Baby's and Brides

Wow I'm finally back to blogging....baby's and brides and of course all that's life...what a busy year! Before I get going on my fall fun, I thought I would share a few fun things from Brad and Chelsey's wedding First off she was a beautiful bride and he a handsome groom! This wedding was labeled "Shabby Chic Vintage"...it was a fun one to create for. From repurposing antique furniture to collecting old china it was almost like a full time job! LOL These awesome lace chargers we made..which just the collecting of the 300 plus chargers and lace curtains, was a project in and of itself! After purchasing 3 gallons of Elmer's Washable School Glue - Glue & Adhesives (Google Affiliate Ad) which we used for almost all the projects we had going, that stuff is amazing and can replace modge podge on most everything. The gals that helped to accomplish this daunting feat, I am forever grateful to. I mean lets face it 300 is a big number. We were real good at assembly line.. Janie cut the lace squares...and the gals proceeded with the glue and lace. Beginning with slightly watered down glue @ 2-1 (glue to water) we brushed the glue on to the charger laid on the lace, one more coat of glue, dry and trim......beautiful lace chargers! We collected canning jars like everyone else was also doing, although we covered them with lace, doilies or burlap cuffs. I made too many trips to count to goodwill stores, because they sell their jars for 19 cents each... Deal! Made 600 mini fabric rosettes that were glued onto jute then tied on drinking glasses and vases. Wooden signs out of repurposed fence and pallet boards, some inspired by Pinterest, the rest just came out of need. We used Elmer's Glue again to put a satin coat on the wooden signs for a great looking finish. I can't even begin to cover it all..however it must be said, that part of the fun NOW has been selling it all to brides to be. Although I will not recoup my time effort and money, it is fun seeing the excitement of all these girls I've met who are loving the process of 'collecting treasures' for their special day. And they are thrilled it's already done for them. As for me.... I love that all my treasures are being used again!

Wedding projects

Chelseys coming home this weekend and I have projects galore for her and anyone willing to help...look out my dear its 'wedding frolic' time.  So much more to finish.....Oh my what a list, its going to be a beautiful wedding though.

Wedding planning is so much fun especially when you are unleashed to be creative.    It is a chalenge to try and mimmick exactly what the Bride and Groom want their special day to look like, however, I have learned some of the neatest tricks along the way trying to do so.  I so enjoy it!

I have a true pasion to create, I know this because I never tire of it.  If I could get up every morning  and make a decent living from it alone, that would be my dream job.  I know there are alot of you out there who feel the same way.  Some who are more tech savy have done just  that, made it their dream job.  Others of us just continue the only way we know,  but with the same pasion and love for what we do.  I would love to find  a way to walk everyone through the process with an easy way of learning step by step, utube videos, linking, building blog sites...web sites, and I am sure countless other ways to get what we do out there and make a living at doing what we love and are gifted at.

My time is currently spoken for....wedding deadlines are closing in on me....time to get my creativity going again.  Although, after this special day, I will check into Tech school for creatively gifted people...Im sure some such thing exists, doesn't it?  And I will make my pasion... my gift, more than what it is.  As someone very dear to me once told me, " you missed your calling", I intend to find it.  Blessings to all you crafters out there you have blessed me with all your ideas and enthusiasm.  Keep crafting!

Blog banners

A big shout out to my daughter in-law Allison Grace Tucker! 

By the way don't you just love her full name...

              ...she surprised me one day with a labor of love...

You see, I am not very good at this blogging thing.  I couldn't even figure out why people couldn't join/follow my blog....not sure I got it right yet. LOL

........Any hoo.......I was so frustrated with it all I kinda quit  blogging.  

 And then Allison emails me, with one of the most frustrating things for me to figure out,

An awesome BANNER....WOO HOO, 

I was so excited and look at it.... isn't she awesome...! 

 Thank you Allison Grace... you don't know how you blessed me! You are brilliant!

Grandma and Tucker

I just returned home from a blessed week with a beautiful baby boy!

