Oh the lovely things

Lovely Sponsors

2013-05-21T10:40:00.001-07:00

This month's lovely sponsors are a wonderful, creative, inspiring group of lifestyle bloggers, artisans and independent shop owners. I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do! - Dell Cove Spice Co. carries everything you need to make barbecue and outdoor parties season a success (cocktail rimmers! Mojito sugar cubes!). I bet their gourmet BBQ spice and dry rub sampler would make some dads happy on Father's Day.

- Meet the lovely Shell of Kitty and Buck, who blogs about creative inspiration, photography, travel, fashion, books and picnics -and also throws in the occasional DIY and recipe post. I am amazed by her fabulous hair! I couldn't pull it off, but if you can, she shared the full how-to on how she dyes it in pastels and brights.

- Lynn and Lou are two equally awesome sisters conquering the blogosphere with DIY projects, scrumptious recipes, design and fashion inspiration, and daily happenings. Their endless creativity blows my mind.

- Calinteya carries delicate handmade jewelry, hand knitted cowls to keep you warm, and clever framed cross stitch.

- Debbie of In Whirl of Inspiration's witty and funny writing always makes me leave her blog with a smile on my face. She shares things she admires and inspire her, from crafts to recipes, to movies, to books, to travel, and basically anything pretty or amusing.

- Sent-Well is a unique online greeting card service. Choose your card (there are plenty different styles and occasions to choose from) and let Sent-Well do the rest! They will write your personal message out by hand, address the envelope, stamp it, and send your card in the mail to its lucky recipient. As easy as an e-card, with the personal touch of real cards sent the old-fashioned way!

Three Things

2013-05-20T14:21:00.000-07:00

Three Things I'm loving today:

- I want to try each of these 15 homemade face mask recipes!
- These strawberry brioches are making me hungry- I bet they are as tasty as pretty (recipe originally in polish, translated into english).
- How lovely is this painted tablecloth? Get the how-to on A Subtle Revelry.

Happy Friday! Mini DIY Roundup

2013-05-17T13:00:00.003-07:00

Happy Friday! I'm back from Rome, which is quite unfun. It's still raining here, and I already miss drinking espressos under the sun. I shared a few photos on Instagram whenever I found WiFi if you're interested.

Before taking off for the weekend (I have lots of things to catch up!), I wanted to share this week's mini DIY roundup (links below)- I'm definitely making these bath confettis tomorrow!

Have a wonderful weekend!

DIY bath confetti from Confetti Pop // Super easy technique to tint glass from Lolly Jane // DIY braided cord cover from Fabric Paper Glue

P.S.: If you love DIY projects, you may enjoy the DIY naturally dyed scarf I posted on Monday!

Art I Heart: Beth Emily

2013-05-16T13:33:00.002-07:00

Luna Moth by Beth Emily. See more of her gorgeous and ethereal art on her website or at her Etsy shop.

Three Things

2013-05-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

Three things that caught my eye lately:

- Loving these five spring wardrobe essentials on Say Yes to Hoboken (photography by Ashley Thalman).

- This DIY homemade bubble bath is super easy to make and has a delightful color. Find the recipe and two more spa DIYs on She Knows (photography by Amy Vowles).

- This blackberry rose water ice cream from Cafe Johnsonia sounds and looks dreamy!

DIY Naturally Dyed Scarf

2013-05-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

Ever since I first played with dyeing, I've been wanting to experiment some more. I've been thinking about trying to dye with natural ingredients for months, and finally decided to give it a go. There's something so exciting and fun to watch the fabric change color, and I love the soft, subtle washed colors you get when dyeing with natural ingredients. I decided to try blueberries (for a purple color) and black beans (for a blue color). There's a handy chart here that can help you find out which ingredient you need to obtain your desired color.

Supplies

- Cotton or silk scarf (need to be 100% natural and white/undyed)
- Salt
- Large pot
- Two buckets
- Fruits, vegetables, or other natural ingredients. I used blueberries (for a purple color) and black beans (for a blue color). Here is a handy chart that can help you find out which ingredient you need to obtain your desired color.

