a wrap-up of sorts

I feel as though a wrap-up of sorts is necessary before I can jump into blogging 2013. This might be a bit scattered but bear with me because this has been nagging at the back of my mind to do for days now.
For those of you wondering, I did in fact finish my Christmas wall hanging that I shared some pictures in progress of here. I decided to leave it up hanging in my kitchen for at least a little while longer even though all the rest of the Christmas decorations came down at the beginning of the month.

I am really happy how it turned out, and for it being my first big applique piece I'm pretty impressed.

Second christmas-y project I finished was a tree skirt that I started here.

Quilting this turned into quite the challenge and I think I ended up ripping more out that I actually ended up sewing. I started with a red and green veregated thread that looked terrible, so out that came and white thread won out in the end.

I even ended up being able to finish a quilt for my mother in law. It was my first time making a full flannel quilt and after seeing how cozy the final product was I am tempted to make one for myself now.

Whew, so that's it for me, just a big post about Christmas craftiness! Bring it on 2013, we've got stuff to make happen!

and the winner is....

Frances! Congratulations Frances you have won the very first giveaway on pursue joy! Send me your address at joypursuits@gmail.com I will send your gift off to you as soon as I can!

P.S. Make sure you check out her cute blog and shop at http://www.bibeezbaby.com/

indie business 3.0

I signed up for this class a few weeks ago, and it is finally starting tomorrow, I am so excited! Can I share a secret? It's my dream of having a little crafty business of my own. Even though the class doesn't start until tomorrow the instructions for making our own portfolios are already up and I was all to excited to make mine. Wanna see?

If you want to know the details of this class or sign up yourself you can do so at Freckled Nest

rainbows

I can't wait to get started on a little something using these pretties! And as I discovered today it really does pay to buy in bulk, hence why I now have 105 skeins of craft floss instead of the 3 or 4 that I was originally going to pick up!

button love

Yesterday I went out on the town on a mission for buttons. I'd say I did alright for myself :)
Be back later with my craft of the week (i.e. I still need to make it!)

happy mail day

When I was little I used to just love getting mail. Nowadays it's not quite the same because mail addressed to me is usually a cell bill or a bank statement, not so exciting. Yesterday however was a wonderful exception!
Project Life by Becky Higgins arrived, and I love it! Here is a link to a really great short video by Becky describing the project. If you are looking for a simple yet stylish way to record everyday moments this is for you! I love it because I don't necessarily have the time to scrapbook elaborate pages on a regular basis but I still really want to record this first full year of marriage. Here's a picture of my kit that arrived:

This picture doesn't really do it justice but don't worry, there will be lots of pictures coming in the next little while as I fill up the pages!

Also in the mail yesterday were products from Gussy sews and OhHi. Back in October I won a giveaway from Frecklednest blog and was so excited to finally receive this super pretty make-up bag and hand-stitched 'S'. They are so perfect :)

well isn't this exciting

Was just doing my nightly tradition of roaming around on other people's blogs when I found out that I won this crocheted handwarmer from this blog. I just love giveaways, and can't wait to receive this warm treat!

The giveaway is from donnasdecembers who just makes the prettiest crocheted goods.
Thanks so much Michelle for hosting this blog party! There was so much inspiration going on, I loved it!

*cute* free owl calendars

I think I might have squealed a little bit when I saw this! Over on the blog 'My Barn Owl' you can create your own owl calendar and then download it for free and print it out. It is super easy to use and there are about 30 different pictures to choose from for the different months. I made mine last night and CANNOT wait to print it off. Eek I'm so excited! Here is the link

Here's some of my favorite pics you can choose from:

When you download your free calendar the pictures come in high res so they would be a lot better quality than how they are now. 

around here

I wish I could say that I have been madly productive in the last few days but that would be a bit of stretching the truth. Despite not getting done all things I wish I could get done it's been a good week. Lots of time beside the Christmas tree, seeing friends and laughing together, lots of sleeping in, too much actually, and getting a jump start on homework for next semester. Here is just a hodge podge of pictures from last night working in the craft room:

I am always amazed at how big of a mess I can make in such a short amount of time :)

My current projects have been depleting my button stash so that will need to be replenished in the new year, can't wait to go button shopping!

There is some sort of ungody smell in that room so I keep a candle burning constantly at my side!

The best .88 cents I ever spent; how cute is this patterned duct tape!

pretty pictures

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The prettiest of pictures to start your week off right. Here's to busy days and slow evenings, presents to make and pictures to take! Happy monday everyone!

a blog award :)

Aww yay! So excited to get a blog award from my sweet friend Justine from Kerrafty Creations!

The rules:
1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this
2. Share 8 things about yourself
3. Pay it forward to 8 bloggers that you have recently discovered
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their awards


Ok here goes:
1) I desperately miss having a bathtub and regular size windows.
2) I have about 3 do-to lists going at any one time.
3) Brunch is the best thing anyone's thought up food wise.
4) I love being a part of the 'blogging world'.
5) After next week it will be smooth sailing for the rest of the semester.
6) I miss my hubby whenever he's gone.
7) I could drink a starbucks lattes everyday of the week and not get tired of them.
8) Someday I'm gonna learn how to knit myself some socks. 


Now for some fun blogs to check out!
1) Ali Croshaye
2) She Breathes Deeply
3) With Love
4)Pretty Little Things
5) Just Sweet Love 
6) Katie Cupcake
7) Create Loves
8) Kaelah Bee


Hope you enjoy all the lovelies you will find!

remember

Thank you to those who fought so I don't have to. Thank you to those who fought so my dad and husband can stay home. Thank you to those who willingly sacrificed their lives so I could be free. We could never re-pay you. 

all things thankful

It's Thanksgiving day today, and it's a chance to reflect on all the blessings in life. We (Jordy and I) are lucky enough to be able to spend this weekend at my parent's house, and it has been wonderful. I don't have any inspiring pictures to show today, but I hope my list will inspire you to take a minute and reflects on all the things to be thankful for in life:
1. My husband
2. My parents
3. Spending the day with family
4. Katie the cat
5. Pumpkin squares
6. Crafting with Shelby
7. Looking through quilt magazines
8. Thinking about my friends
9. Going to church this morning
10. A new day
11. The beautiful weather outside
12. Full tummies
13. New fabric to create with
14. Being free
15. Afternoon naps
16. All things good
17. All things tough that make us better people

*A post coming soon on the activities of this weekend and all my new fun crafting treats!

Happy Feet

Old Navy

These are my happy shoes, everything about them makes me smile :) I originally bought them to wear at my wedding reception but ended up not, so now they are my everyday happy shoes!

Hey Look!

Hey look what I learned to do!

I learned how to take a screenshot! Fyi, I was looking up 'quilt' on flickr in this particular screenshot. I love how you can see part of my wedding picture background on the bottom!

A bit odd

I stumbled across this guy while checking my email this morning and I thought his story, although quite odd, was in fact amazing. James May (as well as a whole crew of volunteers) proceeded to build a house made completely out of Lego pieces! The land was donated to him for this purpose by a winery even though everyone else thought he was crazy. A few weeks later the winery wanted its land back and so the project had to be demolished. Most of it was donated to charity's because the cost was to high to transport it to any type of Lego museum.  I guess why I found this story so interesting because it reminded me to go for whatever is laid on your heart, and to let your creativity be free! While I don't have the desire to build a house out of Lego I like the opportunity to dream big and to do the other creative things in my mind.

P.S. The toilet, sink, and shower are all fully functioning
(although they do leak!)

Welcome Fall

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Welcome dear favorite season. Please stay long enough to chase the snow away, I've missed you.
P.S. I wish I could say that was hanging on my front door!

Book List

Here are some of my current reads, one of them is for school, but I actually am really enjoying it so it is able to bridge the gap between homework and leisure....

Eat, Pray, Love,: I definately recommend this book for anyone looking to marvel at something. For those of us who aren't satisfied with the mundane, for all of us searching for something more

We got this book as a wedding gift from a family that is very close to me. I haven't finished reading it yet but I found it to be really enjoyable so far and I am learning a lot.

This book is actually for my internship in the counseling centre but I can tell it is going to be great. I love this quote by Einstein included in the book, "no problem can be solved from the same level of thinking that created it."

So this is my current reading list and I have to say that this semester's reading is promising to be a good one!