Mary Holloman

Happy Valentines Day

an open [sketch]book.

Suzanne & Edgar Cabrera have a blog called an open [sketch]book .... they create amazing sketches to document things that go on in their everyday lives. They call it "Illustrated Journaling".  Their illustrations are quite amazing (the ones of their adorable twin boys are some of my favorite) ... and I had the pleasure of photographing them during their fun workshop at Just Be, downtown Greensboro, this past Sunday.  If you haven't already, you should definitely go check out their blog... and prepare yourself to be amazed by their talent! They make it looks so easy!

I was happy to be apart of the workshop Sunday.  Thank you, Suzanne and Edgar, for your creative inspiration!

Just Be.

Yesterday I photographed a workshop by Cabrera Creative at Just Be.  Suzanne and Edgar are such an inspiring couple, I really enjoyed my Sunday afternoon.  In honor of their Illustrative Journaling Workshop, I sketched part of our photography studio at work.  These two reminded me how much I missed sketching... and I have to admit, it's much more enjoyable when it is not for school.  I played around with color and had fun with this sketch.

Photos from the Workshop coming soon!

Recipe 002 // Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

Ingredients

- 3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (thawed)

- 1 can of cream of chicken soup

- 1 can of chicken broth (I like to use the low sodium kind)

- 1 1/2 Tbsp. of Parsley

- 1 Tbsp. of garlic powder (the original recipe said to use one chopped onion, but of course I switched it out for garlic)

- 2 Tbsp. of butter

- 5 grands flaky refrigerator biscuits 

Directions

- Combine chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, parsley, garlic powder, and butter into the crock pot.

- Fill the empty cream of chicken soup can with water and add it to the crock pot mixture.

- Rinse the Chicken breast with cool water and add it to the crock pot mixture.

(Leave the biscuits in the refrigerator to use later)

Cook chicken and broth mixture in the crock pot on high for 4-6 hours.

- After cooking time has elapsed, take a fork and break up the chicken into pieces.

- Now, cut each biscuits into 9 pieces.

- drop the biscuit pieces into the hot chicken and continue cooking on high for 30 minutes.

- Stir and serve hot.  (add more water or broth if you want more juice)


And to mix it up... add your favorite veggies!


original source

How To: Make Fabric Flowers

Cut a strip of fabric about an inch and a half wide... the length of the strip will vary depending on how large you want your fabric flower to be.

After you cut your strip fold it twice to create an even skinner strip of fabric. (just fold it a few inches, you don't have to fold it all the way down the length of the strip)

Roll the folded strip down to create the center of the flower. - make sure it's tight!  Then fasten it with a dab of hot glue.

Take the length of the fabric (does not need to be folded any longer, that was just to create the center) and start twisting it outwards then holding it tight against the center of the flower... moving around the flower.

Continue this around the flower, dabbing it with hot glue every so often. And I also like to put hot glue on the back of the flower while I am making it.  It makes it more sturdy.

oh, and don't try to fight it... you will burn your fingers a few times!

 Once you have your flower to the size you want (or you run out of fabric) fasten the fabric with a final dab of glue. Make sure to leave some fabric hanging to cover up the hot glue filled back of the flower.

Now, generously spread hot glue all over the back of the fabric flower and then begin covering it with the extra fabric, covering up the hot glue mess.

 Once you have your fabric just the way you want it on the back of the flower, snip off the excess fabric.

I try to tuck the end of the fabric under before the hot glue dries all the way.

Congratulations,  you now have your very own handmade fabric flower!

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I have to give my husband credit for taking these pictures for me while I made this flower, I couldn't have done it without him!  He sat for 30 minutes while I said "do this" and "do that"... such a trooper!

Thanks, babe, you are wonderful! :)

Weekend.

This past weekend I went here... Pilot Mountain... "home" and I enjoyed the peace and quiet of the country side.  I am totally jealous of my parents sometimes because they have such a calm and "in slow motion" place to live. And I am also jealous of them because they have a nice window in their kitchen that I desperately long to have in our teeny, dark, little apartment. I woke up Sunday morning to the sound of rattling pans and the sweet smell of bacon coming from the kitchen, my Dads famous spot in the morning!  He is always mixing up something (that smells amazing) for breakfast.  We spent the afternoon celebrating my sister and little nephews birthdays.  We ate way too much pizza and topped it off with some cake!

What a nice vacation from the sound of honking horns and trains roaring through the city.

...and, of course, I took advantage of my parents lovely kitchen window in the photograph below:

The Ntibonera Family

This amazingly talented family attends the same church that William and I attend, Hope Chapel.  This past weekend they set up a time to play and have it recorded for a project they are starting.  I was asked to photograph them during their performance and boy was I in for a treat!  They are awesome!  I really enjoyed being able to help out.  As soon as the video is put together hopefully I can get my hands on it to post it!  I really can't describe how talented these siblings are.

