Saturday, July 3, 2010

Vesta Home Show 2

This was the second home at the show..., this home won best in show and by far was my favorite....

This bathroom was to die for!!

 
This bedding was very formal but elegant, and the otherside of the room looked like this.

 
Don't you just love it?

t
This is the third house... 
I didn't love the outside of it but the inside.... oh dear heavens, I felt like I was literally walking the pages of a magazine. 
This home had exquisite furnishings. I will let the pictures speak for themselves. (sorry i wasnt able to get more upclose... baby was very busy that day.)





 
This is the room in the carriage house over the garage (detached from home)


 
This home reminded me so much of New Orleans


The baseboards of this kitchen had the coolest feature.
You did a gentle touch with the shoe and the baseboards were hidden drawers under the kitchen cabinets to hide cash, passports, and jewelry. Genius idea!!!

Hope all of you enjoyed looking at these beautiful homes as much as i did. Now i am full of ideas and bursting at the seems to implement them!!

This past week has been pretty hectic. 
  • I finished the nursery bedding i was working on, 
  • finished the other set of panels for ACs room. (yes the fabric did retire and it took me forever to find more... but hey its the risk you run...)
  • cleaned out the garage
  • organized more clothing
  • cleaned out/super detailed my car
  • cleaned off all the walls where little bit decided to use an expo marker and create her own art....
JOY!!  
Hope you all have a wonderful fourth of July!


Sunday, June 27, 2010

Vesta Designer Home Showcase 1

First off i owe you guys an apology... i didn't hold up my end of the deal with blogging twice a day... i am so sorry, but getting two shipments of fabric in the mail/ finishing my friend's nursery bedding got in the way. Anyway, I wanted to share with you what my hubby and i did saturday night....

The 2010 Vesta Home Show Tour

Yall are probably thinking, "What the heck is this thing??"
 Well, you see, the local Area Home Builders Association gathers and several builders decide to build homes to showcase in this yearly event.

awesome design + best interior decorators in the city= I am there!!

Okay alot to share so this is the first of several posts.....


This is the first home. Very different but had incredible bones!! Here is what i fell in love with in the home.

One of the master bath vanities.

Walk in closet off of master bath

simple bathroom yet still chic, 
ps i am totally making me some preserved boxwood arrangements soon. love them.

Dining room from the stairwell looking into living space and then courtyard. 
ADORE this fixture.

The designer for this home is Amy Howard. 

I am blown away with everything she placed in this beautiful home. 

More to come....

Friday, June 25, 2010

New Preppie Peonie Pieces

As you can see baby has been doing her fair share of helping out lately!
A little sun suit, for a little boy... (no one is not on the way but i just LOVE this pattern)

This little top will get baby's monogram added to it!!

And every little girl's summer wardrobe needs a new applique!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Render, A paper-doll decor tutorial

As many of you may already know I was a fashion design major at The University of Alabama. (yes it is a real program and actually a few notable people graduated from it, i.e. Anthony Williams from this last season of Project Runway.)
Okay, get to the point jenny beth....sorry i do love to ramble.

One of the classes I hated,loved for reasons because it stretched me in ways i had never been stretched before was Fashion Illustration.
photo credit, ua hes website. (this is the Photoshop class)
Our instructor, Brian Taylor was not too much older than the students and we had a blast. We were always talking about the lastest fashions, what celebs were wearing, ya know the usual. 

Whenever we would veer too far from the path of learning, Brian would gain control of the classroom by yelling "Render!!!!"
{to render, artistically, means to create, shade, and texture an image.}
and back to work we would go, I began to actually love the pieces I created and I learned so much in one short semester, (to see some of my work here is a link to my very amateur portfolio.)

So..... when I discovered Erika of Urban Grace Interiors I fell in love with the beautiful plates over her baby's crib.

Absolutely stunning!! 

I began to think very lofty thoughts of rendering some of my most favorite outfits to hang over AC's big girl bed. Then.... I realized what I was committing myself to and went to mom for advice. 

Well being the hoarder, keeper of some very lovely treasures, She left the room for a while and emerged with 3 huge folders of all her paper dolls from the late 50's and early 60's!!!! SCORE!

The next day I went to buy my mod-podge and clear plates. $17.00 later I was set to create my one of a kind plates. 

If you remember my recent post on AC's big girl room you will remember my question as what to do with the main wall.


To Create mine I...
selected 9 of my moms paper dolls and photo copied them.
Purchased 9 clear dessert plates from Garden Ridge.
1 yard of burlap from Hancock's Fabrics
1 large bottle of mod podge
9 plate holders.

Step 1: 
Flip plate face down and trace the plate shape onto the burlap.
Cut 9 circles the size of the whole plate.
Step 2: 
Cut out the photo copies of the paper dolls (make sure its on card stock!)
Step 3: 
use a sponge brush to paint the UNDER side of the plate with mod podge
Then lay your paper-doll image in the middle of the plate

Step 4:
place the precut burlap circle on the back of the plate and ON TOP of the burlap paint on another layer of mod podge.
*allow the plate to dry face down for a few hours.

