Civity-Vill

Every year since I was 15 years old, I have a Christmas Party. I guess that's when my party planning bug first started. Part of my Christmas party decorations is to make a gingerbread house. Personally I see no point in keeping a gingerbread house around to gather dust and draw rats (just kidding about the rats). So with that in mind I let the kids demolish the house at the party. Over the years the house has gotten more elaborate. It was a ginger bread mansion for quite some time. This year I took it to another level and made a gingerbread town. I call it Cavity-vill. The kids went crazy. Now how can I top this next year?

Creche Trees

Every year my church put on a Creche exhibit (a creche is a nativity set, such as little figurines depicting the birth of Christ). This year I helped with the children's room. These 12 foot trees were my babies for about a week. Made out of cardboard cylinders, crumpled paper, spray paint, moss and even a few hand painted mushrooms made by my son Dane. I was lucky enough to have very talented ladies help me. and I'm really happy with how they turned out. Seeing the children's faces as they discovered the little creatures and mushrooms was magical.

Finn's 2nd Birthday

Seating For 11
8 Blue Ornaments

Cake for 10

9 Blue Party Balloons

12 Presents From Family
One Happy Little Boy

Night Photography with my Dad

All of these photos were taken in pitch black darkness with a long shutter and a hand held flash.

Girly Holiday fun

Self Protrait Photography Project Serious Face

I was having one of those rare moments in a woman's life where she feels really pretty. I wasn't wearing any makeup and had messy hair but felt beautiful none the less. I have been meaning to do a photo project like this and decided to seized the moment.

My first Convention!

I had such a blast a few weeks ago, at the Fab Mo convention. The best part was having all day to sit and talk with one of my dearest friends Cassie.

Napkin Rings

These two darling ladies looked so cute in their head bands

Cassie made some exquisite Christmas stockings!

Under the Sea

Matthew Field's Photo Shoot

Just a fun preview of some fabulous pictures yet to come.
Could I have asked for a cuter subject, I think not!

Fun shot

Back to school night

Taking a page out of Nie Nie dialogues I held a back to school night dinner. We ate like kings (how could we not with crowns like these) did a fashion show of our new clothes and back packs, made goals and the boys had their fathers blessings for a good school year. It was quite a delightful evening.

Oh the things Hands can do

I had this project for my photography class called "The things hands can do". The concept I was trying to convey was a wealthy overly adorned woman doing the dirty work. Thank you Ana for being my willing hand slave in the photo shoot. I've always thought you had the most beautiful hands.

Come visit my House

Now that I'm older I would give anything to take a tour of my childhood home. I have faint memories of how everything looked but I'm sure it would be very different from adult eyes. I can see bits and pieces in photos but can't quite get the full vision. So for this reason (and the fact that I just did a little re-decorating) I'm going to document some of my house (the parts that weren't messy that is).I just finished making this pillow a few days ago out of free fabric remnants. It has a hidden "L" "D" and "F" in it.

Why yes those are exposed pipes like a prison bathroom

We have an insane amount of toys, Rory's parents spoil our little darlings
every chance they get and we wouldn't have it any other way.

My Dad painted this and it makes me think of him every time I see it.

Someone has too much craft stuff....Rory! (just kidding it's mine)

Should I fry them up green? name that movieHis and Hers

I got most of these from e-bay and I'm just itching to have a tea party

My mom made me this quilt to remember different events in my childhood.

I have so many photos and used to have them in silly little groupings all over my house. Then Emily Deans gave me the idea of a gallery wall. Love it!

I eat cherry tomatoes like they're popcorn

Every woman needs a china cabinet,......for her inappropriate amount of dishes.

Great Craigs list find for $50 bucks!

Thanks to Margret Everton for this great idea.
I'm still collecting M's so send any you find my way.

This was a great idea given to me by Debbie Dickson. You dip fabric in liquid starch and smooth it onto a wall. It dries very secure and stiff. When it's time to move out of your apt you get it wet and it just peels off the wall with no damage. I used two curtain panels that happen to fit just perfectly. the whole thing took about 20 min.

Why Matthew and Julie are my hero's

Frozen Posies Emblem

I'm working on my emblem for Frozen Posies. Yes it's official I have chosen Frozen Posies as my photography name. Not only did it receive the most votes (on blogs, facebook, email and in person) but it also has the most meaning. It's a play on words like freeze frame and posing for a photo. It also brings back the childhood memories of ring around the posies. Which I love because children are involved in so many of my photo shoots. Capturing their ever changing expressions before they change with time is such a delight to me. I first thought that a posie was a type of flower and spend quite a bit of time trying to find one or at least a photo of one. Then I came to the realization that a posie refers to a group of flowers, any flowers at all. Those who know me, know that flowers are another passion of mine. My dear friend Angie and I have been doing wedding flowers together over the last year and on our own long before that. So with these frozen-flower-photography images in mind this is what I have come up with. It would appear in the bottom of my photos. Very small and probably just a pale grey.

