Etsy Love

Before I display my Etsy finds, I thought I would share this helpful video tutorial on how to make these pretty little flowers! Just go HERE and watch! SOO easy!

Now, on to some new Etsy favorites:

Fabric flower necklace from Autumn Art's Etsy!

I'm in love with this owl pillow pattern from Ginia18's Etsy!

Silver Ohio-shaped necklace found HERE at Truche's Etsy!

*They have other states as well!*

These next three necklaces are from Cookoorikoo's Etsy!

This gray necklace is cute and classy :)

This one is my favorite with the yellow mixed in! So cute!

This one is adorable and girly!

Flower belt/ headwrap from Mojospastyle's Etsy!

Notice a pattern? I'm a bit obsessed with flowers right now. They're so girly and fun and can be added to any outfit (though don't go too overboard or you might resemble a garden). Anyway, I can't help myself! So easy to make and so pretty in a variety of ways :) Hope you all enjoy these pretty little things as much as I do!

On a side note, I have been listening to some amazing songs that you should check out! Here's my list of recommendations! You won't be sorry!

• The City - Joe Purdy
• Light Years Away - MoZella
• Baby I Need You - Kim Taylor
• Between the Lines - Sara Bareilles
• Gravity - Sara Bareilles
• Poison & Wine - The Civil Wars
• Fire - Augustana
• Falling or Flying - Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
• Million Faces - Paola Nutini
• A Falling Through - Ray Lamontagne (or anything by Ray Lamontagne for that matter!)
• Where Does the Good Go - Tegan and Sara
• Lost - Anouk
• Why - Annie Lennox
• Dancing - Elisa
• Psychotic Girl - The Black Keys
• Always Midnight - Pat Monahan
• One Moment More (Acoustic) - Mindy Smith
• Home - Edward Sharpe
• I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - Hank Williams
• Beautifully Undone - Lindy

Wonderful Wednesday

I'm so overjoyed that today is Wednesday! I've grown to love Wednesdays because Travis goes to church with the child he tutors, and I have the whole house to myself! It's great! Though it's only for a short time, I love the alone time. I've always loved spending time by myself. My last semester in college I lived by myself and it was great. Now that I'm married I feel like I share everything 24/7 and it gets a bit frustrating. I have learned not to take these little alone times for granted. It is kind of strange because even when Travis is here it isn't like he is talking or bothering me constantly, but for some reason it is still not the same as having the whole house to myself. Either way, tonight is wonderful :)

In recent news I started a Style Diary. I've always en

joyed looking through the pictures that people post and thought it would be fun. I checked my messages yesterday and saw that I was featured in their "Street Style" section. It was slightly flattering since I never even knew such a thing existed. I love piecing new outfits together so it's fun to share them and gain inspiration from other's ensembles as well!

You can check out the My Style Diary site for yourself HERE!

You need to check out Ruffles and Roses' Flower Ruffle Tank tutorial! She is so creative and crafty! Check it out and maybe learn something new! There are two parts to this tutorial. The first part teaches you how to make the shirt. The second part shows you how to add the ruffle flowers to it. Both are very interesting!

Tutorial Part I

Tutorial Part II

I've been on the look out for new projects and these are the things I desperately want to make sometime soon:

1: This Bohemian Vest (#3) from Burda Style is sooo cute! I want one!

^ this is the one I want to make!

2: A reusable lunch bag that I can take to work:

Maybe something like this:

3: An owl pillow like these from ginia18! SO cute!

4: A ruffle vest like this one from shopruche.com

5: A flower pillow from Martha Stewart & a ruffle pillow like the one below from Pier 1

Recent Inspirations

This past week I have been in the worst "Shopping Mode". I went out with my friend, Erika, last weekend and unapologetically spent way too much money on clothing and accessories. In my defense I did find some amazing deals. We went to Gabriel Brothers, which is a store that carries designer clothing at cheaper prices. It is similar to a T.J. Maxx in many ways, but you really have to weed through their racks to find great items. Then we also went to Forever 21 and Target. I probably spent around $150, but got around 20 or so new items... including: 2 cardigans, 2 tanks, 5 bracelets, 1 pair of earrings, 3 tops, a leather jacket, 1 necklace, 1 pair of jeans, 2 camis, and a new picture frame. I then went out with my mom and bought 2 yards of new fabric, some cute upholstery fabric to make a pillow, and a remnant to make floral broaches. It was a very successful weekend in terms of shopping, but not so successful in terms of saving. When will I ever learn? Needless to say, it was fun and frivolous and definitely worth it! Here are a few more things I'm loving right now:

I am absolutely in love with practically everything in Ruche's current lookbook! You can view it at shopruche.com. Here are a few of the looks and pieces I love right now!

