Feature Fridays Revisits....Sneezy Detour!

I have definitely been enjoying doing Feature Fridays (even if I am late on occasion....), but today I thought that it would be fun to look back at a few of the blogs that I featured early on in the Feature Fridays and see what they have been up to lately!  Today I want to check back in with one of the first blogs I featured - Sneezy Detour!

So, what has Sneezy Detour been up to?  You may remember back from my first post on this great blog, that this blog's tagline is "Embracing high pollen-count in Eugene, OR", and it seems quite timely, as June is when the pollen count in Eugene get's just outrageous.  Grass seed is blooming all over the place and just hanging out in the valley.

Anyway, Tracy at Sneezy is a wonderful photographer and catches snapshots and glimpses into the beauty of Oregon. 

I love this pic of the North Jetty in Florence, OR.  

And her recent posts and photos of the Eugene March against Monsanto...

(This is totally Eugene!  I had to miss this march, so I am glad that she captured photos of it.  So cool!)

I especially love this pic and her comment.  

One day in Eugene, all these utility boxes were suddently painted pink (kind of pepto pink).  A few days later, messages started showing up on them.  I agree with Tracy, this is definitely one of my favorite corners in Eugene, too.  I always imagine back to a time when huge trees as big as the building sat, shading some ducks.

I hope you will check out Tracy's visually stunning blog and great commentary and tell her hello!

Happy Fr-aturday! :)

Ash

Feature Fridays is back, baby! Let's meet Noble Knits!

It is long overdue that I return to my blogging, especially Feature Fridays!  Today I am excited to share with you a blog who I discovered through my hours (and hours) on Pinterest.  (I am still unsure if Pinterest is the best thing to come along....or the worst!  I am on it way too much!)  But I digress.  This fun knitting blog is called Noble Knits.  I love their welcome message to their page, in particular this quote:

"Lots of people think knitting has to be complex and intimidating. Not us. We like to take a fun approach to knitting always remembering that it's a hobby - a great way to relax, unwind and relieve some stress."

It is a great point. I started out in fiber arts as a crocheter through and through, but eventually decided to try knitting.  And my first attempts made me think it was way too complicated.  But after a break and then trying it again, I am definitely glad I did. 

Anyway, I love this site because it has tons of great patterns and ideas for knitting.  For example, check out this cute cowl combo pattern:

Super cute, right?

Or how about this cowl? (I am into cowls a lot lately...)

I love that they have all these great one weekend patterns.  

What...oh, you don't knit?

That is ok.  This blog is still a lot of fun to peruse.  

Maybe you are still into yarn and crafting in other ways?  Then you should check out her great insider info on yarns, like the May Recap - Top 10 Yarns....

She also has a section for felting and for crocheting and more!

And if you do knit, they have an awesome resource for you.  The Knitting Doctor!  How cool is that?

So go poke around and maybe have some fun taking on a new, quick and satisfying new project.  Or just have fun looking at pretty projects in gorgeous yarns and ask your knitting friends to make you something.  

Thanks for sharing, Noble Knits, and happy Friday!

Ash

Ackk! I am behind again on my Feature Friday. But I still want to feature Fresh From Home!

Man...sometimes I am so bad!  I have no good excuse for being late on this Feature Friday, but good news is that I am finally doing it!  And I am feeling this week like being a super self sufficient backyard homesteader, so thus why I have chosen to feature Fresh From Home - Adventures in Backyard Homesteading!

I first came upon this blog from Pinterest (I know, shocker!) when I saw this hilarious pic...

I am not sure if everyone will think this is as funny as I do, but I swear that my chickens do this with the dog.  They love to wander in the house, and my dog watches them intently whilst they meander through the kitchen.  Silly animals.

So of course I had to see what else was going on at this blog.  And if you are into the homesteading where you are sort of mentality at all, you will enjoy this website.  She has lots of great tutorials and tips on growing stuff....like this post on sprouts...

As well as yummy and interesting recipes, like this one for Springerle Cookies.  

There is something about the old way that food looked like art.  I think about reading Little House on the Prairie and how they would use a strawberry butter mold to make the butter look nice.  A kind of pride in the food.  I think I must try this out.