Flip over, trim excess burlap, attach plate hanger and enjoy!!
 
I think the plates really complete the room with a personal touch. I am so thankful I ran across Erika's blog and got inspired to create a set of the lovely items myself. 

Erika's plates are from an adoreable etsy shop called TreeHousePress.
These unique one of a kind pieces go for $72.00 a piece. 

I am very pleased with my $17.00 {for all 9} collection.  

Wordless Wednesday

Just enjoying some good ole times with the water hose!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

On outlet unbelievable deals

I was blown away with everything entailed in thePottery Barn Outlet sidewalk sale... 
Here is a sneak peek.



This twin bed set 20.97 yes twenty bucks!!

Some lucky shopper snagged a hanging shelf to house 3 rows of books for $13. Can we say jealous??



This full size bed was 500 now 199 with 40% off!!




This was not on super clearance but sure is a lovely summer bedding set!!

Happy Tuesday evening All!!

Homemade Pickles Please!!

Recently I was reading Flythroughourwindow.com and Darby put up a recipe for homemade pickles.

Well, cannin' has always been on my bucket list so off I went to gather the ingredients needed.

 Hubby and I actually made a night of working in the kitchen together, we had a blast!!

The house did reek of vinegar and dill weed for a few hours but hey, totally worth it for the pickles.

(set out a small ramekin of baking soda and the smell will be gone within an hour)
Step1: Cut onions.


Step 2:  cut all the cucumbers

Step 3: place in mason jars


Step 4: Add cider mixture. 
Go here for the cider mixture and full directions.

Refrigerate without lids for 24 hrs. and then add lids and they are ready in 1 week. yippee.... 

Check 1 off the bucket list!!

post update: after 2 years we still have the pickle starter and all we have to do is add either regular cucumbers or pickling cucumbers to the mix and let them sit for a while sooo good!!

Monday, June 21, 2010

2009 Summer Flashback

Here is a Summer 2009 Beach trip flashback!!

Can't wait to share all that 2010 holds!!

Homemade Detergent

**lots of pinterest links at the bottom!
Recently I read a post over here At the Bunny's Bungalow on how to make your own detergent. 

As a modern day Martha, as my friends like to call me, I felt I had a "Suzy Homemaker" obligation to take a stab at this recipe!!

Easy enough right?? 

Went to my local ACE Hardware and found the fels naptha, $1.99 (1 bar grated finely)
and the Arm and Hammer Washing Soda $3.99
Then I found the Borax for $3.99 at Target.

as of 2012, Borax has changed their label (long square box)and this can be found on the aisle with cleaning products, if my memory serves me correctly next to the Pine Sol.

So for $10.00 a Batch and only 1 tablespoon per load this is a SUPER SUPER CHEAP alternative to your heavily fragranced, overpriced detergents found in your local store's shelves.
(not to mention all those dyes and fragrances are hard on your clothing)




Check out this link, i found it very helpful while I was making my detergent!!
between Two and Five Cents a Load?? Yes Please!!

Sidenote: As a Fashion Design major I was required to take a VERY informative class called Quality Control. 

In this class we learned today's detergents are actually made with fragrances that intentionally break down the fibers in your clothing.
I.E. Pilling, a screen print cracking, color fading, (i think you get the picture) stick to the good ole tried and true and your clothes will hold up longer, look better and be just as clean at a fraction of the cost.

Another note, same is true of Dishwasher Detergent, anything citrus scented actually has an enzyme in it that will leave swirl marking in your fine pottery pieces and begin to deteriorate the finish!!
Here is the recipe to clean your dishwasher!
This works wonders!!!


Update 2011: Discovered since this is considered a Non-sudsing detergent, HE safe, it is time to start cleaning the inside of the washing machine so it does not mildew.

Here is the recipe to clean your washer.


Update 2012: Husbands undershirts start to look a little dingy after about 6 months, the color almost begins to gray if you will. For now we have purchased clorox for colors for tough stains and to get these shirts whiter!

Jan 2013: I am looking at recipies to remove stains from undershirts with baking soda and vinegar. Will keep you posted as I experiment!!
I have not tried it yet but here is the pinterest link


And another for Oxiclean


I now keep distilled vinegar, borax, and washing soda on hands at all times.

washing the puppy's linens?
add an extra scoup of borax, it is an incredible cleaning agent as well as a splash of vinegar to the water.

Don't want to use a fabric softener or dryer sheets?
find a cleaning rag and an essential oil you like.
I usually use orange oil, soft but clean citrus scent.
Place 2 or 3 dabs on the cloth and drop into the load.

Whew now lets get cleaning!!