Jewelry Tree

In trying to find a cool way to display my necklaces at craft shows/fairs, I came across this tutorial over at Hope Studios. I did mine a little different, though...

You will need:

• Some branches (I have 4 to give it a more symmetrical look)
• Spray paint in your choice of color (I used white)
• A wide-mouth mason jar or a vase (I got the mason jar for this project from Michaels)
• Rocks, gravel, marbles, something heavy (I used rocks, sea glass, and other stuff Riley and I have found at our community beach)
• A piece of ribbon to tie the branches together

So first I went outside and found my branches. Then I stuck them into the ground and spray painted all the sides white and let them dry all the way.

Once they were dry I brought them in and arranged them how I wanted them to look and tied them together tightly with the ribbon.

Then I put the bottom of the branches into the jar and added the rocks/sea glass/other stuff all around them (this keeps the branches secure in the jar and makes the jar bottom-heavy so it doesn't tip over).

Then I hung my stuff up!:D

It's so easy, and rather customizable! I did mine on a smaller scale than the one over at Hope Studios, but you can do yours as big or small as you want! You can also paint the branches any color, or use a different jar/vase. Make it your own. Just make sure you pick sturdy branches that will hold the stuff you plan on hanging;)

Thanks for stopping by!:)

Until next time, toodles!

P.S. This would be so cute as an Easter tree with some Egg ornaments and maybe some paper butterflies adorning it! I may do that the week before Easter... hmm... I'll post pictures if I do!

I got some butterflies from Michael's and put them on! I think the butterflies are a cute touch and will look great along with the necklaces and Crinkly Critters I'll be displaying at craft fairs!:)

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On to the Next One...

The next show I will be participating in is not really a "craft show", it's more like an "everything event."

Here's the info:
Cape St Claire United Methodist Church
855 Chestnut Tree Dr
Annapolis, MD 21409

Saturday, April 9, 2011
10AM-3PM
RAIN OR SHINE!!!
in the parking lot facing Summit Dr
(or in the church if it is raining)

The "everything event" comes in here:
There will be Italian Ice, Face Painting, a DJ, a Rummage/Yard Sale of sorts, a Bake Sale and other Food, a Silent Auction, a Craft Sale (that's where I come in!), and a lot of vendors!

Hope to see all my fellow Annapolis area residents there! It's going to be a fun day:)

Until next time, toodles!

Wreath Raffle Winner!

As I stated before, I raffled off a wreath at the craft fair on Saturday. Since the internet has never seen an actual picture of this so-called "Easter" wreath, here it is! (Just so you all know I'm not fibbing) ;)

There she is! Ain't she a beaut?

So, the lucky winner of this pink-a-licious wreath is...

Julie Nottingham!

I have contacted Ms. Nottingham via email, and hope to hear back from her at her earliest convenience.

And I'd like to give a great, big thanks to everyone who attended the craft fair, visited my booth, and entered to win the wreath!:)

Until next time, toodles!

First Craft Fair... EVER!

Yesterday I was a vendor at a craft fair for the first time ever. It was actually in the town I grew up in for the majority of my school-years, so it was good to be back home for a little while:)

Unfortunately, a student from Oklahoma Road Middle School (a middle school that feeds in to Liberty High) had passed away and the funeral was held at 11AM on the same day as the craft fair. It was very sad news, and did put a solemn damper on the craft fair.

Here is an article about the student.

All-in-all it went ok. I sold a few things, but not much. Although, I don't think many people vending, if anyone, cleared the cost of their spots. Some people had more than one spot at about $50-60 a pop! It was just a very slow day considering the tragedy that struck the town. Many vendors who have done the bi-yearly fair before said the one in the fall is much more crowded, and the spring fair is usually slower. However, the circumstances this year are not the norm. Although I did not sell many items, I got a lot of positive feedback from many people. I got a feel for what a craft fair is, what people were most interested in regarding what I had made, and what to expect in the future.

