recycled greetings

I saw this and wanted to share...
I know we're all really great at recycling,
but if you don't have the time or energy to recycle those holiday cards,
please send them to St. Jude's Ranch for Children.
Here's the post on Casa Sugar :
http://www.casasugar.com/6831748


rikrak.etsy.com

Resolutions 2010

Resolution #3: Learn to do embroidery. So I can make cool things like this...

Photo found here

and this...

Photo found here

Resolution #2: Create an office space in my home. This one I'm really excited about. Not just because I'm getting a new computer but also because I haven't had an office in about 5 years. I'm so ready to get all my stuff organized in the pretty boxes and files I've been collecting. Here are my inspirations...

Photo found here

Photo found here

Photo found here

Resolution #1: Make my bedroom cozy and inviting. Not a storage/dump. First project to get this done is to make a headboard. I have wanted to make one for years so it is time to make it happen! Here are a couple of inspiration photos...

Photo found here.

And here is one of the best tutorials in blog land.

I would like to make one that is easy to slip cover so I can change it up with the seasons. There are so many amazing fabrics now and it would give me an excuse to experiment with a few of my favorites I've been eyeing lately.

Neon!

It's back! And not just in clothing. Have you seen all the bright colors everywhere? I love them. Especially now that it's winter. Here are some ways to do neon right because you don't want to look like you're living in the Barbie Dream House, do you?

Found here

Found here

Found here

after holiday sales!!!

Here are a few Trashion sales to check out!

anyonesguess has bottle cap jewelry for 20% off!



ecokaren is having a clearance sale to make way for a new line in 2010!



alexkeller and vintagebyalexkeller has sales in both shops!

Happy Holidays!

To those of you who are looking for that last bit to wrap with,
here is a great idea from Creature Comforts



Make merry everyone!

The Christmas Spirit

From my family to yours, I hope you have a wonderful day full of family and friends and love. Remember our Savior Jesus Christ, the true reason for Christmas. I love you all!!!!
The Christmas Spirit

Can't Decide...

which one I like the best....

Posters found here.

My Dream Home

Do yourself a huge favor and tour this home. I love each and every room. Such beauty brings me to tears!

Cool Blog

P.S. I Made This

Love This Color Combo?

I know brown and blue has been the color combo du jour for the last few years and I thought I was done with it. But then I see a room like this...

And I realize, I still love this color combo.

Photo found here

Big City Big Dreams..

Getting ready to ship out my sample box to Nordstrums is seriously the most amazing and frightful thing I could possibly do. When people ask me, "how did you get started in fancyThat.?" "Are you a fashion student?"...i always laugh and say..no. I'm a music business major and actress.And their response is...hmm,interesting.HA. All of this kind of just fell in my lap. In 07 i started making my own hair accessories for myself..and people just started asking me to make custom pieces for them, and I was like sure. Bada Bing Bada Boom. Just kidding there was more then that..ha.

While all of this craziness is going on with fancyThat. I still have my music business career which will always come first. Business is Business and being able to make money in this economy in my eyes is much a success. I worked really hard to put myself through school and learning the skills to market myself as a whole comes in handy. I'm so proud of my work and all that I have accomplished and knowing I stayed true to myself and all of my organic thoughts and creativity,which is more I can say for most.. ouch.

OH YES!

fancyThat is also a feature Designer on www.senseofashion.com/fancyThat

My items are featured on the front page, which is great. Getting so much traffic and meeting so many new people from across the world. Amazing..

Ideas for Setting a Beautiful Table

Tablecloths are the foundation of your table setting, use them to help create the ambiance for your event. Do you want a formal feeling or more casual? Perhaps playful or festive would better describe the gathering you are planning. The colors and materials you choose for your tablecloth, napkins, runners and accessories can set the tone.

