little scrappy quilt

Happy Thursday Lovies! First of all, I want to apologize for being so absent lately. If you saw my last post, you already know that my sweet dog, Solomon passed away recently. It has been so incredibly difficult for me. And the only way for me to stay sane is to throw myself into work. So, that makes for a really sweet baby quilt. This is the fastest quilt I've ever made, which is really surprising, because the whole thing is hand quilted. I know. I still can't believe I did it either.

I made this quilt in 18 days. And I think it's safe to say that this is my favorite quilt I've ever made. It has so much personality and I think it really shows a lot of me in it. This quilt began at our Savannah Modern Quilt Guild's "use up your scraps" Retreat. That's the best part- all of these are scraps! And I think in the end it looks like confetti, so that's pretty awesome. 

Alright, get ready for one big scroll party! See the Little Scrappy Quilt from start to finish.

A few days into the hand quilting, my elbow was killing me. I honestly believe I had "quilter's elbow," you know, like tennis elbow! I'm telling you, quilters are hard core. 

It needed a little POP!

All quilted! Each piece is quilted with a white pearl cotton, with about a 1/4 inch border. There are 4 scraps that have a radiant orchid border- gotta love that pantone color of the year!

 

Hand stitched binding, as always!

And it's done!

 

cheers to 5 years!

How we've made it five years without killing each other is beyond me! See, Bradley and I have that relationship where we can banter back and forth, giving each other a hard time, but we know deep down that we are obsessed with each other. I swear this is the only man who can put up with me. Honestly, we have a good understanding for each other and really know each other's faults. Like I know when he's had a long, hard day at work, I shouldn't nag him even more about the trash not being taken out. I know that will only lead to a bigger argument when it wasn't that important to begin with. And he knows to not make a big deal when our house is a complete wreck. He knows that I know it and don't want it to be, so complaining about it would do nothing but upset me. Ok, sorry for the tangent. This post is supposed to be happy, so let's move on!

We had plans to make a nice dinner at home that night and decorate our tree, but the universe had other plans. Bradley had asked me to pull the steaks out of the freezer early in the day so they could thaw. I did it (shocker that I actually remembered, I know) and put them in the sink. After a few hours they had thawed and I noticed that they had a strange smell. Like possibly they had gone bad. But what do I know? So I left them there for Bradley to inspect when he got home. And no surprise, he agreed that they had spoiled. So now do we go buy some new steaks or go out to eat? We decided to splurge since it was our anniversary and we went out to our favorite Japanese steakhouse. Ohhh and it was so worth it! Here is Bradley stealing picking me a rose from the parking lot of the restaurant! I swear this boy doesn't understand consequences. But I love his spontaneity.

We then made it home and started to decorate our tree! This is my absolute most favorite part of the holidays. Bradley thought it would be sweet to make it a tradition to decorate our tree every year on our anniversary. I love the idea for sentimental reasons, but I don't know if I want to wait until Decmeber 5th each year! The only reason it didn't feel late this year was because thanksgiving was a week later, but next year it might be back to the 3rd week in November. I guess we'll gap that bridge when we get to it.

Bradley always gives me a hard time for how many lights and decorations I like on my tree. I want it to look overdecorated. And I don't know that I've ever been completely satisfied with the number of ornaments! More is more in this case. But obviously that can rack up a rather large charge, so I just keep growing our collection each year!

Thank you babe for five wonderful years! You have truly made me the happiest girl.

christmas lights don't like me

Ahh! It's that time of year again! I was so excited this year to get our christmas tree. It's our first Christmas in our new home, so I wanted to make it extra festive. Bradley works for a landscaping company/ nursery so we got a free tree! I couldn't wait to pick him out. He has to be a little chubby and have some awkward branches that Bradley would want to cut off.

Going through these aisles of trees was a little weird though. I got this unsettling feeling that the trees would all fall like dominoes and I would be burried alive. Haha, so much for it's the most wonderful time of the year!

These lights were my Nana's. I found them after she passed away. The woman kept everything. These are really old and they get super hot. Like so hot, I wouldn't dare put them on a tree. Unless I didn't care if our sweet little home burned to the ground. But I do. So they have a new home, adorning our arch!  

This sweet, little picture is from the third time that I strung the lights. The first time, I included some purple lights that I figured out I didn't like so much. But I didn't know this until they were on the tree. Guess I should have re-read this post! Would've saved me some time and frustration. The second time, I think I connected too many strands together because about 5 minutes after it was perfect, all the lights went out! Talk about a sinking feeling in your stomach! I had no idea what happened and the last thing I wanted to go was take them all off the tree, but that's what google told me to do, so I did. Sure enough, I blew a strand, so they all went out. I was just happy that I didn't have to go buy 15 more boxes of lights. The third time, I strung on all the white lights and plugged it into a power strip. Then I strung all the colored lights, not connecting them to the white lights and plugged them into a different outlet on the power strip. And then I strung all the white globe lights and plugged them into their own spot on the power strip. So far, so good, but I swear if something goes wrong and I have to take down all these ornaments and restring the lights, so help me God.

life lately in five

one.

This has been on my extra long to-do list for quite some time. And at this point in our home renovations (feeling like it never ends), I needed a project that I would enjoy and see quick results. I went with Martha Stewart's Sea Glass and I couldn't be happier. It is the perfect turquoise that we are all looking for. 

two.

