David Tutera is Coming!

David Tutera is coming! David Tutera is coming!

What? You don't know who I'm talking about...

He is only THE best wedding designer, like, ever! He makes every girls dreams come true on their big day. If you haven't seen his show, My Fair Wedding, on WeTV you simply must check it out.

He's coming to Charlotte, NC and I would love to go. Of course, it's a little bit pricey, after all, that's money I can put towards the wedding. Celebrity wedding designers don't come cheap! But still, anyone want to go? Pretty, pretty please?? I might can be convinced to dish out some change to hobknob with Mr. Tutera. I like to think of it as a little wedding present to myself.  :)

Spring Cleaning

I'm doing some spring cleaning 'round the shop. Use the code SPRINGCLEANING30 when checking out on Etsy to get 30% off your entire order.

DIY Ring Bearer Pilllow

I'm a Broke Ass Bride that's all about DIY (do-it-yourself). But this project is more like Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade.  Back before I was even engaged, we were talking about it, but hadn't made it official, I scored at Big Lots a Martha Stewart, I know! Martha Stewart, shut up!, i digress, I scored a Martha Stewart flower girl basket/ring bearer pillow set for $2. Yes, can you believe Martha Stewart anything for $2?!

I liked the set but it was a little safe for me so I gussied up the ring bearer pillow.

I started with this: the ring bearer pillow with tan ribbon, a purple doily, a vintage bauble (formerly a vintage earring).

I removed the ribbon that was already on the pillow. It easily pulled right off.

Then I folded the doily around the pillow. Making sure the doily is centered, stitch the center of the doily to the top of the pillow. If your stitches are messy, that's ok, the bauble will cover the stitches.

Next, i stitched the four sides of the doily to the underside of the pillow.

I thought I was done sewing at this point, but then I noticed that where the sides came together on the bottom, they kinda stuck out a little, so I also stitched them together, but this step could be optional.

I used the ribbon for the rings that was already on the pillow. Glue it to the center of the top of the pillow, making sure it is centered. You don't want one side way longer than another or it won't look right.

Center and glue the bauble to the top of the pillow over the ribbon.

Let dry.

And I ended up with this: Ta da!

So, I made this ring bearer pillow for $2!

Martha Stewart Ring bearer pillow: $1 (set was $2 so I'm counting this as half)

Purple doily from Michael's: $1

Purple vintage bauble and ribbon: No cost, the bauble was already in my stash and the ribbon came on the original pillow

Total cost: $2

Awesome!

No Love

Do you ever make something, whatever your creative something is, and you can’t wait to get it online because it’s so fabulous and you just know it’s going to sell immediately? Not that all my items aren’t fabulous, mind you, but every so often I create a piece of jewelry that I love so so much and think it is just going to jump off the shelves, figuratively speaking, of course….because I don’t really have shelves…because it’s an online store….And that would be funny if jewelry really could jump off shelves...Why do I remind myself of Sandra Bullock in All About Steve right about now {insert laugh, snort, laugh, snort}…I could keep going…really, I could…. :)

…I digress…Or even vintage sellers, you find that great vintage item, in perfect condition, just a little dirty but it cleaned up so nicely and you can’t wait to list it for all to see, and you finally get it listed online, and then, nothing, nada, no views, no interest…{insert cricket noises here, please}…

Do you have any items like this hanging out around your store?

A few of mine are below. All can be found at my store on Etsy.

FREE Digital Print Card

We all like free stuff, right? I know I do.

My sister makes digital print cards. She's just starting out so I thought that I'd pimp her on my blog. :)

She is giving away one free card to five, yes five!, lucky winners. Here is what you do:

Send your name (first and last) in an email to Butterflycacooncards@gmail.com to register for a chance to win a greeting card and to sign up for the mailing list. Five winners will receive one FREE greeting card. You will be contacted if you win and asked to provide a mailing address to send your free card. You can view available designs at her website, here. There is no obligation and it's totally free, so why wouldn't you enter??

In such an impersonal society, greeting cards are an excellent way to show you care. Do I sound like Hallmark or what?

Here are some of my favorite designs.

I Want These!

You know how there's that one thing (so far) for your wedding that you want but it's not really practical, or even necessary? Well, I want these. They are those paper lantern thingys.

image source here 

We haven't even confirmed a venue yet, but, the venue that i'm leaning towards, I don't know that we'd be able to use them. But I love them! Don't they really finish off the venue?

...And how do they hang from the ceiling? I'm not getting on a ladder and climbing all the waaayyyyyy up there!

Some Good Finds

So I went to Carolina Thrift yesterday after work. They have got the best finds for super prices, at least I think so anyway. When I googled them to link them up they seem to have a bad rap, but really, it's a thrift store people. You don't get the white glove, VIP treatment here, lol.

I've been looking for things for the wedding, or just for whatever. I'm going for a shabby chic, vintagey vibe. Even though the wedding isn't until 2012 I'm super excited and can't help it!!!!!!!

Here are some of the things I found:

Found these plushy silky hangers, pack of 3 for 75 cents! I read that you need a nice hanger to put your dress on when taking pics. Also got this great embroidered table runner for $1. It's almost sad that someone worked so hard and that their piece is being sold for so cheap. Oh well, my score!

 Isn't the little glass bird the cutest? He will look oh-so-cute tucked in a little corner somewhere. Also got these embroidered napkins, i guess that's what they are. It's a pack of 4. I think they will be cool to make pillows out of. 

Found this awesome beaded purse. It's vintage, made in Hong Kong. Label says John Wind, if I remember correctly. I think I'm gonna try to sell it. It's in almost perfect condition. No beading is missing but some of the iridescent finish on the larger beads is rubbing off, but it's hardly noticeable.

