{Pieced}

Every day is a new bag isn't it? A new bundle of events, breathes, decisions, emotions, and the like, don't you think? A New Bundle was actually my 1st title for this post, but by no coincidence, the title took on a new name as I came back to this draft after many months.
Pieced.

{perfectly matched}

The pictures you are viewing is a baby bundle I did back in January for a mom to a new life. She wanted an eclectic look to her diaper bag and baby accessories. Her desire was for her custom design to resemble her as she would be the predominant one carrying the bag, changing the little one's diaper on the changing pad, and snuggling this new tike in against the soft, satin quilt topped blanket.

In her designing session, she professed her love for cranberries, merlots, and tangy coral-orange hues. She chose k.Mac's Hipster bag design as it offered 6 interior pockets as well as 6 exterior pockets to house all the necessities of a little one as well as her own personal carry-ons.

Knowing this client from a distance through the years, I was honored she chose me to design something classic and custom just for her. She is a woman of strength. A woman full of love. A woman who has faced many difficult times in her life in and amongst the dreamy highs of bliss and contentment.

{Pieced} her life is.
{Pieced} so is ours.

I speak of her story to you now as it is my hope that you will gain a deeper glimpse into the journey of life.

She is a mother to 3 boys.

Her 4th son arrived in February of this year. Approximately 3 years and 7 months after her 3rd son left this world a few months shy of his 3rd birthday.

Her journey to give life to another child after his passing was filled with hard twists and sideways turns that led her and her husband to the possibility of adoption.

And this adoption was a success in less than a year's time.

Now, she is a mother to 4 boys. Her story is one of vision, patience, and faith. I am in awe of her strength and so overjoyed to see her happy with her hands full of chubby cheeks, dimples, and dirty diapers.

To read her journey is so convicting. It hits all the highs, the middles and the unbearable lows with such poise, pleasure, and pain all pieced together.

Oftentimes, she speaks of her 3rd son with reference to nature as his tiny self adored all little creatures. Butterflies seem to have settled as one of many symbols that strike concordance with his life here on earth.

As her final design request, she wanted to make sure I incorporated some earthy browns into her diaper bag with all of her other favorites.

Amid the searching, my eyes fixated on the brown fabric you see in this bag. Just before purchasing the fabric, I doubled checked to make sure I was ordering the right skew number and glimpsed at the designer's inspiration behind this particular collection of fabric:

COLLECTION: Flutterby. Flutterby is a monument to the breath of life and the beating of tiny wings, all that is underfoot and overhead. In this collection Tula Pink pays tribute to nature's unyielding will towards beauty in small things. The palette is as vibrant as mother nature herself with intricate designs that remind us there is always more to see if we only take the time to look.


...remind us there is always more to see if we only take the time to look.

This client is living proof of just this. Her heart is forever open and forever grateful for all of her children and the wonderful gift they continue to bless her with.

{Pieced}

God is there in the details.

He so graciously selects our fabrics and pieces them all together the ragged edges and smooth alike. Through His hand, we are woven with the greatest of design and inspiration.

.mac :)

Potential

to bloom.
to blossom.
to be.

Stark contrast petals from your blades of garden green.

Your chance but a season,
A simple snippet of time,
Beams of canary burst,
Your impression so divine.

Magnified by your presence
Although rare you are not
A simple and common perennial,
I'm lured into deeper thought

simple and common and everyday.
Life on this Earth for only a short stay.

Uh-huh, humans
You.
And yes, me.
You and I both share this day lily decree.

Only a short story.
A simple snippet of time.

Beams of canary burst...
-make that your story line.-

{Potential}

Reach it.
It's there for us all.

.mac

Mission _ _ _ _ _ _ Bear!

Forecast: Monsoon with a chance of a little more monsoon.

{That's been our May here in good ole rocky top.}

Time: Morning--'bout mid.

Mission: ...

Press play and find out!

Yeah that would be a correctamundo. I'm the mom whose boys can in-an-instant be unbuckled and ready for action. And perhaps just maybe while pulling into an emptyish parking lot, I let them roll down the window and break off a little of what-you-see-right-here.

