Tiny Cabin Inspiration, and Update.

Dear Bloglandia,
I want you to know I haven't forgotten you! My shop has been blowing up. It IS wedding season, also happens to be the best time for me to be outdoors! It is tough to sacrifice my oh so rare sunshine. Me and my Deer ; ) have been going for run/walks and going to the farmers market near our house every Thursday. Wednesday is usually our day of running around, and every other day of the week I am working on prints after work, and going to the post office. The extra money in the wallet is something worth smiling about by itself! The idea of being in a new home in the next year(ish) feels so close! We have everything pretty much worked out in our heads, as long as we are just able to find desirable land.. That has been our setback this entire time! As soon as we get there it is going to be Dream State Blog Land! I will be making How-To's, time lapse videos, and regular garden tip updates. Maybe even advice on sharing a micro cabin.. There will be so much material I won't even know where to start! Let me give all of us some tiny cabin inspiration from my "My Tiny Dream Home" Board on Pinterest. (Follow me on Pinterest Here!)

Sources:
1st set- here & here.
2nd set- here and here.
3rd set- here and here.

New in the Shop!

As of late, I have been very busy with the shop. I am assuming that is why my "weekly total reach"ed blog viewers has gone down quite a bit. I figured I should do a little update! Me and my wing man have been looking for property on our days off. We have been very busy running around, aside from working full time jobs. As for my shop which is what keeps me busy while I am at home- I get lots of messages in my shop asking if I can customize bags. Nobody has any idea how hard that is.. I am offering $10 bags! Just seems silly to me. So I am now offering custom oversized gift tags. I will write any message- preferably names, initials, and dates for the welcome bags. Oversized gift tags has been my suggestion for these inquiries, but I am not quite sure if everyone knows what I mean when I suggest it. So now I am offering them in my shop, and I will write on them! They are $3 each, or $2 if you buy 10 or more. They also have free shipping if you buy any other item in the shop. So now you are all caught up on what I am up to.. I will try to post up some of our land search photos here soon.

Just want to thank all of you for following the blog! Make sure to follow me on Facebook for (more) regular updates!

DIY Tissue Paper Pom Poms!

I purchased a hand full of different color tissue papers thinking I would come up with some party supplies to fill my Etsy shop with. While playing around with the tissue paper, I decided on making a tissue paper pom pom for my shop photos. I wanted to add a little something to the photos. I learned how to make the Pom Poms from Marth Stewart- See link here. After I made my first tissue paper pom pom.. I was in awe with how easy the process is! It would make a great Craft Party Project. You could whip up tons of these for a future special occasion with multiple people at work. Anything from a baby shower to a wedding! I have even thought of making them for both my young niece, and cousins. You can hang different shades of pom poms in their favorite colors above their beds like a mobile. I have seen people actually use them as mobiles in nurseries. They look adorable. See Pinterest for inspiration here.

So here is how:
I used 12 pieces of 12 x 18 inch tissue paper in this blue pom pom. In the previous pink pom pom- I used 8. Using 8 pieces came out more like a flower. This one with the 12 pieces turned out very full. I like the look of the 8 pieces better. I also held my tissue paper together in the center with a twist tie. You can use anything really.. You wont be able to see it. Also note that you can make much larger poms poms with 20 x 30 inch pieces of tissue paper instead.

Step one: Stack your tissue paper so that they are even on all sides. Then start folding 1 1/2-inch-wide accordion folds, creasing with each fold.

Step two: Once the tissue paper is all folded like an accordion, Use what ever you have around the house to hold the center together. My twist ties worked perfectly.

Step three: You can either cut the ends in a rounded shape- for a more petal look, or make them pointy like a sunflower. Turn the tissue paper sideways and spread the paper out like a fan.

Step four: One by one on the top- grab one side of the top tissue paper piece and lift it up. With the other hand hold the others down to easily separate each piece.

Be very careful lifting up each tissue paper. It is very delicate. This second photo below is what the bottom looks like before you pull and separate the tissue on the bottom half. You can leave it this way if you plan on using these on a flat surface like a tabletop decoration.

Now you are all done! crazy how easy this is! They sell these on Etsy for $4.50 a piece for a larger version. 

I am using my tissue paper pom poms to add a little girly touch to my bridal bags in My Etsy Shop!

Fig + Fauna

I would like to introduce you to my new favorite blog.. Fig + Fauna! I might be living in a 'Dream State' but I can see myself running around with bunnies sleeping in my apron, feeding the birds, and pulling weeds. Reading a book with a hen sleeping on my lap, and canning parties! The simple life is a sweet but simple idea. I hope this inspires you to bring some 'simple life' into your home. Slow life down a bit, and enjoy the little things.

Check out Fig + Fauna's blog here.

Sonoma Escape

Here is some cabin porn for all of us 'small living' wannabes (like me).

This magical escape home is located in Northern California by the architect/designer Olle Lundberg. The house is constructed from reclaimed materials salvaged from office buildings. The home is also LEED compliant. Mr. Lundberg's weekend cabin just happens to be the same design i'd like our small house to be. Big windows in front, pitched roof, and open upstairs loft. Big porch, and wood burning stove, and don't forget that garden! It is wonderful. I do not care for the hot tub, or pool very much, but they have the right idea, and It feels like they took it right out of my head. There are a few things different, kind of like a vague dream. I hope you enjoy my cabin quest, and I can't wait to see and show you what we end up building!

Check out the Sonoma Escape House on Apartment Therapy.

