Friday Foto.....

This past Monday I went on a date with this very special young man.   

Since he's not old enough to drive, Nannie picked him up in Pappy's truck about 9:45 and we headed straight for Circle G Ranch, which was a surprise for him!  After driving through the ranch and feeding the animals at the petting zoo, we went to Pizza Hut for a bacon and pineapple pizza and took it to the local Optimist Park for a picnic.  Afterward, he wanted to go to Bass Pro Shop and look through the store.   We then went home so he could get a big bowl of chocolate ice cream.

Love this sweet boy so much!

Next date will be with his little sister!

HOPE y'all have an awesome weekend.

Have fun.....

stay safe.....

enjoy life!!!

Breathing in Grace,

Refashioning/Repurposing.....

I ♥ to take something old that was first used for one thing and turn it into something else entirely!

 I recently saw this purse at Kohl's online.....

Kohl's AmeriLeather Patchwork Leather Convertible Tote

At a price of over $100, I knew I wouldn't be purchasing it.  I remembered I had a leather coat in my stash that I'd gotten several years ago at a Goodwill half-price sale for $5 that kinda reminded me of the patchwork.

I left it out on the table for a few days and kept looking at it until I had a plan of how I wanted to cut it up.   I cast aside all fear and just grabbed my scissors and starting cutting.  But, only the sleeves at first.  As the light bulbs kept coming on, I cut the bottom off and the collar.  I wanted it to still look a  bit like it was the original jacket.  I especially wanted to keep those pockets to stick my cell phone into, or a pack of gum for our kiddos.

Here's a bit of the process.....

I had so much fun making these flowers.
The lighter camel color actually came from a jacket I bought for Pappy before we got married.  I transformed it into a purse, too several years ago. 



I took different colors of leather from the excess I'd cut from the jacket and used an ice pick to punch holes into the centers of each one, then inserted a brad.  The brads came from the scrap booking section of Hobby Lobby.....
with a 40% off coupon, of course!!!  
After folding down the prongs on the back, I used a dab of the E-6000 glue to hold them in place so they wouldn't pull out later. HOPEfully, that won't happen. 

I lay the purse on the table and cut around the lining  fabric that came from Wal-mart and allowed enough to turn under around the edges.   I cut two strips of the contrasting fabric (a fat quarter I already had on hand) to make the inside pockets.  I sewed them onto the lining and then sewed down each one to make 3 pockets on one side and 4 on the other.

I hand sewed the lining to the purse with embroidery thread.  And, yes, this took FOREVER!

I used this fifty cent thrift store belt for the strap.....
which, later I realized was a mistake, but I worked it into the purse anyway.

That braided belt that I had already glued to the purse on each side for a shoulder strap.....
I simply cut it off and tried to turn a negative into a positive by leaving the buckle on one side and a loop on the other.  I can use those to clip on a hand sanitizer, or my keys.  I wound up using  the handles that I cut off a $1 yard sale find!

And, here she is all finished.
I really like it.....
and, so does our girl!
A "new" leather purse for less than $10!
Now, that ain't too shabby.

So what about y'all?
Have you tried your hand at taking some old and turning it into something new?

HOPE everybody has a wonderful day!

Breathing in Grace,


p.s.  I didn't glue the entire purse just the flowers and the handles.
Everything else was sewn by machine using a needle designed to sew on leather.

Wednesday's Word - Exalt.....

Exalt:

to elevate;

to glorify;

to raise in rank or power

Will we think too highly of ourselves.....

 

or give God ALL the glory?

Breathing in grace,