Thrift Store Fall Mantle

 I saw this look in the Restoration Hardware catalogs and really wanted to copy it.  I took some thrift store books that had that uneven cut paper and ripped the covers off of them.  Super easy.

 This is a bowl I found at the thrift store and just spray painted it.  I'll use it for my halloween mantle this year too.

I totally scored this candlestick at the thrift store too!  It's leaded crystal.  I can't wait to change out the candlesticks for each of the holidays!

  The jar of acorns come from my brother's yard, the leaves were used the past few years on my porch and the pumpkins were left overs from years past too.  I have big plans for my porch and I will be reusing all of this for November after Halloween is through, I might just add some "thanksgiving" banners or something.

Check out my Fall pinterest board for some beautiful ideas...

Girlie stuff

I made a blanket from some receiving blankets anna gave me last year. They had holes in them
so i cut them into squares and did a patchwork top. the backing is some rose minkie that i got
in minnesota last year also. the burp cloth was easy; i cut hearts from some left over squares
and sewed them on with the raw edges showing.
fun sewing, laura

My Faux Mantle

  I begged and pleaded for my husband to build me a faux mantle - he finally told me to just go buy one already!  I found this one in our classifieds - my hubby painted it white and hung it for me.  We are going to add molding to the bookshelves too.
  I found the mirror at a thrift store -it was gold so I painted that white too.  I can't wait to decorate - and I kinda want to skip straight to halloween but will restrain myself, ha ha.  I want to add small amounts of navy blue and terracota orange to this room.  I will be recovering that pillow you see on my couch and hope to use the same fabric (when I find some) to put in the back of my bookshelves like this:

Source: houzz.com via Ami on Pinterest

Just to add a pop of fun and texture.  Then I plan on covering all the books in white paper, just so it's not so cluttered feeling, like this:

Source: thepreciouslittlethingsinlife.blogspot.com via Gail on Pinterest

I can't wait for the finished product.

Baby Quilt

I finished the baby quilt for my friend Kailey. I finished it today, and

it happened to be the day she had her baby. Miss Paityn.

I love the cute quilting the quilter did. She always does such a good

job on my quilts. The fabric for the patterned squares, backing, and ruffle

are Ruby from Camille Roskelley for Moda. I love Camille's fabrics.

(she has a new one coming out in October that I can't wait for)

The borders and white fabric are ones Kailey picked out. I'm crazy about

how it all looks good together. I wanted to keep it! The grocery bag holder

is just an extra that I did.

congrats to mom and dad!

Laura

projects

i made a picnic quilt. i pieced half square triangles for the center and tied it.

 

i used left over blocks from Bentley's quilt to make him a receiving blanket. i

added flannel to the back and used the left over flannel to make a burp cloth

with crocheted fuzzy yarn on the edge.

 

i've been having fun crocheting with the fuzzy yarn that is available now.

i've been making burp cloths and will make receiving blankets soon.

the nice thing about this is that you can take it anywhere to work on

them....laura

flower girl!

Cecily cam to stay and today we went to

Old Navy. There is a lady there on

Saturdays who does face painting and

balloons. She only charged $2 for this

flower design at Cecily's request.

Fun day for a girl who just turned 5!

Doll House Part

After some searching for a dollhouse in my price range I just happened upon this one by Melissa and Doug at my local thrift store for $20 - I hadn't seen one under $40, and this one sells on ebay for $40 used.  Score!  I didn't take before pictures but it basically looked like the ones above.  I got to work painting and this is how it turned out:

I added scrapbook paper to the floors and I've started "hanging up" pictures, I have a little more decorating to do.

Living room

Bathroom

Kitchen

Garage - and since my little boy plays with it the most I had to add checkered flooring!

Overall I'm really happy with how it turned out.  It's just the right size for both my little ones to play with.  Maybe someday we will tackle something bigger - it was really fun to do!