A dress for Katie Rae

I have gone back and forth on this but I finally decided I would go ahead and post it...Jerry, Kamryn and Janie have fallen asleep on the couch watching the Science Channel (that-a girl!) so I have the time! Janie is actually asleep beside me on the love seat - Kam fell asleep on top of Jerry - it's quite funny!! EVERYONE is snoring!! HA!!

So, back in December I had a customer who wanted to do a "trade of service" instead of paying with money. She makes really cute bows so of course I agreed!! To see her work click here. She makes hair bands but they really don't work with Kamryn now that she has hair. She had a really cute black and white one and I automatically thought of our friends and one of our deacons Gregory & Jordan's unborn baby girl, Katie Rae. I included this one in the "trade". I thought I could make a really cute dress to go with it and I could give it to her in lieu of flowers when she has baby girl!! Well, Jordan is going in tomorrow to have a scheduled c-section and I had to get to it!!! Yesterday I finished it and thought I would share the pictures with you...hopefully Jordan is NOT reading this yet!!

It turned out REALLY cute...I LOVE the long sleeves! It's 100% cotton so she'll be able to wear in the Spring and then in the fall she'll be able to wear it as a shirt with a cute pair of jeans!!! I LOVE the black and white print - I'm thinking about going back to Hobby Lobby and getting some more fabric for myself a skirt!! CUTE!!

SOOooooo, without further adieu here it is:

(The camera was a little lopsided - not the dress...)

Yes, I know, it's a little creepy having a doll modeling for me but I don't have a newborn model (yet...ahem Katie Rae....)

I hope you like it - I sure do!!!!

Have a great weekend!!!!!

Just a quick little post...

I have just enough time for a quick little post...busy bee!!

First off, be praying for my Mom. She had knee surgery back in January and thought everything was fine - she had even stopped taking the blood thinner the doc had prescribed (the normal 6 weeks). Her back has been bothering her and had an appointment with a back doctor yesterday. Over the weekend the leg she had her knee surgery on was so swollen and hard that she said you could have bounced a quarter off it!! She told the doctor about it and of course he was concerned!

He sent her to the hospital to stay over night and quickly gave her a shot of coumadin (spelling?)...she has TWO blood clots in her leg...that is SO scary to me!! Be praying for me too...

It looks as if she will be in the hospital for the rest of the week...which is the best place for her!!

NOW...for some good news! I have completed another dress!!! I took a picture of it on my iPhone so the lighting isn't that great but isn't it just the cutest!!!!

It's for my friend Jordan's (not yet born) baby girl, Katie Rae!! (Come to the light Katie Rae)!! It's a full moon tonight so I'm hoping she goes in to labor!!

We have a wedding here at the church on the 21st for her cousin (our friend's too) Clint & Ashley - YAY!!! Ashley has picked brown and cream for her colors...SO pretty!!! It's going to be the cutest wedding ever! She has called it "Sophisticated Hillbilly"! Cracks me up!

At the reception they are using mason jars with jute around it for flower vases - CUTE!!!!

Soooo, back to the dress....because the wedding is brown and cream and you would never be able to find a brown AND cream dress for a newborn (let alone afford it if you DID find it!!) I volunteered to make one for baby girl! And....here it is!!!

I just hope she is born before the 21st!!! Her due date was finally set to the 19th - it has been back and forth - so who knows!

On another note, we finally got some rain today I hope it washes all the pollen away - I still seem to be sneezing...that's the only thing I don't like about Spring!! I just love all the green and all the flowers!!!

I hope you all have a great day!!!!

A year ago...and Spring cleaning

Yesterday as I was starting on my "Spring Cleaning" I had plans to get on here and share with you how sad we were all this past weekend but I couldn't find a stopping point. Do you know what I mean? This past weekend a year ago we were in Florida!!

Jerry and I kept saying this weekend, "You know where we were this time last year?". It was so terribly sad thinking back to the wonderful time we had in Florida! It was a MUCH needed vacation and I am SO glad we had a chance to go!! Especially finding out later in the year that Nathan (Jerry's brother) and Julie are going to be moving closer to Arkansas!! YAY!!! They had lived in Florida for 3 years before we had the chance to go visit them!!!

