paper-lust

amelia... it's been a while.

2011-12-02T13:46:00.000-08:00

i know, i know... it's really been forever since i blogged. i keep thinking i will get on here and update things... and i never do. and really, what do i post? photos/photography/etc. so, i have a more dedicated photography blog setup that i should try not to neglect. it's here in case you want to bookmark it.

so where have i been exactly? sitting on my couch after work with my computer reading photography blogs, books, and forums until my eyeballs fall out. unless i have a session, and then i can be found in that same position, only editing photos and asking for critique from my husband. who i've found, doesn't really like critiquing my work. this little hobby of mine has sort of taken over... but i like it. and i am learning new stuff every day.

that being said, i wanted to post an image from a session for a friend a few weeks back. this is little amelia, all of 12 days old when this was taken. she slept like a champ after we got her to sit still for a few minutes. unfortunately, day light was not on our side and i didn't get too many more images after this.

hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving!

monica | senior photos

2011-10-24T19:46:00.001-07:00

Monica is graduating! We had a fun time running around Lubbock to get a few shots and I even got to meet her doggie, Oscar. Here are a few of my favorites…

(wanna see these photos a little larger? check out my new photo blog at amandasneed.myfotojournal.com)

charity + james engagements.

2011-10-18T16:26:00.000-07:00

wow, it's been a while since i've posted, i know. life has been busy, my friends! i just wanted to stop in and share a few of my favorites from a recent engagement session with charity and james. these two will be tying the knot in june 2012!

you guys were so sweet to drive down to lubbock for this photoshoot on a sunday! hope you enjoy this little peek :)

friday links.

2011-09-09T11:27:00.001-07:00

i know this is random... but
lots of things have been preoccupying my thoughts lately.

my career path. where do i want to be in the future? who do i want to be?

family. life is moving along quickly and i can't stop time.

the american dream. working our asses off to not owe anyone money. i'm thankful for my college education, but i'm starting to wonder if the price tag is really worth it.

you know, all the things everybody else thinks about all the time.

now that i've left you deep in thought, here are some links from my week:

cute post about pet photography over on fstop frenzy. really has me thinking about donating my services to a local shelter.

this embroidered portrait is a.ma.zing. via theredthread.

although this isn't exactly my style, i love some of the touches in this kitchen makeover on girls with good taste.

i need to make these bracelets featured on in honor of design.

also, this cake sounds delish. would somebody make it for my birthday? on sweetapolita.

have an amazing weekend!

friends.

2011-08-30T10:59:00.000-07:00

desirable traits in a photographer's friend:

accepts having a camera pointed at their face. a lot.

is okay with changing clothes in public.

willing to stand in tall weeds while wearing too-big vintage boots.

will trapse all over a park just to find the right light with you.

in 100 degree weather.

after work.

helps you carry chairs and miscellaneous props.

and 10 lb. blankets.

looks fabulous in just about anything.

even ugly hats you found at your grandparent's house.

richelle, you are a worthy friend. thanks for letting me point a camera at your face for a few hours last week! hope you enjoy your photos!

friday links.

2011-08-19T13:29:00.000-07:00

it has been a long week, my friends. though it is ending much better than it started off. i am past ready for a short get-away from crazy clients and children screaming at the top of their lungs (you know, the daycare next door to my office). i am ready for temperatures below 99 and for more wet stuff to fall from the sky (note: photo above was taken a few days after the rain we got last week... more green stuff than i've seen in a while). and i am ready for my husband to actually be next to me when i fall asleep instead of at work.

in the mean time, here are some links.

cotton & curls shares a tutorial on making your own cute, lacy, show-able slip. i will not be afraid of skirts that don't fall below my knees any longer.

i LOVE this diy wrap-turned-scarf that involves no sewing. thanks behind the seams!

this mirror is beautiful. diy? of course. via marcus design.

need cheap/free artwork? how about orange shares some paint chip inspiration.

these korean pancakes sound yummy. now to only convince d. found on dals.

have a fun weekend!

chloe's {almost} 2 year photos.

2011-08-11T11:06:00.000-07:00

you know, life got so busy there for a while that i completely forgot to post more photos from chloe's photoshoot (way back in june... wow). anyway, this cutie is going to turn 2 later this month and i thought i should share a few of my favorites!

she is so sweet, but not necessarily up for have her photo taken... she ran from me for most of the morning. i went home wondering if i had gotten any decent shots, and when i finally started editing i knew i had a few keepers.

one tip for anyone wanting to photograph a toddler/very young child... give them something to hold. that will distract them and keep them still long enough to get a few snaps in. obviously, lollipops and flowers were our props of choice.

thanks again to raechel for letting me photograph her sweet little girl again. i hope this becomes a yearly event!!

the wedding cake.

2011-08-09T13:48:00.000-07:00

hello friends! i admit, i didn't think i would be back so soon... last week, i really just didn't feel like myself, but thanks to some antibiotics and other drugs, i'm feeling much better now.

i finally got a chance to pull some images off my camera... and realized i still hadn't shared any of the photos from one of the weddings we attended a few weekends back. i didn't take my camera to the ceremony/reception, but i did help decorate the day before and the day of. one of my best friends made their wedding cake (her amazing strawberry cake, nonetheless) and i was up there to help with the finishing touches.

helping decorate a cake is no small task, and i absolutely love the way it turned out. of course, the bride was happy with it too, which is really what matters, right?

unfortunately, the cake attendees (that's a term, right?) were cutting super small pieces... and i didn't think it was appropriate to go back for a second piece...

friday links and books.

2011-08-05T11:36:00.000-07:00

a few books i've done recently...

sorry for the absence... life has been... busy. and hard sometimes too. not that i'm the only one with difficulties, but it just seems extra trying right now i guess.

it's really making me question a few things... in a good way. it's making me think about where i am right now and where i want to be in the future.

anyway. hopefully i'll be able to post more soon. i've got lots of things i'd like to show you. just doesn't seem i have enough energy to put those together for you. so lets go for something easy...

here are some links:

words of wisdom has a great article on sugar addiction. i think i need to reread that one.

i have quinoa and have only cooked it once... but mint's got a recipe that looks like a great lunch option...

say yes to hoboken shows us how to add pockets to skirts.

uglygreenchair posted about washing her face with oil. i've been trying it out for about three weeks and it's definitely helped. hoping this will be a long term solution...

type on cake? i'm there. thanks twirling betty.

jessicakes answers some questions about cake decorating.

lots of others, but they are mainly recipes and photography-related stuff. don't want to bore you... hope every has a good weekend!

new places.

2011-07-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

happy thursday! i just wanted to mention a few things i'm excited about... i'm now (as of a few weeks ago, ha!) on pinterest. loving it! i don't know why i was so hesitant to join, but (just a warning) it can be addicting. you can find me right here.

i'm also now a member at joss & main. it's a great place to score designer goods at a discount. the only drawback is that sales are only available for 72 hours and there are limited quantities on a lot of items. not so good for those of us (me) that tend to think about purchases for a while before committing. anyway, if you want to join, just follow this link. i haven't purchased anything yet, but i'm on the hunt for a new rug for the living room...

pretty as a peacock.

2011-07-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

this book is actually from a while back, just haven't gotten around to posting books lately! i really love this peacock paper... sadly my source sold out of it before i thought to buy more.

i tried to get the sheen of the metallic gold, but it's just hard to photograph. i've got a skinny, long swatch of it left that is too small to make a book with... i'm sure i'll just keep it in my stash for a few years before i know what to do with it.

...

i am trying to get my act together to post more - more books, more projects, more photography. believe it or not, i really do things outside of work - you just wouldn't know it looking here. i really just have a hard time figuring out content at the end of the day when all i really want to do is drink a glass of wine and spend some time with my husband and the pups.

i do have a few other thoughts though: as an avid reader of many types of blogs, it's discouraging to constantly see how much others can seemingly get done in a day. but on the other hand, some things that others post just don't seem worth it - it's stupid (to me) or random and it upsets me that i wasted my 20 seconds glancing at their post in my reader. that the only reason it was shared was so that they would have something to post that day. and that's not the kind of content that i want on my blog. i'd like people to really look at my projects, read my thoughts and study my photographs. i want my content to be interesting. and i think that's why i've posted so sparsley lately. i am a perfectionist at heart and sometimes have a hard time making decisions, even on silly things like blog posts.

thanks for letting me rant. i think a week-long vacation to anywhere other than lubbock (or the near vicinity) would cure me.

new lens + dogs.

2011-07-08T13:46:00.001-07:00

my new telephoto lens arrived a few weeks back, but never had a chance to use it! finally pulled it out the other night while the doggies were playing in the backyard. aren't they cute? i love that i can snap some 'candid' photos without being right on top of them. or having lillie try to lick my lens.

no links this week. i really need to re-evaluate my thoughts on blogging. i love sharing my ideas, projects and photos, but don't even post half of the stuff i do because of some mixed feelings i've started having over the last few months. maybe more on that later...

have a great weekend!!

july 1st.

2011-07-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

june is over, along with the first half of 2011. what? i have no idea where it all went.

i'm sure no one wants to hear me ramble about how time passes too quickly... so here are some links:

how about orange shares a link to some pretty free printables. as much as i love designing things, sometimes it's nice to already have it done for you.

thanks sweetapolita, now i want to make these cupcakes and eat all of them.

new to me photography blog ground glass has some great suggestions for posing. love the writing style.

this salad recipe sounds amazing. must. try. soon. over on say yes to hoboken!

more good food: these zucchini chips sound awesome too! via 100 days of real food.

i LOVE these baby quilts. need i say more? found on poppytalk.

ok folks, have a good, safe, fun weekend!!

friday links.

2011-06-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

hello friends! man, it has been HOT lately. i was ready for some warmer weather, but now i'm reconsidering. we are celebrating my nephew's first birthday this weekend, and i'm excited to get to be a part of everything.

now for some friday links...

great tutorial on a chevron friendship bracelet on one pearl button. these would be great made with some leftover fabric scraps.

i downloaded this free ebook written by scott bourne on vision in photography. haven't gotten to read it yet, but i know it will be good advice (as always!)

this recipe for pan fried tilapia sounds amazing. i know we don't eat enough fish, so this will be a perfect recipe to try out. on always order dessert.

love this idea for remembering your beloved pet after they are gone. via just something i made.

this pull apart orange bread on giverslog sounds perfect for a lazy weekend with family.

i must be on a food-kick. this chickpea salad sounds really yummy too. always looking for a quick (easy!) lunch at work and this would be perfect. over on with style & grace.

have a great weekend!!

little chloe.

2011-06-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

you know, my hamstrings are still sore (going on 4 days now!) from chasing this little munchkin around with a camera... but editing her photos and seeing these silly faces makes it all worth it!

friday links.

2011-06-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

ahh, it's friday. time for some relaxation? probably some, but i've got a photoshoot with a 2 year old and some wedding books to work on. and next weekend? spending time with my family to celebrate my nephew's first birthday!!

okay, now for some links...

loving this diy cakestand on rambling renovators. i've actually made one similar to this, but didn't think about painting the base.

giverslog share some tips about grilling the perfect steak. seeing as how we've been afraid to mess up a nice cut of meat, this is perfect timing!

if you need a good laugh, i suggest heading over to dinner: a love story for a witty grown-up report card.

i'm not normally a fan of commercial characters in decorating (not even for kids rooms!) but these diy paintings by bee in our bonnet takes it to a different (and cuter!) level.

i still love you takes on another leather project. these magic braided leather cuffs would be a cute gift for any girl.

have a great weekend!!

curious ethan.

2011-06-10T12:27:00.000-07:00

sorry folks. i had a whole post ready and then it got lost. you see, i haven't quite figured out how to connect two of my accounts, and my blog decided to sign me out without warning. i've got to fix this, because it's causing me insane amounts of frustration.

but this photo makes me feel better. you should know who this little guy is. my nephew ethan, who will be turning 1 in a few short weeks! i can't believe time has gone by so quickly. it was just the other day he was born, it seems. anyway, i can't wait to celebrate this milestone with my family! and i'm sure there will be lots of pictures...

a wedding silhouette.

