september desktop background :: photography

no calendar this month... just this peaceful image and subtle thought of adventure.  enjoy.

download your free desktop background here for widescreen and here for fullscreen. 

seat cushion :: diy

i would like some rugs for the basement, so when i found this tutorial i was thrilled.  we certainly have a lot of unused t-shirts around (my husband is oddly attached to old ratty shirts) and i thought this might be a fun activity that the boys might get into.

i was wrong.  for one thing, we didn't have enough t-shirts... which actually wasn't the end of the world.  i ended up using some old sweaters, yarn, and ribbon and i love the look!  but the boys weren't interested in helping really (even though there was a hula hoop involved) and this took waaaaaayyyyy longer than the 2-3 hours that the tutorial claimed.  i spent most of my friday night (i know, exciting) and them some of saturday morning working on this.  i finally gave up when i ran out of time and material so the overall size ended up much smaller than i anticipated and there was no way this could be a rug.

but then...  i tossed it on a chair and absolutely love it as a seat cushion!  it's much more comf than the wood chair alone and i think it adds some fun color to our mostly wood dining room.

so there you have it.  maybe someday, when i have a lot of extra time on my hands (ha!) i'll do a few more of these and attach them to finally make my rug.  until then, i guess i'll be shopping in the floor accessories department.

summer reflection :: personal story

as summer comes to an end, i am feeling very blessed.  it has been the most rewarding, challenging, exhausting and enjoyable season of my life.  being home with my boys for a bit was something we all needed.

and now, as "the monster" has returned to school and "bump" begins daycare again, i am anxious with anticipation of the new shop; but also longing for time to be rewound and the summer to begin again.  i guess that's a sign that i'm happy in the past, present & future... which is, really, a true blessing.

xoxo

nail & twine sign :: diy

i'm not sure why i love this sign so much... maybe because it's so simple.  or because the pink twine looks great with the rustic board and nails.  or maybe because i love font as art.  either way, i was going to put it in the shop, but i'm thinking of hanging it above our couch instead.

urban sassafras opening :: shop news

big big news today friends!  urban sassafras is finally falling in place and i have begun marketing the opening date for september 22, 2012!  can you believe it?  i will have a key to my shop space this very week.  with lots of painting, moving and prepping, i will be one busy girl.  will you help me spread the word?  i would love your love!

website: www.urbansassafras.com
facebook: www.facebook.com/urbansassafras

into the city :: st. louis photography

i asked "the monster" once...

"when you grow up, do you want to live in a city or on the farm?"

the city, because i love the lights.  they make my stomach excited as we drive in. he replied.

i agree.

leg warmers :: diy

are you ready for fall?!  if you get excited about jeans, big sweaters and boots like i do each time the weather turns cooler, you'll love this diy!

1. cut sleeves from old sweater
2. fold over on one side (the wider side / upper arm) and hand sew lace ribbon 
3. embellish with a cute broach.

so simple!  i can't wait to wear these with a cute skirt and white fluffy sweater soon!

a bug's life :: macro photography

little worlds intrigue me.  how does something so small get thru life?

i have been having fun with my make-shift macro lens lately.  did you know if you remove a 50mm from your camera, flip it, hold it close and shoot away you can get some great macro style photographs?  it's an old and almost-perfect photographers trick.

xoxo

meet joy :: personal story :: photography

meet 'joy'.  i named her that because she makes me happy.  she came in the mail for display in the new shop.  she always looks beautiful in whatever she's wearing...

p.s.  how do you like the necklaces 'joy' picked out to model?  i made them this weekend.  xoxo

no sew heart cut-out tee :: diy :: fashion

hey hey happy weekend friends! here's a fun and easy peasy project for you to try out when you are relaxing this evening.  and just think how cool you'll look tomorrow when you wear it?!

• find an old tank - should be fitting to your figure, but not too tight
• cut out a heart in the back.  make as big or small as you please
• fold ribbon in half long-wise and then glue to inside of heart
• let dry and strut your stuff!

xoxo

old spaghetti factory :: st. louis photography

when i was a little girl, every time we visited st. louis, we had to eat at the old spaghetti factory.  i loved it because it was fancy and adult-like, almost romantic... but also had an old train car in the middle of the dining room!  as a child, i never got to sit in the train car due to limited seating and lack of planning.  so!  i was thrilled when my husband made reservations for us to sit in the car for dinner... i looked forward to it all day. mostly because i couldn't wait to grant my wish as a child to my sons.  i knew they would be thrilled!

but of course, after a full day of vacation activities, "the monster" fell asleep before our meal even arrived...

i'm not sure he even knew we sat on a train car.  o well, at least hubby and i got to fulfill our childhood wish.  we even had the balloon guy make us "the monster" a sword.