Christmas Time!!!!

Here are a few pictures of our Christmas tree this year.  I didn't want to break down and spend the money on a big tree, so I made due by sitting it up onto a side table we have.  I will buy a real tree one day, but until then this was a cheap solution!  I am most proud of my burlap bow on top....probably my best looking bow yet!


Here's what my tree consisted of this year...I usually keep it pretty simple.
-White berry stems (1/2 off from JoAnn's)
-White clip on birdies (Half off from JoAnn's)
-Black and white silk plaid material for bows and tree skirt (4.99 per yard x 2)
-Mercury Pine Cone ornaments (I actually sell these if you are interested!) $8.99 a piece
-Burlap Ribbon (found at Frisco Mercantile)


Warning: I-Phone pictures

What I'm in love with this holiday season...

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I'm still here!!!!

I just wanted you all to know that I am still here!!!!! I am going to post a few pics....ok ALOT of pics from what I have been up to!  Between teaching, photographing weddings, making necklace pendants, redoing furniture, and stocking my booth at our Frisco location, I haven't been able to post like I would like.  I would like to say that this will change, but I know when school gets going again its not likely!!!! I'll try to do better though!


I've been doing quite a bit of photography lately, and I love it!!!!!

Here are a few shots of my sweet niece Mattie Ann and her momma and daddy.

 

Here are a few from a maternity shoot I did just this last week.  Dustin and April are expecting their second little girl here pretty soon!!! Justin and I are so in love with their little girl Maddie, she is SO adorable!!! We can't wait to meet their new little one, I know she will be equally beautiful because her parents are both gorgeous!

Here is another maternity shoot!!!! Yes, I do feel like all my friends are pregnant.  I love it though, because I am really enjoying shoot newborns and maternity.  This is my sweet sweet friend Rachel.  She has been a dear friend since high school, and I don't know what I would do without her.  She is now blessed to have a precious little boy, Noah.

 

And lastly, I guess I've been drinking the same water! We found out that we are expecting in May!!!

Aunt Nena's time to BRAG!!!!

August 8th seemed to take forever, because we were waiting impatiently to meet sweet little Mattie Ann.Everything went so smoothly, and of course we were all instantly in love! She is perfect, and I have requested daily pictures and updates to keep me semi-pacified between visits. 

Pappy waits, and waits, and waits

 

This was right when Josh came to get us after Mattie was born.  This moment brings tears to my eyes every time.  It was hard to take pictures during such an intense event, but pics like these make me glad I did.

 

Grandparents see her for the first time

 Dad's first chance to hold his baby girl

A fist pump for Aunt Nena:)

 Momma did such a good job!

 

Ready to go home!

 

She's smiling because she love her outfit!

Mattie had her first photo shoot at 2 weeks, and she rocked it! I'm kind of loving maternity and newborn photos!

IN BUSINESS!!!!

Signs of a Furniture Restoration Finatic

So, as I am reviving furniture, this is what is going through my head.  Yes, this. Not self reflection, not memories of old times, and definitely not anything too complicated....just this. 


You might be a furniture restoration finatic if....


#1  You get your nail polish at Sherwin Williams


#2 You rather go to a garage sale than a department store (or anywhere else, if we're really being honest)


#3 Your friends tell you that you have a great tan, and you secretly laugh because you know that it is stain from the last furniture piece you redid


#4 You mysteriously have new highlights in your hair, despite the fact that you haven't seen your hair dresser in months


#5 You have to put on jeans to go to town, because your legs are COVERED in paint.


#6 You have a paint can opener in your purse and paint sticks in your car....all the time!


#7 You spend more time in front of the paint samples at Home Depot than you do in front of the mirror


#8 The thrift store workers know you by name, and the furniture loaders groan when they see you coming.


#9 You haven't parked your car in the garage for months


#10 Your kitchen sink has more paint brushes in it than silverware


If you can relate to this list, then you are a furniture restoration finatic.  If this made you laugh, I would love for you to share the link with others that might enjoy it too!


Sweet Tea....I don't make it, I just make it pretty

Our New Home

So, Madi Kay Designs and Sweet Tea spent all day creating our new home at Frisco Mercantile.  We are so excited to get all settled in.  We can't wait for you to be able to come visit us!


For those of you who want to visit, please realize that we don't have clearance from the city to sell yet, so PLEASE WAIT UNTIL AFTER MONDAY!  We are very anxious for you to see it, but if you go this weekend, you won't get to.




Check out some pictures of our cozy little booth....a few things we offer there: Furniture, antiques, home furnishings, clothing, jewelry, signs, and anything else that we can squeeze in !

REVIVE IT!

A few thoughts about DIY projects
Don't be afraid!
So many times I hear people say that they are scared to paint a piece of furniture, or they aren't sure that it will turn out good.  Scared? DON'T BE!  Be fearless in your projects.  If you are worried that you will mess up a piece, then go to a garage sale and get you a cheap piece of furniture to practice on.  When it comes to furniture, there is really no way to mess it up with paint.  You can always sand it back and get back to the wood, or my favorite technique (much easier) you can paint over it.  :)

Do what you love!
When doing a project or redoing a piece of furniture, make it the way that YOU want it!  Don't worry about the faces people make when you tell them what you are doing.  Remember, it is for you, and you have to look at more than anyone else.  I love to go to the paint samples section of Lowes and Home Depot and just pick out my favorite colors, you know the ones that make your heart flutter (I do love paint).  I save the sample until I find a piece of furniture that it would fit perfectly on.  So, don't worry about what others think of it, don't worry about what is trending in the magazines, do what YOU LOVE!

Research!
Don't know how to redo furniture...me neither! I just try different techniques, until I find one that works.  I spend a lot of time reading blogs and looking closely at furniture that I love.  There are so many sources out there now, especially for DIYers.  Search blogs, look on you tube, and ask a friend if you have any questions!  I would love to answer any questions, just please only ask the ones that I will know the answer to, or else I'll just make one up. :)

Don't get frustrated
Well, let me rephrase that...don't stay frustrated. Realize that as a DIYer you are not going to love everything the first time you do it, not every project is going to turn out, and most the time its not going to be as easy as you thought. It's ok, the fun part is trying again until you get it just the way you want it.  Sometimes I will paint a piece, and then decide I don't like it.  So, what I do is leave it for a while in the garage, look at it every so often, until I finally have an idea that will make it just right.  If you don't love what you've done, walk away from it.  When you come back, I bet you will have new inspiration. If not, walk away again...or sell it and get another!

I feel silly even giving tips...I'm really in no place to do so.  The reason that I wrote this is because I want you all to realize that there is nothing to be afraid of.  Don't like your piece of furniture? REVIVE IT!

So, here is a picture of me trying a new product and technique.  I read about it a lot first, bought the supplies, and last night I gave it a try, and.....I LOVE IT! I'm so thankful that I tried something new!  Just think, your fear of failure could be holding you back from something you will love.