the most wonderful time of the year

The holiday season is here! Where did the year go? Not real sure. I do love it though when Christmas carols start coming on the radio (preferably the day after Thanksgiving). I also enjoy changing all lyrics to be about Dora and her antics. Most recently revised song to the tune of Silver Bells goes like this: "Dora Belllleeee. Dora Belllllleeee. It's Christmas time ..for the kitty!" She likes it. I also enjoy DIY yourself Christmas projects, decorations, and looking at all the beautiful pictures in holiday editions of magazines. Peacock feathers are very trendy mixed in with holiday decor this year. So are burlap and metallic birdies! Love a good gold bird. Here are a few of my finds this year via Veranda, Elle Decor, and Southern Living!

Take some time to share some encouragement and joy. Visit http://www.sharewithchildrens.org to send a holiday message to sick child who deserves more for Christmas than an illness. 

photoshooting 2

My niece, Maddie, was willing to be my model and let me take a few photos of her in some of my handmade girly hair accessories. She is so cute! I had to instruct her ... "Maddie, sit by the pumpkin please" "Ok, now hug the pumpkin" "Ok, now hug the pumpkin and look at me!" "Oh yeah, and smiiiiile!" Pictures turned out precious!

photoshooting 1

I wanted to show potential customers ways to wear my handmade accessories as they looked at things in my craft booth, so I had a few people help me out with photoshoots. Brittany modeled the bridal button pin since she's getting married ..on Saturday! It could be worn best at bridal showers, luncheons, or teas. The pin has a blingin' antique button from my grandma's era. I love it. I saved some of those to be incorporated in my future wedding dress. The polka dot pin is so classic and fun. Dress up a pashmina or black sweater. The necklace is made from camel colored leather and antique turquoise buttons. Those buttons were one of a kind. I actually sold this necklace at the festival, but could make others with different button beauties. The ring is gold wire wrapped with a green aventurine cut stone. I figured I'd try the black and white effect on my pictures to show off the items! Effective?

not "too baby" baby wreaths

Since tons of my friends are getting married and some having babies, I've been forced to think about such things as baby showers and getting older. {sometimes surreal} I came up with a couple of wreaths that may be used for such occasions or as a gift for the family when welcoming their little one to his or her new home. I incorporated a chalkboard frame so you can write whatever you want.. "It's a boy!" "Welcome baby" "Piper is here!" "Blessed" .. you get the idea. I like that these baby boutique wreaths don't necessarily HAVE to be used when celebrating a baby. The blue and pink aren't those typical baby colors, and there are no diapers involved, so it can have alternative uses. The boyish one has more masculine colors and materials like navy, cream, and tan felt, burlap, and twine. The girly one is so couture with pearls, feathers, and white and purple felt. 

On sale for $40. Soon to go on Etsy.

easter wreaths

If I could describe these grapevine wreaths in three words I would choose: classy, traditional, and spiritual. I named them the "Easter wreaths" because I used a decorative cross as the starting point. Although the cross shouldn't only be thought of at Easter but on every day of the year, it is an iconic symbol for the Easter season. If you're looking for something more spiritually meaningful than bunnies and eggs, one of these wreaths would be a lovely decoration for your home.

yarn wrapped wonders

Here are three examples of trendy yarn wrapped wreaths that I have done. They are so fun and bring a modern twist to the traditional wreath. The neutral colors in the first one are sophisticated and would have great contrast against a darker painted or stained door. The goldenrod yellow wreath will add a POP of color in the fall season, matching those beautiful leaves that are changing. The burnt orange wreath is decorated with navy and white felt rosettes.. definitely Auburn inspired. 

the cornucopian

Ladies and gentlemen, here he is ... the ultimate Thanksgiving welcomer, the big daddy of Autumn, 18" in diameter of pure wrapped jute, the wreaths to outlast all wreaths ... the cornnnuucoopiiann!!!  *crowd applause*  *cheers*

Haha, that was this wreath's boxing introduction. Or maybe wrestling. Or jousting via "A Knight's Tale" .. anyway, this guy took a long time to make but turned out beautifully. Heavy duty for sure, and the cornucopia details at the bottom make it the perfect decoration for the Thanksgiving season. 

