Quick DIY Art - Bunting Frame

I have been wanting to create some simple artwork to replace the photo collage I have had hanging for awhile. I scoured Pinterest for ideas and was immediately drawn to this bunting frame. (click photo for pin)

 

 And then I saw this one and loved the combination of burlap and fabric hearts! (click photo for pin)
 
I rounded up some fabric scraps in my sewing stash and broke out my hot glue gun. It was seriously one of the fastest projects I have done. So simple!



I can't wait to see it up on the newly painted walls!!

Sister time

My sister Lauren lives in Georgia now and her visits are few and far between. We thought it would be fun to do something special for her and my other sister Hannah's birthdays (they're only a couple weeks apart). So while Lauren was visiting we all went to a Wine and Canvas event together.

Its neat to see everyone's unique interpretation of the original painting. Each different but beautiful in its own way. Just like us. Even now our God is knitting together babies inside two of my sisters. I pray that He watches over those babies throughout these pregnancies and bring them into this world safely and healthy. And that He knit together the souls of my youngest sister and her fiance. I love them all dearly and want His best for them.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

30 Day Challenge - Day 10

•Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored,

HAPPY


SAD



BORED

Birthday Recap!

So... I wasn't really into my birthday much. I got tons of well wishes and a few cards... everyone was great. I just wasn't feeling it, you know?
Anyway... that was until my wonderful husband planned a lovely evening out for the two of us. He arranged for the boys to spend the night at grandma and grandpa's house. Then we went downtown to The Rathskeller which is located in this wonderful old German building. It was so neat to see the history of the building and all that has take place there over the years.
The menu was a collection of a variety of tastes including some authentic German dishes. The bread basket came w/ two rolls and a soft pretzel(with this crazy spicy mustard!). We got the special which was stuffed shrimp (really really yummy!) and a spicy pasta dish. Both meals were very good. And since it was my birthday we got a free slice of German Chocolate Cheesecake. Oh, yeah... it was good!
After the meal we went to the bar area where there was a country/pop singer performing. Natalie Stovall was so great! She had a fun sound. She did alot of cover songs but did some original numbers too. Hubby is not a huge fan of country but he really enjoyed the talent of the guitarist and Natalie's fiddle playing. I liked her style enough that I bought her CD. When she found out it was my birthday she said we should stick around so she could sing a song for me. It was kind of a remix of Happy Birthday. She even said my name right (which is pretty rare)!
It was such a fun night with my husband. When you have two boys (one very active and one with special needs) you don't always get alot of alone time. It was much needed and much appreciated. Also, we usually are pretty basic on our dates. It was nice to break out of the norm and do something different for a change. I totally want to go back there.
There were a couple other fun things over the weekend. There was a Pre-school/Family Fair at the county fairgrounds. There were lots of freebies for the kids and the boys loved the petting zoo! And I got to do lunch and a movie w/ my mom and sisters. Its not very often that we all get together just us girls. Its kind of weird now that we're all grown up (the youngest girl is about to graduate high school and is already a published author). We went and saw He's Just Not That Into You. It was pretty good.
So I want to say thanks to my husband and family and friends for making me feel special for my birthday. I love you all!!

Drama Drama Drama

Something I love but don't get to enjoy very often is the theater. Not movies... but real, live actors on stages... I mean really, who doesn't love a good play!?! Well, I just found an interesting link on MoneySavingMom.com about an upcoming event. Its called Free Night of Theater and its being held in cities all over the US. Participating theaters are offering special performances to the public for FREE!! Can't beat that! Check it out - see if there is some drama happening near you!

More WFMW posts here.

Music Festival

This weekend was so much fun! My sister and friend went up to the lakehouse with us on Thursday. We got to hang out and visit which is good. But we also got to go to this Pro-Life Music Festival which was taking place near the lake.
It was a three day festival with tons of Christian rock bands, a few of which we were really interested in seeing. So for $5 we got into the festival both Friday and Saturday evenings after dinner we went over and saw three bands each night. What a deal!
Friday we saw Seventh Day Slumber, Project 86 and Superchick. And Saturday it was Run Kid Run, Leeland and Hawk Nelson. We also got to meet Eowyn - who was totally cool - and we actually ended up buying her cd and loving it.
The bands were great... but we were also convicted by the speakers' message. I'll post more about that later. The festival was alot of fun. One of the cheapest dates considering all we got for our $5 cover charge. I really enjoyed the time spent with my friends(that includes my sis!) and husband (he's a big music person so he loves that environment).

