{Pottery Barn Easter Egg Filler Knockoff-Tutorial Pt. 1}

Can you believe that April is just around the corner?! Where has time gone? Easter will be here in just a few short weeks so i've been trying to come up with some new decor ideas for the holiday, which will be Ella's first! 

I'm all about making a big "to-do" over holiday's, and am planning some new traditions for us as a family now that we have a little one. Kids make holidays so much fun, and it's really about getting them into it and making it memorable for them. Anyways...I've been browsing the catalogues as of lately for decor ideas, and am LOVING this set up from Pottery Barn. I'm going to give you a bit of a tease and just leave you to simmer on these photos. I've been working on recreating the easter eggs (the ones hanging from the branches) and am almost done. Full tutorial to follow soon, I promise. 

I've also been trying to get my hands on any wooden or ceramic bunnies. Color and design don't bother me. I just plan on painting them all white anyways. So far i've come up empty handed at the thrift stores in town, I may have to venture out a little further. 

 Check back soon for the tutorial!

{find a friend friday - link up! week 6}

Hi Friends!! Can you believe it's already week 6 of Find a Friend Friday? Alissa and I are so excited! This week we're really hoping we can link up at least 20 people, will you help spread the word to your friends?

Today, I'm so excited to introduce you to Katie from Songs Kate Sang.

Isn't she cute?! I know, right. Not only is she adorable, but so is her Etsy Shoppe. I've had so much fun perusing her store over the last few days putting together a wish list of items I'm hoping to purchase from her in the near future. I've been looking forward to featuring her on the blog today.

1.Tell us about yourself.

I am a Texas girl that marched to the beat of a job transfer to Arizona.

I always pictured raising my family in Texas, sending my children to Texas A&M and retiring somewhere with huge trees and green fields, but God had a little different and wonderful plan for me.

I have absolutely fallen in love with the desert. I adore the unexpected colors and the quiet of the star filled nights.

I began this blog as a way to stay in touch with my sweet family back in Texas. Since starting this online journal, I have read stories that filled my heart with complete love, I have seen pictures that moved me to tears and I have stood beside you on causes that caused my entire being to stir. 

2. Tell us a little about your shop.

When you take the time to write a letter, you have the chance to make someone's mundane trip to the mailbox just as good as opening a present !  

I like to make one of a kind, handmade notecards and postcards.

I also have a special place in my heart for Golden Books.

3. How did your shop name come to be?

Great question!  I usually go by Katie and wanted a little anonymity when I first started.  I was very nervous about putting myself out there on a blog and opening an Etsy shop.   Psalm 121 had been a source of great comfort and joy for me, so I decided that my blog and my etsy shop would be my Psalm.  I would use these to honor my family and my faith.

4. What got you started with your craft,and selling your items?

 After being transferred, I had a few quiet evenings on my hands.  My children were older now and going to bed at a normal time.  I would make cards and write to friends.  I found myself with extra cards and a friend suggested selling them on Etsy.  That evolved into card making and tag making. 

5. Favorite part of your day?

Mornings, when my kids come and snuggle with me just before the alarm goes off.

6. What food or food group would you refuse to live without?

A definite tie between steak and chocolate. 

7. Where can we find you?

Kate Eschbach

Songs Kate Sang™

Kate's Blog:  http://songskatesang.typepad.com/ 

Kate's Etsy:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/kateeschbach

Kate's Twitter:  @SongsKateSang

Send Love. Expect Nothing in Return.™

Now go buy some of her adorable products!! But before you go, link up your blog. It can be your blog, a specific blog post, or a craft you've been working on.

Linky Party Rules:

1. Please follow Abstract Grace, Rags to Stitches, and Songs Kate Sang

2. Go meet new friends

3. Share the news about our fun party on Twitter and Facebook so your friends can join in too.

Party Ends Monday!!

{tutorial: jewelry storage}

I'm excited to share with you all the tutorial (it's eaassssy!) for this cute, vintage inspired jewelry storage/display. Total cost for this little project...about $2.00. You can't beat that!

Materials:

Frame: I found mine at the thrift store, and decided to keep it its gold color, some say ugly, I say charming. 

Lace: I got a scrap piece in the clearance bin at Joann's Fabrics for $.50 cents. It's a soft shade of pink, but any color you prefer will work.

Cup hooks: These are available at most hardware stores, Target, Walgreens, etc...any store that has a home improvement section really.  I grabbed mine from a box of hubby's tool stuff (hope he doesn't mind.) My cup hooks are 1" in size.

Staple Gun

Easy right? And so cute hanging on the wall. I love organized jewelry, and depending on how much you have and how big your frame is this project can really be customized to fit anyones needs.

