{DIY cloth strip garland}

{DIY Cloth strip Garland}

After i posted pictures of our christmas tree this year, a few of you asked me to post something about the Garlands we had on our tree. I looked through our pictures on the computer & actually found some pictures I had taken when i made the cloth garland 2 years ago! {No such luck with the pompom garland} They aren't very detailed because i wasn't taking them for a blog post {this was way before our blog!} I just took them to document my progress.  but i think you will get the general idea. 

So, here is a quick tutorial on how to make a cloth strip garland :) 

You will need:

Jute & Fabric

Step 1: Cut your Jute to the length you want. We have a 9 ft tree, so i cut ours to 9 ft. 

Step 2: Cut your fabric into strips. I think i cut mine 1 1/2in" X 6 1/2in". {Its been a while!} 

I also used 3 different fabrics to add texture. I used burlap, white linen & a checkered fabric.

Step 3: Place your fabric strips one by one under the jute

Step 4: Tie your fabric into a knot around the jute. Double knot for your thinner fabrics. 

Step 5: Slide your tied fabric strip into the clump of other fabric strips, Clumping them together as tightly or as loosely as you want. 

Step 6: Keep tying fabric strips onto your jute until they cover the length of your jute. 

This project is super easy but very time consuming. I think it took me probably a total of 3 hours. 

Step 7: Put it on your tree :) It adds that extra special personal touch! 

This is the 3rd year we have used ours & it has held up nicely! 

Now back to my morning coffee with our homemade vanilla bean sugar {Will post tutorial soon} :) yum! 

Happy Friday!! 

{36 weeks & baby update}

{36 weeks}

3d ultrasounds are so neat! Isn't she just darling? Such a chunky little monkey! Dr says she weighs 5.2 pounds right now.
Cannot wait to meet her!
 The majority of my pregnancy little Giuliana has been Breech, meaning she is head up rather then head down. My 36 week ultrasound on monday confirmed that she is indeed still breech! Not a good thing as we are quickly approaching our due date. We talked about different options with my Doctor & decided we will give her another week to try to turn on her own & then attempt to manually rotate her through a procedure called External Cephalic version  if she hasn't moved by next tuesday. I am very nervous about this procedure.. I keep praying that Giuliana will just move on her own before tuesday. Dr says that there is a chance that during the procedure i could go into labor & we may  need to do an emergency c-section, or if we cant get her to move, we will still have to do a c-section. I am just so anxious and nervous about the whole thing..
 With all of the crazy abnormal things we have had go on through out our pregnancy, this is the one thing that has really made me the most nervous & scared.. I think it is because of the chance that we could have our baby next tuesday, that just seems so soon! & i hadnt really thought about having a c-section. I had just always thought about natural birth! So.. lots to think about. With all the risks, there is also the high chance that everythign will go successfully & giuliana will be moved into the right position, & the pregnancy will proceed with no more complications! This is what i am hoping for. We are ready to meet our little girl, but only if she is truly ready to meet us.

please keep our little family in your thoughts this week as we prepare for the procedure next week. Hate to admit it but i have been losing lots of sleep over this. I know it is all in God's hands & whatever is meant to happen will happen! 

{Putting up the Christmas tree}

Every year, for as long as i can remember, my family has always put up the christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. When i got married, William & I kept that tradition! 

This year was really exciting for us, because we got to use our Ruffle christmas tree skirt that i made a while back :) & our little Giuliana could be here any day! So this holiday season is very exciting for us :) 

Almost all the ornaments & decorations on our tree have a special meaning to us. Every year, as we pull out the ornaments, we reminisce about where we got the ornament and where we were in life at the time. It is always a blast remembering :)! 

{Even Irwin is exited about Christmas this year!}

{Every year, i  make something for our tree. This year, i made the tree skirt. Last year i made the pom pom garland. The year before that i made the fabric garland.}

Do you have any special Christmas/Holiday Traditions?? 

{Upcycled baby bumper}

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know we did! We ate thanksgiving dinner TWICE {One with my family, one with William's family}... ugh... i feel sick just typing it. But it was a wonderful day! I love our family & it is always so nice to get everyone all together.
Now, onto crafting :)
So i have said it before & I will say it again, I love thrift stores & second hand stores!

 Why? I'M CHEAP! & i admit it. 

After a post i did a couple of days ago about the Ruffle crib skirt i made, a couple of people emailed my personal email asking where i got my crib bumper that they saw in the picture. This picture to be exact>>

I got the crib bumper at a thrift store for $3.

Other thrift store finds we have upcycled for Giulianas room:

*Old Crib skirt- $1 at thrift store vs. $30 or higher retail- What i did with it

*Blank canvas- $2 at thrift store vs $20 at craft store- What i did with it

Any ways, the $3 Crib bumper was in perfect condition, & a much better option than paying $30 or more for a new crib bumper at a regular store. 

It makes sense in my mind at least.

I don't know what store it originally came from, all i know is that it had no stains & it was pink! 

I took it home, washed it MULTIPLE times, {just for good measure}, & went to work on it, making it my own. Here is what we did to add a little flare & upcycle this old & used baby bumper.  

{Upcycled baby bumper}

I never took a before picture... but i think you will get the general idea :) 

Cut ribbon of your choice to the length of your choice, making sure that the pieces are long enough to tie around the slats of your crib. 

Right below the original ties on the bumper, pin the ribbon in place..

Do this on the top & bottom of the bumper.

After you pin your ribbons in place, Go ahead & Snip off the old ties. 

Using your sewing machine, anchor your new ties very well.

It should look like this :) Very easy! once you have anchored all of your new ties, pull out all of the pins, & you're done!

Tie your new, unique bumper onto your crib. 

It is a good way to subtly bring another color into the room, & have a little fun or to just replace the yucky old ties! 

Simple & easy project. 

Enjoy!

 Happy Saturday! 

{give thanks}

" Now, our God, we give you thanks, & praise your glorious name"

~ 1 Chronicles 29:13

 Happy thanksgiving!

Love, The Johnstons