thanksgiving sentiment. </div>
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I cut a beak and a little red gobble out of scrapbook paper and glued those on. You can use a marker for the eyes or add googley ones. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzNJKDtk-1SrBA5TGxBWuU1kPQw5ke71LXN12KUaRvRbHkRsUcVA7FzDluhzj7Jd2NysrHt1V9XTnJ13FfT534ButRUttVuiL89YSWW6B4mAM-hRw4En6xyehgRGHgxDtmEGoTF8It5aD/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzNJKDtk-1SrBA5TGxBWuU1kPQw5ke71LXN12KUaRvRbHkRsUcVA7FzDluhzj7Jd2NysrHt1V9XTnJ13FfT534ButRUttVuiL89YSWW6B4mAM-hRw4En6xyehgRGHgxDtmEGoTF8It5aD/s1600/Thanksgiving+Footprint+Turkey-10.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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And there you have it! This is a fun quick craft that makes a great gift for Thanksgiving. I hope you'll try it with your little ones. I'd love to see pictures if you do! </div>
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Long live the footprint craft!</div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-46489600771227113262014-11-13T18:33:00.000-05:002014-11-13T18:33:14.818-05:00What's A Craft Party?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
**Hi everyone! Just a quick reminder that we're having a giveaway right now on Facebook! Just go to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreenerGrassMelissaDark?ref=br_tf" target="_blank">OUR PAGE</a> to get all the details of how you could win a cute handmade Kimono Cardigan AND a $15 Starbucks gift card! Fun, right?! Go do that now and then come back…We'll wait for you.**</div>
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Guys, this past weekend was bu-SY! I drove to Macon to meet Jessica and, in typical Jessica fashion, she had everything lined up for us to get a ton of "business-y" stuff done. It was fantastic. I just hopped in her car and signed my name when she told me to. </div>
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We also ate at The Bear's Den. Mhmmmmm. </div>
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On Friday night, we hosted the Fall Fashion sewing workshop and it was so much fun. I had two great students (Did you know our sewing classes are small? Two to four people MAX! I like to be able to help each person one-on-one.) We made cardigans, flannel cowl scarves, and learned how to add elbow patches to an existing garment to jazz it up a bit for fall. And, of course, we caught up with old friends and made new connections…my favorite part! </div>
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On Saturday morning, I had the chance to go teach a craft to the ladies at FPC Macon. This was our church when we lived in Macon, and we still very much feel like these are "our people" so it was a breath of fresh air to see familiar faces and hug the necks of people who mean so much to me. </div>
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When individuals or groups sign up to host a craft party, we give them a couple of craft options, they chose what they want to make, and then we take it from there! We provide all of the supplies and then come lead the craft. It's a great time to spend together with friends or to make new friends and you learn a new skill! I've had several people tell me that they've used what they've learned to make gifts or to teach others, which makes me amazingly happy. I love seeing someone who thinks they're not "crafty" successfully complete a project and then be able to do it by themselves later! Yay! Success! </div>
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Teaching is the best! It's by far my favorite thing to do. </div>
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For this event, we chose to make these adorable little glass plates that can be used as a ring dish for jewelry, you could add a magnet to the bottom and use it to hold pins or paperclips, or you could add a plate hanger to the back and it becomes wall art!</div>
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The hardest part is always picking your fabric…so many pretty choices.</div>
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Here's a few of the ladies (I didn't do a very good job of getting pictures of everyone's tables) working hard on their projects. <a href="http://www.plaidonline.com/mod-podge/brand/home.htm" target="_blank">Mod Podge</a> requires a great deal of concentration!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODBaag0-3V0-lbC-eMFHP2wMOG_6WBGCgugd5u5YDdMnDqVWmq04VIWoAGfBska2zz7yS06K3JE3-OMQTxCm-ExNrJzFL8OtqqWKVSG0xdus-pBxH_Zzdb9cXA1Jvl2O3gwhyphenhyphenTEYhz_Bb/s1600/FPC+Craft+Party-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODBaag0-3V0-lbC-eMFHP2wMOG_6WBGCgugd5u5YDdMnDqVWmq04VIWoAGfBska2zz7yS06K3JE3-OMQTxCm-ExNrJzFL8OtqqWKVSG0xdus-pBxH_Zzdb9cXA1Jvl2O3gwhyphenhyphenTEYhz_Bb/s640/FPC+Craft+Party-1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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A lot of people cut out paper monograms to add to their plates. We are in the South, after all. "If it's not moving, monogram it!"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWWP1nZRtVgLd_jVENdgEvCqyhnyNROoYtDtYHPiaIHKF0QIhpgueR_etu27ny3sJaZo6PPbR9QT4oGH6-OQksKBaYyfT-H8RhLFQyu06B6fTR84Mw0L4aeY8t6RJrEUx-YOnX7Iqy7UP/s1600/FPC+Craft+Party-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWWP1nZRtVgLd_jVENdgEvCqyhnyNROoYtDtYHPiaIHKF0QIhpgueR_etu27ny3sJaZo6PPbR9QT4oGH6-OQksKBaYyfT-H8RhLFQyu06B6fTR84Mw0L4aeY8t6RJrEUx-YOnX7Iqy7UP/s640/FPC+Craft+Party-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We had to spend a while waiting for the glue to dry, but that just gave us more time to eat snacks. My friend, Nan, brought an amazing pound cake that she and just pulled out of the oven. I ate 3 pieces. </div>
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Warm pound cake for breakfast? Fuhggeddaboudit. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSmScIXiZ3QiIuqThkS1YldMJkhYNrzXovp8Ca_D7RvkL1UIukTbavM7x6cWHWeAmk3fBRGLiON9f3vT93bQP4k15JK-cr98ZGPFDH-cCtld3V6Rnu3VqlsH6PjzHLBdjNgVbO4ZQ-ypR/s1600/FPC+Craft+Party-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSmScIXiZ3QiIuqThkS1YldMJkhYNrzXovp8Ca_D7RvkL1UIukTbavM7x6cWHWeAmk3fBRGLiON9f3vT93bQP4k15JK-cr98ZGPFDH-cCtld3V6Rnu3VqlsH6PjzHLBdjNgVbO4ZQ-ypR/s640/FPC+Craft+Party-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Actually, this is Nan! Baker of pound cakes and decoupage-er of plates! Love you, mean it, Nan. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6P0K3kjW-ZoTkbeuZuggnNt2H_XK6dUzDKmpl7MySIReo_7v3XBNJgnMrnXYzdJhTkk6t_bJD8_W_rvVjSqNwfdnNUFakrd49Q5DkvbHJ9o3ITn4-bKRRhlESgqbC-hmoh1_qcymQs3KW/s1600/FPC+Craft+Party-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6P0K3kjW-ZoTkbeuZuggnNt2H_XK6dUzDKmpl7MySIReo_7v3XBNJgnMrnXYzdJhTkk6t_bJD8_W_rvVjSqNwfdnNUFakrd49Q5DkvbHJ9o3ITn4-bKRRhlESgqbC-hmoh1_qcymQs3KW/s640/FPC+Craft+Party-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's a few of the finished products, though they were still a bit wet (the glue dries clear, but here it looks a little cloudy.) Don't these look great? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9fH4nEyb7cu5wwuw0URVSu2O6bGD6t_pE76w2cn6CqG2RuyCEH6Eb2RNZ1iPbTh9cGqov0AYvMLbGqMV933I4GJbF3R4IiYCzD2MoqoXRdwZpnKLAXFJoSUIpHbJHmxKafKJ3WiUt16n/s1600/FPC+Craft+Party-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9fH4nEyb7cu5wwuw0URVSu2O6bGD6t_pE76w2cn6CqG2RuyCEH6Eb2RNZ1iPbTh9cGqov0AYvMLbGqMV933I4GJbF3R4IiYCzD2MoqoXRdwZpnKLAXFJoSUIpHbJHmxKafKJ3WiUt16n/s640/FPC+Craft+Party-8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Thanks, ladies, for letting us come craft with you! It's always a pleasure.<br />
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If you're interested in hosting a craft party, you can send us an EMAIL and we can give you more information. If you're interested in coming to an open craft party that we're hosting, make sure you're following us on FACEBOOK to find out about upcoming events.<br />
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Hope everyone is having a great week! I'll be back soon with an adorable Thanksgiving craft for little ones that's perfect for gifting.<br />
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-65820181091039195112014-11-07T08:49:00.002-05:002014-11-07T08:49:43.896-05:00Fall Reflections and a Halloween Cutie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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I know we've all moved on from Halloween, but can we spare just a moment to take one last look at these pictures of Ford?</div>
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Halloween 2012</div>
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Halloween 2013</div>
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Halloween 2014</div>
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Thank you for indulging me. </div>
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I love Fall. Festivals, football, fairs, pumpkin picking, trick or treating, hay riding, you name it…I'm game. In the South, Fall breathes new life into all of us who thought we might literally melt before summer ended. Folks have a new pep in their step when they can finally walk outside and not be attacked by gnats. Ugh. The humidity has lifted, and with it, our spirits. </div>
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In the area where we live now, fall days mean roads crowded with peanut and cotton wagons. It causes quite the rural traffic jam and as inconvenient as it is to travel 25 miles per hour down the highway, it does give you a chance to pause and admire the hard work of a farmer. A wagon filled to the brim with peanuts is quite an accomplishment. A cloud of cotton pulled behind a pickup truck is a thing to be admired. They are the fruits of a long season of labor. I can't help but want to give all of the tractor drivers and wagon pullers a congratulatory fist pump when I pass them by to head along my way, "Way to go!" "You did it!" "That's a fine crop!" I contain myself and settle for a more socially acceptable head nod. </div>
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There are so many peanuts being harvested and fields turned over that the air here in our little town smells like fresh, dark dirt. It smells so good and warm and it reminds us that we are moving out of the season of harvesting and in to a season of thanksgiving. It's no coincidence that one follows the other; they go hand in hand. Another crop brought in, another year that the Lord has sustained us by His hand. </div>
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"Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by thy help I've come"</div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-91488311125360201652014-10-30T17:42:00.000-04:002014-10-30T17:42:17.102-04:00Kitchen Renovation RevealWe have been sick AGAIN. This always happens when David starts teaching at a new school. We end up catching every strain of every virus that goes around. It's like we have to get use to new germs or something. Does that happen to anyone else? Am I making this up?<br />
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Here's how it goes down:<br />
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David goes to school and teaches all of the children about science. The children <i>have the nerve</i> to breath in David's classroom and touch their papers with their little germy hands.<br />
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David brings the germs home. Ford gets sick. I sleep with Ford while he is sick. I get sick.<br />
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It's vicious cycle. I blame the children. Enough with education. It only leads to strep throat in my book.<br />
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Anyway...<br />
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The last room on the tour of farm house is the kitchen. It's also probably the most dramatic transformation of the whole house because we essentially gutted the existing kitchen and started over. We toyed with the idea of refinishing the existing cabinets to save money and then come back later to do a full kitchen overall, but in the end we thought it would be most prudent to just go ahead and bite the bullet.<br />
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Biting the bullet, however, caused quite a bit of stress on my part. I was nervous about the expenses. I was worried that it wouldn't be functional (it's a small space and I'm no kitchen designer!). I wanted to buy quality kitchen cabinets, countertops, sinks, appliances but not break the bank. We were also working fast so I had to make a lot of decisions quickly. Yikes. Holy anxiety attack.<br />
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For all the worry, I think it turned out great. We love our kitchen and are amazed at how big and functional it is now compared to when we first laid eyes on it. Let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3f0TiCWKGuXbGJWTrv6bZdAXVg55YiiYpd17wEZOxYbNGyGI5_4dBhwuE3AjsQXG56Vwq6_-TgWYFxLIZhr8Iqcdc_VfuUouzdFU_w6wQvFehw1pc_m9zMsX-t-LdbuGDguD4XDqHk36l/s1600/IMG_4683+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3f0TiCWKGuXbGJWTrv6bZdAXVg55YiiYpd17wEZOxYbNGyGI5_4dBhwuE3AjsQXG56Vwq6_-TgWYFxLIZhr8Iqcdc_VfuUouzdFU_w6wQvFehw1pc_m9zMsX-t-LdbuGDguD4XDqHk36l/s1600/IMG_4683+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXNktyOHsdXsNEWmizKT2w9LGzyO-pycqmbNtCFmO1Qj94nXfQmkOtO8Ut40fT13U6cg3u0Sr6pyfzW1N2GOoKOFovKY6OwU5HfFsci7HlLYA9ccV3HVq-o6OohAHGsiciGxlEbCKkZU3/s1600/IMG_4685+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXNktyOHsdXsNEWmizKT2w9LGzyO-pycqmbNtCFmO1Qj94nXfQmkOtO8Ut40fT13U6cg3u0Sr6pyfzW1N2GOoKOFovKY6OwU5HfFsci7HlLYA9ccV3HVq-o6OohAHGsiciGxlEbCKkZU3/s1600/IMG_4685+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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***All the pictures of the house are taken with my phone. It's the only way I can get a shot in the small spaces. Carry on. ***<br />
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And here we are now!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_Iwc8UZbHT3u9Qhzpzn95XAhsw59aoiXxmCGMozXGFTb13svowzh0jM8pGzy8omDlS3JZ4akt9K126a5GNhema3hN-6CDrZ0Ly9qV9cwk_MJAZ-U7iqhLVf9KaeyAWrTo4Hgfk3PzSb6/s640/blogger-image--719821391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_Iwc8UZbHT3u9Qhzpzn95XAhsw59aoiXxmCGMozXGFTb13svowzh0jM8pGzy8omDlS3JZ4akt9K126a5GNhema3hN-6CDrZ0Ly9qV9cwk_MJAZ-U7iqhLVf9KaeyAWrTo4Hgfk3PzSb6/s1600/blogger-image--719821391.jpg" /></a></div>
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Unlike the rest of the house, the kitchen needed to be drywalled, simply because we needed to hide all of the electrical and water lines that had to be reworked to make the space more functional. Three of the walls are drywalled and the ceiling.<br />
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The walls are painted Sherwin Williams "Sea Salt." It's hard to get a good read on the color because of the lighting in these pictures, but in real life it's really lovely and subtle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCd3u8FLBegI-rZglvlu1x-j56Mr2jmsYWFss3WqHsMUiO4c36rP10ksZa11xi3q3qaQ6RAXHucvwaznPnVRoHdhVm8jwB5RpGooXPUgZnhVDTFGfVmSisA_iCG5sma-wb2zxQfFReh2Lo/s640/blogger-image-1225138664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCd3u8FLBegI-rZglvlu1x-j56Mr2jmsYWFss3WqHsMUiO4c36rP10ksZa11xi3q3qaQ6RAXHucvwaznPnVRoHdhVm8jwB5RpGooXPUgZnhVDTFGfVmSisA_iCG5sma-wb2zxQfFReh2Lo/s640/blogger-image-1225138664.jpg" /></a></div>
