Monday, June 28, 2010

love: alphabet magnets

this weekend i was browsing the dollar aisle at Target (one of my favorite places!) and i came across a set of these little plastic alphabet magnets....as of late, i have been obsessing over alphabet decor....and though there are no little school aged children running around my house (yet!), i decided to come up with some brilliant way to use these ABC magnets to decorate my fridge....
looking for inspiration, i started googling...this is a taste of what i found....first, DIY burlap letter magnets from this blog....
...then i found several blogs walking you through the process of sewing your own alphabet magnets....a little to involved for my taste, but adorable none the less!
...or what about this adorable wall decor using all types of letters....and look at the "O"... a giant button! TOO cute!
...i found several places where people simply take traditional ABC blocks (you can find them at any craft store) and glue a magnet on the back, making a quick and easy alphabet magnet set....
...or i could give a nod to my college days by using the greek alphabet :-)
...these are fun...thin chipboard letters (found in the scrapbooking aisle)...mini magnets attached to the back...a very "Crate and Barrel" approach to ABC magnets :-)
...this has nothing to do with magnets, but i am a sucker for anything wooden...with little drawers...and the ABC's?!?!?!? [drooling]
...this last one is from etsy...probably the most directly inspirational pic i have found for my project...these little plastic letters were simply decoupaged...and are now being sold for $20/set!
...so my goal this week is to make time in my life for several projects, including transforming my dollar aisle ABC magnets....check back to see what I come up with!

Monday, June 21, 2010

grow: meet our new pup!

This weekend, we met Jack (also known as Pavlov), a one-year border collie/spaniel mix discovered living outside the STL Science Center a few months back. He was rescued by Stray Rescue of St. Louis, and you can read his story here. Long story short: Jack eluded rescue attempts by Science Center employees for weeks, preferring instead to run and play in the parking lot, soccer fields, and sprinklers on the grounds....but since being rescued, he has turned out to be an incredibly loving, intelligent, gentle, playful, cuddly little guy!
Stray Rescue, from what I have learned, is an AWESOME organization. If you click through their website or facebook page, you will quickly see the amazing good that they do for stray dogs in the city of STL. And if you have a VERY strong stomach, find the album on their facebook page of "Before and Afters"...it will just break your heart...and make you want to join their organization!
So thanks to their efforts, and the efforts of the many employees of the STL Science Center, Jack is no longer a stray! He is currently staying with us, on what they call a "Rent-A-Pet" basis...basically, before the adoption is complete, there is a one-week period where he lives with us...we adjust to each other...and make sure that we are a good fit for each other....
i think this is a BRILLIANT idea, as so many shelter dogs are adopted before the new owners have a chance to REALLY get to know them....
...in my own experience, so many dogs that I would visit in shelters would come across so sedated and depressed....i figured that probably wasnt their typical personality but i had no way of knowing how the dog would be at home, or at a park, or with kids, etc...
Jack has proven to be an amazing fit for our family...so when our one week is up, Jack is ours forever! He is such a beautiful dog...here are some pics I took as he explored our home...
Jack and my husband playing in the yard...that dog can jump!
sniffing out the neighborhood....i just love his beautiful coloring...
so i am sure in the coming months, you will hear more on Jack at create.love.grow....i already have a project up my sleeve to turn an old WWII storage trunk into a super cool dog bed....but more to come on that later!
and i promise, i wont humiliate him by sewing him any ridiculous dog clothes or anything of that nature....i can just hear my husband groaning as i type this :-)

Friday, June 18, 2010

create: patchwork cafe curtains

so heres a little project i started a few days back... we have this super tall window in the kitchen behind the sink...and i have been wanting to rig up some kind of cafe curtain for it....so the other night I gathered some vintage hankies and this vintage pillowcase, whipped out my sewing machine, and went to work...

