It is now officially "Fall", yes even in Florida! We have tasted it, with our low morning temps of 68-72, a few color changes in the leaves, the crunch of acorns and when you are riding your bike - you best watch out for those falling magnolia "cones"? nuts? what are they even called? Either way, one almost flattened me on my bike ride this morning! This fall weather gives me a bit more creative energy too - and the space to create! I have often taken over my living room or kitchen with creative projects during the summer months...but that gets annoying - for my family. So, now that the weather is bearable and lovely, I can move out to my "studio" - aka "le garage" and "le driveway" to spread out and  make messes. Would you like to see my space? It is not designed like an adorable apartment with cute what nots and decor to help inspire my thoughts. It is not filled with all the supplies I could ever need. But, it is filled with crazy things I find in the "trash", aka "treasure chests", salvaged - thats the word - wood and things to paint on at a moments whim, enough paint to get me by until I've absolutely run out or I find a great sale somewhere...and I'm not picky about what type of paint I use...in case you were wondering about sending me a gift;) 


SO...I'm also trying to start writing here on my blog...instead of facebook...where I mostly find it super easy to post and connect. But, everyone says - you need to have a blog to keep up in this business...so, I'm trying!! But, if you want to connect with me even more - please come to my facebook page here (please and thank you:)


Now, what you've been waiting for, and your life will be changed because of it! (not really, but maybe you'll be inspired to cozy out a little nook in your garage and be inspired to create, knowing that you don't need to have a fancy magazine-worthy studio either:) (but, I'm not saying that I don't want one, and can't wait for that day to come!!!)

I'll post some official pics of some of the new things I'm working on soon...like this fun bicycle! You were wondering about that weren't you? I would love to start doing prints...so, I'm researching the best ways to do that (any advice is welcome:)


Have a great Thursday everyone, thanks for stopping by! 

I realized I haven't filled you in on any of the excitement of my experience...but, I guess I can't really tell too much without saying to much about what I worked on...so0oooo...I guess My Story will have to wait until Monday! I'll try to do my best and tell you my experience (may have to break it up into segments!) and for sure, I'll show you pictures to go along with everything I worked on and the way it all went down:) 


I can't say it enough though - it was an AMAZING experience to be a part of this production...and even more AMAZING that it was for Coach Prewitt...who has been such a big part of  my life, and I'm blessed that she still is part of my life! (see the awful self portrait of us below!)

So how's that for a sneak peak?  

Are you ready for your scavenger hunt while watching the show? Maybe you could post a comment back here when you find all of the hints I gave you above...post which room you find them all in! yay! this is going to be fun! I'll post all the answers on Monday with more pics from the show!

See...it's so bad that I kept it small! what was I thinking?! I look like "the Hulk" or something:) Carrie looks just as photogenic as usual - just wait until you see her on tv!! 

Hey everyone! Are you getting excited for Mother's Day??!! Are you going to watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition??!! If you are not - I hope you at LEAST will set your DVRs and Tivos or put the tape in the VCR!!! If you can't do any of those - let me know and you can come over and watch my DVD copy of the show with me!! 


This post is a sneak peak of the volleyball player segment filmed at Middleburg High School. All alumni and current players were invited to come and be a part of this very special segment. You'll get to see us doing a lot of cheering (there is a lot of cheering being filmed in EVERY segment of this show I had come to find out through experience!!) - about 4 hours of cheering to be exact - and you'll only get to see probably 30 seconds of it!!! You probably won't see me during this segment because I'm shy and stood in the back (as you can see from the above picture.) The picture above shows where alumni and current players were grouped in the shot...My husband is taking all of the pictures from the crowd of families in the stands that you will see here.  

This is when I first arrived, wearing my c/o '95 MHS Volleyball Elite 8 sweatshirt. Yes, I still have it. Yes, I'm not sure why, but it is in great condition considering how much I wear it in the winter - it is my ultimate comfy sweatshirt. 

This is me, I'm sure talking about my awesome blocking skills....ROOF! (just kidding, you only could ever see my fingers reaching above the net...so sad, I always dreamed to be an inch taller!)

Can you spot me? to the right of #15. It was way too hot in there for sweatshirts, so now we are all wearing team shirts :) I'm visiting with alumni friends ...little did I know a GIANT osprey was lurking behind me! (Jenny Manz is wearing #8, and you'll definitely see her during this segment of the show - she had written a beautiful memory about our life with Prewitt as our coach and mentor.)

