You ought to know...

I wanted to share a few random sites and shops that if you do not already know about, you ought to.

First off can I just share that a marriage is one of the most important but hardest things you will ever work on. I think you learn constantly with everything you do, and there is always room to grow! Though each marriage is different, they can all grow, and use knowledge from others.
The first you ought to know is a facebook page by my friend Christina called my marriage matters to me. The name says it all. Make sure you check it out, and like it!

Amanda is a friend of mine from church, and I have learned so much from her. God has really used her and she is inspirational to me. Her and her husbands testimony is all God, and she is really a blessing in my life. She has an awesome book, Prayers of agreement for wives, and facebook page. It is so important to pray for your husbands, and this book is a wonderful way to do it. Starting tomorrow, Nov. 1st we will be praying together for the month. Even if you do not have the book, you can pray along with facebook, just "like" the page.

Next is a new bloggy friend, Teresa. She makes and sells beautiful jewelry, and also has a blog and facebook page. Go on and "like" her as well.

If you have never been inspired by this next lady, then read her blog and you will. She is going through some crazy medical problems right now, but she still is able to be strong and beautiful. So many people are praying for her and her family, but I know that her story is helping others and we can all praise God for her healing. Have I also mentioned how ridiculously talented she is? Oh and my toilet paper wreath was featured on her little ole (really it is HUGE) blog! I was starstruck!

Last for today is a shop that needs no intro. Stefani ordered some nail shields, and I did not realize that she was behind this super famous etsy shop. Well I had to get some pendants, and she even threw in a few surprises for me. They are so cute and fun. I am thinking I need a charm bracelet of different pendants. This is just one of the five I have. Addicting, but very reasonably priced, they would make a great gift!

Well those are my suggestions for today. Do you know how much you help a business or page by liking them, or buying from a handmade shop? A ton! So help someone out, and look at the links above! Do you have any links that I need to check out? Any handmade Christmas shopping I should know about, I would love to hear about them!

Doll and Doll bed

When I was a little girl, my grandmother made me this beautiful doll. I can't remember what I named her, but thankfully I knew to take really good care of her.

My favorite thing about her is that she also has beautiful undergarments that make perfect pajamas.

My Great-Grandmother made me a doll bed with pillow and quilt. It was a perfect place for my dolls to sleep, and rest. This is one thing that I now keep in mind to make as gifts for other little girls in our life.

So much fun to be a little girl and play with dolls. I hope one day I can find another little girl to enjoy these things as much as I did.

Well that is probably the end of the homemade showcase for now. I enjoyed sharing everything that has been lovingly handmade for us, but I am ready to get back to making some things of my own! More crafty things coming soon, have a wonderful weekend!

Quilts

What I wanted to show you today is all of the beautiful quilts I have. I really want to make a quilt this year. In fact I have at least 3 in mind. I just need to execute, as with every other craft. These quilts are so inspiring to me, and it amazes me how talented my family is.

The pictures may not be the greatest, but I was not about to lay these out of the lawn, so they will have to do.

The first quilt is a smaller/child sized quilt that Jeremy's Grandma made for him when he was young. Brady is modeling just exactly how you sleep with the quilt.

 Second is my butterfly quilt that my Great Aunt made for me. It is a really well machine quilted quilt. Although I am not sure if sure did some hand stiching, like the binding, or not. We still sleep with this one, and it is our most functional quilt.  

 This quilt is the most sentimental for me. My great-grandmother made it for me, just as she made all the Grandkids a quilt. I really loved this quilt, and it shows. I finally made myself put it away and stop using it several years ago after it was starting to get really worn down. She did all hand quilting and it is really amazing, I cannot imagine how long it must have taken.

 Here is just some of the proof that this quilt has been well loved and used. Just getting it out and looking at it made me want to snuggle up with it and take a nice nap. I love that thing.

 This last one is a very special quilt. My Grandmother entrusted it to me recently, and I am very honored. It was made by my Grandmother's, Grandmother's sister-in-law. (I think that is right, Grandma correct me if I am wrong.) So that would be my Great-Great Grandmother's Sister-in-law. The age of it is not quite known, but considering my great-Grandma was born in the late 1800's, I would think it has to be over 100 years old.

