DIY: Foraged Gift Toppers

I mentioned recently that my littlest sister was here in Seattle, visiting from Boston (see a little peek into her apartment here).  She and I moved to Beantown the same year--2003; but, when we moved away in 2004, she stayed.  Both on a super tight budget (students!), we made it our mission to find all sorts of inexpensive ways to enjoy our city as well as the surrounding areas--Mount Auburn Cemetary being one of our favorites.  Last week's visit reminded me how much I've missed having her near as we sort of pressed "repeat", but this time in Seattle.  It was her first time here and you know I had a great time showing her around!




When I mentioned to her that I wanted to create simple gift toppers with little bits and pieces I've spotted along the road, her face lit up.  It turns out there are few things she enjoys more these days than foraging, so this was pretty much her dream day :)  Honestly, I couldn't believe all the little treasures we found--almost all of them within one block of my home.  Seattle is just crazy that way.  Pine cones in the shape of baby basketballs?  Check.  Holly in my backyard?  Check.  Cute, fuzzy berries in shades of yellow, orange and red?  Check.  We were practically giddy about it all.

For this simple DIY you will need: 

1. solid wrapping paper (kraft brown is a classic, but colors can also be lovely as they create contrast).

2. washi tape

3. twine

4. sprigs of green

If you swap out the greens, tape colors, types of twine, etc. you can really go to town making beautiful gifts.  Who needs expensive ribbon when you have a few trees or bushes nearby? :)  I promise you that if you start looking for little greens or twigs to incorporate into your gifts, you will discover so much overlooked beauty.  It's really a wonderful feeling!

all images by me, except for no. 5, which was taken by my sister via iPhone

How to Pin on Pinterest

This month I've started dabbling in Pinterest...finding things to "pin", creating albums for personal and public use, and making it easier for you to pin things from my blog with the click of a button (if you felt inspired to do so).  A little late to the game, yes, but better late than never!  I guess you could say that before I felt good about adding anything else mildly distracting to my life, the timing had to be right.

That being said, I cannot resist any longer :)

I've been watching the chatter on Twitter over the past few months as many artists (photographers, chefs, stylists, etc.) have become frustrated with the lack of credibility given to their work; some have even boycotted Pinterest all together.  I think we all assume that the links on the pins are correct (I know I did!), but that is not always the case.  While I am not a professional photographer, I do snap many of my own images for this blog and I've occasionally been notified when my images are being attributed to another blog/individual  You see, a lot of work goes into making time for shooting, shooting, editing, uploading, etc. and to see someone just snatch it up in seconds is a bit disconcerting; I'm sure it's unintentional, but insensitive nonetheless.  Can you imagine how it would feel to be a professional and to watch this type of thing happen over and over?  Ben Silbermann, founder of Pinterest, seems like the nicest guy ever (his keynote at Alt was a conference highlight to be sure), and I know that it isn't his intention to create a platform for stealing intellectual property.  However, the fact remains that it's still easy to do unless one is consciously and rightfully attributing images on Pinterest. If we all pull together and do this the right way, together we can make Pinterest a happy place for everyone.



And now, the embarrassing news...when I first started pinning this month, I actually pinned improperly to my boards.  Oh man, I felt so guilty when I realized what I'd done!  Lesson learned: Pinterest will not automatically and properly source an image--this part is our responsibility.  I decided to write this post, gleaning insight from seasoned pinners, and share my new found knowledge in the form of 5 different "pinning scenarios".  My goal is to simply share, not preach.  Hopefully what you'll see and read will keep you from making the same mistakes I did!  At the end of this post, we will all know how to correctly pin on Pinterest and we'll all feel better logging on, knowing that we are giving credit where credit is due.  Ready to learn more?

How to Pin on Pinterest: Scenario no.1:

So let's say you find something beautiful that you want to add to one of your Pinterest boards.  I'll use this "Easter terrarium" image from Terrain as the example (you know I have a thing for terrariums...).

Take a quick moment and add the "pin it" bookmarklet to your bookmarks tool bar to make pinning super convenient.  While the page with the Easter/Spring terrarium is open, click on the "pin it" button in your toolbar.

