ABD: two new collections

I have two new collections to introduce you to today.... More colors and photos to come soon.....

Meet "Shabby baby." 

... chiffon & shabby... very vintage!

And, "Sweet Petite"

- These cuties are perfect for Fall!



xoxo.

Thankful Thursdays #8

It's the end of another day, a wonderful Thursday.  I have a grateful heart tonight as i sit here on the couch and unwind after a full day.  I am thankful for moments like this,  moments of peace and quiet.  Time to reflect, ponder, and mostly, to count my blessings.     

This evening I am especially thankful for......

God-given talent.  I am constantly amazed by the talents of those around me.  Today's secular-society looks at people and their talent{s}, giving them the credit and glory.  I recently found myself slipping, and doing the same.  Talents are a reflection of God's talent and awesomeness. God made and entrusted each of us with talent, that we may use them to reflect Him and bring Him honor and glory!   What a beautiful thing when we use our God-given talents for Him! 


Daily challenge:  Am i using my talents to glorify Christ and bless others, or to glorify myself?

______________________________________________

Seasons.  We have been enjoying the cooler weather this week.  I have to laugh, thinking of how I long for one season, enjoy it a month and am ready for the next one.  God must of known us humans weren't going to be content for long. {sadly}  The fall-like temps have me eager for festivals, mums, apple cider, bright-colored leaves, and ALL that Fall has to offer! 

What are YOU thankful for today?

many blessings,

ABD: Thumbprint-Trees

Hello friends!  I hope you have been enjoying this fall-like weather as much as I have. {excluding yesterday's freak earthquake.  Thankfully, we are all well and safe.}

Anyway.  I have been kept busy with orders the past month, especially the last two weeks... I love it!   One of my current projects is another thumbprint-tree, for an upcoming September wedding. 

When I say "thumbprint-tree" do you know what I mean?......  Let me show you......

 Photos by Miriello Photography.

 

This spring a friend asked me to create a thumbprint-tree for their upcoming wedding. I was more than willing and excited to try, being as I hadn't attempted one before......  I fell in love.

The tree serves as a guestbook. Using ink pads, guests use their thumbprint to leave their mark on the canvas.{representing leaves}   The finish product is a beautiful piece of art,  ready to display in the newlyweds home.    {How clever??!}      If you are a bride-to-be I would highly recommend this fabulous, guestbook alternative!

The canvas I am currently working on will be a fall color-palette.  The tree being brown and thumbprints a variety of orange, burgundy, and green.    Here is a sneak-peek.....

Making progress!  ..............  Why didn't I think of this back when i got married!?? [wink]

Have a wonderful week!

Happy Monday!

Because kids say the darnest things, and we all could use a good laugh ... here are some of the funniest quotes EVER, out of the mouths of babes.......

________________________________________________________

"I almost fell over when my child said_______".....

responses:

 "....what are you doing here, santa?" ---to an elderly white-haired lady

 in a long red coat in a restaurant

...."NOOOO!!!!" to the priest saying, "Let us pray."

...."EXCUSE YOUU!" ---to a woman passing gas in the bathroom stall next to ours.

...."my brother is our Disney souvenir!" --to my dentist.

"my cat coughs like that when he gets a hairball!"
---to an older gentleman hacking up a lung.

..."my daddy has a boo-boo on his pee-pee." ---to his teacher {Daddy had just had a vesectomy.}

....."my mommy doesn't wear pajamas" ---- to our elderly neighbors.

"there is a lot of people in here... a lot of fat peeeople!" 

---to me when we were standing in a crowded elevator."

...."this is bull!!"----  to her grandma because she wouldn't let her sit in a rocking chair.



{source: Parenting magazine. Issue: May 2011}

 

I am still laughing! ....

HAPPY MONDAY!

Thankful Thursdays #7

Goodmorning friends!  It's another Thankful Thursday.

Today, I am especially thankful for....

 food.    As I enjoyed my breakfast this morning, having a variety of options to choose from,  hundreds of people died of starvation.  - I have been so saddened by the recent news of children and families affected by hunger and malnutrition in the Horn of Africa, especially the countries of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia.    It shakes my world as i read the reports, and i examine my own life, our lifestyle.   We are over-abundantly blessed. {and spoiled}

 Staying-at-home.    I am thankful for the gift of being able to be a SAH Mama and to work from home.    It's mornings like today, that make me realize and appreciate the gift of being able to.     ~Little man creeks open the bedroom door, tip-toes over to the bed, and climbs up.  I can tell he's trying to be quiet and sneaky.  I pretend to be asleep. He slides up close to me and cuddles.  After a couple minutes he's had enough and shouts announces,  "Mama. Wake up!"       ..... Precious memories in the making!

