The Great British Birthday Party

This post is a little later than normal, but still on Tuesday...

so it totally counts for keeping to my blogging schedule.

Well, yesterday morning I awoke without a clue as to what I was even going to write about for this week's post. I normally have a few ideas to choose from, and have already started on it by that point.

So, I just went about my business of the day hoping something would come to mind.

I did my laundry.

{Not too blog worthy. I've already shared my love for line dried sheets & wicker laundry baskets several times here.}

I had a dentist appointment for an impression for my permanent crown for the tooth which had to have the implant done.

{Definitely NOT blog worthy.}

My sister Aimee went with me since we had made plans to go to our friend Taylor's house for a cup of coffee and a nice visit after my appointment.

We ended up having a little extra time before we were expected there so we grabbed a bite to eat at DQ & stopped by HomeGoods to see if there was anything we just had to have.

Didn't end up buying anything. Which is just fine. Plus we'll be going back next Monday since it's my {30th!} birthday.

So, we arrived at Taylor's house & through the big window next to her front door I spied some Union Jack bunting hanging in her dining room.

My first thought was "Aww, that sweetie must've decorated for us coming to visit."

When we stepped inside we were greeted by shouts of "SURPRISE!" & out popped not only Taylor, but her sister Gus and my other sisters Beth & Kelsey! (As well as baby Joel!)

Needless to say I was surprised. ;)



These gals sure know how to put together a theme.
They did The Great British Bake Off.
A mutual favorite of ours.
Plus they know how much of an anglophile I am. ^_^
 



 

If you've even seen the show you will immediately recognize the red gingham tablecloth.

Our place cards were our photos just like the contestants on the show have behind their bakes.



There were beautiful cottage garden flowers.

{I'm guessing from Gus' garden.}

Beth made yummy cucumber sandwiches.



 

Tay & Gus even made a Prinsesstårta {Swedish Princess Cake}

Oh. my. word. It was good.

 

 

Beth, me, & Aims enjoying Taylor's wonderful coffee.

I wish we would've got pics of all of us together, but oh well.

We'll always have the memories. ^_^



 

Aimee remembered that I once mentioned that I've always wanted to try this striped peanut butter & jelly ever since the first time I saw it on the movie Matilda when I was a little girl. Wasn't it just so thoughtful of her to remember? Now all I need is Miss Honey's cottage & my life will be complete. ;)



 

Beth got me very English gifts as well!

A cast iron scottie dog, yummy buscuits in a cute tin, & wonderful "Cups of Tea" scented lotion.



 

How cute is this children's book Kelsey gave me.

{I love cute kids' books!}

It's about a little girl who knits sweaters for all and sundry.

Very appropriate, no? ;)

 

 

It was such a wonderful party!

I feel so very blessed to have such dear & thoughtful friends & sisters in Christ.

Thanks again girls for all that you did.

Probably my favorite part of the party was after we had all eaten our fill...

(Well, eaten our "stuffed like a sausage about to burst" may be more appropriate.) ;)

we retired to the living room & had a delightful chat.

There's never a lull in the conversation with these dear ones,

and it always ends up centering around the Lord.

 

~*~

 

Have you ever seen The Great British Bake Off?

 

{If you have}

Do you have a favorite judge?

 

What dessert would you most like to try from the show?

 

Much love,

Miss Michelle ^_^

{Photos with the Delightful Handwork watermark by me. Others by Gus.}



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 friendliest flower {Auntie & Niece Style No. 1}...

I've been a fan of the Mother/Daughter fashions that seem to have had their heyday in the 50s for a long while now. I blame my Mother really. (Poor Moms. They get blamed for everything.) ;P Mine got me started with my love for matchy-matchy apparel since she made coordinating Daisy Kingdom dresses for my younger sister & me when we were little girls. Though it may be dorky...at this point I don't give a hoot.
{Being well and firmly established in my dorkiness.}
 



The Lord hasn't made me a mother, but He HAS made me an aunt!
I am so blessed with this niece who doesn't mind matching her ol' auntie.


{Pinterest Sources: 1*2*3}

{and another lil niece who'll get in on this action soon enough

& 4 nephews...who probably...won't. ha!}

 

You may have noticed from previous posts that I haven't been wearing much vintage lately. I tend to go through spurts of wearing it a lot and then not so much. I'm in a not so much phase right now. I still L-O-V-E all things vintage, but I just haven't been very dedicated to the wearing of it lately. Part of the reason being that I've lost some pounds and not much of my old wardrobe fits quite right. (Not that I'm complaining about it by any means. Lol!)

I'd have to put some serious work into making a new vintage wardrobe, and I'm just not feeling it right now. I'd say my style is still very much vintage inspired, but there are times when I just wanna wear skinny jeans...or overalls...or modern clothes. That blasted Lauren Conrad keeps coming out with something beautiful to tempt me in her line of clothing at Kohl's.

And I'm ok with that.

My style has always been pretty eclectic anyway.

 

But anyhoo...

I've entitled Abbey & my matching frocks "the friendliest flower" because of the "You've Got Mail" quote about daisies being the friendliest flower. ^_^

I already have some ideas for other installments of Auntie & Niece Style too, but I had to start somewhere and these super simple pre-smocked lovelies were a good way to kick it off.



 

Daisies are pretty much my very favorite flower.

Their sweet simplicity & happy lil them-ness just gets me.

 

 

I love them as a motif for decorating too. This daisy handkerchief & candle ring brighten up my bedside table. I also started these seeds this year so hopefully I'll have my own friendly blooms for years to come.

