Edge Designs

A Little Update and Random Thoughts

2011-05-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone who still checks my blog every now and then! I just wanted to give y'all a little update.

First, I completed my first 1/2 marathon a few weeks ago and did better than I had expected. I impress myself :-) ha ha, jk (a little). Although the weather was AWFUL, raining the entire time and below 40 degrees F, I really enjoyed it! I plan to do another in the fall. I will definitely be a fair weather friend to the races though. Not too hot or cold and I am in.

I really debated whether or not to post this photo.
1. I have no makeup on.
2. I just ran 13.1 miles in the rain and have naturally curly hair (bad combo).
3. It's not such a great photo.

Next on the updates, I got a serger for Mother's Day! I am super-DE-duper excited and cannot wait to learn how to use it. The day it was delivered we went out of town and I went crazy all weekend thinking about all the things I could have been sewing if I had been home. And now that I am home, it is still in the box. I'm funny that way. Hopefully I can learn how to use it this week and do a few posts on what I made :-)

Thirdly, now that the weather is nice again I want to start painting furniture. I have a few pieces around that house (and garage - thank you hubs for giving up your space!) that I would like to do this summer. Maybe some posts on that too.

Fourthly, my little m is turning 1 next month! I can't believe it has been a year already. Time flies. I am busy planning her sweet birthday party, which I plan not to put too much into it but who am I kidding? ha. Here is a pretty party I love (I think it was a shower, not sure on the credit - I'm not so great at that).

More random thoughts. Have you ever wanted to change the entire decor in your house? Surely, I'm not the only one? I want to do many, many changes to my living room, dining room, big M's room, (finish) my bedroom, my bathroom, the main bathroom, the Kitchen...ha ha, all but my little m's room. But my home is comfortable as it is and maybe I should wait until we buy a new home to change my style. I'm sure my hubs would appreciate that!

One more random thought. Big M and I were at the zoo the other day and he scared a giant lizard by growling at him. Still makes me laugh thinking about it. Oh and I got it on video! I will try to edit then post it (I have not attempted editing video yet). The world should see it. I thought the poor lizard was going to have a heart attack!

Oh and I can't believe I almost forgot! Potty training was a success! I am so thankful that I made it out alive. I think that might have been the hardest thing I have done as a mother to date (delivery was easy compared to this! I did have meds though).

Anyways, I miss posting and chatting with my blog land friends. Glad I could give an update though! Hope you all are doing well!

Ashley

Sea to Me

2011-02-25T15:48:00.001-08:00

Sea to Me by ashedge featuring rhinestone jewelry

Always love a little bit of nautical, birds, and bows.

Motivationless.

2011-01-05T09:09:00.000-08:00

I have been busy at work being a mommy (and potty training, ugh.) and not much time for my passion of sewing or painting. I have learned how to crochet though! I haven't made anything super great yet but I do have plans for hats and flowers for Little M and maybe some baby blankets. I have missed blogland and hope to return on a regular basis once I can find some spare time to sew and some motivation to finish some furniture pieces I have sitting in the garage. Oh motivation, where are you? Until I find you I will be pouring myself into my children and (half) marathon training (gotta lose those last...um, I mean all of that baby weight)!

Roadside find and a preview.

2010-10-05T12:19:00.001-07:00

Hello friends!
I have been working hard on some projects and I wanted to share one with you ladies (and men?). I picked up this super dirty, ugly, old children's step stool from an almost definite dumpster death, aka the side of the road :-)

I don't know about everyone else but I am almost embarrassed to admit that my husband and I drive around on big trash pick up to look through others "treasure" as we like to call it. haha. I would have just died when I was younger if I knew I would be doing this now! Heck, I would have just died a year ago...but I have been inspired by others out here in blog land to do it! So it has turned into a bit of a hobby. Thanks a ton ladies ;-)

After sanding, priming and painting here is the stool now:

Sigh. Much better. I like it but most importantly my son ABSOLUTELY ADORES IT! Ha, I'm a fibber...I only wish he adored it, he doesn't even care! I'm sure if he would have seen the stool before all my hard work he would have rathered the cows but not so sad to say they just don't fit into my bathroom decor.

Here is a preview for my next post:

I still have to take the after photos but it is finished :-) and yes, this too was a roadside find. Oh boy if my high school self could see me now! haha.

Miss Fancy Pants Dress

2010-09-14T11:04:00.000-07:00

The Miss Fancy Pants Dress

Back

This is my FAVORITE dress that I have made for Maggie. She has only been able to wear it two times, but isn't that how it works with babies? They grow so fast! Plus...a little admission of my own, I don't know how to sew zippers or button holes! YIKES. Maybe I will learn someday. Until then, I will be squeezing her chunky little arms into all the dresses I make her! ha.

