vol.25

inspiration- herringbone patterns

I am SOO loving herringbone and chevron patterns right now. I'm super inspired to paint one of my own... somewhere. I'm just not sure our mortar walls will produce a clean enough of a line for the pattern to look crisp.

{SOURCE}

{SOURCE}

{SOURCE}
I would LOVE to have a floor like that. It looks super clean and fresh.

{SOURCE}

 The above pattern was done with contact paper!  Seems like a perfect solution if you are renting. :)

The planning for the motorhome is coming along SUPER nice! :) The actual doing... not so much. Our Home depot trip didnt happen the other night, and got rescheduled to thursday night. We'll see how that goes... ;) I am SUPER anxious to share all of my big plans... but I have orders I need to get out today before I can officially "play." :)

p.s. The buy 2 get 1 free sale ends TONIGHT at 11:59 PM! :)

a quote for your week chap 50

Here is quote #50! Seems hard to believe I have been doing the quotes for 50 weeks now! :) Oh- and thank you everyone for the suuuper sweet comments about our new to us motorhome. :) You are making me even more anxious to start working on it! I think I have a plan for the bedroom, and a general color scheme for the motorhome... I'm thinking gray, white and YELLOW... :) You arent really surprised that I threw yellow in there are you? I think gray and white will keep it soothing and calm and the yellow will add in a touch of cheerfullness. :) Of course there will be the occasional brown, because I dont think we will COMPLETELY remodel everything... :)

Anyhow I'll share my plans in the next couple days. Tonight I think we just might pick up paint for the cabinets! :) Woohoo!

Just for fun, here are some more pictures from the super rainy night we picked it up.

That picture totally makes me laugh, because Jaydon and my dad (they drove our avalanche back for us) are watching the gas pump keep going and going and going... I think it has 2 30 gallon tanks, and it only had an 1/8th of a tank when we bought it....

What do you think of the window mural? I really think it needs to go... and maybe replaced with a quote in vinyl letters "REMEMBER HAPPINESS IS A WAY OF TRAVEL NOT A DESTINATION" ;) Oh- and check out that humungous light!!? Definitely not original, the guy said it swings out over the awning. While we think that would be super handy, Jaydon and I are both kinda on the fence as to whether or not we are going to leave it. :)

So... I will admit that she/he does not have the most desirable profile... in fact I think the side view of this motorhome is kinda ugly... but we were reading some of the original literature on these things and they do seem quite a bit safer then some of the other comparable motorhomes... So I guess looks can be sacrificed. :) We would like to eventually paint it a crisp white with the accent stripe in another color, maybe to match the landcruiser?

Well, I have bunches of orders to get out!! The sale has been a HUGE success, thank you everyone! Tomorrow is the last day btw. :)

Happy Monday!!

 

We bought it!

...Yes we did! :) However, I completely admit to having a few moments on our 3 hour drive home where I wondered just what we were thinking having purchased a motorhome! :) Of course it was POURING... and the heater fan didnt work, so we had NO defrost... The sellers were nice and gave us a towel to wipe the windows off with... But you can see in the picture below just how difficult it was to see through them. :)

I took this a block from the seller's while we were taking out a loan... ummm I mean putting some gas into the tank. :)

It is VERY 70's... definitely a bit retro. We have quite a few things planned to bring this guy into the 21st century, but we have a couple others projects we need to finish up before we can really focus on making this thing cute! :) I definitely have big ideas though... First on the list is some white paint! I'm going to paint the cabinets. I think that will really help freshen/brighten things up a bit.

I also need to find out about how much it will cost to reupholster the cushions. I've really never looked into having anything done. Does anyone have any experience with this? Can you guesstimate how much it would cost? I'm not really sure what material I want to use... definitely something that won't show dirt and will clean up easy.

