Beauty in everything

Loved having a little time away from everything and heading up to the Upper Peninsula.  Here are a couple pictures of hearts found in nature.  I think it would be fun to start a photo collection around this theme...

Life so far: 7 months

Had some extra time today to add the next few photos of baby girl into her artifact uprising photo album that will be complete once we celebrate her first birthday.  Can't wait, but can wait.  Here are a few of my favorite photos from each month so far...

5 days old

One month

Two months

Three months

Four months

Five months

Six months

Seven months

Before & After - Stairwell

So I've been trying to decide what the next project will be in our house (after we figure out the water problem and redo the basement).  While I really love the house we bought, I'm trying to find ways to make it feel more like us.  It has some great elements but is in desperate need of a few updates.

My first idea was to redo the stairwell.  It's a great structure, kinda funky layout and was something that really drew us to the house.  But those handrails? Yuck.  I'm not one to like a lot of ornate things, so those wooden dowels (I think that is what you call them...I don't speak staircase) with their intricate carving was just not speaking to me.  It said Victorian meets Country...and those two things are NOT me.  

Before

So, I decided to snap a photo and head to Photoshop to create a new look....

After

Wa-la!  An updated stairwell!  I kinda wish I could do all my home improvement projects this way.  No mess, no tools, just some clicks of the mouse.  I love the white walls in this space, but it was too white, even with the two tone stair rail.  It needed some warmth added to it.  I love it!  Now...I just have to wait til we have the funds to actually make it happen... oh, and that old light fixture has got to go...  Not sure what I would want to replace it with though.  Thoughts?

Before & After - Capital Area Parks & Trails Brochure

A fun little project I was given recently was to redo the front cover of the Capital Area Parks & Trails brochure.  It's front cover was a mish mash of pictures and didn't give enough attention to the sponsor logos.  After doing this project, I thought I might start a new series on this blog called Before & After.  We'll see what happens...  For now, here are some pics ('Before' on left):

Secret Garden Wedding

I recently had a friend ask if I could make her wedding invitations for her June wedding (which I am solo excited about, by the way!). I've had a calendar hanging up in my kitchen from Rifle Paper Co. that I really love, and was the inspiration for these invites.  Check them out:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!