Neff-Fountain Wedding

February 25th, 2012 marked the day that my best friend Kimmie and her best friend, James got married. She was flawless by definition. He was a poster child for the all-American handsome Navy man. The entire day, utter perfection. I truly enjoyed getting to know all of these girls and being a part of Kimmie's amazing day.
I couldn't be happier for her.

No sew and Knitting

I saw this knitted scarf on Pinterest a month or so ago and fell in love. I love to knit (an art taught to me by my hubby :) when I can so instead of trying to find where to buy it, I figured out a way to make it. So much better!

This next project is for one of my best friends in the world, Kimmie. Kimmie is a beauty queen, a wonderful friend, hilarious, jack of all trades, Godly, committed and engaged to a handsome Navy man named James. I was asked to be her maid of honor for her February wedding. Of course, I shrilled an excited "YES!" As a maid of honor duty I am planning the bachelorette party and bridal shower. Her and I are equally un-thrilled with the selection of trashy bachelorette party gear that is sold on shelves these days, so away with the home made I go! Here's my first project:A Navy themed bachelorette party sash! She's a pageant girl so, rocking a cheesy/trashy sash would be below par. The best part about this project was it was all done with Liquid Stitch and Fray Check. A no sew project makes this girl a happy camper!
Here's how I did the anchor:

I drew an anchor on paper and cut it out. I then, traced around the anchor with a Sharpie and cut it out.
Then, I did the same tracing technique (but larger) in white lace. Next, I used Fray Check around the edges of both anchor and used Liquid Stitch to glue them together to then glue on to the sash.
DONE!

I can't wait for her to try it on!

KIMMER!!
I love you so much and am so happy for all of your successes in life and for your happiness. You have had an amazing journey of ups and downs that were so worth what you've been blessed with in the end. I'm rooting for you and will always be on your team. You are like a sister and I promise to not cry the ENTIRE day of your wedding. maybe.

A Grant wedding project train

When Nic and Alli were beginning their wedding plans, I was asked to be a part of the decorations committee which consisted of me and another bridesmaid (another one of 10 I might add :). We planned and plotted and schemed up the best way to make her idea of the perfect wedding come to life in an economical way... I think we pulled it off:

There was a mixture of natural, store bought, crafted, painted, glued, dyed, sewed, pinned and chopped all done in beautiful Fall colors (orange, green and brown).

Here's a little bit of the process:

I went to Grandma's farm to pick some pine cones out of her pine trees. We painted them brown and added a little bit of metallic.
Next, I dyed some doilies with coffee (I put ground coffee into a pouch I made out of a coffee filter) and dark plain lipton tea and boiled it altogether until the doilies started changing color.
I also made the boys' boutonnieres. Here's what I started with:
Make sure the flowers you choose are small and gather-able. Glue the ends with hot glue (you will burn your fingers... sorry)
It's easiest if you have something to bind or wind them with. I used a leaf from the flower bundle
Use floral wire to bind the stems.
I made the place settings for the head table and also for the family tables. I just printed their names on colored card stock and matted them, cut them out and hot glued them onto skewers cut in half. I stabbed the skewers into fruit once they were on the tables
Since every table had a similar but not identical center piece, I was able to do some random decorations just in case there was space to fill.
I also decorated hurricane vases with ribbon, left over flowers, wooden G's, had J cut some tree limbs into tea light candle holders to place around the hurricane center pieces. I brought lots of mason jars, candles, moss, limes, tangerines and extra vases.

I love, love me a wedding project!

Nic + Alli

Recently, my husband and I were both a part of our wonderful and dearest friends' wedding. What makes for a whirlwind weekend? Add several components: being a pretty large part of the set up/tear down/decoration element of a wedding, being in the bridal party/grooms party, traveling from out of town to said wedding and watching two of your best friends marry each other. It's a pretty amazing thing to be a part of a person's journey. It's extremely special to have had a good friend in Alli and for her to start dating a man who became my husbands good friend and for them to eventually have a family, get married and build a life together. They are such a large part of Jeremy and I's lives. We are so blessed to have such radiantly beautiful people in our lives. We love you more than we can ever say, Mr & Mrs Grant!

Wedding Season Continued

About 3 or so weeks ago I was asked by my sister in laws best friend to coordinate her wedding. I was blessed and honored to even be considered. And not simply because it was a big deal to be asked to be such a big part of someone's special day, but because of who Megan is. Who Megan and Josh both are. I have grown so incredibly fond of the two of them since meeting several years ago. Their love for one another is truly unique and inspiring. Anyone who knows them, can't help but smile at the thought of this remarkable couple. Weddings are always special for one reason or another, even it's at the thought of getting free food, let's be honest. But this wedding was jam packed full of special surprises, flawless planning, sweet family and moments that will permanently have a reserved section in my memory bank and was special for the love that they have for one another. It was a lot of work, but so worth seeing Megan's dream wedding come to life.

Thank you for all of the memories and for letting me be a part of your big day.
CONGRATULATIONS
to Megan and Josh Lenhardt
You deserve all of the happiness in the world.
We love you