Anniversary Card

My daughter and son-in-law celebrated their third wedding anniversary at the end of May.  I can't believe it's been that long already!  Here is the card I made for them.

The card I used for inspiration (and pinned to Pinterest, of course) was posted on Splitcoaststampers.  For my version, I used Spellbinders Fancy Tags Three; my stamp didn't have a manufacturer listed on it.  I popped the sentiment up on 1/4" Pop Dots.  To create the bow, I used my Bow Easy, a great tool for anyone who makes bows.

Straightforward and pretty!

Another Birthday Card

Our son-in-law had another birthday in August.  I ran out of time to make him a card, and threw this together rather quickly.

Since Anthony is a filmmaker, the clap board was perfect.  It is from a set by BoBunny Clearly Stamps.  Although you can't see it well, I stamped "Happy Birthday" in gold ink as the title of the production.  The word "Action" I cut out with Spellbinders Nested Pennants.

A Valentine's Day Card

Every once in a while, my son-in-law takes over the card-making area in our craft room, as he did just prior to Valentine's Day.  When he showed us the card he made for his wife, I asked him to send me copies of the pictures he had taken so I could share them on my blog. 

Anthony said he found the idea on Pinterest; you can see several versions by searching for "love you this much".

Season of Love

 Last year, I started what I hope will become an annual tradition:  I cross stitched ornaments for my daughter and her husband, my still-single daughter, and my husband and I.  This year, I did the same, and I handed them out when we decorated our tree.  This one was for Grace and Anthony.

Season of Love

Country Cottage Needleworks

from the Just Cross Stitch Ornament Preview, 2010

I stitched this on 28 count Monaco evenweave using DMC thread.  I'm not sure what color this is, but I know it's not white or antique white.  The piping around the outside is handmade.

Another Birthday Card

August 23 is also my son-in-law's birthday!  Anthony's card is much simpler than the last one I shared, but then masculine cards don't call for all the bling and other pretties, right?

I purchased the paper at Tuesday Morning , but have torn the paper pad apart, so I don't know who made it.  The greeting is by Stampin' Up!, and I used Fresco "Vesuvian Ash" ink to stamp it.  I used Spellbinders' Classic Squares Large & Small for the greeting.  The polka dot paper was cut using Creative Memories' Oval Patterns.

First Anniversary Card

Grace and Anthony celebrated their first anniversary this past Sunday.  If I were a betting woman, I'd wager you have already guessed that I made them a card.  Such a card it was!  I went all out, using ribbon, lace, and pearls.  I know this was based on a sketch I found on the Internet, but I'm not sure which one.  The card is much prettier in real life. 

Details:

~ Stamp:  Unknown
~ Embossing Powder:  "Bridal" by Personal Stamp Exchange
~ Spellbinders:  Labels 4, Labels 11
~ Paper:  "The Luxury Stack" by DCWV
~ Pearls:  Shaped pearls by Recollections; Pink pearls by Queen & Co. in "Orchid"
~ Ribbon:  Dollar Store
~ Lace:  a scrap from my sewing stash

Although this was a labor intensive card, and definitely challenging, I loved designing and making it.

Valentine Pillows

Since I made a Valentine's Day gift for Phil, I thought I should do something for Grace & Anthony, and also for Sarah.  I had originally planned to make wall hangings, but decided pillows would be easier. 

I found this cute machine embroidery design called Monkeys in Valentine Pajamas, and since Grace loves monkeys, and Anthony supports her obsession, I decided it was perfect for them.  Next time I'll try to find something film related for Anthony. 

This is the backing fabric I used.

 On this pillow for Sarah, I used this wonderful heirloom heart I found on my hard drive, and used cotton heirloom lace and entredeux to join everything together.  I ended up sewing the lace around the outside by hand because I forgot to sandwich it between the front and back pieces before stitching them together.  The last picture is the backing fabric I chose. 

For both these projects I used materials from my stash, so other than the $1.07 for the sale-priced monkey design, there was no outlay of cash.  I love projects like that!

Busy Days, a New Computer, and a Card to Share

My dear hubby started physical therapy at the beginning of the month.  He has been dealing with chronic sciatica since summer; he had an MRI in August, and although the results indicated no damage from his Myeloma, (which is known to eat holes in the bones), they did show some disk problems, and slight impingement of the sciatic nerve, and depending on which of Phil's doctors we spoke to, generated different opinions as to the severity of the problem.  Ultimately, we heeded the advice of Phil's oncologist and saw a spinal surgeon in January, and of all her recommendations, pursuing physical therapy seemed the best option since it wasn't invasive or likely to add to his fatigue.  So between February 4 and 18, we have had five appointments, the first of which was in the middle of a bad snowstorm!  Phil has made remarkable progress according to his therapist is now down to once-a-week visits, and his pain level is significantly reduced.  There are no promises of being pain free, and he will have good days and bad, but to be able to walk for longer than a couple minutes without tremendous pain is a huge improvement.

Then on February 7th, my daughter, Sarah, started a full time nanny job, so I have been trying to help with some of the household errands she normally does.  Because of my own physical problems - fibromyalgia and a badly arthritic knee - and accompanying Phil to his appointments, this has been very tiring for me.  It's definitely a period of adjustment for all of us.