In addition, I got a good feel for the kind of "crowd" my crafts are aimed towards. Most of the attendants of the fair seemed to be looking for more cottagey things and the Americana-based crafts, kind of the Longaberger Basket feel, and that is just not my niche. There was a lot of great, creative vendors there, but it just wasn't my "cup of tea," so to speak. I think I would be way more at home in Downtown Annapolis and the surrounding area. I got the feeling my product was a bit too edgy for the Liberty High School Craft Fair.

Aside from all that, it was super fun, and a great experience. And it was great to walk around and see what everyone else had created and brought to sell at the fair!


Here are some pictures of my booth:

The Guest Book, Portfolio, and the Wreath Raffle!

Crinkly Critters!

Bows and Pins

Some Flower Balls, Frames, Coasters, and Magnets!

And there's my table! Complete with a bunting sign I made the day before the fair.

None of this would have happened if it weren't for the following people:

Thank you, Mom, for waking up super early and for watching Riley and making sure he had a fun day! I can't thank you enough. Love you!

Matt, thank you for everything you did to make this day possible. And for standing with me for hours upon hours at the fair. I love you so much!

Also, my mom's friend, Janet, her daughter, Lisa and Lisa's boyfriend, Ben.
Thank you for letting us use your table and chairs and for bringing it to my mom's house for us!:)

And thank you Erin for hooking us up with the Craft Fair and the space! We had a great time with you guys.

On a side note, my mommy got me an awesome necklace from the fair for Easter!:D It was made by Donna's Decembers. I am now completely in love with her stuff! If you check out her Etsy store, you will be too!


I'm really looking forward to the Cape St Claire Spring Bazaar on April 9th from 10AM-3PM at the Cape St Claire United Methodist Church! I hope to see my fellow Annapolitans there;)


Until next time, toodles!

Ageism

I was 18 when I had Riley. 18. His "DNA doner" was 20. Riley was not a planned pregnancy, but I hate calling him an "accident." It sounds so negative, and Riley is not at all negative. He is the sunshine that fills my day, and the love and happiness that fills my heart. Obviously Riley's father and I weren't married, we never did get married, and he chose to remove himself from the situation shortly after Riley was born.

I'm 21 now and Riley and I are living our lives. Riley continues to impress me every day with his kindness, love for life, and his intelligence. He is a happy little boy with a wonderfully balanced home life. My dad acts as his dad, and Matt chips in too:) Riley has the best male role models any little boy could ask for. He also has the best extended family in my little sister, older step-brother, my mom, my step-dad, Matt's family, and my extended family, especially my grandma.

I am a mom like any other mom out there. I wake up in the morning and make coffee to get through the day. But waking up at the crack ass of dawn is worth it with I see my little nugget-boy smile and say, "Good morning, mommy!" From that moment on it is go, go, go all day until I put him in his bed at night, but it is SO worth it. To see him excel at everything he does elates me. I made him, he is a product of ME.

The only draw-back I see Riley go through is something that I unintentionally put him through. He doesn't have many go-to friends because I have the hardest time connecting with other moms. Yes, I am young, but does that make me any different than you? No. I have a sense of style, a pierced nose, and a tattoo, but does that make me a wild crazy partier? No. I at 20something do the same things that you at 30something do day-to-day. I have the same struggles, same questions, same life as you.

It killed me when I witnessed someone actually remove their child from playing with Riley at a park once after they realized I was his mother and not his nanny. Actually, I can't even tell you how many times I've been asked if I am "the nanny" by different people in public, starting from when Riley was a new-born. This is what you are teaching your children? To not like someone because of their situation? My son is the happiest, most polite, sweet, kind little boy and your kid should be as happy to play with him as he is to play with them.

I mean, come on, I thought we left high school behind, people! Why are you grouping me with a stereotype because of my age? Although I haven't made it to college yet, I am not ignorant. Although I turned 21 shortly after Riley turned 2 does not make me a uncontrollable party-girl. I am doing my best to be a good mother, "home-maker," girlfriend, daughter, sister, and friend and instill in my child respect, love, manners, happiness, and curiosity for life just like you.