2011-06-07T11:11:00.000-07:00

i wanted to share a little gift i made for a sweet girl this past weekend. she is getting married at the end of july, and i've been working on all things wedding for her since the engagement! did i mention she's the boss' daughter? the small studio where i've worked since i graduated has become like a second family to me. we share triumphs and tragedies. we work well together and make each other stronger.

i drew their silhouettes from a few of the engagement pictures taken by betsy lackey (amazing photographer, btw!) i incorporated them into the invitations, but knew i could do something special for them since i had all the right files.

julie loves all things vintage, and we incorporated some wonderful floral patterns into her printed pieces. i 'borrowed' some of the paper we'd been using for the background and cut their silhouettes out of a dark brown cardstock. the banner is another little piece that i've used throughout, and knew it would be the perfect 3-dimensional layer to add.

i popped everything into a cute thrifted frame (the double-mat was already in place, and the perfect colors!) needless to say, it got lots of attention at the shower and a heartfelt thanks from the bride and her family. it just goes to show that you can spend very little and make a big impression with just a few bucks and some time. i hope it will become a treasured part of their new life together, and i'm just happy to be a part of the celebration!

friday (flower).

2011-05-27T13:49:00.001-07:00

where has the week gone? glad for an extra day off, that's all i have to say!

i thought since there is at least one flowering plant i can keep alive, i'd better get some macros of it while it's still pretty. the wind was not my friend that day, so i didn't get many that weren't somewhat blurry. oh well. how many macro flower pictures does one person need, anyway?

no links today, friends. too much going on! i'll try to post more next week though...

friday links and a gratuitous dog photo.

2011-05-20T10:50:00.000-07:00

this is the view i see most days when i pull up in the driveway and d has beat me home. lillie peeking her little face out at me from between some fence posts (that need some help!) she can be such a brat sometimes, but that sweet little face always saves her.

this week has really been something else. i know i'm not the only one that hasn't had a great week, so i'm just chalking it up to stress and the full moon.

here are some links from my week...

elle apparel posted some beautiful home facade photos. i love to dream about building a home someday and the outside looking like a well-kept older home.

another easy (& beautiful) way of printing on fabric. from alisaburke.

i love this diy ombre shirt from c&c. now to just dig through my closet for some shirts that need some love...

these fabric pom poms are beautiful!! must. make. some. immediately. on a subtle revelry.

have a great weekend!

May books.

2011-05-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

i wanted to upload a few books that i just finished up monday. the first was this bright orange and pink number. i'd love to see how they decorated with those colors!

this red book was fun too. i made it so that the tag could be changed out. why? they wanted something specific that my printer can't do very well. this way, if they feel up to it, they can change it out at a later time to what they want exactly.

friday links.

2011-05-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

friday again? i can't complain. ready to get out of the office and head out for the weekend!

since i didn't post any last week, here are some links from my week...

cute handwritten fonts over on kevin & amanda.

an area i need lots of help in: posing. great tips on posing seniors over on mcpactions.

i love this idea! make a rolling pin stamp with alisaburke.

nikon now has a 50mm f/1.8 lens that is compatible with my auto focus (aka: no manual focusing). yes, i am excited about this, but can't justify buying a new lens right now... visit the mansurovs for more info.

these little rolled paper flowers are. so. cute. i want to make a billion of them. tutorial on jones design company.

great article on using reflectors on improve photography. good thing, i just got in my first reflector this week!

have a great weekend!

blue & yellow.

2011-05-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

it must be wedding season! i have been very busy with books these past few months. i really love this square one... and the colors are so fresh and bright.

yellow and gray is another favorite color combination of mine. i don't know many brides would would choose to use yellow on her wedding day, but i think it makes a lovely book.

wishing you a happy wednesday! i can't believe the week is already halfway gone...

more about the horses.

2011-05-10T11:55:00.000-07:00

life has been so busy lately and i keep forgetting to post these little moments on the blog. as i mentioned on my last post... a few weeks back, d and i went out to a friend's house. he has some land with a big barn and some horse stalls. and some lovely horses that occupy them.

i am so not used to taking photos of moving subjects! sure, i've taken baby photos... but they don't move much compared to horses. and they don't want to come sniff your camera. and they don't run away if you don't have any food to hand out either.

but i hope to get to take more pictures of them soon. this was good practice!

horses and links.

2011-05-02T10:53:00.001-07:00

i really meant to post this last friday as usual, but just never got around to it! i had a great opportunity a few fridays ago to photograph some horses outside of town. it was great to practice on not-so-still subjects. once i'm done editing, i'll definitely post a follow-up with more images.

here are a few links from last week:

a sunburst pillow would look great just about anywhere. another addition to my list of sewing projects! on noodlehead.

this chicken recipe on always order dessert sounds delish.

cute diy fabric-wrapped lampshade on decor8.

more food! mayo-free potato salad on the ugly green chair.

peanut butter cup caramel shortbread bars. need i say more? on our best bites.

the red album.

2011-04-28T11:05:00.000-07:00

this is not the typical book i normally make, but i enjoyed it just the same. in fact, maybe more so. my co-worker has a little boy who is about to turn 1. what better way to celebrate life than to keep all your memories safe in a pretty package?

in the end, we moved the tag to the inside so it would be more protected. i was very pleased with the end product... though not perfect it was still fun to make and will be a treasured gift for years to come.

i've got more images to post, just not enough time to edit, it seems!

2011-04-22T13:02:00.000-07:00

another book for (another!) april wedding. this year is moving quickly, my friends! i can't believe how fast time seems to slip by. hopefully i will be sharing some more photos soon. new opportunities are coming up every week, and i am extremely grateful for these chances to get some more practice in.

here are some links from my week:

LOVE this tutorial from gorgeous shiny things. inkjet printer + epoxy = magic.

these almond farmer cookies sound pretty amazing. from always order dessert.

great post on making new wood look old on young house love.

great paper flower diy on a little hut. these would be perfect gift-toppers!

i never would have thought to do this, but it's a great way to add some character to cheap jewelry. on dream & dress.

as someone who has dealt with hypoglycemia since childhood, this article "is sugar toxic" is really interesting. it has certainly made me cut back on all the processed stuff i eat. from word of wisdom.

have an awesome easter weekend!

little blue wagon...

2011-04-20T08:05:00.001-07:00

as i have learned more about photography, the world has changed around me. overcast days are light-filled and make me want to experiment. old, forgotten objects bring on new life in the form of props and frames. shadows are not just shadows... but dramatic and meaningful.

this weekend afforded me the opportunity to snag this old, rusty wagon for my growing collection of 'props.' i hope it will make an appearance in some photos soon...

until then, i will admire it's sloppy paint job, worn patina and splotches of rust. just not so sure my husband will :)

baby ava and friday links.

2011-04-15T06:59:00.001-07:00

wow, three posts in one week! as much as i would like to post daily... life just comes first, you know? here's a pic of little ava, who i took pictures of earlier this week. i'm still editing her photos, but this was a favorite i just had to share. i am looking forward to this weekend... can't believe it's already friday once again.

some links from the week...

i adore these tiny diy polaroid magnets on ambrosia girl. all these baby pics i've been taking... wouldn't they be fun in tiny magnet format?

this inside-out cake is gorgeous! not only is it beautiful, but it seems like it would take less time that fully icing the cake. on sweetapolita.

hello, plastidip silverware! i've got some estate sale serving stuff that would look awesome with a coating like this... on the way we are.

improve photography shares some insights on soft lighting for portraits.

diy straw and shoestring necklace on i spy diy. i could see this made with some brass tubing and a leather cord for a more upscale look...

beautiful diy vintage book frames on ruffled.

more april books!

2011-04-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

apparently april is a busy month for brides. here are a few books that just went out!

those baby blues.

2011-04-11T07:40:00.000-07:00

i may be biased, but i think my nephew has the prettiest blue eyes i've ever seen.

friday links.

2011-04-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

i've had lots of things on my mind this week... new opportunities (and the fears that come with those opportunities). life seems to be moving along more quickly than i remember and sometimes it's frightening. but most of the time it's fun.

beautiful quilting by anna maria horner.

diy concrete wall on kara paslay designs. could i get away with this in our downstairs bathroom?

thrifty diy sunburst mirror on centsational girl.

tshirt restyle on allyson hill. i have TONS of shirts that are too short for me... maybe i should try this out?

tax tips on design*sponge.

have a great weekend!!

blue + gray.

2011-04-06T10:12:00.001-07:00

i thought i would post a few books that went off in the mail yesterday. i was asked if i could create a 7"x7" book that would still hold photobooth photos. of course! and guess what? i love this size, shape, everything (dare i say a new favorite?). and this blue and orange is such a fun combination that you just don't see every day.

another cute book! the couple is hanging tons of colorful umbrellas for decoration, and i think this sweet design will really tie into their big day.

hope everyone is having a wonderful week! i've got a few more april books, so i'll be sure to post those as well.

friday link love.

2011-04-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

i am having a hard time believing 1) that it's already friday and 2) that it's already april. it must be a result of aging. time goes exponentially faster the older you get!

this week has been a good one - between great projects at work and editing photos when i get home. i am really going to try and focus more of my time on photography. i love taking and editing pictures, and the time spent working on ella's session really reinforced that.

anyway, enough about me! here are some links...

i really adore this 'love' photo print frame from design aglow. i'm thinking i need to put something together like this from some of our wedding pics...

50 tips for baking better cakes from sweetapolita.

diy camera bag on vanilla and lace. love this! i've been wanting something a little smaller for when i don't want to tote everything with me...

a new diy flower pin that is beautiful! if i have some free time this weekend, i'd love to make a few of these. on say yes to hoboken.

love this idea of printing on glass jars. this would be perfect for gifts! featured on mint.

these magnets are awesome. now, to just get ahold of some pantone chips... on how about orange.

this roundup of easy projects with wood pallets is pretty amazing. i never would have thought to use a pallet as a vertical planter! over on you paid more than me.

baby ella | 4 weeks old

2011-03-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

having not been around babies all that much growing up, i find myself in awe now days when introduced to a new little human being. so delicate. so fresh. (and sometimes so loud!)

i had the pleasure of attending the baby shower for ella a few months back, and happily agreed to take photos when she finally arrived. this little girl is much loved, let me tell you!

here are just a few of my favorites...

thanks for letting me take a few photos of your beautiful family!

friday link love.

2011-03-18T09:31:00.001-07:00

is it really already friday again? ready as always for the weekend, though they always go by so quickly. since i was such a bad blogger last week, here's my list of links for the past few weeks...

this blazer update is simple and perfect for fitting those thrifted finds. via cotton and curls.

beautiful, modern diy branch light featured on little green notebook.

loving the painted fabric trend. a delightful design makes her own diy version.

i thought this post on fed up with lunch about french school lunches was interesting. could you imagine taking off a few hours for an amazing multi-course lunch instead of scarfing up a burger as quickly as possible? i can.

diy moroccan glass lanterns on design*sponge.

these cardboard guitars would be a fun project for those with little kids. over on make it and love it.

how beautiful is this scallop skirt featured on say yes to hoboken? another reason to get my sewing machine out!

loving this cross stitch mural featured on the red thread. wouldn't this be perfect for a nursery?

have a great weekend!!

the red book.

2011-03-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

i know i don't post book photos very often, but that's usually because i'm in a rush to get them to fedex and on their way! i just happened to have a few at the office and thought it might be fun to photograph them with a (mostly) white background. wow, what a difference it makes.

i love these because you can see more of the flocked texture of the paper. it looks awesome in real life, but it's hard to convey that in a photo.

friday link love.

