Merrry Christmas to All...

I'm already starting to think of my New Year's Resolutions...but the most important one I started implementing early. I'm trying to me for thankful for what I have, because I have a lot.

Life hasn't exactly gone how we expected it too in the Wheaton household and I'm sure the same can be said in households across America.

But when I focus on the things I'm blessed with in this life, my disappointments begin to fade...as Bing Crosby sings in "White Christmas"---"When I am weary and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep and I fall asleep counting my blessings."

This time of year, I'm also touched by the many names of Jesus...none so much as Emmanuel.

Our God is with us.

Rejoice.

My first attempt at a tutorial

I intended to show you all how I turned this man's shirt into a pair of crazy pants for my little man, but ...

But this is as far as my tutorial got...Yikes. I'm so glad their are bloggers out there patient and generous enough to photograph their work and walk us all through them. I'm not sure I'll ever be one of them. Basically, I've put this great tutorial by Lil Blue Boo  for turning an old t-shirt into to toddler pants. I had to tweak it a little bit because my little guy is no longer a toddler, but XL shirts still offer just enough fabric if I incorporate the arms. This project would be much easier for a smaller child.

Here's a contemplative shot with Jack in his pants. Some of you out there might think he's saying "Mom, what am I wearing?" I can assure you he likes this pants. The day I took this picture he put them on all by himself with no prompting from me.

You can be sure Jack will be wearing this outfit come Christmas Day.

Christmas Tour

My grandmother gave me this tree two years ago. It was my great grandmother's. It has become especially dear to me this year because my grandmother died last summer. This will be my first Christmas without her and it already seems a strange. She lived a long and lovely life, but I still wasn't ready to lose her. I'm glad I was blessed with so many memories and there are mementos from her all over my home, but this little tinsel tree is among my favorites. My memories of my great grandmother are very vague, but I'm glad my grandmother entrusted me with one of her mother's festive treasures.

 I actually got my nativity set out this year. Since my son came, I had kept it packed to afraid that he would break it, but this year I knew he was old enough to keep his hands off. I love this nativity set, which my husband and I picked out at Bronner's with a gift card we received as a wedding present.

 This year, I decided to put an old frame to use as a card holder. I used some paint, some chicken wire and paper clips to turn this old frame (also from my grandmother) into a special place to put our cards.

 My mom surprised me by sending me a real wreath. It was one of the best surprises ever. I LOVE it. I hung some vintage, child skates in the middle and called it great. It's so beautiful in all it's real splendor that I decided less is more.

I'm afraid the same can not be said for the mantle and tree. I guess I'm from the school that there can never be enough baubles when it come to my tree. (:

Merry Christmas! I'm so thankful for this time of year when we can focus on the Birth of Christ. Happy Holidays to those of another Faith, may the New Year be full of blessings for us all and may we grow in understanding and love for one another.

I've been sewing

Sometimes when I'm at the thrift store, it's so frustrating to see cute clothes in the wrong sizes, so I decided to take matters in my own hands and take my sewing machine to some. This Gap shirt was to big for Jack, so I cut it down and sewed back together to make it fit.

My favorite part of the outfit, however, is the pants. I took a men's shirt and made these plaid pants. I used a pair of Jack's pants as a basic pattern. I took off the pockets and reattached them to the sides to make the pockets. I made the pants mostly last night while watching "Dancing With the Stars."

I found this tutorial very helpful.

The nice thing about working with thrifted items is that there's not a lot of money invested, so if you really screw up (ask me about a recent felted sweater mishap)... no big deal.

The Ikea "As Is" room

This sign was actually a cabinet door I got for $1.99 from the As Is section of Ikea. I can't go to Ikea without perusing the scratch and dent section. I usually find something unique and usable. I found two nice paneled cabinet doors and decided I needed to get them for future use.

I decided to upgrade our coat rack and made the "Hang Up" sign using old sheet music and great hooks my Aunt Lyla gave me from her barn. I sprayed the hooks with clear coat to keep all the great patina and to keep that "rusty patina" from getting all over our coats. The hooks are so handy and since I redid the coat rack, I don't find myself picking coats off the floor anymore... this baby can be overloaded and still function.

This sign is sentimental to me. Budd Lake is where my grandparents have their cottage and I spent many happy moments there. When my grandmother died this summer, I decided to paint this sign as a personal tribute to her and a reminder of a place I love. My grandparents really gave me the gift of the beach... an inland lake beach and the ocean beach... they arranged vacations (family events really) to Myrtle Beach each spring. I can't help but think of them when I look at this sign and my shell display, made out of a typesetters draw.

I just recently went to Ikea and passed up a cabinet door. I may have to go back.

Wow, I have some catching up to do ...

Last week was all about making this costume for my son, who wanted to be a dragon. Thanks to a visit from Yaya, we were able to get it done, which made for one happy little boy.

I'm happy to have that dragon "slain" so that I can move on to other projects. Hmmm, I think it might still fit him next year... I wonder if he'd go for that?

Quick Change

Lately, my projects are piling up on me. So, I decided to tackle an easy job. I recovered my dining room chairs. It's sad that my red fabric and pompoms didn't last a little longer. I thought this vinyl type fabric would be perfect for the little guy,3,  but instead food spills got embedded in the design. Not cool. More pompoms started looking less than cheerful pretty early on...

So I changed things up a little and went with this green fabric. I doused them with Scotch Guard and I hope it will help. I think I will make a little cover too, for Jack's chair because his table manners are AWFUL. Honestly, I am at a loss with how to improve his skills. I should be much thinner than I am because I spend most of my time at the table chastising and losing my appetite watching him eat.

At least this is an easy job is I have to tackle it again soon. I'd really like to get a new dining room set, but I have yet to find anything that speaks to me. (: