Camera Strap Cover

 It's Mardi Gras and I love me some New Orleans. 

 Since I can not make it down this year to catch some beads, I'm spent my morning sewing me a camera strap.

The black and white fabric reminds me of all the beautiful iron work seen around the French Quarter.

Now I will have a comfy camera strap for my next road trip adventure.

I hope to post a DIY soon ~

My laptop has decided to take a vacation and take all my pictures along!

Also want ya'll to know after multiple attempts and changes, I have finally with the help of Susie gotten word verification turned off. YAY  

Thank you for taking the time to leave sweet comments and putting up with those crazy codes.

 Love ya for that!

 You are now free to leave me a comment without a hassle.

Wine Stopper DIY

Wine Stopper DIY

 These are so fun and easy to make.

 

    You will need corks...new or used.

Oh, SWEET ... look there is a cork from the bottle we had at the Baltimore on vacation years ago...

You will need small knobs 

I purchased mine at Hobby Lobby, they were 50% off. 

Please its ok ... I'm not embarrassed to say I screwed up!

Learn from my mistakes...

(See photo below)

You will need a drill to put the hole in the cork.

I tried an ice pick...did not work.

The bit size that worked best for me was 3/16

 Because I had a basket of corks, I dug and found the ones that were longer than the screw on the knob.

 

 Drill a hole in your cork...try to keep it straight and watch not to go to far. You do not want to drill into the counter top.

On second thought you may want to place it on a cutting board while drilling. Better safe than very sorry.

Take the nut and washer off.

(See photo below)

 Screw the knob into the cork...

 Finish by adding ribbons and  little charms.

How cute and easy was that?   

I think a little crystal bowl filled with these would be so pretty. 

       
                           

Linking up today with Creation Corner ,

 Inspiration Friday ~ At The Picket Fence

French Country Cottage ~ Feathered Nest Friday

  Katherines Corner ~ Blog Hop

Common Ground ~ Vintage Inspiration

Organize With Sandy ~ Favorite Pin Friday Pinterest Link Party

Honey over at 2805 Potpourri Friday

Mom 4 Real ~ Friday Linky Party

go by these awesome parties to be inspired.

Fabulous Friday Four

Today I thought that I would share with you four of my favorite food blogs...can't think of anything to cook tonight...visit these and you will have enough ideas for the rest of the month.

Our Best Bites

Tips, Tricks, and Tastes from two real life kitchens... You can find anything from cupcakes to making crayons in your muffin tins...

The Girl Who Ate Everything

With over 6,000 followers...this girl is on to

something in the kitchen

She has everything from Stuffed Mushrooms

 to Maple Walnut Blondies.

I love that her blog is easy to navigate. That is a big plus in the food blog world.

I Am Baker

Oh wow ~ I Am Baker has everything from pancakes to petit fours...if it is a sweet recipe you are looking for she has it.  She can even give you tips on how to start writing a cookbook.

Noble Pig

This foodie blog has MEATY meals like Beef Short Ribs or  Roast Pork with Cranberry~Pineapple Sauce.

Do not get me wrong, Cathy's recipes are not hard, they are just great hearty meals for your family.

Hope you enjoy visiting these food blogs...I just love going and looking at all the fabulous pictures..YUM.

Now to go find me some lunch.

 

Placemat to Pillow DIY

How to turn a kitchen place mat into a pillow. 

 Susie is smack dab in the middle of making

 Maddy a Diva Den (new bedroom).

She challenged me into making her a pillow out

of a place mat they found. 

She just wanted me to add fabric to the back.

I could do that but why?  

This place mat  was double sided with a coordinating fabric.

Perfect!

So here you go... DIY

Find a place mat that has a backing. 

Take a seam ripper and take it apart at one end.

(see below)

Stuff your pillow insert into place mat.

Close the end with small whip stitches.

And there you have a pillow out of a place mat.

It takes more time to pick a placemat that to do this DIY.

Next time you are on the hunt for a cool little pillow ... maybe a stroll down the kitchen aisle can be the answer.

