Making a House a Home: Part II

To save some $$ (and to feed my inner crafter), I've decided to make throw pillows for our sofas.  I've started/finished a few using this fabric:

Alexander Henry- House in Grey via Hawthorne Threads

It's a greyish/brown color- very neutral- and I really love the simplicity of the print. 

Also, I bought a rug (!!!).  I drove all over Austin last weekend of search of something, and almost came home with nothing.  It's not what I had really hoped for, but it's a quick (temporary) fix and it was cheap.  The downside(s) are that 1) it's not wool (you can read this informative post on wool rugs) and 2) it's neutral.  So, I'm hoping to now add color to the room through the use of throw pillows and accents on our coffee/end tables.

I looooove these.

Eisman Design via Daily Candy

I think I'm going to stay away from patterns, but I like the idea of pillow embelishments like these:

Apartment Therapy



I could easily sew (not crochet) some flowers for our living room pillows that could be removable/changed out.

Making a House a Home: Part II

Bookends

I know the concept of the Kindle, Nook, iPad, et.al. is a great idea (less clutter, all reads in one place), but...

1. I love book cases 
2. I love physical books, especially these.   

Eventually, I'm sure I'll cave into technology and purchase an electronic reader.  Until then I'll dream of my imaginary library filled with bookcases, lined with books and bookends like these:

west elm

barnes and noble

Jolly Time One



Peg and Awl

Adriondack Metal

Velocity Art and Design

Ballard Designs

The Bookend Store

Bookends

Ghost Costume Ideas

This year, we're going to a costume party for Halloween (yay!).  Not just any costume party though, it will be a murder-mystery costume party.  If you haven't been to one of these, they are so. much. fun.  We attended our first party of this nature a few months ago for our two of our good friends' birthdays.  That party happened to be western themed, and although our costumes were thrown together at the last minute, it was still a lot of fun!  This time, however, I will be prepared.

The themed party works like this:  prior to the event, you receive information regarding the character that you will portray so that you can dress accordingly.  Mine happens to be a ghost.  On the email I received , it suggested creating a costume out of a sheet, like this:

 source

Borrrr-rrring.


I'm thinking something more like this:

source

Or maybe like this (Helena Ravenclaw):

source

source

Either way, I think a few "musts" of my costume are:

• white tights & gloves
• vintage/worn attire, preferably a dress
• white face paint (although, as pale as I am, I may not need it :P)

Let the search begin!  Anyone else wearing a Halloween costume or attending any parties?

Ghost Costume Ideas

I Judge Books by Their Covers

I also select wine by the beauty of it's bottle.

I hope it tastes as good as it looks.

Hope you enjoy a relaxing weekend!  Happy Friday!

I Judge Books by Their Covers

In our next house..

at least one wall will be painted like this:

Can you believe they were all created by stencils*?  I think these are a great alternative to wall paper (to which my husband strongly objects.. I don't blame him- it's pretty, but a pain to put up/take down) and wall decals.  I love that they are reusable.  They also seem relatively easy to use and they definitely add beauty to a space.

Check out this before & after using stencils:

Lemon Tree Creations via The Busy Budgeting Mama

*Cutting Edge Stencils has no clue who I am and does not pay me to blog about them.  I just think their stuff is really cool :)

In our next house..