Bonnie Eagle Craft Fair

I love craft fairs! And this year I was lucky enough to have one 3 minutes from my house. My husband and I managed to find a couple hours before we both had to work. This is the first time we had been to the local Craft Fair so we had no idea what to expect. If we had any expectations they were surely exceeded.

The Bonnie Eagle High School Craft Fair was amazing. So many beautiful handmade things. Scarves, hats, gloves, felt ornaments, ribbon ornaments, wooden boxes, paintings, pressed flowers, quilts, wreaths, and jewelry.

As soon as you walked into the building tables with hand crafted wood works and hand painted projects filled the hallway. When you finally got through the hallway, you enter the gymnasium now turned into a craft bazaar. After about an hour or so in the gym you make your way back into the hall and realize there is a whole other hallway leading deeper into the school filled with more vendors side by side. They snake around most of the halls lined up against lockers and find your way to the cafeteria where all the tables have been replaced by more vendors and hand made crafts.   

If you are ever in Maine and passing through Buxton or Standish, Maine I strongly suggest visiting when around November to stop in to Craft Fair. 

Have a Sweeter Day than Yesterday

  

Love Letters?

Should I be writing Love Letters to a married woman?

Let me explain. Recently a woman I am close with wrote me a letter, ultimately saying goodbye and that she could not take the struggle any longer. Her marriage has been rocky for several years now, she is raising a child that is not her own, she works long hours, and barely gets by on bills. Life was getting rough and her partner who is supposed to be a team player rooting for her, had stopped caring or participating. She had become a one woman team with a room mate who complained that the team wasn't making any goals.

The letter she wrote me was heart breaking. She was reaching out to me, not asking for help, but just letting me know she was done. She wanted someone to know that she had tried, and she wasn't giving up, but quitting the team altogether.

The letter through me. I didn't know what to say or how to fix the problem. The next few days it was stuck on my mind and I couldn't shake the feeling. I had a morning off from work and decided to stop into a shopping store. Passing by a rack, I saw shirts at fairly decent prices. Excited I started trying stuff on and by the end of my shopping spree, I only had one shirt in my shopping bag and it wasn't for me. In the end I bought my friend a shirt and some chocolate. When I got to her work place I just assumed I would get a sticky note and write her name on it. Instead I ended up with computer paper and a letter that made me cry.

I explained the shirt was beautiful just like her soul. And the chocolate was rich, just like her heart is rich with love. I spoke of her own inner strength. That it was deep within her and she could pull it forward on her own.

I thought writing the letter would make me feel like I was paying it forward. Make me happy and fuzzy inside. But as I wrote words of encouragement and strength, I became more saddened by each word. Was this my job? My responsibility? Perhaps as a friend, yes giving a loving word of advise and a small gift to bring joy for a moment. But as I finished up the letter I felt more and more like I was doing the man's job. Isn't your husband supposed to say he is sorry and send you flowers? Isn't he supposed to show up to your work and take you to lunch asking for forgiveness. Why was I the one to give her strength and hope, when I am not the one married to her? I'm not apart of the team. I'm not the coach or even the water-boy. If anything I may be a cheerleader, only standing on the side lines watching as the team attempts to make a goal happen.

In the end, it made her day, thanking me for my thoughts and gestures. How is her marriage? Still on the rocks. How is her job? Still long and hard labor. How are her bills? Still living a paycheck at a time. But for a moment she had a glow about her and in the end that is all that matters. That a small bit of hope was restored.

Have a Sweeter Day Than Yesterday  

Wedding Gifts Shadow Box

Wedding Gift 

Marriage is a beautiful thing! One of my dear friends got married this year and I really wanted her to have something hand made. I just didn't know what to make her! I really like making things for people. It's nice to know someone put in some thought when creating a gift for you. However, without knowing her house themes and colors, I didn't want to make something that she couldn't use year around or just in one room. So I decided on her wedding colors and a shadow box for wedding pictures. 

