Today I'm going to share some resources that you can use to help make the holidays run a little smoother!
1) Organize your Holiday
Everyone is envious of those who are on top of their holiday gift shopping. So to help prevent the headache of waiting in holiday lines on Christmas Eve, check out these helpful guides and planners from Real Simple:
The Holidays mean guests and family visits, so you want your home to be warm and welcoming. These resources from Houzz will help you handle the necessary prep work before your guests arrive:
I don't know about you, but I love brunch! So I decided to put together some ideas for everything you would need to serve an awesome holiday brunch with a woodland theme. So get some ideas, grab some friends, and get together!
Love the wood details on these Ikea untensils! And 20 pieces for under $30, who can say no? Same with the tea towels! What better way to update your kitchen for the season than some pretty patterned tea towels?
Aren't these lovely table staples amazing? Plus they are all handmade! You can't get much better than that. All of these together would make such a lovely warm setting. I especially adore the birch wood napkin rings!
Don't forget about an eye-catching centerpiece! I chose these for their unique and wonderful textures because texture helps to add depth to the feeling your trying to capture. All of these centerpieces come in multiples so you have more freedom in how they are arranged.
Harney and Sons - Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea darshanpottery - Ceramic Mugs WonderVintageShop - Vintage teapot Whenever I think of the holidays, I always think of Harney and Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice tea. If you've never had it before, you are missing out! It's a strong tea that is so full of cinnamon goodness it just makes you smile when you sip it. It's got a wonderful sweetness too, you don't really need any sweetener with this tea. Serve it up in these adorable handmade mugs and this perfect vintage teapot.
-------------------------- These recipes don't necessarily have to be made together! Have some fun and make some food :)
--------------------------- As a side note, I'm getting ready for my show tomorrow at Ridgley Middle School so stop by if you have some time! It's a really nice little show and it's a great place to buy handmade gifts! xoxoxoxox -Amy
Today I've curated some outfits that are fit for the season. I'll show you 5 outfits that you can wear to 5 different occasions. I'm also showcasing some of my own work to show you how easily you can go from awesome to awe inspiring, simply by accessorizing.
Why it Works:
This outfit is arranged around neutrals and both the Medallion Pearl Bracelet and the Wood Drop Earrings are built around the same neutral color scheme. The bracelet pairs super well with the lace shirt by mirroring the floral motif and adding more softness to the look with the fresh water pearls around the band. Since the lace and cowl neck of the sweater are so close to the face, you only need simple little earrings like these to complete your outfit.
Why it Works:
The Triangle Ikat Earrings have the same casual, earthy feel that this outfit has. They help unite the tribal influences of the cardigan and belt. The aqua colored shirt pairs really well with these earrings too and they help pull together the olive color pants by keeping everything in the same blue/green family. The Kaide Wood Pendant just adds to the natural and free feeling of this ensemble.
This outfit is practical and fun with a muted citrus color scheme that really goes well with the Diamond Stud Earrings. The Sweet Wood Charm bracelet adds to that woodland feel that you get with the plaid boots and shirt. These pieces of jewelry are great for an outfit that requires you to bundle up. The studs stay close to your ears so they won't catch on scarves and hats and the bracelet is able to peak out from between your layers of gloves and jackets. You can still be stylish and warm!
Why it Works: The coral pops of color pull together this gorgeous outfit by focusing the attention on your neck, nails, and feet. The subtle sheen of the pearls softens this sophisticated night look. Finish it off with simple pearl studs and your ready to party!
Why it Works: The Half star necklace is a great addition to this outfit because it adds to the festive feel of this look. It's playful nature pairs well with the motifs in this outfit: The fair isle stars on the socks, the bold flag pattern bag, and the lace details of the trench coat. Plus the contrasting colors really make this piece stand out on the red of the dress.
Today's Holiday Post is a quick one, but it's very useful one because... it's all about unique gifts for the boys! Guys are hard to shop for right? So here is a quick list of 10 guy gifts that will help get you started:
To be honest, I'm not a very good gift wrapper. I have good intentions when the holidays come around, but what I always end up doing is wrapping my gifts much too late and because of that, they don't come out very pretty. (think 2am, "Ah! I ran out of scotch tape! Oh well, I'll just use the duct tape then...." type of scenario)
So, this year I vow to be different! And if you are anything like me, or are just interested in learning some new ways to wrap it up nicely, vow along with me to make this year: THE PRETTIEST LOOKING GIFTS EVER YEAR! Or just not use duct tape year! :)
Since I have such a passion for Japanese fabric it's only natural that I'm also interested in Furoshiki, which is the Japanese art of wrapping gifts in fabric! This is both a waste reducing and very beautiful way of presenting your gifts.
