finished and beginning

Here are a few pictures of finished and beginning projects...It's been a busy week.

First off - our guestbook was on the doorstep when we got home today.

We LOVE it!! Thanks Jen! 

I actually finished a letter BEFORE the baby was born. :o)

The letter 'G' for my cousins pending baby. I think she is due in September.

Maps/address labels, printed and cut! The maps are all different sizes and that's ok. 

Still have about 15 address labels to make/cut. But I'm waiting on those addresses. 

Cookie cutters for the Bridal shower favors. I'm making and decorating cookies.

Yeah, hearts are boring...but they didn't have anything really cute. 

I was looking for a dress or XOX ones. Ah well, I didn't feel like paying shipping online.

I will be testing them out next week, Erin will take them to work for taste testing. Be on the look out for a post.

My wedding crafts! I am using our trunk top as storage since the wedding stuff is starting to pile up. I have my binder/paper/files/gifts/paper items all here. Plus the IPod station for music. :o)

And to end the post, Lexi watching the neighbors dog, who isn't in the picture. 

She is LOVING the windows open today. So are we! 

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!

program/labels

I have been busy! :o) 

I was going to have Jen design a lot of wedding 'extras' for me and then I decided Tuesday that I wanted to do something. I first decided to make address labels. I know that it's not 'etiquette' to use address labels. However, I found these wrap around label on Martha Stewart forever ago. However, they are plain and I can't save them. I messed around and came up with these VERY simple labels. Plus, I have them all saved and all but 13 (I need addresses) printed out. I will cut them all out later....

Then I have spent a few days working on the programs. I am just finishing them now. Adding flowers on a few pages. I changed the type to brown and will probably print them on cream or off-white paper. Still deciding how to fasten them. I am thinking of two holes on the side and ribbon. Not sure yet, I have time....I have to get them printed first...I think I'm going to take them to Fed Ex/Kinkos. Also, add in the ceremony info.

Cover

Pages 1 -2 (It's a kissing tree)

Pages 3 - 4 (love quote/ceremony)

Page 5 - 6 (wedding party)

Page  7 -8 ( I got this tree idea from Martha)

Page 9 - 10 (thank you)

Tomorrow I will tackle Table Numbers/Seating cards. Oh I need to make a card for the bells.

After that, I think it's it. Jen made me a menu. It's cute and matches my Bridal Shower invite. I'm pretty sure that's all I need. :o)

I have to finish 4 cross stitch projects that have been laying around unfinished for probably a year or so. Some less than that. However, I must finish them before I can buy the supplies for the one I want to start. I was trying to work on them this weekend, but only ended up finishing one of them. It's not really 'cross stitching' either. Just a project I think I got with my grandma at a store we used to go to in Noblesville, IN. I don't even think they are open anymore. Yeah, that's where I got it...it was free with purchase and I never finished it...this one is from YEARS ago!

Before

After

Plans for the week:

We have a meeting on Wednesday night to discuss Rehearsal Dinner options with the Chef at the Renaissance Hotel. :o) SO excited!! Once upon a time I wanted a cocktail reception for our wedding. That is not happening and that is ok. Instead I will have a cocktail rehearsal get together BEFORE the rehearsal! It's going to be fun!! :o)

I'm hoping there is enough $$ that I can at least go get my hair trimmed and layered on Thursday. I'm growing it out for the wedding and possibly to stay long. (Erin's hoping I keep it long) However, at this length I need a few more layers to keep it from being so thick at the bottom. Plus I need a trim! I want to stop wearing it in a ponytail ALL the time. :o)

Erin has a 3 day week! YAY for him. Not sure what we are doing for the 4th yet...hmmmm....

Should be an easy week. :o)

finished

I finished!! Now what to do?!

project

I'm working on a new cross stitch sampler and I love the way backstitching make the work come to life! 

Before the backstitching

After the backstitching

Now I just have to do the wording and the alphabet. 

I've decided....

I've decided that starting next year I'm going to make a photo book or scrap book every year. Starting at our wedding and then it will be our anniversary tradition - a new photo book every anniversary. I love it!

I'm working on one right now just to play around. I get a free book with my coupon so I might as well. I'll use whatever photos we have right now. I am getting a guest book of just Engagement photos, then we will have a wedding photo book. Then in October of 2010 we will make our 1 year anniversary book.

