Alayne Studio

DIY Headband Tutorial

2010-09-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. I know I'm so bad for not updating.
I ran across this DIY headband tutorial and thought it was so cute.

Something worth re-blogging.....diy: pretty petals tee

2010-05-17T19:22:00.000-07:00

You know how on twitter you can re-tweet something? Well, why don't we re-blog things like that? I thought that this supper creative and cute project was worth re-blogging!

Head over to Elizabeth Kartchner's blog to find directions for this "pretty petals tee."

Hello Spring!!

2010-03-31T14:36:00.000-07:00

March is over and it looks like spring is finally here to stay! I love this transitioning time between Winter and Summer. I don't know exactly what it is about Spring, but it makes me feel very happy and excited. Almost like I'm anticipating something to happen but I don't know what.

I've been really busy making new things for my Etsy shop that is finally on it's way to opening. I'm playing with new styles and designs.

(my desk this morning after working late last night) :-)

Favorite things from the month of March:

*This photo

And any other photos by Andie Edwards.

*The sound of frogs chirping in the evening

*The song Come by the Hills ~ by Celtic Thunder

*These blogs:

Vintage Home & Garden
Me and Alice
H E L E N A - S K A R P
Note: the last two blogs are written in a different language. That just shows you how much of a visual person I am. I follow these blogs just for the pictures!

*This quote by Thomas Brooks:

Let those be thy choicest companions who have made Christ their chief companion.

* Daffodils blooming on the side of the road

* This Chai Tea Latte Concentrate

* Proverbs Chapter 2

* Finished projects

Happy Spring!!!!

Studio Love

2010-02-23T08:27:00.000-08:00

I'm redoing my headband making station in the studio and have been in search of inspiration. So, I went on a photo hunt. This tactic never fails me. I found some awesome work spaces.

A few years ago my parents built a garage with an apartment above and a large room on the side. This room is known to us as the "bonus room" or "studio." There is a station in this room for just about everything under the sun. A sewing station, music station, scrapbooking station, and of course my station where I make headbands and other creations. One of these day's I'll have to do an official studio tour. For now you'll just have to settle for pics of other peeps awesome work spaces.

Like Heather Bailey's studio

Love the chair and the glass jars of ribbon on the shelf (the ones with the red lids.) Oh, and the chandelier and just about everything else.

This on e is neat. I'll take a TV like that!

(I have no idea where I found this photo, sorry folks)

Embroidery Hoop Wall Art

2010-02-22T08:32:00.000-08:00

I think this is such a cool idea! I'm going to try it in my studio.

Fire

2010-02-21T14:28:00.000-08:00

I have seen a Fire that melts hearts,

burns sin, purifies lives.

I have felt a fire deep inside,

glowing bright,furiously raging.

But now the Fire eludes me,

it’s missing, far away.

My soul aches for the burning,

the passion, the Flame.

Jesus, my Fire, is all-consuming,

everlasting, uncompromising.

Fire of God, forgive me,

save me,

FIND ME.

Without this Fire, I’m empty,

cold, passionless.

But there’s a spark, fiery spark,

reminding me, You’re near.

Fire of God, spark turned to Flame,

consume me, ignite me.

This Fire is my strength,

my courage, my hope.

I remember days of Flame,

furious burning, uncontrollable passion.

“Woman on Fire”

was my name, my identity,

my mission.

Fire of God, be my Mark,

my being, my vision again.

Fingers of Flame,

spread through my heart,

my soul, my body.

Oh Consuming Fire!

My vision!

My passion!

My JOY!

The Fire that melts hearts,

burns sin, purifies lives.

This Fire has found me,

again,

Woman on Fire.

Beautiful Flame, don’t grow dim,

cold,distant.

Oh Fire of God, be stoked eternally,

continually, relentlessly.

Eternal Flame,

I give you my Love,

my dreams, my LIFE.

Flame of the Spirit

I BURN FOR YOU,

Light to nations, Song of my heart!

Burn me up

for YOUR Kingdom come,

YOUR will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven!

Amen!

“Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.”-Amy Carmichael

Post source: Gabiruth's Weblog

Words to Live By

2010-02-19T09:43:00.000-08:00

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Eze 36:25-27

Photographer: Madelyn Mulvaney

God here promises that he will work a good work in them, to qualify them for the good work he intended to bring about for them, Eze_36:25-27.

