a bit of sunshine

Ten on Ten :: December 2013 :: Candy Canes

A quiet little day at home over here but still lots of sweet things to find - thank you to all who played along with me today there is still plenty of time to add your set to the linky party. I will be looking through all of your photos and choose a favorite for the Candy Canes prompt soon! I can hardly believe this project has been going on for a full six years now it's always such a gift to find beauty in the ordinary with you - until 2014 my friends, happy photographing! xo

Ten on Ten :: December 2013 :: Candy Canes

Happy tenth everybody I hope you have a great day today searching for beauty in the ordinary things! If you want to play along with this months prompt contest use Candy Canes as your theme and make sure to let me know somewhere in your post that you are participating. Looking forward to seeing what you find! More about the project HERE. Play along on Instagram using #10on10 or #tenonten #10on10candycanes #tenontencandycanes

a reminder that tomorrow is Ten on Ten!

Just a little reminder this afternoon that tomorrow is the final installment of Ten on Ten for 2013! The theme for this month is Candy Canes - of course no pressure to use the prompt but for those of you who do you will have a chance to win a special prize package including a copy of my friend Sarah's new solo piano Christmas album, Here + There. It's a wonderful collection and has been on repeat in our home for the past few weeks I can't wait to share it with one of you! So get those camera batteries charged up and ready to go - I am looking forward to finding some beauty in the everyday together! xo

More about the collection HERE!

Target hacker

Chris and I did a little Target hacking this past weekend to one of the super popular tin Joy signs that everyone seems to have grabbed lighting fast this year. I liked the brown faux bois pattern but it just wasn't totally me. We thought about spray painting it red or covering it with Christmas fabric but in the end I used some of the Orla Kiely wallpaper scraps we have left over from our old place, and I kind of love the results. I might even leave it up after the holidays!

I had Chris take it apart for me, it took a little brute force and a few of the bulbs went out so if you are planning to do something similar make sure to do one letter at a time. I simply traced the letters, cut them out with scissors and used an exacto knife to create holes for the lights. It's really not perfect but with a little clear Mod Podge it's doing the trick in our living room right now patiently waiting for some more decorations to join it.

I have been slower than usual getting things out this year but enjoying the season nonetheless. Wishing for some snow and soaking in my busy bunch as much as I can. What about you are you all decorated for Christmas already or taking it slow like me? Hope you're having a great week! xoxo

a full harvest winner!

This month the theme for ten on ten was "a full harvest" and although I think it might have been a bit heady for some I truly loved how so many of you guys just went with it and dug in deep to find the things that after much faith and commitment the bounty was overwhelmingly beautiful at times!

The winning image comes from Beth at Hope and Coffee and it was one of the first I saw over on Instagram the morning of ten on ten - it literally stopped me in my tracks and brought tears to my eyes. If this picture doesn't exemplify the meaning behind a full harvest of blessing in the midst of daily work and faith then I don't know what does. Beth won this month and I am so honored to get to send her a little surprise gift - a Starbucks card and a few other holiday goodies for an amazing mama to two gorgeous daughters! Beth you're an incredible mother it's such a blessing to witness through your photography how you put your whole heart and soul into the things you have been given!

Thanks to all who played along there will be another chance to win next month and we're going light again for the theme - it's going to be Candy Canes so be ready!! xoxo

make something monday :: crocheted pom pom hair ties

These little guys are really fun and addicting to make! I love yarn crafts but I am seriously horrible at crochet. I love a little something easy to do with my hands though in the evening after everyone goes to bed so I figured out a way, with my limited knowledge and ability to work the crochet hook how to cover a simple rubber band with some brightly colored yarn. I am thinking these would be the perfect addition to many stockings this holiday season, they feel so festive! Josie and I have been wearing ours for the past few days and they just make me smile!

You don't need much just some rubber bands, yarn, scissors and a crochet hook - mine was a size 6. And seriously do not be intimidated if you have never worked a hook - if I can do this, anyone can do this trust me!

To make the hair tie portion:

1. Start by tying the yarn onto the hair tie just to hold it in place.

2. Bring the hook under the hair tie and pick up the yarn and bring it back through the band.

3. Now do a single crochet by yarning over and bringing it through the first stitch.

4. Repeat bringing the hook under the hair tie and picking up the yarn again - but this time you're going to do a double crochet by yarning over and then bringing the yarn through the two stitches that you have on your hook. Does that make sense?

5. Continue doing double crochets under and over the hair tie until the entire rubber band is covered then pull the yarn through the last loop.

6. Tie the two ends together and trim off the excess - that's it!

To make the pom poms I simply wrapped the yarn about 75 times around my four fingers and then slid the whole mess off and laid it onto a separate piece of yarn wrapping it around the center of the loops and pulling tight. Cut the loops and go to town giving it a nice little hair cut - you're going for round but mine are never quite even. Remember to keep the piece that you tied the pom pom with long so that after you're done with it you can tie it onto the finished hair tie. Tie it tight, snip the tails and boom you're done!

I've also made a few with some fabric covered buttons for a different and equally as easy twist. The skies the limit on possibilities here and like I said they are super addicting once you get started! Hope you have a wonderful Monday friends - lets make something good out of it! xoxo