crazy for daisies...

I'm sure by now you've noticed I've been tweaking my blog appearance.

I think I've finally settled on this vintage daisy theme. The inspiration was a vintage daisy feedsack in my collection.

I know I've mentioned it before that daisies are my favorite so I thought it was only right that they should feature heavily in my blog theme. ^_^

 

One of my most recent crochet projects is daisy granny squares. They are so much fun! I'm really enjoying experimenting with different colors for the background with stash yarn. My favorite is the aqua, naturally. ^_~

I tried out the "join as you go method" for joining some squares & I loved it. I used this tutorial found on Pinterest.  {Oh, I followed this tutorial for the daisy grannies, also found on Pinterest. I ♡ you, Pinterest! *blows kisses*}

I'm so in love with my new theme that I even committed to having some [square!] business cards made.

Happy Tuesday!

Much Love,

Miss Michelle ^_^

meet Astrid the aqua sewing machine! {+ what I've been up to lately}...

 

 Isn't she a beaut?

She's actually a bit darker colored in person.

(It's so hard to get a good pic indoors.)

My sweet parents made my day year by buying me this retro chic sewing machine in my favorite color.

She'll be perfect for stitching up more bedsheet dresses such as...

 

 

this one that I made this past week.

 

 

 ~*~

I've also been doing a bit of decorating.

 

 

These pink wall pocket baskets were a steal of a deal for 70 cents from a favorite antique mall that was {sadly} closing. The faux strawberry plants were dissected from a thrift store find for $3.50.
{Isn't faux such a much nicer way to say fake? *wink*}

 

 

This sweet planter from Target, reminiscent of a vintage head vase, was originally intended to have a succulent atop her head, but I think that this pink yarn bun fits my style even better! Doesn't she look like a giant egg cup though? *giggles*

 

 

This wire wastebasket was from the dollar section of Target for $3!

It makes such fun & cute storage for extra yarn leftover from previous projects.

 

 

The colors of this baby blankie I made for a friend's baby girl make me think of yummy saltwater taffy.

 

 

Though it may be in the 90s still outside in my neck of the woods,

inside our house it is decidedly Autumnal,

September 1st being our un-official first day of Fall.
Lovely 70s are forecast for next week though.
I can hardly wait for crisp air, colorful crunchy leaves, snuggly sweaters, & sturdy boots.

 

What have you been up to?

 

Much love,

Miss Michelle ^_^

consider the stars...

 ☆"Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars,
The One who leads forth their host by number,
He calls them all by name;
Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power,
Not one of them is missing."
{Isaiah 40:26}☆

"He who counts the stars and calls them by their names,
is in no danger of forgetting His own children."
{Charles Spurgeon}

I'm so excited to show you all one of my latest crochet projects -
this star bunting!
I made the original as a gift for a dear friend's birthday.
I'm now offering them for sale in my Etsy shop as well!
It looks so "4th of July" with our cheery red gingham kitchen curtains.
I want to make myself some in pastels for my bedroom.
Wouldn't they just be the sweetest thing in a nursery though?

"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;

What is man that You take thought of him,

And the son of man that You care for him?"

{Psalm 8:3+4}

 

The star theme brought to mind these precious verses as well as this beautiful song from the Getty's newest album.

 



I also just finished this patriotic star shaped doily for my Momma.
It may look like I'm practicing some sort of voodoo, but rest assured,
I am not.
I'm just starching & stretching this doily so it will stay in its crisp shape
& not be all wiggly-woggly.

 

Oh, by the way, if you do bop over to my Etsy shop be sure to check out the cute vintage patterns I've been listing. Perhaps there's something there you just *need*. ;)

 

 

What do you think of my star garland?

 

Have you been working on anything that you're excited about lately?

 

Much love,

Miss Michelle ^_^

the colors of my life...

When I was a little girl I sang in our local civic chorale's youth chorus for a few years. We sang a wide variety of types of songs from show tunes to Psalms to oldies. {and one weird song about an ocelot of all things, "Saucy Little Ocelot", which contained the line "Saucy little ocelot, likes to fuss & boss a lot." Which my friend who sat next to me during practice & I thought perfectly described another girl in the group. We would elbow each other & try to keep from giggling...but I digress...}

 One of the show tunes we sang was called The Colors of My Life from the musical Barnum (which I've never actually seen.)

 

Some song lyrics tend to take up residence in my brain and never leave.

Such as the lines

 

"The colors of my life are bountiful & bold." sung by the fella

 

and

 

"The colors of my life are softer than a breeze." sung by the lady.

