my favorite accessory

This is my favorite accessory. Period.

My fabric knot necklace.

I wear it at least once a week- usually two or three times.

It goes with so many tops and colors.

I always get complimented when I wear it.

It adds a pop of color to any t-shirt, cardigan, tank or sweater I wear it with.

I wear it in all seasons.

It's lightweight.

It's simple, yet makes a statement.

It's a quick and easy accessory choice- when I'm running late and don't have to time to fool with a scarf, I throw an outfit together that goes with this and it wastes no time!

It's the best piece of accessory to have with babies & small children- on days I won't wear a scarf because I know it'll get in the way with the kids crawling all over me, I'll wear this.

It's durable- I wore it to Norah's baby dedication for the specific purpose of keeping her entertained while we stood up front! This necklace has been pulled on, stepped on, chewed on, etc and is as good as new!

Did I mention, I get complimented every time I wear it? 

And I want to share it with you!

This fabric knot necklace is made out of a turquoise & floral cotton fabric

It's available in my shop right now!

Purchase for yourself or gift someone else with it!

Use coupon code SPRING10 at checkout for 10% off your entire order!

{50% all sales are donated to Women At Risk International to fight Human Trafficking around the world!}

a mama's easter outfit

Since I've had kids, I feel like I'm now past the stage where I get a new Easter outfit every year. Maybe that's not the case for you, but I just get so into planning for the kids outfits that I don't even think about mine until the week of. And honestly, there's just not usually a whole lot of extra money for me to spending on a brand new outfit for myself every year. Plus, when would I even have time to shop!?

But I still do want to wear something cute and new, and bright and colorful on a Easter Sunday.
So that moment the week of Easter that it hits me that I need something to wear too, I start racking my brain for ideas of:  things I could make + things I already own + things I could buy cheaply.

And when I put all three of those things together, it usually comes out a newly assembled outfit for me that's a mixture of freshly handmade, purchased at the store and scrounged up from my closet!

Easter 2010- I wore the same outfit from the previous Easter (the last Easter outfit I bought brand new and at full price :) )
Nothing homemade that year, because I was just starting to sew.

Easter 2011- Made Titus' outfit (vest, pants & bowtie) and decided at the eleventh hour (literally!) to make myself a skirt.
My outfit- homemade simple skirt, already owned top, and previously handmade pom pom necklace hanging in my closet.

Easter 2012- Made the kids outfits (Again, made Titus a vest, pants & tie). It was my first Easter with a GIRL! So I made Norah a pillowcase dress, diaper cover, headband and booties. Then I decided (early enough!) to make myself an outfit to match the kids!
My outfit- homemade pillowcase top, already owned skirt, and purchased a light sweater

This year I didn't bother so much with us all matching each other, but we coordinated well enough. {Read about the kids' outfits here}
As in usual fashion, I didn't plan anything for myself. I probably would've just pulled some "old thing" from the closet and not felt springy or fresh and new all day :/

So one naptime during the week of, I got an idea in my brain, and spent the next hour putting ideas together in my brain, and running to my craft room then to my closet and back to my craft room. I stared at all my fabric for minutes on end, and waited for a huge inspiration. I put fabrics together and matched them up with clothing, and finally formulated an outfit that I wasn't even brave enough to wear at first. But after trying it on for my husband, having a few days to mull it over in my head, and my husband encouraging me to wear it.... I DID! :)

Here's what I came up with: {sorry its not a full body shot- its the only picture of just me from the day!}

I purchased this Target brand dress a couple weeks ago from a local grocery store that also sells closeout deals. Wanna guess how much I paid for it? ..... $2.99

At the same store, I found some red ballet flats (also Target!) for .... $1.99

I paired the dress with the same cream colored sweater I purchase for my Easter outfit last year

I added a brown belt that I bought last fall.

Added some red dangles made by a friend

And the final accessory I needed to add was a scarf... but I was being pretty particular about the style, color, etc it needed to be... I wanted a lightweight, navy scarf...

I searched my fabrics and mulled over lots of options to make one... I had decided I was probably going to have to go to Joann's to find something...
But before I did, I remembered my Goodwill box that's just been sitting around. I wondered if I had anything in there that I could re-purpose (this thought was kind of separated from my scarf dilemma). I pulled out all kinds of clothes I had thrown out that I now thought I could re-fashion into something for Norah... As I walked away from my new pile of ex-Goodwill clothes, I noticed something Navy-colored sticking out... I pulled out a skirt that I'd bought like 12 years ago. It was a good quality, brand name skirt, but the elastic was all stretched out. It really was a shame to throw this out just because of some worn out elastic. It was still good fabric- light weight with great movement. And it was the perfect color, Navy with tiny red and yellow flowers that went perfectly with the other colors in my outfit...

So I cut the elastic + 4 inches off the skirt.... And came away with an infinity scarf!

Would you ever guess that was once a skirt? :)

I love that I can breathe new life into a n old piece of clothing that I've loved a long time!

 

So there you have it!
A mama's Easter outfit that cost a total of $4.98 and included a re-purposed skirt-turned-scarf!

had to throw in a pic of the shoes!

easter outfits

I hope all had an amazing Easter!
So I had to take a break from my blog break to share with you our Easter outfits!

I enjoyed making their outfits, as I usually do! It has just become the one time a year that I make them both an entire nice outfit, so I get really into designing for a month beforehand what I'm going to make, in what fabrics, and what color palette, etc.

I had lot of ideas floating around my head, but I decided this year to use fabric that I already had, since I have so much, to keep me from spending money! I'm happy to say that I didn't spend any money on their outfits, because every part was from fabrics and accessories that we already had! :) This year we didn't all match, but we coordinated quite nicely!
 

