oh baby: a little diy action

my mom is coming to town!!! dad too. the boys are going to be crazy busy (and dirty) uncovering the brick wall in the nursery. and mom and i are going to garage sale/thrift shop + diy like nobody's business!

so of course - i've been brainstorming some inspiration:

1. dye-dipped tassel garland. yes please. inspired by the minimalist.

2. adorable stacked animals. inspired by japanese designer happa do.

3. pretty lavender words - i'm thinking "rest". inspired by this nursery on house & home.

4. a few happy clouds! inspired by this nursery on the animal print shop. 

(do you see those dipped stools and the tree branch clothes rack as well. triple swoon!)

is it too late for an easter post?

well you're getting one either way!

i always feel a bit lame at holidays. i'm not a huge decorator and we usually skip the christmas stockings and easter baskets, etc. i'm sure things will change when we get around to having kids. but for now ... we keep it pretty simple. i did decide (at very last minute) that i wanted to try this little tutorial on poppytalk.

i used a tiny drill bit to drill a hole in the top and bottom of my egg (and only had 2 out of 5 casualties). i also used a needle to carefully pick away at loose shell. try to find a grey spot - this is a sign of weakness in the shell.

then using a syringe, i blew out the inside of the eggs. i soaked them in hot water to clean out the yokes and ran water through them until it ran clear. i finished preparing the eggs by baking them at 350 F for 10 minutes to dry them out.

the painting process took several coats! and in a teeny tiny apartment - i had to be incredibly sneaky.

 

finally, i typed up cheesy little easter themed notes. i rolled them and carefully pushed one inside each egg. "u r eggsra special!" warning: this part was super frustrating. my notes had to keep getting teenier and teenier. i don't usually type in text-speak.

at last ... a little easter egg hunt for mr. munday:

 

i "hop" you had a great easter too!

bracelets & soccer balls

so there you have it! we'll be spending 2 weeks in ethiopia! we'll fly from new york city to cairo on the 23rd & 24th. after an 11 hour layover (and dinner on the nile!), we'll finally arrive in addis ababa early on the 25th. but our final destination will be awassa - a lake city approx 270 miles and a 5-6 hr car ride south of addis. 

i know what you're thinking. ethiopia isn't exactly topping travelchannel.com's top 10 vacation spots. :) my first time in africa was for our honeymoon, and we spent 2 glorious weeks in morocco (read all about our trip here and here). while we do plan to spend a couple of days at the sabana beach resort of lake langano, and we'll hopefully find time to take an overnight trip to arba minch & the nechisar national park and possibly spend time w/ the people of the omo tribe, this trip won't be honeymoon part deux. the majority of our trip will be spent w/ the awassa children's project.

 {source: awassa children's project}

the awassa children's project was founded 10 years ago as a school and orphanage to help children and families orphaned or affected by HIV/AIDS. they provide housing, food, healthcare and education to around 100 orphans. they also provide vocation training to over 100 adult students in computers as well as wood, electrical and metal work. and cooler still, they have a program called one love theatre that educates thousands of people throughout ethiopia each year about HIV/AIDS.

we're not sure what exactly we'll be doing in awassa yet - but we're pretty thrilled. we'll have up to 9 days w/ the kiddos. :) 9 DAYS of soccer!  9 DAYS of singing songs! 9 DAYS of hugs and high fives! 9 DAYS!!!

{source: kyle lamere - ishootrockstars.com}

despite being so excited that i just couldn't hide it any longer - there's a reason behind announcing our trip 2 months early. are you ready for it? 

we're not fundraising for our trip. while airplane tickets and hotel stays and car rentals and - heck - vaccinations can get a bit expensive, we've luckily saved enough to cover everything. but we want your help! we want to collect a few things to share w/ the kiddos at the awassa children's project.

here's what we need:

1 // for you non-crafters ... SOCCER BALLS! wade mentioned in his post that they spent a good majority of his trip playing soccer w/ tightly rolled plastic bags. we'd love to take quite a few deflated soccer balls w/ us to leave with the children.

