New Fire Pit

We have always had a fire pit but it has always been one that is portable. And of course after so long the bottom falls out and it gets trashed and then we spend another $100 on another one. Well, my husband has wanted to build on for years now and I finally said let just go for it. If any knows me I jump onto the Pinterest.com and start my search. We got some ideas but nothing really stood out to us. I wanted below ground so that we could sit around it and we also needed to tie it in with our porch. So this is what we came up with.

 

My dad had a lot of brink left over from building his house. We hit it first. To be honest, we did not have a plan. We just made it up as we went along. And that is how we do most of our projects. First decision was – how big? Answer was as big as the dinning room table. And yes it grew a little.

 

 

We made our circle on the grass and started digging.  Well, my husband did, my job was to snap pictures. After we got the hole dug, made it semi-level and lined it with gravel, we started stacking the bricks. We decided on three high was good enough for us.

 

It’s time to go to Lowes. We bought three 8’ brown metal edging, 16 bags of pebble rock, 21 pavers the size of the brick (any solid brick will do), some adhesive and black plastic.

 

We placed our metal edging down to where we liked it and hammered it into the ground. Everyone’s design will be different. Then removed the grass from the area between the edging and the pit and sprayed with grass killer.

 

We also, glued the bricks together and the pavers to the top with the adhesive and let dry for 24 hours.

 

The next day we laid the black plastic down on the bare ground and filled up the area between the edging and the pit with pebble rock. I picked out three flagstones and laid them in the pebble rock.

 

This was really simple and looks great and very affordable. Good luck with yours.

It's Fall Ya'll

It is fall time and I wanted nothing more then a fall quilt to snuggle under on my hayrides, bon fires and star gazing this season.

So I sat out to find inspiration…… on Pinterest of course. I searched the internet left and right but really didn’t see anything that made my heart skip a beat. So I settled on some very pretty blue and orange fabric. But it wasn’t screaming – FALL IS HERE to me.

And then, it hit me like a ton of bricks, I remembered one of the first “quilt” pins I pinned way back when and not even on my quilting board was a fall quilt. It was the one I have been searching for all my life. Well at least for the last couple of weeks.

I was really stressed about finding the fabric but as soon as I walked in Hancock, there is was staring me right in the face. And to top it off, after a $5 off $25 coupon, all my fabric including my backing was a whapping $20. Go Amy, Go Amy!!!!

So here is what I bought. ½ yard of orange, yellow, green, brown, red, whitish with brown specks and an off white print with trees and birds. Then I bought 3 yards of red for my backing. I originally wanted the green for the backing but it was $6.99 a yard and the red was $2.99 a yard. You do the math. Sometimes I just let the price make my decision.

First thing I did was cut the first fabric too small. So that automatically set the size. I was going for a complete 8 inch square but forgot to leave the seam allowance on the first one so I cut 8 inch square and ended up with 7 ½ inch square. Not a real big deal.

I cut enough for 7 squares across and 9 squares down. I like to tuck the quilt under my feet so I made it a little longer.

Another new thing I did was used white thread on the top and red in the bobbin. I loved the way that turned out.

And I HAND BINDED MY QUILT. I absolutely love the hand sewn look but that took FOREVER at ¼ inch at a time. Ugh.

I am sooo in love with this quilt. The colors and the puffiness of it makes my heart ache for cold weather to get here.

Mama's craft room. AKA The Woman Cave.

Over a month ago my oldest son moved out. Although I have been planning on this for a few years it was difficult to say the least. But on a brighter side I now have an extra room and I claimed it for my craft room. So a week after he moved out I threw a Band-Aid on my heart and started remodeling.

Painted the walls and some new carpet (of which I installed girl style).

I pulled up my Pinterest craft room board and got to work.

One thing I knew I was going to do was make a fold up table. I go the idea from this site but of course mine just had to be much much bigger. I will admit it was a little of my head so I did recruit my husband to help hang it on the wall. But the rest was all me (built girl style of course). I wanted something big enough for four people but something that could be put up to make more room. Plus have some storage options cause I have a lot of thread.

I got the lamp at IKEA for $8. It is a clamp on lamp so I can move it if needed. Best deal of the year.  

Hannah Mae drew me this picture. Amazing!!!

Hannah Mae also came over and drew me this owl on my handy dandy chalk board.

I made this by inserting fabric in some of the frames and letters in the others.

My sewing nook.

My vintage sewing rocker and sewing box. Vickie got me the rocker for my birthday.

I made me a new ironing table. Love the sewing room fabric.

Of course there are owls everywhere.

I absolutely love my sewing room and it came just in time for Christmas crafts and gifts.

Good-Bye 36, Hello 37

I just thought my 35^th year was a busy one, I was so wrong. This year has been my most adventurous year yet and I didn’t even know it till I started getting my pictures ready for my post. I have started so many new activities and removed some very heavy baggage from my life.

One of the biggest decisions I made this year was to quit my job that I was at for 5 years. It was a tough decision but ultimately I made the right choice. The Lord has something in store for me doing something else. I continue to follow Him where ever He shall lead me.

Right after my last birthday I guess I got crafty fever, and haven’t slowed down since then. Here are a few of my many crafts made during number 36.

I also discovered the craft of quilting and I Love Love Love it.

Taught Amy M. how to sew and now she is better then me.

Discovered I am in love with thrift stores.

I WON the Kendrick Chili/soup cook-off 2011. Don’t hate!!!!

I established Wreaths of love this past year and it was a huge success. We touched so many lives. Can’t wait till next year.

We had our very first all homemade Christmas 2011. It was awesome and I believe will continue. This way everyone gets to participate. I got the best Christmas presents I have ever received.

In January, Boot, our sweet baby dachshund came in our lives.   

My garden was small and basic this year, tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. I guess my crafting had taken over a little.

I went on a vacation spree this year. I think my subconscious is trying to make traveling my new job. Lol If only I could figure out how to get paid to do this.

Gatlinburg weekend with Kimmy.

Christmas 2011 in the mountains with the entire Whitfield family and some.

New York City with Scott.

Isle of Palms – runaway trip

The Keys FL with Scott.

One of my biggest fears is marine life. Even the little bitty fish scare me. This year I went snorkeling. Nothing like just jumping in to get rid of that fear. I’m not saying I’m cured but I can get in the lake and ocean with out dying.

Week one

Week one of the no spend diet has been difficult to say the least. I am so used to going with Amy M on our weekly thrift/antique store sweep on Tuesdays. And on Tuesday that withdrawal came storming in with a vengeance. Once I got over that hump I was feeling ok. I will say I have had to put most of my crafting aside for the moment. The thing about crafting is if I need something I might have to run out to the store to get it and I know I would get distracted and start spending.

So what do I do with my time? I have been spending some time organizing and selling. I have so much stuff I haven’t touch in more then a year and its all just taking up real-estate in my small but cozy home. This week I made $127.00 selling things just sitting around.

I know for a fact I can’t just go window shopping so when I need something that I can’t get at the grocery, I just send one of my boys to get it.

As far as doing this forever is….. well that’s not realistic. But I do think this will slow me down and take control of my spending a little.