Tuesday’s Treasure – Spring is Here!

Well, spring is almost officially here, anyway. We hope you’re enjoying sunshine and warmer weather, wherever you are!

Get With It And Spring Forward

Going Green

 

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Chelsea

December of Giveaways – Week 4!

It’s our last week of December giveaways! This week, we’re giving away this whimsical macaw feather fascinator:

Photo by VanZandt Studios.

This fascinator is handmade from naturally fallen, hand curled macaw feathers, white marabou feathers, a pink, green, and blue button finding with clear rhinestone accents, and vintage Austrian crystals floating mid-air on monofilament thread. The snap clip on the back makes the piece very versatile to wear (it can be turned at any angle.)

Here’s a close up of the piece:

It’s easy to enter:

1. Follow us on Pinterest here.

2. Pin the Pin It To Win It image on any of your Pinterest boards.

3. Comment on this blog post with your Pinterest username.

You can enter a maximum of once a day by completing steps 1-3.

The Week 3 giveaway will last through Sunday, 12/29/13. Open to US residents.Winner will be randomly chosen, and announced Monday, 12/30/13, on this blog page, our Facebook and Twitter accounts, and the winner will be contacted via the email listed with the account they use to comment (if possible.) Winner must respond via email (to buymelovestore@gmail.com) within 48 hours, or another winner will be randomly selected.

Good luck, and happy pinning!

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Chelsea

Tuesday’s Treasure – Yuletide Cheer

Click on the images to shop DFW local, handmade small businesses!

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Chelsea

Tuesday’s Treasure – Texas Harmony

Now that Etsy 817 and Etsy Fort Worth have merged, I’m seeing all kinds of new content from new people!

Here’s a look at the EFW blog, and the latest team treasury: http://www.etsyfortworth.com/2013/04/great-gift-ideasno-fooling.html

Here’s a pretty, springy green treasury by my friend Amy from Larkspur Studio:

 

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Chelsea

Tuesday’s Treasure – A little of this, a little of that

Escape From The City

Red and White (Made In Texas)

It’s been a while since I’ve posted any treasuries, so I thought I’d share a couple from the end of last year that I thought you might like. The first one is clever, titled “Escape From The City,” featuring city and travel themed listings, including our JuJu Eyeball sparkly roach earrings. The next treasury follows one of my favorite themes – local! It’s also a Valentine theme, I suppose, in red and white. This is the first time any of my new harnesses have been featured – exciting!

(I apologize that I didn’t post these treasuries sooner – some items that were featured have already sold.)

So, if one of your new year’s resolutions involves buying locally, or supporting handmade/artisans/small business (and good for you for making that resolution,) this is a great place to start. Etsy can be a little overwhelming, even if you do a specific search, and treasuries can be a quick, aesthetically pleasing way to shop.

The weather has been consistently sunny for the past few days here in DFW, so I think, after a quick trip to the pharmacy, I’ll break out the new camera the hubby gave me for Christmas and take some photos for the shop.

Hope your new year has been wonderful so far!

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Chelsea

 

Fresh & Clean

I didn’t realize how much I missed making Etsy treasuries until I finished this one at about midnight. 🙂

Click on the image to check out these beautiful items and the shops where they belong.

 

Whatever Weekend – Taking The Pledge For A Greener Closet

I must admit, there was a time when I was on the verge of a shopaholic. During lunch breaks, I’d cross the highway to Target and paruse their sales racks. Granted, most of the items I bought were easy on the wallet – I have the gene that brings on incredible guilt when I buy something full price. The thing was, I found myself buying things I realized I didn’t like that much a week later, and those things I didn’t like just kept piling up.

So, I donated a bunch of clothing, and started buying the majority of my clothing at thrift stores, and altering/refashioning some clothing I already had. Then I got a sewing machine, muahaha! Although I haven’t learned to sew from patterns, I intend to very soon. I have a drawer full of mostly vintage patterns just begging to be used again! I’ve found that I get more satisfaction from the compliments I recieve about my vintage and altered clothing than I ever did from the compliments on the manufactured stuff.

