My Week Through Instagram: Week Twenty-Two

Happy weekend friends! Are you having a nice one so far? I have to say mine has been quite lovely. I have read, I wrote a couple letters yesterday (something I haven't done in SO long), I ate a yummy meal with my family last night. I'll be picking up my camera today and taking photographs. All the things that make for a nice few days. What have you been up to?

Here is my Instagram recap of last week, which was week twenty-two of 2012.

Sunday: These are some filler flowers that we picked up from Trader Joe's. I like filler flowers by themselves so these got put on display in a mason jar. They were a little messy and had a very Dr. Seuss quality to them.

Monday: We also scored these peonies from Trader Joe's, the last bunch. We just finally had to throw them away but these flowers were so beautiful all week. I was seriously captivated by them and how they changed colors and transitioned from closed-up buds to magnificent blooms. I took a bunch of pictures to capture the different stages and I'll be sharing them this week.

Tuesday: I did a DIY project this weekend and used electrical tape for the first time. I really liked it! These orange and purple colors were unexpected and I might try them out in my packaging more often.

Wednesday: Home Depot was actually selling flowers in these vintage-looking crates. This one is a welcome addition to our front porch.

Thursday: I sat outside in my backyard two days this week. It was rather warm but better in the shade and it just felt good to get out and see some sun. I worked and sketched out new ideas for upcoming projects. This old chair of ours is my favorite piece of patio furniture. It was my grandmother's and I remember it from her house when I was little.

Friday: I made up some scrambled eggs in the morning and was surprised to see this batch all stamped. An unexpected detail.

Saturday: I devoted some time to writing letters, something that I've been 'meaning to do' for far too long. It felt good to sit at my desk and just write. The only writing I do normally is on the computer. I used this old typewriter paper that has this amazing texture and these neat red lines at the margins. Now if only I could get my typewriter working then I'd really be set.

So that was a peek into my week twenty-two. What did yours look like?

Follow me on Instagram if you like. My username is laurenelisecrafted. Or see all of my pictures on the computer through Followgram.

Font Love, Vol. XXXI: Geotica 2012

Happy Friday everyone! I haven't shared a Font Friday favorite here in awhile and I came across this nifty display typeface this morning so I thought today would be perfect opportunity. Geotica is a beautiful font by exljbris, the foundry by designer Jos Buivenga, which is also responsible for Museo and Anivers. Geotica comes with all kinds of beautiful variations, the design possibilities are really endless. Geotica is not a free font but the designer created one version that is: Geotica 2012.

I love the decoration of it and the Art Deco flair. I feel like 1920s styling will be big this year with the new Great Gatsby movie coming out later in 2012. Have you seen the trailer yet? It looks like it will be visually stunning but the story is definitely a depressing one. But I am looking forward to seeing a lot more of the Deco design influence. How about you?

image from exljbris

What are your plans for this lovely weekend? I am going to try and stay cool. It is starting to feel like summer here and I must admit I'm not quite ready for it. I wish spring would linger a little longer in Southern California. Have a great Friday!

Pinterest Picks, Vol. VI Shop Love

Hi readers! I am blogging two days in a row now so I am a bit excited. Tomorrow I plan to blog too and go for three days in a row. I haven't had that kind of consistency in a few weeks. Eek! It's the little things.

Today I have a roundup of some recent pins for another installment Pinterest Picks. This time I've created a theme of 'shop love' and all these pictures are snapshots into the world of small, independent boutique stores. Small shops, especially local ones, have such charm and can hold so much more meaning than big chains. The shops I highlighted for today all have a beautiful and simple aesthetic which is so pleasing to me. Simple design, neutral colors, unique details. We'll start off with a shop in Barcelona:

Cup & Cake

Barcelona, Spain

This bakery looks like the perfect retreat since the interior is so light and airy. The wood floors and counter tops are the perfect compliment to the white and neutral color palette. But my favorite detail just might be that outdoor window seat with the pillows. They have created a peaceful oasis in the middle of lively and spirited Barcelona.

Mungo & Maud

London, England

image via Remodelista

When I first pinned this image, I just noticed the beautiful bowls at the bottom and assumed it was a pottery shop. But then the dog bone-stamped bags confused me and called for further investigation. Mungo and Maud appears to be the most hip, chic dog supply store out there. The contents may be for pets but the environment catches the attention of the owners. It appears the tabletops and shelving are made from reclaimed wood and those imperfections give it a hint of rustic charm.

