Personalized Votives

Maps can add visual interest to a wedding. Locations that are personal to the couple can be used for escort cards and their corresponding table "destinations". On a smaller scale (such as a dinner party), guests can have fun finding their seats by votives that depict map locations that are specifically chosen for them.

You can cover coordinated matchboxes by measuring and cutting paper to fit around the box. Make sure to leave one side of the striking surface uncovered. Use double sided tape or decoupage. These may also be used as favors and are a fun way to inject a little of your own style into an event.

Instructions:

Glass votives can be found at any craft store and the smaller ones are sold in packs. You will first need to create a template. For votives with even lengths on top and bottom, just measure around the circumference, adding 1/4 inch to the width. Next, measure the height, draw these dimensions onto clear plastic (I used a report cover), and cut them out. This is your template.

For votives that taper from top to bottom, there needs to be a slight curve in the template. Wrap a piece of paper firmly around the votive and trace along the top and bottom edge of the votive onto the paper. Unroll the paper and cut out the shape, adding a 1/4 inch to width. Trace onto plastic and cut out your template.

You may cut with straight edge scissors or try pretty, scalloped scissors. Attach the paper to the votives with double sided tape or for a more finished look, decoupage with 2-3 coats of Mod Podge.




This is a simple DIY craft project for a dinner party or wedding reception. Mum and I decoupaged about a hundred of these for my wedding. We used Japanese washi paper in the cherry blossom motif seen above. They look lovely grouped around the centerpieces or marching down the center of a long table.

Our Apartment: Newlyweds Decorating on a Tight Budget

This is my favorite room because it is so peaceful and serene. I was aiming for more of a traditional Japanese design with a hint of my own style. The room does not have a lot of items in it and follows the "less is more" approach, which makes it very relaxing to be in.

Remember this dresser? I posted about it here. It cleaned up quite nicely.
The screen hides our desk area so it isn't a distraction in the room.
Dresser/Mirror: Craig's List $175
Screen: Everything but Granny's Panties Vintage Store $12
Lamp: Salvation Army $8

Crisp, white flowers add life to any room!
Tray: Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store $1 (It is a cutting tray flipped upside down)
Tea Set: Pier 1 bought with a gift card

Even though the color scheme is very simple, the bedroom is full of texture and pattern.

I was fretting over the fact that I could not find decently priced nightstands, so I decided to make my own! I love these floating shelves because I can easily vacuum underneath them and they prevent me from storing junk. There is enough room for a lamp, book, and water, which is all I really need.
Nightstands: Lowe's $60 for the pair (they have a variety of wood and brackets to choose from)
Lamps: Bought the first one at Target and found the matching mate at the GoodWill for $7

There is absolutely nothing like a good book.
It is a chance to escape and immerse yourself in another world.
I read the following quote the other day and it amused me:
"I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves."
- Anna Quindlen

My Aunt Diane gave me this unusual ikebana vase and these irises look appropriate next to my
"Iris Girl" painting.

I like the organic shape of this vase.
It is pretty obvious that I love birds, isn't it?

Talk about an eclectic mix. Here is where we spend the majority of our time relaxing.
We painted all of the accent walls the same color, but it is interesting how different it looks from room to room as well as during various times of the day. The bedroom/bathroom take on more a green-blue tint while the living room/kitchen is more of a blue-green.
Coffee Table: GoodWill $25
Left Side Table: Craig's List $10
Corner Cabinet: Craig's List $25 (Seen here)

I reupholstered this chair after picking it up for next to nothing at the GoodWill. The original fabric was drab and horribly stained. Armed with a staple gun, batting, and new fabric, this puppy was done in no time. (Okay, I'm lying. Reupholstering is not as easy as it looks and I actually had to take the dang thing apart. I admit that quite a few naughty words came out of my mouth when I worked on
this project).
Chair: GoodWill $5
Fabric, Batting, & Staples: $20

Mum surprised us with this cute breakfast table from World Market.
It is supposed to be an outdoor table, but we love using it as a cafe table inside - perfect for two!
Bar: Salvation Army $15 (See before pics here)
Tall Bar Stools: Craig's List $30

We like to pretend we are sophisticated when we use this James Bond martini set.
I love using my kimono(s) as decoration because they provide a pop of color and pattern in a room.
They are works of art in themselves
Martini Set: PTA Thrift Shop $8
Kimono: The Elegant Relic Vintage Store

The "tea table" (pictured on the right and below) was a labor of love. I came across this Japanese tea crate from the turn of the 20th century at the Raleigh Flea Market (Eddie Ross, you need to visit here!). The outside was covered in patterned paper, but it was badly stained and peeling like crazy. If you open it up, there is a beautiful scene of Japanese women picking tea leaves and the interior is lined with tin. I sanded off the outside paper to reveal the lovely wood underneath and then applied a few coats of polyurethane on top. After that, I drilled through the tin to attach the small table you see underneath it ($3 at GoodWill!) so that the box could have legs. I then had glass cut to fit perfectly over the top and the back. This protects the graphics and also allowed me to create a little zen sand garden inside. It took a bit of elbow grease, but it is definitely a conversation piece.
Original Tea Box: Flea Market $18

This Martha Stewart plate holds the stone souvenir from our Honeymoon in Kauai.