Step 1: Prepare your fabric

1. Pre-wash your scarf.
2. Place your scarf in a large pot. Add enough water to fully cover the fabric, and add salt at a 1:16 ratio (for example, one cup of salt for 16 cups of water).
3. Bring up to boil, then simmer for about on hour. The salt acts as a fixative for the dye.
4. Rinse the scarf in cold water and set it aside.
5. If you want to tie and dye, tightly wrap rubber bands wherever you want to create a design. Here is a handy chart (notice I love handy charts!) that shows several folding and tying techniques. I simply made a stripe pattern. If you just want to dye it plain, simply skip this step.

Step 2: Dye bath

I dyed a scarf in a cold dye bath of black beans (turned out blue), and another one in a hot bath of blueberries (turned out purple).

Black beans (cold dye bath)

I used about two cups of black beans for a quite long scarf (about 6.5 feet).

1. Put your beans in a bucket, generously cover them with water, and let them soak overnight. Place your scarf in a second bucket.
2. In the morning, strain the bean water into that second bucket (i.e. over your scarf). Generously cover the beans with clean water, and let them soak all day long.
3. In the evening, repeat step 2.
4. In the next morning, repeat step 2.
5. Keep repeating step 2 every 12 hours or so, until your scarf has soaked for about 3 days. It will start to smell a little, but nothing unbearable.
6. Remove the scarf, rinse it well (until the water runs clean and no more dye comes out) and let it air dry. Discard the beans.

Blueberries

I used about two cups and a half of (frozen) blueberries for a quite long scarf (about 6.5 feet).

1. Put your blueberries in a large pot. Add water at a 2:1 ratio (I used 5 cups). Bring up to boil, then simmer for about an hour.
2. Strain out water, discard blueberries, and return blueberry water to pot.
3. Add the scarf in the pot. Bring up to boil, then simmer for about an hour or two (depending on how dark you would like the dyed fabric to be). If you want the deepest possible color, turn off the heat and let the fabric sit in the pot overnight.
4. Remove the scarf, rinse it well (until the water runs clean and no more dye comes out), and let it air dry.

Voilà, enjoy your new scarf!

Happy Friday! Mini DIY Roundup

2013-05-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! This week has gone like a flash. Do you have great plans for the weekend? On Saturday I'll be selling various things at a garage sale, and on Sunday I leave in the very early morning for Rome! I love Italy. It's a birthday gift and I'm ecstatic. I'll be back on Thursday, and I have scheduled posts for while I am away, so you probably won't even notice my absence.

Before leaving, I've rounded up, as always, three of my favorite DIY projects (links below). These are really, really easy, don't require many supplies, and only take a few minutes.

- DIY dip dyed shoes by Danielle Altamura for Frankie
- DIY easy hanging candles by A Subtle Revelry
- DIY lemon sugar scrub by Tiny Telecast

Have a fantastic weekend!

Art I Heart: R.S. Posnak

2013-05-09T09:39:00.004-07:00

Animals of high moral standing by R.S. Posnak. Curious about animals of low moral standing? Find them here. See more of R.S. Posnak's art at her Etsy shop.

Link Love

2013-05-08T09:27:00.001-07:00

While I was searching for a small but thoughtful gift for a friend who has been a bit down lately, I came at these flowers-in-a-can and fell in love. The pretty pastel cans contain dahlia, impatiens, or geranium seeds and an uplifting message. There's something invigorating, almost magical and pretty symbolic about seeing something that you planted bloom. Wouldn't they make a lovely Mother's Day gift? At $10 (each), they're budget friendly as well.

More links I love this week:

- DIY blooming monogram.
- Avocado lime popsicles (gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free).
- Win super pretty, colorful shoes.
- Free frames and graphics.
- 15 natural beauty recipes using everyday foods (via).
- Bears, cats and bunnies with wooden ears.
- Print and share from your iPhone in a snap.
- Eat seasonably.
- O is for octopus.
- 3 ingredients/1 minute frozen yogurt.
- How to turn a mason jar into a solar light.
- Gorgeous floral swimsuit.

Three Things

2013-05-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

Three things I'm loving today:

- I have never tried spicy drinks, but this spicy grapefruit margarita from The Life Styled is making me thirsty. It could also be easily adapted to be non-alcoholic if needed.

- These beachy boho waves should stay all day long, even in fine hair, by following this tutorial by Jodie Hazlewood for RMW.

- Bettina Johnson always has awesome jewelry tutorials for beginners- this DIY wrapped peach aventurine ring is one of my favorites.