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The floors are the only thing that we left alone. They still need some repairs, but we've put that off until another day. In hind sight we probably should have just pulled the tile up and continued with the laminate that we used in the <a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2014/09/living-and-dining-room-renovation-reveal.html" target="_blank">rest of the house.</a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66jZwjB5j8jjU_nFtkCf-pNT3FpeAPn-cDO-PkdEHUpm7eiIXSwdT8URICgBX31HfCB0NLWYOdjGaOG_ITJg_QPxFh04xKjj1dFTzkjhtAT9ovpOpdDacVbbKi1LueNN37KciPsgwL3VP/s640/blogger-image-1216278858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66jZwjB5j8jjU_nFtkCf-pNT3FpeAPn-cDO-PkdEHUpm7eiIXSwdT8URICgBX31HfCB0NLWYOdjGaOG_ITJg_QPxFh04xKjj1dFTzkjhtAT9ovpOpdDacVbbKi1LueNN37KciPsgwL3VP/s640/blogger-image-1216278858.jpg" /></a></div>
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We decided to go with cabinets from Ikea. It was a lot of extra work to go to Atlanta and then have to put the cabinets together (Thanks Daddy and Jon Jon!) but in the end I'm really happy with them. Ikea has a great price point, lots of style options, and a pretty good quality product. I want the cabinets to last and be durable, but I knew I wouldn't be happy if they didn't look good, too! </div>
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I used Ikea's online program to design the kitchen, which is equal parts entertaining and maddening. I was terrified that everything wouldn't fit, but it did! Victory! </div>
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The cabinets, sink, and countertops are all from Ikea. </div>
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The countertops are Ikea butcher block. I liked the look of butcher block, but I felt like for them to be functional for our family they needed to be sealed. I also liked the idea of having a little bit richer color and I found a few tutorials on Pinterest about staining butcher block, so despite the inevitable anxiety attack it would cause me, I gave it a try. </div>
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I mainly referred to <a href="http://newlywoodwards.com/2013/03/a-review-ikea-butcher-block-countertops.html#comment-20787&_a5y_p=1248035" target="_blank">THIS</a> tutorial. It was so helpful. I changed a few things, but I love the end result. They are not perfect, but I think they're charming and so far they've proved to be very durable. I love that they warm the room up a bit. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nAMyOjSwzHvZ4ZOCOO-EPGu5LJbYoJ6ZA0Ay-_XCSnUx-QEPuCog_jYa7GBbaoeZ87CfvDAZxC9J-VuQT463PyToLvvXnkfOMHHnxLzxFrTcLbhD1nI-QllvBa5L59UhmjtxDKogaS_E/s640/blogger-image--729891977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nAMyOjSwzHvZ4ZOCOO-EPGu5LJbYoJ6ZA0Ay-_XCSnUx-QEPuCog_jYa7GBbaoeZ87CfvDAZxC9J-VuQT463PyToLvvXnkfOMHHnxLzxFrTcLbhD1nI-QllvBa5L59UhmjtxDKogaS_E/s640/blogger-image--729891977.jpg" /></a></div>
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I've managed to get a few things up on the wall. (This picture is probably the truest representation of the wall color, FYI). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-JKE7kOZ_5Jw7OffHB8UjueBjO5wn8uJoyfnsrIZh-yh5O9YW3m12f8u5WgmjUx0LI2NuyPskb8icyh6z7SznsGtbqFiuKOBmLaBH4imja9NU2yUOtmdrVTmyrUqQYpf21NCdCcBs_n0/s640/blogger-image-1287085958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-JKE7kOZ_5Jw7OffHB8UjueBjO5wn8uJoyfnsrIZh-yh5O9YW3m12f8u5WgmjUx0LI2NuyPskb8icyh6z7SznsGtbqFiuKOBmLaBH4imja9NU2yUOtmdrVTmyrUqQYpf21NCdCcBs_n0/s640/blogger-image-1287085958.jpg" /></a></div>
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Here's the back door, just to orient you to where we are in the house. </div>
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This is a close up of the penny tile that we used for the backsplash. It was an inexpensive tile option and we saved major bucks because I LAID IT MYSELF!! That's right. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeiiX6sIH3ElwM5GhInmE4htjCau2Z-DpFsxHqjiwzG-io2YU6ZKV7K2dizwHVziSLyPLtA1t6dnjU_d7J7ynK3RotEf_B4VdfOOTHV0BYGpooafvX3II-0UsU_TaTA-fHv-DEgT9uOSw/s640/blogger-image-1175458004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeiiX6sIH3ElwM5GhInmE4htjCau2Z-DpFsxHqjiwzG-io2YU6ZKV7K2dizwHVziSLyPLtA1t6dnjU_d7J7ynK3RotEf_B4VdfOOTHV0BYGpooafvX3II-0UsU_TaTA-fHv-DEgT9uOSw/s640/blogger-image-1175458004.jpg" /></a></div>
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As with the DIY countertops, I was nervous to try this myself, but I found a<a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2012/01/how-to-install-penny-tile-and-lots-of-it/" target="_blank"> tutorial </a>and just dove in. Just to be safe, since I had never done this before, I used a very light colored grout matched with the white tile. The tone on tone result is subtle. It just adds a little textural interest to the room. The white on white was also very forgiving of any mistakes that I made! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjUfjzUtsKvdhLUmu185ZWPITMPcPsnA7ZAS-GxyhQUZIhVMMkEclfw5dDKk9wZBUAV56mNORoIlG6u_qpVbHjtBTj9xCe84DkGGySItcjPUtxuwVRuEG6tahEYgOP7afwtmStt_XDBPo/s640/blogger-image--2057893999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjUfjzUtsKvdhLUmu185ZWPITMPcPsnA7ZAS-GxyhQUZIhVMMkEclfw5dDKk9wZBUAV56mNORoIlG6u_qpVbHjtBTj9xCe84DkGGySItcjPUtxuwVRuEG6tahEYgOP7afwtmStt_XDBPo/s640/blogger-image--2057893999.jpg" /></a></div>
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In this room we still have a few things that we'd like to accomplish:</div>
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- repair the tile floor</div>
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- touch up a few paint spots</div>
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- arrange the shelves and cabinets for maximum functionality and pretty-ness :)</div>
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So that's it! The full tour. </div>
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I'm thankful for the fast and furious way we were able to work and accomplish so much in such a short amount of time, but I'm also looking forward to taking my time decorating and thinking about what projects we want to tackle next. I like being able to live in a space and see how it feels and how my family uses it and then letting that dictate how we decorate and organize. </div>
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This house is starting to feel like home. Thanks for following along our journey. </div>
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mel</div>
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{<a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-modest-house-with-room-to-grow.html" target="_blank">Before Pictures</a>} {<a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2014/09/living-and-dining-room-renovation-reveal.html" target="_blank">Living Room and Dining Room Reveal</a>} {<a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2014/10/bedrooms-and-hallway-renovation-reveal.html" target="_blank">Bedrooms and Hallway</a>}<br />
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-2566798424161504842014-10-11T21:59:00.003-04:002014-10-11T21:59:47.137-04:00Some Fall Plans For Greener Grass<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9z0l7F7GP7g2puG1WHSlKHuznhpsVWhhSh5BrlcFdG-sapPttXC33DMKZodqLyQP4UR3n3rNhrfcev_Ykqyw8hwTg-wsnoJbc-Au__vbNtlCXZNhvsjw0dCcwguVSIJl9xG9vYnmuhg95/s640/blogger-image--1544925563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9z0l7F7GP7g2puG1WHSlKHuznhpsVWhhSh5BrlcFdG-sapPttXC33DMKZodqLyQP4UR3n3rNhrfcev_Ykqyw8hwTg-wsnoJbc-Au__vbNtlCXZNhvsjw0dCcwguVSIJl9xG9vYnmuhg95/s640/blogger-image--1544925563.jpg" /></a></div>
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When we finally moved into our house last month and decided to take a break from the <a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-modest-house-with-room-to-grow.html" target="_blank">remodeling biz</a>, I was finally able to go back to work at <a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2014/02/greener-grass-relaunch-creativity.html" target="_blank">Greener Grass</a>. Not only did I have the time (and the wireless internet, holla!) to return to blogging, but I also set up shop to start sewing again. I'm so very excited to show you what I've been working on over the past weeks…It's something I've been dreaming of for the past few YEARS! It will be a thrill to have it all finally come to fruition in just a few short days. </div>
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I've also been able to work on my fall calendar and I'm happy to say that we will be offering sewing classes in Fitzgerald AND Macon. Most of the classes will be in Fitzgerald since this is our new home.<a href="http://www.fitzgeraldbenhillartscouncil.org/" target="_blank"> The Fitzgerald Ben Hill Arts Council</a> has generously offered to play host to these classes, and it will be a treat for me to be able to teach them at the Carnegie Center. I will certainly miss hosting them in my home, but since we are in a smaller space now, I think this will work much better. I have a grand "one day" plan for classes at the farm (sewing weekend, anyone?) but that's in the slightly distant future for now. </div>
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The first class we have scheduled for Fitzgerald is a Sewing 101 class. It's a 7 week course that covers all the basics of what you need to know in order to begin sewing on your on and we make 5 very cute projects! Yay! We'll publish the dates for that class on Monday, so dig out your machine and get ready to sign up…I can only take 4 people MAX!</div>
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Enjoy your weekend, friends. So far, our weekend has included a cross country meet, visiting a fall festival with friends, and trying out a new restaurant and being served pizza by some pirate looking fellows.</div>
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Tomorrow holds a family reunion here at the farm and, incidentally, Ford has learned to sing "We are fam-i-ly. I got all my people with me…." Nothing like a little <a href="http://youtu.be/PDSSGyPurmE" target="_blank">Sister Sledge</a> to get a party started. </div>
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Later Gators. </div>
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mel</div>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-14853948382132827612014-10-02T09:07:00.000-04:002014-10-02T09:27:23.544-04:00Bedrooms and Hallway Renovation Reveal<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_l2qc6cTt1HekCiBzhPNwMHgwj70wswM69UD4geDgqMHIxZOkeuw4r_CeBl-46s9NMotugP_ReO8EfRA5HSNp3qEykrDqcU4JHA_JHok2bAK77mz-IxbgZKxUk25D-Puai7YJ0mRgj7s/s640/blogger-image-2082399213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_l2qc6cTt1HekCiBzhPNwMHgwj70wswM69UD4geDgqMHIxZOkeuw4r_CeBl-46s9NMotugP_ReO8EfRA5HSNp3qEykrDqcU4JHA_JHok2bAK77mz-IxbgZKxUk25D-Puai7YJ0mRgj7s/s640/blogger-image-2082399213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis60GbJeE4lxoCcb5MRzoBEl7ztm4sOyUlBlFS4i8y0pgI2xEKlYLikRN6LU6KNAAe8ggFP_HAYYnQazWzYxu9-VVGcOGrfnVIVTigWrLpRCFdlMfhc_U4yh0xDXlOSZg7XeRA0U77SFgG/s640/blogger-image-989876176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis60GbJeE4lxoCcb5MRzoBEl7ztm4sOyUlBlFS4i8y0pgI2xEKlYLikRN6LU6KNAAe8ggFP_HAYYnQazWzYxu9-VVGcOGrfnVIVTigWrLpRCFdlMfhc_U4yh0xDXlOSZg7XeRA0U77SFgG/s640/blogger-image-989876176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSBZhw5pkvuC83r_Bqep4JgiZ2T_wRzs4INVgMCyph2OlfRLwe0Ea_xdMe8OFvARrIvsjGfIPJK-saJnP1jWdjwU2K6t3vGiLfHOjGlJd8YIr2dy62eHg_B8a3ozaq5vBtY1mwdrqmorr/s640/blogger-image--1927422208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSBZhw5pkvuC83r_Bqep4JgiZ2T_wRzs4INVgMCyph2OlfRLwe0Ea_xdMe8OFvARrIvsjGfIPJK-saJnP1jWdjwU2K6t3vGiLfHOjGlJd8YIr2dy62eHg_B8a3ozaq5vBtY1mwdrqmorr/s640/blogger-image--1927422208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hMP54fqWqoujOQTL32EltB5AFZL6JpO2seKJ9pN50IPo4aQWHTqtOKb-u2abE4I267XnQaA3b5YreXTXEt0ea2LrRa9ACqr0iNlHVwDLgtueNgC9IpQgVA3rcNdSCWqkDMtofCXJ1k-S/s640/blogger-image-1272203229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hMP54fqWqoujOQTL32EltB5AFZL6JpO2seKJ9pN50IPo4aQWHTqtOKb-u2abE4I267XnQaA3b5YreXTXEt0ea2LrRa9ACqr0iNlHVwDLgtueNgC9IpQgVA3rcNdSCWqkDMtofCXJ1k-S/s640/blogger-image-1272203229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgwlgBXkNFfluxqJAQ-i_Fgc-2YNZZd2qoVdoy_7SkDmxuiTQO0QpmWzhInHLp23R0hGcA0wSgapkF5vmRODX8iF91b8F-QAhxhRZvDXBt9MxdzoUpuTpmwW7l4US3jJHB02B7OdRtL9h/s640/blogger-image-1574923249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgwlgBXkNFfluxqJAQ-i_Fgc-2YNZZd2qoVdoy_7SkDmxuiTQO0QpmWzhInHLp23R0hGcA0wSgapkF5vmRODX8iF91b8F-QAhxhRZvDXBt9MxdzoUpuTpmwW7l4US3jJHB02B7OdRtL9h/s640/blogger-image-1574923249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1D1o0r1Rk9kmntU-0TXvq8eAgw1GAEPi_C73CCgmcgdGVs6qun6ngazO_GtQV9XMOAvCUzFUo2puJPXtUt9qDhvJUjVbTNcDfFwVojhIr-JQAiTqK-Ugjsz1cz3vFWySe8cXReEDx73eM/s640/blogger-image-1890886860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1D1o0r1Rk9kmntU-0TXvq8eAgw1GAEPi_C73CCgmcgdGVs6qun6ngazO_GtQV9XMOAvCUzFUo2puJPXtUt9qDhvJUjVbTNcDfFwVojhIr-JQAiTqK-Ugjsz1cz3vFWySe8cXReEDx73eM/s640/blogger-image-1890886860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhU8iUfIu5H5ONMoCMCxELjai1OcFlVrRYBj4AfFLqvRw4N2QYpMHQo2EWdFFBEZq4tegHEXDWQZwSEIpz9BuzbST3EVtVMnsvg99CDj2z-I4q7wMCmg_1NT8nUBys389j3TBE0tigK4AW/s640/blogger-image-101572055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhU8iUfIu5H5ONMoCMCxELjai1OcFlVrRYBj4AfFLqvRw4N2QYpMHQo2EWdFFBEZq4tegHEXDWQZwSEIpz9BuzbST3EVtVMnsvg99CDj2z-I4q7wMCmg_1NT8nUBys389j3TBE0tigK4AW/s640/blogger-image-101572055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1R2O-td0Ow6TA2UfFTjjstLnDoFlhMuhjgK-qtCanhONHo6y0se1K_WKPGt9N2fOXC6XyBOzIBCwR1KQ9bd3YIC2GEJCOTlJ_kRmvAYBNM1EhyphenhyphenJekqTQZhTgMHS2mvhYlPi9yavpfcdy/s640/blogger-image-1969234913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1R2O-td0Ow6TA2UfFTjjstLnDoFlhMuhjgK-qtCanhONHo6y0se1K_WKPGt9N2fOXC6XyBOzIBCwR1KQ9bd3YIC2GEJCOTlJ_kRmvAYBNM1EhyphenhyphenJekqTQZhTgMHS2mvhYlPi9yavpfcdy/s640/blogger-image-1969234913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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Friends, I have good news and bad news. </div>
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Firstly, everyone at my house is sick. We all have sore throats and are tired and grouchy. Bleh. Bad news. </div>
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I did, however, manage to get my act together enough to at least <i>sort of</i> put things away in the bedrooms so that I could take some pictures for you. Good news!</div>
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Sadly, because of the dreary weather and my slightly diminished (due to maladies and medication) capacities, those pictures turned out poorly. Bad news. </div>
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However, I'm too lazy to do it again so I'm going to show them to you anyway! Good news! Huzzah!</div>
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Alrighty. Here's a quick glance at what the master bedroom looked like before. (For the full "Before" tour of the house <a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-modest-house-with-room-to-grow.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVUeuc_u0fT-NcZEEK0OS3_aFB2oPnprQhpMYhemXr2YZXJuvVKvicsxbsDhHqaxt0dH_1OLcp0iepCYN_NPwtvhyphenhyphenW82MwhZTVenItc0M5wmYlXqe_MycWMruPP6-4CMTaZt627uO9Ht8/s1600/IMG_4654+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVUeuc_u0fT-NcZEEK0OS3_aFB2oPnprQhpMYhemXr2YZXJuvVKvicsxbsDhHqaxt0dH_1OLcp0iepCYN_NPwtvhyphenhyphenW82MwhZTVenItc0M5wmYlXqe_MycWMruPP6-4CMTaZt627uO9Ht8/s1600/IMG_4654+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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And now here we are. I need you to push past the crazy lighting in the pictures. Can you do that for me? Thank you. I've pointed it out for you to help you see that it is making the room look very very green, which it is not. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5NMxwMZ1mQ159ezcVw1269uE5aQXHFnzIWuPvEsE2rbkZLkdnfzfLpX0Aq1SYy5t-93w3SSKx-tuhsa3YtUiUjYBaR53RWbSC_mHLn6WqBh-xurBlG2bjvhPfDRiofIfdO3qcVCMlKRb/s640/blogger-image-1186137708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5NMxwMZ1mQ159ezcVw1269uE5aQXHFnzIWuPvEsE2rbkZLkdnfzfLpX0Aq1SYy5t-93w3SSKx-tuhsa3YtUiUjYBaR53RWbSC_mHLn6WqBh-xurBlG2bjvhPfDRiofIfdO3qcVCMlKRb/s640/blogger-image-1186137708.jpg" /></a></div>