2011-03-04T12:03:00.000-08:00

aaaand it's friday! i couldn't be happier. not that i mind monday-friday, but this wasn't exactly the best week ever. looking forward to some quality time with friends and maybe some picture-taking. i need to get a few photos of my daffodils. they are finally starting to pop up, and i certainly welcome the fresh yellow addition to our front yard!

i love the look of ghost lamps... here's a great before and after on the wright house.

butcher block countertops in the kitchen? yes, please. great round-up over on apartment therapy.

good information on store-bought bread on word of wisdom living.

who would have thought of bleach for a shirt makeover? c & c shares a great before & after.

two awesome kitchen before & afters on design*sponge.

flowers out of ricrac! cute tutorial on honeybear lane.

awesome coffee table before & after on the painted hive. i never would have imagined the end result!

ever wanted to seriously alter a pair of pants? c & c now has a video tutorial for exactly that.

friday link love.

2011-02-25T07:43:00.000-08:00

photo by me, circa 2009

i would like to say maybe this will be a nice, relaxing weekend... but i doubt it. i've got a newborn photoshoot (she will be all of 3 days old!), some cleaning to do and an itch to go thrifting...

i must admit, many of my links i saved this week are from a few new-to-me cooking blogs. is that strange that i don't always like to cook, but i love to read about it? i pretty much want to make everything off of framed cooks, but this ham and egg crepe square recipe was what initially caught my eye! another bonus? many of the recipes feature simple ingredients that i already have. i hate buying a new cookbook and realizing that for most of the recipes, i will need to pick up some special (and often expensive) ingredient.

these fabric party streamers on the city cradle are super-cute for any occasion... and reusable!

house of smiths used a peel & stick vinyl flooring in their bathroom. it looks great! i think this is a good (cheap) option for a temporary fix.

make your own animal print rug? i'm there. via vintage revivals.

kara paslay designs shares how to make your own gray wood stain. cheap, and most of us already have the supplies on hand.

i made this fried egg sammich from all things farmer the other night, and it was amazing. i added avocado and cherry tomatoes, and i'll definitely be making it again!

these watercolor vases are cute, and would be an easy upgrade for all those generic florist vases we all seem to collect. via the city cradle.

i am going to try out this braided hex nut bracelet sometime soon. although i will probably substitute the yarn for a leather strand or something similar. on honestly wtf.

these diy butterfly cupcake decorations are pretty amazing. keeping in the back of my mind for and upcoming showers or parties. found on everything old.

friday link love.

2011-02-17T13:50:00.000-08:00

we've gotten some beautiful weather this week, and i'm hoping it will stick. i keep waiting for my daffodils to poke their pretty heads out of the ground, but so far... nothing. i think d is finally motivated to get things into gear as far as updating the house goes. we've got plans to put some flooring in the attic and change the landscaping (in a major way) in the front yard. plus some other stuff, but we want to take it one project at a time!

and... i still haven't caught up with my photo project. life keeps getting in the way! illness and car problems seem to be the main culprit. hopefully i can do some catching-up this weekend and will post those soon...

i've decided this year i will learn to create beautiful, modern-looking calligraphy. this inspiration (kate forrester) via design work life certainly makes me ready order my supplies!

since 'paint kitchen cabinets' is on our list of house to-dos, this post from centsational girl caught my eye. apparently rustoleum has come out with a line of cabinet and countertop transformation kits... at pretty reasonable prices!

this grilled cheese sandwich recipe on navy bean has me drooling on my keyboard. however, i don't think my arteries could handle it...

this baby quilt is adorable. enough said. on newly woodwards.

more amazing and beautiful wedding cakes over on my sweet and saucy.

we really should eat more fish, i just don't know how to cook it. filing away this mediterranean fish recipe from words to eat by for future reference.

i love a good biscuit for breakfast (or, anytime really). this flaky biscuit recipe sounds easy enough, and i have all the ingredients! over on everybody likes sandwiches.

yet another good reason to dust off my sewing machine. cute pleated tank on crafterhours.

have a lovely weekend!

friday link love.

2011-02-11T07:01:00.000-08:00

have i ever been more happy to see friday roll around? probably not. after the chaos of last weekend + allergies/sinus infection + lots of design work all week = one tired girl. i am hoping this weekend will be a little more relaxing...

valentine's cupcakes for two over on the cupcake project.

homemade microwave popcorn. i've been meaning to try this for awhile, just never gotten around to buying kernels in bulk... over on full house.

these wedding cakes make me want to get married again. or start decorating cakes. i can't decide. on sweet & saucy.

more wedding news: anthropologie has a wedding line! these are not for the traditional bride, though. read more on ruffled.

i love this roundup of valentine's gift ideas from stylizimo, some of which look pretty diy-able.

finally! a ruffle shower curtain tutorial. now i just need to be brave (and buy a ruffle foot, apparently). via elle apparel.

this vertical layer cake tutorial has an amazing end result. plus, you end up with two cakes! this would be so sweet for a party! over on i am baker. you should also check out their rose frosting tutorial...

this alphabet art is so sweet, and would be a perfect baby shower gift. i promise, it's on my list of things to make someday! not to mention, it would be a super easy setup with my silhouette. over on design mom.

this project restyle before and after is pretty sweet. i really need to dust off my sewing machine and hit the thrift shops... featured on a beautiful mess.

have a great weekend!

the OTHER baby shower.

2011-02-10T14:41:00.000-08:00

i finally got around to editing a few shots from the sunday shower. another girl!

how sweet is that little sign?

another banner made with my silhouette...

food, yum!

another lala creation. making two cakes in one weekend didn't

give her much time to decorate, but we didn't care.

just so you know, that's a strawberry cake.

a from-scratch strawberry cake.

a.ma.zing.

i ate two pieces... don't tell anyone.

cute ribbon wreath my friend dinah put together.

and i couldn't resist posting these adorable little shoes!

i wish they came in my size.

baby shower weekend.

2011-02-07T14:45:00.000-08:00

did i mention i had a busy weekend? 2 baby showers to attend/help with

and the addy's saturday night. fun, but i really wish i could take a vacation this week.

this first shower was saturday. since the momma is having her first girl,

the decorations were hot pink + black. i love this combo for a baby shower!

i made some flower cutouts for the cupcakes with my silhouette.

these are perfect glued onto some toothpicks...

and a fancy little banner! i'm glad i didn't have to cut out the damask pattern by hand...

master baker/friend lala made an adorable cake that looked like a diaper bag.

i don't know how many people tried to move it with the other gifts

before they figured out it was a cake...

will try and post some photos from the other shower soon!

friday link love.

2011-01-28T11:28:00.000-08:00

man, am i glad it's friday. it seems like my whole little world is sick right now, and i'm just trying to stay in the game. i made progress on organizing last weekend, and hopefully i can continue the process in the next few days. in other news? i'm trying to stifle my lust for a new camera...

here are some links from the week:

i love starburst mirrors. the price... not so much. love this great diy from modhomeec.

this doily lamp makes me smile. via that's happy.

great sewing tips over on make it and love it.

everything LEB shared this idea to dye fabric lamp shades. love it. considering i have no idea what to do with a lamp in our bedroom... this just may work.

this sour cream brunch cake sounds delish. via little birdie secrets.

these pompom shoe clips are a.dor.a.ble. thanks grosgrain for making me want to make dozens of these.

loving this diy picture ledge on chez larsson. i've considered building something similar, but don't know where i'd put it...

amazing stenciled floor over on ashleyann. d would never (ever) let me do something like this, but i think it's fantastic.

okay friends... stay well!

weekly photos challenge | tired

2011-01-26T11:31:00.000-08:00

tired::

i realized yesterday that i missed the perfect photo opportunity. my daddy bill (aka grandad) has been in the hospital a few days; visiting he and my memom is almost torture. she is so tired. he is unforgiving and older than i remember. it's been especially hard watching the people you love grow older, knowing there is an expiration for everything. wishing i had brought my camera, but wondering if i would have the courage to snap those photos i would cherish. the photos that would not be about the people, but about the crow's feet and smile lines. the twinkle that is still there after so many years.

instead i dig, pulling fond memories from my closet. these shoes that are inanimate, but have grown their own personality over a number of years. i cannot stand to wear them, but can't bear the thought of throwing them away.

i recently stumbled upon this list of 53 weekly themes over at dps (a great place to learn more about photography, btw), and while i'm not going to do the whole 365 thing, i would like to get out and photograph something new every week. i think this is a great way to start thinking outside the box and develop my photographic style (and, you know, get better).

i'll post at least one photo a week for my challenge here on the blog. since i'm a little behind, i'm going to try and play catch-up since it's only a few extra themes. also, i'll probably have a little write-up for each photo. a little prose, if you will...

friday link love.

2011-01-21T11:05:00.000-08:00

wow, another week come and gone. i realized that my lack of posting might not entirely be my fault. you see, by the time i get home after work, there is only so much sunshine left in the day. hence, it's the sun's fault i don't have more to show you right now. you believe that, right? i've got some thoughts for posts and diy projects... hopefully i can figure some of that out this weekend while it's bright outside.

make it and love it shares a great post on freezer paper. i plan to get some of this to run through my silhouette!

i've been making a few of these felted wool roses this week... they are kind of addicting. via pretty handy girl.

i've been hearing about the wonders that are kale chips. luckily, door sixteen posted about them and reminded me to give them a try! will have to remember this at the grocery store this weekend...

loving this loft featured on desiretoinspire.

this diy bow belt is another to go on my list of things to make. via say yes to hoboken.

have a wonderful weekend!

friday link love.

2011-01-14T14:14:00.000-08:00

sorry, i've been a bad blogger (again) this week. i've always got ideas for posts, and then BAM! it's friday and i've done nothing.

since i'll be home this weekend, i'm hoping to clean out some closets and get things a little more organized. since i brought home a slew of new clothes from last weekend's shop til you drop event, i need to get rid of some things i don't (and probably shouldn't) wear anymore.

also, i tried out my silhouette this week. about time, huh? and it. is. awesome. i will definitely post some photos of things i've cut out... but expect to see projects, my friends. i've already agreed to help cut stuff out for a baby shower and a wedding for this year, so it will get put to good use.

anyway, on to the links...

as someone who is thinking of someday building a custom home, this article about kitchen renovations is a good read. centsational girl goes over several things i hadn't even thought of.

loving these mirrored closet doors over at the lettered cottage. they make everything look so much more modern.

this bathroom before and after over on the happy home is lovely. it's amazing how different the space looks.

how cute are these cardboard faux logs? d*s always has great diy projects.

i really love the test tube spice racks i've been seeing and was reminded of how easy one would be to diy when i saw the tutorial over on dream book design.

need a cool baby shower gift? i'll be making these diy baby wipes for the next one i attend! via what can brown blog for you?

this article on altering jewelry got me thinking about a few pieces i could easily combine. i have a few bulky pieces that could be broken down and added to other pieces... over on make it and love it.

also, a few (new to me) blogs that i love:

have a wonderful weekend!!

friday link love.

2011-01-07T13:56:00.000-08:00

wow, the week really went by quickly! i'm off to amarillo this weekend to hang out with family, and hopefully add to my wardrobe (aka shop til you drop).

some links from my week:

i really loved this bleaching and overdying fabrics idea ashleyann shared today. i could really see something like this in the form of pillowcases for our bedroom...

great necklace tutorial that's been upcycled from an old tshirt. i've got plenty of those hanging around... via a pretty penny.

love love love these illustrations by ricardo cavolo. found on design work life.

everybody likes sandwiches shares her favorite recipes of 2010. many of them sound amazing... you should check it out.

this ikea hack is ingenious. now, if only i had an ikea nearby... found on little green notebook.

these rice krispie treat cupcakes sound both delicious and evil. i swear i will try them someday. on cupcake project.

i must make this nina ricci inspired flower sash someday. from ruby mines.

have a lovely weekend. i hope to get myself in gear and actually post some stuff this year!!

goodbye 2010, hello 2011.

