Christmas 2010 Memories

I can’t believe another Christmas has come and gone. This was a fun filled holiday season. Tonight (actually, very early this morning), I want to share what has been happening this side of Texas!

Decorating for Christmas

(the reason for the season)

(even the bathroom is decked)

(as is the dining room chandelier)

Christmas crafts

(another rag quilt, this one for Oma)

(burlap w/ ruffle tree skirt)

Kyle Family Reunion in Calvert, TX (with a side trip to the antique stores on Main St)

(there are 10 grandkids and 1 great!)

After enjoying my husband’s family and playing BINGO, I scored some galvanized flower buckets! A new project waiting to happen…

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Little Man was baptized! Over the summer, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. I am such a proud Momma! Grandma joined us on this special occasion and Santa even found her Christmas morning ;-)

Buried with Christ in baptism, raised to walk in newness of life.

As we come to the end of the year, may we pause to reflect on the moments that made 2010 special. Remember to honor those that we love in our lives. God bless you and your family and may you have a safe and prosperous 2011!

Love, Whyt

Featured!

Go check out Lindsey at Better After! I was featured today with my mantel redo. Thanks for all the sweet comments!

Merry Christmas!

Whyt

Finally…

Here is the final bench… (see before)

And a recent cake for a fabulous friend who was there when I first started decorating cakes over 10 years ago…

And getting pictures for our Christmas card….

May your Christmas be MERRY and BRIGHT!

Love, Whyt

T Minus 9

Can you believe Christmas is a mere 9 days away and  2011 will be here 7 days later… OH MY!

I have been crafting the holidays away and have only baked once… I have got to get on the ball! I wanted to show you a few projects. Maybe I  will get around to taking pictures of Christmas in the Ahern house…

I found this iron headboard in a shop in Milano, TX years ago. ( I will have to tell the story of that shopping trip with my MIL. It is awesome!)

Mr. Whimsy and I used this headboard until we decided to move up to a king size. I couldn’t bear to part with this beautiful piece. I even had neighbors who wanted to take off my hands. But I had something in mind, OFCOURSE!!!

A bench! See the one in the background? I finally saw its last days. How could I make a bench to withstand the elements? Off to Lowe’s…. Change of plans. The bench would go in the dining room where the faux mantle used to be. (See previous blog)

The finished picture is still on my camera, so I will post later. But you get the idea… foam, batting, and burlap, all left over from
other projects and I have a great banquette bench! The kids LOVE sitting on it and I was able to get rid of 2 Windsor chairs that were falling apart.

After the success of the rag quilt I made for the Linus Project, I feel the need to make one for every occasion. I am now on my 4^th one! I can’t show you 2 of the quilts til after Christmas, but here is the one I made for Baby Jameson, who will be here in 6 days. For Jameson, I used the left over fabric and a canvas bag from Hobby Lobby to make a matching diaper bag. (A couple years ago, I was on a canvas bag decorating kick… another blog, another time)

Have a Blessed Weekend and take time for You!

Love, Whyt

Thanksgiving Week Project

A while back, I talked about my
mantle and not being sure about my latest decorations…. I solved my problem! And Holly didn’t have a heart attack!

Several years ago, I bought a beautiful, shabby, mahogany antique mantel on ebay for $50. This thing was HUGE! I wanted a faux fireplace because I couldn’t imagine Christmas in our new house without a place to hang the stockings. I built a box and found a suitable candelabra and

I was a happy camper!

When we moved into Holly’s
house, there was a real fireplace so we set the faux fireplace up in the master
bedroom. It was SOOOO romantic.

Time passed, and we graduated to
a king size bed and the fireplace got bumped to the dining room. It worked but it was a tight fit. About a month ago, I mentioned to Mr. Whimsy that I wanted to replace the shelf the builder called a mantel with my $50 find. He rolled his eyes, but when I came home the next day,

demolition had begun!

One look and I knew there was no
turning back, and any change we made would have to be permanent.

Deconstructed…

After trimming down, stripping,
and repainting…

What do you think?  I am in love!
The new mantel is perfect for the fireplace!


Linked to: http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/

Every Girl Needs a Sister

Holly and I started working together 10 years ago. She is a natural born reading teacher. Her first year in the classroom amazed me! Even though she was less experienced, I learned (and continue to learn) so much from her. 

As we worked together, we became close emotionally, spiritually and even physically. (Mr. Whimsy, Lauren, and I moved into their neighborhood.) We continued to nurture our relationship. Many prayers have been said over each other and our families. We truly became sisters. She was even the first to suspect I was pregnant with my son when I said was that I felt swollen during our morning walk. (At that time, I was just suspecting…)

Our next round of moves put us 3 houses away from each other Cowboy games on Sundays, scrapbooking til all hours, never a glass of wine was had alone. It was amazing. It was Holly’s turn to start her family after heartache and loss. Prayer in our Mighty God, Great Physician, Abba Father, Lord of our lives
was always a part of who we were (are) as sisters.