And then of course she has some great posts on her chickens.  I was especially interested in this post about her bunny living with her chickens!  We have had a bunny, definitely a tame house pet, that must have gotten loose and has come to hang out in the yard.  Maybe it stays with the chickens sometimes...hehe...

Their bunny doesn't even care that the chickens threw dirt on it! So cute.

Anyway, head on over and check the site out.  Fun to check out tips on gardening, all the fun chicken posts, and of course good food and tips!

Happy Feature Friday on a Sunday! 

Ash

Feature Fridays returns (a little late) with Naughty Shorts!

One of my favorite ways to discover new and wonderful blogs is through craftgawker and pinterest.  I think it might be one of the only ways I would actually be able to find the awesomeness that I find!  And this week's Feature Friday is no exception!  I stumbled upon this pin when I was cruising around on pinterest recently of adorable dresses made from vintage sheets and knew I'd found a site I'd return to many times at Naughty Shorts!

I mean....how extremely adorable are these dresses?  They are amazing.

And after checking out her blog more, I found that not only does she love vintage materials, she just plain has a great blog!  She makes wonderful creations from the vintage materials she finds, she likes to craft in other ways and share them, and she loves to thrift!  I love some of the finds in this particular haul that she shared....

So neat!

And I can't say it enough....just seeing the great fabrics that she finds and sells or creates dresses from is so fun.  Her whole blog makes me want to go out and scour the thrift stores for some fun fabrics and neat finds.  I think I need a shelf like she has above!

And look that this stash!

L.O.V.E.

So go on over to Naughty Shorts and peruse the gorgeous fabrics, wonderful dresses, great photography and awesome thrift finds! Make sure to say hello while you are there!

Happy belated Friday!

Ash

Feature Fridays break...instead how about some garden fun and update to DIY Plant Markers!

I have been trying all week to get this blog post up!  So, I am taking a little break from my Feature Fridays to share this post.  Maybe not quite as exciting, but it is good to mix it up sometimes, right?

I am getting pretty excited about my little garden this year.  We have started with new, raised beds using cinder blocks.  I have one that is always shaded by a big pine tree, so that one is going to be the greens bed.  We have planted some yummy early greens in that bed and they are peeking their little heads up now!

And in the back there....that is my update to my shrink-dink (shrink plastic) plant markers!  I am so excited!  You may recall a post I had done before with a tutorial on making shrink plastic plant markers and attaching them to spoons?  Well, they were fun, but pretty basic.  I have had a lot of fun with new versions this year!  One of my friends helped me.  I wanted ones that even told the name of the seeds I was using.  I have to say, I am pretty proud of us. Hehe.  Check these out!

Each one is different and a lot of fun....arugula.... 

Cartouche style spinach....

Some Flashy Butter Oak Lettuce....

Mild Mesclun Mix....

London Springs Lettuce Mix...

This one is pretty cute  - see the little 'p's in there?  Because they are Sugar Snap Peas! hehe

And Oregon Sugar Snap Peas!

We made them a little small, so if you are making your own, err on too large.  They shrink a lot!  I would start with something at least 4-5 inches wide and a proportional height.

Finally, just for a giggle...look at this silly chicken.

I kept wondering how they were hopping the fence.....

Happy Friday!

Ash

Feature Fridays and Happy Loves Rosie

I decided that this week I needed another fix of adorable campers and caravans that have been fixed up to be almost too retro-cute to bear.  So, I went on over to Happy Loves Rosie, a blog that offers me just that. I mean, I could show you this pic right here and stop this whole post.  This is the epitome!

Right?!  But you then seriously need to check out the rest of her page, and of course, the whole post to see the interior of her cute little caravan.

Happy, the author of this blog, sounds like she would be a blast to hang out with.  And she has a keen eye for great vintage items, which she then sells at her online store.  I mean, seriously, she has some fun stuff, that I would almost pay the shipping overseas for!

Her blog is a retro feast for the eyes!  I was supposed to be writing this blog post, but instead just kept getting side tracked by the colorful images....like this one of her getting organized...

