I had a great time working on decorating Hannah's room. It's really the first time that I've seen a project start as an idea and come to life pretty much how I anticipated it happening. Now, if money was not an issue there are some things I would change about this room...but I'm not unhappy with how everything came together. In fact I'm very pleased with how it all turned out. Remember we're renting, so there are some things in the room that probably wouldn't be there if we weren't (like the curtains, and I hid the rugs for the photos because they don't match at all but I keep them in there most of the time). Most of the bedding items are from when Greg and I first got married and picked things out for our master bedroom. Once we got a king size bed this comfy queen became our guest bed but all the items that we received as gifts stayed with the bed (thus the burgundy bed skirt and pillow shams), someday I'll save up and buy a new bedskirt and pillow shams but it's not a big priority to me right now.

Most of the items in the room were made by me or bought on clearance or with a coupon. Mostof the items are hand-me-downs and I love the added dimension they give the room. There are still a few items that I need to finish as well but I wanted to get the photos taken since it was all cleaned an ready to go for our guests. And since this room doubles as a guest room there are a few things that wouldn't normally be in a nursery but they sure make it easier on me when we have guests, like the towels in the baskets. So without further adieu here is Hannah's Personalized Pink, Green and Orange, Nursery/Guest Room (say that ten times fast). 

Here is the view when you open her door. These were taken before everything was finished...but they're too cute to keep to myself! The small brown minky lovie was made for Hannah by my good friend Amy. It has her baptismal date on it. The green blanket was a gift from my good friend Angela and it matches the colors in her room perfectly! The quilt came from someone on my dad's side of the family. I am not exactly sure who made it...but I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I was so excited to be able to put it out after we moved and had the bed back in a girls room and not a boys room!

Here's a photo I took in May, but you can get a better idea of what the center of the quilt looks like.

Big windows called for double curtains because I wasn't going to spend money on curtains when we won't be living here very long. I'll have a quick tutorial for this chalkboard coming up soon! And that long painting isn't done yet...

Can you see the "H"? Hannah's dresser is hiding in the closet. And here's Hannah's view of the paper lanterns! This little quilt was made by my cousin who is in highschool, Hannah LOVES to look at all the different colors when I rock her!

The little green and purple mini quilt was made by my niece Emily and she's only 13. Didn't she do fantastic? And it matches the green/butterfly theme and I didn't even tell her that's what I was doing for Hannah's room! Sorry that one is blurry, I was holding a crabby, teething, croupy baby and she wouldn't hold still. Imagine that. I hope you liked the room tour. I still have a few things to finish up but I am so excited with how everything came together. If you have any questions about where I got certain things or how I made anything let me know and I'd be more than happy to answer your questions.

I am excited to share this little gift with you today because I think it's truly one of those very versatile gifts but very personal as well (and also inexpensive and quick to make). This gift could be made for just about anyone on your list! I like to give gifts that people will use. I like to make paintings but it's hard to make a painting for someone without their knowledge. What if it's the wrong colors, wrong saying, etc...and then they feel obligated to hang it up since you spent time on it. Well, this painting is for Christmas. People usually love to receive Christmas decorations as gifts and this way, it's personalized and holiday specific so they can put it away after Christmas and when they bring it out the next year they'll have fun memories of you giving them their cool personalized painting!
Pencil



 I then painted the outside a contrasting color to give it some life and dimension.

 I then painted my ornaments and added some extra little "flair" with a few sharpies. I added the red border and outlined the ornaments to really finish them up and make them pop.

Can you see the tremendous difference it makes to outline them? Look at the second ornament and notice the difference. And when you outline it you can cover up some of the little mistakes that you may have made :).


So here it is all finished! You could present it like this or hot glue some ribbon to the back so they have the option to hang it as well.

And you could make this cute little card to go along with it. I love it when gifts match their cards!!

And here's my quick little painting tip. Use a Frisbee for your pallet...if you don't already own a pallet, it's washable, sturdy and makes a great cheap pallet. Also, buy some of those "magic towels" from the dollar store and keep a few with your paints. You never know when you may want to use a little towel to wipe off your brush or to use on your painting. It is also very handy to have these around if you're painting with small children...need I say more.
I will include this painting with a few other family gifts and some home baked goodies.
You can never go wrong with home baked goodies!

And for those of you who like to work with wood
what about this idea.

What does one do when their computer is off? A lot. And nothing. At the same time. When my computer is on my time seems to be split. When my computer is off I am much more present in the moment. When my computer is on I feel the need to see what people are up to in other parts of the world via social networking. When my computer is off I feel the need to see what my kids are up to and where their imagination has taken them. When my computer is on I spend time looking and pinning lots of pretty and creative things. When my computer is off I spend time working on making pretty and creative things. When my computer is on I search for things to waste money on. When my computer is off I search for things I've already purchased and use them. When my computer is on I can talk to my parents in Hong Kong, and that's about the only thing that I really missed when my computer was off.   I TRULY enjoyed my technology time-out. I didn't miss facebook at all. Although it is weird to go from knowing what everyone is doing to not having a clue. But not a big deal. I didn't miss the constant news stream. Although I probably should have watched the news on tv so I could make sure to keep up with the big things going on in the world. I didn't miss the inflow of information. Although I did still check my email on my phone.  I didn't miss the pressure to create worthwhile blog posts. Although I found myself many times during my week thinking "this would make a really great blog post". I didn't miss the stress of having to "make it" with my blog or photography (stress that I've put on myself). Although I did think about how I could make each one better. I didn't miss much. I did miss talking with my parents. Although Greg let me skype with them once on his computer. I did miss being able to get a recipe or some pertinent information quickly. Although my phone is pretty handy. But it was a welcome break and one that I will take more often. Maybe not a week at a time but definitely a good break from time to time. We had a wonderful week. Full of family time, a picnic in the park, a sick croupy baby who cut her first tooth, a couple of books read, a candlelit dinner for the kids, simplifying, donating toys, and many other wonderful memories. I will share more later. But I'm still taking my computer time in small doses so I don't want to over do it all at once. It's nice to be back... And because every post is better with  a photo...