 It is so beautiful, and the detail is amazing. It was all hand quilted, and must have taken years! My Grandma thinks it might have been a kit, that comes together and you sew. The picture seriously does not do it justice, and it is in such great condition.

 Once we expand our house and finish our basement, I hope to use it in the guest room because it is so pretty.

I love quilts and all of the work and love that goes into them. I thankful to have these, and ready to try to make some of my own!  

Blanket Bundle

I am going to try to do some catch up blogging today, due to being sick this week, (I am the worst sick person), and a computer crash. The laptop finally died. After Brady attempted to snap it in two a year ago, it never worked the same. A quarter of the screen was gone, but we dealt with it. I felt bad for my poor husband using it for work. For the past few months the battery has been dead, but we were okay with it as long as it was plugged in. I knew it was on it's way down, so before Christmas I saved all of our important things, and pictures to discs. The laptop had become our main computer due to the home pc being like 9 years old and super slow! The past few weeks, the laptop would no longer stay on if plugged in. It started to where the plug would have to be just right, then it needed to be held in with pressure, then finally it would not stay on at all. I tried to work with it yesterday but even while holding the plug in, it would not work. I am so thankful that I saved everything so recently. We really lost very little, just a few fun craft ideas that I have no time to do anyway! We got a new laptop last night, and I love being able to see the screen, and the fact that it can come unplugged, imagine that! Now I am back to blogging!

My Grandmother made Brady and I little fleece blanket bundles. They are cozy, and include the pillow, and are so perfect for traveling. Anytime Brady sleeps away from home, he brings his. It was perfect to have while I was working, so that he could have a bit of home with him for naps. In fact he sleeps with his almost every night.

It a great size when unfolded, and super comfy.

 The pillow fits in the pocket, and so does the blanket, ready to travel. So cute with his name on it.

 He had to have a picture of how he sleeps on it.

 I have one too. In a zebra print. They are perfect, thanks Grandma!  

 

Felt lunch

Also from my mom, Brady got a felt lunch. It is too cute. We got him a play kitchen for Christmas, (so he can be a chef and between him and his father I will never have to cook again), so it goes perfectly with it. It is all felt, and all hand sewn. Such great detail, she has a ton of patience.

First is a peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich, with a bag of chips. I love how the chips look like ruffles. Brady loves to count how many chips he "eats". 

 Next is a sandwich with american cheese, swiss cheese, bologna, tomato, and lettuce. The tomato and lettuce are my favorite.

 What a perfect meal! Thanks Grandma!

Tooth Fairy Pillow

As you will see from the next few blog posts, I come from a line of very talented women. Both of my Grandmother's are excellent artists and painters. They are also fantastic seamstresses. My Great-Grandma was an amazing hand quilter. Looking at some of her quilts just amazes me. My Great-Aunt was a great quilter and she made a living making beautiful ceramics. And my mom is a great crafter, when she wants to be.

Today I wanted to show off  a Christmas present Brady received this year. It is a tooth fairy pillow made by my Grandma.

Isn't so cute? I love the hand embroidery. And of course the back has a little pocket for a newly lost tooth.

Even though Brady is awhile off from losing any teeth, he loves it and sleeps with it most nights.

It reminds me of a certain pillow I had when I was a girl.

It also has a perfect pocket for lost teeth.

My Great-Grandma made it for me, and I slept with it long after all my teeth were lost. It has had a lot of use, and it shows, but it will make another little girl happy someday, I am sure.

Matryoshka doll

I have received many handmade things recently that are beautiful, but not made by me. There are so many things in fact, that I wanted to spend a few posts on them to show them to you.

First I start with a Christmas present from my mom. For a charity bazaar she made these cute felt, Matryoshka doll ornaments. Along with other items women sold in the bazaar they had a great contribution to the orphanage's in Russia.

I could have gotten better pictures, but that would involve going back into all the Christmas things, and that is not happening for a long time.
Interestingly, even though Matryoshka dolls are very popular in the United states right now, they are not in Russia. Crazy how that happens. I love handmade things from the people I love, check back for more soon.