Updating the Kitchen



Hello friends!  Today I am going to tell you about a project I have been working on for the few weeks.  I have been updating the look of our kitchen.  It all started when I took a good look at my window treatments and realized I was truly tired of them.  They worked perfectly for the mix of chef/fruit themed decor I had going eight years ago.  But alas, I am more than sick of that look.

I should have taken BEFORE photos, but the photo below is the only one I could find.  Sorry.  Just lots of white and lots of fall-ish colors. 


The real genesis of the re-do was when I entered a contest (which I did not win) for a kitchen remodeling courtesy of HGTV and LG appliances.  I had to create a Pinterest board of the kitchen I would like.  While trying for something original, I went with a French Country Glam look.  It was truly the blues, grays, and French fabrics that attracted me.  

Even though I did not win the contest, nor did I expect to, I had a backup plan - redo the parts of my kitchen that bothered me the most.  I decided to focus on the window treatments, the cabinet colors, the lighting, and the decor details.  

Mid-February - I sat down and made my plan for updating the kitchen.  I found a pattern for my new window treatment at Pate-Meadow.com.  I have used their patterns before and I like many of their designs. I ordered the pattern and the interlining (not interfacing, but a thicker lining for window treatments).



I purchased the face, lining, and piping fabrics this week also.  I took FOREVER selecting fabric.

Over the weekend, after all of my pattern and fabrics arrived, I spent several hours editing the pattern to make it fit the print repeat on my face fabric.  I removed an inch from the length and 1.75 inches from each of the window treatment sections.  And then I moved on to cutting the fabric sections and sewing the panels together before cutting the pattern (the actual pattern single piece is about 6 feet long and I will need to repeat it 3-4 times for my full bay window). Yikes.

It was a lot of work, but I LOVE the new window treatments:


**I am going to confess to being intimidated by the size of this pattern.  The overall magnitude of the project had caused me to leave it on the dining room table for three weeks before the sewing commenced.


Late February - I spent time searching for the best (read least expensive) place to buy glass shelves.  I want to add an indoor herb garden to the bay window.  My inspiration for this came from two Pinterest images I found weeks ago.




I scored a total win at a local glass company.  All three glass shelves, with finished front edge, cut to size with 3/8 inch glass for strength, will cost around $25.  Yay!  

I planted my herb seeds and as you can see in the photos below, my baby herbs are growing!!!



Canisters - I purchased new canister for to accent the new kitchen design.  I wanted something to go with the low key French-ish look and to compliment the new colors.  You may have seen the post I did transforming the canisters HERE.  I added a fleur de lis border and French names to the canisters in vinyl.  I think they look much more elegant with the border.




March 7 - I found the light fixtures I want to use to replace the yucky builder's basic long, tubular, white kitchen light fixture and the so-so breakfast nook light.  I have wanted to replace that ceiling hugging double florescent tube, long white light for soooo long.  

I ordered matching lights for the kitchen and breakfast nook, with the kitchen fixture being larger.  I also ordered blue chandelier lamp shades.




Our electrician installed the lights in the kitchen as well as move two others in the house.   Our electrician is Chris Powell, owner of Powell Plumbing and Electrical, LLC in Aiken, SC.  I cannot say enough about how great Chris and his associate were.  They even let me photograph them for the blog!!  If you live in the area and need an electrician, DO contact me and I will pass along Chris' contact information.



While waiting for Spring Break to arrive so that I could complete the painting without Avaleigh as a helper (the child has far too many hands for me to paint with her in the house), I decided to cover my white front dishwasher and oven with faux stainless film.  We plan to update our dishwasher in the not too distant future and will go with a stainless front, but in the meantime I thought the white fronts would really stand out in the kitchen.  With careful measuring and cutting, the film worked well.


I honestly think the faux finish looks pretty good on the stove and dishwasher.


Again, while awaiting the arrival of Spring Break, I began updating the wall and counter decor.  I was so tired of the colors in my kitchen!!  I have always liked blue and as luck would have, I also collect various china patterns.  I went through my stash of blue china and found some old bread plates and Spode Garden plates that I decided to use in the kitchen.  In fact the only new purchase for wall decor is the iron piece in the photo above.  Everything else came out of my dish stash.

