my alliday wishlist

Way back in October I found out that I was one of the twelve artist selected to launch the new format of The Alliday Show, which I have been a part of for two years before but has been totally revamped this year to be extra cool! The event is coming up this Friday and Saturday and so I decided to scope out my fellow artist and put together my wishlist/gift guide for the event!

This is from their home page about this year's show:

Oh, Tulsa.  We sure do love you and we sure do love handmade which is why we're bringing you a brand new shiny Alliday experience for our fifth annual show!  We're thrilled to share that this year, we're partnering with the goodness that is Retro Den to bring you a TWO-DAY show on December 12th from 6-10 and December 13th from 9-6 in their gorgeous shop. 

Tickets are now available for Friday night's Holiday Alliday Party!  If you only attend one holiday party this year, this is the one you'll want to be at!  For sure.  Saturday will be FREE entry with priceless fun to be had!

Here are my picks for gifts from Alliday 2014:

1. Large Ombré Braided Necklace - Petunkalunka
2. Hand embroidered blue Mason Jar pillow - Simple Splendor
3. Yay Cake Topper - Three Eleven Designs 
4. Breathe Print - Scarberry Faire
5. Plush Crochet Strawberry - More Projects Than Time
6. Romeo and Juliet Studs - Favoring Brave
7. Airship Wing Necklace - Bohemian Romance
8. Faux Taxidermy Elephant Head - FALTO
9. The Quincy Scarf in Rust - StudioXXVI
10. Letterpress of Tulsa Map Tee - T~Town Teez

For more info on The Alliday Show this year check out their website and blog.

downtown valentine

This weekend John and I had a chance to walk around...

I hope you take some time today to appreciate the people and things you love. Whether you're dating, married, or single, I know you're surrounded by people that love you! Be grateful for them and tell them how much you love them too!

I love the pick up style of this skirt but it can be hard to style. This dress used to be white which is less than flattering on me, but it was $1 - so I made the sacrifice and bought it. I dyed it quite awhile ago but I have been waiting for just the right opportunity to wear it. 

I also dyed my hair about two weeks ago, but the change is really only drastic in the sunlight. The box was a blonde dye (eek!) but I was pretty sure that it wouldn't really make my dark hair all the way blonde. It made my hair the perfect sun-kissed color and I love it.

Happy Valentine's Day!

very merry

For even more Christmas-y goodness from Favoring Brave, check out our holiday giveaway!

It ends Dec 27th and I will come out of vacation mode just to let you know who won!

mini wreath ornament *tutorial*

Christmas is just 2 days away and I know some people are probably still scrambling for some last minute gifts and decorations. Here's a fun and easy tutorial for an ornament that would make a great gift, package topper or hostess present!

As you can see, here I am using the awesome photo filter known as "late night artificial light," which goes great with the side of "shaky hands from tired-ness." Please forgive me.

Supplies:

green beads (or whatever color you want your wreath to be)
accent beads (I used glass pearls)
head pins (little bits of wire with a head on one end to keep beads from sliding off)
wire
pliers
wire cutters
bells (optional)
bow (optional)

Start by putting a bead on a headpin and make a loop at the top.

Do this many more times. I used about 100 beaded headpins and about 11 of them were the pearls.

Cut a piece of wire 8-10 inches long. String one bead directly onto the wire and then follow it with several beaded headpins. I strung one bead directly on to the wire after every 8 headpins. Continue this pattern, or whatever pattern creates your desired fullness. It make take some trial and error to see what works best with your beads.

Keep going!

Once your wreath has the desired circumference, bring the two ends of the wire together...

And twist them together like a twisty tie.Wrap one wire around the base of the twist to make it good and secure and cut off just that one wire.

Like so.

Make the remaining wire into a loop for you to string ribbon through or hang it from.

And there you go! I added some bells to embellish it but you can add a ribbon, bow, or whatever fits your decor! Happy Holidays!

peace&love,

Jill

Have you entered my giveaway? Well why the heck not!?

Enter here to win ad space and Favoring Brave jewelry!

it's a holiday *giveaway*

Good morning! I'm pleased to announce a little giveaway to celebrate my new blog design, my new Etsy store design, and the general joyfulness of the holiday season. One winner will receive both a $25 gift certificate to Favoring Brave on Etsy and one large ad space here on my blog!

Instructions to enter are below!

May the odds be ever in your favor.

