Little Kids
Big Kids
Family
Life {Style}DIY/Tutorial: Jute Lampshade
Posted on December 20, 2011
My last blog post was about the jute globe I made to go over my table. I decided to use the leftover jute to cover a lampshade that had been begging for a re-do. I got this lamp at a thrift shop but never liked the shade fabric. LOTS of glue and time later I had a new shade! Remember the bigger the jute quicker you will get done. This shade took me around 3 hours to cover (over the course of 2 days). I didn’t cover the top and bottom of the lamp with a singe strand of jute, I braided two pieces and glued them around the top and bottom…
Before:
Jute/Twine Globe
Posted on December 18, 2011
Ok, so I’m sure you’ve seen these twine globe/lights on Pinterest? Well, when we built our house 8 years ago the light over the table had a shade broken (when we bought it) and though we talked to them about it at Lowes and they took our name and number we never heard from them again. So I took the shade off the light over the sink since it was the same and put it over the table. Now I had this bare light over the sink. When I seen these twine globes on Pinterest I knew I had to try it for that light over the sink. I loved it so much and hated the light over the table so much I decided to try it supersized! Hubby decided to switch all the light bulbs in the house to those ugly corkscrew bulbs so my hate for that light increased. It ruined my pictures! So to save you the time of figuring out where and how much to buy (if you wanted to try it BIG) I decided to share how I did it here.
Over the sink..
Over the table…this thing is HUGE!
Ok, here’s the supply list.
Jute (900 yards) from Hobby Lobby $16.99 (use your 40% coupon for this)
Alieens Tacky glue. I used a big bottle and a small bottle. The big one was around $5.49 and the small one $2.49 (no it doesn’t have to be the clear kind either, the original works fine)
Inflatable ball from ToysrUs for $8.99. Its a 22″ ball
Bowls for the glue and to hold the ball
Ok, first thing you need to do is blow up the ball. It came with a pump but I took it out to the air compressor and had it blown up in minutes. Then you need a small bowl to pour the glue in and a bowl to set the ball on while you prep the jute. Pour the glue in the bowl then you will pull a bunch of jute out in a pile. Dip your fingertips in the glue (yes this is a very nasty job) and start pulling the twine/jute thru your hands making sure to coat it good with glue. It doesn’t have to be totally soaked it just needs to have glue on it. Now for the small globe, the tutorial I read said to draw a circle on the ball and make sure not to wrap twine on the circle. I knew that I wanted to fit this globe over my existing light so I didn’t leave a hole (I had to cut it, I’ll tell you later). After you coat a pile of string with glue, start wrapping the ball (the fun part) making sure to distribute it evenly. After you get your wet pile wrapped set the ball on the large ball and coat some more string with glue. I hate to tell you this but it will take around an hour or more to wrap this big ball. After you get it totally wrapped (how much is up to you but you want enough so it will be stable) you have to let it dry. That is the hardest part! I let mine dry for about a day and a half. When its dry pull the plug on the ball and let it deflate. It will sound funny as it pulls away from the twine. This was the hardest part for me. The only way to get the ball out and to get it over my light was to cut it. Starting at what I designated as the top I started cutting thru the twine. I had to cut it almost from the top to the bottom. Remove the ball. You will also need to remove the shades off of your light. Being very gentle with it I pushed one side in and started working it over each light (sorry I wasn’t able to get a pic of this as I was quite busy 
. After I got it over my light I had a big ugly cut down the side of my globe. To fix that I took short pieces of twine (and hot glue) and tied it back together. Since you can’t walk all the way around our table I just turned that side to the wall. I’m am SOOO in love with this light!! Oh and guess what? I had enough twine/jute left for another project! I’ll show you that one next!
Have fun!
The light before:
The ball:
The jute/twine:
this is how much jute I had left:
light with shades removed:
applying the glue:
Deflating the ball:
the cut:
pull the ball out:
in place with the cut open:
Tied up: (see the knots)
Finished!
