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craft thursday

two days in a row??

and there are many more to come….

this idea came from a few different ideas 
but mostly first from pink and green mama….marylea.

i bought three sizes of doilies.
you can usually find them in the wedding isle at craft stores or walmart…lots of places have heart ones out right now in the valentine's sections…not my thing but maybe it's yours?  

we opened them and i just let them paint.

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i suggested rainbow patterns but it didn't matter at all.
anything they made looked pretty.

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this table was COVERED in paint by the time we were done.
this was just the beginning.
we made A LOT of painted doilies.

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it is ok if the colors bleed together….it good even!

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after they were dry i took them all up to the craft room and sewed them together.

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i love how there is no pattern….only color.

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    i
 love
color

   🙂
 
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 i love the detail of the lace but that it's not girlie or precious.

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sean did not participate in this one.
doilies?!
he ran the other way.
not all crafts can have swords or dragons son.

and what easy clean up this is….just wipe up the table and done!
we use crayola watercolors….$4 from target or walmart…..less water makes brighter colors.

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and in other news…..

i decided to watch Steel Magnolias yesterday while sewing.

yeah….because who doesn't love to bawl their eyes out while sewing?

i have seen it at least 20 times.
at least!!
and i cry every time.
it's heartbreaking and deep and lovely and pure.
and funny.
 

Steel Magnolias

   



i watched it first at a teenager….with my sister when she was in college i think.  

for year and years i identified with julia roberts character….she is young,

independent and trying to break free from her mom.  she is sassy. 

(and has bad pants and giant hair)

then i didn't see this movie for a quite a few years.

and watched it again probably 2 years ago.

it was like a crazy bizarre twilight zone moment…..like watching a different movie!

i was a different person seeing the same movie 15 years later.

i had completely become the mother….sally field.

i understood every thought she portrayed.

all the feelings that go with loving your child so much….trying to protect them.

the frustration of them not listening.

i had changed.  i was different.  i saw new things.  

it made me love this movie 1000 times more than i already did.

has this ever happened to you?

 

 

lori - what did you use to sew them together? a regular needle and thread? how did you keep them from folding?

JDaniel4's Mom - What a beautiful craft! I came across in on Pinterest and had to stop by to see how you made it.

Shiningourlights.blogspot.com - absolutely beautiful craft! I am so putting that on my list of things to do and sharing it on my FB page. 🙂

Mazz - those ‘rainbow’ doilies lok awesome…thanks for sharing, great idea for “Mazz’s Munchkins” family day care and also in my scrapping 🙂 http://mazzsmunchkins.blogspot.com/

debbie - very pretty and colorful banner. Im sure they had fun painting them.
Steel Magnolias is one of mine and my two daughters (ages 20 and 22) favorite movies.. and I cry absolutely every time I see it.. the cemetery scene does me in.

beki - steel magnolias – one of my most favorite movies!! if it is ever on tv (which it is often) i must stop and watch it.
also, LOVE that doily garland. i think i need to make my kids make me some :))

Debra @ A Frugal Friend - Oh I always loved Steel Magnolias and the good cry that went along with it.
THEN, I was in the hospital with my mom so unexpectedly. Talking to her. Asking her to open her eyes. Begging her to open her eyes when the doctors came in. The most heartbreaking moments of my life.
Not sure I can ever watch Steel Magnolias again…..I know I would cry so much harder and remember my mom….but I would laugh too.

Erin - Okay, I love your blog and don’t think I’ve ever commented until now. Your post made me get all teary- loved the project, but especially your comments about the movie. I feel the same and I can’t watch that movie without seeing myself as Sally Field’s character. My daughter is 1 and has a rare heart problem that is difficult to survive into adulthood- and for those who do- pregnancy and childbirth are considered life threatening and therefore “not allowed”. Needless to say, I sob every time I see this movie and wonder how life will unfold for her as she becomes an independant woman and I try to hang on to my little girl.

Julia - I am definitely doing this.
I remember when you had 20 or so comments….those were the days…

Amy - i had the same exact movie experience when i recently re-watched “hope floats” & the mom says “mothers love their little girls, even if they show it poorly.”
steel magnolias, hope floats & beaches . . . they get me every time!

cassi - I felt the same way about this movie this year!

Trina McNeilly - I LOVE the doilies….. so gorgeous!
xo

marta - colorful doilies may be my new favoritest thing.
xo.
p.s. am running out to watch S.M. again. haven’t since i was tiny. thanks for the shove in the right direction. happy valentine’s meg. so glad i discovered your pretty site.

Red Stethoscope - Oh man are those doilies beautiful! What a great craft project!
I love Steel Magnolias, and although I haven’t quite transitioned into the role of mother, I do see new things every time I watch it. I’ve probably seen it twenty times and still cry every.single.time.

patti - I just commented to one of my friends how my favorite character has changed in this movie as I have aged and changed. Right now I think it is Olympia Dukakis saying, “If you can’t say anything nice, come sit next to me:”

Amanda - Hmmm. Never been “allowed” to see the movie. I am a type 1 diabetic and my amazing mom forbade it when I was diagnosed at age 11 (probably because she didn’t want either of us to watch it). I love my mom. Sometimes I am curious about it, but I think she may be right on with this one for me. Of course, I know the basic storyline. Now, I have THREE wonderful little ones and am a super healthy gal and had super amazing pregnancies. God is so very good . . . and I am not scared of a little hard work to get those sweet babes in the end. 🙂
Thanks for sharing all the fun stuff!!! I triple HEART love your blog. Really.

Cindy Wells - I watched this with my daughter during one of our snow days & thought of you :). Like you I had a brand new perspective & saw a whole NEW movie. It was so CRAZY… I think I cry more identifying with the mom. Love the movie….never gets old. Love the craft too, can’t wait to try it! Cindy

Kristen Chapman - I felt that way about “Little Women” – for years I always identified with one or more of the girls, and then last year I reread it and all I could think of was “I wish I was a mother more like Marmee.” 🙂

Ana - What a great idea, Meg! They do look beautiful.

Bethany {3SonsPlus1} - Loving that cheerful doily garland…I think we’ll just have to make that one today! And I thought it was THE funniest thing to read about Steel Magnolias in this post when I was just (like 10 minutes ago) lying in bed, thinking back to the last time I saw…Steel Magnolias! Ha! Double ha!
Just read about the SUMMER photo opportunity- that is so awesome! You have encouraged me, and reminded me, that God does indeed take joy in giving us the desires of our heart. Congratulations!

Holly - the doilies are lovely and I LOVE Steel Magnolias! Sounds like a great day to me!

Ali Richardson - I love love love those doilies! They look magical all strung together! These would be so beautiful strung from the trees for a garden party or wedding. SO beautiful and you captured their beauty so well…as usual 🙂

Sarah {Monogram Chick} - What a beautiful doile garland. I agree, I love color too and Steel Magnolias!

Drea - Wonderful craft! added it to my to do list 🙂

Erin Leigh - Love, love, love these! What an easy, cute idea.

Tara - oh good grief….now THIS is my favorite craft you’ve ever done. i swear i say it about every one of them.
And, i think i can honestly say that i’ve watched steel magnolias 50 times in my life and every single time, i have always related to sally fields…it didn’t matter if i was 17 or 26 or 37….

Meredith - p.s. I think you should festoon the family car with your doilies while you’re doing your school run.

Meredith - Clearly I can NOT watch this movie yet again….I was already welling up during that clip. I watched this as a teenager, but watching it as a Mum makes it even more poignant and gut-wrenching. “Laughter through tears, it’s my favourite emotion”. Love it. Meredy xo.

heather - lovely!!! water colors with doilies…who knew?
i don’t think there’s been a happier pairing with doilies, though.
they’re just perfect together.

Julie K - Oh this is so so pretty! I love this and am totally doing it with Kiana – we did coffee filter hearts today but the doilies I LOVE! and not normally a doilie type. LOVE this.
xo

Katy - Oh, how I LOVE Steel Magnolias! Must watch it again soon. 🙂
So how do you like your new sewing machine? And what have you made with it? Mine crapped out on me last week so I am in the market for a new one. Don’t need any fancy dancy features. Just a “simple” one. I have been eyeballing the one you just got.
PS- Doilies are my favorite! Not sure if you’ve ever heard of Papertrey Ink or not, but they just announced that they are coming out with a doily die (for a die cutting machine)! You can bet I will be first in line (online) to buy one of them so I can make unlimited doilies whenever I want! 😉 Here’s a post where you can see them (not my blog, fyi) http://dawnmcvey.typepad.com/these_are_a_few_of_my_fav/2011/02/introducing-delightful-doilies-background-basics-newsprint-and-hello-friend.html
Another PS- I keep looking at your blog post about the crafty weekend and I am so, so jealous! Looks like you all had SO much fun!

Janet - Can you or any of your readers recommend a good sewing machine for a beginner? Just for some basic sewing & crafts and all the fun ideas I get from this blog!

taralee - aww…meg!
i was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when i was 15 (2000), and i JUST saw “steel magnolias” for the first time LAST year! i had been wanting to see it for awhile, but had NO idea that shelby died! my husband waited until i was in an ‘okay’ emotional state to watch it. it was still brutal.
i never would have guessed that your blog would network me with other ladies who experience t1! thanks for that.

Shayne - The doilies are Absolutely Gorgeous! This will be our craft for tomorrow afternoon. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I have never watched Steel Magnolias. So now, of course, I will have to.

Renee - I am a southerner and it’s a prerequisite to love Steel Magnolias! I have an aunt almost identical to the Dolly Parton character. She is lovely. “Aunt Rubye Faye” I think it would be fun to be friends with Weezer. What a grumpy mess she is. Would you believe that I do not identify with ANY of the characters? Weird, huh? But my daughter is only 4. So I’ll give it a few years…

Beth - I LOVE COLOR TOO!!! I love that craft and I love that movie. I love the paints on the table! It makes me laugh at school when kids get all worked up about Paint! On! The! Table! . . . I just like, no big deal, it wipes off. And if it doesn’t, it makes the table prettier anyway! Have you seen the movie Crimes of the Heart? It is one of my all time favorites. I have it in vhs if you want to borrow it. We still have a vhs machine but most people probably don’t. It’s a funny movie, dark humor . . .but some deep, good things too.

Hannah - you are so creative! i have to tell you..that always seeing your bright colorful house and art has made me want more color in my house! you inspired me! and SM…the best.movie.ever. 🙂

Tonya - I LOVE Steel Magnolias!!! I went to the theater w/my mom to see it when it first came out…we bawled, laughed, bawled, laughed. It’s one of my favorite mommy memories! I can find a quote from that movie for almost any situation!

Dana@Strawberrytart! - I love your project and Steel Magnolias is one of our favorites. I watched when I was pregnant and now have a daughter named Shelby – hormones. I fell in love with the name all over again.

se7en - From one totally color lover to another… Your kids sure know how to make things look so good and colorful and so pretty …. wonderful!!! Hope you have a lovely weekend!!!

Shann - I love this craft!! It is wonderful!! And,I know exactly what you mean about the movie. I named my daughter Shelby from this movie. And, now as a mama I can totally relate to Sally Field and her character. Wonder when I will become Ouiser?? 🙂

kate - how pretty! and yes…it’s amazing how watching the same movie but at a different time in your own life makes you see/feel completely different things…i always think this when i watch..
“terms of endearment”

Michelle - love these. . .and love steel magnolias. best. movie. ever.

Cory - OHH my I love Steel Magnolias. It’s one of the only movies I can think of that makes you laugh so hard your sides hurt & also bawl your eyes out. It’s a good feeling.
p.s. I didn’t comment on your craft weekend post, but can I just say DREAM!! I think if I could come up with the perfect weekend in my head it would look just like your craft weekend with the girls!

Jennifer Allred - LOVE the doilies! They were already on the short list of fun things to do this weekend, but I think they just moved to the top.
And on the Steel Magnolias front – when we were pregnant with our 2nd son we didn’t know if he was a boy or girl. Long story short, my hubby and I were watching this movie and he suggested the name Jackson if we had a boy. So it was decided right then and there he would be our Jack. Fast forward to when Jackson was 27 months… he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes! The first time I saw this movie after his diagnosis I couldn’t keep it together. I honestly believe that the Holy Spirit gave us the prompting for his name. I will never see this movie the same way again!

heidi @ wonder woman wannabe - yes – the movie experience has happened with me…
the movie:
how to make an american quilt

Jenny B. - LOVE the doilies! And, the movie thing has happened to me too. I saw Freaky Friday (the Lindsay Lohan / Jamie Lee Curtis version) when it came out in 2003… the year before I became a mom. I totally identified with the daughter. I saw it again recently (after having 2 children), and I totally identified with the mom! It was freaky. 🙂

Sarah - I love this idea! Beautiful! Now I just need a sewing machine…

Jodi - YES! That’s exactly how I felt after I watched it later on as a mother. My mom reminds me of Sally Fields (they are both, small, petite women and their mannerisms are so alike), so seeing Sally Fields cry is a lot like seeing MY mom cry and I lose it everytime.
LOVE the craft today! :o)

Janine - Very pretty garland! I like the way the sun illuminates them.
I can totally understand your transformation with Steel Magnolias. It happened to me with my favorite book series. I adore the Anne of Green Gables series. I have read them many times since I was a kid. Every few years or so in fact, and every time I identify with a different part of Anne’s life and see it in a whole new light.

Vera - Oooh pretty craft! One of my best friends and I saw a local theater production of Steel Magnolias a couple of months after we each had our first child (daughters!) and we walked out of there SOBBING.

leonieke - wow…great colours..
and by the way,.if you like colors you should really visit the yvestownblog. she has a great house,..alll white with lots of colors!