I simply made a 2x2 grid, sewing the hankies together and cutting the pillow case into squares coordinating with the size of the hankies. (if you like to measure, then feel free!)...I added a wooden button in the center where all the corners meet...this reminds me a lot of my patchwork shower curtain i did a few months back....
to attach my newly sewn cafe curtain to a tension rod, I simply made loops with twine (my favorite crafting tool!), stringing them first through the hankies with a needle then tying a simple knot around the tension rod....
i finished my first curtain and was too tired to get started on the second...so that will come later! But I thought this was a good start...and knowing myself, if I wait to post, then I never will! happy friday!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

love: forever 21

at what age are you too old to shop at forever 21?


...i wondered this as i bought this lovely dress yesterday [see first picture below]....as i was at the check out, i looked around and realized that I had a good 5-10 years on most of the girls in there....then i second guessed my choice to indulge in forever 21's glorious stock of pretty summer dresses....

...thankfully, the 40-something woman at the checkout reassured me that the dress I chose was modest enough....especially if I wore it with leggings :-) haa haa. good thing i bought those too!

so even though i may be approaching the "too old" mark for shopping at forever 21, i wanted to give you a sampling of some of their new summer dresses that i love so much...

(and please note, all these dresses may be worn with leggings!)

these are all around the $20 mark:



these last two are less than $15/piece!

happy shopping, all you post-middle-school-forever-21-aholics!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

create: chalkboard herb pots

so i just wanted to post this fun project that i whipped up last weekend....i picked these herbs up at the Soulard Farmer's Market.....and though i dont have a green thumb (its more a shade of brown...withering...you get the picture...)...i love the idea of cooking with fresh spices...
i found these clay pots up at my *newly* local Salvation Army....35 cents a piece! I was short on foam brushes, so i actually used an old scrap of towel to apply the paint...it gave it a cool texturing effect...anyway, i applied the colors of my liking (acrylic)...let them dry...
then i used masking tape to tape off a little rectangle on each pot...sprayed them with some chalkboard paint...let dry, then scratched on the labels with a piece of chalk....i love how the chalkboard labels allow me to switch out types of herbs...you know, if one dies ;-)
a lovely addition to my kitchen, if i do say so myself :-)
now i just need to remember to water them!

Monday, June 14, 2010

love: handmade weddings

this weekend i was blessed with the opportunity to stand by my girl leigh's side as she said "I Do" to her beau, Joel...here is the happy couple, post nuptials!
their beautiful handmade reception was held at the art center in indy... a super fun and fitting location for the two of them!
here are some elements of the affair...starting with the guest book table....
the welcome table was decorated with our bridesmaid bouquets....
the "quotester coasters" were adorable...each one inscribed with a quote from the happy couple...
a close up of a few....
and my favorite....
and the lovely programs...
book mark favors modeled after library circulation slips....so cute...SO leigh!
photos of the couple....and the beginning of scrabble themed decor.....
"Memory Moleskins".....
and for the little ones....library and wedding themed coloring pages!
a spitting image of the bride and groom!
and heres a close up of the table decor....they utilized old books, bottles, and teacups....
another close up....
and a third....
other tables were graced with these book planters...

a close up of the bridal party table...
the bride and groom's table...

the brides bouquet...
his and hers chairs...
the dessert table, complete with a homemade cheesecake decorated with scrabble x's and o's....
a message at the dessert table...
cutting the [cheese]cake.....
outside, the dancing area was decorated with this book page heart garland...so simple but so beautiful waving in the wind....
a vintage record player to set the mood on the dance floor!
my hubby, the bride, and others bustin a move....
apart from dancing, the lovely grounds of the art center afforded guests the opportunity to explore and be their own photographers....
remember these frames? here they are in action at the wedding guest photo booth....
a message for the bride and groom: WE CANT WAIT FOR RED HEAD BABIES!the garden was decorated with several sculptures...offering a fun playground/hang out spot for the kiddies...there was this beautiful trellis walkway perfect for kissing....
....or climbing.... :-)
....or just taking a cute photo with the bride!

congrats on your beautiful wedding, leigh and joel! we love you!