Thank you..... Wisconsin!!!!!

Can I get a Whoop! Whoop! and say a big thank you to my neighbors an hour-and-a-half up north and to Mary-Liz Shaw for mentioning my little blog in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Journal Sentinel January 31st edition.

You guys rock, and I LOVE your state fair! It's so family oriented. We try to go every year.

It has:

Awesome cream puffs.

Food on a stick.

Pig races.

Cheese curds.

Wine tastings.

Considering I just spent the weekend with 3 sick kids with coughs and fevers, it was a nice surprise!

Thank you for the huge honor!!

Jen

Tie a muslin ribbon 'round the old oak tree....

I love the look of hand stamped muslin ribbon ( or linen, but yikes, that can get expensive!) . It's easy to do and can add such a nice touch to everything; It could make a nice gift too.

Buy your fabric in the yardage you want to make. If you want 3 continuous yards of ribbon, buy 3 yards of fabric. Our Joann's carries cotton muslin for $1.99 a yard, with a 40 % off coupon that's cheap!

You can also sew your end together to make longer yardage if you don't mind the break.

Make small cuts in the short end 3 inches apart and then rip your yardage into sections going along the entire cut of fabric.

I find that just ripping the fabric can be so satisfying.

And therapeutic.

Especially being married.

If you like frayed ends, leave it. I sewed a zigzag stitch along my edges because I wanted the contrast in texture.

I like to stamp with Distress ink. That stuff stains, does not wash out and is non-toxic. You can also use Staz-on for a darker image; but it's not non-toxic and you have to use a special cleaner on your stamps.

Just press and then move on down the line. You can use words, images, letters, etc. In fact, get the kids involved! A little child labor never hurt anyone!

It's so pretty all piled up.

I am going to take some to the boutique, so I wrapped it around a vintage wooden spool and embellished it with a vintage button and a bit of lace.

Happy stamping! ;)

Jen

Make- over part 2... on chair number 1...

This is the other make-over I wanted to show you yesterday, but my camera was not cooperating!

There were some awesome projects I saw at the party that I want to recap later in the week.

You guys really got a lot done!

This was a $25 yard sale purchase. It was one of two. The paisley came on it, but wasn't my dream fabric and didn't really go with much.

They were also about 2 inches too tall since they were dining room chairs so I did one of these numbers on them.

I debated about painting them a creamy white, but I couldn't decide, so I left them (for now).

When I found this tawny brown fabric, I knew this was the one!

I thought these chairs were going to be an easy staple and wrap job, but oh no... they were a remove a million staples job.

But it turned out so pretty! Now I just need to tackle chair number 2~!

~Jen

Welcome to the first big project of the new year party!!!

Link up! Show us how motivated you've been to get your project groove on!

One of my projects I've finished is the "red is dead" paint the kitchen project! I am ready to move onto more neutral territory! My only goal was to use paint I already had and not spend a dime, and hang a linen panel to hide the toy tornado.

So I thought a brown accent wall might be nice (if not, paint over!) and one of my favorite Ben Moore color's, Powell Buff. It looks beige in some light and light cream in others,You'd never guess it was same as the hallway color behind it.

So link up! The only rules are

1)you have to link back to this post

and 2)you must link your specific post, not your blog.

to make sure to generate interest, you include your blog name and your project in the link title.

Jen

Parlez-vous Francais....? Google translator tutorial...

Actually, I can speak it a bit, but only about a handful of words from a long forgotten high school class and some swear words...

I just installed a translator button on my left side bar. It amazed me how many out of country visits I was getting. I would hate to go to a great page and not be able to read it ;)

It took me forever to figure out how to install it, but it was stupid easy.

I wish some one could have told me how .So, for you my friends, If you want to put in the button for your own out-of-town guests, here's the secret for Blogger.

(If you have another service, it's probably similar in pasting the code.)

Google Google translate or click here.

Click on the tools-google translate.

There is a box of code on the page. Make sure the settings are where you want them.

Highlight blue and COPY.

Open your own page in a separate window ( In case you need to re-copy the code, my page would only paste and copy if I did it from the top tool bar, not my mouse.).

In Blogger, open to your customize page.

Open to add a gadget.

Open/add HTML/JAVA code.

Paste the code you copied into the box.

Save.

Move to where you want it on your page, probably some where near the top.

Save.

DONE.

Now you can also Habla Espanol too. :)

~Jen

P.S. See you tomorrow for the project party!!!

