What a Month! Or is it Year...

I'm sorry to just now realize how long it has been since I posted here. Things have been crazy. My health certainly wasn't helping any. And then to add to the daily grind, there have been things needing replacing around the house. Very expensive things. Like a new HVAC (air conditioning and heating unit) for one. 

I had times of just wanting to cry. I kept asking God, WHY? What are we doing wrong that is causing us to sink further and further into debt and stress? We know God will provide. He always does! But it never ceases to cause me worry. After all, I am human. Turning over every thought captive to the Lord is no joke. Way easier said than done, but necessary. We have the very briefest moments on the mountains top, then we suddenly find ourselves plunged back into the valley. I keep examining our life and asking if I'm missing anything. 

But I'm also reminded that God doesn't just chasten His children when they do wrong. He refines us through trials, too. The Potter knows the plan. And the question that keeps rolling through my head is this: 'Will you trust me?' I can so easily say, Yes, Lord! Of course I will follow you! But then it comes time to put that into action. I worry. I question. I try to figure it all out myself. Then I get frustrated and anxious. Talk about an ugly cycle! However, I was recently reminded that even though this is how things go, He never gets disappointed in me. Never scolds me and asks what I'm doing. He's the GOOD GOOD Father that stands there with His arms opened wide. Ready to say, "I got this, when you are ready to let go". It won't make the problems go away. And the stress will still try to surface. BUT! I know God is there, working all things out for my good and His glory. One tiny step at a time. 

From Capsules to Christmas Gift

I have a dear friend who is an avid Harry Potter fan. Recently, I found the MGA Mini Verse capsules on clearance for $2.50 each and wondered if the bottles would work for Barbie accessories in the laboratory diorama I built. They turned out to be the on the large side, so a second idea occurred to me. Could I turn at least one into an ornament for her Christmas tree?? Turns out, the answer is yes!

I created each potion as described in the instructions. Then I set up the capsule to be conducive to holding the table top without its legs and glued it in place.

Next came decorating the outside of the capsule to be more festive-like. And finally, I had my husband drill holes in the top for a ribbon to be put through.  

My daughter even helped me. It was fun having her work with me on this project. She liked talking me through the steps! We made it so that my friend can also open it and just display it if she wanted to. 

What do you think? Would you make this as Christmas gifts? 

Creating the Corpse Bride Cosplay! Saying Yes, to this dress!

Time to work on this dress. So many details, despite being such a simple design. There will be painting. And cutting. Maybe some roughing up on the edges. 

Just a reminder, this is the dress we were starting with. It needed some alterations to get it comfortable as well as more corpse bride-ish.  

I cut off the top/sleeve decoration lace. Lil Bits said it was itchy and uncomfortable. I sewed on some satin-like straps to hold the dress up. I chose blue, because it will go with the body paint we plan to use.

I removed the bow and sash and the cut pieces of applique along the waistline. I think those were someone trying to fix the ruined over skirt it may have had before.

Then it was time to add some pearl beading along the chest and to give it more of a corset look along the waistline. Sadly, I learned that winging it while sewing is a bad idea when you are me. I should have drawn lines and beaded the along those lines.

Instead, my girl told me where she wanted pearls installed to give it a look she liked. Not perfect, but then that is how I typically roll anyhow! I painted all sorts of additions on the dress. I added some dirty looks to the bottom hem to make it seem like she's been dragging along the ground.

Including some glow-in-the-dark accents along the torso to bring some fun! Let's see the finished product. 

The vines came out pretty good too, I think. They were a little difficult to put together with so many layers of tulle. Next time, full review! 

Trying to Add Color to the Desert

It really is a desert here. Most people would balk at living in it. Once upon a time, I would have too. But it has grown on me. There are little things that you find to love. A game store. A park. A book store. Maybe a thrift store or two. The people you meet and interact with. It is a lot of sunshine, and maybe not enough rainbows, but it is home. And that means that I am setting down the details that I enjoy. Learning what works and what doesn't. 

So... I'm adding color! Our front yard isn't so much a yard. It is a lot of rocks and weeds. I see neighbors adding greenery. One is growing tomatoes! In her front yard! And I thought... I want to do some of this.  My back yard shows a lot of greenery, but my deliberate planting has failed in a lot of ways. So I told my husband I was ripping up the front zone. That I wanted to move things and plant things. My daughter and I did it in spurts because of the heat. 

Day one - gardenia bush! I LOVE the smell of gardenias. They are small white flowers with a huge scent. Pollinators love it too. My husband bought me two. I got one in the ground and had to stop. The heat and high UV is killing me here. 

Day two - mandevilla and another gardenia bush! We got the rest of the zone cleared of the weeds and put in those two bushes. Then came the top soil and watering. While we were at it, we even moved my peppers up front. Some of them. I'm desperate to keep these alive. They were given to me with so many tiny leaves, and then the heat hit us hard and they started to shrivel. Even if they are meant for full sun, apparently that doesn't count in this town. Shade is key! So we moved them into the shade out back and they lasted.

But they haven't grown since and haven't all gotten their leaves back. Not sure if these will survive, but maybe after moving up front and in the ground we will have a better shot keeping them alive. 

Day three -  This day had to be postponed. I sprained my wrist while working Day 2. Had to put on a brace as it swelled and hurt to bend it. 

Fast forward a few weeks... I have added everything I originally planned on putting in there. I have learned that shade is for all plants. Including those that normally love sun. Why? Because we live in the desert and it is too much sun! 

I planted a pot of lettuce too, from seeds and now have seedlings starting. Here is to hoping that we can grow our own and be having salads soon. And to adding a little more greenery to our desert home!