 Christian-Women.  The last several weeks I have been blessed and overwhelmed by the genuine, godly women I know and have met.  You know how you sometimes feel alone? Like your in this thing called life by yourself?....  Well, just recently I found several more/new blogs of Christian women.  I have been deeply blessed by their sharing and testimonies, their openness.   *Bless each and everyone who is searching and striving to be a better woman of Faith.  You are an inspiration to me!

"...but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."..... - 1 Timothy 4:12

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR TODAY??

fun.facts

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:30 am

2. How do you like your steak? well-done

3. What was the last film you saw at the Theatre: Cars 2,  w/ little man!

4. What is your favorite TV show?  Style's 'How Do I Look?' 

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? 
Oh my, too many options... close to water

6. What did you have for breakfast? 
Bagel w/ cream cheese & Raspberry jam  {to be exact}

7. What is your favorite food? Seafood & Italian 

8. Foods you dislike? hmm... can't think of any? 

9. Favorite place to eat? Kyoto Japanese Steak House

10. Favorite dressing? homemade Ranch

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive?
a white '07 Nissan Maxima 

12. What are your favorite clothes?
@ home: PJs 
in public: a jean skirt & tshirt

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Europe

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? 1/2 full!!

15. Where have you traveled?
China, Hong-Kong, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and the US

16. Favorite time of day?  NAPTIME!
 & Saturday mornings w/ my boys!

17. Where were you born? Goshen, Indiana.

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? College Volleyball

19. What is your favorite fragrance? 'Happy' by Clinque 

20. What is your dream job? Ministry & Worship and event planning, somehow all combined  

21. Favorite baby/kids products? Infantino baby Wrap & baby blankets 

22. People watcher? Ohh yes!

23. Are you a morning or night person? definetly night

24. Do you have any pets? NO!

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? I wish!
*Actually, I do have an exciting announced regarding
Amelia Bedelia Designs, but can't share it until this fall!

26. What did you want to be when you were little? A dance instructor.  HA!

27. What is your favorite memory? Little man's birth, despite how tramatizing it was.  

28. What is your age? twenty-four

29. Are you married? yes

30. What is your anniversary number? Almost 5. ekkk!

31. Been in a car accident? yes, not serious though.

32. Any pet peeves? biting nails & "um" or "like" 100x per sentence

33. Favorite pizza toppings? everything

34. Favorite flower? i love so many, maybe dahlias?

35. Favorite ice cream? Oreo galore!

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Arbys?

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? none

38. From whom did you get your last email? My mama

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? 
Clothing:   H&M!
Household:   IKEA!

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? sadly, not that i can think of.

41. Like your job? most days. love my side job best!

42. Broccoli? with Velvetta cheese, please!

43. What was your favorite vacation? Our honeymoon

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? My hubby
{took him out last week for his birthday}

45. What are you listening to right now? Ingrid Richardson

46. What is your favorite color? Ohh come on!... yellow, navy, grey, white....??

47. How many tattoos do you have? none. {thankfully}

48. coffe drinker? Only when it's rainy or cold out!

love to you peoples,

shades & Fruit Loops

shades & fruit loops = a fantastic start to the day!

The funny part is that she seriously, truly ate her cereal with them things on. 

 true story.

HAPPY MONDAY!



Thankful Thursday #6 & challenge

Goodmorning friends!  Instead of the usual Thankful Thursday, I want to share this with you.  Inspiration for the day......

A Challenge:  Who can I reach out to today, and how can I intentionally show them Christ's love?

peace,



ABD: custom accessories & a beautiful family!

My latest ABD project is an all-time favorite. I had so much fun and absolutely love the finished product{s}.....    - The gifted photographer, Molly Whitmore  and I teamed up to create accessories for their upcoming family portraits. The best part?? Not only were they having family portraits taken, but Molly & her husband were getting back into their wedding attire in celebration of their 5 year wedding anniversary! {How awesome?!}        
Photography by the amazing Katelyn James.         - Here are some of my favorites........

