A Dash of Southern

Friday, October 19, 2012

Dear Fall...

“But then fall comes, kicking summer out on its treacherous ass as it always does one day sometime after the midpoint of September, it stays awhile like an old friend that you have missed. It settles in the way an old friend will settle into your favorite chair and take out his pipe and light it and then fill the afternoon with stories of places he has been and things he has done since last he saw you.”

― Stephen King, 'Salem's Lot

Dear Fall,

As leaves change colors and fall to the ground, they mimic my memories which were once vibrant and lively, but now ponderous. Watching the leaves change colors and fall lifelessly to the Earth's floor is like watching your previous love of something wither away, then collect into a pile of "been there-done that's". But then, when Spring resurfaces, you pick up the pieces, and grow in a new way... excepting new challenges, new people, and new advice. Things change, like the colors of the leaves, reminding you to enjoy what you have while you have it, because you could wake up and find it gone.

Here's to being out with the old, and in with the new... ridding my life of dying passions and unworthy associates, so when Spring resurfaces, I have room to accept the new glorious creations God plants in my way.

Happy Friday my loves.♥

link up here

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Make Life Beautiful

Image cut and scanned from a Southern Living Maganize

These are the words that have told my artistic side to surge on. Many do not see art as useful, some thing its a waste of time. But the whole world is art, so make it beautiful.♥

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

DIY Petal Boxes

Why buy when you can DIY? That is my motto for everything which is why I created a template plus a tutorial for making your own petal-gift boxes! I will include the photo of the template you will need, as well as the print I used so yours can be identical to mine!

To begin making your own petal box, print this template. Do not crop it... save it and print full paged.

I used a Lilly Pulitzer print for my box... here is the exact page I printed. Save it, and print full paged.

What You Need:

Once you have printed the box template, and the print you want... cut out the box template.

Next, trace the template onto the backside of your print.

Now, add the dark lines (which you will cut) and the dotted lines(where you will fold).

Cut along the edge of the template, as well as the four dark lines illustrated.

Next you will fold on the dotted lines.

After you have folded and cut, for a more polished look, erase the dotted-lines and any other stray marks that are left over from cutting.

Now using your glue stick, glue the little flaps to the inside of the box walls.

Repeat that process three more times until your box is constructed.

Now fill your box with goodies, fold flaps closed, and garnish with a bow!

Everyone needs a little Lilly love!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

How To: Girly-Bows

Bows are such a cute accessory. I am learning that they are not only for little girls, but for older ones as well... which totally floats my boat!

Here is my best found method of how to create the best bows on your own!

What you'll need:

Ribbon (longer, the bigger the bow), a smaller strip of ribbon with a simple knot in the center, scissors, a lighter, and yarn & a hot glue gun (not pictured)

First, "heat seal" your ends with the lighter. This will prevent the ends of your ribbon from fraying. To heat-seal them, hold the lit lighter about an inch from the end of your ribbon. You will soon realize that the heat is melting the ends...which "heat-seals" them!

Next, lie your ribbon out flat, then fold it in half. At the fold, apply pressure to create a crease.

Now, lie your ribbon out flat once more. Then bring each end of the ribbon to the crease, making a figure eight.

Now is a good opportunity to use a little hot glue to secure the figure-eight formation. Hot glue is not necessary; however, it does make things easier in the end.

Now you bring the loops to the center...

You will see the bow starting to take shape.

Next is the trickiest part. With a strip of yarn, about four inches long, begin wrapping it around the center of the bow (where your fingers have been securing the shape) The yarn will take the place of your fingers.

Adjust the yarn, hot glue it a little on the back-side of the bow, and snip away extras.

You can most defiantly leave it like this. Or, you can give it a more polished look using the knotted strip of ribbon mentioned in the beginning.

Add a tiny dot of hot-glue on top of the yarn, and immediately press the knot on top of the glue.

Now you will wrap the tail-ends of the ribbon around to the backside. When you figure out how much you'll need to cover the back, cut the ends of the ribbon and "heat-seal" them as well.

This is also the point where you would add a clip or hair bow. You would glue one end down, add glue to the clip/hair bow, glue that on top of the glued-down end, then glue the other end down, crossing the clip/hair bow while doing so.

This is the type of DIY that takes time and practice. In the beginning, it is easier to start on wider ribbon. You will find that the use of hot-glue is very minimal. Also, ribbon that has a texture works well too... the ribbon in this tutorial was silk, so it has a tendency to slip. Practice does make perfect in this case!

These sorts of bows also happen to be what I am "Loving Lately!"

Loving Lately is a great link-up hosted by some awesome ladies! Stop by either Lipgloss and Crayons, The Wright Stuff, Glossy Blonde, or Lala Lists to link up your "Loving Lately"!!

Monday, October 15, 2012

My Office

For quite some time now, I have been working little by little to complete my office. You know, make it feel homie and stuff. I think I have finally completed this task, until Pinterest lights my creativity burner once more. But for now, take a look at my office!