So, please, don't group me into a stereotype that I am not. Get to know me for me, and I will do the same for you.

I will leave you with a quote from one of my all-time favorite movies, The Birdcage:
Albert: What? No good? Why? I'm dressed just the way you are. I took off all my rings. I'm not wearing any makeup. I'm just a guy.
Armand: What about those?
Albert: Those? Well, one does want but a hint of color. Oh, I see, you're thinking that dressed this way, I'm even more obvious, aren't you? You're right. I just wanted so much to help you. And you hate me, you both hate me.

Albert, I can relate...

One Day Without Shoes

At TOMS Shoes their mission is to provide children in developing countries with proper fitting shoes. They "... match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One."

Here is a little blurb from their website:

"Why Shoes?

Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk:

•A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.

•Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.

•Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential."

I just found out about TOMS and their mission earlier this month (I know, I'm so behind), but the company and the good they do are now very close to my heart. I plan on purchasing my first pair of TOMS shoes very soon:) (And possibly a pair for Riley, and a pair for Matt!)

April 5th is One Day Without Shoes: "One Day Without Shoes is the day we take off our shoes to raise awareness of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child's life."

On the website you will be able to find all the event information, an "Event Toolkit" where you can find: banners for your blog, Posters/Fliers/Signs, Stickers/Stencils, ODWS events near you, learn more about the event, and look at the photo wall.

Shoes are something so basic that we all take advantage of. Raising awareness and support will help everyone in the world enjoy the luxury of shoes!

I hope everyone can and will participate! And if you can't go shoeless, make a t-shirt or some stickers to wear;)

I will post what Riley and I do to celebrate ODWS. See ya [shoeless] on April 5th!

Until next time, toodles!

Spring Pictures!

So it has been crazy over here. Really crazy. I have the craft fair coming up next Saturday (less than a week away), I accidentally buzzed Riley's hair wayyyyyyy too short, and we have been so busy that finding a time when it is nice outside and we are all awake to take our spring pictures has been close to impossible.

Hence the reason it's been a while since I have blogged. And the reason I didn't do a tutorial this week:(

But on to the pictures...

Here they are!

That one ^ is my favorite!

You don't even want to see the damage I did to Riley's hair. It is unspeakable. I keep telling myself it will grow back... But on the bright side, his favorite hat fits again:)

Hope everyone has been having a great weekend:D

Until next time, toodles!

Ready For the Craft Fair?!

The Liberty High School Craft Fair is about a week and a half away.

Am I ready?

Almost:D

Today I staged what my table at the craft fair is going to look like on my craft table in the basement.

What do ya think?

I have a *couple* more things to make, and I have to spray the coasters with Acrylic. I am waiting for the warm weather on Friday to spray the coasters.

Those of you attending the craft fair, don't forget I am raffling off a wreath!

Here's a tease:

I am so excited for the craft fair, the raffle, and just mingling with other crafty people!:)

Until next time, toodles!

Teapot Wind Chime Tutorial

This is another one of those things that I didn't plan on making a tutorial out of. But since it turned out beyond awesome, I want to share it with the world!:D

It is...
Drum-roll please!

A teapot wind chime!

Matt and I made this baby after we saw a teapot wind chime at a cute little store downtown. The wind chimey part on that one was just spoons instead of our skeleton keys. We also added an old bell to the middle of ours.

That's the background story, but how did we acquire the "stuff" to make it? Well I got the silver-plated teapot from our local Freecycle. Someone offered it and I snatched it up like hotcakes!;) The keys we got from a wedding we attended. They had a piece of an old door with nails sticking out all over it and the keys were hung on the nails with the place cards tied to the keys with hemp. Cool, huh? So we collected all of our family's place cards, and keys, and found a couple keys while cleaning out a cabinet in the dining room. But we still needed something for the middle that would make a nice sound when it hit the keys. So we hit up some antique stores and found an old bell. The middle of the bell, the little dingy thing (yes that is correct terminology), is wood!