A screen that looks like this will come up.  Click on the image you want to pin.



Then a screen like this will pop up.  Pinterest is giving you options as to where you want to place it...maybe in one of your existing boards?  or maybe a new board?  I decided to place the image of the Easter/Spring Terrarium on my "tabletop" board (see right images).



I typed in a brief description, including the name of the source (double coverage).  Success!

How to Pin on Pinterest: Scenario no.2:

When an image comes from directly from the source (as in scenario no.1), pinning is a cinch.   However, when an comes from another blog, it's not as cut and dry.  Let's peek at this adorable party created by Karen Mordechai for her daughter Sophia; a party that was also featured on Sara's Party Perfect (a really fun site for party ideas!).  Even though the party is showcased on Sara's blog, if you decide to pin the image, it should be attributed to Karen, yes? 

Now Sara is always great about crediting images--she probably has a 100% track record--so luckily the link to Karen's blog is included in the post.  In cases like this, all you need to do is click on the original source...typically mentioned within the body of text or at the end of the post.  In the post on Sara's Party Perfect, I clicked on the "Sunday Suppers" link at the bottom of the post and it linked me directly to the original post on Karen's blog.  Then I pinned it :)

My screen looked like this:

I then selected the image I wanted to pin and the board where I wanted the image placed (let's party).  I included a brief description as to why I liked it so much and then clicked "pin it".



How to Pin on Pinterest: Scenario no.3:

You're trolling Smitten Kitchen (or another great food blog), just hoping to find something appetizing and quick to make for dinner tonight.  Ah ha!  You find it.  Oh and that picture is so pretty, you just have to pin it to your "dinner tonight" board.

But hold your horses here a moment...there is a quick 2-second-step you can do that will make it easy for your followers to track back the pin to the actual recipe, even if it is "repinned" a million times (they will thank you for this!).  All you need to do as you scan down the front page is to take a second to click on the actual post url BEFORE clicking "pin it".  On Deb's blog, if your cursor touches the title of the post a message pops up "grab the permanent link to lasagna bolognese".  A gentle reminder that linking to the permanent link, vs. the general main page, is the best way to go.

When you click on the permanent link (the title of the post), the post will pop to the top of the page.  Now, pin it!  The direct link will now be associated with your pin, making it super easy for your followers to track down this seemingly fabulous recipe.  No more searching through mounds of posts to find what you need as it was pinned correctly from step 1, thanks to you!


How to Pin on Pinterest: Scenario no.4: 


Now what do you do when you want to pin something on a blog that includes images, and the appropriate artist name, but not a link?  Danyelle Mathews, expert pinner and author of the delightful blog, Dandee Designs, recommended a quick Google search of the artist's name...surely a link to a blog, website or Facebook page will pop up.  Then, in the "describe your pin" box include the artist's name as well as a link to his or her site.  It might take you an extra 60 seconds, but that artist will thank you.  If you believe in karma like I do, then you know this is an extra step worth taking.

How to Pin on Pinterest: Scenario no.5: 

If the post doesn't indicate a link or a lead of any kind, then it's probably wise to just say "pass".  Chances are you'll stumble upon the proper source at some point in the near future.  Case in point: not 15 minutes after I pinned an uncredited image, the original source popped up in one of my other searches.  I will never make that mistake again (note: I've since gone back and deleted the pins without credit)).  Just think, if one image is pinned and repinned without credit, then a snowball effect takes place and suddenly there is a diaspora of copyright theft and plagiarism throughout the site.  And that is precisely what we want to avoid, right?!

I am very optimistic about the future of the site, especially after receiving the recent email from Pinterest regarding updated terms; but I do believe it's our responsibility to be honest in our pinning, as we seek to be inspired by the works and ideas that make Pinterest the beautiful place it is.  For this post I asked a few bloggers to share a bit of advice...I just love the idea of having so much helpful information in one post!


Here's what they had to say...be sure to add your two cents in the comments too.  Thanks!

Chelsea / {frolic!}: "I label each photo with the original source in the caption and if it is not linked to the original source, I add the link in the caption."

