BIRDS, NESTS, AND HONEY THROUGH A STRAW

Every once in a while, I like to share a glimpse into the cottage itself, which brings me to this. 

See this photo?

These are my people, my village, the birds in my heart's nest. 

I treasure this image, for I know that all too soon, our nest will change. In fact, it's sure to never look like this again. 

In five months, Payton, our oldest, will be twenty years-old. I married her daddy a month after my twentieth birthday. 

Emma, daughter number two, will start high school next year, unless we can find just cause to have the smart little thing retained, indefinitely. 

Kathryn and Juliana, our twins, our babies, have already grown into their sisters' shoes, and would leave for the mission field right now if we'd spring for their passports. 

Do you sense our urgency here? We're all but hanging from the hands of time to slow them down. 

My prayer for our nest, is that we would make our time together count; that we'd pack as many God-honoring, memory-making, foundational truth-building, deep belly laughable moments into each and every day! 

We don't always do that. 

I want to take time to look at their hearts more, to see what Jesus sees, to love them like He does. 

And I want to sip this time like it were honey through a straw. 

A very, very small straw. 

PADDING HER CURVES ~ PART 1

 I picked up this king-size beauty for $50 years ago at a local shop, painted and distressed her, and that was it, for like, ever! 

Last year, Brad got around to attaching her to our master bedroom wall with piano hinge ledges. I painted around her with my newest, made-up-my-very-own-self, grayish aqua paint color, and complained about her every single time we propped up to watch TV in bed. It wasn't her fault, though. I still saw that same great potential; those curvy lines and details are what sold me at first sight. She just felt like resting against a brick wall while wearing my pajamas, that's all!

With a pencil, tape measure, level, staple gun, and power drill, we set out to give this curvy girl a new dress. I measured and marked while he drilled holes where our fourteen covered buttons will be. 

Three layers of quilt batting went on and were secured around the edges within the frame, then I cut away all of the excess. 

Ballard Designs' Adler Taupe

Next, came the dress! I chose a pattern similar to this one from Ballard Designs priced at $42 per yard. I said similar, like, not this one. I still have a frugal reputation to uphold. 

My fabric came from my favorite upholstery shop, Ledford Upholstery, and was just $3 a yard! Yep! You read that right! I bought three yards at 54" wide to cover the width of our king-size headboard and it was more than enough. I'll use the rest to cover the buttons for tufting and the welt cording that will disguise all of the stapled edge. Not bad for nine bucks and some change!

Bill, the shop owner, stocks countless fabric remnants that he sells as flat-folds for this great price every single day. I've been going there since I was too young to see over the counters and too young to appreciate all of the textural, eye candy goodness within. Now, it's one of my favorite places for textile therapy. 

Here she is, all padded up! Who knew that three layers of batting and a layer of fabric, stood between my back and comfort. Who knew! And if you spot anything wrong here, don't even tell me. I will so cry! I will!

Next up! 

Part 2 - Buttons and Welt

A tufted headboard suspense thriller!

*A word of caution: I bought the covered button-making kits at Wal-Mart and in Harris girl terms when we find something to be cheap and fragile, "They're janky!" Quite janky, actually! So janky in fact, that only two remained snapped together and covered after I applied my fabric. Maybe it was too thick, but I will still be returning them and their jankified $3 a pack selves. Bill at the upholstery shop said that he'd make my buttons and covered welt. Oh happy day! A finished project is in my near future!