Jan
31
2011
31
2011
*inspiration monday*
Filed under: Inspiration Monday
Hello lovelies. It was a CRAZY amazing weekend at Hoop Path in Boulder…I’m still processing the wealth of information and general life encouragement that Baxter provided. I’m editing the rest of the photos tonight (if my very full hard drive cooperates). I had a blast with Leah and Mia as well…it’s so great to be around fellow mamas who just “get it”. There was lots of chocolate and Thai food and hooping and thrifting…ahhhhhh….blissed out.
Here are some of the things that are inspiring me right now:
I’m a little obsessed with leg warmers lately. I found the sweetest sweater at the thrift store…cut off the sleeves…and voila! I need to serge them so they don’t fray. But I don’t have a serger. Hmmmmm….suggestions?
Tiffani. Always inspiring. I just edited this photo of us jumping in Vegas and I got all sappy and teary eyed. Good times. We are strongly considering jumping on a plane to Portland in May so we can attend the Life is Good unschooling conference with her. *squeal*
I got a box of goodies from Shauna at Mama’s Herbal Soaps and I am in LOVE with the sprays. The Aromatic Rescue Spray is my favorite right now. We spray it on our pillows/sheets and call it “magic sleeping dust” 
I also love the “Sacred” spray. So warm and delicious.
I don’t know how I found this…it just popped up on one of my tabs. But I love it!
Arian just posted another one of her lovely free downloads. Love this one! All of her freebies are amazing…I especially love her chore charts. So sweet.
Hmmmmm…..this is interesting.
I would love to incorporate more vintage clothing into my wardrobe, but I’m always at a loss at how. This makeover story is so inspiring! Her hair is sooooo pretty!
I came across this wonderful idea on Suzy’s blog. Love love love. What a fun thing to do on a chilly afternoon. Check out her lovely online store too…so many fun things. I’m lucky to live just 20 minutes from her…we have a playdate looming out there for scheduling
And lastly…I’ve recently discovered Phil Wickham’s song “Divine Romance“. It’s an oldie, but new to me and I love it. And in finding the link for it, I realized that I had heard his song “You’re Beautiful” at a church in San Luis Obispo, and LOVED it then…but couldn’t remember the name of it. I love re-discovering music…
Looking forward to a quieter (but much, much colder and snowier) week. I’ll be getting the house back in order and writing some letters by the fire while I drink some steamy mate! Yay!
What are you excited about accomplishing this week?
Posted by Sara @ 7:57 pm | Leave a Comment
31
2011
Love the legwarmers! You could probably just fold over the top and sew them up with a regular sewing machine… It wouldn’t be quite as stretchy though.
31
2011
I thought about that too…I think I need a little stretch in there though
31
2011
Gosh I love the leg warmers! i wish it were cooler when i am so that i could make some to wear too! jealous!
i am inspired to bake some muffins or cookies this week. not sure where the idea came from, but i am excited about making some with a good friend that is visiting me. we play lots of scrabble when we are together.
love reading your blog!
31
2011
Sounds like fun Mandy! We’ve declared Fridays “baking day” and Bella loves it.
31
2011
Those really are inspirational things:-) I live in snowy Sweden so a great inspiration for me right now is cross country skiing *aah* The light is slowly coming back and the sun actually is a little warm when stopping in a windless spot.
Otherwise this week means work and perhaps a little bit of crocheting, sewing and thrifting. I’m hunting for a little desk for a corner in our living room and an armchair for the other.
31
2011
I’m looking for a desk too! I found the MOST ADORABLE red one on Craigslist and when I went back to email them it was already gone
So I’m back on the hunt.
31
2011
I’m inspired by you today! Love the leg warmers – cool idea. Do you put elastic at the top or does the natural fit of the sleeve make it stay put? I think you can boil wool sweaters too for a neat felty look. I’ve seen some quilts made that way from squares of vintage sweaters. Since opening my first Etsy shop this week I was also inspired by some amazing photographs and wondered how they got that polaroid look. I stumbled upon Piknik and it is so user friendly and I love the fonts on there especially. Thanks for blogging – it cheers up these dull January days.
31
2011
I haven’t put elastic in…this particular sweater was quite stretchy and pretty tight. And yes, you can just wash and dry wool and it will shrink right down!
Congrats on opening your shop! So much goodness on Etsy.