Jenn / Ambrosia Creative: "Sometimes I'd pin a different item from a website/e-commerce site than the original pin that drew me in the first place.  In that case, I make sure to "via @pinterestuser" so that they get proper credit."

Victoria / SF Girl by Bay: "I never pin anything I don't know the source of."

Kirsten / Simply Grove: "My biggest tip is to pin from the correct url.  It's frustrating when I click on the link and it only takes me to a blog and not the direct link."

Tara / Tara Whitney Photography: "If you think you have bad links on your boards, go through your pins and fix them.  I am currently in the process of doing this on my own boards as I want to make sure people are getting proper credit."

Victoria / A Subtle Revelry / Styled Mag: "Bold, straight front photos with a striking contrast seem to be the most shared and everyone seems to love sharing DIY projects.  I think almost all pinners have a "craft" or "stuff to make" board."

Lindsay / M.Stetson Design: "My newest goal with pins is to use proper keywords in the descriptions so it will help others find them when they search."

Bottom line: Pinterest is pretty much one of the prettiest places on the web.  Let's keep it good lookin' on the inside and out!  If you have any comments, thoughts or tips to share, please do!

Driftwood, Sunshine + a Terrarium

I awoke to sunshine.  In February.  In Seattle.  The day was looking promising!

I went about my morning steadily, trying to deal with all the little things that often go wrong in the morning as one readies 4 children for the day; all the while thinking about Mara's advice on choosing happiness in this poignant essay, which is technically about infertility, but it encompasses so much more.  A few hours later, the sun was still shining gloriously in the sky, continuing to lift my spirits.  I finished preparing the lunch that I would later share with a couple of new friends, and then slid it into the fridge before donning my walking shoes.

Sunglasses in hand, we left to explore a little more of Discovery Park.  In the back of my mind I thought about the terrarium on my dining room table that was in need of one more "ingredient" to look complete.  During these typically dreary months, it is so vital to a space's overall energy to bring a little of the outdoors inside and I find that terrariums do the trick! (see more here, here and here). 

Well, it turned out that this particular beach was full of driftwood--all shapes and sizes (we've even seen people snag large pieces for furniture here before); and finding exactly what I needed took only a few minutes.  And now my terrarium is complete...and the day is over.  If there is one thing I've learned this past year, it is to appreciate beautiful, sunshine-filled moments when you have them!

images by Stephanie Brubaker

A Terrarium

It's no secret on this blog that over the years I've struggled with developing a green thumb.  I'm still on the fence if this is even possible!  Anyway, I've found that making a terrarium is a fun way to practice, as you're essentially creating your own little microclimate :)  This recent creation, a desert-themed terrarium, is just about the easiest thing to maintain (because it needs so little water so who cares if you forget to water!) and I encourage anyone wanting to infuse more "life" into their space to make one.

Here's how you do it:

1. Find an open top glass vessel of some sort.  Mine was found at a local flower store (these could work too if you want an online source).

2. Fill it 1/3 (ish) the way up with pretty sand.  Use your eye to judge.

3. Add a few craspedia balls, a succulent, an air plant (really cool plants that sit atop the sand basically), and a tiny piece of chartreuse reindeer moss.  Et voila!  You have a terrarium at hand, and one that's incredibly easy to keep alive too. 

You can also find craspedia at a local florist (call first though, they aren't very common); and the remaining 3 components at your local nursery (i.e. Swansons in Seattle). Let me know if you have any questions about sourcing or technique!

image by Stephanie Brubaker for stephmodo

Repurposing Savon de Marseille

I feel like I'm finally at the stage in life where I prefer to have fewer, but nicer things (boy, that took awhile!).  No longer do $9.99 price tags tempt me (unless of course I would've paid full-price for them as I loved them that much) and as a result, I spend less and enjoy life more.  I also feel an increased appreciation for what I do have--a good feeling indeed!