The bell cost us $2.

Because we had to buy more hemp the entire wind chime cost us about $5!

So, the how-to:

You will need:

• A metal tea pot (ours was silver-plated)
• Keys, or something that will make a chiming noise
• A bell, or something for the middle that will hit the outside "stuff" and make them ding (does that make sense?)
• Hemp, or another kind of "tough" string
• A drill and a 1/8 inch drill bit
• 5 minute epoxy

If you are using keys, you will want to cut a piece of hemp for each key long enough to hang your keys when folded in half. So basically twice as long as you want your keys to hang from the teapot. And you want to fold the piece of hemp in half and loop it through the key as shown above. We did 8 keys. Also do that for your bell.

Next you are going to drill holes evenly in a circle through the bottom of your teapot. So since we had 8 keys we made 8 holes. This is easiest when you flip the teapot upside-down and draw a circle with a compass (you know, those things we used in math class) on the bottom of the teapot and drill the holes around the circle. And drill one hole in the middle for the bell. (Matt did this part. Me+drill+metal teapot=bad idea)

Then you need to fit some small hands in there and thread both pieces of hemp for each key through a hole and tie a good, tight knot. Also do that for the bell. (I did this part, Matt was not going to be fitting his hands in there)

After you have all your hemp threaded and knotted, you want to do the epoxy on the lid of the teapot to hold it down when you hang it. So you need to squeeze the epoxy on a piece of cardboard, or something else that is equally thick, and mix the two sides together really well with the little Popsicle stick they give you. Then use the stick to apply the epoxy all over the underneath of the lid. Close the lid and wipe any extra epoxy that leaks out with a paper towel. Keep the lid closed tightly somehow while the epoxy dries. Matt just held ours down. After that is good and dry, we decided to stuff a paper towel in the spout of the teapot and seal it off with epoxy at the top so no bees could get in there and make a home;) That step is optional but strongly recommended.
*Make sure you seal the lid AFTER you thread and tie your keys!*

Cut a piece of hemp long enough to fold in half and loop through the top of the teapot. Fold it, loop it, tie it off at the top really well and hang it up!

I love ours, it's our on our front porch:D

Again, this was a great project to do with Matt. I love projects that we do together! And we will always have this special, unique teapot wind chime on our front porch.

If you make one, leave a link to it in the comment section!

Until next time, toodles!










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"Sewing" Projects

As I have stated before, I am NOT a seamstress. At all. Ever. But I do try:) Here's some stuff I have recently created with my trusty sewing machine:

My new apron! Yes, I messed up a little, but I did this totally by myself with no help and no pattern!! I'm proud of it:D

I love the ruffles!

This high-wasted skirt from an old sheet.

I used the original hem from the sheet for the bottom. It's a nice, thick hem.

The Flat Front Pants from the tutorial on MADE. I love her tutorials. And Celebrate the Boy:D If you have a boy, definitely check it out!

Riley's skeleton, of course!

He's so GQ! And as usual I always take the good picture with my cell-phone camera.

The new pants are too short, so I need to let the hem out a little. But I love them and the little nugget does too! He said he wants to wear them tomorrow:)

I am loving all the sewing projects! I can't wait to make more:D

Until next time, toodles!

A Day in the Life of the ButterNugget Family

I got the idea to do a "Day in the Life of..." post from Kristin over at Lu Bird Baby. She has posted a challenge and I thought, "Bring it on!" So, here we go:)

A few things before we get started:
As many of you may, or may not, know Riley and I live my my dad. He is only the best dad E.V.E.R.

Isn't he so cute!?:D

Also, we do not live with Matt. Matt and Jack (his doggie) live on his family's farm about 20 minutes from us, but Riley and I are frequent visitors:) We (my dad, Riley, and I) are going to be moving in to Matt's in about a month to a month and a half. Right now Matt is busy prettying up the basement for my dad. I will make a blog post about the progress of it soon.

