For Your Picky, Art-Loving Friends

I just added gift certificates to the shop, perfect for your friend who might like to pick out their own art print. There's one that includes shipping for your American friends, Canadian friends, and your friends that live elsewhere in the world. Within 24 hours of purchase (unless I go into labor, then it might take a few extra hours) : ), you'll receive an email that includes a pdf with the printable gift certificate and a coupon code for your friend to use to redeem their gift!

So shop with confidence!

Arian : )

Glitter Lotion DIY

So I like glitter, especially around Christmas (also around Valentine's Day, Halloween, Independence Day....Arbor Day.......Presidents Day...) I've had an eye out for a long while for a glittery, shimmery lotion that isn't chock full of artificial ingredients. But "all natural glitter lotion" seems to be a bit of an oxymoron. Then it finally hit me---glitter lotion is glitter.....plus lotion. And I happen to have those things at home already. Genius.

So some good unscented lotion, extra fine glitter, a few drops of peppermint oil, and a cute jar later, I finally have my festive holiday glitter lotion. I'm all sparkly and glamorous despite the fact that I'm also wearing sweatpants. : )

So if you're a girl and you're related to me, don't buy any glitter lotion because you'll prooooobably be getting your own cute jar of peppermint shimmer lotion soon ; ) (except my sister, who due to some traumatic childhood "hot car + granny + stale mint gum = car sickness" memories, hates all things mint). Sad.

Hope your December is off to a good start!

Arian : )

Nesting

 One of the big things on my "to do before Eli arrives" list was to organize all of our art/crafting/sewing supplies in one place. Now when one of the boys needs a pair of scissors for a project I don't have to send him on a 20 minute scavenger hunt around the house.

 What was once our dining room bookshelf (which Daniel made out of old barn siding my Papa had...I love it), is now a neatly organized, Restoration Hardware-inspired, creation station.

 I have a habit of collecting metal bins, old wooden boxes, and vintage train cases any time I'm out at a yard sale or thrifting. They're perfect for storing art supplies. The boys can just grab the bin, box, or case they need, take it to wherever they're working, and put it back when they're done...easy cleanup!

 And our books have a new home in a metal cabinet I also scored from Papa, organized by color of course : )

Next on the list--finish the nursery!

Arian : )

Super Easy Dress

We had our third annual family Simple Portrait this weekend (last year's, 2 years ago). I love that I'm pregnant in this year's photo and that next year there will be 5 of us!

As soon as we showed up for the shoot, Jude decided he was a dog -- crawling around the studio floor and barking. Classic. It took a lot of convincing to get him to be a boy in at least some of the shots : )

I spent the morning of the photo shoot making this super easy dress out of comfy, maternity-friendly knit fabric....one more thing I can cross off my Pinterest "Things I Want To Make" list. It's basically a grown up pillow case dress--cut two rectangles, sew a tube on top of both, pull ribbon/fabric through and knot, sew sides up.  Easy. I want to make more! Maybe out of some fun, sparkly fabric for the holidays or something pretty and lacy.

I paired it with another easy DIY find from Pinterest, the hipster scarf made from one of Daniel's old shirts.

Happy Thanksgiving week!

Arian : )

Preparing for Eli

We're hard at work transforming this previously (very!) cluttered closet into a little nursery for Eli. He'll still be just a few feet from our bed but have his own private little space.

Lots and lots of little DIY projects---like these felt and faux fur covered wine boxes I'll be using for Eli's little shirts, pants, pjs, and diapers. They were super easy and cheap. Free wine boxes from a local liquor shop, a few dollars worth of brown felt and fake fur, yarn, metal rimmed labels, and my trusty glue gun to put them all together. Now I'm wondering what else I can use fabric covered wine boxes for! Gotta love cute, cheap storage!

Haha, that painting smock just doesn't cover as much as it used to : ) 3 weeks and counting til Eli's due date! We're almost ready for him!

Arian : )

Shop Early, Get Free Shipping

Welcome to the "Baby Eli is due some time before, on, or after December 10th so shop now to ensure your holiday purchases arrive in time because new babies make life more unpredictable" FREE SHIPPING SALE!

Enter the code "shopearly" when you're checking out of the shop between now and 11/27! Good for domestic AND international shipping!

Cozy, Happy Letters (free download!)

I'm working on some fun, new products for the shop and in the process I've made some cozy, happy, free downloads for your letter-writing pleasure. Click on the image then right click or drag it to your desktop to save. Print them, write on them, mail them, pass them around! Just please don't sell them and please do link back here when possible.

Enjoy!
Arian