My little brother Adam. Just turned 29 folks. Just turned it, I tell you. And he and my sweet SIL Kim have one one adorable little girl.

Her name?

Let's see. I don't think I really have ever introduced her to you before?

Only here, here, and here.

But whose counting, really?

MOLLYE ADDISON had her first overnight field trip to Uncle Kenny and Aunt Meghan's house!

Now this brother of mine was all hovery and all "Kim sent you an email with her schedule and directions", and all "make sure she plays with her fish in the bath. She loves her fish", and all "I have to get a picture of you with the boys and her before you leave."

So, of course, being the good big sister, I totally honored and respected his need for dawdling, excessive open-ended questioning only to reassure himself that his sister---mother of 2---really knew what she was doing with an infant, and the snapping of our pearly whites for scrapbooking's sake.

Of course, I did.

What's that?

Mollye has on sunglasses, you say?

Why yes. Yes, she does.

Why you ask?

MY BROTHER SAID SHE HAD TO WEAR THEM TO PROTECT HER EYES!

So I did what any good aunt of fashion would do...

We put them on her head for the trendy accessory look.

Pictures matter, peeps.

Isn't she adorable in total wave mode?

I can't stand it.

Oh yeah, my rugrats are rockin' out too, by the way.

Casey in signature "When my mama holds me, my 2 favorite fingers operate on complete auto pilot."

-AND-

Eli is in straight "I'm 4 and about the coolest cat you'll ever meet stealth mode."

And Mollye's mama has just the best taste in clothes. Could this onesie get any cuter? The ruffle blue jean skirt too, but what about that onesie?
The boys and I ate Miss Mollye up. She is nothing short of a sweet doll baby.

Scoot crawling and leg kicking to get to toys...and so photogenic. This girl would stop at the mere sight of camera and pretty much just wait for you to turn it on and adjust the settings.

And an eater, boy I tell you! Look at these teefers! She loves to feed herself. And happy as a lark as long as those bites keep comin'! The boys really liked being her meal attendants making sure she had just what she needed when she needed it!
Bath time for cousins! Daddy/Uncle Kenny is bath proctor in this house. And, yes, fish was there. He is in her hand, little brother Adam!

Kim still nurses Mollye so we had to sorta punt when it came to night time and early morning feedings.After a few gulps from the sippy cup stand-in, she nestled right in. She and I had some auntie-niece bonding. We sang and rocked and talked. Just some real good girl time if you ask me. Then sweet baby girl nodded right on off with her trusty 2 fingers {sounds like her cousin, doesn't?} and her best blankie. Which oh, just happens to be her Farmall tractor quilt with polka dot satin backing and coordinating tags complete with "Mollye Addison" embroidered on it made by Aunt Meg!

Mollye's dad is a HUGE Farmall tractor guy. I mean one of Adam and Kim's wedding pictures was on our family's old Farmall tractor. So Mollye had to have a Farmall blanket done up just as girlie as could be! And of course, she just HAD to have a matching dress with monogrammed ruffle bloomers to match her blankie!

These were the surprises she got at Eli's 4th birthday party last month! Hey! It was her party favor! {Check out the tractor buttons!} Eli eyed them on a clearance rack. That's my boy!

Now that's the stuff sewing machines are made for!

Back to the night-night story...Kenny came in to check on us, and saw me with stars in my eyes. He left and came back to get a picture. Rockin' baby girls just doesn't happen in this house!

The next morning it was off to the Red Bank Jubilee. k.Mac gladly donated a medium tote all dolled up RB style for the Lions Booster Club to raffle.
Loading a 4 year old, 2 year old, and 9 month old in and out of the car and getting there in timely fashion was a bit more oh let's say strategic than I was used to, but we rocked it out and got there just in time to watch the parade!

Here are a portion of the Lions. But forget about them. There's daddy in the back!
Mollye loved the band. She started just a kickin' and a smilin' when they came a ra-tit-tat-tatting by! Casey loved the miniature ponies and Eli loved the Shriner cars.
What's that?

Yes.

I had to make Mollye some outfits to wear while with her Aunt Meg. This one in particular is a simple pillow case dress modified along with matching ruffle bloomers.

What's that you say?

Yes, yes, its true.

