December 16, 2009

Keep Christmas with you all through the year...

This is Christmas to me...
Warm lights, bright colors and spicy smells.



The anticipation of family coming and knowing there will be bonds strengthened again.

Baking and excitement in the air.


Celebrating the birth of the Savior of the world.



Watching little children play, laugh and experience the magic of this season.

(This was Santa riding in on a fire truck a few nights ago with sirens blasting and candy being thrown)



I feel so thankful as this year nears it's end. Thank you for all your support and love here on Art-n-Sewl. Your comments build me up and give me courage to share and try new things.

This feeling of love and joy I hope we can keep with us all through the coming year.
I hope all of you will have a wonderful Christmas and focus on the true meaning of the season!

xo Emily xo









December 14, 2009

Cheap and Stunning!

I bought these urns awhile back for my porch but I brought them inside to use in my foyer. They were 75% off. I think I paid $5 a piece. I have vacillated on what to do with them and BAM all the sudden it came to me.


Simply use some Christmas lights in the urn and then pile up the cinnamon scented pine cones on top. Sprinkle with snow and Voila...

STUNNING!


This year I am really digging pine cones and a snowy icy effect, not to mention how cheap it is to decorate with them.




Hopefully you are enjoying this Christmas season. I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off, but it is all going to be worth it.

xo Emily xo


December 11, 2009

BEST DECORATION EVER!!!!


Well, there is good news and bad news about my Christmas decorations this year

Good news is that I truly out did myself this year with my Christmas decorations. The bad news is that I had to take him down after 2 days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever. Great stories. But two things made me take it down. First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by. Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn't realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). By the way, she was one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn't take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard.

Kind of feel like I gave in to the man by taking him down but my neighbor did confirm to near miss accidents on the busy street next to my house. I think I made him too real this time

So it was fun while it lasted! Merry Christmas!

(I should clarify...I did not do this trick, though I wish I had. Someone very clever thought this up and I'm just sharing the fun)

I think this is so hilarious I can't stop laughing. It's a sick twisted joke to play on people and somehow that is hilarious. I don't know? ;-)

My hubby wants to do this next year!?!

Have an awesome weekend y'all and get that last minute Christmas shopping done!

Love Emily


December 09, 2009

Echo echo echo.....

Is anyone still here ?

I'm so sorry. Things have been quite hectic here the last little while. As well as moving, I am busily preparing for my in-laws arrival in just over a week. Can you say pressure? I want everything beautiful and the house just right for Christmas. I have been unpacking, and decorating rooms on a TINY or should I say tiny budget, and actually it has been very rewarding.

I am going to share my downstairs bathroom with you guys today. I am so excited. I still need to do a few more things like put up a little glass shelf and hang the beautiful curtain but I couldn't wait to show y'all.

Here is my theme..."by the sea".
Original I know
;-)

I had to have stripes on my wall. I did this exact same thing 8 years ago when I lived in Maryland and I had missed it. It's a show stopper effect. The glass shelf and my big white coral piece is missing from below the painting, but you get the drift.

I'm in love with this wall. I could sit on the toilet all day and stare at it ;-)

The canvas was made by my sponsor Bags of Love and they are amazing. Please check them out!

This next idea I owe to my friend TiNeill. The first time I went to her house I used her bathroom and in her bathroom sink were all these jewels. I thought she had been doing a craft project and left them there. Well, they were supposed to be there and the water just flows on down the drain over something pretty. SMART!

So I picked sea glass and shells for my sink. I tell ya, I love to wash my hands and watch the colors change when the water hits it and it does make you feel all fancy. Who knew?

I really love how this room turned out. I still have some empty wall space to find some treasures to add to my "by the sea" bathroom but for now I am pleased with it.

Now, I said I did this for cheap... I did. I had almost everything already in my house but when it came together it was harmony, like ebony and ivory, OK someone stop me.

An easy project to do was the shell frames. I bought them at a yard sale for basically nothing.


Cute- but not for my room. So I tore the back off and took it apart. The glass went in the garbage and I got my hot glue gun heating.

I cut up some burlap and frayed the edges and glued it right on the picture.

Then I put a huge dollop of glue on the shell and placed it on.

So effective right?

I am very happy with the results considering the budget and the fact that this room was the only room the previous owners painted. I don't know what they were thinking, but we dubbed it the poop cave. The walls and ceiling were painted poopy brown.
Who would do that ????

I give you photographic evidence of the crime.



Well, I told you I had many things coming up to show all of you. I am so happy in my new home and you know there will be more to come. Can't wait!

xoxo Emily xoxo