My Favorite Things

embroidery collaboration

I am so excited because my friend, Jen and I have decided to do a year long embroidery swap/collaboration.  I got to get us started with my contribution above.  For my pattern, I used the very fun rubber stamps created by Pam Garrison that I purchased at Crescendoh.  How this swap is going to work is we will work on two embroidery samplers at the same time (one for each of us).  Now that I am done with my first little creation, I mail it to Jen so she can have some embroidery fun.  The idea is that we will each have the samplers for half of each month, so that each month we will each have added something new to our samplers.  Unfortunately, I am already behind!  I was supposed to have this to Jen by the middle of April so she could work on the sampler and have it back to me to start in May ... oops. (Jen, if you are reading this, I am sure this is coming as NO surprise to you!)

I will keep you posted on our progress.  I am so excited to see what creations unfold with our embroidery swap/collaboration!

till next time,

melissa

 

views on the run series

Both of these pictures were taken while I was out on a run in Harrisonburg, Virginia over Spring Break.  We took our oldest daughter out there to visit Eastern Mennonite University.  When we left Illinois, nothing was in bloom.  So, when we reached Virginia, and were greeted with such amazing beauty, I couldn't wait to get out to the roads to run!  Albeit, the roads were MUCH hillier than in Illinois. 

When we returned to Illinois, the flowers had begun to bloom.  I just love running in the spring! 
 

till next time,

melissa

views on the run series

Such a sweet looking house!  My runners and I passed this house while doing a warm-up run during a recent track meet.

 

a hodgepodge

My youngest daughter, Isabelle, decided about a month before Valentine's Day this year that she wanted to make our family a Valentine's cake.  So, for that month she watched videos online to help her to learn how to pipe frosting as well as how to make flowers from fondant.  And the most important part of this process was that she insisted on doing it all herself.  Well, we all thought she did a fabulous job ... I certainly couldn't have made those roses!  And to top it off, the cake was delicious.  She already has plans for cakes for Easter, Mother's Day, and Father's Day.  Just today she was describing to me some different techniques that she plans on using on these future cakes.  Techniques that definitely sounded too complicated for me.  I asked her how she even knew about these techniques, and of course she said that she has been watching the Food Network, as well as watching instructional videos online.  I have no doubts that she will succeed with her somewhat ambitious plans.  I will keep you posted!

 

This is a tote bag that I created for a special order for my friend Jen's daughter's birthday.  I had so much fun making this!

The back of the bag.

The inside of the bag.  I just love those sweet petite roses.

 

This isn't the best quality in a photograph, not to mention an odd subject to be photographing in the first place.  I had used this lipstick many times before the day that I decided to photograph it.  On this day, I happened to notice for the first time the Chanel name imprinted into the lipstick.  So, of course, I felt the need to capture it in a photo :)  

In visiting various blogs, I find it so interesting to see what very different things grab the attention of each of us to the point of grabbing our camera and taking a picture ... even the everyday things that so often may get overlooked!  What in your everyday lives do you like to photograph?

till next time,

melissa
   

 

 

views on the run series

 

There was just something about the flag blowing in the wind against the crisp blue winter sky.

It's starting to feel a little like spring.  As I ran over this bridge, I loved hearing the sound of the rushing water.  The somewhat murky looking water isn't exactly pretty, but just look at the contrast of the water against the mossy green concrete at the bottom of the photo.  Spring is near!

 

"A long path to nowhere!"

My love of running extends to what I do 8 months out of the year.  I coach the distance runners in Track at our local high school during the spring, and I coach Cross-Country in the fall.  Today, when my runners and I were out on a long run in the country, one of the girls didn't quite know where our route was going to take us.  I told her that we were running to the end of the road you see above and then turning right.  Her eyes got very big as she exclaimed very innocently, "It looks like a long path to nowhere!"   That moment definitely made me laugh.

till next time,

melissa 

 

views on the run series

I know that the dark streaks through this snow is dirt, but in this setting I thought the dirt added a beautiful quality to the snow.  It reminds me a little of a sand dune.

I feel like such a child, to be so entertained by my shadow ... but that's ok :)  

till next time,

melissa  

 

happy valentine's day!

 This is the newest in my photos from my "views on the run" series.  I was out on a run today, and stopped dead in my tracks when I saw this perfect heart on the snowy sidewalk.  I think I scared the friend I was running with, with my sudden stop :)  

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

till next time,

melissa

 

valentine goodies

I just love participating in swaps, and especially valentine swaps because I get to create with my favorite color, PINK!  My sweet friend, Jen and I did a one on one valentine ornament swap.  Just look at her fabulous creations ...

 

These photos were borrowed from Jen's blog.  I just loved how they photographed on her silver tree.  I am a lucky girl indeed.  I will treasure these for years to come.

These are the ornaments that I created for Jen ...

 

 

 

I also participated in Heather's Petite Inspiration Box Swap.  We were put into groups of 4.  So we each decorated and filled 3 little boxes with valentine goodies to send to each of our group members.  My partners were Elizabeth Holcombe, Melissa Lobdell, and Jenny Heid.  

These are the wonderful boxes that I received ...

The generous treats in Beth's box ...

Melissa's fabulous box ...

Jenny's adorable box ...

I have already used supplies that I received in each of my boxes to create other valentine's!

The boxes that I had so fun creating for my swap friends ...

 

I just love photos of three's!

Well, I am hoping to get in a little bit of last minute valentine creating before tomorrow.

till next time,

melissa 

 
     

   
 
      

views on the run

Something you may not know about me is that my absolute favorite hobby is running.  I have been doing it since I was 12 (I am much older now ... he he he).  What is so great about running, is that you can do it in absolutely any weather.  And I usually do. Over these past almost 30 years, I have seen some amazing landscapes.  When you are covering ground on foot, you tend to notice things that might not stand out if you were driving in a car or even riding a bike.  

When I was out for a run a couple of weeks ago, I decided to try to capture some of the images that I see along my way with the little camera on my cell phone.  As much as I would love to lug my Cannon Rebel around with me on my runs, I decided that would be a titch impractical!  So, what I give up in picture quality, I gain in the achievement of my goal.  My goal is to capture in picture, scenery, that for years I have wished I had gone back and photographed after the completion of my runs.  But really, once I am done with a run, my mind has moved on to the next thing for the day, and the need for the picture is but a distant memory.  So, throughout this next year, I am going to try to take time to make some quick stops along my runs to photograph some things that catch my eye.

 

Even though this pastoral scene cannot be fully appreciated because of my camera, I just had to make this my first photograph.  I have run down this road so many times and through so many seasons, wishing I could photograph this barn and its surroundings.  I love witnessing the change of the landscape throughout the year!

  

I was the first one on this path after the snowfall.  To me, this represents in picture, the solitude that so often runners experience out on runs.

One of my favorite things to look at this time of year are the tree branches encased in their icy shell.  It is just beautiful!

I don't know if this photograph collection is of any interest to anyone but me.  But I am looking forward to adding to, what may turn out to be, the first journal I have ever created ... finally!

till next time,

melissa

valentine treats

I have been busy over here crafting away some goodies for Valentine's Day.  I am participating in two valentine swaps, which I will share pictures of later.  I also made a few items for my little etsy store.

These are my valentine conversation coin purses.  They are lined inside with fun fabrics.

Nothing says valentine to me like ruffles and scallops!

Drop by my store and take a peek.

till next time,

melissa