A beautiful sewing table!

A while ago I was at work complaining about my lack of a good sewing table. The one I was using was a fold out table. A terrible table to use for sewing...the whole thing bounced when I got going fast....it also was dipping from all the pressure of my fabric cutting. Well one of my co-workers mentioned she had a table she could sell me. She was like "I don't know..you might not like it. Its 8ft long and has drawers all around it" What??? Are you serious?!? This sounded like the PERFECT table for me. So I bought it from her and it is perfect! I couldn't wait to get this baby home and "stylize" it!

Here is the table before. Notice that I couldn't even wait to get a good "before" picture before I started painting it! As you can see from the slots it holds four drawers on each side!!

Here are the "before" drawers.

 I wanted to do something totally different with this table. Something that would really make it stand out. I had just started using ModPodge (seriously how did I not know this stuff existed??? I love it!!!)  so I went to AC Moore and found a scrap book paper pack on clearance for $9.99.  I used 24 different papers out of the pack and modpodged them down. When it was all dry I put 2 coats of Poly Acrylic over everything. I absolutely, totally, irrevocably love the way this turned out!

 It looks so fabulous and all the colors keep it fun. I also used cutouts (thanks to my lovely friend Sandy) to highlight the drawer fronts. I still have to put the knobs I bought from Hobby Lobby on it but all in all it is exactly what I wanted.

It works perfect for all my sewing. The drawers are such an added bonus...they hold all my tools and whatnot's! Thank you Amanda for selling me my dream sewing table!

♥ Christina

I L.O.V.E Craigslist!

You know they say one man's trash is another man's treasure....how true that is!!! If you know me then you know that half my house is decorated with craiglist finds. I will NEVER pay retail for another piece of furniture again (ok other than a sofa...don't like old used cushions...or mattresses...ugh!) Part of the thrill is the hunt that starts with an idea. I wanted something for my basement that would hold games and toys and the little TV that we have down there. Something that would make it nice for Ean since we spend alot of time there. Here is the room before...

did I mention we have ALOT of toys and games. Its totally ridiculous how much these kids have...we even donate old stuff every year!!

 and it always looks messy!

So off to the wonderful world of craigslist I went.....it took about a week to find what I wanted at the price I wanted. Voil'a!~  A 3 piece entertainment center for (drumroll please) $45.00 DOLLARS! Ooh yeah baby!

Here are the towers before

 and the middle entertainment part before.

 I knew I wanted to paint these so I put the boys to work sanding and fixing it. Brogan did the sanding....he did a FANTASTIC job!

Austin took all the hardware off and fixed anything that needed fixing!

 Then it was time to paint! I used Krylon paint in a can. I planned on distressing it so I just wanted to make sure it had a good basic coverage. Once that was dry I went to town on it with sand paper. All the edges and anywhere I thought "normal" wear and tear would show.  When it was done I put poly acrylic over all of it.

And the results are..........................absolutely stunning!!!!!

 I am so in love with how this turned out. It was exactly what I wanted down here. It just makes everything look so much better.

 Now Ean has a wonderful area to play and watch TV while I sew. You can see my sewing table right next it. You can see that transformation here. Once again......Craigslist RULES!!!

♥ Christina

PS: A very special thanks goes out to my lovely friend Jess D. Thank you for meeting me and helping me load this into my truck....it was fun...even if for the SECOND!!! time someone thought I was your mother!

PSS: I am linking this up with Beneath My Hearts best diy projects of june..check her out to see more spectacular stuff!

Porch Pillows

I have been waiting for fabric to come in for some bags that have been ordered....I hate being "unbusy" so I decided to take the time and make myself some pillows for my front porch. I have always loved the Cathedral Window quilt pattern (you can find a tutorial on my blog) and decided to make some pillows in this style.

 I love the patchworky feel of it. I got the idea for the back of the window panes on the Moda Bakeshop website. They have another great tutorial on there.

 I also love how it looks on my rocking chair.

I love that these look so hard to do but are in fact very easy!

The back of the pillow.....I just did it slip cover style.

I am so happy with the result.....now back to bag making!

♥ Christina

Peace

I feel so bad for all the followers of the man who said the world would end on Saturday. I saw on TV where some of them sold their homes and all their possessions and savings to follow him to what they thought was the rapture. I said a prayer for them...that they might find the true meaning of God and His word and that they might find peace. This is one of my all time favorite hymns....well I have a few. I remember my dad singing this....what a wonderful voice he had.

praying you all have a "peaceful" week!

♥ Christina

A lightbulb moment!

I have always loved the big overnight duffel type bags. I wanted to make one of my own. The only difference is I do not like the way the insides looked. Most of the duffel bags that I see have binding over the seams on the inside...giving it (in my opinion) a not too finished look. I knew there had to be a different way to do it but for the life of me I could not figure it out....then one night as I was trying desperately to get some sleep...my brain went gaga! I had that ultimate light bulb moment of AHA! So you know what I did next right....I got up and sewed til 3 in the morning! I am soooo happy with the way this bag came out....its exactly like I envisioned!

The front of the bag....2 big pockets

 I did contrasting print straps and black piping around the whole bag.

 a double zip zipper.....I am soooo loving this

 a side pocket....fits my cell phone perfectly!

 and voila.....the inside. As you can see it is completely seam free....very neat and tidy!

I love when what you envision comes to reality and it is everything and more! Did I say before that I have truly found my passion?! 

♥ Christina

A perfect day!

So last Sunday the my family and I took a trip up to Philadelphia to see my niece. She has been putting herself through college at Temple (in engineering no less) and wanted to show us around. She took us to Love park.

and Penns Landing

we saw the Liberty Bell....which I always thought was so much bigger but its actually rather small.

 

But the best part of the whole day (other than just being with my family and niece) was when we went to a craft bazaar at Penn's Landing. As we were walking around I noticed a tent that said "Jay McCarrol" (who was on project runway...my all time favorite show!) and I said to my husband "oh look they are selling his stuff here" then I looked again and guess what????

HE WAS THERE!!!!!!

I so had to get my picture taken with him.

But......the best part is as we were getting our pic taken we were talking about his fabrics (you know...me embarrassingly gushing about how I loved them) when he asked me if I sewed. I said yes and he picked up my BumbleBee Bag and said " This is cool....its sewn really well!!!!!!!!!!!!" OMG!!!!!!! I was in heaven....a man I admire so much for his visionary designs and amazing talent telling me I sew well! It was a perfect day!!

Where in the world am I?

I have been such a bad blogger lately! I have just been sew ( I mean that literally) busy lately. I promise to be on here more....and I might even have a tutorial or two to share! For now here is what I have been up too....

BackPacks...gotta represent for the boys!

 bags

Bags

 and more bags!

 and adorable hair barrettes! Can I just say now how unfair it is that I do not have a girl...lol!

If you want to see more check me out at http://www.bumbebeebagz.com/ or on facebook as BumbleBeeBagz Spangler!

♥

Ps: Check back on Tuesday for a fabulous tutorial on how to redo an old kitchen table into something spectacular!!!