It's time for a change. Time for something different. Time to do something I've been thinking about doing for a long time. Time to quit procrastinating. Time to stop. Slow down. Time to make time for other things in my life. Time to make time for baking, painting, cuddling, sewing, reading books, taking more walks, digging deeper into the Word, decorating, photographing things just for me. Just saying those things makes me all giddy on the inside. Because when the computer is on, my time is COMPLETELY divided. I have a small addiction with the computer. My husband would tell you it's a large addiction...I will not because I hate to admit it. But he's right. It's time to break the addiction. I will be pushing the power button once I publish this blog...and will not turn my computer on again for one week. This is a challenge that I have placed on myself. I am very trepidatious about this. Take away my tv for a week, a month a year, sure no problem. But my computer...I'm not so sure this is a good idea! Business is SLOW non-existent right now anyway so I'm pretty sure that won't be a problem. I plan on making more time to get things even more squared away for my business. I plan on sewing more of my Christmas presents and getting things done early. I plan on spending more one on one time with my kids. I plan on making more crafts with them. I plan on doing things I always talk about doing but find myself putting off because of the stupid computer (that I love so much). I plan on being a part of my family not just physically, but more emotionally and being more aware of what is going on around me. I plan on getting to experince new things. I plan on trying new recipes from cookbooks that are collecting dust. I plan to write letters and thank you notes that are long overdue. I plan to send pictures to loved ones. I plan to return...but am not certain of the exact time or date. My plans are not my own. I laid off facebook a while ago...just kinda sick of the "fake" relationships. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE facebook and love the fact that I'm able to keep in touch with friends so easily. But I feel that facebook is just too fake for me and it's really been bugging me lately. There are too many things to hid behind or brag about, it just doesn't feel like real life to me (but wasn't that the original plan?) I wish people would write letters like they used to. I wish people would pick up the phone and call to see how you're doing rather than just look for a status update. We used to love getting mail. Then we loved getting email. Then we loved getting a note on our wall. Well I still love to get REAL mail and I'm going to do my part in sending some out. What happened to our society that has become so removed from actual contact with real people? Why do we prefer texting over a phone conversation? Why do we blog and update our status on facebook rather than write a letter or stop by for a visit? I'm guilty of this all too and I'm wanting a change of pace. A new normal. Something different. I've got some great books I'll be reading (along with my Bible) during my technology time-out...This one and this one and I've already dug into this one. So excited. To get my life back. To connect with people in REAL life. To make new memories. I realize this makes it sound like I didn't go anything but waste time on my computer and that's not the case but I have to take a step back and for me the best way to end the addiction is to not even be tempted by it. And I realize that I'm making it sound like I'm signing off forever and that's probably not the case but I don't know what God has in store for my life right now so I'm not going to say that's true and I'm not going to say it's not true. I won't be answering email...unless it's urgent. I won't be checking facebook on my phone. I will be disconnected from the internet. So, if you'd like to talk to me you'll have to go old school and pick up your phone and dia my number...of which you hopefully have. I'll see you next wee k....maybe. I've thought about this moment for a long time. I've told Greg a time or two that I was going to do it. But now, I have to. For me. For my kids. For my husband.

{Jackson, TN child photography}

I love looking through photo albums. Reliving days gone by. Remembering those who have gone before us. Learning more about a certain time or place in someones history. Photos tell the stories that only our minds can remember. Photos take us to a place and time that has already flown by. Photos connect us to generations past. Photos tell OUR story.

When you've taken time to save money to invest in a custom portrait session, book that session, pick the right outfits, count down the days till your session, and have enjoyed the process of being photographed the only thing left is to choose which photo will become that family heirloom portrait that you will hang proudly on your wall.

No doubt choosing just one will be difficult. But there will be one that stands out. One that says "this is me/us, right here and right now". There will be one that will receive the place of honor as a large framed portrait or canvas hanging above your fireplace or sofa. There will be one that will be ooohhed and aaahhed over time and time again when friends and family come to visit.

But what about the others? What about those amazing images that show other glimpses into who you are as a person or a family? Those images deserve a place in your home as well. Those images deserve a custom photo album to showcase all the special moments captured from your fun, memorable session.

Designing your album is something I look forward to being able to do. I want to help you put down your memories in a book that will make your coffee table proud to hold it. That will make your magazines jealous. That will make you beam with pride anytime someone asks to see it.

Your story. Told. Time and time again. In YOUR album. With images of YOUR loved ones. Let me capture your memories and tell your story.Albums come in three sizes, 5x5, 8x8 or 12x12, each with 20 pages. Your favorite quotes, scripture passages and letters to loved ones can be included in the album. Here are a few of my favorite layouts from Sara Grace's album.

 

Call me today so we can start the conversation about creating your family heirloom portraits and keepsake album.