Handmade Bridal Shower

Let me start off by saying everyone's generosity and enthusiasm about my upcoming wedding has been amazing. I just really never imagined how exciting it all would be and how gracious those involved would be. The wedding day is getting so close and I have had so much fun these past several weekends working on things to give the wedding a personal and crafty touch. While I am on the subject of personal and crafty, I must tell you about this wonderful shower my mother's friends from work threw for me today.  It was lovely. 

As I walked up to the doorstep I saw this dress form. I have one just like it but this one is painted in one of my favorite colors.  I immediately commented on it and guess what? It was mine to keep! What a fantastic and whimsical decoration for a bridal shower! 

Her home is in the Historic Fairmount District and it is beautiful! 

When I walked in, I noticed little handmade cupcake pincushions!  This was the shower favor.  Everyone got to pick one out to take home! 

My pincushion was a wedding cake.  It has a vintage piece of lace from her grandmothers wedding dress on top for good luck. So very sweet. 

She also hand made a vintage linen tussy mussy's for everyone to take home. There was so much thought put into this shower! She had the tussy mussy's hanging on various knobs and hooks throughout her house. 

A tussy mussy was popular during the Victorian era. From what I gather, they were usually a silver cone shaped holder that held a small small bouquet of fresh flowers and herbs. Such a creative idea to re-design the tussy mussy with vintage linens instead of the silver cone shaped holder. What a lovely decoration!

To eat, we had petit fours from the Bluebonnet Bakery. Oh how I love these petit fours, they make the best. They had little rings on top! I probably ate about 4 of them. Oh they are soooooooooo good!

We also had mixed nuts, punch, and wedding mints. I immediately noticed the sweetest vintage hand made doily that the punch was sitting on. It had punch cups (from what I gather knitted or crocheted) around the edges. The mints and nuts were in little paper cupcake liners nestled in the punch cups.  Little did I know at that time that the doily was going to be given to me! I can't wait to use it. I need to have a party at my house soon so I can use all of my newly acquired household goods!  

Since I love all things hand made, this shower was just perfect. Thank you! 

Cheers! 

Wedding Banner

So, here is part 2.

After all my flags dried I pinned on lavender bias tape. 

Then I got out my ol' trusty Bernie and sewed on the bias tape.

So here you have it. My "Just Married" banner.  There really was not a decent place in the house to hang it to get the full idea of what is looks like so, terribly sorry about this shot and welcome to my guest room. :-)

Cheers! 

Busy Saturday

Ah, the weekend. Why must it go so quickly?  This morning I followed my usual routine, stumble out of be and head straight for the coffee pot. After my first cup of coffee, I was surprisingly wired and ready for what the day had to hold! Jeff and I did a little wedding band shopping today. Since the big day is nearing we figured we should probably get an idea of style and cost so we can start saving. We found a few options but man, those jewelry people are piranhas! I made it very clear that we were not there to buy, just look. But they kept pressing. Finally I had to take my "big girl" voice to them. But, they gotta make a living too right? Then we went to pick out some luggage.  We really don't have any suitable luggage for a long trip away so this was certainly necessary for honeymooning purposes. Let me tell you, T.J.Maxx is the way to go. I still have the jingle stuck in my head.  Ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta  T.J.Maxx!! Yep, this is where Travelnistas become Maxxinisatas. We picked up some fancy Columbia luggage and saved 520 bucks! Now that is a deal! 

So, to continue on with my fabulous day of shopping, I stopped off at Jo Ann's to pick up some supplies to make my just married banner. I also swung by the store for some fresh strawberries. My grandmothers birthday is tomorrow.  After thinking hard about what to get her, I figured, what do you really get someone that has everything already? Well, make some jam and whole wheat bread---and that is exactly what I did.

I had the opportunity to use my new Cuisinart mini food processor that I acquired at the wedding shower last week.  Man, let me tell you, I felt like such and idiot when trying to manipulate this tiny machine. I have never used a food processor before (yeah, I know) and it took me half an hour how to figure out how to use this one! I mean really, I can use a lawn mower but I can't figure out this thing? I even thought it was broken at first, ha! No, I later discovered that was an operator error. So, in the process of figuring out how to use it, I made a huge mess.

But, after my first attempt at making strawberry jam, it turned out rather well. I used a Martha recipe.  

I broke out the bread machine again and made a whole wheat loaf to go along with the bread. Placed it all in a basket and there you go! 

Then, after that little project, I started working on my just married banner.  It is pretty simple to make so I am not quite sure why I feel the need to make a tutorial, probably just really wanted to document the process. :-)

I used brown burlap to make the flags and cut a triangle out of a piece of craft paper for the pattern.  I got a sharpie and started tracing! 

Then I used my Gingher pinking shears to help keep the burlap from fraying and got to cutting.

I used my alphabet stencil set and lavender fabric paint to stencil on the letters. I measured 4 inches from the tip of the triangle to place the letter.

The letter stenciling has been the most time consuming so far but it was fun. 

The letters are taking a little while to dry so, for now I am taking a break and will continue my banner making documentary tomorrow!  Stay tuned! 

Cheers and Happy Weekend! 

 

Quilt

So, there is a bit of a tradition in Jeff's family...you get married or have a baby, you get a quilt!  The quilt is made by his Aunt Karen. Jeff and I have always wanted one because they are so beautiful.  The hours that she must put in...I just cannot imagine. So, when we got engaged we figured that a quilt would be heading our direction soon, or at least hoped that it would. Yesterday his family threw us a wedding shower.  Sure enough, 11 years, 5 weeks, and 6 days later...we finally got our quilt!

Thanks Aunt Karen! 

Cheers!

Meet Oster

This is Oster. He has been a bit depressed I think. Living in a small dark space where you are not seen all that much can do that to you.  There was a time where Oster came out of his dark quarters quite frequently. But it seems, that maybe for the past year he had been forgotten.  Feeling awfully bad about this and inspired to semi-bake, Oster came out of his dark and lonely space.  Oh, and Oster was neglected for far too long.  He has the ability to create such fabulous aromas!  The house is filled with the scent of whole wheat green Chile cheese bread. Oster, I promise I will not forget about you again.

Whole Wheat Green Chile Cheese Bread

(In the bread oven- 2lb loaf)

1 and 2/3 c. water
1 small can of green Chilies (do not drain the juice)

2 tablespoons margarine or butter, softened (i actually melted it just slightly)

1/3 c. packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons salt
2 cups shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese

4 and 2/3 c. whole wheat flour

3 teaspoons active dry yeast

Add the ingredients in the order listed above. Before putting the yeast in, use your finger to make a well in the whole wheat flower to pour the yeast in. Make sure the yeast never comes in contact with the water. Then, set your bread machine to get baking! ***updated tip, the green Chiles turned out to be very subtle.  If you want this bread to pack a punch I recommend adding another can. I am going to do this next time.***

While my bread was baking, I spun some yarn. This yarn is 100% merino. I am also spinning into it angora rabbit hair from my sisters angora bunny. This yarn is apart of my special project which will be revealed sometime in October.

This is also a little sneak peek at what is to come in October. I worked on it this weekend. I used wool felt and wool roving to needle felt it. Then added buttons from my grandmothers button collection. 

Cheers! 

Jane Austen's Fight Club

Really? This is an interesting concept, and hilarious! If you have seen Fight Club and the Jane Austen Movies, then this will be a treat.