New Start

I've come back today to officially say goodbye to Maddyanne Designs. It's hard to believe that I started writing this blog almost exactly seven years ago for the benefit of my fellow Etsiers. My how time passes by!

Things have changed drastically in my life over the years. And with those changes, I sadly fell out of the loop of posting. Recently, I started anew with a blog geared toward writing, books, and a sprinkle of posts similar to Maddyanne Designs (Etsy finds, house/life, etc.) at www.madelinemeekins.com.

Also, exciting news!! I wrote a young adult book called Jamyria: The Entering. A free sample that includes the first seven chapters is available, if you'd like to check it out.

Freshly marked with power upon entering the alternate world of Jamyria, Margo Grisby explores vibrant forests, battles unimaginable beings, and seeks out the world's darkest secrets. Together with her friends, she must find the Witch hidden amidst the forest in the hopes of discovering an escape while outrunning the world’s creator and her guardsmen. 

AVAILABLE ON: AMAZON KINDLE / BARNES & NOBLE NOOK / IBOOKS / KOBO / SCRIBD / SMASHWORDS

Visit my new blog www.madelinemeekins.com/blog.

Where have I been?

Felt Moustache Disguise by herflyinghorses

It may seem like a mystery to you. For someone who posted nearly daily to just disappear is practically unheard of! Did I slip away into the crowd behind the safety of inconspicuous facial hair? That would be absurd, as I am female. Perhaps I wore a paper monocle, a top hat, and bright red lips while hiding behind a delicious-looking paper lollipop. 

Carnival Set Printables by MagpieAndWren

That is also inaccurate! Honestly, I don't know what happened. One minute I'm saying, "I'll definitely start blogging again," and then after one or two posts life gets busy and suddenly its been another two months. Sigh. I suppose I can't promise much this time, but I can say that I hope to not run away shamefully behind a mask like the last time.

Oh and just for laughs...

Rare Hamco Miniature Spy Camera by almasvintage

I always used to sneak onto ebay as a kid and dream of becoming a spy with a vintage mini spy cam like this one. Oh, Maddy... You were so young...

it's fall!

It's fall, ladies and gents!  And I'm loving every minute of it.  Fall is by far my favorite time of year, and to celebrate the season, I've been on a decorating rampage this past week.  Today (thanks to some Young House Love pumpkin inspiration) I stenciled and painted a few pumpkins.

I'm feeling surprisingly spook-tacular this year.  Most years I just want to set out pumpkins and roll around in the hay dreaming of the good ole days out in the country.  But this time around, I really feeling whipping out the Jason mask and scaring the mess out of the neighborhood kids.  And, no, I'm not holding a grudge over the pumpkins they stole/smashed.  I just REALLY feel like being scary this year (a difficult feat for one whose talents include smiling for no apparent reason).

Besides pumpkin painting, the fam got together for a few holiday crafts (which will be shared in a separate post), and I also had fun decorating my freshly hung Ikea Lack shelves over our kitchen table.

Here's a shot of the end result.  Yay, Halloween! :)

Everything was already owned except three new editions and the leaves from a floral arrangement in the living room.  The birdcage and clock are newly thrifted items.  I found the clock at Goodwill for just under five bucks.  And, bonus, it works!  The birdcage is from a yard sale in my neighborhood.  The lady I bought it from was moving and had it marked for just a dollar!  I've always wanted to decorate with a birdcage, so I have lots of plans for it after Halloween.

The last thing is Mr. Spider hanging out by our white cross.  This was one of the easiest projects.

A friend of mine gave me this picture frame as a gift.  All it is is two pieces of acrylic with magnets.  You just pull it apart, slip your artwork in, and slap the other piece on top.  The only thing was the picture was a bit summery, so I've decided to rotate the artwork according to the season.

I started out by simply drawing the outline of the frame on a plain piece of computer paper.

Next I drew a simple spider in the center of the paper, colored it with a black marker, and (wait for it...) cut it out.

Voila!  Simple, very scary, experimental-ish Halloween art.  Cost: zero dollars!

