~finding my groove again, party decor and bunting~

hello friends,

Sometimes we plan a blogging break, other times life just comes along and knocks the stuffing out of you! That’s how it’s been for our family this past year, and I’ve wondered how much to share here, in my “happy place“. 

But this crazy thing called life does happen, and if there is one thing I know to be true from this past year, it's that we’re all dealing with something! 

A sorrow. 

A challenge.

 A story. 
Your story.

We all live in this real world. And sometimes that is just plain tough.
 So I’ll try and give you a little snapshot of this past year in our family.

 my three kiddos

Early last year a longtime favourite verse was so impressed on my heart, 

“Be still and know that I am God” {Psalm 46;10}

Little did I know how meaningful those words would become in the months ahead.

In early January 2013  my 19 year old daughter became very ill, and deteriorated quickly.  She was ultimately diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease. There is nothing more devastating as a mamma than watching your child become sicker and sicker and not knowing what else to do. It has been a slow journey back to health, a journey we still find ourselves on. As some of you may know my daughter is developmentally disabled, so this brings with it some extra challenges. 

Hot on the heels of her illness crisis, my 17 year old son sustained a concussion playing volleyball. It ended up putting him out of school for the remainder of the school year, and out of sport for even longer. It was a tough, tough time, we adopted a cautious approach to his recovery and are so blessed to see the way he has fought his way back.

We muddled our way through all this and it seemed everytime we were about to draw a deep breath, something else was around the corner:  injury, water damage and repairs, rear ender....

 I started to enjoy a “normal” day for what it was, just plain old “normal”

I didn’t need extraordinary or wow, just normal!

We were feeling pretty worn down and looking forward to a fresh new year.

 This January “courage” was the word on my heart. I wasn't sure how I felt about that. I didn’t want to be courageous anymore. Hadn't I been courageous? 
I wanted peace. rest. refresh!

 Anything but "courage"!

In late January I underwent major surgery, not at all how we pictured 2014 starting. I am doing great, but it will be some time yet before I resume my normal activities, like hauling furntiure!!

The amazing thing is, when life just keeps coming at you, you truly are stripped bare of pretence. My faith has been shaky at times, but surer too. I have gotten to know people a whole lot better by being a little more real with them. I don’t understand it all, or any of it really, but I have known God's grace through this time, sometimes just for the next moment. And that is enough.

There have been bright moments along the way! 

Our daughter graduated high school in June 2013,  and we were involved in advocating to get a new adult program started in our community, that she is now a part of.

We had a fun little teaparty with her friends to celebrate.

It was so much fun putting together a girlie teaparty, using mostly vintage and thrifted decor items.

the vases, linens, cake stand, tea cups, and mason jars were all thrifted goodies I already had. 

I love these mirrored balls.

I

vintage china teacups

and lots of yummy treats

bunting made from pretty vintage linens

 

Yes, I’m still in love with stripey paper straws! We served lemonade in these mason jar mugs.

We also celebrated my Dad’s 70th birthday western style:

You can see I had a bunting thing going with these celebrations! This one I made from bandanas. 

we used bandanas to wrap the cutlery too! Yup, we used a lot of banadanas!

painted mason jars and white baby’s breath blooms

a sheriff’s badge for the birthday boy

those mason jar mugs again, with cowboy black and white straws this time!

We vacationed on the beautiful Oregon coast during the summer.

gorgeous unspoilt beaches

and epic sandcastle building…

We got to visit with extended family, and I participated in a couple of vintage markets.

Although I have not been blogging this past year, if you follow me on

facebook,

instagram 

or pinterest 

you will know I have stayed connected. 

This creative world that we share has been such a lifesaver to me when I’ve needed a break, to just soak in the beauty and creativity you have shared, and for that I thank you all!! There have been many days I have opened instagram to find just the words of encouragement I needed for right then in that moment.

These past few weeks I’ve been sewing up some pillows and making raggy bunting and it is just so energising to be creating again!! Thanks for sticking with me and here’s to lots more beauty and creativity ahead! 

If you’ve made it to the end of this post, I hope that in sharing some of the “real” stuff in my life this past year, that you leave encouraged.

“His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me” 

Tracey

xox

~raggy bunting love and how to~

Hello friends,

I have been busting to show you my raggy bunting, 

you might have seen a peek over on my fb page here or my instagram {raggygirlvintage}.

I have to warn you, it is highly addictive.

