wanted.
the list of what’s wanted this week is a long one. maybe i should just say ‘world peace’ and be done with it. of course, i do very much want world peace, and i’d also love long legs, but i’m not holding my breath, so in the meantime i’ll settle for some of these lovely items.

1. this first thing i really want is gonna come at a cost. i’ve gotta diy this one. i need to paint the inside of my armoire white and then wallpaper the heck out of it. i saw this one created by shannon fricke on decor8 and fell in love. 2. in order to do this, i think i need to pick up some of oh joy!’s new wallpaper designs for hygge & west. simply lovely! 3. and how cute would a couple of lisa stickley’s diy oil cloth garment bags look hanging inside? uh-huh, looks like i’ve got work to do!

4. i’d love alida from tush tush to join my portrait collection. i think she’d fit right in. i found her work through the jealous curator’s etsy gallery show. 5. truth is, i just had to have this print from fifi du vie, so i went ahead and ordered it. sometimes there’s just no stopping me. isn’t it so romantic? 6. i’d also really like to have this 1940′s fold-away card table from hindsvik — quite handy when the dinner party gets too big.

7. how very cute is this refinished vintage dresser from knack studios? really cute, right!? 8. this industrial looking halo chandelier from anthropologie could be just the ticket for my dining room (and affordable, too!) 9. i’ve definitely been coveting this collage cushion bench, also from anthropologie. if i win the lottery, this baby’s coming on home.
tuesday’s girl: amy butler’s modern knits.

this week’s tuesday’s girl is none other than amy butler, one of my favorite fabric designers, and now amy has created her own line of yarn. The yarn is a 100% organic cotton/wool blend, which makes for the perfect combination for softness, drape and wear, along with these fun knitting projects. the patterns are a unique mix of fashion (love those knit leggings and dresses!), accessories and homewares, including colorful afghans, floral patterned pillows and cozy poufs.








home ec-traordinaire!

oh, those crafty girls from Home Ec are at it again, with a brand new online class! Home Ec is an online sewing class for beginners, like me (no sewing experience needed!) and those of you interested in developing your sewing skills. The Home Ec class is a ‘take it at your own pace’ class, beginning August 10th that includes 3 Guides, 26 step-by-step Projects with at least 1 new Sewing Technique in each, and a tips post on How to Invent & Adapt projects of your own! Take a look at all these cute diy sewing projects!

Along with daily sewing projects in the private class blog, you can participate in live chats to get friendly with your Home Ec classmates and enjoy Q&A time with your teachers. Click here, for more details and registration.

friends & neighbors: lilacmoon’s diy.

i really ‘heart’ lilacmoon. such a beautiful aesthetic and such wonderful photographs. i love jinnie’s polaroids and poladoodle prints, too. when i saw her diy pastel wooden clips, i just had to share. how cute are these for keeping your desk tidy and organized, and yet oh so adorable? for the diy instructions, hope on over to lilacmoon.
i’ve gone to the dark side.

it’s time for me to share a little bit more of what i’ve been doing to decorate my new house. this weekend i just wasn’t feeling the dining room. it felt kinda blah, without any distinct personality. so i called up my favorite painter and asked him for more chalkboard black walls! i’ll admit it, i’m kind of addicted to this look, and the sunroom is definitely one of my favorite places to hang out, and guests seem to feel cozy in there, too.

so, now, i’ve got some really dramatic, dark walls with pretty white crown molding. i love it! this is two coats of rust oleum’s black chalkboard paint (the best price i’ve found to date is at home depot). i’m still afraid to actually to take chalk to it, and i still need to accessorize, figure out the artwork situation, and locate a great chandelier, but here’s how the dining room is looking thus far.


















































