Adorable Faux Cloud Rug and DecalTutorials

I only just discovered lifeflix, and am so happy I did. Go check out her blog, you will be happy you did. She is adorable and so are her projects. This faux cloud decal (with tutorial)  idea is great, and that fauxsheepskin cloud rug... I simply love. Just use no-sew on the cut edges afterward and you are good to go, full tutorial here. I have fur in several colors that I originally bought to make lots of puppets, but I've been lazy, red, turquoise, yellow, navy, pink... I wonder if I have some gray in there?

Sweet Animal Friends

Glamour Dogs Book by Catherine Ledner

I just love the innocence and free spirits of little animals. I truly believe they have developed, little souls inside those bodies. Just look at the eyes and you can see the love, fear, confusion, desperation, forgiveness pouring out of them.

Bunny in a Basket via Real Beauty

Swimming Piglets via Real Beauty

Bichon Puppy kicksy by Emilie (I miss my childhood bichon, Keiki!)

Jimmy the Guinea Pig by Samantha Warren Photography (I think I squealed in delight when I saw this!)

"Saimai is a two year old tiger and as a baby was suckled by a pig until she was 4 months old. This democratic start in life allowed her to form a loving relationship with other pigs and even a dog."

Inspired Craft: Vintage Stackable Flower Tutorial

 Zivile from No Snow Supplies, and I collaborated on a little project. She sent me some of my favorite vintage stackable flower findings in exchange for a little advice on how to use them.

If you frequent antique malls or estate sales, you will see these very flowers in lots of vintage designs. I see them mostly used in large, clip-on earrings, usually with some pearls or rhinestones in the centers, and glued to the edges of the petals, see here for examples.

 First, you need some finding backings, which you can get pretty much anywhere. For the centers, you can use beads, pearls, cabs, rhinestones, basically anything semi circular that will fit in there. These flowers are a very flexible plastic, so they can work with each other really well, Just stack, glue, hold together, stack, glue.... Hot glue works great, but it peels pretty easily, so an adhesive made for jewelry is best. I like E600, though something that dries quicker is probably better.

Here, I have ring bases, earring posts, bobby pin with pad, and a pendant. You can also use wire, brooch backs, a piece of felt with a safety pin attached... pretty much anything. I would love to see a series of these flowers stacked up and held together to make a statement necklace. I've even used them to make flower fabric brooches a while back. They would even make a festive little garland or cute decor for wreaths or other little home projects. Use them to jazz up some napkin rings or refrigerator magnets something.

You can order these soft, plastic stackable flowers from No Snow Supplies to create your own projects!
She also has beads, cabs and findings in her shop, mostly vintage and colorful combinations. She is in Lithuania, and it takes about 8-12 days to arrive, a lot faster than I was expecting. If you use them, I'd love to see your projects. If you don't, what kinds of things can you see these in?

Sweet Treats: Perfect Vegan Sugar Cookie Recipe

 These fall inspired sugar cookies are from the cheerful Dainty Squid. Seriously, isn't that one adorable acorn? She used this vegan recipe by John and Kristie.

"The cookies were just hard enough to keep their shape, but soft when bitten. They tasted buttery and melted in your mouth. The icing was glossy, smooth and sweet. Like the cookies, the icing was just hard enough to allow stacking, but soft to bite. They were a hit at the party! And surprise, they were vegan!"

PERFECT VEGAN SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE
This makes about 36 cookies. We made two batches.

1 cup margarine	3 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar	2 teaspoons baking powder
2 whole egg replacements (Ener-G)	1/4 cup tofu cream cheese (Tofutti)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1.	In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar. Stir in the egg replacements and vanilla. Gradually add the flour, baking powder and tofu cream cheese. You may have to use your hands at this point to finish the mixing. Form the dough into a long loaf and wrap in cellophane. Refrigerate for a couple hours.
2.	Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease the cookie sheets or use a non-stick foil.
3.	On a lightly floured surface (we taped down a sheet of non-stick foil to our countertop instead), roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place about 1 inch apart cookie on sheets.
4.	Bake for 12 to 14 minutes in the preheated oven, until bottoms and edges just start to get light brown. Remove from baking sheet and cool on wire racks. Store in an airtight container.

PERFECT VEGAN ICING RECIPE
Each batch is enough to easily coat 24 cookies. We made four batches, one for each color.

2 cups confectioners' sugar	1/2 teaspoon of almond extract
6-8 teaspoons of soy milk (Silk Vanilla)	Assorted food coloring
4 teaspoons of light corn syrup

Directions:

1.	In medium bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar and soy milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.
2.	Add food coloring to desired intensity. Dip cookies and allow to dry overnight.

Inspired Rooms : Sadie Olive Master Bedroom Retreat

Sadie Olive, amazing photographer (prints and vintage items sold here) and an eye for the truly remarkable, has the most beautiful, and cozy bedroom. I love how natural, primitive and comforting the space feels. These are before and after shots of a mini make-over (complete with details), but both are beautiful.

Architectural Design Elements

Coastal Living

 I saw this post awhile back about using old architectural pieces in design on Eclectic Interior Design Group. She said she often has men say they are just "old chunks of wood" but are they really? She calls them "gems", and I tend to agree. (She also offers e-decorating services as well).

Traditional Home May 2006

Funky Junk Interiors ~ mudroom bench and gate

HB March 2008

I love the idea of the stenciled salvaged wood. Using old doors and cabinets are great for this.

Designer Lisa Teague... (post how to choose color for your home)

Get it Girl Style

 old French window turned mirror

 here

Homefront: Figuring Out a Large Brick Wall Living Room

I really can't believe we've been living here for a month now. So, this is what you see when you walk into our home. A big, huge, fireplace. The paint color, I do like. The fireplace... I would love to paint it white, but can't since we're renting. Those pictures will be going up on the walls, but, what can I do with this space? I'd love to hang a mirror, but there aren't any holes, and I don't think the landlord would be thrilled with us drilling holes in a brick wall. It's just so dark and heavy feeling.

The dining area is filled with boxes and our armoir is being used as a pantry. I can't wait to paint that thing!

This, is the other side of the room.  I love how the chair rail, just kind of stops right there at the end of the dining room. ha! Cute little lamp complete with Nester tassel... though I feel this lamp is too short here.

 I'm thinking doing my gallery wall again... but I would have to spread it out somehow because this wall is so much longer than my last one and can fit two couches here. Because the room is shaped like a triangle, I can't quite figure out how to lay everything out. The couches are facing our tv in a triangle like way.

  (my last gallery wall in our old place for reference)

The tv is kind of caddywampus from the couches and fireplace. It is in the weird little corner off the entrance to the house. I can't really put art above it b/c the way it sits angled in the corner. Trying to figure this one out... I'm thinking of moving it in the dining section where the armoir is and putting the couches L shape to that.

I do feel this room needs an area rug, and a nice giant coffee table, but it's kind of triangular shaped. Maybe a round rug would work in here? Next up, add some drapes... I have my natural khaki colored ones, I really think they would be pretty dyed a charcoal gray, but I have no clue how to do that. I have family coming to visit this weekend, so I'll see what I can do before all arrive.  So, what do you all think about what I can do with this space?