Thank you to all that listened for a bit….

I am retiring this blog to move on to other things…watch for www.polishedboots.com

www.polishedboots.com

So exciting…..watch for us on May 1…will do our best to provide you with amazing finds!

Spring!

Spring is finally here today though the grass is not green yet and still covered with a lot of snow!

I love to plant pots of grass for the spring and Easter season to decorate my home.

It is so easy, all you need is a a potting container,  seed starting potting soil and grass seed.
Target had this "grassology" grass seed right up front in the dollar area!

Just sprinkle some grass seed on top of your soil, add just a little more soil to cover the seed and water.

Sun for part of the day will help the grass grow.  

I started this pot just about 10 days ago and have been enjoying just this little bit of spring in my office.

Cotton…perfect for our apparel and home decor….

cot·ton

ˈkätn/

noun

noun: cotton; plural noun: cottons; noun: cotton plant; plural noun: cotton plants

1. 
a soft white fibrous substance that surrounds the seeds of a tropical and subtropical plant and is used as textile fiber and thread for sewing.

I love cotton, add it to twigs for a touch of the south…we can't grow it here in Minnesota!

New Year's Resolution

Each year I make a resolution to not buy any more new fabric until I finish up using what I have.  This usually lasts until approximately January 2!  (Plus there is no way I could ever use up all of my stash, it will be out of style before that happens.)

However, this week I did put to use some fun wool flowers I created last year.  Wool and wool felt are some of my favorite fabrics to work with.

These wool candle wraps were created from Faribault Woolen Mill  remnants.  Just cut the fabric in the width you want and length to wrap around the glass candle holder (add an inch or so for your seam allowance).  Then, it is up to you how to finish.  Stitching on the top and bottom is not necessary but I did add a blanket stitch with wool floss to these.

I then added my wool flowers and stitched up the end seams to create the wrap.

Here is a quick tutorial on the flowers:

Draw a circular pattern like these:

(the actual circle sizes are 4", 3" and 2.5")

Cut your wool felt the circle shape and then cut along the lines so you have a spiral.  Starting with the center wrap around the fabric around until you have created the flower shape.  Stitch or glue to fasten the flower and add a bead to the center.  

Light your candle to cozy up your home!

There is too much snow to get to certain projects….

Ok, I am feeling a but frustrated as of late.  It is too cold and there is way too much snow to get to the building that holds all of my DIY furniture/home decor projects so here is something I did awhile ago.

Once upon a time, I bought an old cupboard door that had a picture decoupaged in the middle.  Over time the look just didn't match my decor so it was time to change.  This is super easy:)

I was lucky enough to be part of a fabulous event called The Creative Connection in Minneapolis in 2010.  Posters were created by two artists, Leigh of Curly Girl Design and Cori Dantini for the event and I cropped down one created by Cori for this project.

All it takes is your favorite decoupage medium to apply your favorite art and you are done with a new refurbished piece for your home or office.
The office that I have is a little nook in my old farmhouse….that will be another blog post when it is organized and glittered!

Warm thoughts on these extremely cold days…...

Chevron once again…so many memories!

They always say if it was in style once in your life you should not wear it again but that doesn't mean you can't decorate with it again!

Oh, how many of our grandma's loved to crochet those chevron blankets.  My grandma made me a bright yellow one before she died when I was only 7.  Over the years I forgot about the one that she made that adorned her couch at the farmhouse.

Just this past week, my uncle, my dad's only brother passed away and we found among his possessions that blanket!  It was like finding gold.   I am a believer in fate and as it turns out just a few weeks prior I had all of our old family slides turned into photos for my parents for Christmas….and among those pictures was the chevron blanket.

Here is the blanket on the couch with Grandma and Grandpa Thoen and my brother Lance

&

 our dog Bridget.

Bless all of their souls.

The blanket in my home with a "new" pillow 

(by the looks of the previous photo we know where my pillow obsession came from!)

No matter how old we get the comfort we get from the love of our parents and grandparents never goes away.  This blanket gives me much love and warmth on these cold winter days.

Thanks Grandma……love you!