Christy - Yes! yes, yes, yes! Same movie…I experienced the same thing with Steel Magnolias! I saw it a couple of weeks ago and my daughters watched it with me. I saw it from a whole different perspective than when I saw it as a teenager.

happygirl - LOVE Steele Magnolias. The best line in a movie EVER is when Olympia Dukakis says “Well, you know what they say: if you don’t have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me!”

Catriona - “Miss Truvy, I promise that my personal tragedy will not interfere with my ability to do good hair”

shauna reed - oh for heaven’s sake.
it is such a good movie.
and yes. yes , to say the least that has happened to me…in SO many areas of life.
ps. the doilies….swoon.
will you be my mother?

Beth @ Dirty laundry - Of course, swho doesn’t love Steel Magnolias? My favorite part is during Sally Field’s cemetery speech, when she says, “I just want to hit someone!” And Olympia Dukakis shoves Weezer at her and yells, “Here! Hit this!” You’re already bawling your eyes out, a huge emotional release, and in a split second you’re laughing out loud (and then you go back to crying), but that speech is a neat little roller coaster ride!
I love your rainbow doilies!

Kimberlee J. - I identify with Dolly Parton. 🙂

amy jupin - oh girl. you are going to have a zillion comments on this post.
you are so right about steel magnolias.
amazing movie, so deeply touching and gut-wrenching and sweet all rolled up in one.
and now that i’m officially a southern gal, this movie took yet another turn for me.
so weird how movies can make us FEEL.
anyways, love the doilies, love the rainbow colors, love the movie, love all of it.
happy friday! 🙂

Hoosier at Heart - Beautiful doilies! So fun. My daughter and I have tickets to see Steel Magnolias at a dinner theater here in town for our birthdays. We’ve seen the movie many times. Can you imagine it played out on stage? How much tissue should I bring? YOU SHOULD BE THERE WITH US!!

Jennifer Evans - I had that exact experience with this exact movie! I watched it a few months ago after a long time and I remember when I had watched when I was younger I would think that sounds just like my mother- ugh! When I watched it recently I so Identified with her and felt those feelings and totally understood her in way I couldn’t have before having daughters.

Janelle - Ok. I’m pathetic. Even just reading your post ABOUT Steel Magnolias made me cry. Great movie…but one I probably shouldn’t watch over and over! Sniff, sniff!

Lisa - Love the craft! Thanks for posting!
It is funny you say that about Steel Magnolias. I watched that movie a few months ago and as I was crying, my husband asked me why and I told him I was so sad for Shelby but was also sooo sad for the mother! It was like I could completely relate to both sides.
Love your blog. Thanks so much for being a bright spot to my days! 🙂

Debi - Steel Magnolias- that movie means so many different things to me. I’ve always loved a good cry, so that made it a favorite for me when I first saw it.
Then, many years later, my daughter, Anna, was diagnosed with diabetes. Her first question after diagnosis? “Mommy, will I still be able to have babies when I grow up?” How’s that for a heartbreaker? How do you wrap yourself around that????
Happily, diabetes treatment protocols have changed immensely since Steel Magnolias was filmed. Women with diabetes can now, under carefully controlled situations, get pregnant and have healthy babies without permanently harming themselves (or dying). Amen for that- thank you Jesus.
And yes, I AM M’lynn. Anna’s only 13, and I’m 47, but I soooo identify with that loving and protective mama.
Have a great day!

Sarah Alcantara - totally agree about the cemetery scene…so heartbreaking….but what a great movie!

meghan - favorite all time movie. I haven’t watched it in years…i should probably watch it again. I love those kind of transformations. love. love. love.

Kelly - Weird you should post this today. We got everything out to do this exact same thing yesterday after school and found out that sometime since we last used the watercolors a certain almost 6-year old boy popped all the dried paint things out of the strip. So we had empty paint cases. I got more this morning so we can do it today. I too love color! 🙂

Anne @ Baking Me - It’s been a few years since I’ve seen this movie, but the last time I watched it was with my husband because he had never seen it and I thought he should. I don’t think liked it as much as I told him he would 🙂 He is a bit wary of my movie suggestions. But I think this is a great movie!

Andrea T - we use our IKEA cups for water paint cups too 😉 i have extra doilies from vday….doing this one! we need color after all of this snow. thanks for sharing

Tiffany - Yes I am definitely now the mom. Helmet hair and all. :0)

pam - Meg I have no small children at home…well we have NO children at home but I have a special folder with craft idea that you try. I will save them for our future (hopefully) grandchildren. COLOR is so life giving to me. I LOVE the jewel tone doilies…blues, purples, green…so fit for my queenly status.

Lauren - Steel Magnolias is my all time most favorite movie! I cry everytime!

Deputy's Wife - I love that movie and I totaly get what you are saying. When I first watched that movie, oh so many years ago, Julia’s character was the one I was focused on. Now, I identify with Sally’s character! That scene at the cemetary??? I bawl like a baby everytime.
Maybe our parents were right, we do grow wiser as we age.

Wendy - Those are great! Might have to make some of those to decorate with for my girls birthdays coming up.

Jill - maybe sean would like it if you used coffee filters instead of doilies? 🙂
cute craft!!

karen - Pretty doilies!
Hmmmm…that is really cool that you saw it in a different perspective. I’ve been a mom for only 3 1/2 years now and haven’t watch in over 5 years.

ashley jensen - I have seen Steel Magnolia’s a number of times. Haven’t watched it since becoming a mom but I cry every stinkin’ time. Then again I cry at commercials, cartoons, books, etc. It’s pathetic and wonderful at same time what having a child does to your heart.

Ana M - Never see this movie…:(
but now I’m definately going to …
I love your projects…they are simple and real…
I’m a mom of 4 in very different ages but I can try that…
Love the way you write…feels like I’m sitting right next to you and you just copy my thoughts…
God keep blessing your adorable family…
Ana M

Nicole - I held a craft Thursday yesterday with my 5 children Meg! Yes, you inspired me! (as well as the need to get 60 valentines completed!) We used glitter, stickers, paper, glue sticks, tissue paper- and they were ALL gorgeous! I will have glitter everywhere for the next year since the 3 year old loved the “sprinkles” but we had FUN! Thank you for your inspiration!
Nicole

Courtney Walsh - Such a cute and simple project!! Love it so much. Doilies are pretty to begin with.
I got to play Shelby twice in two different theatrical productions. Yeah, it was pretty draining! I haven’t watched the movie since…I just can’t get through Sally Field’s cemetery speech. Gosh. What great characters.
Have a great weekend!!

Jennifer - Those are beautiful! I think I’ll do something like this with my Sunday School class this week, but with heart doilys and no sewing! 😉

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craft thursday #16

i have a bunch of craft thursdays to share…because of all these snow days!

so we could technically call them CRAFT  snowDAYS.

we have to craft to keep our sanity.

or at least i do.

i highly recommend that when you set up a craft for your kids that you stop yourself
and DO the project with them….it is calming….relaxing…i am not kidding.
even if you feel dorky drawing a huge chameleon or painting a doilie….you will feel better when you are done.
trust me.
just throw it away when you are finished if you feel embarrassed.
but if you did the craft you will feel calmer than if you didn't.
that's MY theory.

snow day art therapy….i am grateful for it.

i am not a valentine-y girl.
it's the hearts.
i am not a big fan of the hearts.
but this one was cute.
i saw it on a blog….i left a comment….but i can't remember the blog.
so if you made these at your house, THANKS for the inspiration.
********it's HERE – thanks for commenting!!!*********

you need construction paper, contact paper and yarn or string.

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(chocolate mustache….marker hands…the norm for miss annie….love her like crazy)

cut one BIG heart and then cut out the inside so you have one big empty heart.

then cut bunches of little hearts also out of construction paper.

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cut a piece of contact paper big enough to fit your empty big heart.
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smooth out your empty heart onto the contact paper…sticky side is up of course.

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then fill in the empty space with the little hearts.

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when it looks full to you….lay another sheet of contact paper on top.
both sticky sides together now.
smooth out the air bubbles….this step is slow.
start at one corner and work across.

but really….don't worry if there are wrinkles or air bubbles.
it's OK.
it's just a valentine decoration.
it's next week.
just hang it up anyway.  :)

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cut around the outside of the heart leaving a small border of contact paper.
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punch holes and string yarn through to hang in the windows.

all done!

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speaking of art….

have you checked out Chrissie Grace and her shop?

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she sent me this print and i LOVE it.
collage and scripture and COLOR.
fabulous.

go check out her etsy shop and her blog.

thank you chrissie.

Lorie - You are super crafty. I have been inspired to try so many new things lately. Knitting, Crocheting, Scrapbooking….. Keeps the mind busy.

Tanya H - We did these last night!!! Thanks for an idea becuase my daughter was pretty disappointed that we weren’t decorating for Valentines.
http://tanyastampsnthings.blogspot.com/2011/02/valentines.html

Kim - I have just recently started reading you blog and I just wanted you to know that I love the way you write, I love your ideas and thoughts and have moved you right to the top of my “must read” blog list.

leonie - Meg I did this craft with my class of 6 Non-verbal, Autistic boys yesterday, was a very fun tactile experience….. I do this activity at christmas time too…. bells and trees fill our windows beautifully, but I use cellophane then they are gorgeous leadlight windows xxx thanks for the idea…. I am sure their mums will love a little love on valentines day….. now any ideas for mothers day????

Mya - I <3 Annie and Talby is looking so beautiful in that photo!!! I love reading your blog ..so I finally started my own blog..Pls visit the blog and give me your feedback :) http://inlieuif.blogspot.com/

danielle - ps: i loved your comment about nursing. i felt the same way…like before someone told me that i could actually stop i didn’t even realize it myself.

danielle - need.that.print.
and what in the world i need to do these crafts!

Alison - I love your craft days with your kids! it has inspired me to do more of those with mine! My mom always says, they are arent going to remember how clean the house was, or if the laundry was always neatly done, they will remember how you made them feel. Craft days are just one of the many ways I am learning to connect on their level and make their little hearts happy and warm.Love that print. isnt Etsy the greatest?! 🙂
thesnootiepig.etsy.com

crystal beutler - Super cute craft. You do the funnest stuff with your kids. 🙂 And, love the print, especially the scripture.

Jen - Talby is growing up so fast!
There are three days that I wish I lived in America – Valentine’s Day, Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Though it’s not big down here, I think Lucie & I might do some heart work.. thanks for the ideas. x

Maggie - I love your necklace in the picture…where did you get? I’d love to get one and have seen them before but don’t remember where

vakantiehuis costa brava - Really a good piece of Art and craft.The heart is really beautiful.I will prefer this art and craft with my daughter too.

Jenny B. - Oh, I forgot to say… I’ve never noticed before how much Talby looks like you. I definitely see a resemblance in that close-up of her cutting the little heart.

Jenny B. - Oooh, I love this craft! I wish I already had all the supplies… and didn’t have 2 feet of snow everywhere so I could go get them! I also love your rainbow yarn! 🙂

Tracy Fisher - Love your craft days. And how about that fabulous print you received. That verse says it all. I think I need to order one. I love when words fill my house… people that stop by always tell me they love reading the art in my home… hmmm… they are probably just being nice… but I will order one from her.
Keep up your craft days. I need an idea for a whole week off in two weeks.
Tracy Fisher (www.tfisherart.com)

Amanda - What a great simple craft! Thanks for sharing

Ry (AKA: LUCY) - WOW! WAY COOL!
Smiling
-Ry

Pamela M - So cute. We made a couple of valentine crafts – both using recycled crayons. Do you have any of those kicking around? lol!
If you want to take a peek, you can find them here. They were super easy to do.
http://derekpambaby.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html
http://derekpambaby.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html

Tess - Meg! Thank you for sharing the picture. I went to the Etsy site and bought the Risk picture – so excited to hang it in the house!

Amanda - I’m totally doing this with my kids this afternoon! Thanks for the easy and fun craft. My heart puncher should help me make hearts super quickly and hopefully this will bring up the spirits of my four year old daughter who has DOUBLE pink eye, DOUBLE ear infections and strep! Yikes!

Anne @ Baking Me - That heart is adorable, I want to make one and don’t even have kids 🙂

elisa - I have one of those hanging in my window. He made it at school tho.

Jenna - Keep ’em coming … they are inspiration for me to get crafty on my snow day(s)!

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Oh, I love those scripture pillows! Stay warm and have a great day!

Christie - Thank you for sharing such wonderful faith based Etsy shops. I love seeing scripture and phrases incorporated in their art. It’s soothing.

colleen - Oooohhhhh! I love that print! That is a verse that i have prayed for our home many times… Have seen it once before in black and white painted on barn wood but I LOVE those colors! I live in Alabama and we have beautiful snow today – the kind that looks really pretty but the kids can still go to school for a full day! 🙂 I am having a “me” and cleaning day in my nice WARM house! Ahhhhhh!

elz - Cute craft. Might have to do this one with the girls this weekend…after we finish the class valentines!

Jessica - This is a great project! Definitely will be doing this one this weekend… 🙂

Charlene @ Adventures In Mommy Land - My kids and I have done crafts similar to this one before. Your’s is Very cute! We love doing crafts too, we do them all the time (almost every day. when I’m not working).

jenn g - my son’s preschool class did this craft this week. they cut up small pieces of colored tissue paper for the center though. the little hearts are cute!

nora - super-cute craft! i’m going to try to adapt it to my 20-month old son, who is currently in love with glue sticks and gluing things, when we’re stuck inside for yet another bitterly cold weekend!

shannon - Love this craft…alas we have another snow day as well! If I had contact paper we would be making this craft….there is so much snow I can’t even get out of my driveway to get contact paper even if I wanted to! Thanks for the link to chrissie’s blog…I have now added her to my blogs….great etsy shop! 😀

Jodi - LOVE the hearts. :o)
Your girls are adorable!
And you’re right, crafts calms the soul….
And thanks for the info on Chrissie’s shop, I’m going to check her out now!