7 crazy things....

My good friend, Mary, gave me this wonderful award and tagged me to tell 7 things about myself!

So here are 7 crazy things....

1. I was a firefighter/ paramedic for 8 years and got to cut a hole in someone's throat so they could breathe once. He actually lived too. It was pretty cool.

2. My socks sometimes don't match. I am too impatient to match them and too impatient to dig through my drawer to find matches. One of my new years resolution was to be more organized and match my socks.

3. The most dreaded phrase around my house is when I look around and say "you know what I'm thinking?"

4.I was very shy and unpopular in high school. I hung in the Drama club with all of the other artsy types. I never really came into my own until college.

5. I should have gone to art school instead of the fire academy.

6. I come from a longline of Chicago-based superstitious Polish Catholic immigrants.. the family ghost stories I could tell you: Holy Josie, Resurrection Mary, visitations, and holy candles for bad dreams; believe me, my husband was shell-shocked when he married me, there's a whole lotta crazy running around this set of genes.

7. I love to snack on whole wheat crackers smeared with goat cheese and Bonne Maman strawberry jam or Warm brie and fresh baked crusty french bread. I could eat it all day if it weren't for the little gallbladder issue. TMI? :)

I am supposed to pass this onto 7 more people; but consider yourself tagged if you've never been tagged with this award before :)

Jen

P.S. See you Monday for the project party!

It's getting closer!

The Illinois bloggy girls' get together!

Put it on your calendars' for Saturday, February 13th!

For $19

we'll be having food, fun, little goodie bags and more!!!

last RSVP date is February 5 to respond/pay.

Contact me for more details...!

I am so excited to meet all of the ladies attending on my left sidebar.

See you soon!

Jen

Are you almost ready?

For the first big project of the new year party?!!!

Here's a couple of sneak peeks on what I've been working on...

Get your project groove on and link up this Monday the 25th with your projects!

Are you motivated yet??? ;)

Jen

The grace of dry-erase...

While I love the many virtue's of chalkboard

paint;

I was at my friend, Amy's, when she had a message

scrolled on a white platter in dry-erase.

I thought it was fabulous idea!

She is so brilliant!

So of course I had to get me some of those fancy, new-fangled things and play.

How perfect for a cheap message board?

A menu for a party!

A joke?

A thought or quote?

Or just to play on a window on a cold day?

Stop by Between Naps on a Porch for more projects at Metamorphosis Monday.

~Jen

Tiny tricks of the trade....

I have found a few itty-bitty tricks when working with rehabbing furniture that can make the job a lot easier...

Such as...

When filling in handle holes; Put a piece of masking tape or painter's tape in the backside of the drawer to keep the wood filler from gooshing through. Once it's dry, remove the tape and then fill the backside in if there are any gaps.

If you have a hole that's too big for a screw for a knob or handle, use a lipped clothing grommet to make the hole smaller.

A washer can work as well.

I have to admit, in a pinch, I have also used a rubber band to take up space. :)

If you have some ugly carving that you want to get rid of, putty over and sand smooth to a

surface.

It can entirely transform a piece!

And for those weird to clamp areas and when you need a free hand;

painter's tape can hold appliques on while the glue dries.

~Jen

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thank you all so much for all that you've purchased from my Etsy store to go to Haiti.

I have been watching the news and they need all of the help they can get.

You guys are awesome.

Totally awesome.

~Jen

Hearts for Haiti...

After reading Angela Harris's blog, I was completely inspired by her. She is going to give her Etsy proceeds over the next 3 days for Haiti.

Today through the 15th, I will also be donating 100% of my Etsy sales for Haiti.

I've also listed the hearts I just featured, those I will donate at 100%.

Thanks,

~Jen

Early Valentine's day craft project....

How cute are these???

These would be great to make now as they take a few days and put out for the big

Luh-hove day ( I suddenly hear strange 70's style music playing... hhhmmm.......).

or give to your Valentine.

They are so easy to make too,

These are about as big as the palm of my hand.

It's as easy as rolling Paperclay out till it's about 1/4 inch thick ( I love Paperclay, it can be pricy, but I always buy it with a 40% of coupon at the Hob Lob.My kids really love it.).

Cut out with a heart cookie cutter.

Stamp messages on with rubber letter stamps (Hint: dip your stamp in a bit of water first. A damp stamp works much better!).

If you mess up, just wet your finger and re-blend it.

Let dry.

