spring and wreaths

who says wreaths are just for christmas??? lately, we have had a few 70 degree days here in atlanta and it has made me wishing for spring. just because the weather is getting warmer doesn't mean that i don't want to make a yarn wreath though. i loved all the wreaths i saw on blogs over the holidays, so i decided to make one for easter. this wreath is wrapped with a creme yarn, then embellished with my stash of miniature yo-yo's. the flower petals are created out of the same circular fabric i made the yo-yos from. i was inspired to make fabric flowers from this tutorial, they looked so cool on her site, but mine didn't hold the shape i wanted them to. my stiffen spray was not the same brand she used, so maybe that was my problem. i still like how the petals turned out, just think they could have been a bit more 3-D.

felt and roses

idle hands just don't happen at my house. i simply cannot sit around without my hands crafting something. sometimes it is really, really annoying! my latest project are these trendy felt roses. i have seen them everywhere and once i learned how to make them, i knew why. they are so easy!

you can find instructions all over the internet, but for a quick tutorial, all you do is start with a 2 - 3 inch circle of felt. then you cut a spiral into the felt, just going around and around in a circle until you reach the center. starting with the outer end, begin curling towards the center. when you finish, you have a small circle of felt that can be glued to the back to hold everything into place. i then took brightly colored head pins and stuck them through the center. best of all is it's a great way to use up all those felt scraps you have lying around the house.

tomatoes and feta

my go to recipe these days is a super simple tomato feta dip. i got the recipe from a friend and it is delicious, and did i mention super simple!!!

1 container of grape tomatoes, diced
1 container of crumbled feta
half a red onion, diced
oregano

mix all the ingredients together and it's done. the dip is better if it sits for a few hours before you eat. i usually eat it with crackers, but i got a bit crazy the other night and heated it up on some toast which was also great.

enjoy!

yo-yo's and petals

my stash of fabric circles has been dwindling from a yo-yo compulsion i seem to have. they are the perfect mindless craft to do when you are watching tv or hanging out with friends.

with the finished yo-yos and vintage buttons, i have been crafting small flower pins. my favorite part? the green suede leaves i recently acquired - they are the perfect addition!

bingo and an addiction

i think i might have a serious addiction to B.I.N.G.O. yes, bingo :)

as crazy as it sounds, playing bingo has been on my life list for quite some time. every time i mention it, my husband shakes his head and tells me i will never be able to handle the smoke. you see, he was raised going to a bingo hall with his grandmother where cigarette smoke filled the air and you had a hard time seeing above the women's beehives.

i let me dream pass until our small town airport started having bingo every thursday night. and guess what - it is smoke free! the card above is the closest i came to winning the "Crazy T" (a T in any direction). despite the fact that i didn't win anything, i had so much fun. i know, i know, i have a little old lady inside of me waiting to escape :)

the only question that remains is what do these women fill up their dauber purses with and why is it necessary to have 10 daubers at one time???

petals and thread

lately, my fingers have been itching to do some embroidering and i have been more than happy to oblige.

remember this piece i did for the postcard swap i participated in last november? i still really love this image and since i sent the first piece off, i decided to make one for myself. only this fabric is much larger at 8 x 8. i have some old wooden embroidery hoops lying around from an impulse purchase which i am using to stabilize the fabric. when this is finished, i think i will leave it in the frame and maybe stamp a sweet word or two on the side of the wooden hoop. i pretty much wing the embroidery by using whatever colors i have in my stash and alternating the direction of my stitches to create more movement in the finished product.

i am so ready for spring to come so i can photograph more flower vignettes to embroider. maybe i will end up with a trio of embroidered garden scenes on my wall!

a valentine and tulips

my love knows me well. instead of roses on valentines day, i much prefer simpler flowers such as plain white daisies or beautiful tulips. what is your flower of choice???

i am enjoying a very relaxing day around the house. currently i have this cooking in the oven and it smells oh, so good!

happy valentines day!

aprons and a winner!!!

thank you to everyone who entered my apron giveaway, and for all the lovely comments i received.

the lucky winner is... peggy from st. louis!

peggy, send me an email to info@linwoodavenue.com, letting me know your address and include links to your top two favorite aprons in my shop (in case one sells) and i will send your apron on it's merry way :)

biltmore and barns

i'm back from the biltmore house in asheville, nc. i think this place claims it is the largest house in america and when you see it in person, there is no denying that. it's huge!!! we spent the entire day touring the inside through the main tour and an additional private one. it was exhausting going up and down the 4 flights throughout the day, i cannot imagine being a staff member here :) the place is such an interesting chunk of history, we could not get enough of the clothing on display and the stories that came along with them.

 

this guy met us at the front door along with his brother. there are no words for the expression his face conveys.

we stayed in a cottage about 15 minutes outside of asheville. this is a barn we passed daily heading in and out of town, i couldn't resist documenting it. doesn't it look like it can come alive at any second and eat you!

and just a bit of advice... if you stay on a mountaintop in asheville and it has rained for a day straight, make sure you have a 4 wheel drive truck in order to make it up 2 miles of mudslides :)

hearts and love

 

 i'm tyring to get back on track after a long weekend away, so just popping in to give you guys a little valentines freebie. if you are looking for the perfect card to give to your someone special, click here and you can download my sweet little sketch. the file is set up to print as a card. simply cut it out and fold, then write you and your partners initials inside the carved heart. enjoy!

apron winner will be announced on friday!

charm and history

i'm headed out bright and early tomorrow for a girl's weekend in asheville, nc. i love, love, love this place. it is filled with history, beauty and small town charm. oh, and a really big house, maybe you have heard of it? i'll be back on monday to share some photos and stories!

have you entered my apron giveaway yet? if not, click on the link in the left hand column and you can see all the deets!