archived: wedding review - monogrammed banner

photo by lauren brooks

remember last summer when i mentioned a flower adorned wedding craft?? we made this monogramed banner to welcome our guests to aspen hall. it was a martha idea. i'm not in love with it, but it is pretty cute.

this craft was featured here a few days ago...

archived: wedding review - embroidery

all photos by lauren brooks photography

i fell in love with embroidery in the midst of planning our wedding. i created a few ways to include it - baskets with toiletries and towels in the bathrooms. hoodies for the bridesmaids (and one for me). patch for my dress.

**update: these projects were featured here Monday!

archived: passport covers

Christmas crafting continues... I still have an ungodly amount to do. Between that and packing I am going to barely come up for air between now and Christmas! I get all anxious about giving these things to people - are they enough? will they hate them but feel obligated to ooh and ahh because they are made by me?? its a lot of pressure!!

I made these covers last week using this tutorial. I was in a hurried mood (as I usually am with the sewing machine) so my seams are all crooked. The girlier cover is a little tight and catywompus, but if you don't look too close they are ok. The tutorial is great and I think this is such an easy, cute gift for travelers!

Can I tell you my biggest gripe with sewing?? Cutting fabric.

It is a seriously stressful activity for me. I get all hot and sweaty and anxious. I am usually tearing off layers of clothes as I try what seems like, endlessly to get a straight cut or to get two pieces to line up. MAKES.ME.CRAZY!!! I tell myself that once I have a proper cutting table when I have a craft room all will be ok, but sometimes I wonder... Jess - you may just have to give me a serious tutorial that first week of January. Makes me shudder just thinking about it....

archived: i have died and gone to heaven!!

thank you to the anonymous commenter who let me know that I WAS FEATURED ON THE MARTHA STEWART WEDDING BLOG!!!!

i mean she didn't like say my name or link to me, BUT she does link to my post on Elizabeth Anne Designs and there is this a PICTURE of grant and I that we used for our thank you postcards!!!!!!!

yesterday sucked. today is better. YAY!

archived: my advent

sunday morning my mom was blog lurking and stumbled upon little birdie secrets... she saw the advent calendar made by Teresa McFayden and was immediately inspired. we (her, Lindsey, and I) got some cookie sheets, went to a joann's, and got to work. i heart the way they turned out, even though it took me a ridiculous amount of time to make and got so frustrated in the middle i about threw a hissy.

finished products (the numbers are little magnets so you just put one more up each day):

you want one of your own huh??

archived: another reason to love him...

he makes me things! useful fantastic, make my life better things!

grant has been telling me, "as soon as this dissertation is done i'm going to make you something." something huh? ok... i'm all about it. i had some ideas about what the something could be, but wasn't sure.

he needed to be in portland where he has access to tools and a garage to make it - this weekend provided the opportunity. he stayed at his dad's and i at my mom's and when i picked him up sunday he had an amazing table for me!

you see. i've been describing this imaginary table i desperately needed to craft, compute, and just be at when on our couch. the couch is deep and big so you can't reach anything on the table while on it. now i can have a glass of wine while i use my computer (and, inevitably, my slanket) or i can sit back (and avoid breaking my back) to transfer embroidery designs. all i can say is AWESOME.

this thing is sturdy and very well designed - he even thought to be sure i could alter the angle of the end closest to me and also keep it open underneath so i can have my feet up! i think we will stain and seal it a pretty color after we move! i heart it!!

now that i know he can make things my wheels are turning... coffee table? nightstand? bench??