Happy Halloween!

It's no trick...

just a little treat for our sweet teachers!

All tied-up and ready to go...

topped with a "good witch" I painted to send our

Happy Wishes!

and I'm sending some to you too!

Have a Happy Halloween!

Many Blessings!

Put on your best dress!

Well, it's not a "real" dress...

just one I created for Princess #2's room...

one that has a very special verse on it...

a sweet little reminder when she is getting

dressed each day...

made with lots of love!...

(and of course a little glitter too!)

I had so much fun choosing the fabrics and lace...
creating the almost "Princess and the Pea" styled dress!...

then hanging it above her dresser in her room...

and upon showing her, she squealed with delight and

gave me a giant hug and kiss and couldn't stop thanking me...

which I do believe makes this the best dress ever!

Happy Monday!

Many Blessings!

A little bit...

COUNTRY...

A whole lot of CITY!...

and sometimes a little mixture of BOTH!

Which one are you?

With all the wonderful inspiration lately for jewelry...

I spent some time in the studio creating a few

necklaces to enjoy...now the *fun* part...

which to choose for today?...hmmm...

I think I'm feeling a bit...

"Country"!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Many Blessings!

Sew in "LOVE"!

with Amy Butler's new fabric collection...

appropriately named "Love"!

one look and your instantly smitten...

the mix of colors and patterns!

OH!!! be still my heart!!!

I can hardly wait to begin creating with all these lovelies!

so many ideas swirling around!

so hard to choose where to begin!

to make the first cut...

to fall completely in "love"!

and speaking of "love"...

I just love my new "sew and go" bag from Lindsey at the Pleated Poppy!

isn't it just too fun?!

since I practically live in my car, "Mom's Taxi"- it's an

adorable way to hold all my sewing supplies for my latest project!

Have a happy day!

Many Blessings!

The perfect ingredients!

My Grandmother's pumpkin pie!

There is just nothing like it!

I have proudly made and served this pie for years...

and more often than not I am asked for the recipe...

because it's such a "good" pumpkin pie.

I'm always excited to share my precious Grandmother's special recipe!

I know how delighted she would be that so many love her pie!

until about two years ago...

when my Mom called to ask for "Mom's Pumpkin Pie" recipe...

she had misplaced her copy and wanted to take a pie to a friend.

I read it to her, when I was finished she said, "What about the milk?"

"How much milk?"

I replied, "There is NO milk"

my mom, a bit confused said, "Jill, there IS milk in it!"

I couldn't believe it! For more than 20 years I had made this pie...

the WRONG way!!

I had left out a main ingredient!

Why I had always been so proud to share this pie!

I had taken it to new neighbors...

church potlucks...

new parents...

families in need of a meal...

and served it at many a dinner party in our home!

Always thinking what a "perfect" pie to serve!!!

Suddenly I was doubting that "delicious" pie...

how could I have served the "wrong" pie (and shared the "wrong"recipe!)

all those years!

I was so embarrassed!

But then I thought about how many times people had enjoyed

that pie...(it's still my husband's favorite!)

how many times it was a Blessing to someone...

clearly it WAS good...

without all the "perfect" ingredients!

I still make, serve and share my Grandmother's pumpkin pie...

the "wrong" way...

and I smile each time I do!

Such a sweet reminder that we shouldn't worry so much

about things being "perfect"...

we shouldn't let fear or doubt stop us from sharing with others...

because what's most important is not that we bake the "perfect" pie...

it's that we have the HEART that desires to bake a pie to share...

a HEART that hopes to Bless someone with a thoughtful gift...

a HEART that wants to show someone how much they are loved

and that they are special...

a HEART that chooses not to see what is "missing" in something

but to enjoy all that IS there...

the perfect ingredients for a perfect pie!- after all!

Have a lovely day!

Many Blessings!

*note: just in case you would like to try my Grandmother's pie the way

she intended for it to be-

the "missing" ingredients is

1 1/2 cups milk

but don't forget the "perfect" ingredients! :)

A new HAT-titude!

Last week I picked-up a few plain hats...

and decided to add a little something to them...

a little "spunk"...

I gathered some of my favorite "tools"...
fabrics...
vintage buttons...
sequins...
and began!


for one I stitched three monochromatic roses in
raw silk, muslin, and jersey...
using vintage buttons for the centers...


for another I just created one large ruffled raw silk rosette
with a sequin and bead center...


and for the last one I chose to make a removable posie pin
in bold, bright colors...
and when the mood strikes...
a new pin can be created...
for a whole new "HAT-titude"!

Happy Monday!!!
Many Blessings!

*p.s.- I noticed Target has their hats on sale this week!
A perfect excuse for you to create your own "HAT-titude"!

BOO!!!

Happy Halloween is

in-the-house!

not a bit frightful...

just fun and delightful!

Have a happy day!
Many Blessings!

Pretty please with some posies on top!

How could I resist?

I dare say, I could not!...

little Princess #2 was a flower girl last weekend...

and I just HAD to create something extra special

for her hair...

the colors chosen were bold, bright, & happy-

mixed with black & white...

I began with a plain headband,

wrapped it with black ribbon, (hot gluing as I went along)

on the top of the ribbon I glued a strip of

black & white rose sequin trim

I then hand stitched three raw silk roses-

gathering them into a ruffle, then sewing in a circular pattern-

for the centers I cut a small piece of silk and stitched down

with black sequins and beads for the centers...

for the leaves- I gathered a small piece of green French ribbon

and stitched to the rose...

to keep little Princess extra comfy...

when I glued the roses to the headband I backed them

with a round piece of felt...

(this also helped stabilize the rose on the headband)

Made with lots of love...

it just "topped" everything off perfectly!

Have a happy day!

Blessings!

To-do...

"It is when we forget ourselves that we do things

that will be remembered."

Don't forget to add a little "special" in your week!

Have a wonderful day!

Many Blessings!

Speechless...

that's what I was when I arrived home this weekend

and found this box filled with delightful treasures

from my dear friend Lori!

Lori is one of those precious people that become

a gift in themselves just to have them in your life!

She is thoughtful...

caring...

genuine...

super sweet...

and wildly creative!

Both our girls are the same age with similar interests...

we decided awhile back to ship little fun "care" packages

between them...

of course each time we would include a little something

for each other too!

This time we decided to make it "official" and ship

a package between the two of us!

and she just went over-the-top!!!

Thank you Lori!!!
What an amazing fall "care" package you created!!
I just love everything!



Happy Monday!
Many Blessings!