Christa aka the BabbyMama - Here’s a funny thing: My daughter isn’t old enough for anything involving scissors or glue or really anything other than drawing a line on some paper (and her attention span for that is about 2 secs). But I want to make some of these 🙂

sara's art house - Super cute craft!!!! ANd I love Chrissie Grace 🙂

candace - i ran across that esty shop yesterday….the rainbow pillow was on another blog and i fell in love.
i think it is the slowing down and “being in the moment” that can be so relaxing when creating. or watching kids as they create.

heidi @ wonder woman wannabe - love ’em both!! 🙂

Sarah Mahan - Hey that idea came from my blog. I remember you left a comment on my blog. You are welcome for the inspiration. I feel honored that you actually used my idea.

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - Really love it..so pretty!

tara - Hi Meg…this isn’t the craft that you used, but I had this in my inspiration files for v-day crafts to try….
same kind of look…
http://cottagemommy.tumblr.com/post/3192337623/sweetandlovelythings-livingtheswelllife

Melissa - Today is a snow day and today we will make this craft!
Do you frame and hang all of these prints girls send you?? I mean, you could totally send some my way after you show them on your blog! :0) just kidding…maybe.

happygirl - I’m not much of a Valentine’s Day girl. 🙁 Heart just don’t send me and I should NOT eat the chocolate. LOVE the print. Is that your mirror in the print? I think the crafting you do with your children is wonderful. I love the pictures.

Shann - I used to make those hearts with my kiddos. I love them!! We would use different colored tissue paper for the little hearts in the inside. Then when you would hang them up in the light, they would look like stained glass. What a fun craft you made! 🙂

se7en - Totally totally love your hearts!!! And I have to agree my kids crafts keep me sane… just pottering along with them slows the pace down and chills us all out… enough to live again… It is very refreshing to stop and be with my kids and chat like people rather than just working away being the command center!!! Definitely refreshing!!! Lovely!!!

Mary Beth - …and for the rest of their lives, they’ll remember a Mom that sat with them. And made Memories.

~Debra - Great craft! And that print is awesome!

Dana @ Bungalow'56 - Oh my goodness. Talby looks like she could be 16 in the third picture! Talk about a trip into the future. The hearts look lovely. I used to do a stained glass project with students for Christmas with tissue paper and black construction paper. This would have been much easier : )
Dana

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yesterday

as i drove my kids to school yesterday i realized my day was not going to go as planned.
i was supposed to spend the day with my friend…going to bible study…then lunch…then target.
but
there was a blizzard in front of me.
and i was so cold.

i ran into walmart for my few groceries i needed and white thread and pom pom trim.
the man at the cutting counter said "you want 10 yards of this snowball trim?!" then gave me the weirdest look.
he had to be thinking "she came here in a blizzard….for this??"
ha.
yes.
yes i did.
i could barely get my cart to my car by the time i came out.

the SNOW!

i came home and planted myself at the sewing machine only stopping once for an email & cocoa pebbles break.

it was a lovely day even if my plans were completely different.
i had a front row seat to the snow coming down.

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thank you mom….my machine went nuts officially so i am using the "new" one now.
it's nice.
much nicer than my old one.

THANKS!  

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it took me 55 minutes to pick up all my kids from school.
that is a long time.
and i slid into a curb….hard.

craig had the kids shovel snow with him…i was in charge of hot cocoa and marshmallows.

my children are off of school today.

do you think they will notice if i just stay up in the craft room and sew all day again?????

Trysha - Love the snow! I am not ready for Spring. I want more snow and hot chocolate days.
(I’ve been reading your blog for a while and it’s the first one I put out there when someone asks but I’ve never commented. I’m weird like that.)

danielle - love the snow, LOVE the pin your wearing and your pretty face!!

Andrea - Oh – good idea about the heater by your feet! My feet get cold in my craft room too. (pleasures of an old house) They probably are on sale by now too…..

crystal beutler - I’m dying to know what you are making with all that cute fabric!!! Man, we would have so much fun if we lived near each other. I looooove to sew.

Melanie - You are wearing Lisa Leonard necklaces! I love her stuff. 😉

Danielle Albini - I love the flower on your shirt Meg! Did you make that? If so, how?!:)

elisa - I am so over winter- but I am snuggling with the pillow you made for me- with white snowball pom pom trim 🙂

BeckyB - I just loved this peek into your day! Loved it. And I smiled as I thought of you thinking about capturing it for your blog. You did an amazing job – I felt like I was in your house with a chair pulled right up to your sewing machine, cocoa in hand. Thanks so much!

Kimberly Dial - I loved this post. Made me feel warm inside … which is great because it’s anything but warm here in WV. You inspire me to get my machine fixed and then LEARN how to do something wonderful with it 😉 Thanks for sharing!

Kimberly Dial - I loved this post. Made me feel warm inside … which is great because it’s anything but warm here in WV. You inspire me to get my machine fixed and then LEARN how to do something wonderful with it 😉 Thanks for sharing!

Tara - i just love this post Meg.
classic.
my sewing machine is in the shop…it was my mother’s and she got it when she was married…so it is old. but I love it on so many levels. when I get it back I am going to make stuff just like you. I might even use the snow ball trim if that is OK:)

Nicole - I got that same sewing machine for Christmas! Now I have hope that I can create some beautiful things with it like yours 🙂 I am still learning, but I have high hopes!

bobbie - I’ve never seen snow like that in my life! I’ve only seen snow enough times to count on one hand it it was all under a few inches. The joys of living in TX. We had ice today and we all thought the few icicles were miraculous!
Now I’m going to burrow under covers until it’s back into the 70’s on saturday.

Jessie - Just wanted to say THANKS for leaving up all your Happy Things. I LoVE them and peeking through them for inspiration!

imoomie - I always say if your going to be surrounded by snow…make sure you have enough snowball trim on hand :)…Enjoy!

Rach - Amidst the boring 75 degree sunny weather we are having out here in LA, it was a wonderful sight to see your picture of snow. Ahhhhhhhh how I envy the snow bound states.

becky - my hubby had to run to the fabric store FOR me last week when we were snowed in. i’m too chicken with the littles in tow!! happy sewing!!

Emily Zimmerman - I just love you!!! You had me laughing out loud!!! Then I had to explain to the husband why I was laughing and your little grocery/fabric run even got a chuckle out of him. Pretty impressive if you can get the husbands laughing 🙂 Love you and keep the great stories coming!!!

No. 17 Cherry Tree Lane - I’m jealous of your snow day….
and I can’t wait to see what hits the shop!

Amy R. - A girl after my own heart! I would do the same if I was going to be stuck inside all day. You do bring a smile to my face and your blog is such a blessing to read!
Thanks for sharing your days…

Tonya - I heard your area got pounded w/snow…crazy!!!

eliz. - found out today that our walmart is no longer carrying any sewing products/ fabric. The worker told me that they are enlarging electronics. Guess they are going where the $$ is. I am so sad to see it go. It was so nice to be able to pick something up there as I was grocery shopping. She thought it was going to happen at all walmarts across the country. I am in ohio

Sharley McMullen - OOOHHH COLD and SNOWY!! I’m here is warm sunny So.Cal and was looking for you “Mom’s Margarita” recipe?? It wasn’t in your sidebar – could you share please:)
ps I’m Don Beverlin’s cousin

sue - Your post made me giggle.We never have snow like that here in the Mohave desert.I would like one day of it though.Ha Ha.You say your house is cold.Do you have a working fireplace that you could light up with wood and keep warm.?

Meredith Salmon - Reading your post just reminded me that I need white thread tonight too to finish my boys Valentine’s Day shirts. I may even do one for myself this year. Enjoy the snow!!!

sarah - self-portrait=adorable.
we’re so sunny out here on the west coast, it is hard to imagine the blizzard! enjoy being cozy and warm.

Lindsay - I love reading your blog! It is super sweet! Thanks. And your love of color is so inspiring! Where do you find such amazing fabric?

Taryn Smith - Loved Annie’s red cheeks and cute picture of you!

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - You are so fun…I wish I had a snow day. I’m here in Southern California where it’s 73 degrees today. I’m wearing flip flops and the sun is shining. I love that, but I would love to experience what a snow day would be like when I would HAVE to stay in and have hot cocoa and marshmallows. Although I could miss out on the hitting the curb and taking 50 minutes to pick up kids…not fun.

Courtney Walsh - Seriously the best way to spend a blizzardy day!! And I’ve been known to spend more than one day in a row doing artsy things so I say go for it! 🙂

debbie - Love your necklaces and that pin is AWESOME! Your craft room looks so cozy! Love that it isn’t all magazine perfect and that you actually use it!

Amy - Do tell….what are the snowball for??

Erin McCall - Wow!! That is crazy! My kiddos are off too, but for ice. No pretty snow! Stay warm.

Courtney - can not wait to see what you are making!!! Stay warm!

Renee - Isn’t a beautiful life, isn’t it??

Beth - your day sounds wonderful. and I love that pom pom trim….i’m so bummed our walmart got rid of their fabric dept. Now they only have a handful of really generic craft things. enjoy your snow day!

Ryanne - Love the picture of the snow falling down on the trees and road.

Susan - Staying in the craft room sounds like a good idea to me. I schlepped out this morning in -3 degree temps to take the kiddos to school, not fun, accidents all over the place, idiots on the road. I say we just shut it all down and wait for spring.

Leslie - you are so cute!!! I want your messy, crazy, colorful craftroom. 🙂 Love your blog, keep it up! It makes me smile a lot!

Leah - I love seeing that beautiful photo of the snow. I want snow! Of course, this is easy for me to say because it’s sunny and in the 70s here in San Diego. Just think, you’ll be here in a few weeks. I’ll keep the sun for you!

Jennifer - What an adorable picture of you! I can’t wait to see what you are making. We had the snow in CO yesterday too, but it wasn’t that pretty, didn’t amount to much. And this morning when I took the girls to school it was -6. 🙁

crystal - Funny your kids are still going to school in the snow…..here in Oklahoma they will have been out for 2 full weeks if they miss thurs & fri this week, which with the foot of snow we’re getting again today, looks very likely. I should have used my time off to catch up on some scrapbooking but I didn’t. I didn’t do anything. Now I wish I had. Oh well, maybe by the time we have another Oklahoma Blizzard I will be more prepared & organized to scrap. For now, I’ll just read your blog & call it a day! I’m fine with that!

Heather - that photo of you is so stinking cute.
ca-ute!

Stacia - I loved this post! I am looking forward to snow days like that someday…my babies are not in school yet. I really, really loved how messy you craft. Is that insulting? I don’t mean it that way at ALL. My craft room looks exactly like that when I am working on stuff. Enjoy having your kids home, hope they let you get something done:)

Anne @ Baking Me - What a wonderful way to spend a snow day!

Sarah - Your blizzard just hit us here in Tulsa. Cold weather and harsh winds do not make for good “go to work” weather. Looks like I might be pulling out my sewing machine also!

Heather - I’m a little east of you in Olathe. Hubby came home last night and announced we could get as much as 6 inches…on top of the 11 we had last week. I was quite relieved to find only 2 inches on the driveway this morning!

Staci - Myyyy bets arrrre….if they can find you out in the bedroom….they will find you out in your craft room….just sayin’???!!! heeeheee 🙂 Good luck though! My boys are off of school too today….I think we will be making days up until July 🙁 ah well! They are STILL asleep! I love it! and I also love that picture of Annie!!!!!!!! Hope you can get some crafting in!!!! Stay warm!

Lisa - Love Annie’s sweet, red rosy cheeks!! 🙂

AshleyAnn - love the pic of you. I bet your kids won’t notice you missing…mine never do on snow days!

Julie Weaver - I love waking up and seeing that you have posted. It makes me so happy. Your honesty and happiness make me appreciate my life even more.
Thank you.
And btw I bought that school days writing fabric because i love it up in your blog banner. I searched and your post about it was the first thing to pop up. Yay!

Drea - Your sewing area looks cozy! I went to walmart yesterday just to find wipe cases so I could make some custom wipe case covers for friends having babies… ended up spending like $100 some how on food and such.. how weird… oh and the wipe cases were SOLD OUT – how is that possible?
O well 🙂

monica - I love reading your blog every day. You are such a positive, fun person, with such a nice family. Monica

Edie Steinmann - The idea of pushing a cart through the Wal-Mart parking lot in the snow is so foreign to me that I had to giggle while imagining it! I’ve seen snow flurries here in south Georgia twice this winter and that’s unusual! Sounds like an awesome day!

Michelle - I wished it snowed here! I am embarrassed to say I have never seen snow in my life! I live in California and the coldest it has gotten here is maybe in the low 20’s, guess we shouldn’t complain!

Meredith - Nice post! Makes me long for a snow day, hot cocoa, no children, and a list of fun projects.

Jodi - what I would give for a chance to sew all day… being a newbie sewer, I need all the practice I can get! But… I don’t want the snow… so…

Jaimie - I really needed a post from you this morning and this one was perfect. Gotta love a little pom pom trim. : )

shannon - Happy crafting Meg! I say you stay in your craft room all day! I would do that too except my kiddos are still under the age of 5…they still have to have me! We have snow here and my oldest is in preschool but they cancel school here for even one snowflake! grrrr….I LOVE your blog! I follow you every single day and I look forward to reading it every single morning with my cup o joe! I have a weird question though, the other day you were talking about being in bed b/c it was warm…..and your bible study….my question is what do you study? I find myself stumped if I don’t have study material in front of me. Something to read and study along with my bible. do you buy your own studies? I am part of a bible study but we only meet once a month….kinda hard to study daily about it, I think.

Amanda - Sewing in the craft room sounds like such a nice cozy day. I love the picture of the snow. I can’t get over how much (I’m typing this from Florida)snow!!! I wouldn’t last a week in the snow – I’m a lizard!!!!! Stay warm. BTW….does Waffle go out in the snow?

