Millie's New Buddy

Hello there! This is Annie from Time Enough For Drums and I'm so excited to be guest blogging for Maria today. She asked us guest bloggers to post about something relating to the theme "a farewell to summer" (as you may have read in Claire's and Beatrice's lovely posts earlier this week). I wanted to meld that theme with something very "Maria" and what I came up with is this: my bicycle! What screams "Maria" more than a vintage bicycle? I decided that Maria's trusty bike needed a buddy, so I bring you photos of my late 1960's Peugeot who I lovingly named Pascale when I purchased her last year. Don't you think Pascale and Millicent would get along swimmingly?









What do bicycles have to do with summer's end? You may be asking yourself. Aren't they more for summer's beginning? Well, I personally prefer to do my biking in a cool autumn breeze. So my bike gets the most wear in the latter part of the year. And, you'll always see me biking in a dress and cowboy boots! Cowboy boots are the best biking shoes, if you ask me. Some of my other staples for this fall season: pattern-mixing, girly dresses, great neckwear like scarves and brooches, and anything rockabilly-inspired.



Dress, Socks - Forever 21
Boots, Scarf - vintage, thrifted
Brooch - vintage

Thanks so much for reading! Love, Annie of Time Enough For Drums.

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Pool Photography

I cannot believe today the last day of August! To soak in the last few weeks of Summer - isn't this bicycle pool shots by Nate Bolt great?

(via mustard & sage)

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Pool Photography

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Giveaway Winners Announced!

I apologize for not posting this last night, but it seems that I've come down with a bit of a sinus infection of the sorts and this is the first time I've been online since yesterday (and I only got online to email my homework in). So, with that being said, here are the winners of the giveaways!


Winner of Laura's Little Lovies Vintage red necklace: 
OLI
Please email getoutyourcamera (AT) aim (DOT) com to claim your prize!




Winner of One Night Out's Custom Plush Camera:
TAMARA
Please email kyla-anderson (AT) hotmail (DOT) com to claim your prize!






Winner of Nynga & The Bear's Tee + Painting:
ASHLEY CAUTHEN
Please email nyngaandthebear (AT) gmail (DOT) com to claim your prize!






Winner of This Girl's Life So Far set:
SHEA POSEY
Please email jen_latini (AT) yahoo (DOT) com to claim your prize!


Winners, it is up to YOU to contact the sponsor of which you have won the giveaway for! Please leave a comment below if you see this and claim the winnings. Sponsors, if you have not heard from the winner in three days and would like me to drawn an alternate winner, please email me and I would be happy to do so! (I know this is a different way to try this, but I'm experimenting with what method works best for everyone and trying to cut out as many middle men as possible!)


Congratulations to the winners and sponsors, too! I hope everyone is as excited for the new batch of sponsors that Little Chief Honeybee will have starting tomorrow! (There is ONE large sponsorship still available if anyone wants it. Please email me at kaelahbee (at) gmail (dot) com) Hopefully lots of fluids and rest will help my sickness and I'll be back in full swing of things!

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Giveaway Winners Announced!

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Home Canning Supplies

I had 'good intentions' to do some canning this season, but I am not sure if I will be able to get around to it with the baby coming and all. I tried it for the very first time last year -- canning some various jams and it has been delightful to pull some fresh and delicious jam off of our shelves all year long. Although I know people have been doing it for ages, have you noticed the growing trend and increased canning exposure all around the last few years? It is popping up all over the place and there are lots of lovely things to make your canned goods look pretty along with great new resources too. Here are a few that caught my eye.

1: Canning for a New Generation : This book by Liana Krissoff came out this month, and I received a nice copy in the mail, it a most excellent canning resource and even has labels in the back of the book you can use.
2: Although a bit on the spendy side, these Weck jars are stunning.
3: Pretty Fabric Jar Covers -- which you can also DIY if you are more crafty.
4: Canning & Preserving with Ashley English - I haven't seen this book in person, but it looks wonderful.



5: Chalkboard Labels : Cool for not only canning, but other projects too.
6: Stainless Steel Funnel : Simply beautiful.
7: Retro Canning Set : Looks like a great packaged set.
8: Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It : I checked this out at the library and it has some fantastic looking recipes.

