{ Gypsies: Trendy Thrifts - Dishes }

Have I mentioned how much Saver's feels like my best friend? I spend wayyyyyyyy too much time there. (Its embarrassing). Over the last 5 months I've collected pieces that one day, I hoped, would make up the perfect table setting. Well, patience is a virtue my friends. Yes, indeed.

.....Okay, your bug eyes are scaring me. You can't do this you say? Your brain is already going into overload? Don't even break a sweat: Its super super easy. (And fun!) Go on your next scavenger hunt with these few simple tips and you'll walk out of there with your hands full of precious goodies!

1) Look for unique patterns

2) Look for your favorite colors but complementary colors. (Pictured is: White, sanded red, sea-spray green, canary yellow and robins egg blue) But, you could do this with many many color combinations.

3) Buy in bulk. Make sure there are enough in each set to work.
    I found:

•  6 Large white dinner plates - 2 different designs totaling 3 each
•  3 sanded red salad plates
•  3 white salad plates
•  3 sea-spray green appetizer plates
•  3 sailor's stripe blue and white appetizer plates
•  6 robin's egg blue dessert plates
•  6 Elegant sipping glasses

           (I gave these names to the plates because they were thrifted :)

4) Check for dings, rust stains, chips or (worst of all!) cracks. 

5) As you build, remember to mix solids with prints for balance and aesthetic (see picture below).

6) Relax! Collect over time. :) Start with whichever sized plate strikes your fancy and build from there. 

Below I've collaged the pieces I've bought, marked with corresponding numbers and their price. (Just click to enlarge.)

1) Small Serving Plate/Butter-knife Plate in Canary Yellow - $2.99 (splurge)
2) Large Rose Garden Pattern Dinner Plate in White - $1.49 ea
3) Medium Salad Plate in Sanded Red - $.49 ea
4) Small Appetizer Plate in Sea Spray - $.29 ea
5) Large Water Ripple Pattern Dinner Plate in White - $1.49 ea
6) Medium Rose Garden Pattern Salad Plate in White - $.49 ea
7) Small Appetizer Plate in Sailor's Stripe Blue and White - $.29 ea
8) Medium Dessert Plate in Robin's Egg Blue - $.49 ea
9) Medium Elegant Sipping Glass - $.69 ea

Also, this is our home decor now for spring. I can't wait for the warm sunshine on my skin and baby birds on the lawn!

Happy Spring and Happy Thrifting!!! I want to hear all about it!

{ DIY: Chic White Fruit Display }

In our dining room, we've been keeping our fruit in a woven basket with hand-towels. At first, when I was very much into the 'farm look' I was all for it - and glad to have not spent one penny on the set-up which really was pretty charming. However...as you read previously - I'm so into modern/simplifying with a touch of whimsy now. I am not.at.all into the very odd mod colors like browns with orange, that weird military green or greys with red. YUCK. (sorry if thats your decor) I'm all for the very types of colors you see here on the blog = bright and happy, with just a touch of nostalgia. <3

Anyhoot, I've been looking for a cake stand - turned fruit display for about two months now. Mostly at thrift stores because anything resembling it is at least $20 bucks elsewhere. Plus! I wanted to try my hand at transforming an object by paint. Last night I was at Savers (a thrift shop).

FINALLY. There.It.Was. I snatched that thing so fast off the shelf I'm sure the person next to me probably thought I was possessed. I couldn't believe I found it and pretty much floated through the store to the registers with a huge smile of glee plastered on my face. So! Below is the DIY for turning a cake stand into a chic fruit display. Enjoy!

Chic White Fruit Display

Supplies:

1)  Medium Sized Paint Brush
2) White Acrylic or Interior Paint (Used: Behr's White on White Interior Paint Sample Size, $3 @ Home Depot, both non-toxic)
3) Newspaper or Paper Bag for surface protection
4) Food-Friendly Gloss Lacquer for Acrylics or Interiors to seal the paint and create shine. (Home Depot) Must be used outside where ample ventilation is present.

1) Cover in the first coat of paint. Let dry. (You can lightly sandpaper before you begin painting to hold the paint better, but I didn't here)

After it drys it will look like this:

TIP: Its good to lift your project up after its been painted to avoid the paint gluing the paper on the bottom to your project.

2) Apply a second coat of paint and repeat until dark wood undertones are no longer visible. (This project took 4 coats total) Let dry.

3) Cover project once in a food-friendly coat of gloss lacquer for paint sealant and shine. (still need to do this myself, not pictured, ooops!)

Enjoy your new creation!

This project was super fun and super easy! I painted it 4 times within 3 hours the night before and the next morning it was totally dry, and if I had the gloss lacquer I could have swiped a coat on very easily! Have fun!

