Vows as Subway Art

Subway art has caught my attention lately.  I love how words become the artwork, especially since words and I get along so well.

When we planned our wedding, everything that was said was important.  I sought out wedding vows that were significant and "just right."  If they weren't "just right" I fixed them so they were.  Marriage is a big deal, and I wanted it to show.

So here is my first dip in the waters of subway art, creating a piece of wall art from our wedding vows. It's exactly what we promised, 248 days ago.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

This week in crafting land..

Not only was I busy cooking, but I wanted to keep on spicing the house up.  The living room/dining room area is especially lacking in the decor department.  Here's what I did!

I found this DIY for yarn covered wine bottle vases and decided to give it a go.  I always knew there was something I could do with wine bottles but never had the inspiration--until I found someone else's idea!

Another DIY that I found was how to tint your own mason jars--because buying them is expensive!  I got some globbed mod podge at the bottom, but when they're filled with flowers or stones, you can't tell.

And finally, for the new table I pulled a few ideas in.  I've seen tons of people using cake stands to use as a centerpiece but those are expensive.  I just took one of my plates and hot glued a candle holder to the bottom.  It worked out pretty well!  And you can see one of my homemade tinted jars is on the table, too.


I linked up to Not Just a Housewife's link party

Painting party

For me, I tend to spend my Monday's catching up on whatever was neglected over the weekend.  However, this Monday, I painted.  A whole heck of a lot.

This isn't even all of what I was painting yesterday, but it gives you the idea.  That stand and the drawer are what the TV sits on, the crate--that's for something in the office that I'll show later.  

Remember that little thing I pulled out of the dumpster?  I haven't quite fixed it, but I at least painted it.  So far, I works out very well even if it is missing two legs (who needs them anyway?).

So that's the extent of my entryway furniture.  I have more plans for the walls, but this is the only thing that will be sitting on the floor.  There just isn't enough space.

Weekend Wedding Projects

Here it is, Friday already.  And exactly six weeks until the wedding!  My family is staying for the weekend and helping get some decorations and other things put together.  I'm previewing some projects we'll be working on.

  I received the flowers for the bouquets/boutonnieres so we'll get those done.  It will look somewhat like this, but with a lot of greenery.

Then these pom-pom vines.  I've been dying to have these for my wedding ever since I saw them almost a year ago.  I've made a little one just to see how it would turn out and it did well!  

And of course, some bunting flags.  I've seen this trend recently and simply could not get away without having some at my own wedding.  

Basically, my wedding theme is outdoor rustic color and fun.  I've been nervous about pulling it all together but I've got the big picture in my brain.  Hopefully it works out that way!    

No sleep tonight

Last night, after a long day of work and school I plopped sleepily into bed and what did I do?  I definitely  did not go to sleep.

I was designing tops for myself.

I have a whole bunch of leftover jersey fabric from my underwear escapades and I realized that creating a boatneck tank top that was red from the waist up and cream from the waist down would likely be exquisite.  I could hardly keep myself from getting up and cutting out the pattern at midnight.  

 Inspiration for this piece was way too much reading about Coco Chanel's obsession with jersey fabric and the film "When Paris Sizzles" that features Audrey Hepburn.  She wears the most delightful tops that seem to float.  

So we'll see how it turns out.  I would include some photos so you could see what I'm envisioning, but for some reason uploader isn't working.  Perhaps it's the torrential rain we're experiencing here today.

Decoupage it all!

As I mentioned yesterday, school is becoming rather hectic.  But not so busy that I won't include some decoupage into my day!  I decided to add pretty vintage labels from The Graphics Fairy to every single body and face care product I have on my bathroom counter--including the Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes!

It's probably the girliest looking bathroom I have ever had, but I adore it.

On top of that, I made a whole bunch of headbands!  The one below is my absolute favorite.  You can see the rest on my Etsy shop

And last, but not least, laundry detergent!  We've been running out of our current laundry soap so I decided it was time to make a batch myself instead of purchasing some from the co-op.  In comparison to the $10-$15 I spend on pre-made detergent, I spent roughly $1-$2 on 4 gallons which should last us several months.  I remember my family making it a lot when I was growing up, and funny enough it's the same recipe the Duggar Family uses.  Here is the recipe!

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4  Cups - hot tap water
1  Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and allow to cool.

I suggest you add 15-20 drops of essential oil to your detergent if you want a fragrance other than the Fels Naptha bar.

-If you want a heavy duty detergent, use the soap as it is.  If you want to spread it out over a longer period of time and it works for you, dilute it using half the detergent to half water.

-Use 1/4 cup per load.

Busy weekends=Lots of projects

As I said yesterday, I figured out how to make some underwear, only they didn't fit too well.  I tried again today and I could actually get them on!  I'm incredibly proud.  I promise not to post anymore pictures of my undergarments, but love sharing with you that I was actually able to get something to work.  Elastic is such a pain.  I figured out that not putting it on the leg holes is a good idea to save money, since it isn't incredibly necessary.  Just finish the edges and it's fine!

I've been working on many projects over the last few days.  One is an apron I really wanted to make out of some used pillowcases I picked up from Goodwill.  I cut them open, doubled the pattern and stitched it up over.  I eyeballed the pattern, which made the strap around the neck a little too long, but that's okay--it still works!  The photo is a little blurry, so just so you know, it's an ivy patterned fabric.

