map art

After seeing the really cool map art that Nester made, I searched on the internet and found beautiful art paper with this map print on it and made some of my own.

I wanted to keep the map intact, so I glued the paper to a thick sheet of foam and then framed it with some scrap wood I had laying around.

It was a really simple project, and the cost was less than $5 for the paper! The rest of the materials I had on hand.

back to school

i started school a few weeks ago, and have neglected to blog about it. i was very nervous, after all, it's been almost 20 years since i used my brain, and i'm almost old enough to have birthed some of my classmates. i don't know what i was so nervous about, like my neighbor said to me when she found out i was going back, "if i had the work ethic back then that i have now, i could have been a rhodes scholar!" yeah, youth is wasted on the young.

anyway, the classes are not hard (statistics and french). the stats class is VERY elementary, it's mostly just learning ABOUT statistics, not a lot of real math. and french is a lot of memorization and homework, but fun.

in fact, the whole thing is fun. it's energizing and uplifting to be learning new things (and to realize that i'm still smart) and to be around lots of other energetic people.

for christmas i got a new laptop for school, and of course had to make a cute laptop case out of my very favorite (discontinued, darn you IKEA) fabric.

i also made a little pouch for my cord, isn't it so cute?

recycled plastic tote bag

I finished my friend's gift yesterday, just in time to take it over to her with a potted narcissus. It turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself, I've decided that I really need one in my car to put the trash in.

Thanks, Dana, from made, for the great tutorial!

coffee filter wreath

I always love a cheap, cute, easy project. I found this one on nesting place and had to try it. It's just one of those straw wreath forms, coffee filters, and hot glue. I made it while watching TV one night.

My girls made a more natural colored version by using unbleached filters. I love it even more than the one I made. Gotta love a project that anyone can make look good!

easy project

i found these great pinboards at the Pottery Barn Outlet (they're from West Elm) for only about $15 each and turned them into ......

.....THESE!

amy butler fabric, but of course

the plan is to get them hung and the girls' rooms picture perfect before they get home from camp tomorrow.