Now that we have that all straightened out, our day began very interestingly...

I awoke at 2:00AM to the sound of a screaming, crying kid. It was my kid and he was awake. At 2:00 in the morning. So I went into his room and asked him what was wrong and he answered something that sound like, "WAHHHH! *mumbling and crying*" So, naturally, I brought him in my bed to sleep with me. He actually hasn't been feeling well at all lately. He has that virus that's going around complete with wheezing, coughing up a lung every so often, and a snotty nose. (Gross.) And when my little nugget-boy isn't feeling well he likes to be a needy mommy's boy, so I let him. Hey, I take what I can get these days... Well 30 minutes later he was still wide awake and I was half in sleepy-land and half conscious (mostly because Riley was touching my face and counting from 1-10/singing his ABCs). Then he informed me he was finished sleeping in mommy's bed and wanted to go back to his bed. So I took him back, fixed his soft blanky (he sleeps on a fleece blanket), put on his music, kissed him goodmorning and told him I loved him, went back to my room, plopped down on my bed and passed out.

I awoke the second time at 6:55AM to the same screaming crying kid which is also my kid. My dad was on his way to the shower and took a pit-stop to Riley's room. I heard him though the monitor ask Riley what was wrong. Riley refused to talk to my dad, let alone let my dad get him out of his crib, and said he only wanted mommy. So I yelled, "I'm comin', I'm comin'!" and went to get him. I set him up in the chair in the living room with the nebulizer for 5 minutes, turned on Martha Speaks on PBS, and got him some breakfast together, which consisted of "a big chip" (Kim's Magic Pop from Whole Foods- it's kinda like a Baby MumMum only bigger and actually has nutrients in it) per his request and milk. When he was done the breathing treatment I gave him his breakfast and let him eat it in the living room because he is sick and hasn't been eating much. So if he eats something while sitting in the living room watching a show, he can.

By 7:00AM I called Riley's doctor. They gave us an appointment for 10:00AM that day (score!). Since we only have one vehicle right now, we had to drive dad to work. I changed Riley, got myself sort-of decent looking, got our coats/hats/etc. on and we left the house at 7:30. Since my dad only works about 10 minutes away from the house, it works out really well right now. We got back home by 7:55AM

Here is Riley locking the car from inside the house. lol!

I got Riley dressed and his teeth brushed and set him up in the living room with toys and a show on PBS (love PBS, by the way! Great shows, no commercials. Right up our ally!). While Riley was trashing the living room playing quietly, I got on the computer real quick and checked Facebook ordered him his new stroller and some new lime green Crocs! Can't wait to see him rock those;) And then I got myself ready. When I was finished I made our snacks/drinks, which was also my breakfast, and got us ready to go! We left the house by 9:30.

When we walked outside the tree people were out trimming the trees away from the power lines. And where were they parked? Right in front of my driveway:) I got Riley in his seat and asked one of the surprisingly friendly guys if I could back out and he was totally cool about it! He even helped me out by setting cones out so no one came up the road while I was backing out. Nice guy:) I meant to take a picture of the trucks, but I was rushing for no reason (which I tend to do, hence the reason I'm usually early to places) so I forgot.

And we're off!

By 9:50 we were at the doctor's, they called us back right at 10AM, and the doctor was with us by 10:10 (am I at the right place?). The doctor checked him out and gave him a liquid steroid prescription for the wheezing and told me to do the breathing treatments every 4 hours instead of twice a day. We were out of there by 10:20 and at the pharmacy by 10:30. We were rockin' it! Until we got to the pharmacy, that is. We were waiting for an hour before we got Riley's prescription. Although it was hard waiting that long with a sick 2 and a half year-old, I felt so bad for the pharmacists. There were two of them, and that's it. Two pharmacists and no one to work the registers. So we picked up some things we needed and then waited patiently for our prescription. Riley was so good, I was so proud of him:) We were out of there by 11:30.

