My Photo Friday.....a new view

Just wanted a share a snapshot from my week. I literally pulled the car over, hopped out and snapped this photo in our rush and whirlwind of a week! 

This photo isn't anything spectacular......the composition isn't anything that makes you stop and look twice....but it does sum up my week. If the photo grabbed your attention enough and you are still reading, (*snicker*) then let me briefly expound. :) 

We are moving to UTAH! We have been house hunting for weeks now and we have hopefully, finally, come to the end of that road. I jetted across state lines to see a few houses and we should know soon if we got the one we liked. It has been a long and short whirlwind of a week and this is what I managed to capture and share with you - our new view.
(if you live there give me a shout out in the comments!) :)

We've got another tee refashion to share next week and another crafty tutorial! 

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April 12th, 1980

This past week was my parent's 30th wedding anniversary. She had just turned 28, he had just turned 30. They had known each other for 3 years and had already "married themselves" outside at the Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge, NH a year before.

She was 5 months pregnant with my older sister and I think she viewed the church wedding as almost a formality, because hey, she was already devoted and committed to my father.

The ceremony took place at a teeny chapel in Southern Maryland in the early morning. They dug up several forsythia bushes from an abandoned gas station, clipped some and replanted the rest outside as a thank you for the church. Each spring when the forsythia blooms, they get a little kick thinking about it.

It was a close family and friends only wedding. No aunts, no cousins, or fuss, or seating charts. No DIY extravaganza projects. They just picked up the bouquet and corsages from the florist that morning, my aunt Terri (holding the baby) made a carrot cake, they went out to a big lunch and then my parents went to the Kennedy Center for a performance of Giselle. Is this kind of wedding still even possible?

Her dress was a Gunne Sax that cost $60 from Woodward and Lopthrop in DC. She kept it hanging on her wall displayed for my whole childhood, so everyday she'd wake up and be reminded of her wedding.

They have a really strong relationship and I think it boils down to the fact that they talk. A lot. Everyday. They talk through every thought and concern and problem. They also joke a lot, which means they laugh a lot.

But my favorite thing about them is that whenever I have my camera out, my dad will swoop down and give my mom a big, romantic smooch. Without fail, they still kiss for the camera and it gets me every time.

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"KnotTEE" refashion tutorial....Made by Rae Spring Top challenge #2

After posting my first entry last week I have gotten a bit scissor happy! lol......If it's knit and not being used to it's full potential, it's fair game! :)

I also realized I should have taken more photos of the process to post a tutorial as so many of you requested more instructions. (thank you) So, I will be posting step by step instructions for 2 new tops! 

Today's top is a NO SEW refashion of a plain tee. I decided to use t-shirts for the Spring Top challenge because I think everyone has plenty in their closet that could use makeover OR if you don't, they are cheap and accessible to pick up. (it's all about being thrifty but looking fabulous right?)

The "KnotTEE" spring top...

(please share the top you create from this tutorial in our Flickr group!)
download and print off the tutorial HERE

Materials:

1 t-shirt (any color. best if it's 1 size larger than you normally wear)

scissors

measuring tape

Step1: Cut up the middle from bottom through the top

Step 2: Measure from the outside of the collar 10" down to the middle line you just cut. Cut away the material. Repeat on the opposite side.

Step 3: Cut off the remaining collar.

Step 4: Cut strips about 3" long and about 1" wide all the way down each side.

Step 5: Starting at the top, take 1 strip from each side and tie in a knot bringing the center together. Continue all the way down.

Step 6: Cut off the cuff of each sleeve.

Step 7: Cut a 1" slit on the "top" of the sleeve

Step 8: Cut a 3" slit into the sleeve. (this creates 2 pieces to knot like the front of the shirt) Tie into a knot on each sleeve.

and you are done! It's not a "fancy" top but it's one that ANYONE can do - even your kids - and that's why I wanted to share this design. It's still a plain colored t-shirt but now it's got texture, interest and something people will notice about it. 

If you try this tutorial out please share your photo in the Brassy Apple Flickr group! 

linking up with.....Keeping it simple, Making the World Cuter, Skip to My Lou, The Girl Creative, 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven, A soft place to land, New Nostalgia, Tip Junkie, Silly Little Sparrow, Todays Creative Blog, Craft Edition

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My Photo Friday.....what nature teaches us

Bloom where you are planted.....or wherever life seems to throw you!

or how about.....

