marching along

Wow what a busy month March has been! The times flies. I haven't blogged for a whole month! I am not sure if this will become the new norm but if so I am happy to still update "Tulle and Felt" on a month to month basis ;)

It is now my most favorite season- SPRING- YAY! And it has actually been feeling like it with the sporadic rain and moderate sunshine. I am happy :) And so blessed by what God has been doing in my life:

I am moving! Tomorrow actually! It came up quick and was pretty unexpected. I love when the Lord leads you in a direction that is totally awesome and out of the blue. After 2 1/2 years the dear Dandelion Home will be no more. All of us ladies felt like we were ready to move on and at the same time a couple (who are a precious couple) of my dear friends needed a roommate! So with that me and the Kulagas (Dave & Rita and their childrens Isaiah & Laila!) are renting a lovely and peaceful haven in Citrus Heights. It is perfect for us! And one thing I am very excited about? This will be the first time I have my own room in FOUR YEARS!! Haha, 4 1/2 to be really exact ;) Living in close quarters community has been such the blessing and I certainly don't regret any of it, however I am really looking forward to having a little more quiet space. But not too much quiet space because I will be living with friends and their precious kids which I know will be way fun!

bedroom inspirtation from Anthro


I am going to paint my room something like this shade of coral, wee!




One of my long time and super sweet heart friends Vanessa got married on the 10th! It was such a beautiful wedding and if we are Facebook friends I am sure you saw lots of pictures. However here are a few of my favs:


Us ladies out in front of the church :)


The Ceremony!



Beautiful bride!

Kiersten and Laurin were such fun dates, we had a blast and my favorite part was bursting into tears when I caught my first peek of Vanessa and her Dad waiting to proceed down the isle. Oh and when her Dad cried giving his speech, and well actually I had a lot of favorite moments ;) I am most happy to see their love and happiness together! Ok and another favorite moment- EK, the Mother of the Bride and also my dear friend, out on the dance floor! Haha, I love that lady :)


I spent time with my brothers this month which seriously is one of my all time favorite things in life! And not only did I get to see them and spend time with them (and my nephews!) individually but I got to see the 3 of them all at once! It may seem like no big deal to some but for me since we 4 are very rarely in the same geographical location I was blessed! James, Ryan and Jack are their names and I love them so! Here we are all together:



And my nephews are SO precious! This auntie does wish she wasn't a 3 hour drive away. However whenever we do get to spend time it's the best. This visit Rain was such a cuddle bug! We had some good bonding time :)


Here is a dress I made at me and Rita's weekly "Craft Nite"

I need to take in the back a bit but overall I was pleased with the outcome :)

Lastly it's not earth shaking news or anything but I am officially a blonde again, haha ;) I really enjoyed my red hair but I couldn't keep away for long :) Laurin bleached the top of my hair and it's quite bright- I really like it!

I took this picure after work one day, I was diggin my do ;)


I am really enjoying this time in my life. I am so excited about this next season with the move and starting up school again soon. Also I really am loving my job, I feel so blessed getting to work with the girls and everything else it entails! Wow Papa does know how to bring it ;)

Anywho that is all for now...Happy almost Easter!

tee-of the-week

In a previous post I had mentioned my desire to start a new project this year, one where I refurbish a new tee/sweatshirt each week. Being the 9th week of the year I have not completed 9 projects in a "one each week" time frame but I still have been keeping in step with the heart of my goal by refurbishing the old t-shirts I have had lying around! Here are a few favorite ones that I have completed so far: This top was just a run of the mill item from Charlotte Russe that I got at FreeStyle. The problem was there was a little hole on the top which for being so small was still pretty noticeable. So I covered that side with rick-rack and voila! It reminds me of something from Anthro now. (Just because of the big detail, not to toot my horn or anything ;) ) I also swapped out the buttons for some colorful ones to make it more fun.
This has been one of my favorite tee shirts for a few years. The problem is though with favorite tee shirts is they can really get worn out! This one had those annoying holes that thin tees get right where it hits the belt area of your jeans (do you know what I am talking about??) and also a couple smudges and stains from I don't even know what. Anyhoo I had this cool table runner that I thrifted and was waiting for a proper purpose to use it for. This was an easy fix - I just sewed a section of the runner right down the front and covered all the boo-boos! Haha now I can wear this tee again and not feel grungy. :)

This V-neck was already pretty worn out when I bought it from FreeStyle's half off rack. But I figured for $4 I could bring some new life back into it! To distract from the "balling" fabric (another annoyance of cute but cheap/thin clothing) I added some feminine details - the flower applique, ribbon around the waist to tie it and therefore giving it a different shape and then some lace on the sleeves. It's a nice updated basic that I have worn a few times already!