I'm sooo excited with my idea! I love it. Erin likes the idea too. I figured when we have kids, I will have scrap books for them. I really want to get into it. But everything cost $$ and that's not possible right now. I set a goal though...kids = scrap booking. :o)

Erin did apply for a good job in IN. I hope he gets a phone call, interview, something! I know I still need to find a job, but this one would be great for him! I already looked at apartments in that area. Although, depending on where I work, we may end up in a different area. I just looked based on the job location he applied to. (I know, I'm getting my hopes up...but ah well!)

We are looking at the 3 bedroom apts/town homes. 

Apartment 1 -- Firefox (they will paint for you!)

Apartment 2 -- Bradford Run

TA DA

Here is my shop....

Stitches of Sweetness

It's not completely done...when Jen gets better internet my header will change. I just needed something to get by. I didn't want to wait any longer to set it up. :o)

Etsy

So, I'm considering starting a shop on Etsy.....just a way to earn a little extra cash. I went online yesterday to see what kind of cross stitch that people were selling. Not a lot...not a lot of cute baby things...I'm thinking I might put up the alphabet letters I make. I've been making these letters for years! I can do one in less than a week. It's all I do when Erin and I watch tv. I'm slightly ADD, I can't just sit and watch tv, I have to be doing something. Plus, I'm nice and try to give Erin as much video game time on the weekends that I can....ie: I cross stitch a lot. I'm going to time myself on the two I have to make and will be starting on today. Then make a decision. Erin said it would be ok for me to do this. Who knows....I may be getting in on this Etsy thing! :o)

Besides that, not a lot. We now have to go look at the suites in the hotels that we have rooms blocked at next Thursday. :o/ UGH. BUT, it's for Erins mom. Right now though, we are going to go see X-Men. It's my turn to pick a movie, but Erin's had a tough week and I figured we can spare $10 and go see it. It makes him happy. :o) AND Harper's Island is on tonight....I wish it were on Thursdays still, however it gives us something to watch on Saturdays now. I'll update on that tomorrow. :o) I really like this show!

OK, I must apply for jobs before we leave......anyone want to hire me?!

I finished....Erin blanket! :o) I bought yarn yesterday...I needed more blue to finish the blanket and then I needed new yarn to start this new blanket I like. I spent $40! BUT, it was bday money and I think I have enough yarn and won't need to replenish for the new blanket.

Other than that, nothing new. We are thinking about getting a house next year. WE are renting this place until May, but Erin said if I have a good job and we want to stay, why not look into getting a house. His brother has a great Realtor. So I think in December we will go talk to him. This gives us time to relax after the wedding. I would like a house before we do the baby thing. Plus, why not...I mean rent is as much as a mortgage, why not have it go towards something useful. :o)

As of wedding stuff, Save the Dates were mailed yesterday. YAY! Um, we need to get a photographer and dj and then I think we are good. I need to do the dress thing still. I have one, but I can't say it's the one until I try on the ones at the Jessica M store, I'll do that Thursday. Then we have a tasting in June. But other than that, we have the florist and makeup/hair person. OH I need to find a cupcake person...hmmmmm

Well off to attack the invasion of laundry! There is TONS! It's completely covered our dinning room floor!!

my crafts

So I've been very busy making things the past few months. I figured I'd show off a little and post pictures. :o)
I made this for Hannah Loving. :o) I just have to frame it. She gets it in May (since that's when I get my bday present. :oP ) Isn't it cute! I picked it for the butterfly.

Then, I think I bought this kit last year for my bday. Well, I finally finished them. Now I just need frames. I think I'm going to put them in our dinning room as soon as the armoire is gone! If it's not sold by May.....I don't know what I'm going to do!

Now I'm working on our Wedding Sampler. I have the boarder left to do and the outlining and the wording...so I have a lot to do still. But I have until October. :o)

And my new project....Erin's blanket that I promised him years and years ago. I would have been further along, but I realized Sat night that the edges were really not straight! I blame it on the fact that Jen was not here to help me. SO, I restarted it on Sunday and the sides are even and staying in the shape of a rectangle....it wasn't before. :oP I just have to decide if I'll put the fringes on it or not....Lexi is a pain at times and I'm afraid she will think the fringe is something for her to play with. She already thinks the yarn is.....there has been a lot of water bottle spraying....