One of the small niceties I like to treat myself to every once in awhile are these pretty Savon de Marseille liquid soaps from France.  When overseas I like to purchase a few bottles for La Maisonnette, but thankfully you can find them just as easily here in the States (my source is Modern Palm).  These well-designed French soap bottles are beautiful, sturdy, and full of some of the best soap in the world.  They certainly brighten my entire day...all day...as I am constantly washing my hands (4 kids will do that to ya!).  If you consider cost per use, we're down in the pennies and I'd say that's a pretty darn good deal.

When you're finally out of soap (and thankfully it takes awhile as a little goes a long way), run your bottle and pump through the dishwasher and repurpose it as a vase!  It's an excellent vessel for a few small stems or one thick stem (i.e. a sunflower).  When you're in the mood to change things up again, but want to keep things budget-friendly, try filling the Savon bottle with whatever liquid hand or dish soap you have on hand.  And then start the cycle all over again :)

p.s. I like to keep a few extra bottles-turned-vases on hand for gifts too.  They make the perfect little pick-me-up!

images by Stephanie Brubaker for stephmodo

A Modern Chicken Coop

A couple of years ago my sister decided to add a few chickens to her brood. Since her home and yard are tidy and modern, she wanted a similar look for the coop. The budget for the coop was modest so she decided to try her hand on Craigslist. Sure enough, she found someone in her local area willing to build a coop for just $350. It's larger than most I've seen, which I think is important when raising chickens. I love the clean lines and the colors she painted it--the gray and black does a nice job of blending into the scenery. So, if you've got a little Maple, Apple or Clementine running around, this is the way to go.

For those of you with chickens yourself, feel free to share links to pics of your own coops in the comments section. Go on, brag a little :)

One last note: if you live in the Seattle area and are interested in a similar set up, feel free to email my sister at cheranderton@gmail.com. She'd be happy to get you in touch with the person who built her coop.

update: you can view the rest of this modern Seattle backyard in a more recent post. 

DIY: Special Occasion Keepsake

I firmly believe we all have an innate desire to preserve...namely to preserve special experiences; and while most of us have good intentions to do just this, we often have trouble following through. Why? Well, I know for me the task often seems daunting as I feel like I need to make a photo book every month, or scrapbook a bajillion pages (lots of time and $). These days, I need "easy" and this simple method of preservation is just that! Recently, I created a keepsake for my newborn son Gray, but you could follow the same instructions for a birthday, wedding anniversary, shower, etc.

Step 1: Gather all gift tags and cards.

Step 2: Stack in order of size with your larger cards being on the bottom of the pile.

Step 3. Using a 1/8 inch hole punch, place a hole in the top left corner of the card/tag.

Step 4: Slide a piece of thin, satin ribbon through the stack and tie a bow (one roll is 50 cents at any craft store).

Because the cards are adhered together with a simply piece of ribbon, you can easily add more cards. Just think how fun it will be to read these cards someday in the future!

B+A: Orla Kiely Wallpaper Project

by Guest Blogger, Rebecca Mudrick

Three years ago we moved to Chapel Hill and bought our first home. Since then, I've been reading design blogs and magazines for decorating ideas. My budget, time, and DIY skills are all quite limited, so I'm particularly drawn to small projects that pack a big punch.

When Steph posted her sister's Seattle home, I spotted the Orla Kiely wallpaper and knew it was exactly what I needed to add visual interest to my entry way and living room. I approximated the square footage of the spaces I planned to paper, ordered 2 rolls from Anthro, found a partner-in-crime to help me with each wall, and googled "how to hang wall paper" for a good tutorial. The process of hanging the paper was meticulous work and took several hours for each space, but was completely manageable (no really - if I can do it, you can do it). We papered the entry way nearly 2 years ago (it was December, thus the holiday decorations in the photo), and I still smile whenever I walk by.

Rebecca also blogs at Overexposed and Darling Art.

