Storm's a comin'

A couple of weeks ago, just getting settled back at home from a camping excursion,

my husband calls up the stairs, "Get your camera and come here!"

I've learned this is most likely something weird/cool/spectacular to be seen.

This time it was in the spectacular category.

There was a thunderstorm building behind our house toward the west.

I grabbed this shot, then he says, "Move over here."

Whoa............

The wind was blowing.  Everything had an eerie pink cast to it.

 And there I stood snapping pics of this awesome thunderhead.

We saw a few sprinkles, but the brunt of this big boy went north of us.

Wedding Projects

The chandeliers (previous post) helped set the theme for Kristin & Matt's wedding.

She decided to go with a shabby chic style that lends itself 

to a casual, vintage, handmade look.

The first thing I'm going to show you is actually the last thing I made.

We needed a little extra something-something for the registry table.

At the last minute, I whipped out this little sign and Mod-Podged it to a

shabbyied-up board.

We did the pew bows in a gauzy fabric. The glass bottles were also Mod-Podged with a label we created using their names and wedding date.  Just before the ceremony we popped in a sprig of fresh flowers.

Behind the cake you can see a bit of the lighted tulle wall.

It really softened up the area.

Kristin painted the "I DO" letters in front of the cake and embellished them with rhinestones.

 She attached her great grandmother's brooch to the ribbon on her bouquet.

Since there was a piano in the reception area that would have been murder to move, we pulled it from its crouching position in the corner and decorated it.

I printed the banner on scrapbook paper and strung it on ribbon.

 Instead of crystal flutes, the bride chose antique silver goblets for their official toast.

A very vintage photo-op, courtesy of my dad and his 1928 Model A.

Chandy redux

For the wedding reception, we had the task of transforming a 

very high-ceilinged, multi-purpose facility (gym)

into a beautiful bridal reception venue.

To give the illusion of a lower ceiling and a cozier, less industrial space

we began collecting the biggest brass chandeliers we could find.

We were amazed at the bounty once we began searching and gathered five in all.

Here is the before of one:

You get the idea.

We hung them outside and went through a bunch of cans of white spray paint.

I found a site online where I ordered dozens of crystals.

The Christmas ornaments came out just in time at Hobby Lobby

for yards of iridescent beads and crystal baubles.

Voila!

We even carried a smaller one on location for the bridal portrait shoot.

It was around these chandeliers we built the whole

shabby chic theme of the wedding and had a great time doing it!

Is it fall already?

Greetings, earthlings. I am new to this planet.

Ok, I've just been gone for a really long time.

I am posting fall pictures, because the minute I publish

 it will probably start snowing in the Deep South!

  So, there was summer..........

.........we had a wedding.......

......it was lovely.......

We finally managed to get away for a few days at the lake.

Because the job?  It has been busy!

We enjoyed the cooler weather, simple food, changing colors.

We soaked in the beautiful views.

 We listened to our Texas Rangers win the AL Pennant.

(I'm not discussing the World Series just yet)

There has been a lot going on the past few months.

This is what you call a thumbnail sketch.

This is what you call calling off the hecklers from the sidelines, 

the peanut gallery, (where exactly is that anyway?)

and the sly little commenters, here and elsewhere ;)

...all (3) of you that wanted a post!

I won't promise I'm back, but I'm close.