2010-12-30T08:03:00.000-08:00

as 2010 nears to a close, i've started thinking about this past year and how it has changed me. as much as i wish i had the power to change so many things that have taken place - those events have ultimately made me a different person and altered my path in life significantly. and it was not all bad this year - there were many wonderful things that happened as well! let's just say i'm ready to get 2010 behind me and start a new year.

so what do i have planned for this next year? i've written down a few things that i'd like to take charge of. because if i've learned anything this year, it's that life is fragile and you don't know what will happen tomorrow.

my health. it's not that i eat junk food all the time or don't get any exercise... but i could stand to do more than i do right now, and that will be a priority starting now.

my family. is there much to say here other than i need to spend more time with them?

my organizational skills. those need some help. i need to put on my big girl pants and purge the stuff that i really don't need and organize what i do.

my sanity. i've been feeling the urge to paint (not the walls) and i've got a few ideas in mind with where to start. art was always an outlet for me and even though it's now my job to be creative, i've still got to do my own thing every once in a while.

my house. it needs some tlc. there are still projects unfinished that are driving me crazy and i'd like to get some work done on it this year. we're not going to live there forever, and i would prefer not to wait until selling time to fix it up a little.

my blog. i am really going to try and post more content: more photography and design stuff. definitely more house updates, diys and tutorials.

what do you want to do in 2011?

diy photo calendar.

2010-12-29T09:24:00.001-08:00

now that christmas is over, i figured i would go ahead and post a little tutorial on these fun little calendars. this idea branched from wanting to share my photography with my family, friends and coworkers. i wanted to give something useful, but pretty to look at.

the idea of a calendar had already crossed my mind when i found this martha calendar posted on another blog. i figured i could substitute the frame with a wooden block and go from there.

so, this isn't so much original, as it is borrowed and improvised. and my directions are a little vague, but it's not rocket science! and you could use whatever photo you'd like, some pretty patterned paper, cool fabric or even glue something 3d to the top.

acrylic gloss medium, metallic acrylic paint, wooden blocks (cut to 4x6), and photos, not pictured (4x6)

my father-in-law was kind enough to cut these blocks for me out of scrap wood. he also sanded everything down for me. if you own tools, this would be easy for you to do at home or the guys at the hardware store could probably cut the wood down for a price. i painted the edges and some of the top in case the photo didn't quite make it to the edge. if i had these to do over again, i would have probably stained the edges dark for a different look.

once the paint dried, i brushed acrylic medium over the top of the block, being careful not to get any on the painted sides. i handled my photos by their edges and carefully placed them on top of the glue. adjust the photo to get it in the right spot and then turn it over on top of a clean piece of paper and stack with books until dry (a few hours).

you may wonder why i didn't use mod podge... i don't have very good luck with that product, so i didn't even try it for this project. basically, i can never get it to not bubble up on me. however, acrylic medium dries clear and has an incredibly strong bond. it never once produced bubbles while i was adhering my photos, and i was very happy with the end result. feel free to use whichever adhesive you would like for this project though.

very small cup hooks and picture hangers

after your photo is glued down, now the cup hooks and hanger can be added on (technically this can be done before the glue... it's your call really).

i found the cup hooks at home depot. they were the smallest i could find anywhere, and were only sold in packages of 4. very disappointing when you need 40. basically, i measured half an inch in on the bottom edge and pushed a dent into the wood with a pen. this gave me a guide to screw the hooks into.

the picture hangers are from walmart and are sold in packs of 5. these are the type that you hammer directly into the wood. you could also glue ribbon to the back, or route out some of the wood for a more flush look. to attach these, i measured in from the sides to the middle and marked the center. i then placed the hanger over that center dot and pushed down (i kept my ruler straight across so the hanger wouldn't be lopsided) to mark my spot and then hammered them into place.

for the actual calendar, i created my own in indesign, printed them onto cardstock and had them trimmed by a friend with an industrial cutter. i used my small hole punch to create holes half an inch from the edge to match my hooks. it's not shown here, but i actually made a template to place over my calendar pages so that i would know exactly where to punch. i will try to upload/link to the calendar template so that you don't have to figure that out on your own! i just have to find it on my old computer first...

then just place the pages on the hooks, hang on your wall and enjoy... or give it to a friend! these calendars were what was packaged in this post if you need some wrapping ideas. these would be great new years gifts or just something thoughtful for a friend.

i received lots of positive feedback on the calendars i gave to my family, friends and coworkers, and i guess next year i'll need to print out a 2012 calendar for those that i've given these to! i was a little apprehensive to be giving handmade gifts to so many people, but everyone seemed to enjoy and appreciate the work that went into them.

thursday link love.

2010-12-23T07:43:00.000-08:00

i'm having a hard time believing that christmas is only a few days away. it will probably sink in once the baking madness starts tomorrow morning (i volunteered to make coconut cream pie - my favorite! also my first attempt...)

these last few evenings have been spent finishing up a few last minute small diy gifts and cleaning the house. i'm happy that i'll get to spend some time with my family. after all the things that have happened this year (none that i've shared here, i don't think), i feel extremely lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life - i just wish i could spend more time with them.

let's get on with the links...

tracey mason's paper roses are beautiful, and she shared a video on how to make them!

these water balloon luminaries are smart and inexpensive to make. i could see these used for decorations at a wedding or party... i just wonder how long they would hold up? from wisdom of the moon.

felted ball garland tutorial on say yes to hoboken. these are so cute! i should really make a few colorful ones for future parties and showers! thanks grosgrain for the tutorial (who also posted a fabulous embellish knit month you should check out).

i usually make these awesome cookies every year around christmas, but i haven't had a chance to this year. kevin & amanda's version is a little more time intensive. i usually just buy the mini peanut butter ritz crackers that are already assembled!

cute reindeer cutout and tutorial on eat drink chic. these would make great gift tags or ornaments!

diy snowglobes? awesome. design mom used her kiddo's photos, but this would be cool with pretty paper as well.

i LOVED di overton's sneak peek over on design*sponge. i would love to pull off the light colored walls with pops of subtle hues... but it's just not how i decorate. bright colored walls are my thing, and i've come to terms with it.

these paper snowflakes are amazing. that's all. via just something i made.

friday link love.

2010-12-17T14:50:00.000-08:00

eeep! only one week left, my friends. i am happy that i won't be venturing out into the shopping world this weekend, because i can imagine that it will be scary out there.

so, how about some links?

i love this idea for a handmade gift ornament exchange between friends from linwood avenue. we do a little chinese christmas throwdown, but this would be super fun too. new ornaments every year? yes, please.

dying over this home transformation posted on design*sponge. it doesn't even look like the same house!

this hand-painted (chalkboard!) christmas tree over at the city cradle is a clever idea. want to redecorate your tree every day? no problem! this would be perfect for those with small spaces and small children to entertain...

there are some cute freebie gift tags over on eat drink chic.

also, this is a really cool tutorial for those of you with a camera (which should be everyone!) and a christmas tree with lights (don't ask). i tried it with a point and shoot last week and it worked perfectly.

have a great weekend!!!

flowers and packages.

2010-12-17T08:27:00.000-08:00

just a few images from right before our girly party last night. i made quiche, and it was wonderful. i always swear that i am going to take photos of it before it gets devoured, but that never happens. i'm always in such a rush to get it to the party while it's still hot! i love our dinner potlucks... so much good food to eat! i always leave very satisfied, but feeling that i must have gained 10 pounds over the course of the evening.

these little flowers i made make great gift toppers. and they have an alligator clip on the back so you can wear it pretty much anywhere! i would share a tutorial, but there are already so many out there, i don't know that it would do any good. these are super easy and fast to make though.

the gifts i needed to wrap were a little oddly shaped, but the kraft paper was perfect. and i didn't have time to make tags, so i pulled out my alphabet stamps, and that did the trick. i will have to remember this in the future, i can't believe how cute it turned out.

i really wish now that i had wrapped all our christmas presents like this. so simple, but they turned out so perfect. it's trying to snow here, but not succeeding very well. as beautiful as the snow is, i'd rather it not ruin my travel plans for the weekend.

ornaments.

2010-12-16T10:57:00.000-08:00

ogee ornament | betz white

i had such grand plans. diy gifts, ornaments and gift toppers. pretty things, made by me. unfortunately, i only got around to a few diy gifts and no gift toppers. mass-produced wrapping all the way, baby.

anyway, i thought i would post some fun diy ornaments i've found recently to get your gears turning. you could always throw a few together this weekend or keep them in the back of your mind until next year.

modern paper ornament | how about orange

swirled crayon ornament | say yes to hoboken

felt ogee ornament | betz white

fabric ball ornament | the red thread

twisted felt garland | the purl bee

pottery barn knock-offs | crafterhours

simple monogram ornaments | MADE

cute birdie download | that's happy

these would be cute to print onto fabric and stuff!

there's always next year, right? i should probably make these now to get ahead of the game. i'll try to share my diy gift here pretty soon. even though it will probably be too late for christmas, it would still make a great new year's gift :)

friday link love.

2010-12-10T14:37:00.000-08:00

i don't think i'm the only one ready to head home for the weekend. it's been a long week - with everyone trying to wrap up projects before christmas!

i also received my silhouette machine today. wasn't sure when it would make it since i didn't receive any notification that it had shipped... but oh well. i'm glad it made it safely and i can't wait to play!!

now for the links...

i love this roundup of crate photos over at decor8. i could see this trend staying around for awhile, but i certainly wouldn't spend major bucks on this look. i scored a few fruit crates for free on freecycle, and they just need a little love (and cleaning!)

maggie makes has a great tutorial on making your own molded package toppers. these would be beautiful ornaments or just everyday artwork too!

these hand sanitizer holders seem really handy (and cute!) visit a lemon squeezy home for the tutorial.

design mom posted a great tutorial on making bleached out tees. these would be perfect, inexpensive gifts for the kiddos in your life.

these painted pillows are really beautiful... i could see these being a pretty simple diy. found on hindsvik.

i guess that's it folks. have a wonderful weekend!!!

friday links & update.

2010-12-03T13:15:00.000-08:00

where has the week gone? it felt extremely long, but went by rather quickly. i also can't believe it's already december. luckily, we have most of our holiday shopping done (ahhh, and spent too much money last week!), but i still need to do some wrapping and maybe some decorating. i'm almost embarrassed to post a photo of our 'tree'... i just can't bear to lug out the big one and rearrange our furniture. it's okay since we don't really entertain, right?

in other exciting news, i took advantage of a special earlier this week and bought a silhouette machine!!! i am so freaking excited for it to arrive so i can start playing with it. i already have a few projects in mind...

anyway, let's get to the links...

love these chairs posted by little green notebook. i have some extra chairs that were hand-me-downs, and have highly considered plastering paper or fabric all over them.

as much as i love painted furniture, seeing a dresser makeover like this makes me remember just how much i love the texture of stained wood. props to the painted hive for keeping it natural!

this ribbon stamped with an eraser stamp would be perfect to wrap around my gifts this year! i guess i'll have to make some for myself! via creature comforts.

welcome to the goodlife shares basic tailoring tips to make your clothes work better for you.

these paper stars would make great (cheap!) ornaments for your tree. visit annekata for the tutorial.

cute gift wrapping ideas over on giverslog.

i guess that's it for the week... have a good weekend!

{wednesday} link love.

