sewing project :: noelle's patchwork jeans

A few months ago, Noelle began hoarding all of my fashion magazines in her room.

I noticed that a lot of them were missing and then one day I found that she had seized them and nonchalantly stacked them on her coffee table as if I wouldn't notice. Not only did I notice that she had all of my magazines, but I realized that this was it! She had officially grown up! Overnight she had gone from a girl that we [her dad and I] could shop to death, to a young fashionista that sports all things stylish!

In one of my Lucky mags, she found a pair of patchwork jeans from Nasty Gal which cost about $88.

 [I know . . . it sounds like a horrible shop for a 12 year old, but it's not bad. 

They've actually got some really great stuff!] 

She begged me to buy these jeans for her . . . even though the temps outside were screaming SUMMER time and SANDALS, not overpriced jeans that you can't wear everyday because the whole world will notice that you wore the same patchwork jeans the previous day. .  .

So like any other day I said to her, "I can make that!" . . .

Except this time I actually did make it . . . unlike all of those other ambitious days of mine.

She picked out her fabric and I did the work . . .

Now I've seen them on a lot of sites for the late summer/early fall line ups. 

I noticed that Gap even has their own version. 

Good thing I followed through with this project.

design + decor :: vintage rugs

These pictures that were posted on style court a few years ago 

 totally embrace the idea of vintage-luxe because of the casual use of 

vintage rugs thrown in with modern design

. . . which happen to make me oh-so-happy!

With that idea out on the table . . . 

The time has come to begin decorating our humble abode. 

And while I'm dreaming of Trina Turk fabric and maybe a room flounced in Schumacher wallpaper, 

I have to be realistic. In case I haven't stressed the word budget enough 

within the past year, hear me now . . .

BUDGET!
 but stylish, non the less.

Being that garage sales and estate sales are my absolute favorite past time, I couldn't resist going out this past weekend even though I was giving myself a budget of only $20.

That $20 went really fast but on one item that I've been scrounging around for all summer. . .

an antique big boy bed for Lucas! That'll be a project that you'll soon hear all about but the real excitement came an hour later after I found an unexpected estate sale.

Let me introduce you to our first splash of color in our home . . .

An antique persian rug that happened to be my dream rug for the past few years. 

(probably about 10 years to be exact) Perfect colors, antique (over 50 yrs old, just like I have dreamt), just the right size (13ft x 10ft) and the perfect price. 

Did I mention it was half price because it was the last day? So half of $350 equals perfectly and acceptably over budget. Not to mention that I also stole a Turkish 9ft runner for the upstairs hallway . . . for only $75. 

The colors are perfectly rich and look amazing with our dark floors and gray walls! Not to mention that the couple of aged spots make it even better for me. Even {E} was so excited about it! Woo Hoo! Talk about blowing my $20 garage sale budget, 
but what a day of vintage-luxe!

The rug is so inspiring for me but of course I wasn't expecting to get an antique persian rug until a few years from now. So . . .  this totally moves our decor in a different direction, but a good one! 

These pillows I made only cost me $2. Yes Yes Yes!
Swoon if you will . . . only $2!

I'm loving the contrast with the rug . . . 

which is what I've always loved! 

Just when I thought I was going to back down from garage sales and estate sales,

 I think I've only just begun. I seriously have a problem!