I lived in a Forest

I just adore this illustration by Steph Says Hello... I stumbled across it on Pinterest and fell in love with it, ordered a print and got it a few days ago! I can't wait to get it framed and hung up, it makes me so happy. Check out her lovely work here!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend planned. I'm so excited about the Etsy Craft Party tonight, I hope to see you there!

Wallpaper Dilemma

My spare bathroom has been in a state of almost-remodeled for far too long, and I'd love to get it finished soon. But first I have to decide on the wall paper, and that is no easy task. All the bathroom fixtures are white, and there is white bead-board halfway up the walls, so I've got some room to play with pattern and color with the remaining wall-space. (Note: this is a different bathroom than the one I need a new shower curtain for.)

Petal Pusher in metallic gold/white, $125/roll

Oh Joy!'s gorgeous Petal Pusher pattern with Hygge & West is my top pick, but I don't know if I can handle the price tag (I need 3 double rolls).

Swirls in black/gray/ivory, $50/roll

Also a strong contender is Graham & Brown's fabulous Swirls pattern. It's a bold look, and although I love it now, I do wonder if I might tire of it after a bit.

Victorian Effect in paintable white, $25/roll

My remaining option is Graham & Brown's lovely Victorian Effect paintable pattern. The wallpaper comes white with the embossed design, and you can paint it any color you want. I actually love the idea of an all-white bathroom, and it's definitely the practical choice since I can easily change the color later on, but I'm worried that I'm missing out on my chance to do something really fun with this room.

So there you have it, my wallpaper dilemma. Which would you choose?

Oh Happy Day Goes to Paris!

One of the coolest bloggers ever, Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day, just became even cooler. She moved to Paris for a year, and then decided to GIVE AWAY A TRIP TO VISIT HER IN PARIS!!!!! Sorry. I'm trying to reign in my excitement. I know my chances of winning this are slim, but if it can't be me, I would love it if it were one of my dear readers (Pssst. Take me with you!) Check out the details and enter to win over at Jordan's post!

Wishlist: Shower Curtains

 I'm planning out a minor bathroom update, and I need to get a new shower curtain. I've been searching high and low for what is my perfect shower curtain: something white with elegant details. Why is it so hard for the manufacturers to make this? Everything I find is too industrial-looking or frou-frou. I finally found where they've been hiding these perfect shower curtains: Anthropologie. They have several options that I simply adore.... except for the price tag. Unless I get completely desperate or win a decent sum of money, these babies are out of my wallet's reach. But they are lovely, aren't they?

Sculpted Mums ... this is my favorite.

Bustled ... so sweet!

Tender Falls ... love this! Looks like a party dress.

Diamond Falls ... this one is on sale and would actually be perfect if it weren't for the blue details.

Tazetta ... beautiful embroidery!

You're Invited to a Craft Party!

Etsy is orchestrating the second annual Global Craft Party this Friday, June 10th. If you're in the area, please join us for the Greenville edition! Our craft party will be held at the fabulous Dapper Ink space, just outside downtown. Bring your own craft project to work on and a snack or drink to share. Please RSVP via email or the Facebook event so we can plan for seating.

Greenville to far away? Hold your own craft party! Check out the Etsy info here.

ICP Blog: Photography Tips

I'm skipping the weekend glimpse today... I had a lovely and relaxing weekend and part of the enjoyment was the lack of pressure to photograph everything. ;-D

Have you all been reading the Indie Craft Parade blog? I hope so! Jen is doing a fabulous job of putting together the posts. She did an excellent one yesterday with tips for photographing your work. If you're applying to Indie Craft Parade or selling your work online, you know how important good photos are. If  your photos don't show off the quality of your work, you won't be able to impress the jury or the customers. You don't have to be a professional photographer with fancy equipment to achieve good results. Take a look at this example Jen shot, comparing harsh regular lighting with a homemade light box.

harsh regular lighting

light box

Check out the rest of the post here for more tips on lighting
and staging your photos!

Happy Weekend!

Whew. I'm ready for the weekend. The past few days have been crammed full with work and play, so I'm excited to have least one day with no plans. I think I'll sleep in tomorrow, work in my garden, and catch up on some Netflix. How about you?

Source: oncewed.com via Erin on Pinterest

Now Accepting Applications!

It's that time again... We are now accepting applications for this year’s Indie Craft Parade! All regional artists and crafters are encouraged to submit their work for consideration. Applications must be submitted before midnight EST on June 19, 2011. Our application process is completely online this year, and is much more streamlined and user-friendly.  A huge thank you to DUO Interactive, a local web design team that donated this wonderful feature. 

Click here to apply!

Indie Craft Parade BLOG

Big news! We've been working on creating a blog for Indie Craft Parade for the last few months, and it finally launched! The fabulous design was done by Libby, and most of the posting will be done by our awesome volunteer, Jen.

