tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63645411016285620652024-03-18T03:01:26.658-04:00The Gahan GirlsDawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.comBlogger1048125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-3312840096809462852018-03-11T18:49:00.002-04:002018-03-11T18:50:17.649-04:00VBS 2017: Maker Fun FactoryThis past year was my very last heading up the decor and set design for VBS. I'd done it for 8 years, loved every bit of it. But I felt that it was time to move on to other opportunities at my church. So, I approached VBS 2017 with a little bit of melancholy, and I savored every bit of the hard work and rewards that this endeavor brings.<br />
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The theme was Maker Fun Factory — getting creative with gears, robots and rockets as kids learn they are Created by God and Built for a Purpose. As I did every year prior, as soon as the theme is chosen, I begin mapping out designs, projects that need to be undertaken, and items I need to purchase. I honestly don't buy a ton from the VBS supplier, but I do watch the decorating videos for all the DIY ideas and building tips.<br />
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Working in the design industry, I've had access to onsite large output printers, and with the blessing of company leadership, have been gifted unlimited printing and supplies. Using both the supplier-provided images and ones I find online, much of the set design is printed out and mounted to foam core. With the vastness of the interiors I have to decorate, large scale is best, filling the space to the fullest and creating a dramatic experience for the kids.<br />
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Directly when you enter the sanctuary, I had a factory whistle, printed out on a large-output printer and mounted to foam core. The smoke is polyester fiber fill. I pushed it onto a piece of white wire and inserted the end into the whistle mouth.<br />
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My church is really wonderful about letting me take over the sanctuary, and the altar area becomes center stage for the theme to come to life. I utilize a lot of the 4'x8' 2"-thick pieces of insulation foam to construct most of the set. It's so easy to work with (despite the large size), and results in giant pieces that weigh very little. Also very easy to paint and piece together (using Great Stuff and/or 4" nails).</div>
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The altar area walls are wood panels with molding, and the look reminded me of a gentleman's library, so I decided that my Maker Fun Factory would be less modern and more Victorian. This decision didn't lead to the most colorful of my past years' sets, but I liked how it felt Harry Potter-esque.</div>
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This bookshelf, crafted from foam board, became a great catch-all for a lot of the smaller props I'd purchased (online specialty stores, Amazon, thrift stores, Dollar Tree, etc.). </div>
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The animals that Group (this year's VBS supplier) has as part of the theme — I buy the large posters, mount them to foamcore, and trim each out, and use them around the set. The beakers, test tubes and flasks were all online purchases. The plastic toy airplane, text/medical books, clock in a cloche, laboratory wash bottle, and microscope were all cheap thrift store finds.</div>
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The oxygen tanks were a fun DIY project. Two liter soda bottles, spray painted gray and secured together with black electrical tape. The letters are stenciled on, the tubing was something I found at home, and the gauge is from Home Depot.</div>
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The specimen jars on top are filled with water and Dollar Tree snakes. I painted the lids black.<br />
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I glued a Maker Fun Factory logo on a hard hat.</div>
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A church table next to the shelf holds a computer monitor on which I glued a hi-tech-looking computer image. And the old phone was one my office was throwing away.<br />
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I had wanted to make an atom I'd seen on Pinterest using hula hoops and balls or balloons, but I couldn't get the balls to center within the hula hoops, so it's sans a nucleus. Some projects don't work out :-( . All that aside, the hula hoop assembly was very easy. I used zip ties to attach them, one to the other.</div>
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On each side of the altar, in the doorways, I hung clear heavy-duty shower curtains that I had cut into strips (leaving the top edge intact). Before I cut them, I glued on the caution sign. For the garbage can, I glued on the danger sign, and created the oozing toxic waste using Great Foam, spray painting it day-glo yellow. The giant paintbrushes were just a fun afterthought. They are made by taking broom and pushing the handle down into a pool noodle. The "metal" case around the "bristles" is made using metallic silver duct tape.</div>
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The wall is the 2" foam board, with bricks cut from foam board, painted, and glued on. I found the dart board at Goodwill. It didn't have the darts, so I made those by printing out dart images and inserting straight pins to attach them to the board.</div>
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I bought a lab coat at a thrift store and added safety goggles, pocket protector and pens, and a Mad Scientist I.D. badge. </div>
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For the individual camper pictures, I bought a variety of sizes of lab coats from Amazon, a bunch of stick-on mustaches from Dollar Tree, and a single Erlenmeyer Flask. The pictures turned out very cute, with each camper looking like a little scientist.</div>
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For the altar area, I utilized the wooden altar as a table. And I took advantage of the area between the two Gothic-arched doorways (and the stairstep shelf area on each) to bridge a shelf. I made the shelf out of a piece of the 2" foam, and created two brackets from the same material. </div>
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On the shelf is a vignette of items, all printed out, mounted to foam core and easel-backed. They look quite three-dimensional.</div>
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I wanted to hide the sconces, so I printed out Tiffany shades and hung them on the existing fixtures using wire.</div>
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The giant Rubik's Cube was an easy under-an-hour project that came together using a giant square box, black paint, and squares with rounded corners cut out of cheap construction paper.</div>
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I traced the skeleton by creating a transparency (from clip art), then projecting the image onto a sheet of the 2" foam board using an overhead projector. I cut him out with a hot knife, then painted him white, added googly eyes, a hard hat and a Harry Potter scarf. I found the metal "stand" at Goodwill; have no idea what it was originally intended for, but it worked great as a stand for the skeleton (with some rigging on the back).</div>
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I printed out an element chart and mounted it to foamcore. The little laptop was a Goodwill find; I just printed out a scientific looking screen that I glued on.</div>
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I crafted the rocket out of random buckets and cans, made the legs out of foam board and the smoke from batting, spray painted the whole thing silver and slapped on a sticker of an American flag and painted on the U.S.A. letters.</div>
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For the fish bowl, I printed out a realistic looking fish (but giant in size), and glued him onto a clear piece of rectangular acetate (the width of the mouth of the bowl). Then I just shoved the acetate down into the glass pebbles in the bottom.</div>
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The church has a large rolling set of stairs that I thought would be perfect to create the feel of a large library with those rolling ladders to get to uppermost bookshelves. I covered the side with the foam board, added a round temperature gauge, and made a cat to sit on the top step. There is a string of lights that the Pastor used as part of the daily assembly — a bulb was added each day — and I strung them up the handrail, and he was able to climb the stairs to add each bulb. I found the telescope for $5 at a local thrift store.</div>
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I made the drafting table free-form and used a hot knife to add texture then painted it using light and dark brown paints, added a lamp and fun pictures. The stool was one my old office was throwing away; the seat was broken in half, so I glued it and then painted it gray to hide the mend.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bzwabhgVmLI/Wp3RFAcoltI/AAAAAAAALTE/2t7eewcfq2UuZvOPyShQ9kg0vxycF3J0ACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/maker-fun-factory_6172.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bzwabhgVmLI/Wp3RFAcoltI/AAAAAAAALTE/2t7eewcfq2UuZvOPyShQ9kg0vxycF3J0ACK4BGAYYCw/s640/maker-fun-factory_6172.JPG" width="600" /></a></div>
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The file cabinet was a church throwaway, so I rescued it, spray painted it gray and added Great Foam toxic goo oozing out of a drawer. Also had a file peeking out of a drawer, and made two specimen jars. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4y84VrxuWbY/Wp3TAClc7UI/AAAAAAAALTs/zA0Oa7LrFy0LzoFeBG0VygtB4XOqMJ8zgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/maker-fun-factory_6176.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4y84VrxuWbY/Wp3TAClc7UI/AAAAAAAALTs/zA0Oa7LrFy0LzoFeBG0VygtB4XOqMJ8zgCK4BGAYYCw/s640/maker-fun-factory_6176.JPG" width="576" /></a></div>
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Along the walls of the sanctuary we have sound panels which are perfect for mounting items — easy to push T pins into, sort of like a cork board. We made gears from silver paper, old hub caps and random metal finds.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8wYITQKCSZQ/Wp3UkuJ4kVI/AAAAAAAALUc/Z-Crzo1aIpwvlcn2sTPs_cqkIT5mCIq3QCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/maker-fun-factory_6180.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="530" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8wYITQKCSZQ/Wp3UkuJ4kVI/AAAAAAAALUc/Z-Crzo1aIpwvlcn2sTPs_cqkIT5mCIq3QCK4BGAYYCw/s640/maker-fun-factory_6180.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I also incorporated some of the VBS animal characters into the various vignettes.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7nhIZEzV69Y/Wp3VN0_Lv-I/AAAAAAAALUo/k05eiSzcdCY0bLSMPuKuzOWgg_v8f3luwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/maker-fun-factory_6185.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7nhIZEzV69Y/Wp3VN0_Lv-I/AAAAAAAALUo/k05eiSzcdCY0bLSMPuKuzOWgg_v8f3luwCK4BGAYYCw/s640/maker-fun-factory_6185.JPG" width="438" /></a></div>
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For the pew markers (designating where each camper group needs to sit during assembly), I constructed these paint cans to look like they are spilling out paint. The base is a styrofoam disk cut in half, the flat side against the pew. I put a yardstick into each piece of foam and then draped a plastic tablecloth over the yardstick, gathering it at the top using a rubberband and securing it at the bottom with T-pins pushed through the cloth and into the bottom of the foam. I then hot glued the inside bottom of the bucket and put it upside down onto the yardstick. The bucket is held to the pew with velcro (a piece on the bucket, and one on the pew). I glued an animal on each bucket.</div>
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The windows at the back of sanctuary which look into the narthex are always an opportunity to showcase the theme. This year I wanted to create the look of laboratory shelves with all the glassware filled with liquids. It was a huge effort, and undertaken by one of my volunteers with the patience of Job and a positive attitude to match.<br />
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The test tube stands are cut from wood-looking contact paper. The labware is cut from clear acetate, and the "liquids" are cut from colored acetate file folders I found at Dollar Tree. The "shelves" are just white electrical tape. Everything not already sticky is adhered by running it through a Xyron machine.<br />
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I had a teen boy volunteer who was happy to take on my robot project. He used a wooden freestanding column as the base, and duck taped silver paper around it (found a secondary duck tape that looks like diamond plate metal). The arms are dryer vent ducting, and the mechanical hands I found at a thrift store; I spray painted them silver. The face is a coffee filter from an industrial coffee machine. The nose is the machine's spout.<br />
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The hand scanner is made using a plastic gallon bag filled with Dippity Do (hair gel) that is sandwiched between a piece of cardboard and a frame. My volunteer added a keyboard for the kids to tap away on, and even made a socket!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6j-BINlGS6Y/WqWoaokk9NI/AAAAAAAALe8/GUkxjRBvcsQvGHmNfJIEQ8M2PxghSsB0gCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/maker-fun-factory_6196.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6j-BINlGS6Y/WqWoaokk9NI/AAAAAAAALe8/GUkxjRBvcsQvGHmNfJIEQ8M2PxghSsB0gCK4BGAYYCw/s640/maker-fun-factory_6196.JPG" width="480" /></a> </div>
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One of the skits needed a tomb, so this was made with three painted sheets of foam as the base, and then foam pieces cut for the facade and rolling boulder. Covered the top with black cloth, and added plants and foam rocks.</div>
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I had a ton of those loom loops from when my daughter was little, so I made this art board using cardboard and thumbtacks (glued into the cardboard). A fun diversion for quieter time.</div>
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Am happy to answer any questions! Just leave me a comment and include an email so I can reach you.</div>
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Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-81940290415598413812017-10-25T14:22:00.002-04:002017-10-25T16:33:25.255-04:00Halloween IdeasWith Halloween just around the corner, I realized that I didn't post any pix from 2016's Halloween work party. I was at Anthem Worldwide in 2016, and worked with a group of people totally on board with dressing up and contributing to food and beverages. Always makes for a successful party when everyone is invested.<br />
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First of all, let me share with you what my daughter (Harleigh) and her now-husband (Abe) dressed as — Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln. Both made themselves look pale and tired (didn't everyone from that era tend to look like that?). Harleigh printed out a theatre ticket for admission to Ford's Theatre. They kept their stoic, serious expressions all night. I think they nailed it.<br />
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For the office party, I did a brunch. Halloween here in Atlanta is pegged as being one of the worst traffic days of the year, and so people leave work early (whether you have kids or not) just so they don't get snarled in a rush hour of people freaking out about getting home in time to hand out treats or get the kids dressed and out the door. Brunch seemed like a good compromise.<br />
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I was going to purchase black or orange utensils, but i had a small bolt of cheesecloth in my fabric stash that I thought might work for mummies, so I adorned all the utensils with wound strips of cheese cloth and glued on googly eyes.<br />
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Dollar Tree snakes, rats and spiders made their way into unexpected places.</div>
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Sprinkled some mousetraps around the buffet table.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MH4DaVTOBHA/WfDPf0d9qpI/AAAAAAAAJ_k/H2_Hx3srtAEStT4CIjB9Gi4sBEYMDaKUwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_5811.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MH4DaVTOBHA/WfDPf0d9qpI/AAAAAAAAJ_k/H2_Hx3srtAEStT4CIjB9Gi4sBEYMDaKUwCK4BGAYYCw/s640/IMG_5811.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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And one of the party gals, dressed as a pest control technician, seemed to fit right in.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-60WQx_UbhXQ/WfDOAD6GcfI/AAAAAAAAJ-s/9jXMTgpt3bIUEONH8ANBVOLSCIyZVf9HgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_5812.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-60WQx_UbhXQ/WfDOAD6GcfI/AAAAAAAAJ-s/9jXMTgpt3bIUEONH8ANBVOLSCIyZVf9HgCK4BGAYYCw/s640/IMG_5812.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Dollar Tree Halloween decorations on windows, doors and glass services can't be beat. </div>
