The Violet Hours

Time for Things to Do With Wooden Crates

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.

Time for ABC's on Your Wall

This installation took more work than it may seem. Check out what went into it at A Time for Everything.

I love Modern Pop's An Alphabetic Ode to Helvetica.

 

Want wall decals? Go to Blik. 

 

Ida Pearle is my go-to for baby gifts. I love her name prints and her alphabet cards that you can string up and hang on the wall.

Check out these gorgeous letter prints by Jessica Hische. I would be so psyched if my name started with a Q. Found via Grain Edit. 

Time for Repetition

I've come across this common thread in photographs lately, and, well, I just like them.

I'm not sure I could stand to live among walls like this, but I'm impressed that someone can. Found via Design Mom.

Yes, this is what you think it is: "By gum, it's gum!" (Violet from Willy Wonka reference). Yes, this is pretty gross, and yet it's rather beautiful too. Found via FFFound.

This restaurant has 600 butterfly portraits on display. It's almost like wallpaper. Amazing. Found via You Are My Fave.

Time for the Cutest Homemade Drum Set Ever!

This is so cute, I didn't want to dilute it with any distractions! I love how cool and simple this DIY kids drum set is! Found on Emmas Design Blog, via Mara Greenaway's Pinterest board.

Time for Chalkboard Paint

Paint a wall of your kitchen or a section of your kid's playroom—been there, seen that. Here are some new ways to use chalkboard paint.

 

Kids can practice writing their alphabet or they can draw a picture puzzle on these chalkboard blocks by Naef. Found via Handmade Charlotte. 

Here's a new way to teach geography...paint a globe in chalkboard paint. Found via Say Yes to Hoboken. 

A chalkboard piano? Who'd have thought? Found via Please Sir. 

Chalkboards don't always have to be in boring wood frames. Found via Paper Tastebuds. 

Say something without saying anything...write a note on this brooch and then change your mind later. Found via Swiss Miss.