New duds...

Well, thanks to a nifty tutorial from this shabby site, I have created a cute little header. I have wanted to do this for months, but thought I would have to break down and do it in PS. Who knew you could use , Picasa, a free software created by google!!! It has so much to offer for being FREE! I have a little more tweaking to do, like making it bigger, but I am amazed I got this far!!! Now, if I could just update my posts more than once every few months, I will be one happy little gal! Thanks for the tutorial Sarah!!!!

Blooming Artists

Maybe it's the artist in me, but I cling to almost every piece of "art" my babes have produced ever since their chubby little fingers grasped their first washable crayola. I love to observe their masterpieces. I admire their decisions of color, their long linear strokes, and what their little imaginations doodle at such a tiny age. Since my fridge is only so big, and I have hoarded enough to fill an entire nightstand, I decided to create art albums for each of them. 

It' s really simple, and I am sure I am not the first to do it. Just a plain three ring binder, with sheet protectors. I decided at first to group just a few ages together, so I can observe how their art and penmanship develop and grows through each page.

Atticus' starts at age 1-3, which he will be 3 in January, unbelievable.

Since Lou was my first, and I have other boxes (yes, boxes!!!) to locate and go through, I started her art album with Pre-K through Kindergarten. 

Look at her writing, I could stare at it for hours. I love to watch her write, she is determined, so serious, with her little tongue perched just so on her lips making sure she completes each letter just perfect. The picture above is the beginning of Pre-K.

She is my strawberry icecream girl!

I have a feeling she will be very artistic, she always doodles, even while watching cartoons! She is a bit on the lazy side when it comes to sports...she didn't fall far from the tree!  I don't care as long as she keeps creating!

Oh, and the portraits, I keep every single one of them. The each take on their own story, and I feel her work interprets her perception of me... it makes my heart sing!

I also included all of her awards and reports cards in her art album for now, since I have slacked on actual scrapbooks... never enough hours in the day.

Here is my Atty boy. I love his work, and the aggression he takes out on those poor crayolas!

His first watercolor project, very abstract! 

And I have loads of fingerpaintings, some I will frame for the playroom.

Here is one of his awards, Student of the Month, Daddy and I still don't know how that happens!!!

So far Layla has been so proud of her art album. She takes it and observes the pages one by one. I think it gives her a since of accomplishment, seeing her own work evolve. I plan on keeping these albums going through the school years, and pass along to my babes when I feel its time. I hope they appreciate them as much as I do. I have the motivation to start my own album now, or maybe just a small journal, to have something to look back on and say "hey, I did that!" and keep the creative fuel going...

 Bliss. Beauty-Lives-In-Sowing-the-Seed ™

Eastbound and Down...

So sorry for my extended absence...I got lost on the Emerald Coast! 

Stunning white beaches, crystal clear water, good eats, and great friends! 

My husband and I are high school sweethearts, (only 10 years and counting!) In high school we worked at the local movie theater along with a good friend who we hold dear to our hearts. He and his bride decided to tie the knot in Destin, FL... one of the world's best kept secrets!!! 

Every moment was breath taking, not to mention the exchange of vows at sundown...

I even happened to fall just a tad more in love with the best man, who still manages to make my heart flutter....

Absolute paradise.

What I'm learning...

A Mother's love has no boundaries,

 it's not learned, nor scored.

A Mother's love is there regardless,

 of patience, time, or chores.

A Mother's love is reminded,

in story time and night night kisses.

A Mother's love grows on and on,

through the times she misses.

I am reminded today why I love being a Mommie. I am not perfect, and rarely ever give myself enough credit. A child's love is faithful and true, and in times I need it the most, I look over and see it flowing like a river through two tiny souls. Even though I think I missed a beat, it's from them I am reminded of who they learned to love from in the first place.

My heart is happy.

Feeling crafty...

Well, finally got around to getting a few things done around here. It's not a lot, and not near enough, but its something!  I bought these flocked papers a few months back and they found their home on some numbers I picked up from the Salvation Army for a buck, and the bonus is 19 just so happens to be my Lou's birthday. I love their contrast with each other...

Next is a metal sign that was in my garage sale pile, or should I say closet, which I seriously need to purge some day soon, it really would please the hubby! I challenged myself to try  to reuse what I could and had a lot of fun digging through and  reinventing some of the abandoned pieces. I chose the sign, slapped on a few coats of chalkboard paint, created magnets from my collection of vintage earrings, and tied on some burlap... now I have the perfect spot to display some of favorite vintage photos or write a sweet diddie to the fam.
This next piece was really fun!!! I have a friend at work who had some girls who made the Bethel cheer team, so she asked if I could do a canvas for them. I had a hard time warming up with the yellow, so I added some fun graffiti, I think it definitely added to the piece. I hope the girls enjoy them, GO TEAM!

I can only show a peep of my latest project, since we have one of the most deserving holidays right around the corner...I had some left overs, so I made a small piece for a friend's birthday. I can't wait to show the rest...

Doesn't it just beckon Summer??? So peaceful. Can't wait to make more just for me, and my garden! Very addictive. NOTE: If you are a friend, and reading this, you might just get one, so just act surprised!