Happy Valentine's Day From Willis & Me

In case you haven't noticed I really enjoy the free, customizable e-cards you can make on Smilebox!

We hope you have a great day with your honey or as a singleton. As for me, I'm spending Valentine's Day with a dear friend who is visiting from New Zealand!! What could be sweeter than spending Valentines with my favorite kiwi?! Luckily, the boyfriend understands ;)

cheers,

*lucy.

{5 Lovely Things on Monday}

Guilty as charged...my lovely Mondays have been on a bit of a hiatus.  Between working extra hours to pay the bills --until you all start ordering handmade goodies from me-- & life in general blogging has been neglected. I'm not proud of it but am prepared to redeem myself.  This Monday I want to share the plans I have for my living space.

{1} Chairs a la Craiglist

I snagged these antique chairs a while back on CL with plans for them to be my first experiment with Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint. If you aren't familiar with this product please refer to my very enthusiastic post about this amazing discovery.

Arles=vintage mustard shade that = LOVE.

{2} The Key to Even Cuter Chairs

Giving these chairs a fresh coat of paint will do wonders for them but this adorable fabric I snagged on sale @ www.fabrics.com to recover the seats will make them suitable for resale. However, I'm keeping them :)

{3} Cheery Prints

Have you noticed I have a thing for yellow? While I always have, I feel as though my newfound self has made me embrace bright hues even more. I'm going for a teal & yellow theme in my apt's living space along with some grey to keep it from getting too busy. 

Here's my palate:

{4} The Furniture

I'm in love with my coffee & console tables from World Market and my couch from LazyBoy (of call placed). I'm very proud to have a few pieces that aren't from a thrift store or handed down. Don't get me wrong, I love those things too but there's something to be said when you are able to purchase non-IKEA furniture; it feels so grown up ;)

{5} Sea of Lovely

Ok, so this really has nothing to do with my living room but I'm finally going to start making tags to put on my handmade items. Thanks to my baby sister, Jenna- the artist, I have this gorgeous logo!



What do you think?!! Adorable, right?



     With that being said I'm really going to start putting myself out there in the months to come so if you have any requests for things you'd like to see my make or possibly buy, let me know!!

*lucy.

Wednesdays with Willis

In case you haven't heard the Pacific NW is covered in a lot of white stuff! Can you say...SNOW DAY?! The winter storm even made the TODAY show.

My work is totally shut down & I'm clearly not going anywhere...

& something tells me Willis knew that as soon as we got up today.

So far our day has consisted of some french press coffee, playing in the snow, 

eating breakfast & watching Sex & the City...

it's been pretty rough & Will is already ready for a nap.

While the pup sleeps I'll be crafting. 

Here is a little preview of what I've got going in my workshop:

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

*lucy.

A Lesson in Swaddling

Meet my lovely friend, Kristin.

We met in nursing school & became fast friends. Now she's having a baby!

And since she'a an ED RN I knew exactly what I was going to sew her little...

{A SWADDLER}

photo cred: prudentbaby.com

A while back I was trolling Prudent Baby's blog for shower gift ideas & 

stumbled across this gem. 

Since I'm a pediatric nurse I thought Kris could use a lesson in swaddling :)

1.    Position babe in center of swaddler & start your burrito wrap

Don't judge, this is the only prop I could find as Willis wouldn't cooperate :)

2. Tuck the blanket into the gap                    

3. Tuck the strap in the other side of the gap

4. Tuck the other end of the strap up top & you’ll have one happy baby!

{that is swaddled with industrial strength}

To make this DIY Swaddler HERE

Happy Swaddling.

*lucy.

***

Update: Baby Jack (& mama) love the swaddler!!

{5 Lovely Things on Monday}

Now that the holidays are done & things are starting to slow down the presser foot on my sewing machine is picking up speed...
So here is my Lovely to-do List!

{1} Amy Butler's Sleep Snail

photo cred: Amy Butler's Little Stiches for Little Ones
One of my friends' littles will be the lucky recipient of this cutie!

{2} What a Hoot!

photo cred: Fiskars
Fiskars has a free tutorial for this plushie that I can't resist!!
As I've always had a love for owls that are quite the trend now I can't
decide if I want to give this as a gift of keep it for myself :)

{3} Laptop Tote

photo cred: Joy from HJD Studio
Woot-woot for Sew, Mama, Sew featuring this tutorial!
Every blogger needs a cute tote for their MAC, right?

{4} Supply Roll-UP

photo cred: Kate of Peep Threads
Washable makeup brush cases would make a great gift! 

{5} Perpetual Calendar

photo cred: Little Birdie Secrets
The best part of this project is you can start it any time of the year!

I hope all of your are starting your New Year off on the right foot & thanks for following me in my novice blogger adventures :)

cheers,

*lucy.

A "Make it Work" Kitchen

With the New Year comes resolutions & a focus on getting your life organized. This week I couldn't help but notice how many articles I came across regarding "organize your home one room at a time" or "storage for your personality". It only seemed fitting to put my two cents in & share how I made my euro-style flat's kitchen a workable space. Here's a little refresher on what I was up against:

An overabundance of counter space...

Ok storage but it's not always convenient to use a stepstool to get things down...

At least I have a gas stove & oven!

So with a very white slate I began. Step 1: IKEA. If this is how Europeans make their apartamentos work I can too!

Shopping List:

1. something to go above the oven

photo cred: IKEA
Bekvam Spice Racks x2
{these will be a snap to paint & "spice" up}

2. more space to show of the Fiestaware

photo cred: IKEA
After my dad saw my handiwork with an electric drill to mount this
GRUNDTAL wall shelf he said, "Watch out Bob Villa".
{I know he was very proud.}

3. something to dry dishes sans counter space

photo cred: IKEA
The GRUNDTAL series strikes again-- genius.

4. somewhere to hang my pots & pans

photo cred: IKEA
Some hooks for this GRUNDTAL rail & we're set!

{drum roll for the grand reveal...}

Yes, that's a fresh cobbler baked by moi

Thanks to a score from my good buds I have
instant additional counter space & storage!

My handiwork has made my kitchen so workable
even a man can cook in it :)

Thanks for reading. I'm sure even Tim Gunn would be proud of my "make it work moment" with this circa-1890 kitchen!

*lucy.

p.s. The first time I posted this entry I forgot to include these pictures:

Thank goodness for my lovely bf who mounted this rack with industrial strength!
It's definitely not going anywhere

{Best of Photo Loveliness from 2011}

Well boys & girls it's time to delve into 2012! I apologize for my blogging absence during the past few weeks & I promise to be back in action. Gotta start the New Year off, right?

2011 was a year of transition & self-reflection for this girl. And that is why I've decided to make the the first {5 Lovely Things on Monday} of 2012 my favorite snaps from 2011. Enjoy & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 {5} Meeting Mr. Jamisen

Getting a first glimpse at one of my bff's first babe.
The look on our faces reminds me of the quote:
"A new baby is like the beginning of all things, hope, a dream of possibilities."

{4} The Trifecta

This pic says it all.
These girls are most definitely my sisters from another Mr.

{3} Father & Son

Portraits of dads & their kiddos never get old-
especially when you've known the dad since they were 8yo!

{2} BF in the Belfry

Taken in the bell tower at my parents' cabin (or compound, rather)
You can see why I like this guy & the scenery isn't bad either ;)

{...drumroll, please...}

{5} Sista, Sista

This pics was taken on Easter Sunday 2011
in Gig Harbor. It may be my favorite
sister picture of all time.

CHEERS!

 xoxo

*lucy.