It's a given that if I have a bouquet of these cuties about the house
I'm bound to take a picture {or two or 5,037)
and then if I take a picture I'm bound to add a verse or quote to it.
It's just the way it is.
^_~

And Yardley of London's Royal English Daisy is my favorite perfume.
Though daisies aren't actually particularly fragrant it captures the cheery feeling that daisies evoke.
 

 

 While this isn't the first time Abbs & I were caught "twinning"

 

It is the first time I specifically made us matching apparel.

 

 

So when I found this adorable "Style in an Instant" fabric from Joann Fabrics I just couldn't resist the cheery daisy & gingham print - two of my favorite things! It was a breeze to whip up. Just one seam. I took the fabric to WallyWorld (Wal-Mart) to find matching tank tops & there ya go.

 



 

We didn't have a field full of dancing daisies in which to take our pics so we used the next best thing - a row of ginormous sunny sunflowers!

Cuz you know daisies & sunflowers go together like peanut butter & jelly.

{That's a metaphor. Don't eat these flowers.}



 The best shenanigans are gotten up to with this girl.

 

I better hurry up & make more matching things before she gets embarrassed of me. ^_~

 

~*~

 

What's your opinion on the matchy-matchy thing?

Super dorky or kitschy cute?

 

What's your favorite flower?

 

Much love,

Miss Michelle ^_^

 

{Photos of Abbs & me by my sister Aims. Others by moi.}



my 100th post & one of the most intimidating experiences of my life...

The night before I had a dream, well a nightmare I guess, that I forgot our nice camera & accidentally brought my first digital camera. It's about the size of a credit card and there's a piece of tape over the battery compartment to keep it from popping open due to hitting the deck one too many times.

Needless to say I was relieved to awake.

 

I warned her.

I warned her that I'm not a professional.

I don't have a professional camera.

I'm not a very commanding person...

so I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get everyone to look at me & say cheese.

She's a brave gal & she said she didn't care.

She wanted me to take their wedding pics.

My sweet & beautiful cousin Hannah {& her honey, Matt}.

 

The closer that fine day got, the more nervous I got.

 

She assured me she'd still love me even if they turned out horrible.

 

The thing is we aren't just cousins. 

This girl is like another sister to me.

We grew up just a couple blocks away from each other.

 

It was really an honor to take the photos at her wedding.

And thankfully she did like them.

 

Hannah & Matthew ~ September 26, 2015

But just look at these cuties.

Kinda hard to take a bad pic.

 Dad's first look at his little girl as a bride. <3



We did some cross country photo taking.

Some of the highlights being my sister's barn, a beautiful local church, & a gorgeous old home on a brick street.  Hans was a wonderful bride. Not a bridezilla in the least. In the midst of these barn pics we discovered that her skirt had become infested with a bajillion baby grasshoppers. She didn't even freak out then! What a gal. hahaha...good times...good times...
{That's one to tell to the grandkids one day, Hannie.} ;)

 I couldn't help but try some of the vintagey filters on these church pics.

And I tried really hard not to sing "Going to the Chapel" whilst snapping my fingers in the process, but to no avail.

Who am I kidding I didn't even try not to. ;P 

The 3 amigos: Kels, Hans, & Gus



 My sister Kelsey, the matron of honor, was 9 months pregnant with JoelyPants.

She was terrified she was going to go into labor during the ceremony, but thankfully did not. Ha!



I've known these lovely ladies & dear sisters in Christ since we were all little girls. The best part about taking photos of people you know and love is that you can make them laugh like this. ^_^ I love making people laugh as much as I love laughing. :D And I love it when people smile like they mean it. Don't play. Smile like you mean it. ;P

 



Hannah & her "little" brother Noah
 He loooooves his sisser. 



 

 My nephew Wes thought it would be totes hilar-lar to photobomb the groom's shots.

(I'll admit I thought it was pretty funny myself. I don't know where he gets it.) 

Now you see him

 



Now you don't ;)



 

Mother & Son



 I don't know Matt's family as well as Hannah's of course, but they are just the sweetest people.

Our families mesh very well.



 Noah's still not quite sure about this Matt character...

 but Hannah seems pretty sure.  

Gus wrote & performed a beautiful song for the happy couple.

You can hear it here: Cleave to You

See the pretty ruffley backdrop thingy?

I got to sneak behind that to take the next pics.

{Like a stealthy ninja sniper photographer. *cue pink panther theme*}

And then my worst nightmare happened.

No, not the camera one.

I. missed. the. first. kiss.

Yep.

My camera decided to be a stinky & take it's sweet time like it is prone to do in poor lighting.

So...

a reenactment was necessary.

The empty auditorium is kind of a nice touch though in my humble opinion.

But guess what?

She was true to her word & didn't hate me.

Not even a little.

 So, by God's grace they did not, in fact, turn out horrible.

He really carried me that day.

I felt extremely inadequate to the task at hand,

my heart was in turmoil because I had just broken up with my boyfriend,

& I tend to be a squishy puddle of emotional-giftedness anyway at weddings of my loved ones,

but He carried me through it all.

He's so good.

Now as I look back at these photos, nine months later, I can recall to mind His faithfulness.

 

He's always been faithful to me.

 

"This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness."

{Lamentations 3:21-23} 

 

Hannah & Matt,
I pray that the Lord will bless you with many happy years together.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve Him by serving you in this way.

Love you lots!


"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
 And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight."
{Proverbs 3:5+6}