Valentines Day is fast approaching, wedding season is coming and winter equals cuddle weather! “I want a love like Johnny and June” and “So I can kiss you anytime I want” are two of my all-time favorite quotes! It’s true rustic glam when I insert them into my handmade rhinestone frames!
My frames are available in my Etsy shop and at wwwthestripedbarn.com or you can just email me and let me know you want one! You can insert your favorite photo or change it up with fun graphics like I do!
I am a true
romantic all year and love any holiday so it could be just me. I think it’s a great
time of year for a fun holiday Valentine’s Day, I’d much rather think about
that than how much I spent over the holidays or taxes!
Valentines
day is so easy to celebrate! A little goes a long way …here are a few tips to
get you going:
Think about all the red things you had out for the holidays and just keep those things out a little longer. Dishes, pillows, sheets, towels, napkins, and even your clothes!
A lot of times I’ll buy red themed items like solid, stripes, patterns that work for the holidays but not ones that scream Christmas so I can keep them out through Feb.
Buy a heart shaped cookie cutter and make at least one thing! Scones, cookies, pancakes…just something, anything heart shaped for Valentine’s Day. It will also come in handy later when you celebrate occasions with friends and loved ones…trust me you’ll use it again!
Don’t forget something for you!…I know I’m dying for an excuse to buy a new pair of red boots!
So, there you go! All kinds of fun things to think about and do to get you in the Valentines mood! Don’t forget to add in your everyday favs like music, movies, candles, fairy lights and of course chocolate!
I’m getting
ready to make my Valentine scones, so check back soon!
Call it what you want…modern rustic, organic, timber home, cabin, neutral, mountain home. I call it cozy with a view. I found this cozy inspiration room on architecturian.co and just had to share! My clients are always asking me how to blend gray and beige in their space. In fact I just had a client last week that wanted to do just that. Take paint colors for instance. A foolproof way is to pick your favorite colors from your inspiration. Maybe it’s the view, a favorite color, or a piece of furniture or art piece. Check paint samples and decide if it has warm, cool or neutral tone or any added undertones. If you use a paint deck you can see the undertones go from warm to cool. Once you have a fav make sure it goes with what you currently have in your space. If you need coordinating colors or whites for trim check with your paint store or do a search for your color. They will have coordinating colors that were specifically matched to blend with that color.
If your choosing neutrals for stone, rugs, furniture, accessories or art you can mix warms and cools easily. Choose some pieces that have a mix of multiple colors as blending pieces. Neutral is a safe bet and will go with anything. Keep your large items such as flooring, wood and stone that cover large areas or are permanently built in neutral. Be careful with costly art and consider that a permanent piece also. Then just pick and choose all your favorite accent pieces such as pillows and accessories.
Neutral will always be my favorite color palette and I never
find it boring or stale. I think we should go with what we like and not what is
in trending for the year and this just works. OK so I do get bored easily and
always like to change things up so yes this works for that. However, I realized
that neutrals keep me grounded and I find them soothing and relaxing. The best
part is I can temporarily add any colors, at any time for any occasion and totally
transform the space and then change it right back! Neutrals are more than
black, white, gray and tan. They have their own palette with thousands of
variations. So, don’t underestimate neutrals…they do more for your space than
you think. Why do I love neutrals?
Provide a perfect background to showcase other
elements in your home such as architectural features and favorite pieces.
Give that fabulous view a chance to be the focal
point
Allow you to have more flexibility with the
other items you choose for your space
You can add pops of color for seasons and
holidays
Neutrals aren’t for everyone but if you are drawn to them
don’t be afraid to experiment and add your own pops of color as you go. It’s an
easy, fun way to decorate your space!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Yippee! I woke up this morning wondering what just happened between September and December that was hectic and crazy but, in a fun, magical way… What had I been doing the last 4 months? I designed products, planned client’s parties, did lots of design work and consults, spent time with friends and family and managed to pull of all my favorite Christmas traditions! But that’s my normal routine all year (and why I love what I do)!
Then I figured it out…it was the same inspiring, heartfelt, festive work I do all year but during holiday season everyone else is on board! What is it about the holidays that makes us so much happier and kinder? It’s because you are surrounded by all things festive, fun and cheerful. The smells, the music, trees that light up your living room. The movies, the decorations as you drive down the street. Gatherings with friends and family, more parties, more details…and more effort to create the perfect holiday experience!