Aunt Meg also made Mollye's mommy a matching skirt with the polka dot fabric.

{Aunt Meg also just happened to "borrow" Kim's skirt to wear to the parade!}

5 people stopped us to tell us how cute we were that we matched!

That NEVER happens with boys!

Now don't get all upset that there is no picture to show us off. It's hard to get a photograph of this cuteness when you are the boss of 3 kids by yourself!

Trust me. We were ADORABLE!

After the parade festivities, we all came back home to relax as the rain set in {again} and watch a little NASCAR!

Just look at that sweet little cupcake! With her best blankie, her best cousins, and one uncle that thinks she has simply hung the moon!
Lunch time was the best when you have on bibs like this!

All in all, Mollye's visit was a blast. I loved every minute of her sweet self. The boys and Kenny did too. When Kim came to pick her up on Saturday evening, I had a little surprise for her 1st Mother's Day gift up my sleeve...

Matching Mommy and Daughter

Mother's Day Dresses!

I couldn't resist. I just couldn't I tell you. Mollye Bear makes my heart skip a beat and makes the presser foot of my sewing machine go-go-go!

Criss-cross backed sundresses...ruffled ribbon bloomers...pink flowers for buttons...

I am one lucky aunt!

And God gave me boys for a reason!!

.mac :)

Come on, play!

Now sisters of the blog:

I have several fun followers and I do mean several that talk to me all the time about how much they enjoy reading and even how they enjoy visiting other blogs that I read daily from my list.

These ladies just don't blog themselves and don't leave comments when they do visit.

I'm down.
I'm cool.
You don't have to comment.

Seriously, you don't.

But, today...

Come on, play. PLEASE.

Just for fun.
Just for me.
I want to HEAR from you!

This'll be quick and easy, I promise.

All you have to do is:

1. click on "post a comment" at the bottom of this post.
2. type your answer in the text box.
3. publish under annonymous if you don't want to sign up or don't already have a login screen name BUT be sure to leave your name just to put a happy smile on my face, sweets!
4. Then FINALLY type in the security code provided to ensure you are a safe source.
5. Then hit publish.
6. That's it!

It's ALL SKATE as I like to call it, so everyone {blog or no blog} join in!

Follow me around the rink as I skate backwards with my pink glitter pom-poms on my purple skates. {only had that pair in my 9 year old dreams...I had to take the dingy brown rentals with the orange wheels]

My question to answer:

"What would your dream job be?"

Ready, set, go!

My dream job would be...hmmmm...I have 2.

1. A professional dancer like the girls on Dancing with the Stars. Lotsa of leg, lotsa sequins, lotsa shimmie-shaking, lotsa moving, lotsa accessories, lotsa music, lotsa high heels, lotsa twirling...right up my alley!

2. Quite a stretch from #1, but I would like to work in a bakery or arrange/deliver flowers. I think it would be so fun to design cakes and bake from scratch trying new recipes and creative techniques. And boxing up hand selected delectables knowing they are going home to be deliciously devoured would make wearing the hair net completely worth it. And for the flowers, well I am a flower junkie. The smells, the textures, the colors, the creating....and then to deliver to someone who has no idea what they are about to be given nor what is waiting for them when they open that little 2 x2 card, well, that would be just the best to watch. Surprises...I like'em.

So surprise me!

What would your dream job be?

Tell me short and sweet or tell me long with details. I don't care. Just tell me!

Come on, play!

.mac :)

3rd Time's a Charm

My nickname for him since he was an infant has been "Casey face".

I had no clue how appropriate this nickname would be.

This makes #3.
Before this, there was the gash right above his upper right eye lid from falling head first into a metal platform.
And before that he decided to do a little skin racing, remember?

3 in 3 months.

My sweet, sweet Casey face...

Perhaps the 3rd time will be our lucky charm to end this Neopsorin/Sesame Street Band-aid addiction we have going on here.

.mac :)

p.s. To donate to our "Casey Face" Future Plastic Surgery Fund, please contact me at meghan@kmaccreations.com. :)

$37.28

Monsoon.


That's the most accurate word to describe this day.


Ridiculous.


That's the most accurate word to describe the amount of good deals we found on our Yard Sale/Goodwill Adventure.

