PINTEREST 502

Pinterest and I have a love/hate relationship.

I always try to find the original pinner for items I want to repin...however 99% of the time I get this....

So yesterday I made this...

It's my little embroidered homage to the Pinterest 502 error.  Too much time on my hands?  Perhaps.  But I can't help myself.  I like whimsical things.

KERN NERD

Don't ya just love a well kerned font?  I sure do.  Here's a fun website that turns kerning into a game!

I could literally play this all day long.  I think I just might...

RAINY DAY FARM PRETTIES

There was a fierce storm today for approximately 20 minutes.  The thunder was so intense it made the electricity flicker.  And then the sun came out and everything looked magical.

Crazy Texas summer storms.

LET'S RIDE

Just finished this for-fun, freehand embroidery.

I miss riding my bike.  Last summer Joey and I would ride our bikes to Grapevine Lake every afternoon to swim.  But alas, the roads in East Tex are not great for bike riding.  The country roads are unsafe and the drivers make me nervous (even more nervous than Grapevine drivers, who I though were the worst).

Go ride your bike today and think of me!

DRUM MAKEOVER PT.2

As you may remember from last week, Joey and I gave his drums a little facelift.  Here's the final product with hardware attached!

Aside from the broken-in bass drum head (it sounds better that way)...I'd say it looks pretty decent for a zero budget makeover.  

P.S.  Regarding the extra holes in the bass drum - they are a mementos from the Mount Righteous days when it was a marching bass drum.  P.P.S.  That's our back yard.  Word!

DRUM MAKEOVER PT.1

I love finding forgotten photos. Joey and I gave his drums a much needed makeover a few months back and I just stumbled upon these pics whilst cleaning out my camera.







They turned out pretty sweet. Very peppermint-candy-striper-esque. I'll have to get a few "after" photos when Joey finishes recording. They look bright, shiny, and new!

SCREEN PRINTED BUSINESS CARDS

I finally got around to making some business cards for Yeah Vintage.  I love the way screen printed business cards look and feel.  This was my first go at a front & back print on something this small.  I have an extremely minimal screen printing setup, so this was a bit of a challenge for me.  

I used a typewriter font for the contact info on the back of the cards and used my own handwritten "Yeah!" for the design on the front.

I wanted to make something that people could potentially put on their desk, hang on their fridge, etc. that was more like a tiny poster print instead of a business card.

I'm pretty happy with how they came out.  They all look a little different, which I love.  I want to make the pinstripes thinner for my next batch.

Now I just need some more business!  Spread the word, friends!  Also, if you snail mail me...I will snail mail you back.

DIY MOSQUITO REPELLENT LANTERNS

The great state of Texas is well know for its mosquito annoyance.  Ladies also seem to attract mosquito bites more than the gents.  Most people say it's because mosquitoes are drawn to fragrances and perfumes (neither of which I wear).  Turns out they are also drawn to detergents and clean clothes.  The modern-day woes of a dainty lady...

Citronella candles are far too expensive for my likings and I've never been a huge fan of tiki torches.  I had a small collection of old bottles that didn't serve a functional purpose, so I decided to make my own Texas-sized mosquito repellent lanterns!

BEFORE WE BEGIN : Please remember that there is a fine line between oil lanterns and Molotov cocktails.  They should only be made, lit, and handled in well ventilated outdoor areas.  Keep away from areas where they might be knocked over and especially out of reach of kiddos and animals.

TOTAL COST : About $15 - $20 for 3 large lanterns.

1. SUPPLIES NEEDED :

• 3 - 4 old bottles with metal screw-on caps (preferably something heat/flame resistant like copper).  Vintage bottles, empty liquor bottles, and wine bottles all work well.  Clean each bottle inside and out before starting.  Make sure they have metal or aluminum caps.  This is necessary for step 2.
• A bottle of citronella oil ($10 for a large bottle at the hardware store).  Make sure you only use oils that are manufactured for lanterns and tiki torches.  Never use gasoline or other explosive fuels.
• Tiki torch replacement wicks ($2.50 for a two-pack of wicks at the hardware store).
• A drill*.

