fun to-do

I am so excited about this weekend. I get to stay home for 4 whole days!!! I think we might make an outing after church on Sunday, but that doesn't count. It will be fun too! My fun to-do list for the long weekend includes: 

-finish decorating for Christmas

-Clean! [yes, I am that excited about having a clean house again]

-finish up some handmade Christmas gifts

-complete at least 4 paintings

-cook something yummy

-work on my crochet project

-wrap presents

-watch Christmas movies with the mr.

I am having project A.D.D. right now. I keep jumping around because I can't decide what I want to do first! This is just a tiny peek at some the gift projects I am working on. I have been obsessed with this turquoise fabric for a while now, and I love the gray dots. 

It is getting merrier around here all the time! 

Be happy...and merry! 

-Katie Beth

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Let the festivities begin!!!

I know I haven't posted in a while, and I have been wanting to so badly. The problem has been that I haven't really done anything worth posting. However! That does not mean that I haven't been busy. I have been so productive that I must admit I am proud of myself. I have had so many photo orders to get done for the holidays, and I am one photo book away from being completely done! But enough about that...

A few weeks ago I started this project on a night when I just needed a break. I mentioned it in this post. Well, I finally put the finishing touches on it today [after finally remembering to by a wreath hanger], and it is making our cruddy old [seriously old] front door look all festive! 

 

 

I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out for around $15.00. I am hoping we can get the tree decorated tomorrow before the mr. heads to work, and then I have all sorts of things planned for the weekend...we will see which things actually happen. 

The last couple of days I have had another small project going in my spare minutes. It has seriously been just minutes because this was such an easy project. I started with this:
 

[Both from Hobby Lobby]

I just printed off the numbers [I think the font was elephant] and used a tiny piece of graphite paper to transfer the image. Then I filled it in with the pen! It was so easy and so fast. They look exactly as they looked in my head. Now I don't want to sit a drink on them and mess them up! I might experiment with sealing them somehow.

I like this much more dramatic photo better, but the first one shows the project better. Yes, I over think things...

It is amazing the feeling that I get from completing a project like this. The hard part is that it doesn't satisfy a craving...it only fuels it! I have so many things I want to make! I have several small projects that I have almost finished and would love to share, but they are secret present projects. I love homemade gifts, and I have some cute things to wrap up! 

Be happy...and festive! 

-Kate

Going out the right way

So I mentioned earlier that I was working on my final sessions of the season. Today was actually my very last Arkansas session, and what a way to end the year! This couple was so fun and exactly the kind of couple I want to shoot. They were totally willing to climb around on the ground and work with my crazy instructions...not to mention they are a gorgeous couple! I could hardly pick from all the great shots. Here are some of my favorites: 

I seriously couldn't stop going through them until I was finished. I am so thankful for all the sessions I have got to do [especially this fall], and I am looking forward to getting all the Christmas orders wrapped up! 

Be happy! 

-Katie Beth

Last Sessions of the Season

I am back in Arkansas for my last group of photo sessions for the year. The weather is getting too cold, the holidays will get so busy, and I want to enjoy that time with my family. I always enjoy my sessions, but along with my other job it does take a lot out of me at times. I hope to get caught up and stay caught up so that I can work on my paintings. It has really been working on me that I couldn't get time to clean my house much less pick up a paint brush. I look forward to Spring and the sessions that will come with it. I will be refreshed with new ideas and updates full of helpful information added to my website and Facebook page. So really, I am taking this break to revamp some things and make some improvements. Hopefully it will only make things bigger and better! 

I did have a late afternoon session yesterday with a couple of cute kids. Darcie is a doll with tons of spunk, and Cole [who has grown up a lot since I last saw him!] is a sweet kid and a great big brother. 

I have two sessions Sunday, and then I am wrapping it up. Then I will be in Christmas shopping mode full force! I am looking forward to Zona Rosa with the mr, Branson with mom, Candi, and Georgie, and all the other fun things the holidays will bring. Hopefully I will have lots of Christmas crafties and transformations to share as well! 

Be happy...and festive! 

-Katie Beth

Sanity craft

Even though I got almost all of my photo editing finished yesterday I came home from work today feeling a bit overwhelmed. I didn't even sit down to my computer because I knew there would be emails and things waiting there for me. I just didn't feel able to deal with it at the time...so I cleaned out my closet and made caramel fudge brownies! I also finally got to a fun project I have been planning since the first of the year. It was my Tuesday night sanity craft. I needed to not think about how messy my house is or all the other things I need to do, and this project was an escape. I also have been feeling the need to physically make something with my hands instead of just clicking around on my computer. This was just what I needed! Due to the dark, yucky lighting I will take a final photo later on, but here is a preview close up.

I am very pleased with how it turned out, and I can't wait to add the finishing touch and share a completed photo! 

Be happy...and festive! 

-Kate

The great office overhaul of 2011

Today was a busy day, but it was a nice change of pace. This morning I went with my mother-in-law to a craft fair and a few antique shops. I was home in time to work on some things [before the Sweet and Savory event tonight], but I just couldn't sit in front of a computer screen editing photos today. Don't get me wrong...I love photography and editing and all that, but a girl needs a break every now and then! My office has been a horrendous disaster for such a long time. I think it has gotten even worse because since I got my laptop I can just leave the room and still work without looking at the mess. My craft table has been so piled that I couldn't even use it, and everything that didn't have a place elsewhere in the house ended up in the floor of that room. This is what resulted: 

I know...it is bad...you can barely walk...I am ashamed...

The only reason I even [hang my head and] share this is in hopes that it will make me work even harder to get it in a condition that is presentable. I worked on it quite a bit today, and I made a lot of progress. I still have shelves to hang, and lots of organization to get done. It will get there though! I plan to do some more work on it Sunday afternoon if possible. I am actually looking forward to it! 

Be happy...and don't judge me because of my dirty office/craft space. 

-Katie Beth