Tucker

  What a good little guy he is, full of happy smiles and inquisitive looks as he discovers his surroundings. I had lots of Grandma time and he certainly kept me busy with lots of fun. Little Tucker Beckham Bray is as sweet as the day is long. He's sleeping through the night and growing like so fast.

 I took this to send to daddy and mommy while they were in Canada.....not quite a thumbs up, a pinky up though!

 

He really enjoys his bath time every night....

and is a real cuddle bug

especially after bath and bottle!

Of course I had to try all the clothes on 

I had made him..He's almost grown out

of them :) 

We took the Bob out walking at a local shopping center, as well as the neighborhood near home, all which are beautiful in Carlsbad. The weather was perfect although we got caught once in a bit of  a surprize drizzle. We enjoyed stopping along the way to watch the kids swimming in the pool and shared time with close neighbors. I didn't make it to the beach ...but we will next time, he'll be a little older then. The week flew by and of course grandma hated to leave.

Wedding Shower Fun

One more shower...this one was for Chelsey, a beatiful bride she will be!
Shelby did an awesome job on pulling it together quickly...we were running out of dates that would work for us all. Even still we missed some of you who had prior commitments, although the shower was still a huge success.
 A good friend of ours, Cherrise, offered her backyard which was perfect for the event, with a shabby chic garden style tea .  Thank you Cherrise for your graciousness extended once again, we love you for all you are in our lifes!

The tents were made for Shelby's wedding by my husband. He, by the way often gets drug into theses projects and always rescues us in our attempts to create what we can't. I had collected lace panels from local thrift shops for another project we are doing for the wedding ( I'll show at a later date). I held some aside to use as curtains on the backside of two of the tents, mainly for the look. We all know Cherrise's yard doesnn't need covering...with all the florals and plantings and the quaints play house, it truly lent to the overall look perfectly. The bare wire lamp shades with crystal chandeliers hung from each tent and added more shabby chic looks.

 The vintage china plates and tea cups,
part of the collection for the wedding,
came in handy for the morning tea

and brunch. Our menu consisted of 2 delicious egg dishes with mini muffins prepared by Kristen.  I made an assortment of muffins, bannana, apple cinnamon and blueberry cream cheese. Home made jams & jellies, bluberry pecan &  raspberry, made by Aunt Janie,  Alot of love...... 

Butter croissants and cut fresh fruit provided  by Stacey. Our Teas were blueberry, cranberry and peach..served from quaint tea pots with sugar  and cream. We served raspberry lemonade in

canning jars as well.

  I made these net food coverings Ill have to show later the picture is not good.  I toolamp shades and stripped them down to the wire and found this fabulous netting material to cover them with, added an anthropology drawer pull (I swiped from my daughters room) and walllla....functional and ver chic.

We used the old shabby chic dresser to store

extras, napkins cups and saucers as well as the beautiful cupcakes made by Freda.

  The cupcakes, hydrangea and roses, not only looked amazing they tasted amazing, raspberry was my favorite, although the lemon was wonderful too.





Chelsey received many thoughtful gifts and was genuinely overwhelmed by all. Thank you again to everyone attending as well as all the help in blessing Chelsey with this event.

Baby Tucker's coming

Getting ready for another exciting trip, Tuckers Due date is coming fast... I am preparing to head down south again.  Hoping to stop in on  5 adorable girls to give them all some grandma love ..... and then on to await the arrival of baby Tucker. 
I have to say I  have had great use out of my emboidery, sewing and serger machines all set up in my craft room permanently....one of the only good things about gaining back rooms:)
 I must say its been awhile...What fun I have had making boy stuff ...

Wish the pictures were clearer...

Houndstooth shoes

Shoe holder

Khaki Canvas shoes

animals and blocks



crochet baby blanket

repourposed onesie

crochet hoody

wipe pad set

flannel & terry wash cloths

Car & truck Shirt

I am so excited to continue creating, although still organizing my craft room, the machines are up to stay and what a difference that makes.  Ideas are beginning to flow again..... 

 

Nursery

I recently came back from a fun trip to Carlsbad where Aunt Janie and I were able to join Shelby, family and friends at yet another shower.     