Lilly Anna Kids: {Ruffled Denim Skirt Tutorial}
Posted on December 15, 2011
For this ruffled denim skirt you will need a long denim skirt (you can get these at Cato) and 4 pair of old jeans.
now on each pair of jeans I cut the front and backs of the legs
so now I have 4 sets of ruffles…..I alternated light and dark denim. I also sewed them with the WRONG side of the denim out because my son was kind of hard on the knees.
then after I sewed each set of ruffles together I sewed a seam around the bottom of each ruffle so it would only fray so far
I made the top two ruffles a little bit shorter…tapered them
I also tapered the skirt down because my ruffles weren’t very wide. Then you will arrange your ruffles to where they all fit. Using a ruler make a mark where you want to sew your ruffle. I use a ruffle to measure up from each ruffle so they are all sewed on evenly
pin the side seams of each ruffle to the side seams of the skirt
then I pinned the ruffle down in a “ruffled” fashion with pins then sewed it down. Its nearly impossible to “ruffle” denim the traditional way so we have to improvise
Continue in the same way with each ruffle and you’re done!
Fruit Fly trap
Posted on December 15, 2011
Ok, I’m going to put myself out there by sharing this because its a little bit embarrassing. I know that I’m not the only one that has a problem with them from time to time. I only get them when I buy fruit. They are so disgusting! I tried to find the article I read on them that said they like to lay their eggs in sink drains and on wet rags and sponges. So every night dispose of all moist rags/sponges and pour bleach down the sinks. I tried several of the traps but found this one to be the most effective. I normally do this in a gallon zip lock bag leaving just a inch unzipped and lay it on its side. You may have to use a tooth pick to prop the hole open. Put some fruit in the bag or bottle and watch the fruit flies swarm to it. After a hour or so zip it up and toss it or take it out and turn them loose and reset the trap. You won’t catch them all the first time, it takes me about 3-4 times to get them all. This time I used the water bottle but they could fly right back out real easy so I put a piece of plastic wrap over the opening and poked a hole in it. When you get some in there put the lid on, take it out and let them loose.
Good luck!
Thankful.
Posted on December 13, 2011
One year ago today my Dad walked away from this with mere scratches. I’m am so very thankful God had mercy on our family that day!
Lilly Anna Kids {Fleece Rosette Legwarmer Tutorial}
Posted on December 12, 2011
Ok, here is the tutorial for the fleece legwarmers. Of course you don’t have to put a rosette on it or you can put more than one……go crazy with it! Please note: my tutorials are for personal use only. I’m giving up my product patterns so that you can make beautiful things for the ones you love. Not to fill your shop with goodies. If you own a shop you should have your own products to sell and not have a need to use others ideas.
First you will need to download the pattern. Right click on the picture and save it (only this pattern and this once!) then print it as a 8.5×11….thats what it’s sized as.
cut out your legwarmers using the pattern above. Its just average size. You may need to adjust it. Make sure you cut on the fold. You’ll need to cut 2 legwarmers and a strip of fleece about 1.5″ wide by the width of the fleece (60″)
hem the top and bottom of each legwarmer
now take your long strip of fleece and cut it in half and tie a knot in the end of each one
then you will start twisting and rolling it to make the rosette.
lay it on the legwarmer and sew it on
then sew up the back seam
and you’re done!
Have fun!
Carmel.the.goat.
Posted on December 12, 2011
She’s like a dog. We turn her loose in the fall/winter after all my flowers have died. Otherwise she heads straight to the roses and chows down. 
Occasionally she comes up to the front or back door begging for treats. Treats because she’s already been fed. She’s spoiled like a dog. I like her better than a dog…..she doesn’t bark or jump on you.
Crowden Family {Southeast Missouri Family Photographer}
Posted on December 10, 2011
I always look forward to photographing this family (and the Borgfields)! They are so sweet and did I mention photogenic? Check them out….(I’ll share some of the Borgfields tomorrow!)
Jemison Family {Southeast Missouri Family Photographer}
Posted on December 10, 2011
A few faves of the Jemison Family! They were so good to work with. Made the session a pleasure! Thanks for allowing me to shoot your family!
Instagram Window {into my world}
Posted on December 9, 2011
Have I said how much I love Instagram? It’s a photo diary of my daily life. Few words, lots of pictures. I love looking back thru them and seeing what I’ve done each week/month. Here is a window into my world this month via IG. IG is very personal to me so I’m not looking for followers, I’m just enjoying the journey.
Feliz Navidad!