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The ceiling is bright glossy white and the walls are Sherwin Williams "Oyster Bay" that I had them mix at 50% to lighten it up just a bit. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wmMITrnfQ_iXqwl9oVZ9PFcArvY0uyFkHYD_Mn_C8_WM0k0t6j8WxXLU51fnsbleR62VSrp6AjSyRCC3fWDan5eBXalo1FUKV_bI-G3sNGQAsvVl8s-44QcDDUjS8dIH13RNK4LmzeXY/s1600/oyster+bay.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wmMITrnfQ_iXqwl9oVZ9PFcArvY0uyFkHYD_Mn_C8_WM0k0t6j8WxXLU51fnsbleR62VSrp6AjSyRCC3fWDan5eBXalo1FUKV_bI-G3sNGQAsvVl8s-44QcDDUjS8dIH13RNK4LmzeXY/s1600/oyster+bay.png" height="140" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the bedrooms we used two more of the same white ceiling fans (that is what is casting the strange glow in all of these pics) and the same flooring that is throughout the house. </div>
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The biggest change in our bedroom is that behind the bookshelf that needs to be organized, there use to be a small closet. To make the hallway a bit larger and to get rid of yet ANOTHER door in this room (there were 5), I decided to have the guys rip out that small closet and close up the wall. You can't see it here, but there is a fairly large walk-in closet that is right behind where I was standing to take this picture. It gives us plenty of room for all of our stuff and I'm really happy with how removing the closet opened up the hallway. No regrets from what felt like a bit of a risky move. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6h3tVLyGgnEgYhcpdc5IZn2Fb2vncFYqcmF7O1NrSZ8jOSZtXgO-9KUtcEz4VGYX1xUSqXXWgya66gJpaL57-rtCIw0EG_2YsP5RMGc1YirwlIbdXIi77kem81aqh2rFCFaPcO-u7j2g/s640/blogger-image-22368783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6h3tVLyGgnEgYhcpdc5IZn2Fb2vncFYqcmF7O1NrSZ8jOSZtXgO-9KUtcEz4VGYX1xUSqXXWgya66gJpaL57-rtCIw0EG_2YsP5RMGc1YirwlIbdXIi77kem81aqh2rFCFaPcO-u7j2g/s640/blogger-image-22368783.jpg" /></a></div>
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That's all the crazy light pictures I can bear to show you. </div>
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Let's move on to the hallway. Here's a before pic. Small and dark.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVr3ym4e0P2HQ-ejsYSEyDN7HDk22zPVTfvfhUlasU3XfvPU1xonNMTn3r-qiGuF9qE5mauXAf6YliukI8WBlzzj7wpivPIriHG2X_EGJZzMXq6-xn7Iuu3CRGgnfSX2vy5PzZrdFcP4bE/s1600/IMG_4681+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVr3ym4e0P2HQ-ejsYSEyDN7HDk22zPVTfvfhUlasU3XfvPU1xonNMTn3r-qiGuF9qE5mauXAf6YliukI8WBlzzj7wpivPIriHG2X_EGJZzMXq6-xn7Iuu3CRGgnfSX2vy5PzZrdFcP4bE/s1600/IMG_4681+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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And here's the same view now. Yay! When we ripped out the closet that stuck out into the hallway (the one that had a door in our bedroom) it made room for a little landing area. The hall was tiny and narrow-- probably only 2 feet wide, but now it feels much more open, serves a second purpose (which is VERY important in a small house), and this allows me to use my lockers, another piece of furniture that my dad and brother built that I love. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhU8iUfIu5H5ONMoCMCxELjai1OcFlVrRYBj4AfFLqvRw4N2QYpMHQo2EWdFFBEZq4tegHEXDWQZwSEIpz9BuzbST3EVtVMnsvg99CDj2z-I4q7wMCmg_1NT8nUBys389j3TBE0tigK4AW/s1600/blogger-image-101572055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhU8iUfIu5H5ONMoCMCxELjai1OcFlVrRYBj4AfFLqvRw4N2QYpMHQo2EWdFFBEZq4tegHEXDWQZwSEIpz9BuzbST3EVtVMnsvg99CDj2z-I4q7wMCmg_1NT8nUBys389j3TBE0tigK4AW/s640/blogger-image-101572055.jpg" /></a></div>
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The other thing I love in the hallway now is this little school house pennant. It adds a some charm to the small space. The paint color is the same as the <a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2014/09/living-and-dining-room-renovation-reveal.html" target="_blank">living/dining room</a>, Sherwin Williams Repose Gray. </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1R2O-td0Ow6TA2UfFTjjstLnDoFlhMuhjgK-qtCanhONHo6y0se1K_WKPGt9N2fOXC6XyBOzIBCwR1KQ9bd3YIC2GEJCOTlJ_kRmvAYBNM1EhyphenhyphenJekqTQZhTgMHS2mvhYlPi9yavpfcdy/s640/blogger-image-1969234913.jpg" /></div>
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Ford's room is across the hallway from the master….not too far for his little feet to pitter pat to get to Mama and Daddy at night. Which they do. A lot.</div>
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Here's a quick reminder of what we were dealing with. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaKhwyEkCigFtR9KaiBfe71uiIM4Xb6JP3GSJnjtSViRUKL5ytQjv5LxbF0NTjfs7lYNncFJBQ2tbKzGKCDBmgUZCjIzZjzDWtI2VeSmIhVrKjUGHLS91I0errtrUsMYnsrqdvLJfhMXL/s1600/IMG_4678+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaKhwyEkCigFtR9KaiBfe71uiIM4Xb6JP3GSJnjtSViRUKL5ytQjv5LxbF0NTjfs7lYNncFJBQ2tbKzGKCDBmgUZCjIzZjzDWtI2VeSmIhVrKjUGHLS91I0errtrUsMYnsrqdvLJfhMXL/s1600/IMG_4678+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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And here it is now. Pay no attention to that blue painter's tape in the window. It's on my "to do" list. Also please don't feel too bad for little Fordycakes that he doesn't have an actual bed frame. He's new to the world of big boy beds and so keeping his mattress on the floor makes it more accessible and safer for his tiny two year old body. </div>
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<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hMP54fqWqoujOQTL32EltB5AFZL6JpO2seKJ9pN50IPo4aQWHTqtOKb-u2abE4I267XnQaA3b5YreXTXEt0ea2LrRa9ACqr0iNlHVwDLgtueNgC9IpQgVA3rcNdSCWqkDMtofCXJ1k-S/s640/blogger-image-1272203229.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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The paint color in his room is called "Elephant Tail" from Benjamin Moore. Is that cute or what? It's the same color we used for his nursery at the old house.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSBZhw5pkvuC83r_Bqep4JgiZ2T_wRzs4INVgMCyph2OlfRLwe0Ea_xdMe8OFvARrIvsjGfIPJK-saJnP1jWdjwU2K6t3vGiLfHOjGlJd8YIr2dy62eHg_B8a3ozaq5vBtY1mwdrqmorr/s640/blogger-image--1927422208.jpg" /></div>
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Remember I told you about the awkward exterior doors in both bedrooms? Yeah, here's the one in Ford's room. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with them until we have the time and money to take them out. I'll keep you posted.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis60GbJeE4lxoCcb5MRzoBEl7ztm4sOyUlBlFS4i8y0pgI2xEKlYLikRN6LU6KNAAe8ggFP_HAYYnQazWzYxu9-VVGcOGrfnVIVTigWrLpRCFdlMfhc_U4yh0xDXlOSZg7XeRA0U77SFgG/s640/blogger-image-989876176.jpg" /></div>
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Construction zone sheets and Bla Bla friends have been the keys to big boy bed success.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_l2qc6cTt1HekCiBzhPNwMHgwj70wswM69UD4geDgqMHIxZOkeuw4r_CeBl-46s9NMotugP_ReO8EfRA5HSNp3qEykrDqcU4JHA_JHok2bAK77mz-IxbgZKxUk25D-Puai7YJ0mRgj7s/s640/blogger-image-2082399213.jpg" /></div>
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Ford loves his room, which makes me so happy. He's spending more and more time playing in there each day. I like for everybody to feel good about their space, ya know.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoQQN0a5IU_RMCulIpVM5M-l4nkuI7GxvY5BQANWwtENa0KGYtVmgT0E7lKAUVLGx9vQa0lLoaQEljCbh7nXC5B987K-A2ChzqBnLxT7XxV7kBDJspgbbL_fvfdV9Ol009Zxcr_QNCCgV/s640/blogger-image-473963331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoQQN0a5IU_RMCulIpVM5M-l4nkuI7GxvY5BQANWwtENa0KGYtVmgT0E7lKAUVLGx9vQa0lLoaQEljCbh7nXC5B987K-A2ChzqBnLxT7XxV7kBDJspgbbL_fvfdV9Ol009Zxcr_QNCCgV/s640/blogger-image-473963331.jpg" /></a></div>
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We still have some projects to work on in these rooms. Here's the short list of what still needs to be done:</div>
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- Replace cracked window pane (or at least use clear tape instead of blue to fix it)</div>
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- Figure out a plan for the doors in the bedrooms (temporary and permanent solutions)</div>
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- Curtains</div>
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- Hang Artwork</div>
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- Better organize and arrange furniture (especially the bookshelf of chaos)</div>
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- Buy/build Ford a real bed</div>
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Ok, I'm going to go take some more medicine and go to sleep, but thanks for checking out the pictures and thank you so much for your kind words about all of our work so far. I haven't been able to get back to each person yet, but know that your encouragement has been felt and appreciated. </div>
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And now, Nyquil. </div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-22653029782387230182014-09-26T00:03:00.001-04:002014-09-26T00:03:37.825-04:00Pecos the CalfIn the midst of the moving and renovating this summer, we also acquired a cow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyTpZu73JOF3NeC3_3-ZW6wN0hEmhZ2h91yRXOOxdUxSSmfI3awWAuNMspWLe7JiLQog4gy8JurfiOjNCZ9qmPiAxzaxZrXmCivf8KHApU6gRlrt4if_btE6hJFW0Wl4_ECSrDLCy3jrt/s1600/Pecos-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyTpZu73JOF3NeC3_3-ZW6wN0hEmhZ2h91yRXOOxdUxSSmfI3awWAuNMspWLe7JiLQog4gy8JurfiOjNCZ9qmPiAxzaxZrXmCivf8KHApU6gRlrt4if_btE6hJFW0Wl4_ECSrDLCy3jrt/s1600/Pecos-1-2.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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A baby cow. That needed to be fed twice a day with a bottle. </div>
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He's adorable and we named him Pecos.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXuu0QiWUcxoQA_osm0F1uV_siek6ItEYOliVl5WaBV6zcKw_JdGpQbkGKmrKd1Q0TkbJsEnGB1bXSKpUsCrm6p0GxlHRfzgFXjCxAX5-OMI7CQHPz3zVoZc1FHhnAXa4NySVN6dj3Zxa/s1600/Pecos-1-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXuu0QiWUcxoQA_osm0F1uV_siek6ItEYOliVl5WaBV6zcKw_JdGpQbkGKmrKd1Q0TkbJsEnGB1bXSKpUsCrm6p0GxlHRfzgFXjCxAX5-OMI7CQHPz3zVoZc1FHhnAXa4NySVN6dj3Zxa/s1600/Pecos-1-3.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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One of Daddy's rancher friends originally owned Pecos, but when he was just a few days old he was accidentally separated from his mama. Isn't that sad? Then, by the time they reunited mama and calf, the mama wanted nothing to do with the baby. It was like she had forgotten about him. </div>
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Are you crying? Yeah. Me neither.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7EGwCV_e1Y6N4CkxhNLi_LbVs3C80bohMhpW0Q_kNi2VsyGr5mb6ZzskWCM5n4Y9QHxSkiGyiqB8Xq_DaTo_ByQMjOwwyJSA1OidtO8o7FwSxRMifbVUaDUeQEcHwUF5Wi5y0GtptjmW/s1600/Pecos-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7EGwCV_e1Y6N4CkxhNLi_LbVs3C80bohMhpW0Q_kNi2VsyGr5mb6ZzskWCM5n4Y9QHxSkiGyiqB8Xq_DaTo_ByQMjOwwyJSA1OidtO8o7FwSxRMifbVUaDUeQEcHwUF5Wi5y0GtptjmW/s1600/Pecos-6.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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This is evidentially fairly common in the ranching world. Mama's won't feed their babies or they get separated and these little orphan cows are sometimes sold at a steep discount because of the extra work that feeding and caring for them requires. </div>
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Daddy got this little calf to start Ford his own herd. By the time Ford is 30 he should have about 200 head of cattle. Just kidding.<br />
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Kind of. </div>
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Anyway, now we're ranchers and we're feeding this sweet little cow twice a day and trying not to get too attached. BUT HE'S AN ORPHAN BABY! I'M FEEDING HIM WITH A BOTTLE! Yet, one day we will load him onto the cattle trailer to take him to the sale. Farm life is emotional, y'all. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinseIh0BuVtQsHu2lor_Ndd4_BZPpFS31qWrCGt8hz279d_Jygfr88ObOhk-Z0PK1184ihINWoylSkJ6HCQ7_ETdN6oiUG5gqL-1RL0Uiqq9A2vffF5PuAObfOTLU5KH-emG3eHsSfdq65/s1600/Pecos-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinseIh0BuVtQsHu2lor_Ndd4_BZPpFS31qWrCGt8hz279d_Jygfr88ObOhk-Z0PK1184ihINWoylSkJ6HCQ7_ETdN6oiUG5gqL-1RL0Uiqq9A2vffF5PuAObfOTLU5KH-emG3eHsSfdq65/s1600/Pecos-9.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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As the summer came to a close we decided that it would be best if Pecos joined the rest of the herd. He loved watching the other cows from his stall in the barn and you could tell he was feeling lonely. (I'm not emotionally invested in this animal at all.) So we turned him out and now he plays with the other calves and eats grass all day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDLdBqufy38bNJ6qxijTZUzgBpwp_JAwF2VCg_uJ9HAeNLkgK-bgxQohB5nWa0FFbT_t-a03JzC85GFk0FXOevmVm-oyWJ4TzTj4lX08uGdQJ4jmDwAnYWvePrI9jZMXgZlGdQdm2J_NA/s1600/Pecos-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDLdBqufy38bNJ6qxijTZUzgBpwp_JAwF2VCg_uJ9HAeNLkgK-bgxQohB5nWa0FFbT_t-a03JzC85GFk0FXOevmVm-oyWJ4TzTj4lX08uGdQJ4jmDwAnYWvePrI9jZMXgZlGdQdm2J_NA/s1600/Pecos-7.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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We still give him one or two bottles a day, depending on what's going on that day. Pecos comes up to the fence by our house and let's out these little moos to let us know he's there and wants to eat. Ford can usually hear him and he'll start chanting "Feed Pecos! Feed Pecos! Pecos is huuuuuungry." </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaIt5b5BqdN5t-ES75754U-9Ir_Ib7vQQ2vUMgeM5u-7FJSDkJALgAzDr0I5m4L0YXayhW9Ovrk231xDTS30U-CBj55a75HLFwaFsmUqSKFoc95q_-PnuOcQZ7dn8n2IV5r0lQ0c4BnvK/s1600/Pecos-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaIt5b5BqdN5t-ES75754U-9Ir_Ib7vQQ2vUMgeM5u-7FJSDkJALgAzDr0I5m4L0YXayhW9Ovrk231xDTS30U-CBj55a75HLFwaFsmUqSKFoc95q_-PnuOcQZ7dn8n2IV5r0lQ0c4BnvK/s1600/Pecos-5.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Now that Pecos is hanging with all of his herd friends, I think he's embarrassed of me. When I go to feed him he runs up excited to eat, but when I try to give him a little love he just ignores me and walks off like he doesn't even know me. I share a movie on <a href="http://instagram.com/mddark" target="_blank">Instagram </a>of him giving me the cold shoulder. </div>
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Pecos was not too proud, however, to chase David and I across the entire pasture yesterday. We were cutting through the cow pasture to walk to my parents house and when Pecos saw us come through the gate he ran up to us wanting to eat. I sweetly told him that I didn't have his bottle and that I'd be back later to feed him. He couldn't imagine a world were we had other things to do besides feed him so he followed us the whole way nibbling on David's shorts and HEAD BUTTING ME IN THE REAR.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRRKTcHCy6fWUBrVSshRYQejchzIfbcVeu7iMTEHRsEQfVtLaqu73xexF-6SX0mgmHwQXvFLpbU99QIzfuRTHnQ4Ic2EDVt3_2Slj5i2HfNPtzUugb2JfpkUA2aX2nbkGM0xvJ6w2p6wx/s1600/Pecos-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRRKTcHCy6fWUBrVSshRYQejchzIfbcVeu7iMTEHRsEQfVtLaqu73xexF-6SX0mgmHwQXvFLpbU99QIzfuRTHnQ4Ic2EDVt3_2Slj5i2HfNPtzUugb2JfpkUA2aX2nbkGM0xvJ6w2p6wx/s1600/Pecos-1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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You've got a lot of nerve little Pecos. Good thing you're cute.<br />