Jamie - I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog. It always makes me SMILE!!
Can I just say I love your necklace…I think you have blogged about it before, but just for simplicity…could you tell me how I can get my own? I think I want one…maybe as a valentiney or anniversary present.
Thanks so much…for being you…and I am so glad that you think God is AWESOME…I DO TOO!!!

Heather - Okay, how cute are you? Love your two necklaces together. Love your sweater and shirt underneath! I’m buried in snow here in Toronto and am just about to shoot holes in my freezer. LOL Perhaps some crafts would melt my soul.
Now…where’d you buy that sweater? And the long sleeved tee? If you say Target I can’t be your friend anymore. 😛

Katie - Of course you need pom poms before the storm:) I ran out once earlier this winter and bought $12 worth of felt…that was a lot of felt! We have below zero temps this week and my husband is on a business trip:( We will survive! Happy Crafting!

Tara - can not stinkin wait to see what you are sewing up with that trim…..saw a glimpse of the fabric and love it.
as long as you’re letting the kids do what they want {within reason}….they could probably care less that you are in that craft room. :))))

Tess S. - looking good, meg! i’m hoping to get my hands on one of those pom-pom trimmed pillows of yours!

ashley jensen - I have only gone to work the 3 out of the last 8 days because of the snow! I am so not complaining though. I would rather be home. From the sounds of how your “romantic evening in the bedroom” went the other night, I doubt they will forget where you are.

Astrid - I think I can one-up-you…during a recent snow storm I went and bought…..
sunscreen.
LOL!
(we’re going on vacation to Hawaii soon and it was on my to-buy list…just picked an interesting day to buy it!)
I NEED to get crafty. Just having motivation/inspiration trouble.

happygirl - You are one dedicated crafter, meg. Good for you and stay safe out there.

Micah - ehhh so what if the dirty dishes reach the ceiling and noone has clean underwear. I say SEW! LOL

Ang - You make it sound like so much fun being cooped up. I’m suffering from cabin fever. I’m adoring your blog, btw!

Janie Fox - We had that last weekend and had to move our daughter in it. It was pretty but inconvenient. I love the pom pom fringe! Our Walmart has no sewing stuff in it….little town. But at least we have a Walmart. It is 0 degrees here today. I don’t want to leave the house. Sadly, I have no pom pom fringe either. And no cocoa pebbles.. now I think I have to leave.

Maegan - I’d say that is a perfectly wonderful way to spend the day.

Hoosier at Heart - Your Target sells sewing stuff? That’s awesome! My days rarely go as planned. I am a list-maker. I am also a Type-A and if I don’t get everything crossed off my list I feel kinda “let down”. Maybe if I only put 3 things on my list I could be happier. That is if my list only said, 1) Eat Peanut M&M’s while watching HGTV, 2) Spend 2 hours searching blogs, and 3) Go to bed early. Hope it warms up there soon. Have a great day!

leonieke - what are you making?

erin - I have days like that a lot. I am very type A too so they drive me nuts! Boo. At least something pretty looks like its coming out of it. You will show us what you made with that trim right?! Love the zebra too!

Wendy - That snowy tree picture is rad!

Kat - Wow that snow is amazing! What a beautiful shot.
I love how you capture little shots of your day. You inspire me with your photos and the little details Meg.
Seem so strange to see snow when we are in summer here in Aus and spent the afternoon at the beach!

~Debra - My vote is that you need to sew until your heart’s content. You deserve it!

Heather - awww, I love Annie’s sweet rosy face. 🙂 Sounds like you had a perfect day after all!

princess lasertron - that snow is so beautiful.

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craft weekend.

lots and lots of pictures from the weekend.

three of the girls flew to kansas…two from california…one from alabama.
two of the girls drove from oklahoma.
the rest of the girls were local within 30 minutes.
three of us went to the airport to pick them all up…there were even some tears of joy upon meeting in real life. 

craig is a super star and took all of our kids to his mom's for the weekend…with the stomach flu.

all the blogger girls stayed at my house.
i have lots of beds….a little known fact apparently.
everyone had their own mattress. 
we must be mattress hoarders. 

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my dining room that turned into a game room decided to become a craft retreat lodge this weekend.
we fit in there so well!
all the sewing machines were on the pool table!
it was like the room was made for it.

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on friday night we made our first craft led by julie.
we used this tutorial by little miss momma.

they turned out so cute.
almost everyone chose a different color.
you need to make this!

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kimberlee didn't have on lipstick so we had her use her necklace for lipstick.

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lots and lots of chit chat while we were crafty.
and i see waffle's paw at the bottom left corner of this picture.
he was by our sides every minute….loving the the attention from the ladies.

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there was so much good food.
cindy made breakfast on saturday.
we got to sleep in….a requirement made by me.
don't you hate going places for a "retreat" and then have to be at breakfast by 7:30 am??

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there was even a sweet little baby in attendance!

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after cindy filled us with crepes with fresh fruit and quiche we loaded into a 15 passenger van to go antiquing.
we debated about decorating the van with bunting……

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so fun.
we are any stores DREAM.
a van pulling up with 10 women to shop???
we were met with big smiles.

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9 out of 10 ladies left with new found treasures.

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cole with his mama picking out all the best doilies.

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i took them to my favorite antique store…Bearly Makin It.
so much to choose from.
if you are in kansas….you should go.

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heather found silverware for her party planning business.
a total score!

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anyone need a milk jug???

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loving the sunshine!    

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all the ladies took turns holding sweet baby cole.
it was our pleasure.
he hardly made a peep the whole weekend. 
and everyone had envy of julie's gorgeous hair….it is soooo pretty.

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on saturday in kansas we had a really odd extremely warm day.
we were so grateful for it.

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can you guess what i bought from all these goodies?  ha ha ha

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after a sonic happy hour run we made it back to my house for more crafts.

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the ruffle pillow tutorial heather taught us with is here.

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3 women had never sewn on a machine before.
they ended up being ruffle making rock stars!
they did fantastic.
ashley's machine made the best ruffles…we all waitied for our turn on her machine.
no one knew what the secret was….but it worked….no gathering required.

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i love being around people who love technology as much as i do….

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threading a needle….

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the third craft was embroidery hoop art.
we were given lots of examples that we could make or we could make our own design.

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amy's was amazing.  

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we stayed up crafting and listening to frank sinatra on pandora and eating tiramisu until 2 in the morning.

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kimberlee made breakfast on sunday.
there was frosting involved.

YUM.
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another great thing about crafty girls weekends….women clean up.

always.

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there were cameras everywhere.
and fabric everywhere.

dreamy.
and my brass lamps from the thrift shop.  :)

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there is a peek at amy jupin's ruffle pillow.
i am in love with the ruffle pillows…i want to make a hundred of them.
and her turquoise flower necklace is also in the picture.

these were all of our hoops together…not all finished but all together.
mine is the one right 
here under these
letters.      

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trying to set up our cameras for a group shot….caught kimberlee being silly.

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                                                  jana (no blog….yet) and amy jupin.

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                                                             jess  and  julie.

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                                                                  ashley and cindy    (also no blog….YET).  
cindy came with ashley so she didn't have to drive alone and show up to a house full of women she had never met and be trapped with us if she didn't like us…
turns out we LOVED them both!
very much.

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                                                                    heather, cole and me.

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                                          amy   (my neighbor) and  kimberlee  (my cleaning partner)

and that was that.
they went home with their suitcases full of new crafts, antiques, julie's messy flowers and full tummies.

and i haven't stopped smiling since.

God gave me blogging.
He gave me a gift that i get to continue opening when i meet new friends from all over.
God is so awesome.

my mind feels full of creativity.
my heart feels full of love and friendship.
my body feels too full of cinnamon rolls and cheesecake.

the retirement center has been missing me.

my bloggy friends left just in time….we are snowed in here and it's FREEZING.
my house has never been this cold.
i am bundled up in a blanket with many layers and hot coffee and i am still frozen. 

T.McClelland - Hi! I came across this by accident,and I am so glad I did! My friends and I have started to do craft weekends together; we have a great time! Don’t know how much crafting we actually get done……we stay in our PJ’s…sometimes put on a chick flick…eat chocolate….we take turns going to each other’s houses. It’s a nice, fun, relaxing, full of laughter good times.

Ali - I second the request on a “how to” for making a banner! I love those banner’s! They would be adorable for my daughter’s birthday!
~ Ali

Ali - So fun! I’m from TX but, I’d love to come next year! Can’t wait for sign ups for your next craft weekend!
~ Ali

Sarah from Create Studio - Wowzers! I really want to do this in my area! What a great way to refresh your creative juices with a bunch of other like-minded women! Awesome! Thanks for the inspiration!

Vitagirl64.blogspot.com - That looks like an INCREDIBLE weekend! I wanna be your friend! LOL
Those good times make life so special! I miss my group I used to do that with. Hmmmmm, maybe it’s time I create a new one. 🙂

Dominique @ Craft Couture - This is just awesome! Looks like soo much fun, I would love to do this! :)Glad you ladies had a great time! 🙂

Jami - I am in crafting envy! That looks like sooo much fun. What a blessing, God IS good!

Jennifer - Wow sounds amazing!! Found your blog through through Little Miss Mama. I have never wanted to live in Kansas till now! 🙂
Jennifer
http://alwaysinwonder.com

teresa - O~My~Goodness!
This is so AMAZING I don’t even know how to EXPRESS myself!
HEAVEN…yes…HEAVEN!
xo

jen @ tatertots and jello - Oh my goodness — that looks so fun!! I love all of those little embroidery hoop creations!!! So cute!
What an amazing weekend!!!
xoxo
Jen

Kaitlyn Bright - Would love to join from Nebraska for the next one!! FFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!! I hold a craft retreat at a local B&B here, love that you had some structure and everyone worked doing the same things. Ours is just a free for all. The hoops are my favorites!

Michelle - It looks like all of you had a fabulous time. You are all so lucky to have one another. Thank you for sharing your great time and providing links to your projects.

aubrey - I love your bunting hanging across the room. I love love love bunting, but I s-u-c-k at making it. Something goes missing between the picture in my brain and what my hands end up creating. How did you make yours?

Amanda - OH Man! I see at least five of my favorite bloggers in the same room being crafty! I have gained so much from you and looked forward to all the inspiration from your creativity!!!

Wendy - That sounds awesome. I can’t imagine a day of hanging with friends & crafting, much less a weekend! I miss having friends that live in the same town as me 🙁

Jessica @ These Are The Days - Well I was going to guess and say “if it were me I’d have gotten the globe”, but in one of those last pictures I saw the globes so I’m pretty sure I was right.
Love the necklace you gave Edie…I was coveting it the whole weekend at Blissdom. If you would tell me where I can snag one, I’d be over the moon. 🙂 Thanks, Jessica

Kristen - Absolutely dreamy. No other words….seriously.

Jessica - just discovered your blog and am so glad i did. this looks absolutely amazing! i can’t believe how well orchestrated this was. what sweet friends. can i come next time!? 😉

Dana @ Cookin' at Cafe D - Hi,
Found your blog via The Nester.
Your retreat weekend looks so joyful!
And, MAN,how I would love a milk jug – lol.
(looks like you visited some amazing stores.)
Thanks for sharing with us 🙂
Dana at Cooking at Cafe D

princess lasertron - this looks SO fun.
I want to drive down and join you.
(how far was it again??)

Kristi~The Slipcover Girl - looks like such fun! we had a craft night recently…it was a blast!

Diane @ InMyOwnStyle - This is the best idea for bloggers to get together – so much better than a big conference. Reading through your post was so enjoyable. I love the globe you got – wish I lived closer to go to that antique store.

Bonita - I’m not even crafty and I don’t know any of you (came over from Nester’s blog), but the fellowship looked like so much fun that all the way through the post I kept thinking, “I wanna go.” So glad you had such a fun time!

Amanda @ Serenity Now - I’m visiting from The Nester’s and I had to tell you what a dream this looks like! 🙂 It’s hard enough to get my local girlfriends together to do anything, so I can’t imagine the planning that went into this. What a fabulous time you all must have had. 🙂

Sarah @ a drop of golden sun - Wow, what an amazing bunch of women, and amazing talents! Tonight is our first of what we hope to be many more, “craft club”! I am hosting at my house, but I don’t think it will be anything nearly as spectacular as your whole weekend was! Something to strive for I suppose. Thank you for sharing!

Jenn - That looks like such a dream! Thanks for giving me a little glimpse into a heavenly weekend-love the crafty ideas, too!

Cherished Hearts Vintage - Gorgeous pics! Any chance of a tutorial to show us how to make the ruffle necklaces?

HMama - I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love this. *sigh*

Katie Sellers - Such awesome idea!! And that antique store I am so jealous! Meg–could you possibly share where you got the string of light bulbs hanging in your beautiful room?? I am looking for something similar. Thanks!

Jacqui - please please please meg, can i come next time!!

Rebecca@This Present Life - Just found your blog via The Pleated Poppy and I’m so glad I did! It looks like you girls had such a great time! I would LOVE to do something like that. There is nothing like getting together with girlfriends (new and old) for a little crafting, good food, and girl time.

angie - That looks incredibly fun and awesome and like something I need. Can we be friends and you can invite me next time? I even have a cute baby to bring. 🙂

Michelle - Sounds like the perfect weekend, I’m inspired to do this with girlfriends that I don’t see enough!

Kimberly Dial - What a great idea – a crafters weekend. Sure looks like your gals had fun! Thanks for sharing!