Pizzeria Farina

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

image via Scout Magazine

It is hard to go wrong with kraft paper, especially one that is conveniently hanging from a rolling dispenser. I have seen this detail as a menu in a few restaurants now but it has yet to get old. It seems so ingenious to me. The handwriting is personal and the opportunity to switch out the menu easily when it changes is just practical. I also like the hanging crates on the wall of Pizzeria Farina which appear to hold glasses and jars of sauce.

Makr Carry Goods

Winter Park, Florida, USA

image via Grain and Gram

I just discovered these beautiful and simple products by Makr but am even more captivated by the brand now that I've seen their amazing workspace. It looks like such a collaborative environment with big, open tables where people are shown working together. And just a wealth of inspiration, shelves and pictures frames appear to be full of curiosities. 

Do you have any local shops that inspire you? I must say I wish these four were in my neighborhood. I would be a regular.

Houzz Feature: Simple Screenprint Cloud Pillows

Hi readers! How has your week been going so far? Today I want to share a DIY that involves one of my favorite crafting techniques. I have heard it called 'Poor Man's Screenprinting' before and I love that title because it really is the cheapest, easiest way to pull off the screenprinting technique. Real printing is an elaborate and beautiful process (I wrote about one of my favorite print shops Sass & Peril last year...be sure to check out all of Shannon's beautiful work) and the real thing definitely puts this technique to shame. But this way does help get crisp, clean paint lines when you are painting on fabric.

I created this DIY for Houzz and demonstrated a step-by-step tutorial on making your own cloud pillow using this screenprinting process.

With just a few materials you can make this design or something similar in a few hours on a weekend or in the evening after work. To see what you need to make this DIY and to follow along with all the steps, visit the article I wrote on Houzz: Punch Up a Pillow With an Easy Stenciling Project.

Do you recognize that calligraphy? It's my new favorite Jacques and Gilles which I've mentioned a few times on here now. Part of the script was done using the screenprinting technique but I also had to freehand some of it (where the lines get really skinny). 

Have you ever tried this craft technique yourself? What did you make and how did it turn out? I have used it multiple times and have been very happy with the results. 

Happy Wednesday everyone!

My Week Through Instagram: Week Twenty & Twenty-One

I am playing catch-up here on the blog again late at night. I did say that May was going to be a whirlwind for me and I was pretty right about that. The blog has definitely suffered because of it. Feeling good about June though and hoping to get back into the swing of things. But tonight I want to recap my last two weeks through Instagram.

Week Twenty

Sunday: I had to wrap up a present for some family so I decided to use this adorable heart paper I bought awhile ago. Isn't it adorable?! A navy bow and tag were just the right touch for an adornment.

Monday: Chalkboard and jute twine...just a little peak into the DIY project I was finishing up. I'll share more this week.

Tuesday: My brother and his band left on their summer music tour on Sunday and I couldn't let him leave without giving him a few rolls of film. He has taken up photography and is quite the talented fellow. I cannot wait to see what he captures.

Wednesday: I was perfecting these little fringe flowers which became my May DIY for Whisker Graphics.

Thursday: The finished product, a simple branch with my handmade fringe flowers. I used the fabulous products from Whisker Graphics for this craft. See how I made it and view more pretty pictures here.

Friday: This long week called for a little treat...some Pinkberry. Confession: I would eat this everyday if I could, especially in the summertime. It is so refreshing.

Saturday: A quick trip to the antique store (originally to check out an old typewriter) yielded these vintage portraits instead. I am super inspired by these characters and the type and graphics at the bottom of the frames. Looking forward to doing something with them.

And now for a recap of Week Twenty-One.

Sunday: A little vignette I styled awhile ago but am still loving. Amazing stamp from my friend Tristan of Besotted Brand.

Monday: Working on my next DIY for Houzz. A friend commented that it looked very hardcore but I assure you it is actually pretty simple.

Tuesday: Paint splatters. It might not be intentional art but it is beautiful just the same.

Wednesday: I sat at my computer all day, glued to the screen. It was crunch-time finishing up a project for a client. I worked into the wee hours.

Thursday: This cheerful pink flower is blooming all over my neighborhood right now. I love how it is thriving. We finally discovered that it is called Mexican Primrose. We actually bought some at Home Depot to grow in our own front yard.

Friday: And of course we came away from Home Depot with a succulent too. One can never have enough.

Saturday: After work, I tried on a few new items at Anthropologie including this color-blocked beauty (the dress does not appear to be online...weird since it is pretty new to our store). I'm pretty in love with it, the cut and color are quite perfect. So far I'm resisting it but we'll see how long that lasts. ;)

So that was week twenty and twenty-one for me. What did yours look like?

Follow me on Instagram if you like. My username is laurenelisecrafted. Or see all of my pictures on the computer through Followgram.