Another project was dressing up a dress that I purchased from Urban Outfitters a few weeks ago on clearance.  It's a beautiful dress, but it needed something extra.  I plan to add a tie around the waist, but for now I just added some flowers.

Before

After

And finally, a new headband (of which I absolutely love).  I made the flowers from an organza wrap I found at Goodwill and the band is one I've had for a while.

Work was a joy *sarcasm*.  There are so many people in town for various University events and work was incredibly busy.  Sewing was my escape for the day (as you can see).  An interesting note, I was asked to be the interviewee for the staff employee section of the co-op newsletter for next month.  I'm not sure how I feel about it, but at maybe I can get the word out about my Etsy shop this way!  Have a fantastic rest of your weekend!

French Inspiration

The last few weeks I have been entirely obsessed with everything French.  French books, French decor, French food, French music... the list goes on and on.  There is something classy and elegant about French culture (if not perhaps a tad uppity, no offense to those who may be French).  French "vibes" just make me happy.  It may be that I love movies such as "Julie and Julia" and "Chocolat" who give a romantic, charming feel to the French life.  Maybe in reality this isn't the case, but the France in my head most certainly is. 

In celebration of my current life inspiration, I wanted to share some beautiful French inspired home decor.

I think my favorite thing about the decor is an "aged elegance."  Most pieces look as though they are at least 100 years old, but there is a certain beauty about that.  While much of Western culture tends to go for the new, hip and modern, the French design seems more used in a glamorous and easy way.  I also love the use of colors.

What country/culture/style inspires your decor and/or creativity?

Discouragement

I am easily discouraged.  I get started on projects and suddenly realize that maybe it's stupid, perhaps someone won't like it or there's simply not enough time.  I get frustrated when something doesn't work the way I had envisioned.  I get fed up with trying to make something work and it just doesn't.  I want to be successful.  I want to be creative.  I want to be great.

Sometimes I just don't know how.

Etsy sent out a great email featuring an article about how to not get discouraged with your work.  I want to share it with everyone because I think it will benefit many.  Not only does it apply with running your own business, but it can apply to anything you do in life.  You cannot be happy with what you're doing unless you include elements such as purpose, grace, courage and love.  How many of us get stuck in a 9-5 job that we hate.   Perhaps if you adjusted your thinking, your purpose, your attitudes about money and what makes a happy life things could change.

Be encouraged.  This to shall pass.

Beautiful Things

I have quickly discovered what draws me to something--beauty.  Looking through decor8 by Holly Becker, Once Wed by Emily Newman or even various shops around Etsy, the one thing that ties them all together is the elegance and beauty of the photos.  Simple elements and beautiful photos make me long to be capable of recreating such beauty.

Holly Becker at decor8 recently showed a little bit of Twig Hutchinson's work, which incredible.  Her interior design and prop placing has a completeness to it, something that flows and makes you want to have for yourself.

 

  

Once Wed is constantly bringing in beautiful pictures of weddings already happened, elements of weddings to come and ideas that will bring your once-in-a-lifetime day together.

Photos: Our Labor of Love by David and Kendrick

What I have discovered about Etsy is that even if an item is extraordinary, it won't appear that way unless the photos are beautiful.  A picture says a thousand words.

Plate by BailyDoesn'tBark

     Clutch by JuliaSherryDesigns

Painting by Claire Elan

These are only a few of the many things that inspire me.  These are artists who continue to create beauty in the world.  This is what brings me encouragement day after day.

  

Some encouragement for dreamers

http://www.eso-garden.com/index.php?/weblog/C37/

Throughout my life, I've had visions.  As a young girl, I had a vision for how I wanted to look.  How I could make my hair look better, my face look better, my body look better.  I also envisioned parties.  I constantly planned these get-togethers, seeing them in my head as extravagant ordeals with beautiful decorations like those I would find in the endless piles of party planning books.  My room could look perfect and the functions of daily life would go by smoothly (with the help of elaborate schedules, to do lists and other various charts).

As an adult, I still find myself with incredible visions.  When I moved in to my current apartment, I wanted a certain style, a kind of beauty in simplicity.  As with party books, I was constantly perusing decorating blogs, magazines and books.  But when it came time to bring the home together, it was difficult to transfer this vision into reality.  Going to various stores, I would see fabulous decorations and small elements that could supply detail, but affording it was another story.  Nothing is more frustrating than being unable to follow through with what you see in your mind.

I encourage everyone to figure out ways to get past your "vision blocks" whether it be financial or otherwise.  Sometimes we let our own attitudes get in the way, our feeling of "it will never happen" or "I will fail, no matter what."  This is, as one close friend of mine says, self-destructive speech and must be stopped.  We all have dreams, and visions, ways that we see our life going.  It is only a matter of being willing to put in our work to get there.  Thinking negatively will only set you farther back.

My home is beautiful.  I have been able to delve deeper, to use my creative skills to transform a living space into a place of beauty and love.  It is incredibly challenging to bring it all together at times, but with effort and support, one can move past roadblocks and fully embrace what they want to do.