crafting...

These last few months I've learned SO much! Thanks to a few wonderful classes before I graduated and my love of recycling/re-storing things to their original beauty, I have been able to make some things that I'm sort of proud of...

Made this tablecloth with a reverse stripe border...

and with the extra fabric, I made a couple pillow covers (with an invisible zipper!).

I made the pillow and the pillow cover for this bolster. Now it matches our duvet cover!

My pride and joy is this quilt! It took me a good few weeks of long hours and deadlines but I did it and I'm so excited to use it this winter! (I know... haven't used it?! But it's a winter thing!)

I also learned how to make these fun books! I love this new skill and who knows? You might just get one for a present!

Lastly, this lamp I bought at D.I. was pretty but a little plain...

So I spiced it up to my (apparently) new favorite color! Everything turns out something blue.

And I antiqued it with a little glaze.

I love my crafts.

Can summer be TOO much fun?!

Um, NO it cannot! We've had SOO much fun this summer it's been kind of unbelievable. We've been so lucky to have a summer (starting in August) where we were able to just visit family and explore the beauties all over! There are so many pictures from our trip. Four weeks of traveling such turns out tons of pictures so here are a few. Enjoy just a few!

First week: 1st Richard James Family Reunion - Brian Head, UT
The sweet Ringer family (my brother-in-law fam) let use have our reunion at their beautiful cabin. It was perfect weather and we had the BEST time!

Here's my sweet Dad teaching the grandkids how to live off the land!
Dave was the fish-catching KING! He had to stop so there would be some in the pond.

We caught some awesome fish!

and the fish fry was delicious...

My mom and dad are THE BEST!

There were these awesome black powder rifles we got to shoot.

four wheeling with my man.

paintballing! I got a bee sting after this game. Foot swelled up so bad. Couldn't walk for 3 days. Just the most painful thing ever.

Lots of the grandkids with the newest one to be!

Dave discovering a beautiful overlook.

It was stunning...

Week 2: Huntington, IN - We went to visit Dave's family! We spent a few days at the lake, visiting an Amish farmer's market, visiting family and just having a blast.

We visited Shipshewana, this incredible Amish community. Got some very authentic homemade icecream. There were some really fun shops and the HUGE flea market we visited.

We visited Grandma Knecht at the beauty shop she works at. The cutest, most classic little place you've ever been. I wanted her to cut my hair so it was so fashionable!

One of a few BBQ's. The kids were the best!

Week 3: Seattle, WA - We visited my sister Melynie and her cutie family. We love this time of year because all these delicious berries are in season, peaches, farmers markets and perfect weather!

blackberry picking

We saw the kids off to their first day of school! One got lost, Mom was...well a little sad. Still so fun to see them off!

Dave bought me the most beautiful flowers for $5 at a market! I'm so in love with that boy!

Week 4: Albany, OR - We went to visit Dave's brother Matthew in Oregon! Their family was so sweet and took us with them on their Labor Day hike!

Lucky is the coolest dog ever. He jumps so high just to catch water and he'll fetch with you all.day.long.

We went to visit the coast and I'm so in love now!!

Famous clam chowder at Mo's.

Star fish were all over! It was amazing! We threw a few back in to the ocean.

then did we really see seals?! It was amazing! Dave: "We're like National Geographic close!"

We stopped by the Dahlia Festival! It was just fields of the most beautiful, perfect flowers I've ever seen. I wanted to pick one of everything!

On our way home, we took the scenic highway. It only added.... 2 hours to go 30 miles?! There were tons of waterfalls so of course we had to hike up to them. Dave was loving it so much.

So now you've seen where we've been for the last 4 weeks. It's been such a wonderful adventure. WE LOVE VACATION!