Other Ideas:
I love the idea of making labels inspired by these, or these.
Here is a great idea if you have leftover canning jars and kids -- clever!

Inspiring posts about Canning & Labels :
This Strawberry Lemon-Grass Jam looks delicious.
If you are reluctant to can -- you can make yummy freezer jam.
Ez did a beautiful tutorial and free printable tags for your jars here.
Jessica did a very informative post for Canning for beginners .

What about you? Have you tried canning before? Are you a preserving expert? Share with us your favorite things to preserve and successful recipes you've tried. If you have seen other great posts and canning tips-- hit up the comments section with your links and share your finds.

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Sponge Capsules!

Do you guys remember these things? The little capsule things you put in water and an animal shaped sponge emerges.


 Well apparently no matter how old you get they are still fun! I cleaned out my craft room over the weekend while the guys worked on the deck. I found a whole bunch of strange things I had no idea I had, like the sponge capsules. That's the bad thing about cleaning with me, I get distracted.


I think that picture is really neat because they're all in different stages of coming out of that weird plastic capsule. Some of them took a really long time and I had to put new super hot water in a few times. Maybe because they're so old...?

Look, one for all my kitties! Doctor Octopus, Professor Stingray, Squid and Leafy Sea Dragon! (I know, it's not a leafy sea dragon, but it's close enough!)

Oh, speaking of silly things you "grow", has anyone grown a triops? Kevin and I have a kit (actually the exact one I linked) and the directions are so intimidating, so many things you could do wrong so that it wouldn't grow. On the box there is a picture of what it will look like and it's bigger than my thumbnail!

I added a bunch more fabrics to my destash shop. Thank you to everyone who scooped up fabrics from my last batch. It feel so good to get rid of things I was keeping for no real reason. My craft room feels so much cozier now.




Well I've gotta head to work. Have a wonderful day!
xoxo.

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Sponge Capsules!

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We helped another family in Texas with their police brutality case

Our law firm has been helping people in Texas when they have a case of police abuse, police use of excessive force or when police use their power for the wrong reasons. We have helped thousands throughout Texas with this noble fight.

Recently, we settled a case for our clients when several county deputies abused their power simply because they thought they could. Although we cannot comment on the facts of the case, everyone should know that the deputies were fired and our clients were compensated. Several peace officers that thought they would get away abusing their power did not.

If your loved one has been killed by a cop, let us know. You may have a case against the police. Since we help people when others can't, this is why we say, we care about your legal needs.

P.S. help us select our logo for the firm from choices one, two or three. Thanks.

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My DIY Pendant Light in Progress..... (Via Made By Girl)

I'm sure many of you have seen the Moooi Random Pendant light....well we've also seen how pricey it can be, especially if you want two of the medium sized ones. We're talking close to $2000!! So, I figured why not dig up a DIY online a take a shot at making one...why not right?!? Well, my guy was up for the challenge and that's what we did last night. 


It's still drying, SO HOPEFULLY it will dry nicely. We first tested on 2 small ones, with two different yarns and 2 different glues.....then we chose the best one and did the BIG one. Crossing my fingers!!


the one above is NOT my lamp! 

below is a peek at our DIY in progress



How we made the ball :
• blow up the exercise ball 
• mark a 6-7 inch circle off-center (this is for your hand so you can change the bulb)
• plastic on the floor (it will get real messy)
• wear gloves (it will get messy, I mean it)
• rub Vaseline all over the exercise ball (this prevents the yarn from sticking to the surface once the glue is applied)
• put wallpaper paste into a large bowl
• unravel the ball of yarn (we used 300 yards for a 31" ball) dip it into the paste & saturate it completely
• begin wrapping the saturated yarn around the ball randomly covering as much of the open space as possible without covering the drawn circle
• once the ball is all wrapped in yarn, let it dry about 24 hours (we placed ours on top of a cardboard box for stability)
• once dry, deflate ball carefully & pull it through the circle opening (the same opening used to change the bulb) very carefully.