Shelby's sister & mother in law put on a wonderful shower for all in southern CA.  It was a great time of fellowship, wonderful food and lots of fun . 

Tucker is surely  BLESSED by all

who love him. 

There were so many creative souls, with so many creative gifts, made with such love,  personally I was like a kid in a candy shop....My kind of people..... It was a book shower and all the different books were so cute...the beginnings of a small library....

After the shower we stayed on a few days.... enjoying the hospitalty so much...

The beach was beautiful the weather of course was too.  There was enough to keep us busy and the time flew by...We left the sunshine, salt water and sand, coming home to rainy Sacramento with seashells and new memories of time spent, although not before helping finish up some last minute projects..  The Nursery looks great, now just waiting for our little sailor, Tucker, to arrive. 

Great job on the quilt Shelby, such talent!

Showers

Well Christmas is certainly over...It was awesome having everyone home!  thought I would get on here to share some but couldnt seem to get to it. Maybe I'll make it next year as its kinda late and out of season now.
 I can't believe it is the end of February...I know I have been really busy...crafting, along with  all my other duties of course.
Most recently, with the talented help of my sister in-law, Janie, we were able to bless Shelby with a special baby shower day. This shower consumed my time, happily, over the last month or so. Her invite list included all her special friends and family.   I could see from the beginning when I received it, it was going to be  larger than I could host at home. An appeal to a dear friend, Mary Ellen, and she graciously jumped on it. She was able to reserve the clubhouse where she lives, for the event, it was perfect. One thing leading to another,  creative people conspiring.....and whaala.... we had a perfect party for our little sailor Tucker..... We took inspiration from a few others  and add lieb to make it our own.  There are some really great ideas out there, thank you to all who share:

http://princessandthefrogblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/sailboat-party.html; http://overcocktails.blogspot.com/2010/01/nautical-shower-for-baby-oliver.html http://pinterest.com/search/?q=paper+mache+boats

Tuckers whale hangs above his crib now.

Freda makes beautiful cakes she is so talented.. thank you again

 The whale was a  special order from Shelby, Lee's mom Theresa, grasiously lent me an overhead projector to in large my whale drawing.   Tom cut it out for me...I sanded very little as it was fine smooth plywood.  Then painted it dark grey,  crackeled it added a  coat of white paint on top & it was looking great...  The whales face was easy to draw...And then I finished 

Janie did a beautiful job with the food table she is awesome!

it with a little sanding on the edges and sealed with a spray matte sealer. ( both sides are finished so she could choose her direction)


What a beautiful cake, Freda you are so creative. It fit so perfect with everything.  Not only do your cakes look good,  they always taste so yummy.  One layer was strawberry filled the other lemon... and white cake as Shelby doesn't care for chocolate.  I am always fascinated when she arives and sets it up,  as it always, always is more than I expected. The detail is amazing, the edible sand and shells...the cute boat on top and the stand wrapped in rope......Tucker's nameon it,
An  anchor cake is all I asked for....:)


Aunt Janie so willing gave me a hand on every project I was doing, from invitations to food.....whether it needed starting, completing or just encouraged along, she was available.

*Pre reqs. were you gotta know a lot about many things,  creating, sewing, stamping, cutting, glueing, cooking.... 

I couldn't ask for a more creative accomplice,  with detailed & meticulous love she deserves many thanks for all she did!

Our little banners, pylons, sand and pennant flags tied it all to gether.

Playing pass the book our unique ice breaker

Thank you all for joining in the fun and blessing Shelby and
Tucker...
Till the next shower where I am sure new ideas will flow from someone.   LOL

The large penants and mini penants filled the room stretching from windows and doorways throughout...they were inexpensive to make and made our theme alot of fun,
 Thank you Chelsey & Delaney for all your help too!



We played a fun game as an ice breaker....It was a goofy poem of sorts, I found the idea on line, although changed most all of it to fit our shower...then I asked Aunt Janie if she could put the poem sheets in a little book format so we could pass it easier.....Oh my... did she ever... it was too cute.. I need to take more pics of it soon to show it off.....