On sale for $55. 

new kid on the block

Last Saturday was my first craft event where I set up a booth and sold my items for $$$. Let me paint the picture for you: Early morning. Boyfriend conned into helping. Cold. Windy. Fall Festival for the homeowners of a giant neighborhood in Newnan. Lots of stuff to set up. Forgot tent. Very windy. Windy enough that somebody else's tent blew over and hit a victim in the face. Mom brings tent. Things blowing around everywhere. Thank goodness for my friends, Vicki and Seth. Finish setting up. Mobile petting zoo? Inflatables. Rock climbing wall. 12 pm happens. Lots of kids. LOTS of little kids. Some craft booth activity. Wind dies down. Cotton candy. 3 pm happens. Birds of Prey showing... scary. 4 pm happens. Pack up stuff. Acquired a bad cold.

There was a lot going on that day. Selling your crafts isn't as easy as it sounds. But at least my booth looked pretty!

Newby to the booth scene, but I learned a lot!

tis a season

There is a season, event, holiday, or special day for a wreath, as far as I'm concerned. As I have been working on tons of different designs for the a'door'nments, I have really fallen in love with them. Each one is unique, and the possibilities are endless. I am going to post all of designs I have finished, starting with these two:

These grapevine wreaths are 14" in diameter and are on sale for $35. The added initial would be no extra charge. I am getting into the craft fair world, and after having one festival under my belt, it's not as easy as it may seem. These projects take time and careful design decision, not to mention accumulation of materials. Let me know if you are interested, or check my etsy store: http://sweetdorabelle.etsy.com I will be listing each wreath and am willing to do custom orders. Enjoy the designs as they are posted!

odom wedding v1.0

A couple of weekends ago, I was given the opportunity to coordinate a wedding for a friend's special day. The theme was rustic-chic, and the venue was absolutely gorgeous. In Powder Springs, Georgia, the couple said their vows at The Phillips Farm under a giant oak tree and a setting sun. Amberly had all the decorations, table settings, food, and entertainment planned out. My job was to help make what she dreamed of become a reality on her precious day. With help from family and friends, we turned a barn into a dance floor, created an outdoor dining space, and left some room for a couple of "sweet" tables. Here's the set up for the rehearsal dinner. Wedding day pictures are coming soon!

The sophisticated ring bearer brought a fun energy to the ceremony! Congratulations Amberly and Landon!

have a berry good day

Looking for an a'door'nment that feels more festive for Fall? I have recently made a couple of these berry cute wreaths for a friend by substituting the green "new growth" buds with crimson berries! (Her husband is a Bama boy, so I'm sure he doesn't mind the color... considering I almost used orange berries!) This wreath will be able to easily transition from fall to the Christmas season. I love the idea of seasonal/holiday/MY BIRTHDAY wreaths. What a great way to welcome guests and pep up your home's facade! Stay tuned for more wreath experiments.

newlywed wreath

Need a creative idea for a wedding or wedding shower present? Over the registries? Skeptical of online shopping? ..I came up with a simple, personalized gift that any newlywed couple surely would love. I am dubbing it the "newlywed wreath" because of the colors: white- associated with brides and a clean start, tan- to accent, and green- symbolizing new growth in a new life together. Any color palette can be substituted for creating a seasonal wreath. 

Materials needed

grapevine wreath

artificial flowers or decorative elements

wooden initial

felt

(extra: add ribbon to hang)

I arranged the flowers and rolled strips of felt and hot-glued them to the wreath in tiny areas. I painted the wooden initial to match the white felt and hot-glued it also. I had seen the rolled felt strip idea on Pinterest, but I made my own design especially for the newlywed couple, Amy and Mitch. It was a simple project that will bring some character to their new door!


