Ransacked Goods

Outdoor Chalkboard

I've been meaning to do this outdoor chalkboard project for so long! It was put on the back burner so many times I just forgot about it. But last weekend we got motivated to finish up some projects in our backyard. One trip to the hardware store for a can of paint was all it took, now that's not too hard. The Chickpea helped me slap a coat of primer on a big board we already had, then three coats of chalkboard paint. Yeah, my little helper got board so I did most of it. The hubby mounted it to the fence and I repurposed 2 hooks (they are a little creepy because they are shaped like fingers) to hang 2 chalk buckets. Instant play time, they love it. Now to be an over achiever I also painted the inside of the chicken coop (I should call it a kid coop for now) with the chalkboard paint and recovered the benches inside with new oil-cloth. We're ready for Summer.

Rainbow Party Favors

We're hosting a my daughter's 5th birthday party this weekend. She's not really interested in gifts but has asked several times for a rainbow birthday. I went to our excellent and cheap local party supply store and picked up some rainbow themed favors and these plain brown pastry bags. The Chickpea and I then sat down with a set of ink pads and decorated them which was fun to see what we could come up with. The adorable rainbow buttons came from buttonsandbadges Etsy store. We'll pick up some rainbow colored balloons and I found some rainbow striped candles at Target. Check, done! We're ready to get our rainbow on! Now if you wanted to go full tilt check out this board.Excellent ideas if you've got oodles of time and sugar.

via buttonsandbadges Check out what else they have!

covet garden - new issue

via covetgarden.com

Check out Holly Wheatcroft's home in the new issue of Covet Garden. I'm in love with the simple paired down white interior with pops of lively hand woven textiles. Some beautiful sources for ikats and block printed jems that give just a hint of a bohemian style. I wish I was brave enough to paint my hard wood floors white!

Whole Cloth Baby Quilt

Just in the nick-of-time I finished the baby quilt for my nephew before I was off to my sister-in-law's baby shower in Nevada over the weekend. I was inspired by some really lovely whole cloth quilts that I had seen, particularly this one and this one that really let the simplicity of the fabric and pattern speak for themselves. An of course I fell in love with the linen car fabric from Kokka. So many amazing Japanese import fabrics to swoon over, here. I wanted to get in just a little modern patchwork on the back with some scraps I had around. I love piecing fabric together without a pattern, so liberating. I hope this little gem will be loved for years.

Green Shoes

Check out my new pretties to wear this summer. Yeah, I know... great shade of green! I've never been that much of a green fan. Funny how wearing an ugly wool forest green uniform for 7 years straight will kind of zap a color out of your wardrobe for your adult life (anyone else out there feeling me?). But I'm completely drawn to kelly greens, mint greens, jade greens now. I'm talking just a pop of color not much. It's an unexpected jolt of Spring that's making me happy.