Happy Friday! Mini DIY Roundup

2013-05-03T09:16:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday! Hope this week treated you well. It's still raining here, as it has been all week long, so it will be an indoorsy type of weekend for me- a good excuse to dedicate time to DIY projects! If DIYing is part of your weekend plans as well, I hope you will enjoy this week's mini DIY roundup (links below). Well, in whatever way you choose to spend it, have a wonderful weekend!

DIY burlap and metallic tote by The Sewing Rabbit for Craftaholic Anonymous // DIY embroidered constellation runner by Miniature Rhino for Design Sponge // DIY nebula paperweight by For the Makers.

Art I Heart: Stephanie Ryan

2013-05-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

Think Happy Thoughts, by Stephanie Ryan. Available at her Etsy shop. See more of her joyful art on her website.

Free May 2013 Desktop Calendar & iPhone Wallpaper

2013-05-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

Happy May! It's been raining interminably here, and it's still wet and drizzly, so I have high hopes on May to bring sunshine and blossoms. I hope you'll enjoy this month calendar- as always, I'd be thrilled to hear your feedback if you have any. Let's have a beautiful month!

1280 x 1024

1600 x 1200

1680 x 1050

1920 x 1080

1920 x 1200

iPhone up to 4S (plus some smartphones)

iPhone 5 (plus some smartphones)

Credit:
- Flowers by Paislee Press
- Fonts: Courier New and Bombshell

To install the iPhone Wallaper:

Visit this post from your iPhone and tap on the link included in the post. It will take you to a new page with the wallpaper picture. Tap and hold your finger down on the picture. A menu will slide up. Tap "Save Image". The photo will be saved to your Camera Roll. Now go to your Camera Roll and tap the picture of the wallpaper. Tap the box with an arrow pointing out of it and choose "Set as wallpaper".

Three Things

2013-04-29T09:44:00.004-07:00

Three things I'm loving today:

- Although it's raining interminably here, these cantaloupe popsicles (scroll down a bit for the recipe in English) are making my mouth water. The colors alone are already a true candy. Found via this pin.

- I love all kind of fonts, but Emily Lime's ones, especially Bombshell and Jacques & Gilles, have truly won my heart lately.

- I could happily wear this "Petit Dejeuner" dress all summer long. So understated chic!

Happy Friday! Mini DIY Roundup

2013-04-26T09:23:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! The weather is terrible here, so I'm afraid I will spend most of the weekend indoors. Practicing manual mode on my camera (finally!), cooking, defeating my inbox (hopefully), working on a DIY project to share here soon, spending time with my family, making jewelry and watching TV shows while sipping pu-ehr tea (my favorite guilty pleasure) are on the agenda. What about you? What are you looking forward to this weekend?

Mini DIY Roundup of the week:

- DIY faceted concrete hooks by Homemade Modern (via Paper & Stitch)
- DIY ribbon twist ties by Fabric Paper Glue for Lynn and Lou
- DIY gem piñatas by Lovely Indeed

Have a gorgeous weekend!

Art I Heart: Gussan

2013-04-25T09:23:00.003-07:00

Typographic butterflies by japanese graphic designer Gussan. Each butterfly is formed out of various letters from select fonts! Found via Spoon & Tamago. See more of Gussan's work here.

Link Love

2013-04-24T08:38:00.000-07:00

I'm dumbfounded by these amazing DIY embroidered sunglasses from HonestlyWTF. I'm not sure that this is something I would personally wear, but they are so unique and creative! The design, color, and pattern possibilities are endless, so I'd probably try something smaller (and possibly less distracting to see out of), but I think the idea is very clever.

Other links I love this week:

- Eco-friendly, frugal ways to keep your beauty routine simple.
- I think I'm in love.
- I'm having this for breakfast tomorrow.
- A perfect handmade Mother's Day gift to DIY for the stylish mom.
- Or for the creative mom, another perfect Mother's Day gift delivered right to your door.
- And for the foodie mom, 20 Mother's Day brunch ideas.
- 11 secrets to cleaning your tech devices.
- Lazy girl fitness (via).
- Delicious + healthy snack.

Three Things

2013-04-23T10:13:00.001-07:00

Three things that caught my eye today:

1. This gorgeous crown braid chignon is perfect for warmer spring days. Full tutorial on OnceWed, photography by Rylee Hitchner.