Of course there are a variety of materials you can select from, including paper which is more casual and can be thrown away after being used, making clean-up easy. There is a large assortment of paper goods to choose from including specific holiday themes. A vinyl table cloth with paper napkins is another option, which also tends to be more casual and is often used for outdoor affairs or a children's party. A third choice of course is fabric, which can be used for either a formal or casual occasion.

I prefer to use fabric tablecloths. They may cost more to purchase, however, in the long run they are less expensive then paper because they can be used for years. You can put them with matching or coordinating fabric napkins or with paper napkins. Unlike the table linens our grandmothers used, today tablecloths are available in a large selection of washable fabrics that are easy to maintain. The key is to wash them in cold water and dry them in a cool dryer, removing them from the dryer as soon as they are dry.

As far a color goes, your cloth should coordinate with the room the table will be set up in and with you china pattern. For added interest, select a tone on tone cloth like a damask, or a textured cloth like a pin tuck or crinkle. The food should be the focal point of the table, do not select a cloth with a busy pattern or print that will take away from what is on the menu.

Use accessories like napkin rings, a centerpiece, candle holders or a table runner to indicate the theme of the party. If the themes colors (green for Saint Patricks' Day or red for Christmas) do not go with your rooms color scheme then use neutral accessories that look good with your decor. You can still make it special and festive by using fun, over the top glittering accents you would not use everyday. Or use natural items that are appropriate for the occasion like dried leaves and acorns for Thanksgiving or rose petals for Valentines day,

One way to change the look of a plain tablecloth is to add a transparent, shimmering organza overlay;or sprinkle sequins or glitter on top of the cloth. The idea is to make it special and different from what you do every day.

To determine the size your tablecloth should be, measure the length and the width of your table and decide how much fabric you want to come down on each side (that is the drop). Add the drop X 2 to the table dimensions and this will give you the size the cloth should be. For a formal look you can have the cloth go to the floor. If you add a leaf to your table remember to add in the size of the leaf.

Christmas Crafts

We have snow. And now we have rain on our snow which turns to slush which then freezes and makes the roads a big ice skating rink. There's your weather update for the day. Because of this inclimate weather we are having, I do not like to leave my house. I prefer to stay warm and dry and wear slippers and wrap my body in fleece. And then I want to craft! Good thing I found some amazing crafty websites to keep me happy. I want to make these...

Instructions found here.

and these...

Instructions found here.

and teach my children to make these...

Instructions found here.

Simply Grove

Last Tuesday I went to this fabulous party thrown by the beautiful Kirsten of Simply Grove. There were so many talented and cool women to meet and mingle with, it was truly an honor to be invited. And Kirsten's home is even more amazing in person.

Magazine Overload

I am over-run by magazines. Every few months I have to purge. My house is small and my storage is limited. I used to keep years and years worth of magazines to the dismay of the kind people helping us move. Those boxes are heavy! I know, I tried to lift one once, and only once because I'm weak like that. So I made a pact with my design self and I pare down periodically. I'll tear the heck out of most magazines but those Domino issues are sacred. Oh, how I miss Domino!!!

photo from here

Get Your Wreath On

Fluffy wreath instructions found here.

Sponge wreath instructions found here.

Jingle bell wreath instructions found here

I'm dreaming of a green Christmas

Today's post was contributed by Emily of Candy Calamity.
please visit her here: http://www.candycalamity.blogspot.com/

Part of my family’s holiday tradition is that at some point on Christmas morning, when we’re about halfway done opening presents, my dad will go get a big trash bag and we play a game trying to toss in all the torn up wrapping paper scraps strewn about. By the end of the day, between the paper, ribbon, bows, and all the packaging, it’s not uncommon to fill three big bags. The presents look lovely under the tree, but I have to wonder if it’s worth all the waste. This year, I’m making an effort to change things; I vow to avoid all commercial wrapping products.