Same thing for the cushions above. This makes out into one BIG bed, or the bed on the right will fold down and leave a little bit of a walkway. I think I already know what I want to do with the bedroom area, but I've already changed my mind twice today... so we'll see how I feel in the morning. :)

The shower has supposively never been used. In fact it had shelves screwed inside, and that blob of tan fabric to the bottom left of the picture, is the ORIGINAL shower curtain. :) One of the reasons we thought this was such a good deal, is because it basically had one owner. The guys grandpa had bought it new in 76, and had passed away just 3 years ago. They inherited the motorhome, and he had a hard time selling it, because of the memories etc. He had soo many stories to tell, and knew what things had been replaced over the years. :) It has 87,000 original miles, and a 454 big block engine, it also had new tires, and a new awning... and it seemed pretty clean... and this thing seems REALLY dependable, which was super important for me. The seller really didnt hesitate to guarantee that it would get us home 3 hours away... even though it hasnt been licensed since 2008! :)

However, the cushions and carpet really need replaced, no matter how much I clean them... I think they are still going to feel dirty. I think we are going to eventually put down a tough wood floor, or linoleum. The white tv/vcr is also going to come down, and I am trying to convince Jaydon that we do not need a microwave in the motorhome. Right now it is taking up residence on one of the top bunks, and I would be happy to see it go. :)

So whatcha guys think!? Can you see the potential? I mean, I'm not *totally* crazy right!? :)

 

To motorhome or not to motorhome....

Okey doke... this is completely spur of the moment, but we've decided to take a drive to look at a vintage motorhome!!

It is so ugly, that I think it is kind of cute... :) Very 70's on the inside! I'll update as soon as I have some big news. It is about a 3 hour drive away....

Is anyone familiar with the Sportcoach? The one we are looking at is a 76, but it looks the same on the outside. The front end kind of reminds me of a shark. :)

I really wanted a vintage trailer, but because 50% of the time when we are camping we'll have the land cruiser with us... so we are limited to either a motorhome (to pull the cruiser with) or a camper. :) So far, I think this has the most character....

Wish us luck!! :)

images found here.

Remembering my horsey days...

I've been spotting equestrian horse art in quite a few of the home design blogs I read... so maybe it is a new trend?

The above photograph (as well as the one below) were found on Mari Burgos' blog, and they definitely took me on a trip down memory lane. I have always LOVED horses as a kid. I was seriously a horse fanatic. When I was in grade school, my best friend collected Breyer Horses, she had 123 of them all lined up along a wide bookcase that ran the entire width of her bedroom. We would play (very gently) with those horses for hours and hours. I lived, ate, and drank the four legged creatures... I didnt get my first one until I turned 13. And by the time I turned 16, I had owned 3 different horses, a quarter horse mix, an arabian mare, and my last one was a paint. I sold him when I turned 16, and put the money to my car, which happened to be an 88 Ford Mustang Convertible. :)

I did miss my horse, but the arabian mare kind of changed my trustworthiness towards horses. Arabians are known for being a  little more hotblooded then say a quarter horse, but she was a mare (female)  too... and well... mares are moody. :) Not exactly a good combination for a beginning rider. 9 times out of 10, I would go to put on her bridle, and she would swing her head and stand up with her front legs in the air... definitely not something I was comfortable with. I think horses sense when you are nervous, and every time I went to put her bridle on, I would immediately start to get nervous... which definitely didnt help! :) We ended up selling her to a super nice old man that rode her in the parades as part of the vfw I think... They were a match made in heaven. :)

I will have to see if I can dig up some old photos of me and my horses, I'm sure you would all LOVE to see them? ;) When I got my first horse, my parents kind of got bit my the bug too... my dad ended up buying a really awesome horse called a bashkir curly. His hair would get long and curly in the winter, although we never did, people actually shear them like you would a sheep... his name was Syntar, and boy was HE hotheaded! :) I found some pictures online... he was this color:

Dont you just LOVE the curly hair? Here is another picture of that same foal after he lost his winter coat, and grew a little....

{SOURCE}

Syntar had the curliest eye lashes... :) While it isnt the greatest picture, here is another Bashkir Curly I found online that shows just how different they can look with they're winter coat.