I made this dress after being inspired by Disney at Ruffles and Stuff, she made this Fancy Dress for her daughter. However, her dress was made from a skirt and mine was not. It sure would have been much easier to make if I had used a skirt! Oh well, maybe another time.

A few of my favorites.

2010-09-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

Hello long lost friends! I want to start out by saying I have accepted the fact that I am not going to be able to post every week until little Miss Maggie is a bit older and I have more time for myself. She has stopped sleeping all the time and needs a bit of entertaining :-) which I don't mind at all. I have had time to sew and paint however, not enough time to take/edit/post the photos. This may have not been the best time in my life to start a blog but hang in there with me and eventually I will be more consistent with my postings! For now it is going to be sporadic but please don't give up on me :-) With that said, here are a few of my favorite things I have made for Maggie.

The Summer Vintage Dress

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The Fall Vintage Dress

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Button Detail

The Tulle Ruffle Skirt

The two dresses were made with "vintage fabric" (aka thrifted sheets, but vintage sounds so much nicer :-). The Summer Vintage Dress was the very first dress I made so it holds a special place in my heart. The dress turned out better than I had expected especially since I don't use patterns (I have no clue where to begin with them). It was the start of my love for sewing (which began in February of this year when we found out we were having a baby girl!). There was just something about creating beauty out of some old ugly sheet that struck a cord with me. I have since found that I also enjoy turning ugly homeless furniture into pretty pieces too (more on this soon to come!). I have definitely found a few new passions within the past 8 months...

Also, I have saved my absolute FAVORITE dress for her very own post. I think she deserves it!

~Ashley

Daydream.

2010-08-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

I know it has been FOREVER since my last post. I would like to post AT LEAST once a week but since I'm taking care of a newborn and trying to get this two kids thing down it has been difficult. Although, I have done quite a few projects lately. However, I underestimated how long it requires to take/upload/edit the pictures! So eventually you will see them. In the meantime here are some pretties I have had stashed away in a folder for you to dwell on (Unless otherwise noted, I am uncertain of the sources). Just take a moment to daydream...I sure did!

I LOVE this bedroom...

BUT with this fluffy bedding.

Chez Fifi

A Girl's Dream.

Seriously? Does this place really exist?

Decorpad

LOVE the ruffles.

Country Living.

Country Living.

Country Living.
Perfect for a boy.

Country Living.
I want to do a version of this in Maggie's big girl room someday BUT in white.

Country Living.
I am on the hunt for this pair.

LOVE this armoire.

Decorpad.

Decorpad.

Decorpad.

Decorpad.

Decorpad.

Decorpad.
I NEED this mirror!

Decorpad.

I really could spend hours doing this. It potentially could develop into an addiction. I can see it now on TLC or BRAVO..."Housewives addicted to decor daydreaming". haha. I could be the star! How about you? What do you spend your daydreaming on?

Heirlooms.

2010-08-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

I have recently acquired some family heirlooms that I am very excited about. Each piece has value and meaning for me and I truely adore each one. Most of them I remember seeing in my home growing up, never did I think that I would love them as much as I do today. I want to share a few of them with you all.

My favorite, a lamp painted by my Great-Grandmother Hester on my father's side. She owned a small studio/shop for her art work, some of which have been exhibited in a Smithsonian Museum.

This beautiful porcelain jewelry box also painted by my Great-Grandmother Hester.

More painted porcelain. However, this was painted by my Mimi.

Painted Plate by my Great-Grandmother Hester.

Photo of my Great-Grandmother Nedra and Mimi.

Turquoise ring inherited from my Great-Grandmother Gloria on my mother's side.

(I'm obviously not a hand model...hahaha)

With a character giving crack through the center of the turquoise.

And a picture of my mother as a little girl...this is one of my favorites!

Lastly, a silver thimble over 100 years old.

Its small things like these that help make our house a home. What makes your house a home?

Pretty in White.

2010-08-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

I LOVE white. I know I'm stating the obvious. So surprise... surprise... I painted my new armoire white. The same color I painted Maggie's changing armoire. Apparently I love hers so much I want one of my own in my room I can stare at all day and night.

BEFORE:

DURING:

Priming

Painted with hardware (before distressing)

Distressed

AFTER:

Painted, Distressed, and Decorated (many different times! haha)

Look 1 (while watching Dinosaur Train, one of Mason's favs)

Look 2

Look 3 (still trying to keep Mason entertained while I play :-)

I can't decide which look I like best. I'm sure it will change again before the day is over...Which one do you like?

Ashley

We have twins now!

2010-08-01T13:01:00.000-07:00

We have twins. Twin armoires! I found an armoire on craigslist last week that is almost the exact same one as the changing table in Maggie's room (see post "Isn't She Lovely...)! I think it is the same one in my "Before" picture that I found on google. Ironic huh? Well I purchased it at a steal of a price, almost half of what I paid for Maggies AND the lady delivered it to us (BONUS)! Which was great because we would have needed to borrow a truck to move it and she lived over an hour away.