It's better to be on top of the pile than under it

or what about...

Even if life is "poopy", LIFE still goes on....

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Windows Driver Update - Get it Now

Spring cleaning? Now is the time to update the DisplayLink USB Graphics driver version 5.3 for Windows. Features include:

- Improved Windows 7 DirectX 10 support on Intel GPUs
- Minimal Impact Installation
- Enhanced support for notebook lid close use case
- HDMI Support
- Better support for switchable platforms
- Improved uninstallation

Drivers support the many flavors of Windows including: Windows 7 (64bit), Windows 7 (32bit), Windows Vista (64bit), Windows Vista (32bit), Windows XP (32bit)and Windows 2000. Download them from the DisplayLink driver page.

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Made by Rae challenge....from boxy to flirty & foxy! ha ha...

I stumbled across this challenge a few weeks ago on the Made by Rae blog and really wanted to jump right in! "A "selfish" sewing challenge to create a Spring Top" as was explained on her blog. I mean, how often do YOU actually sew for yourself? In my case, it's not that often. I knew I didn't want to use a pattern but instead turned to my DIY and re-purposing skills. :)

I took this orange "boxy" long sleeved tee style top from banana republic that was on the outs to a second hand store.....

and with a little snip up the middle.....

and a crop of the sleeves......

cut a rounded edge and gathered it for interest.....

added some ruffles around the entire hemline and up to the neckine by cutting strips from another tee. A dainty tie to pull it together in the middle......

and what top isn't complete without these popular rolled flowers which I added some beading too...

and a once boxy top that had seen it's day, is now flirty, foxy and ready for Spring! 

and it's all knit tee material so I just gets popped into the washer and dryer! gotta love that! ;) 

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Home Decor Balls......tutorial

I love changing out the decor of my home 3-4 times a year as the seasons change. It makes everything feel new again, even if the items are the same from the last time I used them. I also love canisters, baskets and containers full of textures and colors. These are REALLY easy to change out and can bring something new to any room.

I created some really quick and easy decor balls that can be popped into a basket, decorative bowl, tall glass container, etc. and easily changed out when you get tired of them!

Materials:
wiffle balls (packages of 4 sold at the $1 store)
moss - (used reindeer moss) any color/texture you like
twine/jute/thick cording
burlap
hot glue
spray paint (optional)
mod podge (optional)

 Decide how many balls you want to decorate for your container and gather the necessary amount of supplies.
(share your photos in the Brassy Apple flickr group please) 

Jute/Twine/cording:

Using hot glue, secure one end of the twine to the ball. (I placed the end inside and glued it down just outside of that. Apply hot glue to a small area and wrap the twine tightly in a flat circle, expanding out across the surface of the ball.

Snip the end, tuck, and glue in place!

I used some old gold cord that I had knowing gold was not the color I wanted but loved the thickness and texture it created. So.....a little paint, and it transformed this gold ball into something more chic! 

Moss:

Using hot glue and large amounts of moss, apply it all around the ball. Cup the ball on both sides often to press the moss in place and apply glue as necessary to get a good shape. If you apply the moss thick enough you shouldn't be able to see the ball at all. 

Burlap:

Cut several strips of burlap. They can be random scraps/shapes or stripes of random widths and lengths. Apply the strips around the ball gluing the end down, place a small dot of hot glue in the middle and then glue down the other end.

Criss cross the pieces of burlap until the entire ball is covered. 

You can leave the burlap ball as it is or to make the burlap wrap around the ball more smoothly and have a round shape, apply some mod podge and smooth the edges. Allow to dry and snip any areas as needed.

Repeat with has many balls as desired! Try applying other materials to the outsides of the balls too. Please upload and share your photos of this project in our Brassy Apple Flickr Group! 


Have fun creating your own Home decor balls and filling up containers all over your house! We combined ours with some green "mossy" rocks (found at the $1 store too!) Oh and the wire basket was a second hand store find that was sage green and rose in color. I spray painted it white to update it and make it more my style! :)

linking up with these blogs: me and my bucket, life in the pitts, trendy treehouse, someday crafts, Blue Cricket Design, room to inspire, the thrify home, my backyard eden, and sew much ado

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