Cartwheels In My Mind

Nashville Antiques via iphone.

Hidey-ho neighbors&neighborh'ettes. Today's post is tuning in from the great land of free refills,pulled-pork sandwiches, and country music. That's right folks, NASHVILLE {or Nash'vegas as I like to call it}.  I was out exploring the downtown area of Franklin the other day and came across some real beauties found deep within the city walls. The antique city walls to be exact. What was a girl to do when short on cash... CHARGE YOUR PURCHASES ON A CREDIT CARD?  Yeah, right. Hmmm.... How about take a picture of all those beauties via iphone if you don't have the funds to purchase anything {Yes, I did just get an iphone and do realize I'm behind the technological times... they don't call me a late bloomer for nothin'}!

I was so stoked to hit up three antique shops while I was there along with some other pretty boutiques and I couldn't keep it all to myself. Is that alright if I share my nash-iphone-antique-adventures with yall? 

Three things I would love to have that weren't seen in the antique shops: symbol pillows, soap figurines and a birdie mobile for my future children I will one day have.

Those weren't antiques but they sure are pretty to look at... now, moving along to what was is really important... the oldies but goodies.  

   

 

If you're in the market vintage technology this is the place to go... they've got it all from typewriters, phones, fans... and golf balls in egg cartons? Haha. Hmmm..

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall... Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and got rusty.

If that birdcage would have fit into my budget {and my suitcase} I would have purchased that thing so fast! Check out that old school baby stroller too? 

 

Make sure to check out Scarlett Scales Antiques for ornate clocks and luggage. Beautimous. 

Now wasn't that fun exploring a city through the iphone?!? HOORA! HOORAY! Out of all three places Arbor Antique Mall was my favorite... jewelry/old dolls/crazy lamps/awesome birdcages/civil war relics are just a few things you'll see popping up around that place.

Ps- when I say Nashville antiques I mean downtown Franklin. If anything is within a 20 minute driving distance I count it as the same place.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT ME: I almost had a wreck on the way up to Nashville because my sis& I were dancing to music a bit too loud in the car.

Wedding Inspiration: my FAIR lady.

'Ello poppets! How was your weekend? Did you do anything funzies? What about crafties? What about carnival'y? Weeeeeeell, speaking of carnivals I did go to one! Would you like to see an photo from it? This is just one of many but I just want you to get a taste of what I saw.

Pretty colors, right? I thought so too. In the midst of editing my photos I was so inspired to see what other carnivals were like... which took me one step further in my rabbit trails of thoughts and... got me thinking about a carnival wedding theme. 

Um, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? How amazing is this wedding theme?!? I LOVE THIS WEDDING ON EVERY LEVEL! Being a photog myself, I'm always daydreaming of amazing props/locations/themes for photo shoots. If you want to drool over this wedding a bit more then go HERE .

Random fact about me: My lips have always been in rough shape so I ALWAYS have chap stick with me. 

::SHOUT OUTS::

The following Charlotte wedding vendors contributed to this inspirational wedding shoot:

Production – Lindsay Emeigh and Blake Miller for Charlotte Wedding Magazine
Design – Favor Me Events
Bakery – Wow Factor Cakes
Food – La-Tea-Da’s Catering
Floral – The Place For Flowers
Rentals – Party Reflections
Stationery – Nuage Mulberry
Location photography – Chris Edwards
Studio photography – Sara from Whitebox Weddings
Lace gown – Claire Pettibone
Strapless gown – Jason Alexander
Halter gown – Monique Lhullier
Column gown – Nicole Miller
Pink pleated gown – Alfred Sung by Dessy

  

diy ruffle scarf

 
You know we all do it.  We wait until the last minute and end up having to go out and buy a gift because we waited too long to make the handmade gift we really wanted to give to that special friend or family member. 

Yep. Been there. Done that. 

But I'm here to tell ya, this is a simple and oh-so-fabulous gift that you can make in just a short time that is as good - oh wait, even BETTER - than any store bought purchase.  It's lovely, comfy and HANDMADE!!!!  Oh and did I mention inexpensive?!  You could seriously make a ton of these for just a few dollars. 

All it takes is a t-shirt - used or new, thrifted or straight from your closet - scissors, and some thread. 

"Whoohooo!!  Bring it on, " you say?!

I hear ya!

