Rustic Handmade Wedding {or home decor} Projects

For some reason, DIY wedding projects just make me happy.

Creating a Life- A Photo Tour of 2014

Happy first day of a new year, friends! 

It's Really Autumn!

Happy "official" Autumn, friends!

I have been blown away by all the gorgeous Fall home tours I've seen this past week! Honestly, to get your WHOLE house "done up" for any season-technically before the season even starts? Well, I'm impressed. Not only with the beautiful homes I've seen, but with the amount of work that goes into creating and photographing those spaces, and all that goes with that. Such amazing talent out there!

  

I just haven't been very quick with the Autumn decor so far this year. Love love love looking at everyone else's, but just a little slower getting fully inspired for my own home. I'm totally okay with that. As I keep saying, I want Fall to arrive slowly and linger long. {smile}

 

It is a very blustery Sunday over here today. Low 60's, very windy and rainy. Of course this is the day I was going to put the garage door up and pull out all the stuff I need to get rid of. Really! I was! 

My oldest daughter has always been super creative and crafty. I must do a post one day to show you some of her darling creations. Last night we went to her home for a little movie party and she brought out this little owl she made! Her little brother squealed and went nuts over it, so she gave it to him. He slept with it last night, but he let me pry it out of his hands long enough to take a couple of photos today : )

Isn't he cute??

She had some very sweet Fall gifts for me this week, this handmade coffee cozy being one of them. Love it!

Since the weather isn't cooperating with my outdoor plan today, I'm 'forced' to work on something inside. I picked up this half of a pallet from a curbside junk pile last Spring, and it's been sitting in the basement just waiting for...something! Today is the day. Can you guess what I'm using it for?

Come on back soon and see what your slightly slow friend has been up to over here, okay? 

Happy and blessed first day of Autumn to you!

The Penny and the Pearl-New Items in the Shop!

Happy Saturday, all!
 
I just wanted to let you know I have some new listings over at The Penny and the Pearl shop today!

Yes, I'm parting with one of my favorite flea market style books. I have so many books, and it's time to let some go.

I've added a couple of handmade hanging cards. 

 

 Some pretty lace on a vintage furniture spindle.

  

A vintage beach chair towel rack for your kitchen or bath.

 Some iron birds for you to use on your own project!

Some coastal cottage decor, and more!

Pop over and have a visit when you have a minute!

Have a good weekend, friends-

Jeanette 

Valentine Love Note Station

Every year for Valentine's Day, my kids and I make cards for each other. Nothing wrong with that. Some years it has been all I could do just to direct them in that small effort. 

This year, I thought it would be nice if I had a little more of a firm plan for helping my kids let each other know just what it is that they love and appreciate about each other {and their mom, too!}

I decided to set up a Love Note Station. I wanted to make an easy "destination" we will take turns at once a day until Valentine's Day. 

 

 
We can sit down and pick up a paper heart from the bird dish, or the message board, and just write one thing (or more!) about each family member that we love and/or appreciate that day.

 I showed you recently how I used a pretty kleenex tissue to print paper to use for some heart shaped notes.
 We also used some leftover red and white polka dot Christmas wrap to make heart shaped note paper.

After we write our notes {my five year old will need help from mom and sisters, of course} we will put them in our love note box.

We've already had a bumpy moment when my 9 year old just couldn't bring herself to come up with something nice to say about her 15 year old sister who had hurt her feelings. Sigh. We'll be working on that... {they really are great friends!}

 It was fun working on this together with Amelia! We started with an empty cereal box. We cut it in the shape we wanted and she glued some vintage sheet music love songs all over it. We cut a separate heart out of another cereal box and glued sheet music to that and stuck it (glue stick) to the front of the box.

 
Finally, I stuck on a couple of hearts cut out of red craft felt.

 

On Valentine's Day, while we are enjoying something sweet together, we're going to take out all of our hearts and read them out loud to each other.  

  

We have lots of "togetherness" in this family, and sometimes (many times) that means conflict. I'm really hoping that if they put some effort into seeing the good in each of their family members each day, those conflicts we be easier and quicker to resolve. A mom can hope, right? 

What are you appreciating about your loved ones today? I hope you will take a moment to let them know. 

Friday blessings to you, my friends! 



Sharing over at:
Common Ground- Be Inspired! 
Diana Rambles-Pin Me! link party 
Funky Junk Interiors-SNS Valentines! 
Fox Hollow Cottage- Power of Pinterest
Craftberry Bush-Inspiration Gallery  
Alderberry Hill-Make the Scene Monday 
Homemaker on a Dime-Creative Bloggers Party Hop
Cozy Little House-Tweak It Tuesday  
The Dedicated House-Make It Pretty Monday
Decor to Adore-Valentine Link Party  

Perfectly Pale

I wish I had some photos to share of our crazy, colorful little house we lived in years back. Mustard yellow and red in the bedroom, red in the dining room, green in the living room, black and white checked floors. 3 bedrooms in 960 square feet and full of stuff. It was visually pretty crazy, but back then it really made me happy to be immersed in all that color!


I still really do like color, and I use it at Christmas as you will see tomorrow : )
But, the last few years have been the most stressful I've ever experienced, and I'm finding that in this season of life I need things to be paler.....calmer. It just feels more soothing to me.

 My bedroom window

 

 Vintage bucket I decoupaged with pretty paper

Pale and pretty candles

 One of my favorite pieces of ironstone

 Over my headboard

Necklace I made for my daughter from one of her baby sweaters

Sweet little angel made by my grandmother. She was an avid crafter, and I often think about what fun we'd be having together if she was still with us : )

Vintage mirror in my bedroom

Pale candle chandelier I embellished with fabric and crystals

Pretty and pale details

 Tomorrow I'll share a little of the colorful side of life around here!

How about you? In your current "season of life" do you feel better surrounded by whites and neutrals or lots of color? I'd love to hear from you!

See you over at:
Timewashed-Blissful Whites Wednesday 
Family Home and Life-Wow Us Wednesday 
Vintage On A Dime-Welcome Home Wednesday 
Knick of Time Tuesday 
House on the Way-Twirl and Take a Bow! 
Savvy Southern Style-Wow Us Wednesday 
The Farmhouse Porch-Cowgirl Up! 
The Vintage Farmhouse-Creative Things Thursday 
Common Ground-Vintage Inspiration 

I'm linking up my shop at:

Etsy shop link party at The Ironstone Nest