Thursday, June 28, 2007

Shower Curtains...



After much fuss and buttonhole making, the shower curtain is complete! I ordered the fabric online, and I really like the colors- I've been such a fan of brown lately. I'm currently working on a curtain for our "potty area" in the bathroom- right now its just an open doorway. That will be made of the border fabric, with an edge of the polka dots. Here's a closeup:

the fabric wreath


A few years back, my momma was going through some older kitchen things and happened upon an old fabric wreath. It was sun faded and had a few spots on it from hanging in a well loved and well used kitchen for many years :) Instead of giving it away, I decided to "revamp" it for the hope chest. I used a quilting square set that I bought at an Amish quilting store in Colorado. After cutting off the old fabric (inside was a heart shaped wire with an opening at the bottom), I sewed a new 'tube' of fabric that was the same width. My tube ended up being quite a bit longer, so mine was a bit more ruffly. I sewed two lines of basting strings down the center to make a casing, then placed the tube onto the heart shaped wire, pulling the basting strings to make it taut around the heart. I then hand sewed the bottom shut, and glued a ribbon to the top to hang it by. I hope that made sense- I'm not the best at how-to's. :)

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

A sweet video from another blog...

I've been spending the day sewing up our new shower curtain (pictures to come) but I thought I'd post a link to a video that I thought was so charming. What a lovely way to look at the Scripture.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

My kitchen "theme"

Long, long ago... in a galaxy far, far away... oh wait, no. It was just about a year and a half ago :) My dear momma and me were strolling through the shops of a nearby small town, when I spied a lovely set of kitchen wares in the corner of a store called, "Remember This". It was cherry printed with an aqua background. I have a sincere affection for all things retro (especially from the fifties), so it looked like a 'must-have hopechest item'. :) I asked my loving momma and daddy for it for Christmas. A year later, when preparing for our new married home, an Aunt of mine offered to give me her old kitchen table. It wasn't really my style- more modern than I liked- but I thought with a little work, I could make it just right. After many weeks of searching the fabric stores online and in our town, I couldn't believe the find I had made. It seemed to be almost the exact print of the kitchenwares! I ordered 5 yards of it straightaway, and after much chair covering and drapery making- we have quite the theme going on :) Its so fun to see hopechest items, fulfilling their purpose, out in your home! So here's a peak into our kitchen/ breakfast room. You can see the other draperies and the covered chairs in the birthday pictures.


I made this "drapery" to cover a big, ugly fuse box that someone decided should go in the middle of the kitchen wall. I have no idea what apartment designers are thinking sometimes! I got the hanging rack at Ikea.

The famed canisters.


For lemonade...
I tried my hand at painting. Well... it wasn't a complete disaster :)

My Husband's 23rd Birthday!


Yesterday was my beloved husband's birthday. He asked for my present from him to be that I sew draperies for the kitchen window :) How sweet he is. At first it was planned that I would sew him up some pajama pants- but he said it was too hot for those now anyway, so to work on the draperies instead.


Since I couldn't make him feel special with a real present, I made him waffles for breakfast, took him to one of his favorite restaurants for lunch (Panda Express... so unhealthy and fun!) and made him his favorite dinner- Lasagna, garlic bread, and salad. For his cake I made the Cream Cheese Pound Cake to be eaten with strawberries and whip cream! He said it was his best birthday ever :)

Monday, June 25, 2007

Green thumbs...



My brother, the soon to be doctor, gave me just a sprig of his beautiful plant (he has an amazing collection of plants and an awesome fish tank), and this is what is has turned into- under the loving care of my mother, who also has a green thumb :) I just hope I can keep it alive and so pretty as it is... I hope I inherited just a bit of that green thumb.


Its called an earring plant, since its pink and purple flowers dangle down like earrings.

Friday, June 22, 2007

Sing Praise

I've just been taking a moment to think of how the Lord has blessed us. The Lord is so good, so faithful, and so kind to even those who deserve it so little.

"Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely." Psalm 147:1

I am so filled with the need to sing God's praises! I am so thankful for how He looks after our lives.


"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms." James 5:13

Bread making fun!


For the first time ever last night, I tried my hand at good old fashioned bread making! My husband and I were VERY happy with the results! Sure, I've made "bread" before- but only with a starter from a friend. I've made lemon bread, cinnamon bread, banana bread, chocolate bread- the list goes on and on! But this is my first ever, no starter, whole wheat sandwich bread!
Let it rise... let it rise.

The finished project ended up with 3 loaves and one star pan of delicious bread. One star pan? Yes... I ran out of loaf pans, and ended up filling an old star shaped pan. Fourth of July bread, anyone? :)

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Honeymooning :)

Here are a few shots from our honeymoon- it was such a beautiful trip. We were in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Yes, I did wear the less-than-attractive orange hat the whole trip. I really didn't want to get sunburned :) And my husband thinks its cute.


Our hotel!
The balcony overlooking the pool. It was just a bit down the hall from our room. Lovely!

I'm off to make dinner!

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Some "artistic" shots...

A pretty shot of my shoes...



My new husband's wedding ring- I had it inscribed. On the inside it says "faithfully yours 6/9/07"


Also, our internet is officially being "plugged in" tomorrow! I'm very excited about having it.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Once I was her nanny...

And now she's a beautiful flower girl. She wrote me the sweetest note, what a loving girl she is!
My precious big brother...
And all my new brothers!!
Right under where we were married...

Our fans... it was definitely a warm Texas day, I'm so glad we had them!

Its just too cute. My bridesmaids (almost all brides matrons) :) with my groom!

A few more...


Once a Miss, Now a Mrs...

We are back! :) After a beautiful, happy, joyful wedding and a wonderful honeymoon, we are now settling happily into our new apartment. Here are a few pics until I have some time and a better internet connection to put up more...




Thursday, June 7, 2007

Adios, blog! ...for a week.

Well, tomorrow begins the wedding festivities, so I will leave this blog with a copy of our vows, to be said on Saturday evening, under the cover of Heaven above. We drew inspiration from Peter and Kelly Bradrick's vows, which were amazing beautiful.

GROOM

I, Colin, covenant before God and man, to you Lauren Christine to
be your loving husband, and to lead you, to protect you, and provide for you in devotion to the Lord.

I vow to love you as my wife as Christ loved the church, to lay down my life for you, to wash you with the water of the word, to love you as my own body and to nourish and cherish you as the Lord does the church; to render unto you the affection due you, knowing that I do not have authority over my own body but you do, to dwell with you according to knowledge, giving honor unto you and living together with you as heirs together of the grace of life.

You alone will be my delight as the wife of my youth where divorce is neither a threat nor an option. I will fight for you and for our family. I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow; in times of failure and in times of triumph till death do us part. I pledge to you my life as a loyal and faithful husband.

BRIDE

I, Lauren Christine, covenant before God and man, to you Colin, to be your loving wife, and to obey you, be faithful unto you, and care for you in devotion to the Lord.
Just as the Church is subject to Christ in all things, so will I be unto you in everything. I will live first for God, and then for you. I vow to always build up our household and seek to crown you by nobility in my character. I will discretely and chastely keep our home, working with eager hands, and always seeking to bring you good, not harm, all the days of my life.
If the Lord so chooses to bless us, it will be my delight to be the fruitful bearer of your children, and I will help you teach them the commandments of the Lord as we talk of them in our house, as we walk by the way, when we lie down, and when we rise up. Wherever you go, I will go. I will not separate myself from you. Wherever you lodge, I will lodge, your people will be my people, and your God, my God. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me. I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph, till death do us part. I pledge to you my life as your loyal, obedient, and faithful wife.

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Summertime...


Is beautiful in the backyard! Today my father put new soil down on the side by the fence (he also chopped the wood and made the fence himself) It looked so rich and dark, we just had to take a picture! I'll definitely miss this yard.

