four-dollar pine cone garland

 I was so excited to find these tiny gold pine cone ornaments at the dollar store last weekend.  I scooped up three packs (four cones on each) and a spool of twine from the kitchen section.  This little garland is the first of my holiday decorations so far this year but it is starting to get me in the spirit for more...

inspired: for the walls

Lovely wall hangings by Justine Ashbee.

easiest party decor ever

When we decided last Monday night to have a small get together for the mister's birthday I thought I'd have plenty of time during the week to set up a menu and nail down some decorations. So when I woke up on Saturday from a really busy week with absolutely nothing done (read- not even thought about) I was a little panicked. After a morning of errands and a small but efficient shopping list I was ready to cook and set up the decorations. I knew the decor had to be simple so I had the idea of lining the wall behind the table with crepe paper strips and really wanted to try the wooden shapes garland that Jenny had shown here. A long strip of double-sided tape was all I needed to adhere about 60 long strips of basic streamer paper to the top of the wall. I painted thin sheets of balsa wood in matching colors with craft paint and cut into geometric shapes with an x-acto. I then used a multi-sized hole punch to (carefully) punch into those and strung them onto waxed cord left over from the Christmas bracelets I made for my girlfriends. It all came together pretty quickly, cost less than $13, and made a simple yet colorful impact. Sometimes a time crunch and last minute ideas are the best.

valentines DIY: love catcher

Hello loves! Today I'm super excited to share a little craft I came up with last night. Inspired by a beautiful photo of a dream catcher I decided to modify the idea for Valentine's Day. I used a few things around my studio to create this little guy that will be a gift for someone who it made me think of. It was simple and quick and best of all- I didn't even have to plug in the hot glue gun. Read on for all of the instructions.

The supplies are simple, here's what you'll need: some sort of twig or bendable vine (mine was from the craft store), a couple embroidery floss or string color options, scissors, paper hearts (I used my heart punch but you could cut them by hand, a few feathers, and a hole punch. (I didn't end up using the lace pictured.)
Start by bending your vine around itself to form a circle shape, then secure that with a bit of your string.
Start with that same color and begin wrapping across the middle of the circle to create a spider web sort of shape. Wrap around the outside circle a couple of times on each pass to secure the string in place. Finish that string off with a knot. If you want add a second or third color across the circle, just until it seems full enough to you. I used two colors for mine. Add a little extra string at the top for hanging the hole thing up.Then make your pieces to hang from the love catcher. I used the same string, cut to different lengths, and tied on a couple of feathers and a few of the paper hearts I had punched a small hole into. Secure those to the bottom of the circle (opposite side from your hanger string).
That's really it- now hang up your love catcher and enjoy!

wednesday wishlist: supplies

You guys, I think I'm in love. In love you absolutely everything from online shop Olive Manna. Their crafting, decorating, and general making supplies are just perfect. Simple and understated, practical and pretty. I'll take one of each, please.

PS. I am completely aware of the ridiculousness of my love for craft supplies. It is becoming a problem.

be still my heart

My hand-painted-flag-loving-heart that is. These new pieces by Jeff Canham for The Standard Hotels make me weak in the knees. The series is 26 nautical flags, inspired by his time as a surfer, one for each letter of the alphabet. This is what happens when craft and graphic design have a baby- and I love it. Read all about them here and buy them (for me) here.

*Seen on design*sponge.

craft time

Lost of inspiration floating around right now. Including this simple, pretty, embroidery floss-wrapped hair comb.
And this hex nut bracelet that I may or may not have posted about before. Funnily enough I should really be in my studio right now getting my own craft on and getting ready for this weekend.
All sources also on my pinterest. First photo.

ribbons and happy things

ribbons are yummy, from the new ribbon garlands in my shop.
the styling for these doily dream catchers is just as dreamy as the craft itself, from the etsy blog.
galaxy nails have just made it to my to-do list, from a cup of jo.

thankful for an inspired wednesday.

chalkboard party hats

For our friend's birthday celebration over the weekend I created some impromptu party hats and decorations with some supplies found in my studio. I was pleasantly surprised when I came across my chalkboard paint when trying to find the right color to paint some old party hats. Chalkboard party hats! Genius! These came together with a couple coats of chalkboard paint and a few feet of colorful tinsel wire, all in under ten minutes. I shared a tutorial of this diy over here yesterday. Super easy and super fun to make your friends wear party hats with their initials on them when you go out to celebrate!

crafter, creator extraordinaire

The BEST interview this week on design*sponge of Ashley Meaders. She is a crafter, designer, and event decorator. I have seen her work on the web before but seeing it all on her site and reading about her process is so inspiring. This is seriously my dream job people! And I am kind of getting to live it on the side right now while making all of the wedding decorations. Maybe someone will want to hire me for their event after this!!