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Cheap and effective.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-60WQx_UbhXQ/WfDOAD6GcfI/AAAAAAAAJ-s/9jXMTgpt3bIUEONH8ANBVOLSCIyZVf9HgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_5812.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CuLryD8WaEU/WfDOKBBzJxI/AAAAAAAAJ-0/EgxRkDcp3qkYucVeOQgM8gi-TjOaxurrACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_5806.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CuLryD8WaEU/WfDOKBBzJxI/AAAAAAAAJ-0/EgxRkDcp3qkYucVeOQgM8gi-TjOaxurrACK4BGAYYCw/s640/IMG_5806.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hETVtCC7T-k/WfDOb-HjJbI/AAAAAAAAJ-8/LzkYKVfX2CEmExSz90akgIR-6PCwtVTxQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_5800.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hETVtCC7T-k/WfDOb-HjJbI/AAAAAAAAJ-8/LzkYKVfX2CEmExSz90akgIR-6PCwtVTxQCK4BGAYYCw/s640/IMG_5800.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kUHoyiB8B9A/WfDOhWQ0RpI/AAAAAAAAJ_E/URIw4UkeD903Qze3zHfX5FU6VIrw66FbgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_5796.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kUHoyiB8B9A/WfDOhWQ0RpI/AAAAAAAAJ_E/URIw4UkeD903Qze3zHfX5FU6VIrw66FbgCK4BGAYYCw/s640/IMG_5796.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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More Dollar Tree decor for the hallway wall, Ladies Restroom sign and side table.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I6x60xANU7c/WfDV7-BCQII/AAAAAAAAKAo/DjTbGyl2RNI3uthpk3tSqW_RNas4TzqmQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_5801.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I6x60xANU7c/WfDV7-BCQII/AAAAAAAAKAo/DjTbGyl2RNI3uthpk3tSqW_RNas4TzqmQCK4BGAYYCw/s640/IMG_5801.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qEccfxMGSHc/WfDWGz_kTMI/AAAAAAAAKAw/mp5pmJvB-N0-kne1Yh8Ie0Wx_llVn_ZGACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_5797.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qEccfxMGSHc/WfDWGz_kTMI/AAAAAAAAKAw/mp5pmJvB-N0-kne1Yh8Ie0Wx_llVn_ZGACK4BGAYYCw/s640/IMG_5797.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Another partygoer, a dude dressed as Princess Leia.</div>
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I came with a giant baby head and tiny hands. And won for the Most Disturbing.</div>
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Two fun food items lovingly created.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RNxxiCXhOCk/WfDPsuxVrjI/AAAAAAAAJ_s/tztLBH0FptMc6nrOnJWwJmAdaJxw1Q03QCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_5810.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RNxxiCXhOCk/WfDPsuxVrjI/AAAAAAAAJ_s/tztLBH0FptMc6nrOnJWwJmAdaJxw1Q03QCK4BGAYYCw/s640/IMG_5810.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6SuwOkF_iOo/WfDPwp5NAXI/AAAAAAAAJ_0/OL-stsUMK1I7wk-2ngdK4WgTvyD2woZcgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_5809.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6SuwOkF_iOo/WfDPwp5NAXI/AAAAAAAAJ_0/OL-stsUMK1I7wk-2ngdK4WgTvyD2woZcgCK4BGAYYCw/s640/IMG_5809.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Get a load of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FOIUPZM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">these great cups from Amazon</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1OBfbCiagCc/WfDUlKCwj3I/AAAAAAAAKAE/4jRN3lS_egwtgKaLCPkvHB4yw6mBHEFFgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_5808.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1OBfbCiagCc/WfDUlKCwj3I/AAAAAAAAKAE/4jRN3lS_egwtgKaLCPkvHB4yw6mBHEFFgCK4BGAYYCw/s640/IMG_5808.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Use a plastic cauldron with a plate on top for an elevated serving piece.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-omSX2iKHazM/WfDVcUAX4zI/AAAAAAAAKAQ/AjsqQjc9LQUmGH_cPs4wy-jk4WScq5ckwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_5807.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-omSX2iKHazM/WfDVcUAX4zI/AAAAAAAAKAQ/AjsqQjc9LQUmGH_cPs4wy-jk4WScq5ckwCK4BGAYYCw/s640/IMG_5807.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-75801690093716532462016-07-04T17:11:00.001-04:002016-07-04T17:17:16.548-04:00VBS 2016: Surf ShackThere are some things I've relinquished as a church volunteer (this year was my last co-chairing the Easter Festival for one), but doing the decor for VBS is THE one effort that is so very dear to my heart that I can't let go. I've told the chairman of VBS that I equate the work I do on VBS to spa days. They are that relaxing to me, knee deep in paint, tools and craftiness.<br />
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This year's theme was Surf Shack, and I began planning in the Fall of the year before. In order to stay on budget and get the biggest bang for the buck, it pays to plan and purchase over a long period of time, taking advantage of sales, seasonal stock and using that 40% off coupon at each and every visit to Michaels and Hobby Lobby. I've gone into a lot of detail below about my process and materials, and included some <span style="color: red;">tips in red!</span><br />
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What would Surf Shack be without surfboards. I actually found some old sheets of insulation foam in the storage section of the church dock, and when I asked about using them, was told that they'd been there forever and to have at it! I traced a surfboard shape using a transparency and overhead projector. Then cut them out with an industrial-sized hot knife. A local high school student in need of community service hours, Raya, is one of my all-time go-to people for artistic help. I handed these off to her (along with cans of latex paint and brushes; spray paint didn't adhere to the foam very well), and she made a weekend project of it, along with some friends. <span style="color: red;">[NOTE: I also painted the sides and backs of the boards. We used them for kids to hold at various pre-VBS promotional events, and so having them completed on all sides gave them a much more finished and authentic look. For VBS itself, they leaned against things.]</span><br />
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Raya also took on the project of making these customized life preservers for the front doors of the church. I purchased round pieces of styrofoam from Michaels. They had flat fronts and backs, which I thought would be OK, but I wound up no liking how they were missing the rounded front-facing surface, so I took Dollar Tree pool noodles and cut them in half length-wise, and taped one half-moon noodle to the front of the styrofoam. Gave them to Raya along with white and navy duck tape and white rope. <span style="color: red;">[NOTE: For extra artistic hands, reach out to your neighborhood high school art department. Students are always in need of community service hours. And what better way to earn them than doing what you love!]</span><br />
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For the lettering, I typeset then printed out the words, cut out each letter, and Mod Podged them on. I poked a hole in the back of each preserver, and hung them from the doors using Command Strip hangers.<br />
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A seagull printed out on the color printer, cut and taped on the inside of the window with double-sided tape, was a nice touch at the entrance.<br />
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I knew I wanted lots of pilings around, and so I collected large cardboard tubes. Mine were salvaged from my workplace (where we had a surplus of shipping tubes ready to be recycled), but you could probably go to a carpet store or a display company and get them for free. I had one of the guys from church cut them at various heights (some straight across and others at an angle) using an electric saw. Then I cut cardboard pieces for the tops and taped them on. They got a sloppy coat of base paint, and then I went to work painting all the details, everything from the wood grain to the seaweed-stained bases.<br />
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Once the detail painting was done, I hot-glued several pilings together, wrapped the trio with rope, and added the fishing net (another Dollar Tree find; purchased a bunch of these!) and a wooden pelican (affordable with the 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby).<br />
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Another paper seagull and a poster completed this vignette. The poster is printed out from a large-output printer and mounted onto foam core. Command Strip hangers (the metal-hook kind) were perfect, as the hook went right into the foam without breaking through the front surface of the poster.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NOQJw160cM0/V3qIYQfDR-I/AAAAAAAAJEs/iI9Q7WGTK4QXrEhlOyI98S7aZn5WMm4lACLcB/s1600/IMG_5432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NOQJw160cM0/V3qIYQfDR-I/AAAAAAAAJEs/iI9Q7WGTK4QXrEhlOyI98S7aZn5WMm4lACLcB/s1600/IMG_5432.jpg" /></a></div>
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Dollar Tree also had lots of these grass skirts, which I used for the roof of the Surf Shack and also, as shown here, to hang from handrails. Kids love touching stuff, and so I like to add tactile items all around.</div>
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I also hung the skirts across the entrance to the sanctuary to set the stage for the tropical theme.</div>
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Surfboards flanked the entryway, held in place with a small wad of Florist Cling. <span style="color: red;">[NOTE: Cling is a great way to secure items. A little wad is all it takes. It comes off very easily, and if there is any residue left, just use a little Goo Be Gone. I always have a roll of Cling for every event I do. I have it in both green and white.] </span>The jointed paper parrot is another Dollar Tree find.</div>
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The side walls of our sanctuary are covered in cushioned and upholstered sound panels. I decided to drape rope (the same used for the front door life preservers) like a clothesline, and then hang beach towels from the line. The beach towels are from Dollar General. I chanced upon them when they were on sale for buy-one-get-one-half-off. At $6 a piece, the second one for $3, they were a bargain. I debated asking the congregation to donate old beach towels, but I knew I wanted fun, bright-colored ones, so I went the route of buying new.</div>
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I hung the rope and secured the towels using T-pins. Then added the clothespins. </div>
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The paper seagulls are used here as well. You can see that I secured them with extra long straight pins, not putting them flat against wall, but floating them to give them a more 3D look.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RWwG0wt5jO8/V3qIjaXEkbI/AAAAAAAAJFg/rHVqKxJC5HQBnkXt9EvPk3-hM-8CqDxKwCLcB/s1600/IMG_5457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RWwG0wt5jO8/V3qIjaXEkbI/AAAAAAAAJFg/rHVqKxJC5HQBnkXt9EvPk3-hM-8CqDxKwCLcB/s1600/IMG_5457.jpg" /></a></div>
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Under the light sconces, and secured using T-pins, are Dollar Tree buckets and shovels holding brightly colored silk flowers. I printed out Surf Shack logos and glued them onto the front of the buckets. </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-azvR9zEfWjc/V3qIhSBLXJI/AAAAAAAAJFY/oYezUAcUscIctlRQDpv8_0Tlvdlhg3mAQCLcB/s1600/IMG_5452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-azvR9zEfWjc/V3qIhSBLXJI/AAAAAAAAJFY/oYezUAcUscIctlRQDpv8_0Tlvdlhg3mAQCLcB/s1600/IMG_5452.jpg" /></a></div>
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Here is a view from the altar to the back of the sanctuary. We have these six large windows which always push my creative thinking. I decided to turn them into aquariums.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y0iuwK3gHuQ/V3qI2zkqcSI/AAAAAAAAJGk/9c7aFYD4IfwoxgOza45X8nzl_s_J4AIFwCLcB/s1600/IMG_5486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y0iuwK3gHuQ/V3qI2zkqcSI/AAAAAAAAJGk/9c7aFYD4IfwoxgOza45X8nzl_s_J4AIFwCLcB/s1600/IMG_5486.jpg" /></a></div>
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The window sills are about 3 inches deep, so I knew I could create a cool environment. I made coral using Great Stuff.<span style="color: red;"> [NOTE: This stuff is a VBS decor staple. Once a can is opened, you pretty much have to use it all in one sitting, AND you must wear rubber gloves as it's an absolute mess and hard to get off your skin. I use it not just for an adhesive, but for actually making things, like the coral here, and wave foam as you'll see further below.] </span>I put down a large sheet of plastic tarp, and sprayed the coral shapes directly onto the tarp. Once dry, each piece of coral peeled right off. I made six whole pieces, one for each window. I spray-painted each. And secured it on the sill using Cling.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O7_vorRRcAQ/V3qIdfyNkJI/AAAAAAAAJFE/Wle29L0ixaQMs656R-pRV1VikmlxDVYYQCLcB/s1600/IMG_5443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O7_vorRRcAQ/V3qIdfyNkJI/AAAAAAAAJFE/Wle29L0ixaQMs656R-pRV1VikmlxDVYYQCLcB/s1600/IMG_5443.jpg" /></a></div>
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The sea life is printed out on a color printer. I printed out a sheet, then created a mirror-image version of the document, printed that out. Cut out all the sea life and taped them so that each had a front and back. These were adhered to the coral and the window using either double-sided tape (on the window) or Cling (on the coral).</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1tktdvaFIdc/V3qIe1pwzvI/AAAAAAAAJFM/TnUodBE9UxsGQBm7nucSfMG7J1Ow0yNrACLcB/s1600/IMG_5448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1tktdvaFIdc/V3qIe1pwzvI/AAAAAAAAJFM/TnUodBE9UxsGQBm7nucSfMG7J1Ow0yNrACLcB/s1600/IMG_5448.jpg" /></a></div>
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Here are the windows from the other side (in the narthex). On this side, we've covered the window with blue cellophane, holding the cellophane in place with clear packing tape. I wanted a solid piece of cellophane on each window, and with the windows 40" wide, I wound up ordering the cellophane from U-Line. I couldn't find anything larger than 36" wide in stores. I had to buy 4 rolls (WAY more than I needed), but we used it for water for the Surf Shack set.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-767YjJedZzA/V3qIf3YpyVI/AAAAAAAAJFQ/4bLs_nmlz_Y7cci2Ivv8GTck4Z68_5xQwCLcB/s1600/IMG_5450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-767YjJedZzA/V3qIf3YpyVI/AAAAAAAAJFQ/4bLs_nmlz_Y7cci2Ivv8GTck4Z68_5xQwCLcB/s1600/IMG_5450.jpg" /></a></div>
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And now onto the Surf Shack! Here is the altar area with the set.</div>
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The Surf Shack is made of 2" thick 4'x8' foam, which a member of our congregation gets for me every year. It's not available at our local Home Depot or Lowe's, so he has to go to a special building supply company. But it's worth the extra effort. The stuff is super sturdy, but light enough to move easily. It cuts well if you use an industrial-strength hot knife (I get mine at Harbor Freight Tool). And it takes paint like a champ. I made up my own pattern for the shack, cut and painted each piece, then constructed it once in the sanctuary, attaching the pieces using long carpenter nails. The roof is covered in two layers of grass skirting.</div>
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The hut has two windows and a half-Dutch door. One of our crafty ladies, Lavonne, made the latches using flexible sheets of foam (the kind kids use for art projects). She secured the latches using T-pins (she painted the top of the T black so you couldn't see them) and then gave them a little extra security with a drop of hot glue. The door opens and closes easily!</div>
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She also hot-glued tall grasses around the base for that beachy vibe.</div>
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I made a trip to Goodwill and got some touristy beach-shop t-shirts and a dress. Hung them from T-pins. Adding them last minute really helped to make an authentic Surf Shack feel. The tin signs (the Coke thermometer and Icee advertisement) were purchased from Hobby Lobby using my coupon. The card stock Surf Shack sign is from Cokesbury (I just cut it out from the colored background so it's "solid wood").<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gGyWlSe4MZI/V3qIvmQPi2I/AAAAAAAAJGI/xNzKnb9G8Ws6Ywe9nqRKtM1bATdVlexCQCLcB/s1600/IMG_5470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gGyWlSe4MZI/V3qIvmQPi2I/AAAAAAAAJGI/xNzKnb9G8Ws6Ywe9nqRKtM1bATdVlexCQCLcB/s1600/IMG_5470.jpg" /></a></div>
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The wood grain is easily done using both dry and wet brush techniques. It doesn't need to be perfect. I used gray, black, brown and cream to achieve my look. <span style="color: red;">[NOTE: I always go to my Ace hardware and ask for mixed paints on clearance. It's a crap shot as to whether they have a color in the family that I'm needing, but I've built a good enough relationship with my red vests, that they are always more than happy to drop in a few squirts of color for free to get me closer to what I need.]</span></div>
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The tiki torches are from Dollar Tree. I removed the lids and wicks, and made "flames" from orange, red and yellow acetate. Rather than purchase expensive acetate from an art supply store, I found colored acetate subject dividers from Dollar Tree — cheap, cheap, cheap. Just cut them into flame shapes and hot glued them inside the lip of the lid.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I9hSW28-xCI/V3qI4-YVwMI/AAAAAAAAJGs/TlNwlEyyddUm6_sa7-Q-r6zijPlbdvVZACLcB/s1600/IMG_5490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I9hSW28-xCI/V3qI4-YVwMI/AAAAAAAAJGs/TlNwlEyyddUm6_sa7-Q-r6zijPlbdvVZACLcB/s1600/IMG_5490.jpg" /></a></div>
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The rainbow umbrellas I used throughout are from Target. I purchased four at $15 a piece. They were available online only, but I had them shipped to my local store free of charge, and picked them up. Easy peasy.<br />
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The palm trees were a true labor of love. I knew that to make a real statement, they'd have to be tall, but that would have involved a lot of supplies and engineering, so I opted for smaller ones that I staged from behind the Shack. Each trunk is 5 pool noodles taped together. Lavonne, always one to exercise her creative noggin when it comes to problem solving one of my hatched ideas, volunteered to cover the trunks, so she cut brown craft paper strips in a shingled pattern, gluing them on to the noodle structure in overlapping layers.<br />
