Southern Fried Crafts

Slowly but surely I have been trying to fill up this great big house with dust collectors stuff decor ;)
And slowly but surely it's coming along. I know what kind of theme I want in each room it's just taking more time than I would like to get it all there. Lately I have been crafting up a few things for my living room, which has a "Southern" theme to it. It's my tribute to home... I grew up hunting with my uncles, fishing with my daddy and loving my grandma's fried chicken, cornbread and sweet tea, I am a true Southerner at heart and I cannot deny that lol. Even though Virginia is still considered "South" don't tell that to the people who live around here, they emphasize the "Northern" in Northern Virginia every chance they get... we are truly more North than South and it shows when I let my "Hey Ya'll" or "Fixin to" slip every now and then. So in while living in a world of Northern exposure and diversity this is my little piece of home. I keep it classy though... think pearls and vintage lace verses beer cans and rebel flags... again big difference between "Southern" and "Redneckin".

I think you've seen the fireplace before with it's latest updates of magnolias and our family sign gracing the mantel. I have now added to it a little bit to the corner and floor since it will still looking bare. I am still looking for something to put on the wall, and I've got my eye set on a Fleur De Lis painting at Kirklands...but I'll have to wait till that sucker goes on sale. In the mean time... here's what I've added to the fireplace area.

I found the "vintage" milk can on sale at 75% off at Joann Fabric's, where I also bought the Rose and lace to tie around the base. I found the sprig of cotton at Target and just decided to tie it all together. I had to cut the bottom of the cotton sprig down a little so it would fit into the milk can but nothing a hack saw couldn't handle... I love the fact that I can be in the garage using the hack saw on something like a flower sprig and my hubby won't even bat an eyelash anymore LOL! I am still debating on or  getting some of those battery operated light up branches to mix in this as well or not... what do you think? Add or no?

My other addition to the living room is a sign I've made with all things "Southern" on it... again little reminders of home...

Again, I think this style would be cute for just about any kind of sign. Most of the other signs and designs in the living room are in black and white and I've always been real fond of the "chalk board" look... so again here, I just bought some craft wood from Michaels, the letter S and the Fleur De Lis is also from Michaels. I spray painted both black and then distressed them with a paint scraper (a lot easier than sanding) I then used a paint pen to write the words on it. And I promise... it's not crooked on the wall like that it's just the picture I took of it is crooked LOL!

So what do you think so far? I am no where near done but it sadly I know it will take time... and patients is definitely not one of my best virtues LOL!

Book Review: Tressed to Kill By: Lila Dare

St. Elizabeth, Georgia offers charm, Southern hospitality and most recently, murder. Now, hairdresser Grace Terhune is ready to crack this case before things get snarled beyond repair...

Everyone at Violetta's salon including Grace Terhune and her mother, Violetta has their scissors at the ready for the influx of St. Elizabeth's high society ladies. Of all the snobs getting their hair done for the town meeting, the worst is Constance DuBois, a woman heartless enough to ruin people's livelihoods on a whim. And after a tinting accident leaves her hair with orange stripes, Constance vows she'll close down Violetta's... 

Hours after the threat, Grace and Violetta find Constance dead, and some including the police believe the mother daughter duo did her in. Grace sets out to clear their names, but with an accusing special agent, her lecherous ex on the police force, and the distraught daughter of the deceased all working against them, Grace is up to her perfectly shaped eyebrows in trouble... 

Not bad for a first in the series, it reads a bit like "Steel Magnolias" meets a "Who done it" mystery. I liked the characters and I liked the plot even though I think they should have stopped using last names after the first chapter lol! All in all it wasn't bad for 5 sassy southern beauticians and a crazy small town murder mystery. I am interested in seeing how the second book in the series is and am also excited to see who Grace my pick as her own southern gentleman caller... will it be quirky but sweet Atlanta journalist Marty Shears or talk dark and handsome lone ranger type Special Agent "Marsh" Dillion? Guess we will just have to wait and find out...

Climbing the Biloxi Lighthouse

Saturday we ventured out in our city and joined the American Heart Association and the fight against heart disease and did a heart walk. We walked 114 steps up into the Biloxi Lighthouse for a breathtaking view! It was a nice climb and when we got to the top there was a very informative guide that gave us great information on the history of the light house. It was first built back in 1848 and after the lighthouse keeper died it was up to his widow and daughters to keep the light lit. The ladies would go and haul 2 buckets of whale oil to keep the lights lit and the harbor and ships safe 4 times a night! All I can think of are how huge these women's thighs must have been LOL! Talk about getting your cardio work out too! LOL! The lamp in the lighthouse shines bright for 10 miles and in 1929 was converted for electricity. It is made out of cast iron from Maryland and bricks from the Guflport area. It was brought to Biloxi in sections and put up in less than a years time. It has been destroyed and restored twice; once by Hurricane Camile in 1969 and once by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Hurricane Katrina destroyed the left side of the light house and washed away most of the bricks and steps. It sustained 21.9 m.l.s during Hurricane Katrina and took 2.5 million dollars and 4 years to fully restore!

We also toured the Biloxi museum in the visitors center and learned alot about our area and what make it so great. How Biloxi became a melting pot of people, French, Bulgarian, Vietnamese, Irish and German. Biloxi has deep rooted history in our country and is a great example of how the early settlers flourished here amongst the Native Americans. I can't wait till the family comes to visit again so we can take them around and show them. I know my mom (the history buff she is) would love it!

Here's a few shots of our day...

Waiting in line to climb the lighthouse

The lamp and light to the lighthouse.

The spectacular view from the top of the lighthouse.

Inside the museum.

A exhibit on the old Biloxi schooners; made my local fishermen and designed to fish these shallow waters.

A replica of lighthouse and what it looks like inside.

To give you an idea... Katrina's waters came up to the first window you see on the side of the lighthouse. 

The Biloxi visitor center made to look like a Southern Antebellum home. So beautiful.

We indulged in a little Biloxi tradition; a strawberry lemonade snowball. They were first invented here in the South so that people would have a sweet treat to enjoy in during the hot summer months before air conditioning was invented. :)

The kiddo enjoying the afternoon on the Southern Porch... and I sat in a rocker taking this picture with a glass of Southern sweet tea in my hand.