Vacation - Paris!

I was supposed to be off to Paris and Rome for two weeks, but was bested by the volcano. We are still off to adventure, so things will be a little quiet around here. I'll be back in May with pics to share!



(image via Ruffled)

DIY: paper award ribbon

MLE has a pretty great collection of vintage horse ribbons - you know the kind - colorful, with a big rosette medallion in the middle. We always talk about how she was way ahead of the game on prize ribbons, since now I see them as decor, brooches, en masse in the Camper Store window display in London, etc.


(images via Jessica Grindstaff and Mark Lund)

I still always vote vintage, but I stumbled on a tutorial the other day with instructions on how to make your own ribbon out of paper, and it was too cute to pass up.

How to make make a mini medallion:


1. Cut a 3/4" strip off a piece of 6" origami paper and accordian fold it to create tiny pleats.

2. Join the ends together with a bit of glue or double-stick tape.



3. Cut a couple sizes of cardstock circles to layer for the center.

4. Press the pleated circle flat and glue your center circles onto it. It will want to pop back up, so set a quarter or something lightweight on top until it dries. Or hold it down with one hand while you surf the internet with the other, my chosen method.

5. Cut more paper into ribbon tails and glue them to the back.



To make larger medallions, cut wider paper strips and splice several accordian-folded pieces together.

(via How About Orange)

Vintage Inspired: Oh My Cavalier Brooches

Love these vintage inspired brooches from Oh My Cavalier. One of these would dress up any blazer.

DIY: Lace Fingernails

Spied this tutorial for lace fingernails over on Behind the Seams the other day, and immediately wanted to start shopping for 80s prom dresses to rock these lace fingernails with.


DIY your own rockin' fingers!

Supplies you will need:

* clear top coat (top coat is designed to dry hard and protect your nails from scratches and chips, so don't just use any ol' clear polish)
* scissors
* toothpick
* black LACE
* a little patience

Step 1: Measure and trim the lace to fit each finger nail.



Step 2: Polish a single layer of top coat.



Step 3: Apply the trimmed lace on top of the wet polish.


Step 4: Firmly press the outer corners of the lace with a toothpick.

Step 5: Let the polish and lace dry for a few minutes

Step 6: Finish with two more applications of top coat.

Low Fi Ad Cuteness

Loving what the winners of Amazon's Kindle commercial did!

Buy It/Make It: Headboards

I missed a chance to purchase a wonderful golden velvet vintage headboard at an estate sale a few weeks ago (with matching bench - sniff) and have been kicking myself ever since. I love the look of a big tufted velvet headboard (though noone looks better in front of it than the lovely Betty Draper ...)



I know that there are new alternatives out there, so if I can't have vintage, I can at least look at my other options in another round of Buy it/Make it:

Padded Velvet Headboard:


Buy It: Urban Outfitters
Make It: Tutorial from Three Men and a Lady

Faux Headboard:


Buy It: Removable vinyl wall decals from Carefreesigns
Make It: Paint your headboard right on the wall (image via the now defunct Domino Mag)

Patterned Headboard


Buy It: Anthropologie
Make It: Wallpaper Headboard from Wallpaper Projects

Shop Preview: Cape Escape

I. Love. Capes.

I think they make for perfect spring wear. Coming soon to the shop: