a baby gift

For my best friend's little girl, who we just (very excitedly) met, I wanted to make something special.

I found the idea here and she found it on Pinterest. (Side note: I'm totally on pinterest and still don't really know my way around ... isn't that sad or what?)

Anyway, I loved it and it worked perfectly with a four letter name like Ella and I started with the above color of embroidery thread. However, about halfway through I realized that there was not going to be enough ... and quickly changed to an ombre type look. I actually really love it!

I finished up with a pretty yellow dandelion and re-stretched it across the hoop. It wasn't quite as straight as I'd hers - my stitches must've been different tensions and the fabric different - but I still think it turned out SO cute.

The back, however, is a different story.

So I used a piece of knit (that won't fray) to cover the back... and used another uncovered ring. (The yarn covered one was cute but made it difficult to get everything together without breaking.)

then trimmed the whole thing up! Pretty sweet, huh?

experimenting with light

one of my (unspoken) goals for the year is to be a little bit more risky and experiment with my photography. if it doesn't work, it's okay. if it turns out amazing, great!

here, I experimented with lighting. the sun was shining in my bedroom windows late in the day as we were playing upstairs. Here's what we got.

Nothing amazing, but maybe someday it will be. My favorite is the last one. :-)

the purse hanger - finally hung

Remember my purse hanger?

Three months later, it's finally up. (*smiles) Yeah, it takes me awhile to do things around here, but after the busyness of Christmas, I feel more motivated ... like things aren't weighing so heavy, things don't HAVE to be done, therefore, it's much more fun to actually get them done! Ha. I'm weird, I know. Just go with it. 

{And, just for the record, the ENTIRE three months she has been driving me crazy pulling things out of the diaper bag and my purse. That little girl can pull apart or get into just about anything these days!}

So over Christmas, I broke out my amazing and infamous can of (expensive!) Annie Sloan Chalk Paint called "Old White" and painted (and distressed) the backboard we needed to use. Since it would be holding weight we wanted it to be screwed into the wall studs. Unfortunately, I'd already made the hanger before we decided this. It was too small to do reach both studs, so I just extended it with a larger piece of walnut. 

My dad taught me how to countersink the screws so it would be flat against the wall and we glued and screwed the boards together (from the back).

Then I broke out the trusty power tool (a.k.a. drill) and after measuring twice, I drilled the holes into the studs and countersunk the 2-1/2" wood screws. Yes, I did!

A big thank you to my dad for helping with this project and my husband for the use of his power tools and for marking the studs for me. 

Love that they are off the floor and out of reach! For now at least... 

:-)

happy golden birthday! ( to me )

I had a wonderful golden birthday this year. I turned 28 on November 28 and thought I was going to be waking up in a hotel after a not-so-good night's sleep and driving back to Kansas City on my birthday. But our car had other plans, so I did my hair, put on makeup and made homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast! Boy, were they yummy.

Silpada necklace courtesy of my FIL!

cheesecake and tea in Asian china

Jeremy gifted me with a whole afternoon of thrifting (found some incredible stuff!) and my MIL paid for a haircut from my favorite stylist in Ohio. Too bad she's in Ohio - I heart her!

I desperately tried to convince Jeremy all I wanted for my birthday was a beard shave, but ... that didn't happen. Regardless, I had a great day! Thanks to all who made that possible.

New in the Shop: Valentines!

I just completed several sets of Valentines for the shop! I love making these cards, but unfortunately, no one loves buying them.

However, I will prevail! Here's a few pictures of them.

And, I guess if they don't sell, you might be getting one!! I do love you, you know...

hehe. I'm at 20 completed sales and I'm thrilled with each one. Selling on etsy is so. much fun!

See you tomorrow!

More fun stuff!

It really has been crazy around here. But, I did manage to sneak on a few more items for the shop before Christmas. Who knows? Maybe I'll get a sale!

Fun stuff like this...

Head on over to the SHOP and pick something out! (Or at least let me know what catches your eye.)

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I promise, I will be back after the new year. But taking a break really has relieved some of the pressure I put on myself. My arsenal is getting fuller ... watch out! Pictures of the tiny girl ready to overwhelm you!

Shop Update! - 12/7/11

Hey all! Just checking in with a shop update. Click HERE or click the button in the margin to go see the fun new stuff I've added!

I have a lot more to add, but for now I've listed a bunch of new fabrics like these.

And some sweet baby clothes like these:

Remember this one?! So CUTE!

So hop on over and show me some love!! :-)

P.S. We did get back a week later than expected, but all is well.

Fall wreath and a holiday confession

Blog posts have been few around here. After the big "ONE" celebration, there hasn't been much to document except that my grandma passed last Tuesday, Nov 8. Her funeral was on Monday and we said goodbye. She is laid to rest next to her husband who's been gone for over almost 27 years. That's a long time.

After two funerals this fall and the holidays upon us, I feel like I'm trying to hurtle through space at top speed. So, to take some of the pressure off myself, I'll be blogging less until the beginning of 2012.

I realize this is not the way to up my blog following or have more traffic to my shop, but right now, it's what I need. Besides, I just need to spend time with family and giving meaningful gifts.

The positive of this is that I'm sure to have a full arsenal of DIY gifts and decor and little girl stories to blog about.

Thanks for your understanding. I'll pop in here and there, but for the most part, I need to recharge.

*********
Ahem. Back to the fall wreath.

So, my mom asked for a wreath and hanger - for Christmas - but since it's still fall, I was able to make it and give it to her early last week!

Here's the inspiration (hanging on my front door):

I got it at a specialty shoppe in St. Charles, MO several years ago, so there wasn't anyway I could buy her a duplicate. Instead, I'd do my best at making one myself. I went to my favorite craft store and grabbed a small vine wreath.

source

Then I went to the 50% off fall aisle. Christmas is taking over but there are a few sprigs of fall berries left. I grabbed two that I liked and planned to use ribbon I had leftover from mine.

Then, I went to work. With the more expensive sprig I planned to use all along. AND ... I hated how it was turning out. So, I turned to the other sprig (which, I just happened to have another of the exact one from a couple of years ago) and it was perfect. Down to the little curly cues.

(Excuse my lack of a more detailed picture. I meant to get a few close-ups before I wrapped it, but then I got too excited. Then, the funeral weekend was too crazy and I just couldn't get everything done - i.e. take close-up pictures. You'll just have to use your imagination for the details. It really does look great!)

Is it Thanksgiving or Christmas?

For all of the American readers out there, Thanksgiving is in just a few weeks.

But ... according to the stores, you'd never know it. Literally the day after Halloween (or before in my favorite craft store) it's Christmas all of a sudden.

This image has been floating around the web in the last few days. Have you seen it? (according to the date, the picture is a couple years old, but still.)

source

It may be a ploy to get customers like me (who agree) to shop there after November 25 this year, but if solely by principle, I love it.

The consumeristic tendencies around Christmas here in America drive me nuts. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. I really love the season, the songs, the decor, the fuzzy feelings ... I really do. But I also really love autumn, harvest and Thanksgiving.

It's been this way as long as I can remember, but our stores glossing over Thanksgiving to go straight to Christmas really bothers me.

Does it bother you?

birthday low-down.

A few miscellaneous birthday details ...

this cupcake template

this ruffled streamers tutorial

this Hummingbird cake recipe

decor

smash cake!