Spring Break - Finally, finally, finally (!) Spring Break arrived and with it, the painting began!!  First I started to dis-assemble the kitchen and prepare for painting. 


We had take out four days in a row as the painting project was going on!  But I think the end result was well worth the effort!  I painted the lower cabinets only, Winter Fog.  This was another of the Rust-Oleum kits.  This kit was made especially for kitchen cabinet.  NO SANDING required.  







A final word about the island in my kitchen.  The stainless topped island is on wheels and includes a flip up bar on the backside.  It is great for serving when we have a party and the rest of the time it is home to several large counter top appliances.  Previously it too was white.  When I finished painting the cabinets, I took the leftover gray paint and added some of the blue from the buffet I painted a few weeks ago.  I made a gray-blue color and used that to paint the island.  I positioned it at the end of the cabinets so to better show the color for the photos.

The final update in the kitchen is the new runner on the floor.  I feel that the runner pulls the blues and grays together.  It brings harmony to the entire area.

Thanks for stopping by and viewing my kitchen update.  I will be back soon with a couple of new paper crafting projects!

Alice Birthday Card and Birthday Party


Hello friends, today I am sharing a birthday card I made for my granddaughter, who had the most darling vintage Alice in ONE-derland birthday party.  

I used Cricut's Disney Classics cartridge to create Alice, the White Rabbit, and the birthday cake on this card.  I honestly do not remember what I used for the Happy 1st Birthday sentiment, but I do recall that it was more than just a cartridge cut (I included cut text). 


Avaleigh's first birthday party was the weekend before her actual birthday.  She had been on the antibiotic for her ear infection for a couple of days so we were hopeful that she would feel better.  As the recipient of  her virus "sharing", I am going to say that a couple of days is not long enough to feel better.  That virus was evil and hung on for over a week!  

Bethany and her friend Bailey did such a fantastic job with Avaleigh's party decorations.  I found a few fun decorations for them, the food tags and such, and they came up with all of the rest on their own!  Everything looked so sweet and so special!


For an ill one year old, Avaleigh had quite the large party.  She had family from both sides, four cousins, and some of her parents' friends.  Bethany had an amazing menu:  roasted pork tenderloin with cheese and a sauce sliders, fabulous chicken salad croissants, pbj's for the kids, potato salad, pasta salad, raw veggie cups with hummus and dip, chocolate dipped strawberries, themed rice crispy treats, sodas, punch, and the most fabulous homemade cupcake EVER!  Her sister-in-law kept asking where she purchased things and was stunned to realize that Bethany only purchased ingredients, croissants, and rolls.  Otherwise she was a busy mom and made everything.


I loved what Bethany and Bailey did with one of the birdcages leftover from Bethany's wedding.  They made a small three tiered cake and placed it inside the birdcage with  fresh roses and Alice themed food spears.  


Below is Bethany, a sick little Avaleigh, and Bailey.


Avaleigh really enjoyed pulling the tissue paper out of her gifts.  She had tissue flying left and right.


Avaleigh really liked the musical puppy her cousins gave her.  It is such a fun pull toy for her.


In fact, she liked the musical puppy so well that she did a little dance to the music!


Like everything else that she eats, Bethany made Avaleigh an organic birthday "smash" cake.


Our little princess would only poke at the frosting on her cake.  This was day two of her refusal to eat.  She kept drinking throughout her illness, but she had two or three days where she refused food.


The photo below captures Avaleigh's attitude toward her cake perfectly.  She would look at it, she even touched it once, but she refused to engage with it!



Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you enjoyed my Alice birthday card and Avaleigh's first birthday party recap!

Merry Christmas



Hello friends! Merry Christmas to one and all!!!  Today is a special day for many of us, and for Doug and I it is especially wonderful as it our first Christmas with our granddaughter.  So instead of the usual Christmas family photo or JibJab videos where I embarrass my children, I am going to share eleven months of Avaleigh!!!  The first photo (above) is Bethany and John really meeting their baby for the first time!


In the photo above Avaleigh is only one day old and already dressing like a diva and charming us with her sweetness!