31
2011
Sara!
Love the legwarmers! You would sooo love Japan and their funky style…they wear lots of legwarmers here.
I plan to learn to sew asap, just need a sewing machine. Any suggestions for a good beginner machine?
Cheers!
1
2011
I love legwarmers too!
And those are so pretty!
You can just sew a zig-zag stitch at the top. It will prevent some fraying and will also allow them to still stretch a little.
I think I’m going to refill my coffee cup and browse the rest of these links….
As for this week’s to do list?
My MIL called yesterday and will be visiting for 2 weeks. She arrives NEXT WEEK. Oh, joy! Time to clean and organize and maybe paint some walls…. In a week.
Who gives a week notice before an international trip?
1
2011
hey, Sara! LOVE to hear all your inspiration! I’ve been painting my new-to-me house in Morning Sun, IA. Fun times! I hear you on a house built in 1900 not having a lot of storage!
Also, the link to the song “You’re Beautiful” does not go to the link (unless you wanted it to go to lovely photos). I’m pretty sure it’s a song I’ve LOVED in the past, so was excited to hear it!
xxoo,
Emily
1
2011
Thanks Emily…I fixed the link!!
1
2011
I’m addicted to shrinking old wool sweaters. All of my cast-offs have been felted for my tiny girl, and she looks adorable in them! I made her some leggings from a charity shop find and she looks lovely in them, even though that particular wool sweater didn’t shrink as much and “felt” properly as it should have. Leg-warmers are a great idea!
1
2011
Oh, and this week I’m excited about sewing up a vintage dress I literally cut to pieces and am putting back together differently. Love having “new” clothes!
1
2011
Your legwarmers turned out awesome! It looks like a Valentine’s outfit! I use a zig zag stitch in place if a serger.
Thank’s for all the inspiration! I plan on using a lot of it! The ay silk party especially! Can’t get over what a fantastic weekend we had!
Keep being amazing!
Love and hugs,
Leah
1
2011
You can find elastic thread for your legwarmers. Usually you put it in the bobbin. It may prevent the raveling but give a bit of stretch.
Such a great list of randomness! I really enjoyed the aerial photos. So beautiful.
My week is full of a little girl’s 6th birthday and some purging of too much stuff – do you need yarn???
1
2011
Thanks for the offer Heather…we don’t do much with yarn right now and we’re on a purging spree ourselves in our tiny house
1
2011
I have a couple snow days ahead of me so I plan on getting a lot of homework done (this is my last semester of college!!!), snuggling with my hubby, doing some more felting projects to get ready for the grand opening of my Etsy shop in a few weeks, and doing some blizzard watching!
I too really enjoyed those aerial photos, they were lovely!
-Elyse
1
2011
We are moving to Brookings, South Dakota in 5 days. This week we are finishing up packing and getting ready to move from a 2500 sq ft home to a 1000 sq ft super cute and cozy duplex, and I couldn’t be more excited. We have made about 29 trips to Goodwill and have given so many things away that had no use to us, just space-wasters. It has never felt so good to purge! I will be able to be a stay at home momma in our new town, and I really want to focus on my health and start a yoga or pilates class. I am over 100 lbs overweight, and it is definitely time for a change. I have a renewed spirit and and a new mindset about life and health and family. I am praying that God will bring me friends that I can share life with in these ways! Cheers to starting over!
1
2011
Cammie…you might check out “Crazy Sexy Diet” by Kris Carr. It just came out and it’s getting rave reviews as an “everything you need to know” kind of book about health. Congrats on your big move and all the changes about to take place! xxoo
1
2011
love those leg warmers….but I REALLY love the leg warmers with the skirt/tights/boots combo!!! So fun and I love the fact that the leg warmers are thrifted from a sweater!! I might just have to steal that idea
1
2011
Awwww thanks!
I certainly didn’t come up with it…I’ve seen girls around these parts wearing it and I thought…CUTE!
1
2011
Oh that unschooling conference looks great! And it’s just a short drive from home. I think I need to register
1
2011
Sarai, my thoughts exactly. LOVE the combo. So cute, and I’m definitley stealing this idea. Thanks,Sara
1
2011
I almost don’t know what to do now that you are blogging so much- haha! I am hooked, you are like a good magazine! Seriously, I am giving my life over to God this week more so than last and the previous! He’s blessed us with another baby coming in the Fall (hoping for a boy but whatever is good with me as long as it’s a healthy baby) so as I found out I was pregnant, I am still interviewing because with 4 kiddos out there, I think the finances will be a stretch, so I have had 2 interviews with this one company and I am praying that I get it but I realize it may not be in God’s will and anything outside His will just is lame so…let it happen the way it should! Love ya!!!
