Keep on Partying!

I am just having the best time partying with you guys.  Your pictures are awesome, and your stories and comments are touching everyone's hearts.  We are wives, moms, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and daughters just living the real life, and we are not alone.  We all have each other.  So keep partying right HERE.  It's inspiring and real!

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Reality Collection

I've decided with the popularity of reality television, I'd like to host a "Reality Collection," and what's more real in life than your beautiful mess.  It happens to the best of us.  It happens to all of us.  So, go ahead.  You know you don't have to spend a lot of time making it like you do other things because it's probably already made : )

Doesn't it make you feel a little better when you know you're not the only one who's house looks like a tornado twisted around from room to room from the top all the way to the bottom? 

Show it off.

Be vulnerable. 

Be real. 

Here's mine.  Now THAT'S reality! : )

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What a fantastic honor!  I'm being featured here today! 

Many thanks!

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What a beautiful mess I have!

It seems as though every time I turn around lately, I hear about something else that just breaks my heart.  I know that it may seem, at times, that there's so much to be done (dirty clothes to be washed, crunched-up Cheerios all over the floor, and maybe a playroom that looks like a toy store throws up in it every day).  Take heart, though, because those things don't really matter in the long run because they'll always be there (wink, wink). 

Your family and your children, however, are what really matters.  So even though you'd like to yell out for the fiftieth time for your little darlings to pick up their things, be happy that your little darlings are there, even though they are making a mess.  Grab them up and love them.  Say it out loud, "I love you."  It's good to say, and it's even better to hear. 

 Give love and be thankful to have such a beautiful mess!

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Little Bo Peep has lost her feeds and can't tell where to find them.

Rather than leave them alone and let them come home with their tails wagging behind them, I've decided to be a little more proactive.  So, those of you who are my current followers and would like to stay up-to-date with my posts, you need to subscribe via reader because my feeds for you guys have somehow disappeared.  You just never know what's going to happen when you're working with the good 'ole www.  Just click below my followers section where is says,  "Subscribe to Posts."  There's a little square with the curved lines inside of it.  I'm so sorry for the inconvenience.  Thanks for reading my posts and being my bloggy friends.  You guys are the best!
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I know why the Mommy blogs.

I know why the Mommy blogs.  It is very analogous, in my opinion, to why the caged bird sings [in reference to Maya Angelou's poem].  The Mommy blogs to have a voice, simply to be heard.  Blogging is her way of singing, and she is often heard well beyond the "distant hills".  Below is my original poem.  I hope you enjoy it.

I know why the mommy blogs.

A mommy sits down before her desk
and thinks of it all as if it's a test
and prepares her fingers to write a note, not realizing she'll change the world.

But a mommy that only sits and stares

bothers not to challenge the dares

her doors are locked and her children are napping so she begins to unleash her dreams.

The mommy blogs with trembling fingers
for a fear of ridicule that lingers
and her thoughts are read around the world
changing the hearts of all.

The ones who've had no chance to bear
can say anything, do anything without a care
she is one who needs not to blog for eveyone listens when she calls.

But a mommy blogs for not only herself
she blogs for her progeny, she blogs for her health
her doors are locked and her children are napping so she begins to unleash her dreams.

The mommy blogs with trembling fingers
for a fear of ridicule that lingers
and her thoughts are read around the world
changing the hearts of all.

                                                                                                        

I'm linking to these fabulous parties:

Skip to my Lou
The DIY Showoff
Making the World Cuter
Keeping it Simple
Craftomaniac
Today's Creative Blog
Sugar Bee's Craft Edition
Ladybug Blessings
Blue Cricket Design
Olivia Renn

Somewhat Simple
The Shabby Chic Cottage

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Oops! Tax Time!

About a month ago, my darling husband asked me to get my paperwork together (and "by together", he meant "added up and put on a spreadsheet").  Clearly, I had forgotten to do so.  So, long story short, our tax appointment is tonight, this is what I've got... a pile of receipts and invoices from my business.  Oops!  I'm sure we'll look back on this and laugh...someday:)

By the way, you might be wondering what my business is that would result in all of those Jo-Ann's, Michael's, Hobby Lobby, ribbon supply house, and fabric supply house receipts.  Well, if you've ever noticed throughout my blog, my girl is usually wearing something fabulous in her hair.  Each of those would, of course, be one of my designs.  So, the word is out, and I'd like to welcome you to Blair Sophia.  It is my brand of handmade, couture hair accesories.  I personally design and create them for girls of all ages.  I sell them locally and now have a website.  Check some of them out at http://www.blairsophia.bigcartel.com/.  Each headband is handmade by me and couture.  Let me know what you think.  I love to make custom, couture designs for special occasions.  The more extravagant, the better!

