Reece Family Reunion Part 1

It was great to spend so much time with David's family. The first portion of the vacation was spent in the DC area. We stayed with his sister and family who lives in Alexandria. (Actually, we stayed in another apartment in their complex...) Pictures curtesy of Amy Reece. :) 

Amy and I during family pictures. Pay no attention to the shiny teeth. 

I'm pretty sure I was posing. 

Someplace on the streets of DC.

The White House. 

The Washington Monument + Kimberly + Amy + Me. 

Hot, tired, and sweaty at the Lincoln Memorial. 

I had to add this one for because of the cuteness of David and Baby Reece. 

All together at the outskirts of the Korean War Memorial. 

LOVE this picture. 

The two of us. 

Fabric covered canvas tutorial

Long time no write. Yeah, sorry about that.  I think you know by now how much I love shopping at Goodwill. On separate occasions during the same week I found two blank canvases. Although I wasn't sure what to do with them yet, I just knew it was our wall's answer to prayer. You see, they had some rather obvious blank spots.

I finally decided on covering them with fabric. There is a fabric discount store in Stone Mountain, Georgia, about 40 minutes from our apartment. It was SUCH a cool store.

Everything was rather disorganized; picture in your mind heaps and mountains of unfolded fabric. I emerged victorious with two different patterns I had previous found online by designer Amy Butler.

Yes, I did iron--just not before this picture. This was the fabric for our bedroom. I decided our color scheme was going to be yellow and grey. (The canvas is below the fabric.)

Here is the fabric for our kitchen/dining room area. Our kitchen colors are red and baby blue. I couldn't find a suitable fabric with only those colors so I settled on big and bold. 

Tutorial:

Step 1: Measure and cut fabric so there is 3-5 inches on each side. 

Step 2: Using a stable gun, staple fabric into backside of canvas. As you can see, I stapled before making sure the fabric was evenly spaced... If you would like you can fold the edge over and staple the creased edge to the frame. My staple gun didn't push the staples all the way into the wood, so I just used a hammer and gently pushed them further in. 

Step 3: Continue stapling every 4 or so inches, starting in the middle and working your way outward.

Step 4: Staple the edges across from each other first for cleaner corners.

Step 5: Once you have stapled all along the edge, start the corners.

Bring the sides of the corners in and pull as taught as you can. If you need to trim excess fabric from the top, do it now. You won't be able to tell with the finished project.

Close up.

Another angle.

Step 6: Bring the folded corner directly down onto the wood.

It should look something like this.

Step 7: Staple each side to secure the fabric.

The finished project! I'm quite proud of myself.

Here is the canvas in our kitchen/dining room.

Sorry about the blurry picture. It's the camera, not me!

Please also note the lovely robin egg blue tray on the table. The tray was another goodwill find which I later spray painted. :)

My Dearest Sister Abby

Everyone needs a sister like Abby.

Photo from my mom. 

A few weeks ago she sent a package in the mail containing David's birthday present, my birthday gift, and four glitter-adorned cards.  (The order is a) envelope b) card c) inside)

Card #1: To David

Card #2: to both of us

Yeah, this one made me laugh for a really long time.  

Card #3: To me

Oh man. You have no idea how much I miss our hugs. If ever you are in need of a good bear hug that squeezes your sorrows and cares away, you must visit Abby.

Card #4 David's Birthday

Abby made this pillow in sewing. Didn't she pick an excellent pattern? 

Oh how I love my sister, Abby. Her personality is incredibly quirky and loveable. She is a born leader and is a friend to everyone. I look up to her in many, many ways! See these posts from my mom for more reasons Abby is amazing. Here. (Dear Rachel #9) Here (Nativity by Abby)  Here (Dear Rachel #1) Here (Vintage View-master) Here (Love Note) Here (Abby's Gift--If you only look at one, read THIS one) Here (Red Pepper Trend Setter)

If you have time, these posts are amazing. And funny--at least to me.

Recent Goodwill Finds

Oh how I love Goodwill. I think I'm an addict. You would be too if you found brand new children's books that are 1) actually worth reading 2) well-known 3) hardback. Here are some of my recent finds. Have you read them?

Miss Rumphius has always been a favorite. Although it always bothered me that she never married and the only jobs she held was a librarian and school teacher. Traveling the world certainly is a bonus.

Peter Spier is one of my favorite illustrators. His books are simply pictures, no words.

The Jolly Postman is quite clever. You actually get a copy of each of the letters. They are very cute. I also found the Jolly Postman Christmas Letters.

Patricia Polacco is one of my favorite Children's author's/illustrators. This book in particular is very touching and makes me cry every time. It is about two boys from the Union Army in the Civil War who get separated from their army and get caught in Confederate territory alone.

Another Peter Spier. This is my second favorite Christmas book ever. It isn't Christmas without this book. His dipictions of the Christmas festivities are incredibly accurate, right down to the mounds of dirty dishes, the not pristine Christmas tree with homemade decorations, and too-small Christmas gifts.

This is my favorite Patricia Polacco cake. I was afraid of thunder when I was younger and this book helped me overcome it.

And to my surprise, it was even signed by the author herself. Talk about a bargain for only $1.50. :)

Even More Beautiful Homes in Sandy Springs

These are beautiful, normal size houses. Well, most of them. Don't you love East Coast architecture?

I really love this one. (Above picture)

The above one is to die for. 

As is this one.