Monday, August 30, 2010

Style Inspiration...

Happy Monday to you!! Heather, at Blessed Little Nest is having a party, Take Life and Make it Lovely. I wanted to participate, but as my home looks like a bomb went off, I thought I'd share some lovely bits of inspiration I've found. I took a style quiz this morning, cause I don't have laundry to do or anything. ;)




Here is what it said:


Elise, you are a Country Eclectic
You have wide-ranging interests and influences and therefore appreciate a mix of styles, periods, and objects. You would never use a matching suite of furniture or could stand a home that seemed cookie-cutter. But you love the breezy, layered look of wonderfully personal beach houses and the happy florals of English cottages. Bringing the outdoors in makes you happy: a little chintz or ruffle or weathered furniture, urns filled with tennis rackets, colored glasses filled with cut flowers, vintage-looking, mixed tea cups, and all things that give a sense of a happy, simple life.
You value creativity. You are stylish and fun loving, and can be an inspiration to others. You have a natural sense of drama, and you know you have to be willing to take risks—whether with colors, finishes, furniture choices, or ideas—for your home to stand out. Your home can be happy and lively and the place all of your friends want to be.




Putting Your Style to Work!
With your style and needs in mind, here are a few tips that will help you make your home a little happier.
1. Your Design Challenge: ORGANIZE The front hall sets the mood for your entire home. Consider how to accommodate all the room's functions as beautifully as possible. At the very least you need a console, and if you're short on storage, consider a dresser. Outfit the surface with nice trays and bowls for mail, keys and sunglasses. Keep a trash can for immediately tossing the junk mail. Closet-door or wall hooks encourage coat and bag hanging rather than dumping. If you have children, try to give each a basket in the closet for hats and gloves. It's nice to have a chair or bench for changing shoes, a mirror for last-minute lipstick checks, and a lamp or sconces for warm light.



2. Your Happy Place The more serene your bedroom feels, the happier you will be. A pretty coverlet over a big duvet makes the bed look smooth—and not all duvet-lumpy! And, a blanket folded at the foot of the bed breaks up the big expanse of fabric. Euro shams—those big square pillows—are great for reading in bed, and a few decorative pillows can also be a nice touch. Consider adding a basket or a small occasional table near your bedside table for books, papers, lotions, linen spray or whatever you'd like.



3. Be Party-Ready All the Time! Food: Devote space in your pantry or on a shelf for go-to party essentials: crackers, dip, chips, nuts—whatever you like to serve. Keep on hand a collection of attractive bowls and cocktail napkins, and you'll be able to set a spread—instantly!Drink: The simplest and chicest thing is to have a drinks tray or table always set up. Include a mix of pretty glasses, an ice bucket, a lovely pitcher, and bottles of soda and water. When the bell rings, just add ice and limes.Mood: Nice, flattering light makes us feel good. So nix the harsh, direct light from overhead fixtures in favor of the softer glow from floor and table lamps. Also, keep some votive candles and a couple of hurricane lanterns for setting around the room.Scent: The first thing you notice about a home is how it smells. Use naturally fragrant cleaning products. If you find a scented candle or fresh potpourri you love, stock up on it. Any scent you like, whether perfume or linen spray, can be used on upholstery, bedding or just spritzed into the air.
This was fun!! Want to take your own style quiz, click here.
Top two images found on Homegoods website, the others I've had in my picture file and have no idea of the source.
Y'all go have a Lovely Monday!!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

S'more Summer Swappin'

I did a swap with my old/new friend Rebecca of Thrifty Goodness this summer. We decided to go with a vintage summer theme. I "met" Rebecca from Sweet Goodness Swaps when I participated in one of their swaps a few years ago. Recently, we've reconnected. As much as you can virtually...
Rebecca did not disappoint. Swapping with like-minded people is so much fun!! My package was full of vintage goodness, including some awesome vintage linens-love them!! She also crocheted some super cute fruity things-that I think would be so cute in embroidery hoops. I've been wanting to collect nut choppers and the yellow topped one Rebecca included is great for starting me off.


LOVE these napkins-Rebecca embroidered them!! Look at the detail on the edging...



Gotta love the watermelon and apple!! I am amazed at her ability to turn some yarn into art!! You can also see a sneak peak at the strawberry toppers. They would be so cute on cupcakes!!


Vintage embroidered linens...swoon. Rebecca actually embroidered the citrus fruit one herself.


I LOVE aprons and this one is perfect-the colors are right up my alley and look great with my kitchen!! You can also see the potholder-adorable. The ladybug pin would make such a cute magnet, right??


Oh my word...this has got to be one of my favorite things{sorry the pic is sideways-I didn't notice it before}. Rebecca made this sweater and bonnet for Violet and I CANNOT WAIT until she can wear it this fall and winter. It is so super soft and gorgeous!!!! Love the vintage hangers, too, and that color-close becoming a new favorite!!
Thank you so much Rebecca for a fun, fun package!!
Now for what I sent...