So far, I'm loving our Halloween decor.  It almost makes me want to throw a Halloween bash.  Almost.  Stay tuned for crafts and costumes!

shopping for real

For the first time in an embarrassingly long time, I'm shopping for clothes!  It's quite sad to have posted so many fashion idea posts and to finally admit that I'm pretty much a "fashion don't" in real life.  I supposed I've just let myself go as they say about a lot of moms.  Between work, school, family, and a... (what's that thing called?  Oh, yeah!) a life, I've sort of lost touch with reality and have just made do with what I've had.

So I've finally decided to break down and start my wardrobe over!  Yay...?  Well, here are some ideas I have so far from Target.  But as my husband so kindly pointed out, it's a lot of solid colors.  But with some jewelry or a nice scarf, I think I can make it work.  Anyway it's a start.

Has anyone else had a makeover/intervention?  Do share!  I'd rather not go through this alone.

shopping for pretend, fires for real

Ahh, fall is in the air.  Psych!  Not in Texas, at least.  The temperature has dropped oh-so-slightly but it's still getting pretty hot during the daytime.  A girl can dream, though.  Maybe if I buy all of the pretty items, fall will make it's grand appearance.  Lord knows we need the cold!  This summer has been extremely hot and dry.  I don't think we've had any rain since spring other than a light drizzle back in June.

And now we've had these crazy fires!  If you can, there are websites to donate to the fire victims.  Check out this crazy video:

It's crazy to think that that's just a city over from us.  This fire in Bastrop, TX is by far the largest of them, but they've been popping up all over the place.  There's so much smoke settled in the city that I thought I was driving through fog yesterday morning.  It honestly looks like the smog you see in bigger cities.  Insane...

But onto happier things, I'm loving this outfit here.  The anthropologie sweater started the whole thing up.  And after seeing the pretty teal color, I realized it reminded me of this jar I thrifted a while back which now holds a lovely bouquet of bright orange fall leaves, hence the need for orange accessories.  Check out the items at their sources below.

1. Filled Echelons Peacoat by Anthropologie - $148
2. Moonstone Earrings by hildes - $28
3. New Shadyside Backpack by ErikaElynCreations - $115
4. Handmade Fringe Boots by letuspaint - $36

tiny upgrade, tiny shelf

One of my favorite hobbies is thrifting.  My daughter and I take weekly trips to Goodwill, and while I usually hope to find a particular item (right now I'm looking for unique end tables to refinish in our living room), I go in with an open mind.  I try not to go overboard and buy stuff that's completely out there.  I keep my infamous wish list in mind when I shop.

A few weeks ago, I crossed a minor bathroom upgrade off my list: "add a small shelf over the toilet." This particular bathroom is a little awkward since it's our half bath that sits under the stairs.  The toilet is sort of set back in a nook.  The whole room seems dark and cramped.  We'll work on fixing that problem later on.  For now, I found this dinky little shelf for $3.99 at Goodwill.

She's really not in horrible condition, but there were several scruff marks and scratches that I wasn't too fond of.  

But I was digging the pewter scrolly things.  So I whipped out my tiny screwdriver and removed all sixteen of those little buggers.  

Three coats of metallic spray paint did the trick.  I let it dry for about an hour (I know, it should have let it sit for at least the night, but I'm impatient when it comes to DIYing) and screwed everything back together.

And voila!  A darling little shelf, revived with a total cost of about five buckaroos.

But I sigh.  For it did not hang quite as easily as anticipated.  There are several holes laughing at me from behind the shelf.  In the end, I'm loving the little addition to our toilet nook.  Even if the only thing on it right now is a random candle I found in the laundry room.  What's ironic is that I just bought two sets of shelves (who also seem to be laughing at me for reasons I will soon explain) and I honestly don't have anything to fill them with yet either.  One thing at a time, I suppose.

So.... Puzzle of the day: If anyone has advice on how to hang an Ikea Lack floating shelf without hardware, please let me know!