Check out some of her incredible craftiness:

giving thanks

This week I am saying thank you to friends and family with some holiday treats. There is nothing like starting the holiday weekend off with some baking and crafting. Wednesday I spent the morning making peppermint chocolate bark, chocolate dipped pretzels, and some shimmery card stock gift tags to pull it all together. Easy, inexpensive, and festive- my favorite.

days off

Five in a row. I can hardly believe it! Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday and I fully plan on enjoying the good company, good weather, and great food. I also plan on spending all waking moments that I am not eating on enjoying myself. Some of those enjoyable activities for today will include:

• Enjoying coffee and strawberry-jam toast (currently enjoying)
• Catching up on laundry and cleaning- not quite as enjoyable but certainly satisfying
• Baking up some yummy holiday treats complete with chocolate and peppermint
• Finishing some dainty new garlands for the shop
• Starting some holiday crafts- can't wait!
  
• Going home to see my family, complete with grandparents and little sister who are in town!!

image.

saturday thoughts

Just a couple of things I have been thinking about rather than being productive today::

1. How I cannot wait to be at the beach. I don't know if I will even make it to the end of the month for our family trip, may have to escape to the shore for a day before that. photo by Margaret Durow.
2. Inspired by this girl, I want to do some tie dye. I am thinking of organizing a little tie dye party for me and my girlfriends but I don't want to end up with some hippie bright apparel, so I may need to do a little research first. I want some nice soft colors and swirlie texture, any tips?
3. I can't wait to see this movie.
That's all, happy holiday weekend!

summer plans

So even though my summer has not yet (officially) started I am already getting in the project mode. I sat down this Saturday and made a huge list of my summer goals around the house, in the yard, for travel, and most importantly for the shop.

I am really going to try to do my homework and learn how to build my business the right way and of course get a lot of studio hours logged. It will take some planning and some discipline but I am definitely determined to make crafting and selling more of a priority and lifestyle. I know that I work much better under a tight schedule and a bit of pressure so I can stay focused, goal-oriented and busy. Some plans for building the business include looking into some new promotion ventures (etsy promotion, blogs, etc) and possibly reaching out to some local shops. I have done local shops before but I feel I need to find the right niche for what I am making right now. So I am ready to get my hands dirty and get some things done. More about the rest of the to-do list tomorrow.

image.

(Insert your tips and advice here!)

leaf garland

How gorgeous is this gradated leaf garland by Rachel of Heart of Light? I am in love with it's simplicity and airiness. I had to hop right over here and post it.
Still feeling sicky but I think a big bowl of spaghetti and some couch time tonight will help that.

getting it back together

Back from vacation, it was a gloriously relaxing weekend. Now I am trying to get it all back in gear to go back to teaching in two weeks! aah! But the mister returns in 10 days and I couldn't be more excited! Two months on tour is not girlfriend friendly at all, especially when you've just bought a house and have a million hours worth of work to do.

Anywhoooo, here is some none-work-related work I have been up to. Just distracting myself from classroom organizing and lesson planning. I am actually making these for a welcome home part for mr when he gets back. It will be a Taco-Bar and Cerveza party and I thought these little pennants would go perfectly. For now they are hanging in my studio, and I think they fit in fairly well. This is only about a third of the entire piece, I made this small one for the front of our deck trellis and a longer one for the inside.

Super easy project, spent about nine dollars on scrapbook paper sheets and twine. Hope you like em!

This Makes Me Happy.... Tape!

Among all of stress that is encompassing my life right now (two words: home buying) I am struggling to find the beauty around me. Don't get me wrong, I come across hundreds of beautiful things a day in nature, loved ones, and tons of blogs- but lately it has been tough to just appreciate it. I need to take some time to soak it in, be a sponge and absorb some inspiration, calm, and beauty. Then I need to be able to access and enjoy it when everything else seems to be swirling around me. So here is my happy for today, and appropriately enough it comes from Happy Tape, where you can get your very own Japanese Washi Paper Tape. Yum!

There are so many fun craft projects waiting to be adorned with this loveliness!

Lovebird

Don't you just love these love birds in a nest? They are designed by Rainsend on Etsy to be a cake topper for a wedding or anniversary cake. I think they are sweet enough to just have living in your home.

I am finding so many inspirational things on the web lately, just not the time to organize and post them. I will get on that. BUT lately my mind has been totally focused on the NEW HOUSE I just bought and will be moving into in less than a month. So excited to decorate!