Summer Sale

Pop over and check out Lilac Vale's Summer Sale!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LilacVale

If you see something you like that's not on sale, send me a message and we can discuss the possibility of a discount! Have a blessed day! :)

A Dream Fulfilled

I have dreamed of having an Etsy shop for quite some time. While I was in college, I did not have the time; however, now that I have graduated, I found it possible to fulfill my dream. My shop mainly features vintage items courtesy of my grandmother and a few simple things that I made. If you'd like to pop by, I've attached the link below or you can find the link on my sidebar to the right. Happy shopping!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LilacVale

Stitches of Faith

Eyes squinting, I count the stitches. Over one, two, three; up four, five. I glance once more at the pattern. The tiny black and white shapes blend before my eyes in a swirl of confusion. Despairingly, I glance back at the floss-riddled fabric in my hands. It doesn’t look anything like the pristine model in the picture. 

Maybe if I change this part and add a few more dark patches here it will even out. In hasty confidence, I forge ahead. However, my ingenious improvements only succeed in worsening the tangle of threads. In abject repentance, I painstakingly pick the prodigal stitches with my needle. Cut and pull, cut and pull.

I glance again at the pattern. The limp material in my lap doesn’t look anything like the model, but placing my trust in the Designer, I submissively follow the steps laid before me. Every so often I glance at the flawless photo of the Designer’s creativity with the faint hope that mine will turn out the same. 

Several hours later I gaze at the masterpiece before my eyes. What I thought was an oversight on the Designer’s part was really part of an intricate plan in the mind of an artist greater than myself. All I needed to do was have faith in the plan of the Designer.

 

A Busy Weekend

This weekend has been delightfully full. The kind of fullness that tires you out just enough to improve your sleeping habits. :)



I've been making one or two cards each day as well as putting the finishing touches on some I've already completed.



More graduation cards.



I finally finished my cheese boxes!!! This project has been going one since the beginning of summer and was put on hold until I could find the right material.



My mother and grandmother helped me can some bread and butter pickles and salsa on Saturday. I hope the pickles turned out okay because I didn't use pickling cucumbers.



In other news, it has been extremely hot and humid lately. This week it's supposed to get in the triple digits! Above my pink cosmos are soaking up the sunshine.



My garden phlox that I planted this spring are doing well. My sweet peas aren't so happy. They are full sun plants, but for some reason they have been turning yellow and brown. Anyone have any tips for creating happy sweet peas?

Card-Making Continued

I've discovered that there is a large discrepancy between the ratio of cardstock to ribbons and buttons. I've used up about half of my cardstock but only a quarter of my ribbons and buttons. I suppose that's due to my love of simplicity.



Flower card. This flower was orginally pinned onto a dress I bought, but it looked tacky so I took it off. I pulled the pin off the back, and it goes very nicely with my green ribbon.



Thinking of you.



The wedding collection.



Valentine's day card.



Baby card.



The little black dress card. I have no idea what this card could be used for. Maybe as an invitation for a girl's night out?



Christmas card.



Another flowery card. As always, any suggestions would be appreciated. :)

Card-Making

A while back I determined not to buy any more craft supplies until I used up everything in our house. I have a feeling I will be "using stuff up" for years to come. With each new cleaning spree, or gift of used craft supplies, my pile keeps growing.

Recently, I noticed an excess of ribbon and buttons cluttering my drawers, so I decided to try my hand at card-making. Card-making is an extremely diverting activity because it gets your creativity flowing and with each card accomplished you feel a deep satisfaction knowing that your creation will bless someone. I myself am a card-hoarder and I have a box and drawer full of cards, letters and notes. I enjoy going back through them and remembering fun times and blossoming friendships. I'd love to think that my cards will evoke similar feelings and memories someday.



Anchors Away! Happy Patriot's Day!



Congratulations on your new bundle of joy! She's as cute as a button!



Congratulations, graduate. You have a bright future ahead of you!



May God richly bless your marriage as you start your new life together.



Congratulations on your new laundry-maker!

I'm planning to make more cards today. I'd appreciate any suggestions for witty captions or verses to place on the inside. :)

Projects projects projects

Ever since I came home for Christmas break, I've been trying to reduce the enormous pile of extra materials in my closet. Leftover fabric, stuffing, yarn, beads, hemp, cross-stitch material, embroidery thread, the list goes on. I've managed to use up about half the materials since I've been here and it's certainly nice to have a little more closet space!



