Art & Design of Kelli Murray

So I am really excited to finally be sharing these photos with you today!  I teamed up again with Taryn and Shelby of JOIELALA to create a spring inspired lookbook.  And this is the first of the series! I really can’t get over how good those girls are!  Yeesh!  All the photos are just so dreamy.  Their play on light is what always gets me.  I wish I knew how to use a camera this way! Haha.  I’ve been saying that forever.  But I guess I am just glad I have talented friends to collaborate with! …..more to come!

What I’m wearing:

Crocheted Top by Free People / Re-constructed silk dress (from mom’s closet!) / Ecote T-Strap Wedge from Urban Outfitters / H&M bracelet

Rylee and I leave today to head to Wisconsin to attend my grandfathers funeral and to spend some time in the north woods with my grandma.  For those of you who have sent encouraging notes and emails….thank you so much!  I truly appreciate it.  I hope our time there can be a celebration of his amazing life.  Tears, no doubt, but I am so happy he is home.  As hard as it is to say goodbye, we all know he is in a better place now.  It will be Rylee’s first time on a plane…and away from daddy….so we will see how that goes!  She is a little trooper so I’m sure we will be fine!   I have some wonderful bloggers who will be filling in here while I am away!  So lots of fun stuff coming up!  Enjoy!  I will “see you” soon.

This tutorial is easy peasy! And it only takes about 15 minutes to make!

Here’s what you will need to get started:

-An old t-shirt you don’t mind cutting up (or any jersey fabric).  I suggest finding a jersey knit with a bit more “give”.  It’s a little harder to handle, but will make for a more comfy fit on your baby’s head.

-a needle and some thread

-fabric scissors

-hot glue gun

1. Measure your baby’s head. Cut a strip of fabric that is just barely shorter than her head circumference, since the fabric will stretch.  The width is up to you.  I cut mine at about 2 1/2″ wide.  And no need to make it perfect!  The fabric edges roll and can easily be tucked under when the headband is worn.

2. Thread your needle and overlap your fabric ends.  Sew them together with a loose stitch.

3.  Cinch the fabric tight and knot it at the end.  Creating a secure gathered center.

4.  Cut out a handful of circles ranging from 3″ being your largest to 1″ being your smallest.  I found that 8 worked well.

5. Stack the circles on top of one anther beginning with the largest and ending with the smallest.

6. Take your needle and thread through the center of your circle stack a few times.  Pinch the circles together from the bottom so they appear to form a flower bud.  Then thread through the bottom (as many times as you want) until you feel like the bud looks right.  There was no specific method to my stitching.

7.  Now all you have to do is use your glue gun to secure the bud onto the headband (in the center of the “cinch”).  Or, if you don’t have a glue gun, you can always just hand stitch the bud to the band as well.  And there you have it.  Fini!

I hope you guys have fun with this one!  If you try it out, post it on your blog and send me the link.  Or just forward me a photo!  I’d love to check it out!

Unconditional.  Motherhood defined.  I would do anything for this little girl.  Tonight, Sam and I remembered how Rylee came into this world and how incredible that day was.  She was a surprise to us.  One that we were neither expecting nor entirely prepared for.  But as she grew in my belly, I just knew that life with her would never be the same.  The things that I once cared so much about all of a sudden became much less important.  SHE was now my priority.  The love that overflowed within me the day I first looked into her eyes was like nothing I have ever felt before.  She was ours.  Our first born. A part of me.  A part of Sam….Love had never felt so big.

I wrote Rylee a letter the day before I gave birth to her.  I am saving it for her to read one day.  I read through it again tonight.  I still tear up remembering those moments as I wrote those words.  It’s about six pages too long to write here….but I wanted to share a snippet.

“You were an unexpected surprise to us.  But certainly no accident.  Your dad and I always knew we wanted to grow our family and raise kids together, so although you were unexpected, we were so excited to know you were coming.  You will be the first grand daughter of the family!  I can’t wait for you to meet your Grandma’s!  They have been busy praying for you!  You are going to enter this world one loved baby girl.  I am not sure if I could love anything more than I do you.  You are a part of me, knit together by God, made just perfect.  You will change my life forever and I will love you, support you, and encourage you for as long as I live.  I don’t know what tomorrow will bring….but be strong little one.  My heart tells me that you will be alright despite the doctors concerns.  Tomorrow our world will change, and I can’t wait.  Your name will be Rylee Jean.  Now get ready, because tomorrow is your birthday!”

I had such a peace that night.  I was induced  a week earlier than my delivery date because of concern that Rylee was not growing enough inside of me….but I think I knew as I lay there in bed the night before her induction, that everything was going to be ok.  And it was.  More than ok.  She was perfect. Healthy. Beautiful.  I am so proud to be her momma.  For the rest of my life.

Happy Mothers Day to all you mama’s!

