Inspiring Creativity: A New Ongoing Series

I get a lot of people telling me that I am creative and that they are not. That they have ideas, but have a hard time fleshing them out and making them work. It makes me sad that so many people have convinced themselves that they aren't creative when, in reality, everyone is creative!

I think a lot of times, we get overwhelmed with the task of decorating our homes. We hoard every item we have and feel like we have to keep it all out all of the time. We feel the strain of a small budget. We are paralyzed perfectionists, awaiting that perfect light bulb moment. We convince ourselves that we don't have an eye for design and so we quit trying to get better.

We sit on a throne of lies.

True, we all have strengths and weaknesses. But weaknesses can be strengthened. Creativity must be nurtured and exercised to grow. It is a struggle for me too.

And so, I've decided to start an ongoing series on creativity.

This new series will focus on creativity, tips, inspiration sources, and just going for it! Since it will be ongoing, I'll be posting on the subject from time to time, whenever the mood and inspiration strikes. I hope you will follow along and be inspired. Not just by pretty pictures that aren't realistic, but that you will truly be inspired to, in the immortal words of Ms. Frizzle, "take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!"

Because that's what real life inspiration is.

June Review {2014}

Review time! Time for a look back at June to see what was up! I know, I know, it's over halfway through July already. I missed putting it up sooner because we were gone on vacation for two weeks. And then I needed a week at home to recover.

So the time has come! The time is now! If you missed some posts, this is your chance to catch up!

5 Tips for Decorating with Vintage Furniture

Perfectly Imperfect

My Favorite Chair

The Big Guest Room Switcharoo

Nautical Summer Mantel

I'm super pleased with how June's posts went. It was one of my favorite blogging months! I hope you enjoyed it too. 

Do you have any suggestions for the coming months? Anything you're wondering about or would like me to touch on? Leave a comment or send an email and let me know!

Like what you see? Follow along!

Feathers On My Mantel

Hi friends! It's good to be back! I've posted a couple times in the last few weeks but I haven't reeeeally been around. We've been in Michigan visiting family and having an all-around good time. It was great!

Can I just say that I am in love with Michigan?

Folks, I was waking up to 63 degree weather IN JULY. That alone might be worth 5 months straight of White Christmas. And with the trees and hills, it's just gorgeous and green. Except for those two inch mosquitos. I totally could have gone the rest of my life without seeing those.

But you want to know what else is great about Michigan?

Feathers.

This state has wild turkeys in abundance. In the rural areas, you can find tons of turkey feathers just lying around. Sometimes you get to see the turkeys themselves. This trip, I got to see a whole group of them, including a hen with a little chick hiding in a field. So cute!

I have always had a thing for birds and feathers so of course I snatched up all the feathers I could find! Now they have found a home on my mantel. I shared my summer mantel a few weeks ago and I still felt that it just wasn't quite finished. The feathers add so much to it!

I'm trying so hard to decorate with what I love, what truly inspires me, and that is nature. Whether it's a ship on the ocean, a sand dollar on a beach, a tree stump on the side of the road, or turkey feathers in the woods, I'm working on blending them together seamlessly in my home. I firmly stand behind the familiar "use what you love" phrase, but working out the how in real life is a little trickier.

I think a lot of it is editing. Making use of "white space." You can't just throw everything together and have it work. You have to add and subtract, sometimes ruthlessly, before you happen upon an arrangement that works. I guess you could call it "Creative Discernment."

It's basically just a fancy way of saying "throw some feathers in a little pitcher and hope it works."

DIY Framed Jewelry {Revisited}

A while back wrote a post on how I made a display for some of my special jewelry. It's one of my absolute favorite projects! Everyday I get to see heirlooms and special jewelry from my wedding day. It was super cheap and easy too and you know that's right up my alley!

I updated the pictures a bit and I figured, why not revisit that post today? I'll give you the super simple step-by-step process so you can display your special jewelry too. If you don't have any, you may want to go out and by some! Ebay and Etsy are great for it!

Continue reading...DIY Framed Jewelry.

Nautical Summer Living Room Tour

It's summer! I'm not ecstatic over it. Summer weather is not my favorite. I've lived in the southern US my whole life and summers here are hot and humid. My only consolation now is that I get to live near the beach. It helps make up for it a little bit.

I am the hugest fan of beach houses. Growing up, my family would take an annual trip to Florida for a week. We would rent a beach house together with my aunt, uncle, and cousins. We could cross the street and be at the ocean. We'd be in the water all day, go fishing and snorkeling, and stay up late eating ice cream. 

It. was. fantastic.

Since beachy feeling decor is my friend, I went nautical for our living room this summer. All inspired by the thrifted ship art that I madeover for the mantel. Let us proceed with the tour...

Happy 4th of July, y'all!