why wouldn't you?!?!

i am making one (or ten) of these. and i don't care what you say/think/whateves, they are not just for kids. from super simple, to incredibly ornate, how fun would it be to have one of these in a little hidden corner of your house? soooo fun-that's how fun.

what's that? oh, you want one too. word. here's how to make your own for about $50.

what you'll need:

(5) - 11/16" X11/16" X 8ft wooden poles // twine // hand held drill // tape measure // pencil // scissors // 9X12 of fabric or cloth that you love // 10 count grommet packet with kit // boot string bundle

structure-how you'll do it:

1. measure and use a pencil to center mark 18" from the top of all your wooden poles 2. drill a 1/4" hole through each marking on all of your wooden boards 3. string your twine through each hole, tying a knot on each board as you go. 4. stand your wooden poles up, align the holes and tie with a loose knot 5. begin spreading the poles out, positioning each one to create your preferred width and height 6. once you have the teepee shape you want, wrap the top of your teepee with twine as many layers as you need to tightly secure

cover it-how you'll do it:

1. fold your tarp lengthwise. measure and mark about a 60" radius from the corner of the folded edge, creating a semi-circle. then cut along that line, creating a collar to fasten around the top of your teepee structure 2. wrap your tarp (right side out) around your teepee structure about 60" from your twine fastening 3. safety pin the opening shut (or have your helper hold) in position while you draw a line marking your preferred length all the way around the bottom of your painter's tarp 4. cut along your marked hem 5. starting at the top of your opening, add 5 grommets on each side 6. wrap your tarp around your structure, then string your boot strings through your grommets to secure your closure 7. add a cute rug or blanket and lots of pillows for comfy lounging

visit here for the super-easy how-to with pictures. 

AND VOILA

can't wait for some major cuddle time in our at-home teepee. 

LOVES!

weird names=good stuff.

hello dear ones.

i hope this post finds you and yours well. me? oh, i'm good. just busy crafting, designing and generally hanging out. while perusing the interwebs as i often do, just waiting to come across something fabulous to get my creativity flowing, i have begun noticing some very interestingly dubbed companies. 

and it got me thinking...

a lot goes into picking a name. whether it be for a human, a pup or a place. the hope is that the title will spark some emotion. right? when it comes to naming a babe, for example, parents typically chose one that has meaning, or exemplifies something they want for their little one. same goes for our four-legged friends. i named my pooch after one of my favorite president's, teddy roosevelt. and let me tell you, i couldn't have picked a better namesake-he truly is a bull moose kind-of dude.

even more challenging, i've found (what with my three llc's...and counting...) is picking a name for your company. more than a title, it's a brand. you want the name to entice people to visit and most importantly, to buy. and yet, my browsing has led me to some amazing stores whose name's have nothing to do with what they do. maybe they're onto something? either way, they are certainly worth a gander, even if, judging by the title, you never thought it's what you wanted.

PITBULLS and POSIES

thinking puppies and dogs?

wrong. so wrong. it's a darling little paper company who are churning out some of the most fabulous personalized paper goods i've seen. 

"i'm the daughter of a gardener and a librarian. formally trained as an architect, i've had an affinity for paper and handwritten notes since i was small. though one would assume by my name that my parents were hippies (which they were) i actually married into such goodness when josh asked me to be his wife. at the core of good architecture is a love for creating and dreaming, for collecting stories and telling them through light and steel and wood. i see the design of paper, flowers, and anything really as no different. a lover of texture, pattern, color, and the unexpected, i delight in the telling of your tale through many mediums. i find it hard to not sweat the small stuff, because it's there, in the details where your story can be found." TWIGS and HONEY ok... so a store based around shrubbery and honey? nope. a fabulous etsy shop specializing in bridal accessories and goddess-like pieces.  "delicately hand pressed petals of silk and lace, softly hand manipulated feathers curled to perfection, and hand stitched tulle veils round out myra callan’s designs, creator of twigs & honey. twigs & honey is based out of salem-portland, oregon and officially began in early 2008 with the goal of introducing to others, a completely fresh and modern interpretation of hair adornments. though myra had been creating artistic pieces and accessories since she was a child, she became inspired to create a full line to the public after planning her 9-8-7 wedding with now husband, matt." SCHOOLHOUSE ELECTRIC and SUPPLY so, they sell stuff for schools? like lighting and pencils and such?  way off.  and there you have it. i mean, what's really in a name anyways? HAPPY HUMPDAY FOOLS loves!

i die: thomas darnell paintings.

mcseriously? i die. how do i get my hands on one of these bad boys? and less importantly, where would i hang it? ranging in size from gloriously enormous to engagingly small they are the perfectly and feng shui approved way to always have the freshest of flowers in your home. 

let's drool together folks. 

to scoop up one for yourself, or to learn more about the painter himself head here. 

LET LOVE BLOOM. LOVES!

diy: pom-pom-perfection.

with all this wintery weather nothing sounds better than cozying up in a warm blanky. and while nothing is quite as comforting as that wool throw your granny knitted you back in the day, my guess is that is isn't totally beautiful to look at. solution: pom-poms. i stumbled across this how-to and let me assure you, it is as easy as it looks-not usually the case with diy's. and perhaps the best part, it's a semi-permanent solution. 

specifically, they are super inexpensive to make, easy to affix and even easier to snip off and revert the piece to it's original glory. or, when you need to clean the item/spice it up with different color combos. 

you'll need: yarn // embroidery hoop // thread // scissors (total cost >$15)

how to: 1. wrap yarn around an embroidery hoop 2. firmly tie clear/matching/neutral thread around middle (ensure it's a tight knot and trim edges of wire so you can't see it) 3. cut yarn on the hoop and remove 4. trim, puff-up, and sit back with awe and wonder. [PS-the larger your hoop, the larger your pom]

and for those visual learners out there:

1.  

2.

3.

4.

for a more extensive tutorial-head to this fabulous site. beware: you will not be able to leave the site without at least five diy projects on your to-do list. trust.

look at all these fabulous pom pieces.

HAPPY SUNDAY! 

loves!