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-30864416981714970562014-09-23T22:02:00.001-04:002014-09-23T22:02:39.123-04:00Living and Dining Room Renovation Reveal <div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love these pictures. It's so much fun to be able to look back and see <a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-modest-house-with-room-to-grow.html" target="_blank">how much we've accomplished in such a short time</a>. Today I want to show you the living and dining areas in our big front room. Here are the before pictures again to remind you of what we were working with. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PX4-U4jqcLvOLBV1ornNBjhmSo_wHnYNePtbAseFb7Tvz_AfimfTElnknqMQtP3Ug_XvsPBTTWYD7qhUqS1hqJrlcXlBBLfbdX4VJICOgg6XaWoi4L3-EKz3B8mZYhY9TTKNvZtIDeZM/s1600/IMG_4638+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PX4-U4jqcLvOLBV1ornNBjhmSo_wHnYNePtbAseFb7Tvz_AfimfTElnknqMQtP3Ug_XvsPBTTWYD7qhUqS1hqJrlcXlBBLfbdX4VJICOgg6XaWoi4L3-EKz3B8mZYhY9TTKNvZtIDeZM/s1600/IMG_4638+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PX4-U4jqcLvOLBV1ornNBjhmSo_wHnYNePtbAseFb7Tvz_AfimfTElnknqMQtP3Ug_XvsPBTTWYD7qhUqS1hqJrlcXlBBLfbdX4VJICOgg6XaWoi4L3-EKz3B8mZYhY9TTKNvZtIDeZM/s1600/IMG_4638+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Red carpet, brick walls, AND tongue and groove paneling. Everything was dirty, dingy, and covered in oily lacquer. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVv8lFu-sgBZhV7HYvdCjKd1zMpYMc7YJKrjR4glmya4QBvlBmCFm49rLsY2fZNIoYGzyPCuvgvG9Qemm6IBUKrYTIPut-OCfxngwNWm4RBuFdR3W96lkr6HGu3B-TqFw8jR-Fz_gjQw1/s1600/IMG_4641+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVv8lFu-sgBZhV7HYvdCjKd1zMpYMc7YJKrjR4glmya4QBvlBmCFm49rLsY2fZNIoYGzyPCuvgvG9Qemm6IBUKrYTIPut-OCfxngwNWm4RBuFdR3W96lkr6HGu3B-TqFw8jR-Fz_gjQw1/s1600/IMG_4641+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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And here we are now. Yay for white paint! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AJuraqZEaMOLkALWMpMoUn-Zs1goGRPJRrB4Jxll0i6Xky-5O68xswwmvuJze4f42GL9jMnGwtvgkYNaWets4jExRW0k715zVxT9Mj0tKYxgoyRmQe_tmrkzkIQrFqEQm2bGk7fVznQg/s640/blogger-image-880321805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AJuraqZEaMOLkALWMpMoUn-Zs1goGRPJRrB4Jxll0i6Xky-5O68xswwmvuJze4f42GL9jMnGwtvgkYNaWets4jExRW0k715zVxT9Mj0tKYxgoyRmQe_tmrkzkIQrFqEQm2bGk7fVznQg/s640/blogger-image-880321805.jpg" /></a></div>
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We're still un packing and I haven't done much decorating, BUT you can see that we've made big big changes. In this room (and the rest of the house) we scraped the wood walls and ceilings and then caulked all the grooves. It feels strange just to say that casually in one little sentence because those two tasks alone took WEEKS! It was sooooooo much scraping and soooooo much caulking. It felt endless. </div>
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The prep work is the hardest and worst part of a renovation. You don't see a lot of progress and it's messy and takes forever, which is why I think they always gloss over that part on DIY shows. They show that first sledge hammer swing and then move on to something more interesting without telling you, "Hey, BTW that guy had to swing his sledge hammer in this asbestos wasteland for about 40 more hours before we could install these hardwood floors."</div>
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THAT would be reality TV. </div>
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Anyway, we scraped and caulked and primed all of the surfaces of the house. It took 8 million years and I died twice. </div>
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When we finally got everything cleaned up and primed, then my dad used a paint sprayer to paint the ceilings glossy white. The rafters and the tongue and groove boards on the ceiling made it nearly impossible to paint evenly (which we found out when we were priming it), so the paint sprayer really helped to give a nice finish on the ceilings. The ceiling is only about 8 1/2 feet tall, which is a little lower than we were use to in our old house, so the glossy white paint helps to give the illusion that they are a bit higher and reflects light in what use to be a very dark space. </div>
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We used inexpensive white ceiling fans in all the rooms hoping that they would sort of disappear against the white ceiling and because we live in south Georgia and having a ceiling fan is a non-negotiable. Hello, 100 degree summers. </div>
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The paint color on the wall is Sherwin Williams "Repose Gray." In fact, all of our paint is from Sherwin Williams. Our local store was very helpful. They were able to give us good advice on what type of paint we needed and how to prepare all of our, uhhhh, interesting surfaces. </div>
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We laid laminate wood flooring to replace the red carpet which was a good solid 3 days worth of work, but made a huge difference. It's a dark wide plank laminate and I'm really happy with the way it turned out. It seems to be fairly durable and gives the house the look we wanted at a price we could afford.</div>
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In the dining room you can see a little better than the walls on the right are brick and on the left are paneling. It's a bit strange, but I think that the light paint tied everything together well. I'm just trying to think of it as having extra texture. Texture is good, right?</div>
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We painted the brick fireplace white to add a divider between the brick and paneling walls and also to add some extra bright white to lighten the space even further. This is probably also a good time to mention that none of the brick (fireplace or walls) was "good brick." The ultra-cool exposed brick wall was not an option for us. I don't know exactly what made it bad, maybe that it was a little too orange? All I know is that junk needed to be painted. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhg2YWwBCw8rtI2pirZlihlSLDmjb32pYbuxApt-hlNQrVltU8-RCqSMFGwKq0z8_NQkhuUwwVrvns8iNzm0cGlrV6kP092EtuaXJ7T5mpGjOGKwY1Q17lDnZfFjnjZ_iaFI6G0LyHai_/s640/blogger-image-1060714621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhg2YWwBCw8rtI2pirZlihlSLDmjb32pYbuxApt-hlNQrVltU8-RCqSMFGwKq0z8_NQkhuUwwVrvns8iNzm0cGlrV6kP092EtuaXJ7T5mpGjOGKwY1Q17lDnZfFjnjZ_iaFI6G0LyHai_/s640/blogger-image-1060714621.jpg" /></a><br />
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We had to use a wire brush to clean all of the metal windows, which was another long process. Then we taped them off and I used canned spray paint to repaint them. Our thought was that since the spray paint was made especially for metal that it would work better, and it did! </div>
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Side note- our coffee table is a train table. Don't judge. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9lkhCrqMz1I6lkmdscgPC9UEOoEE6ABfBlGUIz5im_FCp-H3uN5Yez0ZnDll9VN7fe2sBR1je4iDQ2lk6TIH3bMfqTYNuKbdoJGF51MC-pa9_y0xHuVTW4oboJjob6BJb6hr28hNGfws/s640/blogger-image--996352504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9lkhCrqMz1I6lkmdscgPC9UEOoEE6ABfBlGUIz5im_FCp-H3uN5Yez0ZnDll9VN7fe2sBR1je4iDQ2lk6TIH3bMfqTYNuKbdoJGF51MC-pa9_y0xHuVTW4oboJjob6BJb6hr28hNGfws/s640/blogger-image--996352504.jpg" /></a></div>
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I showed Daddy a picture of an industrial light fixture that I loved and he was able to recreate it for me! He actually made it better than the one I showed him. It's one of my favorite things in the house. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcFQXcQd1k37uQ3Bdlsv836F9Er9cUbalKfgIz6PNnjPpmv1JL6h8rdd9ogzNgc1K3ET6_qOOx85iP-YNBxemytFB0Y8yq9swp7a70NdUl7yJcBSOEKri9ubnWoRjGJR1EoPDwjgKavr5/s640/blogger-image--447932009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcFQXcQd1k37uQ3Bdlsv836F9Er9cUbalKfgIz6PNnjPpmv1JL6h8rdd9ogzNgc1K3ET6_qOOx85iP-YNBxemytFB0Y8yq9swp7a70NdUl7yJcBSOEKri9ubnWoRjGJR1EoPDwjgKavr5/s1600/blogger-image--447932009.jpg" /></a></div>
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Though I can't even begin to tell you how to do it, I can tell you that we bought two farmhouse pennants from <a href="http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_lighting+outdoor-lighting" target="_blank">HERE</a> and then he used galvanized pipe and pipe fittings to construct the chandelier. The wire from the two pennant lights run through the pipe. That is all of the information I have, but doesn't it look great?!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEF5h6XrS0dqoGbS3bSM-nvUt6qwzJ5uU3Jawg5fk9DLGgURKtGSKGpSJ_MXjOmPM-yKZTMX9MFjJgSOQt002esFd3JNTVz_m79OW4OfvP0FLdMuMsr424NRTa-3U_f9cmjwFDY_7t7fP/s640/blogger-image-1815593468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEF5h6XrS0dqoGbS3bSM-nvUt6qwzJ5uU3Jawg5fk9DLGgURKtGSKGpSJ_MXjOmPM-yKZTMX9MFjJgSOQt002esFd3JNTVz_m79OW4OfvP0FLdMuMsr424NRTa-3U_f9cmjwFDY_7t7fP/s640/blogger-image-1815593468.jpg" /></a></div>
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The bookshelves were another big project. We considered just tearing them out because they were dated and the fireplace nook with a gas heater in it was weird. I mean. What do you even do with this?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNKJmjTrZfIZgcgCxIlAKQ7GV6eT5QsDGPcIFSrM0W6th-zOL54v_uc3S7Vc1gYzvGizPfRDGARYllA0MtCm2uIEvaZ0YXuQaWQFe-ff0QwVl7tgaIulLNQJ9uqzPqXF3Ge1vrjhp323r/s1600/IMG_4687+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNKJmjTrZfIZgcgCxIlAKQ7GV6eT5QsDGPcIFSrM0W6th-zOL54v_uc3S7Vc1gYzvGizPfRDGARYllA0MtCm2uIEvaZ0YXuQaWQFe-ff0QwVl7tgaIulLNQJ9uqzPqXF3Ge1vrjhp323r/s1600/IMG_4687+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I thought and thought and thought and this is what we came up with. </div>
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We painted the whole thing white (duh) and took off the doors on the bottom section. It would be nice to have some doors, but these looked bad and made the room feel a little smaller for some reason. Then, I had my dad and brother add those two little shelves above the TV to make the top two shelves extend the entire bookcase. This helped tremendously- to not waste that space and to make it look like the space was made for an entertainment center (although it was not, we had to run electric outlets and cable though the wall to make it functional, but it allowed the living area to be oriented around the TV and the bookcase, which is the focal point of the room.) Finally I had the guys cover the fireplace nook with a piece of plywood, then we added 3 scraps of 1x12" lumber to make faux drawer fronts. I've still got to add some hardware to the "drawers" to complete the illusion, but I think that it really finishes out the bookcase nicely. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldThBfGDMVN3r1svcR_OBHVTMAhRFprkkjDCFzxzNuiWW_IbzI5WLMwNg6i3A67n02GmvbH0tiWwUPGFPQ-3aywq5g3fd8kL0rq_Er3C5oOqOFBVOuu3RMg9nh4KXy19MD1C1MMfAB0xf/s640/blogger-image--1790451050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldThBfGDMVN3r1svcR_OBHVTMAhRFprkkjDCFzxzNuiWW_IbzI5WLMwNg6i3A67n02GmvbH0tiWwUPGFPQ-3aywq5g3fd8kL0rq_Er3C5oOqOFBVOuu3RMg9nh4KXy19MD1C1MMfAB0xf/s640/blogger-image--1790451050.jpg" /></a></div>
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The bookshelves are curved. I took the photo on the panoramic setting on my phone to try to get the whole thing in the pic.</div>
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(More on these bookshelves later! They are not quite done *I need another basket!!!*, but my friend Roxie kindly came over and helped me style them when I was feeling terribly overwhelmed with all of our books. When I get them finished up, we're going to share her tips for bookshelf success!) </div>
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Now if only those drawers were real so I could put some of the shiz in it. Seriously. I've got to get this under control. Also, yes that is a VCR. I can't part with it. I like to watch "You've Got Mail" as God intended for it to be watched…on VHS. Amen. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Tpp6RtDvlcvHiSTn_2qp_4QC4Ze2QhrymNBCvgdp74V2lmc5xBSAgtgFrx60Zb3HMDiqa8xkflM02NiUWRcyq3Sn1BmLQMNyDtgPXdM1o2ClulO7qnsngNT5SnJomJdzcQqMbXMGEQG7/s640/blogger-image-65907816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Tpp6RtDvlcvHiSTn_2qp_4QC4Ze2QhrymNBCvgdp74V2lmc5xBSAgtgFrx60Zb3HMDiqa8xkflM02NiUWRcyq3Sn1BmLQMNyDtgPXdM1o2ClulO7qnsngNT5SnJomJdzcQqMbXMGEQG7/s640/blogger-image-65907816.jpg" /></a><br />
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Here's another pile in the corner of the room that hasn't been unpacked. Ugh. Moving is no joke, y'all. Finding a place for everything in a new house is a lot of work. I'm showing you the pics, people, but the work is not done. And I'm definitely too lazy to move this junk to another room just to take these pictures. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoK-3DTo2F3uFceqv4Y65fByCB1vDL7oLOXJ8jAXtzbubmuD4zQFoTXX_NFDZWvTjlLmfgBdaw2VuDDB6JXoRiqqBJexvfxMrrRNf8hVbIKzVzxbA3tVkKw8WDF3ZCK81D8-cexMGibdD/s640/blogger-image-552366713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoK-3DTo2F3uFceqv4Y65fByCB1vDL7oLOXJ8jAXtzbubmuD4zQFoTXX_NFDZWvTjlLmfgBdaw2VuDDB6JXoRiqqBJexvfxMrrRNf8hVbIKzVzxbA3tVkKw8WDF3ZCK81D8-cexMGibdD/s640/blogger-image-552366713.jpg" /></a></div>
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You can see that there's still a good bit to be done in terms of finishing up this space These are some of my to do's for this room:</div>
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- make curtains</div>
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- finish organizing and styling bookshelves</div>
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- hang art and wall decorations</div>
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- make the workspace more functional and fun</div>
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- find a piece of furniture for the corner beside the couch (possible something with REAL drawers)</div>
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- paint the the round table beside our couch or make a table cloth for it</div>
- sew new pillows for the couch<br />
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Just for kicks let's look at the before and after one more time…<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PX4-U4jqcLvOLBV1ornNBjhmSo_wHnYNePtbAseFb7Tvz_AfimfTElnknqMQtP3Ug_XvsPBTTWYD7qhUqS1hqJrlcXlBBLfbdX4VJICOgg6XaWoi4L3-EKz3B8mZYhY9TTKNvZtIDeZM/s1600/IMG_4638+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PX4-U4jqcLvOLBV1ornNBjhmSo_wHnYNePtbAseFb7Tvz_AfimfTElnknqMQtP3Ug_XvsPBTTWYD7qhUqS1hqJrlcXlBBLfbdX4VJICOgg6XaWoi4L3-EKz3B8mZYhY9TTKNvZtIDeZM/s1600/IMG_4638+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTotb-a3dh2Xqi2dlPJVNvp3v-0Ib-7BG07f5voHcObV33Q0CFj-SM1ULiFmUofquluKYc-RImPSMkCh7VX7dnrKNDPO7a_hjshrNZ2hX_AQtwF3od74jqLfFtuvsNhyTlch3IG_1_tTWS/s1600/blogger-image-880321805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTotb-a3dh2Xqi2dlPJVNvp3v-0Ib-7BG07f5voHcObV33Q0CFj-SM1ULiFmUofquluKYc-RImPSMkCh7VX7dnrKNDPO7a_hjshrNZ2hX_AQtwF3od74jqLfFtuvsNhyTlch3IG_1_tTWS/s1600/blogger-image-880321805.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Thanks for being such an encouragement to me about our new house, y'all. You really know how to make a gal feel good. More reno pictures coming soon…next up are the bedrooms and bath.</div>