Fun Fact: Furoshiki is derived from the Japanese words for furo (bath) and shiki (spread). Traditionally people would carry their extra clothing to the public baths using a furoshiki.
The really great thing about Furoshiki is how simple it can be: You need only some fabric. Try using a square scarf or a tea towel to make your gift go that extra mile. Fabric stores sell pre-cut quilting squares that fit the bill for most smaller boxes which is especially time saving if you have many gifts to wrap.
Here is a very easy tutorial video on how to wrap a basic one and two knot furoshiki:
Here is one of my own examples of how to wrap a jewelry box in Furoshiki. I wrapped up my newest Geo Gem Necklace and topped the package off with one of my Red Blossom Ornaments. I think it looks darling!
This is not a furoshiki, but it does use a square of fabric! I wrapped up a small earring box and tied it in candy colored cherry blossom fabric and pinched off the ends with ribbon. Doesn't the Sparkling Daisy Ornament go well with this package?
There is a lot out there on furoshiki so if you are interested in learning some more intricate wrapping I'd seriously think about checking out these amazing books and resources:
This Book is in English and shows you how to do 18 different wraps with 5 different objects.
Ornaments are up for sale in the shop! Hang them on a tree, window, wall or tie them atop a gift! They add interest to wine bottles you are giving as hostess gifts. Or, stick them on the front of a holiday card for something extra special. Plus, many of these patterns aren't strictly for the holidays so your friends and family can enjoy them all year round!
Some of my favorite ornaments are the three I based off my jewelry designs:
Since it is officially November and the busy bustle of the holiday season will soon mean no parking spots at the mall, I thought it would be fun to take a mini hiatus from normal blogging and spruce up my posts with some merriment! So from now until Christmas I will try to share things that I hope will inspire you to make the most of your holidays this season. If you have any ideas or want to see me post about something specific, feel free to e-mail me your thoughts at:
info@sunahjewlery.com Subject: Holiday Blog
So Today, I'm sharing some inspirational ideas on how to make your home more cozy for the upcoming months:
1) Put a Knit on it nothing says warm and cozy like a nice cabled knit. Now you can find this cold weather staple on more than just your sweaters! Check out these awesome knitted additions for the home. The knitted candles would make an awesome gift as well.
2)Add a Little Light
Ah, those multi-colored Christmas lights. Got to love them. But what if you are looking for something a little more playful and modern and not so um..."bright"? These next few examples are great ways lighten up the mood in your home and really wow your house guests this season.
Here is unique way of using those strands of battery operated LED
lights. You can find them at your local craft store. Try suspending them
in interesting groupings like this one by using clear tacks pressed into the wall and clear fishing line.
A giant snowball? No but almost as good! This lamp would look
stunning as a modern centerpiece over a table! Or better yet, hung
directly above your Christmas tree like a floating star! You can buy it here.
How gorgeous would this modern menorah
be on your table? You could put red and green candles in it to make it a
little more whimsical. Or mount just the branch on the wall when your
not using it and it would be a stunning piece of wall candy.
3)Give a Warm Welcome
The first thing your holiday guests are greeted with when they visit your home is of course the front door. So why not welcome guests with an inviting door piece? These are some especially warm and fuzzy door huggers for you to consider.
A fluffy felted wreath! Fun and
playful, this wreath would look stunning on both a painted door and a
pure white one. This one is from Anthropologie.
A giant hanging snowflake that's super easy
to DIY too! Wow! I might have to make this one! What if you painted it
lime green for a modern twist? Or you could put photos behind the open
cut outs in the middle. I feel like there are lots of possibilities for
this one! Learn how to make this snowflake here.
Don't forget about the floor too! With the snowy weather comes muddy
feet, so keep your entrance way looking both stylish and clean with this
simple yet pretty door mat. Buy a similar one here.
Or if you want to go the DIY route, here is an awesome tutorial by A Beautiful Mess.
I think I'm going to try this one out myself :) Also, Ikea sells a
verrrry cheap coconut husk type door mat that could easily be used for
this and other door dressing projects just fyi.
Now this is an amazing wreath by Rooted in Succulents.
A real living work of art! How amazing would it be to walk up your
front steps and be greeted by this unique masterpiece? Completely
breathtaking! Your guests would never make it past the door!
Hope this helps your holidays be a bit more Merry and Bright!
