Vintage Mint

One of the {only} productive things I managed to do during my brief vacay was lounge around making some of these Anthro-esque floral brooches. They were surprisingly easy to make and you only need fabric scraps, needle + thread, and a pin backing. {Instructions from the wonderful diy/craft-loaded blog, My Mama Made It}.

I love it when I find cool {and easy} DIY projects amongst talented crafters in the blogosphere. Say hello to DIY ruffle v-neck. Fabulous and practical, no?

DIY instructions from say YES to Hoboken {and another ruffle DIY shirt, here}.

{Found via, Design Mom}

I want to go home and make this simple DIY bead necklace, right now! It looks fairly easy to make, and the materials are simple enough: beads, thread. Good mix of muted colors/shapes yet bold enough to be considered a statement necklace.

{a la Martha Stewart, of course}

Directions, here.

{Photo via Martha Stewart}

As the summer wanes, and the onset of autumn weather begins {if you’re lucky enough not to live in the southern half of the US}, I can’t help thinking how enormously fun it would be to host an outdoor movie night. Nothing schmancy or overly-technical; just another way to enjoy the remaining dog-days of summer…

And I love the set-up Courtney, from (In)side the Loop, used:

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This handheld sewing machine seems crazy! Does it work? I think I’ll have to buy this guy and find out! It might come in handy for quick hemming or craft projects….

{Pocket change price tag: $15}

Oh, but I would love to have this industrial-looking machine! Straight out of 1930…

{Yikes! $300}

Wow, I’m loving the sewing goods that Urban is now promoting. My mom said that sewing was really popular in the ’70s and it looks like there’s a resurgence, especially if sewing supplies are being sold at mainstream stores.

{This looks like a tool from Edward Scissorhands’ home; $12}

{Image via Urban Outfitters}

Apologies {to the 3.5 readers who stumble upon this little blog on an average-basis} for the lack of posts lately. I’ve gotten myself in a little car accident snafu and am recovering from foot-metatarsal + ligament surgery. {Booo…} To avoid cabin-fever I think I might order this book to keep my mind off things…

{Only $18 at amazon.com}

{Heather also has a wonderfully adorable blog!}

{ Leave A Comment }Crafts + Ideas

I think I’ve figured out the color scheme for my future first quilt: aqua + red! I don’t know why I didn’t think of this color combo sooner, especially since it’s ubiquitous, maybe even a little passé {hello, brown + baby blue/pink}. Still, I think the colors are bright + fun as well as gender neutral. {Actually, I think I’ll have to make TWO quilts, since my preferences vacillate between vibrant colors and neutral tones}.

{love the tiny toadstools fabric!}

{Image via Purl Bee}

This DIY project is lovely! {Admittedly, it even looks easy enough for me to do!} Jennifer is always chock-full of  colorful + great ideas.

For step-by-step instructions on how to make this fab inspiration board, go here.

{total eye candy!}

{Photo via MadeByGirl}

I would have never thought of hosting a Milk + Cookies themed baby shower. Wow, Brittany Gharring {her blog: Most Likely Late} is mad-talented. {Oh, and she’s only twenty…four.} I wish I knew how to plan cute + original parties like this! {Okay, parties in general.}

{jars + jars of cookies}

{”watering hole”, aka: the milk bar}

{First seen on Cookie’s Nesting blog}

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Love how classic + timeless silhouettes are, especially these little gems…

{Images via Country Living}