Graduation Day

 My oldest daughter graduated from college last weekend. It was an awesome event. It was so much fun having all my children together to celebrate MaryCam. We took a million pictures with Iphones and cameras constantly instagramming the occasion. Honestly, there are so many of us, if you didn't know us you would have thought that we were the paparazzi and MaryCam was a movie star! It was a such a fun time!

I had already thought through whether or not it would be an emotional day for me, and I logically decided it was not. Why would I cry on such a joyful occasion? It was such a fabulous moment. It was big! It was an incredible milestone marking a pretty amazing four year adventure. I decided I was more thrilled for her

[caption id="attachment_1679" align="alignleft" width="300"] Taylor and MaryCam[/caption]

and her accomplishment than I was emotional for me. Then we got out of the car to go to the arena and the first person we saw was one of MaryCam's best friends and room mate from freshman year, Taylor. I lost it! I love Taylor like one of my own children and seeing her wrap her arms around MaryCam woke vivid memories of their move in day at Auburn. Moving those girls in was the most fun day as well as the most difficult day. We laughed a lot and cried a lot that day! The daddys were sweating and trying not to be frustrated with us snapping photos every minute while they were laying carpet, moving shelves, and carrying a gazillion rubber maid totes up three flights of stairs. What a day! Four years later MaryCam and Taylor still make me laugh and cry all at the same time!

 The ceremony was wonderful! As I watched my baby walk down the isle to receive her diploma, I walked down memory lane. In about five minutes, I relived a million of my favorite memories. The first day of kindergarden, MaryCam singing Mary Did You Know, puppies, barbies, concerts on the porch, playing in the sprinkler, tennis matches... My heart overflows with treasures that I have collected from over the years. What are you collecting? I hope every day you are collecting sweet moments and priceless conversations, especially this time of year while children are out of school Throw away that "to do" list and make cookies or try a new recipe. Sit in a tree stand with your boys. Make gifts, ornaments, or work a 1000 piece puzzle. You know it's not about the activity, it's all about being together and really good conversation. Activity just makes conversations easier. At the end of the day ,there are no words to describe how thankful I am that I tossed the list and enjoyed every day at home.  It is such a short season that we have our children at home. Eat up every minute. Put the laundry down and watch a movie. Laugh out loud! Have ice cream for dinner! Plan a family night with pizza and games.  Ride bikes, go for coffee, color, just hang out! Don't waste another day. Wrap your arms around your baby, no matter their age and tell them that you love them! It goes by so fast! Make every minute amazing! Spending time with your family is the greatest investment you will ever make! Thank you for stopping by!                               love love love  Ruthie

Diva Day

     Can you believe I titled my blog "Diva Day?" For those of you that follow my blog know I'm the furthest thing from a "Diva", but I just thought it sounded good! Anyway, I did have a  girls day out yesterday! The most fun afternoon ever! I texted my friend Lyn (I did a post on her a while back on bread making ) and told her I wanted to do a Christmas coffee craft thing. Honestly, I called Lyn because I'm not a detail girl,she is a detail girl, I am idea girl. Within minutes, she texted back with what day, what time, who is coming, and what are we making. I wasn't sure I was quite ready for all that, I think I thought I was still in the "idea stage." However, after a few texts, we had a date, time, friends, food, coffee, and craft planned. It was really impressive! I tossed around different ideas in my head for a week or two of what we could make. I absolutely love thinking about those things. Then Lyn called a few days before the coffee and said she had been making wreaths did I want her to do a fun tutorial on how to make a wreath to decorate your home. I would NEVER turn down a tutorial from Lyn. So I emailed the girls and asked them to bring greenery from their yards and I would have the rest. Yesterday morning, the weather was absolutely fabulous so Towns and I cleaned up the porch and set out all the supplies. I took photos so you could learn how to make your own wreath too! Enjoy!



 

This is my sweet friend Teri. If you notice we used wreaths from Hobby Lobby made out of straw or grass. I'm sure you can find them at most craft stores.



The first thing we did was cover the back of the wreath by wrapping it with magnolia leaves and pinning the leaf with "U" shaped pins.



Towns did a great job on hers! This is what the back looks like once it's been completely covered with leaves. The reason you cover the back is because if you hang it on a window or door with a window you are not going to want to see a straw wreath. Instead you'll be looking at a yummy green color.



This is my sweet friend Patti. I meant to tell you when you wrap the magnolia leaf, you put a   pin in the top and bottom of the leaf. You can see that pretty well on Patti's wreath.



My sweet friend Kelly is obviously slacking. At least she smiles while she slacks. I'm kidding, we just got started and I just wanted to use this pic because I think it's great!



After wrapping the back of the wreath, next we covered the front with magnolia leaves. We took a bunch of three leaves and pinned them down at the stems. Once you've made your way all the way around the wreath it's time to get creative.



Isn't Lyn's wreath beautiful? This really is the most fun part. We put all our finds in the middle of the table and layered layered layered. Lyn used cedar branches, holly branches, boxwoods, pine, pods, pinecones, and a few other things. Use the pins to attach all the greenery. Make sure you cover the wreath completely. How fabulous is that? It is easy and beautiful and costs only the amount of the wreath form and pins.



I loved Kelly's wreath with all the magnolia and pine and beautiful red berries and pine. Really the possibilities are endless. Use whatever you have in your yard. Be creative and be brave.



