A British Invasion of Sorts...The Union Jack

Have you seen all the Union Jack designs lately? Is it because of these two below getting married? Americans love a royal wedding!

For whatever the reason, it is a great trend! I like how you can use it in the traditional form of red, white and blue or just use the form of the flag itself and use new colors. Here are a few of my favorite uses of Union Jack.

Image from Holly Mathis Interiors

For sale on ETSY, here.

missmustardseed.blogspot.com

thebeautifullife.com

I know most of these are pillows, but what an easy way to work a new trend in. Here is a Union Jack in a room.

Image from Holly Mathis Interiors.

Oh, for the love of Polyvore and Pinterest!

Pinterest and Polyvore are addicting!

I found Polyvore because I was asked by a good friend to help give her some ideas for her nursery. I am honored she asked and excited to help. I was thinking, "How am I going to show her any ideas I have?" Polyvore to the rescue! You just click on the wonderful icon "Clip to Polyvore" and there it is. So simple. I decided to practice and make one for my current project, Caleb's new bathroom. Here are my ideas. I already have the artwork! It is by John W. Golden. You can get the art straight from the artist at ETSY here. It is the same art at Land of Nod, but sold straight from the artist in multiple sizes!

You can check out every source in this inspiration board at Polyvore, here.

The Emporium at Kudzu Originals is Open!

I love this. I have made several.

emporium [ɛmˈpɔːrɪəm]

n pl -riums, -ria [-rɪə]

(Business / Commerce) a large retail shop offering for sale a wide variety of merchandise

[from Latin, from Greek emporion, from emporos merchant, from poros a journey]

The Emporium at Kudzu Originals is now open on ETSY! It has a been a journey getting there. Organizing my things, my thoughts and defining my style. Hence the name emporium, a JOURNEY with a WIDE variety of merchandise. Since my long hiatus from blogging, I have really tried to define what I love and what makes me happy. ( And strangely, a few graphic projects along the way!) I read a lot of other blogs and ripped images out of magazines. I love art, photography and interiors. I love old things. I love personalized items and monograms. I love handmade. I love making something from scratch. I must really like the color red and and blue. I love old furniture, french style and industrial. I love paint just out of the tube. I love Caleb's selection of crayon choices. I am learning how to LIVE with what I LOVE and make it all work together. The start of my ETSY store is a small sampling of what I like and hope you like too. Something small to add to your home or to give as a meaningful gift. And I guess if I do what I LOVE, then I will LOVE what I do!

The JOURNEY begins!

Hardware shopping for vintage dresser refinish!

I have been working for awhile now on this sweet little vanity that my Grandma left me. It is so cute! I remember sitting at it when I was a little girl and playing there with some little glass figures that sat on it. It has taken me FOREVER to figure out how I was going to paint it. Fortunately for me, I have been following some blogs for awhile and had some awesome inspiration from Miss Mustard Seed's blog. She is very nice and lists all the colors that she uses on her furniture! I will give the details on my experience painting the piece later. I have been too busy inhaling the glazing fumes!

Anyway... I am in need for some good hardware. I think I found some I like at Anthropologie. Of course, when I go looking there I go shopping for other things not hardware related! Here are some things I love love LOVE!

Wallpaper! Such a trend for 2011.

If I had a girl, I would be all over this. Photo from Anthropologie.

I am hoping I can find something similar to this that I can finish myself.

I think that would look sweet in Caleb's room.Photo from Anthropologie.

And finally, the hardware. I need 4 knobs.

I like this because it has a zinc finish.Photo from Anthropologie.

And lastly hardware sources to check out...

www.lookintheattic.com

rejuvenation.com

Any suggestions on other hardware sources?

I love this....

I love this blog, The Graphics Fairy! All FREE, really awesome print quality graphics. I use it for cards and tags mostly. But, she also has things to print and frame. If found this cool ski the other day for a canvas I am making for a ski trip picture.

Check out this egg print.

It seems very spring like!

Feature Friday: Button Bouquets

Today is Friday! Yay! And I would like to feature my fellow crafter and friend, Lyschel Burket. She makes the awesome little button bouquets that I thought would make perfect Valentine’s Day gifts or just because. So sweet! I asked Lyschel to share a little about herself and her wonderful craft. And you can check it all out at her ETSY shop, A Believer’s Beauties by clicking here. Read all about it below!

My name is Lyschel Burket and I am a 32 year old stay at home mom with two amazing little girls. I find my sanity at my craft table in the corner of my living room. Although it looks like mayhem to most, it is a sanctuary to me. I wish I could say that I have always loved crafting but that would be a lie. I started crafting after college when I was single and living on my own. I found myself needing something to do to keep my mind occupied and crafting seemed to be the perfect medicine. I love to “dabble” in all different types of art, from ceramics to wool felting, but I enjoy working with fabrics the most. I mean who doesn’t love to just go and stand in a fabric isle and look at all the patterns? Anyone? Just me huh?:)

I get my inspiration from the Lord and the beauty he puts around me. Many of my pieces come with a background story of how the image came to me, or the story behind a specific verse I have stitched. I love when things become more than just an object to look pretty but they become a story. Another unique thing I love to bring to my crafting is the repurposing of things. I love to take something simple and repurpose it like saltshaker as a vases or an old barn window as a frame. It’s weird how I have an eye for making something new out of something ordinary.

My latest creations are the button bouquets. I began making them with just button flowers. Putting several buttons on wire and putting them in a vase. People loved them and they were very unique. I got the idea from my mother -in-law who had made one from old buttons herself. I then began to play with them and adding wool and felt flowers to the mix. More recently, I have started mixing fabric yo-yo’s in. I just love the versatility of them. I love how something so small can bring such color and joy to a space. They are the flowers that never die!

They are great gifts or personal touches to your space. If you would like a custom one made for you please don’t hesitate to ask.

Check out the button bouquets here!

Thanks Lyschel for sharing!

Starting 2011 off Right!

This year is the year I do something about our very sad master bedroom. To get motivated, I ordered a canvas from Canvas On Demand to go over our massive king size bed that I have been pondering about what to do over it. I am not an interior designer, but I LOVE art and old things and pretty things, so maybe I have hope to make a nice space?! I am crossing my fingers that I find a really nice salvage pediment from the Heritage Alliance in Jonesborough or part of a fireplace to make the shelf for the canvas to sit on. I need to think about a room color next because the yellow is awful! :) Any suggestions for nice, calm bedroom paint colors?

And I want to also mention that the awesome canvas photo is done by Anna Hedges Photography.

16x24 canvas for master room above bed. Photo by Anna Hedges.

Image of similar shelf I hope to find

Benjamin Moore's Aura Hazy Skies

Image of bed-Ours is a toast color.