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

A bit more about me...

As per Sunydazy's request :) Here's a wee bit more about me...
I'm not married yet! Our wedding is this Saturday, June 9th. I am very much looking forward to all things wifey- I definitely consider myself a prairie muffin! Even before I saw the prairie muffin manifesto, my husband-to-be called me "very prairie". I love sewing and making my own clothes, learning about being feminine to the Glory of God, serving with compassion and kindness, and I very much enjoy thrifty crafts, which I am getting to participate in a lot more now with our new apartment home :) I love animals, especially kitties, and our turkeys when they were babies (a little less fun once they grew up). I was once a 'nanny', and I absolutely love babies and children.
I started blogging because I have been so encouraged by reading others blogs. What a beautiful thing it is to be encouraged in heart and spirit by a Sister in Christ.
I'll be posting new pictures of our home as things get moved in. Today was the first "move-in", but I won't be moving in until AFTER the wedding, of course! :) Also, we will be leaving for a week after the wedding, so I am not neglecting the blog, but I will update, hopefully with wedding pictures, when we return. I look forward to many new friendships through this blog, I hope!


Just for fun, here's a picture of me with one of my kitties...

Monday, June 4, 2007

feminine hairstyles

As I learn more about dressing not only modestly, but also femininely for the Glory of God, I find myself having trouble with feminine hairstyles! I often end up with my -very- curly hair in a bun or a knot when I strive to wear it completely down. This works better than a ponytail for me... I almost feel like it looks more 'put together' than a ponytail that is... on a hot humid Texas day... a bit wild. If anyone has any suggestions for putting long hair in a twist that stays put, or some other creative feminine hairstyle, let me know! I've had this clippie since I was very young, and I'm so glad I kept it- it definitely adds fun to a plain bun :)

Sunday, June 3, 2007

One of my favorite quotations...


Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,
Thy head, thy sovereign, one that cares for thee,
And for thy maintenance; commits his body
To painful labor, both by sea and land;
To watch the night in storms, the day in cold,
Whilst thou li’st warm at home, secure and safe;
And craves no other tribute at thy hands
But love, fair looks, and true obedience-
Too little payment for so great a debt.
Such duty as the subject owes the prince,
Even such a woman oweth to her husband;
And when she is froward, peevish, sullen, sour,
And no obedient to his honest will,
What is she but a foul contending rebel,
And graceless traitor to her loving lord?
I asham’d that women are so simple
‘To offer war where they should kneel for peace,
Or seek for rule, supremacy, and sway,
When they are bound to serve, love, and obey.
Why are our bodies soft, and weak, and smooth,
Unapt to toil and trouble in the world,
But that our soft conditions, and our hearts,
Should well agree with our external parts?

-Kate, “The Taming of the Shrew”: Shakespeare
Quoted from Verses of Virtue by Beall Phillips

What a beautiful and truthful passage. What an inspiring book Verses of Virtue is! I feel very blessed to have it in my library.

Saturday, June 2, 2007

Whats a girl to do when Hancock's closes?


Run to the store for the bargains! I have been terrified of trying to sew a swimsuit or working with the material, but needless to say, the swimsuit selections in the store are... for lack of a better word.... lacking. A few weeks ago, I was in a town where a Hancock's was closing- and this fabric was there, in the 80% off pile- even if I completely had ruined it, I wouldn't have been devastated. Still, I was afraid of ruining it... but finally today I buckled down and tried it out. The fabric has a bit of "pique" texture to it- hopefully that way it won't cling. With only a few machine fits- my machine doesn't enjoy sewing stretch stitches at a rapid pace- here's the final result! I'm glad I tried it out. I definitely learned a few things! Thankyou, S&S ladies, for the much needed advice on sewing with swim material.

Friday, June 1, 2007

A handkerchief for momma...


I embroidered this for the wedding after being inspired by ladies on the S & S sewing board...
 

Made by Lena