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Love you. Mean it.</div>
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<br />Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-27656503989986733182014-09-18T21:18:00.000-04:002014-09-18T21:18:25.194-04:00A Modest House With Room to Grow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">I've watched House Hunters enough to know that people choose houses for many different reasons. They may like the layout of the floor plan and that it's located in a desirable neighborhood. Some people factor in the commute to work or the school district. Others fall in the love with the character of a house; it's charming details and curb appeal. Some can visualize themselves having dinner parties on a big deck or turning a small bedroom into a nursery. </span></div>
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I've definitely been there. I was IN LOVE with our house in Macon. I wanted to marry it and buy it lots of nice furniture. </div>
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Fast forward a few years and we found ourselves in need of big change for a variety of reasons. After angst and peril and upheaval and sleepless nights, we decided to move to Fitzgerald, my hometown,</div>
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to a small house on my parents' farm. It's a fixer upper to say the least. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcpy7gS2x5r-DA1uKjIqw_qNpSsF2XS2VvSfGJoZ-dbrEBGVzEsCyE81ssjf9EFjQQK9Qo99GtRppxYFubgyIwN6cZ661nbKDrECSVsQwrse2YWeWen9LW0_9a5Isc5LEB2bwz6TfvpEB/s1600/IMG_4632+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcpy7gS2x5r-DA1uKjIqw_qNpSsF2XS2VvSfGJoZ-dbrEBGVzEsCyE81ssjf9EFjQQK9Qo99GtRppxYFubgyIwN6cZ661nbKDrECSVsQwrse2YWeWen9LW0_9a5Isc5LEB2bwz6TfvpEB/s1600/IMG_4632+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Though this new house is perfect for us, it's not perfect in the "amazing floor plan and charming front porch" kind of way. It's perfect in the "this is good for our little family" kind of way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1hpNlHRTHtYOFDv_RXIZ2-oFML6EYJQ6v0qUok-54Icrm3qemUmVvWObjkqMPIiFcDR0xWdREOEdAB8M61vS5z_7jTtqmODZJRP7J5JeXFx6aWqKtv15aabKtS9Lq9JfrgyyAWa-Nezw/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1hpNlHRTHtYOFDv_RXIZ2-oFML6EYJQ6v0qUok-54Icrm3qemUmVvWObjkqMPIiFcDR0xWdREOEdAB8M61vS5z_7jTtqmODZJRP7J5JeXFx6aWqKtv15aabKtS9Lq9JfrgyyAWa-Nezw/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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This house is solid, but doesn't have the "look" I would usually want in a house.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyssHgj8iSnAzYAxqoSx6PpbRdtrvhAey-lDWCv234wmZFKw5np9DzRJ-4CQQ4VdMp5cL8Bx-R7qpf9WRb2EDBJ8qSQZFM2TCK0Q2melPLJo3Mf0pRsbDea2IPVtR_RG4AwpLP9Tct5wYF/s1600/IMG_5122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyssHgj8iSnAzYAxqoSx6PpbRdtrvhAey-lDWCv234wmZFKw5np9DzRJ-4CQQ4VdMp5cL8Bx-R7qpf9WRb2EDBJ8qSQZFM2TCK0Q2melPLJo3Mf0pRsbDea2IPVtR_RG4AwpLP9Tct5wYF/s1600/IMG_5122.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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The house is a little smaller than our old house, but more than big enough for what we really need.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLUfVfB7IrNv32PjVl3_c2G_hDziFNCNImIkOWra1iga3NFbyvruSi0AwAPMz0HEkHoD4Ww7Ky1KhpCz0AJZNgNnqPcOh3XZgij7G1rfAaEI-Vni8G-Zp4VzsVBJc8pC_-Xuc__nVXC9a/s1600/IMG_5302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLUfVfB7IrNv32PjVl3_c2G_hDziFNCNImIkOWra1iga3NFbyvruSi0AwAPMz0HEkHoD4Ww7Ky1KhpCz0AJZNgNnqPcOh3XZgij7G1rfAaEI-Vni8G-Zp4VzsVBJc8pC_-Xuc__nVXC9a/s1600/IMG_5302.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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The house is not especially beautiful. You wouldn't give it a second look if you passed by. Its best qualities are intangible and to us they are invaluable.<br />
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It's a modest house, but it sits on a beautiful spot on the farm. There's plenty of room to grow in every way. I can live with that trade off. </div>
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We moved from Macon and into my parents house at the beginning of June. We worked fast and furiously all summer long and then moved into the new house about three weeks ago (the 23rd of August, I think). As I look back at these pictures, it is unbelievable to me how much we were able to accomplish.<br />
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Daddy stopped everything to throw his time and resources into the house. Mama kept Ford every.single.day while we worked until dark-thirty. She also fed us and washed our clothes. My brother, Jonathon used all of his days off to help us, even going so far as to go with me to Ikea. That, friends, is true love. </div>
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I want you to know that when I say "we" did this or that, that it is a collective "we." It was nearly never just David and I working, and even when it was, we could both work because Mama was watching Ford. Everything we accomplished was with someone else's tools and because someone had shown us how to do it. Most of the time, Daddy and Jonathan were here working and planning and making everything come together. It was a family project, for sure. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zDzEZg_cSacSm3X-AgQpyb-Gx5ewl-49JOoVGCLLHp2seUDBZMnMQ77e8Tvfz0AX-0zWcjR__JwKt249h5G_vpVEG4Ta5B0I_I924BCTlBqOEoIK3J9kkX86pPSVqmsVc8oBuFbSS3Pe/s1600/IMG_4634+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zDzEZg_cSacSm3X-AgQpyb-Gx5ewl-49JOoVGCLLHp2seUDBZMnMQ77e8Tvfz0AX-0zWcjR__JwKt249h5G_vpVEG4Ta5B0I_I924BCTlBqOEoIK3J9kkX86pPSVqmsVc8oBuFbSS3Pe/s1600/IMG_4634+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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So without further delay, here are the "before"pictures of the house. Please try to resist the urge to pin all of the beauty. Ha. </div>
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This is the front door and you walk into a large room that is the living and dining area. This side is the living room.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzs2AENa4Z76vA7ManMszSzX7q_AB-TN_91G2df0VEiT2Ow7laTi0Eq-7WzOMUUnjtlbe_407kfhUxrF3OqM9PC9JCuu4YQd4AlB97VM-qfXyf9LIwargGxLWeH_tV5ukvw2TVvPD5s8o/s1600/IMG_4639+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzs2AENa4Z76vA7ManMszSzX7q_AB-TN_91G2df0VEiT2Ow7laTi0Eq-7WzOMUUnjtlbe_407kfhUxrF3OqM9PC9JCuu4YQd4AlB97VM-qfXyf9LIwargGxLWeH_tV5ukvw2TVvPD5s8o/s1600/IMG_4639+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's another look at the built-in bookcases that features a gas heater fire place. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiZELNMjxygpD6b4Yc_FdMCblb6MgZeDUA1RxaeGGwrJMQmHBawu6gdTqscs6PqsnsHtjd8CRvgBtzJYbmAfCo-53EPdNuczMfk1QS-cF3b1Wu1LaBVMygrLAndi7pMDsxMS5FeBn2q1c/s1600/IMG_4687+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiZELNMjxygpD6b4Yc_FdMCblb6MgZeDUA1RxaeGGwrJMQmHBawu6gdTqscs6PqsnsHtjd8CRvgBtzJYbmAfCo-53EPdNuczMfk1QS-cF3b1Wu1LaBVMygrLAndi7pMDsxMS5FeBn2q1c/s1600/IMG_4687+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is the view from the front door of the dining room side. Through the door on the right is the laundry room and through the door on the left is the kitchen.<br />
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Here we are in the lovely kitchen. You'll see the back door to the left. The house was built as more of a cabin retreat. It's rustic and make shift. The cabinets weren't made for this kitchen and didn't fit quite right. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35YxGK_kVq5NhJn63CqIoK40WymbKaGY48mJ0z8mQaLgUtyxYxN176ZRetB2EkHWTbxWKCH5Gqh08CxWGd7S_GTdXGNtNBXEtxt3kvP3JvU5_Rt3JfiRE_GS3za5O4_7S6IQwNHqhTzIp/s1600/IMG_4685+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35YxGK_kVq5NhJn63CqIoK40WymbKaGY48mJ0z8mQaLgUtyxYxN176ZRetB2EkHWTbxWKCH5Gqh08CxWGd7S_GTdXGNtNBXEtxt3kvP3JvU5_Rt3JfiRE_GS3za5O4_7S6IQwNHqhTzIp/s1600/IMG_4685+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Continuing around the room, you'll notice the window that looks in the laundry room. (The laundry room and master bedroom closet are additions to the original house). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0zjr4bzmPBsUNZ3eP_KMQuzEHtv1y2x61xEefXf3_kDZoVB9GFb40T6HyINXLHXgNHZqFH1wfg-LDd4H-DGkBgU1VXBGJml7s89gj9-_z4CYtUXUoo6b9hCN7jsGuXY_LnPWZ-NUF4pU/s1600/IMG_4684+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0zjr4bzmPBsUNZ3eP_KMQuzEHtv1y2x61xEefXf3_kDZoVB9GFb40T6HyINXLHXgNHZqFH1wfg-LDd4H-DGkBgU1VXBGJml7s89gj9-_z4CYtUXUoo6b9hCN7jsGuXY_LnPWZ-NUF4pU/s1600/IMG_4684+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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And on the other side of the room, all of the appliances sat next to each other. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKdBXPptAOb-SKBn_r4WiGk8Cl2_kNG-QQZeBZu6OsOF00FLLlKl0ZQczgugUp5i8hah9A8lQrpZwg2weK6DtQ8ylQ_U0vzah7OZc96EcgcepRSbKjNoauvhaigSMd3G3ej6dQZtLzRwI/s1600/IMG_4683+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKdBXPptAOb-SKBn_r4WiGk8Cl2_kNG-QQZeBZu6OsOF00FLLlKl0ZQczgugUp5i8hah9A8lQrpZwg2weK6DtQ8ylQ_U0vzah7OZc96EcgcepRSbKjNoauvhaigSMd3G3ej6dQZtLzRwI/s1600/IMG_4683+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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This is the hallway that connects the large front room with the bedrooms and bathroom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pS4azTnu6zwXnoKnJqRJlI0zq8dnOn6IGbrsSfpTvUAqnruvgTQY7k7_NeyZmzz2QhQc2nTA1bPKTlf5zjY1rdaPyEQkC_2mAoHyjvxjfi9cT5QzD_NhlrEyu6DRBAZgoQlYifIdFePP/s1600/IMG_4681+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pS4azTnu6zwXnoKnJqRJlI0zq8dnOn6IGbrsSfpTvUAqnruvgTQY7k7_NeyZmzz2QhQc2nTA1bPKTlf5zjY1rdaPyEQkC_2mAoHyjvxjfi9cT5QzD_NhlrEyu6DRBAZgoQlYifIdFePP/s1600/IMG_4681+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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This is the master bedroom. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLR42tgzkzsHR7dRj4YOdXTijowPLTfpxU1caXZJUEO79aLS_GV2ocVdcloSeKKmjDZrX6zjnw5rtbz2USkU3rwQzXLhgTM3FLR0gARS7Yj-HGkPK3vMQV97F1_BbBaSvJUmAN_P3bYxy/s1600/IMG_4654+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLR42tgzkzsHR7dRj4YOdXTijowPLTfpxU1caXZJUEO79aLS_GV2ocVdcloSeKKmjDZrX6zjnw5rtbz2USkU3rwQzXLhgTM3FLR0gARS7Yj-HGkPK3vMQV97F1_BbBaSvJUmAN_P3bYxy/s1600/IMG_4654+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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You may notice that all of the rooms have window units. The house didn't have central heat and air, but thankfully it does now! Also, both of the bedrooms have exterior doors for some reason. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4mU5xJ8oi4AIkHKzalYgdaruXAEa8IvvZMng8NsI3o2Z7vY-BrrEU0CbhrEUf7RjmFgome2sO2puqGEgV6gCkdjMAZdECpQIhUt_zdxty10f1FCZftH_ng_kYLI39ifK-u9oxkyw6aSd/s1600/IMG_4655+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4mU5xJ8oi4AIkHKzalYgdaruXAEa8IvvZMng8NsI3o2Z7vY-BrrEU0CbhrEUf7RjmFgome2sO2puqGEgV6gCkdjMAZdECpQIhUt_zdxty10f1FCZftH_ng_kYLI39ifK-u9oxkyw6aSd/s1600/IMG_4655+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is a walk in closet in our room (full of someone else's clothes…we had a lot of cleaning to do too.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_pdDR-XmXIMOGLAc-XD6Kh0WT5xfe2DlAroosp0qtn8y0ZcE_Aj0tNdB0CBh2TLCjCsXDNOBnNdcxZD9Qs_AL3I_HoNLLz0C8v30ZkDeZPoJP3QA0d4-dt_6f5zX03eJCc8FVSJR3mP0/s1600/IMG_4653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_pdDR-XmXIMOGLAc-XD6Kh0WT5xfe2DlAroosp0qtn8y0ZcE_Aj0tNdB0CBh2TLCjCsXDNOBnNdcxZD9Qs_AL3I_HoNLLz0C8v30ZkDeZPoJP3QA0d4-dt_6f5zX03eJCc8FVSJR3mP0/s1600/IMG_4653.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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This is Ford's bedroom. You can see the door that comes in from the hallway and another exterior door. Just want you want in your child's room, right? An escape route. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebj9y8a3tTu1OSJ4zOVOyJFl_jtEu0WEWiMJVMBIJ-jSwFf_8k-oH11oldJhMZ7cqiB0Ud5cuaG8Yu8T7xQ_Q1AynUvSdrFd_BD14q6aFOH8xEPncOYg-jkU85GNHdUjiGYNcc8wtdJOb/s1600/IMG_4679+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebj9y8a3tTu1OSJ4zOVOyJFl_jtEu0WEWiMJVMBIJ-jSwFf_8k-oH11oldJhMZ7cqiB0Ud5cuaG8Yu8T7xQ_Q1AynUvSdrFd_BD14q6aFOH8xEPncOYg-jkU85GNHdUjiGYNcc8wtdJOb/s1600/IMG_4679+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Another window unit. More brick and paneling. Pure excitement. </div>
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We had pulled up the red carpet at this point to reveal the (also red) concrete floor. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDEroFJ5t6bqRre02LC89xIlXgIfdx6cjSjZ_OT_JJgvdJLbaVjve94DB31ltgSiaPx5VNUhHMb8Vt03mlvSatzjDq06vB2PkfZ8IZJ1UAEWYAHxMLvzf4LbkAIqfrSRv46FOT9Info_z/s1600/IMG_4678+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDEroFJ5t6bqRre02LC89xIlXgIfdx6cjSjZ_OT_JJgvdJLbaVjve94DB31ltgSiaPx5VNUhHMb8Vt03mlvSatzjDq06vB2PkfZ8IZJ1UAEWYAHxMLvzf4LbkAIqfrSRv46FOT9Info_z/s1600/IMG_4678+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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And finally here's the vintage tile bathroom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuERgT9emgN2-6IwyQDPaw8DIMXXYxdEs2DVAETuR5efcd7mQUKuYg5cwAeXwwAMKTo7YG6h6yxeZHnjkMJWlV8tzXDbVc7b0uWUW0cLRkzD89QKzAAnoPRu7dDlZVr0h2cavQI74049h/s1600/IMG_4676+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuERgT9emgN2-6IwyQDPaw8DIMXXYxdEs2DVAETuR5efcd7mQUKuYg5cwAeXwwAMKTo7YG6h6yxeZHnjkMJWlV8tzXDbVc7b0uWUW0cLRkzD89QKzAAnoPRu7dDlZVr0h2cavQI74049h/s1600/IMG_4676+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HcU8PuX8bvU3FFcfLq1KYauvzPtJv-t7fr1CWpj2tXkmPFneSvzeygB_OUvpsFDCSFF_wo_Pdl3EUNC_S7Ca83e6kKP048ei3DIRy4jmDSIfqGvgMSlKXSz4yh1ezUupQn-0FL1XI7NV/s1600/IMG_4677+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HcU8PuX8bvU3FFcfLq1KYauvzPtJv-t7fr1CWpj2tXkmPFneSvzeygB_OUvpsFDCSFF_wo_Pdl3EUNC_S7Ca83e6kKP048ei3DIRy4jmDSIfqGvgMSlKXSz4yh1ezUupQn-0FL1XI7NV/s1600/IMG_4677+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Spoiler alert: We still have a vintage tile bathroom. But don't worry. We made some happy little updates in this room, too. </div>
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Finally, here's a little sketch to give you a general idea of the layout of the house. It's a small house, but the rooms are laid out well in way that maximizes our living space. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-7aivxRGhRXmM9KO2rFDoQ4OpJuwSS4nVc-CPcXzQ0wq96vAtjN75p4CQRO-4M-GLjhlB4YbwjLs-IvMHolX6AD4l5JuYvGkFS3C1Ik1AYBFAlht-_Hh_QTclHAPCjN90evTsHisvXaP/s1600/blogger-image--1606012198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-7aivxRGhRXmM9KO2rFDoQ4OpJuwSS4nVc-CPcXzQ0wq96vAtjN75p4CQRO-4M-GLjhlB4YbwjLs-IvMHolX6AD4l5JuYvGkFS3C1Ik1AYBFAlht-_Hh_QTclHAPCjN90evTsHisvXaP/s1600/blogger-image--1606012198.jpg" height="196" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm excited to show you the after pictures and walk through our work room by room, but I must warn you that we are still very much "in progress." I'm so proud of the work that we've all done and how great the house turned out (I think we all had some doubts!). There are, however, little and big things that we haven't gotten to yet and the house is far from being decorated or styled. I think that's the reality that most of us live in, though. There's always another project that we want to get to or something that we want to update. That middle ground is real life. It will be fun to share those next projects and decorating ideas as we get to them, but for now we are thankful to be living in our house!<br />