Another post over on the old blog:

———

So it’s been a while since I’ve posted, but that’s because I’ve been so busy at home making curtains!  I went into this project expecting to be finished in a day.  Ha!  As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not exactly the best sewer, but now I’m a sewing machine (get it?).  A while back I pinnedthese awesome curtains on Pinterest.  I’ve had my eye on chevron curtains for a while, and I finally built up the courage to make them myself.  I found this light blue and natural chevron:

And this super mod yellow damask:

I ordered 15 yards of the chevron for about $7.50 a yard (I ended up splitting the fabric down the middle for the two small windows so I actually have 5 extra yards) and 2 yards of the damask for about $8.50 a yard.  When I viewed my shopping cart I was a bit bummed out (at least shipping was free since the order was over $35), but after some quick Googling, I found a 15% off coupon bringing the grand total to $109 and some change.  Still a lot, but better than the $200+ for one pair of panels.

I also picked up some matching thread and ribbon (will explain later) from Hobby Lobby.  As for the curtain rods, I was given some very nice ones when I worked at a fabric store a while back.  They were on clearance and my manager got tired of the clutter in the store and let each employee pick out ten items each!  I went for these sunflower finials and rod set by Menagerie.  The problem was one rod was too short for my larger window.  After years of them sitting in my closet, I finally decided that I didn’t need them to match perfectly.  A quick trip to Lowes and nine bucks later and I had a dowel cut to the right length.  I doesn’t have the same grooves in it that the other rod does, but I spray painted everything a nice ORB (yup, busted out the oil-rubbed-bronze that Young House Love subliminally embedded in my mind).

But back to the curtains, I basically just ironed a hem on all the edges, and a thicker hem on the bottom.

The top hem was a little different. I’m not a fan of the gathered curtains and wanted something a little different than clip-on rings.  I decided to go for the hidden tab look like the curtains in my bedroom.  Here’s where the ribbon comes into play.  After ironing a three inch hem on the top, I cut five strips of ribbon and ironed them into 3 1/2 inch strips.

Then I pinned them across the top letting them bunch up in the center for breathing room once they’re on the rod.

And here’s what they look like after they’re sewn and nice and trimmed up.

You can see when they’re hung they create this nice, almost pleated effect.  Neat and crisp, in my opinion.

Here’s a close up of the finials I’m just in love with and so excited to finally use!  They’re blooming sunflowers…just a little happy detail. :)

Just for laughs, here’s the before picture I captured a few months ago.

And here’s the progress so far:

I admit, not a lot’s changed.  But it’s a great start! The little amount of color we’ve added has gone a long way.

Oh and so far the yellow fabric has only gone to a pair of pillows on our couch.

In addition to the two pairs of curtains in the living room, I made one big curtain for our sliding glass door, complete with grommets, and a small pair for over our kitchen sink (will take pictures).

As for the budget…

Budget Breakdown:

Fabric (we only ended up using about 10 yards plus 15% off coupon and free shipping) – 63.75
Thread – $2.79
Ribbon – $1.99
Spray paint for curtain rods – about $6.00
Dowel for curtain rod – about $9.00

Grand Total – $83.53

Not bad considering we got four sets of curtains out of it!  There’s still plenty to do in the living room.  I’ll probably post about some ideas pretty soon, but for now we’re just loving our new curtains.  Even little improvements make the biggest impact! If anyone has DIY stories, I’d love to hear them!

bedroom, closing in on completion

Here's a post I did back in July on the progress in our bedroom.

———

It’s been a while since I’ve done much around my house worth posting about. Last update, I showed a picture of my new dresser and mirror above it. Well, I’ve been shopping again! I went to Ikea to get Myra a dresser and came across some artwork. By the way, I’ve never really paid too much attention to the art section there, so I didn’t realize that a lot of their prints come in sets. For example, I found a set of 5 small art cards (5″ x 7″) for just $5.00 for the set. Back to last week though…I came across this set of three canvases with wither cherry blossoms or dogwood in a sepia print for only $49.99. It works perfectly above my dresser.