I'd love to see photos of this project from other people. If you do decide to make one send me pics (abstractgraceinfo@gmail.com) and i'll feature them on the blog! 

{silhouette- part 2}

In my last post I showed you the digital proof of Ella's silhouette, and promised that i'd give you a shot of it framed and in use. The frame I used was a cheap-o black wood frame from the dollar store which I painted white. Three coats later and with the print (I just printed it on card stock-nothing fancy) in the frame i'm very happy with how it turned out! So cute and personal, plus the hubby liked it, so that's always a plus.

And I just couldn't resist putting the picture below up in today's post. Someone has learned how to pull themselves up to standing on furniture. This is how little lady greeted me after her morning nap, bed head and all. 

I've been having a TON of fun playing around with some new photoshop actions from Florabella Actions. While I have both done photography with no post editing and with, I love the way that actions speed up workflow and can really change the feel of photographs. The photo below was processed with Mademoiselle at 100% opacity. I've had a few people ask me about her blue eyes: other than the action (which was processed on the whole photo) I didn't do any retouching or color enhancements of her baby blues...they really are stunning! We can't go anywhere without someone commenting on them. I had a mini photo sesh with little lady a few weeks ago playing around with some other actions. I'll have to share those with you another day.

Happy Tuesday!

{fun with silhouettes}

There is something so classic about a silhouette, and with today's design software, it's easy to twist a modern version of them. There are a TON of tutorials out there about how to make one using your own photo, but I especially like the one from Jones Design Company (you can find it HERE). 

I made one up for Ella June, and have it framed and in her nursery. It's the perfect personal touch to her already adorable room (photos to come). I added a small flower from my digital scrapbooking stash, and put her name below the whole thing. It really is darling, and EASY to do! One tip that really helps is to make sure that picture has a dark background behind the subject, other than that...it's easy peasy!

{find a friend friday - link up! week 5}

Welcome to week 5 of Find a Friend Friday. Alissa and I are so excited you're back.

 This week has been filled with trips to the antique mall treasure hunting for some new pieces for the house (no luck so far), play dates (good for not only Ella, but mommy too), dinner with friends, oh..and the most fun, a girls night in. We ate pasta (too much pasta) and ice cream, and there were no children! (ekk!) just adults, a lovely group of women chatting about craft projects, shopping, and other girly topics. It was a fun night, and I can't wait to do it again!

Now onto the task at hand, I'm thrilled to introduce you to Ruthanne from Eclectic Whatnot! You are going to love her fun, outgoing personality, and her shop filled with all kinds of amazing goodies.

1.Tell us about yourself.

My family is a modern day Brady Bunch.When hubby and I met, I was a single mother of one and he was a single father of three. Now, after thirteen years of marriage, we’ve added four more children to our number and become convinced of the necessity of caffeine!

I am passionate about my Lord, my husband (aka the French teacher ~ it’s okay if you’re slightly jealous), and my children.

Here are some randomly random things about me . . . .

I homeschool.

I’ve been known to eat chocolate chips straight out of the bag.

I’m having a love affair with my sewing machine.

I listen to classical music.

I like beer. The dark kind.

I love the arts.

I devour good literature.

I’m a compulsive baker.

I’m a Reformed Baptist.

I heart old, B&W movies.

I think my husband is sexy.

I love him. Like a lot.

I also have a crush on Jack Bauer. It’s okay. My husband knows.

My drug of choice is the Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks (Grande, please).

Show tunes make me happy.

I hide behind my Nikon.

I dearly love to laugh.

2. Tell us a little about your shop.

My shop . . . . . oooh, I love that little corner of my world. {happy sigh} I sew ruffled camera strap covers, pleated scarves and some adorably, ruffled skirts. 

I kinda have a thing for ruffles. ;D

3. How did your shop name come to be?

My blog name came first. Eclectic Whatnot just came to me one day over three years ago and I instantly loved it. I started my blog that same night. I can blog about anything and it's a great fit to my shop as it grows and expands. I'm not limited to any certain product or style. I love that!

4. What got you started with your craft,and selling your items?

My friend Melissa gifted me with a homemade camera strap cover over a year ago. I wondered if i could make one, too. I dusted off my sewing machine and started playing around with fabric. Now, almost a year after opening my shop, my machine is still humming along and I'm still playing with fabric.

5. Favorite part of your day?

Ooooh. I love the evenings. The quiet after a full day. The children tucked into bed and snoring softly. Me and my man snuggled on the couch.

