A Simple Nest

New Blog

Hey everyone!  I'm not the best of bloggers. I"ll blog every day for a week, then not for a couple months.  Obviously a monthly fee for a blog I hardly use is a bad idea, so I'm switching to blogger.  Please come see me HERE and add me to your feed if you like.  I plan to blog more often there, but a lot more about my life and lots of photos too.

 I'm sorry you'll loose any links if you have them to my current blog. This one is falling off the face of the earth in a few weeks.  Thanks for following and visiting!  I hope to see you over at my blogspot!

SLR bag

 

I posted some cool bags here before, but I just came across this bag that has me wishing I had all sorts of money.  I think for now I'll have to just make an insert for my current bag while I dream about this one.

Marquee letter DIY

This craft is so very much right up my ally.  I love the look of old sign lights, but they cost a fortune.  I'm so glad that someone came up with a cheaper DIY solution.  See how to do it at Design Sponge.

Hanging Vases

Oooooo....I would love to do something like this on my back patio.  I was thinking of doing summer lights...maybe made to look like flowers or something using christmas lights.  But this is so beautiful.  See even more beautiful hanging vases right here.  Found Via Design Mom.

Dining furniture

I have been loving this chair for a loooong time now.  It's way out of my budget of course.  So imagine my excitement when I found this:

A square table that seats 4 (and fits nicely in my tiny apartment), then folds out into a circular table (I've always wanted a round table with the legs in the middle) that seats 8.  Plus 8 chairs.  Plus 4 bar stools.  ALL of this for the price of 1.5 of those chairs up there.  Of course its not the same chair, but it's so close, and within my budget.  I really am SO excited to be getting this into my house soon.  I've also redecorated the dining area this week.  Pictures very soon.  (As soon as my brother gets a chance to deliver it for me...love him!)

Bottles

My sister-in-law Rachel just posted about spring cleaning her bathroom and I felt serene for a moment looking at her picture of this glass bottles.  I seriously don't know what it is about class bottles that make me so incredibly happy.  Also glass jars.  I keep all of my ingredients in ball jars of varying sizes on open shelving in my small kitchen.  I use the shorter modern ball jars for some craft supplies too.  The big stuff, like flours, and sugar are kept in glass canisters on the counter. All of my spices are in little glass jars as well.  (promise to have pictures in a future post)

Now I just need to streamline to glass bottles in the bathroom like these.

Other glass items on my to buy or repurpose list:

A few of these swing top bottles for carrying around water, or for holding juices.  I would love to open my fridge to a set of these with various beverages to choose from to bring to the table, the couch, the bed, or even out.  This one is from Brook Farm General Store, but I've seen them at kitchen supply stores, ikea, or even sold with juices in them at some specialty grocers.  

Milk bottles in a carrier.  I am not sure I love these ones.  I found some at a store once, clear with just milk written on them.  a bit more modern.  I'd love ones with a lid and the carrier is awesome.  I'll keep searching and let you know when I find the perfect milk bottle!

Recycled wine bottle glasses.  These were found here on etsy.  I've seen them in beautiful pink colors too.  I plan to make a set from San Pellegrino or Martinelli's bottles since I don't drink wine.  The small individual sized bottles would make lovely juice tumblers I think.  Green is so beautiful.  I also just love a plain bottle with a flower in it.  Simple, but so lovely.

Can you think of anything else to use glass bottles for?  When I have a laundry room some day, I"m sure a lot of my stuff will be put into glass canisters jars or bottles.  I may be becoming ocd, but I want everything in a glass bottle or a basket!  Rows of the same thing. That's what it is.  That's what I love. mmm.

 

 

My Sister-In-Law and I tried our first attempt at Parisian Macarons.  "Macarons" with one "o" differentiats these treats from the traditional American "macaroon"). 

We used Martha's recipe, and it really turned out pretty well.  That is...the first batch did.  I heard if you spray the parchment paper with pam they will come off it better, since they tend to stick.  Well we had no problem with the first batch that did NOT have pam on the paper.  But the second batch, which we did spray turned out very dry and super crispy, with a ring of crusty brown around the edge.  Yuck!  The first batch was perfectly crisp and chewy.  

Try this recipe if your doing Macarons for the first time!  Soooooo yum, and super cute.

Jewelry Class

 I'm so excited!  I just started a jewelry class!  I made a ring yesterday (practicing with copper) and I am pretty pleased with the results.  Can't wait to start making BANGLES!   Here is some inspirational Jewelry i collected from online: 

Gold plated Bangles

 
Brass Bangles

Brass cuff style bangles

I also really love the bangles that have jewels, but I can't find a picture right away.  O well.  Can't wait until next Wednesday.  W are learning a bit of wire wrapping I think.

Girls Clothes

I came across 2 adorable dresses I want to attempt making copies of in the next year or two for my Zoe.  Adorable no?  

Trapeze Dress from Olive Juice

This Birthday dress found via A Little Sussy

Lace trim

I've been busily painting lace patterns onto ceramics to sell in my shop (pictures very soon), so I have lace on my mind lately.  I love these uses of lace on curtains, towels, and shower curtains.  Pretty.

Images via Country Living