I can’t remember how I first stumbled upon VIBYS shop on etsy….but I’m SO glad I did.  They have the worlds, yes, the WORLDS, cutest baby shoes. Haha.  At least in my opinion anyway.  Handmade all the way over in Estonia!  That is one thing I really love about Etsy…is that is connects people from all over the world with the one common love of all things handmade.  I ordered these braided leather shoes for Rylee a few weeks ago and I melted when I opened the package.  They are even better in real life, if you can imagine that, and 10 times better on two pudgy little feet.  Next on my wishlist are THESE….but really, I want all of them. I mean Rylee does….I mean….

I ordered her a US size 2 (she’s almost 9 months) and there is definitely a lot of room to grow.  But she has abnormally tiny feet…and tiny everything for that matter.  The size 1 probably would have fit her perfect….but this way I can just extend the wear.  Win win! Also check out Sprinkles for Sprouts for some uber cute headbands.

Happy Weekend!!

A lot has been going on here at the Larson household! Did you know I am a Larson? I guess I rarely say that here.  After getting married, I was in a bit of a predicament trying to figure out if I change my website and shop to my new name or just keep my maiden name of Murray.  Obviously, you know what I decided on…..but it still feels a little odd to me.  I get all mixed up sometimes with my signitures because for checks or personal documents, I need to sign Kelli Larson, but for art prints I need to sign Murray.  I can’t tell you how many checks I have had to rip up because I sign it with Murray! Ugh…the worst.  Aaaanyway.  This weekend was a ton of fun for Sam and I.  His family, who all live in 4 different states, came out to visit.  Sometime’s I don’t realize how lucky I am to have my whole family within driving distance from me.  Sam’s twin sister, Hannah (in the 4th photo) has a baby boy, Jonah (5th photo) who is just 4 weeks younger than Rylee.  Although sitting side by side you would never guess Rylee was the older of the two.  Jonah kills her in the weight department.  But then again, most babies her age do.  I am still waiting for that growth spurt (hair included!) Anyway, it was the first time out little ones met each other so we had fun watching them get acquainted!  Mainly, it was Rylee jabbering away and plowing over Jonah, poking his face and stealing his pacifier.  Ha!  She is ALL over the place right now.  But Jonah just sat there like a gentleman and let the crazy girl go at it.  I had no idea Rylee was such a social butterfly.  But get her around a crowd of people and she is the bell of the ball.  I’m not sure what I’m getting myself into with her! She is developing quite the personality, and is certainly more mobile than ever. Notice the crouching tiger pose in the first pic?….that is her favorite of the moment.  And I worry every time about a face plant.  It’s the only time in my life I have ever wished I had carpet.  But she is getting stronger and stronger every day.

Currently….

THINKING ABOUT – My mom.  She left two weeks ago on a last minute trip to Wisconsin to help my grandmother care for my grandfather as his health continues to decline.  She told me this morning that the hospice nurse that continues to check in on him said that it will be just days, if not minutes, before he passes.  I cry every time I think about it….so I can’t imagine what my mom is going through just watching him slowly fade away.  I will certainly miss my gramps.  But soon he will be in heaven with his Savior, and with that thought, I am comforted.  I am so thankful for my mom for her strength and unwavering love.  She is one of the most selfless people I know, and I am sure it means everything to my grandmother to have her there by her side.  My mom will still be away on mother’s day this Sunday, which makes me sad, but I am so glad she can be with her own mom, who needs her more than ever right now.  I didn’t realize it until tonight when Sam said to me “Sunday is a special day for you” that I too get to celebrate mothers day this year! It’s amazing how much life can change in one year.   One life ends just as another begins.

LISTENING TO – Down Like Silver. I kind of stalk Kelly Ann’s blog to find new inspiring music.  I’m not great at keeping up with the music scene, so I rely on people like Kelly Ann to help me out! (thanks girl for your music monday’s).  I discovered them about a month ago through this post and was instantly hooked.

WATCHING – Revenge.  I’ve been watching it on hulu while I feed Rylee.  It’s the perfect waste of time! haha.  Have you seen it!!?  It’s so addicting.

EATING - On the healthy side – spinach & arugula salad with dried cranberries, walnuts, and gorgonzola. One the very opposite side of healthy – Trader Joe’s Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Pretzels. Killing me.

OTHER HAPPY LOVELY THINGS - 

- Coury has a baby in her belly!!  So thrilled for her!  I can already visualize her baby’s vintage wardrobe.

-  THIS breakfast (dessert!) that I MUST make.  P.S – Sarah’s blog is a new found fave.

- Katie’s hair.  I have been seriously considering going red….and it’s all her fault.  ha!  But honestly, isn’t she just the cutest?

-Loving these DIY notebooks that Whitney made.  I am in desperate need of one about now! Time to get crafty.

- Lots of great blogging advice HERE from Elsie.  So much I still feel like I can learn and get better at.  One step at a time I guess!