Paint.

Viola!

You could even put magnets on the back to stick on the fridge, or hangers in the top when it's wet to hang them.

Too sweet! ;)

~Jen

Speaking of lurking...

I love this house..

I don't know if you knew this about me,

but I'm a house dreamer.

It's not that I want humungous, or ginormous... but I would love another 1,000 square feet on top of our 1,250.

I dream about moving into something like this with charm and character, or attacking our house and pulling down this wall and putting in a window here, or a built-in there.

Or a whole darn second level.

I know it makes my poor honey crazy because I talk about it on a continual basis, almost obsessively..

and I know it makes him want to pull the hair he has left out ( Okay, I am just kidding dear, my hubby has wonderfully thick hair, but I know he's a good husband and a loyal reader and I couldn't help myself. :) ).

If this is your house I am sorry I took the picture with out asking.

Through my car window.

After I made sure you left.

But it's so darn cute!

And has an awesome little coach house in the back that would be perfect for my studio.

In a heated room.

a girl can't help but dream, can she?

~Jen

boutique sneak peek and utter chaos.....

Someone asked me, "I know your sell out of a few boutiques, but what exactly do you sell?"

I like to say it's vintage-inspired handmade.

For about 2 weeks out of a month in the winter my unheated studio garage gets a little bit too chilly to work in, so I move everything into our kitchen dining area.

There are days when my kids get the privilege of picnicking on the coffee table.

Here's a little peek of some of my latest things...

Rosette jewelry with vintage pieces.

A cow tag necklace, cute.. a bit gross when you think about it.. but charming..

Every cake plate cover needs a cozy...

Hand painted canvas table runners...

inspired by vintage botanical birds, eggs and nests prints...

And a little cake plate stand/ cheese dome turned

Inspired terrarium...

Use what talents you possess: The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.

~Henry Van Dyke

~Jen

Big giveaway.....

I am doing a big giveaway today over at my good friend Kim's blog,

Today's Creative Blog

Head over there to comment and enter to win!

Let's get together...yeah yeah yeah.!

I had some pretty good guesses about my announcement the other day... :)

I had been talking to my good friend's Amy and Janet and we were commenting about how we would love to meet other blogger's, but all of the blogland events either cost a lot of money, or are far away (for us.).

So on

Saturday, February 13th at 10 am - 12:30 p.m.

let's get together!

It will be in the Western Suburbs of Chicago, Illinois and the cost will be $19 to cover the cost of food and drinks, and a place if need be.

Low key, let's talk, let's meet, let's have a good time.

If there are only 5 of us, great! If there are more, that's awesome too.

If you are interested, e-mail me with your e-mail at Thecraftyhome(at)comcast(dot)net for details and location and I will invoice you for the $19.

Last RSVP date is February 5 for a final count.

Payment for attending will also be due by February 5th, you can Paypal me directly.

(When your reservation is confirmed and paid for, you'll be added to the party link list on the sidebar.).

I would love to do gift bags, so let me know if you would like to contribute! If you don't live in the Illinois area and/or can't attended, but would like to contribute to the bags, let me know as well; There's enough bloggy love for every one!

I hope to meet you all very soon!

Jen

P.S. lurkers are also welcome! :)

If you live....

In the Illinois area.. stay tuned...

I have a very special announcement coming!

Jen

While the mice are away...

The "cat" will play!

We all need a break sometimes, don't we?

My wonderful mother took the kids for a few hours on New Year's Day. With hubby working, I started my "free time" with a trip to my Starbuck's for a decaf, a cheese and fruit treat and of course a cupcake that I didn't have to share.. with anyone.

Mine! Mine! Mine!

Then I took a few hours, by myself, to get the house back in shape.

I started in my entsy-weensty living room.

And it wouldn't be me if I didn't use the opportunity to completely rearrange things.

It felt great to bring in a fresh new look after the holiday glitz.

I left my pomegranate wreath up...I kind of like it for a bit of color.

Say bye-bye to the paisley fabric on that $20 chair.

I have a luscious tawny brown to put on it.

And I didn't want to put away my flameless candles yet; so I grouped them on a tray on my coffee table.

And put some shredded paper in my favorite nest basket but I am not sure what to put inside of it yet.

I brought out the moss to freshen up the room...

Then yesterday I noticed this on the floor.... hmm....

I think some mice have been doing some playing themselves!

Busted.. ! I am going to look for the little, green fingers!

Jen