Cake Stand | Kitchen Helper
This is one of my favorite things in the kitchen. A medium sized cake plate with a linen towel is such a lovely place to keep your dish soap, hand soap, counter spray and/or whatever other staples you need to have out on the counter.
This is not my original idea. I found something similar when I first joined Pinterest two years ago. (Has it been that long??)
After seeing Natalie's soap stand, I made it my mission to have my own. I love how the idea is the same, but totally my own style. I think that is one of my favorite things of designing: taking a brilliant idea and adapting it to fit my needs.
What are your favorite kitchen helpers?
Our Homes Past & Present | Newport
Oh, Newport. You had me at first impression. Ever since I was a young girl, I dreamed of living in New England. None of my family had ever been there, but I felt drawn to it. I was incredibly excited and thankful my husband was selected to go the Naval War College for ten months. We rented a house smack in the middle of it all on Thames Street in downtown Newport and enjoyed our ten months to the fullest. I will never forget the great times we had there nor will I ever stop yearning to go back.
I regret I don't have more pictures at the moment. I am sure they are around, I just don't have time to dig through everything. This house was pretty much my dream house. I am so thankful for the opportunity we had.
I regret I don't have more pictures at the moment. I am sure they are around, I just don't have time to dig through everything. This house was pretty much my dream house. I am so thankful for the opportunity we had.
Springtime Centerpiece
It took me a while to get this arrangement just right. It wasn't the type of consideration where you sit and stare at something for hours. This centerpiece was built out of multiple passings by. And I finally settled this afternoon.
It's a simple stack of melamine plates from Target's Easter selection years ago. I loved the faux vintage look on them. {The cute little bunnies didn't hurt things either.}
Also from Target's Easter offerings are the sweet linen {looking} napkins with the embroidered rabbit.
On top of the stack of plates is a lovely sugar bowl I got from a Dutch company called Pomax. Their stuff is simple and beautiful. I hope to find more before we move back to the States.
The cake stand is a new addition to our home. It is Martha Stewart and I was happy and surprised to find it at the Exchange here in Germany. I am looking forward to experimenting with different seasonal items.
If you are local, you will be happy to hear the faux eggs and nest are ridiculously easy to find in Germany. The country as a whole seemingly has a love affair with eggs in the spring. Mine in particular came from Depot.
After days of walking past our dining room table and slightly rearranging things, I am finally happy with the arrangement. All the spring things make me smile... even when snow is fluttering down right outside my window.
Sharing this post at Cozy Little House.
Sharing this post at Cozy Little House.
Our Spring Vignette
Hope you feel inspired to start thinking warm, green thoughts! Happy Monday!
Excited to be sharing at French Country Cottage today!
March Desktop
Paper Play | Preppy vs. Shabby
This morning our family was very focused and ambitious, so I had some extra time to play with paper. It's something I love, but don't get to do often. However, I do teach two stamping classes a month, so I do have to get my projects done.
This card was totally inspired by Kimberly Van Diepen. (You can see her original here. I nearly copied every aspect of it!) I loved the use of the Island Indigo quatrefoil paper on the Crumb Cake base, but wanted to play around with the colors.
I added a strip of Wild Wasabi card stock on the bottom and immediately got a preppy vibe. I stamped the sentiment in Night of Navy, added the 1/2 inch strip of Wisteria Wonder at the bottom. Although my initial goal was to create a beautiful shabby card like Kimberly's, I loved the clean, crisp look. I still felt it needed a little something. What better than pearls? 4 tiny pearl accents in the corners of the Wisteria Wonder strip were perfect.
After finishing my preppy card, I wanted to make a similar card, but with a shabby feel. This is where I added embellishments like Kimberly's. I also "distressed" every piece of card stock and paper with Soft Suede ink in contrast to the clean look of the first card.
It's hard to say which is my favorite. But I love that the entire feel of a card can be changed with a sponge, ink and a few minimal embellishments.
Here they are side by side for comparison.
What are you doing today to get creative?
Dreaming of Spring
The snow is still freshly fallen here in Stuttgart (and we are expecting MORE), but I am ready for spring. I am slowly getting my home ready for spring as well. We enjoyed a month of Valentine's decor to transition out of the holidays, but I am welcoming the fresh, clean looks of the approaching season. I'll be posting photos of our spring decor later this week, but today I am sharing my favorite spring decor items.
1. IKEA Alpklocka 100% Linen Throw
At $39.99, this throw was is a little more on the expensive side, especially for IKEA. But in my opinion, it is well worth the cost. It is highly reminiscent of the linen products I saw at the weekly markets in Provence. It is soft and light, perfect for the warmer months coming up.