I like to help others create this feeling all year and I want everyone to be happy with their surroundings. I believe you should love everything around you, and you should celebrate every occasion and holiday you can! I also love weddings because they have the same inspiring, heartfelt feeling as the holidays and the planning also lasts for months at a time. Other occasions and celebrations still have the magic but usually for a shorter time… not that that makes them less important.
This brings me to your home If you don’t love everything that surrounds you, we need to talk! This is where you live and breathe, where you spend most of your time. Where you celebrate friends and family, become inspired and recharge to roll through life’s challenges!
2020 has inspired me to offer everyone a $99 DESIGN OPPORTUNITY to help you start fresh, make those changes and celebrate life without breaking your budget or long-term contracts!
I want everyone to love their home and to celebrate life’s holidays and occasions! So here is my gift to you! I am here to help you do whatever it takes to create your vision so just let me know what you need and lets make it happen! In person, or via face time and email lets get creative together!
This is also a great gift for your clients, friends, and family and comes with a personalized gift certificate! I can print whatever you would like on the certificate so just let me know!
Personalized gift certificates for interiors, events, weddings or any creative consult
BRIDES, or if you know an upcoming BRIDE, just the thought of planning a wedding or decorating a venue can be overwhelming. Let’s get creative and get a plan together!
REALTORS, this should be a standard go to for you. Is there a better closing gift than to offer your BUYERS an interior design consultation for their new home? And what about your listings? This is perfect for you and your SELLERS to get their home ready to sell! You’ll thank me later when I am the one that goes in and tells them what goes, what stays and if they need to STAGE haha. You can even add me to your listing presentations and say you have a designer on your team!
This gift has something for everyone and I am here to help you on your budget, at your pace. If you’re a DIYer this is perfect to give you a PLAN TO CREATE AT YOUR OWN PACE! This can also be used for photo shoots, styling, and one of my favorites….VISUAL DISPLAY AND MERCHANDISING! So, what are you waiting for, let’s get started! Yes, I do destination design out of state for your vacation homes, investment properties, and destination weddings. Trip charge will apply.
My last workshops of the year are over, my rhinestone wreaths are done, the stockings are hung, and it’s time to enjoy the season, Instagram inspiration and all the things I love! I made these cute wreaths from live greenery and let them dry…so cute and easy!
My Fresh Greenery Wreaths
The tree is up, the house is decorated… I like to be done before Thanksgiving so I can enjoy the end of the year festivities and have time to help my clients with their projects. And… that way I can plug my tree in on Thanksgiving night! It’s like National Lampoons Christmas Vacation…drum roll…light it up!
Thank goodness there’s
finally a chill in the air, so it’s time to get busy and warm up our homes! Not
that your home isn’t already warm and cozy but now we get a free winter pass to
add that extra layer of holiday cozy with decorating, crafts, movies, baking
and my favorite…. everything peppermint!
If you like to decorate like
me, this is the time of year we get to go crazy with creativity…you are my
people! It’s like doing one big themed event which is always fun!!
Sometimes we like tradition and sometimes we like to change out our whole holiday scheme to whatever moves us that year…I’ve done many themed trees over the years, but I still must add my favorite ornaments.
This little teddy bear was my dads and was on his tree growing up. Its been on every one of my trees since I was born and was handed down to me…I wouldn’t dream of not having it on my Christmas tree! It brings back so many memories of Christmas! I guess I chewed his right ear off when I was 2…and I have no idea what happened to the left eye…but I can guess… lol!
My Christmas Tree Teddy Bear
Free design ideas for the month of December! email me your interior design, party, or event questions, I would be glad to help !
I wait all year for Fall and by the time my birthday rolls
around the end of August I am in full Fall mode! Instagram and the craft stores
start back in June and July and I am secretly thrilled! I don’t dare open my mouth
then or everyone looks at me like I’m nuts! There are some of you that welcome
the start of the end of year holidays as early as I do…you are my people! Let
the Fall inspiration begin!!
It’s so funny that I start so early and yet why do I always feel like I’m behind? I think it’s because I pack all my Autumn, Fall, Winter and holiday traditions into 4 months and trust me I pack them all in! Seriously, its exhausting but so much fun at the same time! I’m going to just talk about Autumn and Fall in this blog…but of course my mind is in full Christmas and holiday mode and just waiting for that exciting transition from Fall to Holiday!!