Here is my second attempt at a Raggedy-Ann style doll and in my opinion an enormous improvement on the first. I did have a little trouble with the permanent marker bleeding over the lines, but I touched it up a little after I took this picture.



I used up all the leftover stuffing and a large bolt of fabric making this lovely red pillow.



In my bag of fabric there were also some scraps of adorable pink plaid, which I turned into this cute half-apron. I thought there would only be enough to do a child-sized apron, but it turned out big enough for a small adult to wear.



And I finally finished my green scarf! I started it over thanksgiving break, but in the hustle and bustle of things it got laid aside, and I didn't finish it until day before yesterday.

Recently I've started a new project that I am very excited about! I don't want to tell what it is until I'm finished, but I'm planning on having it done before the end of next week. I'm taking step by step pictures, so I promise to post about it as soon as I'm done. :) Hope everyone had a lovely New Year!

Christmas Crafts

Winter is my favorite time for crafting. It's so delicious to sit by the toasty fire and knit, or curl up on the couch with a book. Here are a few crafts I've been working on recently.



These are the promised pictures of the scarf I've been working on. It isn't finished yet because it was laid aside amidst the busyness of packing and exams, but now that I'm on break I'm hoping to have it done by Christmas.



I'm using a soft acrylic yarn in a lovely olive green color.



Here's one of my favorite creations. I named it the Jingle Bell Wreath because it jingles merrily whenever someone walks through the door. Believe it or not, making the wreath was the easy part--it was tying the bow that gave me so much trouble!



This is my attempt at making a Raggedy Ann style doll. She is 100% hand sewn and hand stuffed. I drew the face on with permanent marker, but I didn't get it quite right. Hopefully with practice I'll do better next time.

For now, these crafts are going in my Etsy box. If I do get around to starting an Etsy shop, it might be awhile from now because I have to get a credit card and build up an inventory first. :) Hope everyone is staying warm and enjoying the season!

The Delights of the Season

Well, I have a whole ten days off for thanksgiving break and it is good to be home!



One thing I've missed about home is all my creative outlets. Cooking, baking, knitting, riding, taking walks, gardening, playing the piano, etc. Now that I'm on break, I've decided to make up for lost time! Above is a grapevine wreath I made from mom's cuttings and decorated with some ribbon.



One of my favorite things about winter is candlelight dinners! So the other night I lit some candles and enjoyed a solitary pizza dinner.



I've also been knitting up a storm. I've already finished the scarf in this picture and started another one. The one I'm making now is a lovely olive green. I'll post some pictures when I get it finished.

I realize this week is probably hectic for everyone with thanksgiving just around the corner, but don't forget to slow down and soak in the delights of the season! :)

Life

This week I begin my long-awaited spring break! To keep myself from becoming too bored, I've been sifting through my project bag looking for various things to occupy my time. I found an old half-finished cross stitch project this week that I finished and framed. I started this cross stitch about six years ago.



I've also been doing some mending for my summer wardrobe. My grandmother gave me this lovely cotton skirt to wear, but it's a women's size 12. I have very slowly and tentatively started to take in the waist. I am still working on getting the waistband off--I had to use a seam ripper and I'm still only halfway finished.



Since sewing is not my strong point, I try to work slowly and thoughtfully so I don't mess it up or become frustrated. This skirt is very full with a high, fitted waistband, pleats, and decorative blue and silver stitching. It should turn out nicely if I don't ruin it in the process.



On a lighter note, it's definitely spring outside! I've been working some in my garden and my rosebushes are doing well. I planted a new hybrid tea called a "Queen Elizabeth" that has large, light pink blooms. I also dug up and transplanted several runners from my mom's lilac bush and they appear to be very happy. You can't see them in this picture but I planted them just to the left of those two chairs.



In the greenhouse my sweet alyssum are coming up nicely though nowhere near as fast as I'd like. I've decided from now on I'm simply going to buy plants from nurseries instead of raising them from seeds. It saves a lot of time, work, they generally do better, and it's only a few dollars more. Still, it's been a good experience.



I've also been doing a lot of reading in my free time. In the past two weeks I've read My Ántonia, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, The Last of the Mohicans, and I'm working through A Young Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George. So far it's very good.

Although my spring break is a lot longer than most people's (a week and a half) I know it'll fly by. Each day is precious because it's the last spring I'll be living at home for awhile, so I'm going to savor it while it lasts. Happy Spring!