 

Every so often I think about these words & I wonder which color schemes would I use to characterize my life?

I really like both bountiful & bold AND softer than a breeze colors.

The only colors I'm not too terribly fond of are neons.

And in moderation even they can be tolerable.

 

Picking out colors for a new knit or crochet project is one of my favorite parts of the whole creative process. I love trying different color combinations. Nothing pleases my eye so much as just the right balance of colors. In my life there is a time & place for bright & cheery as well as pastel & pretty. I like to incorporate them both into my wardrobe & décor.

 

Since it was the lady who mentioned the gentle colors we'll take a look at some of those first.

{Ladies first ya know.} ^_~

 

 

 gentle

 

 

peaceful

 

 

lovely

 

 

calming

 

 

cozy

 

 

like a relaxing day at the beach

 

 that's what I think when I see pastels.

 

~*~

 

Now as to all things bright and beautiful...

 

fresh & juicy

 

 

cheerful

 

 

playful

 

energizing

*like a cup of coffee for your eyes*

 

 

warm

 

 

 like childhood summer days

 

 

That's what I think of when I see cheery brights.

^_^

 

As you can see I've been keeping busy with granny square blankies.

They are my most recent obsession, and they lend themselves very well to experimenting with different color palettes. I've just started on one I've been calling "pastel rainbow" while also working on a vintage beachy sweater in pale coral, light blue, & white. {Seen in some of the pics at the top.}

 

~*~

 

So these are the colors of my life.

Both light & lovely AND bright & beautiful.

 

What colors do you prefer?

Is there a certain scheme of colors that characterizes your life?

 

Much Love,

Miss Michelle ^_^

{Photos by me apart from the one of Mema & me. That was taken by Aunt Liz.}





hulloooo there...

Remember me?

I'm Michelle.

(You know, that gal who writes this blog.)

Hee hee, saying "hulloo" always makes me think of Winnie the Pooh ^-^, but I digress.

So, I've been doing well.

The Lord is good.

So good.

So faithful.

My life has been quite filled with good things.

Blessed.

That's what I am.

I kept meaning to get back on board with this blogging business.

Time just kept slipping away bit by bit.

Before I knew it months had passed.

It's a bit like jumping into a swinging jump rope.

Well, I mean, it's not like I'd get smacked in the face with a rope or anything, but still.

I think you catch my drift. ;)

Lately, I've been Instagramming a lot.

I'm kind of into making Bible verse or godly quote pictures such as the ones above.

And this...

Oh, and just to thoroughly confuse y'all my name on there is now miss_strawberry_shortgirl.

It's completely random.

Don't ask me why.

I just thought it would be fun to have a...well...fun name...just for fun. ;P

My mind can be so like a butterfly flitting from one pretty thing to the next.

I am trying to discipline this mind of mine more.

Dwelling on lovely things is good, indeed it's scriptural.

But I can't just stop there.

I'm trying to delve deeper.

To know.

To know Him.

More & more everyday.

The depths.

The riches.

Unfathomable.

But I'll do my best as far as He enables me.

No more scratch & sniff Christianity for this girl.

Nope.

He paid far too great a price to make me His.

Also, just lately I've been crocheting like a fiend.

(If fiends actually do crochet. Don't quote me on that...I'm not 100% sure.)

Having been an avid knitter for so many years I was skeptical as to whether crocheting was even a necessary skill for me to acquire. After all, just about anything crochet could do knit could do better, or so I thought.

I can see now why people are so in love with the craft.

It does work up so fast.

And ya just can't beat a classic granny square for that old fashioned kitschy charm.

I've heard people say crochet is easier than knitting, but that I don't see.

I think they're both easy once you get the hang of it.

There are definite pluses to both.

Oh, and I've just been spending as much time as is humanly possible with my babies & my sisters.

These truly are the good old days.

I know I will miss these days terribly when they're passed & gone.

So for now I cherish every moment that will soon be a memory.

I stare at their little faces to try to memorize them.

I always give them a sniff & a squeeze so I can always remember their smell & squishiness.

For it won't be long before they're all grown & patting me on the head.

As I said before...

blessed.

I'm blessed beyond measure.

Well, sorry about the barrage of pictures.

All of them shamelessly stolen from my Instagram feed.

Thank you for all the kind words from those of you wondering just where I'd got to.

Here I am though.

I hope to stay.

By His grace.

For His glory.

Much Love,

Miss Michelle

aka

miss_strawberry_shortgirl

^_^