The Lazy Dazy - Looks like balm for the soul! Blessing! Great idea…those girls are so blessed to have been on the guest list.
Thank you for sharing. I feel like I had a little micro-retreat myself!
Carrie

Beth - Totally jealous! Looks like loads & loads of fun!

sonal shah - I can’t imagine a more fun weekend. I dream of having people like this in my life. So wonderful that you all have found one another.
Anyone in New England want to connect for something like this? http://prettylittlethingy.blogspot.com

Linda - DId you make the pennant banner? If you did could you please give instructions it is just adorable. Thanks

marylea @ Pink and Green Mama - So fun!!! WISH I had been there too!!!
I think a weekend spent crafting and antiquing sounds like the perfect way to spend time with friends!!
xoxo
MaryLea

Tonia - So fun! I have followed most of your blogs for quite some time and it was just so fun to see you all in the same room. I just know if I knew you all we would be great friends! Thanks for doing this blogging thing and for sharing your lives with the world!

hearttypat - what an amazing weekend! I’m too envious of u right now!

ashley - I can’t even begin to tell you how happy it made me to read this post and see that ALL these incredibly talented, beautiful and amazing women made MY pom pom tutorial–wow, I am amiling from ear to ear still!
Your blog is fabulous and I am wondering where you have been all my life! better late then never–so glad I found you and thank you so much for linking to Little Miss Momma!
I can’t wait to have a craft weekend of my own one day!!!

miss chris - Wait?! You guys are in kansas?! this crazy blog world is so big it shouldn’t surprise me that I’m surprised. Anyway… it looks like you had a wonderful time. Good for you all! xoxo, chris (kansas city)

nancy in ks - Bearly Makin’ it! I see Oggie in the orange sweatshirt. One of my favorite places! It looks like he took you out to his barn too. That’s a treasure land for sure.
This is the first time I’ve read your blog. So thanks to Ashley Ann I have another great stop in the morning before I start my day. Pretty soon, I won’t have any day left. Just blogs.

Tara - so much fun.
this is SO on my list of 40 things I wanna do before I turn 40…I’ve got 2 1/2 years left to make it happen!
you are my inspiration.
(totally meant to put the song my the group Chicago in your mind all day) :))))))

Meaghan - Just wanted to say this looks like so much fun! You have inspired me in the past to do crafty night with my friends…now I am reminded to do it again. I love that it gets us out and together during the long winter months, esp after christmas. Thanks!!

asibtroy - What i wouldn’t give to be in a room so blessed! And yay for Ashley Ann coming over with Cindy! Love it when blog worlds collide 😉

Nancy - glad you posted a pic w/amy j! she’s my local blogger rockstar!

Courtney Hohimer - Can I come next time?

Candice - Oh my goodness! Looks as though everyone had a wonderful time! Hmmm…maybe I should looking into planning my own craft weekend with my friends and family! 😉

Lorilee - That looks like sooooo much fun. How did you plan the crafts? Did each person bring their own supplies for each craft?
Blessings,
Lorilee

Daniele Valois - this looks like a dream come true!!! So jealous!

Heather - Dead freaking envious!!!! That looks like a truckload of fun!

jaz - Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!! xoxoxoxox

Talysa - I love the whole thing….what a great idea! But I left half of my brain with that first picture and those pennants….love.
Then you lost the second half of it on the hoop art.
I did manage to catch up when we hit the frosting though. 😉
Ps. You totally got the globe. 😉

Krystle - I’m new to your blog my m’dear… you are fabulous! I first found you because your house was adorable and I fell in love with your kitchen. I now love you all the more because I see that you’re using the gift of your home to share with others for fantastic retreats and fellowship like this! I’m so glad to have “met” you!

Mindy - What a fabulous weekend! Now I want the weather to get better so I can go on a road trip and check out the antique store!

Danielle - What a kind and gracious heart you have. I can’t even begin to tell you the smiles I got at seeing you gals have so much fun. I follow Amy Jupin’s blog and Jess Mac’s as well and am so happy that these two special women got to have some girl time. Your blog always puts a smile on my face:)

Kristin S - Meg, what a dreamy weekend. Your husband is a trooper! I bet he knew you NEEDED that girl time.
Your perspective at the end is shaping a seminar I’m doing at a women’s conference this coming weekend for women who work for our ministry. I am SO NOT an expert but just want to share from my heart about how it has ministered to me and others.
Most want how-to’s which is fine. I can do that. Sort of (I still don’t know how the heck to change my header). But I’d rather give big picture.
Thank you!

Sandee - Ok. This looks like the best weekend ever! Every time I get the chance to see pic.s of your house I’m in heaven… loved the one of the globe mixed in with other things at the antique store where you asked which thing you’d buy out of all those things. You got me started on wanting a collection of old globes and I just found my very first one on Monday!!! I’m so excited and can’t wait to find more.. 🙂

Sara - There is nothing better than a house full of friends with food, fun and crafts. How kind of you to open your house….I wondered what the major cleaning was about! Does anyone else think that Cindy looks like the brand new wife on Sister Wives? She is a doll…and I just put my thumb on why I thought I knew her. Funny! I obviously watch too much TV.

Charity - I’m in love with the hanging banner and lights. Could you PLEASE post instructions on how to make the banner and the dimensions of the triangles? I would love to make one!!!

Tammy Sabourin - So what you’re really saying is that this weekend was BEAST. 😉

melinda - new reader here! that looks like such a good time! i think i may have to partake in something similar!
ps love your blog 🙂 it is so cheerful!!!

Jenny B. - Wow… I can see from the previous comments that I’m not alone in being just a tiny bit jealous (ok, make that a lot!). 🙂 What an absolutely perfect weekend!

Leslie @farm fresh fun - This looks better than Blissdom! So much inspiration and happiness found here. Loved learning that some gals hadn’t sewn before… Thanks for the great link to Bearly Makin It! My hubby loves to go out to KS for bird hunting… Now I know where I will dream of if I tag along! (Plus dreamin of a photo shoot with* you*.)
(((hugs))
Leslie in MD

Tanya H - I love everything about this post but my favorite is your hoop art! My mom was a creative circle….something or other when I was tiny and they just moved and we found a HUGE box FULL of those hoops…..Now we know what to do with them! 😀 THANKS!!!
I too love the blessing that blogs are in my life. You are one inspiring lady and I love you for it!

sarah - So jealous! What a great time for you girls. I was glad to read that some of you had not ever worked on a sewing machine-gives me hope for my craftin self to improve still. Thanks for sharing-I love seeing women loving on each other.

Melissa - Ugh! I’m jealous! LOL
It looks like you all had a super time!!!
Is it weird that I read this post yesterday then last night had a dream that you invited me over for crafty fun?? LOL You have a lot of admirers, girl!

Tracy - Wow! looks like such a wonderful time and how sweet of you to host it. I have to admit…I am a bit jealous as I imagine all the crafty fun and girl talk that was oozing through your walls all weekend (plus I really want to meet waffle, I am in love with him!)
If you ever want more friends…I would love to visit Kansas…I just claim waffle as my roommate! ; )

Lynn - i am so in love with this idea. i’ve always considered my blog a huge blessing, its let me connect with people i probably never would have met before. you’ve got my mind spinning now! 🙂

Heather - Thanks for the antique store tip. I’ll have to stop by the next time I go back home as we always drive past Marion.

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - Great fun! I’d love to do something like this..would be fab!
You have a lovely house btw 🙂

DanaD@BoysMyJoys - That looks like SO much fun… sighhhhh!
And, I’m lovin’ the dark do!
Stay warm!
It’s in the 60’s here in SC today.

Kirsten J - Almost as good as being there. Almost. I’m officially jealous…and need to find some new friends who like crafty stuff, because while lunch and shopping are fun, crafts and antiquing are more my cup of tea 🙂

Esther Noordman - Looking good!! I was wondering, what exactly do you mean by ‘cleaning partner’? (sounds like something/one I could be/use..;).

Jen@thecottagenest - I love that you did this Meg. What a way to express love for your friends! I love what everyone created too. I especially love those hoops and that swirly graphic fabric! Where is that from? I’d love to play with that!

Ruth - Oh my goodness, that looks like SO much fun! Next time please invite me! 🙂

leonieke - wow,…
you’re a verry lucky lady, to have the room to enjoy the company of so many friends! the pictures show that you had lots of fun (o, en excuse me for bad spelling; english is not my language,..i’m dutch)

amy jupin - i love each and every one of these pics.
especially the one of cole’s reflection. genius.
miss you, sweet friend.

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - That looks completely awesome and I am now really jealous! You are blessed.

Marie - How awesome! I am going to confess being a little jealous of your fabulous weekend. I have no crafty friends here and a weekend like that sounds like a dream come true. I should just be bold and plan something like that and see what happens. Pretty amazing of you to open up your home like that. 🙂

Kelly - The bunting and big round lights are fantastic and it looks like y’all had a wonderful time. I really enjoyed seeing everyone’s embroidery hoop art together. A bunch of neat ideas! Kelly

Jeanne - It looks so amazing! I am sad that I had to miss it but I hope you invite me again next time:-) I love all the bunting in the “craft room” 🙂

Nicole - HI! I found your blog through Julie’s blog. :0) Okay, I have to ask. I am a Kansas blogger/crafter. What antique shops did you go to? May I ask what town too?!!!
How fun of a weekend. How do you guys know one another? It would be fun to get together like that. :0)Kansas should have a blog meet-up.
Thank you,
Nicole
“Cole”

Carol S. - Oh my, what a fun bunch and awesome agenda. Your hair is really cute dark. Really clever way to spend a weekend, and yes, your husband (and inlaws) are amazing for their coordinated getaway as well. Very cool for everyone to have their time to party, and you totally deserved yours this weekend after being an amazing wife and mom all year long! Just went on a fun blogland stroll with your links on a snowy night in Chicago. Thanks Meg.

Emily - this looks like quite possible one of the most fabulous weekends ever!

Michelle Holden - Oh my gosh!!! I was looking at your fun weekend pics and I noticed Cindy Wells!!!
I was thinking this was such a great idea!!! And she experienced it 1st hand!!! I love her~ she is my cousins wife:)
Rockchalk!

mary beth - Oh my gosh, I’ve been in that store! I was tired after the Hillsboro fair, so I was pretty overwhelmed by it, but can’t wait to get back there! What a wonderful idea for a weekend! We are in the middle of a Kansas blizzard right now, but I’m scheming in my mind for some good cabin fever crafting here all by myself! Great job Meg…stay warm with you memories of a great weekend!

shauna reed - what a hostess you are Meg.
that looks lovely.
what a dream come true to have nice clean people take over your house.
other mommies that know how to take care of each other.
that is the best medicine…for anything.
i love your hair and your whole deal….you know that, just thought i’d tell you again.

Red Shoes Rolling Red Shoes Rolling - What a cool retreat! I want to start planning one with my mom and sisters. Love your blog Meg. You inspire me everyday with your ideas, links, humor, love for God and humor. I look forward to reading everyday. Thanks!

Joyce - wow. it’s like a mini-bliss.

deborah@applesinwonderland - looks like a most fun weekend!!!! it’s so super-cool when you can recognize a gift when it’s given. love that!!!!

elisabeth (bovagoods) - that just looks like a dream come true!

Tonya - That looks like so much fun! Where at in Kansas do you live? I am in KCMO.

Sonia - I wish I could have just been there to watch!! I’ve actually made Little Miss Momma’s pom-pom necklace! I love em! I love the whole craft weekend. I wish I had a lot of crafty friends to do one.

sarah - so many blogging celebs in one place…love it. it looks like you all truly enjoyed yourselves, and i am so proud of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to be creative, beautiful women together!

danyele - is it totally wrong to be jealous??? i want a fab girl weekend with crafters…maybe when all the kids are a little bigger. maybe.

Lucylu ~ - Ooh! We too are snowed in we have a MILD blizzard going on outside!
Oh and I wish I could’ve been there!
Smiling
-Lucy

Beth - what a FABULOUS weekend!! makes me want fabric stores and antique stores and craft stores close to me!! thanks for sharing.

jennie - meg…totally random and not related to craft weekend (which looks fabulous) at all. but my pandora station just played “what is” by anna vandas, which you must listen to if you haven’t. the last verse of the song is, “What is good, what is pure, what is right? What is love, what is truth, what is holy in your sight?” Of course, it made me think of you. 🙂

mel - ahhhh!!!!! So FUN!!!!!!
Look at all those fun crafts you made!!
LOVE those necklaces!!!
Yay for Blog Friends & blog friend weekends!
What a blessing, indeed!
p.s. next time you need to invite someone who can teach you photoshop, since that is on your 35 before 35 list 😉

Kristin Hayne - What an awesome time!! So jealous…. that needs to happen in my life more often…. and was it a pre requisite to have blue eyes? LOL

kasey - I am so sorry i couldn’t make it…
you know…with the snow and all..i was just afraid of driving.
But you know how MUCH i love to craft…so i am really sorry that i wasn’t there to help you all hot glue buttons.
Next time for sure…and i’ll make the drive.
pinky promise.
I’ll even pick Laura up on my way…or maybe she could pick me up.

amber - aw, this is awesome Meg. I would love to do something like that someday. Blogging is great and the inspiration I get from you and other women/moms/crafters is so much fun. I am thankful for you sharing a glimpse into your life with all of us. I am so going to take a day trip to that antique store, I am seriously drooling over it! Thanks for sharing your weekend pictures. I am inspired as always.

Laura Phelps - I’M CRYING
seriously CRYING
but I am a DORK Meg..because I am looking at the pictures, wishing I had made the trip, but thinking at the same time how UNQUALIFIED I would have felt around these talented beautiful women!
I think I would have felt ugly and useless!!! HA
I need to find something I am good at before I walk into a room full of these ladies!
ugh, insecurity sucks
I LOVE the pics
I LOVE that God brought you all together
it looks PERFECT
you are awesome for doing this
God really is speaking through you
amazing
still crying…

Jen H. - Looks like a complete and utter blast! So many people have good intentions of meeting up and getting together, but it is great that you and these women actually MADE IT HAPPEN! Good job! 🙂

sue - World Globe.

sarah @ Perpetual Blind Date - You literally grouped all of my FAVORITE bloggers into one large crafting weekend. How fun?!

sara's art house - LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my dear! I wish I could have come!!!! :):) LOVE the hoop art.