Electricals:


Click here for full instructions

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My DIY Pendant Light in Progress..... (Via Made By Girl)

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D.I.Y - "Carpet" Bag

Hello everybody! Claire here, from Mamushka Marie - sitting in for Maria while she gets some well earned R&R with her man! I can't even tell you how excited I am to be guest blogging here at Lulu Letty, one of my all time favorite blogs! When I first started brainstorming for this weeks "farewell to summer" post, a couple of things came to mind immediately; the coming seasons trends, plaid and menswear standing out amongst the others and going back to school of course! It's true - once our adieus are complete a lot of us will be back in class, which means lugging books around in cumbersome backpacks, ugh! So a necessary accessory for the fall is a definitely going to be a lightweight carryall. I myself am completely obsessed with carpet bags and tapestry bags that I've seen recently while perusing street fashion blogs. The colors and textures of these bags are simply adorable. So what could be better to round off the summer than a quick and easy do it yourself "carpet" bag?!



Lets get started!



STEP 1: Supplies
You will need:
-Place-mats or a small rug/carpet square - I found my place-mats at a local thrift store for 50 cents each! I chose colors that reminded me of autumn, were a bit masculine and had wonderful textures. You could also use pretty floral mats which would be really cute! The options are limitless!





1. Hot glue gun
2. Glue sticks
3. Scissors
4. Needle & thread
5. Link chains
6. Pins

STEP 2:
Start by folding your place-mat or fabric about three quarters of the way, leaving about 2 to 3 inches in excess material for your bags closure flap.
STEP 3:
Pin the sides into place and sew closed (and/or) hot glue fabric together.



STEP 4: Pins/Brooches
Find a pin or brooch that will compliment the colors of your bag and is heavy enough to weigh down the excess material (if your pin is too light the fabric is likely to not stay closed) I had this lot of lovely vintage pins just lying around waiting for their next life! You could also easily attach some Velcro or a simple button for the closure.


Pin your brooch towards the center of the bags closure flap.

STEP 5: Attaching the strap
Visit your local hardware store or craft store and choose a chain for the strap of your bag. The chain links for my bags were $1 a foot. I bought 3 feet of chain for each bag. The extra length allows you to wear your bag over your shoulder which is especially helpful if you ride a bicycle!


Attach the bags strap by sewing it into place with a needle and thread.




...and voila! You have yourself a perfect fall accessory, handmade and on the cheap!
Happy end of summer everyone!



Fondly,
Claire of Mamushka Marie

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HGTV Urban Oasis.....

Welcome back everyone! I hope you ALL had a nice weekend. Mine was great, especially since we had under 100 degree weather this time, thank God! 

I watched HGTV last night and was wondering....how many of you saw the previews on HGTV for Urban Oasis 2010 hosted by Vern Yip? I can't wait to see what this is all about!  On Sept 1st you'll be able to enter a giveaway on the HGTV site, where you'll get a chance to WIN this apartment (below) located at The Residences at W in New York City + a luxury automobile! Wow, I can only daydream! 


Anyhow, below is a sneak peek of the apartment that was posted on the HGTV site today. Yes, the one YOU can WIN! They also have a 3D tour of some of the rooms via their site...very cool stuff! Good Luck!


























images via hgtv

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HGTV Urban Oasis.....

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MIXTAPE MONDAY: usher in the autumn leaves.

This week's mixtape is dreamy. To me, at least! I really just want to crawl into a bubble bath with a book and this mix in the background. Plans for this evening? CHECK! 






usher in the autumn leaves...
(click on title to download)


I've been kind of boring lately. I apologize! This weekend was very very busy and I'm hoping it really was as productive as I think. Still so very much to do! Hopefully I'll pick it back up this week and actually post something interesting! ;)


By the way, you can still enter THE GIVEAWAY!  It ends tonight and you've got a really good chance of snagging 1 of 4 prizes! 

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Music Monday: Shout Out Louds

Hello... I hope you had a great weekend! I had technical computer and internet difficulties over the weekend, so I didn't get to share some posts on Friday, but I think we've got it all squared away now. Did you do anything fun for the weekend? We have been prepping a bit for our baby that will be arriving dun dun duh... this week! It is going to be a super busy week and month for us with lots of life-changing moments ahead. In the next little while I am excited to have some guest blogging friends fill in when I am unavailable, but I also hope to have a few posts for you too. So stay tuned!





