origami and pins and needles

A major element in the design for this week's wedding is origami.  My bride's mother is Japanese and a credentialed origami instructor.  She mailed me boxes of the most perfectly folded tiny origami elements to use for the wedding, and I've spent a good portion of the week wiring everything, which has proved about as time consuming as it sounds.  But I'm excited to see it come together.  I'm a huge fan of using origami for event decor, especially as a nod to the bride's heritage.

pinterest (source?)

borrowed and bleu

the crane chandelier project at the wedding co

origami place cards via pinterest (source?)

hanging cranes at the selby

on etsy; make your own monster

The mother of boys in me loves this idea.

by David Scott Cole 

Speaking of flowers

I saw a Martha Stewart tutorial for making poinsettias out of bump chenille.
Possibly the cheapest, easiest diy flowers ever.

Wish We Wore: Sensibility Patterns

Did I need another reason to pine for little girls?  I didn't think so.  But I found one anyway.  Sense and Sensibility Patterns.  Created by a Stay-at-home-mom (my favorite kind of small business), the site has some lovely period clothing patterns.  Lots of detail and lots of research in each, and a perfect forum for users to share their finished products and tips.  Oh, AND online classes for people like me who need to be walked through every little step.  And yes, they though to make coordinating doll patterns. Genius, I tell you.

Fall Floral Roundup

While I did throw together a roadside wreath with my preschooler in an hour and a half recently (including the time spent driving down the road and cutting our supplies together), I'm wishing I could invest a little bit more time and money and make something like one of these:

(Jeanne Winters)

(creative living)

(apartment therapy)

(stockczech)

(bugs and fishes)

(Whirly Bird)

(inspiration lounge)

(Judy Yiu) 

(Martha)

(domestically speaking)

(the home executive)

(lots of ideas at Organic Bouquet) 

(this next)

Maybe someday when I have a front door of my own......

Sewing for boys

This is something I've never managed to catch the vision of. Something about the way boys wear their clothes just makes me not want to expend my effort. To a boy, clothing is a tool and to a girl, clothing is adornment. This is a gross generalization, but usually accurate. Luckily, there are people who manage to sew for boys, in case I ever decide to dig my heels in. Check out this celebrate the boy series on MADE.

Valentines Idea #9: goodie bags

Twig and Thistle's free Valentine goody-bag PDF is a perfect last-minute solution for all your valentines panic! Now, what to put inside?

Valentines Idea #6: Crayon Hearts

These crayon hearts, spotted over at Wee Wonderfuls, look like the perfect way to brighten up the dreary month of February, AND give a cabin-fevered preschooler something to do!

Valentines idea #3: lovi heart postcard

I love this idea, and can only imagine how fun it would be to receive one of these lovi postcards!

Valentines idea #2: a kiss in your pocket.

I cannot get enough of Katie Sokoler. She makes me want to be a more fun human being, which is important for my kids. Here's her kiss-in-pocket-flipbook.

Valentines idea #1

Wow - January slipped through my fingers, did it not?
Oh well, onward and upward to my favorite holiday smack in the middle of my least favorite month. Let's see what we can do to make it cheery.

Starting with this heart garland tutorial from About Orange. Totally something I can do with the kids, and save my precious alone time for something else.

nothing elegant

This String Spool Set has me longing for a less-chaotic place to craft. I love the ikebana scissors!

Knitting with size 300 needles

Check out this designer knitting rugs with oversized yarn and needles.

{via rosenow}

Alice Supply Co

I've been scouring the interwebs trying to come up with a cheaper version of a cute toolbox (for my floral design gear), but it doesn't seem to exist. The Alice Supply Co. Version may just have to sit and wait until I can afford it.
{via housemartin}

laurie cinotto art + craft

One of my new favorite creative minds is laurie cinotto of lalalaurie.
Aren't these boutonnieres incredible?

Homestead Blessings

Okay, these are definitely carrying the granola vibe, but I think it's kind of cool that I can learn to make my own soap/bread/candles by watching a DVD. Didn't you know that self-sufficient is the new black?

one black bird

Diana Fayt makes some beautiful, beautiful things. Pottery art.
Found via housemartin.

train mural

I know a little boy who'd be in heaven in this space. I'm trying to think of a way to recreate it in our shoebox/apartment.

Framed chalkboard

Ever since I saw Penelope, I have wanted a chalkboard with an elaborate lacquered frame. Seeing this one over at Little Green Notebook has me itching to start hunting for the perfect frame for a DIY project.

embellish

2 beautiful ideas that I'd kind of like to use together:

Folded Fabric Flowers (this one by HanamiGallery)
and shoe clips (these by Erica Weiner).

Wouldn't a folded fabric shoe clip be incredible?