Sixty- Fifth Avenue - oh my goodness, what fun!! your beautiful home was the perfect place to have a retreat. we are getting snowed in as i type under my warm blanket.
Londen
xx

Emily Zimmerman - Oh your post is making me tear up!! Seeing the picture of Jess and Julie together!! Oh boy makes me cry!! Makes me cry because of their loss, but tears of joy that they have met each other. Wow! Love all the pics and all the crafts!! So I have an idea…next year when you host your weekend (no pressure 🙂 or anything) what about having a contest where the winner gets to join your big weekend???!!! Or I’m pretty sure you could auction off tickets to the big event and make lots of money! Sign me up!!

Dina - LOOOOOOOOVVVVEEEE this post:-) I wanna do this with my gf’s. And thank you thank you thank you for sharing Marion:-) My bff and I went to Hillsboro in Sept.(craft fair)… we drove and drove and drove looking for barn sales — you had blogged the previous year about them…Marion, right? Can’t wait to take her:-) You’re the best!

Heather - ahhh that looks like an amazing weekend!!! One of my life goals is to have fellowship like that (with great women, great stuff to do, yummy non-diet treats, maybe a little book club action?) at least once a year or so. It has been lacking in my life since college and moving away from home, many years ago. Camaraderie without competition, that’s what I want. Meg, you always inspire me so much! And if I ever get the guts to show the world my blog, maybe that will be the vehicle God uses.

wendy, NJ - Wow! I am so jealous! I love that you were able to host such a wonderful weekend full of friendship and making memories!
Big hugs to you!

Jen - What fun! I am as crafty as a “big rock”. What I want most from you crafting weekend is Kimberlee’s HAIR!! Sigh…………..

Donna - I want to do this so badly!!! I wish I had a big enough house and a MIL that lives close so I could send my kids there.
You gals are awesome! I love all the craft projects. I’m going to have to make on of those necklaces and the embroidery hoop project. Love it all!
Thanks for sharing!!

se7en - I was going to say that photo looks lovely but then that other photo looked lovely too and so on and on… I t all looked so divine!!! The crafting, the outing, the awesome shop, the scrumshish food… the friends … totally love it all…. And if you didn’t buy that globe then I am sailing the se7en seas to come and get it for myself!!! Love it!!!

Becky - I’m not crafty but I love your crafts! They are the kind I would make or buy. I despise so many of the crafts (crap) out there. You have the most fun style, love it!

Amber - SO much fun!!! I would love to be a part of a fun craft weekend like this! It seems like all the friends that God has places in my life lately are from blog land and far away!

Heather - Hey Meg! I totally get hives even thinking about crafting like that! I have no creative abilities at all. None. BUT – next time you host a weekend, give me a buzz. I’m a great cook and I’ll come down and cook and do all the clean up for the ladies, just to be there. 🙂 I’m in Topeka – it’s doable! Ha!

Terrie - Isn’t it great to have a WonDerFul reason to clean your house?! Was wondering why you were so into spring cleaning in January! Thanks for all the Fab ideas!! I just got my sewing machine back yesterday…it’s been in the shop for 3 months! Not sure what I will work on first…ruffled pillows, the bunting I want to make for my craft room…or that quilt laying over the back of my chair since November waiting to be finished! So jealous…(I know one of the sins right…thou shalt not covet) of your women friendships! I’ve only had one dear friend who likes to craft…and having moved from her all the rest, missing that part of my life. You are Blessed Megan! Thanks for sharing with us!

Dawn Eshnaur - My friend and I both have ties to Newton and would LOVE to come to a craft weekend with you! My son dates a girl from Newton and my friend grew up there! We read yours and Ashley Ann’s blog….looks like too much fun! It’s funny….people make fun of us because we call our blogs friends “Our friends from Kansas” 🙂 Enjoy the snow!!!

Renae - Dang! I was in Kansas this weekend (okay, Missouri and some Kansas) and didn’t know this fab party was rockin’! 🙂 Oh well, looks like you girls had a fantastic time!! Meg, i’d love to know where you got your drinking glasses, with the dots on them. LOVE those. Thanks for sharing!!

Megan - You’ve shared so much. Can I ask for more? How about the tiramisu recipe?? Pretty please?

anne c - holy craziness! how fun! I need friends to do this with! what lucky women you all are to have each other and to experience such a great weekend crafting. I probably would have peed my pants to meet you and ashley…in fact I know I would have! thanks for sharing!

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - That is so fantastic! The hoops are PRECIOUS!

Tracey @7294cottageway.blogspot - How do I send my resume for that fun? I can cook, craft, clean..and I know a few really great jokes…so glad you had fun. LOVE that ruffle pillow!

debbie - I love everything about this! The crafts, the camaraderie and the food! I agree…you are indeed blessed!

Michele - Loved this post! How generous of you to open your home and your heart to all of these creative women. Thanks for sharing!

Lisa - This is what I call Utopia. Seriously, I am so inspired. I have dreamed of doing something like this but have thought, “My house is small. Who would want to cram into it for the weekend? On top of people they don’t really know.” What a lame excuse. This is the year. Maybe just a few friends, but I’m making it happen! Thanks so much for sharing! (I love that antique store too. My “girls” and I went Hillsboro weekend and I’ve been dreaming of it since!)

Jodi - I know it’s wrong to be jealous… but I am SO jealous!! I don’t know very many women here w/ the same love of crafting as I have. You are SO very blessed!!! :o)

sara @ it's good to be queen - oh my word, that looks like my idea of a good time. that antique store looks rad. I’m going to have to go there next time we’re in kS. seriously, that was such a great idea to do in the middle of winter. something fun to look forward to. I would love to do something similar. How did you decide who to invite? I think that would be the hardest part for me…not hurting some people’s feelings. also, LOVE the lamps down the middle of the table. so cool.

kat - Oh my gosh!!! So wish I could have been there too! What a super fun weekend!

Janie Fox - Looks like so much fun. I am new to blogging but there are some great hearts out there I have met by reading and now writing.
We are iced in here in central IL. Power was off for a bit but it is back on in time for me to read some fav blogs! 🙂

Beth @ odd girl out... - looks like you girls had a GREAT time! i miss KS so much, especially after a post like this, i went to school in lawrence!

mandy madison - Looks like a fabulous time had by all! Now you got me in the crafting mood 🙂 thanks for sharing!!

Amanda-ThriceBlessed - Looks like such a fun weekend!

Jill - So that’s why you were cleaning like a maniac last week! 🙂
Looks like soooo much fun! (the crafting that is, not the cleaning!)

Trish - FUN!

sarah - Looks like lots of fun 🙂

colleen - Okay, so which one of those girls is from Alabama? I live in Alabama and don’t know many other girls who are as obsessed with crafting as i tend to be! Have toyed with starting a blog and would love to know of another alabama girl i could learn from! Looks like you girls had your souls nourished! Something that for me usually comes from time with other likeminded women! Glad it was so much fun! Well worth all that cleaning!

Shayne - You have an amazing, dedicated husband! So sweet of him to take the kids, esp. when they weren’t feeling well. Hope they’re better now.
Glad you were able to create fun girl time for yourself. Girl time is special. 🙂

Ariel - How come Julie gets the amazing hair AND insanely long eyelashes??? Looks like so much fun…I need to make one of those necklaces, fast!

Kori - I wanna come play in Kansas too!! 🙂
My husband wanted me to keep lights up after Christmas and I didn’t have any ideas that didn’t resemble a frat house…lights on the walls, etc., but I am in total LOVE with the way you strung those big daddy globe lights above your table! Like dining al fresco but not. I think I’m gonna do that.
And add me to the list of chicks who have sewing machines who have never taken them out of the box and/or tried to thread them. I did take mine out of the box only to be scared by it and put it back. 🙁 I need to get over that ‘cuz I need some bright colors here in the cold of Spokane and don’t want to have to go hunting for the perfect thing when I *think* I can make it. Maybe.
Glad you had such a great time and hope Craig is better….

Suzy - I love the flowers. Does Julie offer a tutorial on how to make the pretty messy flower or does she just make them to sell? Thanks! Looks like it was a blast- good idea!!

tammy hebert - Looks like you had a great time. And all that crafting- I am jealous. Thanks for sharing..
tammy

Penny - Thank you so much for sharing photos of your time together. I am having a bunch of friends over to craft. Just for the day. But I love your ideas. I will borrow some and my friends will be impressed! Thanks. Looks like you all had a wonderful time. And they got to love on Waffle, lucky them!

rhonda - Just seeing all yall have fun together is GREAT! (I love it when women are shown as loving and supporting and real!!) So glad yall did this!

Beinghappygirl.blogspot.com - This looks like SO MUCH FUN. and thanks for the pictures. I have GOT to add pics to my blog. The crafting is WAY over my head.

Kari - Sounds like an amazing, fun time! I wish I had a bunch of fun gals to teach me to use a sewing machine. I’m ashamed to admit I bought a new machine about 4 years ago and have never taken it out of the box. I’m a chicken, LOL! Love your projects, especially the hoops. So cute!

Rachel - What amazing FUN! I have to admit, I’m a bit jealous. I’d love to host a gathering like that. I love that you just jumped in and made it happen. You’ve got me thinking…a dangerous thing indeed haha.

pam - How fun! My parents gave our 21 year old her great grandmother’s 1949 Singer….it has attachments that do things I’ve never heard of….I am VERY JEALOUS. It has a ruffler…..that you would be in awe of….does all the work and REALLY FAST.

Kristin - How awesome! It looks like you had a blast with an amazing bunch of women. 🙂

Susan - I wanna be one of your friends that you invite over! Seriously…I think if I knew you, you could make me a better Mom and person! It looks like you had so much fun! So, if you are looking to do another weekend and need a lonely mom of 6 kids 8 and under and would like to give her a reason to get away for a weekend, COUNT ME IN! I would be in my minivan so fast! You are truly blessed to have a great “family” of friends to surround you!

Courtney Walsh - Looks like a ton of fun, Meg! I am seriously thinking about doing something like this…too many people online that I’d love to meet and no guarantee that’ll ever happen!! Gotta take matters into your own hands sometimes! 🙂
I really want to learn to embroider…I am clueless, but I always love the way it looks!

amber - SO fun. Thanks for sharing, especially all the crafty fun. I’m loving the ruffle pillow too…

Heather R. - Thanks for the heads up on the shopping in Kansas. We’re in the blizzard fun, too. I don’t think the kids have gone to school in like forever. I bet you guys had a great time. Love all the crafts!!! 🙂

Peggy in TN - How much fun. New friends, old friends, far away friends. Blogging makes this big world so much smaller. Nice to see.

Courtney - looks like you all had an awesome time!
i am so going to that antique shop sometime it looks awesome! its only a 3 hour drive, i am sure i can convince my husband :)!

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craft cupboard

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i have this pressure that i put on myself that YOU think i have a really organized, pretty-to-look-at craft cupboard.
well…this is it.
what do you think?

i texted my friend and said "i'm cleaning my craft cabinet!" 
she wrote back "i haven't seen your craft room"
me: "no…the kids' craft cuboard…not my crafts"
she: "you have a whole cupboard?! i have a shoebox"

that cracked me up.
yes….i tend to be a bit on the hoarder side when it comes to craft supplies.

i couldn't stand that cupboard one more day.

i emptied it completely on the day we had the snow day….with NO snow.

remember i did have a whole pot of coffee myself….
(call me Magda….at least i wasn't vacuuming under the couch!)

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i found places for everything….put everything together that belonged together….made labels!
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top shelf: ALL the stuff i have been collecting for a year for our junk sculpture….coming soon.
third shelf: ribbons/styrofoam stuff/crayons/beads/yarn/clothes pins/old christmas cards
second shelf:  paint/glitter/glue bottles/tape/glue sticks/hot glue guns/ watercolor paint/feathers/pipe cleaners
first shelf:  construction paper/white paper/pencils/pens/scissors/paintbrushes/rolls of white paper

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the cans are recycled….peaches or tomatoes
 
i found two packs of pencils from school supply shopping….i sat and sharpened them all! 

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craft thursday just got better!

and the best part…..i did it all for free!
no fancy organizers.
no running to the store.
just used what i had.

craig will be so proud.  :)

 

crystal beutler - Man . . . can you come over and fix me. I soooo need to do this. You are going to laugh when you read my post tomomorrow. These pictures and your words today inspire me. My whole craft room looks worse than your first picture. And it plagues me.

Quinn - I am obsessed with clean, and this post made me feel so happy. And I mean I cringed at the first picture, and got progressively happier hahahah. Very impressed!

Tara - so impressed.
no money spent…makes the whole thing more impressive.

Andrea T - super insiring post. especially the part where you did it all for free, no running to the store. i am not that strong!!

Stefanie Shultz - Not sure how to get this to you, please check out this blog and pray for this family. I do not know them personally, but I’m touched by their story and I’m sure you will be too. Thanks~ http://lukesmoment.squarespace.com/

julia - I’m feeling pretty inadequate that my kid just uses a pen and computer paper. I’ve got to find my “A” game.

Katie - I have a free standing craft cupboard…it used to be in my husband’s room growing up. My MIL gave it to me this summer and I painted it white and have lots of craft supplies in it. I use left over canning jars or any glass jars to put supplies in…can you believe I do that with 4 small kids?!
I did see a blog that wrapped twine around old formula jars and then added a ribbon on the top and bottom and then tied labels on…cute but more work:) I am saving all the formula cans, baby food jars, and pasta sauce jars for something yet to be determined.
Have fun creating!

