Birdie and The Queen Bee

A Possible Change

2011-11-28T20:44:00.000-05:00

Life is becoming more and more hectic and I'm finding so little time to update both this blog and my photography blog. I've been doing some thinking, and I am considering ending this blog in the New Year. It's a very, very tough decision because -while I don't think a whole lot of folks come visit too often- this blog has been an online photo album for me since bringing home Emeili from China and I have made some fantastic, lifelong friends through blogging. I hate to see it end. However, I would like to start personalizing my photography blog a bit more, so this might be the path I decide to take. I think I'm going to give it a test run....

Please come visit me at www.caseyrosephotography.com/blog. I will be updating on family life -including the advent season- on the professional blog too... as well as highlighting client sessions. Hope to see you there!!

black friday {craft}

2011-11-22T20:19:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had an idea and you think "Wow. I'm so creative" (haha) and then you find that someone else thought of it at the same time and -dang- their option looks nicer??? This is what happened to me recently when I was putting together an idea for Em.

I bought these cute wooden people from Etsy HERE

and I was going to put them in a tin similar to to one I used for the mail tin idea.

(Tin from Michael's)

I also bought some paint and some small paint brushes and I was going to create a little paper house to flatten and put inside the tin. This is one of Em's Christmas gifts.

And then... Dang.

I was visiting Lil Blue Boo site (because she has some adorable ideas / clothing) and I ran across her similar idea. And she does it so much better!! None-the-less an easy gift to give and make!

black friday {dolls}

2011-11-21T22:28:00.000-05:00

Need a cute idea for Christmas that supports small business?

(and doesn't require shopping on Thanksgiving unless it's from your comfy chair)

Go to Roses and Rhubarbs and buy a cute "Doll of the Month"

You get a cute doll and a new outfit arrives each month!

the scoop {night sky}

2011-11-20T00:36:00.000-05:00

I still have some gift ideas rolling around in my head...

I just haven't had the time to get them onto the blog. Too many sessions at work.

Em and I were traveling home from a session the other night when this sky suddenly appeared.

Just gorgeous.

gift idea {baskets}

2011-11-11T00:18:00.000-05:00

I made this basket for Em when we were doing homeschool preschool but I think a basket full of goodies related to a theme is a great holiday gift too. One year I did a basket full of Fairy Tale related items: a little stuffed mouse dressed like Little Red Riding Hood, a couple of Fairy Tale books, magic jumping beans, gingerbread men, etc. I tried to find a picture of that basket but I couldn't find it.

You could do a school basket like the one above too where you put tons of supplies in it for playing pretend school: Chalk board, pens and pencils, lined paper, stickers, tiny books for dolls, etc.

Maybe a dress up basket with different outfits for pretend play. I'm not sure if stores still have Halloween costumes for sale but that would be a cute idea too.

gift idea {card repost}

2011-11-10T19:08:00.000-05:00

REPOST: Mail Tins

This is such a cute and easy gift for a child ages 3-7.
Em loves, loves, loves her tin. I'd say it is her favorite thing ever.
She makes cards ALL DAY LONG.
(I'm actually debating making her a standing mailbox for Christmas this year too)

...So this would be my #1 recommendation for a holiday gift.

When we got home, we started to put together the gift for Em's secret santa exchange.

Her adoption travel group does an exchange every year.

I love this gift idea!

So easy and super cute.

First we bought a tin at Michael's. We filled the tin with pink and red notecards and envelopes, bling stickers, colored pencils, tape, stamps, ink, hole punches, and a candy necklace for fun. Everything a girl would need to make cards and play post-office.

We also put into the tin a little doll from Pottery Barn Kids.

Then place a sticker from Sophie and Lili on top of the tin.

Voila!

Em enjoyed making a card for her friend.

(And for me!)

gift idea {quilt repost}

2011-11-09T21:35:00.000-05:00

Another fun craft project for the holidays is to make someone you love a quilt. This quilt is super easy to make. It's not like the hand-quilt your grandmother made for you. This is a simple square machine sewn quilt and it only took me about a day and a half to make the full child size. You could also do a tiny doll quilt too for a gift. Add it to your doll clothing pile you made yesterday :)

REPOST FROM JUNE

QUILT

I'm plugging away at Em's 100 Wishes Quilt. I'm following the simple pattern by Martha Stewart if you would like to do a similar project. Today I cut out 4x4 squares. 50 family and friends gave Em a patch with a wish, plus I added 50 white squares for an even 100 patches. It took about 3 hours to cut the 4x4 squares. Be sure to use a plastic quilting square and quilt cutter to make the process much easier. Be sure to iron each patch very well and to iron the seams down after you sew the patches together. This will become super important as you put the strips of patches together. Another helpful hint to as you follow the Stewart pattern is to use quarter inch quilting tape to make sure all the hems are even.

gift idea {doll clothing repost}

2011-11-08T22:10:00.000-05:00

There is nothing like getting a doll for Christmas. One of my favorite activities this year with Em was making these adorable (and easy) doll clothes using vintage fabrics. Just go to an antique store and buy a bunch of fun fabrics and have fun creating a doll wardrobe. Stick it in a little suitcase and you have an easy gift!