2 // for you crafters ... BRACELETS! i love craft hope - that combines the love for crafts w/ the desire to change the world. consider this my very own craft hope, i'm looking for blog readers and friends to help me make homemade bracelets to share w/ the kids and other kids we meet while in ethiopia. it's amazing that something so little can mean so much to a child. :) make a bracelet or make 20. have your little ones get involved. or have a girls night. to get those creative juices flowing ... i rounded up a few of my favorite bracelet DIYs:

{clockwise from upper left: honestlywtf, honestlywtf, v & co, flax & twine}

okay so there you have it! DEADLINE: MAY 11TH. we have a little under 2 months to collect everything. :) email me to sign up and to get all the details or with additional ideas!

hello, friends

it's makeover week at the office. i was scheduled to be out of the office monday through wednesday. i had a photo shoot scheduled for both tuesday and wednesday and fittings all day monday - so the makeover schedule fit my schedule perfectly. of course, now it's thursday and they haven't even started on my office. womp womp. good things are worth the wait, right?

speaking of waiting ... i've been waiting patiently all week to get a new pair of boots in the mail. my old boots had sprung a leak and i'd found boots @ target - remember? they're awesome but super tough. i wanted something a bit feminine as well. i found these lovelies within my budget at UO:

ecote stallion leather boot - an urban outfitters exclusive

$89.99 online

{$59.99 if you find them in stores + they can order your size online!}

"boots with the spurs" (sung to the tune of flo-rida's "boots wit da fur"). aren't the cute? i bought the brown - but was so so so tempted to go back and buy them in grey/black as well. instead i will pray they continue to be available until i have replinished clothes funds in march.

on a side note: you know how there's the kid on christmas morning that enjoys the box more than the toy that came in it? i have pretty big plans for the box these lovelies came in as well. the DIY wheels are a turnin'.

i've missed you all this week! how's life? how's your "31 days to a better photo" challenge coming along? click here to send me your progress reports! :)

blogs(i'm)lovin' ...

{click to explore}

the pretty blog 

a fun little south african based blog w/ "inspiration, trends and advice from proposal to ever after".

why i'm lovin'?

(clockwise from upper left)

1 // "do-able" DIYs ... including this adorable valentine's day heart garland

2 // wedding inspiration galore ... including these fun madlib guest cards (attention, bro and sis-in-law to be)

3 // loads of printables ... including these fantastic music inspired "you rock" valentines (um in my humble opinion, you can never go wrong w/ david gray!)

credits:
blog bling - pugly pixel 
blackjack - dafont
aw conqueror inline - font squirrel

photos + screengrab - the pretty blog

weekend-spiration: valentine's DIYs

this year has already proven to be as crazy as 2010. th{ere's pottery every monday night, bible study on tuesdays, long runs on wednesdays, group runs/dinners on thursdays and even longer runs on saturdays. finding a few minutes of free time has been a challenge. and of course when i do end up w/ a night off, like last night ... i CRASH. that's right - i did absolutely nothing last night.

as much as i needed a night off, i feel a bit pathetic. and so i've found a little DIY inspiration for this weekend. not too early for valentines day, right!?!

{clockwise from upper left}

1 // fabric valentine hearts garland via how about orange

2 // "if you get eaten by a t-rex, i will miss you" poster via yellow heart art on etsy

3 // valentine's votives using candy nonpareils via better homes and gardens

4 // heart friend via goodknits

time to get busy! :)

wednes-DIY: west elm inspired tree skirt (part 1)

hello lovelies! it has been WAY TOO LONG since i've done a diy. i know. i apologize. and i have 2 excuses:

1 // we've been budgeting! a good thing - we have savings! a bad thing - i have limited diy money (or money in general).
2 // we've run out of space. okay not true. as you all are probably just like me and your home is constantly a work in progress. but w/ a 500 square foot apartment - i have free ceiling space and that's about it! ;)

but i'm back! and i love this little project.

while at the design*sponge book signing at west elm a few weeks back, ryan and i were totally impressed w/ all of west elm's homemade inspired christmas decorations. i was especially smitten w/ their felt mistletoe tree skirt:

{source: west elm}

adorable, right? and not bad @ $70. but if you're a clearance shopper like me and waiting for after christmas discounts, you're out of luck! this cutie is "out of stock".

just in time - here's (part 1) to make your own felt mistletoe tree skirt:

supplies:

3 yards + 1 foot of 20% wool felt @ 36" wide (purchased from joann w/ 50% coupon) 

yarn to match

sewing machine, scissors, measuring tape

to make the basic tree skirt:

1 // cut your felt into two 24 1/2 inch x 48 inch pieces of felt.

2 // place the two 24.5" x 48" pieces of felt right sides together and pin 1/2" seam on of the 48" sides. this will create a 48" square.