Do I want two of the same armoires? sure, why not? Im funny that way. I do this with a lot of things in life. If I like something I will want more than one of it. For instance, clothes. If I find a shirt that fits great and I like enough I will buy one in every color. I do this with bags, purses, children's clothing (I will also buy the same thing in different sizes so I have it the next season too). Does this mean something? Maybe that I don't like change? Im not quite sure but I bet there is some underlying meaning to this craziness. Anyways here is the armoire:

I am SO excited to get started on this (along with my door, and several other...err, I mean many other projects around here). I should be able to get some things done in the next few days because Mason is with his GiGi and Pops until Tuesday! or maybe I will just sleep all day and night :-) sounds tempting. Oh boy, will I miss that little monkey. Hopefully I will have a new blog post by Wednesday with atleast one finished project!

Also this weekend we got Maggie's "Newborn" (aka 6 weeks, opps) photos and here are a few...plus a few of Mason :-)

Poor baby was DONE with her first photo shoot...

I LOVE THESE KIDS!

Adore a Door.

2010-07-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

I ADORE. my new door.

I found it on craigslist. Which I love by the way :-) I only paid $12 for it and look at my favorite part, the old door knob with a skeleton key hole! OH do I love a skeleton key. (The chair in the pic is an entire different post...soon to come!)

Oh how I wish it came with the old key...maybe one like this:

Image from slinkymalinkicat etsy shop

The craigslist man asked me if I was replacing a door. OF COURSE I said no, who would do a thing like that with this little piece of heaven? He then asked if it was for an art project. WHAT? do I look 12? I told him "You could say that..."

I am soooooo excited about this beauty! I think she will make an appearance in my bedroom and maybe stay a while :-) Oh what to do with her? What. To. Do. Maybe some white paint, distress her, paint a small stencil on one of the corners, or hang something on her...maybe buy that sassy skeleton key from that etsy shop, frame it and hang it on there, or thread it from some lace? So many possibilities!

Oh and you should have seen me carrying her out to our back yard...she weighs a TON. I just couldn't wait until the hubs got home to photograph her! I really could have hurt myself...oh the things I'm willing to do for you all :-)

Isn't She Lovely?

2010-07-25T19:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday! I have been busy, busy, BUSY working on projects all week and weekend that I am VERY excited about to share with everyone. However, I am going to share a project I did a while back for our sweet Miss Maggie. After inspiration from my nephews nursery I decided to use an armoire for Maggie's changing table. What a brilliant idea! I wish I could take credit for it! Some people amaze me with their creativity.

I wish I had a before picture of the armoire but I dug and dug through the Edge archives (I spent waaaaay too long doing this...) and could not find a single picture of it! So here is a similar armoire for my before picture...

And here is what it looks like in her room today...

Isn't she lovely?!?!?! White, shabby, a touch of lace and sparkles...ohh so girly it makes me all giddy inside! I wish I had her in my room to change my diapers! ha. But in all seriousness, I am IN. LOVE. It is my favorite piece in the house. I am now searching for a new armoire for our room. Hopefully it will turn out as pretty :-)

Linked up to the following:

Hello Blogland!

2010-07-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

I am Ashley, a wife to the best man in the entire world, a mother to two small children under three, a Christ follower, a wannabe seamstress and interior designer, a biologist, a painter, a girly girl, a lover of all things white, shabby and ruffled, a DIY kinda gal, a daughter, a sister to a rough and tough marine, a lover of romantic comedies, sitcoms and reality television, a girl could go on and on...

Anyways, I am starting this blog to provide an outlet for all my creativity in hopes of inspiring others and to document my projects (the good and the bad, gulp!). I discovered the blogging world at the beginning of this year and I FELL. IN. LOVE. Everyone seems so sweet and have a heart for helping and inspiring others. I was inspired to learn how to sew from some of these women. Not only did they inspire me but the taught me as well, through their tutorials (that they spent their own precious time on just to help us all out! how selfless is that?!). When I began sewing I didn't even know what a bobbin was! I am so thankful for the generous women and their lovely blogs! This stirred a desire inside of me to start my own blog. I have been contemplating this for months now and I finally got the guts to do it! You know how self-criticizing us women can be (that can hold the best of us back!) but I figured it was time to suck it up (as my husband likes to say) and contribute! So here I am!

You can expect to see a wide variety of topics on my blog from sewing to decorating to painting, DIY projects, my thoughts on life and my family. Plus I am very talented at RANDOMNESS...sooo you can expect some of that too! Thank you so much for stopping by, come back to visit often! And please feel free to send me an email or leave a comment...I am SOOO EXCITED to meet some new friends out here in blogland!

Ashley

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23 - 24