Treasury Tuesday - Stitchin it Old School

Lately I've been really drawn to items stitched by hand. I think it might go along with my love of patchwork. Or maybe it's the need to be doing something while I'm watching TV.  But whatever the reason, I just love the look of hand stitched and hand embroidered items.

Here are some items I used in my latest Etsy treasury.

And here are a couple of tops I like from Alabama Chanin. If you haven't visited their site before, I highly recommend it. They have books, classes and even kits for making gorgeous items.

And a few more items from Pinterest.

Decor Style File: Vintage Style

Favorites from the Summer 2013 edition of Vintage Style magazine.

• Colorful, whimsical, comfy looking rooms 

• Striped lampshade
• Driftwood tree
• Photo transferred to throw pillow
• Eclectic, colorful bedrooms
• Paper typewriter
• Paper flowers... these colors work well together

•  Both porches look so relaxing 

• Super cute little garden room
• LOVE these light fixtures
• Framed old fashioned swim suits... fun!

• We're hoping to put a pond in our yard... this one looks great
• Beautiful porches
• Outside shower... why not?

•  From a very young age I've loved stationery... note pads, pens, rubber stamps, oh my!

• Bathrooms with framed mirrors always look great
• Colorful, eclectic porch
• Simple brick patio in a wooded yard... it looks so inviting
• Those glass vases on the table are amazing

• Little gate... this would be perfect to keep our dogs out of some areas of the yard
• Colorful, rustic outdoor room... check out the light fixtures hung together
• Color looks good anywhere, even in the yard 

Home Decor Style File: Do It Yourself

I know, I haven't shared anything from my visual journals in awhile. What can I say? Sometimes life just gets in the way. Well without further adieu, here are my favorite things from the Summer 2013 issue of Do It Yourself magazine.

• Painted retro roller skate as art
• Cut out and decoupage a child's art to a vase or candle stick
• Cute potting bench... I need one of these!
• Like many others, I have a love for vintage trailers... I don't have one yet, but I'm looking 

• Galvanized chicken feeders as planters... great idea!
• Pop-up electrical outlet
• Colorful mix-n-match throw pillows
• Anything can be a hook

• They were thinking garden with this quote, but I can apply it to my house
• Love the color combination inside this vintage travel trailer
• Scan children's artwork onto iron on transfers for a pillow... using love letters on bedroom pillows (or pillow cases) would be fun too
• Peel 'n' stick wallpaper... an easy and quick (temporary) update

• The possibilities are endless with this colored twine
• Crochet flowers on an outdoor chair... you really CAN embellish everything
• Stepping [stones] from a tree... beautiful 

• 70's looking color combination on a garage make-over
• New magazine I can't wait to check out
• Super cute cantaloupe and cabbage vegatabowls... there's more on Etsy!

• Grommets or button holes to secure fabric to a basket or box
• Rustic sofa table/storage solution
• DIY vanity storage solution
• Basket made from chop sticks

• Plant succulents in an old coffee carafe
• Turn your garage into a studio apartment... turn it back into a garage when time to move or sell
• Fabric or paper decoupaged to wood to make a door or shower mat

• Cut out and glue a child's artwork to magnets
• Laser cut birds from Etsy
• Tiles made from old tires
• Drill holes in the ends of a box, thread and tie rope for handles
• Paint and use egg cartons as drawer organizers

• Colorful room divider
• Paint the backs of crates for colorful storage
• Change the upholstery to give stool a vintage look

Art Studio Style File - Cloth Paper Scissors Studios

I'm not sure why, but I love reading about other artists and seeing their studios. Here are my favorite things from the Cloth Paper Scissors Studios winter edition.

• Chair and rug... love, love, love
• Storage unit with different knobs on each drawer
• An artist I'd like to learn more about
• A description of how the artist repurposes items instead of buying new
• Painted frames... who needs a picture?
• A photograph on a pillow (must try this!)

• Cattywampus shelves... look closely they're made from cabinet doors
• Artist describing how she creates visual inspiration... I do this
• The neatly organized craft supplies... I'm working on this
• Artist describing how she loves being in her studio... me too!

