Wash tub Herb Garden

Garage Sale Find Wash Tub

 turned into an Herb Garden

This is my first attempt to grow an herb garden outside. Years ago I tried to grow an herb in my kitchen and the pot filled with ants so I hung up my green thumb for a while, hopefully this time will be more successful. 

I lined each bottom with trash bags after poking holes in them. I added 3 empty gallon water containers to the bottom of each bin. I then added organic garden soil and planted my herbs. I put 4 per bin after reading up on the amount of space they will need.

I first planned to put this in my back yard but Russ (my husband) thought it needed to be seen more. After much thought I decided to go for it. I had to remove 2 large boxwoods from this space in my flower bed which was quite a big job. Thanks to my chainsaw and a lot of elbow grease out they came....

I've been collecting metal tubs and water cans but haven't know just what to do with them. After placing the wash tub here I had a great space for the large bin to fill with flowers. I love geraniums they add the right texture and color to this hard metal background.

I still want to add a few other things to the space, maybe a sign to the front of the wash tub and a growing vine to the brick wall behind it. 

Once you start decorating even outside there is always room for more. Keep layering until it feels just right for your space. Yards and porches are no different.

My next post will be of my front porch....

Room Makeover for a Women's Shelter.....Center for Transforming Lives

www.transforminglives.org

I have been very busy this past year, really too busy doing projects that I didn't have much time to write about them.

My first project to share with you took place last fall. I had the privilege of doing a room makeover for this very incredible organization called Center for Transforming Lives (formally the YWCA). They provide so many different programs for homeless families. Their motto is to move women, children and families from poverty to independence through housing stability, affordable high-quality child care and financial empowerment coaching.
They have 3 businesses that help support their organization. The Resale shop, a catering company and a wedding venue called Historic YWCA.

I first found out about this organization a few years ago. I was working on a project in my garage, as I grabbed for a newspaper to use I noticed the front page had a story about how a women's bible study did a room makeover for this organization. My heart leapt for joy when I saw this. I had to find out more about this so I called them immediately. Come to find out in my excitement I didn't notice that the paper was several years old. The woman I spoke with said they now have tours of the facility so I found out when the next tour was and went.
I knew when I was there that I needed to do something to help but at the time I wasn't in a position to do a room makeover so instead the women in my bible study made up a large gift basket for incoming women. It was filled with toothpaste, women's products, laundry detergent, etc.
In January 2015 I felt lead to start working on a room makeover. So I started asking for donations and started searching garage sales and estate sales looking for decor items.
Some people may think this isn't a necessity for homeless abused women but when you come into a safe serene environment it starts to melt the anxiety away making room for their personal transformation to begin.
I have never been in a situation like this. I can't imagine how it must feel to have no family or home and to live on the streets exposed to all kinds of harm. If all I can do to help is create a nice room that will help to restore their dignity and give them a comfort they haven't experienced in a while maybe never, then that's what I want to do......

So to get started I prayed and asked God to direct my steps and bring all the items together. Boy did he! I want to give a very special THANKS to the staff there, my husband, my mom/her boyfriend, my Aunt Deloris, and my friend Nancy. Without all of you I would not have been able to pull it off!!!

The neatest part was the color scheme. I didn't know at the time that they were changing their name and logo which happened to be the exact colors I used in the room....but God sure did.
That's what is so fun about letting Him lead your life. He really knows how to take what we have to offer to bless others around us.
I was so excited to see it all come together, I couldn't have done it without everyone's help. Thank you all so much!!

When I got started I was so excited I forgot to take before pictures so this is a picture of the room next door.

This chair just appeared on my door step during my gathering stage of this project, maybe by a neighbor who knows I redo furniture. Thank you so much to whoever left it! It sure made a great impact on this space.  All it needed was a little spray paint and removal of a blanket stapled over the fabric. 

Helping me here is Alisha.

I love her story how she came to work here. After graduating college she wasn't sure what she really wanted to do. She found out they were looking for volunteers so she reached out to them for an opportunity to help out where she could. This turned into a full time job as the volunteer outreach coordinator. She does a great job! She really helped me so much in the project. Thank you Alisha....

Her story is inspiring. When you first leave college, trade school, or high school it can be difficult to find your way in this world. All of us are made for different things, just start somewhere and see where it leads.....

 If you are looking for a place to donate items or money please consider the Center for Transforming lives.

Re-purposed wood CD holder--Hydrangea Floral Arrangement

I LOVE hydrangeas.

 I am always trying to make low cost arrangements with them. As I'm out at garage sales or estate sales I look for things I can use for containers. I found this CD holder in raw wood. So I bought it and left it in the garage thinking I'll do something with this one day....

And that day finally came!!

These are the steps I took

1) Stain or paint your wood CD holder. Allow stain to dry for a few days if its humid. I used Minwax Dark Walnut 2716. I did not seal it or wax it afterwards. I lightly sanded the wood before I stained it to make sure it was smooth.

2) Take a large piece of burlap, I used a burlap sack cut in half, then stuffed it inside the CD holder. It doesn't matter how much fabric you overhang, I left a lot of overhang so I could cut it off in a way I wanted it to look.

3) Stuff Floral Foam inside. It took almost 3 pieces to fill my container. I used a serrated knife to cut the last piece of foam. I found this type of knife to cut foam the best.

4) After stuffing the floral foam tightly inside the container I cut up 2 bushes of Hydrangeas from Hobby Lobby and placed the flowers into the foam. I started out placing one on each end, then placed one on the left and right side of the first one working my way up to the other end. I decided to add in 2 green hydrangeas after filling it up with the white ones. I just added them in-between the white ones. 

