Hot Pad Makeover

I recently got a much-needed new camera. Although I still haven't ventured into the DSLR world, my Nikon P7000 is a nice little camera. It is compact and easy take along with me wherever I go; I especially like to take it when I go out walking.

A new camera calls for a new camera bag. I just wanted a cute padded bag that would protect my camera, but not be bulky to carry around. If you know me very well at all, you will know that I didn't want to spend a lot of money. I started looking around at the thrift and consignment stores for inspiration.

This past week I came across two of these hot pads. They are actually more like oven mitts since they have pockets. Definite potential. Visions of a dottie angel-type project came to mind.

I didn't start out with much of a plan except to make sure the camera would fit and it did. The camera in the picture is not my camera - just an old one I used for the sake of the picture.

Here is what I came up with! I call it a granny-chic wristlet pouch.

I sewed a pocket on the back - a place to slip in my camera manual, keys or cell phone. I didn't even have to make the straps. They were in my fabric stash; some sort of premade straps that came in a bag of thrifted fabric scraps once upon a time.

The crocheted flower and button are sewn to the straps. Then there is a ponytail elastic sewn to the flap. It slips over the flower and button to hold everything in place.

New camera. Cute bag. Now I just have to figure out aperture, shutter speed, ISO......so I can take better pictures.

"Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; 

Cross-examine and test me, 

get a clear picture of what I'm about.... "   Psalm 139:23

Girl Stuff

Although I have a daughter, our house has never really been cluttered with baby dolls, play kitchen sets or Barbie. Oh, sure, there has been an occasional doll or pink stuffed pony; toys that sit in the corner of the living room for awhile until they are carried upstairs and deposited into the closet.

The lack of girly playthings is not because my Sweet Girl is a tomboy. Well, I guess with two brothers she very likely could be a tomboy, but that is not the case. She wasn't even a year old when we noticed she seemed to be losing interest in toys. Her legs couldn't bear weight to stand and play at an activity table. Her sweet little baby hands could no longer grasp a teething ring. She was almost two before she was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome and we finally knew why these things were happening.

I think for awhile we tried to carry on as usual as far as toys go; buying her things that other little girls her age would play with. But what is the point, really? Don't get me wrong. It is not as if we didn't try to engage her in meaningful play. We didn't stop putting baby dolls on her Christmas list. It's just that we gradually adjusted to a new normal that didn't involve play pots and pans mixed in with the boys' cars and Lego bricks.

I've said all that to get to this:

A couple months ago I saw this adorable, child-size hutch at the local consignment shop. The "mommy of a little girl" in me just had to buy it. I wasn't sure what I would do with it, but figured it would probably end up in my craft room to hold smalls.

Last week I was picking up and organizing all of the things we use on this beautiful head of hair - ponytail holders, flowers and bows, detangler, frizz control spray.......  We have plenty of this kind of girl clutter in our house!

I decided the little hutch would be the perfect storage solution. It is sitting right in the living room because that is where I always do Sweet Girl's hair.

I set about to find the perfect little containers to hold everything just right.

The toy pots hold barrettes. Don't you just love these vintage ones?

This tin lunch box (or is it a sewing box?) contains all the products I use to try to control all those curly blond locks.

Jelly jars hold flowers and other hair clips and mini bread pans corral pony tail holders.

Behind the bottom cabinet doors are her shoes, slippers and AFO's.

Not only does this child-size piece of furniture provide a great storage solution, it also provides a little comfort to this mommy's heart.

And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3-4

Christmas 2011

I know I never blog anymore. I'm not sure why. But, on the off chance that someone still checks on me, I thought I would share my Christmas decorations from this year. I didn't do as much as last year when all my family came to visit. Just tried to keep it simple this time. You can see 2010's decorations here and here.

Warning:  Since this might be the only post for another month or so, I loaded it up with pictures.  :)

 A different kind of "star" this year.

 I love real trees, but artificial are so much easier.  I bought this pre-lit, flocked tree after Christmas last year.  Oh how I love Hobby Lobby's 90% off clearance sales!

 What do you think about my "J"?  Thrifted vintage boots in a beautiful blue. Too bad my calves are too fat for them to fit over.  I really want to wear them.

 Vintage aquarium (?) from an auction, vintage wagon from a garage sale and vintage bottle brush trees from the thrift.

 A child's toy pot makes a perfect candle holder.

 Vintage barkcloth in an embroidery hoop.

 Old pulleys hold the little stockings made from an antique baby blanket.

 I love to wonder what Mrs. Rose from Delight, Arkansas ordered all the way from Westfield, Mass.

 My mom has one of these angels from when she was a child.  I found this one recently at the thrift store.

 Of course I have to use some vintage Shiny Brites in my decor!

Please don't forget what Christmas is truly about.  Not fancy decorations.  Not pretty packages.  Not bright lights.  Well, except for the one bright light shining in the sky to show the way to baby Jesus.  The gift of Jesus is the reason for the season!

"And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."  Luke 2:9-10

Harvest Blessings

The rumbling of grain trucks going by reminds me that it is harvest time.  The fields that were planted and carefully tended are now reaping their bounty.  It is a wonderful time of year to be thankful for God's provision.

Our family doesn't really celebrate Halloween.  Instead, I like to celebrate the beauty of autumn and all that He has given us.

Fall colors, rustling leaves, a cool breeze, scampering squirrels, pumpkins and gourds.....

How can one not be thankful?

I wanted my fall "mantle" to reflect the gratitude of this season.

Are you enjoying this season?  What is your favorite part of autumn?

Are you able to give thanks?

{Our God has blessed the earth with

a wonderful harvest!  Psalm 67:6}

I'm linking to:

Sunday Blessings

Sunday Blessings

{Faith means being sure of the things we hope for

and knowing that something is real

even if we do not see it.  Hebrews 11:1}