Changes they are a comin'. . .

Happy New Year everyone! This past year has really flown by. My wish for all of my blogging friends is that in 2011 all your troubles be as short lived as your New Year's resolutions!!

2011 will bring many changes for me. Hubby and I plan on starting a kitchen renovation that may very well take us into 2012!! We are not doing any structural changes, just cosmetic ones mostly, but we are on a very tight budget and will have to do things a little at a time as money allows. I am very excited to get started and very excited to see the finished product as well. We are going for a french country sort of look in a tan, cream and red color scheme with black accents. I am really into roosters right now so I will be incorporating some of those in my redo as well. I've found lots of inspiration and ideas among my blogging friends and can't wait to share this journey with y'all! I find that my decorating tastes are changing somewhat and I am embracing it and just going for it! I really like the country look wih an emphasis on some primitive touches. I'm finding myself not drawn to the rustic primitive look as much as I thought I was last year. I am now discovering that I like a more simplified, country, cozy look. I don't know if that makes any sense or not! I just feel like your home should be a reflection of what makes you happy, not what is "in" right now. So with that in mind, I am just going to go for it and we will see what happens.

I hope to become more involved in blogging in 2011 as well. Sometimes I don't feel as talented as some of you wonderful crafters out there and I get down on myself so I don't share a lot of the things I create. In 2011, that will change. I figure I am blogging for myself anyways, so if no one else likes what I share, it really shouldn't matter, right???

I also plan to share more recipes as I really enjoy reading a lot of cooking blogs and getting some really great ideas for new dishes to try out. I have found a newly discovered love of cooking during the past couple of years and I want to expand on that.

Well, that's it for now. I hope everyone has a wonderful evening and a marvelous New Year!

Until next time. . .

Merry CHRISTmas!!

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.



Until next time. . .

Made for Monday ~ Dishtowel Angels

My hubby and I were dining at Cracker Barrel a couple of weekends ago, and if you've ever been to one of their restaurants, you know they have an awesome country store attached to the restaurant. We always have to have a look around after we finish our wonderful meal and that day was no exception! I came across an angel made from a pot holder, a dish towel and a dish cloth that I just fell in love with. But at almost $18 for it, I had to pass it up. Too pricey for my budget! But hubby saw the wheels turning in my pea sized brain, and before I could speak, he says, "You could make that!" Does this man know me, or what?? LOL!! So on the way home, we made a stop by the Dollar Tree and I came home with $3 worth of supplies and I set to work. Here's my version of a Dishtowel Angel:



This literally took me all of five minutes to put together! I love it! Here's a how to so that you can make some yourself!

Supplies: one dish towel, one dish cloth, one potholder, some coordinating colored ribbon, embellishment of your choice.



Fist, take your potholder and fold it accordion style. Tie it in the middle with some ribbon.



Then cut a longer piece of ribbon and thread it under the ribbon you tied your potholder together with. This will be used to attach the potholder (angel's wings) to the angel's body.



Next, fold your towel accordion style and your dish cloth accordion style. It should look like this:



Next, take your towel and fold it in half length wise. The rounded part will be your angel's head and the bottom part, which will flare out when we are done, will be her skirt. Take your dish cloth and fold it over the rounded part of your towel as shown below:



Then take your potholder and position it behind the rounded part of your towel/cloth leaving enough of the rounded part to look like a head. Tie the potholder to the towel/cloth using the ribbon you threaded through the potholder. Trim excess ribbon as needed. It should look something like this:



Next, take smaller pieces of ribbon and tie off each "arm" of the dish cloth and also tie off the towel near the bottom. Flare out the skirt area below where your tie. Finish your angel by adding a bell, flower, or whatever to the tie around her neck. Here's my finished angel:



And a couple more I made. I found little flower buds in the ribbon aisle at Wal Mart which I just glued onto the ribbon around her neck. I also used a rusty bell on a couple of them for a more primitive look. I just tied these to the ribbon with some thread. I love these and what cute and inexpensive last minute Christmas gifts these would make for neighbors or co workers! To use them, all you have to do is untie the bows! Voila ~ a dish towel, dish cloth, and a pot holder! The color possibilities are endless! So, don't spend $18 on them at Cracker Barrel, just make them yourself!



I am linking up with these parties. Be sure to check out all the great ideas out there!









Until next time. . .