oops...

I had grand plans for a {color love} post this morning...and then I overslept. Oops!

Oh, and we're out of creamer, so I didn't even have coffee. Double oops!

party time print - so cute!

This weekend promises to be pretty busy for me.

My new sisters are throwing me a shower tonight, which I'm super excited about. :)

My younger sister's graduation party is tomorrow.

Should be a fun time!

So, I will be back on Monday.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Be sure to stop by & enter the Scentsy giveaway!

sewing {with a pattern}

As I'm sure you all know, I really love to sew.

I remember my grandma teaching me to sew buttons,

and helping her cut out patterns.

Miss Gussy inspired me to learn more about sewing.

BUT, the one thing that I struggle with is sewing from a pattern.

They're intimidating for me, honestly.

I tend to sew my own way, and sometimes the terminology gets confusing.

Fortunately, I have a wonderful {future} mother-in-law who is a great seamstress, and very willing to help me out!

 A couple of weeks ago, I spent the afternoon with her, and she helped me sew this super cute skirt {from a pattern!}.

It ended up being easier than I thought, but I'm so glad she was there to help me if I needed it!

For anyone interested, the pattern is Simplicity easy-to-sew, #2224.

I plan on making more of these in the future, and I have the fabric all ready to make one for one of my {future} sisters-in-law. Sew fun! ;)

I even had enough fabric for a matching bloom clip!

Do you sew using patterns? What do you enjoy making the most?

P.S. I really hate being in pictures like this...hopefully I don't look too awkward. :)

*****

Be sure to stop by & enter to win some Scentsy!

Scentsy {review & giveaway!}

I've been wanting to try Scentsy for quite awhile now,

so I was excited when Heather contacted me about a review & giveaway!

She sent me a box of goodies, and it was/is so fun

trying all the different scents. :)

I love the neutrality of the plug-in warmer she sent,

and it's a great size for my bedroom.

{not shown plugged in, the lighting was awful!}

I'm not sure which scent is my favorite...they all smell so good! Ocean is very fresh and clean. Sticky Cinnamon Bun is a warm, cozy and sweet scent. Lucky in Love smells just like my favorite lotion!

Overall, I really like the Scentsy products.

They smell amazing. I like that they're safer than traditional candles.

I'm sure I'll be trying new scents in the future!

Keep up with Heather:

site . blog . facebook . twitter

{giveaway!}

Heather is ever-so-generously giving away the

April warmer & scent of the month!

The warmer is Baby's Breath, A matte, powder blue finish and tulip-like shape, sweetly accented by a spray of pristine white flower buds. The scent is Flutter, delicate orange blossoms and whipped almond cream float above a bed of bright lemon verbena. And they are 10% off in April!

Sounds fabulous, right?!

If you'd like to win, visit Heather's site

& tell me which scent you would love to try.

{US only, please}

Make sure your email address is available

so I can contact you if you win!

for extra entries,

like Heather's Facebook page,

follow her on Twitter,

or spread the word about the giveaway!

the fine print

this giveaway will last until 5/3

a winner will be randomly chosen

Heather sent me some Scentsy goodies for review,

but I received no monetary compensation.

All opinions are my own. 

{a new week}

print from IScreenYouScreen

I'm so glad that a new week is beginning.

Lots to do, to finish, to start...

I'm planning on updating the shop this week,

once I take some nice product photos.

I've got some adorable ruffled pouches

that would love a new home. :)

***

Last night we went to see Soul Surfer,

and I thought it was really good.

{Even though I generally hate movies that make me cry...}

Bethany Hamilton is quite the inspiration.

Although I don't think I'd be any good at surfing. ;)

***

I love this guy a lot.

We're getting married in 23 weeks,

and I can't wait.

***

Hope your Monday

{and the rest of your week}

is a wonderful one!

he is risen!

{source}

Because He died, I am forgiven,

Because He rose, I have hope for the future...

"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

Come and see the place where he lay."

Matthew 28:6

Have a blessed Easter.

{color love} pretty in pink

Hello, and happy Friday!

Welcome to another edition of {color love}.

It's no secret that I adore color,

but I hate when people ask what my favorite color is.

There are too many!

But pink has been a favorite of mine for a long time,

so this week's color love is...

{ pretty in pink }

mini doily pin from omgknits

pale pink rose comb from myhandmadecrafts

paper rose bouquet from perfectlypaper

clutch purse from alissajacobs

*****

Now you tell me:

What is your favorite color?

I'd really love to know!

{diy} embellished gift bag

I love packaging up gifts for the people I love, for sure.

Often people can tell who the gift is from because of my wrapping "style"...

Anyway, it was a dear friend's birthday a couple of weeks ago,

and I did something a little different for her gift that I wanted to share.

what you'll need:

a plain {boring} gift bag

coordinating paper of some sort.

a hot glue gun

scissors

In my case, I picked up a plain bag at Target and some wrapping paper that matched. I knew I wanted to try something new, like a paper flower.

You might notice that it turned out a lot like the blooms in my shop... ;)

All you have to do is cut out a bunch of circles from the paper.

Fold them into quarters & begin hot gluing them in a circle.

{I traced a circle onto the gift bag as a guide before I started gluing.}

My flower is 3 layers deep, but you can play with it

until you get the look you want.

