room snooping

My parents just finished putting an addition on the back of their house. They added a garage and with a large room and bathroom over top. My mom calls the new room her vacation room, because she wants to feel like she's on vacation when she walks in the room.

I think she succeeded! The rest of the house is very colonial, but this room has a vintage meets beachy feel that is nice and relaxing. The sofa, tables, and pillows are ikea and the recliner is lazy boy.

Behind the half wall are stairs that lead down to the garage.

The rooms gets a lot of sunlight that makes little nautical touches seem right at home. I have a serious crush on the ikea lanterns!

This glass front cabinet is my favorite thing in the room. The paint color is perfect and my mom's collection of vintage globes looks great displayed behind the wavy glass.

Her shell, ruler, and pencil collections look great in vintage glass containers.

Another view of the room. The runner leads to the breezeway that connects this room to the kitchen/dinning area.

Extra storage is built under the eves. This room is a pretty and practical addition to my parent's house. It makes me itch to get started on our own dream home!

Dream home update: Our second appraisal came in much (like around $100,000) higher than the first appraisal, so if all goes well with the rest of the process we are on our way to breaking ground. Still sending up lots of prayers that we have wisdom during all of this!

<3

Hattie

sunny day necklace

I made a fun fabric stash-busting necklace over the weekend.

This is super easy to make and will likely cost you zero bucks - ya know, if you happen to have a ridiculous amount of scrap fabric hanging around your craft room threatening to overrun the entire room like some kind of fabric kudzu vine. Not that I have that problem or anything.

Gather fabric, a few beads, scissors or a roller cutter, a button, and a needle and thread.

Start by cutting nine looooong and skinny strips of fabric and braiding them into three braids of varying lengths.

Next, add your beads (please pardon my tea cup rings! this is real life people)

On each side, braid the very ends of the three braids into one thicker braid and knot.

Leaving one long strip on each end, cut the other strips short, close to the knot. Sew the short, loose ends down to keep the knot from unraveling. On one side, sew the long strip into a loop.

On the other side, sew a button to the long strip.

Push the button through the loop to create the necklace closure.

Easy peasy! The braiding takes a bit, but it's the  kind of thing you can do while watching netflix.

Enjoy your cheerful sunny day necklace!

<3
Hattie

Just popping in...

To let you know that I've joined Pinterest.

And yes, it's just as addictive as you've heard. I've been pinning inspiration for cooking, sewing, decorating, and projects.

I'd love it if you followed me - that way I can follow you back and repin all your awesome ideas!

My summer to-create list is now miles long, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

<3
Hattie

Farm Life

I snapped a few pictures of ordinary life around the Roost the other day,

My Dad made this awesome sign. Weather and time have given it a lovely rustic look.

The farmer who rents our fields cut the hay,

I love the tractor and fresh bales of hay - my allergies aren't so thrilled, but my eyes love to drink in the scene

I wish I had a picture to go with the "only in the boonies" experience I had this morning. When I walked out of the house to go to work, I found myself face to face with a groundhog, happily enjoying my potted basil plant. He wasn't just casually munching on a leaf or two - oh no! He was actually sitting in the planter, feasting on the basil like he was at an all-you-can-eat salad bar. We looked at each other in awkward embarrassment, as if to say, "Oh, I didn't expect to see you here. Well, um." The second after we made eye contact, he froze in  lawn ornament mode, fully expecting me not to question the sudden appearance of a groundhog garden statue in my basil plant. Once I got over the surprise of the whole situation, I realized I owed Whole Foods an apology for complaining about the poor quality of the basil plant - I was unaware that it had been serving as a critter buffet.

Ah, country living! You have to love it!

<3
Hattie

rope me in

I'm embarrassed to admit how long it took me to figure out how to make these rope bracelets. I had the idea of criss-crossing fabric around rope to create a nautical look, but I had no idea how to create a clasp to hold the bracelet together. I tried weaving elastic through the rope, creating a hook closure by wrapping wire around the rope, and even creating a loop closure with ribbon and a button. I couldn't hit on anything that worked and looked good, so I set off to Hobby Lobby. I wanted to find a large bale finding that I could crimp around the ends of the rope, but they didn't have anything large enough. I picked up some E6000 glue and simple toggle clasps, hoping I'd come up with something. Right before I fell asleep last night, I finally figured out a solution. Why do all the best ideas come to you right before bed or in the shower? Maybe it's just me! Anyway, If you're still reading this and want to make one of these cuties, here's how!

You will need scrap fabric strips, a piece of rope long enough to reach around your wrist, a clasp, needle and thread, and duct tape.

Start by cutting two small squares of fabric, just big enough to wrap over the ends of the rope. Securely sew a clasp to the middle of each square of fabric.

According to the package directions, glue each fabric square to the ends of the rope.

I wanted to make sure the clasp wasn't going anywhere, so once the glue dried, I also used a needle and thread to sew the edges of the fabric square to the rope.

Next, criss-cross your fabric strip down the rope, and knot at the end.

I took a needle and thread and sewed the fabric to the rope on each end to keep it from unraveling.

To finish things off, take two small strips of colored duct tape and wrap them around each end of the rope to hide your stitches. If you don't want to use duct tape, you could probably cut extra strips of fabric and use fabric glue to hold them down.

I went ahead and made three bracelets so I can mix and match them.

I really liked how these turned out, so I'm glad I kept searching for an answer to my clasp conundrum!

What's the best idea you've come up with while half-asleep?

<3
Hattie

Oh, Omaha - part 2

Now that you've seen a taste of our trip to Omaha, it's time to show you the main event - the wedding!

Caleb and Kelly had a vintage/Irish theme going on that used frames to tie everything together.

The theme started with the engagement shoot. I think this is a super creative idea!

... and continued on the "save the date" cards (actually magnets with this picture and wedding info).

The wedding was held in a local art museum, which carried the theme along very well with all the framed art. We were even allowed to stroll through the galleries during the cocktail hour, and the bride and groom were married in front of this awesome art:

The blown glass was beautiful in the light.

I thought this quote was just right.

The Bride's flowers picked up the Irish side of the theme with the shamrock pin my mom gave to Kelly. My brother wore cuff links and a tie tack with a Celtic knot design.

We took lots of family photos after the ceremony!

The reception area was in a huge indoor courtyard, with art galleries on each side. 

The tables were decorated with woven ribbons in shades of green and frames around candles or flowers.

I'm sure my brother picked out the groom's cake himself! I guess it sort of goes with the vintage theme!

The rest of the cake table stays true to the vintage/Irish/Frame vibe. And the cake was super good!

We spent the rest of the night dancing and taking silly photos in the frame photo booth Kelly stocked with crazy props.

We love fun, nontraditional weddings in our family: Brad and I had our garden party reception in an elementary school with sod on the buffet table and krispy kremes for a cake, and Caleb and Kelly had a wedding in an art museum and a Huskers themed rehearsal dinner. Since we've set the awesome bar pretty high, Hannah and Jacob, you better come up with something crazy and cool when it's your turn!

What's the most unique wedding idea you've encountered?

<3

Hattie