Inspiration: Vintage Ochre Skirt

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I heart things like a maniac on Etsy and am also now a super Pinterest user. Between the two I collect image upon image of beautiful fashions, unique clothing, and inspiring outfits. But when I found this adorable corduroy skirt on Astral Boutique’s Etsy something made me stop. Maybe it’s the super cute over-sized bow in the model’s hair. Or perhaps it’s the breezy white blouse combined with the bold color of the skirt. Or maybe it’s a combination of all of the above! No matter the reason – I simply had to share this photo as it instantly brought a smile to my face.

DIY: Chocolate Chip Malt Cookies

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It was just two years ago that I discovered malt. How could this delicious flavor additive have eluded me my whole life?! In ode to the scrumptious sweetness of the powder that made Ovaltine a hit with children for decades – I wanted to share the following recipe which will have you salivating with delight. Bake and enjoy! I did!!!

Styling: The French Sailor

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Welcome to my latest series – “Styling!” I will be sharing favorite outfits of the month, complete with notes on everything from inspiration to wardrobe details. In this first feature, what I’ve dubbed “The French Sailor,” I’ve combined a stretchy striped top that I scored from Crossroads with a thrifted skirt that I took in so it can sit high on my waist. The sweater tights, whose rainbow colored lint don’t come across in the pics, are a new favorite of mine from Target. The vintage taupe boots I purchased from Etsy and the navy stud earrings were a gift for the holidays. My favorite details? By far the scalloped under-layer of the skirt, vegan skinny belt and the beaded soft pink applique across the top of the shirt.

DIY: Lampshade Facelift

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Sometimes I get that itch to update things in my place – but I don’t want to be wasteful with my money or resources – so I’m always concocting new ways to make do with what I have.

Most recently I grew tired of the lampshade in our bedroom. It was a sweet embroidered lil’ thing, but the color was fading and the interior was cracking, giving it a not-so-cute shabbiness when turned on. So I rested on the idea of changing it up, allowing my mind to invent some potential ideas. What transpired turned out to be a subtle yet stunning piece that was given new life with a few pages of a vintage dictionary. Here’s how I did it:

1) Using the pages of an old crumbling dictionary (it was the same one I used for the Bibliophile Wreaths for Christmas) I tore out a good handful of pages and cut them into long 1″ slips.

2) Using a glue gun, I affixed each strip to the lampshade, overlapping each slightly. Also, I started on the bottom layer and then worked my way around to the top.

3) The final step is to cut any overly long and crooked strips so they align (not perfectly, but close enough) to all of the others. This will give the effect a more polished look.
And there you go – a quick, inexpensive, easy and eco-friendly way to give a lampshade a new look. You can experiment using other kinds of papers as well, or may even try fray-less fabrics. Once you create one you’ll be tempted to try your hand at more!

Do you have a suggestion on how to update a dull lampshade in your home? Share it in the comments!