Something old. Something new.

When it comes to home decor, I need a little help.  I wish I had the confidence to mingle bright and lovely with weathered and worn.  Of course my home is littered (in a lovely way) with little finds from my thrifty travels, but on a very small scale.  I am itching to make some changes and this photo is giving me some good inspiration.

 

I am sad to say that the Anthropologie catalog didn't wow me, but these chairs did. I am hitting a couple of estate sales today, and I will for sure be on the look out for iron chairs.  I love the colors!

Have a great weekend.

(first image by Chris Everard found via Creature Comforts second image from Anthropologie catalog)

Live in color

It's the only way to live.

(image from Shona Heath via Ritzy Bee Blog)

Living a Creative Life

I read a post last night over at Scoutie Girl blog and was moved to tears.  Tara perfectly expressed what I have been feeling over the past year, and I wanted to share her poignant words with you.

Living a Creative Life

by Tara

 Living a creative life is taking joy in thinking outside the box. It’s finding abundance in the most simple things: basic ingredients for a healthy supper, uncut fabric, dirt, a camera, a crayon, a thought. A feeling. It’s the happy medium between haves & have-nots, finding joy in both. It’s taking a little and making something that’s more.
Creative living is not being satisfied with boredom. It’s seeking stimulation and not escape – well, seeking stimulation to escape from the banal. Even finding the wonderment in the mundane. It’s about being spontaneous and having a passion for life, the process of living. It’s the struggles – writer’s block, tech failures, blank slates, depression, misunderstanding, being outside the norm – and it’s the moment of clarity when passion overrides pain.
It’s a mess on the kitchen table, supplies strewn around the floor, an open door to studio that’s a little less than neat.
Living a creative life is being satisfied while always crave more. It’s the independence of knowing you’re not reliant on the status quo.
It’s about finding joy in the similarities of friends and finding excitement in the differences.
It’s savoring each moment, making it precious – but still always wanting more.
A creative life is one to call your own.
A creative life is one lived in conversation with yourself, your surroundings, your community, and your raw materials – whatever they may be. Living a creative life is a philosophy, a way of thinking, not a label, an education, or a profession. Living creatively is knowing the rules and occasionally – or more often – ignoring them. It’s coloring outside the lines and sometimes on walls. It’s daring to be different when everyone tells you to be the same.
It’s a good reason to wake up on Monday mornings. And a great reason to celebrate the weekend.
Living creatively is not separate from the everyday – it happens in between the couldas, wouldas, and shouldas.
It’s not dependent on being an artist, a designer, or a maker – although I know that you are all of those things.
 (image from Traditional Home.com)

Orange you glad...

...it's Monday?  It's a new week, and for that I am very grateful.  For the second week in a row I have come home empty handed from my thrift trips.  I guess it's time for me to focus on the business side of things, and less on the creative.  That couldn't be more true.

Have a great day my friends!

(images from etsy shop The Sunday Times Market: blendo cruet set, blendo cocktail set, round tray, orange mugs, alarm clock, first aid tin)

Enough said

print by the small object

waking up is hard to do

I am having a bit of a tough time getting in to the swing of things this week.  I took last week off to stop and smell the roses (enjoy life), and I think my body wants to take this week off too.  Yesterday morning I hit snooze 5 times, and instead of checking off my to do list I  jumped at an offer to go for coffee.  Good grief.  I  thought I would be re-energized and ready for the week.  Oh well, today is a new day.  Note to self, GET IT TOGETHER!

(image from Eloise Corr Danch)

This weekend...

...I plan do a little shopping.  Big boo bought me a very generous gift certificate to Anthropologie for mothers day, and it's burning a hole in my pocket. 

What are you doing this weekend?

(images from Anthropologie:orange blossom dress, midday garden top, gossamer henley, percussive cardigan)

{super} easy pillow tutorial

This is my first "tutorial" so please go easy on me.  I hope this helpful, and at the very least inspiring.  Throughout my thrifty travels I have collected a number of vintage blouses that never seem to fit just right, but I love the print so much so of course I buy them.  I know I am not the first person to think of this, but I can honestly say I did think of it all on my own and thought it would be nice to share with you. 

Here is what you'll need:
Button down blouse (no darts or pleats)
Thread
Scissors
Pen
Ruler
Pillow Insert (frequently on sale at Joann's or find coupon online)
Iron
Sewing machine

1. Button blouse, then lay on flat surface.  Be sure to match the front and back hem, and make sure blouse is flat on both sides (smooth over gently with hand).  The size of your pillow will depend on the size of the blouse.  This particular blouse gave me a 14" x 14" square, but others have given me a pillow as large as 18" x 18".  Measure desired size, mark (I use a regular pen), then cut*.  You will need to begin measuring just under the armpit of the blouse for a square pillow. 

2. You should now have a perfect square.  With right sides together pin** your two squares, then sew (1/4" seem). 

3.  Unbutton, turn right side out, press and insert pillow. THAT'S IT!

Super easy right!?

*If you want a nice plump pillow then measure and cut exactly the size you want, allowing for a 1/4" seem.  If you want a more relaxed, softer feel then add an additional 1 inch and allow for a 1/4" seem.

** If you hate pinning, like I do, Dritz WashAway Wonder Tape is the BEST!  This stuff is the biggest time saver and makes working with difficult fabric (silk, knits, polyesters) very easy.

