nathalie bearden photography

this a handmade christmas...

have you been missing me? well miss me no more. i graduated yesterday (cum laude with a degree in cell & molecular biology!) and i will have all kinds of time on my hands now. well, not really a whole lot of time time, but let's say a little extra time. i know 2010 will be super awesome and i can't wait to see what it brings. due to graduation and the massive amounts of studying hours it entailed i was not able to get a lot of things done around the house. but little by little i put these new stockings together. this might look a little fanciful, but it wasn't all that difficult to make. i wish i had taken step by step pictures of the project. maybe this will be a 2010 tutorial project!

i used the same silhouettes i made last year. i scanned each one and printed on muslin fabric. in order too print on muslin i cut freezer paper in the standard printer paper (8 1/2 X 11...i think) then ironed the freezer paper on muslin. this gave the printed some more sturdy to pull through. i would say it would be easier to use those printable sheets of fabric at the craft store. the ruffles are just half circles folded. i used 100% wool felt. i purchased quite a bit of it for future projects. you can buy here. for the stocking pattern i used vanessa's pattern from last year. you have to check out her house tour. what an inspiration!!!!

i found the smaller inner frame in one of my little flea market expeditions. it had the ugliest print on it so i just spray painted it with chalkboard paint. two coats of it and it was done. i spray painted the frame as well. the big frame i got a hobby lobby. i had this idea in mind for a while and it finally came to reality!

i think i saw in a magazine how they used old mason jars to decorate. i had these jars sitting around and thought they would be perfect holiday decor. i was trying to use some natural branches and such this year and i got a little lucky with these. i went to the local nursery to buy a fresh garland and the owner ended up giving me a bag full of these branches. love the natural look. maybe next year we will have a fresh tree as well. 

 

the complete view of the room. including a little girl who is going to turn three in a few days. according to her all of this decor is for her birthday!

i hope you are all decorated and ready to take in the season. i look forward to catching up on my sleep and drawing the plans for 2010! the undergraduate degree was just a small step in a bigger plan. future here i come!

and this is me and my beautiful classmates! i would be the one with the crooked hat and the maroon cord about to fall off! way too many cameras for us to look at!!!! i will miss all of these amazing women!

missouri state university's fall 2009 commencement ceremony.

for the christmas card...

now that thanksgiving is over it is time to think about christmas. i know i'm not the only one who thinks this year has really flown by! little k will be three soon. you have no idea how much begging and bribing went on to capture these images. the girl knows what she wants and when she wants. i have a ton more, but these are my faves. the tee and tights are from crewcuts and i made the skirt for her. best get downstairs and start decking the halls. i still have my spring wreath up, can you believe it? did you guys just go crazy shopping today? we went out for a bit. things were pretty mild. there is only one way i would get up at 3am to go shopping. it would be if anthropologie was giving 70% off everything in the store. not happening. but if it did happen, i will would have been there!

ps: i know there was some issue with leaving comments on my blog. i asked them to fix it. you will let me know if this is still happening? thanks! you can just email me. kennedyandfriendsco@yahoo.com.

little indian hideaway...

last year she was little red, this year she is a little indian. and this little indian lives 5 minutes down the road by the creek. she likes to play hide-and-seek.

sometimes she comes out of her tee pee...
but quickly returns to hiding...

she is always on the lookout for cowboys...

they tend to cross the creek once in a while...

and when she doesn't see any cowboys, she squeals with happiness...

and back to hiding she goes again... 

happy halloween!

this is probably my last sewing project until i graduate. the outfit and tee pee was so much fun to make and the tee pee is much easier than i thought. it is set up in the living room now and i suspect she will want to sleep in it soon. i have some photography sessions to post in the near future.

hugs to all!

have a seat and stay a while...

this is my newly reporposed living room. i have been meaning to photograph it for several weeks and finally found the time to do so. before i take you on our little tour, let's have a cup of tea. the menu today is mint orange tea. ahhh, so refreshing.

the sofa belonged to my husband's grandparents. they gave it to us and i got it recovered to suit the style of our home. when i found this perfect fabric my heart skipped a tiny beat. i immediately thought of how i could use it on this piece. and wow, i love the results! the ottoman was a gift from my mother-in-law. she snatched it for very cheap and i sent her the fabric to get it recovered. it makes the perfect coffee table. are you loving my crazy fabric combination?

the view from the back is even more amazing. the two chairs you see in the background also belonged to the grandparents. they are gorgeous ethan allen chairs i put my touch on. again, different fabrics. as you can see i'm not that much into super matchy matchy stuff. i did like matching once upon a time. i think i remember a pair of pink jeans i loved to match with my pink converse. i looked like a walking bottle of pepto-bismol. needless to say i no longer care for the color pink. oh the things we do!

the headdress on the mantel came from brazil. i got it in one of our expeditions down south. it was made by natives from my state. can't remember the tribe. it is made with macaw feathers. this is the typical ceremony headdress they wear. i had it perfectly framed in brazil. by far, one of the favorite pieces of art in the home. if you have been reading my blog for a while you will remember that i have several native brazilian art work around. most of them are paintings.

and now the resulting pillows of last weekend sew-a-thon (not the two big ones in the back, those are from pier 1). and you might get to receive one next week. this is where i seat at the moment, nice and cozy with sweet little pillows.

i did the embroidery while i was in dc. they turned out exactly how i had imagine. as much as i'm crazy about anthropologie, this beats paying $98+ for a pillow.

and if you leave a comment, you might be a lucky one to win this little guy (below). he is my favorite, but i will part with him. hopefully he will make a great addition to your living room. i will close comments 9.18.09 at 7PM CST. and one last thing, if you read my last post you know the rules. i like rules.