Too bad I had crazy sunlight coming in, but you get the idea. Also I would have taken before pictures, but it would basically look like a blank blue wall since we only just bought the dresser on Mother’s Day. Maybe one day I’ll go crazy and pull up the house photos from before we even moved in! Imagine a white abyss..

Here’s another shot for you. As for the accessories, they’re brand new, too! The art set this decorating thing back in motion. Sometimes I even think it’s like I sense where to shop. Someone at my job told me the other day that I’m clairvoyant. That’s right, I have a decorating sixth sense…

Anyway, my decorating sixth sense told me to go to Marshall’s and I found that great orchid plant for $16.99.

And a couple nights ago my daughter and I headed over to our neighborhood Good Will and I found that gorgeous lotus candle holder for only $7.99 (which I recognized from Target and retails for $14.99…click here). I’d actually already wanted to get this, but thought I’d wait until it went on sale since it one of their newer collections. I can’t imagine why anyone would buy it and give it away so soon… Not bad for saving seven bucks!

Note: I hate that I can see dust in these pictures. Stupid sunlight gave me away. Now I have to dust…

I also found some cute lotus shaped bowls at Good Will. The set of five was $4.99, so after debating for a minute (I’d already gotten new bowls a few posts ago) I decided to splurge.

It wasn’t until I got home, and was desperately trying to remove the gummy tape residue, that I noticed the bottom said Pier 1. So of course I was curious and looked them up. Brand new, these bowls were $5 a piece! So I saved roughly $20. I say “roughly” because it turned out one of the bowls was slightly different (and unlabeled).

The one on the left is slightly more scalloped than the Pier 1 one on the right. It’s also a little shorter and thinner material. I really didn’t want it to not match the others and since I still had four of the Pier 1 bowls, I decided to put the spare to use in my bedroom.

Now I have a great place for all of my small, random junk. Oh, and see that lamp? I found that on a Good Will trip a few weeks back with my friend Sarah. It was only $4.99 but didn’t come with a lamp shade. I’m planning on buying something white and modern that I can add fabric too or something. We’ll see.

So there you go… That’s our bedroom so far. We still have quite a list:

Master Bedroom:

-Second dresser-Paint mirror over dresser-Springy bedding with toss pillows-Possibly new drapes (scratched this idea)-Oversized Accessories-Artwork over dresser-Framed pictures throughout room
-Side table for Jason’s side
-Laminate Flooring
-Lampshade for new lamp—diy by painting damask on shade
-Wall sconces or something on either side of the curtains
-Something over the bed
-Lamp for Jason’s side

goodbye lazy home, hello old friend

It's been a few months.

Scratch that. Other than a couple check-ins, it's been nearly a year. Admitting that is quite embarrassing. Let's see... I could come up with many excuses, so I won't.

In case you're wondering, I didn't completely give up blogging. If you're interested in reading what I've been doing, you can skip on over to my "retired" site, Lazy Home. I'll admit, I really enjoyed the turn I took with that blog. Basically this blog was dedicated to tracking my decorating improvements. Then it hit me: I had a good blog already. So I closed up shop over there and returned home. And it feels nice. :)

I get this post basically says nothing but "hi again." I guess I'll repost some of my favorites from over there.

Okay, it's super late and I have a case of the ramblings. Good night!

UPDATE: I just realized that this is probably the first post I've ever made with no pictures.

shopping for pretend

Here are a few items from y favorites that I forgot about.

1. prettypennydesigns

2. CheersToJuly

3. norajane

4. YellowBugBoutique

shopping for pretend

Alright, I know I've been out of touch for a LONG time. Life just got crazy. I haven't even been selling jewelry. Shocking, I know. But I'm going to try super hard to get back into blogging. It's sad that you can get so busy that you have to remind yourself to stop and do things (like blogging) that you love. I have lots to share when I have more time, but for now, let's get back to the thing I love best: pretend shopping!

1. cute & sexy maxi dress by madoosika $45.00

2. nautical charm bracelet by OliviaClare $32.00

3. qt canvas tote in orange by Kinies $42.00

ghost stories, anyone?