Part 1: Family Session

The Whitmores.

What a beautiful family!

I loved creating this flag garland for the little ones. 

The coordinating colors compliment their outfits and bring fun to the photo.

Little Ms. L's adorable dress is made by Double Love Designs.
Check out their fan page on facebook!
  
~ I created a headband to match her dress.

Part 2: Celebrating 5 years!

The gorgeous, Mrs.Molly. A beautiful person, inside & out.

If you aren't already a follower of her work, take a look'see HERE and on facebook.

  

**I am thrilled to have her capture our little family this fall!**

I created the flowerette sash & white feather headband to coordinate, compliment

Molly's gorgeous dress. I love the contrast of champagne against white.

To view the original posts by Katelyn James. CLICK HERE.

**For the latest happenings of ABD {Amelia Bedelia Designs} check our

facebook page: Amelia Bedelia Designs

Happy Tuesday, friends!



diy Doily Bowls

.
Are you a doily lover?   I use them, my Mama does, and Grandma did.  I love that they're timeless and classic.   I have a collection of them and enjoy exploring the possibilities.   Here is my new favorite......

Supplies:

A crocheted doily

 Stiffy-fabric Stiffner

A Plastic bowl/container



Squirt enough Stiffy in the bottom of a large bowl, to cover the bottom surface.

Dip doilies in, thoroughly soaking them.  When completely "wet," ring out to rid of excess.

Evenly drap over a top-down bowl, I recommend a plastic container.

I tried a glass bowl and a plastic container. It was 100% easier to remove doily

from plastic container when dried.  

Let sit for 24 hours, until completely dry and hard.

Carefully remove from container by gently pulling the doily off.

The above pic. shows just how well  'Stiffy' works.

I grabbed a handful of spoons, threw them in the bowl, and it barely flexed.

Serious. 

Happy Crafting!

diy Chalkboard Tray

....
I keep getting asked where I buy my tray chalkboards.  People seem surprised when I reply, "it's homemade!"  {doesn't everyone know about these things by now??}

So for those who have asked and haven't yet discovered the fun of creating chalkboards, this is for you! It's a cheap and a quick project!..

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First, grab a tray!

 It can be any color, size, etc. just as long as it has a flat internal surface. 

I've picked several up at the Dollar Tree and thrift stored. 
If your not in love with the base color, choose a color and spray paint or paint it.  

Apply a second coat after it's dry.

Next, it's time for chalkboard paint.

[you can buy it at any hardware store that carries paint]  

To apply the chalkboard paint, it's easiest to use a small art paintbrush and a medium sponge brush for the large, center portion. 

Start by "cutting" in, around the edges with the small brush. {like when painting a wall}  

Let dry, and go over outline again with a second coat. 

Use your sponge brush to fill in the center of the tray.

Also, cover with a second coat.  

 This is one of my favorite DIY projects. 

Here are a couple of my favorite uses for them....

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Events + Business.

What better way to relay a message to your guests or customers!

[Molly Whitmore Photography]

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Photo Props.

Cute, and fun to decorate!

[Molly Whitmore Photography]

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Home Decor.

Just think of all the possibilities!

Blackberry Tapioca

Our little family loves berries!... Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, all of them!    Last evening, I had a couple cups of blackberries that needed to be used. We ate fresh most of them, and I knew the rest wouldn't be good tomorrow.  I chose a family-favorite, [especially Blake] Blackberry Tapioca!  I know mine doesn't compare to his Mama's, but it's still good!

 

Blackberry Tapioca

• 3 Egg yolks
• 2/3 cup & 2 tablespoon Sugar
• 6 cups whole Milk
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 6 tablespoon seed pearl Tapioca
• 3 teaspoon Vanilla
• Whipped Cream
• Fresh berries

 

Soak tapioca in 4 cups milk 4-5 hours

In a double boiler, cook tapioca mixture for 15 minutes.

 

Blend the remaing 2 cups milk, the egg yolks, sugar and salt.

Blend, mix well and add to double boiler. 

Cook until the tapioca is clear and the pudding is thickened. 

Remove from heat, add vanilla, and let cool.

After cooled, fold in 1 cup whipped cream and berries.

** you could use quick Tapioca instead.
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May you have a Christ-filled day!