New Website

Hi!

So I am SUPER excited about this one:

I CODED MY OWN WEBSITE FROM SCRATCH.

This semester I was required to code a personal website from scratch in my Web Page Design class.

Here it is! thriftsandthings.com :)

It's sort of a modification of this blog and it's fully functional on computers and phones. I still need to add more posts/pictures and unofficially have to code a few more pages + link them but hey, I (finally) finished it. :)

smile emoticon

Half-Knit Pillow

Hello, friends!

A few days ago I saw this pattern on Pinterest and I thought, "Oh my word I need to make this."

So I did.

Although not perfect by any means, I am so excited about this pillow. Instead of needlessly describing all the steps for how I made it--because, you know the link up there does exactly that for you--I'm pretty much posting this so I have it "archived" for lack of a better word.

Here it is!

I mean, it has a knitted side and flowers on it. What more could you possibly want? ;)

Bonus (the only in-the-process picture I took):

I didn't have a blocking square so I used my floor to stretch the knit part out. (Not a horrible idea, not a great idea--you get what you pay for.) :)

Christmas Present

Hello, friends!

(Oh yeah, Happy New Year, too!)

Yeah, it's been awhile. That always seems to happen, because you know, life.

I just had a spare second and remembered a few projects I've started since Christmas Break started about a month ago. (Mostly I've just been hemming a lot of thrift store skirts and have been too lazy to take before and after pictures because I don't have a camera timer clicker thing.)

So, this post is just a quick little hello (to all 4 of you) and a painting I did during exam week (yeah, I know, I'm still alive, ha) before I left for home!

Here it is!

This was my very first commission piece I've done for my friend Joseph to give to his girlfriend.

Basically, I've really been obsessed with fauvism since I was a junior in high school. I was in a college art class and I was asked to do a project where we picked an art movement to research and then created a piece of art that fit into that movement. I don't know, I just really love colors and it makes something mundane more creative in my opinion; plus it's super fun.

Here's a few "in the process" pictures:

If you have any questions about me doing a commission or have a picture you'd like me to look at to paint, let me know! This isn't any kind of "official" job or title or something I'm looking at pursuing right now--more of just a hobby. :)

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Thank you for being awesome.

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Oh yes, one other thing, I'm seriously considering redoing the entire layout of this blog (I actually hate it, a lot. It kills the designer in me looking at it.) So, if I ever complete that, it will happen hopefully sooner rather than later. :)

New Header #2

Hello friends!

The title is pretty self-explanatory; I made a new header using Canva!

Here it is:

I'm just obsessed with sweaters and I took that picture in an antique store in Dahlonega, GA over fall break.

Yay :)

Thank you for being awesome.

Cat Pillow

Hello friends!

It's been awhile.

So, this past weekend was my fall break and I had time to work on some things that have been piled up in my room.

One of which is this awesome, yet kind of weird, cat pillow:

I just really like cats, okay....

It's the first pillow I've made and I kind of just went for something kind of strange/humorous just in case I really messed up (which, honestly, it's a pillow... it's probably the easiest thing you could possibly sew) however, here's the "how-to" I followed, and here's how I did it:

^^
I went and bought the pillow insert, the cat fabric and the khaki fabric.

Hey, we're not creepy or anything.

^^
Then, I measured/cut how much fabric I needed to cover the pillow, but not so much that it was super loose.
(I think my pillow was 16x16" or something... I can't remember now.)

For the back, you'll need to cut two pieces of fabric, equaling just a little bit longer than the front piece in total. (That way they can overlap each other without the pillow insert showing.

Then, I checked to make sure the edges lined up pretty well.

On the two back pieces, I creased, ironed, and pinned one of the longer edges to create a finished seam.

After that, I sewed the seams.

^^^
This is what the seams look like before I actually sewed the pillow together.

I laid the front piece face up and then laid the back pieces face down on top of the front piece to pin them. (At this point, the pillow hasn't been sewn, but it's still "inside out.")

Then I sewed along the pinned edges (leaving the middle open.)

Here's the cover without the pillow.

:) Finished: 

Thank you for being awesome.

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Spontaneity, Independence, & Gifts All Around

Hello, friends!

Here's just a quick life update because it's sweet and I just felt like sharing:

Yesterday, I went on a solo adventure to the 4pm service at my church and then up Lookout Mountain. It's funny because I've lived in Chattanooga all my life, but I never actually get to go up there very much.

My good friend, Jenny B. prayed healing and completely hopeful words over me that God knew she needed to pray. I went to Sunset Rock and then Point Park only to receive the lovely gift of FEE FREE DAY (um, yes?) I met three groups of people and had conversations with complete out of towner–strangers. What? Me? 

Moving to Cleveland and living at Lee has been a strange and difficult season to move into. The Lord is trying to teach me independence. All my life I've had someone to cling to, but lately, I've felt alone. I've always been an outgoing introvert, so being alone has never been a problem, but I love having a few people to go to just to hang out or talk. Here I know there are wonderful people, people who love and accept me, but I haven't felt like I "fit in" anywhere. (Side note: I never really have – I've always just done my own thing.) 

I truly believe this is God telling me to take a step back in order to establish and know and remind myself: THIS is who I am and I will NOT compromise that by quickly jumping into the first group I find. He wants me to be independent all while being completely dependent on Him. It's kind of like one big spontaneous adventure, and if you know me, I'm the opposite of spontaneous.

I still don't completely have all my thoughts together about this, but He is teaching me to be bold and be still, and walk in Truth and He is lavishing me with gifts all around every. single. day. I'm just grateful. He does not give up on us.

“Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in You.”

Psalm 84:10-12 «

“Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us; He has injured us but He will bind up our wounds. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will restore us, that we may live in His presence. Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

Hosea 6:1-3 «

Blog Header

Hello, friends!

It's kind of ridiculous to post about this and it makes me feel like a total nerd, but today I was searching for a free, easy, simple website to create graphic designs and fun eye-catching photos. I don't have photoshop or anything of that sort, but I discovered a website called Canva. It's exactly the kind of thing I was looking for and so easy to use, just like they promise (and free, we can't forget the free part.)

So, I created my new blog header! As you have probably already noticed, it's up at the top--you know, where the header belongs.

Here are the ones I began with until I ended up with the final one:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

It's kind of sad how excited I am about this; however, I'd like to think of this as my first real milestone toward becoming somewhat of a graphic designer. (I say somewhat because I honestly don't know if that's what I'll end up doing for sure, but I'd like to.) I could create these for hours and still have fun doing it. I think I can say expect to see more things soon. :)

For the time being, I started an idea for my etsy shop (which isn't open yet), that I called "Living Sunny." I may change the name later, but I love the sun, so for now that's what it will be. It's super simple and it's still being tweaked a little bit, but I adore it:

Thank you for being awesome.

& 

For reading this.

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