We had decided to drive (I believe it was a 16 hour drive - not including stops...) to Florida. We were going to leave EARLY on Friday morning. But God had other plans - the weather forecast was for SNOW all Thursday night!!! My Mom-in-law was going with us and had already come over to stay the night so when Jerry called us to say we were going THAT NIGHT Debbie and I were running around the house trying to get the rest of our stuff packed up! (I'm a last minute packer of sorts...you never know what will change with your plans...I guess that's a good reason to get it done earlier too)

Anyway, we managed to get everything together and finally decided (for sure-Jerry was back and forth on the issue) to leave that night and see how far we could get out of Arkansas. We managed to get all the way to Ruston, LA. We rented a room and stayed there for the night! Kamryn got her first experience with a shower by herself (don't ask me what I was thinking...) She SCREAMED so loud I decided to jump in there with her so she would have some kind of security because the child HAD to have a cleaning!! I have never heard of a hotel room NOT having a bath - just a shower - we didn't know that we were suppose to ask for a bath!!

The snow ended up being a blessing in disguise because we were able to drive ALL the way to Nathan and Julie's house in Melbourne, FL that Friday!!!

Our lovely neighbors that watch our house for us when we are gone took some really great pictures of the snow but I looked ALL over the house for that CD and could NOT find it!! UGH!!! I had a great idea to show you a before/after (or a "what was happening at our house when we were in sunny Florida"!!!) kind of deal but alas, that is not possible!!!

This lovely little notebook kept the irritation of being in a car seat for 16 hours to a minimum!! (LIFESAVER!!!!!) I just love the sunglasses!!! And I just HATE that paci in her mouth!!! (We ended up getting rid of that later in the summer!!!! (Thankfully!! I had visions of her going to Kindergarten with it!!!)

That Sunday we went to the beach - Kamryn's first time and it was COLD!!!! She and I got slammed by a wave which made our trip much too short!!!

That Monday our little family went to DisneyWorld which was just an hour drive from Nathan and Julie's house. This is Kamryn and I on the ferry boat to go to Magic Kingdom. A rare shot of me looking fairly good but of course Kam's not looking at the Kamryn and that darn paci is in her mouth!!!

CINDERELLA'S CASTLE!!!!!!!!!

This picture is SO sad to look at...I wish we were there now!!!



Our lovely little family with Mickey Mouse!!! I LOVE that Kamryn is holding his hand!!!


I wish Kamryn was looking at the camera in this one...we used this for her birthday invitations.

She is smiling here but she was really afraid of Pluto. That night we believe she had a nightmare about the darn dog!! She woke up crying (rare thing for her) but she was able to go back to sleep!

We spent most of the time in line because we didn't understand the whole "fast pass" thing...the next day when Jerry and I went back by ourselves it really helped!! I would strongly suggest you take part in this wonderful thing if you ever get the chance to go to DisneyWorld - it's included in your ticket into the park!". But don't worry Kamryn had a great time in line people watching...she is so like me it's scary!!!

Sad but true, good things usually do come to an end.

On the trolley back to our car...she looks so tired and sad to leave!!!

In the car back to Melbourne :(

Eating a little snack - yes, Jerry was a sucker and bought her a balloon - which came all the way back with us (in the car) to Arkansas!! LOVELY!!!!

She also, got a Pooh Bear...she's not at all spoiled on this trip!!! ;)

We had to call MaMaw (my Mom) to tell her where we had been!!

The second day Jerry and I went back - Epcot and Hollywood studios this time while MeMe and Kamryn stayed back with Julie and the girls - she didn't miss out on the fun!!!

Me about to go on the "tower of terror" - lovely picture!

Jerry acting silly too...

I LOVE this ride!!!!

Emma and Kamryn playing that evening - I can't believe how much a kid can grow in a year!!

The girls playing with MeMe in the front yard!!

Epcot Center

The pictures are out of order but I don't feel like messing with them anymore...

Jerry and I went to a "drive-in Sci-Fi" restaurant - I can't remember the name of it...but it was really fun! Our waiter was insane but nice enough to take a picture of us!!!

Mexico in Epcot...

I weigh ten pounds lighter now!! YIPPEE (I just had to throw that in there! HA!!)

Modeling Mickey ears!

The Mickey Ears we bought Kamryn - look at the camera Kamryn!!!

