Being Southern is a state of mind. I think that is true of anywhere you live. If you immerse yourself in your surroundings, the local people and the culture, you can be in a state of mind that makes you feel connected. I have been here in the south for 5 years already and it is hard to remember being anywhere else. Sissy Spacek was interviewed in Southern Living magazine this month and she said what makes a woman southern is "it's about having a home and family at the center of your world." I read the article and it was a great reminder. No matter what we are doing or working on or preoccupied by, family and home are the things that hold us together. For there is nothing else without those.TEDxSF - Louie Schwartzberg - Gratitude - YouTube <http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=gXDMoiEkyuQ&vq=medium>
What you are looking at it is the finished ceiling in my camper. Dad finished it today! It was almost not going to happen because they are very fragile and we were worried that they would not work well. So we forged ahead and WOW!!!! It has really finished off the inside and Dad did a phenomenal job.
Here is a close up of the detail. We have a little more painting to do of the interior. I have to choose some carpet and find someone to install it for me.
My hubby was home last week and was able to install 2 of the three light fixtures. I have to work on the shades for them now.
So as I have mentioned several times I have begun collecting the goodies.
I have been keeping my stash in a corner of my studio. Here is a sneak peak.
We are going to be sleeping in style! Okay this was my big splurge! I had 2 custom sleeping bags made. I found a woman on Etsy GoodIntent from the UK who makes custom sleeping bags.
She had the pink fabric, but she sourced the rose fabric for me which is Indian cotton. It is so wonderful and comfortable I am over the moon excited. I do not want to be messing around with sheets and blankets, etc. I also found a great piece of chenille big enough to use to try and make a sleeping bag for S. I found a sweet cotton fabric and bought the batting to go between. I will let you know how I fair.
My Mom crocheted these sweet jar covers.
These fun canisters from Cath Kidston were on sale after Christmas. These are the colors I am building around. Minus the yellow.
I found this fun, little, red cosmetic case junkin last week. She is in great shape and will be perfect for crafting on the go!!
2 weeks ago we were in California for winter break and I found a couple of antique shop in San Clemente. I stumbled upon this king size quilt and great shape.
The plan is to cut this quilt and use it to cover the back cushions across the back of the camper that make up the bed. My mom is going to give it a go for me. It should look so great if we can make it work.
This vintage thermal carafe and cups will be a fun addtion.
This was a gift from Mom and Dad. I don't plan to do any cooking in this camper other than to make coffee and toast bagels, etc. This can be pulled out and put on the counter when I want to use it.
And a little artwork for the walls. It is fun getting all the goodies, but there is still so much to do. I ordered custom awnings from a woman in California and I need to start sourcing my body and paint shop. As we get the inside spruced up I will share a few sneak peaks. I hope you are all seeing a little Spring in your neck of the woods.
I hope that you are all having a wonderful day of love, and hugs and kisses!! Mine has been filled with lots of sweet treats (just what I needed) and the hugs and kisses will have to wait for when I see hubby this weekend. But before I share with you some Valentine goodies I made and gave to some real sweethearts, I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEE!!!!!
Lee's birthday was Sunday on the 12th! Since I could not be with her to celebrate I sent her these gifts.
I made this cuff bracelet for her along with the gift bag.
I had to have a little metal something on it. Lee loves her rusty metals!
Then a box of crafting supplies. You can never have enough!!!
Happy creating, Lee. I hope you had a wonderful birthday. I miss you!!!!!!
I made for Mom a vintage lace and crocheted doily pincushion with lots of lavender. I added a picture of her two girls to reminder her of how much we love her.
Carla received a pin cushion, too.
Her's was in green to match her new studio.
I made for Judy this pretty wall hanging.
Love you, Sissy!!!
After lunch we had the most awesome brownie!!! Judy made these heart shaped brownie's that were to die for. Soft, moist, very chocolate decadence. Yum!!! At the top of the pic, is a cute ornament Mom made. it is a crocheted chocolate candy in top of a heart. Way cute!
Well, it was fun playing cupid today. We are off now to have Valentine's Day dinner out with Mom and Dad. I hope your day was filled with lots of LOVE!!!
I made these heart-shaped Valentine Ladies.
Truth be told that I started this project with a different outcome in mind, but I could not find the right shaped chenille pipe cleaners. They were going to be chenille Valentine ladies, but I improvised. I made the stick figures but needle felted heart-shaped bodies. Then added all of the extras. I think they came out cute for starting off so wrong. I hope the girls will enjoy them. I am looking forward to getting their creations this week.
My Dad kept saying, "I think the main door into the camper is broken." Mind you it has the aluminum skin over a wood frame. So he pulled it off, carefully removed all of the aluminum outer skin pieces and low and behold, this is what we found. From the door knob down, the inside wooden frame was completely dry rotted and almost in shreds. So, Dad went down and bought the wood and started to reconstruct the door.
Here is my sweet Dad at his craft. He loves doing this stuff. He built this door frame in no time.
Here it is. Fresh and clean "new bones." We added foam between each section for insulation and then went to work on straightening out each piece of aluminum in order to recover the door. After 45 years, some of her skin has been twisted and torn in some places. So with much love and care, I have a new door to the camper. All new weather seal around it. We worked all day on Thursday to get her done and hung back on to beat the rain that was coming. Wahoo! Another project down. It is getting closer everyday.
I found this 1950's reproduction of the "Moonbeam clock." It's about 5x7 inches in size in a pretty blue color. This baby was from L.L. Bean of all places. Found it on the back cover of the catalog and had to have it for the camper. I promise to take some more pictures of some of the other items I have picked up.
Small things like finally knowing left from right and taking directions makes a big difference in the class. Her class has 15 girls in it this year.
They announced that this year's recital is going to be Alice in Wonderland. Her class is going to be roses. They will have a dance routine and then they will remain on stage as part of the scenery and keep changing poses. Should be cute.
We finally booked our first cruise! In May, we are going to cruise on the Disney Dream cruise ship to the Bahamas. We are going with our friends, Paul, Marla and Jennie. We are really excited. With no airfare involved, it was really a great deal. So, the weekend is here and Don is flying back in from CA. We are planning a quiet, do nothing weekend. Lots of walking and reading. Can't wait!
I saw Elizabeth Hasselbeck wearing this T-shirt on The View last Friday and I had to have one. GO check out Dang Chicks and see what they sell. Cute T's and jewelry. Go USA!!