2. Rabbit Silhouettes
It's only natural to love bunnies at this time of year. And more and more lately, I am loving silhouettes of most anything. I have a particular fondness of items that are more natural, such as this distressed beauty from Slippin' Southern. It would make a lovely addition to any Easter or spring vignette.
3. IKEA Fintorp Baskets
At 2 for $14.99, these baskets are an incredible deal. The set includes this size pictured, as well as a smaller more square basket. I am in love with this basket. The sloped edges and wooden handle make it feel a little more special than the average find at IKEA.
4. IKEA Skurar Plant Pots
These simple tins pots are actually quite elegant with the loveliest eyelet cutouts on the rim.
5. IKEA Fejka Faux Potted Plants
In Germany, we don't have a lot of options as far as faux plants and flowers go. So, I was pretty happy with this selection of faux plants from IKEA. I purchased the boxwood and olive looking ones. It's a nice touch of green in our home. (and they fit perfectly in the Skurar pots!)
6. Birds' Nests
Does anything say "Spring" more than birds' nests full of little baby eggs? I have a few of these around our main living area and plan to make a wreath featuring one as well. (Germany friends, you can find a small selection of cute birds' nests at Depot!)
7. Birds!
Of course, you wouldn't have the nest or eggs without the birds. I have a soft spot in my heart for birds and have been using them in spots in my home for years. These can be found nearly anywhere these days including Michael's, Hobby Lobby, Target, etc. If you are in Germany, they are also at Depot.
Patch Place Spotlight | Master Bedroom
Recently I've been sharing photos of our past homes. I still have a few more places to show you, but thought it would be fun to highlight some of our current home. This week, I am focusing on our master bedroom. While it's certainly not perfect, I am happy with what we have achieved while living in an Army stairwell apartment.
You aren't imagining things... there are no photos in that frame. I can't decide what to put in there. I am leaning towards scenic photos of our vacation in Provence last year.
You'll notice here the chair still has it's old, red cabana stripe cover. Also, the second window panel on the left has some stripes missing. I am working on a horizontal striping DIY post for curtains that you won't want to miss.
We found this shutter at the Stuttgart Flohmarkt one Saturday morning last spring. We haven't been quite sure what to do with it yet, so it sits in my corner. I quite like it there actually.
Hope you enjoyed the tour. Happy Tuesday!
Happily sharing at Not Just a Housewife.
Super Simple Valentine's Day Treats
I've stumbled across multiple versions of this on pinterest. I'm not quite sure where the original idea came from, but I love it. The treats are visually pleasing and unbelievably easy to create. My kids had a blast making them and they assure me they were delicious, though they were a little sweet for my liking.
Here is all you will need:
One bag Wilson candy melts in color of your choice
One bag of jumbo marshmallows
Lollipop sticks
Sprinkles galore
These can be suited for any occasion and I am sure we will have a repeat performance at some point in the near future.
I think the pictures are pretty self explanatory.
Pierce the marshmallows with the lollipop sticks.
I poked holes in a box so we would have a place to let the marshmallow pops cool off.
Melt candy according to package directions.
Swirl marshmallows through pretty melted candy.
Decorate to your heart's content.
Place in prepared box to cool off.
Enjoy!!
Naptime Project | Recovering the old chair.
Recently, we moved a desk out of our bedroom to the family/dining area. We didn't move the chair because we just pull one from the table as we need it. And as you will shortly see, it was quite an eyesore.
Here is our lovely chair before the makeover. This chair was picked up curbside after a morning of garage sale-ing with my dearest friend in Grand Forks. I covered in a sunbrella red cabana stripe fabric. We intended to use it in the school/playroom in Newport, so I thought something water resistant would be smart. It was a good fit at the time.
We've moved twice since Newport and the red striped chair has found it's way into the master bedroom. While it was tucked under the cream colored desk, I didn't mind the red stripes. But with with the displacement of the desk, this is how it appeared daily in our cream/flax/brown bedroom. No, thanks.
Enter the woolworth faux suede blanket. I had a hard time cutting this, but I resolved that we have too many throws and we are moving to the deep south.
I basically mimicked the shape of the seat.
And then I got to hot gluing with a lovely helper.
My little napper woke up and I'd say he approved of the new choice in fabric.
My not so little one also approved.
Here it is completed in it's new home. I love how it fits right in with the rest of our decor.
One last look.
Have a wonderful Monday!