Coastal Inspired Altered Bottles {Making Memories from the Sea}

With summer in full swing, many people are heading to beaches and lakes to get away, so today I am sharing a project to keep some of the memories alive from those trips, while adding a coastal touch to your decor. It only requires an old bottle, some embellishments and letting your creativity flow. You could embellish these bottles with nature collected along the shore, pieces saved from trips passed or items that remind you of a previous vacation.

I made these "Ocean Relic" altered bottles, as I affectionately named them, for my online shop back in 2009. I shared a glimpse of them last week in a vignette I decorated back then, before they were shipped off to their new owners.

Altering vintage bottles into works of art was a pastime I thoroughly enjoyed for a long time. Back when altered art was all the rage…I couldn't get enough. I stayed up till the wee hours of the morning creating. I sold a lot of my art pieces first on eBay and then Etsy and my own website. Mixed media and collage art are still huge passions, but I don't get a chance to do it as often now. Since these are still some of my favorite creations, I wanted to share how I went about making them and inspire you to create your own.

A Cottage Style Summer Vignette {a look back to 2009}

Since I haven't had a lot of time to decorate for summer lately (other than the small bit I did on our front porch recently), I thought I would share a vignette from our former townhouse that I set up the summer of 2009. Decorating was basically my life then. I lived for creating these vignettes. Not a whole lot of time (or space) for them these days…but it is still a passion.

Life was sure easy back then. It is very different now and a lot harder in some ways, but I wouldn't go back. I love spending my days with the little ones and even though that means less time doing the things I used to do regularly, it is worth it. I hope you enjoy this "look back" at my cottage style summer vignette…

Romantic Autumn Decorating {a look back}

Those of you who have followed me for a long time know that I am a romantic at heart. And for years, "romantic" was my only style of decorating. I loved anything frilly, girly, vintage, white, and pretty. Even though my style has evolved to be more rustic, eclectic and bohemian, I still enjoy looking back at pretty vignettes from years past. Today, I am sharing some romantic fall decor with you in another installment of my {a look back} series.

First, we are heading back to 2007. Josh and I were in the process, that fall, of moving from our one bedroom apartment to a two bedroom townhouse.

Halloween Burlap and Scrap Fabric Ghost Family

Halloween will be here before we know it. Time to get those spooky decorations out or make your own! My mom and I made this family of friendly ghosts (to replicate my husband, myself and our two little ones), in one afternoon, back in 2012. This is a no-sew project…hooray! I know how everyone loves those.

I am sharing how we did it today as part of my {a look back} series. We made these right after my son Owen was born, when I wasn't doing much blogging. I love giving you "a look back" at these projects now and hope that you enjoy them as well.

Apartment & Townhouse Living: Romantic Cottage Chic Bedroom Makeover

Welcome to my new series, Apartment & Townhouse Living, where I hope to share advice and inspiration for those living in rental properties. I will be giving you a look at my life before buying our first home, to show that even when you live in a space that can't be remodeled, you can express your personal style. First up, we will be taking a tour of my "romantic cottage chic" townhouse bedroom from February of 2009.

A Little Christmas in July…{a look back} & a Link Up Party!

If you are a Hallmark junkie like me, then you know that this week they are running their "Christmas Keepsake Week" with lots of their holiday movies showing every day and night. I can't get enough. I love watching those cheesy, feel good movies, not matter what time of year it is!

Now, I know that some of you are like me and enjoy keeping the Christmas spirit alive all year, and others don't want to hear about it until after Thanksgiving. If you are the latter…I am afraid you won't like this post much. I can respect that.

But in honor of the "Christmas in July Spirit" that is coursing through my veins right now, I thought I would take you back to a Christmas past with me if you care to go. I also decided to host an impromptu "Christmas in July" party for you to link up your own Christmas posts! (Link up info at the end of this post.)

Owen’s First Birthday: A Football Party {a look back}

My little man, Owen, turned one on September 26, 2013. I never got around to sharing a birthday post back then, but decided with the draft coming this week, I would share it now! If you aren't up on the NFL draft, well let me tell you…it is a very big deal. At least in my house it is 🙂

Rustic Romantic Vignettes {a look back}

Not a lot of words today. I thought I would share some simple rustic and romantic vignettes with glimpses of my decor from the past few years. These are just random shots of things I find pretty. I hope you enjoy them.

Hazel’s Vintage Nursery {a look back}

I am excited to share with you the second in my {a look back} series, where I am sharing snippets from life when I was away from blogging. One thing that I never got around to sharing during that time, was Hazel's nursery, so I am going to now!

I had so many hopes and dreams for this room before she was born. Lots of plans were made and vintage items collected just for this special space that I wanted to create for my first child. I knew I wanted it to be cream and white with neutral, vintage touches throughout.

Farmhouse Touches in the Dining Room {a look back}

I am excited to start a new series with you where I will share "a look back" at some of things I photographed but never posted during my time away from blogland. 

After the whirlwind birth of my second child when my daughter was only 15 months old, I blogged on occasion, but pretty rarely. There was so much that I didn't have time to post back then.  

Whimsical Woodland Deer Birthday Party

I began this post last summer and I am ashamed to say I never finished it! Until now that is. I guess I did better than with her first birthday which had a "country fair" theme. I never finished that post at all. Maybe I still will…hopefully before she moves out of the house 🙂

If you have a party to plan this spring or summer and are looking for whimsical, woodland inspiration, you have come to the right place. The whole party came together with lots of help from extended family and turned out beautifully. I have left what I had originally started writing, only added on to it. 

Hope you enjoy (even though it is so late!)