Summertime fun

I hope y'all are having a good summer so far! It's been busy around our house this summer. My son loves CO but we are missing him so much! He got a job and he is making $14 per hour so he is on Cloud 9 (not bad pay for a 17 year old :-) and he is also enjoying the great outdoors with my brother and his wife. I am still unpacking boxes and taking care of orders but I thought I would share a few photos of projects that I have been working on.

I decorated this gift sack for a fabulous birthday gift that my daughter gave to a friend about a month ago. I loved the bag so much I didn't want to give it away! Ooh la la...Tres Chic!
My daughter had to give gifts to her drill team "big sisters" so I embellished these journals and note cards and we also included a few goodies from Victoria's Secret in the gift bags. The gift tags were made by moi, of course.

The drill team mothers always make a huge scrapbook of the years' events. I made 2 sets of scrapbook pages this year. I'm pleased with the way they turned out.

My daughter has been keeping busy this summer. She decorated a few pairs of flip flops (I think she has an obsession!). We made another trip to Michaels and Hobby Lobby last Thursday for more craft projects. If I hear the phrase, "Mom, I'm bored!" one more time this summer I'm gonna go crazy, lol!

First Communion gift tags that were a custom order at Shabbyfufu. I am currently working on matching goody bags.

Family Room, Kitchen and Dining Room fabric. I have been carrying this fabric around for several years (yes, years). This is the fourth house that I have attemped to use this fabric in and I'm gonna do it this time. I put my last three homes up for sale before I made the curtains for those houses so this time I am gonna get those curtains made if it kills me, lol! I really love this fabric!

My buffet is finally out of storage, yahoo! I really love those candelabras and that silver teapot needs to be polished..yikes!

My husband hung this tapestry in the Entryway last night. He was tired but he did it anyways, I love that man :-)

I hung up a few things in the Laundry Room yesterday. I am doing a black/ivory toile Paris theme in there. I am going to cover a French memo board with toile fabric to hang on one of the walls.

I will share more later. We are decorating my daughters Paris themed bathroom. Wait until you see the shower curtain...too fab :-)
Have a fabulous day!
~Julie~

Take a tour of my hometown with me....

Thank you Miss Laurence for hosting this fabulous hometown tour! I see there are hometowns all over the world listed so please stop by her blog and visit each one of them!

Welcome to my hometown of Waxahachie, Texas! Waxahachie is an old "cotton king" town and the city was named after nearby Waxahachie Creek, a Tonkawa Indian word for Buffalo or Cow. I love my hometown because it has so much history, many antique stores, fabulous restaurants, quaint shops and many vintage homes to tour. A public home tour is held two times a year and I have toured many of the homes over the years. It's definitely worth the trip to spend a weekend or so visiting this town. Here is a list of things to do:
http://www.waxahachiechamber.com/attractions/index.php

The Courthouse is very unique and well-known in this area. Many female "faces" were carved into the courthouse and it's said that the stone mason carved beautiful and grotesques faces of a girl he loved but she did not return his affection! Read more about it and see the faces here:

http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Waxahachie/WaxahachieTxEllisCountyCourthouseGargoyles.htm



Waxahachie is known for it's many homes with the "gingerbread" trim and has a home tour called "The Gingerbread Trail" held each June:

(Click on the photos to enlarge them!)

We have a historic and unique Chautauqua. Read more about it here: http://www.waxahachiechautauqua.org/auditorium.html

This auditorium was used in the revival scene in the movie "Square Dance" with Rob Lowe and Winona Ryder. My friend and I were "extras" in the movie! My friend was also an "extra" in "Places in the Heart" and "Peyton Place: the next generation" which were also filmed in this area. Many movies have been filmed here. Here is a list of the movies: http://www.waxahachiechamber.com/attractions/documents/WaxahachieMovieList.pdf

We have have our very own replica of the "The Munster Mansion"! which was inspired by the old TV show. Yes, someone actually lives in this home! Be sure to click on the link to see more photos.

I went to a yard sale at this home one time and got some fabulous goodies :-)



Many of the homes have been completely restored. I remember when this home was being restored. I wish I had "before" and "after" photos!

Lots of fabulous smaller homes and cottages, too.

This home is one of my favorites.

One will find lots of different style homes in Waxahachie

I love the leaded glass windows and cast stone on this home:

This home is HUGE!

A childhood friend lived in this home and I think her parents still own it. It was one of the homes that first got me interested in vintage/historic homes. This home is huge, too. It also has the "gingerbread trim". I remember her Mom had a huge antique weaving loom and she actually used it. Our 2nd grade class went on a field trip to this home.

Wow, another favorite. This home was for sale last year and I looked up the real estate listing so I could see the interior. Believe me, it's to die for :-)

Another favorite of mine. I guess I have a lot of favorites :-)

And another....

When I was a teenager, a friend of mine lived in this home. It's larger than it looks. Her Mom was an Interior Designer and she re-decorated and restored this home. The exterior has been re-painted since then (it used to be pastel pink and white!). This home has "gingerbread trim" , too.

I hope you enjoyed touring my historic hometown. If you are ever in the area, be sure to stop by and visit Waxahachie, Texas!

Have a fabulous weekend!

~Julie~

Caution! Danger Zone!!!!!

We survived the move but can we survive the unpacking phase? I am so tired of unpacking and my back is killing me! We still have things in storage so those items will eventually be brought over to the new house. The house is being updated so we are dealing with that, too. The walls and trimwork used to be white and now the walls have been painted a neutral shade of tan and the trimwork, doors and cabinets have been painted a cream color. Several light fixtures have been changed out and we are working on cabinet knobs, faucets, etc. Sorry, you won't see many French style crystal chandeliers in my home because we live in Texas and it's hot, hot, hot...so you will see lots of ceiling fans!

The new home before the move. We inherited a basketball goal and a yard full of weeds :-(


New light fixture and sink cabinet in the Powder Bath. A new mirror and faucet is coming soon. All the door hardware is being changed from polished brass to antique nickel.

New ceramic tile in the Entryway. Before:

After:

Yikes! Too much stuff.



My new studio!

The Formal Living Room has become a "dumping ground" since it doesn't get used much at this time :-)

I found these pics on the computer today. My daughter, Savannah, is always taking self portraits of herself for her MySpace page!



If you ever see a teenagers' MySpace page then you will see lots of photos like this one, lol!



Our son went to Colorado for the summer :-( My brother lives near Breckenridge and he offered to let my son stay with him and his wife for the summer and work, work, work! When my son found out he could make twice as much money as he could working here, he jumped at he chance to go (that boy is "money motivated", like father, like son!). He left last Friday and we miss him so much! My husband and I were worried sick about him because he drove his car there by himself (he's 17). I think my husband called him about once an hour on the way there (to check on him) but he arrived safely! Man, the years go by so fast...I can't believe he drove to CO by himself! I wasn't home when Christian left so I asked Savannah to take some photos of him packed and ready to go. I expected one or two photos but she ended up taking more than a couple. She did a really good job and she took several photos that told a little story....

Loading the car. All the necessities including his computer and guitars!



The car is packed.



Saying goodbye to our cat, Pepper.



Getting into the car

Getting ready to leave



Pulling out of the driveway (I told you she captured every moment :-)



Driving down the street. Bye Christian!



I am taking a break from unpacking today to work on some orders and I will get everything in the mail ASAP. More makeover photos coming soon! Have a fabulous weekend!

~Julie~