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I am so pleased to start the week with a lovely giveaway! What better way to get the week going?
Sasha of the Gilded Bee has provided this week’s winner with a $35 gift certificate for papers goods from her shop as well as a runner-up prize of either a set of butterflies or 5 boxes!
If I could enter I would totally be taking home a package of red and green flowers, pillow boxes, tags and twine to save for this holiday season! Or maybe some beautiful pastel, feminine colors to save to wrap gifts for showers. Or maybe even some little flowers from the bud vases on my desk so I can have colorful flowers all year round!
Sasha’s beautiful work has recently been featured in both Martha Stewart Weddings and Brides Magazine! She is a paper-genius and was kind enough to answer a few of my burning questions.
Q. Outside of your amazing paper treasures, what else do you create?
I sew. I’ve made a lot of hats, handbags and clothes for myself and some others,
I cook/bake things from scratch everyday. Sometimes I paint and draw.
I am a jewelry maker/wire sculptor/beader. I do needlework, crocheting etc.
I dye things, and print textiles. I have done a lot of different types of things.
Q. You are such a packaging diva! What is your favorite new packaging trend for autumn?
Well, they’re not “new” however, I’ve totally fallen in love with Japanese and patterned tape and fabric tape–I love those :).
Other things:
Super-fancy-off-the-beaten-track wrapping papers from companies such as Egg Press, Snow and Graham, Elum, and Smock.
Alternative ribbons–such as paper twine/paper ribbons, or strips of vintage floral fabric.
Q. Any new product lines on the horizon for the Gilded Bee?
Oh, yes! :) I’m always trying to create something new.
I am working on miniatures (animals/birds etc.), DIY and gift wrap and favor Kits, mini calenders, things to wear, all sorts of things, my imagination always moves faster than my hands can make things.
To enter:
- One Entry for commenting here and telling us what items you would like to win from The Gilded Bee’s shop (if you want to share more, you know I always like to know what you plan do with it).
- You can get a second chance to win by tweeting or blogging the giveaway and leaving another comment with the link to the blog entry or your twitter name (be sure to include @lost_and_fawned in your tweet so I can verify you tweeted!).
- Giveaway is open to domestic and international entries.
- Please also remember leave your email so I know how to contact you!
A winner and a runner-up will be chosen at random on Monday, August 23rd at Noon EST. I will announce both winners here on the blog that afternoon.
GIVEAWAY CLOSED: Thank you for entering!
Wow. I don’t know what else to say. I just spotted this on Ikea Hack and went right to Manhattan Nest for more info. Starting with the 49.99 FJELLSE frame and a pile of wool army blankets from the army surplus store he made this designer knock off for a fraction of the price of similar upholstered beds from Room & Board and Crate & Barrel. Genius… Pure genius.
Here is what ha started with to give you an idea of how amazing this upgrade is…
Check out Manhattan Nest for more details and photos of this amazing transformation.
I found this vintage metal kitchen cart in the basement of an estate sale. I saw it on Saturday when it was marked at 50 cents and then again on Sunday when it was half priced at 25 cents. Something about it sucked me in and it ended up in the back of our mini cooper for a mere quarter. For almost a year it has been in our garage and then moved into my studio to hold stacks of folded fabric.
This summer I decided it need a face-lift. The shelves were in pretty bad shape and the chrome legs had some rusting. I took the whole thing apart, bought two cans of Rustoleum spray paint in a pretty shade of blue and broke out the sand paper. I spent a few hours sanding the shelves smooth, really smooth, getting all the layers of rust and grime off. Then, between light layers of spray paint, I took the chrome legs into the sink and scrubbed them with Barkeeper’s Friend to shine them up again. I made sure to lightly sand the shelves between paint layers with fine grained sandpaper and did quite a few layers to assure a nice even coat with no drips.
In total, the project cost me under $10. Not too bad at all!
Today I want to share some of the lovely little details that made our day so special. All of the centerpieces and decor flowers were purchased from the local flower market and arranged in a variety of milk glass containers by my very talented grandmother and aunt. The bouquets we had done at Basketcase. I made the “F” charm for my bouquet.
The reception needed some pattern and texture, so spent a weekend scooping up Amy Butler fabrics on sale a yard at a time, cut them and with the help of my mother-in-law hemmed them all. I also put together the bunting for the breeze-way with the leftover napkin fabric and some patchwork runners for various tables.
I loved our cake. It was 2 tiers of lemon poppy seed with lemon and raspberry cream cheese filling and 1 tier of rich chocolate with chocolate ganache and fresh raspberry preserves. It was all covered in ivory buttercream with white fondant eyelet lace trim. My aunt and uncle purchased a custom cake topper from Ann Wood for us which topped the simple cake beautifully.
We used a vintage aqua suitcase to serve as a card box on the guest book table and tucked out of our beautiful invitations in the pocket.
We had a limited bar with local beers and wines, a fresh fruit sangria, Oregon strawberry lemonaid and citrus water. Everyone managed to find something they liked.
We decorated the staircase to the beach with leftover centerpieces from the rehearsal picnic (canning jars from the grocery store with “popcorn hydrangea”).
All photos by Christina Gilchrist out of Portland, OR.
Vendors Featured:
Invitations: My Ugly Kitty, Ring Bowl: Paloma’s Nest, Bouquet Initial Charm: Lost & Fawned, Cake: The Dessert Tray (Beaverton, OR), Cake Topper: Ann Wood Handmade, Food: Claeys CateringBeer: Rogue Brewery (Portland, OR),
I see pews like this on craig’s list all the time. What a fantastic idea. For more photos of the process and finished product check out faith*buss. In addition to amazing projects like this one they also have the most adorable kids and a beautiful garden.
Jared sent me this yesterday and we put it on our list of things to do when we have a yard (and if we have the perfect tree stump under a large tree, hah). The top is poured concrete and the whole project only costs about $45. I love the vintage chandelier and folding chairs. This looks like the perfect spot for a romantic candle-lit dinner or a lovely lunch with the girls. Find out more on the project on This Old House.
I mentioned earlier I felt inspired to sew. I got to work early and found an old feed sack I had purchased ages ago. I cut off one side and used most of it for the front of a large pillow and one of the extra strips as the accent on a smaller pillow. I paired it with natural linen.
Logan seems to like them and they are pretty sturdy so I don’t have to worry about him actually using them as a pillow. I need to make a slightly larger pillow form for the big one so it looks fuller, but generally the look really cute in the living room.
Since my dad worked for companies like Sherwin Williams and Glidden I’ve been house painting since I could hold a paintbrush. He taught me to paint like a pro and it’s something I’ll always cherish (I know it’s not a typical fond childhood memory, but it’s useful right?). I know quite a few tips and tricks of my own but I am loving the article today on Apartment Therapy on practical painting tips. Using a nail hole to drain paint from the lip is particularly clever but was one of those palm-to-forehead/”why didn’t I think of that” moments.
Check out the full article here for more tips and tricks.