OH MY GOSH!!!!

I was featured on ONE PRETTY THING!!!!! twice! So excited!

If this were scrapbooking, then I'd do it.

 I am not a scrapbooker.  Not that the idea of it isn't great: preserving memories with a little journaling about what happened, etc. Its just usually not my style. PLUS I find it MUCH more time and cost effective to just make my books on BLURB (which is by far the best of all the book printing websites, because you can save them to your computer and don't need the internet to work on them, and they print in high quality).

But IF I were to make a scrapbook page, or even a little "Ode" to each child (I only have one child now, but figure I will have a couple more in the future), that I could frame and hang somewhere, then I would use these artpieces as my inspiration. They are by Anthony Zinonos and I found him on one of my favorite websites: POPPYTALK.  Just a little inspiration for your Tuesday afternoon:)

Paint Your Shoes Pretty. (or cool, or whatever)

How to spiff up your old leather shoes....
Materials:
*an old pair of leather shoes (that you are about to throw away anyway, cause they are all scuffed up)
*acrylic paint (the art kind, not the craft kind)
*paintbrush (see below, though it doesn't need to be matt or this brand)
*pen (if you are scared to freehand)

1. decide what colors you want to paint the shoes, and what designs.
2. If needed, use a ballpoint pen to LIGHTLY draw out your designs
3. Paint directly on the shoe!!
4. Let dry for a few hours before wearing.

The story (cause you know I always have one)... I bought these shoes the second time I studied abroad in New Zealand (2002). The first time (2001), I bought the same exact ones, but in florescent orange and grey, because they matched this DKNY florescent orange jacket I owned (which I would constantly hear people scoffing at as I walked by on campus). I had loved the first pair so much, that when I went back I searched for another pair. The grey/dark grey pair was even on sale! score! Those two pairs of shoes got LOTS of wear time during college and after. So comfortable, slim, and stylish (for a tennis shoe type).

2 years ago, the grey ones were about dead. The leather was peeling and scuffed, even though the insides and soles were okay. I just didn't feel cute when I put them on. Sooooooo I had an idea to paint them! I figured, why not? I was going to trash them anyway! I wasn't sure how long it would last, but went with it.

2 years later and this is what they look like. Almost as good as the day I painted them!
Try it out. Its a ton of fun. I can see doing this on a pair of heels too. I would loved to have had my students graffiti a pair of heels when I was teaching in Miami. darn. (I'm serious.)

CHECK OUT THIS GIVEAWAY!!!

 

remember ANNILYGREEN???? Well if you loved her pillows when I told you about them, then you should for sure check out the coterie blog (where I did a giveaway once upon a time), because she is having a GIVEAWAY!! yeah!!! Oh and ps. You should also start following Annie's blog "Ultra Vroom." its the bomb.

delightful paper.

{uponafold} 

I love these post-its. They are adorable and beautifully designed. I can think of at least one person who would love them (and her name is mom....my mom has a love affair with office supplies).

 

 {wasara} 

I mean can you believe these paper plates???? They are gorgeous! when I was taking a pottery class last year (and simultaneously teaching it to high school students.....), I was always aiming to make my bowls and plates have that beautiful irregular, organic form.

{ana hagopian}

this necklace??????? don't even get me started about how much I love that necklace. the subtle, natural, berries and browns. the textural quality of all those pods in such close proximity. the volume. and it is only one of the MANY necklaces I died over on her website.

 

{Saskia and Stefan Diez} 

And this bag, well I had to put that one up there because it is made out of the EXACT same paper I used for my wedding dress 4 years ago. (a post on that will come on my anniversary in April). 

thank you cupcake mag!!!

guess what??? cupcake mag did the sweetest feature on blueeyedfreckle today! check it out here. I feel honored that such a fashion-forward blog would feature my headbands! Thank you Casi!!

Make Your Own Wall Decals.

This is the rug that inspired the designs on the wall (the rug sits below the wall). How do I feel about how it turned out??? see below.

Okay, so you might be over the whole wall-vinyl-decals thing by now...BUT if you are like me, living in an apartment where you can't do much to the walls, its still the best option for high-impact/ low-cost decorating.  (well I do have another trick up my sleeve that I will tell you about sometime, but that's later). If you are like me though, those vinyl decals cost waaaay too much money (esp. if you want to cover a whole wall). So here is my how-to on a budget!

side note: I know this wall ended up looking like an early 90's hotel wallpaper. I plan on redoing it. (most likely in a darker color, and in a different design)

Materials:

Contact Paper

Scissors

ballpoint pen or permanent marker 

1.  draw your designs on the back of the contact paper (the grid side). If drawing doesn't come naturally, then find a design online, print it out, blow it up, and trace it onto the paper.

2. Cut out your designs

3. To apply the design to the wall, just unpeel one edge, stick it to the wall, and then carefully peel off the backing as you rub the sticky side onto the wall!

DONE!!! and when you move out, just peel it right off!

ANNILYGREEN LOVE

I have this friend Annie... we got to know each other while we were dating two guys that were roommates (my guy was Franc...in case you are wondering). I loved whenever she was over at the house because she was such an interesting person; spontaneous and quirky. Anyway, she has started up this etsy shop filled with tons of adorable pillows/pillow covers she has made out of carefully selected and thoughtfully combined fabrics. I love that these pillows aren't screaming at you, yet they are interesting and beautiful. much like Annie herself actually!

