DIY List - Completion #1

I was not able to complete my 'big' project I mentioned a few weekends ago. It was quite warm as I thought it might be. However, I have made some progress in other areas and am happy to share my first completion from the previously mentioned DIY list.

Yay for productivity! 

Nothing beats a pop of color to make doing laundry a little more exciting.

Sorry for the iPhone pictures but it's all I had access to at the time.

Isn't it cute!

All you need for this project is wooden letters and paint. The little shelf is something I've had for years but I did spruce it up a bit. Put a coat of light yellow paint on it and cut out squares of scrapbook paper for each section. I haven't decided what I am going to fill the squares with yet but for now I'm trying some old mini bottles. 

Here are a few close ups.

Stay tuned for a post of completion #2 later this week!

'25'

This past weekend was my 25th birthday. I must say that as the big day arrived I didn't anticipate much out of it. As I get older all the hype that precedes birthdays has dissipated greatly. However, this birthday has made it near the top of my 'Best Birthdays' list. It isn't because of some incredible gift I received or someone treating me like a queen. Instead it is because of the amazing people in my life. They are the kind of people that make the most out of the life and remind me that birthdays aren't about the material things you get or having an over the top party. It's about being grateful for where you are in life and believing greater things are yet to come. Though I might not be exactly where I want to be in life I am here for a reason and am living every day to it's fullest. I can't thank my family, friends and wonderful husband enough for making the 25th celebration of my life so special.

With all the celebrating I didn't have much time to tackle my ever-growing list of DIY projects. Some of the small projects I have been working on have been put on hold for a 'big' project I hope to complete this weekend. It has been so hot here that being outside while the sun is up has been absolutely miserable. While I have the best of intentions to complete my 'big' project it will completely depend on the heat. As of now it is 99 degrees with a heat index of 103 and 33% humidity. Yuck!

I'm sure it could go without saying I have been dreaming of a cold pool all day. Here are a few visuals so you can dream with me too.

Enjoy!

Photos and Poems

This weekend did not allow much time to work on my ever growing DIY list. However, I was able to get out to a few beautiful, albeit hot parks downtown and snap some pictures for a poetry project a dear friend is working on. She wanted to incorporate some images to give visual aid to her words. She has been so supportive of my art and I am thrilled to be partnering with her as we continue to discover ourselves in our artistic endeavors. 


Here is a little preview:

The Creative You

It's official! This 'blog' has not been what I intended it to be and quite frankly I have been a big SLACKER. I desperately want to be more active but always feel like I don't have anything outstanding to write(type) about. I feel as if what I have to say/share isn't worth your time as a viewer, however, as of this weekend I have decided to quit listening to that little voice in my head and post my little not so little heart away. Because, no offense to whom ever might be reading this, I didn't start this blog for you. I began this as a personal creative outlet for myself and if in the end no reads it, then, sobeit. 

I saw this a day or so ago and it was a big kick in the pants.

Expressing your own personal creativity isn't about what might be right or wrong in someone else's opinion. In my search over the past few weeks to reconnect with my creative side I discovered that so much of the reason I am not expressing myself in that arena is because I feel less than, or "wrong" in what I create just because I don't think my "art" is as good as the next persons. After coming to terms with this troubling discovery I have a new outlook on my creative life...just BE YOU. We all have our own ways of being creative but no matter what it is never wrong. This weekend I have a few DIY projects I am working on from my list of many.

I hope to have another post for you with a completed project this weekend. 

Keep your eyes peeled!

I can assure it won't be another two months until I make another post.

I hope you found some inspiration in my ramblings.

I am leaving you with song that has been on repeat on my iPod the last couple of days. 

Oh my Virginia Bluebell...beautiful!

Weekend Treasures

I want to start off by apologizing to my followers for being absent so long. It's amazing how fast time goes by! I will do my best not to be absent so long next time. 

This weekend we are visiting my husbands family in a sweet little town in North Georgia. Today, we took a drive through my favorite town square and even got stopped by a stalled train.  

 

              

After the train finally cleared the tracks we made our way out one of our favorite spots. An old mill town with a covered bridge. 

To our surprise and advantage they have recently added an antique store in one of the old buildings and we found two sweet treasures from our stroll through the store. 

This little beauty was 50¢...yep that's right, fifty cents!

Have a wonderful Mother's Day and stay tuned for a post on first time gardening. 

The Beginning of my Journey

As my first post I think it's only appropriate to tell you a little bit about my story of my love of creativity. I hope you enjoy getting to know me.

I was born a Georgian and at the age of 5 my family moved to Texas. I quickly fell in love with my second home and cherish so many places there. I always had a love for creating things as a child and that love continued with me through my high school years when I began art lessons. I was home schooled, so it was special for me to have private lessons. The first project I was given was a profile of an animal in pencil. I drew a snow leopard and he turned out beautifully. When I looked at the drawing I could hardly believe I created it. I won second place in a local art contest with it. My second piece was a floral compilation done in chalk pastels. Again, when I look at the finished product I can't believe it came from my hands. That piece won first place in the same art show. My second piece was, with sorrow, was my last project with my wonderful art teacher. At the age of 17 my parents moved back to GA and I with them. I put art aside for a while but continued doing small creative things here and there. I have enjoyed my years of discovery back in the beautiful state of GA but know there are so many new places to discover. I have yet to go back to drawing but have a desire to one day pick up that pencil or pastel again. Since moving back to GA I have fallen in love with photography. I have always loved pictures and capturing those one of a kind moments in life. It was one day several years ago I realized I had an eye for capturing them and a sincere love for it. I still have a lot to learn but strive to find that perfect place of perfection. I am actively trying to get my name out in the world to promote my photography. There are some things in life that just feel right and photography feels right to/for me. There is something about being behind the lens and finding those 'sweet spots' and your heart leaps because you know you have captured a moment no one else ever will.

The past year has been a been a crazy roller coaster ride but I wouldn't change one bit of it for anything. Around this time last year my now husband, proposed and I, of course said yes. This led me on another creative journey...event planning. I knew early on that I wanted a DIY wedding. I studied up and made lists of all the things I wanted on my special day, anything with a vintage and rustic feel. If I could do it myself or had a friend who could help out, we did it. I began to collect things over the next several months and though there were some things I had to do without, my wedding couldn't have been more perfect. Well, maybe if we'd been in a barn, but other than that, it was perfection. During all of the crazy planning I fell in love with event planning. There has since been a small part of me missing...that part that was able to paint on an invisible unpainted canvas and share it with the world. There is just something about it that excites me and brings me to contentedness. I've been asked a lot lately what I want to be when I grow up and if ever there was a perfect 'grown up' me, I would be an Event Planner and Photographer. Those might not be the most practical jobs in the world but I truly believe you should be completely happy with what you choose to do for a living and if ever you find that thing(s) you should go follow through with it. Be positive and don't let anyone tell you (including yourself) that you aren't good enough...live your dreams.

After being married for almost 8 months I am beginning to 'nest' as they call it. I want to set up a warm and welcoming home that my husband and I can enjoy. For many years after moving back to Georgia I felt unsettled and hated it. From now on no matter how long or short of a period of time Jason and I are somewhere I want us to be have a feeling of being settled. So, in one of my first attempts at nesting in our cozy little cottage, I'm making valances for our bathroom (which hasn't been shown as much love as the rest of the house) and kitchen. What do you think about this?

There will be a slight variation for the bathroom. I found this cute fabric and it goes with our color scheme. I can't wait to post pictures of the finished product.

I hope you have enjoyed learning a little about my love of everything creative and look forward to seeing my future projects.