1
2011
Hi Sara, what a great way to make leg warmers! I wonder if you could crochet the top edge?
love,
Becky
1
2011
“Divine Romance” is one of my favorite songs. You should check out Phil Wickham’s “Heaven Song”, as well. Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqIbkhpPyX8 I could listen to these songs all day.
1
2011
CUTE!!!! I used to have a serger than it bit the dust. It was going to cost more to fix it than to buy a new one. So I use the ribbon stitch on my little sewing machine. A friend of mine buys sewing machines from thrift stores and has them fixed at a sewing machine repair shop. Most of the time she can pick up a machine for as little as $20 and have it fixed for less than $50. The older machines are much better to use if you can find someone to fix them cheap.
1
2011
Anita…great idea! I have my grandma’s sewing machine but it’s a newer one and it’s not working right. I’m going to take it to the repair shop so I can get to workin’ on my curtains!
2
2011
You must share your curtains when you make them. I’m needing some inspiration for my bedroom.
1
2011
i have taken a week off work with the sole intention of decluttering. going well so far … i’m looking forward to the finished results!
1
2011
Ooooh how lovely! A whole week dedicated to decluttering bliss? I’m jealous
1
2011
ooh what goodness! we do that here too
makes more sense to me to get a $2 sweater from the thrift store than a umpteen dollar pair of babylegs? hehe.
i do a zig zag stitch, because sadly i don’t have a serger. that’s on my list to eventually get though.. it gives such a clean finished look to things.
once i get a serger, i’m gonna venture into making more clothes. that’s what i’ve been wanting to do, is sort of upcycle and alter clothing. and SO funny, i’ve slowly been dwindling my wardrobe (as dysfunctional as it is) and incorporating vintage, bohemian, flowy, comfy clothes into it. my newest addition was a pair of RED vintage doc marten boots that i paid a whopping $11 for and a vintage pair of eyeglasses that i seriously need because the ones i have are going on 6 years old.. banged up a bit along the way. so, it’s time.
i found a place called felt that’s a bit like etsy but based in new zealand. thought i’d share.. it’s nice to see new things from different places! felt.co.nz
oh here i go a ramblin’.. maybe it’s time for some sleep
love & light always
pamela
1
2011
oh for goodness sakes i didn’t answer your question.
excited about purging and selling things. it’s quite motivational.
g’nite
2
2011
Life Is Good jumpshots! Can you imagine?!?! You better get on that plane, girl! <3
2
2011
Sara – oh how I adore your homemade leg warmers! such a great idea and much more affordable than the precious leg warmers I browse thru online! I am going to jump on this idea myself this weekend by making a few trip to our local goodwill:) Thank u! QUESTION – what tights do u have on there? Brand/color? I’ve been on the hunt for something more than the black, gray, and brown ones I have – these look great in ur pic with the boots!! please do tell… I must say, that I am especially enjoying you being settled down in longmont – you post to the blog more often!! love that:)
2
2011
I thought I posted but guess now. Love the legwarmers. You should check out trashn2tees.com. They have the cutest refurbished clothes for kids and adults. I am not affiliated with them at all. She’s on a cloth diaper site I belong to.
2
2011
Hi…I have super warm legwarmers in my etsy shop..love your blog!
swizzlestiches.etsy
2
2011
Cute! I thought someone would ask….but I will! I love your boots and I’m on the hunt for a new pair. Mind sharing the brand?
2
2011
Jody…they are Keens (Kayley model…a few years old). You can still find them online in certain sizes though. I LOVE them!! They are super comfy.
3
2011
The “earth from above” photo of the coal mine in Africa is such a paradoxical image. It is breathtakingly beautiful, almost looks like an oil painting……suprising where beauty can be found if you look at something in a new way.
6
2011
This doesn’t really have anything to do with your post, but those mate lattes. Sounds basically like a chai latte, only with a different kind of tea??
6
2011
I’m wondering how you make the mate? Could you give us a recipe?