Inspiration: Etsy Window Shopping

Lets be honest: We're in no position for me to purchase any sort of fabric or crafty items at the moment. New parents, super limited income, lots of hospital bills.

Fine. But it's free to window shop on Etsy!

Linen Newspaper

LOVEing this. It might be my previous career in high-school journalism, or my current career in printing, but I love love love this print. I might just leave it folded up neatly (like the picture) rather than actually DOING anything with it. How can you cut into that anyway?

Canvas Cute Bird

Actually, I know EXACTLY what I'd do with this fabric... make wide ribbons (we're talking maybe 6-inchers here) and use them as tiebacks for the hot pink thermal curtains in Delaney's room. They currently hang loose, and make the room super dark. Except, when the sun comes thru, they shine red like some brothel mixed with a teenage boy's dark room. Just perfect for a baby, hmm?

Blue Bird Canvas

How can a Japanese fabric look so Swedish, and well, Ikea-ish? Love loving this, would be great in a quilt or throw pillow even, as an accent stripe or something.

Custom Fingerprint Wedding Band

With our baby around, I find myself stumbling when referring to Trevor. "Baby Daddy" is a little too ghetto for my taste, "husband" or "fiance" is just lying (and feels akin to tatooing someone's name on you before being together 50+yrs), "boyfriend" is far too causal, and since I live in California, using "partner" would give a different impression all together.
Either way, we WILL get married, and it's kinda on my mind. A lot. I found these the other day and fell in love. It's an affordable, and perfectly quirky option for Trevor and I. Something so unique and personal, without being the before mentioned tattoo.

Dreams and Pearls Pillow

Speaking of romance, our bedroom is still lacking it. I want something light and airy, but glimmery and pretty. Like a Candance Olsen design. C'mon, if you watch as much HGTV as I do, you know what I'm talking about. I love the texture and the shine on this...almost enough to actually make the bed after I drag Trevor out of in before I go to work. The seller is The Home Centric and actually has 304 items of equal or more beauty!

Silver Love Necklace

Clearly the one glass of wine I've allowed myself tonight has gone to my head, and I'm all sappy. LOVE the font, love the size, love the sentiment. I miss my signature ETSY necklaces...they all need to be re-strung on stronger chains. I'm not a big jewelery person, but having a statement piece that nobody else would ever have was fun there for a while :)

That's it for my rainy, late-night post. Mr. Weatherman says sunshine is on the way, and with my first paid day-off on Monday, I've got a weekend full of yardwork. Looking to make some serious project, and a nice tan at the same time :)

DIY: Long Sleeve Refashion

So, I woke up this morning a little chilly, but still wanted to wear my pretty dress. (Mostly, because I haven't bought maternity pants yet. Oops.) After going thru my sweater/jacket options, I realized I don't have A. Anything that fits, or B. Anything appropriate for the weather. Everything's too heavy, or wouldn't jive with my dress.

So, lucky me, I remembered I saw a refashion post somewhere along my blog travels. I couldn't find the original post this morning,and with 15min before I had to leave for work, I just kinda winged (wung?) it. (I have now since found the post. Duh. From Amy Karol's Angry Chicken)

I used this shirt (Old Navy favorite tee, long sleeve)



1. I first cut out the neck hem, just right along the stitches.

2. Then, cut from the center of the neck to the bottom hem.

3. Some tutorials stop here, and you can either leave it hanging loose, or if it's really big, tie the corners together, but this wasn't working for me. So, leaving a 2in tie on either side, then cut about 4in off from the bottom hem.

Voila! Perfect little cover up for the foggy NorCal mornings.


(Yeah, I like bathroom shots. Also, shout out to one of my favorite Etsy sellers, Sharlee Gems for my amazing Octopus necklace!)

Have you done something like this? Leave a link to your post/picture in the comment section.

Current Obsession: Letters

Okay, so I know this isn't new on the design scene. But, I'm pretty much obsessed with typography, and 3D objects on my wall. One 4th of July, I went to a sorta-friend's house for a pre-fireworks party, and besides being expertly designed, on the wall behind their front door, they had a column of "R"s, in all different shapes/colors/sizes, to represent their last name.

Since then, I've wanted to recreate that for us, with "T". Not as exciting, and doesn't have the "curl factor" that an "R" might, but still. I can't wait to take Trevor's name (even tho mine is pretty cool, can't get much better than "Strong"), and I would love to have a beautiful homage to it, without going crazy with his Scottish family crest.

I bought my mom an "H" from Etsy Seller VintageEmbellishments, and it looks great in her kitchen. Now, with baby Delaney on the way, I want to create a similar mishmash collection of letters for her room.

Some favorite styles:























Hah. I just bought that last one. Oops...Her letters are $6! Not bad. Guess I'm done browsing Etsy now, before I do any more damage.

Personalized Print

Well, Boy is gone this weekend, and I have the lap top at home. This means I read design blogs all weekend long, with HGTV on in the background. Pathetic, hm? I won't have this free time in 6 months, so I'm soaking it up for all it's worth.

I've found some pretty amazing prints on Etsy, and since I work for a printer, it's pretty tempting for me to recreate some of the more popular prints. But, since plagiarism is bad, and I don't get a whole lot out of ripping other people off, I made a little print piece that's a little more personal.

Brownie point if you can quote the song, WITHOUT GOOGLING. I'm watching you.



OR




Which one do you like better? I did the one with just text first, and then thought it looked a little top heavy. I like all the empty space tho.

Baby Boy? Friendly Monsters

So, I think I've changed my mind for the baby's room, if it's a boy. We were originally thinking natutical, boats and oceans type thing, but after a search on Esty, I'm thinking Friendly Monsters.

I was never worried about monsters in the closet, or under the bed when I was a kid (no, it was more a Frankenstein fear, when my sister would sleep walk.) I think this had to do with Where the Wild Things are. Monsters became friends, cool guys to hang out with, rather than frightening creatures.

I've been throwing this idea around since my mom bought little Zilo. And, of course, this all depends on if it IS a boy, I'll do the girly stuff the right way if we have a little princess. But, better be prepared!

Some inspiration:


Onesie with Monster Applique


Clarence in a Pink Parfeit Outfit


Green Monster Fun hooded towel


Max t-shirt





Now, of course, I've found awesome things I want, regardless of the baby's sex (and Trev thinks we're having a girl... family history on my side would say he's probably right, but a girl can dream, right?).


You Are All I Need letterpress


Alphabet Print in Grey


Letterpress Alphabet Poster








I swear to god, I have a list of girly things too. That's another post.