2010-11-24T11:47:00.001-08:00

since i doubt (hope) i won't be on the computer much the rest of this week, i thought i'd pull together a short link love today.

these paint by numbers coasters on d*s are cute. i really need to chop up our branches and make something!!

i'm sure this will be making the blog rounds, but this fence bench on the brick house is pretty sweet. gorgeous and just about free.

this decorated chalkboard is super cute and would make a great gift. and, i didn't know sharpie made paint pens! i will be on the lookout. from creature comforts.

wristlet key fob diy over at prudent baby. another cute (and cheap) gift.

these newspaper ornaments are really nice looking and would be easy for kiddos to make. via life in the fun lane.

diy monogram mugs are another inexpensive gift option. i've seen similar initial mugs for $10 or more, so why not make your own? thanks design mom!

i guess that's it, friends. i look forward to eating lots of food and being lazy over the next few days. are you taking part in black friday? we've gone to a few stores super early a few years in a row, but i don't know if i can do it again this year. i'm hoping to take advantage of the internet instead.

headboard is finished!

2010-11-23T08:07:00.001-08:00

after waiting what seemed like forever to find a great (+cheap) headboard, i didn't wait long to fix it up to my liking. d and i both wanted to keep the gold flourish at the top, but i wasn't sure how to tape it off since i had decided to spray paint the headboard.

so, with my vast knowledge (haha) of paint, i figured i could use some type of oil to act as a mask/barrier. i figured it couldn't hurt, and if we didn't like the results, i would just paint over the swirl at the top. so i brushed some vegetable oil onto the gold swirly and started spraying.

after several light coats and some drying time, i wiped the paint off of the filigree. it didn't block the paint completely, but we both LOVE how it turned out. one word of caution though: if you do attempt to block the paint this way, make sure you do a good job of rubbing all the extra paint/oil off. i got most of it, but a few light smudges on our pillowcases prove i wasn't thorough enough. i'll probably put a clear coat over the top when it's dried out a little more.

friday link love.

2010-11-19T07:28:00.000-08:00

we are getting new carpet in our offices at work today, woohoo! i've only worked here (nearly) 3 years, and the carpet and walls have always made me cringe. well, they let us paint, and i am super excited to get the new carpet in. it's going to be like we moved into a completely different office space.

can you believe thanksgiving is next week? it's too soon. where did the year go? and do i have to get the tree out? i've highly considered cutting a tree shape out of pretty paper and taping it to the wall. no, seriously.

i've got to work on our headboard this weekend. with the sun setting about the time i get home, i have no daylight hours during the week to sand and paint. bummer.

this puffy bloom tutorial on no big dill is another take on fabric flowers. so different and so cute for little girls. maybe i can get myself in gear to make a few.

great article on the mansurovs discussing equivalent focal length and field of view. they also did a comparison between the 35mm f/1.8G(which i have) and the 50mm f/1.4G. definitely helped me feel better about my lens purchase.

both of these before and afters on d*s this week were amazing. putting a dresser up on legs and that adorable type tray makeover? love.

this crayon apron would be a cute gift for little ones this year. tutorial on prudent baby.

lovely leather cuff tutorial on made by me. shared with you. reminds me of a sexy red bracelet miranda on satc wore...

great upholstery tips on all things thrifty.

paper twine flower tutorial on no big dill. these would be pretty bunched together on top of a gift or tied around a bag...

i love the quote from bazaar of serendipity this week: "my little dog, a heartbeat at my feet." (wharton) such a simple line of text to describe something so meaningful in my life.

cupcakes.

2010-11-18T07:24:00.000-08:00

one of my favorite images from the party i shot last weekend.

cupcakes and party hats, what's not to love?

my diy camera bag.

2010-11-16T09:41:00.000-08:00

when i went to amarillo recently, i searched for a bag that would hold my tenba insert. i actually had a few at home that worked, but they looked more like computer bags than purses, which is not what i wanted. also, since i'm a cheapskate, i didn't want to spend much. like... less than $30.

luckily, at our last stop (kohl's), i found this cute, shiny red bag that looked to be big enough (i carried a small tape measure just to be sure). it zips down the middle, stands up on it's own and has an opening on either side (so it's more like 3 sections instead of 1) with zipped and open pockets inside those. i think it's supposed to work like a computer bag, but it looks nice and feels sturdy. and more importantly... it keeps my camera gear out of sight. oh, and it was $20. so, total i spend $40 on my camera bag instead of $90+.

so... how much stuff does it hold? i used it this weekend, and i carried with me:

nikon d60 + kit lens attached

telephoto zoom (70-300mm)

prime lens (33mm)

fisheye lens

sb400 speedlight and diffuser

a few memory cards

+ inside the bag

car keys

wallet

cell phone

and, i still had some extra space. i'm telling you, this thing is pretty big. but, if you're only taking the camera and one extra lens, there's plenty of space for a bottle of water or something. and the great thing? i can just take out the insert when i'm ready for a new bag or i've worn this one out.

thriftyness!

2010-11-15T11:40:00.000-08:00

i feel like i actually accomplished a few things this weekend! we put a heavier comforter on our bed this weekend. i've had this green one on our guest bed forever, but thought it would be perfect in our new gray room. and one of my finds this weekend? that retro pillowcase. i bought it thinking i would just use it for the fabric, but i stuck it on a pillow and i think it's going to stay there for a while...

and what else did i find? a headboard! the acb was having a 1/2 off sale on saturday and i was lucky enough to find 3 queen size headboards to choose from (this never happens!) it was marked $10.91 down from $19.91... so, yep, i got it for $5 with the sale. it's missing something on the posts... looks like there was brass that broke off... but i'll figure something out. my thought right now is to paint it matte black (should i leave the swirly thing gold?) and i've also considered painting some sort of type or graphic over the black... and yes, our garage looks awful, please don't judge.

friday link love.

2010-11-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

it's getting cold, my friends. and last night i woke up thinking our house was going to blow down... oh well, i guess the semi-warm weather couldn't last forever!

i've got some fun stuff going on for this weekend. i'll be taking photos for a little boy's birthday party (dragon themed) and hopefully getting some crafty stuff done as well.

oh, and i did try out my new flash a few times this week, and all i can say is wow! it helped me take the most color accurate photos of our bedroom ever. i have a feeling this will always be with me in my camera bag.

here are some links from my week:

my friend katie has a new website, blog and etsy shop! congrats katie, everything looks amazing (as usual...)

compiled list of useful photography tutorials on snappyshutter.

pretty rose wreath from the pretty poppy. i need to decide what kind of wreath i want this year and make it! this is beautiful though, and would be great for all year.

this diy painting on ceramic is beautiful and would make a great personalized gift. i've actually seen a few other variations of it, but ashley ann's turned out just perfect!

this casserole dish carrier tutorial is really smart. would definitely come in handy the few times a year i do take food somewhere outside my home! from little birdie secrets.

i've been looking for an inexpensive way to build an outdoor table rather than buying a cheap, ugly one or spending tons of cash on something prettier... this pallet table from sewing in no mans land could be finished so many ways and done very inexpensively (aka free) depending on what you already have on hand.

another pretty felt flower tutorial, this one from lorajean's magazine. i would skip the glitter and make a bunch in pretty colors!

these apple rolls sound really good! i don't think d would eat them though, do i'll have to save that for a get-together... from little birdie secrets.

brown paper bag popcorn from our best bites. cheaper and way more healthy than the store-bought stuff. and yes, you microwave it!

anthro knock off belt tutorial on a lemon squeezy home. there are so many cute belt tutorials lately, but this one looks easy - basically an upgrade on an existing skinny belt.

grosgrain has been posting cute cardigan tutorials all month, but i think this one is my favorite. i've got a stack of sweaters that were headed for the thrift store, but i think i'll try to make them into cardigans instead.

images 1/2/3

mellow yellow.

2010-11-09T10:28:00.001-08:00

i wasn't sure what to think of this color combination when the order first came in. i'm cool with yellow and gray - it's the light blue that threw me off.

but as i started cutting ribbon and paper for the cover, the more i knew this was a winning combination. i absolutely adore how this book turned out, and i hope the couple does too. i would love to see the photos from this wedding and how these colors were incorporated.

i feel like my composition in my photographs is getting better... but at the same time it seems like my technical skills are getting worse (how does that happen?). i can usually fix/adjust most of my mistakes in photoshop... but the point is to not have to do that. but, as with most of life, you take one step forward and two (or more) steps back. i understand i need to be patient and practice more.

friday link love.

2010-11-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

oh, weekend... how i am looking forward to you. this week has been an odd one. but with all the things going on that i want/do gripe about, i try to remind myself of all the other things in life that i am thankful and grateful for. so with that...

i am looking forward to

learning to use my new flash

finding the perfect bag for my new photo insert

spending time with family

helping out a friend

here are some links from my week:

a welcome reminder to pick up some spaghetti squash from hot and healthy mom. no need to tell my husband.

this diy fabric ball would make cute, fluffy ornaments for your tree. i would imagine it would also be a cool wreath... found on fresh crush.

crochet pattern roundup over at luvinthemommyhood. not that i can crochet. a girl can dream, right?

really smart portfolio book. found on design work life.

these buckeyes sound delish. a homemade version of the reeses. from smitten kitchen.

this falls under the "why didn't i think of that?" category. and while i have made baby books for a few friends, none have been quite as cool. you can win one at prudent baby.

loving these pasta skeletons! from the coterie blog.

great tutorial on prudent baby on how to sew with bias tape.

leather bow tutorial on made by me. shared with you. these would be great gifts!

this ruffle scarf is really cute! will have to make one someday... found on living with punks.

photo credits 1/2/3

flash!

2010-11-03T14:53:00.000-07:00

aaahhh, so excited! new photography stuff! i've really been wanting an external flash to use on my camera for a while and couldn't decide between this SB400 or a lightscoop... and i really felt like the flash would do more for me long-term. it's gotten great reviews, and i can't wait to try it out. it showed up yesterday, and i still need to get some batteries for it... technically it's my christmas gift, but d is generous enough to let me play with it now.

for those wondering why i would buy another flash when i have one built-in... well, this one tilts and is a lot more powerful. basically, i can bounce the light off of the ceiling or a wall to create more light without giving my subjects a pale, deer/headlights look. and, i pretty much never use the built-in flash unless i have to because of the reasons above. that doesn't mean i like jacking up my iso and praying nobody moves. this will help me get better photo indoors with low-light situations...

friday link love.

2010-10-29T07:29:00.000-07:00

do you ever start off your week thinking that the weekend will never get here? that was my monday (and tuesday). but now friday is here! i'm feeling pretty motivated to get a few things done around the house this weekend... the yard really needs some attention!

anyway, happy friday! here are some links from my week:

i'm normally a trial and error type gal when hanging up stuff on my walls, but this is a smart alternative for those that are picky about nail holes. found on the little green notebook.

this chili and cornbread in a jar idea (on giverslog) sounds perfect for a fall get together. my husband would probably disagree, though. while he likes both, he doesn't want to eat them together...

cute inter-changeable bows for your shoes on a lemon squeezy home. perfect for a cheap pair of flats!

great photoshop template download on shutter sisters to create your own photo calendar. i have been brainstorming a diy calendar to give out as christmas gifts... should i just take the easy way out?

this spiced applesauce cake sounds yummy. thanks smitten kitchen!

design*sponge is hosting a create your own alphabet contest with quite a substantial prize.

cute cardigan refashion on ruffles and stuff. you can never have too many cardigans...

instructions for homemade pumpkin puree on food for my family.

loving anna's new black wall on door sixteen. d lets me do some crazy things in our house, but i doubt he would okay a black wall!

images 1/2/3

diy camera bag?

2010-10-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

remember when i was lusting after a new camera bag? well, i still hadn't purchased one, even though it was supposed to be my birthday present. i just couldn't make myself spend that much!

but, i bought some new equipment yesterday and decided it was time to figure out the bag situation. i came so close to getting the jo tote in scarlet... but when i saw how much shipping was and the fact that i was about to spend over $90 on a bag... i just couldn't do it. i did a search on 'diy camera bag' and several photographers mentioned this little ditty:

the tenba pro digital photo insert. $20 + free shipping? sold. it has great reviews, and i'm positive i can find a sturdy bag to use this in. and the freedom of being able to switch it out depending on my outfit/needs? that's awesome too.

so, i ordered it this morning. i'll update when it gets in and i find a bag for it. i'm so excited that i'll be carrying around something other than my plain black bag that screams CAMERA!

diy gift list | jewelry & accessories.