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For the palm fronds, I started with two umbrellas. Ripped the fabric off, spray-painted the metal framework green. Lavonne cut the fronds from green poster paper, then we painted on accents in a lighter shade of green. The fronds are attached to the spokes using hot glue. The handle of the umbrella fit perfectly into the center of the pool noodle trunk. The top of the noodles is covered in a nest of dried Spanish moss.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2vGumn5RISs/V3qJMCAFzWI/AAAAAAAAJH8/RHFUY5-8qyw4gFblsAX8O7hXtohrznNUwCLcB/s1600/IMG_5552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2vGumn5RISs/V3qJMCAFzWI/AAAAAAAAJH8/RHFUY5-8qyw4gFblsAX8O7hXtohrznNUwCLcB/s1600/IMG_5552.jpg" /></a></div>
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Lavonne had some brown-feather-covered styrofoam balls which we both agreed would make great coconuts, but when they disappeared, she came up with this genius idea. Dollar Tree bath loofas spray-painted brown and hung from the spokes with safety pins look real and add no weigh to the structure. Love it!<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-61P0EnEU7XE/V3qIrC5JZDI/AAAAAAAAJF8/f5sezEApelQuOES_twwH3PUt7lOd2w2EwCLcB/s1600/IMG_5465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-61P0EnEU7XE/V3qIrC5JZDI/AAAAAAAAJF8/f5sezEApelQuOES_twwH3PUt7lOd2w2EwCLcB/s1600/IMG_5465.jpg" /></a></div>
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The engineering of the palm trees required an industrial-sized paint tub filled with sand, two broom sticks and a tall wooden table. The broom sticks were shoved in the bottoms of the trunks — far enough in to make the trunk rigid — with enough hanging out to be submerged into the sand. I still had to secure the one tree (the one out to the side and not using the shack for bearing) using fishing line to make sure it stay put. The line was around the trunk and then wrapped around a nail on the other side of the shack on the roofline.<br />
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The surfboard/ocean backdrops are from Cokesbury. We attached them to rolling walls.</div>
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I found a cute image of a pelican, printed him out, mounted him to foam core </div>
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and put him high up on a ledge.</div>
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We purchased the lifeguard stand from Cokesbury, but wound up using the doorway of the Shack as the staging area for our puppet. But the chair is a nice prop!<br />
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Used the blue cellophane from U-Line as water. The hat, guitar, beach ball and flip flops are all from Dollar Tree. The "sand" is canvas drop cloths.<br />
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The dock is made from a pallet. The pilings holding it up are small cardboard tubes.</div>
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Everything is detailed to look like weathered wood.</div>
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More pilings.</div>
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I used one of my bird cages for decoration on the registration/information table in the atrium. Spray painted it brown, decorated it with silk flowers, lined the bottom with burlap, and added a Dollar Tree parrot cut-out (which is printed both sides!).<br />
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As soon as we knew what our theme was, one of the gals on the Children's Ministry board sent me this picture in an email with a note that said "How about we do this for the individual camper photos? Ha ha!"<br />
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Little did she know that I'd take her dead seriously and figure out a way to make it happen. One of the men in the church took on the challenge, and made a wooden wave, which is super sturdy and easy to move. With the help of another high school student (this one who paints sets for the school's drama department . . . well if that ain't a gift from God!!!), we got this painted to look super realistic! I found a wooden boogie board at Goodwill. With the back of it sliced off, it look just like a surf board. The foam of the wave is made with Great Foam on a base of cut foam insulation; Great Foam is also used around the base of the surfboard!<br />
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On the Sunday before VBS, we had the wave outside of the front of the church. Parishioners loved posing on; wonderful picture-taking opp! We had Beach Boys music playing. And kids from the church carried surfboards and encouraged catching a wave!<br />
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A couple other details. For the snack tables, we needed to label what was "dolphin," "sea turtle," and sand crab" — our three breakout groups. I had these pilings from when I did a <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2013/08/nautical-baby-shower-successfully-sailed.html" target="_blank">nautical shower</a>, and I was able to repurpose them here. The crab has a sand and shell base, and the dolphin and sea turtle have clear and blue marbles / glass baubles to mimic water. The animals themselves are glued onto a piece of clear acetate and just shoved into the sand/marbles. The animals are two-sided.<br />
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For labeling the pews where each group sits, I had to not only designate by animal, but also by color. I purchased flip flops in colors I needed, and put the animal pictures on foam sheets also in the designated color. The flip flops were attached to the pews with Command Strips (the hooks embedded in the sole of the flip flop), and the foam sheets are hung with string.</div>
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If you have any questions about anything you see here in the post, please don't hesitate to leave a comment here. Please make sure you leave your email address so that I can respond!</div>
Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-25287516069864763302016-06-11T20:26:00.000-04:002016-06-11T20:26:17.770-04:00Cinco de Mayo PartyConsidering it's been since August of last year that I posted, I suppose I've got a lot of explaining to do. First of all, I took a new job after 19 years with Unboundary. That's a big leap. A definite leap of faith. The timing was right. From so many different perspectives. I'm beyond grateful for the way things worked out.<br />
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And Harleigh moved to California. Probably a more emotional change for me than the new job. She's happy. That's all that matters. We talk three times a day, so the 3,000 distance apart doesn't seem quite so hard to swallow. And I'm planning a trip out west to visit her. She splits her weekdays between working for a home care company (she takes care of a sweet elderly lady, Miss Cathy) in the morning, and then nannying twin four-year-old girls in the afternoon and into the early evening. The family gave her a car, so I took hers. Such a blessing considering my old Honda had over 250,000 miles on her, and every drive to work was on one wing and a prayer, and every dashboard light that went on, every clink of the engine, made me cringe with how much I might be spending to keep her running. Harleigh lives in a three bedroom / three bathroom townhouse with two other girls, and is within walking distance of her boyfriend (a structural engineer who had moved out in September for a pretty amazing job opportunity). It's all good. I feel very blessed with this new chapter of my life.<br />
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On to the new job . . .<br />
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I started on October 26, a little late to lend my hand to any planning around their Halloween party. But I jumped right in to the Christmas party planning, and worked with a planning committee to help me navigate the expectations. Once the new year came around, I looked to the next holiday that I could put my party planning stamp on. And Cinco de Mayo it was!<br />
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For the glass front doors to the office, I adhered these plastic decals.<br />
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Sculptural animal heads on the wall — the buck got a sombrero and mustache.<br />
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It was a pot-luck lunch. Everyone outdid themselves. It was quite the spread. And, of course, we had margaritas. (NOTE: I purchased these plastic margarita glasses from Party City. We had no luck using lime on their rims to hold salt. I even used the special margarita salt. I've read a few things online about how to get the salt to stick. Make sure you have a Plan B in place.)<br />
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For flowers, I purchased canned goods from the Mexican grocery and emptied them, filling them with brightly colored silk flowers I had on hand. Cans were also used to hold plastic utensils.<br />
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For fun, I had this photo cut-out for photo opps, and tattoos (that's what the paper towels and bowls of water are for). The sombrero holds the tattoos.<br />
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I wanted to have a sombrero for everyone, but didn't want to just have a stack of them for the taking. Instead, I utilized a large push-pin wall, and created a sort of art installation.</div>
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Wish I would have gotten a picture of ALL the food. It was quite impressive. But I did capture images of my contributions. Both desserts. I made this cake with zucchini/toothpick cactus (which came to me the night a couple nights before as I wrestled with the limited number of Mexican desserts that seemed both good and easy). And I also tackled these Mexican chocolate cupcakes with a cream cheese cayenne frosting. Sooooo good!</div>
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We ate too much, drank too much, laughed a lot, and enjoyed a much deserved break from what had been a grueling span of long and stressful work days.Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-31802060865227619302015-08-01T18:44:00.000-04:002015-08-02T08:20:08.949-04:00Hot-Air-Balloon Couples Shower for an AdoptionTwo of my friends Jenn and Jason announced in April of this year that they were well underway in the adoption journey (Jenn and I worked together from 1996 up to a few years ago, and I did <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2009/06/shower-pictures.html" target="_blank">their couples wedding shower</a> and <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2009/08/jenn-and-jasons-wedding-reception.html" target="_blank">their wedding reception</a>). And it was in June that a preemie baby boy was born, and Jenn and Jason headed to New Jersey where they would become parents to sweet baby Trace! With only a few weeks before the family of three would be heading home, the girlfriend contingency kicked in to plan a baby shower. The three hostesses are Jenn's best friend Amanda, and two of Jenn's personal fitness training clients Lee Ann and her sister Dawn. Lee Ann just happens to be one of my event planning clients (she hired me to do the <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2013/08/nautical-baby-shower-successfully-sailed.html" target="_blank">nautical baby shower for her daughter</a>). She called and asked if I would do a couples baby shower for Jenn and Jason. There was nothing that could get in the way of me doing this, not only because Lee Ann and I work so well together, but to do this for Jenn and Jason would mean the world to me.<br />
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Jenn gave us her nursery mood board which consists of items she had already purchased or had from her childhood. Her favorite item is the red and white striped hot air balloon that hangs from the nursery ceiling. The papier mache Raggedy Ann and Andy in the upper right are from the nursery when she was a baby. Her mother, who passed away in 1996, made wonderful jewelry and was a phenomenal painter and artisan. She had a line of jewelry using puzzle pieces; Jenn took all the puzzle earrings and broaches and crafted a frame for the baby's room.<br />
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For the design presentation I made to Lee Ann, Amanda and Dawn, I used the hot air balloon as the main theme, with nods to the other items in the nursery (Raggedy Ann and Andy, organic woven baskets, the puzzle pieces, and one of her fabrics — a happy lattice work / chain link of yellow and white).</div>
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I knew I wanted those giant 36" balloons to craft into hot air balloons, but didn't want to have to deal with what I knew would be a fairly involved process of renting a helium tank, blowing the doggone things up to 36", then netting them and attaching them to baskets. Instead I found a vendor who could handle the whole shebang. Cindy with Bloomin' Balloons in Alpharetta took care of everything. She arrived before the party, blew up the balloons and fashioned all of the hot air balloons both inside the house and out.</div>
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Two of the balloon vignettes flanked the outside stairway. I originally thought they could go at the base of the stairs on the tops of the posts, but then I remembered that the posts are topped with finials, so I had to put them on the flat surface midway up. They still were a theatrical welcome. In one of the baskets I placed little Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, reminiscent of the vintage papier mache ones in the nursery. And for all four of the hot air balloons used throughout, I crafted strings of paper bunting for decoration. For all the hot air balloon baskets — and others I used throughout for floral arrangements — I sewed little sandbags, filled them with sand, and tied them on with rope or embroidery floss (depending on their size).</div>
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For a doormat, I found these large (18' x 11.25" each) foam puzzle pieces (had to buy 6 of each color, but they can be repurposed for the playroom!), and created a front doormat. A nice reminder to Jenn that even though her mom isn't here, she is alive in memories.</div>
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For the entry foyer, I had wanted a white balloon, but after encountering a few hiccups, had to go with a yellow. The giant chandelier that hangs from 2 1/2 stories high luckily lowers, so Lee Ann brought it down to a level where I could tie fishing line. Once the chandelier was back in place, a line hung down to a height where I could put clouds made from Polyfil. The cloud has a wooden shish kabob skewer inside to help it hold its shape. The three aluminum rocking horses are the homeowner's. This hot air balloon basket holds flowers. I did all the floral arrangements using red South American garden roses, white hydrangea, yellow billy balls, and eggplant purple cremons — in keeping with the colors of the nursery.</div>
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With such a large number of people expected for this shower, we opted to do nametags. I purchased wooden cloud cut-outs from an Etsy shop, painted them white and blue, glued broach pins on the backs, and wrote the names in black Sharpie. The nametags were arranged alphabetically on the foyer table, with extra blank ones as needed. [Because of Trace being a preemie, he was quarantined to another part of the house, and a camera monitor set up so that Jenn and Jason could keep an eye on him. The reason why we had hand sanitizer everywhere!]</div>
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The three hostesses got special nametags — hot air balloons I made using half of a plastic Easter egg, embroidery floss, a cotton ball cloud, paper name banner, and a basket I crafted using wired twine that I wrapped in a tight circle to form the base of the gondola, then around a pencil to form the sides. The sandbag is paper and glued on.</div>
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Jenn and Jason got special ones, too.</div>
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The beverage table featured a floral centerpiece I arranged in a glass trifle bowl I covered in the nursery fabric and accented with navy ribbon.</div>
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Lee Ann wanted to take care of the napkins, and she got custom dinner napkins, cocktail napkins and guest towels for the bathroom. There were tons of extras for Jenn and Jason to take home and use!</div>
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I covered a smaller glass vase with the fabric and navy ball fringe for the bathroom.</div>
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In the dining room, a dinner buffet was set up on a runner I created using the nursery fabric. I didn't sew any of the edges (simply ironed them under to form a clean edge), so that Jenn can use the fabric any way she wants to for the nursery). I decorated the drop of the runner by cutting around the chain link pattern, then made a paper balloon with rope, paper doily and ball fringe adornments, and a gondola out of a basketweave grass paper. I sewed a little sandbag. Jenn plans on cutting out this section of the runner and framing it.</div>
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A red hot air balloon graces the buffet table, and clouds are woven throughout the chandelier. Wooden cloud cut-outs are painted like the cloud nametags and then used to ID the food.</div>
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I knew this would be a fun group, so I had hot air balloon tattoos on hand. </div>
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The living room was where gifts were opened, hugs and kisses shared, and happy tears shed.</div>
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For the gift logging, I took a plain chipboard clipboard and spray painted it blue, then dolled it up a bit with an image Mod Podged to the back and also turned into stickers for the logging sheets. In honor of Jenn's mom, Rose, I put a little rose on the clip.</div>
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With every event for Jenn (bridal showers, bachelorette party, wedding, now baby shower), we always have a single red rose in remembrance of her mom Rose.</div>