My good buddy, Arlene, from a few doors down shimmied her lights to and fro as her car flashed into my driveway for a pick up time of 7:15 AM. {I can't help but get the visual of Chick Hick's lady twin fans from the movie CARS here.}


Sorry I had to go mom there.
Not only mom, but boy mom.
Not only boy mom, but boy mom of toddlers.


My little men tucked in nicely with their daddy watching what only every little man looks forward to on a PBS Saturday morning, the click of my seat belt never felt more uninhibited.

Arlene felt the need to play Russian Rue let with the "Mamaws of o-dark-30" and risk the the premier yard sales steals with breakfast.

I obliged as the coffee and spinach souffle was divine, but knew in the bargain of my heart we were being a bit too big for our good deal britches.

First stop, Ramsgate. A gated community where lots of really important people live. Important people with lots of important money. Better yet, important people with lot of important money and lots of important items to sell in their yard sales and little knowledge of what things normally "go" for when one chooses to unleash Baby Gap in their front yard under a pop tent.

Let's take house 6416 for example. I have cleverly used my FBI dyslexia to ensure homeowner identity here, but 6416 nonetheless.

The above items were purchased for $1.00 a piece.

• 3 Polo shirts/sweaters
• 1 pair of Gymboree pants
• 2 POLO golf shirts (not photographed)
• 1 Thomas the Tank DVD (not photographed)
• 3 train books ($.25 each--not photographed)

"Ummm, excuse me, ma'm?

"I realize pouring rain is doing nothing but sabbotaging your perfectly set-n-style hair palace, but perhaps next time you SHOULD NOT leave your husband out in the garage to fetch prices on items."

"Why? You ask?"

"Cause he is robbing you of all of your giveitawaynow money!!!"

I also purchased 3 items for myself at another home. I plan on doing a small fashion show post of my summer thrift finds sometime in the near future. At least 2 of these items will be on the catwalk just as soon as find the perfect coordinate for the 1 trendy and take about 1 1/2 inches in of the other trendy.

Again, $1.00 a piece.

I won't even go into Arlene's treasures or the fact that she found a $50.00 toy from Target in the yard sale for $5.00.

Holla if you here me, girls?!!

Next stop, Goodwill.

Goodwill, how I love thee.

You and me got this thing going once a month, don't we?

This picture is of our brand new store in town! No more cluttered aisles and darting around Mamaw motorized go-go carts.

Oh yeah, it's on, baby!

Allow me to completely show that I ain't above taking one for the team of thrift.

Hair? Who needs it?

I just came from $1.00 Mania at the homes of Donald Trump's distant relatives, I do declare.

Arlene's got a thing for color coordination. I caught her several times not even looking for deals, but OCD sorting and re-organizing the colors of the shirts according to everyone's palette of standard: the rainbow...ROYGBIV.



A simple twist of the wrist and yank of her dang good perfect pony tail and she was back in the game.

We had 64 items to try on or consider purchasing for our family as we huffed and puffed our way to the place where magic happens: Goodwill's dressing room.

This was only 1/2 of my stash as I had to take it in shifts!

Here's my other 1/2.

Home just in time for lunch only to relieve the best husband ever of parental duties, the above is what I scored from Goodwill. All nothing short of cuteness, sass, and comfort. Just keep your eyes peeled for my summer stint on the catwalk of cash savings and you'll see these fun finds soon enough!

Play shorts for the boys. $1.24 less 50% each. That's $.62 each, sweets.

And last, but NOT least, I found the perfect fitted Tennessee Vols tee I had been after but SO unwilling to pay the full price of $24.95 plus in the store.

And with our new lead dog Smokey, I have a feeling I am going to be wearing this little $1.50 find quite often.

$37.28.

That was my total spent.

32.

That was my number of items purchased.

Steals and deals riding on wet wheels,

That's the way this mama gets her good feels,

Cha-ching!

.mac :)

Amelia Maxine

{Meet Amelia--bobbed hair, glasses, red sweat shirt}

Creative.
Determined.
Lover of learning.
Organized.
Giggly.
A dreamer.
Responsible.
Happy.
Whole Hearted.