 

Titus LOVES to wear Ties like Daddy!
He wore an Argyle Tie from  Little Londyn Patterns!
I made him two and let him choose which to wear on Easter. :)

Norah wore this beautiful dress from Little Lizard King patterns, with an added waistband and elastic inserted, in Amy Butler Lotus Morning Glory fabrics.

 I also made Norah this felt flower headband! It made the outfit look complete!

 And we all (except Daddy! hee hee) wore our red shoes! :) So fun!

We took our annual family picture, and I realized how this is the first year we had to do it in a different spot! Here's to new beginnings!

It was fun to look back over the past 4 years of family pictures since we've had kids, and watch our family grow! Here is a collage of our family Easter Pictures:

I hope you all had a Blessed Easter celebrating our Hope and Victory because of Jesus Christ!
 

Shop and Blog Update

 
For those of you who have noticed my blogging absence, I just wanted to explain that I've been taking a break for a little while to refocus myself and my blog. I plan to take another month or so, but I still plan to post from time to time. Believe me, I still have loads of things to share just coming out of my ears! :)

Thanks for understanding, and also for your readership and encouragement to me on here!

 

In the shop, I've added two Beautiful Ruffled Scarves crocheted by a lady in my church, with 100% of the proceeds going to support Women At Risk, International in their fight against human trafficking and sexual slavery!

I wear two scarves like this, and they are incredibly soft, go with so many outfits, and have a hint of sparkle!

Please support us in this fight to end human trafficking either by purchasing one of these beautiful scarves, or by sharing this with others!
SHOP NOW

“The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.” Psalm 103:6 

A couple of the scarves have already sold, but my friend Terri who made them, said that she's willing to make more if anyone wants one. Let me know if you're interested in a different color!

Did you know that Oak Street Studio already donates 50% of all sales to Women At Risk, International?

To learn more about human trafficking and sexual slavery around the world, watch this eye-opening video:

hidden back-tab curtains

Remember all that fabric I bought a few weeks ago? Well other than my table runner, I have finally sewed the rest of it all up into curtains for each of our bedrooms. The style I settled on was panels with a hidden back-tab and did that for all of them. It was pretty easy design but also would give a more professional/finished look at the end. I LOVE these fabrics! The modern designs and bright colors are just perfect for our family and how we're decorating our new home.

Here are pics of all of them!

 

Master Bedroom: I am in love with this fabric- it was exactly what I was looking for to finish off our room! Now all that needs to done in the room is some stuff on the walls and an accent chair by the windows! :) Loving the way this room has come together and the curtains just add SO much!

Kids room: Believe it or not, this is the same room! The kids are sharing and room that has a half wall in between, so they each have their own space and can't see each other when sleeping. We plan to paint their room soon, probably a light gray, but I love that these fabrics give them each a unique take to the room. Because of the layout of the room, we can decorate each side specifically for each child with the paint color to unify.

Now I just need to hem up all these panels! :) (that's after we paint and reposition all the rods though!)


Here's a little peek at how the hidden back tabs look from the back (this is one in process)
Maybe I'll do a tutorial sometime...

Love that half the curtains in our house so far are handmade... if I have another $500 or so, I'd do the rest of the house! :) Maybe another time!


Are any curtains in your home handmade? What style do you make?

little joys

staring at little feet and chunky thighs quickly turning from baby to little girl...

holding on to morning and evening bottle feedings simply so I can enjoy the cuddles and stare into those blue eyes a few days longer...

sharing a sweet look between my son... that boy melts my heart like no other person!

hearing sweet voices play, and sing, and talk, and laugh, and say "mommy"...

waiting in anticipation and then catching the next funny or interesting thing that boy will come up with...

making the decision to apply a bandaid for the 4th time in the same spot

pushing fine baby hair out of eyes...

stroking the softest baby skin that will too soon not be

being constantly surprised by the next new thing learned

snuggling while reading

holding that long boy close and knowing the days are growing short where he'll still fit on my lap

the boy's hugs and kisses and i love yous are cherished, each one. For one day he won't be so free with them.

not feeling guilty about procrastinating on dishes and laundry, because playing on the floor is always more important

choosing to find them adorable and the moment precious during an early morning wakeup call

watching them sleep- still, soft and warm

crazy dance moves those two can break out with

heart swelling at their good behavior in public

little prayers

precious voice reciting Scripture

the love between them growing

two pairs of big blue eyes, both the most perfect shades

squeals of delight, times two

wiping tears, and comforting hearts

confidence in knowing my job is the best in the world

snuggle day & seeking first

It's a sad day when I have to miss our local mops group to stay home with a child who's not feeling well! Its a difficult decision to have a snuggle day when he seems fine, but at this age you kindof have to take him seriously, especially since he's been up on and off since 4:30am!

So we're snuggled on the couch watching episodes of Curious George on netflix and I'm reflecting on life as mom.

It's hard for my heart to be "into" a snuggle day when I have to say no to something that I've been looking forward to, and something that would be good for me as a mom. I would get a break, have an encouraging time, and meet other moms. (And when you're new and the moms only meet twice a month, that's really not alot of chances to make friends.)

So I want to sit on the couch and feel bad for myself. At the inconvenience of it, at how once again for the sake of motherhood I'm asked to give yet something else up.

But if there's something I've learned since we've begun this new adventure and new life, is that I can trust God to meet my needs.

 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. -Matthew 6:33 

This verse seems to be the theme verse for our year so far! It's a constant reminder to simply do what I know God wants me to do for today and leave the rest up to Him! Although some days I may wonder, there's nothing better that I can do with my life, with my time, than take care of these two precious children, no matter what I may miss out on. And God will bless me for being faithful to what he's called me do to right now if I seek him first!