One easy earth friendly wrapping method is to reuse bags and wrapping paper from gifts you have received previously, but assuming you didn’t plan ahead and start saving last year, or if all your friends and family are already in on the eco movement and didn’t use any here are some new ideas to try:

1. Brown paper packages
If it’s in The Sound of Music it must be true – brown paper packages tied up with string are a favorite of many people. In my example I used a paper shopping bag dragged out from the back of the closet and cut open, but any sturdy paper you can find will do.



A – The classic, if your good you don’t even need to use tape for this one (I needed a little)
B – Dress it up with a plastic bag pompom from this tutorial from Creature Comforts: http://creaturecomforts.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/11/diy-eco-happy-pom-pom-gift-topper.html
C – Attaching old fashion paper snowflakes can make your package look extra fancy.
D – Get out the paint/markers/crayons/anything and make your own wrapping paper. Try a simple repeating pattern, or make a holiday scene. Pro tip: decorate first and let everything dry before wrapping, otherwise you run the risk of your art bleeding through to the gift inside.

2. Make the wrapping part of the gift



E – The book lover in your life is not going to be fooled by the paperbacked shape lump under the tree anyway, might as well go on and use a nice ribbon bookmark to attach the tag
F – A small brooch or hair clip is a very useful substitution for a traditional bow.
G – A larger gift can be swaddled in a scarf. Here are some tips from someone whose example gift turned out much nicer than mine: http://weheartthis.com/2009/04/20/how-to-scarf-gift-wrapping/

3. Running short on time?



A good last minute idea is to get a pretty reusable bag from a store the recipient shops at frequently, you know they’ll be able to put it to good use.

Thanks, Emily, for some great green gift wrapping ideas!
Visit Emily's sweet blog and her yummy shop

Perfect Gift

Don't you just love this bag?!? It is so simple and beautiful. I want to make one for everyone I know. You can find instructions here.

Silver Side Table

I'm so loving this table. I think I can find a similar style for super inexpensive and spray paint it silver and make a cheap-man's version of this fancy one.

Recycled Advent Calendar

I save funny things like egg cartons and toilet paper rolls and odd clips. So I was thrilled when I saw this amazing idea for an advent calendar on the blog, maya*made. I'm always happy when common household articles can be turned into something so fun and clever. I don't think I have 24 toilet paper rolls so I better start saving for next year.

TrashTalk vol.3

We're wrapping up the Trash Talk series for 2009 with an interview I did with Karen Lee of EcoKaren. She has a great shop which features eco-friendly gifts and accessories made from -you guessed it- recycled and repurposed materials!
Here's her take on the Trashion way of life...

How To Re-Do a Dining Room

Isn't this a fab dining room re-do? The settee is amazing. You can see all the before/after pics here. I love this blog. She has such an eye for color and pattern.

sale! sale! sale!

The weekend after Thanksgiving is a big shopping weekend.
And a very big sale weekend!
Did you have a sale in your shop? How did it go?


NoStoneLeftUnturned2.etsy.com

Lots of team members had and are still having sales!
Support Trashion! Buy handmade!
EtsyTrashion.etsy.com


dandee.etsy.com

thanks..

As a thanks to you for all your support, love, and loyalty... i've reduced the price of over 20 hair accessories for you this Holiday Season!

This has been a busy month,traveling here to there..selling up a storm. Making a name for myself not only in California but other states as well. I'm so lucky to have something like this keep me on my toes..especially with the way of the economy is going, I truly want to thank everyone who has purchased items over that past year. As for now, I am thankfully swamped with Christmas orders! So, if you're looking for something cute, original, and fairly priced for this holiday season...you know where I am.

xo

francis for fancyThat

Thankful

Photo from here

I'm thankful for a warm home, loving children, supporting family, friends who make me laugh, the guidance of my Savior, the gift of creativity and a way to share it.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Map Walls

My kids are always asking me where countries, states, oceans, lakes, anything is located on a map. I would love a huge map covering my wall so we could explore together. We love our globes but something spread across the room would just be so awesome. I love these rooms...


Photos from houzz