Fabric covered cork board.....

I am pretty sure that I stole this idea from my super cute friend Kym. I have seen these

floating around out there in dozens of places, but I can pinpoint the exact moment when I had

that mouth watering, idea stealing, euphoric light bulb over my head,...and I was in Kym's

kitchen!!!!! (Which, by the way, is the place to be because

the woman can COOK!!! :):))

Anyhoo... it was a super easy project so here is the low down.....

I used my happy 40% off coupon at Michael's craft store and bought a frame.

Picked up some masonite at Home Depot and cut it to fit.

Also at Michael's, I bought a package of cork board squares.

Glue the cork board to the masonite and cut off the excess with a utility knife.

Choose a fabric that you love. I went with something neutral so that I

could use a lot of colorful photos, stitching samples, and what nots to hang.

Place the cork face down on your fabric and fasten it with a staple gun.

I like to start with one side and then do the opposite, so that I can gently pull it taught

as I go. Then I do the same with the ends.

It doesn't have to be perfect because the frame will cover the edges.

(Perfection is overrated anyway. ;))

Place it in the frame and use nails to secure it in there.

I hammer them into the frame at an angle about 2/3 rds of the way, and then hammer them

flat against the fabric covered masonite to hold it in place.

Use several nails so that it is securely in the frame.

It is such a pretty way to display photos and art.

An 'upscale' cork board for your family room or entry way.

Thanks Kym for the fun idea!! (p.s...I'm dreaming of your cupcakes. ;))

Happy Crafting!!!!!

And The Winner Is................

Sorry that it took me a few days to post a lucky winner,...I

have had company in town, and oii... if we didn't run around like

headless chickens!!!!

Anyhooo....

Just in case my own computer had any tendencies toward favoritism, I had my

husbands computer randomly pick the winner.

The very lucky lady who gets to choose one of these two darling dresses from

 Shabby Apple is...............

drum roll................

TARA of  "Come Sign With Me,

and "Tara Michelle Designs"!!

Congratulations Tara!! I will be contacting you. And THANK YOU to all

who entered. A little good natured competition

makes life more fun!!

A not-too-shabby giveaway.....

"L'Ete"

"Sundance Kid"

If you have not yet discovered the Shabby Apple then you are in for a treat!!

I recently discovered the online shop at http://www.shabbyapple.com/ and fell IN LOVE with

the apparel they have to offer.

But my favorite.....

the dresses....

oh the dresses!!!!!

They have a wide variety of classic, vintage inspired, whimsical, working, and playful dresses!!

They even offer maternity and kids dresses!!

Well,... today is your lucky day!!!

Shabby Apple is generously offering to give away a dress to one of my readers.

You can enter to win your choice of either of the two dresses above.

"L'Ete", or "Sundance Kid"

All you have to do is leave a comment to enter.

If you would like to enter twice hop on over to... 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shabby-Apple/56291792791

and "like" Shabby Apple on Facebook. (Make sure to leave a second comment letting me know that you "like" Shabby Apple.)

The winner must have a U.S. shipping address.

Wait, it gets better Shabby Apple is graciously offering my readers a 10% discount on any purchase.

You just have to use the coupon code... "hollyshaven10off",  and you can choose from.....

....the cutest ever toddler dress.....

.....classy maternity wear....

....or, one of my favorites "Pina Colada"....

The Vintage dresses are dreamy!!!!

Happy dreaming. I will take comments for the giveaway until midnight Saturday March 6th.

Springy Vignettes...

Still working on lightening things up around the house.

Now, along with the neutrals, I have been finding that light greys,

robins egg blues, and spring greens

bring me much comfort.

I always pegged myself as such a "warm color girl",

and now I notice that so many 'cool colors'

make me feel all warm and fuzzy.

It's a funny thing isn't it??

Color?

A certain color can really make my day.

Right now I am in love with yellow??

What's your color today?

Happy Valentines Day!!!!!

My Valentine is my favorite person in the world...

my high school sweetheart,

(who just so happens to also be my wonderful husband!!)

Happy Valentines Day Steve!!!

It just needed a little somethin somethin...

So a while ago I started adding more and more neutral tones to my home.

Neutrals seem to calm my nerves,...

to relax me.

I hung up these three really cute metal tiles.

Then those same tiles continued to bug me...

for a few days...

then a few weeks,...

then a few months!!

Finally I decided that they just needed a little something

extra.

A finishing touch.

I had a 16x20 picture in my garage waiting to go

to the goodwill. So I took the picture and the glass out of the frame.

I used my favorite 'Rust-Oleum' spray paint in "heirloom white"

to spray paint the frame. 

I screwed an antique glass knob right into the wall above the tiles,

and hung the frame over the tiles with lace.

I am really enjoying the finished product.

The frame really was just the right "somethin somethin' that the

tiles needed!!!

And,... THANK YOU to those of you who so kindly commented on

my inquiry in my last post. I know exactly how I am going

to approach painting my curtains,...Thanks to you!!!

An opinion pretty please........??.............

So I fell in love with these curtains months ago...

months and months ago...

But they are Anthro, and so they are way overpriced and I figured I would watch

for them to go on sale.

So I watched...

for like a year...

and they went on sale for-a-small-fortune!

And,... they only had one size left...

the wrong size.

So I figured I would make them.

Doesn't everyone have like 15 (or so)

unfinished

projects laying around their house?

Or is that just me??

So, why not make that 16, right?

So I have the curtains all ready to go, and I am ready to paint on them.

(Yes, I actually want to paint on them.

My favorite poems, important dates, kids birthdays,

places I have been. Ya know, make them personal.)

So here is my question....

I was just going to use good old acrylic craft paint.

Bad idea or good idea??

Is anyone versed in the knowledge of painting on fabric with acrylic?

If so, your opinion would be much appreciated!!

Thank you!!

Aren't they cute??

I think I will add a ruffle!

.....or two!

.....or ten!!!!!