DIY Tassel Gift Tags

Well folks, it is officially post-Thanksgiving holiday time which means two things - it's all Mariah's All I Want for Christmas all day and I'm in constant crazed crafting mode from now till January. With gifting on the mind, I thought I'd post about one of my favorite things to make these days to accompany my gifts - especially since you only need two supplies and have a finished product in under five minutes. 

These DIY tassels made of baker's twine are a great way to add a little festive flair to your gift tags this holiday season. I found myself wondering how to make them a few months ago and once I realized how easy they are, I felt I had to share with my crafty counterparts out there who hope to make their gifts extra fancy shmancy this year. 

Here's a breakdown of how it's done:

Monday's Mantra

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#proliferate. Happy Monday!

xx, Amanda

Inspiration Fix: Hooked on Nooks

An insanely bright and cheery spot in this galley kitchen. 

I am a huge sucker for breakfast nooks. Ahhhbsessed. I always pictured starting my day in the kitchen, feet up on the table, a cup of coffee in one hand while the other runs through my perfectly blown out hair (future me obviously has a hairdresser roommate - indefinitely) while a dashing fella reads the paper across the way. He starts sentences with curmudgeony things like "Well honey, damn youths these days..." and tries adorably to chat with me about pop culture so I can swoop in and save him from himself. Basically, my fantasy life mimics a 1950s sitcom, except we both jet off from that kitchen to our gigs as separate but equally powerful CEOs...

But, right, back to nooks - I love that an awkward corner or underutilized space can be swiftly transformed into a practical and charming eat-in area in the kitchen. Plus, it's so much easier to throw together than a full-blown dining room - whose life is conducive to an entire room dedicated to eating anyway? 

With a simple tabletop, some seating, and, of course, a few great accessories, these homes have incorporated a great space to come together (even for just a sec) in the kitchen.

Hi again!

What can I say...it seems you and I need to get reacquainted. After an amazing summer running amok all over NYC, I am fully prepared to settle back down with you this fall and get serious about being just so damn inspired and crafty together. For starters, lets explore some new neighborhoods, try our hand at baking pies and engage in endless frolicking in open fields amongst the fall foliage. 

On deck: stepping out on watercolors to flirt with the bad boy of the art world: oil paints, tablescaping for beginners, antique hunting in NYC, the painful but super serious process of choosing new throw pillows, and, the pièce de résistance, cooking an entire Thanksgiving feast in a kitchen equipped for nothing of the sort.

Let's do this thang. 

More to come! 

xx, Amanda

#watercolorwinefest

Over the weekend I was lucky enough to host some great friends at my apartment for a little wine and a little watercolor painting, lovingly dubbed #watercolorwinefest. I am by no means an expert in the art of anything, much more of a serial dabbler, so I was unsure of how my little workshop would turn out. However, since wine was involved, I did know it would at least be fun.

A Few February Faves

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Well, it is officially the second month of 2014 which means time flies AND, more importantly, it's the season of sugar cookies, wearing pink and red together and loathing winter's staying power. But, it also means we're one month closer to Spring, it's the month of my bestie's birthday and the month of love leading up to Valentine's Day. While I'm not a Valentine's Day fanatic per se (fun fact: red roses are my least favorite flower), I love the excuse to babble even more crazy-person love things at Nick and get inspired in the kitchen and the craft box.

I'm kicking off Feburary with a little pre-Valentine's Day craft party this weekend and have been admiring these projects or objects to fill the rest of my month with happy feelings!

Enjoy!

Watercoloring for the Winter Soul

In some serious need of color therapy this dreary weekend, I turned to my watercolor palette to soothe my sad, very pale winter soul. I welcomed the idea of an indoor activity that would keep me busy for hours, justifying the delivery of both my breakfast and lunch, eliminating any need to set foot outdoors.

Here are a few snapshots of what I'm working on!