Mercy

I woke up this morning to find a freshly renewed, foggy field behind our house. I was reminded of God's amazing grace and mercy.

Hope your week is going well.

Best Carrot Cake Recipe EVER

If you're a carrot cake fan...you MUST try this recipe.  The title makes your mouth water..."Carrot Cake Supreme With Buttermilk Glaze and Cream Cheese Frosting." 

My only advice is that you make if for someone else's party so you can get it out of your house ASAP!  It is the perfect mixture of salty and sweet.  Mmmmm.

Ok, so here's the link to the recipe:

Here are a couple pics of how ours turned out.

I used some of the leftover salted caramel glaze to drizzle on the top and loaded it with coconut and chopped pecans.

I hope you enjoy this as much as we did!

A friend and I were talking about how fun it is to bake with pumpkin this time of year. Can't wait to make some pumpkin cream cheese muffins!

Have a great day!

Grandma's Pretty Jewelry

We have a family reunion every Labor Day. This one was different without Grandma there....but it was so good to be with everyone again and we all had a really good time.  The ladies of the family all had the privilege of taking a little piece of grandma home with them.  We all took turns admiring all the unique pieces that Grandma loved.  Being an artist, she always had a bright, colorful piece of something on. 

I am so excited to have these things from her.  I remember to this day how excited I was to get to play with my mom's treasured jewelry as a kid, and I hope my kids can do the same with these precious things.

This one is one of my favorites. I love the airy shape of it. She had good taste.

Loved these earrings too.  So pretty.

Just wanted to share these pretty things with you.  Hope you have a great Monday. Praise God for this AMAZING weather!

Brinkley Wedding Pics

Brinkley Wedding Invitations

I've been waiting to share these pics with you! Justin and I had the privilege of taking wedding pics for his sis and her new husband. We are so excited for them!

They have a really fun story. They met, fell in love and decided to get married, just the two of them...on leap year! So, they did just that and we were all so excited for them. They had a big outdoor reception after their honeymoon. It was beautiful. Lots of love went into every detail of the reception. Her dad built a beautiful wooden archway from some trees that he cut down from his hometown. 

Justin made the shower and wedding invitations. Not that I'm biased or anything, but I'm pretty sure he is the best graphic designer I know...

He just put up his own site to get his portfolio out there.  If you or anyone you know needs graphic design work done...He's your man=) Wedding Invitations, Baby Invitations, Business Cards, Posters, Book Covers, etc etc etc...

*******Click HERE to see his site********

Here is the Shower Invite (Front and Back )

 ...and the Wedding Invitation (Front and Back)

Wedding pics are coming Monday!

Off to another wedding this weekend.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Catered by Simply Delicious.
Photographed by Justin and Kendra

Changes!

I've been away for a while!  Wow how time flies.  It's been crazy here.  Lots of things happening and lots of changes.

Justin and I went to Florida on vacation in the beginning of July to celebrate our 4 year anniversary.  That's just weird to say!  I can't believe it's already been that long. I have loved every minute of it.  So thankful God blessed me with him.

I just recently got back from Maryland to visit cousins and was able to hit up two weddings in two weekends!  It was so much fun getting to be with family and enjoy some really sweet relationships.

Being gone from Justin made me realize how special our relationship is. I never want to leave for that long again.  It was really hard. Distance makes the heart grow fonder...as they say.  Praise the Lord for relationships!

I recently quit my job at the screen printing shop and am now officially a "Stock Photographer"  I'm so so so excited!  Justin and I have been working on stock photography on the side for about 3 years now but we decided it was time for me to go all in.  So, as of yesterday, I get to work from home doing what I love...being creative!

I'm so blessed and so thankful.

Oh, and my pillows are still in progress.  Have lots made up and ready to go.  I am working on building up more inventory and will get them up on my site soon!  So excited to share those with you.

Hope you are having a great week.

Potting Summer Plants

I'm not the best with plants. I kinda forget to water them...BUT I think I'm getting better.  It just takes a little discipline and love.  I was getting sick of our deck being bland, so I went to Lowes and bought up some flowers.  It was really fun to get my hands dirty.

So I took these...

Creative Spaces

It's time for a little decor inspiration. It's always fun to get fresh ideas. I love changing things up and rearranging here and there. Maybe these will give you some ideas too.

Hope you have a great Monday.  

figandsage.blogspot.com
http://amazingdecoration.com/
theericcrooksshow.com
artistbootcamp.com

Hand Made Deck Chairs

We were recently surprised with two brand new clean, crisp, beautiful deck chairs.  Our friends, Lyon and Sarah made them for us out of the goodness of their hearts. Talk about a gift of love.  I couldn't believe how pretty they were!