A Day at the Ballet

My sister (the one who wrote the book) was in a beautiful ballet production this passed weekend. She was lovely and the whole thing was just great. Here is a clip of one of her solos.

Stop and Hear the Music

I read a post on Midsummer Meandering's Blog today about going to the symphony. While her post was mostly comedic, mine is not. Awhile back Isaac shared with me a news story that detailed the findings of a social experiment. The results were somewhat surprising and a little sad to me. Its not unlike my previous post asking the question "who decides what is art-worthy?". In the midst of our hustle and bustle we as a culture have lost sight of what is truly beautiful.

PEARLS BEFORE COMMUTERS

A writer for the Washington Post recently decided to try a social experiment to find out if commuters in a subway station would recognize musical genius if performed by a master virtuoso in the guise of an ordinary busker. So the trap was set: Joshua Bell, one of the world's greatest violinists, along with his $3.5 million instrument crafted by Antonio Stradivari in 1713, played 43 minutes of masterpieces in a Washington metro station on a typical Friday morning. The results were depressingly predictable. Of the 1,097 people who rushed by, only seven stopped to listen to the music for more than one minute. Another 27 tossed some money in his violin case, and the rest were completely oblivious to the spark of beauty interrupting their otherwise dull day.

Help Autism Speaks

The band Five for Fighting is generously donating $0.40 to Autism Speaks each time this video is viewed. The funds raised will go towards research studies to help find a cure for autism. When you have a moment, please watch this informative clip, featuring touching photos of a beloved daughter and her family.
I found this link on Mothering.com on their media page. Please watch the video and maybe pass it along. What an easy way to support a good cause.

CD Cover Fun

I thought I'd expand things a little around here by adding some CD reviews. I'm sure you all care what I think about music, so I've decided to review three CD's that I've been listening to lately.

Well, I'm not really reviewing CDs. In fact these are not real albums at all. They were created using the complicated mathematical formula on Doofus' blog the other day.

You create your own band name and album with album cover (or CD--whatever). This is not a "meme" or a "tag" or whatever you folks call it, but I'd love to see what some of you come up with.

Here's how you do it.

1. The first article title on this page is the name of your band.

2. The last four words of the very last quotation on this page is the title of your album. (NOTE: If you do this more than once, you will need to refresh this page to get a new quote.)

3. The third picture on this page, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4. Use your graphics program of choice to throw them together, and post the result. I'm a Photoshop guy, but even your most basic photo editing or graphics program (even the "Paint" program that comes with Windows) can do this. It takes a little work, but it's worth it.

Here are my three CDs...


This is a great British band that is reminiscent of the early British invasion stuff. Only more of a preppy, English tea garden-ish sound to them. Ok, so maybe their music is only so-so.... but the girls go crazy for the lead singer. He's like a cross between James Bond and Bon Jovi.

You wouldn't believe what this band has been through! You should totally see the Behind the Music story on them! The band is made up of a Mexican/Canadian guitarist, Argentinian/American lead vocalist/accordion player, and a Irish/Asian/American drummer/keyboard player. Its amazing to see them in concert. They're breaking down cultural barriers in the music industry like crazy!

She is awesome.... she pours her heart out into the songs she writes about her rough childhood growing up in an insane asylum (pictured on the album cover). Wow - what a powerful message about mental health. I think we might start using some of her stuff at the counseling center.

Hope these (mock) reviews were helpful. Don't try to rush out and buy these cds for they are very rare and are not easy to come by. Mine were actually purchased on the black market. Ssshhhh.... don't tell.

My Big Fat Greek Art Exhibit

So Friday my husband and I celebrated our five year anniversary. Wow.... time flies when you're having babies fun! We took advantage of the grandparents and went out by ourselves for dinner ( I love Olive Garden - especially when its on a giftcard!) and then we went to the Indianapolis Museum of Art to see the Roman Art from the Louvre Exhibit. It was really neat to learn a little about Roman history. I think its interesting how art has changed so much over the years. I mean, what we saw there, figures and scenes etched in stone to be admired more than a thousand years later - that was art. But when I look at some modern art (not all but some)... sometimes I just don't get it. We've rolled our eyes at exhibits like a single solitary toilet in the middle of an empty room, or a bag of kitty litter leaning against the wall.... c'mon is that what we've come to? I want to know who decides what is art and what is just scribbles on a page... what is it that makes something "art worthy"? Now I don't want to upset anyone... I have seen some very beautiful works of art from recent years and current artists. I just think our standards are somewhat warped if toilets and kitty litter are put on the same level as intricate paintings and sculptures.
** The title is because My Big Fat Greek Wedding was on tv yesterday. I love that movie!