and the winner for the nautical necklace giveaway is…

#16

 congratulations,

erin!

mark your calendars, mother’s day is just around the corner! it’s sunday, may 13 to be exact. which gives you just enough time to skip the big box stores and order a handmade card for your sweet mom! after all, she did carry you around in her belly for nine months. it’s the least that you could do! :)

mother’s day card – baby head – $4

happy mother’s day letterpress card – $5.50

mom jeans – $4

my life would suck without you. – $3

dear mom, you are wonderful – $5

letterpress mom bouquet – $4.75

best mom ever – $8

printable mother’s day card – $4.50

mother’s day card – squeeze – $4

wrap up: {cards} {etsy} {funny} {handmade} {mom} {mother's day} {mum} {sincere}

oh, how i love a good rainstorm. :)

1) raindrop studs
2) slugs fleece rainboot liners
3) raindrops fabric
4) circles photograph
5) stormy necklace
6) hand painted flats
7) patterned raindrops
8) clouds and hearts washi tape

wrap up: {april} {earrings} {handmade} {may} {rain} {storm} {weather}

hello, lovelies! today i have a really fun diy for you- fabric covered notebooks! the steps are very similar to the fabric covered mousepad, so if you made that, this one will be a cinch (but don’t fret, it’ll be easy either way!).

here’s a quick before and after- i covered 2 jotters and a little day planner with custom fabric in just a few minutes!

here’s what you’ll need:

 
1) a piece of fusible web big enough to cover the size of your notebook, front and back. my favorite is lite steam-a-seam 2.
2) one (or more!) notebooks. mine are from moleskin.
3) a pencil
4) a pair of scissors
5) any ‘ol iron
6) a piece of pretty fabric big enough to wrap around your notebook.

how-to:

 
1) cut a piece of fusible web large enough to wrap around your notebook.

2) remove the second liner (check to see which liner removes first by peeling apart at the corner) and stick the fusible web to the wrong side of your fabric and iron into place. place your notebook on the paper liner of your fusible web and trace around it.

3) cut around your traced lines (you should have a piece of fabric that perfectly wraps around your notebook).

4) peel off remaining paper liner (leaving the web on the fabric) and stick to your notebook, making sure to line it up perfectly! press for 10-15 seconds with your iron on medium heat (you might want to lay down a piece of fabric on top of the notebook before you press to act as a heat barrier).

*make sure to follow the package directions on your fusible web as they all tend to vary slightly.

and voila! the fusible web is permanent and allows you to leave your edges unfinished as it won’t fray or lift. hooray!

wrap up: {covered} {craft} {diy} {fabric} {fusible} {notebook} {planner} {project} {sketch}

sunday, aprill 22 is earth day, one of my favorite reasons to celebrate! this year, consider doing something to make our earth a more beautiful place. maybe plant a seed, clean up a road or install more energy efficient appliances! check out earthday.org to learn more about what you can do to help mobilize the earth!

one: a wearable planter – $30
two: organic shopping bag – $33
three: eco-friendly travel mug – $45
four: organic vegetables sign – $34.95
five: mineral eye shadow – $12
six: small dog bed – $68
seven: organic tote with lace – $26
eight: 3 hanging planters – $120
nine: the earth is alive – $15

wrap up: {april 22} {earth} {earth day} {eco friendly} {energy} {go green} {handmade}

happy monday, lovelies! since we’ve moved to california, i’ve been eager to share our sweet little vine covered cottage with you. it’s actually an old converted barn, equipped with a hay loft and all (that’s where our guests sleep)!

you might remember the wishlist i made when we started looking for a new place or even the before pictures i took a while back. i’m not only happy to report that it meets all of my wishlist items, but has turned in to the most relaxing and beautiful place we’ve ever lived.

the story of how we found it is really a miracle. the housing market here in california is a bit grim (ok, a lot grim), and let’s just say way out of our price range! after a few demoralizing days of house hunting, i went home to husband david and cried on his shoulder.

we had a big prayer session and within about 5 minutes this place popped up on my craigslist iphone app. with unassuming photos and a vague description, we tried to not get our hopes up, but hurried over to look at it.

let’s just say, it was perfect. i cried (again) as soon as i saw it. it sits directly on a neighboring vineyard with views of the rolling santa ynez mountains. it’s small (about 1000 square feet) but just right for the two of us, and toaster. needless to say, we snatched it up immediately, and have been so blessed by living here!

this is where i write to you every day, and i love the bright natural light that fills the space.

