Gallery Walls

When we first moved into our apartment, I spent an unreasonable amount of time selecting my favorite pictures from our wedding and engagement as well as collecting the perfect assortment of rustic frames.

My mom helped transform it all into a collage for our living room.

Lately, I am drawn to another type of collage - gallery walls.

I especially appreciate gallery walls that are an eclectic mix of DIY pieces, hand-me-down paintings and artwork from garage sales and local thrift stores (like the ones pictured below).

{Design Sponge and Little Green Notebook}

Our quilt-covered couch is old and we hope to replace it soon.  But you know what?  I love our apartment, because it feels like home.  Also, I must say that Eric is handsome and seeing him in a vest and tie makes me all schmoopy.

Two questions for your Tuesday:
What makes you schmoopy?
Do you have a gallery wall in your home?  If so, share a link - I'd love to see it!

Pie Crust and Vintage Photos

Brothers are pretty cool.
Especially when they send you emails containing awesome things like...

Pie Crust 101 by Ashley Ross

{and}

Dear Photograph, a vintage photo blog

Heaven knows I need instructions when rolling out dough of any kind.  Except for money.  I can handle that just fine (what does that even mean? Ha!). 

And why am I getting sentimental over pictures of people I don't even know? Such a sweet idea.  I am inspired to participate. 

Have a lovely weekend.  

Fun for a Girl or a Boy

Last Monday, Eric and I took off work to enjoy my birthday.  After eating dinner at Chuy's, we stopped by Urban Outfitters to check out their sale rack. Apparently, no one told them it was my birthday because I didn't find a single thing.  Eric, however, found a sweater, a vinyl record and this:

It's a Stylophone Retro Pocket Synthesizer (although whose pocket it will fit in, I'm not sure).  Originally produced in the late 60's as a toy, the stylophone eventually found it's way into recording studios as an instrument of sorts.  It's seen such use in recent years by The Raconteurs and The Greenhornes. 

History aside, this guy is fun.  

And if you know a guy, chances are he'll have fun with it, too.  We found it on sale for $9.99 at UO.  You can also purchase one for $18.99 on Amazon. 

Below are a few other items making a resurgence:

Instant cameras (available here; image via).

Nesting dolls (available here).

Snail Mail (available anywhere, image via).

I need to work on that last one... 

Happy Monday!

In Print

Today, I am excited to share my first article, published in the May issue of Birmingham Magazine.

{Photo by Kellen Jacob Photography}

You might recognize the couple above as Paula and Kellen Coldiron 

(of Two Ellie and Kellen Jacob Photography, respectively).

We had the pleasure of hiring them as our wedding photographers and I have since been inspired by pictures of their precious home on Paula's blog.  When given the opportunity to write, I knew the Coldiron family would make a perfect first story.

Without further ado: you may view the article here.  

**You can purchase a copy of the magazine at Books-A-Million or Barnes & Noble locations in the Birmingham area. For a full tour of Paula's home, visit her upload on Houzz. 

**May I also encourage you to check out Birmingham Box Set?  Way cool music reviews and interviews coming soon! You can read my first interview here.

Nine Lives

Our war on clutter concluded this weekend with the dreaded guest bedroom.  The (thankfully) enormous closet busted at the seams with outdoor gear, old books, unfinished projects, a desktop computer and much more.  We pulled out every box, emptied and refilled, made trash piles and new thrift store piles and purposefully organized the contents back into their (now spacious) home. 

During the process, I came across the Nikon camera I received for Christmas many years ago.  So long ago that 3.2 megapixels was nice.  I remembered that it does not turn on anymore and the SD card is stuck.  I tossed it into the "would anyone want this for parts?" pile and went about my work.

Eric got the SD card out and turned the camera on.  What?!

This camera has nine lives.

During a backpacking trip with our dear friends, Sam and Rebecca, I took one picture and then dropped it in the sand on the bank of the creek.  It was toast.  Eric's dad took it apart and it functioned perfectly.

