Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas to all! With love, Molly

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

My Sweet Ellie Belle

My sweet Ellie Belle. We almost lost her this year. She was very ill in the spring, but with lots of faith and lots of prayers she beat the odds and pulled through. I am so thankful she is still here and we have another Christmas with her.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

My Latest Christmas Creation

This is the second Chirstmas dress I have made for Lilly in the past 2 weeks ( I don't have a good picture of the other one yet). I thought I was only going to make one but I found this fabric at Joann's last week and loved it so much I almost cried (click on the photos to see the fabric better). It is the sweetest fabric I've ever seen! It's little vintage angels making Christmas cookies, candies and gingerbread houses. It was on sale and I yanked it off the shelf as fast as I could and was shrieking out "Lilly isn't this the best fabric ever?!" She was too into her lollipop to care that much. I used this tutorial at Joy's Hope and made it my own by sewing gingham fabric straps/bow instead of ribbon and I added the fabric flowers with fabric covered buttons along the top to make it even more yummy. I wish I could get away with wearing this dress/fabric. Aren't you glad I have a little girl and you didnt have to see a 34 year old woman wearing angels and cookies on her dress?
Here are some more pictures of Lilly modeling my Christmas creation. She wore it all day! Mommy's so glad she loves it! Hope your Christmas season is filled with sweets! Love, Molly

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Twinkly and Bright

We had a great day today. Lilly and Doug and I spent the day with my grandparents and my mom and dad. We went to my Dandaddy's (grandfather) church together and then had lunch. After lunch we looked through my Mom's old scrapbooks from jr. high and high school. Mom and Dad grew up together so it was great to see pictures and momentos from their past, times they shared together as kids. That is pretty amazing to me. Another amazing experience from the day was getting to read some of the letters my Dandaddy wrote to his mother from his ship during World War II. They were unbelievable. I couldn't put them down. So much feeling and so much history in those letters. Many of them were written during Christmas time. I can't imagine my grandfather and all those other U.S. soldiers having to spend Christmas on a beach in the South Pacific in the midst of war. We owe so much to veterans. When I got home I snapped some pictures of my living room and dining room to share with you. I love the "twinkly bright" feeling of the rooms. I use lots of gold, glitter, snow and vintage glass bead garlands.
Christmas Blessings to all, Molly
P.S. I went to breakfast at my church Saturday morning and we had an amazing speaker. She read this verse to us:
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
This is the response Mary had when the angel came to tell her she would have a baby named Jesus. Can you imagine hearing this kind of news? How would you or I react? She did not question God. Her immediate response was to serve him. What an amazing example of faith she is. This really touched me and this verse will be in my heart this Christmas season.

Friday, December 4, 2009

ready or not here comes Christmas!

We were out of the state for Thanksgiving so I wasn't able to decorate for Christmas the day after like I usually do. When I got back from vacation it was time for me to start working everyday at the preschool. I have had a lot going on and I can't believe how long is taking me to decorate the house and post about it. Christmas just snuck up on me!
I want to share some corners of my home. I'll start with my kitchen. I usually go over the top and kitschy for the kitchen with vintage santas, vintage christmas linens and lots of red, but this year I opted for a warm cozy feel with greenery, silvery and cream...
here's how it looks

my centerpiecea cozy corner

nativity my grandparents gave me for my 2nd Christmas, December 1977

I am happy with the overall calming feel of the kitchen but I couldn't be totally kitschless, so i I added some vintage greenery and a mushroom in front of a vintage recipe for fruit cake in my kitchen cupboard :)

Love to all, Molly

Monday, November 23, 2009

1 Chronicles 29:11-13

"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name."

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Don't Forget Thanksgiving!

I don't know about you guys but I am just becoming more and more frustrated and annoyed with retailers skipping Thanksgiving and going right to Christmas beginning in September! Christmas has been slowly but surely creeping farther and farther back. When I was young I remember my Mimi commenting on how terrible she thought it was that stores had Christmas out in early November. Well these days we see Chistmas popping up in stores as early as September and I think it is a crime. They use this tactic to get us to buy, buy, buy. Buy presents, buy decorations, buy clothing!. I'm not falling for it. Yes I have made a few ornaments and have been thinking of some Christmas decorating ideas but I can assure you I will not ignore Thanksgiving and to me the Christmas season does not begin until we have recovered from our turkey hangovers.
Lilly and I were at the mall a couple of days ago and Santa himself was already there! Can you believe that? He's been there for weeks already. Lilly did catch a glimpse of him and got a sparkle in her eye, but I sped by because it's not time for that yet! I went to Walmart the other day looking for Thanksgiving plates and napkins and there were none to be found. Where the fall decor once was (back in September), it was all Christmas. Last night was the Christmas light show and tree lighting here in town. We didn't go. It's not Christmas yet.
Lilly and I have been reading Thanksgiving books and talking about how important the holiday is for the past few weeks. I want my daughter to know that Thanksgiving is a very important holiday. What could be more important than being with family and thanking God for all of the blessings in our lives.
I know Thanksgiving is not a glitzy holiday and there are no presents and gobs of decorations and that is why the retailers want you to shove it to the back of your mind, but I urge you to put Christmas out of your mind for the next few days and focus on giving thanks.
I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving filled with family, love, and warm memories. Love, Molly

