TORN NAPKIN ART TILES DIY

This is one of those rare projects that I could do over and over and over again! It's easy and artistic and fun, fun, FUN! Even if you are not "crafty" this would be one for you to try.

I bet I could even wallpaper a wall with torn napkins! Just kidding... I'm done with wallpaper for a decade or so. I have wasted months of my life scraping wallpaper OFF walls!

Do you have a napkin addiction like I do? I cannot go past pretty paper napkins without getting them. I got this problem from my mother!  So instead of napkins in my drawer they are hanging on my wall!

Now, let's get going with this easy peasy diy...

THE SCOOP #116

I'm in the mood to party and get lots and lots of inspiration!!!  How about you?

Before we begin this weeks Scoop, did you see how I decorated those chippy frames in the dining room?

Here's a look...

5 QUESTIONS YOU ASKED STONEGABLE

I get lots and lots of questions about StoneGable each week.

And many of the same ones keep popping up!

Here are 5 questions that StoneGable readers want to know and my answers...

ON THE MENU... WEEK OF APRIL 28, 2014

Hi friends! I have a super busy week this week! I'm fluffing and staging and decorating some room at StoneGAble for a very special event I'll tell you about later this month! I am over-the-moon excited to share it with you!

If you make one thing on the menu it has to be the SPICY OVEN BBQ RIBS. They are uber easy to make and everyone loves them!!! Don't forget to double the MAGIC RUB recipe in the menu. I use it on so much I grill and bake and I bet you will too!

Hope you all have a yummy week...

Now here's what's ON THE MENU...

BRINGING FRIENDS TO THE THRONE OF GRACE

 Ancient home in Israel

What do you do when illness or tragedy or troubles or anxiety or difficulties strike someone you know?

It could be friend, or family member or even a person you hear about!

Let me tell you a story about a man with a debilitating illness and how his friends helped him in a time of his great need...

CHIPPY PICTURES IN THE DINING ROOM

It took awhile, but I finally filled the chippy frames in the dining room.

I literally had hundreds of great suggestions and I thank everyone so very much for all your creative ideas.

I settled on making something for the frames myself. This was one of the most fun projects I have done in a long time!

Here is what the frames looked like before I filled them...

CHIMICHURRI SAUCE~ ONE OF THE BEST SAUCES YOU WILL EVER MAKE!

The first time I had Chimichurri Sauce was on a steak at my sister Lisa's home. She is an all-star fabulous cook... so anything she makes is over-the-top amazing.

This sauce, so easy to make and really not very fancy, was one of the best and most flavorful things she has ever made for me!

Chimichurri sauce can transform any meat or veggie to gourmet status! Just a drizzle and it works it's yummy garlic herby magic!

If you make one new thing for spring and summer grilling it should by this luscious sauce...

SHADES OF SPRING GREEN TABLESCAPE

When I think of Spring... I think of GREEN... in all of it's glorious shades and tones!

Today's tablescape pays homage to the beautiful greens of Spring.

Experts say that all greens work well together... and for the most part I find that to be true. 

So, I'm playing with Spring greens and setting a relaxed and breezy table with a big splash and pop another color that also loves to play with green...

OLIVE BASKET-GET THE LOOK FOR LESS

Several years ago, before I knew what an olive basket was, I found one at a local Antique Market. I really liked it very very much! It was unusual and pleasing all at the same time.

Unfortunately, I passed it up because it was $35.00. UGH! If I only knew what a great buy the basket was and how popular they would be right now I would have scooped it up and danced joyfully out of the shop!

Since then, I see great vintage olive baskets used in decor everywhere! And the more popular they are getting the more expensive they are to buy!

So I jumped on the olive basket lovin' bandwagon and bought one at Walmart...

 Yes, Walmart...

THE SCOOP #115

Before we begin THE SCOOP this week I'd like to share a post I recently did about organization.

After a long long winter of recovery I have lots and lots or reorganizing to to! Are you a book and magazine collector like me? Here's an easy and sensible way to contain book and magazine clutter....

ON THE MENU... WEEK OF APRIL 21, 2014

Happy Monday!
Now that Easter is a day behind us and I am basking in the chocolate afterglow of the day, it's time to work off all the pilfering of the Easter baskets and get into some serious exercise and good eating!

If you live in my neck of the woods you will find me at the pool. Swimming and water aerobics are my exercises of choice. Swimming is easy on the joints and so much fun!!! I try to fit it in 3-4 times a week.

My other exercise is weeding!!!! I have lots and lots of garden clean up to do... and finally the weather is warm enough to get outside!


This week I'm using up that Easter ham and those dozens of hard boiled eggs! If you make one thing this week, try the EGG SALAD WITH CREAM CHEESE AND HERBS! You will be addicted... and you can get rid of all those eggs!

Now here's what's ON THE MENU...

EASTER 2014

WHY DO YOU SEEK THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD?

HE IS NOT HERE, BUT HAS RISEN!
Luke 24



HE IS RISEN, HALLELUJAH!

Happy and Blessed Easter!

LAST MINUTE EASTER IDEAS

Today I'm sharing a little LAST MINUTE EASTER INSPIRATION!

Most of these ideas are easy and don't take a whole lot of time... and can be used for this Easter!

C'mone! You still have time to get Easter creative and do one or two of these hippity-hoppity-Easter's-on-it'-way projects...

ORGANIZING BOOK AND MAGAZINE CLUTTER

I love books... and I have an obsession with magazines. I can get lost for hours reading and being inspired!

But books and magazines can be a huge source of disorganization and can look so untidy... and get so out of control!

