this precious life.

These fun little flowers are all unique and can be used to accessorize so many things. The best part?! All you need is a needle, thread {the thread color doesn't *have* to match} , circles of fabric & a button per circle. Now follow the directions below: Start with any size circle. Just remember that  the finished flower will be half the size of the original circle. With your needle and thread, stitch a running stitch completely around the circle. When you've arrived back at your beginning stitch, start pulling the thread all the way through so the fabric starts bunching together. When the bunching is tight, flatten out the flower and pull the fabric at different points until you're happy with the look. Then, while keeping the stitches tight, add a few stitches securing the top of the flower to the bottom. I would suggest sewing the button on now, although you can always do it later. Here are a few of the things I created us...

   This was one of the first ideas that got me rolling on gifts this Christmas. Not only is it unique, versatile & perfect for guys or girls-- it's very easy and inexpensive to pull together. {The hardest part for me was finding a globe!} To start with, you need chalkboard paint! Now you *can* buy it in the store or -for a fraction of the cost- follow this simple ratio and make your own --in any color you wish! Ratio: 2 Tablespoons of Tile Grout per 8 oz. of paint My observations: One tub of grout goes a really looong way- especially on smaller projects- and allows you to use various colors instead of just one.  Mixing in a disposable glass jar is preferable to mixing in a plastic tub.  Mix your paint in small amounts because whatever you don't use in the space of a few hours gets really gummy and you have to throw it out. For smaller projects, you can pick up 2 oz bottles of acrylic paint at your craft store (which is much less expensive per project than bu...

I hope everyone had a marvelous Christmas filled with Christ, traditions, {maybe even some snow!!} and warmth.  I'll share a small description of my Christmas morning taken from a letter I wrote to Brooke . " I woke up to my alarm at 7a and jumped in the hot shower. After dressing, I ran downstairs and plugged all the Christmas lights in before brewing a hot mug of tea. I then went back downstairs by the tree and read Luke chapter 2 and then some of The Scarlet Pimpernel while waiting for everyone else to awaken.  Very soon, all the little ones came sleepily from their beds-- blankets dragging behind and excited anticipation in their eyes-- to snuggle up on the sofa. When everyone was assembled, Elaena {the youngest} opened the first gift and then Ellyn distributed the rest. It was a time full of laughter, gift explanations, thank- yous and excitement. I'm sure you can imagine how the room looked when we were done! The floor covered with wrapping paper, strewn with gift...

Your Christmas shopping is all done ( or almost done ) & now you have loads of bags from stores...some even have Christmas prints on them! Or maybe you've run out of wrapping paper and you're snowed inside. Is there a solution?! Yes!  Turn all of those bags {paper or plastic} into gift wrap. Oh and did you run out of ribbon too? Use scraps of fabric you have lying around...or twine...anything that is long and can be tied;) get creative! Taking the time to wrap gifts creatively { even if it's just wrapping something instead of putting it in a bag! } is the last step to completing a gift which shows the recipient that you care about them. Here are a few I came up with ... So far I've used Trader Joe's, Starbucks bags and scraps of fabric. {I've yet to do the majority of my wrapping and try the other ideas. Here's a link for a pom pom made out of a grocery sack !} Add some color of your own with pens or markers. Paint would be very specia...

 I was in downtown Zionsville this week having tea with my sisters and Mama and very much enjoyed the warmth that spilled out of each shop window. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

{I've shared just a few  of the do.it.yourself ideas which I've already had the opportunity to try but since I don't have the time to pull more posts together, I'm sharing a quick list of websites which should give much inspiration as you create and purchase gifts this Christmas season.}   www.designsponge.com {Design Sponge} {Martha Stewart} {once you go to this link, scroll down to view links to other DIY gift galleries (i.e., for guys, chillen's, etc.)}   {Fossil Blog}   {MStetson Design}   {Man Made Diy}   (I was so excited when I found this site because there just are very few diy/inspirational websites which are geared towards guys!) W hen it comes to DIY, a lot of it just has to do with seeing something you like and thinking "I could make that!". So you see it, examine it if possible, take a few mental notes on how it's essentially put together and then go home and work with what you've got...tweaking it until you like th...

{Supplies} 1 Placemat  1 coordinating ribbon belt sewing machine {Procedure} 1) Measure roughly 26 inches of your belt starting at the D ring end, and cut off excess. 2) Double fold cut end under and sew straight across. 3) Take your placemat and fold, bottom to top, 2/3 of the way up. 4) Pin ends together then pin to make 3 divisions (tri-fold) 5) Before sewing your ends and sections, take your belt and fold the end with the D rings over 2-3 inches. With the D ring side facing down from you, stitch the edge of the fold in between the folds at the left side of the placemat. 7) Completely sew that end closed before sewing along the other pins. 8) Tri-fold, wrap the belt around,  and buckle. Now you have yourself a place to hold your inspirations, bills, stationary... you name it! Or make it a silverware wrapper by sewing smaller divisions. *** If you have any questions let me know. Making and creating things comes more easily to me than writing up blog po...

 Mama and I have always been suckers for peppermint patties...and thinking as we paid $.79 for one, "it can't be *that* hard to make these, we should do it ourselves". Now after years of saying that, we have finally gotten around to it! And they are relatively easy to make-- only taking about the same amount of time it takes to make a batch of cookies, start to finish. So if you are interested in making these for yourself or as gifts, I hope this will get you started! {We googled to find our recipe and ended up using one from www.cdkitchen.com. There are many, many recipes out there so if you aren't happy with this one, start googling:)} Ingredients: 1 Egg white 4 cups powdered sugar 1/3 cup light corn syrup 1/2 teaspoon Peppermint oil or extract Cornstarch for dusting 1 (16-oz.) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips Directions: In a medium bow, beat the egg white until it is stiff and forms peaks. Don't use a plastic bowl for this. Slowly add the powde...

{Supplies} 9 yards of 1" width ribbon 6 pine cones (or just go by the ratio of 1 1/2 yards ribbon per pine cone) 1) Cut ribbon into lengths of 1 1/2 yards. 2) Individually tie ribbon to top tip of pine cone with a double knot (you may need to fold the end of the ribbon to make it easier to tie) 3)Using a hot glue gun, place a few drops around the knots you just made, securing them to the pine cone stem. 4) When glue is dry, gather ribbons together, half in each hand, and tie a bow. If you wish for a staggered pine cone look, simply pull the ribbons to various lengths in your hand before tying. You should have excess ribbon hanging down after you tie your bow... leave as is or trim ends to lengths of your liking. 5) It's that simple! Now hang and admire!!

This video came out roughly 6 months ago but I didn't have a blog then to share it with you! So now, let the sharing begin:) The Girls with Glasses have put together some lovely videos but I have to say that this one will always be my favorite.  It's all about fashion evolving. color. happiness. dressing up. being feminine and loving it... all sorts of lovely things!  Enjoy! I Am A Girl - The Girls With Glasses Theme Song from The Girls With Glasses on Vimeo . {fiind more videos at vimeo.com  (search girls with glasses) or at www.thegirlswithglasses.com}

{I adore gray. a lot. (it's pretty much my favorite color next to yellow)   So I thought I should do a blog post about it.  :D} ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gray is a base color. Like black... brown or navy. It can go with just about every other color and still look lovely!  It's been a favorite of mine because it's not as dramatic as black, nor as earthy as brown and isn't as traditional as navy but can still be dressy & formal or laid back & relaxed. ('course black, brown and navy still have a place in my life...but you understand where I'm going;) hehe) This color tends to be gloomy for many people but before you read any further, please think of all the color you can throw with it to still feel cheerful and happy! There are many various shades and tones of gray. Warm or cool. Silvery or gunmetal.  Try to choose ones that complement your skin tone and the colors you pair with it.  Gray in Clothing It works for all seasons, just pair it with seasonal colors...

I had several composition books and a binder sitting around looking bla and plain so last weekend I spruced them up in my spare time:)  Decoupaging is so simple but can totally transform so much!   Here's how to try your hand at it: Supplies: Elmer's glue | an old craft paint brush | some form of paper {I've used newspaper, wrapping paper, cut-outs from magazines and scrapbook paper. I also want to try using maps. So get creative... there's lots you can use!} | something to decoupage! {notebook, small box, something wooden... there's all sorts of possibilities. My next step is to try it on glass and see how that works} 1) Prepare your space by laying down newsprint:)  2) Dilute your glue {roughly a tablespoon of water to a 1/4 cup of glue. You don't want it too runny so add a small about of water at a time} and be sure you have your paper or cut-outs prepared (torn, cut, etc.). 3)Brush a coat of glue onto the item you are decoupaging then place your paper on,...

I found this in my inbox tonight from Anthropologie and it just made me *so* happy! Doesn't everyone want to do this on a random Autumn day?!  (p.s. notice the detailed crocheted dress paired perfectly with tights to warm it up!!}

This was a total God shot. I walked out to the car one morning on my way to the gym and this photo was all planned out, waiting for me to click the shutter! Taking a picture every.single.blessed.day means getting really creative at times and working to make commonplace items look unique. Especially when it's 10:30 or 11 at night and you *just* remembered to do it!   You also miss a day once in a while {even after setting 4 different reminders on your phone to: "Take P.A.D.!!!"} but it just makes you more determined not to miss the next day.   This blog is to document my personal journey of taking one picture a day and I welcome comments, critique, and encouragement! Let me know your favorites! www.simply-photographs.blogspot.com

Monday I started PAD- Picture A Day. It seems very simple, but I've already missed a day accidentally! For the first month or so I'll have to be very dedicated about remembering...but it should become habit after that. Two of my photographer friends, Ron and Debra (www.outoftheboxphotography.com), have encouraged me several times over the past two years to take up this project. By focusing on various subjects, aspects and concepts of photography, just one day at a time, you learn so much and your photography grows with you. It also keeps you shooting even when you get into slumps and don't feel like picking up your camera. I'm very excited about this new project and can't wait to see where it takes me! Here is PAD: Day 1: In a few weeks or so, I'll open a separate blog for my collection of PAD photos...and I'd love to hear any critique or encouragement you have!