Monthly Archives: March 2015

DIY Double Dip Flip: Lacy Box to Lacy Jeans

Welcome to the second installment of DIY Double Dip Flip where we start with an inspiration piece from either fashion or decor, then we each show you our unique take on how to use the idea on something entirely different in decor or fashion.

And now for a look at this month’s inspiration:

A pair of antique green lace metal boxes …Lacy Metal Boxes

Here’s how I interpreted the design to turn plain jane jeans into lacy jeans.

It’s really easy to create a lace insert in the pocket of a pair of jeans or jean jacket.

Here’s what you’ll need:
vA pair of jeans, jean shorts or jean jacket with a pocket
vA scrap of lace that has been washed
vA piece of card stock or paper
vA shape to trace around or a computer printer
vA washable fabric glue such as Aleene’s OK to Wash-It
vA button
vScissors
vMarker or pen

Trace desired shape such as a star or heart, or print one from your computer

Cut out the shape.

Place the cut out shape on the pocket and trace around it with a marker or pen

Cut the shape out of the pocket

Wash the pair of jeans. After washing, the pocket will look something like this. You can fray the inside of the shape more if you want by pulling on the threads.

Iron the design until it’s flat.

Cut your washed lace roughly the shape of the whole pocket. Glue the lace inside the front panel of the pocket.

Sew the button onto the lace and through the back layer of the jeans.

There you go, you now have a pair of lacy couture jeans! Be sure to read the instructions on your fabric glue. Most of them have a dry time of several days to allow it to cure before washing.

So now you’ve seen my take on the design. Heather is sharing her super fun project on her blog using the same pair of boxes as her inspiration. I know you’re going to love it but you have to visit her to see what it is! Be sure to check out her flip over at Woods of Bell Trees.

Phrase Art Phriday: Trust

An unknown future can be a scary thing or it can be an exciting thing, depending on one’s perspective. When there are things in my life that look bleak and I don’t know how everything will turn out there is only one way I can keep out fear. By trusting in One I do know. Navigating unfamiliar territory is much less overwhelming when I remember that my future is in His control.

One thing that is so unsettling about the unknown is the lack of control that one feels. I’ll admit it ~ I can be a control freak. I am a very logical person and I often have a very good rationale for doing things the way I do them. I think things through to the possible outcomes before pressing forward. But I am learning to let go of my preconceived plans and the need to know what’s next. No, not in every area of my life but in a few. I am learning that if I stay narrow minded as to what and how I think things should happen I may very well miss something better. But by yielding control and trusting God who holds my future, I can rest in the knowledge that He knows the desires of my heart and wants to lead me in the very best plan for me.

I’m not afraid to try things. Just not without a good amount of pondering (a.k.a. analyzing from every angle). But I’ve learned that I can measure, and calculate, and think a thing to death and still not get the results that I expect. How much easier it could be if I could lean completely on someone who knows the way. I count on my Garmin to get me to unknown places, boy do I! With my GPS I can now experience so much more than I could when I had to rely on my (non-existent) map reading skills. I was limited by my poor sense of direction, and confined to a smaller world. Literally. Could the same be true of my life as a whole? Am I experiencing a pitifully small existence because of a skewed sense of direction? If I stop trying to analyze and control every twist and turn and instead live by the grace and direction of God will I experience more than I could ever imagine? There are countless adventures waiting. It’s time to trust with wild abandon.

Easter and Spring Décor 2015

It’s officially spring and now that I’ve got some Easter and spring decor up my home feels happier! The photos I am showing you in this post will be some of the last few I will show of my dining room / kitchen with pumpkin and charcoal colored walls. The next time I show it will be the “before” photos of the whole room. We are in the process of painting now. I say “we” but my husband does all our painting. Right now, each of my first floor rooms ~ living room, entry hall, kitchen, dining room and bathroom ~ are a different color. At the beginning of this year I decided to change all the rooms to the same color to improve the flow and make it feel more cohesive.

But now I’m getting ahead of myself and into my next post! In this post I would like to share some spring inspiration with you from my “old color” dining room.

Wow, the above photo really makes the wall look orange! The first two photos are more representative of the true color. The buffet sits in my dining room next to the trestle table. With the exception of the pastel eggs, everything is non-holiday enough to keep it out as long as I like. I think it could be improved with a big spray of “something” in the silver trophy urn . . . maybe later.

Around the corner from this buffet, halfway between the dining room and kitchen sits a second buffet.

You may remember this one decked out for Christmas.

As you can see, I have decorated this buffet in much more of an Easter theme than the other one, with my vintage papier mache bunny, vintage cardboard egg half and pussy willow eggs.

The cross is something I will leave out year round as well as the birdhouse and candlestick, so this vignette could stick around with just a little tweaking after Easter.

How do you decorate with the change of seasons? Do you have Easter décor or do you keep it holiday neutral?

Stash Confessions: Vintage and Retro Buttons

A while back I confessed to having a giant stash of socks for which I had no excuse. Today I want to show you another stash, my beloved vintage buttons. When I’m designing jewelry, it’s important to me to have a variety of styles and types of findings and embellishments. My creative juices flow best when I experiment with all kinds of colors, shapes and eras.

Many of these chunky bright colored buttons have become rings and a few others became the centerpiece for a necklace or bracelet.

I love military inspired fashion and accessories and tend to go to my brass stash when designing in that style.

Ahhh my vintage whites. Need I say more?

This is probably not even one tenth of my collection (just ‘fessing up here).

The detail in vintage buttons is amazing to me. Whether Deco chic, retro funky, or vintage sweet all can find there way into a design in my studio.

Phrase Art Phriday: Spring Flight

I don’t know if it’s the extra hour of daylight that spring brings, the warmer weather or the anticipation of seeing flowers and trees in bloom, but I am feeling totally energized and optimistic about the future. I feel like I could sprout wings.

Like many of you, I suffer from the winter doldrums, causing me to feel lethargic and unmotivated during the second half of the winter season. I have to pray my way through it every year. When spring rolls around I feel a huge sense of relief, like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Right now, on the threshold of reawakening, the air is ripe with potential. I’m giddy! I’m ready to breathe in the fresh spring air. I welcome the renewal of all things green and pure. I watch the robins. I hear their song and bask in the rejuvenating melody. I listen and believe. I will fly again.

This week’s phrase art photo is a picture of a bird I created from a dollar store bird, tissue paper, velvet ribbon and wire. I think I might make another and share the how-to in a future post.

Happy weekend!

Brighten a Dark Room With Glass and Metal

Even though there’s nothing better than natural lighting to make a space feel pretty and bright, shiny glass and metal can work wonders. Most of the rooms in my house have lots of windows but there are a few rooms that are a bit dark and more challenging. Mirrors go a long way in bringing reflective light into their dark corners. But there are lots of other decorative items that can help bounce the light around too.

Load up on crystal prisms on sconces and chandeliers. Nothing catches and distributes the light like these faceted gems.

Bring in more light with shiny metal finishes on your picture frames, candlesticks and art work.
This old copper plaque belonged to my mother, who is now with the angels.

Glass and metal vases, bowls and trays placed strategically among your décor can add sparkle where there was none.

Even small collections of glass items, like these bottle stoppers displayed in bowls will scatter a twinkle around a room.

Here are some additional ways to diffuse the dreariness of a dark room:
RGlass tabletops
RShiny metal fixtures
RLight or sheer curtains
RLight colored paint on walls and furniture

I’m so happy we have “sprung forward”. There’s much more light to go around now, and I plan to take full advantage of it each day!

Tarnished Royalty

Design Your Life