At three month Avaleigh was cooing and chatting and we could listen to her ALL DAY! 


By four months Gerber missed their chance to have the cutest Gerber baby EVER!!  



At seven months Avaleigh went all 1920s flapper on us!  She loved the little chair and the pearls (that's Gramma's girl)!


For Halloween she was simply Boo-tiful.  Cutest little witch I have ever seen!!


On December first Avaliegh wore one of her Christmas PJs over and I just had to snap a few photos before she dressed for the day. 


On December second I took more photos of Avaleigh, this time in her Christmas smocked Bishop.  She is such a little darling.


A couple of weeks ago Avaleigh spent time exploring my Christmas tree and I just had to snap a few photographs, because THAT wonder on her face was too precious not to document.

I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday!  
May we all experience Christmas through the eyes of child!!



Las Vegas Wedding Party & Banner


Hey there!  I am back today to share some of the crafty details from Aaron and Crissie's marriage celebration party.  The party was held at the lake home of our sweet friends Megan and Brandon (daughter and son-in-law of my friend Peggy).  We chose an evening time frame in order to beat some of the heat, though I must say Mother Nature was especially kind to us!!  The weather was wonderful!

The first craft idea I had for the party was the seven panel banner pictured above and below.  Megan and I thought it would be fun to carry though the Las Vegas idea since that is where they married and honeymooned.




I used four cartridges to create the pennants for the banner:  Las Vegas, Pretty Pennants, Tie the Knot, and Art Deco (the last two for their fonts).




Aaron and Crissie selected the photos used on the banner - this first one from a hockey game they attended.



I used the Mr & Mrs Cut from Tie the Knot, then added the word Edwards in a similar font.


Aaron and Crissie also chose this photo for the banner - a Halloween selfie of the two of them.




To continue with the Vegas them, I printed and cut decks of cards, poker chips and rolling dice.  The cupcakes were two flavors with three frosting colors to match the Vegas colors.


Every wedding party needs wedding cakes!!


Other menu items included Caprese Skewers, meatballs, and homemade cheese spread.


We also served veggies and dip, hummus and flat bread, fresh fruits and cheeses, spanakopita, quesadillas, and ham and cheese roll ups (a big hit).



Our beverage center was outside stocked with water, sodas, wine, beer, and a signature drink I called the Vegas Strip!


Above is Bethany with our friend Alex and her dad.  Below is Ian and Bethany.  I was so happy that Ian came in from Atlanta for the party.


Oh the irony!!! We never actually took a photo of Aaron and Crissie together. Below is Crissie surrounded by several of her co-worker.  They all had a great time.






First Swimming Adventure


Hello everyone, welcome to this week's Bitten By the Bug 2 challenge.  My wonderful Design Team sister, Sharon, selected this week's Cricut Challenge cut theme.  Sharon asked us to create a project about swimming or water.   I had just downloaded the photos of Avaleigh's first swimming pool adventure at her Aunt Christy and Uncle Josh's house.  She was not sure about the pool at first, but she really got in the spirit of water play after a bit.  


I am not going to lie, I used cuts from a lot of different cartridges.  Seriously, I used cuts from nine different cartridges on this one layout.  I used Once Upon a Princess to create that adorable mermaid, Animal Kingdom to create the kissing fish, Splish Splash to create a fish, Create a Critter to create the Starfish, Animal Antics to create the Snorkeling Fish, Doodlecharms to create the Sea Horse, Paper Dolls for Everyday to create the ocean floor, Life is a Beach to create the Seaweed.


I finished the layout with tiny air bubbles, assorted pink, champagne, and brown gems on the ocean floor as well as a sand (champagne) colored ribbon under the seaweed.  



I am pleased to say that there were no big events in our lives this week.  No one eloped, no one lost or found a new job, and everyone had a nice week!  I am planning a Vegas themed reception/party for Aaron and Crissie, but I do not plan to go as over the top as I have been know to when party planning. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  I do hope that you take the time to go by Bitten By the Bug 2 and see the amazing projects my design team sisters made for this week! They are so talented!!  Also, we do hope that you will join us in the swimming/water challenge this week!