Look at the cute tins and teapots in the background, too!

And she even shares some great free vintage patterns and images, like this cute tea cosy pattern!

Ok, I need to show another picture of the caravan....so hard to choose!

In fact, you better head over there right now and see what I am talking about!

Happy Friday!

Ash

Feature Fridays....Tea Rose Home

I sorta missed my Feature Friday last week.  Whoopsy!  But I am back this week!  And this week I am excited to share a fun, crafty blog called Tea Rose Home.  It is a very sweet blog, with a lot of great tutorials.  I just love her style, and am having a lot of fun checking this site out.

I have been way into pom poms lately.  So I was loving this post on this great scarf!

I also just love this chair re-do!  I have been thinking about how to re-do some of my furniture lately.  Check this adorable chair out!

And then there is this awesome tutorial on an adorable embellished cardigan.   This is how I found this great blog, from a pinterest post with this fun tutorial.

SO, so cute!  I love this site now!  I am off to go peruse more!  I hope you will check it out and enjoy as much as I do!

Happy weekend!

Ash

Feature Fridays and Fresh Eggs Daily

Today I have been thinking about farming and thought I'd share something farmy with you.  I have also been thinking a lot about my chickens, as I lost my first chicken recently.  I have no idea why, as the others appear to all be fine, but I have been a bit of a worry wart since the incident.  So, I guess farming and chickens have been on the mind.

So when I found this lovely blog, Fresh Eggs Daily, I knew I had to share it with you all.  It is a fun blog that talks about the fun of owning chickens and gives a lot of tips and tricks for the funny little girls.

For example, she has a great list of things not to feed to your chickens for various reasons.  

This is a very good list, and goes further into the details than other lists I have found.  Very helpful!

I also like that she shares photos documenting each week on the farm.  I love to see farms and the funny animals that live on them, so it is super fun to see what goes on...like the end of January on her farm....

Very cool.  Someday I will have a couple horses.  I hope.

And to top it off, she shares DIY's and recipes.  I really need to try this clover french bread recipe!  I love that she is a reader of Mary Jane's Farm, which is one of my new favorite magazines, and where she got the basis for this bread.

If you are feeling a little like checking out some farm living, like I have been, go check out this fun blog and say hello.  And if you are thinking about getting chickens, do it!  They are so much fun and you get the awesome reward of delicious, rich eggs. 

Ash

Feature Fridays and Lazy Daisy Jones...

So sometimes I decide to look at a blog based solely on how cute the name is.  And today that paid off. I was searching for the perfect blog to feature on this week's Feature Friday, and came upon Lazy Daisy Jones.  I mean, that is a pretty adorable name.  And when I clicked it?  Well, happy to report that it is a perfect mix of retro, crochet, craft and fun! 

For example, check out these seriously fun and cute crochet monsters!  Teehee!

And this made me giggle!  Check out her redux of the ol' granny style doll toilet paper cover.  She made it a Scandi Doll.  I think this is so clever!  (And so much less creepy.)

And I am in love with this granny square and the colors....

Ok...I could go on and on about her crochet!  LOVE!  But her vintage finds are just as awesome, and need to be shared, too.  Check out how she refurbished this lamp!

Or how about these awesome vintage wooden hangers that she embellished?

Ok, I have to go look through her blog more now.  Hope you go do the same!

Thanks for sharing, Lazy Daisy Jones!

Ash

Feature Fridays and Jane's Apron

I have admittedly been spending way too much time on Pinterest and Craftgawker.  I have this funny routine where I check both of them after work to see what is new, and sometime I look at Pinterest in the morn while still waking up.  But, I am justifying it today by the fact that I have come upon some great new blogs to share with you all.  One of which is Jane's Apron.  

I have been on a serious vintage kick as of late.  Loving the 'glamping' style, my 70's dishes, and just a different time.  While peeking at fun stuff like this, I found Jane's Apron, which is just a fun, vintage sewing inspired blog.

I love all the vintage fashion, sewing related things she finds and makes on this blog.  The thing that first got me on her blog was a how to on printing onto tags.  I am planning on doing some of this for my etsy biz, and I wanted to see how she did it.  And the images she chose are also adorable!  