Our blog will feature behind the scenes details, tips for selling your work, artist interviews, studio tours, crafting trends, and DIY projects. Make sure you follow along, it's going to be a lot of fun.

We also have a small ad section on the blog, let us know if you'd like to promote your shop or website!

Weekend Glimpse

A little late with the weekend post, but here it is.

We had our monthly cooking club this past weekend, and it was a blast as usual! On the menu this time was paella and crepes... everything turned out soooo good.

Veggies for the paella, so pretty.

Many hands make light the work!

Finished paella. We did one with sausage and chicken and another with sausage and shrimp.

Crepes! They turned out perfectly light and thin. We made mini ones so we could enjoy lots of combinations of the toppings: strawberries, chocolate, Nutella, bananas, and salted caramel.

Not pictured:

- swimming

- Sunday afternoon nap

- thanks for those who serve

- BBQ with friends

- swimming again

- new haircut

- Indie Craft Parade work

Salted Caramel Butter Bars

I spotted these salted caramel butter bars on Pinterest a few months ago, and had been waiting for a excuse to make them. I finally got the chance last weekend for the girls trip, and am pleased to report, they are just as wonderful as I had hoped. They're like a soft shortbread sandwiched with salted caramel... mmmmm, so good! Definitely rich, these bars are best served in small squares. Recipe and photos courtesy of Cookies and Cups, click here to try them yourself!

Free Printable Wedding Stationary

You know I love me some paper goods, and these free printables from The Wedding Chicks really hit the spot. They've partnered with fabulous designers to bring you fully customizable wedding stationary... for free! From save the dates to full invitation suites, menus to escort cards, they've got you covered. And the best part is, you can completely customize every aspect of the design, from type to graphics, to fit your exact color scheme! You just type in your info, select the colors for each aspect, and voila! Their system generates a high-resolution image with your details. Then you just right-click and save to your desktop, after which you can send the file to your printer. Seriously, this is a dream come true for brides on a budget. Take a peek at some of the designs!

And there's more fabulousness where that came from! Check out The Wedding Chick's download section for their full range. Many of the designs are available with coordinating save the dates to unify your wedding theme. Don't forget to drop by their DIY section, there's more great printables along with some fantastic projects. They've also got a lovely blog, so be sure to say hello and thank them for the free designs!

Of course, these printables aren't just for weddings. In fact, I've got my eye on the Sweet Love suite for a shower coming up!

Bunting Invitation Suite

Mason Jar Invitation Suite

Photo Booth Sign

Photo Thank You Card

Sweet Love Invitation Suite

Fancy Photo Save the Date

Heart & Arrow Monogram

Bicycle Wedding Invitation Suite

Smokey Slow-Cooked Ribs

 I made these ribs for our Easter dinner, and have been dying to share them with you. So good, and so easy! I always forget to use my crock-pot for actual cooking (I mostly use it to keep food warm), but I then I make a recipe like this and fall in love with the fix-it-and-forget-it method. It's extra perfect for holiday dinners, when you already have a million and one other dishes to prepare. Not only are they ridiculously easy, but they are so good, really, crazy good. The hours in the crockpot serve to make them fall-off-the-bone tender (I mean it! I saw it happen!), and they are immersed in flavor. All that to say, make them. You won't regret it.

Smoky Slow-Cooked Ribs

3 1/2 lbs pork loinback ribs (also called babyback ribs)
1/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper
3 T. Liquid Smoke (Hickory flavor works well)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
1 medium onion, sliced
1/2 c. Coca Cola
1 1/2 c. BBQ sauce

Spray inside of 5-6 quart slow cooker with cooking spray. If necessary, remove inner skin from the ribs. In a bowl, mix together brown sugar, pepper, Liquid Smoke, garlic, and salt. Rub mixture onto all sides of the ribs. Cut ribs into 4 inch pieces, then layer ribs and onion in the slow-cooker. Pour Coca Cola over everything. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours, or until ribs are tender. Remove ribs from slow cooker, and discard liquid and onions. Pour BBQ sauce into a shallow bowl, and dip each of the rib pieces into the sauce. Return the ribs to the slow-cooker, and pour any remaining BBQ sauce over them. Cover and cook on low for 1 hour. Serve and enjoy! Serves 6.

Weekend Glimpse

The beach weekend with the girls was simply glorious. We relaxed, ate good food, enjoyed the hot tub, the beach, and each others company... a perfect min-vacation with no schedule to keep and no chores to worry about. It has been unanimously decided to make this trip an annual event.

The view from our little beach cottage...
calm waves, warm sun, cool breeze.

At Taco Boy in Folly Beach... apparently the place to party, judging by the neighboring groups. (which included a stuffed monkey wearing a sombrero and someone who found a bar stool very difficult to maneuver.)

Girl time often turns into a hair-braiding party.

 Our fabulous bronzed + burned group... love these girls!

Shopping in downtown Charleston, found a magnificent Urban Outfitters.

