It’s time for fall photo sessions! I’ve been busy creating a fun fall theme for the kiddos that will also lend itself to getting some beautiful portraits. We begin the session photographing children in front of a white wall with simple props that will be suitable for creating classic wall art to hang in your home.
Aren’t they Adorable?
After getting the classic images, children will be invited to play in the red wagon and the John Deere tractor. While shopping for John Deere toys to enhance the fall theme I found the large tractor at Target. What child can resist a ride on a tractor? And, thanks to my mother, we now own it! We will load the wagon and trailer with pumpkins and siblings to create memorable photos. The kids will look adorable in their overalls and plaid shirts!
Radio Flyer Wagon with Fall Pumpkins
Adorable John Deere Tractor with Pumpkins
Teddy Bear and Red Wagon
Teddy Bear on a John Deere Tractor
Photos can be beautifully edited as is, or families may choose from several backgrounds that are perfect for the classic images and the wagon or tractor. All of the images will have ground cover with fall leaves.
Gray Weathered Fence Background
Rustic Wood Photo Background
Worn Red Barn Walls
Rustic Wood with Peeling White Paint
Gray Weathered Barn Doors
The children’s photo studio is set up for kids to have a fun experience. Toys appropriate to the theme are available to play with while listening to music that makes children feel comfortable.
More of my work with children can be seen on the photography page and the fall page. Fall sessions may be scheduled in September through early October. Families can contact me for more information and to schedule a photo session at 971-506-8911.
Our girl’s weekend began Friday morning when I picked Misty-Jade up from the airport. From there we found a wonderful breakfast at the Henhouse Cafe in Gilbert where many traditional foods are served with a Mexican flavor. We shared a Santa Fe omelete and a lemon blueberry mascarpone pancake. The food was awesome and followed by a short shopping trip to the mall.
Later in the day Gramma and Misty-Jade made tassels for her blanket and the DIY tree branch to decorate her bedroom while I began preparing fabric for our pillows. The chunky tassels are super easy to make, and directions can be found on many internet sites. We used directions from Design Sponge. The tree branch was spray painted white before attaching tassels.
Making Tassels
Orange, Blue, and White Tassels
DIY Home Decor made from a Tree Branch and Tassels
Marble Dipped Vases and a Blanket
Saturday morning Misty-Jade created marble-dipped vases. It took a few tries to make it work, but the end result was perfect! We did find that the nail polish will flake off, so we’ll see if we can find a sealant to spray on them.
DIY Marbleized Glass Vase
DIY Marble Dipped Glass Vase
Black, Gray, and White Nail Polish Floating in Water
After finishing the vases, we began working on the blanket. One side was cut from navy blue fleece and the other was cut from white Shannon Cuddle fabric which feels very luxurious! A monogram matching Misty-Jade’s bath towels was embroidered in the corner. Then the tassels were tacked to the navy fleece before sewing both fabrics together to form a cozy blanket with just the right feel and weight. I’m sure she’ll appreciate this blanket on cold, snowy Utah nights!
Cutting Blanket Fleece
Sewing Blanket Tassels
Blanket with Monogrammed M
Finished Blanket with Orange Monogram M
Finished Cuddle and Fleece Blanket
Blanket Made with Shannon Cuddle and Fleee
We ended our day with an outing to the Harkin’s Theater to see the “Lion King” followed by a swim in our pool.
Waffle Breakfast and Pillows
Sunday morning began with healthy Easy Oat Waffles. We grind our own grains ensuring our flours are fresh. One of my favorite sites for healthy and organic foods is Forks Over Knives.
The rest of the day was used for finishing the blanket and pillows. My mom and I love pillows but have found that there’s not enough room to store all the different pillows for every season or holiday. Envelope pillow cases solved that problem, so now we only have to change the pillow cases which are much easier to store. The DIY directions by So Much Better With Age are super simple and easy to follow. I also found a tutorial at sew4home that helps to maintain the square corners of the pillow. You can see the difference in the corners of the beige pillow in the pictures. Each pillow front was embroidered with a fall design before construction. We’re making five more pillows before September with additional designs.
Black and White Gingham Harvest Time Pumpkin Pillow
Fall Bicycle Pillow in Red on Black and White Gingham
Harvest Time Pillow on Sparkly Home Decor Fabric
Pumpkin Embroidery
Relaxing and a Birthday Celebration
A girl’s weekend retreat would not be complete without relaxing, cooking, watching movies and just spending time together.
I took the beach house and headed up to Puyallup, WA a few weeks ago to attend the Sewing and Stitchery Expo. The shopping was incredible, and there were way too many seminars to choose from! I went home with a multitude of patterns, tools, and ideas to keep me busy for a couple years:)
I’m in Love with the Bunny!
I fell in love with the purple cuddle rose rabbit that was sitting in the Carol’s Zoo booth. The pattern was purchased, and I finished the rabbit a couple weeks ago. The rabbit was made from Shannon cuddle rose fabric in snow white, and the eyes and nose were purchased from Carol’s Zoo. They can also be purchased in bulk online. Carol had made plastic templates of her patterns, so I bought the plastic at Joann’s thinking it would be easier to use than paper for tracing the patterns onto cuddle, minky and fur fabrics.
Cuddle Rose Fabric
Template Plastic Info
Plastic Rabbit Template
Seam Tool
Purple Rose Cuddle Rabbit
Carol’s Zoo Rabbit Pattern
The plastic templates were perfect and made tracing very easy.
Rabbit Pattern Tracing
Patterns on Fabric
Finding the Straight Grain on the Fabric
Cut Rabbit Pieces
A minky and cuddle workshop was offered at the expo where participants were given many helpful ideas for working with these fabrics. Since the fabrics are slippery, the presenter suggested using lots of pins or clips. I purchased a box of Clover’s Wonder Clips and was very pleased with them. I probably over clipped the rabbit, but it didn’t slip while sewing. After the rabbit was sewn together, it was stuffed with just enough fiber fill to give it shape, but loosely enough to cuddle with. A yellow ribbon was chosen for Gymhawk colors, and it works for Easter too. The Easter card was made with my Silhouette Cameo.
Fabric with Wonder Clips
Front of Rabbit
Ready to Sew Front and Back Together
This Rabbit Needs some Stuffing!
This Bunny is Just Too Cute!
Easter Bunny and Card
Best Friends Forever!
The rabbit was shipped to its new home in Iowa and is now best friends with the most well loved green bunny. Fourteen years ago the ER nurses gave the green rabbit to Misty-Jade after she broke her elbow. The rabbit has been to every gymnastics meet since, traveled all over the country, and rescued several times after being left in stores. She now has her own ID tag! I only wish I could thank the nurses who gave the rabbit to her. The rabbit helped Misty-Jade get through surgery, a year of physical therapy, and a change in gyms.
Beach House Adventures 