We took a few photos for their family and they built us chairs!  I'd say we got the better end of that deal!  Thanks soooooo much you guys!  I still can't believe you made these!

My Mother in law gave me two beautiful hanging baskets too. They make the deck so much cheerier.

Here are a few pics of what our sad deck looked like and what it's starting to look like now.  I still want to plant a few more potted flowers and herbs, but it is WAY better than before!

Have a great Wednesday.

What A Dandy!

I love dandelions.

We were taking a little drive Sunday after church and I spotted this HUGE dandelion on the side of the road.  I've never seen one like it!  So Justin stopped, put the car in reverse and let me climb the small hill to pick my weed.

I've always liked dandelions...even though they're a weed.  I'd like to know something...who labeled weeds weeds?  Why are such cute little dainty things called WEEDS?  If they were called a flower, everyone would love them.   I mean what's so wrong with having cute little yellow flowers in your lawn anyway?

That's my random rant for the day.  Anyway, I just had to share these pics Justin took of my BIG little "weed".

Have you ever seen one so big!!  It was so much fun.

Have a great Tuesday.

The Perfect Light of Day

There is this certain time of day that I just love in our home.  In the summer, it falls right about 5:30-ish. The sun is at just the right place in the sky and it shines straight through our front door and makes the whole room glow.

I love plopping down on the couch at that moment and just taking a breather. It's kinda my thinking time.  I love how God blesses us with still, quiet moment like these.

Here is how the light hit the leftover wedding flowers I was enjoying.  So cheery!

I read a verse this week from Proverbs that I tried to dwell on.  It's Proverbs 14:30. "A heart at peace gives life to the body"


Hope you all have a great weekend.  Find some rest and allow Him to give you peace!

Finished Wedding Hair Piece

Here is another detail of my sis-in-law's wedding.  Her finished hair piece.  She was SUCH a beautiful bride.  I was so happy I was able to be a part of it all.  Thanks Em.

It was so simple to make.

All you need is:

1. A vintage broach
2. Fabric (ribbon, tulle, etc)
3. An alligator clip
4. A hot glue gun

May Has Come & Gone

I can't believe May is almost over!  This has been one crazy month. From funerals to weddings...there has been lots to occupy my time.

My Grandma passed away this month.  Dealing with her loss was hard for everyone. We didn't get to see her super often, but it didn't make her death any easier. You know how sometimes you don't know what you have until it's gone?  Well that's how I felt... I think how lots of us felt. Death has a way of making us all appreciate life so much more.  It has made me appreciate the relationships I do have now.  Life is so short.  I do know one thing... GOD IS GOOD.  He took her peacefully.  It could have been so much harder for her.

On a happier note...My sis and brother in law had their big wedding reception last weekend.  It was so much fun!  It was a busy month planning for all the details for that.  I love love love getting to help with things like that.  I love being able to put the talents God has given me into practice.  It is such a joy.

I have so many photos and ideas to share with you!  It's been too long.

I'll start with sharing some pics from the hairpiece I made for the bride. She loves vintage things and broaches. I found this broach at a flea market and decided to spruced it up.

I'll show the final piece tomorrow!  It was so much fun working on.  Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine.  Have a great day.

 

Jade & Rich Teal Pom Pillow

This week has FLOWN by!  It's crazy. I guess we have been really busy lately.  It seems like as soon as one thing slows down another picks up.  I'm thankful though for all the opportunities we have.

I've been working more on my pillows. Lots and lots of work to do. I went to the fabric store this week to pick up a few pieces I was lacking, and of course, I found one more combo for a pillow that I just couldn't pass up.

It's going to be rich and fun all at the same time.  The colors and textures are going to be so pretty together.

Hope you like!  Can't wait to get these all up on my site and let you see them all!

Have a great weekend!

My New Sewing Space!

Here is what I've done so for now in my sewing space. It is a really big improvement from what it was before. It's just lots more organized and clean!  I love it.

I worked in here today trying to figure out my new serger.  I thought I could remember how to thread it and what tensions to set it on...but of course not!  It took me back MANY years when I first learned the sewing machine. I would get so mad at it any time something went wrong.

I reminded myself that I conquered that with help, and I will conquer the serger too. I called the place where I got it and signed right up for a class. They don't offer one until next month though, so I'll do as much figuring out until then.

My new rolly chair!

The finished pegboard.  I am loving the simplicity of it. I know right where everything is and it's only a reach away.

See how we made the pegboard here.

I got these little metal buckets at hobby lobby.  I think they were only about a dollar a piece. Amazon has several different options for pegboard hardware. That's where I ordered mine from.

I'm so excited to have a clean, organized space with places to put things.  That is the biggest help.  I can't wait to get to sewing on all my pillows!  I have lots of work to do.