Products to Covet

One of the reasons I like reading magazines is that they lead me to shops and purveyors. Some may just be start-ups, while others have been around for years just waiting to be discovered.

So as I was perusing this month's issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine, I saw a caboodle of products that are both pretty and useful...which led me to this shop... that led me to some more adorable items! Here are my picks:

A warm bath during winter is a soothing treat for cold evenings and chapped skin.

No.1: A body brush for hard-to-reach areas; 

I would love to try this for dry brushing

No.2: A soft nail brush for DIY manicures

No. 3: A handmade bar of soap in my favorite scent

No. 4: A book of scented paper -- tuck it in linen drawers

or tear off a sheet then light it with a match to 

deodorize a room 

No.5: Fluffy towels provide a hug after a relaxing shower

Baby it's cold outside! That means more time indoors to cook or cozy up.

No. 6: Canning jars to store kitchen staples from beans to chocolate
No. 7: A handsome spoon to dish out hot soups and stews
No. 8: A chopping board that works as a platter for bread, 
cheese and dessert
No. 9: A stock pot that will be busy all winter long, simmering
stick-to-the-bones comfort food
No. 10: An old school kettle to heat up the water
that we'll use for steeping tea 

Have a nice day!

The Crisp White Shirt

Hello there! 

I've been burying my nose in the latest issue of Martha Stewart Living, and today, I've ear-marked something I'd like to add to my craft list. It involves a white button down shirt. I'm certain that many of us have this in our closets as a classic staple. On days when we feel the plain white shirt is looking blah, here's a quick TADA! to update the look:

via Martha Stewart

Add some fabric flowers!

via Martha Stewart

Find a matching fabric {this one's called cotton pima poplin} and follow this tutorial to make the flowers. Sew the flowers onto the shirt with needle and thread and TADA! -- it's like a brand new shirt with minimal cost and effort. 

Craft Room Envy

Happy Monday and Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! We get a day off today and I'll use it to rest, recharge, and do a little reading.

One of the items on my stack is the January issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Have you seen it? One of my favorite articles is "Pretty Crafty", featuring the craft room of Darcy Miller.

via Bride's Cafe

Darcy Miller is the editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings. She's very crafty and is one talented illustrator. Well, given that she's got those feathers in her cap {or sparkly tiara}, it would be expected that she have a craft room in her home. And a very fancy craft room at that.

via Martha Stewart

Just a selection of tools for her illustration needs,

neatly grouped in tumblers.

via Martha Stewart

Neat stacks of paper in a rainbow variety.

via Martha Stewart

Here she is with her three darling daughters.

I bet they spend hours and hours here!

via Martha Stewart

Her wall is filled with black and white family photos documenting her children's growth and many memorable moments. The black boxes in the shelf below contains more photos, which eventually end up in scrapbooks and scrapboxes.

via Martha Stewart

Uniform binders {properly labeled, too} keep the room neat and cohesive. A few shelves display some of her illustrations, many of which were used as cake toppers.

via Martha Stewart

A peek into her drawers: generous supplies in 
designated places. 

via Martha Stewart

Yes, even the crayons & pastels have their own drawers.

via Martha Stewart

Clear bins for more storage.

via Martha Stewart

Boxes containing greeting cards and decorating supplies segregated by occasion {ex. Valentine's, Holiday, etc.} fill the closets.

I'm feeling so much craft room envy! I only have a craft table, but wish for a craft room someday. I think that upgrade would be blah to TADA!

The Decorated Page

Hooray, we made it to Friday!

All this week, I added some TADA! to rather blah notebooks:

 Just a few floral touches using watercolor and these notebooks

have gained some charismatic character.

They're blank inside. Ah, but there lies even more blah to TADA!

Imagine all the good things you can put inside.

Here are a few ideas: 

via Jennifer Firth

 Turn them into journal pages just like Jenny's Sketchbook.

via Debra Cooper

 Use mixed media to record your day just like what Debra does.

via Donna Downey

 Or use some texture with paint and scrap paper the way

Donna makes hers.

via Geninne Zlatkis

 Or make something dreamy just like Geninne's

illustrations.

via Danielle Kroll

Of if you're totally proud of your "Outfit of the Day",

illustrate it the Danielle way.

Here's to beautifully decorated pages,

and an even beautiful weekend!

Thoughts of Springtime

Today, another transformation for a lowly notepad:

 This one's made from recycled paper.

 Decorate with lavender flowers using paint or markers.

Then add a touch of decoupage with a butterfly

cut-out from an old magazine and Mod Podge.

It secretly covers the label, too.

 Now a plain old pad {that will contain this year's 

"To Do" lists} has all the touches of spring and 

new beginnings.

Isn't that blah to TADA!?

More Flower Fun

All this week, I've been having a blast with my watercolors.

It all began with this plain notebook with a craft paper cover.

 The notebook was part of a set I found at Muji.

And then, images from this paper shop

only provided the right design inspiration.

A few lines... 

...and a whole lot of flowers turned my

notebook from blah to TADA!

A Note-worthy Bouquet

Well, hello there!

Today, another way to spruce up a plain notebook 

and turn it from blah to TADA!

Sketch flowers gathered from Liberty of London prints. 

Then paint with watercolor.

A bouquet you'll have all year round.

Drafts, doodles, drawings...fill it with whatever

makes you smile. And use colored pens

for an extra dose of TADA!