6. What food or food group would you refuse to live without?

Mexican. I love me some Mexican food. Nom nom nom

7. Where can we find you?

Blog: www.eclecticwhatnot.com

Shop: www.eclecticwhatnot.bigcartel.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/eclecticwhatnot

Twitter: @eclecticwhanot

Thanks for visiting, hope you'll link up so we can meet you and get to know you better. You can link up your blog or a specific blog post. Tell your friends and share our button.

Rules for Party:

1. Please follow myself, Rags To Stitches Boutique and Eclectic Whatnot

2. Leave some love if you want us to follow you back

3. Find some new friends.

Party ends on Monday night! Happy linking!

{I want! Er...Ella wants! On the hunt for bookends}

I've been searching for bookends for Ella's nursery. During a recent trip to Goores (a high end baby store in Northern California) I came across these: the Skip Hop Zoo Bookends- Owl. 

They have a whole "Zoo" line of backpacks, bookends, bibs and lunch pails that are so cute! (I couldn't resist getting Ella this lunch pail, and yes, even though she's only 9 months old we use it almost every day.) It's just too cute not to find something to put in it. 

Then I came across this set of bookends from Pottery Barn which are just perfect for her room. Same color scheme, and they are handmade (or so they say they are on the PB website). Also, I prefer the overall design to the Skip Hop ones. Now I just need to decide whether I will A.) buy them or B.) attempt to make them myself. The PB site gives the dimensions and the fill for them, which is sand (and polyfill I assume). I may have to take a trip into my local Pottery Barn to further examine them.

Until then, I'm one step closer in my search for the perfect bookends. 

Happy Monday!

{ta da!}

Remember the baby shower I helped out with from 400 miles away? Well I was sent a few pics of how everything turned out. Super cute! You can re-read the original post HERE, see the invite, water bottle labels and even download the cupcake toppers for FREE! 

Cute huh?! If you do use the toppers, please send pics! You can email me directly (see contact in the sidebar) or leave a link in the comments section. 

{find a friend friday - link up!}

Welcome to week #4 of Find a Friend Friday. Alissa at Rags To Stitches and I are so excited you're here! I'm so sorry we haven't linked up in while. I promise you'll find us here every Friday from now on. So link up and tell your friends to link up too. 

Today I'm so excited to introduce you to

Mandie @

You have to check out her blog and her shop, it's filled with all sorts of eye candy decor for you and your home. All the colors she uses are amazing

1.Tell us about yourself.

I'm a girl that loves fabric, coffee, my camera, and my husband, Gabe. I moved from the midwest almost 5 years ago when we got married to New Mexico where Gabe has lived his entire life, and I'm now spoiled by the (mostly) mild winters and beautiful mountains.

2. Tell us a little about your shop.

I sell accessories for you & your home! Cute little pouches for your purse, wristlet clutches, hot pads, and cute little coasters for your coffee table! I enjoy mix & matching fabrics to make something unique & one-of-a-kind.

3. How did your shop name come to be?

One night while laying in bed, it just came to me. I got up right away and registered it with etsy because I thought it was that fab & didn't want anyone else to take it! I didn't even open my shop up for over a year after I named it!

4. What got you started with your craft and selling your items?

I began sewing in February of 2010 when I needed a hobby. I'd collected fabric for a while before that, but had no use for it, so figured that sewing would be a good thing to try. In July I signed up for a craft show that took place in October, and a week after the show, I officially opened up my shop. moxiemandie has now been around for a few months & I'm having such a fun time watching it grow & evolve- even in just the last 6 months! It's amazing what a little time and experience does to a small business!

5. Favorite part of your day?

My favorite part of the day is when my husband gets home from work. I work days, and he works nights, so it's wonderful at the end of the day to see his face!

6. What food or food group would you refuse to live without?

Dairy! I know it's not the best for you, but yumm! I  love cheese, milk, and especially ice cream!

7. Where can we find you?

my shop: moxiemandie

my blog: mandie's mumblings

my twitter: mandiegirl

My Facebook Page: moxiemandie

Here are just some of the awesomeness in her store. Go check it out!! Mandie has also offered to give my readers FREE SHIPPING on your order. Just use the coupon code RAGS2STITCHES

{Paisley Garden Coasters}

{Ruffled Notecards} - Eek! need me some of these!

{Sunny Quilted Hot Pad}

{Custom Gathered Clutch}

{Ruffled Raw Wristlet Clutch}

Now for the Linky Party Rules:

1. Follow Rags to Stitches, Abstract Grace and MoxieMandie

2. Leave us some love if you want us to follow you back

3. Meet some new friends!!

This party ends on Monday so don't forget to link up and tell your friends to link up too!