Spring flings and wedding bells

Finally, a breather to update! It's been so long since I posted anything, and I think my new little blog is feeling neglected. I've been working on wedding presents, and will be posting pictures soon, but for now, just a little bit about what I've been doing.

This is my new label design. The picture is really blurry because, well, as many mediums as I dabble in, a photographer I am not. :) Anyway, it says "carlymorales" across the bottom, and "designs" along the side.

These beautiful peonies, the state flower of Indiana, are growing right outside my door. And as this vase has a peony on it, I think it's the perfect home!

While I'm not a photographer, I do like to mess around with photoshop. And with all the weddings happening lately, I had to look up my wedding pictures. My mom and I were looking through them and she pointed out that our bodies sort of make a heart here, so I had to play with this one. Whad'dja y'all think?

Busy busyness!

So wedding season is upon us! Which means I have been sewing dresses, making favors, making presents, and cards, planning parties, and mostly being busy! But I will be taking pictures and giving updates once I get caught up on things! (And it seems poor timing to me that Mother's Day, and the start of wedding season fall in the same week!)

The first one is next Saturday, and I have a present to fix, a present to wrap, a dress to seam....and shoes to shine!

Chasing Forever

“Where the hell is Microsoft Word?”

(Because it up and moved, the little twit. I think the computer hates me.)

And I love you because –while shooting ice crystals at bad guys – you tell me right where it is.

“Where the hell is Microsoft Word”…chuckling to yourself. Cause you know I can’t do computers after 10 pm. And you think it’s cute.

Just like you know that shoes=evil and a hard day needs a good glass of wine.

That’s why I’m chasing forever with you.

Because even when I forget that you have to brush your teeth with your shoes on,

To dry the glasses after I wash them,

(Or, to be kind when the day weighs too much)

The friction between us

Only serves to provide the heat to seal our souls closer together.

‘Cause darlin, we can chase forever ‘till the end of our days,

But unless the two become one,

The two under one roof, are one too many for any

Sort of serenity.

And being knit together

Only happens as I unwind you,

And you unhinge me,

And He does something marvelous

With our single threads.

So baby, I know sometimes my red hair colors my words,

I re-enact July 4^th in our kitchen, staging my own independence day,

And I ignore the miracle that is us.

But I will ever chase forever with you –

Because you said “Will you?”

And I said “Yes.”

And that sealed the deal.

“Let no man sever. Welcome to forever.”

Pretty Lamp

So my dad loves to go to auctions to get bargains, but my mom won't let him bring anything else into her house. So, when I said I needed lamps, he brought me one. A panel or two was broken and well.... it looked like this:

A very bad product of the seventies. But now.....it looks like this:

Which is quite the improvement I think!

Bulletin Boards

In my thrifty attempt to save money, I decided to resuse a bulletin board my little sister was throwing out. It was covered in this sweet navy blue fabric, with tiny white flowers, but it was old and faded, and really needed redone. So, this was one hour's work last Sunday, and I really love it!

The sponge board after I stripped it.

Wrapped, glued, and stapled in brown fabric.

Ribbons nailed in, button tacks added, as well as little silver clips for more hanging space. (Those corner ribbons say "remember" which I thought was a cute touch....)

All finished, and filled with recipe cards!

I had a lot of fun making this, and am considering making more. Would love to do some custom pieces....if someone wanted one in a specific color scheme. What do you think?

Escape

Spring break is still over a week away...and my kids (and me!) need a break! So, here's my newest bottle, inspired by a beautiful blue room I'd like to escape to!

(Thanks Paul for the pictures!)

This bottle was amber to start, so I just textured and added the details.

Weekend recipes

I love cooking on the weekend. Paul and I are both home, and usually rested, so we take a little extra time in the kitchen to make yummy date night dinners. And on Sunday, the whole crew comes over to make scrumptious feasts after church. The kitchen is hands down my favorite room, what with the red cupboards and coffee pot!, and I love having a kitchen full of people cooking.

I somehow inherited a George Forman thingy from my Granny. It's not a grill precisely, but it has a teflon cooking service that is covered to keep steam in, and is rather deep to keep fluid in. Anyway, we decided to do the steak in Saturday night for our date in. I slathered the steak in olive oil and Italian seasoning, yellow peppers, and onion. I then made a simple brushetta with boxed stuffing, Swiss cheese, and tomatoes which we put on top for the last few minutes of cooking time. Served with corn, it was the best steak I've ever had!

Also tried a Redbook Magazine recipe for lunch today, called The Butcher's Sauce. We amended the recipe a little, added some more sauce in place of the wine, and substituted ground beef for the turkey, and it was fabulous!

Any one have any other weekend favorites?