We're back....!

Well, actually, we didn't go anywhere.  Since last post, over a year ago, oh let's see....both working members of my family started new jobs.  

We moved.  

Cash is infinitely more ornery. 

Oh, and we had a baby. 

Yeah! A baby!!!  And what a whirlwind it has been.  I'll update about sweet widdlebiddle in another post.  Because the only painting I did while pregnant was some signs for the nursery.  Did you know pregnancy makes you want to sit and stare for hours on end at nothing while eating only frosted mini wheats for months?  Just me???

Anywho, completely unrelated but the sole purpose of coming back to this blog tonight is because I painted something for a wedding shower for a co-worker coming up.  I'm helping with decor so I though this would be a cute sign... And she could take it home. Boom. Double purpose.  

Also... I have a new interest as of late.  Quilting.  I'm hoping to eventually share some of that fun as well.  Xoxo

Last minute orders...

My sweet friend Krystal texted me a pic one night asking if I could paint her something for a baby shower.  

Only problem: she needed it pronto.  Like in two days.  

Which normally I like to give myself 2 weeks on an order. 

 (Not because it takes that long but I like having the option of procrastinating for a solid week and a half. It's the college girl still in me, I guess.)

I was feeling super happy that night and immediately responded OF COURSE! We were at a Lumineers concert, and who can have any worries when surrounded by hipsters, right?

When I finally got to work, it became obvious all of the wood pieces I had were too small, just woodn't do.  (See what I did there?) 

So I used a canvas and think it's adorable.  This obviously is a recreate from someone else's design so I take no credit for the creativity, but sometimes it's fun just to do a project without the stress of "what will it look like" hanging over you.  

The texted picture:

The finished result:

We put the fun in fundraising

I am the worlds worst fundraiser. I hated selling Girl Scout cookies. Loathed the Jr. high band chocolate sale. And all but boycotted the high school prom magazine sale.

I think it's because I'm cheap. Well, frugal. I hate buying stuff I don't really want. The idea of just trying to ask someone else to do that makes me cringe.

However, there have been several times in my life where I've had to raise money for various mission trips or for Young Life etc.

Which is why, when a woman I had made pencils for this past Christmas, asked me how much I would charge to make children's height rulers for a fundraiser for her mission trip this summer.....I told her I would make them for Free!!

While I'm sad that unless the stars align like crazy, it probably won't be me going on a mission trip anytime soon, it really is amazing to be on the giving side. Giving money, or in the case, helping raise money, to allow others to experience the joy of serving others in another country.

So....it took awhile to get started. And it didn't help that it rained so much the week I actually decided to paint and stain the wood that it took an extra day because of humidity to dry.


But I made a height ruler with pink birds for a girl and blue owls with stained wood for a boy. They turned out adorable and I wish I had taken better pictures. This was a project I'll definitely want to try again!

Ps with the height rulers and her boy and girls gift basket combined, my friend raised over 2000 dollars!

Baby things!

First things first... I'm going to be an aunt! Soon! Like in a month!

We are so excited to meet baby Cade.... And to celebrate, my sister-in-law's fabulous friend Desiree, aka party hostess extraordinaire, threw the cutest shower I've ever been to.

The house was full of baby cuteness....blue chevrons everywhere, cake pops, blue punch and she didn't even make us play shower games! ;)

To top it all off though, Mommy-to-be Allison's favorite drink is Dr. Pepper, so on the glass soda bottles they wrote baby Cade, just what the Dr. Ordered!

Can't wait until June!!

More pencils

Pencils were a big hit his year. I haven't made any since around Christmas time.... However, a girl that I made one for called last week, and has a friend that wanted one.


She only gave color specifications and as far as design, just said "make it look good!" So I went with some standard designs and think they're cute!

This was also a perfect way to spend a Wednesday night after a stressful day at work.

Check them out:

Crafting Respite

Recently I clicked on a blog of a girl and she hasn't updated since November and I immediately thought "ugh, why have a blog if you never update it!"

Hello pot. Meet kettle.

So yes, I've taken a semi-crafting respite this spring. The holiday season burned me out a little. (a lot)

Completely out of character for me, I let most of the supplies sit, untouched in the craft room, and didn't feel bad about it.


But lately art has been calling me back. I carry my sketch book around with me. Painted two pieces for our living room, and have received several orders as of late.

(Cue song "Back in the New York Groove" to start playing now)

Sometimes a break can give you exactly what you need.

Do you need to step away for a bit?

5 a Day

Earlier this month, I read a really cool blog about a girl who got rid of five things a day in her house for a month.

It really got me thinking... Do we have that much stuff we could get rid of?? Turns out the answer is: YES.

Now, the only rule, a rule that I love, is that anyTHING counts as a thing. So that freed me up to not feel pressure about clearing out whole closets. Basically, I could start small.

I learned over the five days that most of the stuff that I have that I don't regularly use is for sentimental reasons. Or, the thought that I will "for sure need this someday."

Turns out those curtains I've saved since my Jr. year of college never got used again. I just liked having them around.

I learned a lot about myself, such as to start prioritizing what is worth saving and simply begin letting go of attachments to "stuff".

Here's a sneak peek at some of the things I got rid of.... I'm taking the challenge again this week on spring break, so I'll update again!