Ruche

My co-worker and friend Candice,  introduced me to this site JUST THIS MORNING!  She was on a mission to find cheap Anthropologie and stumbled across a blog that listed this site as a match.  Here’s a description of the site:

“RUCHE is a modern women’s boutique with a vintage touch. [They] try to find items that are new, in-style, trendy, yet still inspired by a vintage look. [They] handpick each product to give you the perfect selection of clothing, accessories and more. When you visit shopruche.com, you enter a feeling of comfort and nostalgia.

You will find our items reasonably priced. RUCHE believes that you don’t have to empty out your pocketbooks to look good. We carry various small boutique brands. Chances are you probably won’t find yourself matching with the girl next door.

RUCHE is solely an online-based boutique. We are based in sunny California, USA, but we ship to almost anywhere around the world. ”

So, good and bad.  You can only order on-line, the items are kind of hit and miss, but it’s reasonably priced.  They also have an “outfits” section, just like Anthro and an entire selection of organic clothing! 

Here are a few of my favorites from the site:

Ugh.

Remembering Pastor Ralph

Good Morning Readers!

Today we remember our dearly departed pastor Ralph Arthur.  Harvest will be holding a memorial service for him today @ 12:00 pm.  And you are welcome to watch it live at harvest.org.

 

Gloomy Day Outfit

From none other than Anthropologie.

sigh.

Instant Architecture

Today’s post is inspired by the late, great domino magazine.  This coming March will be their last issue EVER!  What saddens me even more is that they will be shutting down their site soon as well.  So, to keep the spirit of Domino alive, I’ve been archiving a few of their DIY projects, decorating tips, and recipes for your reading pleasure. 

This past weekend Crisa, Alex, and I painted the down stairs of our little town-home.  We did similar colors to the original ones, with cooler tones to highlight our dark furniture better (pictures soon to come).  There is ONE wall though, that has a beautiful piece of vintage furniture on it that we just couldn’t decide what to do with.  We all love the piece, but we weren’t really sure what to do with the surrounding wall or decor. 

While scavenging the Domnio site I found a DIY project for “colonial style” molding and fell in love.  I showed it to Crisa and we’re definitely on the same page with it!

Here’s a step-by step(ish) of how to do it and a before and after picture.

Get inspired!

Materials

molding: 11/16″ x 1 3/8″ Poplar (181), about $.70/foot
adhesive: liquid nails, $1.99
spackle:Dap Fast ‘n Final lightweight, $6.49/quart
primer: Bulls Eye 1-2-3 water-base, about $8/quart
paint: Regal Wall Satin in Mustang (on walls), $24.49/gallon
Waterborne Satin Impervo in White Dove (on molding), $49.49/gallon

1. plan out your panels

 Measure the walls. Determine the number of panels you want and how many inches will surround each one.

Note:It’s all about proportions. Once you know your dimensions, order precut mitered pieces (ends cut at 45° angles) of molding (two vertical, two horizontal) for each panel.

2. install one side of panel

If painting first, prime walls and follow with at least two coats of paint. Apply primer and one coat of paint to molding pieces, leaving mitered ends bare. The first piece to go up should be the vertical one closest to the room’s corner. Use a level to establish a straight line at your chosen distance. Dab construction adhesive along the center of the molding and press it to the wall, using your line as an outside mark. Hammer 1½” brads (aka finishing nails) partway through the molding’s thickest point, then countersink them.

3. secure the other sides

Repeat the above process for the panel’s bottom edge. Make sure you keep mitered ends tightly abutted. Then adhere the last two pieces simultaneously (requires a helping hand). If the rectangle looks straight, tack the other molding pieces in place with brads. Countersink nails and fill divots with vinyl spackling compound. Continue with remaining panels.

4. apply a finishing coat of paint 

When panels are secure, seal boxes’ inner and outer edges with light-duty painter’s tape. Lightly sand molding to remove globs of spackling compound. With a 1″ brush, sparingly apply a final coat of paint to the molding.

Magnifico!

The Passing of Pastor Ralph

Our church is deeply grieved at the loss of one of our BELOVED pastors, Pastor Ralph Arthur.  He was a kind and gentle man after God’s own heart.  I heard many wonderful things from our church members yesterday; just raving about what a great man he was and how sorely he will be missed. 

You are welcome to leave comments here for the Arthur Family.

“It was with great sadness that I heard about Ralph’s sudden departure to heaven as I arrived in Chicago to speak today.

