special project...sneaky peaky!

I promised I would show a sneak peak of a special project on which I have been working. I've had a vision in my head for weeks of a special family portrait I wanted to take. It involved a ratty old chair, an abandoned field, and my three adorable children. Only a few problems...I didn't have a ratty 'ol chair or know of an abandoned field (although I did know where to find 3 beautiful kids pretty easily).

So after a search through Craig's List for an old chair (scored one for $20) and a 40 minute one-way drive to a not-so-stellar neighborhood...I had my prop! And after a quick afternoon run to Walmart I discovered that the field behind my favorite Super Store was just about perfect. Throw in a couple of white dresses (and a handsome sailor suit) and I had everything I needed to try to capture the beauty of my children!

Here is my favorite shot from the night! I'll post more tomorrow! This one is going above my mantel in my family room...blown up big and framed :)

Babies, business, and back to school...OH MY!

Remember my post about onsies with sayings? I'll admit to having a bit of an obsession. I'm finding them everywhere these days and having a hard time resisting them :) Here is Sam in one of my new favorites! Check out the double chin he is getting...thinking he's going to be a big boy!

In case there is any question about who is in charge at our house!

And I promised to share baby gifts we have received as I am able. Here is Sam in an adorable oufit from Tracy of PBandJ*Creations. She is one of the Queens of the boutique boy community on Ebay. Sam wasn't in the mood for formal pictures yesterday...nor would he keep on the darling hat that came with this set...but I PROMISE Tracy...I will send some better pictures of him your way soon! And check out his cute new play gym! I used a gift card from my friend Lala to get that for him this week! He has already enjoyed batting at and talking to all the silly little toys :)

I am slowly trying to get back in the swing of daily sewing. It is so hard to make it downstairs to my studio but my fabric stash has been calling and I have definitely had the sewing itch! One of the things that I have been selling locally are my baby name blankets. I'm thinking it may be time to start offering them online as well...haven't decided if I will use Ebay or branch out and give Etsy a try?!?

I often give my blankets as shower gifts and new baby presents. I love that they are personal and so far they have been a big hit. This week I made one to send off to a special friend who just had a baby and I included three matching burp cloths too...it all looked so pretty tied up with a big bow!


I've also been working on getting my studio organized better. My project last night was to sort through my large collection of buttons. The girls and I ran to Walmart and got this nice little organizational tool...then A and I spent a couple of hours sorting and chatting. She was really great at catching all my mistakes too ;) This would be a great activity for little ones who are learning their colors!

Buttons are like candy to me! So colorful and pretty...I could stare at them all day!

And last but not least. Today was A's first "Jump Start" day at school. She is going to Kinder this year and she couldn't be ANY more excited...and I'm thrilled for her. She is beyond ready and has talked about nothing else for months. So today the Kindergarten kids got to come to school for an hour to meet their teachers and some of the other kids! Her school is right inside our neighborhood...we can jump on the walking path out our back door and walk right down the hill. Today we stopped to pick up the girls' boyfriends on the way (they are heading to Kinder too!) They are all so cute together...they have plans to have a double wedding some day like in the movie "Princess and the Pauper"....hey that ought to save me some money at least!

get down with your "plaid" self...

Sam after church this morning :)

I warned you...

I mentioned that I have a lot of friends having babies right now. I can't resist sharing them as I get a chance to photograph them!

This sweet baby is so special. Her mommy is a special friend and I prayed for her before she was even born. She is such a blessing...and the sweetest, most angelic baby. Smelling and snuggling her today made me realize how much my own baby has already grown. Those first few moments are so fleeting.

Meet Addison...bear with me...it was hard to choose!












Tracy, thank you for letting me share the first precious moments of your daughter's life. You are both beautiful and so special!

Turtley AWESOME!

I snapped a few pics of Super Sam this afternoon in his "turtley awesome" outfit!

I have to confess to having a bit of an obsession with onsies that say funny things. He has a "mommy's new man" onsie too which totally cracks me up. I've seen a few in stores that have literally sent me to my knees laughing. One of my favorites has a bottle on the front and said, "I'll take a bottle of the house white"...I could put a new one on him everyday! He's busting out of most of his summer duds so I figured I better catch a few cute shots of him before he chubs up anymore!



Also...I have been longing to figure out how to add cool texture to photos. I am working on a special photography project and really wanted to be able to texturize the final project (I'll definitely share when and if my little projects works out!) My sweet and talented friend Nic helped me out by directing me to a couple of greats sites and giving me a few helpful editing tips. Here is a shot I took of J last summer that I think looks pretty cool with my new found texturizing skills!!

If this kind of thing excites you as much as it does me you should check out this spot!
It is going to take me a bit of practice to completely figure it out but I can't wait to try out a few more of my favorite shots!

into the woods...

Well miracles never cease...and as proof I actually got some sewing done this week! This fun little "forest critters" jumper will be hitting the bay first thing in the morning. Ivylane is doing an "Into the Woods" launch this week so be sure to check in and see all of the fabulous listings! Here is a little sneak of the set I will be offering!


Could she be any more coy???

Click here to go directly to my listing (and to see more pictures of my cutie)
Click here to shop all of the IVYLANE listings!!!

the funny thing about the imagination

I have never had a good sense of imagination. Ask my Mom. I didn't play as a kid...no dolls or house (unless you count popping the heads off of my sister's Barbies...that probably doesn't count though right?!?)

So when my girls ask me to play with them, I'm never quite sure what to do. Call me practical, a realist, or just plain boring...just don't ask me to play Polly Pockets.

But today J's long lashes were beating feverishly and I found my self agreeing to a round of mini princess play.



The cliff notes version of what we played:

So you can see there are 3 princesses and a King in the "swimming pool" having a swim party (seems just a little fishy to me!) The short prince on the elephant is filling the pool for them with cool crisp water.

The wild boar is teaching the dead dolphin how to swim in a pool (since he is used to swimming in the ocean).

These three ladies in waiting are watching the swim party with rapt attention.
The littlest princess is oh-so-small because she got dirty...her Mom washed her and accidentally put her in the dryer! And in the background is a dinosaur farm where all the dinosaurs are dead and you can walk around and look at them (see my post about our recent museum trip for a bit of an explanation!)

Try as I might I will never get it. But I must have done something right as J was highly impressed with my talking boar ;)