{ Effervescent Etsy's No. 1 }

holli

Paola Zakimi

argentina

Happy Saturday to you! I was serenaded out of bed this morning by the sing-song of hammers on my neighbor's roof at 8:30am. nice. Who lets these people work before 10am on a Saturday!?

Anyhoot..when the incessant pounding looked as though it wont be letting up anytime soon, I jumped out of bed, put on some snugglies because it is F.R.E.E.Z.I.N.G in Texas (???) and thought, now would be the perfect time to continue my World-Wide-Web search of all things whimsical, lulling, illusory, utopian, mirthful, romantic and curious. (say that 5 times fast) And...share them all with you!

I spend most of my relaxing time scanning the net for these sorts of things...and I have to say that I was first set off on this change of eye when I passed by a DARLING Toddler's bedspread by Fabler, which I convinced my mom to buy for my neice. When in Ikea... (but we'll save that for another post)

Now, this change of eye has taken over my whole life. My closet, the rooms in my house, my blog, gifts to friends or family. Its the zapper and I'm the moth. (Someone save me now!) My eye is constantly scanning every inch of my love nest here, to see how/where I could make some pixi-dust change on the cheap - and cute! (annnnnd, share them with you!)

As I was jumping around on random blogs, to which I found/added many new friends, I came across a feature for this artist, who's samples of watercolor art/print I've collaged below. She is FABULOUS! I want to buy each and every one of them for my kids! (when they come - but hey, I know their coming!) Even now I'm considering buying some to frame for my niece. She loves little creatures like these! And, I think for a child, these sorts of prints are so wonderful for the enrichment of their imagination and creativity!

Five stars for this lovely artist. You can find her Etsy shop here. To enlarge the pictures below, just click.

1) Take a Walk                      ::  $15 usd

  2) Foxy Print                          :: $5.50 usd

    3) Sofi and the Fish                :: $20.00 usd

    4) Stowaway Migrating II       :: $35.00 usd

{ Holiday Decor Wrap-Up }

Organic Christmas

Inspired by:  Little Women

There is one unspoken ritual that weaves throughout each year of my life: 

Spring/Summer - Pride & Prejudice

Fall/Winter - Little Women

yeah.

I've watched these movies at least, 100 times each (no joke). They continually play in our house like background music. I can recite every line (the Hubs put me to the test - hehe, little did he know just what a freak he married...) and can have a fully-loaded backed-up discussion about each film as if it were a NASA project. I absolutely LOVE to watch these movies when I'm doing housework; nothing puts me in the mood more :) I'm reminded of the simple times, when I suppose, times weren't really all that simple compared to the various household luxuries we have now: washing machines, dishwashers, vacuums (what a strange word) cleaners, etc. However, simple in the sense of having the time to really loves ones home like your child you dote on. Folding linens, cleaning dishes, hemming clothes, crocheting blankets, finding creative uses for old items, cooking dinner, setting the table - all the while turning your home into a mirror of your soul: peaceful, cozy and full of love. These movies completely inspire this in me. 

Thus, this year I decided to mold our Christmas after the organic love of Little Women! :) 

One thing I observed about that time period, is during the holiday season, Christmas Tree needles were attached to EVERYTHING. Across the doorway, over the mantle, dangling from lanterns and candles. Ribbons were tied onto everything also, usually with the needles. And scraps of fabric turned into little mittens, stockings, garland. This is just a little view of our home during Christmas :)

The needles placed on the frame and tied to the clock are real, and were cut from the Christmas Tree, which I did variously throughout the house. Though, I think next year we'll buy a Douglas Fir instead (this is the first year I've had this bush of a tree). I found it dried out very fast, despite that I watered it to death and needles were everywhere. I don't remember its name, but it was the cheapest one. Though, I loved its full look, and it still smelled great. 

The frames were purchased at a good will outlet - I think probably at $ .50 cents a piece. They are naturally distressed - at one point I'll paint them but for this season, I liked the wood. Inside them I placed various Christmas Tree Ornaments to frame the season. 

(To zoom in on the pictures, just click on them)

Needles on Candle holders, framed ornaments, Nativity scene, ribbons

Close up of the framed ornaments and Candle holders. This frame was salvaged from Goodwill as well.

Pine scented candle for the centerpiece

This is in the kitchen - fresh needles from the tree with pine-cones and an old lantern. The lantern and wire basket were about $5 each at Hobby Lobby. (for those who aren't familiar with this AMAZING store ) 

Another view of the living room, frames with ornaments, a needle semi-wreath, ribbons on tree

Up-close view of the tree :) Fabric/wood ornaments, bows, natural/organic material such as wood, feathers, tin, berries, etc.

Up-close view of the framed ornaments. These frames also salvaged and naturally distressed from Goodwill.

A spot by the TV: This little guy was purchased at Hobby Lobby for about $5, as well as the large Christmas pick at about $1, sitting in an old vase from a past birthday gift. 

And that, was our Little Women Christmas!