This was the most fun day! In the end, the wreaths turned out beautifully, but it was the company of sweet friends and conversations of creative souls that filled my heart so completely. There is nothing quite like the exchange of ideas and creative challenges to set your mind in motion. It was so fun. Yesterday was such a fabulous time! Being with these creative girls nourishes my soul. It's so important that you spend time with people that think like you do, that love to create and challenge you to be a better artist. I love these precious girls, and I am so thankful for how we laugh and love and always create! I love love love it! Thank you for stopping by! love love love Ruthie

MaryCam's Banner

I am so glad you stopped by! Yesterday I was headed to the post office and I realized I didn't remember getting from point A to point B. I wasn't on the phone, I wasn't singing to the radio, I was deep in thought creating things. Honestly, I can't get to sleep at night and I'm up way too early because my brain clicks about 100 miles an hour. It's not with a normal to do list of things I could write down and clear my head. It's a thousand projects I create all day in my head. I can see the most insignificant thing and it spark an idea that sparks another idea that sparks another idea.... you get the picture. Anyway, MaryCam started her first "big girl" job Tuesday and I wanted to do something special for her. Probably most people would do a fabulous dinner out to celebrate or maybe meet for lunch, but not me, I had to make something. I decided to decorate the kitchen and have fabulous dinner at home with some yummy dessert. The cooking was easy it was the decorations that I enjoyed the most. I decided to make her a banner that she could keep and use again. While I was making this in my head, I decided to take a few photos so you could make one too! It was super easy, great looking, and of course so much fun! I hope you enjoy!



The first thing I did was to go through all my scraps of fabric. You need very little fabric to complete this project so scraps are perfect! I picked seven different fabrics in the pink and green family.



I chose seven fabric pieces because I wanted a triangle for each letter of MaryCam's name. Then I eyeballed a nice size triangle. No measuring, just eyeballed it.



I probably should have opened up the triangle to show you that I cut it on the fold. I hope you can see that the top of my triangle is on the fold so I only cut down the sides. I only had to make two cuts. In other words, double your fabric and cut the triangle on the fold putting the top of the triangle on the fold.



Once you've cut one triangle, rather than "eyeballing " them all, use the first one as your pattern to cut as many triangles as you need. That way you are sure to have them all the same size. But now as i'm typing this I'm thinking different sizes could be cool looking. Nonetheless, mine are basically all the same size.



I starched and Ironed all seven shapes mainly because the fabric had been waded up in a cabinet. However it does make it a little stiffer so it's easier to sew. I recommend ironing. It doesn't take but two seconds and you'll be glad you did!



I sewed all three sides about a presser foot width. This is important, when you sew the top next to the fold, leave an opening on the right and left so the string for your banner can go through it. Get it? So basically you created a little tube or pocket on the top of the triangle for the string to pass through and hold the banner up. I thought about those of you who don't have a sewing machine and I feel sure you could use a fabric glue or even staples to do the same thing.



I took this pic to show you my stitch lines. Can you even see them?



Arrange the triangles the way you want them to hang. This is kind of important to me. I did a pink then green then pink then green... If you like the way they are arranged before you hang them then you won't have to take them down and rearrange. Just put them in an order that you like before you hang them up!



I used a twine to string my banner. I tied my string to a safety pin and used the pin to help thread the string through the pocket you created at the top of the banner. Once I strung each triangle I got some old burlap and cut a few strips and tied in between each triangle. I loved the way it looked.

I have to say it looks so darling without letters on it, however I couldn't stand it. I was having so much fun that I pulled out my cricut and cut MaryCam's name out in hot pink vinyl. You could leave it plain, or paint letters or stencil letters or buy alphabet stickers at the craft store. Possibilities are endless.



It turned out so adorable. Honestly it only took me about 45 minutes. I love it and I would do it exactly the same way again! I hope you try it and send me a pic. If you have any questions email or comment! I'm dying to know what you think!!!!









Thanks for stopping by! Happy Crafting! love love love Ruthie

Who is Your Neighbor?

[caption id="attachment_1632" align="alignleft" width="300"]         Joy to the World
6x6 Collage Acrylic Overlay[/caption]

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I love it! And I'm so glad you stopped by! Do you just love everything about this time of year? I do! I do! I do! I love the lights, the music, the cheesy movies...I love it all! There's just a feeling you have in your heart the whole month of December. Do you know what I mean? I bake more, I write more notes, I smile more, I wave at people I don't know....I can't really explain it, but I love it! Yesterday the twins and I met for ice cream after school, and I spoke to everyone in the place before I sat down to eat. I just feel like every day my heart is so full, and it overflows all day where ever I go. I love that!

Sunday our preacher, Mr Mac, read the story of the good Samaritan from the bible. (Luke 10:25-37) He asked the question, "Who is your neighbor?" Scripture teaches that the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. The obvious answer to Mr. Mac's question would be your spouse, your family and your friends. However, the convicting and compelling story of the good Samaritan reminds me that my "neighbor"is also that person whom I do not know and isn't at all like me. Not only that, but I am to love them as I love myself. Wow! When I think about how I love myself with just every day basic needs like food, clothing, and exercise. I even splurge on luxuries like treating myself to lunch or a new pair of shoes. I take good care of myself... and I am to love my "neighbor" with that same love and respect.  To me, loving my neighbor is an attitude of the heart. I don't believe we are born with that attitude. I believe we are born with a sinful and selfish heart, however with God's help I believe we can train our minds and our hearts to put others before ourselves and truly love them unselfishly. Love is not something you buy,but rather something you have that your share or give. It 's giving your time, or being kind, or a wave, a smile, a conversation, a listening ear, an encouraging word. It's all those things and more. To me it's being a reflection of Jesus. It's allowing Him to fill you up so that He can spill out on every one you meet! I LOVE that! So the next time you treat yourself to an hour in the gym or a cookie at the mall. remember to love your neighbor as yourself!

Love love love Ruthie                      I am making banners on my blog tomorrow so check it out!