I can make that: Crate and Barrel summer 2011

Apple and pear twig fruit: foam sculptures with rush grass finish, twig stem, and paper leaf. Instead of the rush grass, just cover with craft moss.

Layla felt pillow: cover 20" square cream colored felt with lots of circles in different sizes. You could glue or sew. This gives me lots of ideas for other felt covered pillows with different shapes, colors, even flowers!

I LOVE Vintage print fabrics

Do you remember when I found THIS fabulous fabric???

Or THIS?

I have found another adorable print and coordinating prints for a little girl's room. Take a look:

Precious! I just love vintage prints! Can't you just picture these on a sweet dress from the 50's or on your grandma's old apron? Love it.

Of course I had to order a lil' fat quarter of the "Aunt Grace". Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet......

Any ideas???

I Can Make that: Pottery Barn Black & White Prints

In my early summer Pottery Barn Bed and Bath catalog, I saw these "Vintage Black & White Prints" for sale. "We love the finely detailed images found in Victorian newspaper ads. Here, we highlight their artistry by presenting each as a framed print. Hardwood frames are painted black. Large print set includes bowler hat, purse. Medium print set includes top hat, boot. Small print set includes pocket watch, key, bumble bee." Prices are $99 and $49. R e a l l y?

Oh, look! Two seconds on The Graphics Fairy finding images and a couple minutes spray painting some old frames black and BOOM. Here's my own set of vintage black and white prints for free.

Thank you very much.

This would be the "small print set":

I LOVE: this little black dress

Wanna see my new party dress?

With the help of my awesome sister in law, we located this awesome perfect dress for a mere $7.50. That's right seven dollars and fifty cents. Um, yes. Please

So excited to wear it!

For this look, I paired DownEast Basics’ Little Black Dress with a Gold Chain Fireball Necklace from Charlotte Russe, a Hobo International Double Frame Patent Clutch from Nordstrom, and some Michael Antonio Keme Pumps from Piperlime.

For this look, I paired DownEast Basics’ Little Black Dress with a Coverlet Cuff from Anthroplogie, Gentle Souls Bay Leaf flats from Piperlime, and a simple Ficcare ‘Glittery’ Double Arch Headband from Nordstrom (which I think would look amazing with an up-do).

And Last but not least… holiday party look number three! For this look, I paired DownEast Basics’ Little Black Dress with aTriple Mesh Bangle Set from Charlotte Russe, SPANX “Birdseye” patterned High End Tights from Bloomingdale’s, and some absolutely beautiful Valentino Side-Bow Patent Leather Pumps form Saks Fifth Avenue (yes, I realize no one can afford $695 pumps, but they are gorgeous nonetheless).

Mother's Day Recap

This time, I didn't set the table so fancy considering there were kids involved! But that's ok- lots less stress. All my recipes came from my Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. I wanted a nice, light menu with my mom's request of fresh strawberry pie for dessert. It was delicious!

Mother's Day Ideas 2011

This year for Mother's Day, I have the opportunity to teach about 65 children ages 4 to 11 at church. I decided to give a lesson / game with a crossword puzzle I came up with that I will put on the white board of names of Biblical mothers. Each question will give the names of the child or children in the scriptures and then a hint and a scripture reference to find the answer. Then I will show a picture of that mother and tell her story.

For example, (one of my favorite women in the Scriptures!): Esau and Jacob's mother. Hint: she had twin sons. Genesis 25:21-26. Answer: Rebekah

Then I am going to give each child a copy of this cute survey to fill out and give to their moms which I found here.

Then we are going to give each child these fun "M&M Mom & Me Moment" cards with little bags of M&M's to take home and play with their moms. A game AND chocolate, who doesnt love that?!

You can find this here.

And lastly, we are going to take the last 5 minutes of church to surprise all the ladies by going into their classroom singing a mother's day song and giving everyone a "mother's day hug." It will be so sweet, I can't wait!

Remember that free Mother's Day card I told you about here?

We got ours and it turned out so cute!

free envelope and front of card

inside of card

Did you get a free card? What are you doing for Mother's Day?

I hope you enjoy your Mother's Day by celebrating those special ladies in your life!

Painted "Wallpaper"

Note to self: I want to do this.

Visit the Jones Design Company to see this beautiful idea. And SO my style: great design on literally a dime (or a dollar for the bottle of acrylic paint). I LOVE using a paintbrush!

V

My 2011 Spring Style & setting a Spring/Summer Table

The Spring Lineup: strawberries, lavender, sage, boxwood and hydrangea - my favorite flower.

I love terra cotta pots and how they get better with age. I also love hearty plants, I (ahem) do better with the heartier ones such as lavender, sage and boxwood, the type of plants that can grow in the desert even in between long periods of drought (or someone remembering to water them!) The strawberries made it from last year. These are a Mother's Day gift from my hubby.

I just love this Willow Tree figurine and had to add it for all things Spring : "New Life." It is a part of my living room Spring decorating.
Now to the fun stuff. Went to a fantastic neighborhood garage sale on Saturday and found everything on my wish list! SO FUN!!!! Among my wishes were topiaries. Found these for $1 each. AAAHHHHH!!!
I decided to grace the piano forte with them. I love symmetry. It reminds me of the landscapes in Paris.

Love.

And here is the Spring hutch decor. I am just lovin' the arrangement. Another thing on my wish list- this is totally random!- a decorative pineapple. See it on the right hand side? It was a GOOD Saturday :)
ALSO, this fantastic yellow fabric I got for 25 cents! Couldnt decide whether to make it into napkins or save it, for now I just decided to iron it and lay it on the table = pretty. It is already hemmed on 3 of the 4 sides. It must have been a curtain or something in its past life. Score!

Everything else I already had, just "shopped" the house.





This arrangement is a great example of my style and how I shop. You will find everything in my home is 99% gift, hand me down, garage sale, clearance or ebay for cheap, cheap, cheap.

Rundown: Vinyl-lettered tile and frame: gift. Apothecary jar: garage sale $3. Lemons: goodwill $3. Vintage French enamel building number plaque: gift. Ivy and styrofoam balls: Michael's w/ 40% coupon, I cant remember how much, we'll say $5. Moss: dollar tree $1. Wood letter: Kohl's $2.75. Basket: gift. Topiary: goodwill $3. Pot: pottery barn clearance $7. (and that's expensive for me!) Rooster: gift. (and he is our "pet rooster" we call him Rocky :). Pineapple: garage sale $1. So that's a total of $26. But it was bought over the last 8 years and most of it has been used and moved around other parts of the house a million times. The apothecary jar alone still has the original price tag from HomeGoods for $25!

What is your Spring Style? And have you set your table for anything fun lately?

I am going to try to link this to: Between Naps on the porch, http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/06/4th-of-july-table-setting-welcome-to.html