Bow and Stripes Cadette Sweater $36.99

Undying Devotion Floral Top $30.99

Weaving Around Town Purse $54.99

My Everyday Adventure Bag $38.99

I found these cute pears through Google... they could be used as pin cushions or just as decorations. Either way, they are so cute!

I have already made 4 of these adorable birds! I made one to use as a pin cushion since I had nowhere to put my pins.

I want to make some into a mobile like this one:

I love how they used sticks to hang them! What a great idea!

The pattern for these birds can be found HERE! at Spool Sewing's blog!

This would be an extremely easy project:

Here is a free pattern explaining how to make these Frayed Rosettes by Jennifer Paganelli! Just click HERE!

I think given the right fabric, they would look beautiful on necklaces!

I just watched The Back Up Plan and loved these two outfits that Jennifer Lopez wore:

Obviously I would want one that is not found in the maternity section! I bet I could make this! Or maybe I am just feeling too ambitious!

I love her dress! The rosettes are so cute along the shoulder. I would love one in a red-orange/ coral color, though.

Sewing Adventure: Take One

[My sewing machine :)]

Last Wednesday night I started my first sewing project in order to release a little pent up creative energy. With the help of my seamstress mother I began the search for just the right pattern to start with. I finally settled for this vintage Simplicity tank top pattern that has been lost in my mom's pattern box for some years. We actually began our night of sewing by making an unscheduled trip to JoAnn Fabrics to buy some fabric and a pattern after an unsatisfactory look at our current possessions. After finding some beautiful cream lace spandex-style fabric and a shirt pattern, we headed back to get started. On the way back, while contemplating the design of my project, I decided to go with the old pattern we found at my parent's instead of the one I had just purchased. The first night I was able to get it cut out and the second night I began sewing it together! By day three I was ready to add the straps and take it in a bit in order to best fit me. I also added the lace roses and pearls the third day. I was completely finished by day 4 (last Friday) when I added the final pearls. I wore it out that night and loved it! I can't wait to start some new projects! Here are some pictures of my project!

I completed pattern #1

I found this stretchy spandex-style lace in the clearance section of JoAnn Fabrics for $7 a yard.

I loved the edge of the fabric and wanted to keep it on the shirt

All cut out! (Day 1)

I added a basting stitch to the top to gather it and finished sewing it (Day 2)

Day #3 I added the straps and other details. I wanted some lace flowers on the top left as well as some pearls.

Ta-Da!

The finished product! I'm the proud owner of my first creation!

Pillow Talk

I picked up my first sewing machine today from my mom's house. I am so eager to begin sewing. I can't wait to learn! After deciding that I would like to begin my sewing quest by making pillows, I've been looking up different styles to gain inspiration. Here is what I've come up with thus far:

I love this Appliqued Fall Pillow! The tutorial is found here!

This Petal Pillow is found at the same site and the tutorial is here!

Even a knit pillow!? Found at BlissLiving

This polka dot pillow is also from BlissLiving.

This is a ring bearer's pillow, but gorgeous nonetheless. More like this one can be found at Karen Yee's Etsy shop!

These lovely pillows are from Tulu Textiles, which is a company based out of Istanbul.

I love the 3D aspects of this pillow from Country Living:

This doily pillow is super cute. Martha Steward provides a tutorial on how to make it here!

This next pillow is actually a ring bearer's pillow from Martha Stewart, but I love the giant flower!

Better Homes & Gardens provides a free tutorial on how to make pillows such as these. Simply go here.

I found a tutorial on how to make this pillow on this blog!

Pier 1 has some excellent pillow inspirations!

I am not crazy about the yellow and brown color scheme of this one, but I like the general idea

I found these adorable pillows on Etsy! They have lots of other variations as well!

Honey Pie Designs

Looolo Textiles:

These are from Anthropologie

"If......Then"

"Orimono Pillow, Flower"

Well I suppose that is enough pillow inspirations to keep me busy for awhile. Hope you enjoyed them as well!