Outdoor Movie Night Inspiration!

I came across both these outdoor movie night ideas in the last few days.. With summer finally here I thought it is the perfect time to give you inspiration to get your family outdoors and have some fun! Oh Happy Day blog created DIY Marquee signs for their family backyard movie nights. A fun way to tell everyone to head out back! They even made all of us a template! This looks time consuming(They say 45 minutes per letter), but could be used in a kids room or in a den on a shelf after the party is over! Sounds worth it to me. They also have another post on movie night food ideas. See that here! That is where I picked up both the popcorn, and drink photos below!

See Oh Happy Day's tutorial here! Now that you are inspired.. Plan your next outdoor party and have fun!

The outdoor movie photo with lawn chairs came from sfgirlbybay blog- See here. Other DIY movie screen photo source- Here.

My Coworkers DIY Succulent Garden

Last month my sweet co-worker who I call "Pumpkin Spice", "Starfish", or "Vanilla Bean" came to me asking what she should do for her grandmother's 90th birthday. I was stumped.. I was of no help, but then I came home and blogged about DIY Succulent Projects! I instantly messaged her and gave her the idea of buying vintage ceramic items at a thrift store, and making a succulent garden.. She said this project is perfect because she has a tons of her grandmas vintage glassware that her grandma didn't have room for anymore but she cared about them a lot.. They have been in the family, and she is really happy that they went to a home that would care for them. I told her how easy the project is. I gave her pebbles and shells we picked up on our recent beach trip, and told her where to pick up the succulents. She was happy to bring the glassware out of storage, and show her grandma what she created. Today was her birthday, and these photo's showed up in my inbox! I am very excited for "Starfish" and her 90 year old grandma. She gave a vintage item new life (literally)! I was also excited to inspire someone to make something sweet for someone they love.

Check out her photo tutorial, and I hope this project inspires you to bring new life to something sitting in storage!

Farm To Table Event!

There is a big Farm To Table event going on in Dayton, Oregon on July 22nd from 5-8pm! See the link here! $35 includes admission, live music, hors d’oeuvres, refreshments and raffle entry.

AgriCurean Escapes Portland Launch Party

This is something I have wanted to do since... I started caring where my food comes from. I am sharing this because there should be a connection to your food, and the person who grew and harvested it for you. This is a chance to mingle with the 'makers', and a great way to experience a piece of wine country. These events sell out fast.. Buy your tickets now. : )

P.s. Family members- Can we have one giant family gathering like this someday?! Kristy's- Wedding?

Photos by Andrea Wyner Photography

Dream State Etsy Shop- Now Open!

My Etsy shop is officially open for business. At the moment I have just 4 designs up. I will have much more available soon. I also only have one style of bag available due to the other being out of stock by the supplier. As soon as that is available again, I will have all of the designs available in 2 different style bags! This is just the beginning. I also have other ideas up my sleeve.. I wanted to tell you followers that I do have a coupon code just for you! It is free shipping for domestic orders only. Expiration date is July 1st.

Coupon Code: DREAMSTATEISOPEN

Go to my Etsy shop here.

Awtrey House Bed and Breakfast

Summer is just about here and it is time to start having regular adventures! Does anyone have $345 to spend on a single night at a bed and breakfast? I sure as hell don't, but if I did this is the place I would go! The Awtrey House is run by a former NBA player- Dennis Awtrey on Neahkahnie Mountain. This is the mountain in the background of many Wayne and I's photos we have taken in Manzanita Oregon. For over 100 years Neahkahnie has been known for its Northwest architecture and artist community. The house was constructed by the world acclaimed architect, James Cutler. There is only one other place in the world you can stay in a Jim Cutler design, and that is in Ketchikan, Alaska. Cutler's designs are not about style; they're all about site. He saw that this specific site had the potential for spectacular intimacy with the ocean.

"Gaze at the hypnotic Pacific Ocean from your private terrace; marvel at a blanket of stars from your luxurious king-size bed; sigh at the sun setting over the ocean while you soak in a deep, relaxing bath; watch the shadows play on the wood beams of your soaring ceilings, board-formed concrete walls and fascinating architectural details; wake to the morning sunlight filtering through walls of clear and frosted glass; and at your leisure, enjoy a full course breakfast prepared by your hosts with local Northwest fare."

Check out the website here and book your stay!

Stamp Carving

In my last stamp carving tutorial (see that here), I said I would come up with a smaller stamp.. I made a 'Thank You' stamp, and a 'cross vine' stamp. The 'cross vine' stamp size was based on my over sized gift tags. I wanted a stamp that I could write next to, and they would compliment each other. I wanted something I can use for my Etsy shop (which will be opening soon). They were both actually quite simple to make. This time around I used the exact same shape and size of the original "thank you" flag that I made on my last tutorial (see here). Instead of the stamp text being carved out- leaving the background exposed.. This time I made the text raised as a stamp normally is. The cross vine design is something that I have showed you a couple of time in the bag designs. I want to keep a consistent theme. : )

I've showed you how to carve stamps a couple of times. I will spare myself this time. What I will tell you is that if you are looking for a craft project that is relaxing.. Go for it! Carving stamps brings satisfaction, and you completely focus all of your energy on one thing, and that is not too carve too deep- Just a little bit at a time. When you step back and look at what you created, it is wonderful! It is fun to see the final product stamped because you created it completely backwards, and to see it in the right direction changes your perspective of the stamp all together.

Now get stamping!