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I used baskets for other floral arrangements around the shower venue. They were in keeping with the theme, and I figured Jenn could use them in the nursery afterwards. I found this large one at Goodwill, and it has all these rope and leather trims that, I thought, made it look very gondola-esque.</div>
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Just added some sandbags.</div>
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Here's another basket on the bar, this with a little navy and white swag.</div>
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And another on the dessert bar. You know I'm a sucker for ball fringe.</div>
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The dessert table was key lime, chocolate mousse, and strawberry shortcake shooters. People were eating them like popcorn. </div>
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Lee Ann's daughter even got the decorating bug, and drew a hot air balloon on the mirror. (You can't see it in the picture, but there are a Raggedy Ann and Andy in the gondola.)</div>
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For a "guest book," I found this blank cardboard puzzle with giant 4" pieces.</div>
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Originally I had planned on Jenn and Jason letting go of a sky lantern (to symbolize all the wishes they now have for their baby boy, and to think of those gone), but with the shower moving to earlier in the day, lanterns wouldn't have worked. When everyone left, and only a handful of us were there, it was decided that Jenn would let a balloon go, one to remember her mom, and one to remember Lee Ann's husband — she lost him all too early to cancer. Such a special moment. Sweet baby Trace, you are loved to the heavens and back.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Resources (live links):</span></b></div>
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Photography — <a href="http://www.christinapughphotography.com/" target="_blank">Christina Pugh Photography</a></div>
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Giant hot air balloons — <a href="http://bloominballoons.net/" target="_blank">Bloomin' Balloons</a> (Cindy Lunsford)</div>
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Catering — <a href="http://fancypantry.com/" target="_blank">Fancy Pantry</a></div>
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Giant guest book blank puzzle — <a href="http://www.thecommunitypuzzle.com/the-community-puzzle-50-guest-wedding-puzzle/" target="_blank">Community Puzzle</a></div>
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Foam puzzle tiles — <a href="http://www.foamtiles.com/tiles/puzzle-mats.html">FoamTiles.com</a></div>
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Wooden cloud cutouts — <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CutLineCraft">Cut Line Craft on Etsy</a></div>
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Sweet Baby Trace custom balloon picks — <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/treelittlebirdz">treelittlebirdz on Etsy</a></div>
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Navy blue clouds scrapbooking decorations (I glued them onto wooden picks) — </div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/236494178/navy-blue-cloud-die-cuts-1-3-inch?ref=shop_home_active_4&ga_search_query=clouds">thememorybookco on Etsy</a></div>
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Smiling cloud scrapbooking decorations (I glued them onto wooden picks) — </div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/107617521/clouds-whimsy-hand-stamped-smile-weather?ref=shop_home_active_3&ga_search_query=smiling%2Bcloud">paperquick on Etsy</a></div>
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Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls — <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008QDMY70/ref=sr_ph_1?m=A21RNMQ4VSAJUZ&ie=UTF8&qid=1438468034&sr=sr-1&keywords=raggedy+ann+and+andy+dolls">Amazon</a></div>
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Custom paper napkins (ordered and delivered next-day!) — <a href="http://www.fastballoons.com/20-custom-napkins" target="_blank">fast balloons.com</a></div>
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Signature nursery fabric (Gotcha Twill Corn Yellow) —<a href="https://www.fabric.com/buy/uk-725/premier-prints-gotcha-twill-corn-yellow">Fabric.com</a></div>
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Hot air balloon tattoos — <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/209004269/hot-air-balloons-temporary-tattoo-011">InkPanda on Etsy</a></div>
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Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-64597843290072982432015-07-21T17:27:00.002-04:002015-07-21T17:27:36.605-04:00Silver LiningsIt’s been a month of finding silver linings. Chateau Gahan experienced flood #4 since we’ve lived here. The first was when the ice maker line blew off the back of the fridge. My parents were picking Harleigh up from school and arrived in my driveway to see water pouring out from under my garage door. I hightailed it home, tears streaming down my face, and pulled in to find that my parents and daughter had pulled out as much furniture as they could carry outside to the front of the house. It was chaos.<br />
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The second flood was the hot water heater expansion tank, the third the hot water heater itself. And because my hot water heater is in a closet in the center of the house, the water damage extended into the living room, hallway, my closet and my vanity area. This time, the fourth, was the water pressure regulator. It was 15 years old and died, causing the water pressure to skyrocket. The pressure was too much for a water line under my vanity sink (the line probably original to the house), and a small pin hole spewed water likely all night. I got out of bed in the morning because I heard water running and knew Harleigh wasn't up yet. Took three steps, and was standing on wet carpet.<br />
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As Harleigh and I hauled and sopped, she simply grabbed my wrist, looked me straight in the eye, and said “Mom, we got this.” And we got through it. The last of the shoe molding goes in today.<br />
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We twisted through zippered doorways for days on end. </div>
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Endured the 24/7 deafening whir of giant fans and dehumidifiers. </div>
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Gideon ate and drank from bowls on a shoe shelf from the foyer closet.</div>
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With most of the furniture temporarily stored in the garage, </div>
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we jockeyed for seating on any surface that wasn't piled with our lives.</div>
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And the silver linings, once again as they always do in our make-the-most-of-a bad-situation little household, proved themselves too numerous to count.<br />
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<li>Got g<span style="text-align: center;">orgeous 5”-plank hardwoods . . . </span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: center;">. . . and as everything was moved back into the living spaces I cleaned like a crazy woman, a long overdue deep clean. </span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: center;">All the windows got washed inside and out. </span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: center;">I got to work with a water damage restoration company that I have built a good relationship with over the many floods — good people, always positive. </span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: center;">Harleigh and I practiced and succeeded at taking things in stride, accepting what was, being OK with living conditions not being perfect. </span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: center;">We purged a lot; there’s nothing like having to move your personal belongings to make you question what is worth keeping and what just isn’t. My efforts at simplifying got a little kickstart with the great flood of 2015. </span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: center;">Harleigh and I also spent a lot of time together, holed up wherever there was space for two women and a giant dog. Her room, with the full bed gone and two twins in its place, was sort of our headquarters. And with this picture above Harleigh’s bed, it seemed the perfect room to escape to for chilling out and counting our blessings amidst the shambles right outside her bedroom door.</span></li>
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Gideon fared the best of all through it. With our house filled with work crews and machines for days on end, he was relegated to Harleigh’s room, where I made up his bed on hers, with the blinds up so he could watch all the goings-on in the driveway. He was in heaven, like a little boy watching a construction site.<br />
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A day into the mess, Harleigh came home with flowers for me. It meant a lot. She knows that little gestures like this are part of my love language.<br />
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The one project I got done before my craft room became filled with closet contents, lamps and home decor from the damaged rooms was to cover my new Bible. I’ve always wanted a journaling Bible, and I found one at a good price, but the cover was anything but pretty. I took the dust jacket off and used that as the base, covering it in some calico fabric, adhering it with Mod Podge. Then I glued a metal scrapbooking embellishment on the cover along with a mustard seed charm. A reminder that "with faith nothing is impossible" seemed a fitting mantra for the challenging time we’ve just lived through.<br />
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And on a final note, this book! What a page turner. Highly recommend.</div>
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Stay tuned for a post I hope to get up next week of the adoption baby shower I designed.</div>
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Lee Ann, who had hired me to design the <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2013/08/nautical-baby-shower-successfully-sailed.html" target="_blank">nautical baby shower,</a> asked me to do all the decor for an adoption shower (the adopting parents also happen to be dear friends, so that made it super special!).</div>
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Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-86865993996858363522015-06-24T13:33:00.001-04:002015-06-24T13:33:28.067-04:00hummmmmmmmmI was standing in the kitchen at the stove, stirring a she-crab soup for the family’s annual Summer Kick-off Party. Harleigh was sitting within eye shot, in the ken, looking at Pinterest on her phone. “I think I’m a hummer,” I said, my mouth askew in a grimace. She sat upright, incredulous. “No, Mom, no. Please don’t. That’s bad.” I explained the transformation, neither defensive nor apologetic. It simply is what it is. As of late I’ve been humming a lot. Certain songs dominate the playlist. I do it when I’m alone and when I'm around people. I catch myself doing it at work, and while it’s been greeted with smiles, there’s going to come a point where people become annoyed, slipping on their earphones or snatching their laptops to go work in another part of the office. I don’t want to be "that" person.<br />
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I’ve known a few hummers in my life. The most blatant of them all was a dentist. Many moons ago I went to a practice with a handful of dentists. There was one that I always asked for, pleasant and non-chatty, the way I like ‘em. When I was told that I needed a filling, I requested Dr. Pleasant and Non-chatty, but he was booked solid for the next several weeks, and I really did want to get this off my list. So I opted for another in the practice who had an immediate opening. He was nice enough, but the minute the rubber gloves went on and the sterile stainless tools invaded my mouth, the humming began. And didn’t stop. I closed my eyes, thinking that would make it less invasive, but it only made it more comical as I lay there thinking of whether anyone had actually called him out on it. Asked him to stop. Asked him why he did it. Needless to say, I never went back to him.<br />
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I looked it up online and found that many people hum as a simple and effective way to ease tension and reduce stress. For some, it improves sinus health, creating vibration in the sinus cavity, which helps to eliminate congestion. Another guess is that humming is little bits of joy bubbling from your unconscious. As it relates to my own irritating warbling, I’ll go with this one. And for the sake of my daughter, who looked at me like I’d become someone she could no longer stomach, consider the habit squelched.Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-38782724751912169802015-06-07T11:06:00.000-04:002015-06-08T16:48:38.415-04:00Scooter and the Beauty Within<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9FjG-81NZVQ/VXO7dZXro1I/AAAAAAAAI5M/YKW85N6iEDk/s1600/IMG_4690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9FjG-81NZVQ/VXO7dZXro1I/AAAAAAAAI5M/YKW85N6iEDk/s1600/IMG_4690.jpg" /></a></div>
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When I was in high school, popularity eluded me. I was liked by what I consider to be a large number of people, fellow students and teachers alike. I was fun to be around, a good and dry sense of humor tempered with a seriousness that made for trusting and deep friendships. I was involved in many extra curricular activities, but no sports, which would have put me onto a different and probably higher rung on the popularity ladder. As I saw it, I was probably about 1/3 up on that ladder, a likable girl with a complicated beauty, the kind of prettiness that people can't explain, the kind of pretty that people refer to as coming from within, maybe because they can't truthfully call me pretty. Not the kind of beauty I'd have hoped for when I was a 16 year old. Growing into a handsome woman would be my legacy.<br />
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Popularity, like true beauty, is effortless. The popular and beautiful simply are. And the fact that I was desperate and willing to work to be both or even a little of one proved that I would be neither. I excelled in my studies, and throughout my school years was always a high achiever, sometimes a bit hard on myself. I was artistic, and could see a future, a career, which would put this talent to use.<br />
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I definitely wasn't one of the "it" girls. Not on the cheerleading squad. Not possessing the kind of cuteness that boys that age found intoxicating. Not overly confident in myself and my body. I remember at the time adults saying that they'd love to live their high school years again, and me thinking that these years were what I wanted to run from, only to look back on the positive, what little there was of it.<br />
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I began entertaining the idea of a nickname. What if I had one? Would it make me feel different? More confident and special? It was worth a shot . . . . . . . Scooter. Where I came up with it I have no idea. But I pitched it to my sister. "Just start calling me Scooter," I ordered, oblivious to how awkward she might feel doing so for the first time, but instead focusing on the glances I'd get from people knowing that this was obviously not my birth name but a moniker bestowed on me out of a certain circumstance or by one who loved me dearly. Either way, it meant I was special. Sister refused. And the nickname campaign died.<br />
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Fast forward. In my early 30's, a single mom, spending time with Lisa, a work friend who turned into an Anne Shirley kindred spirit kind of friend. Probably a couple glasses of wine into the conversation, I told her this story, the Scooter crusade that fizzled but was never forgotten.<br />
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Now you have to know Lisa. "Lisa the Jew" I call her. To her face. And she wears it like a designer label. She's Jewish. I'm Christian. And her nickname was born because she always said "Everyone needs a Jew." I can't recall her ever explaining that comment. All I know is that I believed those four words without question. The bottom line — I don't think that it was as much "Everyone needs a Jew" as much as it was "Everyone needs a Lisa."<br />
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And Lisa said to me, "You WILL be Scooter." And to this day, she calls me Scooter.<br />
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I've told this story a number of times since that Chardonnay night with Lisa the Jew. And some friends have jumped on the Scooter train. And I'm forever grateful.<br />
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Last month, my bosses (a husband and wife team) threw their son a high school graduation party. They had it at our office, a chic and open space at Atlantic Station. As the planning commenced and I heard bits and bobs of conversation about the challenges and details of throwing a successful and heartfelt event, I decided to offer up my services. It's easy for me. Comes second nature. And I want people to throw parties and events that their guests enjoy and remember.<br />
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The night was a huge success. Because I had helped plan the night, and then helped to set up, run the party, and help with tear down, my bosses could enjoy celebrating their son, without having to deal with the minutiae that comes with throwing a big shindig. It's all I ask of any event that I'm overseeing: People enjoy.<br />
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As a thank you, they gifted me with this bag. Now ya gotta know that I love me a good tote. And this particular tote sports my nickname. Scooter. S-C-O-O-T-E-R. I may not be the most popular girl, but I do feel special. Beyond special. I feel appreciated. That, my friends, is what I see when I look at this embroidered name. Popularity is overrated. Appreciated is everything.<br />