2010-10-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

okay, now this is the list i'll be pulling from to make gifts for all the girls in my life! i've listed several flower tutorials here - i love to put pinbacks or alligator clips on these so they can be worn however the recipient desires.

leather chain necklace | cumbersome

you could use an old leather jacket to make tons of these!

shabby chic ruffle necklace | poppy chic designs

beaded fabric flower necklace | pretty ditty

fabric flower tutorial | house of smith's

one of many, but definitely a favorite!

fabric rosette tutorial | little birdie secrets

leather/vinyl hair accessories | make it and love it

satin flower headbands | make it and love it

faux gold dinosaur necklace | papernstitch

this would be awesome for a young girl who's into science or a friend who likes quirky jewelry

several other fabric flower tutorials | craftee

autumn blooms | i am momma

on my mind:

2010-10-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

rugs! we are in the market for a new one in our living room, and i'm having a tough time deciding what i want. i don't know if it's the dogs constantly playing on top of it, or if we just bought a dud from the start, but our brown shaggy rug is starting to look pretty bad.

here are a few i found on overstock that i really love. all are really reasonable, and shipping is under $3! several of these are also wool...

jullian grey shag

alexa zebra blue/beige

alexa flora grey

dershyl blue floral

alexa damask grey wool

alexa flora grey/black

alexa paisley brown

our current rug is a brown shag. i'm half tempted to just replace it with a solid brown again since we know it will look good... but i'm just not sure. rugs are a great way to add a splash of color and pattern into a room, but maybe we have too much color right now? maybe that's why the brown works so well - it grounds it all together. although i think a dark grey would probably have a similar effect.

friday link love.

2010-10-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

i can't believe how quickly time flies by. the older i get, the faster it goes!

i guess that's what happens...

this kitchen before and after is gorgeous! i can't believe it's the same space. from urban grace interiors.

these framed dessert trays are really cute. i would probably add some handles at the top to make them more portable... found on ruffled.

these have made the rounds, but i really love the dexter posters designed by ty mattson. my favorite tv show + awesome design = one happy graphic designer. d*s also announced he'll be getting a walk-on part in the next season.

madebygirl posts a great list of resources for (affordable) cow hide rugs. lillie has just about destroyed our shag rug in the living room, and i've really considered replacing it with something like this. would the dogs consider it just one big rawhide though?

this fold up and snap bib tutorial on made by rae looks like it would be useful (to those with kids, you know). i'll be keeping this in mind if i ever get my sewing machine dusted off...

good advice on understanding your light meter at giverslog.

this pipe and plywood shelf is genius. another idea to file away... found on manhattan nest.

i guess that's all... have a wonderful weekend!

photos, post processing and actions: less is more?

2010-10-21T11:33:00.001-07:00

i was taking photos of a project when the dogs distracted me. how could you not want to photograph this face? i've learned, if you ever want a photo of scottie, just open up the blinds so he can look outside. just hope nothing walks by... otherwise he'll start barking his pretty little face off.

i wanted to talk some about post-processing images and actions. i have very mixed feelings about this... on one hand, i think they can be useful. on the other, i think they can get ridiculous and way over done. and (don't shoot me) i think they are way over-used in the photography world.

the example above is my photo, straight out of the camera. i take photos in raw so that i can adjust the white balance and fill light as much as possible.

this next photo is after i've 'processed' it. basically, i took some of the yellow out of the image and adjusted the exposure. while i really liked the colors in the raw image, i wanted to adjust it so that the colors looked normal. the whites look white, and the wall is much closer to its actual color.

and this one is an action i run on it. specifically coffeeshop buttercream from the coffeshop blog. it's a beautiful action, and would work well in any number of applications.

this is a cross process action, which i can't take credit for either. it was already loaded on my computer, and i believe miss brandi is responsible for it. this is probably the one i've used the most just because i love the colorful/retro effect.

what are your thoughts? on actions or post-processing?

i certainly believe in editing a selection of my photos before posting or printing them... rarely do i take a photo that i believe is perfect straight out of the camera. but - what about actions? i think there is a place for them, but i don't use them on every photo. and i would certainly rather spend my time learning how to take better photos than learning how to fix them. But, they are so much fun to play with and i can definitely see using them to make some artwork for our home!

diy gift list | upcycling

2010-10-19T07:04:00.000-07:00

last year, i remember the rush to finish our christmas shopping. it wasn't much, but there was always that nagging feeling that we had forgotten something. or someone. i swore that i would spend some time next year making some of my gifts. i figured that now would probably be a good time to start... so i'm going to do several roundups of tutorials/diys that i've found that might inspire you to make some of your own gifts this year! i'll be splitting these up into different sections, and adding to them if i find more fun stuff.

i thought i would start out with an upcycling list. i know there's only a certain group of folks this will probably be okay with, but there are some fun projects out there... and a few things i'd really like to make for myself!

diy moss frames | ruffled

mason jar soap dispenser | fresh crush

grandma bling pushpins | a pretty cool life

(these would also make super cute magnets!)

twig push pins | design*sponge

(these too would make super cute magnets!)

decorative chess set | just something i made

porcelain paint pens | going home to roost

(not really a tutorial, but great ideas on using these to personalize a gift!)

denim cutoff wine bag | design*sponge

antique spoon plant markers | shrimp salad circus

recycled cake plates | design*sponge

doily bowl | the happy home

stamped tile coasters | poppy chic designs

recycled calendar coasters | prudent baby

if you find others worthy, feel free to email me or add them in the comments. i really just pulled stuff that i think is appropriate for gift-giving.

friday link love.

2010-10-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

another week gone by? of course, and very quickly. which i guess is okay. i've felt like crap pretty much this entire week, and blame the changing seasons. enjoying wearing layers? yes. enjoying sinus headaches and not being able to breathe? no.

and in other news, it's boss's day. did you know that? you didn't! well, you should tell your boss how much you appreciate them. or not if they don't do a good job...

i know i keep saying this, but i am going to try and post more... i've got some tutorials (hopefully) and a few before/afters i need to tackle. if i can get to feeling better anytime soon, that is...

here are some links from my week:

i find blogs all the time i've never heard of. ruffled is a new to me blog that posts about handmade/vintage inspired weddings and projects. fun to look at, and some great ideas for parties! (and these diy paper doily envelopes would be really sweet for a shower for a baby girl!)

i emailed this to d, who thought it was awesome. star wars flocked wallpaper... what's not to love? now, if only there were a star trek version... found on apartment therapy.

these felt letters on made by rae are really sweet. i'll have to keep this one in mind for the next baby shower i help host.

another cute fabric flower tutorial, this one from jones design company. these are so great! i've been making some different ones lately and will try this one out soon too.

this picky eater taxonomy is hilarious. except that they don't always turn out to be normal eaters. case in point? my husband. thanks dinner: a love story for making me laugh!

i mentioned maybe using one of my new scarfs as artwork earlier, and then this post showed up! perfect timing. how to frame a scarf on high-heeled foot in the door.

loving this sneak peek on d*s. bright, cheery colors will always have a place in my home!

you need to check out this roundup of diy's for mason jars. so many options! on h is for handmade.

these doily lanterns are really beautiful. another party idea to keep in mind! via the happy home.

images from: design* sponge, made by rae, the happy home.

the weekend.

2010-10-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

always seems to go by so fast. i did manage to have a few hours to myself, scouting estate sales, antique stores and thrift shops. sadly, the only purchases i made were at one of the estate sales. but, at least they were good ones! the photo above is a little section of our living room. the brass lamp in the corner is one of my finds at the estate sale. i've been looking for a vintage floor lamp for what seems like forever - and found this one for $5!

a little better view of the couch... yes, it's purple.

i got these 3 scarfs as well, for 25 cents each. they are lovely... the middle one is huge, and i'm thinking it would be great framed. i also got a set of 4 stainless steel nesting bowls and a huge watercolor. it was rolled up, and too large for me to hold and photograph at the same time...

also, the floating shelves finally got installed in our bedroom. yay! (thanks dwayne!) i'd had a hard time deciding where to put them, and i'm happy with the end results. now i just need to decorate the rest of the room... i'm hoping to do so with stuff from the rest of our house. i've also been on the lookout for a cheap vintage headboard, but haven't had much luck.

friday link love.

2010-10-08T08:35:00.000-07:00

friday again. i'm really looking forward to a little down time this weekend. this week has been interesting and i feel like my body is trying to catch a cold, on top of everything else. i am hoping to catch up on some diy projects this weekend...

here are some links from my week:

i am loving this house tour posted on young house love. i think the guest bedroom is my favorite. gray and orange? yes, please. and their announcement last week that they are going to move! stunned. but, i can't say i blame them. i mean, they've practically updated everything they could on that house. so why not start over?

this idea on d*s for a design swap is great. all my friends have awesome taste, you can't lose!

i adore the new online mag adore! it's wonderful. there have been a slew of online magazines appear lately, and this one really fits in with my design aesthetic the best.

this fireplace makeover is pretty amazing. let's make it ours took a standard fireplace and made it modern, but something that will be in style for a long time.

this apple cake sounds delish. from a new to me blog: all things farmer.

one of the only fall/halloween decorations i can really get behind. these leaf skeletons from the idea room are pretty, and could be left out all year. no offense to all the other halloween decor out there, i just don't want to store a bunch of decorations for most of the year - with the exception of christmas.

love these new bags from katie henry. old lace/doilies are the perfect addition to her line. too bad they sell out quickly... and i don't have an extra $158 laying around...

this lemon cake also sounds good. make it and love it is a great resource for recipes and cake decorating tips!

i guess that's it.

images found here: 1, 2, 3, 4

the hodgepodge.

2010-10-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

this past saturday, my good friend dinah celebrated her store's 6th birthday! if you live in or around lubbock, hodgepodge is one of the best places around for a thoughtful gift, beautiful home decor and amazing stationery. i should know, i used to work there! dinah is one of the sweetest girls you will ever meet, and i am so honored to call her my friend!

thanks for letting me snap a few pictures of the store! christmas stuff is coming soon - look for it all to be out the first week in november.

october books

2010-10-05T12:09:00.000-07:00

a few october books went off in the mail yesterday. i really took them to fedex, but i think mail is easier to say and basically means the same thing.

this was the last of my olive flocked paper... it's so pretty. i just love flocked paper.

i just ordered this red a few weeks back. it is lovely in person, although i'm usually not a red person. not sure why, it's just never been a favorite over the years.

i was trying a few things out with the photos. i'm loving the shots from right above. you can see the whole book and nothing is skewed out of perspective. i guess i always thought that setup was too simple... but i'm learning that most of the time, the simplest solution is often the best.

it's starting to be that in-between time of year. you wake up in the morning freezing, and by lunch, you are rolling up your sleeves because it's too warm. aahhh, fall. just make up your mind already!

friday link love.

2010-10-01T08:15:00.001-07:00

so glad this week is almost over. i say that a lot, huh? nothing against my job, i love it dearly, but i have a logo that is sucking the life out of me right now... and hopefully that is coming to a close soon.

what are your plans for the weekend? i'm going to try and get a few things done around the house and stop by the hodgepodge on saturday for their bday celebration! you should too, if you are in lubbock.

here are some links from my week:

while i love the look of concrete countertops, i don't know if i'll ever be up to constructing one. if you are, frugal farmhouse design has a great tutorial and tips making your own.

a great post from desire to inspire on white kitchen appliances. i happen to love ours, and think that they are much easier to decorate around than black or stainless steel. of course, it depends on the colors in your kitchen... but i plan on having white cabinets forever.

re-nest's top 30 how-to tutorials of all time. a great list to refer to for anything from cleaning solutions to diy lighting.

i've really wanted to try out some chalk-board paint, but i wasn't sure what i'd use it on - and didn't want to spend a ton of cash on it. but the idea room posted a cheap way to make your own! this is great - you can pretty much make it out of any color or type of paint.

this cardigan makeover on welcome to the good life is amazing. i've really got to get out my sewing machine!

these knitting and crochet tutorials posted on d*s are great. i've been trying to teach myself crochet with a book, but i think i'd learn better by watching.

grosgrain is a (new-to-me) blog that i love. my favorite posts are thriftstore thursdays, where she takes a thrifted article of clothing and makes it into something awesome.

have a great weekend!

the spider's web.