Let me tell ya though.  I rarely make anything - projects, recipes, etc. - and follow certain directions.  I just kind of jump in and go with it.  So that's how my instructions will be posted.  They may not be total perfection but they'll get the job done.

First things first.  Grab a t-shirt.  One that's too small, too big, in your giveaway pile or one you've picked up at the thrift store.  But choose one in a great color you'd love to wear around your neck.

Now you'll cut a few strips off the bottom of the t-shirt.  I cut two 6" strips out of the bottom of this shirt so I ended up with two loops of t-shirt.  Then I cut one side of each loop to make two long strips of t-shirt fabric.  Now you'll sew the two strips together at the ends to make one super long strip of fabric.

Once I had my strip ready to go, I folded the strip into thirds to get an idea of where I wanted to sew the stitching.  Then I placed a piece of masking tape on the sewing machine as my guide to help me keep my stitching straight.  Because see...this was the first time I've sewn since my 7th grade Home Ec. Class. Wow!!  I needed every little bit of help I could get.  I sewed two seams down the fabric, using a basting stitch.  I'm sure there are a million and one different ways to do this easier but this is what worked for me.  I set the stitch length long and the tension low.  I think maybe if I'd had it on a higher tension, it would've gathered and ruffled more on its own.  But this is my story and I'm sticking to it.
 

Once I had my basting stitch finished on each 1/3 section, I pulled the thread gently to gather and create the ruffles.  This was probably the most time consuming part of the project but easy, nonetheless.
 

When I had it gathered just the way I liked it, I went back over the seams with a straight stitch to hold the ruffles in place. And TA-DA... 
 

Seriously, if I can do this, YOU TOTALLY CAN!!!!!

Now I'm going to dig through every giveaway bag of shirts and dig around in my closet for some more fun fabrics to repurpose!  Can you image doing this with an old sweater?!  Whoohoo!!  Next project, HERE I COME!

Happy gifting!

 
Frames from Kitschy Digitals.

Random Inspiration: kitchen love.

Do you ever find yourself daydreaming about creating super cute/vintage/artsy/colorful kitchen accessories??? Somehow I think that if my kitchen rocks then my cooking will too! Do you think that too? No? Just me? Mmmkay. Well, moving on then... actually... no, i'm not moving on. I want to show you what kind of lovelies have me drooling for a super awesome kitchen. 

::WARNING:: these photos WILL cause instant ARTattack of prettiness! 

 

Just Noey.

Even though I feel like these would be too pretty to eat on, I just know that the meal I've prepared would look WAY better on these plates, don't you?

 

Pom Pom Bazar

Ummm... Anthropologie anyone?!? Don't these look like you could walk right into that amazing {pricey} store and pick these up??? I need to learn how to knit ASAP. 

 

Curry Kay Designs

Peacock feathers. Sheer vintage-looking. Sheer loveliness. 

 

Lush Life Studio

Yes. Yes. aaaand YES! I want.. No, I NEED vinyl chalk stickers so I can write love notes/grocery lists to my hubby :) 

 

Keep Calm Shop

I NEED THIS! For those of you that don't know... I live in ENGLAND! So, of course this sign is perfect! {coffee for him. tea for her}

Oryx and Crake Design

Felt coasters... I mean, come on! How cute are these?!? 

Freestyle Gifts.

With this super cute recipe box I would be a cooking QUEEN... or at least I would look like one. 

So, who wants to come on over and give my kitchen this look? Anyone? Anyone at all?!?

What about YOU?

Yes, you.

What kind of accessories would you dress your kitchen in?

 

Pretty Inspiration.

Do you ever find yourself cruising through Etsy? Yeah, me too. It's addicting!!! Wanna know what's caught my eye lately? 

First up, Paper Moth

 

These prints are so dreamy! I will take one of each, please!

Next up we have Parkers Prints.

 

Aren't these precious?!? I love all the bright colors and pretty designs, don't you???

Aaaaaand how could you not love Sofino.?!?

Soaps!!! Can you believe it?!? Felted Soaps! ah! So much love especially that spooky spider! {Just in time for Halloween}

 

Happy weekend my loves! 

 

Will you be crafting this weekend?

Which of my inspirations is your favorite?

What inspires YOU?

SEI happiness.

We all need a little reminder here and there to simply be happy.   So I used the SEI Jocelyn line to create a happy little art piece to hang in my room.

 

 What can you create to bring a little HAPPY to your life this weekend?