Decorating

Spring has Sprung!

/ Jodi / 34 Comments

Spring has Sprung!

Today is the first full day of Spring, and oh how ready I am to welcome it!

It may still be a little brown and chilly outside, but I put the snowies away and brought out the flowers and bunnies and birds.

I got this sweet tray and floral and bunny from my friend Anne’s Farmhouse Primitives shop at Berry Vine Gifts.

The amazing candle is from Antique Candle Co. in the most luscious fragrance of Country Pear by Cotton Stem.  It is one of the most wonderful smelling candles I have ever had!

These little bunnies are from a recent trip to Hobby Lobby.

And I love this Springy green wreath I also found in Anne’s shop at Berry Vine Gifts.  It replaced the cotton stem wreath I had here for Winter.

And what do you think of this fun little stack of books I made?  I’ve been seeing them on Instagram on a few feeds I follow, and it turns out I had everything needed to make them myself.  In fact, I might be making more to sell at Berry Vine Gifts and through our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy shop.  So many possibilities of quotes and personalized messages can be made.  For my first try, I did my favorite life message, “Cherish the Moments.”

Welcome Spring!

Breathe in the fresh air.

Soak in the warmth of sunshine.

Bloom and blossom like the flowers.

Whistle a happy tune with a spring in your step.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

Fireplace Makeover

/ Jodi / 60 Comments

Fireplace Makeover.

Hubby and I built our current home about 17 years ago.  It is the second home we’ve built, and it is the tenth place I’ve called home.

Growing up, I lived in six different homes.  Since being married, this is our fourth home.

So 17 years is a long time in one home for me.  The longest I’ve ever lived in one actually!

We’ve redone and updated things along the way, but one of the things I haven’t done much with in a long time is our fireplace.  It was in need of a makeover.

Our fireplace is a bit of a focal point in our home.  It is 9 1/2 feet tall and 6 1/2 feet wide.  It is one of the first things you see when you walk in the front door.

We burn fires in our fireplace every night from the first nip of Fall to the first warmth of Spring.  It is a place where friends and family enjoying sitting.   Being raised about 18 inches from the floor, it makes a great warm seat for a few people when a crowd is gathered.

I’ve been following a few home decor instagrammers and loving the clean look of white, so when my oldest DIL recently asked if I wanted to go to Hobby Lobby with her and my grandie girls, besides screaming, “YES YES YES” to a field trip to my favorite store with some of my favorite peeps, I knew just what I wanted to look for – home decor pieces for the fireplace makeover.

I found some pieces I really love – including this little white chipped mirror, artichoke on a pedestal, bird, cotton stems in a clear jar, and metal and wood arched window piece.

I love this new natural cotton wreath, which I placed over the only old thing I left from previous decor – an old chipped metal tile I snagged a while back at another of my favorite field trip shopping destinations – Construction Junction – a warehouse full of used and surplus building materials.  Some fun candlestick holders, another bird and a super cute bird cage that I filled with natural and white spheres in a variety of shapes and sizes finish up the mantel decor.

A serious statement piece now sits on the hearth in this awesome 3 foot tall vase filled with puffy white pussy willow stems.

I had so much fun choosing some new pieces  (especially since there was a 50% off home decor sale), and am really enjoying this cozy new creative space in our home.

As I type this, a warm fire is crackling, the snow outside is fluttering down.  Hubby has his nose in a book and one eye on the television from his cozy chair.  Our bellies are full from a Sunday supper served early – a lemon garlic pork tenderloin, roasted herbed spaghetti squash, and a beet salad.

I’m cherishing the moments – simple and satisfying – from my little space in the world I call home.  And no matter where it is, how it is decorated or what is served, the thing I love best about my home is who I share it with.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Pumpkin it up around the House

/ Jodi / 53 Comments

Pumpkin it up around the House.

The heat wave finally broke yesterday around here, and it is beginning to feel like Fall!

This year I added a few new pumpkins to my collection in the form of pillows with my watercolor artwork on.

I decided to add a few of my art pieces to a McKinneyX2Designs Society6 shop to see how it would turn out.  I’m pretty thrilled with the quality of the pillows and pouches I ordered.

Besides that are some of my collection through the years, including signs and rustic pumpkins made by my DIL for our McKinneyX2 Etsy Shop and on display at Berry Vine Gifts in Bradford Woods (which by the way is holding a Fall Festival this weekend where I will be working this afternoon!)

I have pumpkins at the front door…

and at the back door.

There are pumpkins here..

and there…

and everywhere!

I’m hoping to add a few more to my collection today at the Fall Festival,

because I still have some pumpkin-less spaces!