Well, it was fun reminiscing with you, although I'm just a little more sad that I am not in Florida!!! There are loads more pictures that I could have shared but I don't have the time to load them...just believe me - it was a GREAT time!! We will make it back sometime but right now, we'll just look at the pictures and reminisce!!

Yesterday I was able to get the living room, hall and my sewing room carpets shampooed/steam cleaned!! YAY! They look great although I'm sure they could use some more cleaning!!!! I think I had 5 or 6 buckets of black sludge every time I emptied it! (Gross I know!!) But I guess that's what happens after a long winter and you haven't steamed cleaned the floor all that time!!!

Kamryn was in a HORRIBLE mood yesterday and finally agreed to a nap after I agreed to lie down with her (I think I slept for 30 minutes yay!) but I found out why I stopped letting her take naps - she didn't go to sleep until 10:30 and that was after Jerry told me to put her in our bed!!! I truly hate doing that! I was once told, "Don't start something you don't want to make a habit out of it..." Good advice!

Well, I guess I need to get something done so we can go outside and play. It's still nice out and we are suppose to be getting a cold front here tonight - better get out while I can! But I'm sure we'll come in pretty quickly - this pollen is kicking our butt's!!!! Even the dog has an allergy to the pollen! (That's always great, an English Bulldog with allergies!)

I hope you have a great day!!! If I get a chance I want to get back on here and show you the last dress I made...it is SO cute!!!

Cancersucks easter basket giveaway!!!

Cancersucks is having her first give-away, and I know you all will fall in love with it! It's this beautiful Lilly easter basket. Visit her blog for your chance to win this gorgeous prize.


I'm unable to get a picture of the basket...but trust me, it's cute!!!

Lovely Little Photo shoot!

Well, we had a successful photo shoot!! And the winner is.....

Couldn't you just eat her up?! I love the above picture!! That smile - come on - beautiful!!!

Showing off her FIRST pair of flip-flops!!! ($7.50 @ your local friendly Wal-Mart Supercenter!) I secretly wish I had a pair of my own! They're silver and sparkly!!!


This is my Peasant style pillowcase dress by the way...I LOVE it! It's made from a vintage pillowcase!

Poor child, she is trying to model for Mommy!!

When we got back in the house I asked her if she had fun being Mommy's little model. She scrunched up her face and said, "I'm not a mod-dul, I'm a gurl! I'm Kam-man!"

By this point in the day she had enough of modeling!

This is another Peasant style pillowcase - shirt.

I believe I'll sit Mommy...


Yep, she's tired!!! (Beautiful shot of the stain glass windows of our church - which by the way I just realized I didn't mention the name of on my first blog - it's NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH!!)



I need to brag on my husband and I guess really on myself! (Hee Hee)!!
A little story on the pink shirt Kamryn is wearing: The first time she wore it Jerry asked if I had made it - does he really need to ask this? Probably not - but it flatters me none the less!!
Anyway, I told him yes, in fact I had!! (can you tell I'm proud of myself! HA!) Now, this is rare for him to say so but he said, "I REALLY like that! You did good!". It's not rare for him to say he likes something, it's just rare that he would comment on Kamryn's clothes...unless he REALLY doesn't like it!
Of course he boost up her ego on Sunday mornings right before going to church. He'll say, "Kamryn, you look SO pretty in your dress!"
You should see her smile up to her Daddy...SO precious!
I'm glad that he thinks enough to tell her this! We try not to brag on outward beauty because we don't want her to think that it's all that matters but come on ladies, it is REALLY nice to be told you look pretty! Right?! It is!! And then to here it from your Daddy is EVEN better!!! I hope her Daddy is her #1 for the rest of her life!!! I feel bad for her future husband he has BIG shoes to feel!!! (By the way, I pray for that boy everyday...that's important - just thought I would put that out to you...)

Anyway, it's late...I'm tired...been a busy day...need to go to bed!!!!

Starting off...

Our most recent "Family picture" - this was taken on our after Christmas trip to Branson @ Silver Dollar City on the train...taken from my iPhone (31st birthday present from my lovely husband - he felt sorry for me - 31 was a hard one for me!!!)

Same day...Kam & me...

same day - waiting for the train - Kam and her daddy!


this was taken (obviously in the car) after she picked out her Christmas present with the money from her Great-Grandma Liz (Bill's mom) from San Antonio. Kamryn LOVES her farm animals from Atwood's!!



