diy scrapbooking kit

pop on over to beautifully rooted for a diy scrapbooking kit i am sharing today.
it is pink and purple and girl-y all over.  and i think this makes a neat-o gift.

xoxo,
annalea

fairy costume 101: the gauzy wings

last week the final part of my fairy costume 101 series was posted at beautifully rooted.

you can easily complete these gauzy wings this weekend for a last minute halloween costume addition. 

and if you missed the first two DIYs of the series, check them out here:

the flower crown

the flower wand

i had so much fun working on this costume for the gia-bee.  we are now working out the final details of what she will be wearing to complete the look.  top contenders are a very fancy thrifted white flower girl dress or a leotard/tutu combination.  and moccasins are the footwear of choice.

if you make any of these pieces, please share in the comments.  i would love to see!

xoxo,

annalea

fairy costume 101: the flower wand

as mentioned last week, i am contributing a three part diy series to beautifully rooted this month.
the flower wand diy is up today.

fairy costume 101: the flower crown

this month i am contributing a three part diy series for beautifully rooted that will cover the basic elements of the ever popular fairy costume.  check out the flower crown diy today and stay tuned for parts 2 & 3 next week.

after this storm

our family entered one of life's storms . . . unemployment and job searching and uncertainty.

house selling and saying goodbye and moving cross country.

loneliness and tears and homesickness.

click on over to beautifully rooted to read more.

he's still our champion

my monthly contributor post for beautifully rooted is up today. 

it is a father's day inspired DIY that can be easily tweaked for the non-father and even non-male champions in your life.

written last month, the irony is not lost on me that this post is being published exactly a week after our own champion papi was laid off.  we are hanging in there, friends.  after gazillions of phone calls, a thousand internet searches, and a dozen or so resumes submitted, there are several promising leads on the job hunt.  the big question is whether we will be able to stay in champaign or whether we will be moving before summer's end.

one thing is for sure:  jesse is still our champion.  his worth as husband and papi is not tied to his job and earning potential.

here's to running a race and completing the task as champions of His grace.

xoxo,

annalea

twig lettered sign

monday, monday, here you are.

let's make things a bit more darlin'.

my monthly post at beautifully rooted is up today.

you can see the how-to of this twig lettered sign over there. . .

once again, honored to be a part of that sweet creative community.

xoxo,

annalea

slowing down (and a stapled oilcloth bunting)

 

hey there!

i've been taking it slow and keeping quiet this last week.  giving more time and space for Him to work and speak.  it was much needed.

not that it hasn't been a full week.  i am just attempting to respond differently to all that surrounds me.  the success of such attempts is touch and go.

this slowing down was spurred on by my backdoor.  which sounds a bit odd.

i shared these thoughts and a fun little stapled oilcloth bunting project over at beautifully rooted last week.

read more here.

i think i am back now, though.  we'll see.  the break was nice, but ideas and words are bouncing around my head.  it is just a matter of time to get them out and frame of mind to make them coherent.  but really blogging is such an outlet, plus it keeps a record of our days like no other.  (and i am slacking on posting photos and stories for our far-away family!  sorry!)

tell me, how was your last week of march 2012?

word-y wall art in three forms

click on over to beautifully rooted for my latest creative contribution, word-y wall art in three forms.
xoxo,
annalea

burlap + lace wrapped pot

These shelves are magical in the winter.  The leaves have dropped from the line of maples outside and light gains access to the windows. The plants cozy up to the warm sun.  It is vibrant and beautiful.

But there was one plastic pot needing a makeover.  I have been wanting to swap it out, but the budget kept telling me there was no extra funds for the pretty french pots at our local nursery.  Time for a little DIY action.

click on over to beautifully rooted to read more about this quick and easy pot makeover.

found

a little princessa beginning the incredible journey of reading and writing independently.
a sight to swell my mama-teacher heart.
a small but significant joy-filled moment that is all gift from Him.

thank you Father for this sun-filled and simple beauty found.

found

the unexpected gift time with far away family

the sweet, sweet friendships between cousins

ombre embroidered mobile

life hasn't settled back into a regular routine yet, but we slept in our own beds last night and the final car-full of family drove away this morning.  (sniff, sniff.)  it was a whirlwind.  the services were beautiful.  saying goodbye is difficult and my heart is with our cousins.  

also, enzo was intensely curious about the holy water.  i ended up with wet feet.

my first contribution for beautifully rooted, an ombre embroidered mobile, went up on friday afternoon while we were out of town.  you'll find it and my future posts in the create category where i'll be sharing handmade goodness.  i was wowed by the response from a few readers who have already made their own versions.  that makes my heart happy.

xoxo,

annalea

the sweet part

there is a good in this unexpected and difficult week.

the oh so sweet part of bittersweet.

beautiful relationships growing.
like enzo not being able to get enough of his uncle jason.
and uncle jason gladly accepting the attention.

and the lovely blooming of friendship between two five year old cousin-girlies.

holding hands as they walk around the house.
a-dorable.

it had been 16 months since we have seen any of jesse's family and these guys were deeply missed.

today and tomorrow we will be attending services for uncle vernon.

please pray for our health in the coming days.  there is a touch of sickness going around our clan.

xoxo,
annalea

p.s. i will be away from the computer most of this weekend, but my first post for beautifully rooted will go up later today, so keep an eye out, okay?  here is a sneak peek. . .

rooted and grounded in Love

 

 love the Lord our God with all my heart and all my soul and all my might.

teach His words diligently.

talk of them when i sit and walk and lie and rise.

bind them and tie them and write them.

this is my prayer.
this is my command.

and now i have a sweet new opportunity to live this out.
beautifully rooted is a brand new website created for women to come, be inspired, and creatively think.
it is going to be amazing.

beautifully rooted launches today.
go and visit.
oh i think you will be seriously blessed.

i am honored to be one of the weekly contributors at b.rooted.
(look for my first post later this week.)

. . .that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:14-19