2. This pina colada cheesecake is making me hungry, and I don't even like coconut. Recipe from Kwestia Smaku, originally in polish, with english translator.

3. Ambrosia Creative always creates amazing DIY projects, and this DIY hanging boxwood pendant does no exception.

Have a happy tuesday!

Motivational Monday

2013-04-22T08:26:00.001-07:00

On some mondays, a motivation boost is much needed. Thankfully, Eliza Cerdeiros is here to help! Motivational Monday is a hand drawn series of quotes, lyrics, or interesting sayings to help us push through our least favorite day of the week and face it with a smile.

All images by Eliza Cerdeiros. See more of her work on Motivational Monday or on her website. Her work can also be purchased on Society6.

Happy Friday! Mini DIY Roundup

2013-04-19T12:22:00.003-07:00

Happy Friday! It's been a pretty sad week for the world, and I hope each and everyone of you is safe. I'm trying to stay positive, focus on the goodness of people, and believe in a possible peace.

With this in mind, I think we have to just keep going, enjoy being with our loved ones and try to have a beautiful weekend. I don't think that would be insensitive or wrong in any way.

I tried to choose calming, soothing colors for this week's mini DIY roundup, to encourage peace and tranquility, even if in a mundane way.

How to temporarily dye your hair from A Subtle Revelry (photography by Jesy Almaguer) // DIY rope tote bag from Style Me Pretty // How to craft all-natural custom bath and massage oil blends at home by Ashley English for Design Sponge (photography by Jen Altman).

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Art I Heart: Serena Olivieri

2013-04-18T12:14:00.001-07:00

Vintage Travel Outfit, by Serena Olivieri. More of her ravishing art can be seen on her website (her patterns are amazing).

Link Love

2013-04-17T10:39:00.002-07:00

The weather changed brutally here. Two weeks ago we were lighting a fire to get a bit warmer, and today we've hit 80 degrees! When that happens, I always get sick- and this time does no exception. As a result, I need an energy boost and have found comfort in smoothies (yum!). These ten recipes from Martha Stewart (some of which are picture above, photographed by Jonathan Lovekin) are some of my favorites- especially #7, which is to die for!

More links I love this week:

- Prettiest DIY painted bottles.
- I couldn't love these shoes more.
- Yummy vegan dips.
- Free printable counting cards for toddlers.
- 4 easy overnight curling techniques.
- Dinner is served.
- 10 DIY photography projects to save you money.
- Yes indeed.

Three Things

2013-04-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

Three things that caught my eye today:

- These beautifully designed free printable recipe cards from Love vs Design can be printed blank, or filled out in Adobe Acrobat so you don't have to hand write them.

- That must be the most gorgeous photo of a duck I have ever seen. More stunning photos can be found in Dalla's photostream.

- This charlotte cake from SabrinaSue looks too good to eat, yet I'd happily have a bite!

P.S.: I wasn't sure what to say about the Boston tragedy, or if I should cancel today's post. The only thing I can say is that I'm sending thoughts and love to everyone affected by the explosions.

Happy Friday! Mini DIY Roundup

2013-04-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! What are your plans for the weekend? I'm in an I-want-to-learn-everything phase, so I think part of my weekend will be spent finally reading my camera manual, and practicing drawing and calligraphy.

Mini DIY Roundup of the week:
- Absolutely stunning no-sew sequin camera strap from Sugar & Cloth.
- A faceted hexagonal mobile is far easier to make than it may seem, and all you need is scissors, glue, and stir sticks! Full tutorial on Feathers of Gold.
- DIY dry shampoo, homemade with natural ingredients, both for dark hair and light hair, on Sincerely Kinsey.

For even more inspiration, find previous DIY roundups here or have a look at my Pinterest DIY board here.

P.S.: I'm part of a wonderful giveaway where you can win an iPad mini, taking place on Yellow Bird, Yellow Beard blog. Even if you're not interested in entering the giveaway, you will find beautiful blogs to discover and love there.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Art I Heart: Daniela Dahf Henríquez

2013-04-11T09:45:00.002-07:00

Queremos primavera, by Daniela Dahf Henríquez. Each and everyone of her illustrations is a delight, and more of her art can be seen in her Fickr stream or on her Pinterest boards.