Mission Accomplished!

It's been an insane last few weeks with everything that's been going on. Even Chris looked at my calendar last Tuesday and said, "whoa, you got a lot happening". For Chris to think there's alot happening, there has to be ALOT happening!

So anyway, Item Number Favourite was decorating for the Ladies Seminar at Liberty Baptist. Funnily enough the theme came to me pretty quickly since I was onto a new craze (the distressed look) and had, unknowingly to me, already made what was to become the first of the "Spiritual Gift" signs for the tables. I love that I was given free reign - who doesn't love an empty canvas?

As you can see - I had alot of fun with this one!

The candles, birdcages and candle holders were purchased on midyear or closing down sales, the green picture frame with the meeting details was a second hand shop find, and all the signs were hand painted and distressed.

I have two favourite features, other than the obvious birdcages. The favours and the nests.

Since my last trimester with Handsome Little Darling I've managed to stay pretty on top of my game by doing things in advance, working out a schedule for things that need to be accomplished and working bit by bit. I know - WEIRD! Since when did I have a schedule?! Little Miss I Work Best Under Pressure has finally had to stop deliberately leaving things until the last minute. I sure miss the adrenaline ;-) I don't mind admitting that being responsible like this with a schedule has made me feel old. The secret to never aging is to never have a schedule. There. I said it. There is no magical water fountain.

So the day before the seminar I'm all happy-chappy (and slightly depressed) with the knowledge that everything is done except three signs need to be sanded and the boxes packed with birdcages. And then I start wondering why I don't have favours. I don't need favours. Never planned on them so no need to bother. But of course the night before I had been browsing wedding blogs (as you do during feeds) for inspiration and came across a couple of cool ideas that just needed to be combined, shook up, and given a little twist to be made perfect. Next thing you know I'm strapping Manny into his car seat and dragging him out to Spotlight. Less than 24 hours before showtime.

I absolutely adore these favours. It took a few hours of work as I used regular brown paper lunch bags and just refolded to suit my vision. The flowers are not paper. And that is the coolest part. The flowers design is on fabric. And not just any fabric. It's a fabric that I saw while in Rockhampton and fell head over heels with but couldn't justify buying (I wanted it for a skirt but decided that until I made a skirt with the fabric I had I couldn't buy more. I know, I know, what has happened to me?!). So I brought half a metre of this beautiful design and only used a quarter. The little cards were printed on some paper that I have been dragging around for over three years in a stationary collection, and was originally from Mrs Steers who brought the papers in America. All this time I have held to the faith that one day, one day the Lord would show me a use for them. And this was the day! The green went perfectly with the fabric and helped to tie in my second-hand picture frame, which as you can see was lined with the same flower fabric.

Inside the favour bags was a lady-sized caramel slice and a Dilmah Exceptional Berry Teabag. Just the thing a hardworking wife or mother needs for a treat!

The gorgeous nests were a gift from the Lord just as I was packing the car to leave. I had seen some nests during my midnight wedding-blogging, made from Spanish Moss, so in the morning I searched the yard for anything that might do. No spanish moss. I was disappointed but not altogether suprised so I just went on with preparations. However, as I was walking in the main house entrance (I normally use the side door) I noticed something long and beautiful hanging from the tree nearest the steps. Sure enough, Spanish Moss! Or at least, something resembling it enough that I was able to pluck it off the tree and whip up a nest in seconds. In goes the egg and suddenly you have something deliciously shabby-chic!

The driving motive behind making everything beautiful came from a lesson taught to me by a sweet, hardworking missionary lady (that would be YOU Miss Shari!). She taught me that when you do anything for a ladies meeting it should be done perfectly, because ladies spend so much of their time serving. They serve their husbands, their children, and their bosses constantly, so it is special to give them some nice time-out. I remembered that lesson over and over as I sat watching my little son and folding favour bag after favour bag. The reward came as I sat in for the luncheon and talked with people. One young mum approached me and started chatting away. Then she said, "I love coming out to ladies meetings like this. It's the only time my husband can watch the boys so I really savour it. The beautiful decorations and the sweet bags make it extra special, it's a real treat."

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;" Romans 12:10.