2. DRILL YOUR CAPS :

• Use a large drill bit to drill a hole in your cap large enough to hold your wick in place.  You want the hole to be large enough to pull the wick through but allow for a little wiggle room for when you need to adjust the wick length.

3. POUR YOUR OIL : 

• I spill everything, so I used a funnel for this step.  Fill your bottles about half-way up.  You want to make sure there is enough oil to saturate your wick.  The oil will work its way up the wick, so you do not need to fill the entire bottle.  

4. SCREW ON YOUR CAP AND CHECK YOUR WICK : 

• Screw on your cap and make sure the outer area is clean of any oil you may have spilled.  The top of the wick only needs to stick out about 3/4" - 1" above your cap.  Any longer than that and your flame will be way too big.  We're trying to deter mosquitoes, not light the porch on fire.

*This asterisk is for ladies who are not yet drill owners.  Go purchase one immediately (or permanently borrow one from your dad).  It will change (and simplify) the way you work on projects, decorate your home, etc.  It is a must-have for any lady and they are super easy to use!  Do not fear the drill.  Embrace the drill.

That's it!  You now have some inexpensive, super cool looking lanterns that will help you enjoy the summer sans mosquitoes!

GRANNY STYLIN'

As previously mentioned, this is my first quilt attempt...don't judge me.

It's a work in progress (still need to add boarders and do the actual quilting) but I'm pretty stoked that the pieces are together.

Tip for beginner quilters : find yourself a Nonnie that has been quilting her entire life.  Quilting patterns look like hieroglyphics and cutting a bazillion strips of fabric is way easier with two sets of hands.  

I think I deserve a new granny badge for all my hard work.  Don't ya think?

TOUCH WITH YOUR EYES

We stopped by the Brookshire's Wildlife Museum & Country Store this weekend.  The museum is essentially a super creepy (and amazing) taxidermy museum with an old-timey country store at the end.  Random?  Yes.  But most of the animals were donated by Mr. & Mrs. Brookshire, who were the founders of Brookshire's Food & Pharmacy (a big ol' grocery store chain).  They were definitely meat lovers!

I don't think I will ever understand the sport of killing animals for leisure, but at least they were world travelers?

All of the animals were placed in diorama-esque habitats...with the exception of the monkeys.  They were playing Monopoly.  And wearing island attire.

The museum is tiny and a little old lady kept announcing over the loudspeaker, "Attention wildlife guests, please remember to only touch with your eyes and not your hands."  Crazy ol' lady!

My fav part was definitely the country store.  I wish this is what grocery stores still looked like.

You should definitely stop by the museum if you ever find yourself in Tyler, TX.  It's free!

DIY CUSTOM STEPPING STONES

We have been getting a lot of rain lately and our yard turns into a soggy mess.  I love cute step stones, but they're so dang expensive!  Here's a super simple and inexpensive project for all you yard lovers on a budget.

TOTAL COST : About $25 for 20 stepping stones!

1.  SUPPLIES NEEDED : Spray paint in a color of your choice, painters or masking tape, and inexpensive concrete blocks (I purchased mine at Walmart for $1/each).

2.  TAPE OFF YOUR BLOCKS : I'm a minimalist and went with a simple square pattern.  Stripes or a chevron pattern would be super cute too!

3.  SPRAY PAINT YOUR SQUARES : Spray a thin coat of spray paint evenly across the entire surface.

4.  REMOVE YOUR TAPE : And you're done!  Let the paint dry for a few hours before stepping on them.

Send me a photo if you give this a try.  I'd love to see how yours turn out!

I WANT TO GO TO THERE

My overwhelming love for color is no secret.  I probably own two articles of clothing that are black (and that includes shoes).  So it's pretty safe to say that this is my new dream vaycay destination.

Behold...The Saguaro hotel in Palm Springs.  Put a fruity frozen drink in my hand, an over-sized floppy hat on my head, and I'll be happy as a rainbow clam for days.

A gal can dream, right?

(via Cup of Jo)