Silk Scarves!

After taking a silk design class this summer, I began dying silk in my home. Here is a collection of scarves that I have done lately. They are available for sale at my etsy shop. Please let me know what you think of the color or if you have any questions about silk design and dying!!

Silk to Dye For!

Over the summer I took a silk design class and of course enjoyed it SO much. Here's a peak at what I did during the class and what I've done so far please let me know what you think!

DAY 2 of 7 Days of Pillows!!

Hello again everyone!! I have another great pillow for you all today. This pillow cover has a modern and graphic feel to it. I love the black and white combination and the black back makes the print stand out that much more. I think it's great!! The pillow has a zipper closure that runs along the bottom edge. The zipper is sewn in under a flap so it is hidden from the eye. This pillow is currently available in 18 inch by 18 in, but I love to work with custom sizes and could make what ever would suit your needs. What do you think of this pillow?

Don't forget to visit my etsy shop to see all of the pillows available.

7 Days of Pillows!! DAY 1

Hello Everyone!

I've been busy finding new fabric and creating wonderful new pillow covers for my Etsy shop. I'm so excited to share them with you so I've decided to do 7 Days of Pillows. A new pillow everyday that is available now on my Etsy shop. I hope you like the new playful, modern, traditional and beautiful new pillow covers.

Today's pillow is the Pink and White Chevron print pillow cover. It's available in my shop right now in 16x16. If you are interested in the pattern, but need a different size I would be more than happy to create a custom listing for you and make the size you need. I created this fabric on Spoonflower and it is also available for purchase in 9 different types of fabric. The pillow cover that is shown here is made of Cotton Poplin.

I hope you guys enjoy this pillow cover and visit my shops to see more of my interior design ideas and items. Tune in tomorrow for another new pillow cover!

THANK YOU!!

Banana-Nutella Cream Dessert

I grabbed some Nutella from the store a few days ago and I rediscovered my love for it! I was playing around in the kitchen and came up with the most amazing layered dessert. It only took about 15 minutes to put together. They turned out so great! Hope you like them as much as my family did!

Ingredients:
Honey Graham Crackers
Mascarpone Cheese - 8 oz
Nutella - 2 tablespoons
Cream - 1/4 cup
Banana
Whipped Cream
Chopped Hazelnuts - for garnish
Chocolate Shavings - for garnish







Crush graham crackers in plastic bag. Spoon graham cracker crumbs into bottom of dessert dish.

















In a mixing bowl combine mascarpone, nutella, and cream. Mix thoroughly. Spoon mixture into dish on top of graham crackers.




Slice banana. Layer sliced bananas on top of nutella cream.










Cover in whipped cream and garnish with chopped hazelnuts and chocolate shavings.

Vintage Veil

I found a 1940's era white hat at a vintage store years ago. I have a tendency to buy items that I am drawn to. I didn't have a specific purpose for it, but as my fiance and I started planning our wedding, it dawned on me that with french netting it would be the perfect veil for our vintage-romantic wedding. I purchased my french netting from BirdcageSupply on etsy.com. I gathered the netting and sewed it to the top if the hat to create a veil. I think it turned out to be a great headpiece and I only spent about $25 total. Are you planning a vintage themed wedding? What does your veil look like?

Embroidered Magnets

 Items Needed

Fabric (I used linen)
Embroidery Hoop
Embroidery Floss
Needle
Button Maker (1 inch)
Hot Glue Gun
Magnets (3/4 inch)

Use the button maker stencil to draw circles on the fabric.

In the center of each lightly draw your image or word.

Put the fabric in the embroidery hoop and embroider over the word/image, so no ink shows through.

Cut out each circle and center it over the button maker and press the button back to make the button cover.

Put hot glue on the back of the button and place the magnet on.

Here are your button magnets. Get creative with colors, fabrics, words and image! I know I am!

DIY Save the Dates

Materials Needed:

-Text Paper
-Heavy Cover Paper
-Paper Cutter
-Rounded Corner Punch
-Scrapbook Glue
-Envelopes
-Printer

I designed my own Save the Date. I used Adobe Illustrator, you can download a trial if you don't have it or you can find a printable design on Etsy. Be sure to include your names, the date, where you'll be getting married, and "formal invitation to follow." Get creative with the style of your save the date. I modeled mine off our reception site and our decoration ideas. I printed the design on text weight paper I got from Paper Source which has a variety of colors to suit your theme. Cut the design into a 4x6 and cut the cover weight paper into 5x7 cards. I punched the corners on both the text and cover paper to give them the rounded shape. Center the text paper on the cover paper and use the scrapbook glue to attach the two. I purchased A7 envelopes which fit the 5x7 Save the Date. I am also including our engagement photo in the envelope.

Vintage finds and treasures

I have a slight love affair with all things antique and vintage. Every time I walk into a vintage or antique shop I fall for every little piece and the millions of stories that could be attached to the item. Through my search, I only invite really special pieces to come into my home. Some pieces I’ve found in vintage shops in near the homes I’ve lived in or they have been handed down to me from family members.

The Marie Antionette style Champagne glasses were handed down to me when my great- grandmother passed. I have wonderful memories of New Year's Eve at her house and all the adults drinking champagne out of these glasses. Something about their shape makes me feel like I'm straight out of Great Gatsby or Marie Antionette. When paired with a silver tray like shown, sets up the perfect atmosphere for a party.

The glass salt cellars to left I found at a vintage shop in Metamora, Indiana. They are so small and I think they add so much to a place setting. When ever I visit a vintage or antique shop I look for their salt cellars. They come in so many different varieties and are so fun. I haven't done it yet, but I often wonder if I added a wick and some wax if they would make the most amazingly elegant tealight.

