Finding Enchantment First Installment

The first month of 2017 has passed.

Regardless of your political views, there is plenty of disenchantment surrounding us.

I challenged myself to find enchantment in a disenchanted world this year.

I discovered that it wasn't so hard to do this.
I discovered it is just taking the time to look for those enchanting moments and things and RECOGNIZE them.

Here are a few things that enchanted me in February! 

Spending days with our Sweetwater Grandboy has to top the list! 

This Grandma is constantly enchanted by watching him grow and change.

When I figured out that when he walks in the door and says "BOK", what he really means is "I'm BACK".  Truly enchanting!

A Trick To Make Really Tiny Bows

Chances are....
If you are a regular Sweetwater Style reader, you know that this is one philosophy heartily agree with!

I have posted a bunch of times with tutorials for making pretty bows and thrifty sources for wired ribbon.  If you want to check it out....here is the link:  BOW TUTORIAL POST CLICK HERE TO READ IT!

I thought I knew pretty much everything there was to know about making bows.
Oh foolish me!

Goodwill Love

Sweetwater Style is all about thrifty shopping and Goodwill is definitely one of my favorites.
In fact, I even have a tab called Goodwill Hunting that gives tips for shopping this great thrifty source.

I realized that it has been a while since I shared some of my "finds" at the thrift store.
That doesn't mean I haven't been to Goodwill on a regular basis! In fact, I try to get there at least once a week.
I usually go on Wednesdays and join all the other "seniors" for the 25% discount day!
Or...I take a load of donations and use the 25% off coupon that you get with your receipt!


 
My latest trip to "Boutique Bonne Volonté" (that is Goodwill for the uninitiated) was pretty successful.

No Sew Tailored Bedskirt Tutorial

A couple of weeks ago, I bought a new comforter set for the guest bedroom. It isn't fancy schmancy...just a "bed in a bag" deal from Target.

The price was right.
So  into the cart it went.

When I got home....
I took the bedding out of the bag.

It looks great

The print is nice.
It is an update that still works with the paint color in the room.

The texture of the fabric is really soft and smooth.





I was super happy with my purchase.....until....I unfolded the bedskirt.
That is....if you can call a sleazy, lightweight piece of gray fabric a skirt!
There was no pleating or gather to the thing.
It hardly covered the edge of the bed and gapped at the corners.
I knew I would have to upgrade this in short order.

Free Graphic Design Tool

I have always been fascinated by graphic design.
I admire people who can DIY their own beautiful graphic designs.
I am NOT one of those people!


That is why I am so in love with CANVA!
This on-line graphic design tool is free with sign up.




What Is Canva?
Canva is a free tool that is available over at Canva.com which you can use to create graphic designs.

The tool is designed to make designing simple and provides templates that are very professional looking.

There are posters, flyers, cards, facebook headers, instagram, and so many more.

I am obsessed with the photo collage and the posters.

You can also make a custom sized graphic for almost any purpose.

Styling Shelves is SO Hard for me

Do any of you struggle with styling shelves?

I certainly do.

I always set out with great aspirations.

I always think that I will pare down and come up with a cleaner more open look.

BUT.....I sort of have THIS problem!

Case in point.....

All of these shiny objects called to me from the thrift store shelves.

I love interesting pieces of silver plate.  Especially when I can have them for around $5 a shot!

The collection is growing....

It lives on the shelves in the dining room.

I have a love hate relationship with these shelves! 

I want the pieces on display and easy to get at.

We use them all the time. 

BUT

Organizing/styling them is always a challenge.

I decided that this time I would get it right!

My One Word: Enchantment

source

My ONE WORD for 2017 is.....wait for it.....

The message at our Christmas Eve service this year was focused on ways to find enchantment in a disenchanted world.

Holiday Decor Transition

Whew!  

This holiday season seems to have flown past....

and yet it also seems like the Christmas decor has been around forever!

Was it because Thanksgiving was early this year?

Was it because we decorated the Festival Tree a whole week before Thanksgiving?

This year, I noticed that my Christmas Decor Style had changed.

I wouldn't call it minimalist....but I definitely limited the things that I used this year.

It also felt like I was sort of "organic" in the way I approached the actual decorating process.

Instead of going all out and doing every bit of decorating in one day, I spread it out over a couple of weeks.

I added a touch of Christmas to different areas each day.

AND

I only put out the things we actually LOVE!

Would you believe that there were actually boxes of decor that never made it out of the closet!

Now it is time to UNDECORATE! 

Gift Wrapping for a Neat and Tidy Christmas Morning!!

Every year....I promise myself to get all of the holiday shopping done early!

Every year....I totally fail at actually doing it!

I know I am not alone....

otherwise why would a google search for last minute gifts get 18,000,000 hits?

Source

Boughs, Bows and Beverage Party

Oh my, it has been even busier than usual here at Sweetwater.

Sweetwater Floral Design had the honor of creating all the floral decor for a wedding last Saturday!

Doing the flowers for a wedding is lots of fun, but oh so stressful!  

We were thrilled that the bride was happy with the results of our efforts. 

We were also thrilled that the temp last Saturday was above freezing and not the 11 degrees it was just a week later.

The events here on Friday night and Saturday morning were a lot less stressful and every bit as creative and beautiful as the wedding flower project.

Sweetwater Floral hosted what we call "Boughs-Bows-and Beverage" events.

This is a great way to gather some friends for a few hours of fun.

The best part is that everyone goes home with something beautiful.