If you would like to see more of my art on pillows and pouches and cups and mugs and notebooks and iPhone cases, and even furniture, check it out here:  Mx2 Society6.   There’s even a great Fall sale going on.  We also have some super new stuff added to our ETSY shop so you can Pumpkin it up around the house!

Happy Fall Y’All!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Wisdom from a Snowman

/ Jodi / 42 Comments

Wisdom from a Snowman.

It’s okay to be a little bottom heavy.
Don’t get too much sun.
Everyone nose carrots are good for you.
Be a jolly happy soul.
It takes a few extra rolls to make a good midsection.
It’s fun to hang out in the front yard.
Remember, we are all a little bit flaky.
White is always appropriate.
Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize!

(author unknown)

 

The Christmas decorations are down, but my snowies stay out until Spring.  It has been so cold here lately, I thought it would be fun to share this wisdom from a snowman/person (aka snowies).

If you are somewhere cold, may you find warmth.
Wishing you comfort and contentment.
Happy Sunday!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Getting Cozy

/ Jodi / 63 Comments

Getting Cozy.

Getting out the pumpkins.
Getting out the candles.

Getting ready for colorful leaves
Getting ready for crackling fires.

Getting ready for flannels and hoodies.
Getting ready for fleece.

Getting ready for pumpkin lattes.
Getting ready for baked apple everything.

Getting ready for simmering soups.
Getting ready for thick, hearty stews.

Getting ready for Fall.
Getting cozy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Get Cozy

 

Updating the Nursery at Grandma’s House

/ Jodi / 53 Comments

Updating the Nursery at Grandma’s House.

Some of you may remember the fun I had creating a nursery for my first grandchild about seven months ago.  I turned my youngest son’s childhood room into a baby girly nursery room.  Here is what it looked like when I first created it.

Time is passing way too quickly, and our little girl is growing so fast.  She is starting to get around, so it was time to lower the crib so she won’t pull herself up and tumble out.

Then, though I hope she doesn’t need it very soon, we were so generously gifted with a beautiful antique iron day bed from my our bestie cousins, Joyce and “Oh Rob,” fully loaded with soft and fluffy Pottery Barn bedding in just the right colors to match our room!  Isn’t it awesome?!!?!

I moved some things around to make room.  It will be  a nice spot for us to snuggle up and read books soon I’m sure.  It also adds versatility to this guest room allowing for another “single” to stay over.  We love having campers stay over, so the more beds the merrier!

Remember how I made the bumper pads into curtain valances (since they are a “no-no!” now)?  Well – I still had a piece left, so I cut the ties off, cut about a 6-inch opening on one end, and stuffed it with filling from an old pillow I wasn’t using to create a fun tube-shaped pillow.  Throwing that and the other pillow that came with the nursery set really helps carry the theme onto the day bed and pull the room together I think.  Aren’t I so crafty clever?!?!

I am in love with this little space in the house.  It is the smallest bedroom of the four, but it is my current fave!  I’ve redone all three (now) guest rooms.  I think it may soon be time for a master bedroom makeover!  <wink!>

Hope you are having fun in all of your favorites spaces with all of your favorite people… at life in between.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Creating a Nursery at Grandma’s House

/ Jodi / 57 Comments

grandmas-nursery-6

I am having so much fun creating a nursery at “Grandma’s house” for our new granddaughter.

grandmas-nursery-7

A sweet little haven for her to rest if I ever decide to let her out of my arms when she is at our home!

grandmas-nursery-4

I promised I’d show you how I turned bumper pads into a window treatment valance.  Didn’t it turn out great?!

grandmas-nursery-10

Almost everything in this room was a passed on from a friend, was given as a gift, is something I made, or something I re-purposed.

Thanks to our friends Sue and Rodney for “gifting” us with this beautiful crib they had outgrown from their two beautiful granddaughters.

grandmas-nursery-3

And thanks to our BFFs Jill and Todd who gifted us with this beautiful rocking chair when we learned we were going to become grandparents.  (Hope you don’t mind I painted and distressed it!)

grandmas-nursery-1

And thanks to our sweet Joyce and “Oh Rob” for this darling antique child’s art desk with paper roll that will be so fun in coming years!

grandmas-nursery-9

And a dear friend, Diane, who sent this sweet little hanging pillow months before our granddaughter arrived, but made me wait until her birth to open (and I really did!).  What truth there is in this message!  What joy!

grandmas-nursery-5

I’m looking forward to reading many, many books – over and over and over – in the years to come.

grandmas-nursery-2

And playing with the basket of toys generously passed down from a sweet friend and incredible young Mom, Stefanie.

grandmas-nursery-8

Sometimes I just walk into this room and smile… thinking of the memories that are going to be created and the love that is already there from the sharing of so many.