Join me today, I will be linking to

Katherines Corner and her Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop.

 

How To Preserve A Husband

I was not really excited at the age of 18 to win a cookbook at an office Christmas party...fast forward 26 years.

   This morning while looking for a new recipe to try, I pulled out that cookbook. 

In the Food a' la Louisiane Cookbook, I came across this little recipe on How To Preserve A Husband.  Though I would share...

How To Preserve A Husband

First, use care and get one not too young, but tender and a healthy growth.  Make your selection carefully and let it be final, otherwise they will not keep.   Do not pickle or put in hot water, this makes them sour.  Like wine they sweeten with age.

Prepare as follows: Sweeten with smiles according to variety. The sour bitter kind are improved by a pinch of common sense.  Spice with patience. Wrap will in a mantle of charity. Preserve over a good fire of steady devotion. Serve with peaches and cream.

Note:  The poorest varieties maybe improved by this process and keep for years in any climate.

I am sure all those years ago, I laughed when I read this and said, "Yeah Right". 

Recent trip to New Orleans

 With our 25th wedding anniversary in March,
I read it and say "Gosh, He preserves really well (like fine wine)
and can you believe I still have this cookbook."  LOL

 Which beloved cookbook do you have that has fed your family wonderful meals... but has a few tattered pages,

showing its age and devotion? 

Pull it out today...you just don't know what great memories you may find in those pages.





'Foods a' la Louisiane' written by 
 Lousiana Farm Bureau Women
P.O. Box 15361
Baton Rouge, LA 70895

Water On The Floor...not a good sign

Yup..It happened on Super Bowl Sunday...

Camo Man walked into the utility to find a small puddle of water...

The big freeze was over.

He told the kids not to open it ... thats where Britt's edamame and Blaise's pizza pockets are stashed. 

...no Sears repair man till Tuesday.

So on our day to cook hot wings, eat junk food, and watch funny commericals..we were out looking for a freezer.

(So glad we decided this year not to have a party.)

Not the way to spend the evening...

First store we stopped at only had a large freezer in stock!

On to the next place "Home Depot" ..

There we snatched up a small one that we will put in the garage till the big one is fixed.  I read a blog last week were a blogger had to get a dishwasher for Valentines Day.

I felt so bad for her...Well now I feel bad for myself! LOL

Looks like a little chill is in store for MY early Valentines gift.

Fabulous Friday Four

Welcome to Fabulous Friday Four. 

 Allow me to introduce you to Four Fabulous blogs

 that I love to follow.

Cotton Peony

 My dear friend has returned! 

You may have known her from the blog

Olivia & Me.  Well after a tough year, she is back in blogland.

Today is has an informative post on Faux Painting 101. 

 No painting in your future? 

 Then maybe her recipe for Potato Chip Cookies will lure you in.

 Welcome Back Dear Friend !

Francesca Shabby Home 

  Nothing shabby here.  Francesca blogs from Padova, Italy. Her blog is filled with the most wonderful handcrafted ideas.  I'm not going to lie, it is hard to read some of her blog, but oh I gain inspiration just from her awesome pictures. Even if you don't sew and craft..it's a cool blog just to visit.

Gracious Southern Living 

Stop in for a little visit with Judy,

where the southern lifestyle is alive and well.

Check out her DIY jewelry organizer...or take a moment to help her, as she searches for the perfect sofa.

heather bullard

Pretty much everyone has heard of Heather.

Love Love Love Heather.

 But have you heard of Souvenir?

Her and a few of her fabulous friends have started this quarterly seasonal news letter that is filled with a variety of stuff.

If you have not signed up for the Souvenir stop by her blog and sign up.  So easy ... she has it sent right to your email.  

Stop by these blogs..tell them I said hello..

Every blogger knows, "We love comments"

no matter how long or small.

I would like to take a second to THANK EVERYONE who has commented and emailed me such sweet things about My Shop.  I really appreciate all the support and encouragement ya'll have given to me.

"THANK YOU"