An Edible Wreath?

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving : )

My in-laws are here from Canada and it truly has been a wonderful visit.

The day after Thanksgiving every year we go and cut down our Christmas tree.

We got two this year : )  It was so much fun!

Starting the decorating process with my daughter..

(living/dining room tree)

Speaking of decorations.. I add more decorations every year and I want to share one with you that my daughter and I did last year.

I love Angelo Surmelis blog.  If you are not following him I encourage you to go check him out.  I found this post on some very creative Christmas wreaths and one in particular took my breath away.  It was the first one.  The marshmallow one.

I decided I wanted to make this as well.

Here is the tutorial on how to create it.

A Marshmallow World
While you’re picking up marshmallows for hot chocolate, buy a few extra bags to make this easy (30-minute!) winter-white wreath. Insert about 150 toothpicks halfway into a 12-inch flat foam wreath, then skewer a marshmallow onto each toothpick. Refrigerate overnight to set. (Birds may fancy this one, so consider hanging it inside.)

Let me tell you..it didn't take me 30min.  because I bought a straw wreath (never do that and a much larger one) but I did because the store didn't have the size foam wreath I wanted.  It was very hard to do (putting the toothpicks in the straw and messy).  It ended taking us several hours.  Go with the foam wreath and I guarantee it will go smoothly..hahaha.

Here is how ours turned out.

Those are cranberries.  A different take and a good first attempt.  Spending time with my daughter...priceless!

It is hanging in our home again this year.

What crafts have you been doing for the Holiday season?  Would love to see.  Send them to me and you may be a featured on the blog.

Have a great week!

A Thankful Heart

This is the time of year where we stop and take a look around us and take inventory of our blessings.

I know I write a blog about decor and our renovations for our home but today I want to go a little deeper.

This past year for my family has been a trying one where you felt like you were drowning but we also saw people come alongside as angels.

My husband  a little over a year ago had no work, like so many in this economy.  We were in a place where for us we had to trust God.  It was hard because we had 3 little ones.

Even during those hard times somehow, someway our needs were met.

For our family this situation made us stronger.  It could have torn us apart but we made the choice (it always comes down to that) to make it through together.

I am grateful to Heartland Community Church for walking with us and now my husband is the music director there.

As I sit at the table this Thanksgiving...

I look at the blessing of my children

 I look at the blessing of my husband who refused to quit

 The blessing of all the wonderful people who helped us this past year

and most of all to be able to reach out to the HAND that is so much bigger than our own.

And for all of you I wish you nothing but the fullness of this Holiday.  

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving : )

Doors ~ The Gateway To Beauty

Hello Everyone!

I have come to know Lynne Knowlton over the course of this year and may I say what an inspiration she is to me.   She is a strong woman with such a positive outlook on life.  I don't know about you but I love to surround myself with people like that.  She really takes life by the horns and makes life what she wants it to be.  I feel like Lynne is a long lost girlfriend and I know that through her blog she is like that to her followers : )  I am privileged to call her friend.  Be inspired : )

I am an Interior Designer.
Crazy about Travel,
Design
and Blogging in....
DESIGN THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE

As a designer, I see inspiration around me
EVERY SINGLE DAY
I would have my camera surgically attached to my hip, if I could.
I suppose that would result in a few odd looks at the grocery store.
I'm ok with that.  If it meant I could capture a good photo.
 

 I like to LAUGH every single moment possible, of every single day.
I am just like so many of you out there...a Mom, a wife, a lover of life.
Hey, clearly I am also a poet and I didn't even know it.
I am happy to share this blog post with you on
~ DOORS ~
THE GATEWAY TO BEAUTY 

I ADORE~ ADORE ~ADORE travel.
Did I mention that I love to travel ?
Because I believe that when we realize how big and beautiful this world is that we live in....
Our big problems seem small.

 I say this with beauty in my heart.
Our world is full of abundant beauty.
I draw inspiration from it as a Designer.

I started my BLOG...
DESIGN THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE .by Lynne Knowlton.
Yup, that's me.

 So I could share my design inspirations, my crazy life happen~in's, and to share my laughs along the way.
AND BEAUTIFUL THINGS HAVE HAPPENED...

 MANY DOORS HAVE OPENED
Like...
Kelly came into my life.
I was new to TWITTER.
My BLOG was just beginning.
Kelly seemed to find me amongst the clutter.
Many of us have spammers, and grey matter on the Internet, and just STUFF.
Every once in a while, a soul just stands out to you and screams
HELLO
YOU ARE INCREDIBLE.
WE WILL BE FRIENDS.
That is how Kelly and I began.
So here we are today, I am a guest blogger.
Writing for Kelly.  What an incredible pleasure.
She noticed me AMONGST THE MAYHEM and I will be forever grateful for that.

 As I considered my guest blogging ideas....
I thought
I am like a kid in a candy store.
I have so many ideas to share that I could barely decide where to begin.
FREAK OUT !!!
 I mean that in a very exciting, good way !!!!

 One statement always stands out to me in life....
WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES
ANOTHER DOOR OPENS

 We all have difficult moments in life, but let us not forget that when that difficult door closes, one magnificent one may open.
I wholeheartedly believe this.
 I live it.
Like this next photo…
Makes me want to jump in there and have a nap…
Livin’ the dream 

I keep my eyes on the prize.
I keep my heart open to the doors that may open in life.

