Bitty Birthday Bunting...

just a happy little bitty birthday bunting...

a few scraps...

a little twine...

simply stitched together and strung along...

some *faux* letterpress (using metal stamps)

sending a simple greeting...

all wrapped-up...

and ready to send...

hoping to make someones birthday

just a little more happy!!

Happy Monday!

Many Blessings!

Jill

p.s. I'm linking to my sweet friend Heather's "take life and make it lovely Monday"

pop over to find some lovely inspiration!

"A Moving Story" Chapter 3: Going Up!

I'm so thankful that things seem to be moving-right-along!

What a difference a week makes!

(wish I could get that much done that fast!)

Let's see...

the second story is beginning to take shape...

and the front porch!

Y'all come on in-

please excuse the very "do not enter" looking barricade,

and excuse the mess too!

the children would love to take you upstairs...

they are *beyond* excited to be able to look out their windows

in their new rooms...actually, they even like looking out their walls now too!

The Prince and Princess #2's view is of the front lake...

Princess #1 looks out the back- she's dreaming of a window seat in her bay of windows...

(I'm thinking that's why she chose this room!)

and just cause we thought it was funny to see our first "food"

in the new kitchen...(on the infamous turquoise wood no doubt!)

and even the mantel has a little decoration too!

I'm thinking "an apple a day" must be helping them "keep (survive) the heat away!"

or maybe that's how they get so much done...

think I need an apple now!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Many Blessings!

Jill

"Sometimes in order to sing...

you must first create the music...

sometimes in order to create,

you must first sing."

Guess you might say...

I've been doing a little "singing" lately!

tell me,

where do you find inspiration?

Have a happy day!

Many Blessings!

Jill

"A Moving Story" Chapter 2: Let the building begin!

Goodness!

 Finally!

after Chapter 1, about six months passed...

until now!

a spot for the house was cleared and prepared...

the slab was poured...

and now things are beginning to take shape...

I just look so forward to sitting on this front porch someday...

(it will be covered soon, hopefully!)

the view from the front door looking out...

the lake is a little (A LOT) low,

 it's just been SOOOOO darn hot here!- not even water wants to be outside!

can't wait til these hallways are filled with family photos

and artwork!

(and most likely a few little hand prints here and there- but that's

the "good stuff"- precious memories!)

and a view out the kitchen-

I really love to cook!- and can't wait to enjoy our family meals here...

and share special ones with our sweet friends...

and did you notice?

some of the wood is a *sparkly* turquoise!!

Ooh, I did!- and I'm in love! silly I know...

but, after all- it really is just "the small things"...

Have a wonderful weekend!

Many Blessings!

Jill

My favorite thing ever...

no Academy Award,

no Nobel Peace Prize,

no Pulitzer Prize... 

could ever top this one!

just a simple handmade award from one of my favorite little people...

for my absolute favorite "role" in the world!

(and being awarded as a fun one is just an extra bonus!)

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life

which are the real ones after all."

Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Enjoy the small things for one day you may look back and realize

they were the big things."

Robert Brault

Hoping your day is filled with lots of  *simple* *small* things!

Many Blessings!

Jill

Just monkeying around...

a little favorite children's birthday gift we love to make/give...

beginning with a pre-made sock monkey

 (or you could create one of your own!)

we then choose coordinating fabrics and thread...

1. cut a bandanna/scarf like shape

2. cut child's initials from coordinating fabrics

3. iron to a fusible web 

4. iron to bandanna/scarf

5. stitch around letters

then simply tie to the monkey's neck...

and now he is ready to just " monkey around "!

(and be enjoyed by the birthday girl!)

note: for little boys we like to choose a stuffed dog or other animal 

and create a similar monogrammed bandanna using "boyish" fabrics.

Happy Monday!

Many Blessings!

Jill

"A Moving Story" Chapter 1: For Land's Sake

We have always had a little dream...

of living in the country...

a white farmhouse, with large porches to sit and sip tea with friends,

 and plenty of land for the children and our menagerie of animals to enjoy...

Well, one fine Saturday morning while on a little country drive...

we came upon the most beautiful piece of land!

Our hearts skipped a beat and we just knew...

this was IT!

This is where our home will be sitting in the next several months!

nestled in this lovely clover field...

(which the horses will certainly enjoy!)

the view from that front porch-

the front lake...

most often filled with ducks swimming along...

( or the children "accidentally" falling in!)

and back behind that farmhouse you'll find lots and lots of this...

woods, secret paths, a few creeks...

and "magic forests" for dreaming and playing...

(we'll discuss the nest of snakes we stepped in later...

did you know snakes have nests?- me either!

but I sure do now!)

Oh! and through one set of woods there is another pasture...

and a large back lake- the ducks seem to like it here too!

(The children (and my daddy) are looking forward to lots of fishing here!)

and so now the stress fun begins!

I do hope you'll join me on this new journey...

as we trade the "city life" for the very "country life"!

So, tell me-

What's your dream?

city life or country life?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Many Blessings!

Jill

"Home is...

where the art is!"

why and of course...

most of all-

the heart!

I love creating these *very simple* wire shapes,

wrapping them in fabric scraps, using hot glue to secure as you go along,

and adding a lovely ribbon on top!

( I like to create letters too, and attach them to the tops of gifts)

and then I also just like them "hanging around"...

a perfect reminder that:

"Home is where your art AND heart is!"

Have a wonderful day!

Many Blessings!

Jill

p.s. Have I said I'm sorry yet?

I haven't visited so many of my blogging friends.

(or been able to respond to emails!)

Our computer has been very sick lately.

I'm sorry, I miss you, I hope to be catching up soon!

xoxo!