Let me say this as plainly as I can–Ralph Arthur was a man of God. I can pay him no higher compliment than that.

He was always there with a smile, hug and an encouraging word from the Lord to those in need. He was a loving and compassionate counselor to those in his ministry who were suffering, to cancer patients, and to those who had lost loved ones.

Now, sadly, Ralph himself is the loved one lost. But, of course, he is not lost at all, for you have not lost someone when you know where they are, and we certainly know where Ralph is. He is in the presence of the One who promises “fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.”

Ralph is in heaven with my son Christopher and so many of our loved ones who have preceded us to the other side.

He will be greatly missed by our church and staff, but most of all by his family.

But let me close by saying this—Ralph finished well as a follower and representative of Jesus Christ, and I know the Lord has said to him, “Well done, Ralph Arthur, my good and faithful servant. Enter now into the joy of your Lord.”

Let us all remember his wife Cheri and his children as they will need God’s special strength and comfort. As Jesus said, ‘Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.’ ” – Pastor Greg Laurie

more paper flowers

Good Monday Morning! And a gloomy one it is; how fabulous.  What a perfect day to stay inside, drink hot chocolate, watch “Singing in the Rain” and make these little beauties:

Make a bright bouquet for your home or simply throw them into a bowl!

Template from Martha Stewart, Photos from Jen Elizabeth and Dozi.

Have a blessed Monday!

Winter Blues

I know this is a bit of a stray from my normal posts, but it just made me realize how much I’m going to miss winter.  All those amazing sweaters, jackets, scarves.  All the joys of buying a pair of gloves from Anthropologie just because they were only $12.00 instead of the usual $28.00 are OVER.

Bring it on California!

Fabric Flowers

Ever wonder what to do with your left over fabric from that amazing quit, apron, or tunic shirt you were making? Or, not to great with a sewing machine, but have a favorite piece of clothing you’ve worn down and can’t bear to get rid of because of the fabric? Here’s an amazing idea! Make flower boutonnieres/bouquets! Here’s a step by step tutorial from Once Wed DIY:

Now this is something you could totally do with a lazy morning.  And, no sewing required.  Creswell, I know you’ll truly appreciate this!

Check out Once Wed for all the details, but here’s all you need:

Scraps of Fabric (100% cotton fabric, in coordinating colors)

Fabric Coated Wire (also called millinery wire)

Ribbon (1/4 ” wide)

Floral Corsage Tape

Mod Podge (decoupage glue)  (original formula, matte finish)

 

Scissors

Pinking Shears

Sponge Paint Brush

Wire Cutters

All of this for about $13.77… which gets you 36 flowers. Now, tell me where you can find a bouquet of 36 flowers for $13 bucks!

Spring Flowers

I’m going to make a bold assumption and say that this year’s spring flower is going to be the poppy.  I’ve seen it EVERYWHERE in the blogesphere! And what is a better compliment to a post about the poppy but a little shout out to the organic look of the peony (one of my favorites).  Here are a few ideas for centerpieces, bouquets, or just your not-so-average house bouquet.  Doesn’t it just get you in the mood for spring?

1. Blushevents  2. Grey Likes Weddings  3. Grey Likes Weddings (Michael Norwood)

Headwear

Okay, let’s be honest.  Headbands were a huge thing when we were in elementary school back in the 80’s. 

Photo provided by Olivia Newton John Biography

And remember in high school? Those headbands with the “teeth” that could pull your bangs back so tight you would have what our pastor Greg Laurie calls a “beach; a.k.a. a bald forehead?”  Gosh, we were cool.

Well, it’s needless to say, the headband is making a comback; in a good way. 

Photo provided by the La Times

It’s probably been coming for a while now, but recently I’ve been inspired by a few different, vintage type head wear I’ve found on taza and the prince via peonies and polaroids – an amazing blog with an amazing title and whitty comments; truly.

Ms. Peonie posted a mondo-post on February 11th about headwear for your wedding or any day for that matter.  She breaks up wedding day hearwear into the following three subjects:

• Hats – for something utterly different.
• Fascinators (encompassing tulle and feather divisions) – for those who can’t resist a little bridal froth.
• Flowers and head bands – for those who want something they could wear again after the wedding without inviting Miss Havisham comparisons.

She does woe herself in a later post for not posting a few of the beauties from taza and the prince, which is where I learned of taza’s little beauties.  Taza also has a blog which you should add to your daily reads.

Here are a few of my favorites from taza and the prince.  Most of them are sold out, but she’s open to making more if you’re interested.