REPOST FROM APRIL:

Yesterday Em and I decided to make a few new outfits for our new "best-loved doll." I had bought some vintage material and old feed sacks at an antique store when we were in Pennsylvania visiting my parents. I used a very easy "pattern" to sew a few triangle dresses. I also made a few aprons and scarfs for the doll, as well as an easy pom-pom necklace. (Directions are below... although I apologize in advance if they are a bit confusing.)

Em made a "birthday" hat for her doll while I was sewing.

She simply glued pompoms and stickers onto a paper cone.

STEP ONE

The first step involves cutting out a basic boxy triangle shape like the one above. I used another doll dress as a pattern by simply placing the dress on top of the folded fabric (so I could cut two matching pieces) and cutting about 1/2 inch around the dress. I left the bottom part frayed.

Next you are going to create "arm" holes for the dress. Fold twice at the top portion of the boxy triangle and iron each time you fold. Then sew the folded sections down. Repeat on both pieces of fabric.

STEP TWO

Now you are going to create a neckline for the dress.

After you sew the "arm" holes, fold down twice the top part of the dress.

Iron as you fold.

(In the picture below, I flipped it upside down, but you are folding the top part of the dress)

Sew the neckline of the dress.

However, sew on the bottom EDGE of the fold.

This will make sure you have a neck hole opening to weave ribbon through later.

Repeat on the second side of dress

STEP THREE

Place the two pieces of fabric together placing the "good" sides together.

Pin together to hold... Sew down the sides of the dress starting at the bottom of the arm holes to the very bottom of the hem. You do not want to sew the arm holes shut. Therefore, the top part of your dress will not be attached.

Flip inside out and iron again

STEP FOUR

Attach a safety pin to the one side of a ribbon.

Weave the ribbon through the opening of the neck hole.

Repeat on the other side

STEP FIVE

Dress the doll by tying the ribbons together front to back on each side.

If the dress is still too loose, simply thread a needle with embroidery thread and stitch back and forth pulling the dress into a bunch to tighten. I would do this on the back part of the dress. Knot finish.

STEP SIX

To make an apron, I took an antique (never used) dishcloth and cut in half.

Fold down twice / Iron each time

Sew along the edge to create a hem / keeping a tube opening in hem like neck hole

STEP SEVEN

Attach a safety pin onto a piece of scrap fabric

Weave into the hem tube of apron

Tie around doll

I also used vintage handkerchiefs for aprons too.

I repeated this process for four different dresses and three aprons. I also created a pom-pom necklaces by threading them onto embroidery thread and tying them together. Very easy.

Since I had made so many dresses, Em and I decided that it should be Miss Plum's birthday tomorrow.

So stay tuned for her celebration...

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inspired {fall}

2011-11-07T00:29:00.000-05:00

This week I was thinking of featuring some old posts on holiday crafts and / or home-made gift ideas since we are quickly approaching on the season of gift giving.

Then I thought I would feature some new ideas next week and -fianlly- we could look at store bought ideas for the holiday just in time for black friday.

the scoop {field trip}

2011-11-01T11:09:00.001-04:00

Recently I had the opportunity to go with Em's class on a field trip to the Farmer's Market.

We had an excellent time.

all images on this blog are © casey rose photography

party mode {snapshots}

2011-10-26T21:21:00.000-04:00

The best part of the party is that we had our own personal chef flown in from New York City. Yes... a personal chef who is also a food editor at The Food Network. You can't get much better than that, right? I blame our chef, our aunt liz, for all the 100 pumpkin cupcakes I shoved in my mouth this weekend.

Soooo yummy!

The girls enjoyed hanging out, doing some crafts, eating some popcorn, and watching
It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

(which- I might add- uses the word 'stupid' a whole heck of a lot)

This birthday card made us laugh...

party mode {decorations}

2011-10-25T20:31:00.001-04:00

Visit my photography blog for more birthday pictures of Emeili
HERE

party mode {favors}

2011-10-24T21:54:00.000-04:00

For Em's party I made the pumpkins that I featured HERE

I followed her instructions exactly and the pumpkins were quite easy to make.

It took me about five hours to make 14 of them.

I love them. Really cute favors!

The only suggestion / change I made was I did use embroidery thread

as per Martha Stewart's suggestion instead of the yarn.

I think the thread was stronger and it created more defined pumpkin wedges.

The other favor at the party were little "burlap" party bags.

I had the burlap-type material already so I didn't buy burlap, but actual burlap

would be quite cute. It's nice to keep the edges frayed.

I also used a magic marker to create little black dots on the burlap.

Then I stuffed them with candy and little toys.

