A Maine Wedding

Last week-end I was a lucky girl, attending my cousin's beautiful wedding on the coast of Maine.
I was honored to be included in the set up and prep on Friday as well as to attend to small details the day of the wedding.
Since pictures are worth a thousand words, let me share a few (most are mine, but the talented
Alexandra Roberts Photography is responsible for the one below)

Kristina and Steve made a dashing couple....

Alexandra Roberts Photography

I got to hang out with my fabulous and fun cousins and their spouses. 

The wedding venue, a working flower farm, was stunning....
both the outside overlooking Sheepscot River,

and the inside, the lavender drying house, a timber frame barn.

The massive barnwood and iron tables  were part of the venue, 

but everything else had to be rented and set up.

I did a little on the spot crafting.

The flowers, grown right on site, were perfect,
displayed in a collection of vintage bottles that the bride had amassed since her engagement.

And then there were the hand made touches by the bride and groom, 

like the "gift house" made to look like the couple's home. 

And the tree ring guest book, made from a tree taken down in their yard,

 the table numbers crafted from cedar shingles,

and even the home brewed beer, complete with personalized labels 

depicting the couple's beloved dogs.

Many guests brought a pie or desert to share at the desert table 

and the groom's sister made the beautiful wedding cake.

And a shameless plug for me, I made the belt on Kristina's bridal gown!

The purchase of which, BTW, was featured 

on the TLC show "I Found the Gown"

 a spin off of the popular, "Say Yes to the Dress."

Congratulations Kristina and Steve! 

It was an amazing and special day, full of love, 

family, friends and beauty.

Don't you just adore an outdoor wedding, full of clever details???

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design?  I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."  

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An exchange student and an embroidery project

Did I mention that part of our very busy Summer involved 

welcoming a foreign exchange student into our home? 

Florence arrived from Montreal several days before we moved our oldest off to college.  

Knowing that ultimately Flo would end up in Ryan's room, I felt that the space needed a few tweaks so that it looked more girly than teen boy, I am sure you'll agree....

So, with instructions from the husband to not spend any money,

 I dredged up a couple of unfinished projects 

(I have mentioned my DIY-ADD haven't I?) 

and figured that this was as good a time as any to get after them. 

The first one I spoke about way back here, and using things I already had in my craft closet, I did this....

Yes, that is embroidery on art paper...
don't know what inspired me to recreate the feel of the inspiration piece this way,
but I like how it turned out.

The boy had to remove a load of "stuff" from his walls and such....

Here is a little (crappy iPhone) peek at the refreshed look...

Perhaps I can sneak into the room when the bed is made 

(yeah, I am that kind of Mom, I just close the doors) 

and get some better photos. 

 I think Flo was pleased with the result as she saw the before situation.

And her addition to the room?

 Using the bulletin boards as jewelry holders. 

Clever girl!

Florence is a delight and a terrific addition to our family. 

And the best part? 

We get to give a little of what Katie got while she did her exchange in Chile.

Being a host family is wonderful!

What long unfinished DIY projects have you gotten after lately?

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design?  I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."  

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Fresh Fabrics Friday: What to make with a yard of fabric...

Remember these fabric baskets that I made as a baby gift some time ago using this tutorial? 

I did it again for some darling twin boys. These little baskets add a dose of pattern and color to the nursery and are perfect for storing socks, diapers or any other baby item that needs corralling. They are ridiculously easy to make and such a fun and personal gift. And of course they are not limited to putting in a nursery, think bathroom, kitchen, family room, where ever you have "stuff" that needs tucking away

And since I had some fabric scraps left over from the first set of baskets which I made for this 

Sweet Girl's Nursery,

when I stumbled upon a bit of lace, this pillow took shape.

So the moral of the story? Save those scraps of fabric from your projects, you never know what you can create with them!

How do you use your single yard or fabric remnants?

Let me know if you have created something your are especially proud of or excited about, I would love to feature it here...

As with many of you, life is crazy busy around here, so my blogging has taken the back seat. I have lots of great client projects in the works so I promise to share as things come together. In the meantime I may be inconsistent in blogging regularly, but I know you all get it!

Have a great week-end and think positive thoughts about Spring arriving here in the Midwest, it seems a bit elusive this year....