(I couldn't resist!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

linking up with:

Almost Friday Thursday Blog Hop

as seen on TV - holly sprig *tutorial*

Yesterday morning I was on KTUL Tulsa to do a quick tutorial on making holly sprigs for holiday ornaments and gift toppers! Here's a link to the video! (The picture's a fake-out - click this link instead!)

peace&love,

Jill

fake holiday

Okay, so I have a confession to make. I wasn't really on my way to somewhere awesome when I took these pictures. I just felt like getting dressed up in a very holiday fashion, partly because I had just made this awesome pearl collar necklace. If you're thinking your neck needs one, or maybe a friend does as a Christmas gift, head on over to Favoring Brave for your very own.

peace&love,

Jill

Linking up with:

#YOLO Mondays

Weekend Update Blog Hop

Monday Meet Up

Miscellany Monday

give thanks

Happy Thanksgiving, from my family to yours.

peace&love,

Jill

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P.S. Have you heard about the 50 States of Brave Blogger Search? If you're a blogger in the US, you might want to get involved! Go here to find out what it is and what you need to do! 

thankful

I know that when November rolls around people often start lists of things they're thankful for for each day of the month to get them all ready for the holiday spirit. Early this month I started a list too, but my intention is to keep adding 4 things to it every day for a year. So on 11/4/13 I will have a list of 1,460 things I am thankful for. I will spare you the whole long list I have so far, and just hit a few highlights, but maybe, if I'm as good as my word, I'll give you the whole shebang next year. 

1. My relationship with God: At the center of everything is my faith. It motivates me, challenges me, and allows me to grow closer to God, the whole reason for my existence. I know He has a plan for me and that pushes me to constantly become the best version of myself, so that I may fulfill that plan.

2. My husband John: Being a young married person can be challenging because it's so rare these days, but it makes all the difference in the world when you're with the right person. John is the funniest, sweetest, most faith-filled man I know and he can always seem to say what I need most to hear. I am so thankful to have a husband who cherishes marriage as much as I do, who so strongly believes in God, and who treats me with such love, honor, and respect. 

3. My wonderful family: It's hard to live two states away from my family, but I know that they are always there to support me no matter what's going on. My parents are such wonderful people and good examples to us of kind and caring adults. My brothers are hilarious and remind me constantly that life really is meant to be enjoyed. I'm actually going to get to see the whole family later today and I'm really excited.

4. My creativity: No matter what I have been pursuing it's always seemed to require creativity and I am so thankful that I get to use this gift so often. Being a creative person, I feel like possibilities are everywhere, which makes life such an adventure!

5. My freedom: I am thankful that I live in the USA where we are free to voice our own opinions and share our own thoughts, but I am so thankful that I am personally free from addiction, bad relationships, and overwhelming debt. Sure there are student loans, and sure, there are struggles, but overall, I am able to make my own decisions free from coercion and unwanted influences.

6. Popcorn: I really like popcorn. A lot. So I'm thankful for that.

peace&love,

Jill

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P.S. Have you heard about the 50 States of Brave Blogger Search? If you're a blogger in the US, you might want to get involved! Go here to find out what it is and what you need to do! 

New Year's Resolutions

I hope you all had a wonderful New Years Eve and that you brought the new year in with style!

Because I decided to be really on top of things this year, here are my resolutions, all ready to go.
Let's see how much of a dent I can make in these this year.

1. Make music a regular part of my life.

Be it church choir, piano, or singing at the top of my lungs in the car.

2. Have more confidence in myself and my opinions.

Less "What do you think?" and mute nodding and more, "I think..." and healthy conversation.

3.  Join a gym.

I know, I know. But I have a wedding dress to fit in people. 
So I REALLY have to do this.

4. Figure out how to make my hair look okay in the back.
Truly, I have issues with my hair behaving all the way around.
This is the year I will finally whip it into shape.

5. Drink more green tea.

6. Practice yoga regularly.

That should do it for now. I'll let you know how it goes.

peace&love,

Jill

Merry Christmas

From my home to yours. 

God bless.

peace&love,

Jill

The Only Day of the Christmas Season

As a child, few things would bother me as much as the fact that it was always, ALWAYS Christmas Eve in Christmas books/movies/shows. I would suffer through the first 23 days of December in anticipation and usually around the 21st or 22nd I would start declaring that it was "the Eve of the Eve of Christmas Eve" just to try and connect with that fateful day: the most important day of Christmas.

Now it seems to come much too soon... But maybe that's because I'm becoming more patient. Maybe.

But this year I'm ready: all presents wrapped, nestled under the tree. All ready to go. Which makes me wonder... what does one do on Christmas Eve when you're already all ready to go?

Thrifted: sweater, jeans; Shoes: Old Navy

peace&love,

Jill