Fianlly I tied it with an orange tie. Voila!

party mode {crafts}

2011-10-21T22:42:00.002-04:00

Emeili's 6th Birthday Party is on Saturday. We decided to have a girly Halloween party inspired by the Belle and Boo Halloween series. We are doing fairly low-key. We have two crafts planned and a popcorn bar so they can eat in style while watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."

One of the crafts was inspired by a tree pillow I saw on Pinterest. I bought mini canvases at Michael's. I think the cost was round $1 for each canvas. (They came in packs of 5). Then I bought 8x11sheets of brown flannel craft with a sticker back. I can't remember the price of the flannel but it was around .50 cents each. You are going to cut the flannel in half.

Then simply draw a tree with branches on the back on the flannel and cut it out. Peel the sticker and place on the canvas (see above pic)

Then I cut out "leaves" using left over fabric I had around the house. I needed about 12 -14 leaves per tree / child. I cut out about 150 leaves.

Then the craft project for the kids will be to glue the leaves onto the tree canvas (see below). The kids can also color in the canvas with crayons and colored pencils.

Ta Da!

little bird again!

2011-10-20T00:31:00.001-04:00

Anyone else having issues with blogger the last few days? Not sure what has been going on but I wasn't able to open my account. Just a couple more pics of Em in her Halloween costume. We are busy cleaning the house and doing a ton of crafts for the birthday party on Saturday. I'll post the crafts soon!

little bird

2011-10-16T21:49:00.003-04:00

This is one of the many things I have been doing last week. I am in love with these pics of Em. She is holding a painting by my mom. Her costume for Halloween is "Little Bird".... a native American princess inspired by my mom's painting and the little girl in Belle and Boo. There are many more pics! I'll post those later :)

Be sure to visit the photography blog too! Lots of fun stuff this week!

the scoop {fall}

2011-10-15T23:42:00.001-04:00

Hello friends! It's been too long. I haven't had a spare moment to catch up on all of your blogs too so I'm looking forward to being able to do that this week as well. It's been a nutty October - as usual. David does a lot of traveling, the kids always have tons of activities and October seems to be a popular month for sessions. Sooooo... there is little time to blog. But I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things now that the holidays are around the corner.

This week the kids and I went out for a mini-session. We have tons to document including the beginning of fall in the south, Em's sixth birthday and Halloween. Plus Em lost her first tooth! I took a ton of pictures so I'll post those this week. I'm also FINALLY cleaning the house (thanks to visitors this week) and decorating for Em's birthday and Halloween. I also have a ton of craft ideas to share since I was busy with the sewing machine for Em's party favors. So if you are still there.... and I haven't lost ya with my lack of blogging, this upcoming week should be fun!

2011-10-03T22:18:00.000-04:00

Birdie and The Queen Bee

A Possible Change

black friday {craft}

black friday {dolls}

the scoop {night sky}

gift idea {baskets}

gift idea {card repost}

gift idea {quilt repost}

gift idea {doll clothing repost}

inspired {fall}

the scoop {field trip}

party mode {snapshots}

party mode {decorations}

party mode {favors}

party mode {crafts}

little bird again!

little bird

the scoop {fall}

iheartfaces {People's Choice Vote}

lovin' {pumpkins}

lovin' {pumpkins}

inspired {halloween}

flashback friday {liam}

the scoop {homework}

black and white wednesday {rainy day}

New Photography Blog

end of summer {molly kate}

beautiful {house}

saturday {blog love}

the scoop {my first day}

Kindergarten

Meet-the-Teacher

the scoop {school}

beautiful {house}

Saturday {blog love}

the scoop {middle school}

Silly

umbrella

a boy and his shell

reflect

the scoop {work}

friday finds {calm paint}

lovin' {calm walls and bold rug}

Lovin' {calm walls and bold rug}

Lovin' {calm walls and bold rug}

Lovin' {calm walls and bold rug}

the scoop {vacation}

the scoop {vacation}

the scoop {vacation}

the scoop {vacation}

the scoop {vacation}

the scoop {vacation}

What-to-Wear {beach}

Inspired {Um?}

Inspired {beach}

Inspried {beach}

What-to-Wear {beach}

Beautiful {House}

Saturday {Blog Love}

Friday Finds (Fall in July}

Lovin' {Retro School Supplies}

black and white wednesday {fall in july}

Inspired {Fall in July}

Inspired {Fall in July}

The Scoop {Blog}

Big, Fat Liar

Five Years

The Scoop {The Gift}

Birthday Boy

Inspired {Fourth of July Outfits}

Snapshots {Parade}

Beautiful {House}

Saturday {Blog Love}

Crafty Summer {Margaritas}

Crafty Summer {Catching Fireflies}

Crafty Summer {Snow Cones}

Crafty Summer {Sidewalk Chalk}

Crafty Summer {Painted Rocks}

Blogger Vacation {Americana}

Saturday {Blog Love}