"before" and "after" images by Rebecca Mudrick

Beautiful Reading Nook

I'm not sure what I love more about this private space...the collection of porcelain, the shadowbox intermixed with decorative objects, the radio or the big, rectangular baskets on the bottom storing who knows what. Toys? Mags? Junk? :) Whatever it is, it's all pretty in my book.

p.s. don't you love reading nooks? shouldn't we all have one as a little respite?

p.p.s. did you notice that the bookcase is actually 3 benches stacked and attached to one another?

image via Martha Stewart

Things I Am Enjoying + Some Useful Tips

This week I'm finding joy in both things I already have and in things I'd love to try to make (or in one case...have!). I thought I'd share them in case they had the same effect on you :)

Fabric Covered Pots: If you've been to a nursery lately, you've likely noticed how pricey pots can be. I not only like the bright and cheery effect of the colorful fabrics, but the fact that you can buy a cheap pot for this project. View the full tutorial here. {found via Lavendar and Limes via Creature Comforts}

Modern Return Address Stamps: I keep saying I'm going to procure one of these to avoid the following scenario: I create a nice looking package, simple but nice...I consider writing a return address but am lazy and choose not to...I then head to the post office where the postal worker requires me to write my return address on all 7 packages...I am in a hurry so I scribble something that just slightly resembles my address. Just think, if I had one of these all I'd have to do is push down once and click!

Pantry/Closet Organizer: Best $7 I've spent. This organizer creates a tidy place for me to store my feather dusters, mops, dust pan, and broom. I am grateful for it everyday (laugh all you want, but it's true!). Plus, I love that it allows me to utilize an otherwise-unused wall.

Carafes with Wooden Ball Stoppers: Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous. I'd love one or two. Hello wishlist. {found via Kirei Nest}

Martha's Kitchen Sink Spruce Up: I blogged about it a long time ago, and coincidentally it still has the same affect on me each day. It's simple, useful, tidy and minimalist. She'll tell you more about it here.

Daffodils in a Brown Paper Bag = an easy and inexpensive DIY giftie. Who wouldn't love one of these on their porch?

Sneak Peek on D*S: It's not lengthy and provides no explanation--but I am drawn to this archived LA Sneak Peek on d*s nonetheless.

The Christmas Spirit

Of all the months, December feels the best. Hearts are softened, wallets are opened, and hands are extended. During these 4 weeks, it seems goodwill is everywhere and oh how it feels good!

Writer, Isabel Currier once said, "It is the personal thoughtfulness, the warm human awareness, the reaching out of the self to one's fellow man that makes giving worthy of the Christmas spirit."

I've been thinking about what I can do to share the Christmas Spirit and the first thing that came to my mind (besides sharing treats!) was trying to donate useful items I already have, that are in good condition. Perhaps we could all take a few hours and clean out our closets, cupboards, bathroom drawers, and toy bins.; then, we can donate the items to a local homeless shelter*, a domestic violence shelter, or an often-overlooked smaller charity. I think it's a good idea to involve everyone in our households, if possible.

What are some meaningful activities you are participating in this Christmas?RFABW2K7GVZR

P.S. Adorable scalloped felt tree skirt tutorial here.

* I've noticed that men's clothing seems to be in particular demand at the homeless shelters.

Appliqued Canvas Tote

I love this simple craft featured in the latest Living. Basically you print a starfish onto fabric using fabric paint; cut out the shape; then applique it to a tote bag. Cute, cute, cute.

You can find the tote pictured here over at Muji (love Muji!). It truly is the perfect canvas tote.

(Was it me or was this recent issue waaaay better than past issues? It almost had hints of "Blueprint" or something...thoughts?)



































Speaking of Muji, did you note the Thonet-Muji collaboration that just hit select stores? Those chairs!!


















image 1, 2 from MS; 2 from Muji

The Best Homemade Mother's Day Gift

...and it's easy too!!

Since both my husband and I weren't able to celebrate Mother's Day with our own moms last year, I created a little package for each of them to enjoy on the morning of Mother's Day. Basically the gift was "breakfast in bed" or rather, "breakfast in a box". Inside each package was a large red gable box containing the following:

* a cellophane bag containing granola; I tied it with a pretty ribbon and a tag. Last year I bought some granola at Whole Foods but recently I made the Barefoot Contessa recipe for homemade granola and loved it. It was labor-intensive with all the chopping but delicious just the same.

