I have finally finished (see my New Year's Resolution) one of my Celebration Suitcase projects. It's a suitcase that holds decorations for a party - anytime, anywhere, for any reason. This one is themed "Old School" and I show 3 ways it can be set up. I've created an ebook that shows what's inside and how to use it. It's for sale for $3 here.  (I have to support my habit somehow.)

I also show some DIY info so you can see how I did it and then do your own. I was so excited with this idea of stage lights on the inside of the lid. Plug it in and they light up. (I have more creative ideas in the works too.)

My kids thought it was fun when we used it one night for Family Night. Love to celebrate!!!

How would you use the Celebration Suitcase?

Happy New Year! Hope all of your celebrations were enjoyable. Mine was and here's a little of it.

We did a little fondue - chocolate and cheese. Chocolate fondue with pound cake, cookies, strawberries and cheese fondue with bread, vegetables, and meats. It was very good. But, my favorite-

Hot chocolate milk bar. White and Milk chocolates with all the add ons - shaved chocolates, cocoa powder, cinnamon pumpkin spice. Then, raspberry, caramel, and peppermint syrups. With the last additions of marshmallows, peppermint and chocolate chips. Oh, and there was eggnog as well. If you need any ideas, this is the type bar to do again. 

Okay, I have this little secret obsession that the Boyfriend doesn't even know about. Not yet. But now I'm going to let  you in on it. I want a celebration wagon. I want a party on wheels. I want a caravan. Caravan as in "a large covered vehicle for conveying passengers, goods". Of course not just any caravan. But one that looks like this one. 

Or this one. 

Or this one.

Or this one.

Or even this one.

Yeah, this works too.

A celebration wagon. I've wanted one for a while but I haven't had the nerve to break it to the Boyfriend because it's a project that would involve him. I've gotten him into tons of my if-a-things-worth-doing-it's-worth-over-doing activities and I was trying to see how I could manage it without him. But I can't. So he has to know.

You have to see some of the interiors. Singular. Sensational. Spectacular. Play the slide show.

Okay, just a few more.

One day I might be able to say, "Welcome to my caravan porch."

 If these don't scream CELEBRATE to you, I don't know what will.

PS - If anyone's sitting on a little trailer that they want to get rid of, let me know.

Here are a few homes that celebrate art. One on one. Consider bringing in just one piece of original art into your home. Have you ever thought about it? I know I never really did. I thought it was out of my reach. Now I realize that it isn't.

Long ago it used to be that even the poorest of homes had an original painting. It was thought that the art would inspire and elevate those in the home. It does. There's an energy that a painting brings with it. Look at the images of art in homes below.

What feelings to you feel from the images? Does it inspire you? Do you think it would inspire your family to have art in your home? Tell us.

Saw this website, Closet Visit, (via DesignMom.com) this morning and took a quick look-see. It's about seeing the clothing closets of the fashionably put-together. After looking at a few I noticed something. I noticed the art. 
Of course it was the art. 

This isn't a site about art, just celebrating style. But, in showing off the unique dressing choices of the women 
you catch a glimpse of their art choices. Oriental hangings, mobiles, handkerchiefs, skeletal prints, and paintings. Interestingly, most of these women had art, fine art, in their surroundings. 
Even though this wasn't about photographing their personal artistic galleries it still came through. 

It makes me think that often times the spirit of the soul illustrates itself in the chosen style of our surroundings. 
Our walls, floors, furnishings, closets, clothing, accessories and yes, art, expose us. 
Then I look around and ask what is the spirit of my soul saying in my surroundings?

When we decided on the birdhouse theme for this DIY wedding I did an image search of birdhouses. I didn't know there were so many different styles and that the really nice ones were so dang expensive. And I rarely find exactly what I am looking for anyway. So, plan B, we build them ourselves. I call this one the Birdhouse Triptych. Dictionary.com defines a triptych as "a set of three panels or compartments side by side, bearing pictures, carvings, or the like". I consider these birdhouses, "the like". Usually, paintings are done this way, like this one but this time, I just applied it to wood. 

I measured, drew, and cut some out. But admittedly, the Boyfriend is bigger, stronger and faster (and better looking) than I am. Everything takes me three times longer. So, he did most of the assembly. 

We make a very good team. Except when we don't. Luckily, this wasn't one of those times.

Hope you feel inspired for your next celebration.

I've really liked these Pottery Barn Table Pedestals for a long time. But, I knew I could make them myself, or have the Boyfriend do it, and couldn't justify the cost. Nor did I have a good enough reason to make them with all the other projects I have. Our DIY weddings changed all that. 

Here is my version of the pedestals. I had the Boyfriend make a taller one because I wanted the wedding cake to have a little more presence. But, it was too tall on its own so I had him make a smaller version that slid right underneath. We used that for napkins and the cake knife. (That's the handsome Boyfriend on the right in the mirror.)

I got an old chair from the local antique store. He dismantled it and used the spindles for legs. On the longer pedestals (about 4 feet long) I bought legs from the store. Can I just say I love the length of those long pedestals? Okay, I do. And I've already used them for other occasions.

I think the Pottery Barn hack was successful. Oh, and here's one more. We used these pedestals on the children's cake table. They are painted in chalkboard paint so I could write on them. I thought it was fun and playful. I think that we will use them for the cheese (and write the type of cheese on the side) for the next daughter's wedding. In about 2 weeks!! We'll see if I have any creativity left after being MOB & MOG last month. We don't do easy around here.

Do you like it?

I mentioned earlier about the 35 nieces and nephews that the Groom had. Just his family. Kids and weddings aren't always a great mix but I feel it's important for them to be part of it and have their own memories. I thought up doing a chalkboard kid table. 

Really I wanted to do it twice as long as what is shown but we ran our of board and didn't get to the store to pick some up. It's masonite, cut to size, and painted with chalkboard paint. I didn't round the corners because we are making a frame for it and using it for the next wedding. The small scale folding chairs I picked up at the local antiques store and they were already that color. 

It was a hit and served its purpose! It kept so many kids occupied and out of cakes. It's a definite do again thing. Here are some photos. 

Since we have one more wedding, do you have any good ideas to occupy the children?

More DIY from the wedding. And there's still more things I am going to share, but I am working on the next daughter's wedding. Number 3 for us in 1 1/2 months. You'd have thought with the "inshanity" I inflict on my family that I would have planned this. But, I did not. Love took over our home and did not consult with me.

This is the Wedding Throne. The couple didn't want to do a reception line, which was fine with me, I was in one 4 days before for our son and his new bride. But, I digress. Back to this daughter's wedding. Having no line, I thought they needed some kind of 'gathering spot' for well wishers, so I came up with the idea of a loveseat throne. And her style was ShabbyChic.

I had in mind what I wanted and found the perfect doors. Love them! You can't really tell from the photo but the two rectangle openings are glass. The Boyfriend was game to try and rip the door down the middle to give me the two pieces so the arched door could be the centerpiece. I don't doubt often about projects, but I wondered about the wisdom of this one, that door was rickety. He didn't even hesitate. He doesn't know I almost stopped him.

We took a third door, with the most perfect weathering, and made that into the seat and arms. Sometimes, when you have a creative project in your mind you're not quite sure how it's going to turn out. I think it turned out amazing, I was so pleased. After it was done I didn't want to give it to them. But, it's in their new home.

My sisters' Creative Mommas website has a few more photos if you're interested.