DIY: Loose Leaf Tea Bags

Good evening! Hope wherever you were today was as sunny as my hometown!

The sunshine always helps me to stay really productive and upbeat, I think my day was a total success.

Anyway, as promised here is some more Valentine DIY fun! This little gift will be sure to remind your loved ones how much they warm your heart:)

I love tea! I drink far too much of it and I love trying new flavors especially if recommended by friends! Here is a great way to share some your favorites with you friends.

1.loose leaf tea 2. coffee filters 3. stapler 4. string/yarn

5. measuring spoon 6. scissors 7. scrap paper

1. take your coffee filter and cut off the sides so it is more rectangular

2. add your tea. I used about a teaspoon but you can add more or less depending on how strong you like your tea.

3. folding. this is the hardest part to show. you need to fold it over twice if that makes any sense. the result should be what is in the picture, if you only fold it once the tea will slip out when you add the water.

4. now fold the coffee filter in half with the seam facing in. fold your triangle down (you may need to cut a little extra off the top) add your string and staple.

5. cut your heart out and staple to the other end of your string.

6. enjoy! The tea bags will be slightly smaller than average ones, dont worry they will work the same:) Repeat with other flavors and make all your friends little tea samplers for Valentines Day! Yippie!

You can pick up a tea cup at any of your local thrift stores to really complete the gift.

Enjoy a warm drink with someone you cherish as you celebrate love this Valentines Day.

more tomorrow,

xo j

DIY: Heart Sweater

I cannot believe it we are less than a week away from my favorrrriteee holiday!

I will not go on a major rant this year as I did last year, instead I am choosing to just overwhelm and overload you with as many vanentine-y DIYs as I can cram in the next few days!

So lets get going... three... two... one...

Need something cute to wear on Valentines Day but your bank account isn't looking like you can swing it? Here is a super easy way to give something you already have a festive second life without breaking the bank!

1. an old sweater or fitted long sleeve 2. piece of felt (or left over scraps) 3. scissors 4. embroidery floss 5. needle 6. pins (optional)

1. Cut hearts out from your pieces of felt. The size and number of hearts is totally up to you! feel free to play with size and color that will look best on the garment you chose.

2. Position hearts on shirt in desired pattern. You might realize you need more or less hearts to fulfill your design, theres no right or wrong for this project.

small tip! if you get the hearts perfect and do not want to risk losing your design feel free to pin the hearts in place.

3. Take your embroidery floss and thread your needle, dont forget to knot the end! start stitching around the outside of the heart.

4. Enjoy! Support the season of love and look lovely doing it!

Many more projects coming in anticipation of Happy Hearts Day.

Hope you're having a wonderful evening,

xo j

I think I'll go to Boston.

If you "follow" me on any other social media you probably know that over the weekend I ran away. Pretty legitimately too, I was sort of proud.

I am the kind of girl who likes lots of organziation and lots of lists. If I am going on a trip I make lists of what I bringing, lists of food to buy or prep, and lists of what I have packed for each day. I am slightly crazy, its okay if you're thinking it.

But last week was one of "those weeks", when no matter how hard you are trying to stay positive, or surround yourself with encouraging people, or stand back up, something or someone is there to push you back down. I reached a breaking point and no longer felt like I could breathe.

So Friday morning, with no lists, and no preparation we packed a car and left to see our Boston family.

I need it. I needed to be reminded of community, that there are people routing for you. People that would give up their own comfort to have you stay and make you breakfast:)

I needed to be reminded of family, and not necessarily by blood. A family that can set everything aside, stress, deadlines, arguments, just to be together.

I needed to be reminded of how perfectly imperfect life is, how no matter how hard you plan and no matter how much you organize, sometimes you just have to let go and have it happen as it may.

I'm not sure if I have been able to be this clear minded in quite some time.

I am now going to overwhelm you with pictures because I cannot decide between them, our time together was far too enchanting.

one of my favorite parts of the weekend was all the meals being prepared all together.

Girls day out to find B the dress of her dreams. Yes, my best friend and I are getting married in the same calendar year, and yes we are in each others weddings.

delish lunch!

oh we met a bear, I mean dog.

Saturday night bowling with everyone!!

On sunday I went to a church that I would literally move for. I have not felt that in many many years. After we got some coffee and walked on the beach, I had no idea how much I missed the northeastern water or how much peace it would bring me.

they sort of have a bromance.

greg and I collected sea glass along the ocean because its our favorite.

Our last little visit was an awesome place in Salem for lunch.

family. haha

Lin, Greg took this picture for Mike, please be sure to show him:)

You have no idea how grateful I am for these girls. My sisters, for oh so many years.

If you want to see the boys adventure while we were having girl time head over to pal Danny's website Ebersole Photography, he is a genius with a 35mm.

I am so refreshed, and ready to move forward.

xoxo j

ps. I just wanted to give a *big* thank you to Mama Wilkins without which this weekend would not have been possible. You are the best!

Dear friends, you win.

[EKKK! I feel like my friends are going to be so proud..]

On several occasions, friends of mine have felt led to have interventions with me concerning my work, prices, my self worth (ha!), promoting myself, ect. ect.

If you know Greg and I personally you would know we are the worst self promoters.

If a child even touches something on our table at a show we are heartbeats away from just giving it to them. We just are happy we make things and want to make sure they find homes with people who will love our creations. People often ask if we have a website, Etsy, or even a card and the answer is always no (with a very large smile). Usually Miss Lisa Barker is shaking her head at us from her table and I have gotten quite used to this exchange of events.

But sometimes you have to grow and commit fully to your work. I am learning it doesn't mean you are conceited, rather, you just take great pride in what you do, you value you work and yourself and therefore you share it.

I got a package in the mail today, our first step in putting ourselves out there...

That is right, real business cards.

I am so happy to have them and they look just lovely (thanks to my Tree:)

I am getting braver in 2012, I tell ya. And I wont lie I am preeettty excited about it.

xoxo j