Re-Inspired

I think I'm finally ready to come back now. I've been busier than ever since the holidays with four (soon to be five) custom wedding sets, with paper crafting, and making new things for the shop, which will, with any luck, be receiving some pretty new additions in the coming weeks.

I want to thank you, my lovely readers, for being patient with me during my little hiatus, and also to beg your continued indulgence if I'm not here quite as frequently as I used to be. I've come to the conclusion that blogging should be about being inspired and sharing inspiration with others, and when I felt lately like it's just one more thing on an impossibly long to-do list, it becomes a stressor rather than an overflow of creativity. So I'm going to approach it in the future with the mindset that I'll share when I have something to share, and not bore you with nonsense when I don't.

The wonderful Debee Campos of Art As Life (incredible blog) and InspireLovely (beautiful shop) is a perpetual source of inspiration to me, so I can't think of anything more appropriate than including her in today's post. She's running a giveaway on her blog right now of several beautiful Valentine's Day themed items from her shop, so be sure to enter after taking a few minutes to marvel at the loveliness (I always do) and to be inspired yourself (I always am).

It's nice to be back. Thank you for reading.

Holiday Trading

So thrilled that I made it into the 2010 oh, hello friend Holiday Trade Guide! It's such a fantastic way to discover other artists on Etsy, and get some of my shopping done without spending any money! Hooray for supporting each other and being thrifty!

Check out Danni's lovely collection here, and if you make things and are interested in arranging a trade with me, visit my shop here! (That's my Meryton necklace, at the bottom left. Sold a few days ago, but there's lots more prettiness where that came from.)

Feels Like Christmas

I got the happiest surprise yesterday morning when I checked my email. A sweet bride I worked with last year on the gorgeous aqua and dove grey wedding set wrote to let me know that her wedding (and my jewelry) had been featured on Style Me Pretty, which as some of you may know, is one of the best wedding blogs out there, and is kind of a big deal. Not only was I elated to find out that Abby Larson of Style Me Pretty has put this one at the top of her "favorite weddings" list, but I was so happy to see photos proving that I was lucky enough to contribute something small to a day that was so special and so incredibly beautiful. All of the bridesmaids are wearing pink street necklace and earring sets created especially for each girl, to match her individual style and personality, as a gift from the bride.

The lovely bride, Jessica, planned all of the details so perfectly, down to painting and distressing the aqua birdcages by hand. But she found out, just like I did on my wedding day, incidentally, that no matter how thoroughly you plan, you can't predict everything. Her obstacle was a sudden and unaccountable illness. (Mine was 5 inches of snow. On the day of our outdoor wedding.)

You can read her whole harrowing tale of the imperfect wedding that turned out to be perfect after all on the Style Me Pretty post, where there are dozens of other gorgeous photos as well. I am so grateful to have been part of her story, and couldn't wait to share the feature with all of you!

{all images by Souder Photography.}

DIY: Pretty Wallfowers

What's that? Bright, colorful flowers made out of paper napkins!? Oh, yes!

And more!

I love how the centers are a different color than the outer layers. So cute!

Full tutorial by Dana of Made, where there's lots and lots of other crafty goodness to be found.

{Photos by Dana; spotted via Frenchie and Flea.}

I ♥ EmersonMade (the Studio Tour)

A couple of months ago, the Brooklyn Bride blog featured a studio tour of EmersonMade, and it was spectacular. I think it must be one of the happiest places to work, and I thought you might enjoy the feature too, if you happened not to see it. Here are a few shots, and you can read the interview with Emerson herself over at the original post.

The incredibly talented and really hilarious Emerson and her husband Ryan live on a farm in New Hampshire with fluffy yellow baby ducks and a stuffed mouse. Their amazing home tour was featured on Design*Sponge quite a while ago, and it's just as inspiring. Check out EmersonMade here.

DIY Thursday: Festive Paper Pinwheels

In continuation of the birthday theme (being that the birthday festivities continue for another couple of weeks at least), I bring you today a beautifully presented tutorial from Style Me Pretty for paper pinwheels. The project tutorial is by Posh Paperie, and the wonderful photography is by Jackie Wonders. See the original post on Style Me Pretty for full instructions and details.