Holly and her family moved to Dallas due to a job transfer. Many tears were shed. My heart was breaking . But God always has a plan…

After months on the market, Holly’s house in Cypress still had not sold and she was about to have to pay 2 mortgages. Mr.  Whimsy had lost his job and we were needing to downsize.  God provides! Holly’s house is now our home.

Come back to see the latest project in our home. Holly will have a heart attack if I show you the before and during pictures, so I better wait until I am finished to show you the pictures. (Besides, she will probably be in town next week, so I HAVE to get it done!)

Have a great weekend!

Love,
Whyt

Project Linus

At one of the intermediate schools I test for, an email went out looking for staff to make blankets. I am not a quilter or crotchetier or any other blanket maker for that matter. However, I have made several duvet covers for my daughter over the years when I had something in mind and couldn’t find it or didn’t want to pay the high prices when I did find it. I have made a baby blanket or two that only required straight stitches, but that is the extent of my experience.

My friend Jennifer, from high school has been making rag quilts lately and been posting the darling pictures on FB. I was inspired! If I can make a monk costume for Halloween without a pattern, surely I could figure out a rag quilt! (And besides, this is for charity to keep a little one warm).

Here are some of Jennifer’s quilts she is making in Katy,Texas…
If you are interested, let me know and I will get you hooked up with her!

 

Back to my project: Here is the initial information I received…

Project Linus is a volunteer non-profit organization with a two-fold mission.

1^st Mission:  To provide love, sense of security, warmth and comfort who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need through the gift of new, handmade blankets and afghans, loving created by volunteer “blanketeers”

2^nd Mission:  To provide rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

Please use the following link for Blanket Guidelines:

http://www.orgsites.com/tx/montgomerycountyprojectlinus/

So following the guidelines and inspiration from Jennifer, this is my freshman attempt at rag quilting!
Let me know what you think!

Have a great week!!
Love, Whyt

Word of the Week

A friend of mine used this word the other day and it has
been bouncing around my head....

CONUNDRUM

1 : a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun

2a : a question or problem having only a conjectural answer b : an intricate and difficult problem

Think about it. Until next time,

this is Whyt with Whimsical Wanderings!

Still Debating...

I am always changing the wall above the mantle. In the 2 1/2 years we have been in this house, I think I am now on my 3rd change-up.

Initially, I had 3 "windows" hung. I love the windows, but when I re-arranged the dining room, a BIG metal art piece needed a new home. The windows were banished until I moved into my new office at work. Here they are so you can kind of get an idea....

I loved the dark swirly piece, but I was never sold on it's new home.... I have been on a frame kick and was just leaning them up on the mantle. But alas, they kept falling over.... So here is what my mantle looks like now...

I know its not a good picture, and the house is messy, but you get the idea... I broke a cardinal decorating rule and have an even number of frames. I love the idea of the frames, but I don't know if I love the arrangement. Please, I need some input!

Sew Fun!

Halloween was a blast this year! Pretty Girl wanted to be Little Bo Peep and take Gunnar, her Cocker Spaniel, as a sheep. As luck  fortune Target would have it, they had sheep costumes for dogs! Woohoo!!! And in the closet, I have a dirndl that my aunt brought back from Germany years ago. PERFECT! Then off to the Halloween store... We found a staff! Who would have guessed?

I haven't been to an "adult" Halloween party in years, so when the invite came, I was ecstatic!The brain started storming!  As you have probably guessed, I like being crafty and creative. I see something I like or get some hair-brained idea and I go with it. Off I go into the wild blue yonder...

At the store, I picked up some vampire teeth and I went as a Renaissance vampress. I wore my Ren Fest garb along with an awesome apricot wig I found on ebay. I totally vamped the makeup.  Coming up with a costume for Mr. Whimsy was not as easy. What would go with my costume? I started digging around on the net for Renaissance men's costumes. The mister is not a vampire type, but Brother John. maybe....

What do you think? I made the monk costume ALL BY MYSELF!!! I searched the web for patterns and got some basic ideas, but not bad for someone who owns a sewing machine to hem clothes & curtains and to sew on scout patches! If you want to  know specific details on making this costume,

let me know, and I will post it.

After posting the pics on FB, I got lots of comments from friends and family on the red hair, so today this forever dishwater blonde took the plunge and went red! Not completely sold yet, but I will let you know soon.

Hope your Wednesday was whimsical!

 Love,

Whyt

Come on Fall Weather!