3 // fold the square into quarters (left). then fold again to form a triangle with the folded center at point (right). measure 24" from the folded center point around the unfolded side of the triangle and cut. then cut a similar circle about 4" from the center point (making your center hole).

4 // the final step to finish the basic tree skirt. sew the 1/2" seam you had pinned in step 2. from rounded outside edge to the center hole this will be 24". be sure to back stitch at the beginning and end. remove the pins from the other 24" half. 

the finished product:

time to embellish! 

1 // this part is incredibly repetitive. so watch a movie and get 'er done. double up the excess fabric and cut out your "leaves". you can stick with a shape similar to the west elm mistletoe or i opted for a bit more literal holly leaf. i needed just over 100 pairs of leaves. this will depend on the size and shape you settle on.

why double up? to attach the leaves to the tree skirt we'll sew a midrib on each leaf. i preferred the thickness and texture of the doubled up leaves.

2 // it's decision time once again. decide how you want your leaves to lay.  similar to the west elm tree skirt, i decided to make my leaves head in every direction. but you could be more planned and do a pattern. it's completely up to you.

3 // starting at one of your open ends of the skit on the right side (aka the side w/ the seam not exposing the extra 1/2" fabric), begin to attach your leaves in pairs. attach them by creating a midrib - a simple straight stitch down the center of your leaf. again be sure to back stitch at the beginning and end so that your stitch doesn't fall out. give yourself enough give in the thread to continue to the next leaf w/o cutting (see my loose threads below). this task may appear tedious but once you get in the hang of it, it goes rather fast.

100 or so pairs of leaves later ... and you have a lovely mono-tone tree skirt:

come back tomorrow and we'll add our berries ... (part 2) a little lesson on felting + the finished product!

a bit of inspiration ...

just in time for the weekend. :) can i get a woot woot!?!

{clockwise from upper left}

1 // adorable falling star advent calendar shared by brenna on design*sponge.

2 // simple boxwood wreaths made w/ embroidery hoops from ashley ann of under the sycamore.

3 // um yes! hand cut and bound paper hot air balloons from the book tree press.

4 // again w/ the boxwood, think out of the box with this square wreath via two inspire you on etsy.

{ PINspired } paper projects!

i had planned to head home from the office during my lunch break today to snap a couple of pictures of my 1st finished pottery pieces. (oh the life of blogging w/ a full-time job!) and then as i grabbed my purse to head out the front door ... i realized that i had walked today. my car derek was getting an oil change. darn.

so instead ... how about a couple {PINspired} projects:

today's {PINspiration}: this adorable yarn ball garland by little glass box & these perfect for fall (but might not ever come down) paper bag flowers by a place for us ...

{click here for tutorial}                                           {click here for tutorial}

{source: (l) little glass box, (r) a place for us}

"and the windows?" you ask. you might have seen them before:

{photos courtesy: adrian hitt photography}

they were used for our seating charts at our wedding. w/ a paint marker ... i carefully painted each guest name on to 5 different windows the thursday before our wedding. a little tip: print your text to size. tape it behind each pane ... then simply trace! i've used the same technique to add a verse from the blessing at the end of our ceremony to 2 of the windows and they now hang above our piano. if only my penmanship were that lovely ... in reality i have "20 // relearn to write in cursive" on my {30 before 30} list. 

my goal this weekend is to decorate a bit for fall! seriously - pathetic. tonight we're heading to the pumpkin patch & a cornmaze/hayride w/ our small group. and tomorrow we're going camping & stopping @ an orchard on the way. if that doesn't get me inspired NOTHING will! :) hope you have a wonderful weekend ... do something fall-ish!

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and yes i'm going to say this one last time ... you have until midnight TONIGHT to sign up for the stella & dot giveaway hosted by independent stylist melissa olson. don't miss out. click the link below for details!

just book-cause ...

yes, i just typed that. ha ha. i think i wore my creative self out yesterday updating our earlier honeymoon posts and finally finishing w/ one last post about our final 2 days in essaouira - here. it's also been a long fun week: 

tuesday // bible study followed by a little trip to the bluebird to see my best friend from the 6th grade play in a writer's round.

wednesday // one of those painting and wine drinking classes w/ my friend laura (for my birthday early august). we painted "funky fish" - i must snap a shot or two of my funky fish as unfortunately you will never see them in our house. hello opportunity to use neon paint!

