One Word for 2012

Have you heard others say they have chosen their word for the year?  And thought "what are they talking about?"  A new year brings the thought of resolutions.  How can I make this year better than the last?  

 
Most of the time this is a reflection and renewal for self.  People make new year's resolutions determined to keep them, this year.  I love the new trend of choosing a word for yourself for the year instead of making a list of resolutions that probably don't make it passed January.  Although resolutions can be good, One Word can have deeper meaning and help you grow in ways to make you a better soul.



The Word can be any word.
One word that sums up what you want to accomplish in 2012.
One word that you can work on everyday.
One word that will inspire you to better yourself.


My word last year was TRUST.  It was very fitting for me last year.  I needed to trust some people more than I had been.  A scripture that I wrote on my Word display was:

Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and 

lean not unto thine own understanding.

~ Proverbs 3:5

I realized Christ was someone else that I needed to trust more.  Have faith and not stress about all the details.  I feel that my trust in Christ and others did grow.

My Word this year for 2012 is EMBRACE.

This came to my mind one day out of the blue and felt right.  I think it took me awhile to find TRUST as my word last year.  EMBRACE seemed to, well, embrace me, quickly.  My thoughts and feelings lean toward embracing my children and husband more.  Embrace them with my love, my time, my efforts, my attitude.  I then think of specific ways that I can accomplish this.  Displaying my word helps remind me of my year's focus.  And I do a quick mental check?  Am I embracing my husband and children?  What things have I been doing to embrace them?  What can I do better or more? 



I shared my word and its meaning to me with my husband.  We thought this word would be perfect for our family's focus as well.  We hope travel comes into play this year and embracing those opportunities is exactly what we want to do.


 Have you found Your Word for 2012?  Don't be afraid.
One Word can change Your Year for the better.

String of mini Hearts

Just in time to show some love.

 String of mini Hearts Banner

made with canvas and cotton fabrics.

The mini Hearts banner measures 53 inches long.

Each panel is approximately 4 inches x 5 inches.
The panels are sewn to twine

with additional twine for convenient hanging.

Great for Valentine's, Parties or 

for some extra show of love anytime of the year.

 3 fabrics were cut and sewn to the canvas panels: white canvas, red with flowers and red, white and peach stripes.

$20

To purchase call Shelley 801.318.4657

Fabulous Giveaways at Post Road Vintage

For a chance to win this fabulous book

or this one

visit Post Road Vintage.

Fah who for-aze

 Fah who for-aze
Dah who dor-aze
Welcome welcome
Christmas Day!

Only 5 days left.  Ohhwee!

Post Road Vintage Giveaway

Heather at Post Road Vintage is doing a giveaway for the Amazing Retreats book.

Looks like a beautiful book.  Love the photos and style!

Canvas Drop Cloth Tree Skirt Tutorial

I. Am. LOVING my new tree skirt that I made from canvas drop cloth.

I FINALLY took the time to make it yesterday.  I know, Christmas is only next week.  My tree has been up since right after Thanksgiving . . . skirtless.  Yes, shameful.  But better late than never.  :)

So I thought I would share what I did in case you wanted to make one for next year.

I used a large canvas drop cloth.  I am in the process of refinishing a couple of sofa chairs with it and so had some of the drop cloth on hand.   The best price I have found is at Lowe's.  If you don't have a Lowe's, just check around at your different home improvement stores.  This tree skirt was done simply without a lining.  I felt the canvas would be thick enough and not need a lining.

The measurement breakdown:

22" for the main circle of the skirt - I did not do anything to the skirt hole except a zig-zag edge since no one sees that part anyway.

3.5" for the ruffle edge - I wanted a 3 inch ruffle and 1/2 inch allowance for sewing to the skirt.

I also used the finished edges of the drop cloth for my ruffle so that I wouldn't have to sew a new hem.
If you need to sew a new hem allow 1 inch more (= 4.5").

First I measured the radius for my skirt from the top of the tree stand to a little past the bottom branches of the tree, letting the measuring tape fall like I want the skirt to.  This is the finished measurement I want for my skirt radius.

Next, I folded the cloth into quarters.  Then using a tape measure and pencil to form a compass, I drew wear to cut our my circle for the skirt.  Cut.  I made this distance 22 inches.

With the same compass method a cut a hole in the middle of the circle (skirt left folded into quarters).  I made a 2" cut (even though in the photo it shows a 1" mark).

Then I cut a slit to the circle along one of the folding lines.

Zig-zag finish the slit edge and around the circle.  Then fold the slit under 1/4 inch and sew.

Next the ruffle.  I ended up making about a  130" long strip to make the ruffle by sewing 3 smaller strips together.

Make 1/2 wide Z-fold.  The distance of the fold can vary depending on the look you want.  Although if it is different than what I did, you will have to adjust your original strip length.  The distance I did from fold edge to fold edge was about 1 3/4 inch.  I ironed the pleats as I folded them.

 

Pin the right sides of the ruffle to the skirt.  Sew.  Zig-zag finish the edge.

You want to always finish the edge of the canvas some how so it won't fray.

Top stitch with the edge underneath laying toward the skirt.

To close the slit in the skirt I used ribbon to tie bows.

I folded my 7" long pieces under and stitched to the edge.  I had 8 ribbon pieces total for 4 closures.

  

Did I say how I loved how it turned out.  {Sigh}

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Virtual Holiday Home Walk 2011

Jennifer Rizzo has hosted a Virtual Holiday House Walk

All of the homes have beautiful Christmas decor.

I highlighted a few below.

Click here to start on the full tour.

 

~ Jeanne Oliver of the amazing

jeanne oliver designs shares her beautiful decorated home.

Jeanne's elegant and rustic combination is soothing. 

 I would love to have this window seat set up in my home.  Dreamy!

 

I can feel the spirit of creating

just looking at this photo of her studio. 

I am so grateful for my creative space.

To create is to be alive!

~ The next one,  Paige at Simple Thoughts

 Turquoise is a beautiful all time color.

For the winter it gives a cool, refreshing feel.

 ~ Jennifer at Dear Lillie ~  

She creates such beautiful pillows.

 

 

I love the pop of fresh green

throughout her house and others.

  

Make sure to stop over to their sites to see their full tours and to the Virtual Holiday Home Walk list at Jennifer Rizzo's for all the tours.

Photos via each individual site.

Upcoming Winter Sale at SUREYNOT

All items on this site and in my etsy store will be on sale.

photos by Leslie Shewring

Leslie of decor8 shares

holiday decor,

gift tags

and wrapping

using shades of turquoise

combined with silver.

I agree with Leslie

when she wrote;

"I find this 

simple holiday palette

very calm [and] soothing."

I love to use ribbons

to finish a gift or project.  

And Leslie has some

very delicious

turquoise ones.

I also *love*
the knitted candle holders
you can see in the second photo. 
Swoon

Romantic Prairie by Fifi O'Neill

Fifi O'Neill is creating a new magazine

available March 2012

photos and information source

Fifi has a beautiful touch. 

I can't wait to read her new magazine:

Romantic Prairie.

Winter Wonderland Burlap Banner

 

WINTER WONDERLAND

Burlap Banner

 

 

Hand painted white lettering and snowflakes on burlap.

Finished with a sealant.

The burlap panel edges are sewn to inhibit fraying.

Banner measures 49 inches wide with extra twine at each end for hanging.

$20

For purchase call Shelley: 801-318-4657 

or go here.