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Advent Inspirations

My next Christmas project is going to be an advent calendar for Lilly. I have been looking around the web for inspiration. I have found some unbelievable ideas. Here are some of my favorites...
I want to make Lilly's advent a countdown to the birth of Jesus, the true reason we celebrate Christmas, so I think I will add part of the Christmas story each day attached to a little treasure.
Hope you all are enjoying the beautiful fall season. Have a great week. Love, Molly

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Homespun, Whimsical, White Christmas

So I couldn't stand waiting for Christmas any longer. I had to start Christmas crafting. This year in my kitchen I want to do what I'm calling a "homespun, woodsy, whimsical" theme. I want to use felt, snowflakes, yarn, pinecones, evergreen, creamy whites, and handmade decorations. Here are my first creations for my little kitchen tree... I got my inspiration at BellaDia. I purchased the small pinecones at Micheal's (Florida pinecones are too big), I made the hats by cutting off the fingertips of a cream colored knitted glove, and I cut the scarves out of felt. They were so much fun to make (aside from the two times I got scorched by my glue gun). I plan on making more for friends and doing an angel version too so keep checking in. Have a wonderful week! Love, Molly

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Something New

A few weeks ago my friend Christie asked me to make a garter for her cousin's wedding. I had never made a garter before but it sounded fun and I always love a new sewing/crafting challenge. I searched the web for some garter tutorials and went to Etsy for some inspiration. I combined some ideas and this is what I came up with...
one for the bride to keep... and one to toss... I used this tutorial for the folded rose.

P.S. Check out Garter Lady on Etsy. Her shop is amazing!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Halloween Fun

I hope you all had a night full of Halloween fun and lots of candy! Here is my Lilly as Little Red Ridinghood. I made her red cloak using a pattern from marthastewart.com. The apron she is wearing was my Mom's when she was a little girl. She loved it all and had a blast getting all dressed up.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Let the Merry Making Begin

Hear ye! Hear ye! Anthropologie Holiday Decor is online! I anticipate their holiday collection and window displays every year. They always inspire and influence my holiday decorating. Their ornaments are out of this world. I buy some every year. Look at the beauties below. They are a couple of my favorites. I know it's only October and it's 90 degrees out today (I'm in Tampa, FL), but these girls have me ready to deck the halls!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Halloween Scrapbook

I wanted to share the Halloween scrapbook that I put together for Lilly last year. So far I have finished pages of memories from her first and second Halloweens. I will add pictures this year to finishe up the book. I bought the book in the dollar spot at Target, one of my favorite places to find scrapbook treasures. I made some tissue fringe and tied on a gingham bow to embellish the cover. It was such a fun project! If you look closely you will see some frayed ribbon, torn paper and smeared ink. That is because Lilly literally looks through this book atleast twice a week. She was looking at this book at Easter time!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

A "Sweet" Weekend

Well our friends Amy and Nolan came to visit this weekend and we had a blast. The kids really enjoyed the campfire, fall festival and just playing together (especially outside in the beautiful weather). We all consumed more sugar than I thought was humanly possible. I filled a cone that I made (pictured at left) and some whimsical Halloween take out boxes with treats for my friend and the kids. Below is a picture of Lilly and Nolan enjoying their yummy cupcakes in my kitchen. We took pictures of them in their costumes but I think I will wait until next week to reaveal Lilly's costume. I can hardly wait to post it...I might give in before next week and show you. We'll see :)
I taught today and had open house tonight so I am pretty beat. I will be back tomorrow to post pictures of the fall crafts that the kids did. They are too cute. Have a great Wednesday!