now that we had our tea and you had a little tour. i best get back to my lovely books. stay tuned because there is something very cute i made for two lucky little girls, one is staying here for my lucky one, and one i will give away. i'm sure you will like it! tchau for now!

flock of birds...

i have been home sweet home!  no better feeling.  i was a bit depressed about getting back to a small town again, but it is all gone now.  i know we lack a lot of things here, such as cultural diversity, but we also have so much!  i have made time to a lot of friends and still many more to see.  wow it seems like i was gone for a year and not 9 weeks.  the house is still standing, kennedy is so grown up and pretty i can't even tell you, even the dog looks great.  papa managed life just fine.  of course my mother-in-law was here to help for most of the time, but still, what a great man i have!  i have been working on some small little projects.  first to show are my new flock of birds.  these will be used in a photo session i have next week.  i will photograph a sweet newborn baby girl and i have some ideas for the little birds.  anyway, i have been busy already with photography sessions and trying to get my life back in order.  my last semester is about to begin and lots of things to do between now and then.  i know i have been oh so boring and taking so long to post, but i'm going to try to do a better job.  i'm thinking of something to give and it will be on a whim, so if i where you, i would leave a comment because you never know how i will decide who wins.  just a heads up!

bird pattern from spool sewing here.  super easy to make!

let the spoiling begin...

ok last sewing project for two months.  i embroidered this little design of mine while we where on vacation and finally made it into the project i wanted for it to become.  my mother-in-law came bearing gifts from both grandparents...a big play kitchen.  and as you can see kennedy has been "cooking" so much!  i found the cups, plates, pots, and pans at toys r us.  they are made in the u.s from recycled milk jugs.  they are bpa and phtalate free.  oh and can you spot a lela doll and a sweet flutter by?  thank you for the gifts, ruby and girls, we received them and LOVE everything!!!  my table cloth is already in use and the apron is hanging with my little collection.  you are so sweet!  well, the next post....whenever it may come...i will be in DC.  so see you then!!!

still here...

hello there neglected blog!  i'm still here...just too busy to sit down.  my to-do list is a mile long and i'm tackling one check mark at the time.  bags are not packed yet, but i will pack soon.  leaving for D.C. on saturday.  no tears yet, but they will come with time.  on a cheerful note, i must admit i was giddy to watch the new moon trailer.  i know, i know, i had harsh words for twilight, but they deserved it.  i have a littel faith this will be a better movie.  so here is a sewing project for the spring (it was done many weeks back and just now in use), a new table cloth thingy.  it was a sew as you go project and i used a ruffler foot to make the ruffles.  humm i like that, ruffler to make the ruffles.  oh do you see the china cabinet? my mother's day gift.  very antique and beautifully refinished.  ok, i do have the best husband!  and how about my thrifted mirror?  came painted already.  well, the plates from anthropologie where gifts from my bff amber! yellow birdie on the tray was a sweet birdie package surprise from kellie.  i love them all girl!  well, that's all i got.  i will try to make one last post before i leave.  i have no idea how blogging will be when i get there.  if i can just get there and find where i will live will be awesome.  my dream these days is that i got there and could not find the place and i was late for the first day at work.  can you say, A-N-X-I-E-T-Y?!

little red skirt + red heels = fabulous...

i was in dire need of a new skirt and this was my pick.  you gotta love this beautiful print.  just keeping up with my little red love!  this stunning skirt is from hannah. 

and this is me wearing it.  with some lovely spring heels.  these are my faves and i can't stop wearing them.  who says scientists are lame???  here's is the proof we are not.  we are actually pretty sexy people.

well, two more weeks of school and i will have a wee more freedom.  not for long though.  leaving for D.C. on june 6th.  while there i have scheduled two weekend photo sessions with readers of this little blog.  soooo cool.  i can't wait girls!  now back to the books.

dressed up girls...

for easter i made kennedy a new dress.  she has not worn it yet.  we are waiting until spring arrives.  it is getting old to have winter still.  i plan to taking her to the park for a fun shoot when it gets warmer.  this dress asks for ice cream and sun.  don't you think?

abby also got a new dress.  soon you might be able to purchase my doll dresses.  surprise, surprise!

for anna and kaya i had to do a little shopping at american girl online store.  kennedy LOVES to take their clothes off, then she can't put them on, and comes running for help.  we had a nice easter.  not too much eating or chocolate....which was really nice.  we have our own easter bunny.  he/she is living under k's playhouse.  oh, yes papa worked on it.  photos soon.  not finished yet....but almost there!

yes k has american girl baby dolls.  anna was kennedy's first doll, i could not wait so we got it for her when she was 1.  i have said before, ana has a twin brother that lives with our godson in brazil.  kaya was a gift from my mom for children's day.  kennedy adores all of her babies.  the only thing is that she only wants to put them to sleep.  she occasionally feeds them changes their "diapers". 

coming up for air...

wow...what a crazy week already.  it has been a roller coaster.  but here is something that calms me down.  another pillow in the making.  now back to studying.  i'm counting the days until the end of this semester.  i hate wishing my life away, but it has been very stressful to say the least!  i do have some very good news though.  i have been accepted as a summer intern at the national institutes of health and will be in washington dc this summer for several weeks.  this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and i will be working with the best in the world of biomolecular research.  to be more precise i will be in the neurological and stroke section of nih.  yes i have a lot of planning and organizing to do.  i don't have a ton of details yet, but i know everything will fall into place.  anyone living in the d.c metro area? 

don't you think i need a few more skeins of embroidery floss? papa could not believe this jar when he saw it.  he said....geez how many millions of dollars do you have in there?  i told him to relax, they are only $.33/skein and I usually get them on sale.