Etsy Fun!

Sorry for the delay, ( I was going to post this yesterday...) but I guess life just snuck up on me. (AKA my husband was home from work last night. Translation? I do nothing when my hubby is home. We just hang. smile!)

So I figure we'll feature some Etsy love. I just recently ordered a beautiful (handmade, custom) bag from Paulina Carcach!! I had been waiting what seemed like an eternity (honestly when you have to wait at all for something you really want doesn't it always seem like forever?) I received a package in the mail yesterday. Take a deep breath, you're going to want it before you squeal!

And because I'm becoming more and more like a girl the older I get... I asked her if I could have some bright colored feminine fabric...

Enter pink! ALLELUIA! (ppsssst! Can you see the dragon bag? Of course I did that on purpose! Silly!)

Needless to say, when I was able to make my first *big* expensive bag purchase I passed up the chance to buy a Coach bag (to the utter surprise of my mom,) to order from Paulina. Instead I have a classic amazing quality leather bag that was HAND-MADE for me at a fraction of the price of a Coach bag! And I was even able to have it customized! And let me tell you, my mom was GUSHING over the bag when she saw it. And now my only decision is... what color will my next Paulina bag be?? Because she has the most WONDERFUL selections of colored leather to chose from, EVER!!! :) Plus I'm super excited because when Paulina has a handbag line that is as big as Coach my customized Paulina bag is going to be worth mega-bucks. ;) I can just see myself now...

"Oh yes I have one of Paulina's first bags. It was hand-made by her. You know that's how she originally made all of her bags..." ;-)

I think I might make featuring Etsy profiles a regular THANG... not because people are paying me, but because I think it is IMPERATIVE that we give props to the other amazingly creative people out there who are also doing it on their own. And also because I have an Etsy shop that I am super in love with right now... That I'll wait to comment on until I have bought some scrumptuous things of my own. Until then... can you guess what I'm working on??

I'm an IDIOT!

I feel like such an idiot.

I just glanced at my comments and I was like "ok, I guess I'll just get rid of them."

And selected them all and DELETED THEM.

UGH! I'm a jerk-face. I thought I would just delete like the NOTIFICATION part of them on blogger... not delete the VERY FEW comments I actually have! I am currently heart-broken. I'll report back later with some things that make my heart go pitter-patter. Until then... boogers! :(

Dragon Bag Lady

I did a small little craft in preparation for my new handbag that is in the process of being hand-made from Etsy. (insert huge smile here!) It's from Paulina Carcach and I can't even tell you how excited I am about it.

Note about Etsy: SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW CREATIVE FOLK. BUY FROM THE LITTLE GUYS!

That being said, I have full hopes of treating my new purse like *gold,* shimmering *gold* to be specific. One way I am going to do this is that everything I put in my new purse I want to be in its own cosmetic case or something of the sort.

Thank you Design Sponge for this wonderful tutorial at the most perfect time.

Check out my Dragon Bag!!! :)

Get in the bag you miscellany that might ruin my new purse!

Taking White to a Whole New Level

Who doesn't love the basic before and after of taking a junky piece of run-down furniture, (like said side table,) and turning it into something classic and wonderful by updating the hardware and painting it white??

But for this DIY'er... it's not enough. After seeing a piece of furniture a while back at Home Goods (God, I love that store!) painted flat black with a stenciled high-gloss black design over it, I fell in love. But months passed and I forgot about the concept. In comes Bethany's BEAUTIFUL Kitchen re-do on Sawdust and Embryos... with an accent wall painted with (you guessed it!) a flat color with a hand-painted accent in the same color with a high gloss. Strokes of genius!

So this isn't any ordinary white re-do...

Because if you look a little closer...

You might find the gem of the subtle patterns painted in high-gloss. For those of you who enjoy elegance without the fuss of being too over-the-top. :)

::uber proud::

I think I officially have to quit my full-time job so I can do this all the time. And with more amazing colors. :)

What do you think? :) Have something you want to try this on? Have something you want ME to try this on? :)

I've had ENOUGH!

Of myself!

Being LAZY alllllll week.

It has to end.

TODAY!

After work I am going directly to Home Depot... I will not pass Go. I will not collect $200. I am going to Home Depot to buy a can of flat-white spray paint if it KILLS ME.

And hopefully, just hopefully...

I will be able to at least put a single coat on the primed nightstand that has been sitting outside on my balcony for a week. And maybe even start some of my fancy-shmancy detailing too...

Before people come over for the weekly hang-out at 6.

Yikes, 6??

Like 6 PM? TONIGHT??

And I have to clean too???

::prayingiwillmoveatwarpspeed::

WHOOSH!!!

The Unwritten, Unnamed Book

Some of you might know (giggles... who reads this blog anyway?) that at the beginning of the summer one of my goals was to write my book.

(Guttural laugh!)

How silly I was. I must be honest, I haven't been able to add to my book nearly as much as I want to. I know part of the reason is honestly because I try to do a bit of everything.

Want to see the trees I put up in my foyer?

How about the plate arrangement I have in my kitchen?

My chandelier and drapes I just hung up?

Not to mention the almost-finished garment I am crocheting, or the nightstand that I have primed, the sheets I have to return because I decided I am NOT using them for the curtains I want to make...

So to be honest, while writing is absolutely in my heart, (I seriously crave writing sometimes... like I know there is too much on my mind that I have to get out,) I absolutely have not had the intentional time of sitting down to write.

My poor book. You know it doesn't even have a name? Isn't that a sad thing for a book? It's like the unnamed puppy that needs to be loved and cared for so that it can become a loving, obedient dog. And it's as innocent (seeming) as a puppy, big eyes and all, looking back up at me from my computer screen saying "Please mommy, please come and love me."

Oh darling little (unnamed) book. I will take care of you soon sweetheart.

I just have to make a list and go grocery shopping... And I can't miss my favorite work-out class at 5:30 if I ever think I am going to lose weight. And I have to pick up a new can of spray paint so the primed nightstand outside doesn't bother the neighbors.... and pick up a new hook for the frame I painted... and do laundry... and make dinner...

All of a sudden I feel like I have officially orphaned my book... poor unwritten book.

Live and Learn: Go Big or FAIL

So after a long time.... aka MONTHS... I have finished the hand-tied spring chairs that I claimed as my first ever reupholstering project.

And guess what?

I HATE them. Great right? I finished them last night, and in my opinion they are completely terrible and awful.

But let's do an appropriate before and after.

And now... well, I hate them. Like I said. Why? Because the frame is bold, but the fabric is safe. The fabric does nothing for the piece. Nor does the fabric make the buttons pop at all. So now I am faced with a dilemma: either update the fabric and make it more graphic and bold or make the frame softer.

Boogers.

I am more than annoyed.

Moral of the story? Don't be afraid to go big... or seriously, GO HOME. So either go safe and soft throughout your piece, or go big and bold.

Any-who, look forward to another "before and after" within the next few days...