The Ohl's at the Mountains

Father's Day weekend, the Ohl's decided to meet in Potter County, PA for what I like to call a "wilderness weekend". Over 70 acres of land with a double wide trailer that have been in the family for years. It's a whole lotta land, trees, trails, hunting memorabilia, and nature. Lots of nature. Green as far as the eye could see with blue skies overhead. The weather was a mix of hot and cold. Literally, that drastic. But we had a fire going to keep us warm (and smokey). 

The most fun had to be riding 4-whelers. I'm glad my husband is such a good driver because I was holding on to him for dear life! Steep trails up hills and flying along roads in shaded woods was beautiful - and crazy. We all had our share of 4-wheeling fun! 

I was in my glory when I saw HORSES in the neighboring field. 13 of them. We made friends with two in particular. I visited them a couple times a day and managed to sneak them some carrots and apples. They let us pet their noses and admire them. Next time I'll definitely ask the owners for a ride. I just love horses. 

We were extremely proud of Marilyn, my mother in law, for roughing it at the trailer AND for making the trip with injured feet and ankles. Not to mention the fact that Laura, Sydney and Morgan drove through the night to get there! We even got to see David and Elsa and celebrate David's birthday AND Father's Day together. It was a fun and memorable weekend at Bryant Hollow. 

I'll let the photos speak for themselves. Thank you, Laura, for sharing some of your photos, too!

Till next time...

Upcycled Jar Vases

I find myself saving jars. Pickle jars. Sauce jars. Pesto jars. Hot pepper jars. Glass jars of all shapes and sizes. Mason jars. I just like glass. I can't explain it. It's so easy to clean and re-purpose. 
 
Once such use, is turning them into flower vases to gift or decorate a table. I recently made a birthday bouquet for my coworker and it was adorable. What made it special was the addition of a strip of decorative contact paper around the middle. So simple! 

You can pick fresh flowers from your garden or pick up an inexpensive mixed bouquet at the grocery store.

Empty, clean and remove the label from your choice of jar. 

Measure and cut a strip of adhesive backed paper. I got a 2 pack of rolls from Marshall's.

Carefully stick contact paper around the middle of the jar. Be mindful of curves which will cause wrinkles. 

Cut the stems and arrange your flowers. Add some ribbon, raffia or a tag and you have a perfectly lovely flower arrangement for not a lot of money! 

Even a simple string with a little message will brighten someones day. 

Isn't that sweet? 

Who needs a fancy vase? Save those jars! Pickle jars work especially well because they are a little larger. Jars are perfect center pieces for bridal or baby showers, or even a rustic wedding. Think twice before throwing them into the recycling bin.  

Felt Baby Shoes

I made the cutest little pair baby shoes out of felt and embroidery string. Aren't they darling? They look like mini moccasins. I found a great step-by-step tutorial with a template here. They are hand stitched and are pretty quick to make, once you get the hang of it. The trickiest part was adding a small strip of elastic on the inside, to help keep them on little feet. 

I added a ribbon for putting them on and buttons on the back. 

You could make any color combination, for a boy or girl. 

I made these for sweet little Oliver. I died when Hilary sent me this photo of Oliver wearing them for the first time. Too. Cute. They may be a little big, but he has time to grow into them. 

Now Chancho wants a pair. Make that two pairs. 

Beach Wedding Invitation

I had the honor of designing my cousin Marsha's wedding invitations. She and her husband, Jonathan, got married on the beach in Florida. They asked for a seaside themed invitation with a natural and organic feel to reflect their special day. Almost as if the invitation had been kissed by the ocean and left in the sun to dry.

Here's how they looked, printed on ivory paper. It was really fun to use a watercolor texture and nautical elements - especially a pair of lobsters, which were Marsha's special request. 

Photo by Brad's Creative Images Photography 

What a beautiful couple! I wish we could have been there to celebrate with them. It looked like an absolutely beautiful day. 

 Photo by Brad's Creative Images Photography 

Isn't Marsha a stunning bride? I just love her rosette headpiece veil. The new Mr. and Mrs. Jones are approaching their 2 month anniversary. Congratulations! Thank you for letting me share a small part of your wedding. Love you!