I loved the vast contrast of this morning's weather to yesterday's. Hot and humid in late October just doesn't do it for me. I almost stole the jeep this morning to enjoy the dry, crisp air. It makes you want to cook soup for dinner and cobbler for dessert!

I never scored a bike on CL, but I monitor my local bike shop's website (www.lonestarbicycles.com) regularly, so I am not out of the loop. It so happens the the current year models get clearanced in October! The bike I wanted was 25% off!!!!  I love a good deal! Now it time to get training for the MS150!

Isn't it great! Got my helmet, lights, and computer and I am ready to ride! If you are in Houston, go visit Josh and his wife at Lone Star, they are great! (Their son is a cutie too!) They are so encouraging and helpful.

If you ride on the NW side, give me a shout. I would love some riding partners. I do so much better when I have others to be accountable to, but then, don't we all?

I have some fall/Christmas craft and decor ideas floating around my head that I can't wait to share. Be watching! Y'all have a great day!

Whyt

I Scored on Craigslist!!!!

I am always scouring craigslist on my iphone.... I have 3 saved searches so that I can easily check for any new finds... I am looking for a road bike so I can ride in the MS 150 and cross it off my bucket list. The MS150 is a fundraiser bike ride for multiple sclerosis. It is a two day ride from Houston to Austin...

My next search is "antiques" from $0 to $100. I am looking for a buffet to go with my hutch in the attic. I had this cute buffet and hutch (shabby white of course) that I picked up for a song about 5 years ago. Then my sweetie bought a 50 inch TV at there are not a lot of shabby chic TV stands. Sweetie shopped the house and took off with my buffet! He pulled out the drawer and made a shelf  for components and the video games fit neatly underneath. I miss my buffet and hate that I can't close the TV behind doors of an armoire, BUT he pulled a "Whytney." I am so proud!

I added a burlap curtain, and VOICI! Plus, a benefit of burlap..... The PS3 remotes work through the fabric and you can't see the game console! Gotta love the shabby look!

My final search is "furniture" 0-100.... This is where I scored this weekend!

A 24"X48" kitchen island with a wine rack for all of $25!!!!! The top leaves a little to be desired and I HATE the handles, but that can all be fixed!

So I put my baby girl to work!

And I am going to surprise you all.... I didn't leave it white, didn't paint it sage green or even barn red.

wait for it....

wait for it....

 Yep.... BLACK! My kitchen table is also painted black and I have black iron  accents in the kitchen. I even have an old iron gate hanging from the ceiling that I use as a pot rack. I still need to get a new top and I need to find drawer pulls, but as I finish, I will keep you updated!

I am off for today... Until next time...

ONE LIFE, LIVE IT!

Goodbye Summer Break!

This is the last week of summer break for most kids in Texas. I went back to work about 2 weeks ago and dang it, I didn't get that armoire painted! I have been on a crafty kick the last couple of weeks though! I have been planning on how to decorate my new office. And I love shopping my house! Once I am, finished setting the offices up, I will post pictures! In the meantime, I have to show off some projects!




I made this cute message board for about $3.00! I found this frame (about 12x24in) at Hobby Lobby for about $2 in the 90% off section. For the backing I stopped at Home Depot and picked up sheet of cheap hardboard. At WalMart I picket up a roll of batting. The toile, brown grograin and buttons were in my craft closet.


I sanded the frame for the worn look, but it wasn't doing it for me... I had some green glaze left over from another project, so I wiped it on and off. Perfect!







This beautiful message board was even cheaper to make!!!!! The frame had been sitting in the garage for probably 5 years or so.... It started out gold, then I spray painted it black. I never got into it... so the frame just sat there...After I finished the green toile message board, I decided that was what this frame needed!

Off to the craft room for ivory satin spray paint, brown glaze, furniture tacks and the same brown ribbon! The fabric was left over from decorating my office last year. After painting, sanding, glazing, stapling, and nailing, this is what was born! Isn't it absolutely gorgeous?!?!? Off to the office!


Oh and by the way.... this is a PLASTIC frame!




This door is an old, but well loved project. I found the door in an antique store several years ago in Katy, TX. It is white on the front side and a soft chippy blue on the back. To the actual door, I did nothing. What you see is the natural distressing of an old door. The hats are hung on Command hooks and I painted a shelf with a lovely green paint. The shelf brackets, also used at the bottom of the door for support, are white cast iron brackets I found on clearance at Hobby Lobby at the end of one summer.

This project cost around $30.

At Christmas, I hang a wreath or the metal stocking from Southern Living at Home on the door. How sweet it is!

The weekend is here and Logan's LEGO themed birthday party is tomorrow. I better get started on the cake... Not sure what direction I am going to take, but when I am finished, I will let you take a peek!