I think I need to feature some photos from one of my favorite horse photographers. :) His work would look gorgeous on anyone's wall. So, what do you think? Should horses make a comeback in the design world? :) I personally love the idea. Because our house was decorated around a western theme for my later teenage years, I'm really burnt out on all things western... but I am really liking the thought of mixing horses  with a modern style. :)

{SOURCE}

I just might need to bring out some of my earlier pencil artwork. Horses is ALL I ever drew in my teenage years. :) Or better yet... maybe I need to recreate something new! I'm definitely feeling inspired...

 p.s. The sale has been a HUGE success! I'm working suuuper hard to try and keep my 3 day shipping schedule. I am running a bit behind on answering e-mails though... so please bear with me over the next couple of days. :)

New packaging!!

Although I think I've been sending these out for a couple months, I just realized I never shared my new packaging with everyone. :) This picture doesnt show my super snazzy envelopes. I'll have to be sure and showcase those in the future. I had them custom printed, so I'm a little proud. :)

This time around, instead of the mini notepads I usually include... I decided to send out 2 free postcards that you can send along to a friend. They feature a freshened up version of my LOVE typewriter print.  Overall I think my packaging has a bit more of an organic natural feel to it... definitely reminiscent of the way my blog currently looks. :)

It really seems weird to look back on my original logo and packaging:

I actually had someone tell me that they liked my original logo better then my current one. BUT I feel like my current logo better represents ME now... although I do occasionally itch to change my newer one too... :) For the most part... I still love my heart logo, and I feel like changing it might not be the best decision. I've been advertising pretty heavily, and using my logo any chance I get. :)

I'm curious, how many of you remember when my logo looked like it does in the picture above? Anyone? :)

handmade with love for baby....

I'm an aunt again! It's been official for a couple of months now, but I haven't gotten around to blogging about this big news yet. In some ways it really doesnt seem official to me. My new nephew was born in OK, and we still havent made a trip out there to see the little guy... and although pictures have confirmed he is cute as a button, until I can actually cuddle with him it still seems somewhat surreal.

Anyhow, I made a few things for him and snapped pictures so that I could one day share them wih you. :)

I bought a pack of baby Onesies... in Newborn as well as 12 months sizes, then designed some super cute illustrations in photoshop. I printed them on some super high quality iron on transfer paper, cut the images, whipped out my iron, made sure to use NO steam.... and voila customized baby gear for the new little man in our lives.

I also had a couple tote bags lying around, so I created  a coordinating design and applied it the same way.

I hear that baby loved his goodies... and I felt all warm and fuzzy inside knowing I was sending something that I personally had a hand in creating. :) Using the iron on transfer sheets was a breeze... I actually ordered some high quality stuff online. I'll have to try and dig up the name brand. I've purchased the stuff from wal-mart, but am not consistently happy with the results I get.

How about you? Do you have any adventures with iron on fabric sheets? :)

a quote for your week chap 49 and a big surprise!

Love, LOVE this quote. :) I knew it was perfect as soon as I stumbled onto it. Bob Marley has some of the best quotes I think... oh- and I know I promised this post would be up bright and early... well obviously that didnt happen... ;)

OKAY, so.... I promised a surprise today, and I am not planning to dissapoint! Have you heard of the blog younghouselove? I'm sure 90% of you have, it is just THAT great of a blog... ANYHOW, if you havent heard of it, you really must head on over and see what all the talk is about, and while you are there, be sure and leave a comment on THIS POST HERE for your chance two win one of 4 50.00 VOL25 gift certificates! :) This giveaway definitely trumps any others I've hosted in the past... and I am not sure I will ever again giveaway that much in one sitting.... ;)

Happy Monday!! This week I am going to TRY and share some projects that I have been wanting to share with you for ages. Back in July I finally finished a crafty corner for little miss Trin. She's been loving it, and using it quite often, and I have been so glad to not have the clutter of drawing papers on our kitchen table... :) So, pictures to come soon!