Spring Break in Texas Part I...Dinsosuars, Faberge & Birthday Celebrations

When we left home Thursday early evening, the snow & fog in Kansas slowed us down but the Wagner's kept on going.  We even took a brief tour of Baylor University in Waco Texas before we arrived in Houston, Texas late Friday night.

Saturday morning my little boy was 9 years old!  Since it was his birthday, Alex got to chose where we and the Heddens family would go.  No surprise...a visit to the Museum of Natural Science.  We loved the Dinosaur and Faberge Exhibit.  Saturday evening we all sang Happy Birthday to Alex and enjoyed a delicious cake prepared by Tina, Alex's godmother.  Great photo of both our families (set the camera to take photos on a timer so even I was in the group photo!)

Sunday, we attended Mass (Palm Sunday) and had a great time hanging out with the Heddens.  Staying with the Heddens while we are in Houston is always great fun for everyone.  The biggest challenge is having the kids go to sleep because Laura and Alex don't want the time spent with Zach and Jayme to end.

Monday we got to spend time with some of our old friends in Houston, including the Rogers Family and the Wilson Family.  Took lots of great pictures of our friends.

 After dinner with the Wilson's, we drove back to our old street on Emerald Isle.  Several of our old neighbors were out in the culdesac.  It was really nice to see many of our old friends and neighbors from our old street. 

It has been almost 7 years since we moved.

It had been almost 7 years since we had seen the Reeds, the Buggs, the Constants and the LeBlancs (although we had seen Cathy about 4/5 years ago).  Took a great group photo which I hope to post on Facebook later (have not downloaded that photo onto my laptop yet).

I wish I could post all the great group photos I have taken of Alex's birthday and time with old friends and neighbors in Houston, but it has been my practice not to post personal photos on my blog due to my husband's work. This is one of those blog postings where I wish I could share those photos but I must remind myself I can't.

So here are the photos I can share:

On Tuesday morning, we left Houston and drove to Austin, Texas.  We got to spend the day with my mother in law and brother in law.  Today, we also got to spend the day with them, but in the evening all the Wagner's gathered together to celebrate Alex's birthday.  We enjoyed a small chocolate cake with Ruth (mother in law), Richard (brother in law) and Chris and Haleigh (nephew/niece).  It was a sweet family gathering, our first one since last June. More great family photos taken (again, wish I could share them on my blog)

Tomorrow morning, we will visit Grandpa Wagner at his final resting place.

Tomorrow afternoon, we have plans to have lunch with our friend and former next door neighbor, Cindy in San Antonio.  By tomorrow evening, we will be with Junebug (in San Antonio)!  One of my best friends ...my sister of the heart.  We will be at June's home Thursday and Friday night.

I am looking forward to my day with June on Friday!  It will be a girls day!

Alex's Sleepover Birthday Party

My little boy is almost 9 years old.  His birthday is March 23rd -- next Saturday.  As luck would have it, we will be in Houston, TX on his birthday.  Alex was born in Houston.  We will be in Houston with his godparents (and our dear friends) on his birthday, the 23rd!

Tina is already planning on making Alex a birthday cake so we can all celebrate his birthday next Saturday.  It will be great as both families cherish the time we get to spent together, especially since we moved to Colorado over 6 years ago.

Last night, Saturday the 16th, Alex had his birthday party.  It was extra special because it was the first time he has had a sleepover birthday party.  We limited to 2 friends, which was not a problem because Alex has 2 best friends.  He, JR and Ryan had a great time.  The boys enjoyed pizza and treats for dinner.  They created a huge GeoTrax display, played with Legos and watched Diary of a Whimpy Kid and Diary of a Whimpy Kid: Dog Days movies.  Suddenly we would hear 3 boys laughing out loud at the same time while they watched the movies.  Their night ended with a pillow fight.  This morning they ate breakfast then enjoyed an indoor easter egg hunt with bright sport theme plastic eggs.

Alex absolutely loved his party and has been very appreciate.  Always makes a parent proud when your kid is appreciative!


As it is tradition with me, I decorated Alex's birthday cake.  This year's the theme was Lego's (Lego City).  Anyone who knows Alex knows that is his absolute favorite thing in the world (and Star Wars, combined them, well you get the picture!).  He wants to be a Lego Engineer when he grows up.  He is an extremely creative and funny kid.

Now, I also have to mention that Alex has always celebrated his birthday with his grandpa Wagner.   Usually, we would see his grandparents in Austin during our Spring Break.  We would get together and he and his grandpa would share a cake and we would all celebrate both birthdays.  Sadly, that will no longer happen since we lost his grandpa to Cancer last June.