I'm all about organization and finding smart and easy ways to keep my home neat and clutter free!

Here's a couple of easy ways I'm solving the book clutter problem at StoneGable...

KITCHEN HERB GARDEN IN A BASKET

As I'm writing this post it is snowing outside... really! It's been a long hard winter and for the most part a very chilly spring here at StoneGable.

I'm itching to dig in the dirt and start Spring planting!

The first thing I like to plant are hardy herbs. However, even for those herbs that can stand cool weather... it's still a bit too chilly! They will still get easily nipped by the cold!

So, instead of planting them out in my herb garden, I'm planting a small kitchen gardens in a fun bushel basket!

It's easy, economical and the plants can be used as needed right now...

THE SCOOP #114

I'm so glad you are joining me and 4 other hosts for THE SCOOP this week.

It's Easter week and here at StoneGable I'm planning a week of posts I hope you will enjoy! See above to know what to expect!

Here's one fun Easter project I just posted ...

BUNNY FOLD NAPKIN DIY

Isn't this little bunny napkin adorable?  What a fun way to greet family and guest at an Easter gathering!

All you need is a freshly pressed napkin, twine, a button, a needle and some thread and a hot iron. I made 8 bunny napkins in just about 20 minutes!

With just a little effort and my step-by-step instructions you can make these way-too-cute bunny napkins for your Easter table too...

DO YOU KNOW MY KING?

This is my all time FAVORITE video! Please watch this beautiful video!

I weep every time I see it...

Today is Palm Sunday... a day that marks the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as the King Of Kings!

He was ready... but the world was not!

Do YOU  Know My King... I pray you do!

EASTER BUNNY BRUNCH

Easter tables don't have to be pastel or frilly... or cutsie! Even if a table does have Easter eggs and bunnies on it, it can take on a somewhat sophisticated yet relaxed look.

This year's Easter brunch table is all about keeping things informal, adding Easter elements and still looking  grown up!

I used a complimentary color mix of navy and burnt orange... very different for Easter!  And of course,  lots of white to keep the table looking crisp and fresh.

Can an Easter table be achieved by using non-traditional colors... just wait and see...

EASY PUFF PASTRY PIZZA

I am the unofficial queen of puff pastry! I love love love it... and use it all the time!

Today I'm sharing how to make a VERY easy and elegant pizza using my favorite crust... puff pastry!

It's easy enough for a weeknight meal and fancy enough for company! In other words, Puff Pastry Pizza is a real crowd pleaser...

SPRING FOYER

Here's a little peek at part of my foyer. Bobby is done painting the walls (Benjamin Moore Sonnet) and now we are working on having a small settee slipcovered and replacing the mirror above the buffet.

Even though we are still painting the trim I decided to bring a little spring into the foyer...

SPRING BURLAP WREATH DIY

Last year when I made my burlap wreath little did I know that I would get so much use out of it!

I've decorated it for 3 seasons now and it has been outside in the worst winter we have seen in decades... and it still looks like the first day I made it!

I thought it was time to dress it up for Spring...

THE SCOOP #113

Hi StoneGable friends... are you ready for lots of inspiration? Great!

Welcome to ..

THE SCOOP #114

Get ready for 5 hosts and hundreds of fun and creative posts...

5 TIPS TO ORGANIZE A MESSY DRAWER

Oh, boy! Can my kitchen drawers get out of hand!!! 

YIKES! I wonder what is at the bottom of that drawer?

 Just take a look at this mess!

But with just a little time and a plan my drawer went from the mess above to an organized and neat drawer where I can find everything easily!

Here's how the drawer looks now. all pretty and organized...

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK AT STONEGABLE

Are you thinking Easter dinner yet? Well, here at StoneGable I am in full planning mode! This week I'll be making my list and checking it twice (opps, wrong holiday)... so I have everything in order for Easter weekend! It's all paper work right now, but after next weekend it will be all about shopping, cooking and getting the house ready for family and guests!

Even though my children are in their 20's I still give them Easter baskets.  This year they will all get their favorite chocolates and items they can use in their gardens. Each couple gets one big utilitarian basket all wrapped up just for them. So fun!

The weather is still unseasonably chilly so I am still in recipe transition! If you make one thing this week you should try the Asparagus Roll Ups with Cheese. So, so yummy!

Now here's what's on the menu...

HE IS RISEN FREE PRINTABLE

These are two of my very favorite verses, now put together in Chalkboard Art form for you  and ready to be printed off and framed...

THE ART OF FLOWERS

I recently attended a luncheon birthday party given by a dear friend of mine. To our great delight the table was sooooo beautiful and girly! We could all tell that Marilou, our host, put a whole lot of love into her vibrant and oh, so pretty tablescape! 

She placed a single rose at each place setting to greet us. It was such a happy surprise!

There is something about getting flowers... and there is a real art to flowers when they are presented with such love and care...

Here is the beautiful rose that greeted me...

SPRING FARMHOUSE KITCHEN VIGNETTE

Decorating my kitchen seems to always start with a vignette on my kitchen table. It sets the mood for the rest of the farmhouse kitchen.

This spring I am so inspired by all shades of orange! From creamsicle to burnt orange, I am loving tangy pops of color in my white kitchen!

I hope you get inspired too!

SOUP TUREEN LIDS ON THE WALL

I'm sure in YOUR time you think this whole dining room total make over thing is taking forever... but in my time... well, it is too!

But I am so close to being totally done with the dining room... and finding and adding the soup tureen lids to the dining room wall is one of the finishing touches!

I'm so excited to show you...