Rustic Decor

I am married to a man’s man. Rugged. Brawny. Strong. He’s the kind of man that scoffs at things like lotion, and thinks corduroys are “fancy.” He drinks beer. He eats sausage. And he doesn’t look too keenly on our home looking too “girly.” So when the holidays roll around, I have to make sure that there aren’t too many sparkles and shimmery things lying around, or else he might start feeling uncomfortable.

Which is why this year I enlisted him to help me create these. Hewn from some pine and aspen logs we had lying around (yes, we have logs “lying around.” We live in Colorado--it’s sort of expected around here.), these “woodsy lanterns” are possibly my favorite holiday project yet.

Favorite because they cost $6.00 to make (not including the cost of the tools, of course, which my manly husband already owned--naturally). And because they took about eight minutes. And because they bring the wintry outdoors into my living room. Even better, these candle holders are versatile! See how many ways there are to change their look? There’s the traditional look, with winter berries. Simple. Classic. Beautiful. You can’t go wrong with berries. And then there’s the rugged look, with them all bundled together with a belt. This was my favorite...until my husband started looking around the house for his belt. Incidentally he wasn’t persuaded by my attempts to convince him that the design of our coffee table display was more important than keeping his pants up. I lost that battle. Fortunately, there is also the ribbon look, which as a self-proclaimed girly-girl, is now my new favorite. I like to think of it as a picture of my marriage. Rugged...but with a twist of sparkle. I’m the sparkle. Naturally. To learn more about my DIY pattern for making these woodsy lanterns yourself, click here!

Holiday Rx: Tuning Out

My dog, Agamemnon, (yes, that’s his real name. For the record, I had nothing to do with it.) never overspends during the holiday season. Never. So when January rolls around, he does not succumb to the stress and guilt that the rest of us feel after a full month of consuming.

Now, this is for a number of reasons. First, he is a dog and doesn’t have any money. So naturally he’s got that going for him. Second, he knows how to tune out periodically during the season. Allow me to explain...
Agamemnon is quite committed to spending hours--even days--during the season avoiding all forms of holiday advertising. He stays off the computer. He avoids television. He casts disdainful glances at catalogs. He steers clear of shops.

This behavior, I realize, is quite radical for us humans to adopt. But perhaps we could learn a thing or two from Ag. For instance, ever since Thanksgiving commenced, my inbox has been stuffed to the gills with advertisements. At least every other new message I receive is from the Loft or J.Crew or Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Even Walgreens is cyber-stalking me!

And this, of course, says nothing about the tv ads and tantalizing Pottery Barn catalogs and beautiful gift guides that the glossies are printing--all calling out to me to spend.

Now let me tell you a selfish little secret of mine: I only pay attention to the items that I want, and disregard the rest. So naturally when I head out to the store, or onto an online retailer, I catch myself picking up “just a few small things” for myself while shopping for others. Things I didn’t really think I wanted until...say...I saw them in my inbox.

This, of course, leads to much overspending and feelings of guilt following the season.


So though I could never be as committed as Agamemnon this season, I do think that I might try his technique every now and then, by turning off the tv and shutting down my email and enjoying an afternoon at home instead of at the stores. Sort of like a consumer-detox during the shopping-binge.

It certainly seems to work for Ag, anyway.

What are your tricks for staying within your budget during the holidays? Share your comments here by posting them below!

Holiday Comfort

I was at the craft store the other day picking up a few odds and ends, and I just happened to notice the Christmas display.

Okay...so maybe it didn’t “just happen” to notice it. Maybe it ambushed me from the store threshold. Maybe it managed to devour at least half of the aisles. Maybe I never want to see red and green again.

Ahem...I digress. My point in bringing up this little story is that it confirmed to me that my holiday taste in decorating is decidedly less...um...holiday. I don’t want Santas and reindeer. I don’t want little tiny houses all lit up in a row. I don’t want red and green lights and peppermint pillows. Of course my husband does...but that is another story.