*New song added to the "listen here" widget: Save the Last Dance for Me by Michael Bublé. Reminds me of The Wedding Date with Debra Messing. LOVE it. What's your favorite wedding movie, bloggers?

special day button pins

While preparing for Amy's baby shower, I came across a new craft project I will dub "special day button pins." I wanted Amy to have a pretty pin to wear as the person of honor for the shower. However, I did not want the pin to scream baby. The baby will scream enough for itself beginning in November. I thought it should be sweet, boutique, and unique. I used a variety of fabrics, an antique button, a piece of felt for backing, and a pin. After making one, I wanted to see what other fabric combos would look shabby chic and what other occasions would need special day pins. Bridal showers, graduation parties, teas, college game days.. Shoot, why not any day you want to feel special?! They can be pinned onto shirts, dresses, coats, necklaces, pashminas, headbands, handbags.. a versatile accessory! 

They will soon be added to my etsy store. 

If you haven't checked it out, go to:

www.sweetdorabelle.etsy.com

pink elephants

... hello? ... blog readers? ... are you still there? I know, I know, it's been a while. I'm sorry.. I've been distracted! But I'm BACK with a great post about the first baby shower I've ever helped to throw.. [and for a pretty special friend!] My soul sista, Amy, is preggo with her first baby - Piper Lynn - and we couldn't be more excited! Amy lives in Oklahoma and only had four days to visit home, so we had one big shower shindig! Between five hostesses, we were planning for around 50 people.. and that is exactly what we had. I was in charge of invitations, decor, and cookies. We themed the shower around pink baby elephants with a couple of giraffes thrown in there. I didn't want the shower to scream baby, but I wanted it to be sweet, charming, and classy. Through the colors of white, green, tan, and different shades of pink, I think it achieved just that. 

Project list:

postcard invitations

painted paper mache animals

painted picture frames with letters spelling PIPER

elephant shaped cookies with pink icing 

animal cracker in clear cylinders

floral arrangements

burlap table runner

mother-to-be pin

Everything turned out beautifully, even though the pressure to decorate and set up was intense [45 minutes- eek!]. The other hostesses brought delicious brunch foods such as mini muffins, fruit tarts, pigs in a blanket, and the best donut holes I have ever devoured. I will not tell you how many of those I had. I brought various sized vases and had arranged the flowers the night before.. the wee hours before! All of the decoration went well with the exposed interior brick and white shutters as a backdrop. I was very happy about the room where we had the shower. It came together, and Amy had a great time with family and friends.. so that's what mattered most. I can't wait to meet little Pippy!

architect barbie

Who says architects only wear black? 

I just had to share this with everyone. My friend, Courtney, saw "Architect Barbie" in a magazine a couple of days ago and immediately sent me a picture. This is hilarious.... comes complete with hardhat for the jobsite, blueprint drawings, and the house Barbs designed. What a smartie! Stylish, too. 

While researching more on Archy Barbs, I found the Barbie Shanghai Store by Slade Architecture. Umm, whoever got to design this is a luckbox, and I am super jealous. It's like my childhood dream. Everything Barbie you could ever imagine! Unreal. However, it suddenly closed in March of this year for some reason. Bummer. Check it out anyway...

Fab.u.lous.

an artful invitation

A couple of weeks ago, my sister-in-law, Leigh, approached me with a project. For her wedding some years ago, a friend had painted a mini piece of art onto the wedding invitation and gave it back to Leigh as a wedding gift: a keepsake invitation that was framed and displayed. Leigh wanted to use this idea for a coworker friend who is getting married later this month, so she came to me with the idea since her craft isn't painting. I was up for the challenge. 

Questions:

"What to paint?" - something summery. flowers. what kind of flowers? one flower? a cluster of flowers?

"What colors does the bride love?" - purple. and pink.

"What size?" - something small. something delicate. 

"What medium?" - oil? too heavy. acrylic? possibly. watercolor? depends on the paper. prismacolor pencils? hmmm.. sounds lovely. watercolor pencils? YES.

Decision: 

a pinkish purple hydrangea cluster that would float off of the invitation.

I went outside to take a look at Mom's beloved hydrangeas that the deer keep eating, picked a tiny bloom, and got to work. I love purple. It's such a great color. I used three different shades of it: lavender, rich purple, and a pinkish purple. For the leaf I used a medium shade of green with a dark hunter green. Also, a tiny bit of black was mixed in to darken up some areas. After the drawing was finished, I took a small paintbrush and lightly went over the drawing, blending the colors to look more like a painting. It should be framed with a rich darker purple matting, and I would choose a gold or bronze frame [or maybe high gloss off white]. 

