Dave's Office

image made at the polyvore site

Now that I have Dave's office and he has the playroom, we have been transforming the playroom (now office/music room) into something {hopefully} more sophisticated and sparse.....I know my friends have already told me that they can't believe that I will be able to decorate sparsely. Now I will try and prove it :) The walls are being painted (we got some done last night) a green (actually 2 different greens- the room is so large with different sections- I felt like one color was not enough- we needed a little depth).

The armoire that was in our daughter's room is going up there to store our games (our poor games have never had a proper storage space)- where do you keep your board games, by the way? I have seen some people use a coat closet- but we don't have a coat closet. I want them to be organized and on shelves- but not too high so that the kids cannot get to them.

The armoire will be painted with some of those patterns you see in the inspiration photo. Then I want to get a rug, and a few pillows to coordinate and that is it- although eventually some big leafy plants would be good and curtains like you see there with the brown pattern. (and maybe a painting.....)

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Dave has been working on the mincymedia website and here is the new look! Awesome- I love it.

Also, our church's anniversary video is loaded onto the website. This shows the highlights from our last year and celebrates the 3 years we have been a church- with a lot of the renovation photos for our new building.

DIY lampshades

The Nester is having a lamp party! Here are our lamps.....

We have had these lampshades forever. I got them a plain craft paper brown and added a little paint so that they would feel loved and a part of the house (polka-dots always make me happy :)

This was a fun one! All you do is cut paper to fit each side and glue on with a glue stick. The possibilities are endless with this technique.

And the Sharpie lamp. So quick and easy! Draw a design and color in with a Sharpie!

Thanks for looking at our lamps. I have always wanted to write on a lamp the words:
Let your light shine before men- or "Jesus is the Light"

What about you? Any good lamp makeover stories?

New Studio!!!!!

This was Dave's office- we moved his office into the playroom so that he could have a larger space to record music. We are bringing the piano up there too so it will be the family music room as well.

So I got his office!!!! It will be an art room for the kids as well me. (as well as a guest room- we have the double bed in there)

Before, I had to store the art supplies in:
our bedroom closet
the kitchen pantry
the kitchen drawers and cupboards
the playroom.......

Now, it is all stored in the Art Room!! Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun. Much more to do and I am sure many more pictures to share in the next few weeks.

Thanks, Gina for your inspiring studio and many ideas! I can't wait to get the a*R*t letters on the wall :)

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the BEFORE picture

the Boardwalk at Rehoboth Beach

We love staying with Aunt Barbara and going to the boardwalk. Great memories we will have --the pizza, fries, taffy, & the quaint shops.

Grotto pizza this time

the best salt water taffy ever!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::and back on the road again::::::::::::::
Let's get some snacks! No pigs knuckles for the Mincy fam (first time to see that in a jar on the counter of the gas station)

Newest endorsement- lifewater by SoBE. Almost as good as this one...(sorry I wasn't modeling the glasses this time- but they were my faithful companions in the car)

North Wildwood, NJ

On Saturday we got on a the Cape May Ferry and headed to Joe and Kristi's church. This is a pirate boat docked by the ferry. The weather was gorgeous, but the waves quite choppy. We didn't realize how much a big ferry like that would rock!



What a blessing it as to be at First Baptist of Anglesea. Dave was able to sing some duets with Joe (Henson, from Guam). I know that was fun for them both.


After Dave's concert Joe gave a great challenge on Colossians 3:16-17

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

This was one of those times that I saw those verses as if for the first time. Beautiful - that the word of Christ can dwell in us. I was so thankful to see Dave up there singing with grace in his heart to the Lord. We feel so blessed and honestly so thankful that we are in the place where we are- we feel so grateful to be able to take these short trips and hopefully be a blessing to others- to share what God is doing in us and to share His love....

I really enjoyed getting to know Kristi- that is a big benefit to getting to travel -we have met so many great people already.

Our little merchandise table.

delaware & NJ

Just popping in to say hi from Delaware! This morning we were with friends at their church in Wildwood New Jersey for Dave's concert. What a blessing this weekend has been ! Beautiful weather! No one got sick on the ferry!

Have a wonderful Sunday. See you tomorrow......

Oh My Word!

this post from a year ago....cracks me up because I am in the exact same place I was then!

Today was our first day of summer vacation. We have a concert this weekend, so I needed to get packed and do laundry and clean house, etc. Even though I warned myself NOT to do this- I did it--meaning I expected the kids to do their own thing so I could do mine. I, I, I!!!! Anyway, funny how I was looking back in the archives for something and found the post that I needed to read.

Please, Lord, have mercy on me! (I know you will, thank you!!!)....please remind me to stay in Your Word! Remind me to live for others first! (as I tell my kids to do....)

When we get back from our weekend I am putting the plan into place- the tentative plan is: Mondays --art day
Tuesdays--field trip day
Wednesdays--story time at the bookstore
Thursdays--park day
Friday--water day

This way the mornings are planned and the afternoons are free for us to do our own thing while the 3 year old naps.

All I know is that there needs to be a plan (how many times have I said that in the last month?). Desperation is setting in. Funny how this happens even though we homeschool all year and the kids are home anyway- but you know what- when we homeschool we have a plan!

Do you have a plan? What are you going to do with the kids this summer? I would [obviously] love any ideas :) :)

tree inspiration

I saw this on Hazel's blog and love it! Great job, Hazel! I am so inspired to paint a tree on our playroom wall.

When we went to the art museum we saw a tree where the leaves were all made out of colorful patterned paper. Cute idea.

colorful day

Today was the last day of school for us here at the Franklin School of Arts and Academics (our homeschool). We have successfully promoted the kids and will have a third grader, first grader, and a preschooler in the fall.

To celebrate, we had a field trip to a few of our favorite places: the Art museum & strawberry picking.

enjoying the art

This was the room where you could pick out your favorite prints, set them up and pick out words that describe what you see and feel. Very fun for the kids (and me).

How funny that we would see this chandelier after seeing one just yesterday on Eric Carle's blog- YES, Eric Carle has a blog! (thanks, Jes, for the info!)


Too bad it's blurry- we loved this abstract about the sun rising.




What a great day- the sights, the colors, the sounds, the smells and tastes- all good! Now on to summer break.......

creative bloggers & their stuff

One of the things I love about blogging is the inspiration from other artists. I just got acquainted with Gina Lee Kim and love her work. Her studio is great- I want to be there and use those tables and ribbons and paints!

Doesn't this make you want to sit down and start creating?!?! What an inspiring place, Gina! Thanks so much for letting me share your pictures!

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Thank you, So blessed for adding me to your top 10! Here are my top 10- although it was really hard to choose.

[1] kady hope- here is my post on Jes.

2. Raising Baby Ellie- cutest baby blog I have ever seen.

3* crafty crow- this is my all time favorite for kids crafts and activities.

4}. deep space sparkle- awesome art projects!!!

5. one pretty thing- she finds the good stuff on the web.

#6 whatever- Meg is very creative and fun.

7-- little nummies- so cute!!!

8. things with wings- love their art :)

9:: chrissie grace- here is my post on Chrissie.

10. jonquils and ladybugs- Stephanie is so creative and talented--the following pictures are from her blog:

Look at the little shoes she sewed. Adorable! (do they come in adult sizes?!?)

She also knits and quilts.

Love it all, thanks, Steph, for letting me steal your pics :)

Here are some more good blogs that I picked awhile ago.