5) Cut the excess burlap in a wavy pattern curving left to right all around the perimeter. Then I glued a metal handle in the center using this great new glue I just discovered called collall. I purchased mine on ebay. I'm very impressed with this glue. I used it to glue a metal handle to a pillow and it is holding strong.

 

Part 2 an Interview with Miss Tracy

Welcome back for Part 2

An Interview with Miss Tracy

www.misstracycreates.com

www.thelittlebluehouseblog.blogspot.com

I had the privilege of sitting down with Miss Tracy to find out more about her and how she arrived at this place in her life.

I have to say I was not expecting to hear what she shared with me about how she got to this point. I was very relieved to hear her story because it gave me hope for my own life.

First of all she is a mother of 5 children. Now that in itself is quite an accomplishment! As a child she did various crafts with her grandma and it always brought her joy.

 She describes herself as a 'Jill of all trades' sewing, painting, and crafting. I have personally seen her smash glass so I have no doubt that she can handle any power tool to create any project. She has always had a passion to create but it was expressed as a hobby instead of a business.

She previously worked in the mortgage and banking industry and for Southwest Airlines  where she learned a lot about the business world and customer service until one day she decided

 "I want something more rewarding"

So She took some time off to pursue what was in her heart. She ended up taking a part-time job with Recollections, a Scrapbook company Michaels used to own, teaching craft classes. She began designing her own projects until eventually she became their Corporate designer for all of the projects being taught. This is where her passion for creating merged with the business world.

Now I have to take time out to impart my thoughts....

I am fascinated about the background stories of peoples' lives. We can learn so much from each other. Too many times we see people in their accomplishments then we judge ourselves by where they are and where we aren't. But we fail to consider how they really got there. Each job or experience prepares you for the next stage of your life. No experience will be wasted especially if you give it all to the Lord. He has a way of weaving things together to create a beautiful life...

Now at this stage of her journey you may think 'wow a dream come true it couldn't get any better than this'. But as the saying goes when life hands you lemons make lemonade....

Changes came to Michaels and they decided to close the Recollections stores....

So again she had some time on her hands. This is when the Create Joy workshops was born. Her pastor wanted to start an outreach to the community and she wanted to help out with this by bringing women together who share the same passions, because she believes it is very therapeutic.

Her motto is 'keep your hands busy while your heart heals'...

When she said this statement to me my heart leapt. I know that to be true in my own life but I never heard anyone put it into words. Regardless if you have natural creative talents, creating something with your hands is so rewarding whether it's growing a garden, sewing, painting, or baking it's all an expression of our hearts and in the process our hearts get tended to...

This outreach became very successful. The women really enjoyed coming together to create.

Then the opportunity came to open 'The Little Blue House" where she was able to carry over that sense of community and continue to fulfill her creative dreams as well as passing on her wisdom and talent to all of us!

I was having so much fun learning her background story but I was really itching to find out How in the World do you do all you do! I have a lot to juggle in my own life with a part-time job, this blog, my booth business and a husband with health issues. I can't imagine adding 5 children to this...

She really had some wise words to share...

She said it is a constant work in progress, you have to let some things go in order to focus on the really important things. The key is to bring in team members who can help you and you have to allow them to help you. Be flexible. This comes in handy when you are a dreamer and an overachiever as she is. When you see inspiration everywhere and have the drive to do it all you have to discipline yourself to reign it in.

Now her final words of wisdom is to explore your creativity, be bold try new things don't be afraid of making a mistake, new things come out of mistakes. Don't worry about trying to do it right just let it flow and see where it takes you....

It is such a pleasure to introduce

 Miss Tracy owner of

The Little Blue House

118 Olive St, Keller, TX 76248

(817) 431-7930

Website: www.thelittlebluehouseonline.com

Calendar of Classes:
 www.thelittlebluehouseblog.blogspot.com/p/lbh-buffet-classes.html

Blog: www.thelittlebluehouseblog.blogspot.com

 

One day I decided to stop in this adorable shop in Keller to see why there were so many cars parked outside. I really had no idea what kind of shop it was but it must be a great place if so many people were coming here.

Little did I know this wasn't just a shop it was a 

Doorway to Dreamland!

Now Disney World is one of my favorite places to visit but if I can't get there this is the next best thing....

because as the sign says Love lives here....

I had to make my own window when I saw this one in the shop....

I made this in my first workshop

I soon discovered that they offer workshops to create a large variety of crafts designed by Miss Tracy as well as her talented staff. You will find projects from scrapbook pages to a shutter wall shelf and everything in-between. 

This is a great place to learn how to use all the various products and tools from the crafting world. One of my favorite products is the VerDay paint.

VerDay paint projects

You can create something here for every holiday...

Christmas is a magical event at 

The Little Blue House....

Christmas Tree made from paint stir sticks....

Mixed Media artwork......

                                  Candy Jar.....

                             Scrapbook paper kit.....

Valentines' Day is special too...

                              

 Miss Tracy with her daughter Kristyn...

                      Of course Spring blows by here too....

"Fall " in love with these projects....

      Aside from the seasonal crafts 

you will find several other types of projects

                               

 This is just a sampling...

     

    In Oct of last year I signed up for their junker's retreat at a great place  outside Canton, TX. where we junked all day in Canton and created pretty much non-stop the rest of the weekend.

            I had my eye on this shutter shelf and made it 
                      on the retreat along with these.....

Perfect for small spaces

My "welcome" sign

Miss Tracy's Sign

Tray's made from yard sticks, paint, and paper

Shutter Angels....!!!!

Me and Miss Tracy roughing it crafter's style...

The leather workshop 

where we learned how to create with leather using embossing tools and stain

My finished product.....

Stay tuned for Part 2 where you will learn more about this very talented women...

When you get a chance stop by her shop and sign up for a class or pick up a gift certificate for the crafter in your life.