Love, Molly

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Embroidery Hoop Wall Art

I am so excited today because there is only one more day until my best friend Amy and her son Nolan are coming to visit. We are going to take the kids to a family campfire at our church, a local fall festival and a pumpkin patch. The weather is supposed to turn cooler this weekend so it should be such a fun fall weekend. I can't wait to post some pics of their visit. We're going to be dressing the kids up and taking pictures and doing some craft projects with them so be sure to check back and see what we did.
Also I want to share my latest project. Remember the embroidery hoop art I wanted to create for my family room wall? I thrifted some hoops and used some scraps from my fabric stash and here's how it turned out I'll be back soon.
Have a great weekend! Love, Molly

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Chenille Stem Whimsy

Okay, so I am obsessed with these little Halloween chenille stem creatures. They look so authentically vintage but I made them. A few months back I found the idea at Vintage Image Craft and I couldn't wait to make them. Then I saw them again a couple of weeks ago at MarthaStewart.com. I searched high and low for the orange and black bumpy chenille stems and could not find them locally so I ordered them online at Crafts, etc. I got them only a few days after I ordered them. Crafts, etc. is very prompt. Anyway, I printed out some vintage pumpkin and cat heads and went to town making them. I've made about 20 so far for Halloween gift buckets and for my own Halloween tree and decor. I can't wait to make Christmas, Valentine, and Easter versions. Elves, cupids, Bunnies. How cute will they be? They are super easy to make so you really should try them. Just click on the links above for instructions and printable clip art to use for the faces.

Happy Fall Ya'll

This weekend I met one of my favorite people in the world, Christie (aka my best Girlfren), at Mom and Dad's lake house and we had a blast. We took our kids to the "Coon Hollo Corn Maze" Friday night. The maze is on a farm in Micanopy owned by one of my dearest childhood friends and her family. I have so many fond memories of summer time on her family's farm growing up. Playing in the pastures, feeding the cows, hiking along cow trails, playing in streams. It was so good to see her and her children and to enjoy her farm with Christie and her kids, Hayden and Skylar. "Coon Hollo" had a corn maze, a tractor train, a hayride, cows, bucking barrels, tubs of corn to play in, a fort made of hay, a pumpkin patch and much much more. It was one of the coolest fall outings I've ever had. The only down side to the day was the weather. It was in the 90's! Very depressing Florida fall weather. It was worth all the suffering and sweltering though. Hope ya'll had a fun fall weekend. Have a wonderful week!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Spook and Sparkle Part 2

Happy Tuesday! As promised here is my Halloween decorating Part 2. The pictures below are of my Halloween spooky village. It is made by Lemax (sold at Michaels stores). My husband and I started the village the first year we were married. Then for the next couple of years we added to it. I didn't buy anything else for a while until last year, I bought the moss covered base to display it on (which I think adds so much). I have the village on a sideboard as you enter our house. It is so fun all lit up at night. Lilly just loves it. Some of the pieces even make spooky sounds. I hope you guys are having as much fun as I am putting out your pumpkins! P.S. The guy above, left is a favorite of mine. I bought him years ago at Michaels I think. He reminds me of the vintage Halloween candy containers like this.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Spook and Sparkle Part 1

My halloween tree and other decor went up this weekend. I was only able to take a couple of pictures before my camera battery died. Tomorrow I will get new batteries and show you the rest. I am so happy with my tree (left). I made the topper today and added it to the top. I add something new to it each year. Lilly got so excited when I lit up the orange lights. She even hung some of the ornaments. She did such a good job that I didn't even have to move them :) She said "Mommy, I being careful". She was careful except when she tried to take a bite out of the glass candy corn ornaments. yikes! Can we say safety hazard. She was running around saying "Decorate! Let's Decorate!" She is a mini me for sure. Below is a close up of the tree topper. Hope you enjoy. Come back tomorrow for more spook and sparkle!

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Fall Onesie Remix

I know it has been a while. I miss the blogging world. Last time I wrote I had all these big plans to create but the very next day I came down with the flu and it went on for a week. Then when I got over that Doug and I flew to Dallas to visit some dear friends. We had a great time but when I got home I had to regroup and get our house and life back in order so I have had little time to do anything fun or crafty. After church today I decided to take some time and sit at the sewing machine for a little bit. I took one of Lilly's onesies and a fall dress that I made for her last year (that didn't come out as planned) and put them together...and voila! (if you click on the photo below to enlarge it, you can see the dress a lot better).Hopefully I won't be gone on such a long break again any time soon. I am putting out my halloween stuff next weekend and I can't wait to share it with you. I love puttin' some cute spook around our nest. Love and blessings to you all.

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