**** I have had several requests for links to things I post – just wanted to point out that whenever you see something in red text, it is a link ****
Monday Monday…thankful for another week to be alive! You know what I find inspiring?…..friends who use their unique gifts to be a joy in the lives of others. My friend Lori…she is one of those girls. Lori and I are about as opposite as you can get. She is the life of the party. I am the wall flower. You can’t help but be happy when she is around. She brightens a room. I remember the very first time I met her.
I was dropping off my son at preschool. We both had daughters in infant car seats. My girl was in the tan one her older brother used. Lori’s daughter was in one with zebra stripes and hot pink ruffles. I noticed the car seat long before I got to meet the mom carrying it. Randomly one day, Lori came out from behind that carseat and said something like, “Hi. I’m Lori. I read your blog. You should write a book. Really. Write a book. Stuff like that Rice Night your family does. Write it and I’ll buy it. Nice to meet you.” She’s an awesome encourager….and a great friend. I’m thankful for that crazy loud car seat that caught my eye…and more so for the mom carrying it. Love you Lori and your loud car seat!
Lori has been a designer for the past two Clean Slates I have worked on (2010 here, 2011 here). Last month she started classes called DIY Design. The idea basically is she has a craft…you can do exactly what she does or change it up to suit you. The first month was art from pizza boxes and burlap. This month was a scrap fabric lampshade.
She does them in the morning and at night. I think I got so excited, I forgot that FireCracker would be with me (kids aren’t really supposed to come). I figured I’d go for as long as I could. So, with boots, tutu, dolls and some crayons we headed over for some girl time crafting.
The classes are held in a cute little shop on Main St., On the Corner….lots of cute vendors.
This is Lori’s version…and Lori holding FireCracker who had reached her crafting limit.
Here is my lampshade….then plastic removed and starting my version.
My girl pooped out, so I finished mine at home. This is such a fun project to use all those leftover scraps from other projects.
My girl thought it made a great hat. Mine was completely inspired by Dottie Angel.
It looks happy in my newly painted white entry. A little random? Yep. A little fun? Yep. Lori’s next class involves old windows and easy ways to change them up for the holidays (you can buy a window for $3.00, other supplies are provided). You can get more information on her facebook page (look at the info tab). The next class Nov. 8th (10:15am and 6:30pm)…then a new project on Dec. 6th. It makes for a fun night with girls. I love seeing Lori excited about this new adventure.
It is always inspiring to me when women (and men) figure out what they love and then find ways to share that with others. It reminds me of Meg and her Craft Weekends. Rachel and her e-courses. Emily and her Embrace the Camera. And SO MANY MORE….women just doing their thing. Encouraging other women. Inspiring others.
Basically, just being awesome.
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Be Awesome Today Poster: Lucius Art (got this is the Swag bag from the Whatever Craft Weekend!)
Be So Happy…. : My pinterest via Life Made Lovely
by AshleyAnn
show hide 27 comments
becca campbell - what a great pick me up on a monday- yes your craft is so peppy! but i’m pepped up by “be awesome today”(:
thanks again, ashley! happy monday!
Alana Beall - Absolutely Lovely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amber - oh my. every single little corner in your home is so adorable! i so want my house to be like that!!! jealous… and inspired! lol.
e l l a - So sweet!!! I absolutely love the photo of your girl with the lampshade over her head – so cute
Happy Monday! xo
Laura - It looks so fun hanging there! I agree, those women are all so inspiring!
colleen from alabama - AWESOME! but NOW you have to tell us what on earth you did (or she did) with Pizza Boxes and Burlap – I have both!
Please share! I’m not anywhere near Oklahoma but i sure would take her classes if i was!
Brook Stewart - Thank you for sharing this fun class! I’ve “Liked” Lori’s Facebook page and am looking forward to trying to make it to one of her future classes…Some crafty friends of mine down by OKC are always looking for a fun place to meet up and this would be perfect!!