In my last entry of January 31, I said that my computer was continuing to act up, and we decided that the most likely problem was either an imminent hard drive failure, or something with the motherboard.  Because of the cost involved in fixing either of those,  I started researching new laptops and scouring the sale ads each week, hoping to find one that was highly rated but still affordable.  I did - and both Phil and I are the new owners of Toshiba Satellite laptops from Best Buy.  Well, sort of.  We took advantage of their free 18-month financing, since we didn't have the cash on hand, but knew we could pay them off in the allotted time.  This new machine is incredibly fast, and although I don't  like Windows 7, I am learning to live with it.

I have a card to share with you, although I didn't make it.  Anthony has discovered the joy of card making, and we are thrilled that he is using our many tools and putting his own spin on cards.  He made this lovely card for his mom, and it's the first one he created.  I whited out the verse he wrote when I edited the pictures since it was personal.  Didn't he do a great job? 

 

 

Winter Days

Snow, snow, snow.  After breaking the record for the snowiest December on record, we got a brief reprieve, but are now in another snowy period.  When we headed to an oncology appointment (for my husband) last Wednesday, we weren't sure if we would make it since we were in the middle of a snowstorm.  We left 50 minutes early, but due to the extremely light traffic, arrived at our destination only five minutes later than we would have if the roads had been clear, even though I drove slowly.  Tonight it's very windy and snowing a bit.  Sunday's forecast is for blustery and cold weather, with a low of 4 degrees F.  As goes our weather, on Tuesday it will warm up to above freezing and we're expecting snow, sleet, freezing rain, and possibly rain.  Of course, we have to head to another doctor's appointment!  Unfortunately, things go downhill from there, with daytime highs by Saturday a mere 11 degrees.  You don't want to know what the low will be!  Good thing we're getting more kerosene for our heater 'cause we'll need it or else the furnace will run almost continually.

I am having computer problems - not sure what is going on.  We've been running every diagnostic program we can think of, as well as cleaning up the machine, but no real improvement yet.  The other possibility is that the laptop is dying; we have had it for quite a while and I know they don't last forever. 

Hence, I have no pictures for you, but I have been working on the wedding sampler.  I finished the inside (for reference, you can see a picture of the completed sampler here) and have begun stitching the words that go around the outside.  Unfortunately, I had to frog the right side of the top ("I Am My Beloved's") because I was one stitch off.  So I'll try to put that in again on Sunday night.  Then I will chart Grace and Anthony's names and stitch them at the bottom before taking the entire piece out of the scroll frame so I can stitch the sides with the letters facing the correct way.  It's too difficult to stitch them sideways. 

I would like to try to complete the sampler by the end of the month, but this coming week will be busy (my definition of busy, not necessarily anyone elses!) with that appointment on Tuesday, then Grace is having knee surgery on Thursday and I'll be helping care for her. I'll try sneaking in some stitching time if I can.

Keep warm,

Drapes!

In my last post, I mentioned that I made drapes for Anthony & Grace's apartment.  I was able to get some pictures of them tonight. 

This was my first time  making drapes.  I used blackout lining, which I quickly discovered is VERY heavy, and made the drapes difficult to maneuver.  They are about 81" long, and approximately 44.5 inches wide.  Since they attack to the curtain rod with clips, I did not sew a rod pocket, although there is just enough room in the top hem to do a narrow one in the future if needed.  The fabric is "Pen Pal" from Jo-Ann Fabrics.

I couldn't resist including the monkey in the last picture.  I'm sure I've mentioned before that Grace loves monkeys and has them all over the apartment, in her car, and in their study.  Secretly, I love looking for new and unusual monkey items to give her!

The Wedding

It's over.  The event we planned for so many months is now behind us.  The wedding was wonderful.  Grace was a beautiful bride, and Anthony a handsome groom.  Most things went as we wanted them to.  And those that didn't, well, most were not that important.

So now, life is supposed to get "back to normal".  Whatever that means.  But what was normal on Friday is no longer normal.  I have a married daughter, and a wonderful son (in-law).  Come Monday evening, there will be two married couples, one single woman, two neurotic cats, and an overly enthusiastic dog living under one roof.  There will be adjustments as Phil and I continue to learn our place in Grace and Anthony's lives, and as Sarah adapts to having another man in the house.  The animals will think it's great that there are two more hands to feed and pet them though.

God has been so gracious to us.  Not only that He "show[ed] his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us"  (Romans 5:8, ESV), but that by accepting Christ's death on the cross as the only sufficient payment for our sin, and allowing Christ to assume His rightful headship in our lives, we are His children.  The journey we have been on with Anthony and Grace these past 15 months has been incredible.  It has brought Phil and I closer together as we walked through courtship and then betrothal with Anthony and Grace.  Anthony has been a blessing in our lives, and we have learned much from him, and will continue to do so.  We have also learned more about our daughter.  And Sarah has been challenged and is growing spiritually and emotionally.  We are in awe of all God is doing, and we look forward to the months and years ahead.

It was difficult as the mother-of-the-bride to take pictures, but I have uploaded the ones I was able to get to Facebook.  You can go here to see them - you do not have to have a Facebook account to see them.  Should you not want to do that, here are a few you can enjoy.

 Me with Anthony & Grace

 Phil & I with the happy couple

 Looking to the cross

 The dads with Anthony & Grace

 The entire bridal party

 With my parents

 With Phil's mom

 

 The bridesmaids

 At the beginning of the ceremony

 Grace with her cousin, Jamie Rae, who was one of the flower girls

Grace had to get her favorite monkeys in somewhere!