• An amazing studio with an entire wall made of windows... and she FOUND the large window!
• Really great tips for setting up a studio
• Another beautiful studio that doubles as a space for meeting clients

• Colorful studio
• Name of a blog to check out
• Great tip for artists
• Pig table... cute!
• Vintage toy being used as a pencil/pen caddy
• Another artists studio tip
• Pink radio... see you CAN paint anything
• Striped wall paper 

• Super organized space... makes me relax just looking at it
• Collaged sign for studio wall
• Great wrapping station setup... I need a mailing station like this
• A larger picture of the vintage toy holding pens/pencils
• Another caddy for holding supplies until I find a vintage toy

Treasury Tuesday - Not your Grandma's (Christmas) Balls

Not your Grandma's (Christmas) Balls. No siree. This year, Etsy is filled with  amazing Christmas ornaments for you to buy and to admire. I've put together a collection of not so ordinary ornaments this week. Enjoy!

And yes, you can still get these in time for Christmas. But you'd better hurry!

Home Decor Style File: Flea Market Style

Flea Market Style always has something new and different to look at. It also has a wide variety of tips for scavengers such as myself.

Here are my favorites from the Winter 2012 edition:

• Bracelets made from old license plates and signs
• I just signed up for FleaQuest so I can find vintage shops and flea markets in my area. BTW you can sign up as a Merchant or a Vendor
• Thinking about putting this 'Junk Love' hoodie on my list for Santa... there are several other items for sale on their site that I'm interested in
• Flower rings made from soda and tea cans
• I'm a cowboy (girl) boot fan so obviously I like this vase
• Website for a shops I'm going to check out in Elk Grove and Lodi, CA... Secondhand Rose

• Coasters as frames attached to something larger so it has more of a presence on the wall
• Old signs, tea cups and things with dots... right up my alley
• More flower rings made from soda and tea cans

• Banners and pouches made from fabric children's books
• Paint and sealers to try
• Purse / pocket sized notepads made from flashcards
• Succulent in colorful container
• Patchwork pillow
• Key or necklace holder made from old keys

• Rustic, mostly white bathroom
• Colorful kitchen cabinets, checked floor and hanging utensils as decorations
• Light fixture... I'll bet you could use a hanging light and a nice plate/bowl to make something similar
• More shops I'll be checking out in Northern California

• Big letters... yay!
• Hand drawn banner with inspirational words on a chalkboard wall
• Old fashioned lamp shade
• Store display ideas
• Information about Pinterest ...let me know if you need an invite to this addicting site

• Picture frame(and shelf) using an old cigar box
• Coral chair and teal stool... love these colors together
• Vintage vases
• Antiques Fair and Flea market I will be attending soon in Alameda, CA
• Bingo cards as photo frames

Home Decor Style File: Country Home Magazine... Holiday

There is so much to love in the Holiday 2012 edition of Country Home magazine. Below are my favorite things:

• Banners have been popular for awhile now, and I like the idea of using them as Christmas decorations around the house or on the tree
• Silver ornaments in a white bowl
• Embroider a tea towel or cloth napkins
• Paper or fabric trim around a cake plate adds a pop of color and can be easily changed for the next event
• Red cake with white polka-dots
• Teal with red and white color combo... these are the colors I have planned for my art studio

 

• Cute little holiday trees in a metal bucket... trees can be spray painted a different color to match your decor
• The light green flower stems look great with the red, white, and evergreen colors
• Wreath with pine cones, holly berries and pomegranates has just the right amount of red
• And how about red Chuck Taylors and Christmas ornaments for a necklace... my kind of holiday outfit

 

• Silver vases with miniature Christmas trees look great on the mantle
• If you don't know how to knit, try whipping up some stockings from an old sweater
• Cones covered in twine, cardboard, and other natural colored things
• Weathered springs are a cute idea as decorations in a bowl of ornaments, or on a gift
• Framed words and musical chords to the verse of a favorite song is a great year round decoration... I plan to put something like this in our master bedroom
• Rustic home looks great... they applied the insulation to the outside of the house (under the siding)

• Greenery and stars are hanging from a four poster bed... another idea that would look good year round
• Super cute green stockings
• All white table decorations with a touch of green and red... very classy
• Industrial light fixture 

• Poinsettias in a bright silver vase
• Playing cards as gift tags
• Gorgeous stockings made with various fabrics and even some embroidery
• Stuffed Christmas ornaments
• Ice skates are a great holiday decoration... I'm having trouble finding an old pair here in California
• Color coordinated gift wrap... something I do every year

 

• Beads as garland... cute and easy...these were hung up using cup hooks
• Ball made with old sweaters and hand stitched... two of my favorite things
• I haven't lived many places where I could display a tree in the front window so I usually resort to hanging ornaments from ribbon in the window
• Both of these Christmas tree displays would be fun to try