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To note, I'm known at my place of business for the nicknames I give people. It's a gift. The names come to me, like a vision, a fuzzy but legible word in a crystal ball. They are epic. I keep a list of them. And the nickname I gave myself may be the greatest one of all.<br />
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 51px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 51px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-15295880840788008862015-06-04T23:30:00.002-04:002015-06-05T10:55:23.805-04:00Everest VBS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As was <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2014/06/weird-animals-vbs.html" target="_blank">last year</a>, the motto for our VBS was "Go Big, Or Go Home."</div>
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And with a theme like Everest, of course we had no choice but to go big.</div>
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I duplicated Group's giant mountains, using 2" thick foam board and a hot knife for carving. I went a different route than Group for the carved dimensionalizing, and opted instead for something a little more irregular. By using blue foam board, I didn't even have to paint the carved-out sections. The melted foam board in the indentations took on a darker blue, and looked very real. I painted on the white snow without diluting it.</div>
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You can get a sense below of how massive this stage set was.</div>
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For the clouds I used 4" nails on the front of the mountains and skewers on the edges when </div>
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I wanted the batting clouds to be placed outside of the outline of the mountain.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2tWj2fAslhk/VXDG_PNCNWI/AAAAAAAAI1k/jAju4SXsqk4/s1600/IMG_4635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2tWj2fAslhk/VXDG_PNCNWI/AAAAAAAAI1k/jAju4SXsqk4/s1600/IMG_4635.jpg" /></a></div>
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You can't see here, but the mountains are leaning on chairs. They're heavy enough to not fall over. The men volunteers did brace the largest mountain using fishing line. The memory buddies were mounted to 1/16" foam board and cut out using a small electric hot exacto knife. It was a lot of work to cut them out like this, but worth the effort, as I prefer them as freestanding figures rather than with their backgrounds.</div>
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Large plastic snowflakes hung in the arches of the two doorways flanking Mt. Everest.</div>
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My office workplace, when moving and purging, was giving away a bunch of giant white IKEA curtains, so I nabbed those, using them for a snowy ground.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EQ524NA0J0c/VXDHAO9Y4eI/AAAAAAAAI14/dUmF4lWeKgk/s1600/IMG_4638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EQ524NA0J0c/VXDHAO9Y4eI/AAAAAAAAI14/dUmF4lWeKgk/s1600/IMG_4638.jpg" /></a></div>
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Maybe one of my favorite items was this guy on top of rocks. With all the leftover 2" thick foam board, we were able to make lots of rocks. A pair of skewers stuck into the foam board base and then carefully up through the memory buddy's base made him sturdy and unmoving. The snow on the rocks is made of thin sheets of batting (I think they're made for quilting).</div>
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The thinness of the bird's feet made it difficult to place him on the ground (without having to make a base of some sort), so we stuck him to the back of the mountain using a couple nails.</div>
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The seams on the boards was a bit more visible than I would have liked, but I was antsy to get them painted and move on to the next project. I guarantee there were no children whispering to each other behind a cupped hand and pointing to "those embarrassingly sloppy seams."</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qwo2IouWm8s/VXDG_TQQOhI/AAAAAAAAI1s/qWPlRxkEE3Y/s1600/IMG_4636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qwo2IouWm8s/VXDG_TQQOhI/AAAAAAAAI1s/qWPlRxkEE3Y/s1600/IMG_4636.jpg" /></a></div>
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For base camp, we used a small tent, fake rocks, a lantern and a pair of my hiking boots.</div>
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The ropes with the fabric ties was a last-minute add on that was a nice touch.</div>
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The edges of the steps got a little snow.</div>
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And the campfire was made using the electric "flame" from Group surrounded</div>
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with a batch of firewood, and placed on brown fabric.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qdnEvXh8EZw/VXDHAiKOghI/AAAAAAAAI2E/lbNJKiUFnAg/s1600/IMG_4643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qdnEvXh8EZw/VXDHAiKOghI/AAAAAAAAI2E/lbNJKiUFnAg/s1600/IMG_4643.jpg" /></a></div>
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At the entrance to the sanctuary, volunteers hung plastic snowflakes of </div>
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different sizes from the balcony railing.</div>
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The six windows between the sanctuary and the narthex </div>
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were sprayed with Santa brand artificial ice crystals.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OkIvIppOE7A/VXDG-2wiWtI/AAAAAAAAI1g/4M0aETPBSrM/s1600/IMG_4634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OkIvIppOE7A/VXDG-2wiWtI/AAAAAAAAI1g/4M0aETPBSrM/s1600/IMG_4634.jpg" /></a></div>
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It's super cool the way it sprays on like water, and then as it dries it forms crystals.</div>
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And it comes off easily with water.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YQR33yS8Crw/VXDHBX1MeSI/AAAAAAAAI2U/3lKAR0-z8fE/s1600/IMG_4649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YQR33yS8Crw/VXDHBX1MeSI/AAAAAAAAI2U/3lKAR0-z8fE/s1600/IMG_4649.jpg" /></a></div>
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As soon as I knew what our theme was this year, I called Stone Summit, a local indoor rock climbing facility, and asked if they might have any old rope to donate. Turns out that they "retire" rope after a certain amount of time AND it comes in all these beautiful colors. The owner was super nice and collected it for me; I'd stop by once a month to pick it up. (For liability reasons, I had to vow that the ropes would not be used for climbing, but strictly decor.)</div>
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I decided to use them for the pew markers.</div>
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I cut the pieces into uniform sizes and then duct-taped each into a single piece. I looped them over the ends of the pews three times. I purchased a rainbow of caribiners from Walmart for something like 69 cents a piece, clipping a carabiner on the bottom-most loop of each marker. Then from each carabiner I hung a memory buddy. Each memory buddy was cut out and glued onto a piece of foam (I used six different colors foam). Each piece of foam was slipped into a clear plastic sleeve (I used the three-ring kind you get at an office supply store, cutting off the three-hole-punched strip). To make the hole that the carabiner slipped through, my standard hole punch wasn't big enough, but a grommet maker proved perfect for stamping out the hole; using the actual grommet wasn't necessary.</div>
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With the extra rope — most of it in smaller lengths — I was able to create tactile stations, </div>
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decorating everything from railings to doorknobs.</div>
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Here, the door to the sanctuary gets a rope treatment on the doorknobs </div>
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and a little snow in the windows.</div>
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On the Saturday before VBS I usually wind up with a few wish-list items. And depending on the pool of volunteers I get, sometimes I can cross items off the list as "done." Well this year I pulled out my phone, hit the Pinterest app, and showed one of my tried-and-true guys a directional sign. Within less than a half hour he had combed the church, found scrap pieces of wood, and fashioned me this. </div>
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One of my creative high school volunteers gladly tackled this project.</div>
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Its base wrapped in a snowy white sheet, and a memory buddy to wave a welcoming hello, </div>
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this was one perfect last-minute addition!!!!</div>
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Look at the cute bite marks in the "Snacks" sign.</div>
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Ok, so about a month, maybe more, before VBS I decided that I wanted to tackle the plastic milk jug igloo. Announcements went into the bulletins, were posted on Facebook, pleas made via email . . . all to collect the 428 jugs needed to build the igloo. The amassing went slowly. Then our VBS director hit a goldmine. Did you know that a single Starbucks location goes through 60 jugs A DAY???? So we hit up our local Starbucks and they were all too happy to help. On the Sunday before VBS the igloo was completed. We did have to buy some water for the last of the jugs. And the igloo builder did have to fill in the top of the igloo with an engineered pool noodle dome. But that was easily covered with the piece of batting snow that I had already planned on putting on top. OK. THIS. WAS. SO. WORTH. THE. FREAKING. OUT. AND. EFFORT. TO. GET. JUGS.<br />
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Built on a base of white sheets and against the Group mural backdrop, the igloo will be used by our official VBS photographer to take the individual camper photos.<br />
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The inside of the igloo.</div>
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Originally I was taking the caps off so that the insides could get dry and stink-free. But it's better to leave the lids on for these reasons:</div>
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1) It keeps the stink in. Even though I had aired out the jugs, they still stunk and had to be rinsed out. Even still, they still stunk.</div>
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2) The igloo builder said that the lids kept air in the jugs and made them easier to glue together. The jugs without the lids would flatten more when glued together.</div>
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3) The colorful lids make for a way-more-fun experience inside. Sorta like a mullet (business in the front, party in the back), by keeping the lids on, you get the juxtaposition of realism on the outside and whimsical on the inside.</div>
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NOTE: The yellow jugs were well worth making a part of the igloo. Seems the polar bears tinkled on the ice that made those blocks.</div>
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On the snack tables we used white plastic tablecloths. Clear glass blocks (the kind you buy at Home Depot) gave the look of blocks of ice. Wearing rubber gloves, we took durafoam balls (these are better than styrofoam because they're solid), sprayed them with an adhesive (don't spray too close or the glue will turn yellow; make it a light mist), then roll them in faux snow. There are all kinds of fake snow, but the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Flurries-Extra-Quart-Measure/dp/B00113XD54" target="_blank">"flurries"</a> are the best, capturing the most realistic look of snowballs.<br />
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Plastic snowflakes were used as the base and leaning against the glass blocks. The memory buddies were printed and cut out, and anchored using skewers. A sprinkling of Epsom Salts was the final touch in creating a winter wonderland centerpiece.<br />
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For the front doors of the church, snowshoes were crafted using string and cardboard. </div>
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Easy peasy (and hung with Command strips for easy takedown).</div>
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For Bible Expeditions, the tomb walls were easy to construct from the 2" foam board.</div>
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The blankets were leftovers from Hometown Nazareth VBS.</div>
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I wasn't totally into the brown paper and pool noodle tree that Group suggested, so I found three 6' long mailing tubes, duct-taped them together and then papier-mached a tree.</div>
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As janky as it is, I concluded that I wasn't really up for papier-maching the limbs. </div>
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So I found branches, and we glued on cut-out-from-felt leaves.</div>
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Harleigh thought the awkward transition between trunk and branches was beyond awkward, but . . .</div>
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. . . all that is trumped by the cute little Beanie Baby owl </div>
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who's taken up residence in one of the knotted holes.</div>
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For the river, we used a shimmery fabric. I found fish and lily pad images online, </div>
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printed and cut them out, and then taped them onto the fabric.</div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 51px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 28537px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 51px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 28537px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-20567420158831453322015-05-22T16:17:00.001-04:002015-05-22T16:17:24.495-04:00Tucked Away — iPhone Images<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are some of my Instagram images from our beach vacation at Alligator Point. </div>
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Creating this post calmed me, remembering how peaceful the week was.</div>
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The day we arrived it was a bit overcast, </div>
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which was a blessing as we had unpacking and grocery shopping to do.</div>
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Gideon was antsy to get down to the water where he knew</div>
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there were birds and sand crabs to be chased.</div>
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Our pile of books for the week.</div>
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I read five of my seven.</div>
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The screened-in porch overlooking the ocean was enjoyed for morning coffee, </div>
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afternoon naps, and evening wine and cheese.</div>
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Here, after unpacking, Harleigh enjoys a beer in one of the two swinging chairs complete</div>
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with swinging foot hammocks.</div>
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The house, Tucked Away, sets right on the beach. </div>
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Day and night the beach was, for the most part, deserted. </div>
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The view and walking path from the porch.</div>
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The houses on both sides were vacant all week.</div>
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Decorated with shells like a Christmas tree.</div>
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The shelling was great.</div>
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One of my most favorite things to do in the whole wide world.</div>
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<br />Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-88908096644158820522015-05-15T12:39:00.001-04:002015-05-15T12:39:24.260-04:00NannetteDuring the Lent season I attended several of the fish fry dinners hosted by the men’s group of a local Catholic church, Mary Our Queen, where my parents are parishoners. It’s a treat, what with all the food, and laughing and gabbing, fellowshipping at its finest — not to mention that there's nothing more attractive than a man cooking (well, maybe a man pushing a stroller or wearing a Santa hat at Christimastime, but I digress). This year Harleigh was able to make a couple of the fries, and she and I and my mom enjoyed the company of whoever was at our table, with the added bonus of watching my dad, a member of the men’s club, who multi-tasks with the best of ‘em, serving dinners to the hungry patrons while drinking red wine out of a plastic cup and nibbling food from the kitchen’s warmers. He always looks happy in this element, and so it makes us happy.<br />
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At the last of the fries that I attended, a woman walked by our table and began talking to my mom. She was there to pick up a carry-out order to take home for her and her husband. My mom introduced her to me and Harleigh. An attractive woman maybe 10 years my senior, Nannette is obviously artsy. She was wearing an oversized t-shirt with a Picasso-esque image painted over the entire front, an old denim shirt spackled in paint, sweat pants, comfy and stringless tennis shoes, and had her thick gray hair loosely piled on her head with stray strands framing her face, that effortless bun that I always strive for and never quite achieve without looking like I left the house with bed head.<br />