I've really wanted to make my husband and I one and just hadn't gotten around to it. This was my chance to play with ideas. Her colors were navy blue, coral and silver. When shopping everything silver looked more gray then anything, so I decided to just have the small flowers representing the lighter color. I like the idea of the coral color popping out while the navy served more as a border or background color. You'll though that there is a small block of navy in the middle so it's not entirely pink taking over the theme. I chose a light colored shadow box frame because I felt it would mesh well with any room she may put it in and also let the colors inside of all the eye attention. While creating the shadow box and moving things around I realized she probably would have other ideas or tastes, so everything is pinned in and removable.  

Supplies:

     Shadow Box / Frame


       Cardstock Paper


Stickers / Decorative Detail


      Extra Embellishments / Flowers


      Pins


Shadow boxes are extremely easy to make and fun. The only time consuming thing about them is how long it takes you to decide on what you want where! But they are quick and very unique to any occasion for keepsake memories. Some ideas for shadow boxes could be; My Baby's Firsts, School Projects, Soccer or Sport Memories, Prom Night, First Date Night, Movie Night (save all movie tickets), Honeymoon, ext. The sky is the limit when it comes to your memories and how they can shy in a shadow box. With depth you can have shells or even the golf ball that won the championship. Hope you got some great ideas! I'd love to hear them! Leave some of your ideas in the comments.

Have a Sweeter Day than Yesterday!  

Glass Etched Mason Jar - Wedding Center Piece

Do it yourself crafts for everyday decor is pretty popular. I have always liked to make things myself, rather than spend top dollar for something brand new.

My wedding was no different. My husband and I were going through a financial slump around the time we were planning our wedding. But due to a waiting period of six years we were just ready to get the marriage over with. Both of us had lost a grandparent, him a year before and me a month before the wedding. We didn't want to wait till we had enough money for the perfect wedding, but no one able to fly or drive to be there for our special day. So we found the cheapest place that looked decent, bought a wedding dress on the sale rack, and looked into youtube for "how to" tutorials

At the time I didn't know what I was going to do for center pieces. I kind of wanted mirrors with candles laying on top but was a little nervous of little hands wanting to play with them or starting a fire. Then one of my bridesmaids called me and said she was at a yard sale and she found 12 mason for a dollar. It was a no brainer, 12 mason jars for a dollar or glass mirrors $5.00 each. I told her to grab them and I would figure it out. Most brides have the perfect wedding already all planned out. I was lucky enough to have no idea and tons of crafty ideas to decide from. I was ready for cheap and compromise, compromise. 

So I didn't want to spend the money on ribbon or lace because that can add up as well. I do glass etching in my free time and already owned Armour Etch Cream. Once I found sticker I wanted as my stencil I was in business. I found them at Walmart for $1.00 a pack. So a total of $12.00. Also I wanted more than just the mason jar sitting in the middle of a large table, I wanted a candle on the inside so my guests could see the leaf shape so I found candles at the dollar store. 10 tea lights for $1.00. Grabbed 4 packs just in case and then I needed to get to work. 

Step 1: Wash the Jars surface of all dirt or smudges. 

Step 2: Place the stickers on the jar in the arrangement that you want.

Step 3: Apply the etching cream on the surface areas you wish to frost/etch. Be sure to not let the cream touch your skin! The cream has chemicals in it that burn the glass surface, which means it's going to burn your skin. I like to wear rubber yellow gloves when I work with the cream. 

Step 4: Let the cream sit on the surface for 1 minute. 

Step 5: Wash off the cream and peel the stickers off the jar and wash well if it's on something you will be drinking or eating from. 

For a video tutorial [click here]

So after all the jars were done I still wanted some some added width because the mason jar clearly had height but on such a large table, not enough width. So I found Silk Leaves to place on the table. It added color and width to the table. The final touch? My aunt asked me what I was going to do with the screw on lids from the mason jars. I told her nothing, I didn't think I was going to use them at all. My aunt suggested I spray them with Glitter Blast Spray Paint . My uncle sprayed them and I loved the added detail.  

So here is the finished product:

Supplies:

                      



I hope this gave you some inspiration and some ideas for your future Do it Yourself projects.

~~~

Have a Sweeter Day Than Yesterday