1. That God would cleanse them from the pollutions of sin (Eze_36:25): I will sprinkle clean water upon you, which signifies both the book of Christ sprinkled upon the conscience to purify that and to take away the sense of guilt (as those that were sprinkled with the water of purification were thereby discharged from their ceremonial uncleanness) and the grace of the Spirit sprinkled on the whole soul to purify it from all corrupt inclinations and dispositions, as Naaman was cleansed from his leprosy by dipping in Jordan. Christ was himself clean, else his blood could not have been cleansing to us; and it is a Holy Spirit that makes us holy:

From all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you. And (Eze_36:29) I will save you from all your uncleannesses. Sin is defiling, idolatry particularly is so; it renders sinners odious to God and burdensome to themselves. When guilt is pardoned, and the corrupt nature sanctified, then we are cleansed from our filthiness, and there is no other way of being saved from it. This God promises his people here, in order to his being sanctified in them, Eze_36:23. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.

We cannot sanctify God's name unless he sanctify our hearts, nor live to his glory, but by his grace.

2. That God would give them a new heart, a disposition of mind excellent in itself and vastly different from what it was before. God will work an inward change in order to a universal change.

Note, All that have an interest in the new covenant, and a title to the new Jerusalem, have a new heart and a new spirit, and these are necessary in order to their walking in newness of life. This is that divine nature which believers are by the promises made partakers of.

3. That, instead of a heart of stone, insensible and inflexible, unapt to receive any divine impressions and to return any devout affections, God would give a heart of flesh, a soft and tender heart, that has spiritual senses exercised, conscious to itself of spiritual pains and pleasures, and complying in every thing with the will of God. Note, Renewing grace works as great a change in the soul as the turning of a dead stone into living flesh.

4. That since, besides our inclination to sin, we complain of an inability to do our duty, God will cause them to walk in his statutes, will not only show them the way of his statutes before them, but incline them to walk in it, and thoroughly furnish them with wisdom and will, and active powers, for every good work. In order to this he will put his Spirit within them, as a teacher, guide, and sanctifier.

Note, God does not force men to walk in his statutes by external violence, but causes them to walk in his statutes by an internal principle. And observe what use we ought to make of this gracious power and principle promised us, and put within us: You shall keep my judgments. If God will do his part according to the promise, we must do ours according to the precept.

Note, The promise of God's grace to enable us for our duty should engage and quicken our constant care and endeavour to do our duty. God's promises must drive us to his precepts as our rule, and then his precepts must send us back to his promises for strength, for without his grace we can do nothing.

Commentary by Matthew Henry

2010-02-18T18:58:00.000-08:00

Checkout what I've been working on for the past few weeks. I'm so excited to be a guest writer for fashion blog, AmandaBeth Online. It's been fun writing about fashion and I can't wait to do more.

2010-02-14T15:09:00.001-08:00

Valentine's Day is Coming!

2010-02-02T08:52:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's February already! Valentine's Day is only 13 days away. In our family Valentine's Day is full of traditions. For the past four years or so Dad has always had a surprise for mom and us girls on Valentine's Day morning. I remember one year he had a vase of flowers for each of us on the dining room table and cupcakes on the kitchen counter. Last year he found the BIGGEST valentine card I have ever seen. It's always fun to see what he comes up with every year. It's one of my favorite things about Valentine's Day. We also have this paper bag tradition. I don't really know what to call it. A week or so before Valentine's Day each member of the family sets up a decorated paper lunch bag somewhere in the house, usually in the dining room. Then everyone fills the bags with valentines. Just small things like notes and cards, candy, trinkety things, it really can be anything small enough to fit inside a paper lunch bag. Then on Valentine's Day we open our bags! We usually have a big fancy dinner and open our bags afterward.

I've been looking around trying to get some ideas for "paper bag" gifts and found some really cute ones I want to share with you. My family is banned form looking at my blog until after Valentine's Day.

Valentine Owl Pattern
Gum Ball Machine Pattern
Valentine Cake Pattern
Valentine Pie Pattern
Valentine Mailbox Pattern
Valentine Cupcake Pattern
Valentine Lollipop Pattern
Valentine Postage Stamp Pattern
Valentine Envelope Pattern
Heart Box Pattern

Pillow Box Pattern

Paper Heart Garland

Outdoor Photography

2010-01-21T11:31:00.000-08:00

Random outdoor photos by
Hannah, Lydiah, Mom, Me, Heather Johnson

Inspiration

2010-01-02T11:36:00.000-08:00

* arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity
* a product of your creative thinking and work
* arousing to a particular emotion or action

I was talking to a friend this week and she suggested that I do some posts with pictures that I like. I like to collect pictures that are unusual or unique that snag my attention. I'm a very visual person and find most of my inspiration and ideas through pictures. I love photography blogs or blogs with lots of pictures. A picture, if you think about it, is an incredible thing. It's capturing a fleeting moment in time that is forever gone. Anyhow, I thought I would share with you a visual feast that I've put together of some of my favorite photography.

Random fashion photos.
Authentic You Photography, Katy Hersey

Random photos from fav. blogs
Elizabeth Kartchner, Spark, Candice Stringham

Pottery Barn..........awesomeness

Cool wedding photography
Jazmin Star, Jose Villa

The neatest etsy shop around, Miss Ruby Sue

Amy Butler sweetness

Wishing you the best year of your life

2009-12-31T14:57:00.001-08:00

I made this video using one of my favorite quotes. I had a lot of fun making it and I hope you enjoy it. Have a wonderful new year!

Headband Giveaway Winner!!!

2009-12-25T17:54:00.000-08:00

Alayne Studio Headband Giveaway Winner: Wendi and Matt

Thank you everyone for participating, it was a lot of fun!! I'll definitely have to do another one sometime! I hope Wendi enjoys her prize. Thanks again and Merry Christmas!!

On the first day of Christmas...............

2009-12-14T07:22:00.000-08:00

What I'm doing today

2009-12-11T10:02:00.001-08:00

Making headbands and hair clips! What else would I be doing?

Headband Giveaway Dec.12-25!!!

2009-12-04T16:54:00.000-08:00

Time: Dec.12-25

How to enter: Leave a comment that includes your e-mail address on the giveaway post beginning Dec. 12th. If you post about the giveaway on your blog or put my button on your blog you will receive an additional entry. If you choose to do this, you must include the link to your website in your comment as well. Another way to get an additional entry is to become a follower of my blog.

The winner will be announced Dec.25th after the giveaway ends at 5:00pm!!

Happy December 1st!!

2009-12-01T07:31:00.000-08:00

Well, December is finally here!! PANIC!!!
No, just kidding. Even if I don't have my Christmas shopping done! I'm sure come Christmas morning, some how, the tree will have presents under it. If there is, that means that Santa Clause is real. Just kidding again!
We've been talking about Christmas traditions around here. An anonymous person left a comment on a previous post and asked me to list some of our traditions. I mentioned in my comment that we have a tradition of celebrating the 12 day's of Christmas. We do some sort of activity on every day. We've been planning our activities for this year and have come up with a few fun things. I was wondering if anyone has any ideas! What are your favorite Christmas traditions? I would love to hear what you do to make Christmas meaningful! Have a wonderful Dec. 1st!!!

Home

2009-11-29T16:26:00.000-08:00

Had a wonderful time in Hot Springs, which is were I spent Thanksgiving weekend. I can't believe it's over. Things are moving so fast towards Christmas and the end of the year! Lots to do before then. It's also such an exciting time of year. One of my favorite things about Christmas is all the traditions my family has compiled over the years. So many of the small things make the season spacial. For me it's also a time full of memories. Looking forward the the holiday season!!

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T10:30:00.000-08:00

Traveling+Turkey+Stuffing+Cranberry Sauce+Pie+ Friends and Family+Black Friday Shopping=Awesomeness

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers!!!

In every thing Give Thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1Thessalonians 5:18

Headbands Galore

2009-11-24T12:18:00.000-08:00

I've had my hands full making lots of headbands to fill orders from students at a cosmetology school where my sister works. I'm still not done and it will take a while yet, but it's been fun trying new ideas and getting creative. Christmas is coming and lots of people want them for gifts. I think they would make a really unique gift. They're so much fun!

Getting all my supplies was fun. My sisters and I went to Joann's and started dumping bolts and bolts of fabric in the cart. Anything that looked neat we put it in. We ended up with two carts full of fabric. There was a huge line for the cutting table when we finally made our way to the front. We had to wait for a long time but the people behind us had to wait even longer. Since you only need a small amount of fabric to make the flowers we went from two carts full of fabric bolts to two handfuls of fabric strips. Anyway, after we got some embellishments, things like feathers and cool buttons and stuff for the centers, we were done. I came home and got to work! I'm so impatient when it comes to starting something I'm excited about. I have to start it right away!

Lots more to do after Thanksgiving!

I ♥ Bakerella!!!

2009-11-05T19:03:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share some more stuff we tried from Bakerella. For my birthday last month we decided to make these adorable cup cakes that turned out so cute!! I love Bakerella's fun ideas.

For directions on how to make these and other sweet treats click HERE

Rolled rose headband tutorial

2009-10-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

What you need:
Fabric scraps
Hot glue gun (and plenty of glue sticks)
Headband
Centers to put on your finished flowers (this can be anything from buttons to gems)
You can also sew small beads onto your finished flower. I've use a fabric glitter spray to spice up some of my flowers.

First cut a strip about an inch and a half wide and a yard long. You can also rip the strips to give it extra fray. If it's easier for you to tie a knot at the end to wind around you can go ahead and do that. For me I just started twisting. Twist and glue and it will start to look something like this. The frayed edges look really cool when it's rolled into the flower.

Gluing as you go along makes it really easy.

When you reach the size that you want, roll and tuck the end under the flower and glue. The rolling doesn't have to be perfect. After you've made all the different sizes and shapes you want, you're ready to embellish your flowers with sparkles, beads and any other unique things you think would be a nice addition.
Lay all the flowers out in the general shape you want to transfer to your headband. Then glue them to a large piece of felt, overlapping them and placing them in the shape you want. Cut around the outside of all the flowers so that the felt doesn't show. At this point you might want to put the headband on and position the flowers. Now it's time the glue the flowers onto your head band. Make a few adjustments if needed and you're done!!!

What I love about this is that there is so much room for creativity!! Have fun with it and you'll be surprised what you can come up with.
Here are some more tips and ideas for using this rolled fabric rose.
This video from Studio 5 was very helpful for learning how to make the roses.

Tutorial coming soon!!!!!

2009-10-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

Fall Update

2009-10-22T16:47:00.000-07:00

Aren't these pictures so cool. My mom took them with her new camera. We've all been having fun with it. These are some of mom's mums.

This is a picture of a blueberry bush at our farm.

We found a recipe for some really cute pumpkin pie tarts on Bakerella. Lydiah decided to make them one evening. They turned out so nice. They were super good too.

Organize that Closet!!!!

2009-08-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

I have been working on my closet for the last few weeks and finally got it done. I was inspired be these YouTube videos by Ask the Decorator.

After watching these helpful hints, and a little more research, I got to work right away. For my closet I found I needed some help with shoes and purses. Four girls to a room and two closets............. yeah, you're going to have a problem in that department. I found a really cool way to get them off the shelves and floor by putting them on the inside of the door. During my research I came across this awesome website called Organize.com. They have any thing you could possibly need for organizing any space. If you're looking to organize something you should really check out their unique solutions. Anyway, they have over door storage for shoes and purses. It was perfect for my situation. After getting rid of a lot of stuff or "purging" and getting the shoes and purses out of the way, I was amazed at all the room we had. Our closet has always been so dysfunctional. Not any more!

As you can see we have a lot of shelf space!

I'm not quite done yet. I'm planning on getting some new laundry hampers and canvas storage boxes for the shelves. Well, I hope this was inspiring. Go have fun doing your own, if it's in need of it. If not, I'm sure there's something that could use a little organizing. Like under my bed. =(

Fabric Flower Tutorials

2009-08-14T17:55:00.000-07:00

Aren't thees fabric flowers cute? I found a bunch of nice flower tutorials and thought I would share them with you.

I think this one is my favorite. The link for the tutorial is here

This one is made out of awesome Amy Butler fabric.

This one is from Marie Madeline Studio. Very nice!

Click here for this tutorial.

That's it for now. Have fun with the flowers . One of these days I'll have to put up a tutorial of my own!

Furniture Makeovers

2009-08-14T10:52:00.001-07:00

Today I was looking at some before and after furniture makeovers and stumbled across this really neat project by Martha Stewart. I love redoing furniture. I'll defiantly have to try this.

This faux marble tabletop was fashioned from three glazes applied with a cotton rag.

Surface Preparation
Clean previously painted pieces with a damp cloth. Fill nail holes with wood filler, and lightly sand the entire surface. Reclean with cloth. For table legs, apply 2 coats of primer; let dry. Apply 2 coats of off-white paint. For tabletop, apply 2 coats of primer; let dry. Apply 2 coats of white flat paint; let dry.

Highlighting Table Leg Details
With an artist's brush, paint flat surfaces of the legs with mauve paint, leaving the carved section the lighter color; let dry.

Applying Glaze
In a plastic container, combine 4 ounces alkyd glaze, 1/2 teaspoon black artist's oil paint, and 4 ounces mineral spirits. Mix well. Apply with natural-bristle brush, working glaze into recesses.

Creating Patina
Wipe away excess glaze from raised areas with rag and remove excess from crevices with dry brush.

Applying Gray Tones to Tabletop
In 3 plastic containers, mix glazes by combining the following: 4 ounces gray, beige, or light-gray latex paint (1 pigment per container); 4 ounces latex glaze; and 8 ounces water. With a balled-up cotton rag, apply gray glaze in dabs, making each a different weight and size and overlapping them. Rotate your hand and wrist to alter the angle, creating a stone like texture.

Applying Beige Tones
While gray glaze is still wet, dab on beige glaze with a clean rag in the same manner so that the colors blend together. Let dry.

Evening Out Contrast
Repeat with light-gray glaze, this time following a more uniform pattern; lightly cover most of the surface to unify and lighten the texture. Let dry overnight. Apply coat of waterbased polyurethane with a synthetic brush.

I also found this

Make over ordinary finds with paint, fabric, hardware, and more.

For directions for this project and more neat ideas click here

Pattern No.3

2009-07-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

Pattern No. 2

2009-07-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

I made this pattern for my sister. I've never owned any of the bags I make because I always end up giving them away or selling them. I think I've made a bag for every one of my family members (except the guys), including extended family. I'm hoping to get my new Etsy shop up and running in a few days.

First Pattern

2009-07-15T05:41:00.000-07:00

This is the first pattern I made. This bag is very sturdy and durable. It has pockets inside that keep things orderly, a real plus if you're into "orderly". This is my mom's favorite bag. She's into "orderly". She'd like for me to make her one for every outfit!

A little history........

2009-07-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

I thought I would start from the beginning and show you my bags and other things that I've made. I'll post about each of my bags and patterns everyday until I'm finished.

This all started about two years ago when my sisters and I decided to sell some things in a local craft show. The show was only a couple of months away so we set to work building inventory. Each of us had something that we made. My sister-in-law made candles, we all knitted scarfs, my older sister ,Hannah, made Christmas and greeting cards, Meleah made fresh water pearl jewelry, and I made hand bags. It was quite the learning experience. It was a lot of work but we felt confident that it would be worth the effort.
Though the craft fair was well attended things didn't go as good as we had hoped. We hardly sold anything. I only sold a couple of bags. Since then I've sold most of the bags I made for the fair. People really like them. My mom has one and says it's her favorite purse!

These pictures aren't very good but they're the only ones I have.

My Aunt's Bag

2009-07-04T08:47:00.000-07:00

I love this fabric! My Aunt picked it out herself and I think it really suites her personality!

This is one of my first patterns. It's simple and easy, and you can make a lot of variations with it.

The outside is finished waiting to be lined.

My favorite part of making this bag is sewing the top and the handles. Top stitching brings everything together.

New Fabric

2009-06-26T15:58:00.000-07:00

I recently made an order from Fabric.com and got a lot of different fabrics that I'm excited to use. I'm making a special order bag for my Aunt right now. I should have pics. of it in a few days!