2010-09-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

this is in our front yard, by our driveway. more specifically - the side of the driveway i park on. did i mention my hate for spiders? but... this was so beautiful tuesday night that i just had to take a few photos before something happened to it.

or before the spider came back... which it did. i saw it wednesday morning and nearly grabbed my camera, but really just couldn't bring myself to do it. perhaps if i had a telephoto lens it would've been okay.

i didn't take a ton of photos... and the ones from other angles just weren't as neat looking. i love these because you can see how intricate and delicate the web is.

doing this really made me realize that i don't utilize my camera as much as i should. i don't really take it with me unless i know i'll be needed/expected to take photos... and sometimes i think people just think i'm that crazy person with the camera. i really need to get out there every week and do a 'photography assignment'...

clock: before & after

2010-09-29T07:20:00.000-07:00

this was one of those projects that you think "oh, i'll have this done in no time!" and then it never happens. i purchased this cute little clock at a garage sale across the street from us (last year, i think). i loved the shape, but wasn't a big fan of the blue decals stuck to the front, sides and back. it sat in our kitchen... then got moved to my office... put in a box... you get the idea. finally, i decided it would be cute covered in paper and used as a colorful accent in our bedroom.

how cute is it now?

basically, i sanded those decals until they were smooth, traced the outline onto some pretty paper, and used acrylic gloss medium to adhere it and then finish it off. going around the edges was tricker, since it's thinner at the top than the bottom, but i was able to cut the excess from the edges pretty easily.

why did i use acrylic gloss medium instead of modpodge? well, i think it's easier to work with and creates a smoother surface. i've never been able to modpodge anything and get a flat surface. not that my clock isn't without it's flaws... but it looks pretty good. and, if i ever get tired of this look, i can just glue some more paper to the front and have a new clock!

unfortunately, i wasn't able to pry off the hands to get to the face. i had grand plans of making a very modern clock face to replace this one, but it didn't work out. i'm glad i picked out paper that matches it pretty well, since i couldn't do anything about it.

so... if you find something pretty cheap at a garage sale, thrift store, etc, don't be afraid to do something crazy to it. i didn't spend much on this clock (maybe $.50 to purchase?) and had all the other supplies already. a few hours of sanding, cutting, and glueing... now i have a cute clock for next to nothing.

links.

2010-09-27T06:56:00.000-07:00

sorry i didn't post any links on friday... it was my birthday and i took the day off! yep, i'm officially 25 now... that sounds weird to say. i went thrifting and shopping (no, i don't consider those the same thing), dealt with the plumber, ate lunch with d at one of my favorite places... it was a wonderful day!

so... here are some links for your monday:

i found a sweet website for anyone planning a baby shower. bump smitten is a wonderful place for inspiration on more modern baby showers. this is great, because i've helped with a few this year, and it's hard finding ideas for the non-traditional mom-to-be.

this diy pleated dress is so smart. i've seen so many of these skirts for cheap at the thrift store, now i have a reason to buy some! this would be super cute with boots or some flats and tights. from the new-to-me blog welcome to the gOOd life.

i love a good fabric flower tutorial, and this one from the house of smith's looks pretty easy, and makes really fun flowers. now i know what i'll be doing with all the tshirts i was about to throw out!

these yogurt and honey cupcakes sound divine. especially since i love me some greek yogurt. thanks cupcake project!

i really want one of the wally felt planters... just don't want to spend that kind of cash on it. that's okay, martha (not that martha) shows us how to make our own on the cheap. via apartment therapy.

these before and afters on d*s are really fun. especially the chandelier.

love painted wood floors? frugal farmhouse design has a great tutorial on diy-ing it cheaply with plywood.

loving this lamp lift on poppytalk.

this quick photography tip on no biggie has me wanting an external flash for my camera. thanks to my birthday cash, i might just get me one!

hope you all have a lovely week. i have a few other things i hope to post this week!

friday link love.

2010-09-17T07:21:00.000-07:00

back at friday. how is it that each day seems to drag on, yet the week passes so quickly? i have no idea. what are your plans for the weekend? i'm hoping to tackle my office and maybe get some more work done in our bedroom. i finally got the door painted last weekend - now i need to paint the closet doors... fun.

and guess what? next week i'll be a quarter of a century old.

anyway, here are some links from this week:

here's a great post on how to create an antique mirror effect on a new mirror. i'll probably never age any of the mirrors in our house, but i thought it would be a nice thing to save just in case. via apartment therapy.

loving both of these before & afters on d*s this week. especially the transformation of the light fixtures.

this chevron pillow tutorial from made is awesome! i doubt if i could get everything to line up so perfectly though!

nikon announced the d7000 dslr this week. although i doubt i'll be upgrading my camera anytime soon, i definitely perked up when i read about it on the mansurovs. my beef with my entry level? the auto focus isn't compatible with most of the lenses i want and there are only 3 focus points. but, i read a quote earlier this week that i keep repeating every time i feel frustrated by this: the best equipment is what you have available.

loving this letter light project posted on d*s. it's from curlby's new diy hardware book, and seems pretty simple to make. i would love to make one of these for our bedroom. the extra pop of color would be great.

this diy faux birch log side table is another genius idea. i've wanted to bring in some logs to use as side tables, but afraid of what it would do to d's allergies. via apartment therapy.

a few great photography tips from kim pace. i really love reading how others setup their manual settings... mine are usually pretty similar, but it helps to know why others set theirs up the way they do.

this letter of agreement between husband and wife regarding fixing lunch is quite hilarious. via dinner: a love story.

this petal shirt tutorial on sewing in no mans land looks easy enough. maybe i'll dig through the pile of clothes i have ready for goodwill and pull out some tshirts that need a new life. the only downside? i have to remember not to throw it in the dryer.

thrifty.

2010-09-16T12:43:00.001-07:00

pretty much everything in this photo was either thrifted, given to me, or purchased on sale/clearance/very cheaply. sometimes i like to recall things like this when i look in the mirror after getting dressed... but now i'm doing it with my home decor?

case in point:

the green chairs were purchased from a lady who was selling her mother's house, and had the most amazing furniture. it looked like nobody had ever even sat in them. i think i paid $50 for both? oh, and i was in high school.

the end tables were given to me by a friend moving out of town. we may or may not have to give the set back... i'm hoping for not. i've really gotten attached to these.

thrifted: white vase, gold tray and the wooden box

free: frame around nephew's photo (spray painted black), the green vase was a gift, the b/w screenprint was from college, and the large canvas with our wedding party - a gift from our photographer.

everything else was purchased rather cheaply: pillows on clearance from hobby lobby, likewise with the frame around the screenprint, and the ipod dock/speakers was a going out of business purchase from linens 'n' things.

why am i telling you this? i have absolutely no idea. i thought it would be fun to go through this little vignette and remember where i got everything. and it just goes to show, you don't have to spend much at all when decorating your home.

and speaking of the little gold tray... it's my newest acquisition from the acb. it's a bit smaller than the trays i normally find, and i really love the patina.

i just love trays. you can plop one down on any surface... and it makes whatever you put in it seem organized. i tried not to put much in this one. the stamped surface was what made me pick it up in the first place.

i really love thrifting... and while i never spend much money, it's the stuff that gets piled up and clutters my home. while i do treasure a few pieces, i've been able to get rid (aka donate/sell) of pieces i don't feel go with our style anymore.

il-lu-mi-nate workshop.

2010-09-13T14:27:00.000-07:00

i was catching up on my blog reading and saw this post on the il-lu-mi-nate workshop. i've really been wanting to take a class to improve my photo-taking skills, but really can't justify spending the $500 when this is really just a hobby of mine! well, they are giving away a spot in the class... and although i've never won an online giveaway (not for lack of trying, either), maybe this will be my lucky day.

So... here we go!

I want to go to the Il-lu-mi-nate Workshop! http://www.amyrosekingphotography.com/?page_id=2420

friday link love.

2010-09-10T09:49:00.000-07:00

friday already? i guess i can't be too upset about a short work week. i'm hoping to get some more organizing done this weekend... and maybe come up with some plans to combine mine and d's office. i would really love for our house to have more usable space, and right now my office wouldn't function as a guest room at all. i really just need to decide what hobbies i really want to pursue and which ones i've given up on... i've got so much crafting stuff, it's ridiculous!

anyway, here are some links from this week:

these images from anna maria horner make me want to learn how to quilt. all those bright patterns...

cute desk makeover at all things thrifty. it's hard to believe that's paintable wallpaper she used.

i need all the help i can get when organizing, especially mail, paperwork, etc! these tips from centsational girl via my uncommon slice of suburbia are definitely something i will be thinking about this weekend.

this cigar box turned tape dispenser is really smart. i don't have that big of a collection of tape... but it would be great for scrapbookers. via just something i made.

thriftyness.

2010-09-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

had a great time this weekend! got to go to some places in amarillo i've never been before. we visited nest (route 66), which was cool, but a little over my price range. then i found this sweet little silver sugar bowl in an over-crowded antique store. the lid is a little tough to get off, so whether or not it gets used has yet to be determined. but i just love the little feet.

we also went to a few thrift stores, one of which was more like a junk yard. rows and rows of crap piled on top of each other. i did find a few things i liked, but nothing was priced! we also hit up the new goodwill, which was gigantic. i found this cute set of what i thought was vintage dinnerware... googling it when i got home on monday showed it was produced between 2002-2006. oh well, it's still pretty - even if i only have 4 bowls, but 8 plates.

i actually didn't get this piece this weekend. it came from an estate sale a few months back. and i actually purchased a whole box full of mismatched silver for a few bucks, this was just the one i loved the most. the lady tried to tell me i can get some chemical stuff to clean the silverware... i tried to tell her i liked it the way it was.

and these are not thrifty, but free! my mom gave me these forgotten frames that have been occupying a closet for the past 15 years or so... they've already gotten a fresh coat of matte black paint and one is already hanging up with a photo of my nephew!

which bag?

2010-09-07T13:50:00.000-07:00

since purchasing my new lenses, i've really felt the need to upgrade my camera bag. it's great for carrying my d60 with a lens attached... but any more than that and it gets a little crowded. i figured since i would probably be spending some cash on a new bag, i might as well get one i like. it would be nice to carry around a bag that doesn't scream 'camera' and goes with my wardrobe.

i came back from my search rather disappointed. there are a few great styles out there, but most are a little more than what i wanted to spend. for someone that's an amateur/enthusiast, i don't want to spend hundreds on a camera bag. my first love? the lola bag from epiphanie. (top photo) while i do have the go ahead from my significant other to order her... i am starting to feel guilty about such a big purchase when i'm certainly no pro. so i kept looking...

this scarlet tote from jo totes is my second favorite. and, it's about half the price! i love that it still looks like a purse, and is not overly trendy looking - a classic style that can be used for years. i'm really leaning towards this one... it will get the job done and won't cost nearly as much.

i also found this cute option from jill-e. their canvas/vinyl bags are still a bit more than i want to spend, but this one is the least costly that i've found. however, it still seems a little juvenile to me, and i'm wanting a more grown-up look.

any thoughts on camera bags for women? there is a huge market for this that someone needs to fill. a few companies are stepping up to the plate (mainly women photographers in need of something stylish to carry their equipment) and i'm sure there are plenty of chicks like me who don't have a ton of cash to spend making their hobby look good.

friday link love.