I think that makes for a unique gift! 

ottoman empire

No, no, no .... not talking about the Turkish empire that was the center of interactions between the Eastern and Western worlds for six centuries, you history buffs. I'm talking about the ground that is getting covered by these classic pieces of furni. Unique styles of ottomans are trending, so don't be afraid to add some flair to a room with these props. From high gloss white, to traditional, to shoe storage, to rattan, to fabric patterned... I can't help but love 'em all. I have to say I am most intrigued by the Lilly Pulitzer Home shoe storage ottoman. I mean, what girl with a ridiculous shoe collection wouldn't want that? So efficient. See for yourself!

love. love. love. You otta get one.

P.S. Sorry I haven't been on top of my blog posting game, followers! Distractions, vacations, volunteering, and job searching stresses have gotten the better of me. I promise more posts very soon!

my first estate sale

An all time fave- Soulshine by The Allman Brothers


Our adventure began this morning with a trip to "the neighborhood" in Newnan to look through antiques, trinkets, old furniture, and other junk at my first estate sale excursion! Mom [the veteran] and I [the newby] entered into an older brick house that smelled of moth balls and old. It wasn't pleasant, but we scanned the house for any potential deals or objects we just had to have. Mom was disappointed about the lack of old tools while I found a charming ceramic elephant and an old chair. The elephant is one of those old objects that can become contemporary in the right setting. It has a signature and an old piece of paper with "Delphi, Greece" written on its underside. We assumed that it had been a souvenir from the couple's travels. I've always had a slight fascination with elephants. I won a Jack Hanna drawing contest when I was little by submitting a drawing of elephants. I was pretty proud of that. The next item up for bid was an old chair with the most heinous cushions I have ever encountered. The wood frame, however, was in strong shape and just needs some TLC. I can see it with a new coat of paint + high gloss finish and new, less stinky, more beautiful cushions! It sits slightly back in the perfect comfy, cozy lounge position. I'm excited about this DIY project. Stay tuned for the results!

I have a feeling I'll want to go to another estate sale soon... And I'll probably need to have my own show.. something like "American Pickers" meets "Devine Design."

lovely little jewels

To go along with the jewelry theme, here's Ryan Adam's Pearls on a String. Check out the new "listen here" Grooveshark widget to the left!

I made more examples of the rings I posted about in "shoulda put a ring on it" and even got as adventurous as moving on to bracelets and earrings! I'm keeping it simple with this continuous jewelry project: only wrapping, no tricky clasps or backings. On these bracelets, I used tiny glass beads in gold and seafoam. I've started collecting different kinds of bead chips also like amethyst, coral, and pearls. Round beads don't work as well on the rings, so I go for the natural and randomly cut stone pieces. I hope y'all enjoy looking at these lovely little jewels, and I will post more pictures as the project continues! 

How cute are those little paws?

ole parí

Double tune day because I couldn't decide:
Joe Purdy - Paris in the Morning
Carla Bruni - Quelqu'un m'a dit

I wanted to add some more photos from the Eurotrip on the bloggle. We didn't have a lot of time to spend in Paris, so we hit the big spots and took a river boat tour at night. Main things I will always remember from Paris: 

• Intricacy of the Eiffel Tower
• Most annoying street peddlers I've ever encountered
• The never-ending Louvre
• The Mona Lisa was a lot smaller than I imagined
• Cheap pashmina heaven
• Listening to a harpist play while overlooking the city at the Sacre Coeur
• Mom's attempt at ordering/eating a crepe

Paris was on the last leg of the Eurotrip and by then, mom and I were in serious need of the English language. You can only travel around feeling like an uneducated idiot for so long. When all else failed, we went to McDonald's. True Americans. Here are some of the pictures I took at the most famous landmark in Paris..

We could have spent months at the Louvre. It was impossible to see everything in one visit, and we found ourselves lost frequently. I love the modern meets ancient aspect of the Louvre Pyramid as the entrance/exit to the museum. 

Ancient Egyptians used to worship cats...