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I asked her about her shirt, and from there we chattered on, bound by interests and a hunger to know more about each other. When she said she had a painting studio, I didn't hold back. I'd love to see it, I piped up. And with a Southern drawl and a smile as embracing as a hug, she replied that yes, I must come to see her studio. When Nannette walked away, Harleigh looked at me and said, “You want to be her, don’t you.” My girl gets me.<br />
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A few weeks later, post my vacation to the beach (Nanette asked that I please bring her back a shell), I drove over to her place. And I was not disappointed. She's an amazing artist with captivating stories tied to her work. I had a beyond lovely visit.<br />
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She works in about every medium — oils, pottery, wood, glass, fabric — and excels at them all. And she's a master at turning trash into treasure!<br />
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Here is the sewing area of her craft studio.</div>
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Lots of vignettes and inspiration . . . in every nook and cranny.</div>
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Her painting studio, with lots of works in progress.</div>
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The infamous bun.</div>
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She made these drawings using her left hand, and the paintbrush was a twig dipped in ink.</div>
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The pottery to the left was decorated using pieces of her hair as the tool to apply the design.</div>
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She had requested I find a shell or two for her at the beach. </div>
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That wouldn't do for someone I knew would be so artistic.</div>
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So I collected only shells with holes in them (those perfectly round holes made by certain sea creatures preying on the what's inside the shell) and strung them onto a long piece of wire.</div>
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Which, of course, she hung in her studio!</div>
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Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-84009881961297071512015-05-08T23:30:00.001-04:002015-05-08T23:30:31.612-04:00The Blue VacationI mentioned in the last post that when Rick Strickland shared his "blue period" paintings with me, I was again struck by how much this vacation has been all about the color blue. Here are some pictures below of our trip. And you'll see that there was a thread of blue in just about everything.<br />
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We had two beautiful bikes to ride, one of them a teal blue with a jaunty basket on the handlebars.<br />
We rode one day up and down the only road on Alligator Point (Alligator Drive), and we laughed and talked and picked our favorite houses. While the screened-in porch of our house overlooked the blue ocean, coming out our front door gifted us with a view of Alligator Harbor (and Harleigh's new car, which she graciously agreed to use as the vacationmobile; my Honda CRV with close to 240,000 miles on it is a bit of a wing and a prayer).<br />
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These chairs came down to the beach with us everyday. And love the BLUE ladder.</div>
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The homeowners have a kiddie pool at the base of the deck and encourage renters to wash off their feet before coming into the house. This little blue pool was in constant use. Not just for washing off sandy feet, but for washing shells, and boy did I have a field day shelling.<br />
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In a little shop right outside of Alligator Point I found this metal Beach sign. Harleigh encouraged me to get it as she knew that this trip was far too important and treasured not to have a memento come home with us (this was, of course, before I acquired my Richard Strickland original, the best keepsake of all).<br />
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We went to a thrift store one day, and I found these two floral tins (I collect them!!) for 50 cents a piece. This was when the whole blue thing was really starting to get a little freaky deaky.</div>
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The outdoor shower. Adorbs.</div>
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I'd pop in and just stand there soaking in all the beachy cuteness sans water.</div>
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'Cause I am a character.</div>
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The outdoor light fixtures oozed charm.</div>
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You can see our blue chairs down at the beach. Heaven.</div>
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Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-33149313946833965902015-05-06T22:52:00.000-04:002015-05-06T23:06:40.334-04:00Richard Strickland and the Florida HighwaymenBefore I post a ton of pictures from our vacation to Alligator Point, FL, where we stayed in a house called Tucked Away ON THE BEACH (VRBO listing #556188), I want to share a story from our trip. The painting below hangs in Tucked Away, and I fell in love with it. The colors. The scene. The mood. And that it mirrored our view of the ocean from the house . . . I was smitten. Here is the painting —<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xh7YK98817U/VUg9RV8h5tI/AAAAAAAAItk/25gTGdZ1en0/s1600/richard-strickland-love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xh7YK98817U/VUg9RV8h5tI/AAAAAAAAItk/25gTGdZ1en0/s1600/richard-strickland-love.jpg" /></a></div>
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I contemplated calling the owners and asking if I could buy it from them. I googled the artist, Richard Strickland, and didn't come up with much I could go on. In a last ditch effort, I took the painting off the wall to see if there was anything on the back, and lo and behold, adhered with tape were a typed blurb about the artist and one of his business cards. I emailed him and heard back that same day! He replied that he was flattered I'd contacted him and that he mainly sells his work at art shows. He and his wife live close to the house we were renting, and he offered-up me coming over to his house/studio to see his work, some of it for sale. His wife and I texted back and forth, and I opted to drive over there on the morning of our last day in Florida.<br />
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They live nestled in the pines in a secluded area near Lake Ellen in Medart. In fact, Connie, Rick's wife, met me at the library on the main highway leading to their home, explaining that the drive to their place was a bit of a windy trek. Given that we were strangers, she punctuated the conversation by saying that even though they live off the beaten path, there ARE people around. We laughed about this later. I had given her my blog address earlier to check me out; I could have been a serial killer for all they knew! (Obviously we were both excited about the idea of getting together but all too aware of the fact that strangers meeting could lead to an episode on TV's <i>60 Minutes</i>.)<br />
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When we drove up, Rick came out on the front porch to greet me, beaming. He and Connie gave me a tour of their home, including his sunny studio on the second floor. He told me his story. Here is an excerpt from his public Facebook page —<br />
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<i>Artist Rick Strickland began collecting paintings by The Florida Highwaymen several years ago. </i></div>
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<i>He loved the way <a href="http://floridahighwaymen.com/" target="_blank">The Highwaymen</a> captured the look and feel of old Florida.</i></div>
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<i>Rick was inspired by their story and began to paint. </i></div>
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<i>Soon painting became a very important part of his life. </i></div>
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<i>He learned style and techniques by studying the art that he loved, </i></div>
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<i>and soon developed them into a style of his own. </i></div>
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<i>The aim of his art is to capture and evoke a feeling of nostalgia for the "Old Florida."</i></div>
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Rick collects Florida Highwaymen paintings. Their home is colorful and happy, with stunning artwork in every room (I wish I had taken pictures). He shared some of his own work from what he calls his "blue period." While I loved that work (and you'll see in posts coming up that it was uncanny that the whole vacation was all about "blue"), it was the one below (now hanging in my living room), that I instantly felt a connection with similar to how I felt about the one hanging in Tucked Away.<br />
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I had such a wonderful visit, not just because his artwork is spectacular, but in large part because Rick and Connie are two of the nicest people I've ever met. Hugs were shared, a Rick Strickland original was carefully packed in my trunk for the long ride home, dear Connie convoyed me back to the main highway, and a vacation memory was catalogued for future reminiscing and sharing. I love that my painting has such a story behind it. These are my favorite possessions in life.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ny_PZjd32kI/VUg9RjW3sMI/AAAAAAAAIto/Yu7pbFCcO1w/s1600/richard-strickland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ny_PZjd32kI/VUg9RjW3sMI/AAAAAAAAIto/Yu7pbFCcO1w/s1600/richard-strickland.jpg" /></a></div>
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I've texted Connie since my return home, and here's a new twist to what is already a pretty doggone epic story. I signed the guest book at Tucked Away and included this story for future guests. The narrative didn't include my visit and purchase, since I penned it before going to see Rick and Connie. The people who rented the house after us read my entry and contacted Rick and purchased two of his paintings!! </div>
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Thank you, Rick and Connie, for your hospitality, and not getting creeped out by a stranger calling and accepting an invitation to your home. And Rick, the Florida beach scene you lovingly and beautifully painted in that sunny studio of yours is now sunshine in my home. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for a reminder every day of the most relaxing week of my life and connecting to you, my own Florida Highwayman.</div>
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 51px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2795px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 51px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2795px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-6662319392191115942015-03-13T15:47:00.000-04:002015-03-13T15:47:15.997-04:00EmployedAs I've mentioned here before, I'm purging like a maniac at Chateau Gahan. And grateful, more than ever, that I have a booth at an antique mall where I can get money for all that I'm getting rid of (otherwise, I'd be having weekly garage sales which, as we all know, are the work of the devil to plan and execute).<br />
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My paperwork is getting a good cleansing as well. My billing files are thinning out as I shred stuff that I know for sure I can access online. My file folder upon file folder of inspirational and informational articles/images from magazines and catalogs . . . well, all I gotta say is thank gosh for Pinterest. If I have a tearsheet that I absolutely must keep, I try to search it out on the internet so that I can turn it into a Pin.<br />
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I came across this in one of my folders and had to smile at the sentiment.<br />
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I remember when I became a mom, I felt this sentiment so strongly, especially as a single working mom who juggled an extremely demanding job with raising a daughter. Doing a good job at work was and is always my goal, but turning what I do into a career has never been a priority. A career is the pursuit of a lifelong ambition or the general course of progression towards lifelong goals. I think being a good mother became my "career."<br />
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If there are any regrets about my work life, it's that I didn't pursue one of my passions. When I was younger, I dreamt of becoming a magazine editor. I'd make my own magazines using spiral notebooks, laying out each page, writing copy, drawing the images. And there was also my love of interior design — I'd take graph paper and cut-out pieces of furniture and spend hours drawing and mapping out house plans. Archaeology was a long-time love — I devoured books and magazines on the subject, and would stage my own digs in the yard complete with a make-up brush to dust found treasures. In each of these cases, I wonder what my life would be like now had I pursued that passion. This regret has come up in many conversations I've had with Harleigh, and always in the positive light of encouraging her to go after what she loves.<br />
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Don't get me wrong. I'm in a good place with what I do. There's lots of perks to being with a company for going on 19 years. Plus, I've built quite a creative life outside of work that keeps me endlessly happy. And most importantly of all, I AM a piece of work.<br />
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Here are some Instagram posts from the past couple weeks.<br />
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I decided that I should add a case to my booth. </div>
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I do have lots of doodads to sell. I found this one, unfinished, for $15. </div>
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I gave it a coat of ivory chalk paint.</div>
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It has slots on the inside long ends (it must have held shelves), </div>
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and I covered them with a pretty paper. And then lined it with a teal blue fabric.</div>
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The broaches are pinned to ripped squares of linen.</div>
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(The first thing to sell from the case . . . the two worry stones on the left. Who'd a thunk it?)</div>
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Evenings as of late = time on the sofa. Him sleeping. Me reading.</div>
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What I usually see in the morning when I wake up.</div>
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Not too shabby.</div>
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Sporting his Valentine bandana from the groomer.</div>
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(Don't tell him, but tomorrow he gets his summer cut. It makes him a little self-conscious at first.)</div>
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Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-58594513622866353702015-03-05T21:17:00.000-05:002015-03-05T21:17:11.273-05:00Booth CraftsCome to find out, the items I craft and put in my booth have been selling like hotcakes. My <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2014/12/chateau-gahan-at-christmas.html" target="_blank">refinished furniture</a>, gone within days (scroll to the bottom of the linked post). The pieces of wood I've found on beach vacations got prettied up with painted words and <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2014/08/when-stories-happen.html" target="_blank">images</a>, and I couldn't make them fast enough. Custom-crafted <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2010/08/window-bulletin-board.html" target="_blank">bulletin boards made using old windows</a>. Old chandeliers de-electrified, painted, candles added . . . <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2008/05/honey-dos-and-im-honey-around-this.html" target="_blank">sold as outdoor decor</a>. Ice skates, embellished and turned into Christmas decor. <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2014/02/lots-to-love.html" target="_blank">Valentine gift boxes</a>. A <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2014/01/antique-book-vase-tutorial-and-rustic.html" target="_blank">vase made from books</a>. A <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2011/10/before-and-afters.html" target="_blank">paper lantern covered in crocheted doilies</a>. A <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2008/06/shell-mirror.html" target="_blank">mirror covered in shells</a>. Beachy journals. A <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-4-day-holiday-weekend.html" target="_blank">patio umbrella recovered in a vintage tablecloth</a>. Calico <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2013/02/valentines-day-care-package.html" target="_blank">bunting with ball fringe</a>. Good sellers, all of them.<br />
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With 2015 being the year of the purge, I've enjoyed living a simpler life AND gifting others with items that I've lovingly created. It's a win-win.<br />
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With probably 15 giant pickle jars taking up real estate in my two-car-garage-that-only-fits-one-car, it was about time to come up with a project. And tah-dah . . . the K-Cup Jar was born! I used one in my kitchen for awhile before the calendar turned to 2015, and my counterspaces were begging to be cleared of stuff — cute stuff no doubt, but stuff nonetheless. Each jar holds 32 cups. And, come on, cute or what??? I even saved up empty K-cups and re-lidded them with white paper so that the jars would stage nicely. These three are "the Kitten Edition." With more jars to get rid of, there's bound to be a new edition to come!<br />
