valentine stamp cookies...

love these little valentine cookies from the recent martha stewart living magazine. it's hard to see from the picture, but they actually used food coloring as the dye and stamped messages on them. very cute!

click here for instructions.

getting excited...

{photo by me}

for valentines day, and all that goes with it!

hoping to get a few crafts done. may even some frosted sugar cookies. [any good recipes you recommend?]

wish me luck!

workspaces part 2...

i came across this workspace picture from martha stewart and i can't stop thinking about it. one day my very own "studio" in my basement will be done... until then, i can dream about this amazing space.

{via black eiffel, via stickers and stuff}

happy chinese new year!...

hope you have a swell chinese new year!! we spent the weekend eating loads of vietnamese food [my favorite!] and celebrating with my family!

hope the year of the ox goes well for you! and, celebrate tonight with some take out!

******update: i just added my favorite recipe for steamed wontons to the cafe zupas food blog i contribute to. click here for recipe. **********

onesie closeout!!...

so, remember when i used to sell the onesies i make? well, i guess i kind of stopped making around the time my little z man grew out of the onesie stage.

anyhow, i have a few left over and i am closing them out in my shop at a great price! along with my jewelry sale!

check them all out here.

armelle jewelry mega sale!!....

great news all!! i'm having a huge sale on all my leftovers from a very successful beehive bazaar! [thanks again to all of you who bought my stuff!!] if you decided to wait, well, it is worth it. and, if you couldn't make it to the beehive bazaar, well, you are in luck! there are some HUGE discounts!

check out a little preview below, and check out all the sale items in my etsy shop. [only one of each piece]

from top to bottom left to right:
1. rosie earrings- originally $26, on sale for $17
2. jewel necklace- originally $42, on sale for $29
3. black cameo necklace- originally $42, on sale for $32
4. chelsea earrings- originally $28, on sale for $17
5. spanish rose necklace- originally $46, on sale for $32
6. vintage rose pendant necklace- originally $24, on sale for $17

click here to view the rest. there are only one of each piece, so happy shopping!!

and, feel free to spread the word on the big sale!

free cosmetics!...

many of you have heard by now that some cosmetic companies are involved in a lawsuit, and they have to give away over 175 million dollars worth of cosmetics to customers who have purchased their products between 1994 and 2003. which pretty much all of us have, right?

i got a nice free FULL size lancome mascara today. just show up and sign a form.

click here to see a list of stores giving out free merchandise and what cosmetics you can choose from. it's first come first serve, so i'd go quick.

local stores participating: macy's, dillards, nordstrom.

:: first seen here ::

tarte au pomme...

check out my recipe for french apple tart.
just posted to the cafe zupas blog i contribute to.

i love, love, love this tart, it is so simple, but so good. passed down to me from my mom! this tart has been enjoyed by my family for years, and i'm sure you'll love it too. i've even requested it as my birthday "cake!"

enjoy!

click here for recipe.
photo by me.

heart bokeh...

i saw this heart bokeh project over at black eiffel about a year ago and i wanted to try it. but, of course never got around to it. but, since valentines day is just around the corner, i think i'll have to really get serious about it this year. it looks like a ton of fun, and i love experimenting with photography.

learn more about bokeh here.
learn how to make your own heart shape filter for your camera here.

workspaces...

i love this little hidden workspace from martha stewart living april 2008 issue. i remember when i first saw it how great i thought it was. and, i love that is has jewelry making items so neatly organized. i think i need a tip from this issue on organizing all of my jewelry stuff.

check out more here on how to make your own little space like this.

j crew sale...

there's a pretty great sale going on over at j crew. and, if you type in EXTRA20 at checkout you'll get an extra 20% off the sale price! nice!

click here for women's sale.

pola calendar....

i absolutely love this clever polaroid calendar by mark brubaker. what a great idea! i definately want to try to make one like this some time.

via black eiffel

cafe zupas blog...

{photo by me}

many of you know that i am a contributor to the cafe zupas blog. a great foodie blog all about food!

just make note that the site address has recently changed so you'll find the new posts here.

you can check out all my posts so far here. and look forward to some exciting new posts to come!

be sure to link it to your blog or change the link if you already have. thanks!

orla kiely for target?...

what?? orla kiely for target?

this could be the most exciting news ever! her stuff will be in target store in the beginning of february. i can't hardly wait! i'm obsessed with her designs! preview more here.

via apartment therapy

before + after: thrift store chair...

i love a good before + after.

so, when i spotted this already antique shabby white chair at a thrift store last week for $5, i couldn't resist.

i brought it home, and after a mere 30 minutes of cleaning and re-upolstering the cushions with some amy butler fabric i had lying around, i had a cute "new"/old chair!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

a few last minute things...

i finally have a chance to post about a few of the decorations i got around to making for christmas. it was very last minute, which is why they are still up to enjoy since the holidays went so fast.

first, a few friends of mine got together for a fun craft night! i ended up making a fun yarn wreath inspired by katie runnels. it was a lot of fun to make, but it took a lot longer than i expected. [about 4 hours start to finish] but, i was really happy with the end product. and, the best part is the merry christmas sign is removable, so you betcha i'll be putting this baby up for other holidays after all that work.

i also made a smaller one using white chenille yarn. this one was much easier since it was a lot smaller.

next, i was able to squeeze in a small snow village i made from paper mache houses like these ones.

i painted and glittered up a storm. i was going for a cody foster look, but soon ran out of time. so, i think next year i'll add a few more finishing touches, and perhaps start a little earlier on my christmas crafts.

lovely...

just got my current issue of domino in the mail today, and i was super excited to see zooey deschanel on the cover! i don't know about you, but the more i see and learn about her the more i like her! i just love her sense of style!

see her lovely house tour here.

polaroid collages...

i'm in love with these polaroid collages made by kim from trampoline. what a fun way to use your polaroids!

check out more on her etsy site.

via poppytalk

snow forts...

this snow brick maker from land of nod really makes me want to go outside and build a snow fort with my little z man. i used to make the best snow forts, and this snow brick maker looks awesome!

lists...

i'll admit, i'm a big fan of lists. i like having things written down so i can see them and check things off if i need to. i came across the cutest lists from the small object. you can use her template she has on her site to make your own or print some off. one is a meal planning list, and other is a grocery list. they have become really helpful with my new goal of meal planning!

click here to download meal planning list.

click here to download grocery list.