THE DOORS WE OPEN AND CLOSE EACH DAY,
DECIDE THE LIFE WE LIVE ~ Flora Whittemore

Like life, there are so many beautiful elements to design...
Doors are the beginning of a new space.

 A warm space, an open door, can set a welcoming mood.
A girlzzzzz road trip to Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte was one fantastic place to experience just that.
I travelled with a long time friend, and fellow designer....
Who likes to keep her fame wrapped under her wings...
However, note the gorgeous doors :)

 DOORS are an opening to a new journey.
~ Your first impression to almost any space ~
It means something.
That door you are walking through has deep meaning because it sets the tone for the rest of the space, the mood, and the environment.
Your first impression is essential.
I believe, as a designer, we should pay attention.

Rousillon, France


They don't have to be fancy.
Seriously, I mean that.
Most of the doors in my own home are reclaimed, recycled doors.
Character builders, I like to call them.
Or free.
That is another word that works :)

 I am all about reusing, recycling, vintage hunting, dumpster diving...
Whatever it takes.
Using a door in any creative way possible....
Kudo's to the designers at Truman Handcrafted.
Why didn't I think of that idea ?
It is BRILLIANT.

Photo courtesy of trumanhandcrafted.com

That is way more fun than buying a plastic door in a big box chain store.
Sorry big boxers.
Character should rule.
I threw a kink in the wrench by using a street sign for my door pull.
Sorry folks who live on
EVERGREEN HILL RD
I have no idea where your street sign is.

The doors shown here in our TREEHOUSE were reclaimed doors.
Repurposing doors is a funky thaaang to do.

 I am not delusional. Delirious with door design excitement, but not delusional.
There are some doors and entranceways that are worth a truck load of money...... bazmillions of dollars.
Those are the ones that we find INSPIRATION from.

 May you find beauty and inspiration from all around you.
FOLLOW YOUR BLISS AND THE UNIVERSE WILL OPEN DOORS FOR YOU WHERE THERE WERE ONLY WALLS ~ Joseph Campbell  

Related articles
Design Inspiration Is Everywhere..... (lynneknowlton.com)

Handmade Beautiful

Good Morning!  I am doing great after having some jelly toast and a cup of coffee : )

I think one of the reasons why I do this blog is to not only share my addiction of design with others but to help inspire and share other very talented people with all of you that you might not ever get a chance to know.

My husband and I have known Katie for years and it is so wonderful to see how she is sharing her talent with others now.

Modern Earth Design is honored to feature Kaitlin Byers of Katie Mae Cards.

Design = Passionate People :  Kaitlin Byers (Katie Mae Cards)

Ok, here we go...

 What got me started?

I've been making cards for years, since I was young. I would mainly just draw a picture on some construction paper, fold it in half and then.. Ta da! Its a birthday card! HaHa!  I remember I used to write 'Hallmark' on the back of each card, because I thought Hallmark was the best and I wanted my loved ones to have the best. But then my great aunt Charlotte talked me out of that and helped me come up with 'Katie Mae' and then eventually I started calling my cards 'Katie Mae Cards'. And as I got older my creative ability grew, not only into cards but also gift bags, gift tags, gift boxes, jewerly.. etc.

How do you get your inspiration?

I get inspired by anything and everything, from the beauty of nature around me, a song being played, to just seeing printed paper in the craft store, my mind starts putting paper & colors together along with stickers and stamps. The possibilities are endless, and that inspires me.

What made you go into business for yourself?

A lot of the people I'd give cards too, would ask me if my cards were for sale, and then tell me that I should start selling them and try to sell them in stores too. Then, early in 2010 my sister in law wanted to know if I'd want to start selling handmade items with her at farmers markets. So I did and in September of 2010 I had registered Katie Mae Cards as my business name. Now, not only do I still sell at farmers markets, but i also sell my cards in two stores, one in a very cute gift shop located in Bastrop, Texas called The Sugar Shack. And the other a great dance shop located off of Riverside Blvd, in Loves Park, Illinois called Silhouette. I'm also online at www.katiemaecards.etsy.com and you can find me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Mae-Cards. I take many special orders deliver for free in and around Rockford.

What advice would I give others?

Don't give up on your dreams! I love doing what I do, and if I can make a living off of doing what I love, then all the better : )

Thank you, Katie!  I hope you all have a wonderful week !

That's a Big Candle

 Happy Friday!

Not too long ago we took a trip ...

 My kids were so exhausted.

We thought it would be a treat to stop half way at the place with the Big Candle : )

That really is a mighty big candle!

 This place is amazing

 It's like stepping into Holiday Paradise : )

They have hundreds of candles that you can only get from this store and the scents are amazing!

Holiday decor for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 I fell in love with this.  

Here is how they got the grain sack to stand up..

  chicken wire.

 This place is massive.  They told me they are going to double the square footage of this store in the very near future.

 Jellies and Sauces

 I love that they put a little restaurant in the store.. it gives you more time to think about what you want to buy and doesn't disturb your shopping groove : )

Their food is all made from scratch

My son waiting for his chili and was it worth the wait!

The bathrooms are amazing!  Yes, I did take pics in the bathroom..heehee

My new favorite saying..

In the men's bathroom

No, I didn't take the pic my husband did.  LOL

This store is a must to go visit.

Check out the websites

http://outletstore.warmglow.com/

or

http://warmglow.com/