Cut a smaller circle for the middle of the flower.

And there you go!

I love how it turned out.

So much cuter than a plain bag. :)

Have fun creating!

*****

Thank you so much for your sweet comments yesterday.

My grandpa is doing well, and prayerfully, his recovery will also be smooth.

Also, you could win a sweet pouch made by me! Please stop by & check it out.

tired & uninspired...but thankful

So far, this week has been unproductive.

Being sick does that to you, I suppose.

I've been trying to get plenty of rest & vitamin C...

because I really hate being sick.

I've also felt pretty emotionally drained.

A memorial service last night for a lady

who passed away over the weekend.

My grandpa is having open heart surgery right now.

etc, etc, etc.

But I am thankful.

Blessed in the life I have.

Loved more than I can imagine.

And happy, despite the heartache of life.

{found here}

a little lovely

Recently I was able to participate in this wonderful Hoop Art Swap.

I so enjoyed putting together the hoop for Andrea,

and I absolutely love the hoop she sent me!

Isn't it beautiful?!

I can't wait to hang it in our bedroom once we get married. :)

Here's the hoop I made for Andrea:

I think I might make one of these for myself in different colors...

Love how it turned out!

Many thanks to Heather for hosting. I so enjoyed it!

*****

On another note, this weekend was crazy.

An annual church yard sale to help with all day Friday & Saturday really wore me out, and now I'm sick with a yucky cold. Not sure this week will be very productive...but hopefully I'll be feeling better soon.

Have a wonderful Monday!

{color love} mint green

{color love} is back!

if you have a color you want to see featured,

please let me know!

*****

{ mint green }

these sweet baby boots

love this happy print

these cute little earrings

this adorable brooch

and finally, this yummy recipe...

Mint Chocolate Cupcakes from Sunshine and Carousels

{What I Love Wednesday} The Phantom of the Opera

Well, to be more specific, the music from

The Phantom of the Opera.

Over the past week or so, I've been listening to music from

The Phantom on Pandora while I sew or clean.

I absolutely love it.

It inspires me.

a few of my favorite songs...

All I Ask of You

This one could bring me to tears.

I think it's my newest favorite.

Masquerade

This one is just fun to me.

I enjoy it. :)

The Phantom of the Opera

I love the ending, especially.

I wish I could sing like that...

and some other favorites I've discovered:

Time to Say Goodbye

{Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli}

Absolutely beautiful.

A Heart Full of Love

{from Les Miserables}

I was singing this one all day yesterday!

What have you been listening to lately?

What kinds of music inspire you?

linking up with Krystina today!

my "creative process"

I snapped these photos yesterday while I was working...

just wanted to share a little of my "creative process" with you.

Often when I sew, I take the assembly line approach.

I get annoyed if I'm constantly cutting, then sewing, then ironing, etc.

So I'll generally get all my fabrics+zippers laid out,

and decide what style pouch/clutch I'll be making.

Yesterday I was working on a new design {to be shared soon!},
so I only cut+sewed one. You know, just to make sure it

would turn out the way it did in my head.

And now that I know it is a design I want to make,

I'll be cutting out lots of different pieces,

ironing interfacing,

sewing ruffles,

etc.

And {hopefully} new lovely things will be

making an appearance in the shop very soon!

Tell me, what does your creative process

look like from day to day?

*****

I'm so enjoying the feedback from the reader's survey I posted yesterday.

If you haven't taken a minute to share, would you consider doing that?

Thanks so much!

hello again!

card from Mandipidy :)

Good morning, friends!

I certainly enjoyed my little break, but I am glad to be back.

My goal here at The Sweetest Petunia is to

capture the sweetness in everyday life,

to share the lovely things I come across,

appreciate all things handmade,

and to interact with you, my readers.

I've put together a little survey, just to gain a little feedback.
Would you mind taking a few minutes to complete it for me?
It's embedded here, or use this link.
{also, I've never done a survey like this,
so please let me know if anything goes wrong.}

Thank you so much!

I can't wait to read your feedback. :)

I've got lots of things to share here on the blog,

but I'll save that for another day(s).

Hope your Monday is a lovely one!

taking a break...

found via countryliving.com

Just popping in for a minute today...

I just wanted to let you all know that, as much as I love blogging, it's time for a little break. I won't be doing any posting this week, but you are more than welcome to send me an email if you'd like to chat, or if you have a question.

I'll be spending time working on lovelies for the shop, tweaking the blog for the better, and focusing on real life for a while.

See you next week!

{Saturday Snapshot}

Hello, lovelies!

I don't normally post on the weekends,

but today I'm joining Kim's Saturday Snapshot party...

This picture brings back such good memories.

We were 16.

On a youth group trip in Tennessee.

{I think we look so little, especially the sweetheart!}

Even then we knew we'd get married someday.

And now we'll be "tying the knot" in 26 weeks!

{I love you, babe. :)}

Have a wonderful Saturday!

circles...

Want to know what I spend a LOT of my time doing?



Cutting out circles.

To turn into these.

They don't start out as much,

but I think they turn out soooo pretty. :)

What do you think?

*****

Have a wonderfully fabulous weekend, friends!