Then, Eric borrowed it on a trip to North Carolina with his friend, Wes.  Ice tools in hand, they climbed a 250' frozen waterfall on Whiteside Mountain.  Once at the top, Wes dropped the camera.  In slow motion, it fell all the way down and lodged itself in a deep mound of snow.  Eric rescued it, set it in front of the car heater on the drive home and it thawed out nicely. (Below are a few amazing pictures from their trip, including the mountainside the camera was dropped from).

See?  Nine lives.  I'm so excited, though, because it made for such a nice segue into my next goal for 2011.

Goal Number 2: Take more pictures - bring a camera along!

We now have Eric's Canon, my Nikon and my new Polaroid Instant Camera.  No excuses.  This year, we are making memories and taking note of them. 

Please share - what are some of your goals for the new year?

Love for Etsy

The pastel prints below are by Lola's Room Photography. I neeeed one.

Just kidding.  But I do think they are oh so pretty.

Happy Friday!

One Year and a Day

of a fun-filled, fast paced marriage. 

I love thinking about our special day.  Below is our wedding story in photos.
(as told through the lenses of Kellen Jacob and his wife, Paula).

 

 

We spent our anniversary among friends in the lovely town of Chattanooga: witnessed a new marriage take place (cake, dancing, sweet moments talking by candlelight in the crisp outdoors); road bikes to dinner; slept in and napped; bought used records and books and a locally-made locket necklace; enjoyed our favorite nachos, pasta and tacos (different meals, I promise!); and simply relaxed.  It was wonderful.  

Oh yeah... we got robbed.  And yesterday Eric headed back to Birmingham, while I drove to Nashville on my way to Memphis.  Needless to say, I cannot wait to be home Thursday night.  Cuddle up next to my husband and fall fast asleep.

Eric, I sure do love you.

Local Favorites: Photography

Becky, of Abernathy Photographics, is a contemporary children's photographer here in Birmingham. We go to church and small group together. She is a lot of fun to be around, very chill and as you can see below, incredibly talented. Here are a few of my favorites from her blog. Enjoy!

Today only, Becky is offering 3 exciting giveaways. I didn't want to tell you because I am hoping I will win, but... I couldn't help myself. Read the details and enter to win here.

*If you live outside AL, don't be sad! Becky travels to TN and GA as well.
**The third little girl, in the plaid dress, is Becky's daughter and she is even cuter in person. I know, hard to believe, right?
***The last little girl belongs to another sweet couple at our church and she just became a big sister. Her smile is absolutely contagious.

Photo Project

Friends Josh and Nina created the blog Minty Forest to document their "blind-collaboration" of daily photos. For one year they each took a photo without telling the other anything about it. The next morning they posted the photos side by side. The result is sometimes surprising, sometimes funny, and almost always inspiring. Below are just a few of my favorites.

{day 2, day 53, day 114, day 147, day 332}

This photo project makes me yearn for a new camera and a new eye with which to view the world (read= I stink at taking photos and my camera has been dropped in sand and snow).

Love for Etsy

Have you seen this site? If you crave a home with handmade accents or a closet full of vintage clothing, take a moment to peruse Etsy here. Individuals posts items from colorful party decor to funky art and jewelry, to unique gifts and so much more!

Each week, I'll post a favorite Etsy find or two for your enjoyment.

This week, we'll start with the Etsy items used in our October 2009 wedding. The photos below were taken by the talented and laid-back Kellen Jacob and his wife Paula.

If you like the items you see, be sure to check out the designer's shop!

Birdcage veil and headband with fascinator
This veil comes from designer TessaKim. She did a wonderful job combining a vintage birdcage veil with a funky flower headband. Also, the veil is detachable!

Fabric Bird Cake-toppers

I wanted something to fit our style and budget and designer The Girl in Yellow was so flexible and creative. Don't you just love the fedora and veil?

Lariat Lemon-Drop Necklace
I love the pop of color and the simplistic beauty of this necklace. Wonderful job by JennyTRinh. (This picture was obviously not taken by our wedding photographers)

What do you think about these handmade wedding finds? Would you (or did you) use handmade items for your wedding?

**Speaking of handmade, my crafty mom took the trim from her own wedding veil to make my garter. What a treasure!