Leah - You know what’s funny about this? You say you’re not an organized person. But looking at what you accomplished totally inspires me to organize all my craft supplies too. I’m ready to put on a pot of coffee and get started!

Amy jupin - “If I knew you in real life I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils…”
Now I wanna watch ‘you’ve got mail’
And ‘something about mary’
🙂

Kristin S - Your built ins are glorious!
Isn’t sharpening a pack of pencils so satisfying? I can smell them from here in NC…

nic - this makes me want to come over and play.
we have a craft box…and then the rest of the house, which is scattered willy-nilly with mislaid supplies. so really, we have like a whole craft HOUSE.
which needs to be purged and straightened and herded. oh bother.

Vera - I am so jealous that you have all that STUFF. I used to be a splendid craft hoarder, but now my kids just use it all up pretty much the minute it comes into our house. I filled a HUGE cookie jar full of crayons (like 4 of those giant Crayola boxes full) and they were all gone (used, lost, who knows!) within a month. Glue? FORGET IT. It makes me crazy. Maybe I’ll re-stock and then put a LOCK on it!

Victoria - Looks great and might just motivate me to do my own….

Nicole Q. - Looks beautiful!

Stephanie - Wonder if we could start a hoarder of craft supplies support group, I’d be a lifetime member! I think we have a million pencils lying around our house and I would love to sharpen every one of them! My rule is they must have a sharp pencil to start their homework, weird I know!

Michelle - Love, love, love! Now I’m wondering if you printed the labels off your Mac and if so, what font did you use?

Londen @ Sixty-Fifth Avenue - wow! that was a lot of work! it looks fantastic! your craft room inspires me to make something!

kat - How fun!!! It looks amazing and now you can see exactly what you have to work with. Awesome job Meg!!!

Brittany - This post makes me so happy…I love seeing things get organized! It give me the itch to start some organizing of my own!! Very nice!!

Jessie - I love your closet! This makes me think of my favorite cabinet when I was teaching. I had it labeled with all of my favorite craft items. I would open and just feel happy! I brought it all home with me but need a nice big closet like this that is organized to keep it. The bins and tubs I have get messy way too fast. I love all the fun colors and craft items. Makes me want to do something fun with my boys today!

sarah - this is the sort of thing that i would add to my daily to-do list just to be able to check it off.
well done, my friend. you’ve inspired us all.
and what lucky kiddos to have such a crafty mama!

Rach - I hope to have a closet like this for my kids when they are older and I am personally attached to my P-Touch labeler and repurposing tins so hopefully it will look like this. Oh, and if I could lift my couch, I would TOTALLY vacuum under it!

jenn - It looks wonderful! And that gum-ball container!!! Mmmm…I’d be tempted to chomp into one of those beads. 🙂

Kate - I sharpened a whole box of pencils on Saturday night. My husband could hear it going and going and going. . . he finally came to check on me! (I like the old fashioned sharpeners.) It’s such a relief to find a project that you can actually start and finish. Great job!

Courtney Walsh - I would so love to have a craft cupboard. And a new house. 🙂 Looks pretty dern awesome!

Laura Phelps - I have a craft shelf
and a craft bin
and a CANDY CUPBOARD
a baking shelf
and a sprinkles lazy susan
and they are ALL a complete mess
when I lose this cold and feel better, the pot of coffee is going on and I am getting to work
maybe
probably not
but I will make that pot of coffee at least
🙂

Dana @ Bungalow'56 - Hmm? Just as I figured, now that the kids are all in school your inner Martha is emerging. I’m not sure if we can be friends now, as I don’t know how to get over this closet envy I’m experiencing?
Dana: )

Shannon - That seriously looks like all of my closets. It’s embarrassing whenever someone comes over and opens a closet, like Monica’s closet from Friends 🙂
I don’t have that many craft things but then again I only have 2 kids. Good job taking the time and organizing all of that. I hope your kids are back in school so you have some you time again!

Sharry - This is the “same” mess I’ve been tackling for a month and I don’t have kids – just too much fabric and all its accessories!

Dani - I actually started doing this the other day. My husband built some shelves in the hall closet for my craft supplies. I didn’t realize how many I had! I had supplies all over the place. Under the bed, top of closets, in kitchen drawers…. EVERYWHERE! So glad I have most of it organized and in the same place!

Kerri - I find there is something very therapeutic in sharpening pencils. Why is that? I also like the way they smell – LOL! Of course I am a teacher, but still…
Great job on the cabinet!

kbonikowsky - “i sat and sharpened them all!” Too funny.

Diane - Now could you come and do my Quilt Room?

Shoppin4sophia - Thanks for showing a re-do that costs no money! You know, sometimes all of these blogs make me depressed with their major overhauls. They say, “this only cost me $$$blah, blah.” Well, do you know how long it takes to save extra $$$$???? Anyways, thanks for that. I appreciate it.

Marie - Oh man I need to organize so bad! Thanks for the idea on using cans! I mean i know its nothing new but it was like a “oh yeah” kinda moment lol!

Kristin Hayne - This post just made my heart soooooo happy. I LIVE for organizing…. if you lived in Colorado, I would’ve done this for you for FREE!!! Good job. Makes everything easy to get to and the kids can find things without making a GINORMOUS mess…. LOVE it!!

Beth - Looks amazing! My craft cabinet could use some more shelves, love how yours are spaced. So…..question: how do you use the tin cans when they have the sharp edge around the top?

Carly Winborne - oh, i am in absolute heaven. the labels make my heart beat fast. love.

Aneta Kudasik - You are such a fun mom! I don’t know anyone who is like this for their children! Good job on the cupboard!!!

ashley jensen - Ah the joy of organizing. I recently organized my craft cabinet and no longer dread looking it it. It looked like yours but smaller.

Lisa Currie-Gurney - INSPIRATIONAL!!! ESPECIALLY THE USING WHAT YOU HAVE NO COST PART.
HUGS FROM MY HEART!
http://sophiemyfriend.blogspot.com/

Beth - I love your craft cupboard! I am going to have to fix one for Lexi…All her stuff is everywhere from bedroom to living room and where ever else she leaves her stuff.

Cathy - Love it! Of course, for me….the hardest part would be keeping it that way! 🙂

Rachel / cREaTe - AWESOME. the before pic looks just like nearly every cabinet & closet in my house. and other areas where things get stashed. this past weekend, we had an impromptu party. 16 people showed up at my house before i even got 2 minutes to do a tornado sweep through the house. it was so embarrassing & totally has me wanting to set the bar a little higher on how i keep my house on normal days. 😛 blech.

Jodi - I did that just before Christmas… My craft closet…
I need to reorganize it again… :o)

Amanda - Your before pic looks like my craft supply areas…I think they are split into 3 different spots 🙁
Makes me want a label maker once again…lol. Looks great! Feels good, doesn’t it?

heidi @ wonder woman wannabe - well done!!!
we’ve got a craft closet that stays pretty well stocked thanks so a certain grandmother who’s also a preschool director. 🙂
one of my favorite parts of my job as a Professional Organizer is finding clever and creative ways to store items with what you already have. though it is fun to purchase pretty color coordinating (and functional) storage boxes, bins, and/or baskets it’s not a NEED to simply get things in order. your cupboard looks great!

Bobbie - You should see my craft shelves in our garage. Two huge industrial sized shelves that look like a little hurricane went off in my garage. Maybe you’ll inspire me to clean them soon but only after a pot of coffee

deborah@applesinwonderland - spectacular!!!!! my craft cupboard, sets of drawers and large portion of the basement may require my own barista and an IV set-up. good to know it can be done. 🙂

Candy - Looks awesome! You totally crack me up, at my prayer group the other night we had a Magda reference! Too funny.

elisa - Amazing what coffee will do for you!!

sandy toe - I had to laugh at your comment- When I organize…I also buy! Terrible habit of mine!
sandy toe

Kelly - I love organizing and labels! So fun! Kelly

jenni@talkinghairdryer - You can do anything as long as you have a pot of coffee and a box of cupcakes! Love your clean, usable space.

Staci - WAY TO GO GIRL!!!!!! Looks awesome!!!!

Penny - Wonderful Meg. It looks great. You have inspired me to tackle my craft room. I am having our next Craft Club at my house and I know the ladies will need something from that room and it scares me! You have inspried me to get it done. Thanks! And what a great place to hide the cupcakes! 🙂

Shairee - oops – meant only if it could stay that WAY!!

Shairee - Oh, if it could only STAY that why!!

Elissa - ok, so what **I** want to know is…. can you come to MY house? 😉

Barbara - awesome job! what I would give for an awesome cupboard like that…. so would my daughter!
what really intrigues me is how you plan on using the hostess cupcakes in the junk sculpture 😉 teeheee

Kimberlee J. - Yay for you! Exhale…I love a space cleaned out and organized–Even if it is a shoebox. 😉

Shayne - I love what you said about Craig being proud because you didn’t run to the store for anything to help you organize! So tempting, isn’t it, to go buy matching containers? But you did a lovely job and avoided that extra expense!

Carol S. - That’s a million dollar makeover! Bet that felt great. I keep looking at that empty space above the construction paper trying to figure out how you can get a second or third level for different paper types above it…there are organizers like that but hmmmm….for free…. Anyway, IF we get a snow day, I’m doing something similar to a junk closet or room. Have a wonderful week Meg.

Julie - Looks great! I did the same thing with our “kid’s cabinet” in the kitchen. What a disaster. Now I just need to find the tape for the label maker…it’s here somewhere! I’m digging myself out of my house one inch at a time now that my babies are all in school!

Amy Lynne - Love it! I especially love that you didn’t buy anything to make it more organized! I am all about re-purposing these days, so it’s nice to see when other folks are doing it too! Great job!

Lorie - Once again you inspire me. I need a snow day without any snow to get my pantry done!

se7en - We are in our last week of school and I am just dying to do our annual sort… of the craft/school/puzzle/games dresser (http://www.se7en.org.za/2010/02/25/se7en-organize-school-starting-with-the-dresser). I love yours!!! And I could look at close up pictures of crayons and markers and beads all day… everyday!! EVERYDAY!!! Thanks for the happy post!!!

Katy - I can’t help but disagree with the previous comment made by “Georgia Rowe”.. Doesn’t she know that you are never too old to craft?? 🙂
Great job organizing, Meg! You have inspired me (what’s new?).

Jen - I love anything with a label!
Looks great. There is nothing like a clean cupboard to make you feel good – at least I’m a bit on the sad side like that.
x

Heather - looks great! I could stare into that huge jar of beads forever… 🙂

Gemma - You did a great job – I love label makers!!!
Gemma x

georgia rowe - I want to come to your house!!!!!!!!
I love crafts, but being 23 i dont have much to craft, i need to borrow some children to do craft time with i think :o)
I cant wait to have kids so i can draw and make things with them.
Well done on the ‘free’ organising!!! i always keep old food tins, and Sauce jars to store things in. Douer egberts coffee has the best jars, there so posh! – its worth buying their coffee just to keep the Jar ! haha
xxx

Simone - ahhh sweet organisation 🙂

sue - You are a clever girl.That looks very organised.I cleaned my scrapbook/craft area too this last week and now i stand and admire it also ,ha ha.

cheryl @ a pretty cool life. - So…are there craft supplies or cupcakes in the Hostess box on the top shelf??

Keri ~ Forever Folding Laundry - Nice!
I know you guys will make some great stuff.
I love a freshly cleaned-out cupboard.
Mine never seem to stay that way.
How does everything seem to migrate out of place so quickly?
I wish you no craft cupboard migration.
Ha.

Lisa - My first thought when I saw the picture of your cupboard messy was “At least she has a craft cupboard!” I’m not crafty so the extent of my crafts is crayons and coloring books. They all fit in one small bin! 🙂 Your clean and organized cupboards make me want to organize my whole house! 🙂

Amber - Holy Cannoli!
Just kidding. 🙂 My whole house is an unorganized mess. 🙂

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gingerbread….graham cracker houses…2010.

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for me….the best part of this project every year is setting it up.
it is so pleasing to the eye.

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my kids must have asked me TEN times in an hour "when will we do the houses?!"
i don't like to start a craft until i am ready.
i need things set up.
i need things a little teeny bit organized.
i need to have it ready so i can sit and watch, take pictures or video and be able to help.
when i am not prepared…i end up with a short temper….and snap at them for silly things that aren't their fault.

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i built the houses for them with hot glue….
even after the complaining that we weren't using REAL gingerbread.

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we worked in the dining room for two reasons….
it was clean and the afternoon light pours in this room.

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my kids wore their pajamas ALL day.

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beast.
scott uses this word for EVERYTHING.
"my gingerbread house is beast"
"this hamburger is beast"
"my muscles are beast" 
and the other kids (and their mother) have started too….

"this latte is beast!"  "this casserole recipe is BEAST!"  "that mini van is BEAST!"  ha ha ha i am kidding.

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i can't imagine doing this more than once a year.
it's too much work to even consider doing it more than that….

not that anyone was asking me to do it in the summer.
just thinking about how much work they are.

i got a flip video camera on black friday.
i love it.

please enjoy my first video.   

lauren didn't join us because apparently she was upstairs watching sponge bob and criminal minds.
hmmmm.  
i made her a house but i was forced to have to decorate it myself.

guess who was still at the table 20 minutes after all four other left?  
putting cinnamon toast crunch on the roof as shingles!

i was calling it art therapy for the day. 

