Project: Friendship in a Jar

Jar of Words - the sweetest gift. 

We all have encountered them - those thoughtful, lovely people we meet whom, in a perfect world, become dear friends. . . I have recently gone through the extraordinary experience of making a new and dear friend - I mean, I don't know about yall, but the older I get, the harder it is to really connect with someone new. . . to meet a true kindred spirit.  My sweet friend, and  creative force in her own right, Kelly Oleson, made this jar of words for a couple of lucky folks, with hand-picked quotes she transcribed onto cards that fit inside the jar. I wake up and take out a quote that fits me exactly - they really seem to speak to me specifically which is so heart-warming - everyday. . . what a gift!  Do this for someone special, and I promise it will mean the world to them.  It takes time and love - the most precious of gifts.

A quote that fits me to a tee.  When you know and love your friends, you will find the perfect words.

Kelly tied ribbons to each card, and added a clip where I can attach my current quote to the outside for easy-reading. LOVE it.

Acceptance through Denim

Sound funny? Not in my world, of course.  It makes all kinds of sense to me.  When something fits well on your body, and allows you to be you it can be transformative.  I've seen it time and again. . . women and girls (guys too) having a new experience with how they view themselves when they find the perfect piece of clothing that actually fits properly and expresses something to world without saying a word. . . The fine folks at one of my obsessions (as you know), Imogene and Willie create not only fabulous, useful, durable, beautiful clothes by making and selling them in their hometown of Nashville, but they also make these beautiful video vignettes that include you in their design process, their philosophies, their outlook. . .in their American lives.  Acceptance through denim - a philosophy I can understand.

The Winner Is. . . and other thoughts.

Sorry for the fuzzy photo! 

And the pennants go to, The Patriotic Princess!  Give me a shout at smmidge[at]gmail[dot]com and we'll fix you up!  And I should say to the ever faithful KO - stick with us sister, your time will come. :)And on this rainly, drizzly morning here are some spot-on examples of design (from Pinterest) I love expressing random (but exact) thoughts I'm having today.  Oh, it's one-of-THOSE-days.  Hope your's is better!

If Only! BHLDN and a Wedding Recap

Ben and me listening the music under our Mesquite canopy in June 2006 

Knowing lots of brides to be are in full-out planning mode these days and no doubt obsessed with BHLDN, I got to thinking about my wedding. I got married to the Hubs in June of 2006.  We had a quirky, casual, outdoor wedding in a tiny town in the Big Country called Buffalo Gap.  Remember in Father of the Bride when Steve Martin's character suggest his daughter get married at the local steak house to the pure disdain of the entire family?  Well, we did.  And it was so fun.  Granted it's on a beautiful working cattle ranch with an oak grove outside. . .  A 12 min ceremony (including a song!) and an hours long party shaded from the heat by those good ol' trees.  That's how we liked it and still do. . . But oh!  If only we had BHLDN (what does it stand for anyway?) back then - it's the new wedding venture from the lovelies at Anthropologie. . . I would have just died to dawn one of these dresses. . .and I desperately wanted a crazy non-veil head piece that never materialized. . . a pretty pink lilly had to do.  I loved my wedding, with mismatched pink dresses for bridesmaids, rustic flower arrangements, custom-built Mesquite tree canopy, lots of bearded men wearing Chuck Taylors, picnic tables in an oak grove outside of the quintessentially West Texas Perini Ranch - but if I could do it again, I'd definitely add that head-piece and one of these delicious dresses.  Here are my fave BHLDN pics, and some of my favorite wedding moments too. Enjoy! 

But really - this dress would have made it PERFECT.  I searched and searched for  something like this back then. . . ah well.

what can I say?  I needed to be my inner seventies  hippie and this would have done it.  LOVE it.

Ben and me, post ceremony under a tree from which we hung a 70s velour bedspread and picture-less frames for guests to use creatively for their one photo opps

Our friends walked casually into the area in pink and light colored suits as Ben and I followed.  

Ahh the shoes.  We loved everyone's shoes and ours too!  And in the middle - that's my Dad who is a Justice of the Peace and married us.

A pre-wedding pep talk - you can see the tin-can flower containers and paper-sack luminaires on the tables.

Local honey from my hometown tagged with our initials was a parting gift for a friends and family.  Such good honey!

Ben making sure all his guys had the right vintage ties - one of their presents from him.

All the crew waiting outside the cattle gates.  I loved those gates.

Vintage images of family weddings and couples dotted the entry table where people could sign an obnoxiously large poster of us.  Heavens that was big!

We left the ceremony to "Let the Good Times Roll" and boy did they ever that night!

Yarn: The New Felt

That's it.  I'm yarn-bombing my house ASAP.  Look at these inspiring images of pretty yarn from Pinterest - I did a yarn search and it's changed me.  I am a better person for rediscovering my love for yarn. Are ya with me?!  I mean - nothing will ever take the place of my sweet, sweet felt.  But this is luscious.  Enjoy!

Final Feb Giveaway: Party Pennants

Don't ya just love pennants?  I hope so, because I do!  This week is all about colorful felt pennants, and around here we use them at parties, in rooms, under umbrellas - they add a festive flair to an occasion or a room all year around.  

The prize package this week includes a pair of pennant strings (medium and large)and just to add a little extra "happy" - one sample of a party favor from my niece's birthday - a cardboard chalkboard and oversized chalk.  We'll talk about how to make those soon, but couldn't resist adding it in for this final Feb giveaway! Enjoy and see rules below! 

This is a version of the large pennant string that hangs in little Bugger's room.