It is my labor of love.

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The cutest flower headband you've ever seen.

I know... I use way too many superlatives, but I can't help it.  I am soooo in love with this new headband I just made today during playgroup.  When my crafty BFF and I get together, you just never know what we're going to come up with.  Is this flower just to-die-for or what?  I know my girl's hair is a little messy, but she is a busy one and hard to catch sitting still.  So, I just have to go with what I get.  You can make yourself one today with just a few items:

felt

scissors

glue
glue gun

stretchy elastic or pin

Every time I make something, blogging about it is always an afterthought.  So, that explains why the above colors are different than what is in my girl's hair.  Anyways, for a two-toned flower, cut two scallopped circles out of felt, one about 7" and one about 4".  The smaller circle will be the center of the flower.  The larger circle will be the outside.  Then, proceed to cut around and around in a scallopped manner to create a spiral.  Oh, I forgot that you need one more circle slightly larger than what your finished flower will be to glue your finished flower to.  

As you can see, I rolled up my small circle to form a small rosette and glued it to the circle I was talking about earlier that I forgot to tell you about.  Then, take your very large circle that you've cut up in the same manner you did the small circle and start gluing it around and around the small flower you made earlier until you've used it all.

When you've finished gluing your spiral all the way around, run another strip of glue around the base of it and smoosh up the whole circle beneath it in order to give it a finished look. 

  I glued my flowers to an elastic band, but you could also glue them to a pin. 

How beautiful! 

I think I'll have my Coke now.

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Valentine's Day Goodies.

Happy Valentine's Day! 

I hope your day is filled with hugs and kisses.  Here's some to start you out:

XOXOXOXOXO

 Here's my little basket of Valentine's for my oldest son's preschool class.  Each little card is attached with red twine to a plastic bag filled with Hershey's Kisses.  His teacher's Valentine is a hand sanitizer with a vinyl heart that was cut out with none other than my mom's Cricut.  I do love that thing!  Time for a Coke!

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Another extraordinary honor...

Today, I'm being featured at The DIY Showoff!

                                                       
                                                

Thank you so much!

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Addicted to Ruffles.

I know....I need a support group.  I think it goes something like this:

"Hi, my name is Miranda, and I'm addicted to ruffles."

I can't help it.  I just plain l.o.v.e love ruffles.  As you can see, once again, I ruffled up some pink satin ribbon and sew it to a hand towel this time.  Perfectly cute for Valentine's Day!  Time for a Coke break! Pin It

What an extraordinary honor!

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Repurposed Barnwood.

 

Several years ago, my husband's grandfather's barn was torn down.  However, some of the barnwood was kept, and you know me, I love to get crafty with just about anything.  So, I came up with this idea the other night.  I asked my husband to go get some of the barnwood and turn it into a faux ladder, and He did it!  He created my exact vision!  I wanted to be able to hang towels and magazines on it.  You never know what a crafty gal and a handy guy will come up with.  Just perfect!  Time for a Coke!

I'm linking to these parties:

The Shabby Chic Cottage
House of Hepworths
Somewhat Simple

Making the World Cuter

Today's Creative Blog

                                                             

Shabby Nest
Funky Junk Interiors

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Getting "Knotty" for Valentine's Day.

Who's ready for a super-cute Valentines's Day ring? 

Meee!

Now that everybody and their brother make rosettes out of fabric and paper (me included), it's time for something a little different.  Sometimes, I think we all forget how cute a French knot is.  So, it's time to get "knotty".  Grab some white material and embroidery floss and make a bunch of French knots in the shape of a heart.  If you're not familiar with a French knot, all you have to do is bring your threaded needle up through your fabric from underneath, wrap the thread around the needle two times, and then stick your needle back down into the fabric very close to where you originally brougt it up while holding the wrapped thread. It will end up making a knot on the top of the fabric.  If it seems kind of tricky, just give it a few tries.  You'll become a pro in no time at all. 

 

Here's your materials: buttons and a ring.  I guess I should have turned this picture, but it's a little late for that, right?  Oops.



I cut around my embroidered French knot heart to be the size recommended on the button package.

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Oh, I forgot that you need to cut off the little button loop on the back of the button with jewelry wire cutters.  Follow the directions on the button package for covering the button with fabric.  It's really easy.



 Here's your fabric-covered button!

Use your hot glue gun to glue the ring to the button.  Before you do so, I advise that you rough up the ring and the back of the button with some very rough sand paper.



Now you have the cutest Valentine's Day ring ever!



 So, pat yourself on the back and go have a Coke :)

I'm linking to these parties:
Blue Cricket Designs
Someday Crafts

House of Hepworths

The Shabby Chic Cottage





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