So let’s get the Fall inspiration started with some of my
favorite traditions…we all have them…here are a few of mine….waiting for Hocus
Pocus to surface is my favorite and that’s when I know the holidays have
officially began. Halloweentown and Good witch are more favorites. Getting out
my Halloween décor brings back so many memories over the years! Scary farm is
another favorite and I love it when I spot that first bag of candy corn in the
store! The gourds and fall flowers and all the different size pumpkins. I
always find old and new Halloween crafts and projects and start upping the
baking.
The pumpkin farm is a must and I love picking them out! I do
most of my shopping at Trader Joes and I love the day I walk in and they have
gone completely pumpkin mad! Everything in the store is pumpkin flavored;
pumpkin cookies, pancake mix, candy, pasta, sauce, drinks, tea, wine and beer, bread,
snacks and all the fall fruits and vegetables you can eat…and let’s not forget they
have the best squash, gourds and pumpkins!! Krispy crème comes out with their pumpkin
spice donut, Starbucks launches their pumpkin spice latte, and Bath and Body
works brings out Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin and all my Fall favorites!
This is also the time of year I pull out all my faux fur
throws and blankets and move my flannels to the front of my closet. I leave
some of my faux fur pillows out all year, but I love pulling out more coziness!
Nothing makes me happier than to put the summer stuff away!!
Things to do…. I want to do it all; apple picking is usually
the first trip in September and kind of kicks off the season for me. The
picking is fun, but its really all about the apple pie! If I can travel to go
see the trees change that’s another favorite, there’s nothing like it! There
are so many yearly favorites and then every year it seems like they add
something else!
This year I taught a floral workshop and one of the items we made was succulent pumpkins and it was so much fun! They had a Hocus Pocus outdoor movie which will be a new fav to add on my list. The haunted houses open, I get out all my Halloween décor by Sept 1st. I love haunted houses but not scary movies….so I wait for all the cute Fall and Halloween movies on Netflix and Hallmark and anywhere else I can find them. Hallmark channel is a blog for another day but I love how they keep up with the seasons!!
I must make a pumpkin pie in October, why I wait all year to
make one is beyond me, but we do…shopping for Fall fashion is so exciting and
usually starts back in August. Shopping…one day you just go into the stores and
its full of all my favorites; plaids, flannel, boots and sweaters! Let’s not forget
the excitement of coming up with this year’s costume!
I saved my very favorite for last…. I really start to get
busy with all of my designing…events, gifts, products…parties are being
planned, everyone wants something, or wants something done and I love spreading
the holiday cheer, so I go into full design mode. I start getting orders for my
rhinestone wreaths, frames and arrangements and everyone wants their home or
office decorated…
So that’s a few of my favorite things I love about Fall….do
any of these sound familiar? What are your favorite things to do or favorite
traditions?
I just love doing weddings!! Anything romantic or wedding related count me in! It was so much fun to be part of these romantic, whimsical floral designs for this beautiful wedding! My friend Marita of Marita Floral Designs is a true creative genius! We arrived about 1:00 flowers, bouquets, centerpieces, boutonnieres, corsages and flower basket in tow…along with bags of greenery, buckets of flowers, and tools. There is just something about starting with a blank slate and designing a space and creating the perfect vision for a bride and groom. Don’t get me wrong it is a lot of work…the design, the ordering, days and days of planning and creating designs…I love creating anything visual…OK so I’m obsessed with creating and designing….there’s just something about bringing a vision to life!
Handtied bouquets, handmade greenery, extra-large aisle arrangements with pampas grass…one of my favorites… and that arch! The arch was the center of attention! The arch and the aisle arrangements were constructed on site. Carefully implemented layers transformed a plain wood frame into a creative design. As the handmade greenery was laid across the tables, we added the flowers and layered the tables with tall floating candles and smaller candles. After the wedding the arch became the focal point behind the sweetheart table and as day turned to dusk a new ambiance was created with the strings of lights and candle glow.
You have to go outside the traditional box to get that wow factor. That’s where a great floral designer comes in. Weddings are for wow factors. The decor, the floral, the cake, the dress everything!
So next time you want to create a wow factor at your next
event…step outside the box. If you have a vision do it and don’t let anyone
hold you back….it will definitely pay off!!
Kids are back in school and labor day is in a week so I decided I would give you a sneak peak of some new fall products I found! These are cute 6″ x 6″ hanging metal and wood signs that I’m selling at www.thestripedbarn.com only $7.00! Perfect for any space or decor! Two different sayings to choose from: “Farm Fresh Pumpkins or”Pumpkin Patch Pick Your Own” A cute, inexpensive way to add a touch of fall anywhere! They are going fast and I haven’t even listed them yet! You can also message me if you’d like one!
