hiking in roanoke

Yesterday I went on my first hike with an outdoors club that I joined in Roanoke. I was a little nervous about not knowing anyone but everyone was very nice. We hiked about 6.5 miles total. It took about an hour and a half to hike up the trail to McAfee's Knob. It was very nice the first 2 miles but the last 1.5 was pretty much straight up. I was quite winded when we made it to the top but it was a wonderful view so it was worth it. On the one side we could see the sunset and the full moon on the other and a million miles in between. Here are some of the pictures I took and some of me!

This was on the way up:

Here is me at the top:

A view of the mountains:

The sunset:

Me and the moon:

I'm very glad that I joined the club and can't wait to do some more activities outdoors here! Maybe I'll even hike the whole Appalachia Trail someday!

Needle Turning!!!!

I did it! Can you tell I've missed quilting? The needle turn technique wasn't to bad. I think now I'm going to add a small sashing with posts maybe flags then a wider piano key border. A throw not a bed quilt is what I'm going for. Hopefully I can get it done before my guild meeting next Monday night.

Quilting with Kathy

This morning Kathy and I got together to sew. Look what we created! We used civil war reproduction fabric that she bought both of us for christmas. This pattern went together really easy, the hard part will be hand needle turning the diamonds in the center of the squares into cathedral windows. I'm going to start turning tonight. I'll take another picture when I get done. Then of course I have to figure out some exciting border, but I thought you both would like to see some creativity on my part not a crown smoking jacket!

Happy Retirement!

Over Memorial Day weekend my Dad retired from the air force! I found some pictures on my camera, so I thought I would share!

Happy couple all cute and matching before we went to the ceremony.

Close up!

Can you be too happy to retire?

Part of the ceremony

Mom getting an award.

Dad giving Mom an award.

Congratulations Dad!

New purse and Easter dress

I made this dress for Easter and have forgotten to post it. It was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. It was my first Vogue pattern I've tried and the sleeves were super complicated. I ended up sewing the entire dress and then gathering the sleeves late Saturday night before Easter at Kellen's parent's house, crazy. It's a really cute dress though! I wore this to a wedding last night. I did wear shoes, but forgot to take pictures until I already had them off!

Kellen and I had a wedding to go to yesterday and I realized I don't have any summer clutches! I found a free pattern online and decided to make one! I had a bunch of left over fabric from my Princess Peach halloween costume so made it pink satin lined in bright pink. I added the flower to the front. It has credit card holders as well as a pocket to fit other stuff in. It turned out pretty cute. I think the next one I will make the top a little longer so it completely covers the bottom portion when it's folded together.

Fabric flowers

I have been seeing a ton of stuff online about fabric flowers. Not to mention the headbands and broaches in stores that look like they would be sooo easy to make. I finally had a minute that I couldn't sew upstairs or watch tv (I had to stay within yelling distance of the garage while Kellen was installing his new exhaust on his car) so I sat at the kitchen table and made a ton of fabric flowers!

I started with an online tutorial that you make 7 circles out of the fabric then 1 smaller circle out of felt. I just used the top and bottom of a pint glass to draw circles. 

 Next you take the fabric circles, fold in half and in half again and glue onto the felt circle. Repeat with 3 other circles, filling the base. Then glue the remaining 3 circles on the next 'row.' It was super easy!

Kellen and I went to Old Navy early Saturday morning and I got 5 new pair of flip flops for $1 a piece. Of course I don't like to just wear plain flip flops, so I thought it would be fun to embellish them a little bit!

These are so easy to make that I think I will used up all my fabric scraps and can give them as presents! On the back of these I put a little rectangle of felt so that a headband can slip onto the flower. Easy interchangeable hair accessories!

I'm still deciding if I like the flowers plain or with a button in the middle. I have a bunch of vintage buttons that I don't use for anything that would be fun. We'll see!

Past couple weeks outfits

These are the outfits I remembered to take pictures of the past couple weeks!

It's definitely summer in Memphis. I love this black and white polka dot skirt. I wore this to golf a couple weeks ago. The skirt is stretchy so it was great for golfing! I hate collared shirts, so I have been attempting to wear regular clothes to work and then just change shoes for golf.

I was channeling Audrey Hepburn this day. Rachie bought me this dress for Christmas and I love it. It's super easy to just throw on for work. And it has pockets!

A pastel outfit. Yellow shirt Rachie gave me last time we visited and pinwheel skirt I made last summer.

 I wore the nut bracelet I bought in Aruba. They supposedly bring luck since the nuts float all the way to Aruba from Venezuela.

I finally finished my hippie dress the other day. I wore this to a friend of ours couple shower. It was pretty cold that night, so everyone was back into winter clothes. I looked super springy next to them, but whatever!

 I didn't realize until now that you can see the slip at the hem. I'll have to take it up a little bit!

Another hot day in Memphis, can you tell? My hair has had about enough of the heat already. I wore this dress to work and threw a blazer on to make it a little more professional. I'm glad I did, I was pulled into an internal audit for most of the day, yuck.

 The dogs were really trying to get in the pictures.

That's all for now! I'll try and remember to take more pictures this week!

Happy Anniversary 61 and 32!

Here we are last night we took Gramme and Papap out for the anniversaries, we had a great meal and a good time. I wore the dress that I am wearing to Daddies retirement, handmade and designed by the unknown designer, Abigail Hills. I wanted them to see it and I still feel bad about the Grandma nastiness toward Gramme. They seem alright I just wish Grandma wasn't taking part in the retirement. Oh well again I have to get over it. Gramme and Papap seem really ok lately so of course its scarring me!

family made outfit

Today was a pretty relaxing day. I woke up and watched the sunday morning show then went to the farmers market. Sadly, the cheese people were not there which was really the only reason I went but oh well. Hopefully they will be there next week! otherwise I'll never see them again!

It was a beautiful but incredibly hot day here. This is a picture of the clouds at the market.

Here is the outfit I wore today. Completely made by our family! Abby made the dress! Sorry its not a great picture I haven't found a great spot to get the whole outfit alone especially with everything a mess and covered in boxes.

Notice the earrings made by mom! and the headband made by me! what a fun family outfit!

Here is Gourd getting ready for the long trip! See you all in less than two weeks!

St. Patrick's Day

I know, again, another way late post. I wanted to show some pictures of St. Patrick's Day since my mom came to visit! We had to work, bla, but came home and met for lunch and had Irish car bombs and Irish coffees. My mom decorated the booze with ribbon. We had started drinking Kellan whiskey because my husband's name is Kellen. He has contemplated changing the spelling of his name to match the whiskey.

 Here's my mom doing her first Irish car bomb.

 Chug, chug, chug.

 Here's our St. Patrick's day outfits. My mom brought me the green vintage scarf.

 Funny faces!

My mom made Colcannon for dinner. It's like ham and cabbage over mashed potatoes. It was delicious. Later that night I invited some people from work over to drink Guinness and car bombs. Overall a fun St. Patrick's day.