Supper Star Chore Chart

We have been using this hyper detailed chore chart and it has changed our lives. It has pictures for each chore so the boys can follow along. If they earn enough stars they get the prize of the week. It takes a bit of effort to do but has paid off in leaps and bounds.

Aliens Everywhere

Lately I've been letting the boys draw things and then I color them in. It makes for quite a collaboration..... even with a little food on it.

Creatures from the Ground and Around

On a boring summer afternoon I took the boys on a hunting trip. With basket in hand we searched for "creature parts". I let them decide how they would look and did the hot glue gunning myself.

Ghost cooking

During one of our many fabulously fun and disastrous cooking sessions the boys wanted to take a few of what they call “ghost pictures” Quite scary indeed.

Matt & Julie's wedding

I did the flowers for my little brothers Matthew's wedding. I'm happy with how they turned and I'm ecstatic about my awesome new sister Julie.

Glam Glam Glam

A couple home made headpieces

Not feeling glamarous today? Well I'm sure it's nothing a feather headpiecs couldn't cure. I love nothing more than getting all dress up with my sisters for a fabulous event.

Alter Ego

In my photography class we had to create a photo that showed our alter ego.
This is my attempt at showing two sides of myself.

Be my Valentine

With a small budget and lots of love for my valentine I had to get creative this year. So with the help of Emily's painted branches idea, Fab Mo's free fabric and the photos from the picture booth at the Wheeler wedding.....voila we have a valentine! Rory my darling I love you.

feather phase

I have been in quite a little feather stage lately. I tend to go through periods of obsession with different materials. There was the copper kick, the go bold with gold phase, every shade and texture of white phase and so many more. My recent little ditty is these feather head bands. They are very easy to make and quite fun to wear. The peacock plumes get a lot of attention. I already have several requests. To make one yourself all you need is the feathers (Joann’s or Michaels) a headband, some felt and a hot glue gun. Just glue the feathers to the felt and the felt to the head band and voila!

A Bird Themed Baby Shower

How the time fly’s

photography Class

I’m taking a photography class this quarter and just loving it! We had to submit two photos to show our range of work. The first photo was an exercise of angles and the second was on Photoshop editing. I must say I love both.

Wreath Phase.......Phase 2

Liam and I were at Michaels craft store when we came upon a magical isle. It was the isle of glittery Christmas decorations. Our eyes became wide as we took in all the tiny rays of light shinning from every tiny gorgeous decoration. As we played glitter fairy and shook the items over our heads to create a glitter shower an idea came to me. A glitter wreath of course. A wreath that contained all the bright Christmas jewel tones and all the glitter my heart could desire. So we started loading he cart with the most beautiful pieces we could find. Flowers, tiny presents, sugared fruit, three birds (one for each boy), Glistening berries, shimmery snow flakes, sparkling pine cones and pomegranates. We got some glittery gold paint and enough hot glue gun sticks to air tight seal my whole house. After a bit of time and covering my house in glitter (that I’m sure I will be finding for years) I finished it. I then covered it in a clear lacquer spray to keep it from shedding glitter everywhere. The pictures don’t do it justice; you really have to see it in person to take in all it’s glitter-tastic-ness. Because of its very colorful, whimsical look I’m going to call it Glitter-Tasia. hahahah

Wreath Phase.......Phase 1

Some girlfriends and I were shopping at Le Cirque baby boutique in Menlo Park. It’s one of those fabulous “look don’t touch” stores that we love to go to and just dream….dream of spending $360.00 on a cashmere cardigan for our two year old, only for it to get sharpied ten minutes later. It has some incredible cloths, toys, books, bedding and décor. In my opinion; there are two reasons to go to le Cirque 1. To get what ever you can afford just to have in wrapped in one of their tiffany-esque blue boxes and 2. For great inspiration and decorating ideas. While we were there, we saw this incredible white feather wreath. It looked so soft, so plush, so glamorous and pure as the driven snow. We admired it for quite a while and checked out the tag. It read $112.00. Being the crafter little vixens that we are, we decided we could easily whip one up ourselves. So here is the product of some inspiration and trip to Michaels.

Table scapes

While growing up my parents called our chores “our battle stations”. The battle station that I always hoped for was setting the table. Trying different combinations of napkins, plates and table clothes was always such a joy to me. My insightful sister who is somewhat an organizational guru was once trying to help me organize and eliminate. I was worried that as she saw my four sets of dished and 50 plus table cloths and many more such items crammed into my china hutch that she would quickly make me get rid of half. But instead she looked at me and said “Anne I know you, I know you find joy in the details and I know you need lots of options”. She was and is so right, I take so much joy is setting a beautiful meal for my family and friends. Every detail thrills me from the napkin rings to whatever I can find outside to put in a vase. There are an endless number of embellishments to a table setting. Place cards, menus, candles, napkins, chargers and so much more. I know there are still countless creations to be found yet.