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<br />Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-14182202455363895582015-03-03T18:06:00.002-05:002015-03-03T18:06:54.149-05:00Heathy Stuf<div style="text-align: center;">
I've <a href="http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2009/05/current-fascination-other-peoples.html" target="_blank">written before</a> about my obsession with grocery lists left in grocery carts.</div>
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While pumping gas at QuickTrip the other day, I went to throw away</div>
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something and saw this at the top of the trash can.</div>
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I couldn't resist taking it. </div>
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Makes me smile every time I read it.</div>
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<b>Heathy Stuf</b></div>
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I love my mommy</div>
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and I love trees</div>
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because they need</div>
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water, sun, air.</div>
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And all of us</div>
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need air, water, sun.</div>
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And we need water</div>
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every day.</div>
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And sunlight.</div>
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And we need</div>
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food for us.</div>
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And we need</div>
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heathy drinks.</div>
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And we need</div>
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air because</div>
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if we don't</div>
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have air</div>
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we will die. </div>
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And we need</div>
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water. If </div>
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we don't</div>
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have water we will</div>
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die.</div>
Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-29521495039709877112015-02-27T16:20:00.001-05:002015-02-27T16:20:28.711-05:00Easter Decorating at Chateau Gahan<div style="text-align: center;">
I found these little peeps at Big Lots </div>
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and thought they'd be perfect </div>
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amongst my egg trees and bowl of decorative eggs.</div>
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Even in its everyday state, Chateau Gahan dons Easter pastels.</div>
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Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-91561885435090794342015-02-13T15:56:00.001-05:002015-02-13T15:56:58.577-05:00Go Team 50!I'll begin with this excerpt from Amy Poehler's book <i>Yes Please</i> —<br />
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<b><i>Getting older also helps you develop X-ray vision. The strange thing is that the moment people start looking at you less is when you start being able to see through people more. You get better at understanding what people mean and how it can be different from what they say. Finally the phrase “actions speak louder than words” starts to make sense. You can read people’s energies better, and this hopefully means you get stuck talking to less duds. You also may start to seek out duds, as some kind of weird emotional exercise to test your boundaries. You use the word “boundaries.” You can witness bad behavior and watch it like you would watch someone else’s child having a tantrum. Gone are the days (hopefully) when you take everything personally and internalize everyone’s behavior. You get better at knowing what you want and need.</i></b><br />
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I love everything about this. I remember when I was in my 20's. I have a soon to be 23-year-old, so I'm also reminded every day, as I live side-by-side with my daughter, just what being in 20-ish skin feels like. It's not an easy existence. Living as a 20-something is like the stage of a butterfly when it's emerging from its chrysalis; it's awkward, unfamiliar and there's uncertainty about what life will look like on the other side. While something beautiful emerges, getting to that point involves change, effort, and living and looking like the not-as-beautiful-as-the-butterfly caterpillar.<br />
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There are people who would give an arm to relive their high school years, others their college days, and some their 20s. I suppose there's a fan club for every decade. But I'm the head cheerleader for the 50s crowd. It feels good to be in my skin; I wear it humbly and with ease. And yes, I do have X-ray vision.Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-79945036630533861952015-02-11T17:25:00.004-05:002015-02-11T17:25:50.291-05:00Neighborhood Grocery = Glass Finds<div style="text-align: center;">
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Here in Peachtree Corners, GA, we have so many options for good grocery shopping. Within a 5-mile radius of Chateau Gahan there's a Trader Joe's, Sprouts, Earth Fare, Whole Foods, Publix, Kroger, Ingles, Super H Mart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market. And there's The Fresh Market about 8 miles from our house. We are super fans of Sprouts for most of our shopping (and hit up Ingles, a short walk from our place, for paper and household products).<br />
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Harleigh was shopping in Sprouts a few weeks ago and came across organic apple juice in this beautiful bottle. She got the juice for herself, the bottle for me. Once emptied, I cleaned it up and put it on the mantle (along with a glass bowl of shells and a glass vase of cotton bolls). For now it holds a fake flowering branch, but soon it will hold something real, fresh and Springy.<br />
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My go-to process for getting labels off glass —</div>
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I use Goo Gone Spray Gel. Love it for taking off stuck-on labels and cleaning muck off glass in general. I like the spray better than the straight liquid; easier to saturate the paper. I first give the label a generous spray of the Goo Gone; let it set for about 15 minutes. Then I take a scraper (the kind that holds a one-sided razor blade) and begin scraping along the top edge. I then give another spray of the Goo Gone along the frayed top of the label so that it soaks between the glass and label. I let it set for a few minutes. By this time, the balance of the label comes off very quickly. Always remember to scrap away from you. There's usually stray glue left once all the paper comes off. By holding the glass under running water, you can easily see where the glue is left, then give it a swipe with the scraper or piece of cloth.<br />
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<br />Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-85051611946138043052015-02-06T15:04:00.001-05:002015-02-06T15:18:08.520-05:00Favorite FridaysBefore the company I work for, unboundary, moved office space last October, we lived our workdays in a huge train warehouse. Two-story+ ceilings, cement floors, dogs brought to work (still do that, but there are fewer), soaring windows. A real statement of a space.<br />
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As Traffic Manager, I conducted weekly company meetings, usually every Monday morning, where we would review the week’s work ahead of us, share personal accomplishments, and talk about client projects, a hodgepodge of content, but always aiming to inform and entertain. We called the meeting unWeekly (playing off the "un" in our name). The meeting would last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour and was held in our huge auditorium space which we called TEDome, a space aptly renamed (from Thunderdome) because it is where we held the annual (sometimes bi-annual) TEDxAtlanta, organized by our company and started in 2009 after our president began attending the annual TED conference.<br />
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I had a format for the meeting, segments that everyone could expect to happen every week, and surprises to anticipate. With such a vast space (it seats 200+) and two-story ceilings, it was essential that I be miked; so I was outfitted in an uber cool Britney Spears headset. Each meeting started with a song through our sound system. I had a sign-up sheet for the song to be played each week. I made sure the music was played loud to get everyone in a good mood. Sometimes the music was accompanied by a music video; sometimes the song would go with a theme for the week (one related to the season, or one I made up). Here is some of what was played —<br />
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<i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbXvaE39wM" target="_blank">Hold On</a></i> by Wilson Phillips<br />
<i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlyXNRrsk4A" target="_blank">Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)</a></i> by Katy Perry<br />
<i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRAWwdzNL6c" target="_blank">Happy Valentine’s Day</a> </i>by Outkast<br />
<i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z33tH-JdPDg" target="_blank">The Power</a></i> by Snap!<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWHtpmWhhws" target="_blank">Funkytown</a> by Lipps Inc.<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHozn0YXAeE" target="_blank">MmmBop</a> by Hanson<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YLy4j8EZIk" target="_blank">Hot Cheetos and Takis</a> by Y.N.RichKids<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGxDx8ftX1I" target="_blank">1st of May</a> by the Bee Gees<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOGEyBeoBGM" target="_blank">Heaven Is a Place on Earth</a> by Belinda Carlisle<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU615FaODCg" target="_blank">Daydream Believer</a> <span style="text-align: center;">by The Monkees</span><br />
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And when one person didn't get me their music choice by the deadline, I did what I promised I would do if rendered music-less come Monday morning. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1W6-ErrHls" target="_blank">Nelson</a> it was. Oh no you dihn't. Oh yes I did.<br />
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I gathered some pix from past unWeeklies that made me smile, fondly remembering our old space and how much fun I had hatching ideas.<br />
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For Halloween 2011, I made the entire space dark except for candles on every surface. Police tape blocked off the curtained entrance to TEDome. Once everyone was seated, the music began. Vic Mizzy’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPad47e8gNI" target="_blank"> The Haunted Organ</a> from the movie The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. Halfway through the organ piece, Molly, our receptionist, rolled a corpse, me the emcee, into the space. I was on a morgue table, covered with a sheet, one hand dangling down, a few spiders on me, and my bare feet sticking out, one toe with a toe tag. At the end of the music, I sat up and began the meeting.<br />
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In the spirit of Cinco de Mayo, I made nametages that I, Consuela, handed out at the beginning of the meeting with Mexican names for everyone. </div>
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For the official start of summer, I created a lifeguard chair by putting one of our auditorium chairs up on a work table, taped on a beach umbrella, crafted a lifesaving floatie, and led the meeting decked out in sunglasses and twirling a whistle. I threw a few beach balls into the crowd for fun. I love being an idiot.</div>
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One of my grandest meetings was always for Independence Day. I captured the Lee Greenwood <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK0-gUl5CUo" target="_blank">God Bless the USA</a> </i>laser show at Stone Mountain and had it playing on the big screen (in subsequent years, at one attendee's request I added The Charlie Daniels Band <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eCQDwrueiw" target="_blank">The Devil Went Down to Georgia</a></i>). The laser show ended in an on-screen fireworks display. The usual auditorium chairs were replaced with lawn chairs and blankets and our big fake felt rocks. I had coolers with cold sodas around. Gave everyone American flags and glo-stix. It was magical.<br />
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Over the course of the years doing this,<br />
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— I visually chronicled a pregnancy. Molly was quite the trooper, posing for the weekly picture that was shown on the big screen every week along with a googled image of what her baby looks like at that particular stage.<br />
— We announced a puppy addition to our dog family (a slide show of a stick couple and how they wanted to add to their family, culminating in the actual puppy being announced and brought into the meeting with squeals of delight and lots of baby talk).<br />
— We heard talks and saw images from trips to Dragon*Con, volunteer efforts, family vacations, a presentation of a Yale University Master's Thesis on color, witnessed Super Bowl bets that resulted in the losers (2 guys, good sports) who had to sing Karaoke to Shania Twain's <i>Feel Like a Woman.</i><br />
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With hundreds of auditorium chairs to use as props, I was constantly putting them in different configurations. One week following a big travel week for lots of our peeps, I put the chairs in rows of 3 chairs and 2 chairs with an aisle down the middle. And had two uninhibited volunteers act as flight attendants greeting people when they arrived on unAir Flight 207, and then walking up and down the aisle before the meeting began checking on the "passengers." When one person chose James Taylor and Carole King You've Got a Friend as the opening music, I put the chairs in pairs scattered all over the room. And when everyone sat down, I asked them to hug the friend next to them. Stupid stuff like that made for some fun times.<br />
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Before the Easter holiday, it was only right to supply bunny ears.<br />
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And for Presidents' Day, I couldn't help but channel the inner politician and address the crowd with a JFK/Clinton fist-with-thumb-sticking-out to make my point. (I look like a plump, unfashionable Sarah Palin.)<br />
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I miss those days.</div>
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Here's to Favorite Fridays.</div>
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Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-90346921688413779122015-02-02T16:44:00.001-05:002015-02-02T16:44:22.004-05:00Salty DaysHarleigh and I are 81 days away from our trip to Alligator Point, Florida. It sounds like a long time. And it is, much too long. Hearing JFK's 1962 speech at the America's Cup (aired last night on the Carnival Cruise commercial during the Super Bowl) made me all the more antsy.<br />
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“I really don't know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it's because in addition to the fact that the sea changes, and the light changes, and ships change, it's because we all came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea - whether it is to sail or to watch it — we are going back from whence we came."<br />
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This is worth waiting for . . .<br />
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<br />Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-20236250878509365902015-01-26T13:03:00.000-05:002015-01-26T13:03:33.291-05:00Catch-Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I’ve been gone so long from blogging. I have that feeling that you get when you’ve not seen or talked to a friend in a really extended amount of time. And there’s a hesitation about reaching out. But then I think about my really good friends . . . they’re the ones I can reconnect with, we pick up instantly where we left off, and there’s no guilt, shame or blame. And so, with that as my guide, here I am. I may have lost some of you, tired of coming back and seeing over and over again the December 21 post. But for those of you who haven’t given up and are happy to reconnect, here’s to you, really good friend.</div>
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Here are some straggling images from the Christmas break. (Most, if not all of these, were originally posted to Instagram.)</div>
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Over the holiday break, I catalogued my collection of decorating books.</div>
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Sometimes when I'm at a bookstore or the library, I forget what I have.</div>
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So images like these on my phone (and this isn't even all</div>
