Live the Life You've Imagined, Part 28

These photos provide a quick peek into my life from the past seven days. I am continuing to work on living my imagined life and appreciating all of the small things. If you would like to follow my photos, my username on Instagram is mrsmoon. 

1. I experienced my first Valentine’s Day working in a flower shop. It was crazy and fun at the same time. I could not believe the number of men that called on Valentine’s day wanting flowers delivered the same day.

2. Josh and I dined at Fogo de Chao in Indianapolis last night. I am pretty sure I consumed more meat in one sitting than I usually do in an entire month.

3. I watched bits and pieces of the Grammy’s on Sunday. Bruno Mars was my favorite. 

4. I really, really want a big giant card catalog. I found this little guy at my favorite antique shop, but I couldn’t bring myself to buy him since he is so small.

5. Yesterday I scoped out Doc’s Architectural Salvage. The place is jam packed with awesome pieces. Although it was overwhelming, I did not have to worry about what to buy since just about everything was out of my price range.

6. Giant lovely yellow roses.

7. My sister made me outstanding cream cheese cranberry muffins. I probably ate six of them. Thank you Alyssa!

8. I made a few Valentines.

9. A sweet treat from my boss for dealing with the madness on Tuesday. 

linked: liferearranged, agoodlifeblog, letbirdzfly

Marimekko Inspired Curtain Panels

This is a post almost four years in the making. Four exchange students have lived at my parents’ home and we have had the opportunity to visit their homes in Europe.

In 2008, we celebrated Midsummer in Malmo, Sweden. I was enamored with all of the fabulous prints that adorned their windows. 

Ann-Margreth was so sweet and took me to the Marimekko store where she purchased much of her fabric. I was in love. All of the graphic fabrics were amazing. I purchased two meters of this “Putkinotko” print, which was originally manufactured in 1957.

Usually I am pretty adept with mental math; however, on this occasion I miscalculated the conversion rate in my head. I was quite surprised when I arrived home and realized that I spent almost $100 on about two yards of fabric.

Since this is the most expensive fabric I have ever purchased, I set it aside until I could hire somebody to make my curtains. I do not intend to botch my costly souvenir with my basic sewing skills. 

I have yet to find a seamstress to make my curtains, so the Marimekko fabric remains in storage. I found this fabric in the red tag section at Joanns. It was originally $12.99 a yard marked down to $3.50/yard. At this price I had no anxiety about ruining the fabric. (You may recognize the print from my infinity scarf)

Rather than sew crooked seams with my machine, I used this no sew hemming tape I had leftover from various Ikea curtains. I ironed and ironed until the new office curtain panels were complete.

This is what our office looked like before we moved in.

This is the same corner of the room complete with new Marimekko inspired curtain panels. I need to stop procrastinating and quit taking my photos at night.

We replaced the flowery butterfly light fixture and refreshed the room with new paint and carpet. 

I love these little glass candleholders from CB2. I filled them with white beans and dried flowers from our garden. The office is a work in progress, but it has come a long way from the lilac nursery. 

Monday ~ The DIY Showoff Project Parade ~ Made by You Mondays ~ Embellishing Life Everyday ~ Just Something I whipped up Monday  ~ C.R.A.F.T.  ~ The Southern Institute ~ Making the World Cuter ~ Thrify Décor Chick ~ Metamorphosis Monday ~ Sumo Sweet Stuff ~ Gunny Sack ~ Singing Three Little Birds ~DIY Homes Sweet Home ~ 1929 Charmer ~ Everything Under the Moon  ~ ModMix Monday ~ Its So Cheri  ~ Bath Bomb Creations ~ thegingerbreadblog

Tuesday ~ Get Your Craft  ~ Tip Junkie ~ Blackberry Vine ~ Crafty Confessions ~ Me & my Boys ~ A Bowl Full of Lemons ~ Home Stories A-Z ~ My Uncommon Slice of Suberbia ~ Carolyn’s Homework ~ Sugar Bee Crafts ~ House of Grace ~ Passionately Artisitc ~ My World Made by Hand ~ Uncommon Designs ~ Trendy Treehouse

Wednesday ~ Blue Cricket Design ~ Somedays Crafts ~ Sew Much Ado ~ Sew Woodsy ~ Handy Man, Crafty Woman ~ Savvy Southern Style ~ {Primp} ~ Rae Gun Ramblings ~ Polkadots On Parade ~ Lollipop Cards ~ JAQS Studio ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ My Girlish Whims   ~ itsoverflowing ~ theletter4

