In one breath, I think…
How could it be November already?!?
In another, I anticipate…
Can this month move more quickly please?!?
November is always a time of year
when I think about gratitude and thankfulness.
There is so much to be thankful for…
Let’s celebrate the month of gratitude.
Happy November!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Book My Reservation – I’m Going to Grandma’s Onsie
Does any baby ever have enough onesies?
And why not make them funsies?!
For a fun little shower gift, I made these two little funsy onesies
for our soon-to-arrive baby girl.
Can you tell we are very excited to be grandparents?!
Pap Pap’s Perfect Princess Onsie
Just a little fabric paint, time and creativity, with a heaping scoop of love.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
I’m not much of a seamstress,
but I have always admired those who excel at this craft.
When I learned I was to become a grandma to a sweet baby girl,
I had to make her something special….
Something soft…
Something pink…
Something to love…
Something to show my love.
So I went to Jo-Ann’s and bought a pattern,
and I gave it my best shot.
And while I pinned and cut and stitched…
I dreamed of being the Grandma my Grandma was to me.
I dreamed of our little girl falling asleep in my arms,
and I dreamed of her falling asleep with this little lovie in her arms.
and while I dreamed,
Ellie the Elephant was born.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Oh what fun we had this past weekend celebrating the anticipation of the sweet baby girl we are awaiting with a Hot Air Balloon Baby Shower!
I made these miniature hot air balloons using super inexpensive 12″ white paper Chinese lanterns that I attached to quart-sized cardboard pulp berry baskets with wooden skewers and embellished with all the pink ribbon, yarn, sequins, buttons, lace, or pearls I had in my craft stash. I added a tiny battery operated tea light to each basket and hung and placed them all over the house.
It was such a collaborative effort of all the girls involved. Check out this amazing Aunt Squad surrounding the beautiful momma to be!
We had a hot air balloon cupcake cake,
Hot Air Balloon Cake Pops in a puffy white cloud,
and Hot Air Balloons, clouds and cherubic baby faced sugar cookies.
The favors were made using Eos Lip Balms to thank our guests for sharing their time and love with us.
A Hot Air Balloon banner with baby pictures of the mom and dad to be as babies themselves was a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
An Extra Large Basket Lady Pole Handle Wicker Storage Basket with pink and white balloons tied to it was filled to overflowing with children’s books guests brought in place of cards to start a wonderful library for baby.
The books were requested by a special insert in the invitation, and the overflowing abundance of new and extra special, well-loved books from people we love will be so cherished.
The time and love put into gifts blew us away. A very special Gram blessed Mom and Dad to be with this amazing handmade Hot Air Balloon quilt.
We also had a Hair Bow Boutique…
where guests were invited to create a hair bow (or two or three – like sweet Ella did) for baby.
And they surely blew us away with their talent and love.
Instead of a guest “book,” we had guests add their fingerprint and name to a hot air balloon watercolor painting that can hang in baby’s nursery as a sweet reminder of all who shared in her special party.
A simple game of “Guess the Baby Item in the Bag” had guests brainstorming
on what the heck starts with an “O” or “W” or “H”
while munching on fruit from a hot air balloon fruit tray (which we forgot to get a picture of – 😦 – sorry Jen!) – but looked a lot like this inspiration from Pinterest, as well as Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders and Chicken Salad with dried cranberries and walnuts in miniature croissants, veggie pizza, and Strawberry Spinach Salad.
and yep – we had that yummy Salted Caramel Apple Sangria too!
My heart is surely overflowing!
Balloons are now popped, and the house is back in order. Grandma is still glowing, though, as we await the arrival of this already abundantly loved baby girl.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
PS Thanks to BFF Jill for being event photographer for Grandma-to-be who was simply too overjoyed and excited to even think about snapping pics! What would I do without you!? ❤
My daughter-in-law, Colleen, has been on a roll making fun signs for our McKinneyX2Designs ETSY shop!
We are also feathering the nest preparing for
the joy of our little one’s arrival in a few months.
And who is ready for Fall? With pumpkins and hayrides…
and time in the kitchen…
or end of summer ice cream cone treats…
and long, lingering bubble baths.
I love all these sweet signs and wanted to share with you.
If you or anyone you know would enjoy any of these in their home or find them a great gift, be sure to check out our shop: McKinneyX2Designs.
I also have some original watercolor artwork, as well as prints
and greeting cards.
Happy Sunday!
Do something you love, and cherish the moments.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Gable Farm in Watercolor – 10×14
It’s June, and wedding season is in full swing!
Rustic barn weddings have become very popular in our area. As a matter of fact, our son and daughter-in-law had a barn wedding three years ago next month. I had fun creating this watercolor version of Gable Farm, which was their wedding site and a place they have now turned into a venue for others to hold their weddings and receptions.
Colleen has been busy stocking our McKinneyx2Designs Etsy Shop with fun rustic wedding signs made from reclaimed pallet wood. They are super reasonably priced from $10-14.
Wouldn’t these be great little accents for a rustic barn wedding?
If you or someone you know is looking for rustic wedding signs, hope you will check out our ETSY shop.
We have lots of other great rustic home and nursery decor, as well as some of my watercolor art, prints and greeting cards.
Happy Wedding Season and Happy Weekend!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Abstract Impressionistic Watercolor Birthday Cake Card
Yesterday was our dear daughter-in-law, Colleen’s birthday, so along with the Sprinkle Cake I made for her, I thought I’d paint an abstract, impressionistic sprinkle birthday cake card in watercolor.
I’m not sure which one I had more fun doing… baking the cake or painting the card.
Hubby noticed my cake was a bit crooked, and it was a bit wonky… that’s how you know it’s homemade – right?! Well – I guess it’s an impressionistic cake too!
Not matter what – I enjoyed doing both because they were for a special young lady who I love a lot!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Some of you might remember little Eva from some photos I shared several months ago.
Well – time sure does fly, and Eva just turned ONE!
Eva’s Aunt Liz asked if I would make a special card for her sweet little niece’s first birthday. The request included incorporating an elephant, so Eva’s baby elephant is glammed up a bit with a purple velvet bow and a tiny pearl.
I had so much fun drawing and painting this card for an exceptional little princess.
Wishing you a day and year ahead as special as you little Eva!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Yesterday, I went to a baby shower for a sweet young lady who is expecting a baby girl in June.
I’ve made other diaper gifts before, but I’ve never tried a diaper pizza.
It was really quite easy and turned out cute. The theme was Winnie the Pooh, so I gathered every Pooh bear and friends onsie, rattle, teething ring, toy, bib, and pacifier I could find. I then took a dozen Size 1 diapers, gentle shaped them into triangles, wrapped them in a baby wash cloth and taped them on the bottom.
I then tied a different little gift on top of each “pizza slice” and put a little plush Tigger in the middle. I wrote a greeting on the inside of the top of the box, and attached a soft little book as the “card.”
It was a fun way to celebrate and welcome this new little one.
Thanks Luciano’s Brick Oven in Mars for the clean pizza box. (And thanks Chris for getting it for me!)
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 