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I'll be back on Tuesday with more pictures. Yay!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-51404952274369484212014-04-10T16:41:00.002-04:002014-04-10T16:41:47.997-04:00Craft Night at the Carnegie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Y'all, two weeks ago David went to New York City.</div>
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Without me.</div>
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Not cool. I heart NY. </div>
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He didn't even have the courtesy to take Ford with him. Ford, who would fly for free. He's a lap baby. Or he could have easily been smuggled into an overhead compartment. I'm sure that the 25 high school seniors that he was chaperoning would have LOVED having a toddler along on the trip. </div>
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Anyway, while Mr. Dark was off seeing the Statue of Liberty, rubbing elbows with Al Roker, eating at fancy restaurants, and going to Broadway plays I had to stay home and take care of Ford all by myself all week. </div>
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Just kidding. I went to my parents' house so my Mama would cook for me and everyone would take turns entertaining Ford. I'm no dummy. </div>
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While I was enjoying a life of luxury at Otter Creek Farms, I also scheduled several sewing classes with some fun ladies and got to collaborate with the Fitzgerald Arts Council to host a Craft Night at the Carnegie Center. The space houses a beautiful collection of African art and is used by the council to host art events.</div>
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I shared some of the pictures from my sewing classes on Facebook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreenerGrassMelissaDark" target="_blank">follow me HERE</a>) but here are the rest of the pictures of craft night. Unfortunately, I have a very one track mind, so once I started actually teaching the class, I didn't take any more photos. So it may appear from these photos that I hosted a party for my invisible friends, but I promise you that people DID come and we DID make bunny buntings!</div>
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So here we are...Welcome to Craft Night! I borrowed Ford's easel to use as our sign. </div>
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My mama did all of the floral arrangements from things in her yard. They were beautiful. I usually just buy some daisies and stick them in a jar, so I hope people don't get used to this!<br />
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We had chocolate to snack on and water in mason jars with paper straws for sipping. Just the essentials...</div>
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Each person's supplies were at their spot on the table.<br />
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The paper bags held all of the small supplies, like twine, pins, and pom poms. Each person received the patterns and instructions for making the project, just in case anyone wants to do some post-party crafting. <br />
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Now I want you to imagine pictures of people laughing and eating chocolate, ladies cutting out little felt bunnies, laughing at each other tying not to burn our finger tips off with a hot glue gun, etc. You get the idea. </div>
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We really did have a great time. Everyone's projects turned out lovely and I have enjoyed seeing people post pictures of the bunting in their homes. I love a good craft night! Thanks so much to the Fitzgerald Arts Council and to everyone who came out to craft!</div>
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If you'd like to host a craft night with your friends, let me know! Maybe we can get Mama to do your florals, too. Otherwise, please prepare yourself for daisies in jars. </div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-88404207796878674442014-04-07T15:25:00.000-04:002014-04-07T15:25:00.501-04:00Kind Words Are Like Honey to the Soul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Friends, over the past few days I have been overwhelmed with the kindness of the women around me. Several friends have sent me a note or a text (nothing big) with an encouraging word about Greener Grass. They only took a moment to send, but those words have made a huge difference in my heart. I was feeling very lackluster about work, a little discouraged, and unmotivated this week. Their words were just what I needed to find my enthusiasm and focus! They were such a blessing to me.</div>
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Trying to get a creative business off the ground and being a wife and a mommy are hard work. There are high high's and low low's. Nearly everyday we all face discouragement and obstacles. Sometimes just the daily grind is enough to have you wishing you could just climb back under the covers. And in my own life, and perhaps in yours, too, my biggest critic is myself and the loudest discouraging voice is my own. Sometimes it takes someone else to help me see the big picture and remind me of all that the Lord has done for me. </div>
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I am so thankful for kind words this week and I'm glad to be reminded how powerful they are. I hope that this will inspire me to go out of my way to be encouraging to others more often. What a gift it is to be able to spur each other along with something as simple as a kind word! </div>
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Does a little encouragement go a long way with you?</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">:: quote by Paul Chappell / image via <a href="http://www.incourage.me/2014/03/a-sunday-scripture-81.html" target="_blank">encourage</a> ::</span></div>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-85207020990364942562014-03-05T10:50:00.002-05:002014-03-05T10:50:50.330-05:00Sewing for Littles Workshop Series {and a SALE!}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey friends! I wanted to take a minute to tell you about our "Sewing for Littles" workshop series. I am SO EXCITED about these little outfits for boys and girls and about teaching you how to make them yourself! Clothes for these tiny babes are ex.pen.sive. Sewing for your children is one way that the skill really does save you money. For just over the cost of what either of these outfits would cost you at a children's boutique, you can learn to make them yourself and save so much money AND have custom adorable clothes. Making Ford's clothes is one of my great joys. It's just so sweet to wrap him in something that you put your time and skills in to. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iaYqsH250PjgHISIqEuThje8hJxntSosHUlCTnCeaW-Qk8OdH4iZFqzsXgXAGRx7Vfv23MKp50Qcnkv6OWYhk96oaFcLzpkWbTM9rEaahGWIGDuiWPLanVWPCOLh_sJrlsKKAgMRrAI-/s1600/Bunny+Bunting-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iaYqsH250PjgHISIqEuThje8hJxntSosHUlCTnCeaW-Qk8OdH4iZFqzsXgXAGRx7Vfv23MKp50Qcnkv6OWYhk96oaFcLzpkWbTM9rEaahGWIGDuiWPLanVWPCOLh_sJrlsKKAgMRrAI-/s1600/Bunny+Bunting-1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
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<b>Our first Little Girls workshop is March 14-15</b> (<a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/o/greener-grass-5989330879?s=22304255" target="_blank">Details HERE</a>). This dress is adorable and fairly simple to make . This is an intermediate class, so you just need to know how to work your sewing machine and have some very basic knowledge of sewing to be prepared for this workshop. </div>
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My favorite thing about this pattern is that it is so versatile! Think of all the fabric combinations or how lovely a solid color would be. You could also layer the dress with tights and a shirt and it would be perfect for fall. Also, this pattern is digital with great pictures and instructions. You can use it over and over again for sizes 3m to a girls 8! </div>
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In this workshop you'll learn to make button holes, gather a skirt, finish seams, and tips on sewing garments for durable wear and wash</div>
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The cost includes small class instruction, the pattern, and some supplies. You'll just need to bring your fabric and sewing machine (but you can use one of mine if you like).</div>
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We have scheduled another <b>Sewing for Little Boys workshop for March 20th and 21st </b>(Thursday and Friday evening- <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/o/greener-grass-5989330879?s=22304255" target="_blank">More details HERE!</a>) This is also an intermediate class, so same prerequisites apply here- know how to work your sewing machine and have some very basic knowledge of sewing. </div>
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Can we talk about this jon jon? I love this pattern. It is lined and turns out so professional yet it is quick and easy to make! The pattern can be made long or short and can be used over and over (with a hand tip, I'll show you!) for boys 3m to 24m. </div>
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In this workshop you'll learn how to make button holes, making covered buttons, lining a garment, how to use snap tape, and I'll give a demonstration on how to use your basic sewing machine to add an appliqué to clothes.</div>
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The cost of the workshop includes small group setting instruction, a great pattern, some supplies (covered buttons and snap tape) Bring your own fabric and sewing machine (or you can borrow one of mine!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQ6874-XrFigfKL-L3iaXpFFDBsHK7vRpEZDnveICiZW-CBRSMdywdDfEjVh7QMtw1imvUAIW9MvRDaST4cgQuI8J5Za5Ix81wYJZlRfohOnpJqMdiNb4bDVMR9BgGxgadQGqjjZHo0ae/s1600/Bunny+Bunting-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQ6874-XrFigfKL-L3iaXpFFDBsHK7vRpEZDnveICiZW-CBRSMdywdDfEjVh7QMtw1imvUAIW9MvRDaST4cgQuI8J5Za5Ix81wYJZlRfohOnpJqMdiNb4bDVMR9BgGxgadQGqjjZHo0ae/s1600/Bunny+Bunting-4.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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And the best news I have is that because we are nearing spring, and because these outfits were so fun to make, and because I want YOU to be able to make them too, we are <u>knocking 20 dollars off</u> the price!<br />
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To take advantage of the sale and to purchase your ticket <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/o/greener-grass-5989330879?s=22304255" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> and enter the code<br />
<b>SPRINGFORWARD</b> at checkout.<br />
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Hope that you can make one of these workshops!<br />
mel</div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-34421176669212084382014-02-26T23:55:00.001-05:002014-02-26T23:55:52.291-05:00Greener Grass Relaunch: Creativity + CommunityA few years ago I started this blog, and it was such source of joy for me. I love writing and telling stories. I loved documenting what David and I were doing and I loved connecting with people through the internet in a much more personal way than I really thought was possible.<br />
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When we found out that Ford was on his way, I had a bit of a crisis of self. I was feeling weird and sick and just not at all sure about being a mommy and what new shape our life was going to take. We were also in the middle of some big life changes that were a bit stressful and so slowly I quit blogging. It wasn't a conscious decision, but posts became more and more rare until they finally dried up all together.<br />
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I also slowly quit teaching my sewing classes (Ford was born the week after a Sewing 101 course finished up…Yikes!) And then, of course, after he was born I got swept away in the frantic sea of motherhood. I'm going to be honest with you- I didn't adjust gracefully. It was very hard early on for me to be a mommy and to feel like my true self.<br />
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I felt a little lost and confused, but also very much in love with my baby and getting to spend my days with him. Motherhood is all consuming. It's so easy to lose your sense of self- the things that make you feel like YOU! Or that's what I've found to be true for me.<br />
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Along and along I started to realize what made me feel most myself; I needed to be making things and I needed to spend more time with friends. Simple as that. I feel best when I'm social and when I have a project going. I think this is what people mean when they say, "Ugh. I just feel awful when I don't exercise." I think. I can't be positive because I have never felt that way about exercise in my life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSwRFUMir2I4RSkfmp_n0xiZoh3VvapXT0JOyBQbjLUrBys3Gp3J8Rc94GDX3EPw4BUgyWkgpUeuW9yqhMvgbiL3qtSw-RlYqZ4jW-wHHrohHYG2s93jxi4fQDwEI6YbKDFsPmxll9TK5/s1600/typo_bebas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSwRFUMir2I4RSkfmp_n0xiZoh3VvapXT0JOyBQbjLUrBys3Gp3J8Rc94GDX3EPw4BUgyWkgpUeuW9yqhMvgbiL3qtSw-RlYqZ4jW-wHHrohHYG2s93jxi4fQDwEI6YbKDFsPmxll9TK5/s1600/typo_bebas.jpg" height="640" width="451" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://cargocollective.com/emmabergqvist/Poster" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: start;" target="_blank">source</a></div>
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I've learned that creativity and community are my driving forces. I need to be making things and I need to be in community with other people. I think a lot of other women want that, too, but maybe it's a little hard to put your finger on.<br />
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As I was coming to this realization, my friend <a href="http://jessicajeremy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jessica </a>approached me and encouraged me to be brave and really dive back in to Greener Grass as a blog and a serious business. She took me seriously and it made me take myself more seriously. She has now become my amazing business manager and constantly wows me with her spreadsheets, calendars, percentages, and overall general business savvy.<br />
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(By the way, most Greener Grass emails and billing are done by Jessica. Don't be confused if you see her name on something! She's nice. You'll love her. And you'll appreciate that she will email you right back, whereas I would probably accidentally delete your message!)<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/71279031/why-did-she-make-things-8x10-print" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">source</a></div>
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We have relaunched Greener Grass not just as a sewing business or as a blog, but with the purpose of building richer lives through creativity and community. We provide, classes, workshops, and information that teach skills to help make the grass greener right where you are. Classes are small, personal, and fun to help build relationships between women. We want to help self proclaimed "non-creative" people find their most creative selves. We want to equip people with experience, skills, and knowledge to create beautiful things all while cultivating encouraging relationships.<br />