Thursday ~ Transformation Thursdays ~ Somewhat simple ~ Show off your stuff ~ House of Hepworths ~ Delightful Order ~ My Simple Home Life ~ Thrifty Thursday ~ DIY Diva Thursday ~ Tablescape Thursday ~ No Minimalists Here ~ Crafty, Scrappy, Happy ~ Thrifty Decorating ~ Between U and Me ~ 36th Avenue

Friday ~ The Shabby nest  ~ Show and Tell Friday ~ Finding Fabulous ~ I’m Loving it ~ Simply Sweet Home ~ Whipper Berry ~ Chic on a Shoestring decorating ~ Spunky Junky ~ Delicate Construction ~ Homemaker in Heels ~ Family Ever After~ French Country Cottage ~ Common Ground ~ Young And Crafty ~ At the Picket Fence ~ Fingerprints on the Fridge ~ Miss Mustard Seed ~ Addicted to Decorating ~Bacon Time with The Hungry Hypo ~ Making Lemonade ~ I Can't Stop Crafting ~ Over the Big Moon ~ Answer is Chocolate ~ oneartmama ~  fivedaysfiveways

Valentine Embroidery Hoop

I do not decorate for Valentine’s Day. There is no particular reason why this holiday gets the décor snub. I am still in full V-day spirit. At the flower shop I have been cranking out hugs and kisses bouquets like it’s my job…oh wait, it is my job. 

Anyways, here is my one Valentine-ish project. I embroidered this small fabric hoop. I have no real embroidery training. I just make it up as I go along. I penciled my own script onto the fabric and attempted to backstitch along the lines. I do want to improve my embroidery skills and knowledge. I found DMC’s site with some basic useful info that I will be referencing for future projects.

This is a photo of our post-Christmas mantel and the Valentine embroidery hoop. I hope you have a happy Valentine’s day! Please think of me and all of the fun I am having knee deep in pink carnations and baby’s breath. 

Monday ~ The DIY Showoff Project Parade ~ Made by You Mondays ~ Embellishing Life Everyday ~ Just Something I whipped up Monday  ~ C.R.A.F.T.  ~ The Southern Institute ~ Making the World Cuter ~ Thrify Décor Chick ~ Metamorphosis Monday ~ Sumo Sweet Stuff ~ Gunny Sack ~ Singing Three Little Birds ~DIY Homes Sweet Home ~ 1929 Charmer ~ Everything Under the Moon  ~ ModMix Monday ~ Its So Cheri  ~ Bath Bomb Creations ~ thegingerbreadblog

Tuesday ~ Get Your Craft  ~ Tip Junkie ~ Blackberry Vine ~ Crafty Confessions ~ Me & my Boys ~ A Bowl Full of Lemons ~ Home Stories A-Z ~ My Uncommon Slice of Suberbia ~ Carolyn’s Homework ~ Sugar Bee Crafts ~ House of Grace ~ Passionately Artisitc ~ My World Made by Hand ~ Uncommon Designs ~ Trendy Treehouse

Wednesday ~ Blue Cricket Design ~ Somedays Crafts ~ Sew Much Ado ~ Sew Woodsy ~ Handy Man, Crafty Woman ~ Savvy Southern Style ~ {Primp} ~ Rae Gun Ramblings ~ Polkadots On Parade ~ Lollipop Cards ~ JAQS Studio ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ My Girlish Whims   ~ itsoverflowing ~ theletter4

Thursday ~ Transformation Thursdays ~ Somewhat simple ~ Show off your stuff ~ House of Hepworths ~ Delightful Order ~ My Simple Home Life ~ Thrifty Thursday ~ DIY Diva Thursday ~ Tablescape Thursday ~ No Minimalists Here ~ Crafty, Scrappy, Happy ~ Thrifty Decorating ~ Between U and Me ~ 36th Avenue

Friday ~ The Shabby nest  ~ Show and Tell Friday ~ Finding Fabulous ~ I’m Loving it ~ Simply Sweet Home ~ Whipper Berry ~ Chic on a Shoestring decorating ~ Spunky Junky ~ Delicate Construction ~ Homemaker in Heels ~ Family Ever After~ French Country Cottage ~ Common Ground ~ Young And Crafty ~ At the Picket Fence ~ Fingerprints on the Fridge ~ Miss Mustard Seed ~ Addicted to Decorating ~Bacon Time with The Hungry Hypo ~ Making Lemonade ~ I Can't Stop Crafting ~ Over the Big Moon ~ Answer is Chocolate ~ oneartmama ~  fivedaysfiveways