Recipe 001 // Chicken Bundles

Chicken Bundles


Ingredients
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 can of can chicken (13 oz.) (or equivalent cooked chicken)
- 1 Tbs. sesame seed
- 1/4 tsp. parsley (I use a little more than this)
- 2 cans Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
- 1 Tbs. finely chopped onion or dried minced onion (I used garlic instead)

Directions
- Combine the above ingredients (minus the crescent rolls) and mix well.
- Open one 8 count package of crescent rolls.  Pinch the seams of two crescent roll triangles together and shape into a square. (aka 8 crescent rolls will make 4 squares)
- Put a spoonful of chicken/cream cheese mixture into the center of each square.
- Fold corners up into the center, layering like flower petals so the roll is sealed.
- Press the seams of the folded corners together to make a bundle.
- Repeat with the remaining 8 count package of crescent rolls.
- Sprinkle a little parsley and sesame seed over the top... to make them look pretty :)

-Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes

yum yum... then enjoy!

original source
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I started trying a lot of new recipes so I decided to start sharing the ones I really enjoy on my blog.

Happy Day

My last post was about setting a new goal to take more photos with my actual camera and not always with my iphone.  so, with that being said... I decided the purchase of this little guy was completely necessary!  Sometimes I would get frustrated at the fact that I know how to take photos but I can't always take photos of me and my husband.  In my mind I had this skill that I could share with other people but couldn't always use when it is only William and I.... but.... not anymore!! :)  I am so excited about my new toy!  I made my husband get up off the couch and take a few pictures!  He tolerated me for a few minutes... 

A Goal.

Since I got my iPhone I have been neglecting my "Big Girl Camera"... My iPhone is just conveniently in my pocket or purse all the time which causes me to use it all the time.  I have no extra baggage to carry with me.... it's just easy!  But I am making a goal today to take my REAL camera with me when I go places.  To actually capture images not using my iPhone and the super easy and fast Instagram.  My iPhone has spoiled me... and while I am sure I will continue using it all the time I must find a balance so that my big expensive camera doesn't collect anymore dust!

With that being said... expect new (non-instagram/iphone) images soon! :)

You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. -Nehemiah 9:6

Back to the real world.

Life has been moving so fast lately.  February 15th will be the 1 year marker at my job... I still feel like the "new girl" sometimes... it's crazy that it has been almost a year now!  Will and I are back into the real world flow after enjoying our First Married Christmas together. (in the picture above: we are showing our excitement (Me) and our comfort (Will) on our new memory foam mattress topper we got from the Macks for Christmas)  

and we are enjoying some other things we got for Christmas --

Will and I got Pictionary for Christmas from my sisters and I have been obsessed with playing lately. It's such a fun game to get together with friends and just hangout.  We tend to get a little competitive but haven't yelled at each other too much yet! ;)


Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. -1 John 4:7

Lately...

Lately I have been making fabric flowers...  they are fun [and easy] to make.  I am thinking of creating a tutorial on how I made these.  I've been putting them everywhere! in my hair, on my shirt, on my picture frames.... but hey, at least I didn't make all white ones so it adds a little color to my all white decor :)

and of course, I have been taking pictures of anything and everything... but that doesn't surprise anyone!

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Kelley Christmas

We had a great time celebrating Christmas up in Pilot Mountain with my family!

We drove up Friday night... late Friday night... to visit my Mom at work at the Hospital.  We surprised her! :) ...we ended up staying there and visiting with her until about 3:30 am (I haven't seen 3:30 am in a looong time!) Then we decided Steak & Shake was the right thing to do on the way home before hitting hay until noon the next day!

We spent the rest of the weekend in Pilot Mountain and had a great time together!

We did all our normal Christmas traditions: Christmas eve dinner, Christmas eve presents, Christmas morning stockings & presents for the kids, Christmas morning breakfast casserole, a huge Christmas day meal, Christmas family pictures in front of the mountain (of course), and then to end all the craziness... Jill's birthday celebration!

and to top it all off... we even went shopping ALL day the day after Christmas!  Exchanging stuff and spending the rest of our Christmas money... it was an eventful weekend! (I am so proud of my husband for making it through a whole day of shopping... thank goodness my dad was there to look at "manly stuff" with him)

I love spending time with family and am so thankful for the amazing family that I have!

Mack Christmas

This past weekend I celebrated my first Christmas with my Husband & new in-laws!

We had a great time and I am so so thankful for wonderful family.

Awesome Christmas Sweaters!

All the Cousins!

It was great spending time with new family and I am excited to continue celebrating

this coming weekend with my side of the family

:)