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I'm a maker and a teacher and I'm so grateful that Greener Grass gives me the chance to do both of those things. I'm grateful for people like Jessica and David and my parents who push me to be brave and follow my dreams. And I'm grateful that the business helps to support my little family so I can spend my days with little Fordzilla as a stay at home mommy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19m9XORHZ7N2xL_51vZJg21NgnoI56u5kcunqaEo13TgwrJMp2Y0mTJ04RqPqUbYwdN0r2aqm8J6aZdu9xFqDTtGI-CCWD3OmkBP6rR86L_BGC3S1hcfqEYeEjfzdpwfookQ5imZOdBw6/s1600/tumblr_mg6wr2swIb1qcp2vxo1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19m9XORHZ7N2xL_51vZJg21NgnoI56u5kcunqaEo13TgwrJMp2Y0mTJ04RqPqUbYwdN0r2aqm8J6aZdu9xFqDTtGI-CCWD3OmkBP6rR86L_BGC3S1hcfqEYeEjfzdpwfookQ5imZOdBw6/s1600/tumblr_mg6wr2swIb1qcp2vxo1_1280.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
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I just wanted to give you a little behind the scenes look at what's going on with us. I'm so happy to be connecting with so many people again through Greener Grass. I hope that you'll take a class or schedule a craft party. I would love to hang out with you!</div>
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I think that sometimes when you feel like you're at the end of your rope, you may actually need to add one more thing to your plate. You may need to do something for yourself- not in a selfish way, but something that makes you feel like you. You'll be better for it and you'll have more energy for all the other things that need to be taken care of.<br />
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Love you. Mean it.<br />
melMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-4281708249773505782014-02-11T18:27:00.000-05:002014-02-11T18:27:09.123-05:00Our Valentines for Friends, Family, and Baby Buddies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As we prepare for Snowpocalyse 2.0 here in Middle Georgia, Ford and I have managed to sneak in a little bit more Valentine's Day crafting. Here are a few ideas for Valentines for family, friends, and the little people in your life. </div>
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For family valentines, this year we kept it simple. Ford *loves* to color and so I gave him only red, pink, and purple crayons to color on blank card stock and let him go to town. Later, I traced and cut out hearts using the most "artistic" portions of his color sheets. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtzSncdmg7RIjABMPxH8ZDhjO-p29WVgWxybrKY5y4pgpq-TLzWBR0nvt2U9dR9aE1J9aJ2HyLBfYkLEFbCvO5iqRwQ6QdgzTja9EsoguE1uiw5fjlwi9GbYB21R5sOr4so3uaoZClYKg/s1600/Valentines-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtzSncdmg7RIjABMPxH8ZDhjO-p29WVgWxybrKY5y4pgpq-TLzWBR0nvt2U9dR9aE1J9aJ2HyLBfYkLEFbCvO5iqRwQ6QdgzTja9EsoguE1uiw5fjlwi9GbYB21R5sOr4so3uaoZClYKg/s1600/Valentines-1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I glued those cards onto some kraft paper stationary that I picked up at Micheal's and wrote a message inside. Easy as pie. These valentines are so simple, but I love that they reflect something about Ford and his age right now. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qKGgDaVfeyMsdPOT7ZUV6mUVJVFDnb7XlVx2voK-iVkGHBAmI14QFbo8_BKGH5VsZtOFNmkH03xQaRXOi_PadoSex2k4UB3LprAP_8XR7AE_6FsPSkE0LKDmztaSRDkCZXU4JFwPlneQ/s1600/Valentines-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qKGgDaVfeyMsdPOT7ZUV6mUVJVFDnb7XlVx2voK-iVkGHBAmI14QFbo8_BKGH5VsZtOFNmkH03xQaRXOi_PadoSex2k4UB3LprAP_8XR7AE_6FsPSkE0LKDmztaSRDkCZXU4JFwPlneQ/s1600/Valentines-3.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Speaking of Fordycakes, right now he is OBSESSED with the itsy bitsy spider. He loves to sing the song and do the dance (in fact, he tries to commandeer mommy and me music class and just have us sing about the itsy bitsy spider) When we color, he wants us to draw spiders. He has a magna doodle and he constantly brings it to David and myself demanding "pider! pider!!" I don't want to brag, but we have gotten pretty good at our spider doodling skills. </div>
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So, of course, we needed to have "pider" Valentines for our little baby buddies. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05_LxNM7IiajsZLw1PeA02zNu1SSLoV3OWKp19Iu5cvDkvePy89rc_aKPgb-IciQjCJnh-kdv8u_KA7qviTecaa45qTM9AvWnXLjxe_dP3eZ65ZexaXhSqxXl11TGGwemE5xc9FyJE82g/s1600/Valentines-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05_LxNM7IiajsZLw1PeA02zNu1SSLoV3OWKp19Iu5cvDkvePy89rc_aKPgb-IciQjCJnh-kdv8u_KA7qviTecaa45qTM9AvWnXLjxe_dP3eZ65ZexaXhSqxXl11TGGwemE5xc9FyJE82g/s1600/Valentines-4.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I used these <a href="http://www.dandee-designs.com/2012/02/love-bug-valentines.html" target="_blank">free printables from dandee</a> and added bugs that we found at the dollar store. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtS7Nk2CeJ8JngoxutjZcZGCZQ06gqEbdfZJN0V6KYBxWo_CDIynneHXRTkvhAKzWmfFp4DeNFgp3X6CxhVylXGiid_QENxZ24t5iR6hDsAf3BK9IzsT2fAR5_fKhlZLKsnm93qHyVTvj/s1600/Valentines-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtS7Nk2CeJ8JngoxutjZcZGCZQ06gqEbdfZJN0V6KYBxWo_CDIynneHXRTkvhAKzWmfFp4DeNFgp3X6CxhVylXGiid_QENxZ24t5iR6hDsAf3BK9IzsT2fAR5_fKhlZLKsnm93qHyVTvj/s1600/Valentines-5.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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I think they are about as cute as bug Valentines could be, ya know. </div>
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For my friends, I found a very easy, very cute tutorial at <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2009/1/28/mollys-sketchbook-valentine-pins.html" target="_blank">The Purl Bee for making these tiny valentine pins</a>. The tutorial uses beautiful wool felt, but I just used what I had laying around which was this red felt left over from stocking making many Christmases ago. Anyway, I stitched them up at night while we watched Netflix and attached them to little slips of paper with a stamped message. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tmDs5__sldzGiXgfX_Ll2eGRk8D2MxOT4_ZkZCBox1KvpPRBwD9Ica1302YA-gC9ME0tSniOoFzI0g77q7vtssm0zNtbBGKqKLij5zTYo16DofXDRFXDqiD1BWX_zDXTb_eSOBbFFXZA/s1600/Valentines-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tmDs5__sldzGiXgfX_Ll2eGRk8D2MxOT4_ZkZCBox1KvpPRBwD9Ica1302YA-gC9ME0tSniOoFzI0g77q7vtssm0zNtbBGKqKLij5zTYo16DofXDRFXDqiD1BWX_zDXTb_eSOBbFFXZA/s1600/Valentines-6.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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"You are awesome!" My friends ARE awesome. And I think that funky handmade pins are rad. I hope they do, too. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvdzqchNhKGWCT-C4uUesKlFL4KcanjXEfhPXpCs5oZUmTDwCN5BZtPPDzsRhCAawijVOjqrAI0FeFrX3BFDumcG801AzxTGACfbXwPFSOwZ1JVfpYEWiD6qM6Bydl-8piqXTzZhR1kz5/s1600/Valentines-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvdzqchNhKGWCT-C4uUesKlFL4KcanjXEfhPXpCs5oZUmTDwCN5BZtPPDzsRhCAawijVOjqrAI0FeFrX3BFDumcG801AzxTGACfbXwPFSOwZ1JVfpYEWiD6qM6Bydl-8piqXTzZhR1kz5/s1600/Valentines-7.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Friends, I hope that you have the happiest of Valentines. Maybe you can use some of these ideas for some last minute gifts- they are all so easy! For more Valentine's Day ideas you can check out my "Be Mine, Valentine" <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/greenergrass/be-mine-valentine/" target="_blank">Pinterest Board.</a></div>
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xoxo,</div>
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mel</div>
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<br />Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-38264125934207479212014-02-06T19:53:00.000-05:002014-02-06T19:53:05.007-05:00Quick and Easy Valentine's Day Decorations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Friends, isn't Valentine's Day so fun? I mean once you get past those high pressure high school situations where you're stressed out as to whether or not you're going to get a balloon, or a carnation, or whatever item student council was selling before the day is over. ("<wbr></wbr>Four for you Glen Coco, You GO Glen Coco! ....And none for Gretchen Weiners.") Valentine's Day is just fun and sweet and a great time to spread a little happy around. </div>
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I put up a few quick little decorations around the house to make things more festive for the holiday. They are easy and inexpensive so I thought I'd share them with you today...just in case you're in to that kind of thing. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKj8bWMNVJ3PjmCDWUGGkBw3ASNZs5DJlcbCXWiSAW8QUPigbju2miwOVYbezuE3RDCKZAH5uFtBsnRyut0HiVLkxoX2R6w9giY6VwkYsd6fXY1o8nOy13jfu4KmKpCGLgB0KY4C5s7yb/s1600/Valentines+Day+-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKj8bWMNVJ3PjmCDWUGGkBw3ASNZs5DJlcbCXWiSAW8QUPigbju2miwOVYbezuE3RDCKZAH5uFtBsnRyut0HiVLkxoX2R6w9giY6VwkYsd6fXY1o8nOy13jfu4KmKpCGLgB0KY4C5s7yb/s1600/Valentines+Day+-5.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm going to go ahead and give a little disclaimer for the photographers among us. The color in these photos is weird. That is all. Thank you.</div>
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The first little project I made was the tiny doily banner. I keep a little stash of small doilies to use for packaging and random projects. I love them because they are so dainty and sweet, so naturally they make perfect Valentine's Day decorations. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifo2bTMt49eMJdbd6GX7J3iBSBQvk5Cn15D3nuJjQjMxw8jdntQULeweMDPPyhlKqX8sqpBW2q4C8GH_SzKOuEhujd6KYaOe5rXYd2PBIk8yrYRQdEtXHacwyaXu_mEO6A_BZ6Z59-lSUF/s1600/Valentines+Day+-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifo2bTMt49eMJdbd6GX7J3iBSBQvk5Cn15D3nuJjQjMxw8jdntQULeweMDPPyhlKqX8sqpBW2q4C8GH_SzKOuEhujd6KYaOe5rXYd2PBIk8yrYRQdEtXHacwyaXu_mEO6A_BZ6Z59-lSUF/s1600/Valentines+Day+-10.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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All you need are doilies and some twine or ribbon. I folded the doilies in half over my piece of twine and secured both sides together with a little piece of rolled up scotch tape. You could also use glue or a staple. </div>
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Make it as long or as short as you want. Easy peasy. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwD7DixOh3n-lYPI0DYO2sYHYXWdxeTyIu9VSgbMCFBgJItPm77Jx5UEttoLAjEnrt5zy3WGKBk_VN7Ql1ModzScXypQQZh0BDwdXrzeH4oQCbx3UfS5gWPDqj_wIhZF0Ac6nPptl3vb38/s1600/Valentines+Day+-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwD7DixOh3n-lYPI0DYO2sYHYXWdxeTyIu9VSgbMCFBgJItPm77Jx5UEttoLAjEnrt5zy3WGKBk_VN7Ql1ModzScXypQQZh0BDwdXrzeH4oQCbx3UfS5gWPDqj_wIhZF0Ac6nPptl3vb38/s1600/Valentines+Day+-8.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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The second project was to add a little Valentine's Day love to my twinkle lights. Ford loves lights and like to point at them and talk about them, so it's fun to turn them into decorations for other holidays besides just Christmas. </div>
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I used a short string of white lights and a small book of Valentine's Day-themed scrapbook paper that I bought last year at Michael's, I think.</div>
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I made a heart template and traced it on to several different paper patterns and cut the hearts out. Mine are about 3 inches tall.</div>
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Next, I used a standard sized hold punch to cut a hole near the middle/top area of the heart. </div>
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Then, it's hard to see, but I took my scissors and cut 4 little small slits around the hole. That just gives a little bit of room for the light to slide through, but still remain snug. </div>
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Then just stick them on your lights! I put a heart on every third or fourth light.<br />
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That's all there is to it! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5WZsf1Jl1CFvfICqBc3ym4bei3LgDCyaht6Zscvl_bFlKZu4iCnuI-SsjU6lkE2LBx186zMQj2v8UsPZrl3lJ5nGwEGVX4fvQsm0u_r7q-og0eP8gHh6zY5mWSfIFYhV6wcYu5abKevi/s1600/Valentines+Day+-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5WZsf1Jl1CFvfICqBc3ym4bei3LgDCyaht6Zscvl_bFlKZu4iCnuI-SsjU6lkE2LBx186zMQj2v8UsPZrl3lJ5nGwEGVX4fvQsm0u_r7q-og0eP8gHh6zY5mWSfIFYhV6wcYu5abKevi/s1600/Valentines+Day+-9.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
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I think these would be sweet strung up in a child's room above their bed, too. Twinkle lights make everything look magical.<br />
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So there you have it...quick and easy Valentine's Day decorations that are sweet and simple. </div>
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I wish you all the carnations your heart desires this Valentine's day!</div>
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mel</div>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-58661843676206859162014-01-30T14:57:00.005-05:002014-01-30T23:26:33.035-05:00It's Time for Spring Sewing Classes!Y'all. I am so excited to tell you about the sewing classes that we have coming up this next month. It has been a loooooooong time since I've been able to teach. Since Ford was born, it's been hard for me to get things together, but thanks to lots of helpful friends and family who are willing to help carry the load sewing classes are back! Yay!<br />
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Below are the details for the two beginner classes that are coming up very soon. Keep in mind that class sizes are small- the maximum I'll take is 4 people! Also, due to our new family routines, Sewing 101 is also only going to be offered 2 or 3 times this year. Ford keeps me pretty busy, but I'm trying to squeeze you guys in :) If you don't make it in this time around, we can add you to the waiting list for the next class.<br />
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Come learn to do something awesome! You'll be glad you did!<br />
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To sign up for either class, you can visit our <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/o/greener-grass-5989330879" target="_blank">Eventbrite page</a>, send an email to jess.johnson286 AT gmail.com or send a message to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreenerGrassMelissaDark" target="_blank">Greener Grass via Facebook</a>.<br />
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<b>Sewing 101</b>- A Class for Beginners<br />
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This is the perfect class for a beginner. You don't have to have any sewing knowledge whatsoever! We will start at square one and take it slow. Each week we will complete a project that will teach you a new range of sewing skills and I'll show you how those skills can be applied to all of your future projects, too! The beauty of this class is that you get to really focus on your skills and learning your machine over the course of a few weeks. You'll get some really great practice and hands on learning time. This course is especially for people who have doubts about their ability to learn to sew. Give me 6 weeks and you'll become a confident seamstress!<br />
