I want to make tons of them! Add a few candles and coasters and you’d have a lovely housewarming or hostess gift.

And if you’re looking for something to serve on your pretty new trays, Little Brown Pen’s Coconut Mango Fizz Cocktail looks so delicious! I might need to make some today:

Here’s the recipe:

1 ounce coconut rum
4 ounces mango juice
2 ounces (or as much as you want, really) seltzer

Pour into glasses and enjoy!

You might remember me talking about making curtains a few months ago in this post. I just haven’t found the perfect fabric yet. I keep seeing patterns at  Ikea that I like but I couldn’t really picture most of them on my walls. I think this print and this pattern might be so perfect!

click photo for project directions

I saw this project on Design*Sponge and thought, “that’s it!” So now I think I need to plan a little Ikea trip! I hope some of these projects inspire you! Happy weekend!

via Smitten Kitchen

Adorable felt pillow how-to from Purl Bee

I was so excited when I saw a tutroial from Louche Lab on the Etsy Blog.  She makes the most beautiful ceramics and I just love her shop!

There!  That should chase away some of those raindrops!

Erin and Finnigan

Q. Could you tell us a little about yourself?
A. My name is Erin. I was born & raised in good ol’ Ontari-ari-ari-o & have been spending time in the state of New York with my boy & two kittens. On weekdays I walk a pup named Finnigan & on weekends I sift through old stuff at antique stores & estate sales.

love

Q. How did you become interested in cross stitching?
A. I started cross stitching while I was in school back home. I got interested in old women’s crafts because it was impressive to me how young girls would work so long & hard on intricate samplers. I wanted to be like them, so here I am!

Q. Every item in your shop is so intricate and beautiful! What is your creative process like?
A. Thank you! I take my time flipping through old books about cross stitching & collecting images that I can appropriate & simplify. A lot of my inspiration comes from samplers of the 1800s. I like to keep my colour choices basic & my patterns simple while adding a bit of a clean, modern touch.

a cross stitch crown and cross stitch rose earrings

Q. Your Etsy anniversary is coming up on September 1st. What has your first year on Etsy been like?
A. Eee! Yes! It’s been quite successful! I was very nervous about starting up & didn’t expect to make any sales. I think my Cross Stitch Monogram Badges have been my biggest hit. My boy & I wear our letters on our bags every day! I’ve met so many e-friends with similar interests since I started & I’m super thankful for that. I plan on keeping up with it for years to come!

I love all the unique monograms!

Q. What inspires you most of all?
A. I’m always checking out what other people online are up to. It’s really helped me find myself & my aesthetic. Going to estate sales & antique places also inspires me to keep the old world alive. I love finding ideas from vintage photos of people & their homes as well. Thinking of what people long gone would like, mix that with my personal taste & create.

The Giveaway: Adorable Cross Stitch Earrings

Cross Stitch Heart Earrings

To enter simply visit Erin’s shop and leave a comment here about your favorite Atlantic Tree Fox item.

The giveaway will be open until September 4th. Good luck!

Skinny Jeans by BrooklynTailors

Love!

moi

Watching… Pride and Prejudice (the good one!).

Reading… my newest Nylon and The Girl with No Shadow. 

Listening… to The Faces Down and Vampire Weekend (fab summer album and it certainly feels like summer here). 

Drinking… delicious coffee in the morning and, sometimes, tasty blood-orange Italian soda in the afternoons.

Wanting… a bit of time and energy to finish up projects around the house (we are so close to the end of the renovation stage and the beginning of the decoration phase!), a few more veggie plants for our garden, and time to sew.

Trying… to remember to do my yoga each morning…

I snagged the idea for this update from this post from my new favorite blog.  It is so gorgeous you should really to go visit right now!

Rosette Fascinator - The Swan by Giantdwarf

This lovely photo (and gorgeous fascinator) suit my mood perfectly!  I’m working on the prettiest bridal order, moss green cozies with creme flowers.  Love!  I’m hoping to fit some time in for some sewing (in between all the knitting) this weekend.   Maybe I can snatch a wee bit of time to make this clutch and I’m dreaming of making this dress:

Gray Sky Dress from Burda

What are your weekend hopes and plans?

I think they turned out quite nicely.

We used this recipe and added a good bit of cinnamon and a wee bit of nutmeg.  We also mixed in some milk chocolate and white chocolate morsels and some super cute white snowflake sprinkles.  The little marshmallows are the final touch.

I’m still working away on the painting I have been making for my mom.  Its nearly done

I hope I have time to make a few of these lovely little bedside journals for friends

You can get the tutorial here.

Tomorrow my plan is to the clean the house, pack our clothes, and wash Cors.  Cors is a pleasant car companion, especially if he has been washed recently.

On a literary note, I have been reading Love In the Time of Cholera.  What are you reading?

Typewriter key ring from The Weekend Store.

Lovely Feather & Flower headband.

You can make one yourself.  The tutorial is here.

Need some new art?

Check out Elsiecakie’s cute new creations.

No knit scarf from Spool.  They also have some free basic patterns (for things like a grocery tote and an apron) on their site.

If you were hoping to knit something, there is still plenty of time to whip up a Porom hat designed by BrooklynTweed.

And nothing says, “Happy Christmas”  like a gingerbread cookie

You can get the recipe here.

Happy baking, knitting, sewing, wrapping, giving, and Happy Christmas a wee bit early!

I love you!  You give me the cold and the wet and take away the pretty leaves.  You give me the desire to create more than usual.  Thank you!

Last year I took the Handmade Challenge and I failed.  I still think it is wonderful, so this year I am trying to make more of my own gifts.  After Christmas I will make a little post with photos to show how things turn out.  I am hoping to make these:

And Courtney and I have some plans to tackle some sewing projects together.  I am leaning towards something in the Built by Wendy family.  Maybe one of these dresses.

In other handmade goodness, thanks to Harry for introducing me to A Beautiful Mess she is so inspiring!  And if you are curious about the handmade revolution that has been happening in America you should check out the book Handmade Nation (it started out with a documentary.)