Burlap Carrot Door Hanger

I usually don't care too much about decorating for Holidays, aside from Christmas. Not only do they sneak up on me too quickly, but most holiday decor is too busy for my taste. That being said, the only Easter decorations that I planned on were my two stone bunnies that I put out for Spring. Then I came across a tutorial for a burlap carrot door hanger at Frou Frou Britches, and I am a sucker for anything burlap. I loved the shabby, yet sophisticated look of the simple carrots. While I didn't actually plan to make these, I came across my burlap amidst another project and it just sort of happened. Tanya has written a great tutorial with pictures on her blog, Frou Frou britches. I mostly followed her steps, with a few minor changes. I decided to hot glue my carrots together, instead of sewing, to save time. She stuffed hers with poly-fil but I opted for crumbled newspaper (resource at hand) and then I tied mine together with jute string. I think these are adorable hanging on the door. Too bad there is not even a week left until Easter.

New tags

This past Christmas, I received a personalized self-inking stamp made by Three Designing Women. My very crafty cousin knew that I would absolutely love this. She also gave me a gift card to order a custom made stamp of my choice. I decided to get a design that I could use to create tags for my handmade creations. I bought some tags at Hobby Lobby and added a thin piece of jute string. I think it adds such a personal touch to handmade gifts and also to items that I am selling on Etsy. I can't wait to order more of these awesome stamps. You can find local and online retailers on the website for Three Designing Women to get your own.

Thrifty Finds

Today, I kicked off the morning with a little thrift store action. I didn't find anything life-changing but I did buy a few cute treasures at AMAZING prices. 

I immediately spotted this dainty little bull skull. I love the turquoise and gold detail and the fact that it was $1.49. I'm thinking it will probably end up in my bathroom on my perfume tray.

Next, I came across this set of gold horse book ends. I already have one set in the living room but I happen to be on an equestrian kick right now. Plus, they were $1.48 each so I am sure I can find a spot for them some where. 

In the middle of an aisle filled with baskets, I saw a little head peaking out of the cluttered shelf. I moved a few things to discover that it was a Willow Tree couple figure. This one is called "Together" and is "for those who have found their true partner in love and life". I'm pretty sure it is meant to signify marriage but it reminds me of my sweet boyfriend, who is most definitely the love of my life. I have already found the perfect spot for it in my bedroom by our picture. This figure retails for $29.99 and I got it for $6.48. 

My last find was a Carmen Marc Valvo dress. I absolutely loved the style, pattern, and the coral color. When I got home, I tried it on and it fit perfectly! I knew it was meant for me because nothing ever fits me perfectly. I would guess that my mom has probably altered over 50% of the clothes hanging in my closet. The dress was $2.48. At Saks or Neiman Marcus, you won't find a Carmen Marc Valvo dress for less than $300. I pranced around the house in my "new" dress and nude-colored pumps for a few minutes. Then I decided it was time to change back into the comfy clothes and get to work on some outdoor projects. 

I believe in pink.

I have always been an Audrey Hepburn fan and this is one of my absolute favorite quotes. I decided to create a print to hang in my bathroom. I am slowly collecting fun, unique pieces to create a gallery wall. I love the neatness and simplicity of the framed print and the quote makes me happy every time that I read it. It really compliments the modern, feminine style that I am working towards in my bathroom. My photography skills are pretty limited, hence the shadows and reflections from the glass. I will get better pictures once my bathroom is finished.

Union Jack Pillow

Union Jack decor seems to be popping up all over the place. The trend is being displayed in the form of painted furniture, art prints, clothing, rugs, and pillows. There are many trends that I can't quite get into, that just aren't me. At first, I was pretty sure this was one of them. As the trend started to grow, I began seeing very creative uses of the union jack in home decor. Then I decided that I actually liked the style. But, there is just no place in my house for those red and blue colors. And then I started seeing the union jack in other colors including pink and neutral. The neutral concept is what really won me over. That would be perfect in my living room since I am going for a neutral, semi-rustic feel. I knew that I didn't want anything too large or too bold, so I decided a simple pillow would do the job. I designed my pillow using leftover linen-like material from another project. I made my stripes using two shades of burlap and a flour sack dish towel. I happened to have a pillow form that was the size I wanted so this project ended up costing me nothing at all. I was impressed with how such a small design could really add interest to a room. 

Twenty-Three

My birthday was actually last week but I am just now getting around to posting about it. It was the big 2-3, which is not very big at all. It doesn't feel any different from 22. Although the age wasn't all that exciting, it was still a wonderful birthday. Since it actually fell on a Monday, we celebrated last Saturday night. The boyfriend and I, along with both sets of our parents, went out to eat at McCormick and Schmick's. It was kind of a last resort because I waited too late to make reservations at all of our local favorites. The food was still good, and the company even better. Afterwards we met my best friend (since 2nd grade) and her fiance  at a downtown bar and ended the night at The Wine Loft. We always have an amazing time out with them. 

My sweet boyfriend skipped his Monday class so he could spend my actual birthday with me. He came to my house with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. He said we could do whatever I wanted to, so we ended up at Whole Foods. I know, I know. Who chooses to spend their birthday at a grocery store? We ate lunch from their incredible salad bar and then roamed the aisles a bit and he bought me a huge hydrangea that I fell in love with. 

My boyfriend's entire family is absolutely amazing and his sweet grandma sent me this beautiful, little crystal piece that is now being used as a vase on my bathroom vanity. 

My big present this year is something that I have wanted for so long. Everybody just gave me money to put towards it and they were probably glad that I had something in mind because I am pretty hard to buy for. After combining my money, I went to Saks and bought my first Louis Vuitton bag. I ended up choosing the Monogram Speedy 35 and I am definitely not lacking for space. It is such a classic piece that I will keep forever. I know that possessions shouldn't mean anything, and compared to many other things, they have no meaning to me at all. But, I have to admit, I am in love. 

Jute Frame Picture Holder

In one of my earlier posts about my bedroom make-over, I showed this picture of my basket with a burlap #3 and a wooden frame. If I am not completely content with the placement of something, I will move it a million times. Well, I did move this frame everywhere that I could think of and I still didn't like it so I threw it into a pile of craft scraps. 

I knew that I would have a use for this frame eventually. Many people have made these Pottery Barn inspired wire frame hangers. While I think those are incredibly cute, I wanted to do something a little different.

First, I sanded and painted my frame white. After it dried, I added a light gray glaze. Then I decided to use jute string in place of wire. I tied knots in each end of the three jute pieces and glued them onto the frame. Finally, I used paper clips to attach  a couple of pictures of two of my favorite people (the best friend and the boyfriend). This is probably going to hang in my bathroom, as I am going for an eclectic chic look. For such a simple project, I think it turned out to be quite cute. and very cheap.

I am working on so many wedding projects that I can't wait to share. None of them are quite finished, but it won't be long!