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The class will meet <b>Tuesday nights February 11th through March 18th</b> at my house from <b>7-9 p.m.</b><br />
The course is <b>6 weeks and the cost is $175.</b><br />
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Included with the course are instructions and patterns for 5 projects, detailed and personal instruction in a one on one setting, access and use of a sewing machine, and Sewing 101 Manual.<br />
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All other supplies (fabric, notions, etc) will be provided by the student.<br />
<br />
Supply lists, additional class information, Sewing 101 Manual, contact info for help and guidance will be provided at the time of payment.<br />
<br />
<b>What you'll learn in Sewing 101:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>how to use your sewing machine (and become friends with it!)</li>
<li>sewing terminology</li>
<li>different types of seams and hems</li>
<li>how to follow an instructional pattern</li>
<li>basics of fabric buying and cutting</li>
<li>how to make ruffles</li>
<li>basic hand sewing stitches</li>
<li>several decorative techniques</li>
<li>how to sew on a button</li>
<li>sources for buying beautiful and affordable fabric</li>
<li>resources for learning more on your own</li>
<li>and more!</li>
</ul>
Register <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/sewing-101-a-class-for-beginners-registration-10444675305?aff=eorg" target="_blank">HERE</a>!<br />
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<b>Kickstarter: How to Sew Throw Pillows- </b>A Workshop for Beginners<br />
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In this workshop you'll learn some sewing basics while getting to make throw pillows two different ways! This is a great chance to get your feet wet in the world of sewing in highly useful and instantly gratifying way. Kickstarter workshops are not as in depth as Sewing 101, of course, but you'll learn the basics in a condensed course and make something fun while you're at it. This is a great refresher course if you haven't sewn in a while or maybe you think you'd catch on quick to sewing but you just don't know where to start.<br />
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This workshop will be held<b> Friday, February 7th 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 8th 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. </b><br />
The workshop meets at my house and the <b>cost is $85.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Included with the course are instructions and patterns for making throw pillows two ways, detailed and personal instruction in a one on one setting, access and use of a sewing machine, and Sewing 101 Manual.<br />
<br />
All other supplies (fabric, notions, etc) will be provided by the student.<br />
<br />
Supply lists, additional class information, Sewing 101 Manual, and my contact info for help and guidance during supply shopping will be provided at the time of payment.<br />
<br />
<b>What you'll learn in a Kickstarter Workshop:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>how to use your sewing machine (and become friends with it!)</li>
<li>sewing terminology</li>
<li>how to sew a seam and hem</li>
<li>how to follow an instructional pattern</li>
<li>basics of fabric buying and cutting</li>
<li>a basic hand sewing technique</li>
<li>an easy decorative technique to make your pillows unique</li>
<li>sources for buying beautiful and affordable fabric</li>
<li>resources for learning more about sewing</li>
</ul>
Register <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/kickstarter-how-to-sew-throw-pillows-a-workshop-for-beginners-registration-10434709497?aff=eorg" target="_blank">HERE</a>! <br />
<ul>
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Mark you calendars for these classes coming soon:</div>
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<b>"Sewing for Littles" Series</b> - Intermediate</div>
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Making a Boys Short-All (Jon Jon)- February 28th and March 1st</div>
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Making a Girls Apron Knot Dress- March 14th and 15th</div>
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<b>Kickstarter Workshop- Sewing an A-line skirt</b> - Beginner</div>
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April 25th and 26th</div>
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<b>Simplicity 2147: Sewing a Cool Tunic Using a Commercial Pattern</b>- Intermediate</div>
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Date and Time TBD</div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-80970563252058480602014-01-20T22:41:00.002-05:002014-01-20T22:48:26.055-05:00Sleep Crisis 2014: "Snuggle-Gate"We're in the midst of a small, I don't want to say crisis, but well...things are a bit of a mess. The problem is related to sleep, something I hold near and dear to my heart. Unfortunately, my baby (like many of his kind) has little-to-no regard for the sanctity and goodness of sleep.<br />
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You
see, I have this incredibly snuggle-y cuddly baby that loves to be
curled up right next to you. He loves to rub your skin and pat your back
and play with your hair. It is melt your heart adorable.<br />
<br />
From
the time he was teeny tiny he has rubbed our arms and skin with his
little bitty fingers. It's a funny self-soothing quirk. But it's not
really self soothing is it, because he needs an arm to rub and that arm is
attached to me or David, ergo we are part of the soothing process. No blankies will suffice for the feel of skin to tiny Ford.<br />
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<br />
Also, He has never slept super well.<br />
<br />
We've
always rocked him to sleep and then laid him down in his bed. I tried
to do a little sleep training a handful of times...just trying to get
him to be able to self-soothe and put himself to sleep in his crib. I
read dozens of articles and books, spoke to several of my mommy-mentors
and readied myself emotionally to listen to him cry for what the books
said would be "15-30 minutes" for a few days before he eventually complied to our
new sleep plan.<br />
<br />
What actually happened was that he cried
for 30 minutes the first day, 45 on the second day, and 1.5 hours on the
3rd day. No matter how tired he was, he could not calm down enough to
sleep on his own. I gave up. This maddness was repeated each time we revisited the idea of sleep training. <br />
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So then, my amazingly snuggle-y, not so good sleeping baby got sick right around Thanksgiving. Ford
got a little cold and was coughing and couldn't breath well while he was
sleeping. After trying everything we could think of and everything that people suggested to us (including but not limited to: oils, ointments, medicine, no medicine, humidifiers, mattress adjusting, and prayers for miraculous intervention) the only thing that seemed to help was for one of us to hold him and sleep propped up on pillows.<br />
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He was pitiful. He couldn't sleep most nights, so we didn't sleep most nights. Sometimes it was so bad that he and I would go sit on the bathroom floor with the hot shower running and watching videos on the Ipad. For a week or so the coughing fits ending in him throwing up on me every. single. night. Needless to say, we felt so bad for him and wanted him to feel and sleep as good as possible, so of course we slept with him every night in an effort to relieve some of his suffering.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYA3-bHMLhMac5_UjJw644YcTVvFbGVAXAYAovDwhihKsaSFyPcJCKidAmUZze6er3xkl13qHC65JkSJ2ZjSgM4pXz-ZYCztHchTPkn_u2uyr03naOEyrHgj9mgcSkG1ouQXgJyw84X1_N/s1600/Sleep+Troubles+01-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYA3-bHMLhMac5_UjJw644YcTVvFbGVAXAYAovDwhihKsaSFyPcJCKidAmUZze6er3xkl13qHC65JkSJ2ZjSgM4pXz-ZYCztHchTPkn_u2uyr03naOEyrHgj9mgcSkG1ouQXgJyw84X1_N/s1600/Sleep+Troubles+01-9.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Though Ford slowly recovered from his maladies (thank you, Lord) he could not seem to shake the need for a sleeping buddy.<br />
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It's becoming a bit of a problem. Since Thanksgiving we have been sleeping with the baby. We have tried to get in back in his crib with little or no success, sometimes staying up nearly all night caught in the cycle of rocking him to sleep, laying him the crib, him sitting straight up and crying, then back to the rocking chair again.<br />
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We also think he may just like the big bed instead of his crib. Even if we are not in the big bed with him, he sleeps much longer there than in his crib. <br />
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I have conflicted feelings!<br />
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I want to "do the right thing" and have Ford go to sleep in his own bed and sleep through the night. Is that too much to ask? I want to work while he sleeps. I want to be able to clean the house (read: look at pinterest and watch TV.) I want him to stay in his sweet little crib. By himself. And SLEEP!<br />
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But on the other hand he smells so good after his bath and he IS so snuggly. He feels really soft and warm and you just look at him being so sweet and sleepy. He sleep SO LONG when he sleeps with us. It's a huge sleepfest. And he's only going to be little and want to sleep and cuddle with me for a short season. Why not enjoy it?<br />
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So what's a mama to do?!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievqOj6tr3DFOISHWxy9_y_-jZJxepv-feoJtxjJxTDi2eGedWGgiTjlyaDi6DPxFCE3EDu07jZKsp2ytU9D2jngTK171Gy69qxCKdLSBifx11DNMg8aeZBJsuZ51pPUxLSSeRdprkXriZ/s1600/Sleep+Troubles+01-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievqOj6tr3DFOISHWxy9_y_-jZJxepv-feoJtxjJxTDi2eGedWGgiTjlyaDi6DPxFCE3EDu07jZKsp2ytU9D2jngTK171Gy69qxCKdLSBifx11DNMg8aeZBJsuZ51pPUxLSSeRdprkXriZ/s1600/Sleep+Troubles+01-4.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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At this point I feel like these are my options:<br />
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1. Kick him out. Just go without sleep for however long it takes and make him sleep in his own bed. There will be much crying and gnashing of teeth. I may never sleep again.<br />
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2. Pray to sweet baby Jesus (<a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2014/01/christmas-highlights.html" target="_blank">who is still missing, by the way</a>) that he gets over it and wants to get back in that crib.<br />
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3. Give in. Surrender the guest bed to Ford for him to use as his new big boy bed. Put side rails on it and hope for the best. Cry because he is too old. Immediately work on having another baby.<br />
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3. Embrace it. Start reading Dr. Sears books and declare that we are a co-sleeping family and this was our plan all along. Tell everyone else that co-sleeping makes your child smarter and that they are ridiculous to want their babies in a crib. Start making my own granola.<br />
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So that's where I am on the issue. I don't want him in my bed anymore and I simultaneously and equally want him to sleep with us and snuggle forever. I feel guilty that he's not sleeping in his own bed and want him to be able to soothe himself to sleep because "they say" that's important. I want to watch him breathe while he sleeps.<br />
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I also want to enjoy the heck of out this little guy while he is still little. I don't <i>think</i> there is any "right way" necessarily to do most things in parenting, but most of the time, as a mom, you <i>feel</i> like surely there is a right way and everyone knows it, but me.<br />
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Maybe this baby is just ruined and we'll try to do better next time.<br />
Mel<br />
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::Don't forget about the <a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2014/01/craft-night-lets-make-magnet-board.html" target="_blank">Greener Grass Craft Party</a> this Friday night. We still have a few more spots open! You can get more info and sign up on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreenerGrassMelissaDark" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a>::<br />
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<br />Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858353111210442318.post-59092763857691544182014-01-11T00:15:00.001-05:002014-01-21T08:36:42.555-05:00Craft Night: Let's Make a Magnet Board!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hi friends! I'm so excited to invite you to the first official Greener Grass creative event of 2014!</div>
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We are hosting a craft night on Friday, January 24th and we'll be making these fun magnet boards. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WmBU0WAqG2ngHE8l7cb6pQjf1VkdRo5SI2KGZP2EgjVkWkXzJzSCGrcll5BteY9HKgIIgarwYhKQkAHm1nf1258KO1Tw8_4JQ6I8WwFy7cWmWRIR8XIk0yPuz-MyZnmkEhVQlrdr_zL0/s1600/IMG_3041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WmBU0WAqG2ngHE8l7cb6pQjf1VkdRo5SI2KGZP2EgjVkWkXzJzSCGrcll5BteY9HKgIIgarwYhKQkAHm1nf1258KO1Tw8_4JQ6I8WwFy7cWmWRIR8XIk0yPuz-MyZnmkEhVQlrdr_zL0/s1600/IMG_3041.jpg" height="426" width="640"></a></div>
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The party is from 7-9 p.m. at my home. Directions will be provided upon payment. It will be a great time of crafting and community. And, how adorable are these magnet boards?!</div>
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They make great "picture frames" or even recipe holders for the kitchen.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvGj9Z401PWyCdgLp20-aHwUmQquWXeNO_8DPktLoedvEZtMwAhOty7Qb4eoDghcfAwfeThWkPlJAe-AslbSpBVos1jOVhaq_s2qR8I0Wul8SvyM6nuUUZElOVyRyJNBdd6YpAWdwCs5a/s1600/IMG_3051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvGj9Z401PWyCdgLp20-aHwUmQquWXeNO_8DPktLoedvEZtMwAhOty7Qb4eoDghcfAwfeThWkPlJAe-AslbSpBVos1jOVhaq_s2qR8I0Wul8SvyM6nuUUZElOVyRyJNBdd6YpAWdwCs5a/s1600/IMG_3051.jpg" height="426" width="640"></a></div>
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I made one for my desk with a little chalkboard that holds my notes and "things to do." </div>
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We'll have tons of supplies to customize and make a unique project that fits your style! We'll also be making magnets to coordinate with your board…and let me tell you, I am LOVING thinking of all the magnet possibilities! </div>
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We'll provide all the supplies and some light snacks…just bring yourself! If you are interested in attending just send us a message via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreenerGrassMelissaDark" target="_blank">our fancy new Greener Grass Facebook page</a> with your email and we'll send you an invitation and more information. </div>
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The cost of this event is $35. Spaces are limited.</div>
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We hope to see you on Friday, January 24th for Craft Night! Bring a friend and come make something with us!</div>
<br>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350873182067912417noreply@blogger.com1