This was such a fun week of floral design! Even though I also love to bake and had an order go out for over 100 cupcakes, my favorite part of the week was all the flowers! You have to admit there’s just something about walking into a space that’s filled with fresh flowers! The smell, the beauty…it just instantly lifts your spirits no matter what your mood is! I honestly don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to get flowers!
This fall bouquet with black and white striped ribbon is one of my favorite inspiration photos and I get it out every year about this time as I transition into fall design! So, as I wrap up a lot of the summer events to make room for September and the cool weather that’s to follow…yay! I wanted to share a few pics of my simple arrangements from this week… even though you can’t smell them or touch them, maybe the pics will lift your spirits!
Boutonnieres and corsages are always cute in their own understated, simple way…but the flower crown always gets the “cuteness” award!!
I hope that at least gave you a little boost…next time your at the store grab a bouquet of flowers and your mood will instantly change I promise! I love them all but have my favorites depending on my mood and the occasion…
Its that time of year again and we are now taking orders for our famous rhinestone wreath! Every year this stunning wreath becomes more and more popular! We make these year round for weddings and other events but Christmas and the holidays is when it gets crazy! Our Pinterest pin starts circulating around, we all start googling everything Christmas, and when you see anything sparkly and shiny you just have to have it! You know what I mean…its the holidays! We even have an option to add LED lighting!
I started making these years ago from old brooches I had and as others saw them I started making more using new brooches, new trims and individual stones. From there I designed other rhinestone items such as crosses, frames, glasses, custom letters and more! Each individual brooch is hand wired and then loose stones are also added for more fullness. The base is a silver grapevine wreath and the brooches and stones are added to the front side. The back is grapevine and has felt circles so as not to scratch your wall or door while hanging.
Rhinestone Cross $125Rhinestone Frame $150 as shown – others available
Our standard wreath shown measures about 18-22″ finished, and is loaded with lots of bling! Remember at The Striped Barn we love to mix sparkly and shiny with old and distressed so if you have farmhouse or rustic decor like me this is the perfect addition for a pop of vintage glam!
Sparkling Rhinestone Wreath $250
Its hard to see the sparkle in the photos, but these are show stoppers and sure to be noticed! Each item is custom and even though they will look similar, each one is unique and one of a kind!
Items available under “Decor” at the top of the page or email us today for details, other sizes or for shipping costs and get your holiday sparkle on!
This year try something new and buy a blue pumpkin! For me, it’s not about being “on trend” and having the same thing everyone else has, it’s about finding the things that nobody else has! If you’re that person you know this can be a blessing and a curse. If you can’t find it your mind starts to figure out how to create it…that’s where the creativity part comes in. It can be frustrating or magical! As professional designers, creatives and artists we listen to our client and create their vision by providing the ideas, sources and throwing in some creativity. Our payoff, besides the money, is the “ta da” moment and a happy client. But when we are designing and creating for ourselves, there are no boundaries and no rules…only imagination!
Go ahead admit it, you love it when your friends say, “that
is so cute where did you get that”? They say that because they haven’t seen it.
Then when the trend catches on you quit hearing it because everyone else has it.
It’s OK to buy whatever the mannequin has on at the mall or the same sofa that
every store has…we all need our basics, but true creatives are always on the
hunt for treasures! Etsy, Instagram and Boutiques are among my fav’s because
they are full of creative people and products!
Are you creative? If you like flea markets, antiquing and
vintage style you are a creative person. You may not think of yourself as one,
but you are. Why else would you spend hours, days, weeks, months, or even years
searching for one of a kind items? OK so there is a slight chance you just like
to shop or you’re an impulse buyer…it’s all right we’ve all been there.
Yes, I am now in full swing designing new products for Fall and Holiday… I have decided to put a new twist on farmhouse signs, and I have been adding different elements such as themed paper and embellishments. See my previous post for a sneak peak. https://thestripedbarn.com/2019/07/21/fall-sneak-peak/ Like this wood sign with Swarovski crystals…Let’s face it… you aren’t going to resonate with everything I design but someone will see it and think they found the holy grail. That’s the beauty of unique pieces, they speak to the right person!
Use your imagination…is there a word or phrase that speaks to you when you see this? A color or pattern you might want in the background instead? Let me know, I will design it and you will have a one of a kind piece!
This year maybe buy a fun pumpkin that isn’t orange?
