The Beauty in Growing

Well I know I'm behind on posts. Like miles behind...but I suppose it's just a sign that I'm being productive, which I have been, very much so. 

I can tell with out a doubt this summer/year is a growing period in my life. Maybe not a physical one, but a mental and understanding one. At times I think it makes me feel a little crazy, but I know it means I'm learning and growing from my experiences.

In just the same way as my garden! Our first solo attempt at a garden (not that we both didn't grow up around parents with gardens) but this is just us...and of course helpful hints from others. 

No denying it. 

The beginning...

Fact of life: weeds are gonna always find their way into your life, you decide if you let them hang around.

The rows are made up of:

•brussels sprouts

•every pepper known to man

•cucumbers

•sweet potatoes

•corn 

We had our first jalapeño Sunday night, fresh from the garden...and it was deadly spicy but amazing. 

I've found myself becoming attached to the garden and all the plants in our flower beds. It's a good feeling caring for something that cannot care for its self and seeing it flourish. So many things in this life are the same as my plants...love and happiness need the same care and nourishment or they too will wilt. Oh Lordy I'm preaching I know, but I think I'm preaching to myself just as much as anyone else.

I have so many crafties to share with yall...I promise to get to postin'! Until then, Keep on growing little loves.

The Wedding "Would" Wears

Ok folks so it's already full swing on wedding season, that's for sure! And it's the best season of all. I mean who doesn't love a good weddin'?!?!

This Saturday marks my first one!! I'll be directing a 200 (or more) wedding this Saturday (eeeek, wish me lots of luck) and that got me thinking about all the not so wonderful wedding guest dresses I've seen over the years....ladies whether it be a backyard bash or a barn dance or espically a fancy-dancy shindig you should never be wearing the kinda dress made for a night on the town. It's a wedding and there are "woulds" and "wont's" on what to wear. 

So here are a few of my ideas on what you should wear, next week I'll share some wont's and see if y'all agree. I found all these on the wonderful and always magic place of Pinterest and they can all be found in my "Style Me Up" board. 

           

Collage or College

is it Collage or College?

 

sad but true, I have always struggled with which is which collage or college. sad because I have a lot of both in my life.

 

but spelling isn't everything. I'd be fit to argue that crafting is though! I finally finished so many wonderful projects this weekend, and am so excited to share them all.

 

First off this little project that I made last week for my best friend Emma for her college graduation.

I must give credit where credit is due, the idea came from another really good friend's present that she received from some of her amazing friends.

well Emma's been going to school in West Virginia for the last four years, and really made it home away from home, so for her graduation I compiled all of the pictures over the last four years and made them into a collage, in the shape of WV.

1. First I bought a cut out of WV from Craft Cuts, they have so many amazing cut outs for crafting...seriously anything you could think of. I painted this piece black so that any small spaces inbetween pictures wouldn't stick out to awful bad.

 

2. I printed out all the photos in black and white and started cutting and taping them to the board. This is the part that can take awhile, considering that most photos aren't made for fitting into the shape of West Virginia.

 

I wasn't too concerned with cutting them to exact shape at first. After they were all taped down I took a razor blade and cut out around the outline exactly so that the shape of the state was obvious.

4. I used a light sealant over the finished project to keep the corners of pictures from peeling up and sticking out. I found this UV-Resistant one at Micheal's, and lets all hope it stays true and doesn't turn yellow over the years (fingers crossed)...most any sealant does.

 

Not a very hard project as you can tell, but she was happy and that's all that matters!

I fasened a hook to the back so she can hang it on the wall if she'd like. This is kinda a tradition for us..over the years she had about 6 collages made of pictures. At some point I guess I'll have to quit with wall art and start with scrapbooks or something.