Hiccups in Life

This past week we took my daughter to have an ache in her knee looked at by an orthopedic group here in Lake Mary, Florida. After going into the doctors office they sent for an x-ray right away, standard procedure for this office. Upon return, Neil Whitwam, from Jewett Orthopaedic Center begin to explain what would be an interesting journey for all of us. He returned with the results from the x-ray and begin to explain that it wasn't a simple spring but more so, a Nonossifying Fibroma. 

As he began explaining what this was my mind kind of went into panic mode, drowning out all the words and instructions he was saying. He was kind enough to repeat it, write things down for me, and reassure that everything would be OK. This is definitely something that we were not expecting. He proceeded to give us the information for two doctors at University of Florida, Shands in Gainesville and ordering an MRI.

The MRI was completed Friday, and our appointment is scheduled for this Wednesday, with Dr. Parker Gibbs, at Shands. Google was kind enough to provide some background of what a Nonossifying Fibroma is but we still have a lot of questions. 

Creative Reuse for Curtain Rods

I've always lived life the alternative way, high school yearbook photo, clothes, hair., etc. so why make my home any different? With inspiration from around the web, I found an inexpensive yet timely, creative and unique approach to curtain rods for a large window.  Essentially it is; electrical conduit, spray paint, drawer pulls, wine corks (for the drawer pulls to go into then into the conduit ends) and then curtain rings with hanging clips. Cut the conduit to size (hacksaw was good), spray paint and let fully dry, add the curtains rings and then the wine cork connected drawer pulls. Clip your curtain, pleating as you like, hang, adore and love.

To pleat: gather an inch or so of the back of the curtain fabric (right where the 'hole' is to slide the rod through the traditional way is a good place to start, and repeat until you have the look you want. Mine is three inches apart but I'm going to make them closer soon. I have to say, the time  and effort was rewarding, especially knowing that my rods are strictly mine!

Bloomaker Recreated

Bloomaker Long Life Tulips

For mother's Day this year, my husband and I recreated a gift that I received on Administrative Professionals Day; Long Life Tulips from Bloomaker.

We searched and searched for these tulips and could not find any in the stores. So he and I went to work on recreating them. We picked up 2 potted tulips, 3 tall glass vases and 2 bags of river rock. Place the river rock inside each of the vases about 2-3 inches tall, you can always put more or less depending on how you want the tulips to rest. Meanwhile, take each bunch of tulip out of the dirt very carefully, rinse dirt off with cool water. Now divide the tulips among the vases, making sure that the roots are nestled around the rocks. Pour water to just under the bottom of the bulb making sure not to go over. 

There you are! Give away or enjoy!

Pendant Lights

These Pendant Lights were born from My Craft Ideas Board through Pinterest. It came from a Whirl It Lampshade I pinned almost a year ago. 

The basic concept was repurposed for my budget and creativity.

Here is what you'll need:

• Yarn (I used white, nothing fancy and very inexpensive)
• Glue (LOTS of it)
• Balloons (any size)
• Frisbee (for the glue)
• Battery operated tea lights
• Fishing line

Assembly line:

Blow up as many balloons as you would like to make and put them in a pile. A box works great as the kids and dogs usually end up playing around with them before you do. Pour some glue in the Frisbee and add a touch of water to it. The Frisbee is a great plate, as the depth works for a lot of glue and materials to soak inside of it. If you don't have a Frisbee use a plastic bowl or Tupperware like container. Here is the most important part, determine how you plan on hanging the balloons to dry! (dripping balloons are not the best thing to worry about at the last minute) I took a metal hanger, took the shape of the hanger apart and hooked it between 2 dining room chairs with a newspaper below to catch the drops of watery glue. One end of the hanger went through the lose part of the balloon right before the knot after each shell was done. It hung to dry overnight.

Assembly of the Shell: 

Dip the yarn into glue mixture. Get it nice and messy wet. Wrap the yarn around the balloons as little or as much as you would like. Cut the yarn when you are done. Feed the hanging contraption through the knotted end piece of the balloon to hang dry. Overnight works best. Once dry, pop the balloon. The balloon should end up in pieces inside your shell and might even stay attached to your hanging contraption. Take the balloon out with your fingers or tweezers.

Final Assembly:

Now that the shell is done, it is time to complete the assembly the pendant light. Take a piece of fishing line and attach it to the top of the yarn shell at a length preferable to your end result. Tuck inside a battery operated tea light. Turn On and Enjoy!

Uh Oh! I put too much yarn around the balloon and I don't have enough space to put the tea light in!!
A fix for this would be to cut an opening around the top and place the light fixture inside. Just turn it on before placement. Then, Enjoy!

Repurposed for you and I, -Jait Kat