A handmade gift: fabric baskets

Sometime ago I found this fabulous tutorial for making fabric baskets so I decided to try my hand at it. If you have been reading Room Rx for a while you know I am self diagnosed with  "DIY-ADD," but this little project looked to be about my speed, only a few materials needed, fairly simple directions and something that seemingly could be finished in one sitting (I get antsy if it takes more than that). Armed with some adorable fabrics, I decided to make the baskets as a baby shower gift for my cousin Jesse (they will look amazing in her sweet baby girl's nursery).

 

Yes, I was pretty pleased with the results, so much so that I thought, "why stop there?" Jesse and I had discussed creating a gallery wall in the nursery using artwork and fabrics.  The left over fabrics framed in embroidery hoops are perfect and since Jesse is a girl who, like me adores doilies, I added a couple I picked up at a thrift store....

This baby gift was totally "me" and I am delighted to say, very much appreciated by my cousin.

I can't wait to see them in "sweet baby girl's" finished room.

With more cousin's babies on the way, I think I'll be making a few more of these fabrics baskets (but not until after the holidays!!!) I may even make a few for my office....

Have you ever created a handmade gift for an important occasion? I would love to hear your stories and see the fruits of your labor!

I am plugging away at my to do list, ever so slowy getting things checked off. Yesterday I thought I was finished wrapping gifts and then Fed Ex made a delivery.... Add to that the fact that my youngest just gave me his wish list... 'Tis the season!

I am linking this little project up to Suzy's party...

and to Doin' it Yourself over at {aka}design

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? 

If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Design Concept Board or a complete Room Rx.

Clever: yardstick buffet

Today I continue to be operating from my persnickety laptop as apparently the "virus" that got after my desktop computer was one nasty infection. Top that off with the fact that the guy who was working on it has Mondays off!!!! Now I don't mind a fella having a day off, but aren't you supposed to get your work done before you take time off?!!!!! So who knows when I'll have my computer back.... In a way this isn't a bad thing since it gets me off the computer and on to other things, but it's not good for my posting. Please bear with me, because hopefully by the end of the week, I'll have an update on the kitchen I've been working on as well as a couple of other little "Casa Wall" home improvement items to share. 

Today I leave you with this clever buffet transformation which I found at Sew Dang Cute, where there are 9 great projects created from up-cycled materials.  This buffet by Laura at Corner House blog really caught my eye for it's "industrial" look and the fact that it was transformed using readily available materials.  I want one in my foyer!  Sorry no links....  : - (  but it is worth the google search to check out the cleverness of all of these projects at Sew Dang Cute as well as the tutorial for the yardstick buffet at Corner House!!!!!

See you all back here tomorrow, I'm sure I'll have some little nugget for you, even if it is just something I find "clever!"

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? 

If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Design Concept Board or a complete Room Rx.

Crafty Girl

Yesterday a friend of mine was telling me about her teen-aged daughter's keen interest in sewing, knitting, baking and other "traditional" creative pursuits. This girl has a creative flair, so I know that the things she creates are anything but "traditional" looking.  She had recently "whipped up" a darling skirt for an event she was attending (starting it at 10 PM the night before, with no pattern)!  My friend went on to tell me that her daughter had also purchased something at one of our local 2nd hand stores Savers, just for the fabric, which she thought was cool.  She knew that she could create a new look for that old piece of clothing. 

Lucky for Maddy, I have been hoarding and saving tutorials for this very purpose, with every intention of one day creating something by using them.  So today, in hopes that she will get to it before I do, I am sharing a few of them with not only her, but all of you.  Here are some of my favorites, you will find the link to the tutorial below each photo.

Dear Lizzy

cut out + keep

 blue cricket design

Welcome to the Good Life

Welcome to the Good Life

Ali Foster Patterns

Can you believe how clever these are?  I am seriously impressed by the creativity I see on a daily basis here in the blog world and delighted that all of these crafty individuals are proud enough of their work to share the results and the how to's with the rest of us.

I can't wait to see what Maddy makes from the "cool" fabric that caught her eye at Savers!  I hope she'll show me and maybe even let me share it here (hint, hint).  Have you ever "re-fashioned" a piece of clothing or fabric into something new?

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? 

If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx!