Beauty He has Surrounded Us With: a look at lemon decor

I am mentally going over and over in my head all the things I need to do, wrap, and sew. Now, to find the time to actually do them...hmmm...

But isn't this lemon wreath lovely?

image via MarthaMoments.com

I just came across this photo on pinterest. Its fresh and relaxing to look at, all at the same time. 

image via HomeBunch.com

And this is etsy. Go here to see the shop.

image via DeLaFleur

I decorated with lemons from my parents tree a couple of weeks ago but sadly, they have all seen better days. So, now I am going to use camellias from my yard. I love using colorful, natural things we already own. Not only is it free but its showcasing God's Creation and the beauty He has surrounded us with.

A DIY boxwood wreath: I'm so proud of me!

Welcome to my fantastic boxwood wreath! I am so pleased with the way that it turned out. Now, I did have my doubts but in the end, it turned out better than I thought. It was touch and go for awhile there, in which case the lovely (I said that as I gritted my teeth) wreath had to be laid aside because it wasn't working out like I had planned. But yes, it exceeded my expectations and I am so glad that it did. This wreath is more "me" in the end. 

Now, I suppose I should have taken photos in the step by step process but that didn't happen. It's called I am a Mama who is too busy to stop and take pictures because I have T minus 2 minutes until supper burns and the washing machine walks away and the baby gets stuck under the couch.

Or as my husband puts it, I am very busy, by my choice, because I am busy with leaves. It does put things into perspective... clean clothes or a pretty wreath? 

Pretty Wreath!

I used boxwood, a foam wreath, spray paint and a ribbon. I stuck the boxwood around and around and around the wreath. I used a lime green spray to cover the white of the foam and dust the leaves. It was sort of like hairspray. And then used the ribbon and tacked it to the top of the window. Viola! ( Yes, Viola.)

A foreshadowing of things to come...Jesus painted on a leaf!

These three are now in Thomasville at The Bookshelf waiting on a kind person to take them home. Up to this point, I think these might be my favorite. 

I like the Jesus. I didn't realize until after I painted it that is painted on a leaf. I think its a foreshadowing of things to come for him, ie Palm Sunday and Jesus riding on a donkey and palm leaves laid out before him. 

Hosanna in the Highest!

* This was also the fabric I used on my sisters bedroom. The back of it ( why didn't I take a picture?!?) has the gray and green fabric found on the edge of her curtains. Click here to see it all. 

So, take your donkey and head up to Thomasville to The Bookshelf. My work will be there for the whole month. Also, Chrysalis is having a show and sale tomorrow during normal hours. They will have their wonderful fabric and accessories ( and my necklaces!) as well as artwork from local artisans. Happy weekend!

Be Fri/ St Ends...

Weird title? Yes.  Remember the best friends necklaces? You took one half, your best friend takes the other, so one side of the heart says Be Fri and the other Est Ends ( When the heart is together, it says best friends.)

These dollies are best friends. Be Fri and St Ends. I made them for my niece for her birthday and one is her, and on is my daughter. They are cousins, they fight like sisters but they love like best friends and sisters! I am learning that you can be it all.

The dollies stand up on their own and are soft like pillows. The skirt is sewn on in a coordinating fabric. My niece loved them and slept with them the first night.

And here is a blast from the past:

Look-Back? A tutorial on emphasis and colors that sing.

Look-Back?  Is that a term? And put the emphasis on the look. Go ahead and say it. It really changes the term when you change the emphasis to another. My husband seems to put the emphasis of double names on the first name. My mom and my niece are double named southern gals. I thought he was calling them by some other name. No, its all about the emphasis.

Yes, but I think there needs to be some commas or pauses there( in reference to the look-back term.)  I don't know. Too many stores, too little time and now I am tired from this mornings adventures.

But this is pretty.

The colors of the flowers with those gray dresses really pops.  And the necklace sings. Wonder where she got it?:)

To see more bridal looks, go see my bridal page ( its the wedding of the girl with the necklace on...thank you Marion!)

HAPPY Monday. 

or

happy MONDAY! 

I am going to go with the latter one for me today. happy MONDAY.

A Visit to Thomasville in the works?

These characters ventured outside last week. This was actually the first set I painted. Its interesting how person after person evolved into a thinner, folkier version. My favorite is Joseph.

This next set is on its way to Thomasville. My work will be for sale at The Bookshelf. Along with a few other artists, my art will be incorporated into the already existing happy shop for the month of December. There are several nativity sets, necklaces ( long and short), and some darling dollies. I will share those next week.

Happy Friday. We will be getting our christmas tree this weekend. Now how to decorate it....?

Cyber Monday Sale, Sale , Sale!

Now until midnight( or let's face it, when I remember tomorrow to take it down) you can get 25% off everything in my etsy store. And free shipping. Use coupon code freeshipping and fuchsiafriday for 25% off. If you are local, I can drop off to you.

And remember...I am having a Thomasville show for the month of December. My wares will be house in The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Ga. Its a darling store and they are nice people. 

Happy Cybering!

Sale! Sale! Sale! Now Through Monday

Fuchsia Friday sale now through Monday, November 26th. Go check out my etsy site for all of the deals. 25% off, use the code fuchsiafriday, and for free shipping, use the code freeshipping.

An Evening with My Love

I am selling necklaces and manger scenes right now. If you are local, we can set up a meet and greet. Or really, I drop off on your front porch.

Happy Shopping!

25% off and free shipping!

Yes, that's right. I am having a Black Friday sale but I am calling it a Fuchsia Friday Sale. And yes, I know why we call it a black Friday but I just wanted a little bit more color.

A Fall Beach Trip

Everything in my etsy site is 25% off but you must use the coupon code fuchsiafriday.

The Long and Skinny of It

To receive free shipping, use the coupon code freeshipping. 

Baby Jesus from the Nativity Scene

And if you are local, use the coupon code and we can arrange a drop off. I will also be adding other nativities, necklaces and maybe a few surprises(!?!?!) throughout the time of the sale but go check out my etsy site to see what I have. The sale will go through Cyber Monday, November 26th.



Go get 'em!

My Latest Project

I have been busy in the sweat shop! I am really excited about my latest project. I haven't quite unpacked the creative process of how I starting making these ( more to come on that later ) but it has been a joy to make them. Literally. A Joy.

My daughter and I have been painting together over the last 9 months in the afternoon together. It is one of my favorite times of the day. 

I love the mix of fabric, paint and clouds ( pillow stuffing, but clouds as my daughter calls them.)

Mary with red shoes and a necklace, just a little something she picked up. 

Baby Jesus. I love the shine to it.

I have more and will offer some at my next show that will be in Thomasville at The Bookshelf starting after Thanksgiving and will run though the month of December. And of course, you can find some in my etsy site, including this one. And don't forget about my etsy sale...starting manana!

Happy Painting!

Fuchsia Friday Sale!!!!

So, I am thinking of having a sale on my necklaces on my etsy site. And with Black Friday coming up, it seems fitting, but I am not call mine Black Friday. Maybe Fuchsia Friday? Actually, upon binging( yes i am trying to make that a verb) fuchsia to make sure I am spelling it correctly, I had forgotten its a flower. Yes, its a stunning color but also stunning flower. My husband bought me one once and that seems nice. So, Fuchsia Friday it is!!

These are some of the ones I will offer as well as others that are already on there:

 More info to come! Not sure what the sale will be or look like, but the necklaces will be on sale.

Hooray.

oh and here is a fuschia.

To all my Clemson peeps out there

I have been working on necklaces and other doo dads and paintings for a show I am doing soon, VERY soon! I put that "very" in there for me. Egad! Not much time...

Anyways, I had the chance to create some necklaces the other day and came up with a Clemson one. I like!

And while I worked, I watched this movie. I was a tad obsessed with it a few years ago. I think it began my love affair with California (yes, this scene is Colorado.)

Anyone interested in a Clemson necklace? Let me know...

Fabric for me! or for him, or him, or her, or her...

My fabric stash is getting kind of low...oh no!

Just like some plan to have their refrigerator stocked, I like to have my fabric drawer stocked.

You never know when an idea might strike, or a little takes a longer nap or you NEED to make some throw pillows for your sofa.

Every year, I want to do an all handmade Christmas. Now, if I start in August, it just might get completed! But that ain't gonna happen, I know me:)  Just as less is more, the same is true about handmade items. I tend to want to do too much and make everything I see, but then they all get lost in everything. However, I am going back through my ideas of what to sew and make, and pulling out the ones I think will really be appreciated and ones that look enjoyable to sew.

SO with that in mind, I am looking, buying and adding to my prized fabric drawer.

To see other fabrics I love, check out my pinterest board all about fabric.

And to see some of these in person, go to Chyrsalis or visit Hawthorne Threads online.

A Strict Blogger

I am usually a strictly blogging on weekdays kind of girl, that wasn't really much of a possibility this week. In my mind, if my blog gets really famous, I don't want to have to work on weekends and people expect a post. Hey, it makes sense.

Back to reality...

I made these necklaces a couple of weeks ago and haven't shared. With Christmas coming up, there are lots of gifties for people to buy. What about a Governor's Daughter necklace? These can be purchased at Chrysalis or check out my etsy site.

Happy Birthday to me!

Well, Happy Birthday to me a couple of weeks ago. I am slowing down in my old age so it took me awhile to post this:) Or maybe its the fact I am a stay at home mama with 2 little ones...

On a side note, I am pretty excited because I finally got some laundry put away while my two littles played on my bed. Simple and happy. 

For my birthday, my parents fixed us supper. My mom did her table all up. Isn't it lovely? Wonder where I get it from...

The contrast of the brown with the yellow is so pleasant and the decor on the chandelier is a nice added bonus. I especially liked the use of the crops. I don't know why I used the word crops. Well, certainly, they were someones crops and we are enjoying the fruits( literally!) of their labor.

I also got a kick out of this. Thank you Dad for using the sign from last year.

I had such a nice birthday and I am so thankful for such great friends and family. The Lord has blessed my greatly in my 31 years. Yay!

DIY Princess Dress: I costumed it!

For Halloween, my daughter wanted to be a princess. Well, of course! We visited my sister for Halloween and since Halloween was on a Wednesday, we went to her church that night and they had the kids dress up as saints. I liked the idea. I did some research and came upon St. Elizabeth of Hungary. She was a saint, check, and she was a princess, check. We did our artistic interpretation of what we thought she might wear.

I had pinned a cute dress awhile ago I wanted to make. I "costumed" it. Yes, I like that term. I used an old
t-shirt for the top and found super shiny fabric for the bottom. Here is the original tutorial.

Now, I am thinking about making another one, less costumey.

*I might want to take a little tutorial on photo editing:)

To Dye or not to dye

I am fevershly trying to finish Halloween costumes. I dyed one costume. On a sad note, it did not turn out the red I was looking for but on a happy note, my washing machine did. Haha. Sad. The fabric I was dying did turn out a really nice shade of pink. We will just make it work. Thank you Tim Gunn. One of my other costumes really could get me on Project Runway or maybe a low budget version. I couldn't believe it stayed together and fit! More to come on that manana! 

Falled up the place

I recently wrote a post about outside fall decorating here. I pinned all these great ideas and then when it came down to it, I realized it would cost me a small fortune to outfit my whole front porch with pumpkins. However, I bought new flowers for my pots and it really falled up the place. Yes, falled, as in spruced up the place...? Its reaching, I know.

The galvanized pots my husband found underneath the house after we moved in. The former owners were into flowers, plants, trees and especially camellias. Lucky for us! He, of the past homeowners, brought cameliias in from California and grafted some in to already existing camellias. He also tagged each tree, which some of the names can still be seen. Its fun to walk around the yard and try to find the tags and ohh  and ahh over the names. And the point was..... Oh, yes, the pots. I have 2 in front and 2 on my back steps.

crotan, pentas, marigold, sweet potato vine, tea olive, dusty miller, lariope

I am also thinking of putting more eye popping pillows on the chairs out front. These are the two fabrics I have been looking at...

this picture does not do this fabric justice...

So, thats the end. Happy Thursday. In and out of sleep this morning, I thought it was Saturday... weird. And to see autumn inspired front door decor( say it 3 times and its yours!) check out my Autumn Board.