Breakfast at the Lost Dog Cafe in Folly Beach...
we waited nearly an hour to get in, and it was worth it.

Not pictured:

- good talks

- funny beach house decor

- late night run for ice cream + aloe

- fascinating eavesdropping on our beach neighbors

- silly stories and lots of laughter

- peanut butter M&Ms

- amusing incidents that I am not allowed to relate

- complete relaxation

Happy Weekend!

Source: katespadeny.tumblr.com via Veruca on Pinterest

My weekend is starting a little early, as I'm off for a mini-vacation at the beach with the girls! I am SO. EXCITED. We're going to have a blast enjoying the sun and sand, with plenty of late night chatter and giggling thrown in. I'll be back on Monday with some photos for you!

Mane Message

I come to you today with a very girly subject: hair ties. I wear my hair in a ponytail about 80% of the time, but I'd never given much thought to these basic accessories. Then I spotted some beautiful handmade ones on Pinterest, and suddenly re-thought the lowly hair tie. Let's face it, scrunchies gave it their best shot but ended up looking kinda silly. Why not infuse little aspects of our life with beauty? So I clicked over to Mane Message, and dove into a sea of prettiness. See for yourself...

Fabulousness abounds! So not only are these accessories lovely, they are luxurious too... made of silky soft elastic. But the best part is, these hair ties are incredibly comfortable. They grip your hair securely without pulling or leaving harsh dents. Seriously, I didn't even realize how uncomfortable my old hair ties were until I tried these. Now I can never go back... plus I need one in every color! Good thing the prices are reasonable. ;-D

From Olivia Hayward, the creator of Mane Message:
Mane Message's hair ties transcend run-of-the-mill drug store hair elastics. They reinvent what it means to wear your hair up, thus making your overall look special, creative and noteworthy. Mane Message specializes in tie dye hair ties, tie dye headbands, solid hair ties, solid headbands and other bohemian-chic elastic hair accessories that double as bracelets. Mane Message hair accessories are handmade out of soft stretchy elastic that doesn't leave dents in your hair.

Check out the Etsy shop here!

I'll get off my soapbox now. This isn't a sponsored post, I just really love these hair ties and had to share.

Handmade Nation

It's starting to be that time of year... Indie Craft Parade time!

We are very excited to announce a special screening of the independent documentary, Handmade Nation!

Handmade Nation documents the new wave of art, craft and design that is capturing the attention of the nation. It is the feature film debut of director, author, artist and curator Faythe Levine. Levine traveled to 15 cities and covered more than 19,000 miles to interview artists, crafters, makers, curators and community members.

Director Faythe Levine captured the tightly knit community that exists through websites, blogs, and online stores that connect to the greater public through independent boutiques, galleries and craft fairs. Interviews were conducted on-location in artist studios, homes, boutiques, offices and craft fairs, giving the public an exclusive and rarely seen look into the lives of these creative individuals.

This screening is hosted by Indie Craft Parade in collaboration with Greenville Forward and The Warehouse Theater. Join us on Tuesday, May 31 at 6:30 pm; admission is $10 and space is limited! Reserve your tickets online here, or by calling 864-233-8443.

Birthday Glimpse

Technically, my birthday was the middle of last week,
but the partying went on for days, so I'll use this as my weekend post.

Cory made sure I had a marvelous birthday... he let me sleep in extra late, took me out to lunch, got me blush pink roses and my favorite FiggyWhigs cupcakes, and showered me with presents. Powdered food coloring! A whole stack of washi paper tape! A food scale! (He considered these things very silly, but it's what I wanted.) And I didn't take any photos, so just imagine it for me. It was all quite lovely.

Heather hosted a perfect little party with the girls, and she and Annie made these most scrumptious treats: Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes topped with whipped ganache and fresh blackberries.

 Heather made a marvelous dinner and had a very pretty table.

And then more lovely presents, including my new favorite scarf. But best of all was just hanging out with the girls... we have so much fun together, and I just love them all to pieces. We laugh so much, it should be illegal.

Other weekend festivities, not pictured:

- helping friends move, yay for new houses!

- porch-sitting

- music volume up and windows down

- bunny-watching

- planning

- glamorous ICP work (data-entry, woohoo.)

- laundry

Happy Weekend!

I hope you have a lovely weekend planned! 

Now that Blogger is fixed, I can relax and enjoy mine. ;-D

Source: 79ideas.org via Erin on Pinterest

Fancy Fashion Wishlist

I seem to be gravitating towards a a cleaner look in fashion... or at least in my fashion wishlist. These items are mostly beyond the reach of my pocketbook, but a girl can dream!

Tiered Ruffleback Jacket by Banana Republic, $175

Shiny Leather Mathilda Bag by Orla Kiely, $635

Jade Link Necklace by Kenneth Jay Lane, $80

Diamond Shaker Necklace by Abejas, $3,000

Scarf (source and price unknown, but it's probably expensive)