This project I was especially excited about. I saw a similar sweater at FreeStyle a few months back and thought to myself "Eh why buy that when I could make it myself?" But how many times do we crafty ladies say that and never actually complete the project? I found this grey sweater on sale at Target for $6 and thought it would be perfect for the job! It's nothing TOO fancy but still I am pretty pleased with it. I can stay cozy with it's soft material and oversize fit but still have some femininity happening. Here is a close up of the detail I did:
Here I am wearing the sweater, pardon the facial expression- I think the sun was in my eyes ;)

I have been wearing alot of this fuchsia color lately! It just keeps grabbing my eye ;)

I re purposed this discarded bulletin board from the girl's home that I work at. The fabric was in a batch of free materials I got from Sierra College's fashion closet a couple years back. I am glad to see it being used and am excited to hang this piece up at work! I attached the x's of ribbon so that pictures or whatever can be displayed on the board, this project was fun and easy :)




Photo collage I made with the Valentine Laurin gave me. It was a reminder of what I felt God was saying to me last month about this time in my life: Enjoy the season! And so I am :)

In closing me and my friend Margarita have opened up an Etsy shop! Nothing has been posted just yet but I will be promoting soon once we get things rolling. That is all for now :)

last day

Last Friday, January 20th, I worked my last shift at FreeStyle Clothing Exchange. A manager for 2 3/4 years and employed there for almost a total of 5 years, this job has been a significant part of my life! Bittersweet as it came to a close, I had a revelation that sounds a bit like it's out of a greeting card (probably because it is)

An end is the price you have to pay for a new beginning.

Pretty simple but a healthy reminder to me why I was feeling like I needed to move on. The cool part about leaving my job at the store is that I left on such amazing terms! I would even say the last 6 months of my employment there was the best. The staff throughout my whole job was always phenomenal and I enjoyed my job more and more as time went on. It was a really fun experience. Why then, you may be asking yourself, would I choose to leave?

About a year and half ago it was really on my heart to start working with kids, youth and families but I wasn't sure fully how to go about it. I started to go back to school for this reason but in the midst of it I still had this yearning desire to be involved with kids presently on a daily basis. Working in customer service was a great avenue for this kind of daily people interaction but I still was hoping for more. Making the decision to leave FreeStyle wasn't an easy one, like I said it was so much more than a job to me, but with God's grace I was able to go forward boldly and now I am starting my dream job in just a few days, working with teenagers at Koinonia Foster Homes!

A few months ago FreeStyle became more closely involved with Koinonia by sending donations to one of the girl's houses and collaborating with other events/fundraisers. Last month my former employer and dear friend Elizabeth and I had the pleasure of delivering a check to Koinonia which was the end result of our Christmas Fundraiser we did for the girl's houses.

I love this picture because it represents the store getting to reach out to the community but also here I am with my former employer and also with my new one! The Lord really blessed me with this new opportunity and has made the transition process not only peaceful but enjoyable. I love it when the Lord puts something on your heart and then totally makes a way for you, even though it took much patience on my part haha, yay! I am very excited to be on this new adventure :)



Also I had a birthday last week, woot woot! (It has been a very eventful few weeks!)
This year I was really hoping to keep it simple and not only did I get that but I also felt so blessed, loved and cherished by my friends and family, aw! My lovely friend Margarita made me a delicious salad and soup dinner followed with an all organic carrot cake because she knows those are all some of my favorite things to eat! (What a babe) Most of my close friends were there and we just had a fun night talking and spending time together. The next day Kiersten and I went for a hike and it was a gorgeous day out! We also had a fantastic time just talking and hanging (can you tell that is what I enjoy most?) while powering through the trails. "We are women, hear us roar!" ;) Pictures:




















Beautiful friends :)



My amazing cake!



the end :)

2011, the best year of my life yet

Sitting here in the prayer room at Bartle Hall in Kansas City I remembered my desire to write a post about this last year before it came to a close. With just a few hours to go I wanted to at least begin to share my heart. The rest I will have to fill in when I arrive home tomorrow afternoon :)

A couple of months ago I realized this has by far been my best year, and that was decided before the year was even over. Undoubtedly the year has been extremely blessed.

Highlights include:

I had such a wonderful 23rd birthday! (I will be 24 in just 2 weeks) That is one of my favorite parts of having a January birthday, with the coming of a new year I become a new age as well.





Roasting Mallows :)

In February we found a little pug roaming the streets and temporarily adopted him, I named him Chester! Such a cutie- but also alot of work! Thankfully we found him a more suitable home.



Chester was my Valentine ;)

Speaking of Valentine's day, the girls from all three community houses got together for an amazing party! Not only did we make a delectable feast but we made little Valentine treats for those that perhaps didn't have anyone celebrating with them on that day. We passed them out around the neighborhood. It was a special night.


A Valentine that one of the girls made:



Last March I felt led to do a "31 day fashion challenge!" during which I didn't purchase any new clothing items but instead tried to wear everything in my wardrobe once with no repeats! For more of my heart on this you could read the note that I wrote on my Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/#!/note.php?note_id=10150106620908143

It was such a good experience, my appreciation for what I already have was grown and I had fun being extra creative! (Sometimes I get in a rut of just wanting to wear the same things all of the time haha) The best part was realizing I had way more than I even needed and I was able to give some things away. What a blessing to clear out some clutter and allow my heart to be purified by becoming less attached to things and wants. Here are a few of my favorite outfits that I wore:
I was going for a "J-Crew" theme :)

I just love this bunny t-shirt!