Also got this eel skin clutch, also made in Hong Kong. At first I thought it was vintage but I'm not sure. This one is soooo soft. I've never felt anything like it.

I'm gonna spraypaint this heart box white. I'm sure I can find somewhere to put it in the wedding. I mean, it's a heart!

 I also plan to spray paint these white. They are card/photo holders. I'm gonna use them to put a sign of some sort in.

I think the best find is this little kitten planter. It's in perfect condition, just a little dirty. Made in Korea.  I just might keep this little cutie for myself!

 Just look at that sweet face! Meow......

Pose from the side. Isn't it the cutest?!



Dads Say the Darndest Things

Sometimes dads just say the darndest things, don't they?

I went home yesterday to see my parents, as I usually do on Sunday since I am the good daughter. No jabs towards my little sis. :)

First let me fill you in with a little background info. In case you don't know, I have just started planning for my wedding. Hmm, that's all the background info you need, i think, hmm, yes, that's good.

So, here is a conversation between me and my dad yesterday:

Dad: (Totally random and out of the blue) "What size do you wear?"  (Two things a man should never ask a woman: her age and her size-unless she has a bod like Pam Anderson then I wouldn't mind sharing my size-or age, for that matter.)
Me: "A big one."
Dad:  "There's a wedding dress at Toni's house."

Me: "Ummm, ok, what size is it?" (And who the heck is Toni??)

Dad: "Well, I don't know, maybe a size 10 or 12."

Me: (As I'm now on the floor laughing hysterically) "Um, thanks dad, but I don't think it will fit. I mean, maybe if there were two of them....."

You see, I'm a plus-sized girl. Sure I'm like to be, um, not so plus-sized but it is what it is. No amount of lying on the bed while sucking in trying to get the zipper up would do any good because I still could not get into a size 12.

It was just cute that dad was trying to be helpful. :)
Don't dads say the darndest things?

Meet My Friend...Shabee Stitches

Woohoo!! TGIF baby. I can't wait for 5:30 to get here today. This is one week that I am ready to just get over with.

Anyhoo, have you met my friend Jennifer over at Shabee Stitches?  I met her when she ordered some button covers from my destash shop, One Thrifty Diva, be sure to check it out if you're in the neighborhood :). Turns out, she is also from North Carolina, over the river and through the woods in the tres lovely city of Asheville. Really, the buzz is that Asheville is THE spot for all things fabulous. I've been trying to get up there for a weekend but life seems to get in the way. What's up with that?!

Again...anyhoo...I'm so easily distracted, lol. Jennifer makes unique wedding accessories such as ring pillows and garter sets. Ooh la la in the boudoir! But seriously, ahem, she can design anything for any style. Her items are very unique and different from the those that I've seen...And you know I've been shopping around because I also have a wedding to plan for! And I just love that her items are keepsakes that can be handed down through the family.

So, which item is your fave? Ooh, ooh, I just love the boho hippie chick ring pillow in down in the corner. It's so colorful and bright. The butterflies are sooo adorable. What a great accessory to add a little fun to a wedding. Sometimes they can be so serious! I mean, it's only a little thing called a lifetime committment, what's the big deal? :)

Be sure to check her out on Etsy!

I'm in a Treasury!

Included in this awesome treasury by StringofJewels on Etsy. Thank you for including me. Aren't these some great items to be in the company of?

Some folks are included in treasuries all the time, but I am truly thankful when someone picks one of my items out of the gazillions on Etsy to be in their treasury. It would be even better if it made the front page!!! You can check it out here on Etsy.

Life is Short...

Today started out just like any other day....wake up on time, hit snooze three times, get up late...fall back asleep while sitting on the toilet (like you've never done this),  rush through a hot shower, can't find clothes to wear because they all shrunk overnight, the dogs won't go outside even though we do this every day...late to work, depending on whose clock we're using, of course...

I finally get to work and am chatting away on the phone with our travel lady when I get the bad news...via email, of all things...

A friend of mine at work, her husband passed away overnight of a heart attack. I didn't know her husband, only from the stories she would tell, but still I am deeply saddened by this news. You see, my friend is hurting...

He wasn't young, per se, in his sixties, i think, but still, this is young...too young to die. They had such plans...plans for vacation, spending time with the grandbabies as she calls them, dinner plans on Sunday afternoon...Plans that "they" will now never do together....

My friend is hurting and I don't know what to do. For me, death is and always has been uncomfortable territory. Generally in uncomfortable situations I either ignore them or make jokes. In this case, neither is appropriate...All I feel I can do is offer to be there for whatever she may need.

...I hear this often, but it's so true...life is too short...if you love someone, tell them. Why is it that we so often have to be reminded of this?

So, pick up the phone and call that friend or family member that you haven't talked to in a while. Maybe it's time to call a truce to an old feud? Make time to go to that school play or football game. Forget about how dirty the house is, go out to lunch with the girls...

Dear friend...thinking of you.

xoxo

Anitra

Bead Soup Challenge-I Got My Beads!

If you've been a reader of my blog you'll know that I'm participating in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Challenge. I received my beads-actually last week but I haven't posted because I haven't been able to get good pics. I tend to procrastinate so I haven't started on my piece yet, but I have been thinking about it. Been mapping it out in my head, yeah...that's it. :) 

Ooh, confetti, I got confetti!!

I just love that tissue paper! So funky and fun.

Also love those silver beads. They are quite large and I just love the scroll pattern on them. 

You can see the focal in the background and extra beads. 

 All together, what do you have? Bead soup! :)

I actually re-used the box and some of the tissue paper she sent me to send my beads in. Is that tacky? I like to think of it as recycling. :)

How's your bead soup coming along?