 

I think its the bold stripes that I love on this one. And the title is awesome "the eighties called..." 

  

LOVE LOVE LOVE the contrasting colors on "the wheel of fortune" pillow.  I think this one needs to make its home on my couch, since those are the colors of my living room....

and ahhhhh how I love the stripes next to the natural fabric on "charts and stripes forever", and then that tiny little mustard line right next to the graph paper-inspired fabric!!! If you aren't convinced that you need an annilygreen pillow on your couch, bed, or chair yet, well then you need to take a look at her shop and find one that fits your color scheme (though I am always a fan of lots of mismatched pillows next to each other).

clog inspiration

 

as seen on LUNE VINTAGE BLOG

I LOVE clogs (as well other traditional/folksy Dutch things). I also LOVE aqua. Wouldn't a revamped pair of clogs be a fabulous place to put all my scissors? or maybe my paintbrushes? 

Because yes. besides a crafter, I am first an artist.  I will never stop painting, drawing and creating artwork. Unfortunately I often spend most of my time creating accessories, rather than art, but I think that is because I love to make art that I can wear. I know it sounds corny, but often I feel like I am "painting" with the felt. I create patterns and color combinations similar to those I love to put into my artwork, only instead of then taking that art piece and sticking it in my portfolio in the closet, I stick it on my head! 

  

one day I would love to make it over the the Netherlands and get myself a pair of these things... (not the yellow ones, but maybe the ones behind them). Have any of you ever been there???

valentine's day hooray tutorial

 

  

My first valentine's day decoration! Now that I have a child, well I am thinking it is time to start decorating for the holidays. My mother made every holiday seem special with her decorations. Whether it was St. Patrick's day, Valentine's Day, Halloween, you name it. The table was always decked out the morning of, and there would be some sweet treat, and perhaps a little trinket or two to celebrate the day in style (I.e. socks, headband, hat, necklace, something).  I want to carry on this tradition in my home for my own children.

So..... the other day when I received an email from my friend Shannon, asking for help on how to make a valentine's day bunting she had seen on the internet, I told she should come on over and we could make them together! So, I bought some red FABric, some ribbon, and left Hobby Lobby only having spent like $6!! I love that place. 

As for the finished bunting, well, I am thinking of putting some felt flowers on them. but sometimes I think I overdo it on the felt.  Therefore, for the time being the will remain plain. until maybe next year. I just get so happy when I look over and see them! And I used to not really like hearts! but there. I just looked over at them again, and I felt giddy. don't ask me WHY.

but you CAN ask me how.... see below.

materials:

fabric

felt

ribbon

hotglue gun

*(This is a long nap, or 1 1/2 nap project. It took me 1 1/2 hours)

1.Make a heart stencil, or free hand cut out as many hearts as you desire. To do this, fold the fabric over and cut out 2 at a time (this way you have a back and front to each heart).

2. sandwich the felt (I used 2 pieces per heart) between the 2 hearts, and pin all layers together.

3. cut out felt, leaving a 1/2 border of felt around all the edges of the heart (this is so when the layers move while sewing, you have some leeway). 

4. Using your sewing maching, or hand needle and thread, sew around each heart.

5. OPTIONAL: I then sewed lots of squiggly lines over the whole thing to give it a quilted look

6. cut or pink the edges of each heart, leaving only a peekaboo of felt showing around the edges.

7. lay out your ribbon, leaving some on the ends to hang down. And then hotglue each heart onto the ribbon!!! done! now just find a place to tack it in place! hooray!

because I want one, you probably will too....

 

my lovely, talented friend Lesley... who I have mentioned before, is having a fabulous giveaway on her blog! check it out! next up, I still need to buy one of these adorable little dresses she's sellin' on etsy.

and the winner is......

number 27! I used the random number generator on random.org to pick the winner! It is Tasha! Send me your address, and I can send you the headband. Thanks to all that participated. Stay tuned for future giveaways.... possibly one for St. Patrick's day, since I'm Irish:)

Valentine's headband and GIVEAWAY!!!!

 

  

And there you go! The perfect headband to wear for valentine's day! (or any other day really)...

***sidenote: this headband is made with wool felt (some of it hand-dyed), but regular felt will work!

Now, for the giveaway.... in order to win this headband simply:

1.leave a comment telling me what you plan on doing for valentine's day! (with email address)

for extra entries (and please leave a comment with your email address):

2. tweet/ and or facebook about the giveaway

3. follow me

4. link to my blog from your blog

I will announce the winner on Monday February 8! (I know this is a quick one, but I want you to have the headband in time for v-day!) CLOSED

Thank you again luvinthemommyhood!!!

If you haven't clicked on the link on my sidebar to the wonderful blog: luvinthemommyhood, then you should! She posts wonderful tutorials of her own, tutorials she loves, awesome etsy finds, interviews and stories of "mommyhood." And she just featured me in her "link luv roundup" the yesterday!" What an honor!

New In the Shop!

 

oops! NOOOO she is not for sale!!!!! But she is by far the cutest thing I've ever made:)

 

ahh, yes THESE are new in the shop. and I am in love. I actually made one for myself, which is rare. Franc always says that I need to promote my work more by WEARING MY HEADBANDS. But I never have any! I will make one for myself and then someone wants it, so I end up giving it away! dang it! I've actually sold them right off my head before. anyway, I love this one tooo much. But there is one in the shop, so fear not, you can still buy it:)

 

You can buy them HERE.