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my decorating book!) serve as a great point of reference.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1RhAGFI8lWY/VMKxDrcWOKI/AAAAAAAAIi8/lte_MRu_ceA/s1600/book-archive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1RhAGFI8lWY/VMKxDrcWOKI/AAAAAAAAIi8/lte_MRu_ceA/s1600/book-archive.jpg" /></a></div>
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I wish I'd been more creative this year for Christmas gifts for the neighbors.</div>
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But my good-ol'-standby poppy seed cake is just so doggone easy and super good. </div>
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One of those cakes you can eat for dessert AND breakfast.</div>
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Harleigh graduated magna cum laude from Georgia Southern University on December 12.</div>
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So proud of her!</div>
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(It looks like I cut out an image of just her head and put it on another picture of just a body.</div>
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What what???)</div>
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Ever since we've lived in our humble little Chateau Gahan (since 1999), </div>
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I've dreamed of putting up Christmas lights, especially icicle lights. </div>
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But without a man around the house, the effort</div>
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has always seemed too daunting.</div>
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Well, 2014 was the year of the lights.</div>
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I drove home from work one evening, and this greeted me.</div>
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I came to a halt in the driveway, literally gasped out loud, </div>
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and took it all in, with tears streaming down my face. </div>
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A gift from my dear daughter, no doubt.</div>
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She had gone to Ace Hardware with measurements in hand, </div>
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and turned to the red vests to help her figure</div>
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out how many strings to get, how to hang them from the gutters,</div>
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and how to handle hooking them up to an electricity source.</div>
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She got up on a ladder and got them all strung.</div>
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She then had the idea to hang lights along the top of the 4 windows you see above the roof level.</div>
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She got on the roof (if she weren't 22, I'd have spanked her hearing this!), </div>
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got scared, and luckily had her phone on her, so she called Mr. Clif next door and he came over </div>
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and helped her down. Then he loaned a better electrical cord and a timer!</div>
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THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVER.</div>
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Most nights when I was home, I'd stand at the open front door and wait for 6:00 to hit</div>
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so that I could see them light up. It never got old.</div>
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While down in Statesboro for graduation, we ate at a Cracker Barrel.</div>
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All their Christmas stuff was on sale. </div>
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I scored this light-up plastic, life-size baby deer.</div>
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And this large ceramic tree with lights.</div>
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Money well spent.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0NBd8gzCoA/VMKxELorDbI/AAAAAAAAIjE/c-_Mz5JxN_g/s1600/fawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0NBd8gzCoA/VMKxELorDbI/AAAAAAAAIjE/c-_Mz5JxN_g/s1600/fawn.jpg" /></a></div>
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Our boy.</div>
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Christmas morning at Chateau Gahan.</div>
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It really wasn't cold enough to warrant a fire, but</div>
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for pete's sake, it's Christmas!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q463frpOLyM/VMKxGtY7mYI/AAAAAAAAIkE/-yCjJGs6pDo/s1600/morning-fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q463frpOLyM/VMKxGtY7mYI/AAAAAAAAIkE/-yCjJGs6pDo/s1600/morning-fire.jpg" /></a></div>
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This was our second year in a row getting matching pajamas.</div>
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Harleigh told me last year that she always thought that was a cute tradition,</div>
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and she'd wish we'd done it when she was a little girl.</div>
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It's never too late to start traditions.</div>
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(And one more nod to a parent's "wish I would have's.")</div>
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This year Harleigh wanted scottie dogs.</div>
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The search proved successful at Kohl's.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yq-qw0UZl8c/VMKxIIvhmaI/AAAAAAAAIk0/fzUZtGiLj1s/s1600/pajamas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yq-qw0UZl8c/VMKxIIvhmaI/AAAAAAAAIk0/fzUZtGiLj1s/s1600/pajamas.jpg" /></a></div>
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For gift wrapping, I usually use a variety of papers, ribbons and baubles.</div>
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But this year I found this beautiful kraft paper with pine cones and greenery, and I </div>
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decided to dress all my gifts alike.</div>
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I ripped red and white seersucker for ribbon, and used vintage</div>
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postcards for the gift tags.</div>
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I'm in the process of redoing all six Sunday School classrooms at church.</div>
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Over the holiday break, I managed to complete one.</div>
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They're all underwater/ocean themes.</div>
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This one is a "find the hidden" object picture.</div>
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Since it didn't take up the entire wall, I painted the empty sides a glossy deep blue,</div>
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and then added little water bubbles.</div>
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One down, five to go!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-amsjWABzPgY/VMKxF1PHBqI/AAAAAAAAIj4/XPhcAS-Y8iU/s1600/hidden-picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-amsjWABzPgY/VMKxF1PHBqI/AAAAAAAAIj4/XPhcAS-Y8iU/s1600/hidden-picture.jpg" /></a></div>
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Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-78069375615028423502014-12-11T15:18:00.000-05:002014-12-11T15:21:42.303-05:00Chateau Gahan at Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The advent calendar on our fridge. I open up a door each morning while drinking my coffee.</div>
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This year's calendar has glitter on it. </div>
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I just may keep it and pack it away to look at next year. Much too pretty to throw away.</div>
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Christmas books collected since Harleigh was little (and a box of vintage Christmas cards).</div>
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On the coffee table to enjoy.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hKLdtXiT1g8/VIn0r3XxGfI/AAAAAAAAIgw/FycGC801Nfw/s1600/living-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hKLdtXiT1g8/VIn0r3XxGfI/AAAAAAAAIgw/FycGC801Nfw/s1600/living-room.jpg" /></a></div>
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With a tree in the living room, and one in the ken,</div>
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I alternate my breakfast each morning between the two room.</div>
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The old pail is a $1 garage sale find.</div>
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Stuffed with greens and fake candy canes.</div>
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(Gideon watches from the window.)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rb4UUqAcqks/VIn0pCbclxI/AAAAAAAAIfs/WwiHU78Y71E/s1600/candy-canes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rb4UUqAcqks/VIn0pCbclxI/AAAAAAAAIfs/WwiHU78Y71E/s1600/candy-canes.jpg" /></a></div>
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Thanks to Pinterest, we've all tied a tree to the top of a toy car.</div>
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This car, in Harleigh's bathroom (and, off-season, atop a pile of clean washcloths)</div>
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usually has a surfboard on the roof.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dv9vPwSFaJo/VIn0pWaKdaI/AAAAAAAAIfw/HZtUtfbK4fQ/s1600/car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dv9vPwSFaJo/VIn0pWaKdaI/AAAAAAAAIfw/HZtUtfbK4fQ/s1600/car.jpg" /></a></div>
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I have a church, a sweet shop and a tavern that are all lit and have little 3-D scenes inside.</div>
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They grace my mantle.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SyHOmHytjNI/VIn0pqTlzwI/AAAAAAAAIf4/MvHRcp9eeCI/s1600/church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SyHOmHytjNI/VIn0pqTlzwI/AAAAAAAAIf4/MvHRcp9eeCI/s1600/church.jpg" /></a></div>
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This S.D. Kluger toy/decor plays the actual Fred Astaire version of</div>
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"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."</div>
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[NOTE: S.D. stands for Special Delivery.]</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T5XtsKTvh4A/VIn0tWibghI/AAAAAAAAIhY/gCqnffXlTJQ/s1600/skates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T5XtsKTvh4A/VIn0tWibghI/AAAAAAAAIhY/gCqnffXlTJQ/s1600/skates.jpg" /></a></div>
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And our Santa from The Forum.</div>
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Is he not the best?</div>
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And on a side note, here is the kindergarten cabinet that I saved from the dumpster </div>
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and is now for sale in my booth.</div>
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BEFORE:</div>
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AFTER:</div>
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Stay tuned for more pix to come of our holiday decor!</div>
Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-32427106059143067392014-11-07T14:05:00.000-05:002014-11-07T14:05:03.962-05:00A Bit Out of SortsLots going on as of late. The office moved. Harleigh is wrapping up her senior year, graduating next month. Been busy with church volunteering, and am ready to embark on redoing all six Sunday School classrooms (I've come up with a grand design, if I must say so myself). And already working on decor for our 2015 VBS, Everest (because it's a snow theme, shopping now, with all the Christmas stuff out, is critical). The booth is keeping me busy (and is ready for a holiday overhaul). Wrapped up a backyard wedding; will share pix soon. Am starting serious planning for my niece's wedding next October. Also gearing up for a minor surgical procedure, and the bottom line is that I ain't got no time for dat. I'm at an odd place right now. Feeling a bit unconnected, to myself and the world around me. In limbo. Chapter II of my life is still a big question mark. I had hoped that I'd be seeing a clearer picture. I'm not. And I'm struggling with being OK with that.<div>
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All that to say, my blogging has truly suffered — both posting and looking at other blogs. I'm much better at Instagramming these days; it's more mindless. For those who follow me on Instagram, these images will be yawn worthy. But if you don't follow me on IG, then enjoy!</div>
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Until I can get up to the attic and pull down my generic fall decorations, </div>
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a little chalkboard with my heartfelt sentiment</div>
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will have to do.</div>
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The craft room is in shambles.</div>
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Which makes no sense at all, since I have no time to craft. Pity.</div>
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My little Ferdinand the Bull. But instead of smelling the flowers under a cork tree,</div>
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my sweet boy is watching the world from the overgrown monkey grass.</div>
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Some of the dining table flower arrangements from the backyard wedding. </div>
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I used bold-colored florals, white hydrangea, and a hint of pink.</div>
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Little man.</div>
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Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364541101628562065.post-85761539346127408892014-10-16T15:38:00.000-04:002014-10-16T15:38:14.173-04:00A Wedding This WeekendI was honored to be asked by a past co-worker, Steve, and his fiancee Beth, to do my thing for their big day! The wedding is tomorrow. Atlanta promises to be in the 70's with no rain. Keeping our fingers crossed. It's outdoors. A bonfire (with s'mores!). BBQ. Tubs of cold drinks. Corn hole. I came up with a plan for decor, presented it weeks ago, and am now putting the final touches on all that I'm crafting.<br />
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A little peek—I hand-painted all the dinner napkins. The color palette I'm using is matched down to the paint used on the napkins. As with all events I do, I use Pantone chips to create my palette, and make a little card that I carry with me everywhere as I'm planning and shopping.<br />
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When I made my design presentation, I staged some of my ideas. </div>
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Beth loved the idea of using pumpkins (our Pinterest board was so very helpful </div>
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in honing in on Beth's tastes), and in order to pull in the teal blue from the palette,</div>
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I bought a fake pumpkin and spray painted it using Montana paint.</div>
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(If you're not familiar with Montana, it's the spray paint that graffiti artists, the pros, use.</div>
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It comes in 204 colors. I buy mine at Sam Flax. I'm like a kid in a candy store.</div>
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It's not that much more expensive than the spray paints you buy at the hardware store,</div>
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it goes on flawlessly, AND you can find any color, a-n-y c-o-l-o-r!)</div>
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This staged arrangement used silk flowers, but will be real flowers for the big day!</div>
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The flowers I'm using:</div>
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Sunflowers</div>
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Orange lilies</div>
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Peach stock</div>
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White hydrangea</div>
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Viking poms</div>
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Light pink garden roses</div>
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Purple lisianthus</div>
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I had hoped to use lilac, but the order I would have had to place (flown in from Holland)</div>
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would have busted my flower budget. Bummer.</div>
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Teal-blue wooden dowels with jars of flowers will be stuck in the grass </div>
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and line the aisle at the ceremony.</div>
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Blue Mason jars on the dining tables will be used for candles.</div>
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My vast array of aluminum ware will be put to use. </div>
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Accented with teal rick rack, each piece will be different and hold an explosion of flowers.</div>
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Will share more images from the event itself. Lots of little touches!</div>
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Two miscellaneous Instagram images from the past week: </div>
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My fruit bowl "dressed" for Halloween.</div>
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And Gideon asleep on my bed. Maybe one of my favorite pictures of him.</div>
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<br />Dawn Gahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02631318078953880348noreply@blogger.com1