I have had a lot of cake orders recently, which makes our house smell awesome! But I was feeling bad for Bradley and myself because he could never eat any of these cakes. So, I dug up his Meme's pumpkin cake + cream cheese frosting recipe to surprise him. Halfway through, I realize I don't have any baking soda. Of course. This sent me to google to find out what you could substitute it for. They said to triple the amount of baking powder to equal the amount of baking soda. Mistake. It was terrible. It didn't have it's usual spongy consistency that was light and fluffy. Instead, it was dense and didn't taste the same. So, in the trash it went :( Better luck next time, Lark!

three.

 Round two of baking a cake for us. We won. It helps when you plan ahead and make sure you have all the necessary ingredients. Who would've thought! This is my grandmother's chocolate chip cake. It has chocolate chips obviously, pecans and rum. Can't go wrong with that combo!

four.

Our kitchen remodel. Honestly, I think this is the job from hell. My mom and I started it. Ya know, just two gals with hammers and crowbars, chipping away at 7 layers of various tile. It took us about five hours to get that an eight foot area removed, where the wood is. Then Bradley comes in and suggests we use a sledge hammer. Thanks honey! He showed us, and removed about a twelve foot area in 45 minutes. Ok, I'm gonna let you take this over now, because you have muscles and I don't and because I have better things to do with my time! Once this part is finished, we get new cabinets, new countertops and then a new fridge! Thank God, because this almond colored fridge from the 1980's that the previous owners so generously left us is just not cutting it. 

five.

 Bradley made us our first fire of the season, and I made us a pinecone garland! So festive around here! I'm going to do a tutorial on this for anyone that wants to make one, so keep an eye out for that this week. And of course, when I show Bradley, he gives me that really? face. You know the one that says you have to stop at some point. Um, no I don't. Now grab the other end and help me hang it.

festive five

 

 one.

Is this not the cutest little dinosaur that you have ever seen? I don't have any babies to dress up yet, so you better believe my little man is getting a costume. Funny thing is, I think he actually loves it! Normally, he will try and scratch his way out of them, but this one is working for him. 

two.

So like I said in my last post, I am obsessed with decorating for fall. And I can't stop. I don't know, pumpkins and gourds, big and tiny just keep showing up at our house!

I'm running out of places to decorate, so these are actually on top of the dresser in our bedroom. Bradley kind of freaked when he saw them. He thought it was getting a little crazy when I resorted to this because I was running out of room. But who doesn't love a little ombre pumpkin festiveness to help wake you up in the morning? 

three.

I was able to wear a scarf today! It only got up to about 71 degrees. Thank you rain! The thing is, I have much cuter fall clothes than summer, so we need to get the ball rolling on this whole cold weather thing. 

four. 

I have been really good about keeping my nails looking good lately. This raspberry

(sally hansen: cherry, cherry bang, bang) and this warm gray are my favorites. They are the perfect fall colors for me. 

 five. 

We have been participating in soup sunday. This creamy chicken noodle was so amazing!! I love the spinach and big chunky carrots. Next up, taco soup!

happy fall

I am thanking my lucky stars that it is fall, and that it is feeling like it! I've been going a little overboard, but I can't help it. It's our first fall in our new house and I am totally taking advantage of all the decorating opportunities! Bradley has cut me off from buying anymore pumpkins. Last christmas it was ornaments, and this fall it's pumpkins. Seriously, if this is the worst problem that we have, I think we'll be just fine.

Bradley works for a local nursery and landscape company, so of course we paid them a visit. They have an awesome selection of pumpkins and gourds of all shapes and sizes. I was very impressed to see so many funky ones with bumpy texture and fun colors! Bradley was going crazy because it took me forever to pick my pumpkins, but you see it's not my fault. The store had two long tables set up with all their goodies, but they were separated by a display of flowers. So I had to constantly move between the two tables creating the group I wanted. I would get to one table and not remember what the other table had! Eventually, we I was able to pick my group and we headed home to set up the porch. I am so in love with the cinderella pumpkins that you can stack! And I think that blueish one on top is a gourd. Either way, it's awesome.

And moving on to the mantle, I love these teeny baby pumpkins. And even better, they were only fifty cents! So of course, I bought like twenty! Putting them everywhere. I am dying to get my hands on these mercury glass candle sticks for the mantle. Maybe one day this week I'll be able to swing by and pick them up. Also, let me just say, now that we have a house, it is so freaking wonderful to have an artist for a mom. I mean it's been wonderful my whole life, but now, I can steal goodies for my house!

Lori Keith Robinson

you are the bacon to my eggs 

This is just the first of my decorations for fall, despite what Bradley thinks! More pumpkins. 

More gourds. And maybe a few garlands! Happy Fall, lovies!

shelby + kellan

Alright! They are officially married! It actually happened like two weeks ago, but I have been forgetting to write on here! I thought their wedding would make for one beautiful post.

Shelby is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet. No, really. She is. She genuinely cares. If she asks you how you are doing, she really wants to know. And if she hears of good news in your life, she is so happy for you, not jealous at all. And she is absolutely beautiful, inside and out. I mean, look at her! Kellan is definitely a lucky man.

I am so happy that I was there for their wedding. I'm glad that I was able to witness this great love. To watch them promise to love each other, no matter what. I know that they mean it. 50 years from now, we'll be celebrating their anniversary. They are definitely in it for the long haul.

Congrats, you two! Thank you for letting Bradley and I both be a part of your special day. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful friends.