Craft and Create II

In a pinch I whipped this gem up for Tex's birthday bash. Made from thin gold chain and one of my fav. stones, iron pyrite, I will be rockin' this rock for many occasions!

Craft and Create I

This last weekend's project was dedicated to a more practical purpose... but that doesn't mean I didn't have fun! So, with some padding I recycled from my work's garbage and some fabulous fabric and ribbon from Bolt I was able to design and create this little number, a lap-top cover. 

Living/Dining Room Inspiration... Our Newest Project

Oh yes, E & K are about to master yet another room...time to bust out the elbow grease 'cause we're tackling this one ourselves! This time around we'll be taking on tasks like installing windows, attaching crown molding, and even fabricating our own custom designed, built-in hutch. It's always a challenge taking on a room, but once we're finished we never regret it.  We even usually end up doing things that make for a wonderful story about the early part of our marriage. Anywho, enough babbling, lets get down to the nitty-gritty. Allow me to introduce you to our inspiration page: 

This is what we currently have going on in our dining room. The color of the room is nice but we plan on lightening it up a bit. The bare wall has been waiting for the perfect piece of art for about three years, so hopefully we can find something we love enough to hang in that spot. The alcove is unique and currently houses my milk glass collection, but it needs a bit of a face-lift. The Restoration Hardware dining room table and chairs were a special wedding gift from my parents and will most definitely be staying! And the chandelier is...still up for debate.

Image: Country Living 

We really dig the back hutch and wainscoting in the picture above. It would be a nice way to separate the dining room area from the living room area.

Image: Canadian House and Home

We plan on building out from the alcove to create a hutch which looks something like this white colored one in the picture above. We also love the texture of the sisal rug.

Image: Pottery Barn

Image: Restoration Hardware

Possible new chandelier candidate, shaded pendant light, to add a bit of a clean modern line to the room. This addition is still under consideration.

Image: Benjamin Moore & Co

Throughout our home we've been slowly painting some of the rooms with the Benjamin Moore color, Carrington Beige. We absolutely love the subtly of it and it really looks good all year 'round. In the living room/dining room we're trying for a warm white...which is not an easy color to find. The goal is monochromatic warm whites and beiges.

Image: Canadian House and Home

For the bare wall in the dining room I was thinking a large framed chalk board would be fun, instead of a piece of art or a mirror. 

Image: Neida

My BIG project will be sewing two canvas slip covers for the turquoise chairs we currently have in the living room. Two Three benefits to this project. 1) A cover for the chairs for when we have parties, 2) an alternative great look 3) I get to take an upholstery class and learn a new skill!

Image: Country Living 

I plan on using some of the vintage suit cases I've been collecting from estate sales and consignment stores over the past few years (they've been sitting in our basement waiting to be called into action).  I'm thinking I'll use them as side tables for the couch.

Image: Pottery Barn

These lights are rugged and stunning!

Image: Pottery Barn

Last, but not least, we will install some beautiful antique leaded glass windows to flank the front door. This should allow a lot of light to flow in while also preventing passers-by from peeking directly into our living room. Some molding around the ceiling edge and voila, we've got another 3 month project on our hands!

Tex's Big Birthday Bash

This past weekend was wet...ooooh it was a soggy one. The rain didn't dampen our spirits, though, for Tex's surprise birthday bash. A party planned and perfectly executed, Tex was sent into complete shock upon arriving at the most perfect, most beautiful venue, Pomarius Nursery (where Tex works as a horticulturist and landscape designer). The nursery is perched in the middle of the Pearl district in inner city Portland and it's character shows in the lush topiaries, clucking hens, and very Parisian style cook tent where friends gather every Thursday afternoon to visit and nosh on the nursery's bounty. It was a Saturday filled with Birthday Bliss, Happy birthday love! Cheers to all the wonderful years!

Tex and her Hen

Party go-ers enjoying company, wine and delectable app-ies

Hen house

Tex and I hamming it up

Pomarius Nursery

Hanging out in the cook tent

Chickens

Tex surrounded by friends and family

Tex trying on the apron I made her for her birthday. I called it June Bug.

For more party pics click here

R&R

Wishing you a restful weekend.  

I Heart...

Amazing! I can't get enough of Erin Tyner's fabulous photography. Maybe it's the symbolism of being so little in such a large world, or the mystery created in each image, but I could spend hours staring at these magical pieces.

Craft and Create

I love Wednesdays because it's the day I dedicate to creative moments. I've been busy working on a special project, for a special someone, but in the event that she may tune in to the blog, I have to keep it under wraps. What's equally important to the items we create, though, is the room we feel inspired to create them in...AKA the craft room. The craft room has become an integral part of many home designs as the space is so much more usable than the typical under-used office, guest bedroom, or TV room! Well, check out my dear friend Teri's creative space. It's a true beaut!