I saw this hot air balloon craft by Curly Birds on B-Kids, and it inspired me to look for more!
I love the idea of upcycling light bulbs or drink bottles into hot air balloons. These artful creations are by Souther Salazar. Found via What Possessed Me.
I love this paper folding technique and it works so well for this hot air balloon mobile. Made by Brown Accents.
Here is the ultimate intersection of work and life...Oliver's nursery in the June issue of Parents magazine! Take a look and visit Parents.com for more photos and craft instructions. (Caravan Crib from Kalon Studios, Mountain Wallpaper from Fine Little Day, El Shelves from CB2, Blue Nesting Tables from Areaware)
His curtains may be my favorite thing in the room. The fabric is from Ikea and I made the straps with belt material, overall buckles, and buttons.
I can't focus on much else besides Oliver in this pic! The drawer pulls are vintage wooden yoyos and the mobile is made out of paper punched circles and an embroidery hoop. (Flash Cards from 3 Potato 4)
His rug is by Flor...they actually sell a kit where you cut the squares to form a bear skin rug. Check out the video of me and Michael (with Oliver as spectator) "cutting the rug!" (Settee from Urban Outfitters, Green side table from West Elm, Elephant lamp and mushrooms from Acorn)
I turned a trashed school chair into a smiley monkey for when he gets a little bigger. You can download the templates for the chair here.
I bravely tackled making my own version of this yarn light fixture. It was a process to say the least, but I love it!
My mom and her friends from the Cast-On Cottage in Atlanta (a knitting and needlepoint store) knitted this awesome pennant for us. (Owl Pouch from Giddy Giddy)
These pillows from Vintage Jane (on Etsy) sit on the little settee next to Oliver's crib. I call them "his friends." He smiles at them when I dry him off after bathtime. (Get this...they are only $22!!)
Photographs by the amazing Heather Weston. Check out her 52 Families project!
I wish I were one of those people who really knew how to serve tea properly. (Did anyone see the ridiculous episode of Pregnant in Heels where a woman was learning to serve British tea properly? I'm ashamed to say I did.) But I'm so American and a mug and a teabag is about all I can muster. I have a sweet ceramic teapot that is just a dust collector, so maybe now, I will surrender to my Twinings and use it for flowers.
Photo via Beeld Steil.
When I saw this photo of Shanghai built from cheap plastic containers (made by artist Bang-Yao Liu), it got me thinking about the plethora of ways to craft with ho-hum plastic containers and everyday items. (Found via Design Boom.)
Honestly, these are two of the cutest executions of plastic flowers I have ever seen. Yes, those tulips are made from plastic spoons! And the others from plates and cups! Brilliant. (I wish I could give credit where credit is due, but I found this image via Google Images and when I clicked on it, it took me to a site with no sign of this image. Hmmm.)
I seriously thought I'd seen it all in the way of trash crafting, but this is amazing! I would so live with this on my wall. Found via Snike Larten.
Ok, it's one thing to make your own piñata, but it's another to pick up the scraps after it's been beaten to a pulp and continue crafting! Not something for the faint of craft. How cute are these piñata scrap bags from Giddy Giddy? And those piñatas? Bestill my beating heart...
Just a little crafty thought as you head into a night of boozin'...here are some lovely uses for your wine bottles, saving them from the recycling bin.
Happy New Year from The Violet Hours! xxoo
How gorgeous are these wine bottle torches? Find the how-to on Design Sponge.
I love this frosted look, like these bottles have been sitting out in the snow. Found on Style Files.
Turn a wine bottle into a mini terrarium. Here's a how-to on cutting the bottle. Love the fiddlehead ferns! Found on Wedding Bee.
How's this for an amazing reuse? Instead of buying those blown glass balls to automatically water your plants, use a wine bottle! Found on Chica and Jo.
And of course, the bottle chandelier. For sale on Pottery Barn.
You'd have to be a brave soul to load this shelf up. Found on DeTnk.
And the corks? Well that's a post for next year. Here's to safe, happy, and healthy New Year!
I'm totally amazed at the cool effect this produces...Recyclart featured these basic jars striped with vintage zippers (I've been wondering what I could do with all of mine :). The repetitive texture makes for a unique surface; it almost looks like a gorgeous woven textile for a split second. To be honest, I've never explored the creative applications of zippers...now I'm intrigued...
Found via Katie Brown's Twitter feed.
The wooden crate is a flea market staple. Next time you see a tower of them, you may be more inspired.
At my wedding, we used a vintage wooden crate as a "flip book" of old photos of me and Michael. It had a playful flea market feel.
Put some casters on the bottom and turn them into rolling toy storage. Found via Minor Details.
Crates work so well as shelves. If only they were all styled this beautifully. Found via Emmas Design Blogg.
Isn't a wooden crate full of colorful old wallpaper charming? Found via Decor8.
Dog bowl holder—so clever. Found via Apartment Therapy.
With imperfect slats on the bottom, wooden crates make great planters, as seen here on Diggin Food.
Think beyond the spoon windchimes...
I love this simple little vase. By Beach House Living, found via From Me to You.
Aren't these fork hooks just beautiful? By Forkometry.
Label your kitchen garden with these hammered spoons. By Hammerman.
If I saw this from a distance, I would never think "dinnertime". Found via Inhabitat.
