Calamity Gain

Best hand me down I've ever recieved!

gentle humor

images via google

She cray-cray

My fascination with vintage and textiles goes well beyond clothing. When perusing the internet for antique quilts for some new summer bedding, I discovered a type of quilting that stole my heart and intrigued me at first sight! I not only hope to someday come across a crazy quilt in person, but I hope to add one to my home. I, also, have a hankering to learn a new craft!

About American Antique Victorian Crazy Quilts

The heyday of Victorian Crazy quilting was circa 1885. However, these quilts were made from 1880 until the late 1890’s. Any Crazy quilt containing a date prior to 1879, would most likely indicate a special date from the family’s history. During the height of the Victorian era, homes could not have enough embellishment. Women wholeheartedly threw themselves into decorating every inch of the floors, walls and furniture. The culture of the times was full of symbolism, poetry and romance. Crazy quilting allowed women to display their artistic abilities in needlework, oil painting, and arrangement of embellishments. Silks, silk velvets and chenille, and threads of every hue were used to incorporate names, dates, pictures, and a wide assortment of symbols. via rockymountainquilts.com **For even more info/explanation on crazy quilts go here**

New Life

I've had this old jewelry box forever. I never really liked it, but since I have gobs of jewelry, it was at least useful. Since moving into my new place, I've definitely been bitten with the redecorate/DIY bug. So after reading a few tutorials on spray painting furniture, I went to Wal Mart and got all the supplies for a lil' project.

The process was pretty darn easy...although spray painting an even coat was kind of nerve racking and difficult...for me at least. I sanded the jewelry box first, used a primer, and then spray painted my color of choice(brushed nickel). I bought a clear gloss top coat but the color I used urged not to use one because it would take away the brushed finish...which makes sense and I think the matte finish works much better for a metallic color.

I let the jewelry box dry and set for about a day before moving it back into my room and stuffing it chalk full of jewelry.

I'm quite pleased with the outcome!

I was thinking of doing a bright color at one point but I thought using a metallic would be better and be more of a neutral since I'm still on the fence of my overall color scheme for the bedroom.

When I set all my stuff back up that surrounds my jewelry box....I was kind of..blah with the whole spread. So I took some stuff away/added a few favorite things/placed a few things in different spots.

It's still a work in progress but I'm excited that I actually started and finished a DIY project.

I mean...seriously...how many times have you bought the supplies for a project and put them in your closet and forgot about the whole thing!?

After doing this, I'm definitely more inspired and confident about all the projects looming in my head/notebook/pinterest!

I'll definitely post more of my projects...no matter the outcome...on here and hopefully it will inspire you!

Wooden Shjips | We Ask You To Ride



Loose change

 I never step into the purse sections at stores.

I switch between my vintage Coach bucket bag and a oversized leather clutch all year long.

But...Damn! Zara has maybe...possibly...tweaked my interest.



Happy is the Man

Do what you want to be happy.

For real.

nifty

 It seems the more my style changes the more it stays the same. I'm always still so enamored of that vintage 50's look. When I was 21 it was just not as clean and well edited. Instead of buying for the sole purpose of something being vintage or a vintage look a like when I was younger, I now opt for detail/wearability/longevity/craftsmanship. I like all of these options I picked for Spring because they all work with each other. I think that is also a big change the older I get. My closet is no longer a hodge podge of trends and staples. It's becoming a more cohesive collection of my actual, personal taste that if I had to pull pieces blindfolded, my outfit would be pretty damn sweet!