Saturday Projects-Bridal Bouquet

I'm sure someone has been missing me and I wanted to check in before we fly out to New Zealand this evening for my daughter's wedding. About a year ago she met a young man and fell in love. The wedding is June 1st in the Hamilton New Zealand LDS Temple. We will enjoy meeting up with family and friends as we celebrate this joyous moment for Chip and Ariel. They have waited a long time for this day to come.

My daughter's favorite color is RED. . . go figure. . . she must be her mother's daughter. . . lol. Well, Ariel know's how crafty her mother is and she asked me to make her bridal bouquet out of handmade flowers. Well, I just so happen to have a PINTEREST board of fabulous flowers. Some of which I modeled my flowers after.

I will be doing a tutorial on the Ribbon Daisy Flowers that you see in the bouquet. They are the flowers with the red or glass buttons for the centers.

I made Organza Flowers, Organza Roses, Wool Felt Flowers, Ric Rac Flowers, and Ric Rac Roses.

I also made a visit to Hobby Lobby to buy a few fillers like tulle and pearl picks. I also made a few other pics using vintage pearl flowers and red jewels that I also found at the store.

I love how it turned out and can't believe how pretty it is.

Ariel loves it and the bouquet will look darling with her Vintage Wedding Dress that she found while shopping at a Vintage Shop in Seattle Washington.

I thought you'd like a closer look.

Here's a picture of the soon to be wed couple!

I know it's a more serious look but they had a 10 minute photo shoot in New Zealand while she was there for 10 days and they only got a few pictures together. They couldn't  do retakes because she was leaving the next day!! You will bet that I will be taking TONS of pictures at the wedding. I will be so annoying that it will drive them crazy~!! But, they will be so grateful in the end.

Chip and Ariel

Here's a picture that was taken at the Bridal Shower.

(L to R) Ariel, Me, Eileen, Susan

Thanks Eileen, Susan, Lorie, Meg, and Denise for a beautiful Bridal Shower!

Well, I'm off!!! My last day of school was yesterday and I am sooo READY for some time away. Once the wedding is over we will have two more weeks to travel around and enjoy our time together. I wish we could take all of our family but just 3 of us are going. Myself, my husband, and my youngest daughter, McKenna. She's really excited but really nervous about the long flight and being away from her home, her family. her cat, and her friends. I keep reminding her that I'm going with her and that we will have the time of our lives, and it will be a great experience for her. I know her older sister would go in a heartbeat but she just had a baby two weeks ago. I will take lots of pictures and share them with you when I get back.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!!!

First & Last

It's hard for me to believe that it's the FIRST day of 7th grade for my LAST child and it's the LAST day of Summer before my FIRST day of School tomorrow.

Where we live the 7th graders have a day all to themselves before joining with the 8th and 9th graders on Wednesday. I think it's a great idea so they can all get started without the pressure of the older kids. They get to find their lockers, their classes and have lunch with their old friends and their new friends.

As you can see from the pictures Kenna is a bit nervous and anxious. I was happy that she went to sleep before midnight and seemed to keep it together. This morning she was pretty nervous but did a great job getting ready early and off to school on time.

She wanted me to hurry and take pictures before she left

but, I only got a few because she was so nervous.

It was sweet walking with her up our hill to the light by the corner.

I will miss walking into school each day holding her hand.

That thought made me cry inside.

I was staying strong myself!

She's my babe!

I stood at the corner watching her run off to school.

ALL by HERSELF!!!

Tears started welling up in my eyes. . .

but, I was felling extremely happy because. . .

This is a Monumental, BIG HUGE Step for Kenna!

Makes me PROUD!

Well, I'm headed downstairs to get in some sewing on my LAST DAY of SUMMER!!

By the way. . .

Where did all the time go?????

One Day • Two Days

In ONE DAY we are welcoming HOME, our daughter, Ariel from New Zealand for the 2nd time. She loved it so much when she went last year that she saved her money and went again, although, this time was different!! I can't say much because I'll get in trouble but, I will say that I'm sure she'll be going back soon! Very soon!!!

I can hardly wait to see her and we are all SUPER EXCITED to pick her up at the airport tomorrow night!!!! Yippee!!!

We will have her home for 8 days before she heads off to graduate school in Washington state. I will be crazy busy these next 8 days spending time with family and getting ready for school and helping Ariel pack her car with the things she'll need for the next 2 years of school. I really miss my kids when they are gone!!! Don't you? At least she will be closer than New Zealand. lol.

Now, Just a REMINDER that in TWO DAYS I will be picking the winner of the QUILT LOVER's HEART so, you'll want to make sure and leave a comment on my last blog post.

Go HERE to leave a comment.

OH Happy Day!!!

It's a HAPPY HAPPY DAY at our HOUSE!!!!!!

It's OFFICIAL!!!

I can finally shout the NEWS from the house tops!

My oldest daughter, Natalie Whipple of Between Fact & Fiction has signed a book deal for her debut Novel entitled, "TRANSPARENT" with Editor, Erica Sussman of Harper Teen!

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to her previous Literary Agent turned Author, Nathan Bransford (Jabob Wonderbar-and the Cosmic Space Kapow) for seeing and believing in my daughter's talent and to her current AWESOME Literary Agent, Anna Webman of Curtis Brown, Ltd. who has been ever supportive and encouraging.

I especially want to THANK ALL of her writer friends who have given her support and encouragement along the difficult road to publication. I've been there in the trenches throughout Natalie's writing and publication pursuits witnessing the power of friendship, seeing the ups and the downs, the ins and the outs, the HIGHS and the lows, the joys and the tears, the confidence and fears of not only Natalie but her writing friends. You are ALL AWESOME!!!