 And it will leave threads all over the sofa.

 And you!!

I have been in love with bunting forever, I showed you some mini white bunting here…

I also love to make it in ticking and vintage florals. 

Hanging bunting gives that yummy vintage, handmade feel.

I wanted to make a less formal raggy bunting, 

I’ve seen similar bunting inspiration floating around.

 Anthropologie even has a version too.

This bunting is hot right now at weddings and baby showers. 

It makes an awesome backdrop for photoshoots, across an arbour, or tied across the front of a table.

To start I pulled out my stash of aqua and white sheets. 

It’s super easy peeps.

 Just rip strips of varying lengths, mine were probably 1.5”-2” wide.

 Then tie them along a length of sturdy twine.

 Make sure you use tidy knots so the strips hang downwards.

I made mine 3 feet long plus extra twine for hanging, and it took me around 2 hours to make.

I have it draped over one of my doors here.

Can we say LURVE…..

I just couldn’t stop!!

Next up I knew I wanted ~all white, lacy, ethereal, romantic~

 So this time I ripped up white muslin and pulled out my stash of vintage lace.

My, did this ever use a ton of lace.

Lace is just soooo pretty.

This bunting has headed over to The Passionate Home ready for spring and summer weddings. 

It is so pretty but there is only so much bunting one can hang with 3 guys in the house!

Now I realise this may not be everyone’s taste, but it’s a fun and simple way to add a whimsical touch to your next special event, or to your home decor just because

Next up vintage linens…just gotta make that first rip, I find it really hard to rip up vintage linens, how silly is that!

A couple of my instagram gals have already been inspired to make their own version, why not give it a go??

Hugs,

Tracey

~a mother’s heart and aqua palette~

Hello friends,

It’s good to be back! 

2013 has been a little rocky for the raggygirlvintage household.

 In January my daughter became very ill and her health deteriorated at an alarming rate. Long story short she has been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease.

 It has been a slow and rocky path to recovery. Thankfully the past two weeks her health has stabilised somewhat, and we are feeling some degree of normality again. 

We are still figuring out how to manage this long term, but as I posted on fb recently, an uneventful day is a good day right now! 

Here’s a photo of our sweet girl, this is one of her grad shots this year.

As any of you who have had a critically ill child will know, it is hard on a mother’s heart. 
So hard. 

I am so thankful for the friends and family who have supported us through this time, and our church community who have stood with us in prayer. 

I can tell you this journey has been all about choices, choosing to trust God in desperate situations. Sometimes I have failed miserably, but I like to think that the roots of my faith are that much deeper having walked through this time. 
Faith is really in the walking peeps.

I want you to know that you also have been an encouragement to me. 
When my world was in crisis and each day was focused on surviving and getting through, it was just so awesome to pop on your blogs/fb and see beautiful creativity still happening. 

The world was still turning. 

I was blown away by how it seemed every time I opened my instagram feed there was a scripture or word of encouragement that spoke right to my heart, and mostly from gals I have never even met.

God is in the small stuff, peeps, He really is!

So, I hope that wasn’t too heavy, but I wanted you to know why my blog has been silent for a while

Now let’s move on to some fun stuff shall we!!
 The last few days have felt like spring up north here in Canada, blue skies, sunshine, such a treat! 
I have to admit, I started thinking spring even before it brightened up, and as I’m still in love with the aqua, beachy palette I’ve been changing things up a little in my living room.

For starters I switched my old barnwood door around so it’s back to it’s aqua side. 

How do you like the mini bunting I have up there, so fun and easy to make!
 I love the look of mini bunting like this draped over a door or mirror.

I change this little table up a lot!

 I love the white hydrangeas against the aqua, they sure are springy!

I also pulled out a couple of nests and popped them here and there. 

Tucked on the mantle…

…on my chippy ol’ chair

I do still have my basket of birch wood beside the fireplace and cosy throws around as I know we’ll have plenty more rain yet, but I love the lighter, brighter elements.
 Our fireplace is gas (shhh), but I love the look of birch! 
Plus I paid an arm and a leg for the stuff!

I did a copycat floral arrangement which I’ll share on Thursday, it was so effective, I also want to show you my raggy bunting which I am now totally addicted to making! 

If you want a sneak peek you can pop over to my fb page here or follow me on instagram @raggygirlvintage

Well, it’s good to be back! I have missed blogging soooo much! Look forward to hearing how you are changing things up for spring!

hugs,

Tracey