Brook Stewart - Oh and for the person above me–if you go to her FB page and look at the photos, there are some of the pizza boxes…what a super cheap/easy/amazing piece of wall art you could make!! It looks like a canvas covered in burlap!
Lori - WOW! Thanks! I forgot about the fabulous carseat cover. too funny. You are an inspiration and my mentor- even though you never really agreed to be my mentor. Love your lampshade-it’s so happy in that hall! If I make one person smile a day-that’s 365 people a year that I have encouraged…I if make 2 people smile a day- well, that’s an whole bunch! :0) hugs.
Anna Joy - great diy!
cailan - Superb encouragement for me this Monday morning – Lori sounds like someone I’d like to be more like, too. What a delightful idea and love your new, bright, quirky entry.
mandi@herbanhomestead - Wow! I really love your lampshade. Don’t you just love that Dottie Angel? Oh to spend some time in her mossy shed…
ingrid - so fun!
i love all the crafty goodness!
i hosted my 1st pinterest crafting party yesterday. borrowed 6 huge long tables and grouped them as one huge table in backyard. had powerstrips for all the sewing machines, glue guns, ironing boards and 1 blender for making paper. i sewed 50 feet of bunting to string above the tables. it was incredible – every girl took the call to craft to it’s max – they brought it all! some came with huge bins. so much inspiration was taken from your beautiful blog! just love it
Amy - Oh how fun!!!! Nov 8, huh? I can do that. Would it be insane to drive 2 hours just for that? Cuz it looks like serious fun.
Like a smaller version of Craft Weekend!!
Brandy Jane Mabel - Love it! You really have inspired the crafty side of me!
Rebecca - This is one (of many) reasons I love your blog! You let me know things about my town/state that I would have otherwise never knew existed! Plus I love your style! That lamp shade is just too cute! Will you please be my BFF, ha ha
chantelle - GREAT Monday post! Can’t wait to try my own lampshade!
Jennifer - What an awesome read on my Monday lunch break! Thank you for posting great stuff about our town! I had no idea that crafting party was even going on. I’m going to email Lori and sign up! Thanks for all your inspiration Ashley!!!
Stephanie Catlett (Mom's Happy Place) - LOVE LOVE LOVE this blog! It just gets better and better! I really like the “Happy” statement at the end. thank you for making the time to share with us, it brightens my day!
Seriously Sassy Mama - I love the lampshade! I must make one!
Rachael Brown - Oh oh oh I am so excited! Just this weekend I rungaed around our local recycle centre and got myself 8 old lampshades! At $2 a piece – alot cheaper than brand new designer ones! Now I have been hunting for ideas the last few days – and for our wee girls room this is exactly what I am going to do! Thanks! As always very inspiring x
Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - I LOVE your new entryway! It looks amazing! Great job… and firecracker’s boots are killin’ me~ so, so, so precious!
Kristen B - So, I got an email from mPix on Saturday with your kids faces in it!!! Sooo cute!
Paige - I hated to miss this craft night! Last time was so much fun. Thanks to Lori’s ideas, my RV is pretty much rockin’! ANd….I remember the carseat too. I wanted one.
meg duerksen - i think maybe kimberlee and i should drive down for one!!
then WE can make a craft.
and hang with you.
what do you think??
Alice H - On The Corner is one of my favorite stores! Can’t wait til YOU start selling stuff there, hint hint
Does Lori do Christmas Gathering? The name sounds familiar.
My daughter (she is now 12.5 years old) was my first child and she had a boy carseat. It was navy blue, tan, and red and it was on sale for super cheap with a stroller at Babies R Us! It was perfect for my son who came along 18 months and 3 days later.
angie - i just love every bit of encouragement you pour into your posts! you rock girl! (and i LOVE that blue frame in your entry way! i’ve had a pin on pinterest that is very similar but i can’t find a frame like that! i need to hit up some garage sales this weekend