I hope you like this idea, and if you whip up a pillow please send me a pic.  I would love to see your creations!

Friday's finds

I was able to make a little time for some estate saling on Friday.  Here are some of my finds.

I bought this ribbon because I liked the font.  Is that weird?  And I just loved these little black buttons.  At ten cents for the bunch how could I leave them behind.

Thread, thread, and more thread.  Can you ever have enough colorful thread?!  I happened to score a big ol' brown bag of buttons, and found these sweet candy like buttons at the bottom.  The bag was stapled shut, and labeled "buttons" so I had no clue they were in there.  I love when that happens.

...And more thread.  This woman had two, three, and four of everything so of course I double dipped on the  thread.  Me gusta los colores...it's the Mexican in me.  Oh and I am sucker for lace hem tape, especially when it's this bright.  Que bonita!

 Adios mio!  When I plucked this scarf from amongst a pile of nothings I was ecstatic.  Instant inspiration!  Tissue like silk, bold, bright and oh so feminine.

Wishing you...

...a very lovely week.  While I did manage to squeeze in one estate sale this weekend, I fortunately left with everything I wanted, and everything I "needed".  Nothing "left behind".  I hope you have an inspiring and productive work week!

(image from Ruffled Blog)

lost & found

  

I have a feel good story to jump start your weekend, warm your heart, and restore your faith in humanity.  Yesterday afternoon I went for a run on the tourist infested 101 in Carlsbad. Midway through my run my wedding ring (and band) started to bother me so I took it off, and tossed it into a compartment on my stroller.  Five miles later I was back at my car, packing away the stroller, and unpacking some stuff for a little picnic with Bronson at the beach.  The little one and I had a glorious time people watching, petting dogs, and soaking up the sunshine.  After a couple of hours we packed everything up and headed home.

It wasn't until we pulled into the garage that I remembered I had stashed my ring in the stroller.  As I lifted the stroller out of the trunk I noticed the zipper compartment where I had stashed the ring was unzipped. 

UH OH...

 

I frantically ripped open the stroller and began tearing it apart.  The rings were no where to be found.  Like a mad woman I then headed for the trunk. My head and upper body buried hip deep, legs flailing about as I dove into the depths of my trunk and then began throwing everything out.  Nothing.  

So Bronson and I headed back to the beach, to search the parking lot where we were earlier that day.  Nothing.  

A surfer saw me totally distraught, and offered to help me look.  Nothing.  He said that he would ask his buddies who were surfing there earlier, and if the rings turned up he would drop them off at the surf shop.  

THAT'S IT!  THE SURF SHOP!!! 

Sure enough, a woman had stopped into the shop and said she found some jewelry.  She didn't leave her info, but said she would call back and check in before 6 p.m.  At exactly 5:58 p.m. I received a call from a woman named Becky.  Becky had found my wedding ring.  In a parking lot littered with tourist, and filled with wave watchers, a wonderfully honest woman named Becky found my wedding ring (no band, but that's ok).

Thank you Becky, and thank you mom for praying with me, and reminding me that it is just a ring.  I was sooo annoyed when my mom first said that, but in the end I realized she was right (as usual).

This August my husband and I will be celebrating 10 amazing years of marriage.  It's kind of funny, but a couple of months after we were married my diamond fell out of my ring at a party for a retail store opening.  It fell down three stories, was kicked about, and seriously scuffed up the brand new hardwood floors before it  finally lodged itself under a clothing rack.  Yes, someone found it and returned it to me.  Crazy huh!?

P.S. I told my husband that I lost my ring the second I walked in the door.  I am not good at keeping secrets.  Understandably he looked disappointed, but he kissed me and said he still loved me.  That's when I knew my mom was right.  

(image from Martha Stewart Weddings)

Amigos!

Happy Cinco De Mayo

(image from Lucy Nieto)

Left Behind

Oh my goodness, when I see all these photos together I am even more sad I had to leave them behind.  Actually, the slipper chair went home with my gal pal for only $100 bucks!  I am hoping that it looks horrible in her place and she sells it to me.  Just kidding...sort of.  No, honestly I know it's going to look amazing in her place.  Originally they were asking $200 for the chair, and I told her to leave a bid of $100.  Just as I suspected, no one bought it for $200, and she was the lucky winner.

Weekend update

This weekend featured both the Olivenhain Grove Sale, and Queen Bee Market.  The weather was perfect for the grove sale, and it took everything in me to keep my little paws from plucking a few lemons and stashing them in my bag.  I have never seen lemons so large.  Needless to say I was craving lemonade for the rest of the day.

Unfortunately I didn't snap any photos at queen bee market, but here are some of the folks whose work I did admire.

The always adorable Stacey Winters was one of the first tables I saw and swooned over.  Her work is just so sweet.

 Pumpkin Pie Originals had some very cute eco friendly designs, but this was my favorite.

 

 Sarah Reymond of simply pretty prints had a fun collection of her creations at the market.

All in all it was one inspiring weekend.  I love seeing what others are up to, and getting inspired to stay on top of my vision for bink & boo.  The grove sale was a one time event, but I heard that the ladies of queen bee are going to shoot for another event in the fall.  I hope so ladies, queen bee market was really a cute event.