Vintage Mint

What a simple + cute Autumnal craft: a leaf mobile! {Instructions, here.} This would be a pretty minimalist {and easy DIY} Thanksgiving decoration…in case turkey and cornucopia themes weren’t your thing.

{Still cute, even if it resembles something your 1st grader would bring home}

{Found via design*sponge}

Why not dress up like Joan Holloway {via Mad Men} for Halloween? Body-hugging vintage dress + tasteful pumps + red lips + brooch + Sass = perfect ensemble. See other featured interpretations of current pop culture icons on the New York Times, here.

{Image via Tony Cenicola/NY Times}

Found these instructions on how to make a tutu/petticoat from Free People’s blog. Cute idea for part of a Halloween costume. I’m sure having a homemade tutu will come in handy some day…

{Image via Primex}

{ Leave A Comment }Crafts + Ideas

I recently signed up for a beginner’s quilting class and I am psyched…and apprehensive {I’m terrible at geometry and the idea of cutting out trillions of perfectly measured little squares + triangles scares me}. And who says quilts have to be country patchwork drab? I’d be hard pressed to make a dumpy quilt with these lovely fabrics:

{Amy Butler; Anna Maria Horner; Ikea}

{Fabrics via fabricworm; Fabric Supplies by Charlie; Fern Ridge Fabrics}

Reading Eddie’s blog is like reading a condensed decorating magazine — chock full of absolutely brilliant ideas, tips, photos, and inspiration {he is the senior style editor of Martha Stewart Living, and a Top Design contestant}. I’m grateful for all the knowledge he so willingly shares about entertaining, diy projects, and decorating; and all with a kind and very unassuming narrative.

{Eddie’s living room: repainted/reupholstered chairs from a flea market}

{Pharmaceutical cabinet turned hutch for storing collection of dinnerwares.}

{Antiqued ironstone urns with lovely flower arrangements.}

{First heard about on layersofmeaning}
{Images via Eddie Ross}

I don’t have any children, yet, but I thought this idea from Brooke Reynold was so sweet. Sometimes I can’t remember the funny things my husband, or my family say, and this would be a great way to document those absurd comments + dialogue! Just use a piece of scrap paper, {anything nearby: receipt, post-it}, and jot down the funny moment, fold it, and place it in a jar. Simple enough.

{First seen on Cookie}

Scouring flickr for some Halloween-esque mantlescape ideas {ha! and I don’t even have a fireplace!}, I came across some inspirational ideas:

I actually had a very similar tree-branch-in-vase look for last Halloween. {More on that later.}

{boopsie.daisy}

{MelanieF}

{goldenpaws}

{melissann}

I think Lorajean describes early holiday decoration best.
{Found via layers of meaning}

{ Leave A Comment }Crafts + Ideas, Home + Garden, Inspiration

Even though I’m finished with school {still entertaining the idea of getting a Masters…}, this time of year always evokes a feeling of wanting to buy new office/desk/craft supplies: freshly sharpened black pencils, stationery, markers, notebooks… And so I’ve got my eye set on the following:

{Page 1 Pencil Cup}

{Muji Color Pencil Set}

{Muji Aluminum Pencil Case}

{Moleskine Notebook}

{Prismacolor Markers}

{Whisker Graphics Pine Cone Stationery}

I suppose it’s not right that I now have Halloween on the mind. I know, it’s too early to be talking about such things; but Halloween takes place during my favorite time of the year: Autumn! So I can’t help but think of all the fun crafts, pumpkin-carving, chilly nights, apple cider… So to help me get ready, I’ve signed up for the Martha Stewart “Halloween Workshop“; first project starts Monday!