First off, I'm completely crushed! I haven't been blogging recently because we loaded Windows 7 on our computer (which, by the way, is so much easier on the eyes), but when I went to upload Photoshop again, uh oh! The disc is no where to be found. What a mystery! Depressing, yes, but a mystery all the same. So share your ghost stories. It's that time of year when places seem a little creepier, homes a little more haunted. Did something strange happen to you? Email me and I may just post your story on a future post on my blog. madeline@maddyanne.com

ghost cake pops by Sweet Shenanigans $15.00

accessories only

I considered dressing up like Katy Perry in "California Gurls" for Halloween JUST to be able to walk around like a candy covered princess. However, I'm not sure if a cupcake bra is appropriate for taking the kiddos trick or treating. Here is a collection of some yummy and totally femme accessories that would have gone great for this costume.

1. green bow ring by QUID $12.00

2. rainbow birthday cake earrings by mousemarket $22.00

3. ice cream cone iphone cozy by yummypockets $20.00

4. pink cupcake ring by chouettes $7.00

5. rainbow lollipops earrings by PetitePlat $17.00

6. cupcake bobby pins by TooCuteKawaii $8.50

a modern wedding - for free!

Yourfairytale wedding is having the giveaway of every bride's dream: a free wedding dress. And who wouldn't want one of these elegant gowns? Click here for a complete list of the rules. Good luck everyone!

mini feature

Last night I came across the most incredible confections I've ever seen! Andiespecialtysweets has a variety of different flowers, leaves, and woodland plants made completely out of sweets. These are the only mushrooms you'll ever catch me eating! Take a peek at the shop and marvel with me over these tasty beauties.

{click here for more}

featured artist

Tell us a little about yourself. Aloha! I'm Lindsay from Aisle to Aloha Studio. I grew up in a family of seven kids, married my insanely awesome hubby in May of 2009 and the two of us are now blessed to live in the sunny state of Hawaii. I'm a really unhealthy eater sometimes (one of my favorite foods is a PB & Bacon sandwich), I love to surf on my 7' 2" board and I write a little blog called "From the Aisle to Aloha".

How did you become interested in creating? There's not a time in my life I don't remember carrying around a sketchbook and a pencil pouch. I'd draw whatever was in front of me. When I was little, I spent a lot of time drawing while sitting in the bleachers during my brothers' wrestling tournaments. Later, in college, I'd sketch the beautiful buildings during a semester abroad in Sevilla, Spain. Over the years, my favorite subjects and style have evolved but a few things have always stayed the same. I love using bright colors and I love using this passion I've been given to glorify God.

What is your inspiration? Color, color, color. I love finding beautiful color combinations in real life--nature, fashion, home decor--and using them in my paintings. Living in Hawaii is pretty inspirational too.

What is your favorite piece you've made and why? Oh man, that's like asking me to choose my favorite child! I love all my paintings in different ways but one of my favorites is "The Wave". I created the original huge version for our living room and since so many people commented on it, I decided to paint a smaller version for the shop. I love the movement in the wave and the bright colors.

{click here for more}

front page favs

'{ G L O W } early soft winter glow hush winter snow' by themefragrance

early soft winter glow hush winter snow

Little Chickadee - fine... NatureMandalas $25.00	Lacy bird bowl in cream... PrinceDesignUK $	Angel Horse evaricci $35.00
Bridal silk headband, e... VerteAdelie $220.00	Fairytale Wedding Acorn... Fairyfolk $30.00	Dreamy Morning - Bridal... sibodesigns $50.00
Snow Squall, a fine art... Raceytay $25.00	Neve Earrings - Vintage... betsy3 $26.00	Bridal Wedding Accessor... Waterrose $140.00
REAL CICADA FRILLED WHI... REALBUTTERFLYG... $	An idle afternoon - whi... Minxshop $70.00	Air Plant on Ceramic Wh... tohold $22.00
Olyvia timeless bauble.... Sumikoshop $24.00	White Snow - Handmade s... Notforeat $45.00	Triangles - Yellow Blue... heatherfuture $35.00

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