Happy 4th of July!!



Happy 4th of July Friend!  This little area greets my guests when they come to visit.
Most everthing is a flea market or garage sale find. 




One day while driving through town with my friend, Melissa, we came across some trash sitting on the side of the road.  Well, it was some good junk!  There was two of these wrought iron fence sections and we each snagged one.  Mine is my a flower bed.  I decorate it for different seasons.  I bought the welcome sign at a friend's garage sale.
My favorite motto:  One man's trash is another man's treasure!




My front door!



Front door wreath

One of my Pinteresting friends posted a flag pallette...I called Scott immediately and asked him to bring home a pallette.  Well, he did and I painted it up.  I added the wording and put it out front by the highway and added some color with a pot of zinnas.



My very favorite spot...my front porch swing!



I love to welcome my guests with a little seasonal cheer!

I found this treasure at a garage sale last week.  It's adorable and I added the little patriotic bear...also a garage sale find.

I also found the little antique tricycle and the rustic Ann and Andy...LOVED THEM!  They made a nice additional on my antique sewing cabinet and my great-grandmother's yo-yo quilt.

Sweet Gracie!

Nothing says Happy like homemade chocolate chip cookies!  Welcoming my boys home from camp.  A little mason jar with marigolds and lantana from my yard.

I made this several years ago.  A rag wreath heart to say, "I love America!"

A mason jar from a friend's son's wedding...the burlap on the jar is so cute with the jute hanging.  This hangs next to my kitchen sink.  I always have it full of flowers from my yard...added a flag!

So, there you have it...my yard and house decorated up for the 4th of July! 
From my family to yours....have a safe holiday and never forget
how blessed we are to live in a free country where our Christian founding fathers
paved the way for the freedom we still have today.

God Bless America!
One nation under GOD...


Zandra

There's just so much to tell you....but...

Yes, I am alive...

Thanksgiving Day at Lily's house!

Lily and Pops!

Chillin' with Pops watching TV...he's the coolest

Gobble til you Wobble!

My Thanksgiving is yummy too!

Love bath time and my new toys!

Lily and GranZee

Two of my beautiful girls!

It has been wild since my last post...to say the least!  Of course, school started a few days after my post AND my college courses toward my Master's.  However, I did have time for my Lily (not as much as I would have liked) I'm going to post and try to catch up. 

We went to Baton Rouge for Thanksgiving and the LSU game on Friday.  We had a great time and Rachel and Chris are awesome hosts!  You can see I did have a little time to make bibs and onesies for Lily.   To be continued...

Doodlebug Designs for my Doodlebug

Here are a few outfits for Lily...

Lily's two months old! 

Turned two months in July...red, white, and blue!

She's my little Doodlebug!

I needed somewhere to stick this cute little bug!

How cute is that?

My first dress to sew for Lily.  I love polka dots!  Hope Lily does too!

Bloomers to match!

A bib cloth to match...thought the Eiffel Tower would be appropriate for this outfit... Lily's mommy just love all things French.

Let's call it the "Ooh La Lily" collection!

Lily starts "school" on Monday...she's in the Strawberry room at her school.  Of course, I want her teacher's to know she has school spirit...plus they won't forget her name on the first day of school.
The picture didn't turn out so great...it's black gingham with red pin dot. 

My first attempt at "ruffle butts"...not too bad.  I used my new serger to create the rolled hems and them gathered them on my machine.  Super easy to add to the butt.  Can't want to see Miss Lily's hinny in these!

A burp cloth to match...not too happy with the lettering...not sure what is going on with my machine.  I'm not sure the software supports these fonts I have...they look funny.  Going to check into it.

Another little outfit....super easy and it was super cute on Lily.  It's a halter top dress and bloomers.  My first bloomers...quite simple!  I made shaggy roses to embellish the top, a hair clip and....

her butt! 

Going to Baton Rouge one last time before school starts for a little back to school shopping.  I love to take Lily prizes when I go down.  This time I am taking her shoes...getting her ready for football season!  I'm working on some LSU outfits for these.

I think these are about the cutest things EVER!  Cowboys boots!  I will be making some super cute outfits for these too!

Take care everyone...see you soon!

Look What I Did Today...

Mosiac Birdbath

I woke up feeling crafty!

I've had the supplies to do this for a couple of weeks and today was finally the day I felt like doing it.

I'm one of those crafters that if I'm not feeling it..it won't be cute.  Anyway, I love to mosaic it's fun and relaxing to fit the pieces together.  



Start with two clay pots and a saucer and lots and lots of mosiac pieces.  I have stained glass, rocks, ceramic tiles, ceramic pieces, glass stones...you name it.  Now, this is not a cheap project, these baubles can add up quickly.  I try to hit Hobby Lobby when they are on sale.  Also, you need a chalking gun and silicone chalk.



Squirt the chalk on...and stick in the baubles!
That simple!

Squirt it on with your gun.

Smear it around with an old paint brush.  Kinda thick.

After the two clay pots are done...glue them together.

Glue the saucer to the top.  Notice I did the edge of the saucer and I left the clay rounded edge.  I also did the inside.   Notice the little ceramic butterfly I glued on as an accent...cuteness! 

And there you have it...my mosiac birdbath. Take no notice of the dried up daylilies.  Pitiful! 

While I had out the mess I decided to make a couple of yard decorations.  I had these wooden crosses in my craft junk, so I had this brainstorm and bought a couple of dowels at Lowe's.  I stained them first and then squirted the chalk and squished in the stones.

Glued on the dowel with the chalk.  What do ya think? 

I just love all the bright colors out in the sunlight!  I snagged this old ball of rusty wire from Scott and added for a rustic look.

You also have to seal them with spray acyrlic sealer stuff. 
Speaking of Scott...he says, "no more yard art."
Party pooper!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!

A wreath of polymesh for the front door.  I embellished with a few stars and a little sign that says
"God Bless America"

Just got a request on how to make this...it's a roll of polymesh and a Christmas wreath.  Now, at Nichol's they sell colored wreaths to make these with...this one is red instead of green.  They have all colors.  You just use the branches of the wreath as wire and wire the polymesh on then make loops back and forth wiring along the way with the branches of the wreath.  Then you embellish with whatever occasion it is.  I will blog with pics the next one I make...ah..Halloween?
Keep stalking!

Gracie sportin' her star spangled collar.

Mr. Pig was a gift from a dear friend and I just love him!  His face tells it all! 
Getting ready for a treat!

No summer celebration is ever complete in our house without homemade ice cream!
It's been a tradition all my life....gotta keep those kind of traditions going!
Of course, in the old days we hand cranked our ice cream. 

Yummy!  I decided on something different this time...Lemon!
It was my dad's favorite...very unique tasting and refreshing!

PawPaw's Homemade Ice Cream

2-3 eggs
3 cups sugar
2 cans evaporated milk
1T flavoring
Milk

Beat eggs and add sugar.  Pour in cans of evaporated milk.  Add flavoring.  Pour into container and fill with milk to the fill line.
Taste!  Make sure you have enough flavoring for your tastebuds.  I usually add more depending on the flavor you are making.
Freeze as directed for your ice cream freezer.
Enjoy!

Love this fleu de lis flag I found at Nichol's!

My little pickett fence Scott made me.  I like to decorate it for the seasons.

Hope your 4th of July brings you happy times with family and friends celebrating the birth of

our nation!  Let us never forget the Christian principles that our founding fathers instilled into

a new nation...One Nation, UNDER God!  

God Bless the USA and God Bless You!

Happy 4th!