2010-09-03T07:42:00.001-07:00

i know, i haven't been very good about posting lately... what's new?

as much as i love my job, i can't contain my excitement of a 3 day weekend. sure, i have vacation/sick time off i can use, but i prefer to keep those open in case i get sick or of an emergency.

i will be heading up to amarillo tomorrow to spend time with my folks. and hopefully pinch these little cheeks! hoping we can get some thrifting in, as well as check out a shop i discovered recently thanks to knack! maybe i will have some energy left on monday to actually get something done around the house...

i have so many projects i want to work on, but i really need to finish the ones i've started first. on my brain lately: finish painting the doors in the bedroom (yeah, still not done! but i bought a small foam roller, so maybe that will motivate me), hang up our floating shelves, and replace the curtains. and do something about a headboard...

here are some links from my week:

this peach shortbread recipe sounds amazing. doubt i will ever make them since i would be the only one at the house eating them! thanks smitten kitchen!

black eiffel links to her favorite whole wheat pancake recipe. i will have to try these out sometime. i make bisquick ones last weekend and realized i didn't really care for them much anymore.

how cute it this petticoat? sewing in no mans land has some awesome sewing tutorials. maybe someday...

i am loving this rustic diy headboard on kara paslay designs... just not sure it would work in our not-so-rustic bedroom.

this maternity book is adorable! see what happens when photographers are pregnant? found through blush!nk.

little birdie secrets posted another diy version of fabric rosettes. this would be a good way to go if you are not friends with the hot glue gun.

i love these little doggie clothes! makes them really look like little people... thanks going home to roost for making me want to dress up my fur kids.

friday link love.

2010-08-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

yay for friday!

i have some new favorite blogs i've been reading... thought i would share them here as well.

ish and chi is bright, pretty and just fun to look at.

pretty handy girl is another new favorite. she tackles tons of diy projects...

it's good to be home kind of scares me (in a good way!) seeing pictures of their house while their floors are being refinished makes me thankful (at the moment) of our carpet/tile flooring.

life in the fun lane is also a new to me blog. her style is awesome, just a little too 'bright white' for me. i admire those that can decorate a blank canvas like that... i just don't think i can do it successfully!

i know there are others, but they get mixed in with the old on my reader.

these 'vintage' internet ads are pretty hilarious. can you imagine? found on design mom.

pretty handy girl turns this craigslist bedframe into a bench. turned out super-cute! and as long as you could find a bed pretty cheaply!

i know type in interior design has been ragged on as of late... but as a graphic designer, i don't think i will ever get tired of it. that's why i love these diy plaster letters, found on poppytalk.

i'm liking this diy sunburst mirror... though i would probably shorten the branches substantially. i've really been wanting a round mirror in our bedroom lately... maybe this is it? found on isabella & max rooms.

oven s'mores. need i say more? our best bites.

really great tips from centsational girl on decorating a rental. (aka white walls and less than desirable flooring) not that i have to worry about that right now, but these are all great tips nonetheless.

mrs. q had a really great post on the evil that is poptart. can i confess? we still buy them from time to time, even though i know they are bad for me.

i'm considering entering my kitchen in this canadian house & home design contest. it's really the only room that feels 'finished' in our home. found on decor8.

sigh...

2010-08-26T10:54:00.000-07:00

yesterday, i found the perfect headboard on craigslist. for $25. i had dreams... what color would i paint it? should i just stain it darker to match our nightstands? the possibilities.

and then i found out it had already sold days earlier. why don't people delete their ads once an item has sold? they get irritated when people keep calling/emailing about something... you would think they would remove their ad a little sooner. but i digress.

anyway, d really liked it (surprise! usually he doesn't like stuff like this. maybe i've just worn him down...) so i might see if my fil can cutout something similar that i could just paint. or glue fancy paper all over...

and while i would really love to build an upholstered headboard, i want this to be really cheap since we have so many other things we need to do around the house. unfortunately, foam is not very cheap and i'm having a hard time deciding what kind of fabric i would want to use. so... i'm thinking either find one (haven't been too successful with that) or cut one out of wood...

lillie is 1!

2010-08-25T11:06:00.000-07:00

i guess i should mention that our little puppy is 1 today! we were not her first 'parents,' but the folks we got her from had two very small children and didn't have the time to spare for a new puppy. we took her home about 6 months ago and she is a completely different dog nowadays. while she is still really rambunctious, we're hoping she'll calm down even more as she gets older. happy birthday lillie!

books?

2010-08-25T10:44:00.001-07:00

a few books. i know, i know... i said no more books. but these were easy peasy and i am enjoying not working with brides directly (sad, but i get tired of folks changing their minds after i've ordered their paper).

my mom mentioned something to me the other day. she told me the next house we live in, i'd better make sure i have a big window with nice light so i could keep taking my 'product' photos.

she's right, you know. that's a very beautiful thing about this house - i get the best light in my kitchen, and the green walls just warm everything up perfectly.

is it sad that i'm already ready for the weekend again? things are just... not happy this week. and i'm ready to take that honeymoon we never got to go on... but i feel like that day is probably ages away from now.

friday link love.

2010-08-20T08:01:00.000-07:00

can't believe it's friday! ready to get some things done this weekend... though we just got the newest season of dexter and i'm about halfway through it, so i'll probably have my eyes glued on that for some time too.

we'll be having dinner with an out of town friend tonight, excited about that!

and two of my favorite people had birthdays this week - my dad and my friend rachel.

ready for some links?

this diy brooch bouquet on blushink is gorgeous. wish i had found this before i got married!

love these tips on watering your garden from going home to roost. especially love that painted rain barrel. i've wanted to make one these last several years, i just don't know that we get enough rain to warrant one!

this rick-rack baby blanket on prudent baby is really cute. i guess i need to get my act together and sew some up... it seems like friends everywhere are pregnant!

some tips on best lenses for wedding photography on the mansurovs. they always have great reviews and advice!

design*sponge had some great before and afters this week...

tutu time.

2010-08-16T09:20:00.001-07:00

the weekend was spent cleaning out a closet (well, my side, anyway!), planting monkey grass and yarrow, and attending a little girl's first birthday party. can you guess what i made her?

a sweet little tutu! it's probably a little big on her right now (but she has a cute blue one that fits anyway) but she'll grow into this one soon, no doubt. i also wanted to make sure she had a fun accessory too!

if any of you are wondering, there are tons of tutorials on new sew tutus out there. I modeled mine after this one found on designmom. i was going to make one with purple and white tulle, and then found this one with colored ribbons added in. so cute and easy to make!

friday link love.

2010-08-13T13:32:00.001-07:00

ready for the weekend! i've got lots of things i want to accomplish... now i just have to get motivated! it seems i always have big plans and then just put them off... i'm going to try and not let that happen this time! a few things i'd like to tackle...

plant some monkey grass in the front yard. it seems all the rain we've gotten this summer has made the bermuda grass go crazy. it's trying to take over my little boxwood bushes and i'm not too happy about that. hoping the monkey grass will keep it at bay.

finish painting the doors in our bedroom. yep, still not done yet. but i'm tired of staring at paint cans in our bedroom, so i'm going to finish that one asap.

general organizing. there is stuff in some closets i haven't seen since we moved in. must mean i really don't need it, huh? i've got to get rid of some of my 'stuff.'

here are some links from my week... not too much:

these tiramisu cupcakes on cupcake project sound divine. surely i can find some reason to make them?

this post on cumbersome about debranding the bathroom and using natural products is interesting. i've been a natural soap convert for over a year now, have switched to just using handmade makeup and (store bought) eyeliner, and i've considered switching to baking soda for my 'shampoo'... maybe after this next bottle runs out...

this diy purse organizer is pretty cool. there are some purses i never use simply because it is a bottomless pit and stuff gets lost. thanks fresh crush!

this anniversary box is a neat idea. i could see this being a great gift from a bridesmaid or relative. found on givers log.

design sponge had some great diy projects this week: a denim cutoff winebag and a cheap custom curtain rod.

really considering taking this home ec class... i've never really learned how to sew properly and sometimes i'm scared of my machine... anyway, i have until sunday to sign-up!

a book for chloe.

2010-08-12T07:29:00.001-07:00

here's a book i made for sweet little chloe, who turns one this month! i also have a few other surprises for her this weekend... but i'm waiting to post those pictures. chloe's mom is super creative, so i can't wait to see what all she puts in here!

we decided on a post binding so that she can add and remove pages as need be. this will also allow her to expand the book if she wants to make it bigger.

i hope she likes it! this was my first time using book cloth (the dark brown stuff on the binding edge) and i love the way it turned out. i'm hoping it will make the spine more durable as well.

i'm ready for the weekend! and hoping i don't get sick... woke up with a sore throat this morning. i have plans that involve monkey grass and a weed-eater... and i'm playing photographer for chloe's bday party this sunday, so i'm sure i'll need my strength!

gocco or no?

2010-08-10T14:08:00.000-07:00

i hate to even post this... but i thought it couldn't hurt. i'm considering selling my gocco printer. ouch, i know. i wanted one so badly... found one, bought it and have not used it at all. don't we all make these crafting mistakes? i know this isn't the only thing i thought i would use a ton, but haven't. i would like to hang on to it, but don't really see the point if i'm never going to use it... it's just taking up precious space and i could use the money on something else!

so... if you are interested in purchasing mine (it's a B6), shoot me an email at paperlustbooks@gmail.com. i will check my kit and put a list up of everything that's included, because i bought a few things after i purchased the printer. it's plenty to get you started, and then some!

why am i posting this here? i hate to reopen shop on etsy just to sell this thing, and i really hate ebay... though i may be forced to go that route if need be. i might also try my local craigslist...

friday link love.

2010-08-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

i'm glad this week is over, but i've got tons of stuff to do at the house. with a sick husband and a sick doggie, i'm not sure how much will actually get done! hopefully i can work in the yard some, maybe finish painting the doors in our bedroom and work on my office.

here are some links from my week:

make it and love it has a great tutorial that would work for little girls or big ones. this will go on my list of 'need to do' when i get my office in order and can actually use my sewing machine!

young house love has a great post on cloth diapers. it's shocking to see how much they spent on disposables the first 9 weeks (until their baby was big enough to fit the cloth ones) compared to the cloth diapers that will last until she's potty trained...

i have dreams of making my own rain barrels... just can't find any cheap plastic ones on craigslist right now... keeping this post from freshcrush for the future.

loving this headboard (made from an old door) on design*sponge. the bench redo is pretty cute too...

this reader home makeover featured on desire to inspire is really something! i don't know if i could ever buy a home that started out like theirs did... ours certainly wasn't perfect, but it had a lot going for it before we moved in!

for anyone interested in photography, this shoot-a-long over at givers log is very helpful. instead of being too technical, it's worded in a way us non-pros will understand!

hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

ethan | 5 weeks | canyon, texas

2010-08-05T09:01:00.001-07:00

as promised, a few of the photos from this last weekend. i am loving my new lens, and i really enjoy taking pictures of the little ones. you know, as long as they don't wear me out too much! this little guy is so sweet, and i can't wait to take more photos as he grows older!

how sweet is that? this has to be one of my favorite pictures, ever. to see my brother holding his little baby just melts my heart.

i even snapped a few of their two doggies. harley is a sweet little guy who 'purrs' when you pet him. he's so cute and he's little ethan's guard dog.

this is chloe. i don't think she liked me taking pictures of her... but she sure did make some cute faces!

and... if you're wondering... i am by no means starting a photography business. i have quite a bit on my plate right now, but i do love taking pictures and want to get better. i am going to start watermarking all the photos i post here because i think it's more professional and i like to get the credit when someone sees one of my pictures. selfish? perhaps.

however, i am happy to get all the practice i can to better my skills. so if you are needing portraits done or photos for any reason and live in the lubbock area, just send me an email. and fyi: i won't shoot weddings or any other major event.