Spoonflower

 One of my favorite websites is Spoonflower. It is  great place for crafters to create their own or check out artists and their designs. You can create your own for yourself or use the site to sell your designs to others. I love being able to make custom fabrics and use them for personalized projects. Here are a few of my designs.
My Spoonflower Shop

Engagement Announcement

Every couple announces their engagement differently. Anymore you know when anyone is engaged because of facebook. Then the question is poised for the bride to be... To post a photo of the ring or not? After a few months of thinking this over I decided to post a photo of my engagement ring on facebook. Here is what I posted. The love earring is from Anthropologie. I am going to be wearing the earrings at our wedding. I love how this photo turned out.

How to Potty Train in Two Weeks

This time last summer, I was potty training my son. At the time he was 2 ½. We had introduced the potty chair to him and he had used it correctly a few times so we knew he was ready to learn to use it all the time. I think that is a big part of potty training, your child MUST be ready.  This is only my account of potty training, but a year later, accidents are rare and we are pull-up free at bedtime. (KNOCK ON WOOD). I had him fully trained in 2 weeks and the perfect time to do this is over the summer. I’ve talked to many other parents and they’ve used different variations of this method. Here’s what I did:

1)      I had 2 weeks off work and no plans of going anywhere. This is very hard to come by, but if you have it it’s the perfect time to train.

2)      You’ll need a training potty, a piece of poster board, markers, stickers and m&ms (or a small treat that your son or daughter can eat several of a day). Also, popsicles, juice and water are helpful.

3)      I let my son pick out different pack of stickers so he was excited about getting a sticker.

4)      We drew up a chart with his name on the top and the dates along the side with plenty of room for stickers.

5)      Now that the prep is done, it’s time for training. It’s best to do this in summer for the next part of training. You let your son or daughter go without shorts and without a diaper. This may result in a few accidents in the beginning, but don’t get discouraged.

6)      If you put the potty in the same room you are playing in, and explain that if he or she feels the need to go to sit on the potty. I also asked him periodically if he wanted to sit on the potty to try to go, especially after he had something to drink.

7)      Every time the child correctly uses the potty and you both help wash hands. They get to put a sticker on today’s date and they get an m&m.

My son really liked to count how many stickers he got at the end of the day. I’m a firm believer that it takes 2 weeks to form a habit and it’s no different with children. I also had my son eat popsicles and drink more water than normal so he would need to go to the bathroom more. The more stickers he got the more he liked using the potty. After the two weeks I still asked him after he had something to drink if he needed to use the potty, but after a while he can just tell me if he needs to go.

Happy Day!

Farmer's Market Date Night Meal

I looked around the Farmer’s Market and with the help of my son picked up a few things that looked super yummy. Especially since its summer and there is such a great variety. We like to eat light in the summer so these fresh fruits and veggies are perfect!

Bacon                          $4.17

Kale                             $2.00
Tomatoes                     $3.00
Zucchini and Squash     $3.00
Strawberries                 $4.00
Peaches                       $4.00
Potatoes:                     $3.50
Flowers                        $3.00
Wine                            $9.00

Other pantry items for recipes:

Bread
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Mayo
A packet of onion soup mix
sugar

Menu:

BLT: with kale as lettuce
Grilled Zucchini and squash
Roasted red potatoes
Fruit salad

I found a roasted red potato recipe on all recipes
Potatoes Recipe

For the Zucchini and Squash I sliced them as shown tossed them with olive oil and added a bit a salt and pepper and put them on the grill to soften them up and get some good char lines

 
I diced the peaches and strawberries, put it in a bowl and set in the fridge so the juices could run together.
 
I fried the bacon, sliced tomatoes, and separated the leaves of kale for the sandwiches.

Farmer's Market Inspired Table Setting

I like to do a nice grown up dinner once or twice a week. Most of the time we’re rushed with school or work and instead of hiring a babysitter to go out we enjoy date night at home. For this date night I was inspired by summer and our local farmer’s market. I grabbed a small variety of flowers from the Farmer’s Market. I wanted flowers that looked the most like wildflowers. If I had a farm and grew wild flowers I would have picked my own. Sadly, no farm for us yet. I took the flowers and cut them down and used mason jars as vases. I split up the different types of flowers and filled to quart sized mason jars. I currently have a small obsession with mason jars so I have all different sizes. I put candles in the smaller sized mason jars. You can find these jars in any grocery store in the baking aisle. I set natural colored placemats at two seats and used our leaf pattern plates. I like simple table settings. Look at my Farmer’s Market Menu post for the food shown. Happy Entertaining!

For other Rustic Inspired Entertaining items check out my Treasury of item from Etsy.com

Rustic Kitchen Treasury

Quilting Project Beginning!

I just received my custom fabrics from Spoonflower.com! I'm going to make quilts for my soon to be nieces! I'm using White Duck on Yellow, White Duck on Pink Fabric from my Megan Kay Design shop on Spoonflower. I also made a custom design with my nieces names on a pattern, so I can incorporate their names on their quilts. I'm really excited to start on the project, so stay tuned to see how the project evolves!

Click here to access My Spoonflower Page

Colorful Mason Jars

My new favorite crafting project! I take Mason Jars and use enamel paint to make them every color imaginable! I like to use them for flowers or for candles. The yellow one glows so perfectly. I've also made enough purple ones for a pop art display. These jars can be used in SO MANY ways. If you like them as much as I do visit my Etsy shop for all the different colors.