Privacy Fence Project | Part Two

A Memorial Day family project.

The cedar panels are divine!

Who doesn't love the smell of cedar?!

The fence is not yet complete, so we will keep on.

Stay tuned.

P.S. I am completely aware of Ruger's barefeet.  That's just how that boy rolls.

Privacy Fence Project | Part One

Over the weekend we rented an auger to dig the post holes.

Add some cement and four good men.

Well, two are up and coming good men.

And the posts were in.

Stay tuned.

Part two (completion phase) is planned over Memorial day weekend.

How to enlarge a low quality photo | DIY

This is my absolute most favorite photo.

The very first photo of all four kiddos together.

I just adore it. (Melt my heart!)

Taken with one of my very first digital cameras.

(Keep in mind, this is a 3x5 scanned photo, originally printed from a Canon printer in 2004.)

Needless to say, the quality is horrid.

Plan A:

I wanted to enlarge it but when I scanned and uploaded it to a print service, I got the dreaded image quality warning. Best that could be done was an 8x10 and that just wasn't what I wanted.  This is such a treasure to me, I had to have something bigger.

Plan B:

I figured if 8x10 was the best that could be done.

I would have to make that work.

And, make it work, I did. (DIY alert)

In photoshop, I divided the image into fourths.

Moving each piece into its own image.

I then sized them each to 10 inches wide and allowed the height to auto set.

I now had four separate images.

I printed them myself after saving at 300 dpi.

They turned out great.

I simply trimmed the 'inside' margins, taped the backs together and placed them behind a matte in a 22x26 frame.

And now.. Every time I step into my office.. My heart overflows.

And a little 'sigh' of "Gosh, How did I survive that?!"  "Four kiddos in six years?!"

But, I did and I wouldn't change a thing.

Just for fun.  Here they are now. 15, 14, 11 and 9.

They are posing in the same order.

I had no idea.  I didn't do that on purpose.

Christmas Tree Skirt | DIY

Here's how I did it... by making my own pattern.

Along with the material I bought a one piece 48" plain felt tree skirt.

I measured and cut it into six pieces.

This is what I used as a pattern.

I cut out all six pieces separately on the material.

My material was words so I had to waste quite a bit of material in order to make all the words read straight.

Three yards for this size was perfect.

None to spare.

Next, I cut and ironed fusible fleece to each piece.

Sew them all together.

You can see I numbered the back of every piece throughout the process.

I ironed down the seams.

Then it was time to put the back on.

I simply cut out the entire 'circle' on brown flannel.

Finishing it off with double edging.

That's it!

Remembering When | A Crochet Story

I haven't talked about it much here on the blog much.

Probably because babies, homeschooling, moving and house building is a bit time consuming.

I am thrilled to say that I am in a season of calm and peace right now.

Our house is turning into a home.

Our routine is set at a somewhat normal pace.

Evenings are spent in the living room as a family.

This is where crocheting comes in.

Here's the story.

I recently found a blanket I started for Ruger before he was born.

Yes, I said before. shhhhhh.....

Be kind, he was my fourth baby.

With it spread out on my bed, I stared at it most of the day.

It eventually made its way to the living room with me, along with the yarn and crochet hook.

I studied the stitching I used.

I even unraveled a few stitches to see how I did it.

You have to understand something.

My Grandma taught me to crochet at the tender age of 8.  I learned to read patterns as she did. 

By making patterns her own. (by that I mean: she would start following a pattern, maybe, learn a new stitch or two, then finish by the photo alone) 

Soon I caught on and was doing the same.  

I can look at any pattern, any picture of a crochet item and recreate it.

So, just like riding a bike.  

I set in the living room of our new home and peacefully started crocheting away.

Raeleen soon joined me with her own hook and yarn and I showed her how to create a simple chain.

This lead to the chain being as long as our great room.

A chat started about how my Grandma taught me to make Barbie doll clothes.

It was long after a Barbie doll landed in my lap. 

I second guessed myself, but I did it, I whipped up from memory a Barbie doll dress.  

Oh! The memories! 

I do wish I had photos of the doll clothes I created back then.

Little did I know, 

I would be a Mom to a little girl interested in a trip to Hobby Lobby for some sparkly hot pink yarn.

I am so looking forward to reestablishing my love for crochet into my life once again.

It's time.

Hello flooring

Happy Friday!
Last weekend Jeff and the boys completed two bedrooms.
So proud of them.
Love the way the floors look.
So nice to have real finished flooring under our feet.
We've been living on subflooring this past year.
One more weekend.
Two more rooms need flooring and baseboard.
That will complete the upstairs!
Yay!
Have a fun Labor Day weekend!

Preparing for the holidays + house building is just that. BUSY.