So beautiful! I'd love to hang these up all over my house, even when it's not my birthday!

Favorite Things Friday: The Purl Bee

I know. Sheer, unadulterated incredible.

This beautiful Liberty of London fabric sample display wall is installed at the new PurlSoho.

But why can't it magically and simultaneously be installed at my house?

{Image from the Purl Bee blog. There's so much more loveliness to explore on the blog and at the online shop of PurlSoho.}

Chirp

The Plan:

1. Buy an antique sideboard and install in living room.

2. Find several vintage apothecary jars in varying shapes and sizes.

3. Install happy little (fake) birds in said apothecary jars along with some (real) twigs and moss to keep them company.

4. Embellish display with adorable vintage mirror tray, lamp, and handmade wall art.

And voila! Instant charm.

{Disclaimer: this is not actually my house, nor was it originally My Plan. These gorgeous images, this adorable display, and the credit for actually having such a brilliant idea must go to the lovely Miss Polly of Polly Danger, the blog, the shop, and the notions.}

But now, this plan is My Plan.

And now I'm going to go, and ... show The Plan to someone else.

Etsy Treasure Tuesday: Gloaming Designs

I'm captivated by the beautiful things in the Gloaming Designs shop, as with the incredible styling and the idyllic, fairytale atmostphere it evokes. The shop is owned by Abigail, an American living in Paris, and there is French flair abounding. Absolument enchantant.

{All images by the very talented Abigail of Gloaming Designs, and pulled from the Etsy shop.}

If you like, stop by and explore her blog as well. It's every bit as pretty, with some beautiful photos of Southern French mountains and streams.

Favorite Things Friday: Tables Laid Under the Trees

These incredible images by the insanely talented wedding photographer Tec Petaja are perfect. And so are the colorful vintage table linens, and the hay bale seating, and the way the late summer sun streams through the trees, and the chandeliers hanging from the low boughs, and the homemade pies on pretty stands, and the groom's bowtie.

All images copyright Tec Petaja, pulled from his website. Also, be sure to see his blog for so much more loveliness.

So beautiful. I hope that your Friday is beautiful, and your weekend is splendid.

{And hey, everyone! Don't you like giveaways? Then for heaven's sakes, why don't you enter!?}

Wedding Wednesday

There's been so much pretty wedding inspiration on some of the blogs I've stumbled onto lately that I couldn't help myself. I've been inspired by the wonderful colors, beautiful dresses, pretty flowers, and great ideas. I hope you will be too.

Incredible wedding flowers spotted on OnceWed; I dubbed this free-spirited garden style "thicket" back in my flower shop days.

I love the soft pink peonies and the tent made of lights; Spanish wedding spotted on OnceWed.

That handmade doily garland is wonderful! And I love that the men of the house party are wearing burlap Toms; an incredible wedding all around spotted on Ruffled.

What a great idea is this! Photo frames and chandelier crystals suspended from the trees; spotted on Ruffled.

I don't think I can sufficiently express my admiration for the couple who got married under this amazing sign; spotted on OnceWed.

All of these dresses are just incredible, I can't get over them; spotted on Green Wedding Shoes.

That dress! Those colors! The hats and the teacups! It's like Marie Antoinette magically transmuted into 1953, and it's completely awesome; spotted on Green Wedding Shoes.

Happy Wednesday!

Astounded

These are some of the prettiest images I've seen in a long time. I'm so glad that Creature Comforts pointed me toward Jane Schouten's work again today. I've explored her website, All the Luck in the World, before, but needed to be reminded of just how beautiful and inspiring all of her work is. And her blog is full of so much loveliness. She actually provides a visual tutorial on how she turned these vintage vessels which accompany radiators, but since we don't really have that sort of thing here in the States (or at least in West Texas), I'll have to content myself with just admiring her incredible work on this project.

All images pulled from Jane Schouten's blog. Go, and you will be enthralled and inspired. Promise.