Her fingers, long and lean, worked repeatedly like the hands of a clock on each project she would create. Tick tock. Tick tock. Ideas swirling in her head and then dancing their way onto paper through words and pictures; her dreams coming true.

At 8 years old, her crystal blue eyes watched my every move behind those covert glasses of hers. To watch her write and create was divine. Planned and prepared, Amelia wrote from her heart as if it was her very reason for living. Writing and creating was her recess; her playtime.


Crayons, pencils colored, paints, fabric remnants, yarns and the like were her mediums of craft. Thinking outside the box for illustrating thrilled her so. She took pride and perfection in mixing textures along side her dotted eyes and perfectly crossed T's.


She pushed herself with language. Wanting to make the maximum use of every adjective selection and adverb choice. Settling for verbs of mediocrity wasn't an option for Amelia Maxine.


Friendly as the day was long, I would often catch her sweet spirit giggling out of control at some silly somethings muttered from Ashley C. or Ashley H. Her laughter was loud and full, contagious and cosmic. Knowing no end once started.


2 years I was blessed with being her teacher. She experienced 3rd and 4th grade through my eyes, my words, my hands, my life.


She shared my passion for learning and creating. Perhaps this is why Amelia Maxine has always held a special place in my heart.


Amelia Maxine.
I even loved her name. Unique. Dramatic. Rhythmic.

To teach and to inspire is truly a gift and a blessing from above.

Mine and Amelia's paths crossed early in my teaching career. When Kenny was just a fun boyfriend and Eli and Casey were just dreams God had yet to slumber on His omniscient pillow of eternity.

I would teach many more after Amelia.
I would marry and move away too.

People, Places, and Timing.

Tick tock. Tick tock.

God places just so, doesn't He?

He scatters our lessons about through all that we touch; all that we see; all that we experience.

My heart remembers Amelia Maxine after all those years.

I remember her writings.
I remember her illustrations.
I remember her laughter.
Her smile.
Her happy heart.
Her surprise knock on my door on Halloween for trick-or-treats.

And it seems she remembers me too.

Having taught for 7 years before choosing to stay home when Eli was born...

...the 2009 graduating class would be my 3rd class to graduate from high school.

Having moved from the origin of my teaching career, so many years has passed in the lives of the children I taught there.

middle school science fairs
locker combinations
changing classes
field days
high school proms
drivers licenses
ACTs taken

And my life has moved on too.

marriage
babies
homemaking
business owning

But God weaves it all so well.
Tick-tock.

With a simple tug of my mailbox pull one rainy afternoon, I am instantly reminded of her heart.
Her goodness.
Her place in my life.
Amelia Maxine Steele

My first invitation to one of students' graduations from those days in another place, another time, where a Miss not a Mrs. was before my name.

Amelia thought of me. She sought out my address. In her sweet spirited canter, she pressed in and made yet another mark on my soul. Only this time the hand print was that of a young lady filled with the same determination and creative passion as those long and lean little girl fingers shared with me so long ago.

And I am honored.

I thank God to see her happy face and crystal blues sparkling with the hope of her aheadness. Her face still shines just as brightly as it did so long ago.

A package is on its way to her. I wanted to reflect her happy heart and whimsical, creative spirit in my gift to her. I wanted my hands to make something in honor of the little hands that made so much for me long ago.

Fun, happy colors festive, fresh and bright. Dramatic to the eye and rhythmic in their pattern. Just like Amelia Maxine and her name so unique.

The monogram whimsical in nature just as her creative spirit.

I enjoyed designing this gift for her. I love that it is one-of-a-kind. Just as I imagine she is today.

Grown full of beauty with so much yet to explore, so many more paths that she will cross, so much more of God's perfect timing to experience.

And so many more lives that she will touch with her happy heart and fingers long and lean.

Like the shadows cast on this bag, we each are God's light to the other. His people, His places, His timing are the rhythm we all dance to as our life makes its way onto paper through words and pictures.

Our dreams are coming true.

Thank you, Amelia for the impressions you have made on my life as your teacher. I wish you happiness and hard work. Those long and lean fingers have so much goodness to create.

Congratulations to you!

.mac
a.k.a. Miss Casey :)