What could be more iconic and representative of Portland than The Portland Collection, utilizing fabrics from Pendleton’s Northwest Mills? Produced entirely in the United States, the collection has been garnering acclaim since launching in 2011. The independent design team of Nathaniel Crissman, Rachel Turk, and John Blasioli created a Fall 2013 collection utilizing desert tones in solids, plaids, and three jacquards drawn from Pendleton archival blankets.
Mother’s Day 2013 is almost upon us…how are you doing for finding that perfect thing for that special woman in your life? Flowers, chocolate, a handmade card expressing love, even a thoughtful gesture can go a long way in showing her how much she’s appreciated! If you’re looking for something to give, here at the very, very last minute, are some Mother’s Day Gift ideas to DIY for that lovely lady:
DIY Vintage Photo Throw Pillow with Freezer Paper
Try using a treasured photo of Mom’s, family photos, or a snap of you + Mom together, for an extra-special way to preserve memories.
Real flowers wilt and die…a bouquet of these will last forever! Love the Scrabble tiles anchoring the bouquet, adding a personalized touch.
These are super-chic and can totally be customized for Mom with a coat or two of paint, glitter, or tape.
Or how about this pretty piece of Washi Tape Triangle Art for Mom? The end result is amazing and all you need is a little tape.
This tote could be made in Mom’s favorite fabric (or even in fabric printed with family photos – see #1). Of course there are a ton of DIY Bag and Tote tutorials out there on the internet if you’re looking for a different style…this site offers a great roundup.
Making perfume is surprisingly easy…and a solid perfume locket allows the wearer to carry it around all day, refreshing as needed. You can get all your supplies at your local natural foods store, and fill a locket…or a necklace vial…or a ring…or a compact case…the possibilities go on and on!
DIY Chevron Patterned Party Tray
Find a pretty fabric – and glue it to a tray for a whole new look. (You could even decoupage it with Mod Podge instead of using an acrylic sheet to make it permanent!)
(Hint: If you’re looking for a low- or no-cost alternative gift, Moms also really appreciate a meal made for the family by their partner, kids taken care of and put to bed, and a long, uninterrupted bubble bath all their own…without any little floaty toys or random kidparts and splashes in it. Just sayin.’ 
Do you have any favorite Mother’s Day projects to share? Add them in the comments section!
Hope you and all the mothers in your life enjoy a wonderful and relaxing Mother’s Day!
xo
Carly
: Phiten. Neon chain-and-coin necklace: MOUSSY (from Japan), similar here. Faux druzy turquoise ring: Target, similar here. Neon LS shirt: Forever21, similar here. Casio Women’s White Whale Digital Sport Watch
: Baby-G. Photo-print Bodycon Pencil Skirt: DIY (tutorial here). Hard-Sided Geometric Case: ASOS (similar here). Silver strappy sandals: Newport-News (old), similar here.
The days are heating up here in Portland, and I’m dreaming of a big, scooping heap of Salt & Straw Blue Cheese & Pear ice cream.… Read More—>
Kicking off this new series for my blog called Lookbook from ____* is the amazing Japanese brand Lily Brown, that seemed to just spring up out of practically nowhere back in 2011 and was suddenly in multiple boutiques throughout Japan, offering uber-cute, affordable clothes with a unique twist. The brainchild of the fashion giant mash style lab (who also launched the ubiquitous Japanese brand snidel, as well as gelato pique and FRAY I.D). The Lily Brown girl is retro-feminine, and the Spring/Summer 2013 lookbook caters to that vintage whimsy.
The Entry Period for the giveaway is over at 12 PM EST TONIGHT so get those entries in while you still can!
Good luck you guys!
xo
Carly
Edit 5/6/13: Giveaway is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered!
from Style Me Pretty, by KT Merry Photography
Welcome to the very first installment of F.I.L.L.: my FRIDAY: I Love Links list! (Well, I guess it’s really FILLL…?)
I used to do DIY Links of the Week Roundups, where I curated 8-10 links a week, only of DIY tutorials, from all over the web. I did it for 2 years, but stopped doing it this past September when I got too busy with my job.
But I still surf the web, and find amazing content that I’m just dying to share with all of you! (I’ve just been trying to figure out a better format in which to present it.)
So welcome to F.I.L.L., a new weekly roundup of great content, no longer just limited to DIY.
Needing a kickstart to your creativity? Try 7 Tips to Supercharge Your Creative Productivity.
I’ve just come across Style Me Pretty. Focusing on gorgeous photography and wedding inspo mostly, it regardless provides daily inspiration for all things beautiful and amazing. Where have you been all my life??!
Need some positive thinking and some beautiful typographic inspiration? Positive Inking to the rescue.
I’ve fallen in love with Furbish Studio and all their chic offerings. These are just beautiful! Swoon.
I am obsessed with this neutral jacket. Topping off breezy Spring outfits, or even over just a bandeau top, it’s the perfect piece for transition weather. (You can also get free shipping to a US address til May 31 with code SOCLEAN50 for purchases $50 and above.)
M&J Trimming is offering discounts this month: 15% off spikes (with code SPIKES15), and 15% off ribbons (with code RIBBONS15). Valid til May 31.
Amy Anderson, the amazing crafty superwoman behind Mod Podge Rocks! and a previous Creatively Chic podcast guest, has launched a new blog: WashiTapeCrafts.com. If you love washi tape (and who doesn’t??), it’s a must-visit!
This DIY Sewn Pouf is the perfect accent to a stylish home.
If you haven’t tried them yet, Wordle and Tagxedo create beautiful typographic word clouds.
Play with liquid nitrogen and make your own DIY Alcoholic Dippin’ Dots. Seriously!
xo
Carly
What could be more Summery than beautiful photographs of must-visit vacation spots? And nothing can herald the coming of this season more than wearing said photos on your person: an apparel-fueled mental vacation, if you will.
Get A Life is a series of photo-printed tops for men, sold at Wal-Mart for very affordable prices (around $9 and up, and now available on eBay by the hundreds). Their pieces are made of a stretchy polyester, which makes them wonderfully-suited for women’s clothing (especially bodycon styles!). These T-shirts, since made for men, are already oversized (read: TONS of workable fabric!)…and very easily remade into something perfect for a woman…and perfect for fun in the sun. Here’s how:
You Need:… Read More—>
Adi Edlen from GardenofEdlen.com is an amazing interior stylist who has an eye for beautiful color and pattern pairings, but is mindful of tight budgets. We talk how to embark on a home decor revamping project by creating inspiration collages, her favorite destinations for amazing (and affordable!) finds [HomeGoods.com is one of them!], and her tips and tricks for creating the perfect space by using the Rule of Three. This episode also features a Spotlight Interview with Greg Swisher, the co-founder of Cutting Edge Stencils, where we talk stenciling ideas for your spaces and DIY projects, and a challenge to reinvent one of your living spaces based on the experts’ advice.
xo
Carly
And…speaking of glasses, you can also snap up a truly chic pair of cateye glasses or sunglasses from BonLook for $20 off the usual price until May 6th. Check it out:
xo
Carly
It’s giveaway time again! (This might just be a weekly thing now…?)
I’ve partnered with ASOS.com to offer a $50 store voucher to ONE lucky winner!
Again, I’m using Rafflecopter to record entries for this giveaway. Please visit the Dresses Section of the ASOS.com site, and leave the link to your favorite dress in the comments section. You can enter only once for each unique email address, but you can Tweet once per day about the giveaway for extra entries.
The giveaway is open for entries until Sunday, May 5, at 11:59 PM EST, and is only open to U.S.-based readers (apologies to my international readers!)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!
xo
Carly
P.S. And if you’re wondering who won the copies of the book DIY Couture by Rosie Martin (from my last giveaway), the winners have been contacted and are posted here. Thanks so much for entering!