Crazy high school boys...I'm sure they will be on tv!

The gym cleared and some alumni stayed to be filmed with Tracy for a PSA commercial. 

and of course, here is Ty...that is all you really wanted to see right?!

and my favorite picture:) The girls hung out through the whole 5 hour ordeal - they were SOOOO good!!!! (yeah, 5 hours for probably no more than a 5 minute spot!)


Thanks for keeping up with my adventure on this show! I'll be showing you one more sneak peak before sunday, where I show you the sneakiest peakiest photos that I can without getting in trouble!!! and I'll at least give you my project list of what I worked on so you can follow along in the show - hey, it could be like a EMHE  Heather Ivy scavenger hunt! Then next monday I'll get to show you everything on here in case you missed the show!! Yay!!!

I'm getting so excited for Mother's Day! No, not to be showered with love and kisses from my children...but, to watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition!!! I was so blessed to have been able to contribute to this episode, not only because it was doing good for a great local family, but because it was a local family that means SOOOO much to me and the person who I've become! Carrie Prewitt is the Volleyball coach for Middleburg High School, and was my coach from jr. high through high school where I learned to work hard - HARD, to tears HARD! But, I still love her - so it was a "good" HARD - like when you work out and you hurt type of "good". But, the amazing thing in all of our hard work training and playing, she also helped train our souls. We kept a journal and she made our school work number one. She also encouraged our strengths off the court - such as my love and ability for art and also taught me a lot about being a Christian. We prayed with each other and she worked scripture into our training. My senior year we went to the Elite 8 in the state, I was so proud of our team and to be a part of the ethics that she instilled in all of us on the MHS volleyball team...So, when I heard EHME was coming to town for Carrie and her family, it was a NO BRAINER that I had to use this opportunity to give back as much as possible to her! 

Here's a link to the local story on www.jacksonville.com
http://bcove.me/abshtlt2

and then the local website for the show http://www.northfloridaextrememakeover.com/the-family


I can't (yet) post any photos of the work I did - I KNOW, I can't wait for you to see!
So, SAVE the DATE: Sunday, May 8th - check your local listings for time - to watch Extreme Home Makeover!!! and you might even see me on tv...hopefully not! but, you might, and then we can all laugh at me together:)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
My girls were GREEN CRAZY over St. Patrick's Day this year! They even went as far as competing with Christmas for their favorite holiday! They wanted to be COMPLETELY green today. They said that they can't just wear a little bit, they have to be COVERED in green and requested that I make them green pants. I managed to persuade them that a skirt would be just as great (and easier on me!)  So, I head out (to my garage) to hunt for said "green" material for the skirts. Score! Green and white gingham...even better ...AND...even "greener" (for the environment;)... my old curtains from when I was a kid and already  double hemmed at one end! and there were 2! yes, I'll address this quickly - I save SO much stuff...I'm working on that. But, that makes it a Super Green project right? Yes! Validation for saving so much stuff!! ;) I also found a rainbow stripe fabric from the skirt of Miss A's crib. I was going to trim the hem with the rainbow, but the girls said, "No!" But, were okay with a little bit for the clover design background. Geez, it's hard dealing with two mini fasionistas!! 

Everything I used I already had except I did have to go to Michaels to buy  the elastic. I had to control myself - I almost bought gold rick rack trim...I really wanted to put something on each layer of the hem! Wouldn't that have been cute with the same rainbow stripe? Oh well. Saved me some time. :)

What do you think about ALL the different shades of green? too crazy? Or maybe it's okay today on St. Patrick's Day?! 

Has anyone told you how awesome you are today? Well, you are. 
Pass along a little awesome to those who think deserve it...then you will be even a little more awesome:)
http://dayofawesomeness.com/

My daughters love to secretly draw pictures and tape them in random places around the house. I think miss M was particularly proud of this one...it's all the letters of our family...and this over our bed...what an honor!

Miss A's job was to put the tp away...that is way more fancy than putting it on the shelf! She was so proud. And now our toilet nook is way cooler than before (eeks - we need something to detract from the awful wallpaper!)

Found this on the inside of the front door...hearts <3

I LOVE getting mail from one of my favorite girls Kelley Burdette (check out her website here: http://www.shabbycaterpillar.com
She always makes me feel special!

What is your favorite random act of art that you've received?