Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones

snow globe christmas cookies
Originally uploaded by hello naomi

Spent most of the morning looking for a cute holiday photo to wish you a very happy holiday, and came across Hello Naomi's flickr photostream. Pictured here are her snow globe Christmas cookies. We encourage you to explore her photostream. She has amazingly decorated cupcakes, cookies and cakes from throughout the year.

Our warmest wishes to you during the season!

The ultimate in DIY

We think this is very fantastic and will try to make an evening bag like it using a lunch bag and necklace chain!

Photo: jakandjil.com

Gothic pumpkins for Halloween

We heart this Halloween tablescape found on marthastewart.com. The feather one is especially cool. If you're planning a Halloween party, these will make fantastic decorations. For templates visit Martha's site.

Books for the crafty and DIYers

Twinkle's Big City Knits: 31 Chunky-Chic Designs by Wenlan Chia
Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe by Wendy Mullin

Folding Ideas for Cards & Envelopes by Laurence K. Withers

Happy Monday everyone! We'd like to kick off the week with a little DIY inspiration. We think these books are really fun and beautifully done. We're especially excited about the folding book. We ordered it yesterday from Amazon!

Keeping order in your unruly closet

As a boutique owner one might think I have an enormous wardrobe and very large closet. The opposite is true, in fact. In reality I share a 16 square foot closet with my husband. I have 5 pairs of jeans and only 1 pair of black pants, which lately I've been thinking of donating. Living simply with less has become a way of life for me, and has allowed me to edit my wardrobe into a perfect little collection of quality and unique pieces. When I buy something for myself, I gravitate to the unusual yet beautiful items. If you've visited my boutique, then this should all make sense to you. Try following these guidelines when you shop, and soon you will have built an amazing wardrobe.

1. The secret to a well edited and svelte wardrobe is keeping things simple. I like to follow the one-in-one-out rule. This means for every new item, take out 1 old piece. Following this rule, especially for jeans, helps me feel like I'm keeping my wardrobe current.
2. Quality really does last a long time. Ladies, it's true - cheap looks cheap. Opt for high quality fabrics and cuts. If you take care of your clothes, they can be with you for up to 10+ years. One great example from my closet is my Gaultier wool peacoat. I've had that beauty since 1999. It's made in italy and the cut is so elegant that it's lasted the test of time. Don't get sticker-shocked when you fall in love with a designer piece. Think about the money as price per wear. As I sit here writing this post, I've calculated the price per wear on my Gaultier coat to be 30 cents!
3. Buy 1 special piece each season. For winter, the special piece could be a fantastic sweater or a one of a kind looking coat. Spring's special piece could be a sundress or flirty blouse. Summer's special piece could be a wow bag. My sister and I like to refer to them as a big guns bag. By acquiring a special piece each season, you're slowly but surely building an enviable wardrobe.
   

I truly believe that these guidelines will help you get the wardrobe you've always dreamed of, and it doesn't entail buying an entirely new wardrobe each season! As I've done to my own closet, I've manage to fill my boutique with unique and special pieces. Just the other day, I had a road visit from a lovely woman who represents one of my designers. When she walked into the shop, she immediately recognized that I carry special pieces. So if you want color or prints that are out of the ordinary, Josef is the perfect place for you to start!

DIY bracelets from marthastewart.com

While looking for ideas for Valentine's Day Decorations, I came across this article on how to make knot bracelets on marthastewart.com. These are perfect for the times because they are very low cost, if at all. I don't know what it is about string and thread bracelets, but I've always thought they were what the cool girls wear. Take a look at the instructions, I'm sure you'll be fine, and in no time sporting a fancy new bracelet. I think they'd also make great gifts or party favors for your friends. I especially like the red and brown ones in the picture above. Just for good measure here's a casual outfit to wear with your new treasures: white t-shirt, Ksubi super skinnies, a printed scarf wrapped around your neck, ballet flats (your choice of color) and your gorgeous new bracelets. Try more than one bracelet for more impact. Happy crafting tonight!

photo from marthastewart.com