I remember the days when this was a little boy’s room with blue marbled walls and baseball trophies.  I reminisce about the two boys who shared a wall between their rooms and secrets I still don’t know about…  Two boys who were best buddies when they were little, didn’t like each other very much when they were teenagers, and are back to being each other’s “bests” as young adults.

Creating a nursery at Grandma’s house…
It is so very much
home sweet home.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

What’s NEW at McKinneyX2Designs?

/ Jodi / 40 Comments

I’m excited to share some of the new things Colleen and I have been creating for our new Etsy shop!  We are having so much fun with this, and we are pleased to have had over 25 sales already in our first month!Mx2 logTo show our appreciation to our friends here at LifeinBetween, we want to offer a little gift to you.  If you refer someone to our shop who makes a purchase, we would like to thank them AND YOU with a free card of their and your choice. Each of you can choose one of any of the cards offered in our ETSY shop for FREE!  (Simply have your friend let us know when they order that they came here from LifeinBetween and mention your name.)

Have fun perusing the photo gallery of our newest Spring things.

You can visit our shop here:  McKinneyx2Designs on ETSY and follow us on Facebook and Instagram too if you like.

Happy Spring Thinking!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Pallet Love in the Dining Room

/ Jodi / 68 Comments

palet wine rack

My daughter-in-law, Colleen, and I are slightly obsessed with things you can make out of pallets.  I look at sites, pin things to Pinterest, oogle and swoon, but don’t seem to get around to ever doing anything about it.

So how surprised and excited was I when my son, Jake, and Colleen presented me with this beautiful handmade pallet wine rack for my birthday?!

I found a cozy little corner of the dining room to hang it and just love it.

wine rack corner

And if that wasn’t enough, I got a text from Jake the other day asking if I would like this pallet table he made for Colleen’s cookie exchange party (remember that amazing post?!).

Uh – let me think about it…..    YES!!!

palet table

So I found a home for it in another corner of the dining room.  I love that it gives me more room to display some fun collectibles and special antiques.

dining room

Our dining room is one of my favorite rooms.  (Charlie doesn’t mind hanging out there too when I’m nearby.)

Many a holiday meal have been eaten here. Countless party games have been played around this table.  Innumerable stories shared, gifts opened, wine drank, laughter echoed.

There are actually very few things we have purchased ourselves in this room, but many things that we have been gifted with, that are handmade, that have been passed down, and that are very special to me.

This cow creamer has a long history in hubby’s family with many happy and humorous memories.  (and I know my boys will never forget the year I filled it with questions on pieces of paper for “conversation starters” at the Thanksgiving table – I’ll never live that one down!)

creamer

Colleen knew just how to “butter me up” with this knife and butter dish!

butter knife

And I was so honored to receive this family heirloom cutter this past Christmas when I mentioned to Aunt Gwen that I would adore having something from my paternal Grandmother’s home.

antique cutter

 

antique tools

A very prized possession is this handmade heirloom Noah’s Ark set passed down to me from my sweet cousin, Joyce, and my dear Oh Rob.

china closet

It sits atop the most beautiful “china closet” that was an old beat up, painted, book case hubby resurrected from a run-down barn that we had refinished and filled with hand-me-down Pfaltzgraff stoneware – also from Joyce and Rob – and full of happy memories.

Noahs ark

And as if they haven’t shared and given us enough, they continue to give and grow our collection, with this new pair of deer in honor of hubby’s big buck this year.

deer

And in memory of our sweet Mikey last year.

Mikey

Another miniature Noah’s Ark set was made by Great Uncle Carl and sits on a “dry sink” made by him too!  (The only thing missing is one of the sheep, which Charlie enjoyed during his early days in his new home with us.)

small noahs ark

Two different antique sewing machines sit in corners of this room,

sewing mackine

and a very cherished treasure box sits on the trundle of one.

treasure box

My BFF, Jill, gifted me with this beautiful memory box for my birthday this year.

treasure box open

We have shared so many memories in this home for the past 15 years, as well as our home before this one.

And I know we will cherish many more in the years to come – no matter where the brick and mortar takes us.

treasure box contents

Because, as you can see, my home is not filled with extravagant, expensive, fancy furniture and decorations, but it is overflowing with cherished gifts and wonderful memories.

The thing I love most about this room – and my entire home – is the people I share it with.

Cherish the moments.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi