In which I wear my gown once more. . .

The post you've been waiting for. . .

The post with pictures of my graduation celebration!  And my vintage gown!

However, the first picture must needs have myself wearing one of those horrid, hot, shapeless masses over my dress known, simply, as. . .

The Gown.

Also, The Cap.  That enormous chunk of covered pasteboard perched on one's head like some sort of disoriented and inverted pie plate.

(Yes, I am exaggerating hugely.  I really did enjoy getting to dress up in all of my traditional and nonsensical splendor and celebrate this milestone in my life!)

Timothy, there, in the black fedora, had the right idea.  I should have brought my pith helmet. . . =D

After the ceremony, one of the graduates had a limousine waiting outside to take us all for a lovely ride through the countryside.  It was really fun.  I wish I had pictures, but alas!  I'll leave it to your imagination to visualize the posh hilarity of eight homeschool grads reclining in a limo, goblets filled with sparkling cider, enjoying themselves hugely.

Afterwards, we all met up at one of the grad's home for a lovely BBQ.

And took pictures of sweet things.

Like these girls.  I love these girls - and look!  They all match!

And my sweet mother, broken fibular bone and all.  I love you, Ma!

Well, that's all for now.  Have a beautiful evening, friends!

A Long-anticipated Dream. . .

Lord willing, I shall soon have an. . .

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

Yesterday, I purchased my own wall tent.  

First inspired by MaryJane Butter's bed and breakfast down in Moscow, Idaho - now I'm going to try my hand at creating a wall tent haven of my own!

I've never had my own room.  First it was my brother when we were wee little things, then one sweet sister, then two, then three - then we moved into a little travel trailer on our property and began a great adventure in tight quarters.  No more bedrooms - it was two foot wide bunks.  Another sister joined us soon after that, and along with my brother and parents, all eight of us learned to work together and trust God for grace as we stepped on each other's toes and figured out how to live creative and productive lives at the same time.  

That was over seven years ago.  God has been so good - I can't begin to relate how much He has taught me in this school.  

{June 2005}

Awhile back a friend asked me if I didn't feel cheated, somehow - my entire teenage years spent this way, waiting, struggling, crowding.  A year before I did - I felt both cheated and frustrated.  But looking back, I can confidently say I am thankful for every day, every year - because I see now that I was living all along in God's will for my life, learning to become to person he was preparing me to be.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

My God has a plan for my life.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

". . .But those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth."

- Psalms 37:9

And now, at last, I see my dream coming to a realization.

I have longed to have a place of my own to work, create, decorate, and relax in.  A place to expand, to grow, to learn, and to have a little privacy!  My current bed room is the sofa, located in the living room/entry/dining room/school room/everything room. . . if I sleep in, I can expect to awaken to find a diverse assortment of little girls sitting on me, eating their breakfasts.

And now.

 Now, I am preparing to enter a brand new, unwritten chapter of my life.

Praising God, trusting Him, and living out each moment for His glory.

With a little house of my own.

Sketches from My Notebook

I've been cleaning out my belongings, getting rid of ancient twisty ballon relics, old receipts, and handmade clay dice ( hey - it never fell on six.  Bad dice:)  and consolidating things generally.

While engrossed in this undertaking, I stumbled upon some of my old sketch books and scanned in some of my favorites.  The following is from '06 up to last year.  Enjoy!

This was the first prototype of what later became my Retro Sailor dress.

Here we have what appears to have been my dream room at the age of fourteen.  See the snow on the window panes?  I like it. =)

This was my entry design for the Own Your Look dress design contest by Jo Ann's Fabrics.  I wasn't able to enter, but it was lovely to sketch out!

A ruffled variation with lace overlay and handmade opera gloves

Design for a tote pattern I envisioned - still planning to make this someday=)

A view of Camelot from a fourteen year old's perspective.

In keeping with the Mediaeval theme, a dress fit for Maid Marian herself!

These I did a couple weeks ago for fun - this is the house plan for my dream straw bale cottage.  Pretty, isn't it? ;)

Cutaway view of the bedroom. . . inspired by this picture:

A pictorial sewing list from last year - everything crossed off expect that tote bag, a swimsuit, and my Mediaeval gown.  Have to get on that. . .;)

Well, that's all for now.  I'm off to a house-sitting job tomorrow - then Graduation on the weekend!  Excitingness=)

Have a lovely evening!

~Kellie~