Quick Knit

I was on a great website for knitting patterns, yarn, and just general crafting projects, Purl Bee.  I hadn't spent much time on this site but one day I explored and found some sweet ideas.  This pattern in particular stuck out to me.  I used it as a starting point to make some dishcloths for the kitchen.  I happened to have red and white yarn in my yarn stash and just started knitting.  I love that when that happens, when I don't have to go shopping for yarn, or a pattern, or needles.  I can just go.  Knit away.  

This is actually the "wrong" side but I even like how this side looks.

Here is the right side.

This is a longer one.  Just did garter stitch the entire way, real easy.

 

Fun.  Cool looking. Done. 

Some color inspiration

Last summer Jason and I went on a road trip out west.  We camped and hiked in Glacier Nat. Park, Yellowstone Nat. Park, and Grand Tetons Nat. Park.  It was amazing.  We have been talking about this trip since we first started dating and to finally do it was great.  I actually spent an awesome summer in Yellowstone for a summer project with Campus Crusade.  I have a lot of memories there and I loved showing Jason around the Old Faithful area where I spent most of my time.  While on the trip we noticed these great retro looking posters and had to get one.  I used my handy Michaels coupon to have it framed.

I think it turned out great.  Great work and great quality.  I really like the color scheme in the poster.  I have not painted a single wall in our house.  Sad.  Maybe some of these colors can provide inspiration, maybe more muted tones though, these are a little bold for Jason's taste.

A second hand day

One great part about going to a city regularly for visits is slowly finding the great little shops.  An Ann Arbor must for me is a Treasure Mart stop.  Steph also introduced me to a Salvation Army store in town, which is now being added to the list of stops.  Hmm....this list is growing. 

 

Look at this basket of owls! 

 

 It does get a bit overwhelming at times with the huge amount of stuff.  There are three levels to the place.  Isn't it kind of funny how they put chairs on top of the tables?

I will post my Treasure Mart purchases soon.  I got some real great things.   There was so much to see here.  If you are ever in the area be sure to do some shopping here. 

Now for some Salvation Army time. 

Isn't this awesome?! I love the color coordination. It was all over this store. 

The stroller acted as our makeshift cart.  

That was a ton of pics, I even cut some out.  I think there is a direct correlation between how fun a day is and how many pictures I take.  Alright, soon I will share my second hand items from this great day.

A home away from home

Last week I had an opportunity to tag along with Jason on a work trip to Ann Arbor.  I swapped a shift with a co-worker and I was more than ready for a ride south.  I had a wonderful time.  I took lots of pictures and have many stories to share with you.  Just wanted to give you a little hint of things to come.  I don't have time right now...work awaits.  So, here is a peak.

This is a lost and found box I spotted in a church.  The pillow just struck me as interesting.  Who brings a pillow to church??  Is it for sitting on?  Is it for sleeping on?  I get that...I remember as a kid that I seemed to get so sleepy in church.  Maybe because it is so peaceful and it feels so safe in there, and usually it was warm.  Very good sleeping conditions.  I hope this pillow finds it's way home.

I love porches.  I have for quite a while.  I found when I returned home and looked over my pics there were quite a few of houses.  I plan on a post just with some of the great homes I saw.  Don't you love the rocking chairs?  The colors are great, can't go wrong with red, black, and white.   I can just picture rocking away with five other rocking friends! Ha! 

Isn't this tattoo awesome!?  No, I did not get a tat.  My friend Steph is my dear friend in Ann Arbor and we were out and about shopping and we ran into one of her friends and we chatted about crafting and just life.  She introduced me to letter press.  So cool.  Anyway, here is her cool tattoo. 

I really wanted this "God is our Hope" sign thing.  But alas, it was too much and out of my budget.  God is my hope and this is just a great reminder.  I would like more wall art with messages on them.  A lot of my etsy favorites are full of inspiring messages.  I don't know...sometimes you are just having one of those days and it is good to read something that refocuses you.  

Okay.  There is a little bit of a look at this trip.  More to come.  I promise. 

A makeshift closet

We brought our house last May.  We love it and feel very blessed to have a home and land to call our own.  However, we are a little lacking in the closest department.  In fact, in our master there is only room for my clothes, Jason keeps his in the room across the hall.  Just to be clear I have fewer clothes than Jason, he actually has the bigger of the two closets.  I have been brain storming ideas about what I can do to stretch the space.  This is what our front area has looked like, so messy.  Not a fan. 

Under that heap of coats there was a broken coat rack.  It just wasn't working for us.  I have been keeping my eyes pealed for something that would work in this spot.  I was that the Habit of Humanity Restore and found this sweet closet.   I would prefer to have something a little nicer in this spot, I picture a wardrobe more like one from Narnia.  This will have to do for now.  

Here is the before.

The during...

And AFTER!! 

 

 How about a little pop of color on the inside for some fun?  Well, it is still a bit messy in there but at least it is hidden from view.

A project long overdue

Last spring we bought a metal drawer set from an estate sale.  I had been looking around inside the house at the sale and Jason was looking around in the garage.  I joined him outside and spotted it.  How could he not see the beauty?  Well, maybe it was all the rust, dust, and junk inside the drawers.  I debated all year about if I should paint it or not.  At first I really wanted to paint but slowly that old "distressed" look grew on me.   I had been removing all the odds and ends out of the drawers though out the year.  As I was going through all of it I couldn't help but think about the man that had used this as his catch all for parts and manuals.  I found these keys and decided to do save them. 

 I wonder what all these keys open.  No way to know.

I picked up a shadow box (from Micheal's, using one of my coupons) and a sheet of scrapbook paper.  I arranged the keys with the coolest looking ones in the middle.

Turned out pretty great.  I haven't decided where to hang it yet though.  So, back to the drawers.  I decided to just give all whole thing a good clean.  After much soap and water and I would say over an hour of scrubbing I brought it inside.  Here's some of the scrubbing process.

Alright, I know you can't scrub rust away...but I kinda like it.  Looks sweet with that green. 

 

Totally worth the thirty dollars!!! Maybe it's just me but I sure do love that old worn look.  Looks like it's lived, or been loved, right? 

One more March birthday

Sara's birthday was earlier in the month and now to end the month out my Grandma has her's.  She turned 84!!  Way to go Grandma.  She is my last living grandparent and I am glad she lives so close. 

In all the excitement Shane kind of stole Great Grandma's wish!

So...we did a re-do.  Got to get that wish!

Now to eat those cupcakes.  Yum. 

I made Grandma a shawl that she asked me to make.  I made the same one for my Mom for Christmas and as soon as Grandma saw it she asked for one of the same color.   She loved it and wore it so well.  Nothing better than a gift enjoyed.

Sara got this beautiful bouquet for Grandma.  Yellow is her favorite color.  Happy Birthday Grandma!!!