last night // pottery class - week 2. we made plates. and of course - i took the opportunity to put a bird (or 2) on it! i also finally completed a pinch pot ... which ended up a little nest complete w/ 3 little eggs. okay how theme-y theme of me. (finished photos of course to come.)

and so ... my creative juices have been juiced. 

but w is heading out of town for the weekend (and a bit of next week) ... and i am looking for a long soak in the tub w/ a new book, revolutionary road - book 3 for my {30 before 30} challenge off time magazine's all time 100 novels. 

in the meantime ... some fun book inspiration:

{source: me, green wedding shoes, real simple, reid girls homemade, stuffosaurus}

1 // at last, i found the perfect wire basket for our desk - for just 50¢ at goodwill. and a bonus, 2 additional bigger baskets - perfect for collecting our "must reads".

2 // this lovely book planter diy by green wedding shoes. um - i'm sorry. wade (my book lover). this is happening. i've been wanting to get on the succulent bandwagon ever since seeing my sweet friend emily of little observation began selling her own little terrariums over the summer! yup. this is a must.

3 // okay these little "book"shelves are a must on our bits and bobs wall that is in the works. (i've had them tagged for months and months now! ... it's time, wouldn't you say!?!) thankfully, w/ this little diy on real simple no books harmed in the making of this project! adorable.

4 // what a fun party invite! and a book exchange. lovely! even better - print your own template & throw you're own party. thanks to reid girls handmade. we attempted a bookclub about a year ago - and made it through 3 books. a seasonal book exchange would be more achievable! yup - i need to find a free night this fall and have a little exchange - any nashville readers interested?

5 // and last but not least ... a little tote from stuffosaurus that kills me - "i like big books and i cannot lie". quite possibly next week's {PINspired}. but if you aren't a crafter ... it's only $18.00 here.

okay, friends. have a fantastic weekend. see you munday! :)

{ PINspired } paint by number.

are you as addicted to pinterest as i am!?! i have to make a conscious effort to avoid it during the work day or i can get lost pinning for hours on end! hours, people! yikes.

all that time pinning needed purpose. and so to motivate myself and to share a few of my ultimate favorite finds ... i introduce a new series on the blog {PINspired}!

today's {PINspiration}: this paint by number project by ashley ann of under the sycamore.

 {source: under the sycamore}

w/ $10 burning a hole in my pocket ... i hit up garage sales last weekend w/ the intention to buy bits and bobs for the boring 'ol wall in the living room. i printed out a few of the inspiration walls that i had shared last week to keep me on task (talk about garage sale-ing w/ purpose!). included in the inspiration was ashley ann's living room - and her paint by number bouquet. to my delight, i came upon a similar bouquet print for just $2.00:

for the full diy on under the sycamore - click here.

i've been ultra busy working on little projects for our bits and bobs wall. so here's a little bonus {PINspired} project i wrapped up last week:

{PINspiration}                                                     {PINspired}

{unfortunately pinterest isn't always the best for finding the original source. if you know who designed this original print - please let me know!}

{wednes-DIY} feather earrings

i really should have jumped on the feather bandwagon a whole heck of a lot earlier. after a recent trip to michigan ... i noticed that the trend is starting to permeate the upper 50 and under 16 crowd. time to abandon ship!?!

nah ... i'm not quite ready to give up on my feather extensions yet (and there's a difference btwen natural feathers vs neon faux feathers.). HOWEVER i love the idea of picking and choosing when to accessorize w/ feathers. enter my friend faith.

{if i were super prepared i'd have a pic of her placed here}

faith has mastered the art thanks to a single feather earring she throws on every now and then. love it. so today in her honor ... i DIY my own! (not into wearing 1 earring? then dble up and make a pair!)

the supplies:
- loose rooster feathers (or your pre-made feather extension that fell out earlier this summer) ... you can find both on etsy.
- wire earring hook
- eye pin
- needle nose pliers and cutting pliers

1 // with your needle nose pliers, roll you eye pin into a spring w/ the eye remaining outside. (they probably sell something like this at a craft store store - but you know me ... i take the road less traveled!)

2 // group your feathers in the order you'd like them to lay. then lace them through the the side of the spring opposite the eye. pull the feathers through so there is a bit of excess (you can clip this later).

3 // use your pliers to flatten the spring tightly into what will look like a beehive. give the feathers a light tug to make sure that they do not slip out. here's where you can clip the excess.

4 // simply add your wire earring hook and you're finished!

how about a couple awkward pics of me modeling the finished product ... ;)

done & done!