This is the large and small strings hanging under an umbrella at a birthday party - love em!

• eligibility: open to ALL Smmidge readers
• what to do: simply leave a comment on this giveaway post
• extra credit: if you are (or become) a follower of Smmidge blog, Smmidge Facebook, or @Smmidge Twitter you receive an extra entry each!  So come on!
• entry deadline: comments will close 48 hours after initial post time
• winner selection: winners will be chosen at random
• winner notification: On mornings following giveaway closing, I'll announce the winner (Smmidge Party Pennents winner will be announced Thursday Feb 24th)
• claiming your prize: send me an email at smmidge@gmail.com with your mailing address, and I'll pop your prize in the mail! Winners must respond within three (3) days of notification or forfeit the prize. alternate winner will be selected in this instance.

The large draped on a party table.

The cardboard chalkboards!  Cute favors and fun too.

Style&Sound: 2 Talented Guys, 2 Unique Styles

Obsessed with these guys: Musician Justin Townes Earl. And freestyle skateboarder (and I would say, performance artist), Killian Martin. Two different takes on art and style, but both distinctive (and definitely retro-ish) with endless talent.  Super. Have a great weekend!

Drum Roll Please. . .

 

 Yay Hayle!  Our winner of Feb giveaway 3. Email me at smmidge[at]gmail[dot]com and we'll get you your treats.  

Check out our final Feb giveaway next Monday. Exciting!  And here are some lovely words of inspiration, and beautiful design found on Margo Tantau's Pinterest. Enjoy, and happy Thursday! 

Project: Fresh Frames for Vintage Pics

You all might know from previous posts how much our family - our roots - mean to us.  I love old letters, poems, writings, photographs, scrapbooks, and momentos from grandparents, and beyond that help us connect to our past.  My Mom gave us these beautiful old images (copies she had made) each of both sets of grandparents, and then my own parents all before children and some even before their weddings.  They are young couples, in love, happy, and so stylish. . .and all give us a glimpse not only into their relationships, but also each are lovely expressions of the style of the decades in which they were taken.  The 30s, 40s, and 70s.  

I wanted to get them into frames quickly, but knew I must add a little something to the presentation to make it as special as the pictures and on a budget.  Here's what I did:

Basic Frames from Target

Remove the mattes.

My trusty, customizable rubber stamp set.

At the base of each image I stamped the names, locations and dates of the images.

I love them all together!  It's really simple, super cheap, and still really special.  The stamp font and quirkiness adds just the right tone to the vintage images.  Here's to remembering where you come from, and rootsy, resourceful style. 

Smmidge Style: Mad About Plaid

I've been obsessed with plaid shirts this winter. . . plaid and any and every other print and color I own. . . to me (for better or, uh, worse depending your taste) it all goes together! Rules schmules.  So I was happy to see lots of pattern play in some Fall 2011 collections by some of my fave designers. . .as I sort of live in a mishmash of colors and patterns and everyday brands - and it makes me think my wardrobe (though not very designery) still works!  One of my faves from the runway is  Proenza Schouler's Pre-Fall collection dubbed as "Bohemian Crafty".  Wow.  I love that!  I connect with that description wholeheartedly.  I actually keep considering simplifying my wardrobe.  More solid colors, less options, better (and crazier) accessories for the punch.  And I may still, as we move into spring.  But for now, I'm still at it with lots of layers, plaids, prints, scarves.   Here's to no rules!

leopard cardi - H&M 2010; plaid shirt - MNG by Mango; jeans - Chip & Pepper; knit belt - Gypsy Wagon

shirt - Madewell; jeans - Forever 21

cashmere sweater - JCrew; plaid shirt - MNG; gray jeans - Gap

plaid shirt - Fossil; cardi - Fossil; jeans - Forever 21

shirt - Madewell; knit vest - Target circa 2006; skirt - Fossil

Feb Giveaway 3: Barrettes and Bowties

You are the apple of my eye!  Happy Valentine's Day.  xx-Smmidge

This is my felt version of my Kindergarten Valentines that my mom handmade with construction paper.  I vividly remember being so proud of them as I handed them out that day, and the expression "you are the apple of my eye"  has been one of my favorites ever since. 

Smmidge Windmill Hairclips

This week's give away is a pair of stylish trios!  Handcut and made felt barrettes and bowties for your mini style mavens.  You've seen my little bug sporting his bowtie pin with everything from tee shirts to suits, and I've also seen them pinned to little purses as actual bows for girlies.  And my little niece inspired the Windmill clip as a part of the decor and party gifts for her 2nd birthday party.  Fun and colorful is just the way to be this spring! 

Smmidge Boy Bowties

You know the rules guys!  Here's a reminder, and don't forget to up your odds by becoming a blog, FB or Twitter follower!  Here's to barrettes and bowties, oh!  And Happy Valentine's Day once again!

Rules:

• eligibility: open to ALL Smmidge readers
• what to do: leave a comment on the giveaway post about: Barrettes and Bowties
• extra credit: if you are (or become) a follower of Smmidge blog, Smmidge Facebook, or @Smmidge Twitter you receive an extra entry each!  So come on!
• entry deadline: comments will close 48 hours after initial post time
• winner selection: winners will be chosen at random
• winner notification: On mornings following giveaway closing, I'll announce the winner (Smmidge Blanket winner will be announced Thursday Feb 17th)
• claiming your prize: send me an email at smmidge@gmail.com with your mailing address, and I'll pop your prize in the mail! Winners must respond within three (3) days of notification or forfeit the prize. alternate winner will be selected in this instance.

Barrette backs

Bowtie pins