The Makeover Maven

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It is now quiet in my home and I’m so glad to be back in the midst of the crazy chaos of our little world. My husband and I had a weekend away for a business trip and client’s event. We ate and ate then we got to dress up (which we rarely do), did some touristy stuff, junked a little then ate some more. It was a fabulous recharge for me. Then our flight home yesterday got canceled. We were stuck,  in an airport that was only a three hour drive from home. They wouldn’t give us our luggage and we couldn’t get a rental car. So…our trip got extended one more night to which I can’t totally complain. We got to sleep in, we got a car this morning and then I got the best kolaches ever on the drive home. I was greeted by the sweetest Mother’s Day welcome on the planet. But we still have no luggage. Oh well, guess that means I don’t have to wear any make up tomorrow! All this to say I am a little behind on what I thought this day would look like…

Today what I really want to do the most is toot someone’s horn who would never do it on her own. I want to celebrate and highlight one of the most talented, gifted and creative people you will ever meet.

My mom. Dede. AKA Deedles to her grandbabies.

For real y’all. She is amazing. This woman never met a project she didn’t dominate. She is a self taught seamstress that spent her younger days making her own clothes and when I was younger mine too. She has taught herself how to knit, crochet, re-upholster furniture and just about any other crafty thing you can imagine. Her addiction to craft books might need an intervention. But from those books she has learned and perfected so many different arts. So – I guess her addiction is not all bad!

These crafts, that my mom immerses herself into, are often how she shows her love to others. Through crocheted blankets, curtains, clothes, jewelry, t-shirt quilts, hemmed pants, embroidered everything and sewed on buttons she pours out her heart and soul through the works of her hands.

Snapshots of Deedles are all over our home. If you know her, you likely have something she crafted in your home as well. I have few friends that have not benefited from her immense talents. She leaves handmade heirlooms scattered through people’s lives like the Easter Bunny leaves eggs.

When I was young she would knit Barbie clothes for me. They are genuinely little works of art (check them out on Instagram). I can only imagine the masterpieces she would have created had I been into American Girl dolls. My mom was always game when I wanted to redecorate my room in a new and different theme. Even when I wanted to decorate for Christmas one year…totally in bunny rabbits. She just went with it and if she hated my décor choices I never knew.

Ever since I can remember mom has brought the visions in my head to reality. The trendy clothes I would conjure up in my imagination. Even a prom dress. Nowadays it is curtains, pillows and furniture.

When I see junk and cast off furniture I never have to contemplate how it will get recovered, if I can make it work. My mom is ALWAYS up to the task and challenge. Her gift at recovering and upholstering furniture is silly good. I don’t know how she does it. Her eye for detail, patience and perfection are qualities I envy and lack. In all my life I have never seen a project cross her path she couldn’t figure out. Deedles has crazy skills with power tools. You will often find  a nail gun, stapler or sewing machine in her presence. She is one of the original DIYers.

I’m sure I should regret that I have not sat down to learn from the master I shared a roof with for so many years. The truth is, we aren’t the same people. I have no patience and the attention span of a two year old. No lie. I couldn’t learn what she has to offer. We make a better team the way we are.  Gleaning from each other’s strengths. I love that there are projects and areas I know only my mom can conquer. I’ve tried tackling a chair recover and pathetically worked to make due by gluing a curtain hem. But those are the projects the epic fail Pinterest boards are made of. My mom rocks and I know where my limits lie and her strengths begin. My creativity flows into her functionality and great things are born from our teamwork. It’s a grand blessing to have that continuity in our gifts. We fill each other’s gaps.

I’m not sure my mom will ever know how much I appreciate her. Not for the beautiful gifts God placed in her hands but in her heart as well. She is my fearless cheerleader, source of encouragement and #1 fan. She makes me believe there is nothing I can’t do. And she holds my hand whether I win or loose. I’m forever grateful that God blessed me with two perfectly imperfect parents that unconditionally love and support not only me but my husband and children.

On Mother’s Day I want to show her off to you. She would never dream of tooting her own horn…

I wish she would.

A stunning chair makeover. I painted and she upholstered.

 

You can see more of Deedles handywork here:

Chair makeover – again she upholstered

Office Chair transformation – embroidered and recovered a $4 chair

Tassels

any curtain you ever see in my house is her doing too! Here is a little wicker project I painted for her!