I had fun putting together a package for Rebecca and hope she enjoyed everything!! I got the straw bag from Target's $2.50 section and whipstitched vintage lace to it. I also made the yo-yo flower brooch. Also, I made a pennant banner, a clothespin doll, shell encrusted vase, and some paper birds to craft with. Knitting needles I found thrifting, and the embroidery pattern and vintage lace were from an awesome yard sale find!! I also included a scrabble game "seashells", sea glass via Pottery Barn in a vintage jar, a knitting book, stamps, and a fun ruffled card round out her package.



"I can hear the ocean." This girl loves to comb the beach for seashells.



This vase was inspired from a Country Living magazine.



Ahhh...I love me a pennant banner!! This one was made from vintage and thrifted sheets.


I think the blue print is one of my faves-reminds me of wallpaper.


Here are the other prints. This was such a fun swap!!












Tuesday, August 24, 2010

***Blush***

First of all...thank you for all the baby love!! We are lovin' having Violet as part of our family. She is precious!!

I have a hankering to do my laundry room and make it a place I want to be. The vintage ugly green ironing board will hang on the wall as a memo board of sorts. I love my clothespin bag and it is part of my inspiration for the room also. I am going for a fun, vintage feel. What does blush have to do with all of this?? That is the color I am thinking for in there. Am I crazy to want pink's cousin for my laundry room walls?!?!


Went to Wal-Mart the other day and looked at their paint swatches. What should jump out at me but Fresh Cut Flower, part of the Blushing Pinks Color Palette!! In LOVE...

Oy...what a mess. I don't normally have this much laundry going on but "Princess" and her cousin decided to pull ALL of her clothes out one day-I could've killed them. ;)
Anyway, we have a good space to work with. I would like to add a chandelier and have one I can re-do from the thrift store. Oh yeah, have I mentioned that I want to put my house on the market. Am I totally crazy to paint and prettify the laundry room if we list it?? Its really only the cost of paint and I would so enjoy it while we are here.

Here is another shot. The washer and dryer are to the left.



This is where it is in my house, between the kitchen and dining room. The pantry is to the left, across from the laundry room. The blush color would look so good with my green kitchen and chocolate dining room.


While my Mom was here last week, we went to the thrift shop and I got a few goodies. The tag punch was only $1, the hoops and the basket were $2 all together and my total for the day, including the ironing board was about $9. I love the little pot. It has a crack, but I am just gonna keep it facing back and no one will be the wiser.


Here is an open eyed pic of Violet. I took this one at the hospital. I tried to take some the other day, but lets just say she was feeling tempermental. ;)
Later this week I will share some swap goodies I got from a new friend, so y'all come back now, ya' hear??


















Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Happy Birthday Violet Renn

Happy Birthday
Violet Renn
August 3, 2010
7:52 am
6 lbs 3 oz
20 "

A hot mess and a pretty dress, etc.

Oh yes...this little diaper and wipe carrier is a would be tutorial turned hot mess. Its still cute and functional though. I thought it would be cute to make this to tote some baby necessities in and post a tute, but wow, it did not turn out quite as I had imagined. I do love the vintage sheets and vintage-inspired fabric.

The ruffles are a bit bigger than I had intended and the bias tape is a bit wonky, but overall, I'm pleased.

Then I did a ruffled band to dress up a wipes case. I saw the idea on Tatertots and Jello-sorry I'm too lazy{I mean its too late, gotta get up in less than 5 hours to get ready to get a baby :)} to link right now. I just made a casing for the elastic, sewed it up and put a crocheted flower on it. LOVE it!!


Finally, I wanted a dress for Violet to have her picture made in at the hospital. I was pretty certain that anything I could find would be way too big and I wanted something special to coordinate with that beautiful quilt that Jenny made. I just took a vintage pillow case, cut it down and made a dress. I used some vintage looking fabric from Joann's to make a ribbon. I am pleased with how it came out.



Today was Jackson's first day of second grade. I almost held it together. Almost. He was so excited!!
Now for the fun part of my day...I was on my way to my pre-op appointment. Cory came home from work early cause my appt. was right before Jackson would get out of school. So I took off on my way. Let me pre-face this story by saying we've had nothing but a bunch of car trouble this summer. First, my van decided not to crank one day. Then I was driving the Honda for a few weeks, which was fine, but on my way to a friend's house, it died on the side of the road. Then Cory started replacing parts on the van, troubleshooting. It ran, but no ac. Yucky hot!! It ran, but it had a shake and made a loudish noise. At any rate, it ran. So back to today. I'm in the van, on my way to my appointment. I start to smell a strange smell and the battery light comes on. I call Cory and by the time I decide I should pull over off the highway, its starts overheating and going dead. Thankfully, it wasn't hotter than blue blazes today. I wait a little over an hour for Cory, because he was feeding Fisher and Lilly, had to get them ready and go check Jackson out of school. Fun stuff let me tell you. We had the van towed to a shop and hopefully will hear something tomorrow. I'm so frustrated, because we have three vehicles, and only one is running currently. One I don't know how to drive. Not that I will be driving for two weeks anyhow, but only three children will fit in it and we are soon to have a fourth. If y'all have read this far, if you would just pray for us and this icky situation. Honestly, I am so sick of money stuff and car stuff and we just need to pray for God's direction at this point. I would really appreciate it.
Hopefully, we can share our newest blessing with all of you tomorrow. My mom is bringing her camera and laptop. Yay!!
Hope you all have a great week!!