A Christmas Surprise...

Hello lovelies.  I hope you all had a very merry Christmas.  Can you believe it has come and gone already?   I had to pop in today to brag on my beloved.  My adorable and hugely talented husband.  Who spent an entire night finishing the most exquisite Christmas present I have ever received.  Who endured splinters, cold temperatures and the smell of Bondo in the name of love.  Who always listens to my interests and tirelessly works to create and re-create beauty in everyday things.

On Christmas Eve, the man I love more than anything in the entire world, gave me this work of art.  And, yes, he made it.

Isn't it amazing!?!  Most of the sticks are from our property, which makes this one of a kind starburst mirror even more meaningful.  I love you, Paul Damien.

xo,

steph

happy weekend...

{image via Ohdeedoh}

I'm just going to admit blogger defeat and accept the fact that I don't have it in me to post the holiday themed loveliness I had planned on posting this week.  Sorry.  It's Christmastime though, so please forgive me promising you wonderful gift guides and then failing to produce them.

You should check out these awesome modern gingerbread houses though.  And, if you really want to know about stuff I find gift worthy, you can take a peak at my Pintrest gift guide page and see lots more gift ideas from very cool peeps while you're there.

Enjoy!  I know it's not much link love, but I couldn't leave you completely link-less, now could I?

Have a great weekend, chickens.  See you back here on Monday.

xoxoxoxo,
steph

Party-mania

Sorry for being MIA ever since Thanksgiving.  After waking up from my deep food coma, I've been running around like a mad woman preparing for Dylan's birthday party this weekend.  AH!  I'm really excited.  Last year we just had a 'little' family + close friends get together, but this year I actually got my act together and invited Dylan's entire class.  I can't wait to see how much fun he will have with his friends!

Plus, what could be more fun than an art party?  Here is a shot of the invitation I made for the party.  I had meant to order them off of minted., but ran out of time so I just did it myself.  I can't wait to share the rest of the party with you!

So, hang with me and forgive my sporadic posts.  I'm hoping to get a little holiday gift guide up this week, but don't hold it against me if it takes me until next week.  In the meantime, there are TONS of fun holiday ideas out there right now.  Check out my favorites!

Design Mom's great finds for the men in your life.  (Plus tons more!)

DIY pom-pom garland.  I just love pom-poms, don't you?

Pintrest gift guides!  I just joined pintrest and I'm pretty much obsessed.

Oh Joy! gift guides just started.  Check out the first two posts here and here.

The sweetest Advent Calendar ideas.

A yummy 10-minute meal for those crazy holiday evenings after those crazy holiday days.

There is lots out there to share.  I'll be sure to post some more link love when I can!  For now, I hope this made up for my absence.

xoxo!
steph

Ruffle Necklace DIY

Lately, I've been brain-storming different series to incorporate into Meyer on the Wire.  I always love stumbling across another blog's series and being able to read multiple installments of something I find interesting.  I have several ideas in my head, but still need to sort through the specifics of them.  One thing I do think everyone loves though is a good DIY project.

So, here it is: the very first DIY project on Meyer on the Wire.  Lucky for me and you, the holidays are right around the corner so these DIY projects can be used as gift giving inspiration!  And, yes, you can give yourself a gift.

Ez, of Creature Comforts, has one of the most amazing DIY + Project libraries I've found.  I was smitten with this sweet, quirky necklace that jewelry designer Rebekah put together.  Here are is the how-to. You can find even more inspiration at Creature Comforts.

p.s. Wouldn't this be so adorable with a tulle fabric?

 Ruffle Necklace DIY

via Creature Comforts

Supplies needed:

• a strip of three and a half inch wide fabric
• sewing machine
• 20 gauge wire
• chain jump rings and clasp for the closure
• any buttons, ribbon, brooches to embellish your piece
• needle and thread

Directions:

1. First you need to cut a strip of fabric approx. 3" wide, the length will vary depending on the weight and how "full" you want your ruffle to be. I usually just trim the strip down as I go.

2. Iron your strip in half with the right side facing out.

3. next your are going to sew a 1/4" straight stitch along the folded end of your fabric.

4. Make sure you sew along the folded side, you are creating a sleeve for the wire.

5. Now you need to get our your wire and cut a piece approx. 12" in length. You will need to make a wire wrapped loop with one end of the wire. If you do not know how to make a wire wrapped loop check out my friend Lindsay's amazing tutorial HERE on the Fusion Beads website.

6. after you have wire wrapped one end of your wire, begin feeding the other end into the sleeve of the strip of fabric you have created.

7. continue until you have reached the desired rufflyness trimming off any excess fabric.

8. wire wrap the second end of the wire.

9. your pendant is now complete! At this point go ahead and add any chain, beads or ribbon that you want for the closure.

10. On my pendant I added a 3" piece of red velvet ribbon and a cameo button to make it festive.

11. fold the ribbon in half and with your needle and thread sew it onto your ruffle pendant.

12. when you are finished sewing on the ribbon, add your button...and voila!

♥ ♥ ♥

I hope you like this DIY! Be sure to check out Creature Comforts for more DIY goodness and other wonderful, beautiful things.  And, you should also visit Rebekah's blog, she just had the most adorable little girl.

xo,

steph