Hand Embroidery

Lately I'm obsessed with hand sewing! I remember being a little girl and LOVEing to play in my Moms sewing box. She had this butterfly thing that held all her embroidery floss! I was IN LUV with all the colors! She cross stitched a lot. I learned how and did a few things (of which I have no idea where they are :(

These days I have "graduated" to hand embroidery. I am, by no means, experienced in this new craft arena! So far it's all been off the top of my head... and actually I figured out today that I was not even doing the back stitch correctly! :(

So... now that I found out how (via an embroidery website)... I plan on making these SWEET dresses someday. Especially if I have a girl (no, i'm not prego...I'm just say'in). I have a thing for all things vintage and "antique". These little dresses are just SWEET. I got the FREE download from HERE.

So anywho.... Right now I'm working on my "Quiet Book" as a Christmas gift for my nephews. I hope it turns out cute. I have seen a lot of cute ones online...especially this one from Homemade By Jill. Go check her out...she's a crafting genius!!!

Right now, my living room is looking like a sweat shop!

Progress!!

Last weekend we made some MAJOR progress on painting the house. Clint is such a hard worker and really got a LOT done! I attempted to help (and I did) but it took me forever! So I'm not sure how much help I really was.

Here's Clint getting ready to paint up underneath the overhang.Yes, this is Clint on the ROOF! He's painting the trim. Luckily for us...we have a flat roof right there!
After our hard work on Saturday!
Here's the house now... We still have to do a portion of the upstairs, and paint the front doors and the brick around the bushes. It looks a million times better then before!! :)

Work In Progress!

We have wanted to paint our house since the day we moved in, and now we are!! I am so happy with the colors and how fast my hubby is getting all of this done!! I helped with the trim around the front windows and that took me all afternoon. Most of the house is painted, except for the back (which is mostly roof and some brick) and the front doors. I can't wait to get the color on them! Right now they are a hideous oak color! Eeeek! Here is my handsome, hard working hubby painting the "test" area. We ended up loving the yellow and went with it. We chose a "black bean'ish" color for the trim and the upper deck. I will post an "after" pic as we get closer! So exciting!!!!

Fo-Pumpkin Carving

Michael's was having a great sale on their "faux" pumpkins! I had to buy a few (or more) :)

I got the kids each a small one to "carve" and paint. It was amazingly easy to carve and Laynie loved painting hers. They turned out cute! I'll just buy a couple of those battery powered lights and put them inside!

Journey To Motherhood: part 3

Some would call this "nesting"...I just call it being "crafty". I have been obsessed with appliqueing EVERYTHING! Thank goodness I have two little girls across the street that I use as my "test subjects". I found myself sitting on the couch in the evenings with my embroidery thread, needle, scissors and fabric....just making whatever I can.
I'm sure it's partly because of the cooler weather, partly because of my "nesting", and partly because I wish I was making this stuff for my baby.
I have been praying more. Not because I want something specific (like a baby) but because I have seen God do amazing things in our lives over the past year and I am so thankful. Sure, I throw in a "baby" prayer every day...but hey, what do you expect?! ;)
I'm enjoying being 30, so far no major catastrophes. I still can't believe that I am in my "30's" now!!
I'm so very grateful for everything in my life and all the wonderful friends and family I have. I can't wait to expand our family and bring a sweet baby into this world. I feel like that's what God intended for me. I know that's what he intended! I never thought it would be this late in my life, but he has a plan for everything. Sometimes I let fear take over my thoughts...like, there is a reason he hasn't blessed me with a child yet.....or, maybe there is a reason behind all this waiting (like I can't have children at all). I know, I know....crazy talk! That's what your mind starts to do when you are childless and 30.
I trust God and I have seen it in my own life that there is a PLAN...and it's always the RIGHT plan! I give it to God and pray!

My cupcake that I cut out last night....it will end up on a onesie or a shirt for some cute girl.

My sweet owl that I made. He's waiting on some legs.

My first owl I made. He's on a onesie that my sweet "bestie's" daughter is wearing now!