Today would of been Grandpa Wagner's birthday.  March 17th is St. Patrick's day, but is was also Richard Wagner's birthday.  We miss you and think of you everyday.

Checkered Corner - Grand Opening this Friday!

Last weekend was the Sugar Plum Bazaar at the Parkside Mansion.  The weather on Saturday kept some people away, although some loyal customers came despite the snow storm.

Usually I take a few days to rest after a big show like Sugar Plum, but not this time.  These past few days I have been tagging inventory, loading and unloading inventory into a new shop in Downtown Littleton ....Checkered Corner!

My space in Checkered Corner is almost ready...just a few minor details left to complete this morning (Thursday).

Isa Creations is now in one of the upstairs bedroom in this historic home in downtown Littleton at Checkered Coner.

 
This room, which looked like this BEFORE:

I painted the room with a silver color.  Now it looks like this:

Here is a special item in my space:

 The little cast iron bird holding one of my favorite vintage hankie dresses, is a special item (not for sale).  This little bird is a reminder of my dear friend June, who lives in San Antonio TX.  June gave me this bird a few years ago.  I think of it as my good luck charm.  It's like having June near and a part of this because she, more than anyone else, knows what this means to me. 

I am exhausted!  More exhausted than I have been in a long time.

but

I am also very excited!  I love my space at the Checkered Corner.  I am happy to be a part of this wonderful team,  a great group of ladies....Patrice, Anita, Diane and Carolyn.

Here are the details from Patrice on the Grand Opening:

CheckeredCorner.com

5650 S. Curtice Street

Historic Downtown Littleton

reclaimed, repurposed & vintage collections for home and garden

GRAND OPENING WEEKEND

Friday, March 15 &

Saturday, March 16 

10:00am - 6:00pm

 Sunday, March 17 

Noon - 4:00

Come and browse through our creative displays of one-of-a kind treasures. You will find vintage dishware and linens, antique and primitive rustic furniture, retro furniture and accessories, artwork and other unique finds for your home and outdoor spaces. Our business of gathering and transforming old pieces of the past into new treasures for your home and garden seems a perfect fit for this wonderful historic house. 

Visit over 9 rooms filled with special finds!

We welcome the newest additions to our Checkered Corner family:

Isa Creations features re-purposed vintage materials and felted wool.  Isabel Wagner creates one of a kind functional and decorative items. Find hand-crafted pin cushions, birds, pins, rings, electronic table bags, magnets, vintage hankie dresses, handbags/totes and seasonal items. 

The Garden Shed is a wonderful creation of old and new.  Diane Van Essen fills the old with new life through plants and flowers. She loves antiques and is fascinated by how they were used in the past.

Finders = Keepers is an eclectic gathering of retro, vintage and eye catching oddities.  Carolyn Coleman also loves to create jewelry from bits and pieces and custom pendants from most any photo.

We look forward to seeing you this weekend!  

Our March SHADES OF GREEN theme welcomes SPRING and NEW BEGINNINGS!  Check out our web site for more information, upcoming sales dates and a sneak preview of our special finds.

Re-purposed Tattered Quilt

I found a tattered quilt at an estate sale about a month ago.  It was a bargain!  After I washed it, I realized this quilt was much more delicate than I realized.  After it was washed...well, it got even more tattered.

This tattered quilt is now Easter Eggs and more Lined Zippered Bags for Nook, Kindle Fire and mini iPad (also great for storage like cosmetics, art supplies, etc).

Along side the tattered quilt eggs, I also created Easter Eggs from vintage Chenille bedspread.

Chenille Egg inside a French Egg Carrier

The lined zippered bags created using the tattered quilt was more challenging that I originally anticipated.  As I worked on them, I realized I needed to add layers of crochet doilies to the bags to help protect the more delicate areas of the quilt.

I love the fabric by Christy Tomlinson, I think it's called Bella's Dream.   The text fabric is from Sweetwater.   I have many more of these in progress.  I have a few with girls on them, but most of the lined zippered bags created using the tattered quilt are Houses...all with keys on the zipper pull.

My Nook is well protected in this quilted bag (also has an added layer of fusible fleece for added protection).

All of these items will be available at Sugar Plum Bazaar  this weekend, March 9 & 10 at the Parkside Mansion (1859 York Street, Denver, CO)  ..rain, snow or shine....although the early forecast indicates it will be SNOW!  I will be there...hopefully our customers will be there too!

These will also be available at the grand opening of Checkered Corner on 5650 South Curtis in Downtown Littleton on March 15, 16, & 17th.    Checkered Corner will be opened on the third weekend of each month (except in December when it will be open December 13, 14, & 15).