Frugal Finds

Who doesn't love a deal?  Here are 10 items under $25 each:

1. Small Red Rocking Bird, West Elm- $14.74  
2. Sphere Tabletop terarium, Chapters - $19.50
3. Zinc Letters, Anthropologie - $18.00 each
4. Inside Out Bowls (available in 4 patterns), Anthropologie - $8.00 each
5. Olunda butterflies print, Ikea  - $14.99
6. Set of 4 Custom (colour) Chevron Coasters, Bonnie Brands trough Etsy - $15.54
7. Black Damask Print Mouse Pad, yourethatgirldesigns through Etsy - $9.32
8. Custom Modern Letter Blocks , ReFormedArtCubes through Etsy - $19.64
9. 4x6 Gallery Frame, CB2 - $24.95
10. Tree Ring Holder, CB2 - $9.95

Etsy to the Rescue

For months I've been meaning to make a card for an upcoming wedding.  I had the best intentions, but life got in the way.  In addition to the regular stuff, I've been busy working on a fun project for a client and slowly making progress with my master bedroom design (post with photos to come!).  And now time has run out.

Being desperate for a card but far too lazy to head downtown I thought I'd peruse Etsy for ideas.  Something simple.  Something quick.  Something I could modify easily to make myself.  And I found it right away!

5x7 printable wedding card from Peanut Press Creative (through Etsy)

It's short & sweet - just how I like my cards.  And best of all it's a digital file so I can (and did) print it at home!  But be warned, if you invite me to your wedding you can expect to receive this card from me since I can print it as many times as I like :)

Oh Etsy, how I love you.

And check out Peanut Press Creative's work...her gallery is drool worthy.  It makes me want to plan a party and send out invitations!

I Love, Love, LOVE Hairpin Legs

I've been searching for a console table for almost 2 years. Something simple that a stool can slide under. Something I like. Something that doesn't cost a fortune. Not an easy feat, especially in Cranbrook!

With no luck I started looking at DIY ideas and found this:

Photo courtesy of superette. Visit the blog for DIY instructions.

It was love at first site (of the table and the dog!). This simple table is exactly what I had been searching for and I'm definitely going to make one. I've found 28" high hairpin legs on Hairpinlegs.com and Etsy but I prefer the less common 3 rod style so I think I'll order these:

3 rod hairpin legs from Hairpinlegs.com

While searching online for legs I came across a lot of beautiful furniture with hairpin legs. Furniture that's not cheap! Similar (ok, almost identical) console tables typically sell for about $400-$600. Maybe I need to go into the hairpin leg furniture business? Now I want to use hairpin legs for everything. A new kitchen table? A bench for the mudroom? A bedside table?

Dining Table

Bench

Bedside Table

The options are limitless, but one project at a time. So on to the console, or at least the ordering of the legs. I'll post pictures when it's done.

Frugal Finds: 10 Items Under $25

Who doesn't love a good deal?  Here are 10 items I love for under $25 each:

1. Tweet Bird Candleholder, Crate & Barrel, $9.83  
2. Globe Birdhouse in purple, Urban Barn - $10.00
3. Large Inlay Box in lemongrass, Chapters - $17.25 (sale price)
4. 8x10 Labrador Retriever Silhouette, GoingPlaces2 through Etsy - $21.16
5. Table Runner in Red and White Chevron,  through EtsybyBetsey Etsy - $19.14
6. Tira Glass Vases, Urban Barn – $10.99 short, $19.99 tall (sale prices)
7. Vintage Ornate 1800’s Skeleton Keys, HoofAndAntler through Etsy - $10.03 each
8. Cylinder Fuel Patio Burner, Home Hardware - $17.99
9. 18x18 Lime Green Chain Pillow Cover, thebluebirdshop through Etsy - $15.11
10. Hourglass in peridot, Chapters - $24.50

Trend Alert: Butterfly Decor

I love butterflies! And as pretty as they are flying around I much prefer the dead ones mounted in frames. I don't mean to be cruel (the butterflies are collected after they have died naturally) or gross, but it's the truth. Growing up I (and many of my cousins) admired the set of butterflies hanging on the wall in my grandparent's living room. For years I've been coveting some of my own - bookmarking links I found online, drooling over photos in magazines & dragging my husband with me (twice!) to Victoria Butterfly Gardens hoping that framed photos he took would fill my void. So when asked what I wanted for my birthday this year the natural answer was framed butterflies - and that's what I got! Knowing how picky I am my husband let me select the butterflies myself, and after hours agonizing over different wing structures, patterns & colours I finally chose the 3 I had to have:

If you check out the website we ordered mine from you'll see why it was difficult to decide. Luckily eliminating the expensive ones (see if you can spot the $398 butterfly!) and the ones requiring permits narrowed down the choices.

I've hung my butterflies on the wall in my entry for everyone that comes over to see (photo to come).  Since hanging them I've noticed all sorts of butterfly home decor items while sourcing for clients and browsing on Etsy (I'm obsessed!).  I might just need a butterfly throw pillow next!