Kamryn and Lady Jane Grey (the 9 day queen of England) "Janie" she looks mean here but I was squatting down taking this picture and she thought it was playtime!! This is Kamryn's first time wearing her ballerina outfit from Aunt Angie!! She LOVES it - wears it ALL the time!!!




After church one day - wearing one of my pillowcase dresses (long sleeve t-shirt underneath)

First off, I have to share something funny that happened this morning. (Just an example of how funny our little girl is -- SO funny and SO Kamryn!!)
I scoop out our, scratch that, Jerry's English bulldog Janie...isn't she beautiful - insert sarcasm...seen below @ Christmas (beautiful Christmas tree in the background we don't keep it up year round! HA!) I digress....back to the story...

I scoop out Janie's dog food in the morning, hand it off to Kamryn to then hand or rather place on the floor for the dog to eat. (Chain of command: Mommy, Kamryn and THEN Janie - trying to teach Kamryn responsibility and Janie that she is a DOG in fact and Kamryn is WAY more important than she is! HA!!) SO, I do this and tell Kamryn, "Thank you!" (trying to teach her manners - yes, they are STILL important people!!!) to which I receive the reply, "Just doing my job! You're welcome!". WHAT!!!! did my 2 1/2 (3 in May) year old girl just say that! The girl cracks me up!!!

SO.....here I am, starting a blog for goodness sakes! Can you believe it?! I sure can't! I thought, "everyone else is doing it, why not me?!"

I will never begin to tell you I am a "profound" writer. I just thought this would be a good way to journal my thoughts while I still have them! I used to be oh, SO good at remembering things but on May 23, 2006 when I gave birth to little Miss Diva a.k.a. Kamryn Grace Holland, slowly my brain cells have diminished significantly!!! I thought I would be the kind-of mother that had it "all together" but no ma'am, not even close!!! Her baby book is hardly even written in! GASP! Yes, It is true...I am a failure! HA!

To catch everyone up on my life so far: I married Jerry Holland on April 27, 2002. Can you hardly believe we have been married for SEVEN years!! Crazy!! He is a Southern Baptist Pastor of a wonderful church in little bitty Pine Grove, Arkansas. We have been here for six years (in February) and couldn't be happier with the spiritual growth we are experiencing here! God is SO great and I just stand back and watch the amazing things he is doing in my life!
Back in the fall of 2008 I started a little "boutique" where I make mainly pillowcase dresses (three variations, the standard, the sundress style and the peasant dress style), named "Lovely Little Flowers". (also the name of my blog) {little side note: I just want to "vent" some MAN of all things had already taken the URL of lovelylittleflowers.blogspot so I had to make mine lovelylittleflowers212.blogspot - can't believe it! HA}.

Here are some examples:

My FAVORITE and the most recent:

The Peasant style (this was made from an actual "vintage" pillowcase!)

The sundress style - I like this style too - real sweet for summer!! But I believe (without the ruffle detail, your girl could put a long sleeve t-shirt under it for fall...still as versatile as the "original" pillowcase dress...)

AND...the "ORIGINAL" pillowcase style!! The below picture was for one of my close friend's (Meagan-Marie - from CCA high school) daughter, Ryne. I LOVE this valentine dress!!! - to see it on Ry-Ry click HERE

Another one I made for Ryne - looks like she is the only one I make dresses for - HA!!

Click HERE to see Ryne rocking in out!!!

Why, Lovely Little Flowers you ask?

Song of Solomon 2:12 "The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing of birds is come, And the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land."

My "theme" verse for my business...The reason I picked Song of Solomon 2:12?

My husband and I love all the romantic scriptures in the whole book of Song of Solomon but this one is special to us because we used it in our wedding invitations 7 years ago...the whole reason I have a beautiful daughter and the reason I started this whole roller coaster called pillowcase dresses!!! LOL!!!

Anyway, that kind-of catches you up on my life, here I am, take me or leave me...if you want me to update you on any new blogs send me an email and I'll let you know!

Oh, I guess I probably could have done a little better on my "first" blog but for goodness sakes there is a LOT to do around here...it's going to be 80 degrees here today we need to get outside and play and maybe a little photoshoot with the new dresses and shirt I made Kamryn!! I just thought I would get this "first" one out of the way!!!

Take care!!