I also like this sweet and simple journal that she made.  The papers that she has found are too cute!

Such a cute idea.  I need to make one for me!

AND...I have been wanting to do this forever and I am even more inspired now....check out these super cute clipboards!

LOVE!  I have so many vintage patters that I could make color copies of or just take the pics from and use to make something like this.

And of course, she also shares her thrift shop finds.  I love these mugs that she found...

So go check out her fun blog, click around and get some vintage inspiration for your weekend.

Happy Friday!

Ash

Feature Fridays and IHeart Organizing!

Let me say, I am a very good political and volunteer organizer - which is my job.  BUT...when it comes to my home and the organization of stuff...maybe not so much.  

So it is a good thing that there are people in this world, like Jen at IHeart Organizing, that can break it down in fun ways for folks like me.  She has created a super successful blog off of her organizing skills.  And many of them are super fun and funky, which I love.

For example, take this cute re-do of a canister for the kitchen:

That is super cute!  Such a good idea.

I really like this this idea for organizing drawers using cereal boxes!  (Love upcycles!)

I really need to do this.  Very cool.

She also has this fun etsy store, with neat printables to help organize your life.  I want several of these.  I am sort of a a super nerd for this sort of stuff!

Of course, there is a lot more to check out!  Head on over and see how you can start working on getting more organized.  Thanks for sharing, Jen!

Happy Friday!

Ash

PS - Like checking out Feature Fridays?  Don't forget to follow the fun over here -----> :D

Feature Fridays...The Pearl...

Lately, I have been pondering life and what the future holds for me and my hubby (and animals).  We have talked a lot about living more simply, and perhaps downsizing to a small house with a significant (to us) piece of property.  One of our thoughts was to start out with a tiny house or a snazzed-up camper.  It might sound crazy, but I know folks that do it and are quite happy with their lifestyle.

Long story short, I have been looking a lot at cute little campers that have been redone to have a super home and super cute look to them.  While perusing different pics and sites, I came upon a new blog that I just love, called The Pearl. 

The Pearl is Kerrie's blog about her travels in her home away from home, their 1972 Timberline 'wee vintage travel trailer.'  

She continues to work on her awesome little camper trailer, and shares stories and pics of this life with others.  I just love the way she has redone this adorable little place - I would say it is a shabby chic or cottage style, and just too cute!  I have learned that this is also called "Glamping", and I am in love with the idea.

Here is her 'diner'...

Love the whites and sea foam green.  And the floors...  I see on her blog that they are going to do some renovations, so I am excited to see what those will bring!

She has also been featured in the magazine 'Romantic Country"...how cool is that?

Go check out her site for a fun and different kind of blog.  I love that I can go there and dream about a fun, romantic lifestyle, as well as get inspiration for decorating and living simply.

Thanks for sharing, Karrie!

Ash

Feature Fridays...Two Men and a Little Farm

This is one of those blogs that I follow partially because I love the fun little things they post, and partially because I want their life! Two Men and a Little Farm is a sweet blog that details the life of two people who grew up and work in the city, but long for a more quiet and sustainable life.  (Hmmm.....sounds so familiar to me...)  So they bought a little farm, Seda Bolsa Farm, and they document their ups and downs and share it for us to take part in it.

One of the things I love is that every Thursday they feature something that is inspiring for their farm.  Two Thursdays ago they put up this awesome adobe oven that they found from Sunset.com.  

Or...even more of an inspiration to me....this awesome garden shed and pond.  I want!

And the commentary on why they see them as inspiration is just as fun as the pics.

They also have some seriously great recipes, many of which I still need to try.  They have a whole page of recipes here....

I really wanna try the Roasted Chickpeas recipe...

And the biggest thing I love is reading about and seeing their little farm.  I am in love with the idea of soon owning my own little farm, and I have def enjoyed seeing the things they have had the pleasure and pain of going through on their little farm.

So go check it out, laugh at their wonderful humor and funnies that they find and share, and learn a few little fun things about their journey to their little farm.

And happy Friday!

Ash