I've also spent many many hours with my grandkids so she could she could write, re-write and finish edits in peace and quiet. Let me just tell you that the TIME and the POLISHING that's required to write a book and get it to an actual book, the kind you actually hold in your hands is really really INTENSE!!! I never realized or understood the time, the commitment, and the effort that is required to be a published author! Shout out to AUTHORS!!! I LOVE READING so keep on WRITING!!!

So, with that said, I want to send my love and my best wishes and all my bottled up happiness out to my daughter, Natalie!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

You worked HARD for IT and YOU NEVER gave UP!!!

I'm so VERY PROUD of YOU!!!

Dreams Do Come True. . .

Of all my children, Ariel, is the most outgoing and ready to jump at the chance to travel anywhere in this world. I remember last year when Aunt Claudia (my mom's sister) came over from New Zealand for several weeks and it was right then that she decided that she was going to fly to New Zealand and see the country, visit her relatives, and be able to experience, first hand, her Maori Heritage. . . another link

Her DREAM finally came TRUE!!!

We took her to the Salt Lake City Airport this past Friday evening to board a plane to fly to the Los Angeles Airport and from there fly to Auckland, New Zealand. . .

Notice the Double Rainbow!?

The Rainbow was certainly a serendipitous sight as we approached the airport.
(meaning: unexpected and unforseen)

It brought smiles to our faces and warmed my heart.

I was comforted and knew that I could let her go.
I knew also, that she would be in very good hands along the way.

It's hard to say goodbye but with all of the technology that keeps us connected it will be fun to keep in contact with her. It's funny but, we've actually talked more with her in the last 3 days than we have in the last few weeks. She's been really busy finishing up at work, getting ready for school (that she'll be doing online from NZ), buying school books, packing, cleaning, organizing, taking care of last minute doctor appointments, banking details, and saying goodbye to friends, and family.

Here she is saying goodbye and getting ready to go through security. We watched as she walked away from us toward her new adventure!!! Wow! I can't hardly believe she's in another country. We are so excited for her and know she will grow in so many ways and have lots of wonderful experiences.


Nothing like waiting until the very last minute but it was just a few days before Ariel left that she asked me to make her a camera case and a case for her new iPod Touch.

So, here it is. . .

Ariel's Quilted & Zippered Tech Pouch. . .

I found a 4" zipper at JoAnn's and made this Tech Pouch to protect her iPod Touch and her digital camera. If I had taken a picture of the inside of the pouch you would see a quilted divider seperating and protecting both the camera and the iPod Touch.


The smaller pouch you see is a craft fail in the sense that the zipper was too small and prevented the camera fitting in lengthwise. I should have made it a 1/2" wider to accommodate the camera so, now it's a pouch to hold makeup, money, or any other small item you want to carry in your purse.


I also wanted to make an identification tag for her Tech Pouch too, so I used my metal stamps to stamp her name on a metal blank. Then I added the zipper pull clip and a swarovski heart and small bear charm. It was a fun touch to finish it off.

The Wedding

Thanks to all of our family, friends, and all those that helped with the wedding. It was such a beautiful day and the weather turned out perfect. The weather had been stormy with rain, hail, and thunder. I think we were all praying for clear skies. When we woke up the day of the wedding, it was SNOWING!!! We couldn't believe it but, everyone was in a happy mood and we just knew that it would be a beautiful day. When we came out of the Temple around 12Noon prayers were answered. The sun was shining. The skies were bright and clear. You could just feel the freshness in the air. It was a Beautiful Spring Day with blossoms on every tree and flowers everywhere. Definitely a DAY to Remember!!!


I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post but, I still feel like I'm recovering. I need a nap. lol. I do have to tell you that on Tuesday (two days before the wedding) I developed the worst cold sore in my entire life. I've only had three (thus far) but this one made up for the other two. I was sad and grumpy about it but, tried to hide it. I guess with my dental surgery and the stress of having things ready for Liahona's family I couldn't help but have this little adversity too. I managed pretty well with the help of pain medication, my dear husband, and the support of My Family and Liahona's Family. Thanks Everyone!!! I appreciate your love and support. It was a beautiful day!!!


I have to tell you that the pictures I've posted were mostly taken by friends and family and the rest I took from my Flip Video. The Official Wedding Pictures won't be ready to see for another few weeks. At the reception I was so busy that I didn't have a chance to take even one picture. I took my camera with me in the morning to take pictures outside of the Temple after the sealing ceremony but found that I forgot to put the battery back in the camera. I had even made sure that it had a full charge. I could've kicked myself. Oh well, Thanks to everyone who took pictures for me.

This is going to be one of my favorite family pictures as I can tell by this snapshot taken by Liahona's Friend Heather. Thanks Heather for catching the moment for me so I don't have to wait to see the photographers picture.

Our Growing Family...


The Beautiful Cake...


My favorite Son...


My dearest children...


The Street Sign...


The Gorgeous Floral Decorations & Centerpieces (thanks Linda)...


The Magical Garden Reception Center...


The beautiful tables...


I just loved the flowers on the tables...


She even used mini pineapples in the arrangements...


Kenna enjoyed the dancing...


The Couple send off...


Yes...

Those are sparklers you see... It was so much fun...

What a perfect way to end the day...

I hope you enjoyed the pictures.

Exciting News!

We are very excited and happy to announce

the Engagement of. . .

Mark & Liahona

I took these pictures of Mark and Liahona during
our recent trip to Disneyworld.

On January 9th, 2010

Our son, Mark proposed to Liahona.

They had a wonderful dinner at the Market Street Grill.

Then they drove to the Timpanogas Temple for an evening stroll.

He came prepared with the ring.

I understand that at some point he went down on his knee
and asked her to marry him.

She said, Yes!

(I wish I was a little birdie in the tree watching & listening. lol.)