So, today, I want to take a pledge:

I will buy no new clothing (with the exception of needed undergarments) or accessories for the next year. I will alter the existing apparell in my closet, shop only at thrift/vintage/antique stores and garage/estate sales, and only buy clothing and accessories I really like. I will trade clothing with friends, and I will learn to make some clothing from scratch. I will continue to revisit my closet and donate clothing that no longer fits or no longer fits my style or taste throughout the year. My goal is to have a creative, earth-friendly closet with articles of clothing that are interchangeable for a variety of outfits I will actually wear.

Ultimately, I’m making this pledge to force myself to become more creative with fashion, since it’s something I’m interested in and use for work. It’s also a pledge to honor this earth that God has created, and to honor myself and celebrate my spirit through my outward appearance.

Wanna take the pledge? Feel free to use my words or come up with your own. I encourage you to pledge for the reasons that are meaningful to you!

 What about shoes, you ask? Well, I’m not sure yet. I don’t have a huge shoe fetish, and have pretty much everything I need in the way of shoes right now except sandals. So, I may buy one pair of sandals, or I may make some huaraches!

 Oh, and I’m also cutting my hair. Actually, I just got a shorter haircut for summer, but realized I’ve been wanting another hairstyle for a long time now, so I’m going to go for it. Something similar to these:

Yep, it's essentially a mohawk.This is probably the length it will be, since my top layer is about that long.

Yes, ladies and gents, I’m gonna get myself a flophawk, and I’m so excited!

What’s your dream hairstyle?

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Chelsea

Make It Monday – Onion Dyed Eggs

For more crafty egg ideas, check out creative Etsians, like ReverieCreations.

I used to dye eggs with my Nana and mom every Easter. We would usually do a variety of the brightly colored guys, and then Nana would do a batch dyed with onion skin. I remember staring at the marble patterns created by the yellow and red onions, and marvelling at the idea that you could use food to color food. It’s super simple to do, earth friendly, and less messy than the crayon-colored alternatives. It’s especially handy if you’re already making a dish with onions for Easter. Here’s how to do it.

What you’ll need:

– eggs

– onion skins (yellow and/or red; you can also use carrot peel, beet, or any other colorful veggie you think might be fun to try)

– rubber bands or string

– a pot of slightly salted boiling water

– vegetable oil (optional)

How to do it:

1. Soak your skins/peels in water until soft. You can use them dry, it’s just a little easier to wrap them around the egg when they’re flexible.

2. Wet the eggs to help the skins stick to the egg’s surface.

3. Wrap the eggs with skins and secure with rubber bands or string.

4. Boil eggs for 7-10 minutes until hard boiled.

5. Drain the hot water and run cold water into the pot to cool the eggs.

6. Carefully remove the bands/string and skins from the eggs, and viola! You have beautifully, naturally dyed eggs.

7. Optional: Put a little vegetable oil on a cloth and lightly rub the eggs to shine them.

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Chelsea

Tuesday’s Treasure – There’s A Theme A Brewin’

We’ve been featured in several lovely treasuries over the past several days! Thanks to both of the curators. I’ve got to be honest, though, I’m sensing a theme, here:

Shhhh … Naturals by vintageprecious

Tranquility by BellinaCreations

Simplicity In Black and White by vintageprecious

It seems like all these ladies want for Christmas is a little peace and quiet! I couldn’t agree more.

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Chelsea

Make It Monday – A Long, Hot Bath

It’s official, I’ve caught the cold that’s been going around. Of course, it waited to set in until I was babysitting a friend’s kiddos! So, since I’m feeling, well, snotty, I’ll keep this Make It Monday short and sweet. Here’s a quick concoction for a wintertime bath that’s especially helpful when you’re sick, and that also makes a great, inexpensive DIY gift.

1 Cup Epsom Salts (or 1/2 C Dead Sea, 1/2 C Epsom Salts)

3-4 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Add the salts and oil directly to a warm to hot bath. The Epsom and/or Dead Sea salts help relax fatigued and sore muscles, while the peppermint oil helps open sinuses, stimulate the skin (a bit of an icy/hot effect mixed with the hot water), ease headache and lift your mood. It doesn’t hurt that it makes you smell like a candy cane, either! Drink a cup of tea, and enjoy the silence or some relaxing music while you soak.

Note: Only use pure essential oil, and avoid contact with eyes. While the oil will be diluted in the water, you may want to wait to wash your face in the sink after your bath.

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Chelsea