Project "Read More"

I am employing several sneaky little tactics in an effort to promote healthy reading habits in our home, one of them being to create a couple of fun little reading nooks for the kiddos!  Today I FINALLY got around to working on (and, SHOCK, actually finishing) this first one...it's in our playroom, and the kids L-O-V-E it!  I still need to add a light, and this weekend we're installing rain gutter bookshelves like these and these.  I can hardly wait!  This is the PERFECT solution to adding bookshelves (ideally allowing books to be forward-facing) without taking up any of the shrinking floor space in our family/play room!  Okay....here's the new Book Nook!  Enjoy!

So, there is a 36 inch space on either side of our entertainment center between it and the wall.  

This little corner used to be a cluttered heap of toys, 

but I had a vision that it would someday be a fun, inviting, whimsical little nook 

just begging for a little pre-schooler to curl up in with a good book.

I have a 4-y-o boy and a 3-y-o girl, so I needed something gender neutral, 

so I was super excited when I found this smokey blue fabric with 

multi-colored circles...some pink--her favorite, and some orange--his favorite!

My little bookworms!

Pennant details...love this scallop stitch on my sewing machine, and I love the extra little pops of color achieved by adding the ribbons in between each pennant.

I'd love to hear how you promote good reading habits in your homes!

The Important Things...:0)

So my house is a DISASTER zone, BUT I made this adorable 4th of July wreath!  Priorities right?

I hope you all are having fun red, white, and blue-ing your houses!  I sure am!

self reliance

Project self-reliance is in full swing!  First step:  canning.  Step two:  gardening.  Step three:  sewing.  In the early winter, I successfully made a few batches of cran-strawberry jam.  I've got a 5-gallon bucket (need a big crock in the worse sort of way!) of pickles brewing as I write.  I'll finish those up in the morning, and I'm searching for ideas on my next canning project!  I LOVE this new-found hobby!