The moccasins and dress that I am wearing are a couple of my favorites, both gifts from Vanessa!

"Swedish Kindergarten Teacher!"

90's mod "ish"

I love this retro Levi's jacket that Crystal gave me :)



In April we, The Table Community, had our 1st Annual Honors Feast- What a blast it was! We voted for different members of the community for areas such as "Sermon on the Mount" Man and Woman (those who's lifestyles best reflect that message), "Mother of the Year" and "Father of the Year", "Berean Award" someone who studies the Word faithfully and diligently, and so on! I was so honored to receive the "Most Encouraging Person" award :) Each award was tailored to it's recipient and mine was a poster of Mother Theresa, a major inspiring figure in my life :)

Some pictures from the banquet:







Courtney's bday brunch last May :)




Last June one of my dear friends from high school got married! Kayla and Pat were so precious on their exciting day. I was delighted to be a bridesmaid. What a gorgeous venue, set up and of course couple. It was a beautiful time up in Grass Valley, Ca.




beautiful bride


FreeStyle's Staff last June at our "Parking Lot Party" we threw at the store.




Last July a lot began to change in my life, the Lord really redirected me in some profound ways. It was mostly difficult, a lot of giving up and letting go but I sensed His nearness in it all and I am forever changed because of it. I feel like God broke off my need to always be "productive" and the struggles with fear, anxiety, worry and people pleasing have become way less of an issue. The scripture a friend gave me was 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out all fear.." and I have found this to be so true in my life. I was afraid of a lot of things (most of them I didn't realize) but 5 months after that intense time of encounter with God I am still reaping the peace and joy of being fully surrendered to Him.

A lot after that time has been documented on my blog as the end of August is when I started to write "Sewing with Tulle and Felt" which is another triumph of 2011, finally starting a blog! (Something I have always wanted to do) This year has been a time of blessing and feeling the Lord's love in my heart. It turned out nothing like I had anticipated (seriously it didn't haha) but I am grateful more than ever for God's unseen hand of guidance and providence leading me in the way I should go. I am filled with faith like never before that He will continue to lead me where I need to be, my heart feels so content in trusting Him!

On December 17th our house threw a Christmas Party for friends, family and neighbors :)

Brion singing "Auld Lang Syne"

Me and our tree :)

cuties!


One last cool highlight is my trip to Kansas City, Missouri! What a way to end such a major year. I just came back from the International House of Prayer's annual young adult conference called "onething". This year the conference theme was "Jesus, Our Magnificent Obsession" and true to their theme all of the times of worship, prayer and teaching were centered around glorifying and honoring Jesus Christ. It was an amazing time, I was profoundly blessed to be in the presence of God like that and the words that continually come to mind regarding this trip are "refreshing and encouraging". It was so fun to explore and be in a new city but most of all I feel re-energized in my Christian walk after that experience.

A few pictures from my trip:
My flight there

Downtown KC

Inside Bartle Hall during the conference

2am killing time at the airport, haha :)



There were a lot of great times this last year and again so much to be grateful for. I would say the time that I have been able to grow in God has been the most significant and made this the caliber of year that it has been. :)

John 8:36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

Things I am looking forward to in the new year:

Turning 24, woo hoo!

Working with Youth/Children (still praying about what that will look like)

Continuing to live in the Dandelion House (the community house that I am a leader in) and seeing it blossom and grow! I am praying for it to go to a whole new place of ministry and also just become all around more beautiful, we are in our 2nd year running and I am believing that it will be better than ever.

Becoming more proficient on the drums! I am currently enjoying my once a week lessons with Stixx at the Drum Lab and my goal is to become decent by next fall. We will see how that goes :)

Riding my bike, dancing and going for runs and walks more. (Isn't that on every one's list?) Also keeping in mind that things like jumping on the trampoline and doing house and yard work count as exercise too!

Continuing in creative expression. I want to start a project where I refurbish/mend/create or embellish a new t-shirt every week! I love to wear tees and hoodies and thought it would be so fun to try and revamp the ones I own or create/reconstruct some from the copious amounts of fabric and old clothes that are in my craft closet. This way I don't waste any more cash on new tees and become more creative with what I already own! During this time I want to use my silk screen as well :) Anyhow I will have another post describing that project soon, hopefully with my first creation.

Lastly and most importantly I want to continue to grow in my knowledge of the Word of God and my friendship and relationship with Jesus. I have been praying about the possibility of Bible college in the future (maybe!) but for the time being I want to be consistent and focused in my own times of prayer and study. I am excited about this, all my hopes and dreams lie in God's plans for my life and I only want to be where He has me. (Side note- I am also praying about going back to school at least part-time next fall as I am still interested in majoring in Child Development!)

Sharing the Gospel is really important to me because knowing Jesus isn't only abundant life this side of Heaven but knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior is eternal life as well. I pray that everything I say, think and do would be connected with this aim and that "I would count all things as loss compared to the exceeding greatness of knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior"

God bless you all my dear friends. What are you hoping for in the new year?
Happy 2012! <3