* a mug with good herbal tea inside

* a little card

If you don't live near your own mother, it might be fun to assemble this simple gift today and ship it off via Priority mail...just in time for Mother's Day.

You can learn how to make this simple and thoughtful craft here.

Easy Drink Labels

When hosting a get-together, it's common for guests (and hosts!) to forget which glass belongs to them. I've seen charms, sticks, and other gadgets but haven't loved their look or their price tag. Recently, I discovered this little trick in Good Housekeeping of all places. It's a great concept, but instead of flowers I'd opt for a simple scalloped circle and minimal (if any) embellishment. Think of all the ways you could "tweak" this concept!

image from GH

Spring Basket

Using Martha's miniature Garden basket as inspiration, I designed this for my mother-in-law recently (and then asked Cactus & Tropicals to put it all together for me). She allowed us to use their Paris apartment for our girls trip so coming up with something special was important to me. I mention this because something similar could easily serve as a lovely Mother's Day gift, or just a pretty Spring gift in general.

While I used little chocolate birds and eggs purchased in Paris, you could easily find similar substitutions. Perhaps try Jordan almonds for the eggs, and then try to find a chocolate lollipop at a locally-owned chocolate store. In fact, you could even make your own chocolate lollipops! It's pretty easy to do this if you have a mold, some sticks and good quality chocolate. My Mom used to make them for Valentine's Day.

Framing Wallpaper

I love the wallpaper movement going on right now, but have a difficult time wanting to commit, even with all the amazing designs out there. This hesitation is likely due to the memories I have of my parents installing and removing wallpaper themselves, albeit a few decades ago. It wasn't pretty...is it ever?!. I realize papers are easier to install these days, but still I'm skeptical I could pull it off nicely.

However, I LOVE the idea of framing wallpaper...it's simple enough for someone like me who isn't super crafty, but unique enough to have that "wow" factor. I'm seriously contemplating this project. I may have to pay a visit to locally-owned Walls.

You can find more clever uses for wallpaper over at House Beautiful.

Create a Color Palette from an Image

Have you ever taken a picture of a beautiful landscape because you loved the way the colors played on each other? Yes? Well, you'll be thrilled to know about the Color Palette Generator. All you have to do is upload a picture and it instantly creates 3 different color palettes for you. While I tend to find inspiration in nature, you could actually use this application with any photograph really.

Here is the image I chose with its corresponding palette:





via Lifehacker via Download Squad

Recycled Calendar

I couldn't bear to toss my 2008 Snow & Graham calendar...it's too beautiful for such an end. While sitting down to start making Valentines with my daughter, I decided to make them into blank notes. I could always use a few more of those on hand. Gratefully, I still had a few clear vellum envelopes left (I bought them for pennies at a San Francisco tag sale), which showcase the pretty graphics even before the envelope is opened.

So if you have an old calendar sitting around...

Step 1. Detach papers



Step 2: Using a paper cutter, cut the calendar pages into a size barely smaller than the envelope you decide to use for the project.






















Step 3: Voila...you're ready for a special delivery.

Homemade Vanilla Extract

I am LOVING the idea of making my own vanilla extract. Has anyone ever done this? If so, is it exceptionally delicious? I imagine it would be.

image from Chocolate & Zucchini

How to Enlarge Photos on Blogger, Part 3 {Final Version}

Okay, let's hope this is the end of this series :) Blogger, stop changin' things on us!

I'm updating the last post thanks to a helpful comment or two from a few readers (thank you Caroline and Leslie!). The method they shared with me is much easier than the one I previously shared with you. Who doesn't want/need a timesaver?

While in your post, click on "edit Html". Then look for this set of code...it's the code for the picture you just uploaded.





Now delete this section of code--everything circled above. After deleting the indicated code, your html for your picture should look like this:





Now it's time to change the size of your photo. You can choose from s400, s576 or s640 depending on the look you want and the parameters of your blog. Try a few on for size and see what works best for you. See below picture for the section of code you'll want to change during this final step.





All in all this should take you about 30 seconds. Let me know if you have any further questions!