{resources: print | chair | mouse pad diy}

here is my small reading nook, cozied up right next to the place where i blog. never keeping inspiration too far away!

{resources: magnet strip diy | free to fly print | drawer shelves diy}

above is my sewing corner, a space in our bedroom that i took for myself!

{resources: chair before and after}

what is the ladder for you ask? for our guests to get in to the hayloft, of course!

{resources: giza tote | look within print}

this is the latest addition to our decor, a little painting area. it sits just across the room from my work station.

{resources: driftwood wind chime tutorial}

at first sight, i thought this cooking nook was a bit quirky, but has ended up being a really great way to work while in the kitchen. everything is just where i need it!

this is where we nest (yup, those are shipping crates!).

{resources: deer pillow | diy deer hanging}

remember this diy patchwork art? this is where it hangs now!

{resources: diy patchwork art | dresser before and after}

and maybe one of my favorite features is this wisteria covered arbor. we spend a lot of time here, either reading in the hammocks or entertaining in the evenings.

{resources: diy hammock}

a welcome shot, toaster says hello ruff!

{resources: sly fox knocker}

i hope you enjoyed this little tour of our humble abode!

wrap up: {barn} {california} {converted} {home} {home decor} {house} {tour} {vine covered}

i know i don’t usually post about having kick-butt workouts or running miles on end, but the truth is that taking care of my body (heart, soul and mind) is one of the most important things to me. not only for me, but for my family and my future- it’s so important to stay healthy! here to help motivate us is my dear friend, lindsay.

lindsay is one pretty awesome gal. she’s not only the buffest momma i know, but is also incredibly sweet, kindhearted and genuine. anyone who has her in their life is blessed, and you might just have that chance!

she’s recently started a super-kick-butt-blog (literally) called lindsay’s list, and is hosting a new retreat this spring called blend- a weekend retreat where bloggers and friends become blends!

if you need a little motivation, love to workout, or just need a little pick-me-up and chance to meet and greet, then this retreat is for you!

the blend retreat will be a relaxed, laid back retreat for healthy living, food and fitness bloggers from all over (though you don’t have to be a blogger!). to learn more, check out the about page and then scurry over to registration- retreat is in 3 short weeks!

wrap up: {blend} {health} {lindsay wright} {lindsay's list} {registration} {retreat} {workout}

happy friday, friends! i have to say, this week’s meals were super scrummy and wholesome! my favorite was probably the grilled portobello burgers, which got me in the mood for warm weather and eating outside. what was your favorite meal this week?

monday: stir fry vegetable pizza with warm butternut and chickpea salad
tuesday: vegan thai curry vegetables served with a carrot salad
wednesday: vegan lentil and walnut loaf served with sauteed kale and sweet potatoes
thursday: grilled portobello burgers with vegan chipotle mayo
friday: coconut rice with lemon agave stir fry and fresh seasonal salad

what was on your plate this week? any favorite recipes you’d like to share?

we follow a whole foods, plant based diet. the dinner ideas posts are a way for me to log our dinners, how we make eating this way easy, and hopefully inspire you to try some new things as well. they are always meat free, dairy free and often gluten free. you can follow the posts here, and i encourage you to share your favorite recipes with us as well!

wrap up: {dinner} {gluten free} {healthy} {ideas} {seasonal} {vegan} {vegetarian}