Basically I don’t want my home to look like a craft store threw up in it. Instead, I want decorations that are comfortable and cozy. Things I can leave out from Halloween through Valentines Day. Timeless. Classic. And easy.

Like these pillow covers, for instance. I designed these specifically with the holiday season in mind. Don’t they make you want to curl up on my sofa? Wouldn’t you like to have a pair for yourself? Or perhaps gift a set to a friend or relative?


Then please let me tell you that if you have an old cardigan in your home that you never wear (or that your husband/sister/father/etc. doesn’t wear), you are already halfway there! These, for instance, were stitched from one sweater I owned, and one I bought from the thrift store for under $5.00. That’s four covers for a little over a buck a piece. Affordable, right?

As for the assembly, if you can sew a straight line, you can do this project. It’s that simple, and a great task for beginner crafters.

And I even suppose that if you wanted to, you could make them in red and green. Just don’t expect me to be happy about it.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a sofa to curl up on.

To learn more about this pattern, please click here!

Snow Day

Today is a snow day for us Coloradoans. Currently the white stuff is falling down in buckets (does it snow in buckets, or is that just rain?), and I’m trying to avoid shoveling the driveway for as long as possible, which admittedly isn’t a great strategy when it comes to snow removal...



The weather, of course, threatens to put a serious damper on Halloween festivities, but it does make for excellent holiday inspiration. And since I’m currently working on some holiday DIY projects, this snowy day is a perfect fit to get me into the mood.


Later today (Yay!) I’ll be listing my first ever project download for purchase in my online store, so I thought that I would give you all a sneak peak by sharing a few photos with you. These pictures, plus the winter wonderland outside, make me want to cuddle down with a soft blanket, some hot tea, and a good book.



That is, after all, what snow days are for.



Stay tuned for more details about my store, and come back tomorrow as we pick up on this week’s Be An Original theme: exploring who we want to be!

My Other Venture

In addition to my quest for originality this fall, I also have another venture on my to-do list, which is to get all stocked up before the winter hits.

No, I do not live on a homestead in case you were wondering. I live in suburbia.

Then why, you might ask, do I feel the need to stock up like a pioneer? We live in the 21st century, after all. Basic necessities, plus a whole bundle of unnecessary things (ahem...Target), are just a five minute drive away.


It’s a fair question. And perhaps I am a bit overzealous for winter preparation. It’s just that the idea of hunkering down for the colder months appeals to me, even if I don’t technically have to. Or, at the very least, having less to do during the crazy holiday season sounds marvelous.

So, necessity or not, here are a few things I’m tackling in the next couple of weeks:


:: hosting a Cooking Extravaganza for me, myself and I. What is that, you ask? Well, it’s when I load up on enough groceries to feed a small army, lock myself in my kitchen, and cook for a day solid. Last year I set a record at 15 hours and 40 meals. This year I’m a little less ambitious... I’ll keep you updated as the cooking starts tomorrow!

:: storing up holiday supplies. As in empty cereal boxes (they make great gift boxes!), plain wrapping paper (I embellish it and use it all year), and holiday foods & recipes.


:: filling my linen closets with basics, like toilet paper, medicine, soap, toothpaste, etc. The last thing I need is to discover that I only have one roll of toilet paper during an unexpected blizzard! Or an empty bottle of Tums after a holiday buffet.

Oh...and I only wish my linen closet looked like the one above!


:: winterizing my car. You won’t find me under the hood or anything--but I do plan to get an updated oil change, top off my fluids, check my tire pressure, and make sure my emergency kit is stowed in the back.

And no...my car doesn't look like that either.

How do you prepare for the winter? Share your tricks by posting a comment here!

Handmade Holidays Photo Collage--Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

I know you probably aren't surfing the net to catch up on the latest in the blog world, but just in case you are...here are some wintery holiday scenes (in case you aren't having a white Christmas) taken from my own yard.

Hope you are staying warm and enjoying family!