Georgia - Finally got round to seeing this video.
The wierd thing is i never wouild have guessed that Annie had such a deep voice! i thought it would be kinda high pitched squeaky … she sounds SO CUTE!!!! i like ur ‘Yes’ as in ‘dont talk to me im filming Yes’ to her questions! haha

Kelly - How fun! I love the video. My hubby got a flip for me for a wedding present a couple years ago. So fun. Maybe I should post a video on my blog sometime. It was so neat to watch yours and hear the voices of all of you. Have a great day today! Kelly

Sue - We have made graham cracker gingerbread houses for about 15 years. My girls are now in their 20’s and we still have to make them. Their childhood friends still come over too, with new friends joining us. It is a tradition I hope we never lose.

dkim - I’m sure you probably know, but you can get icing that hardens like cement to keep the houses together. Available at michaels oe possibly in the little kits. I have made these for many years but have finally retired. I told my teenagers they were welcome to make it themselves.

suzyhomemaker - first time to visit your amazing blog and i must say i feel right at home…from your “24 hr jammie jam” (all day in PJs is a way of life for us during the holidays) to THE teen buzz word of the year. “beast” has now replaced “dude” as the go-to noun/verb/adjective/adverb in our family lexicon.
your blog is BEAST! all best in 2011!

Jenni Carlisle - That video was B*E*A*S*T! Hahahaha! I could eat Annie up! I love how she kept taste testing!

karen - So cool to hear your voices!
Annie seems so grown up when she talks! I wouldn’t have thought that!! Sean is a cutie pie!I love your voice too!
Great video.

Jane Flores - I make gingerbread houses for Christmas with my niece – this year was the first we missed in at least 8 years! When her baby sister came along, Erica didn’t want to share the weekend at Aunt Jane’s, so Sophia and I do haunted gingerbread houses at Halloween! I’m addicted now – I covered heart shaped boxes with the little conversation hearts for Valentines. I’ve covered pumpkins with candy corn for Halloween and I have a big plans for Easter this year!

Jill - I have to laugh at your little one… eating all the candy 🙂

Amanda-ThriceBlessed - I somehow found myself hosting a gingerbread house making PARTY with my 2 oldest girls, so I was managing 7 kids hyped up on sugar….Yowza! I blogged it here:
http://amanda-thriceblessed.blogspot.com/2010/12/gingerbread-house-party.html
And I agree, the set up is the best, so colorful!

BeckyB - You’re my hero! I loved getting a live-action peek into your fun! Thanks so much for sharing.

Julie - Cute! We did those last year and now I’m wishing we had done it again this year. Got too busy! Loved the video!

Heidi - That is hilarious that the “beast” thing is big in your house too- my 15 year old stepdaughter uses it for everything, as do all of her friends. Except most of the time we hear “so and so is the beastiest QB on the team” or more recently, “your dad is the beastiest point guard Ive ever seen” 🙂

Jessie - Awesome video! I always wondered what your voices sounded like…it’s like reading a book and finally getting to see the movie 😉

elisa - Everything looks so pretty Meg. 🙂

Jeanne - We love doing this too! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and I am hoping that we get to spend time together again in the new year.

kasey - so awesome. I made “peep” houses back in April for lola and her girls scout troop to decorate…but i used the squirt frosting the day before and let them dry overnight.
cool beans.

Susan Lehrman - Meg, have you ever tried royal icing for this project? It’s made with powdered sugar, water and meringe powder–really easy. You can get the meringe powder at Hobby Lobby, maybe Graber’s and maybe WalMart although the Newton WalMart has cut down on their craft section. Royal icing is really easy to work with…it dries before I get each graham cracker house done. It also dries quickly for the kids when they’re sticking their candies on. I like to use it because my grandsons like to eat their houses (yuck!). My granddaughters of course save theirs!

becky lee - I love, love, love your blog so much! I am a bust pastor’s wife/emergency room nurse with a 3 year old and 6 year old. We also hope to start the adoption process in the next year. Anyway, your blog is so beautiful and brilliant and a great inspiration to me on how to get the most out of family time. I’d love to email you, but your default link isn’t working. Could ya send me your addy?

Kara - We made a gingerbread village with our 4 1/2 year old twin boys and 3 year old daughter. It was quite a feat…and I was just like you…still crafting and decorating 30 minutes after they were done. I just HAD to make icing icicles. Just HAD to.
So fun! Happy New Year!

MGF - Awesome. I think it was brilliant to have the houses set up before hand.

Vera - Your set up is GORGEOUS!! I do this every year with a pack of 3-5 year olds (last year 2-4 year olds!) so I just use paper cups and a plastic table cloth so I can throw it all away after… but your way is much prettier. I hate disposable dishes, so maybe next year I will do it your way and deal with the clean up.
I make icing out of egg whites, cream of tartar and powdered sugar and I beat it on high for about 8 minutes – that stuff is seriously like concrete and holds as well as glue. And if you’re not scared of raw eggs, it’s yummy too!

Amy jupin - Your dining room looks beast.
I think these pics are totally beast.
And I’m totally loving all these craft posts too. They are so beast it’s sick.
Don’t I sound coolio talking like this? Not so much huh? 🙂

Beth - I LOVE art therapy 🙂 Where’s the picture of your house though??? I just got the book “The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity” from the used bookstore for half price (all of their books except internet books are half price right now!!). Want to do it with me? We could call it our grown-up art therapy time 🙂

Holly - ok so beast is the word in our house right now. Hannah says it all….the….time!
Love the gingerbread houses. I did not use hot glue and well ours looked more like shacks! I am using hot glue next year!

Juli - Oh cool! I loved watching your video! Annie’s voice didn’t match what I thought it’d sound like. She sounds more grown-up than I expected. I expected a tinier voice with those cute little kid lisps. nope.
Flip video…arent they BEAST?!

leonieke - gos, i can’t even imagine how much work this is, (and even more after everyone has finished his house…..). i think this is a project that i adore seeing at your blog,but with a big worning on it “don’t try this at home 🙂 ”
you must be the best mother there is.

Rebecca - I LOVED the video. I’ve been following your blog for years, and it is so cool to hear the voices that go with your kids. They are so well behaved! I love Talby’s face when she is working on a project — so serious! I can’t believe how your boys do the projects too, amazing. My son loses interest after 5 minutes. And Annie sitting there eating the candy was hilarious. Thanks for posting. Hope you guys have a wonderful and happy new year.

Lisa - Love it! Really wish I had more kids ;)They grow up too fast!!!

Bryony - This seems like a fun project but such a waste of perfectly good food. You could have used icing or marzipan or something to glue the houses together and then it’d have been edible afterwards?
I just don’t like to see wanton waste like this, it makes me feel uneasy 🙁

Joye - Is there anyone that has/or is going to start some type of campaign for Edie from Life in Grace??? Would love to help replace things or give money to a fund towards her rebuilding process. That’s what this season is all about….and Lord knows she’s given so much to all of her readers! I don’t have a blog so don’t know where to start, but you are all very powerful ladies with big voices. Let us know and let’s spread the word!

Julie - Two of my kiddos watched this with me and they kept asking “Mom, is this for REAL?” haha! Then one of my boys whispered in my ear “They’re eating the candy!”
So fun!!

meaghan - LOVE The video!!! i don’t know why it was so fun to actually hear their little voices?! hot glue is genius! xoxo!

Lucylu ~ - oooooooh… awesome!

Stacy - The “beast” thing is so funny, my 12 year old son says everything is “clean” this new hat is “clean”, we all find ourselves saying it too. Love your houses!

Katy - I think we are going to do graham cracker houses next year. They look so cute. 🙂 And you are making me wish I got a Flip on Black Friday!

nic - your graham subdivision is so festive; love the photos (and your gorgey bowls–ohmy!). we do this every year as well on my birthday (dec 21st)…i call it forced family fun, and all within dragging-to-the-kitchen-range MUST participate.

adrienne - very fun!!! love the video too 🙂

Becky - I lOVE the idea of hot gluing the graham crackers. We tried the tiny gingerbread houses this year and they were quite the disaster. I also like the fact that you – like I – need to set everything up! I say whatever keeps craft time fun is worth any amount of pre-craft-crazy-mama! 🙂

virginia - i guess sean

Lynda@Me and My Pink Mixer - Such pretty bowls for all the candies! Great idea using Graham Crackers ~ I’ll have to try this next year. My teenage daughter and I love watching Criminal Minds – it’s one of the few things she will do with me 🙂

Kelly - Cinnamon Toast Crunch as shingles! Brilliant! We do one big sugar cookie house at our second Christmas with my in-laws. This year they aren’t coming until January 7th so I still have awhile to gather my supplies. 🙂

Amy Jo - Love this! Also, I teach 7th grade English in Oklahoma, and BEAST is all the rage down here, too. 🙂

Nicole Q. - This is the first year since having kids that we DIDN’t do a gingerbread house. After seeing your pics I may just have to do one next week before kids go back to school. Shoot! Your pictures got me – I’m like you – I need a little organization first! Hope you had a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Staci - Ohhhhhhhhh 😉 I love Annie’s little voice 🙂 We tried your trick of hot glue and crackers this year…I liked it…but how in the world do you get those crackers to break with a triangle point??? I think I may have cursed a few times ;( heehee 😉 Kids had a great time though 🙂

Melanie - I love the idea of the glue and crackers:) Do you love your flip? I have been wanting one.

Nicole - Hot glue is genius! We had a bug party with 3 year olds and I made 20 houses with melted sugar for the glue! Ugh! Next year it will be a hot glue party!!

Lorie - You do the coolest things with your kids! Love reading all about it…and everything else! Keep on keepin’ on!

Lindsey@ Piecefully Home - this is my first year that i DIDN’T make a graham cracker gingerbread house with my kids 🙁
it’s always my favorite craft to do with the kids, but somehow it just got pushed aside. next year i won’t make that mistake again! your houses look lovely.

Tanya @ Life in 3D - We did a kit for the first time this year with two 3yo’s and an almost 2yo. IT. WAS. WILD!!!
Glad to hear I’m not the only one who needs a touch of organization PRIOR to the crafting craziness 🙂
All of the accessories are definitely eye candy 😀

kristin - i love this for so many reasons. sean reminds me of micah…his pondering look, questioning, the patterned candy. i love that annie is asking questions…that reminds me of preschool. good boy, scott, for working with such enthusiasm. even though he’s a boy, he reminds me of naomi. and talby, so quiet and working so carefully.
merry christmas!

Denise C. - How sweet! I just came across your blog (through Clover Lane). Love it! 🙂

Anna Marie - I love that you did the video! I hope there will be more. It is fun to be able to put voices and mannerisms with faces. Makes you all even more “real”…haha.

Tess S - i watched the video with my 3 (nearly 4) year old.
madeline: “who’s that?”
me: “her name is annie.”
madeline: “oh, that annie sure is cute!”
love!

debbie - The kids. The colors. The sweet voices. The cuteness!

Sarah - Great Post! Love all of the colors and your pretty bowls! Great video, adorable kids and love the music!! And the “Beast” thing cracked me up…..with 4 boys between my hubby and I we hear this ALL. OF. THE. TIME. SO funny!

Trish - We need to see the finished products 🙂

se7en - Ha Ha – I am a firm believer in art therapy… I do it all the time!!! Folks always say: “Where do you find the time to craft?” The real answer is that my sanity demands it!!! Hope you guys are having a really fun time!!!

Tere - Love the colors. Love the houses. Thanks for the share, and the voices! It was great to hear them.
And the sneak peak into your dining room. When will it be fully unveiled? Can’t wait. Happy New Year.

Monica Huete - Hummm, they look yummy !!!
SO beautiful !!! … ^___^

Leah - Great post! You are a great mom for putting all that effort into that project. I only have one kid and I’m not sure I can do that just yet. By the way, Talby takes her crafting VERY seriously!

Rhonda G. - Loved the video…It was BEAST! Happy New Year to you and your sweet family.

Kori - We made one this year…first time ever. Is that bad? Anyway, I too found it to be something that (most) everything else needs to be done in order to do it in a stress-free manner. We bought a Wilton kit, and while it was great and had pretty candies, the icing needing an hour to set for the walls to be stable was too long for us. We did other things in that hour and ended up only getting halfway through. I think next time I’ll try something different.
I must say it was very fun seeing your blog come to life! I like it!! 🙂

visart-dali.com - So much color! This very inspirational, thank you!

Christina - You are so great! We have kits and have yet to find the time to do them. Are you allowed to make them after Christmas?! 😉

~Debra - Beautiful pictures! That sure looks like a lot of fun! We haven’t done a gingerbread house in years. Maybe next year?!

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christmas craft #5

talby wanted to show me how to make a poinsettia….her teacher taught her.
i took pictures of each step as she taught me.

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1.  cut the corners of the red paper about 6 inches toward the center.

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2. fold one side of each corner to the center.

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3. put all the petals together with a brad.

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4. cut leaves out of green paper.

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5. open the brad and add in the leaves….re-close the brad.

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6. TA – DA!!!  beautiful poinsettia in 3D.  

i love it.
think how cool it would be to make a bunch….in pink and white and red!   
so pretty.

Annie - I love pinwheels!! these are so cute. Love reading about all the crafts you do with your children. Making wonderful memories of time spent together-that they’ll take with them forever! Blessings, Annie

MGF - My middle son would love this paper craft. Thanks for the idea

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Great job, Talby! This is beautiful!

Lucylu ~ - i bought a Poinsettia for my neighbor today! (weird!)

danielle - love this!

Natasha - That’s so cool! When I was in school, we used to make something similar, but attached it to a long dowel or straw so it would be used as a windmill/pinwheel. I never realized how much they look like flowers too; thanks Talby!

amber - lovin the hannah montana pjs…

Janie Fox - LOVE this! so cute! I agree a bunch in pink, red and white… too great! I am so happy you take time to enjoy your kids. Their childhood truly does go so fast! Happy New Year to you!

kat - That is so adorable!!! I love it! Talby did a great job demonstrating! She is such a cutie!!!

Holly - very cute!

april - those are cool…thanks for sharing!!!

Kirsten P - Tell Talby thanks for showing me how to make a poinsettia. And also tell Talby that I like her name.

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