Pre Prep..

Two weeks till the feast

Thanksgiving dinner is first and foremost about the food.

 I am hosting this years family gathering.

I really needed to update my table linens. 

I am not that inspired with this holiday to sew but I decided that 

a couple of new table runners would brighten up the atmosphere.

Multi colored leaf runner.

Optional gold rimmed setting.
(I only have enough for 4.) 

Orange print fabric I had in my stash, it was
barely enough for a runner.
I gathered the glass birds to see if that could
work as a center piece.

A potpourri of leaves, bark, mesh-mash of autumnal things.

The old bird gets center stage on this trial place setting.

I like the thought of using different print napkins at each place.

The china was inherited from my sweet 90 yr. old mother-in-law.

~
My next post will be props for my turkey day photo booth.

I Fall onto....

my couch this time of year to gear up for 

the long days that I will spend inside.

I took a short trip to the Provo Library, love this building. It used to be the 

Brigham Young Academy back in it's day.

The city rebuilt and renovated it to 

become a library and an event place.

That's Brigham Young in front statue.

Who wouldn't want to learn how American

 started their trade relationship with China!

The cover of this book was like a magnet to me.

The introduction is really informative, but I lost 

interest in its LOOOONG chapters.

This book is about a year in time in a small area that a biologists

will visit and document the change that occurs in nature.

I like it so far.

and so begins the transition from Autumn to Winter..........

My Front Door is Happy!

I have had a few Halloween Wreaths on my front door, 

but they always seem to look dated when I go to put

 them up the next season.

So, I once again, said that I was finished with crafting 

anything related to Halloween, and ended up making this wreath.

I bought a plain straw wreath and sprayed painted it black.

I made my festoon bunting
(see previous blog post titled : My version of orange and black to see how to make this,)

This vintage pumpkin head was on a broken body
 that I found at Hobby Lobby and got an extra 66 % off.
I then sawed the head off the body...
(No blood in involved in the dismemberment, but I did enjoy using a Hack saw!)

Here  is        "it's"        resting     place.

Time to get into character for the upcoming October 31st night!

Go Forth My Daughter and Serve

Dallas is going go on an LDS (Latter Day Saint) mission.

She came to this decision about 6 months ago.

Getting the letter.

sister kiss of excitement!

Dallas' good friend Jordan is going to the same mission.


Dallas opened her letter in front of 40 friends and family, the Swede and 
I were in California and were watching via SKYPE.

Her mission call is to Baltimore, Maryland.
She will leave in early March and will serve for 18 months.

I am so happy for her and especially that she will be in the USA.

Good As New

I love a project no matter what it is, I live in house that was built in 1994. 

That doesn't seem that long ago.. (especially when you are in your fifties!) but,

 it does have design elements that need an update occasionally.

Take for instance the below photos of the family room light/fan.

Bright gold chrome..and the 90's era of oak wood accent fan blades.

The cut glass was an elegant touch for a fan, not sure
 why people liked this sort of thing?

I have vaulted ceilings in this room 
so the fan is way up high.

I have wanted to UPDATE this fan for years and finally 
had looked at it enough in disgust and asked the "Swede" for his help.

I bought the new look that included 2 colors of 
spray paint and glass lamp shades seen below.

We disassembled the complete fixture and
sprayed the gold to a rustic brown.

The fan blades were easy...we just switched them over,
 on the upper side are the old oak ones.
This gave the a more updated look with lighter blades.

The total cost of this project was approx. $ 33.00 and our
time spent was about 6 hours.

Now the room feels more cozy and I am happy I didn't
 have to replace the fan.

My version of: Orange & Black

And so it goes at my house orange & black holiday decorations.

I would try my very best not to buy anything 

else to decorate my home.

(It's getting a little easier as I move through my fifties).

I happened to have downloaded the Michales Craft  and

 Hobby Lobby app to get their coupons (love those apps). 

Well, to get back to the story, I forgot that Hobby Lobby

 is one of the last so called craft stores that has a fabric department. 

I found something new that I have not seen before... 

 printed burlap

more printed burlap

Ok, I have been out of the sewing loop for several years.

I decided right then and there that I would make a pendant banner for my kitchen areas.

I found a printed dotted burlap and used orange & black and a some 

cotton fabric to make my banner.

Close up of fabric selection.

finished banners

I love festoons...you say what are those?

Here is what you need to make "fringed tissue paper chain"

I used two different colors. Each package has 8 sheets.
Layer with alternating colors, you will have 4 sheets of each color.
Fold in half cut down center.

Take each half and fold again and then again until
you have the what the picture above looks like.

I cut a cotton string placed it in the fold line and
then staple down the spine to secure the string.

Now cut the "fringe" I like small cuts.
It gives a fuller look to your festoon.

NOW...fluff and scrunch, roll fluff and continue
until you get a look that looks like the below photo's.
Tie the chain together.
(sorry I thought I had taken photo's of this step.)

Here is what the festoon chain
looks like on my china hutch.

Closer look

I added a miniature pumpkin garland to my festoon.


Well... off to do more decorating!!

Swenson Family Beach House Reunion

August 11-14, 2013

Ventura County California

The swede's family held their reunion at the Sailors Sandcastle Beach House located at:

click here to see the beach area: Solimar Beach

The Group
-missing from our family were about 10 family members.

This was a special vacation for our family, Dallas (far left) was going off to college, and Finn (our grandson-Aubry & Todd's oldest child far right) was with us on his "12" year old trip.

(left to right-Dallas, Me, the Swede, Katlin, Ariel and Finn)