Christmas Crafting

Studio orders are all in; just waiting on the Fed Ex man to deliver the last packages. Fingers crossed it's Monday!
In the meantime I have been crafting last minute gifts while Joe is at work and the kids at school. Joe just got called out so I finished up the picture frame for his Gram and his brother along with one potholder for his sister in law. Marie is working on the other one. (pictures attached of the crafts)
I have also recently come to be addicted to crocheting and have made Jess and Marie a cowl and also a cowl for a teacher gift. Just needs a crocheted flower to give it a final touch of class. (no pun intended.) I am working on another cowl and an advent calendar made of felt and hand embroidered for Joe and I. The kids have one from their gramma from years ago but I thought it would be fun to start a tradition where we hand write little things to share or do each day. Christmas season gets so hectic I think it will be great to remember us for a time each day.
I also taught myself how to embroider and although my stitches are uneven; I am so in love with my first project that I couldn't wrap it for Joe but had to hang it on the wall immediately! I'll attach a picture of that as well.
This weekend is full of things to get done and honestly I am a bit afraid of how we are going to manage it. Shopping for the kids to finish, Christmas cookies to make, and crafts/gifts to finish making. I am sure we will manage. Thank goodness everything we have bought so far is wrapped and under the tree. That will make this weekend so much easier.

Before and After Kitchen Remodel

Joe and I keep plugging away at our kitchen remod. It has come to such a turning point that I needed to post pictures of the before and after. It truly is amazing how everything has come together especially considering we tackle it as best we can with both working, raising five kids,and while living in the house!
Our house was an original remod turn to sell it quick. The house is 151 years old and was just not working for our capacity and styles. Over the course of a year it has turned into a room that we are both happy to show off and makes us happy to see. Joe said last night that it has an orange glow as you drive in the driveway. I think it's because of all the warmth and love showered on its' walls.

We still have a bit of work to do. The closet doors, the backsplash, the trim, the chair rail, more white paint, and finish the floor.

BEFORE: Dark, drab, and ordinary. AFTER: Warm, Inviting, Happy. A place of love and dreams.

Sneak Peeks From Recent Shoots

I know I've promised some sneak peeks from work but we've been busy!! And when we have down time it isn't spent online. Usually snuggling or planning our next home venture. So here are some treats! My seniors this year were an amazing group of young adults. Most having future plans set and aspirations waiting to blossom. My family photo work was fun and carefree. We even took photos at the local pet parade to help raise money for a dog park in our town. (Marie and Joe posed with our two little boys!) Please remember all photos are copyright protected by S&J Photo. Thank you.

10 Things I Love Monday.

1. My Boy


2. My Ring


3. Sock Monkeys


4. Date Night


5. Flowers



6. Vintage Kitchens


7. Rooster Decor


8. Vintage Aprons


9. Sewing


10. Enid Collins Handbags (I absolutely NEED this bag!!)

Exciting Sunday update on Monday!!

We were wakened by a very excited Jeffrey yesterday morning! Jeff went to take the dogs out and check on our chickens. He came back in showing us 8 eggs!!! Our girls finally produced eggs!


This morning Jeff checked and there were no eggs yet. I just checked to find 1 egg in the shavings.



Yesterday was a busy day around the house. With a week of 3 kids sick with H1N1 and Joe and I fighting colds; we were feeling quite blue about our lack of ambition and work produced. We definitely made up for it yesterday!!

Joe finished cutting small rocks to fill the bigger holes in our facade, then went on to mow the lawn one more time before winter. (it looks so nice!) He moved the camper back and ready for a dumpster and the plow to be moved from the shed. He emptied and winterized the Hot Tub, and was able to organize the shed a bit more. Finally he came back inside to tape and edge the pantry and closet doors and help me hang curtains in the livingroom.

I was on house duty and managed to do a load of laundry, fill the dishwasher and wash all our finds from Saturday. I straightened the kitchen and swept all the floors. Jeff took care of the chicken coop, Matt cleaned the bathroom and dusted our bedroom, Jess dusted the livingroom and kitchen and then went on to help me move some furniture around the house. Needless to say; the house was back in order and ready for me to do some sanding and painting of the stairs to the second floor. My projects for this week.

After returning from the weekly run to WalMart; we all helped to cook chicken alfredo,brown rice, egg noodles, and a romaine tomato cuke avocado and boiled egg salad.

A great way to end a fruitful day! Take care and talk to you soon!

Stace

Recapping the end of summer and into fall...

We have had quite a year! Joe & I have had many changes happen and all for the better.

We've added a chicken coop that Joe & I designed and built with the kids. 6 chickens which we've named after the kids and hopefully we'll have eggs come spring.

We also began renovations on our home together. We are in the middle of flipping our kitchen. We added an island with a sink. Found a vintage lower cabinet of a Hoosier cupboard. Found a screaming yellow linoleum table with orange and yellow chairs. Added vintage knick knacks from Joe's Gram and Aunt's houses. Added a rock wall facade and hearth for our woodstove and now have heat in our kitchen!! Our home is 149 years old and has some charm. When we finish our renovations; it should be fantastic!

Today we went hunting for bargains in south county and found some great items we're really excited about. A red and gold tray with a pheasant on it. We use these trays at grams house when we eat so we had to have this one. A 20 piece apple green dinnerware set that I adore and looks like fiesta ware, a bicentennial hunts ketchup bottle, a green glass water bottle, a pink glass rooster, a gnome bell, and a pull down light with milk glass shade. I am so excited and can't wait for another day to go bargain hunting with my love. Next time only hope he feels better and isn't just tagging along to my whims.

I will also post some sneak peeks at some of the portrait work I have been doing lately.

Off to bed to get some rest before getting up to finish grouting our stone wall and paint the rest of the kitchen orange.

Stace

Our Chickens:


Another view of our finds on our table. Also the new kitchen color and our rock facade for the wood stove. Grouting this week!


Our finds from this weekend. (also see the hoosier cupboard in the background!)


Peanut; the poser of our two poodle puppies.


The following are more pictures of our new hearth and mantle, pull down light, treasures, and the full kitchen corner where our sink used to be minus grouting and chairrail. The mantle was made from wood we found in Joe's Gram's garage which is bittersweet as the house Joe grew up in and his Gram and Papa lived in for 40 years will soon be on the market. The wood box and planter for our wood were also found in there. Also the last picture is our chicken coop finally painted and ready to go!! Our girls love it!!Chickens that is!