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.

Follow me on pinterest!

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.

Follow me on Pinterest!

Gifts Board & Necklace Rack

Hello, friends!

It's been awhile. I moved to college a month ago 2 days from now (August 15th). That means I haven't been home to work on the things I want to get finished, nor have I had the time, BUT I did want to post this quick little snippet of some things in my dorm room.

Before I actually get into my dorm stuff, I wanted to mention my last gifts "board":

^

I began counting in August of 2013. A little over one thousand gifts are displayed right here: some very, very, very difficult to accept, others as easy as breathing. It was a highlight of my week last week to read these when I went home, reminding me of all the beautiful (small and big, easy and hard) things God places everywhere in every season, literally and metaphorically, to remind me of His love for me. It's been a hard year, but I think it's been one of my favorites, which I wouldn't and couldn't have said three months ago. 

I'm starting afresh. I finished this super fun gifts board today:

^
All it is is sticky notes and a bulletin board. The simplicity of counting gifts. Counting the things I'm grateful for. The big and the little, the hard and the easy things. It's based off of the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I absolutely adore Ann and she inspires people to live in gratitude daily. I've come to realize that the grass is greener where you water it. When you choose to find the good in every situation (yes, even those you may think that there is no good), you enjoy your life more. Really, it's true. We get the choice to be content with what we HAVE. Life as it is, not as it "should be."

So, I challenge you to the Joy Dare. (Increase your happiness by 25% just by counting gifts! It's fun too!) :)

Another thing I made was this necklace rack:

^

Yes, it's a stick painted white. That's literally all.

^

Just because. Here's a little (unfinished) corner of my room.

Thank you for being awesome.
&
Thank you for yeah I don't know what else.


Follow me on Pinterest!

Scarf Camera Strap

Hello friends!

I made a camera strap!
&
It's not just any camera strap... it's made out of a scarf!

This link will take you to the DIY I was inspired by :)

Let me just please tell you how glad I am that this thing is finished. I'm not a pro at using my sewing machine yet so I ended up doing it by hand. (Ouch.)

Here's what I bought:

• A scarf (on sale) at Target
• A scrap of leather (Hobby Lobby)
• Some split rings--you only need 2 (Hobby Lobby)
• Some chain closures -- I'd suggest buying different ones than these because they gave me a ton of problems.

^

Here's the pattern of the scarf :)

^

I connected the rings and closures.

^^^

I'm sorry for all the selfies... I never have straight hair. :)

Before:

^

I folded and measured the halfway point on the leather and then marked the size for the split rings.

^^^

I cut out the shapes! They look like little bow ties :)

^

I put all the pieces together. Ready to sew!

^^

The scarf was super long so I cut some of it off.

^^^

I bunched up the fabric on the ends and then sewed them so it'd be easier to work with. :)

After:

(It's not a beautiful sewing job, but I put a lot of time and energy into them, ha. Maybe I'll do this again, but learn how to do it on my sewing machine.)

^

I MOVED TO COLLEGE WHAT THE HECK

(Sorry for the ridiculous mess and terrible lighting.)

(Oh and here's some awesome quality iPhone pictures in really awesome lighting because I couldn't physically take a picture of my camera with my camera.)

^^

A kid in the Dominican Republic put that sticker on my camera :)

Thank you for being awesome.

Follow me on pinterest!