Thursday Things

Hello again

This is a little Christmas card I made today using paper scraps and this and that. I will probably send them out to friends and family when the time draws nearer or possibly put some in my shop.

A few other things:

1. Wanting to eat these beautifully decorated Snowflake cookies from Cakeboxcookies over at etsy.

2. If you have time you should go check out this blog for lots of simple handmade gift ideas!

3. I also found these natural looking stockings by thebeehivery over at the etsy gift guides. I don't know what it is but I am really drawn to the country look lately! Must be that I am cooped up in this apartment and would rather go wander the country side and take pictures of barns.

4. And in keeping with my country-ish theme you must check out this Primitive Wall Cupboard with Punched Tin Doors in ozarkprim's shop!

Thanks for stopping by and have a super day!

Hello Monday

Hello Monday, I have decided to be productive today. The photo below shows me amongst the many many boxes that we have to go through in order to feel settled. This was taken the day after we moved in so we have made some progress since then (thank goodness)!

Today I have plans of cleaning and organizing some of my "pretty things" (such as holiday decorations, lamps, and vase), making a guest list for my baby shower, and working on finishing a painting. Yes, I finally have access to my art supplies! They were boxed up for quite some time for the move and I am finally able to get some of them out and start making again. Since money is tight this year (we still have a mortgage to pay and also our apartment rent ugh) I have decided I wanted to make most of my Christmas gifts this year. I won't be posting them all since some of my family members read this blog, but I will share a watercolor with you that I have been working on for my husband's grandparents. It is based on a picture of their farm where they raised their kids. They still live on the same property but in a newer house. I am hoping this painting will evoke many memories for them :) Most of the gifts I plan to make will be smaller paintings and drawings as well as some painted ornaments. These gifts will be much more meaningful than something I could buy anyways right?

Here are a few pictures of my progress. I like to add lots of layers to my watercolors to build up a richness of color so I still have quite a bit more to do on this one.

And I just want to thank you for visiting my blog. I know I was out of the loop for quite some time, so your presence and comments mean so much to me!

19 weeks

18 weeks

Hi sweet blog friends

I have missed you and I have been so distant but I would love to reconnect and keep a presence here once again. I am now settled into our new home in North Carolina. It is actually an apartment which is kind of nice because it has caused us to get rid of some unnecessary clutter. Things are not completely set up, and it looks as if the baby's room will be an office/baby room since we only have two bedrooms to work with. Everything is a work in progress...especially my little growing baby which I will talk more about now...

I am now 19 weeks along. Almost half way! We had our "big ultrasound" yesterday and I found out we are having a sweet little BOY! When I saw the evidence my eyes instantly welled up! I looked over at my husband and he was grinning ear to ear. Just what he wanted :) I really thought I was having a girl, so thank goodness I found out otherwise I would have bought more girl things than boy. Now we can register for items and narrow down some names.

Other developments: I have been feeling consistent pokes and kicks the last 3-4 days which is the most amazing feeling in the world! Each time I feel the baby move I feel so blessed that I am able to feel this little human life inside of me progressing every day. What a miracle! I feel a little sad that my husband can't experience the same feelings. I know the kicks will get stronger and stronger and will probably eventually hurt but I really don't care! I love it!

The only thing that is a little tough is growing out of my clothes. None of my button up shirts fit me because my chest has grown. None of my jeans can button up so I just use this elastic belly band from target to hold them up! I love my growing belly but dislike some of the growth in other areas! It has caused a few tears some mornings when I try to put on an outfit that I usually fit into but I realize I have to grow so the baby can grow. I am sure all first time mom's have to go through this so I won't dwell on the subject. I am truly so happy about this baby and will grow as big as a house if needed!

Dear Tennessee

It has been a wonderful (short of) five years we have spent together

As a 21 year old your southern hospitality scooped me up with open arms. You offered me the perfect environment for growing into myself. You gave me teachers and friends who cultivated my passion for creating. For this I am indebted and forever thankful.

You gave me a place to call home, a foundation to build my family, and memories that will surely be some of my fondest.

You introduced me to twangy accents, beautiful old brick buildings, the smell of tobacco being harvested, and deeply rooted southern values.

Your soil is dense and hard to till, but the benefits of working the rich soil has showed me the beauty of rich ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, and sunflowers that reach for the endless sky.

I admire you for thriving in the summer heat, even when the cornstalks shriveled and burned last year. This year I am in awe of the power of the storms you have brought that have soaked the earth and given lushness back to the crops.

Most of all I love the people you take care of, their relaxed pace of life, their proud sense of where they came from and where they are going, their love for our country in good times and bad, and their ease and friendliness to people like me.

I love the essence of you Tennessee. I will miss you. Your charm and strength. Your never-ending summers. Your beauty that radiates from Graceland to the Appalachians in the East.

I know this isn't goodbye yet, but these are just some feelings I had to share for now.

Love,

Me

(We are moving to NC at the end of this month!)

Surprise!

After taking many weeks off from this blog I am back with an announcement. I am twelve weeks pregnant! This will be our first baby. This first trimester has been filled with emotional ups and downs and a lot of nausea. At first I thought I was going to be one of the lucky pregnant ladies who never experience "morning sickness" but as soon as the sixth week came around I was struggling to eat or drink anything. It was more like an all day sickness where the sight and smell of any food was nauseating. The last couple weeks I have started to feel much better! I have a kick in my step again and I am feeling more like myself rather than a zombie who mopes around the house all day complaining about smells and feeling awful. I can't even describe the feeling of finding out you are pregnant. It is a mixture of shock, excitement, intense happiness, and worry all at the same time. It is a life changing moment. I am looking forward to being a mom. After five years of being married I feel like my husband and I have had "our time" together and it will be fun to add another member to the family!

My husband and I are also in the middle of packing our belongings to move to North Carolina. I apologize for being so absent from this place but with so much going on I just needed some time and space away from the internet for a while. I look forward to sharing all the new pieces of my life with you and will try to keep a regular presence here.

much love to you all,

Kelly

Beautiful Things

I have not been able to articulate my thoughts and feelings into words lately so instead of putting that kind of pressure on myself I have decided to share some beautiful and inspiring things with you today.

I found out about these rugs by Amy Butler over at poppytalk and imagine filling my new home with them. Check out more rugs by Amy at amybutlerdesign.com/chandra

Love the constant flow of beautiful clothing from jcrew. Usually I don't buy clothes from here because the prices are a little high, but this season they have quite a few items that are splurge worthy and affordable.

I discovered an amazing photographer on Stephanie Levy's Artists Who Blog site called Bueller. Her photography is dreamy, ethereal, and simply stunning.

I think it is amazing how so much talent can be exposed and shared in this online world. I am inspired and lifted up daily by bloggers and artists who are able to showcase the talents of themselves and others. I hope you have a great Wednesday!

-me

House Hunting

Now that I know we will be moving I have been on a search for the perfect house to dwell in. Of course my taste is greatly different from my husband's. He would prefer something new, with little or no work that needs to be put into it, that feels clean and never lived in. I on the other hand wish I could live in a house like this....

Something with a little more character and spirit. A house that has a history and charm, even if it was built in the early 1900's. Oh and I definitely need a front porch. After living with one I will never go back. Why is it that some people (like my husband) don't understand that love for old historical homes. It's not that he doesn't appreciate older structures, its just that he doesn't want to live in one. His fear of drafty windows, rotting walls, and possibly ghosts may be the part of the reason why. At least we agree on one thing, we would both rather live out in the country rather than in a subdivision. This gives me an inch up on him because it is more likely that homes built out in the boonies will be old and historical. Just what I like ;)