We got home at 11:50 and Riley did another breathing treatment and took his meds. Usually we would pick my dad up for lunch, but he had a meeting today. I love that we can eat lunch together as a family almost every day. We aren't huge breakfast people (except on the weekends, but that is more like brunch by the time everything is made), and the fact that we get to eat lunch and dinner together is so special to me:) By noon Riley and I had a lunch of apple slices and a cheese stick (told you he hasn't been eating much) and I bribed him to eat all of it with a Hershey Kiss for dessert.

After we ate and cleaned up lunch, we read books in mommy's bed. Riley insists we read books in mommy's bed before a nap and before bed. The limit is two books because otherwise we would be reading all night. Today we read, Click Clack Moo, Cows that Type and The Little Mermaid, Ariel's Underwater Adventure. After books, I put him in his bed around 12:40 for a nap.

While Riley was napping I started in cleaning up the house a little. Since we are planning on going to Matt's tonight I like to clean up a little more than usual for my dad:) I started with the dishes in the kitchen from last night/this morning since I didn't get a chance to do them this morning. Heard Riley yelling for me.

Started some laundry.

Cleaned up our "coat and jacket collection" on the back of the couch. Heard Riley yelling for me.

Cleaned up my sewing/craft area in the basement (you do not want to see the before picture), and vacuumed up a little down there.

And then picked up the living room.

By 1:40 I thought I was going to enjoy this thing of beauty by myself in my clean kitchen when I heard the monster. He never fell asleep. My alone time will be non-existent today. Oh, great...

He did rest for about an hour though, but sleep is so much better for him than "rest." He can get pretty grouchy. So I asked him what he wanted to do and he said he wanted to watch the new movie we got from Red Box today (Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes). So I set him up in his chair with his pillow and blankey and he just sat there and watched it (thank goodness!). I enjoyed my cup of coffee in the kitchen (where I could see him) and checked up on some email, bloggy stuff, and Facebook.

Around 2:40 the movie was over and Riley followed me into my room to pick up a little bit. And tried my shoes on.

 Then he said he wanted to play games on mommy's computer (sesamestreet.org games). So I set that up for him and went to change the laundry over.

And then started packing for Matt's.

After I got us packed for Matt's I gave Riley a bath since we were planning on going to the Science Center in the evening so that meant a later-than-usual night out and no evening bath.

After bath-time Riley got dressed and got his hair dried.

Ah! What a cutie:D

Then I got myself changed and ready. At around 4:50 my cousin called me and we were talking for 25 minutes before my dad beeped in saying he needed us to come pick him up! So we rushed out the door to pick dad up. By the time we got back home, Matt was waiting in the driveway. He came in and changed from work while I got the last of the stuff ready.

We didn't leave the house until 6:30 and we had been planning on being at the Science Center by 5:30. So, change of plans. We thought it was a good change because Riley was really coughing. So we decided to go to Punk's Backyard Grill for dinner (our most favorite restaurant).

I got an 8 oz dry rubbed flank steak with a mixed greens salad and flatbread, Matt got a burger, and Riley got grilled cheese and grapes! Of course I was so into my meal I forgot to take a picture!:(

Then Riley said he wanted to go to the playplace at the mall. Matt and I decided that was fine, even though his cough sounded kinda bad. So we went and he did well for a while, but once his cough was over-whelming him we left. It's so hard to judge when they have something that is just a cough, but they still have enough energy to power a whole city!

He fell asleep in the car and was totally passed out by the time we got back to Matt's. So I changed him, put him in his PJs, and put him down for the night (and he didn't even wake up once!)

Over-all, more hectic than normal. But we still had a good day even though Riley wasn't feeling his best. Sorry about forgetting to take pictures for the last part of the day! I'm new at this, so hopefully the next "Day in the Life of..." post will be better;)

Until next time, toodles!

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