Well... on to Music Monday. I am a fan of the Shout Out Louds and thought this was appropriate for this week, the song is called "Show Me Something New". I enjoy the upbeat lyrics and the cool underwater nature of the music video. What do you think? Also, the Shout Out Louds did a sweet cover of the Band of Horses that you can watch here. Speaking of cover songs, what are your favorite covers? I'd love to hear about them.

(Since readers have asked and told me that you have purchased Music Monday music I've shared in the past -- support Black Eiffel by getting the newest Shout Out Louds MP3 Album for $5.00 or single songs here or also on itunes here. Thank you for your support!)

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Music Monday: Shout Out Louds

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A new deck!

Happy Monday! 
This weekend flew by. Saturday my dad and brother came over and helped Kevin build a deck! Now our new patio door doesn't just lead you to fall into the grass. Heh. They got it nearly finished, I couldn't believe it. The main part of the deck is done all that needs done now is the stairs. I'm pretty sure my dad is coming over sometime this week to finish it up.



  uh, don't mind the paint job around the door. we have to finish it up, before the deck it was too high to paint. 


It looks so pretty! I can't wait to find the perfect chairs and table to put on it. I also can't wait to get tons of pretty plants to put on it.


xoxo.

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A new deck!

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A Farewell to Summer

Hi there! I'm Beatrice of DearBeatrice guest blogging today for Maria while she's away on a much needed relaxing vacation! I'm very honored to be one of her guest bloggers this week and I cannot wait to see what the other lovely girls have planned out! Not only is Maria one of my style icons, I also consider her a friend. She's very sweet, smart, beautiful, and has some of the most amazing blog photos! So about a week before she asked me to guest blog I had done a mini photo shoot with a friend of mine, Blythe who is an amazing photographer, and decided to save the photos for this post! It couldn't have been anymore perfect! When I think of Summer ending I think of the sun setting against a vast field. So this is my farewell to Summer and being a Southern Californian gal I must admit that even though I do not like it, Summer that is, it will be missed. So many fond memories and breezy outfits with hats and sundresses... I'll see you next year dear Summer.









Vintage Brooches










blouse: Urban Outfitters
skirt: handmade
petticoat: handmade
tights: Nordstrom
hat: vintage
mary jane shoes: Jeffrey Campbell


xoxo,
Beatrice of DearBeatrice

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Redraven Studios Giveaway!

I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about this $50 giveaway from Redraven Studios. When the lovely Amy contacted me about her shop, I was immediately blown away by not only the beauty of her site, but by her stunning ceramic pieces. Each item is handmade from porcelain and collaged with vintage ceramic decals. Whoever wins this is going to have the difficult task of choosing which gorgeous piece to take home!



Victorian bouquet necklace...Butterfly teardrop earrings...Chickadee belt buckle



To Enter- visit the shop and leave a comment:
1) with your favorite item from Redraven Studios
2) leave a way for me to contact you
For an extra entry-
3) follow Redraven on either Facebook or Twitter.

Open to all readers. Contest ends September 4th at 11pm est.


...Chosen by random.org, the winner of my Lulu Letty and O Captain giveaway is Bea, of A Plus B in the Sea. Thank You So Very Much to everyone that entered! I was blown away by your comments and I enjoyed reading every single one. Here are just a few of my favorites...


I look forward to your blog and many other blogs everyday as it gives me inspiration to wear timeless clothing that brings out both my inner and outer beauty. I love that anyone can start a blog, whether it be small or big, and share his/her vision. -Nicole

What I like best about blogging and reading blogs is how you can read about so many different people's lives, it opens you up to things you never knew about before and that people are so nice and encouraging to complete strangers. It's such a great community to be a part of. -Emma

I'm looking forward to Fall because it's probably the most photogenic & gorgeous season! It's my favorite season to photograph in. The weather is so comfortable for playing with layers while getting dressed. -Hannah


This coming week, I'm going to be taking my first ever blogging vacation in over 14 months! In my place I have five superb bloggers that will dazzle you with their amazing talents!! So be sure to check back every day for a new guest blogger and please show them lots of the love that I am so lucky to receive from you.

Yours,

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