The first night of The Christmas Gathering wrapped up last night (technically it was last night, but as I am writing this it is the early morning hours of today and I should be asleep). I’ll explain more about A Christmas Gathering on Monday, but I thought I’d share a peek of two of my favorite things from this year. These are made by my friend Lori…more info on her and how to make these on Monday.
My house is going to be covered in these flowers soon. ADORABLE.
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About 1,200 women attend each night (so nearly 2,500 women total). This year I am helping with a DIY contest. A trusting friend gave me 2 $100.00 bills, the prizes for each night. Since they were a prize for a DIY contest I couldn’t just put them in a white envelope…had to make them cute, right? I folded each bill into a small section on one end of the envelope and sewed a ruffle & doily on the other end. Finished it off with a little baker’s twine.
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As I sat back and admired my cute little envelopes I realized one envelope didn’t feel quite right. I SEWED THE END WITH THE $100.00 BILL!!! Oh my word, stupidity my name is Ashley. I had to get out my seam ripper and gently remove all the thread. I basically preforated the entire bill. Quite possibly my biggest diy mistake.
I couldn’t imagine going into a bank to exchange it and telling what I did. However, I had to get a new bill and I didn’t want to fess up to my mistake until I took care of it. I called a friend whose husband is a banker and asked if he would exchange it for me at the bank the next day. Well I went to meet him and he wasn’t there. I tried to tell the kind women helping me, but how do you explain…”Hi, I thought I’d cut up an old shirt and sew it on an envelope. In the process I sewed the old shirt ruflle to the $100.00 bill. Can you give me a new one that isn’t covered in holes?”
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Be prepared for a long post on Monday….
By the way, thank you for your comments on yesterday’s post. I am sure it seems like I share a lot of personal things on this blog, but as my close friends know…I share about 10% here. I try to be real and just me….but this is only a part of me. Only a part of what our family is like. Only a part of what our home is like. It is a big part of what I like to create and my love of photography, but in reality I am a fairly reserved, private person. I know it doesn’t seem like that here…I am grateful you feel like you know me and from what you know you think you might even like me. So thank you.
by AshleyAnn
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Amy Coose - LOL, now that’s a story! I can’t wait to see the pics from the party. I’m so jealous I don’t have an event like this close to me.
Morgan - Love it!
Just last week I was making the cutest little onesie for a friend who recently moved away from Texas and is pregnant, due next month, I painted the state of Texas on the front of the onesie, and then hand sewed a sweet little red felt heart over Austin. It was going with a card that said, “all your friends in Austin already love this baby!”
I finished the onesie and was so excited for myself. I went to roll it up and tie twine around it just to find out that I had sewn the onesie together. Front to back. A baby was definitely not going to be able to get in there.
Oops.
Buebau - That’s a great story to tell at the prize delivery
Linda - Oh, this is SOOOO something I would do!!!
Andrea - Hi Ashley,
I love your blog and look forward to checking it every morning! I find your ideas so inspiring and I always want to try them! This envelope is so adorable! I could totally see myself sewing through the bill too! What a neat way to decorate the envelope!
emily anderson - i just made some of those rose flowers for a baby shower…they are the easiest little craft ever!
amanda torres - That was utterly hilarious!
Alba - I think it’s quite funny and it could happen to anybody. do not worry!
If I would live close to you and I would see you in the middle of the street, I would stop you and give you a big hug because you are making my days more enjoyable. For me , 14.15h on working days it’s a MUST !!!!
Hannah Schreiner - Too funny! I used to be a teller and you wouldn’t believe the crazy things we see. It would be no big deal for you to come in a switch it…they’d just put it in with all the other mutilated money and ship it back to the feds.. I’m excited to see how to make those cute Christmasy flowers!
colleen - Hey! Can’t wait for that monday post. As for feeling like i know you – i don’t really; but this little corner of the picture of your life that you share with me through your blog sure makes me wish that i did! It also makes me smile to think that one day, on the “other side”, i will get to know you and that will be great! I hope we get to be creative and crafty in Heaven!
Rebecca - Looking forward to Monday!
KaraM - Hilarious! The girls and I are so excited about The Christmas Gathering tonight!
SeaminglySarah - oops! I think you could’ve totally just explained the whole story to the bank teller. Excellent conversation starter! I’ve had my fair share of mistakes too. Sewing things in backwards or upside down one too many times. I’ll stay away from sewing with money though! =)
Holly - That’s too funny! Nice job on the envelopes though.
Marie - I LOVE those flowers! I’m going to the Christmas Gathering tonight and I’m SO excited!! I also LOVE your blog and read it daily!!
Stephanie - The Christmas Gathering was so much fun! I felt truly blessed for going and laughed a lot. The two pictures you have up are a couple of my favorites!!
Katie @ explanation required - Ha!! Don’t feel bad about that messed up bill. I worked in a bank for 8 years, 3 of those as a teller, and I’ve seen far, far worse. And who cares about a perforated bill when the envelope is so cute!
ashley jensen - Are those baby pom poms on that twig tree?! CuTe!! I really like the brown paper envelope (though the WHOLE package is stinkin’ cute). Silly things like that make me happy! I am working on a painted plate (as a christmas gift) like you posted and will email you a pic!
Karen - Ohhhhh, I hope you share how to make those fab paper/glitter roses!
Leanne - I totally would have done the same thing. so sad…
Alice H - Last night was fun! And it was nice to meet you. I hope you will post step-by-step directions for the Photo Lamps. I didn’t see a website for the lady who won
Hollie - I can see myself doing the same thing – totally. I went to the Goodwill at lunch and bought cute striped knit t-shirts so I could make ruffles on my presents
Thanks for the inspiration – can’t wait to see Monday’s post. Silver glitter is on my list too…
Kenyon - Do you know what’s funny? My mom showed me how to make those flowers yesterday with old book pages. It made me smile to see that someone else had the same idea.
And PS: If you’re ever in Florida or I’m ever in Tulsa, I will definately say “hi”! Your posts have become an essential part of my weekday!
Kristin - I love getting to know this wonderful side of you. So fun and inspiring. I love your cash envelopes. I wouldn’t want to open them up – they’re so pretty – even knowing 100 bucks were waiting inside!
Bekki4 - Can’t wait to see more on Monday! I love those flowers and am in the process of making an entire wreath out of them. Here is a link to where I found the idea. Though you might be intrested also.
http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2010/11/diy-faux-curled-rosewood-wreath-made.html
Ethel - I was hoping to get to say Hello last nite and tell you how much I love reading the blog and seeing your kiddos grow. We had such a fun evening. Thanks for all the hard work that goes into an event like that.
Heidi Meyer - Hi – my DIY friend, Ann, just sent me to your blog. I LOVE it! The Benjamin packaging is too cute and a funny story too (not far removed from something I would probably do). I completely get wanting to exchange the bills for those less perforated. Thanks for sharing a fun post – love the roses too! Blessings ~ Heidi
Lisa - Ashley, Thank you for sharing a little of your life, your family and your crafting! It gives me so much inspiration. And yes I read your blog and not just enjoy all the amazing pictures. The large picture of your four kids with just legs and feet is absolutely adorable and inspired me to go BIG with some of my amateur efforts at photographing our kids. I too love to catch them just having fun and being themselves. I recently captured a half posed and half being little people pic that is just precious to me. (ages 8, 6, 2 and 1) I found this great offer through another blog that I have been meaning to share with you for a FREE 8 x 10 canvas print – you only pay shipping. Here is the post for the free offer. http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2010/10/free-canvases-to-everyone.html I decided to go with a discounted large size and love it!! thank you again for the inspiration!
twirling betty - It’s always such a relief (and a giggle) to see other people do funny things like this. Makes me feel much more normal!
Jesse {GoodGirlGoneGlad} - I was there Thursday night. It was fun.
Carolyn - oh dear..for a minute there I thought the perforated bank note was some kind of design feature!
Kim - LOVE those flowers–please share. You may feel stupid, but your story is SO funny–at least to the rest of us.
Jeannette - Finally reading this and laughing even at midnight!
Hollye - I’m obessed with those flowers since Lori showed them at Christmas Gathering! I got up early this morning thinking I still had 2 twig wreaths in my closet that have been there for years & was going to make some flowers to put on them & they are not in my closet!!! Now I’m thinking all my picture frames need them! lol
Kelly - Ashley, I was just thinking about this again the other day! I am learning to sew McGyver style (I linked to you on that post) and I decided I would sew a strip of paper onto an envelope and I almost sewed it shut and then I remembered not to from your example. Thank you!
Kelly
5 on Friday: Under the Sycamore | - [...] I have so many of these! The most recent was sewing a $100.00 bill inside and envelope! [see THIS post] It was a prize for a crafting contest and I thought I’d be creative by sewing ruffles [...]