The coasters are actually glass tile samples. Each one is different, so you can quickly figure out
which drink is yours.

Corey's beloved piano and ukulele have kept me entertained many evenings.
I scored this hand painted silk image and I love the unusual pop of color it provides.
Framed Silk Painting: Father & Son Antiques $30

This ottoman (or "pouf" as Nate Berkus calls it) had a small tear that I was able to seal with clear nail polish. These are nifty for extra seating when company comes over.
Pouf: Salvation Army $5

The kokeshi dolls love their new perch.

If I had to pick one word to describe our kitchen, I think "cheerful" would be appropriate.
I love cooking for my husband, so being in the kitchen makes me happy.

Saw this retro looking clock in a bridal magazine and Mum tracked it down.
I pined for the Lenox Chirp plate a while before breaking down and buying it.

I picked up these 1950s teacups a few years back with Mum and Aunt Lana at a GoodWill in Boca Raton, Florida. They are now my favorite part of the whole kitchen.
In case you are wondering, that is a whisk (chasen) used in the traditional art of
the Japanese tea ceremony.

Look familiar? I collected these for my wedding to put flower arrangements and cards in
(See them here and here).
I'm so glad I was able to reuse them.
Bird Cages: Flea markets & thrift stores $10-$25

I bought this Martha Stewart leaf S&P shaker two years before we got married
because I was so excited that we were going to have our own place together some day.

Bathrooms are well, bathrooms. I went with a bamboo theme in here.

The tea light was a wedding gift from Crate & Barrel (a store I happen to adore).
Clock: GoodWill $2

You can get bamboo cutting boards for dirt cheap at Home Goods.
The q-tip holder is actually a traditional wooden sake cup.
The faux bois vase is from Anthropology. Mum surprised me with it this Christmas
after I bought the vase for my sister-in-law and loved it.
The best gifts are those you want to keep yourself!

"Almond Blossom" is my favorite painting by Van Gogh, so I snatched this plate up in a jiffy when I found it at the GoodWill. These little Martha Stewart sauce dishes are great for putting your
rings in while you shower.
Plate: GoodWill $3

It is a bit overdone these days, but I really love vintage typewriters.
I feel inspired just by looking at them.
No one can resist the temptation of pressing the keys once they enter our apartment!
Bird Key Hanger: The Elegant Relic Vintage Store
Typewriter: The Selma Cotton Mill Vintage Warehouse $15

When I found this typewriter table, its top was terribly scratched and had multiple layers of varnish.
After TONS of sanding, some fresh paint, and polyurethane I now have a
place to put (what else?) my typewriter.
Oh, and incoming mail! See, I knew I could justify its usefulness. :)
Typewriter Table: Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store $5
Lamp: GoodWill $5

I hand painted these little bees in each corner of the typewriter table to give it some character.
The metal ladybug's wings lift up to reveal a secret compartment (I think it used to be an ash tray?).
Bugs, Bees, Beetles, Ballou... it's all good!
Ladybug: The Selma Cotton Mill Vintage Warehouse $5

I was so anxious (desperate, longing, and impatient are other appropriate words) to have our own little place together after we got married. Now we have been here almost a year and I could not be happier. I went decor-crazy when we first moved in and it hasn't changed much since. What style is it? I like to call it vintage meets modern meets Japanese meets zen meets eclectic meets serene meets cheerful meets contemporary meets retro. One word sums it all up: HOME. It feels like home to me and I could not imagine a better sanctuary for my husband and I to relax in.

Pretty much everything you see in our apartment was obtained second hand aside from the bed, couch, breakfast table, and piano. This is due to Craig's List runs as well as many trips to flea markets, thrift stores, and antique shops. I included a lot of prices and where I got items from in this post because I really want to share that you don't have to spend a lot of money to decorate your home. You just need a little bit of imagination and a willingness to search for the items that suit your taste and make you happy. I can't tell you how many times I left the thrift store empty handed, but the times I scored something really special were well worth it. With an open mind and patience to shop at alternate types of stores, you can furnish a home. It is also important to look at what you already own and see how you can re-purpose it. Consider it recycling at its finest!

Our apartment is tiny (718 square feet, including the rather large porch) and I wouldn't have it any other way. It was a challenge to merge everything that my husband owned as well as my items into one household. After living in the same home for 20 years and then having a room during college, I had accumulated quite a bit of stuff (crap). I was forced to pare down my personal belongings, which was incredibly freeing. I LOVE not owning a bunch of material items! It can really bog you down, but now I know where everything is (and no, it is not hiding in my closet!).

I can confidently say that I will always want to live in a small home, even when we have children or if we are able to afford a large house some day. It encourages you to be closer to your family and why on earth would I want to clean a huge house anyway?!

Now off to the thrift store you should go, to find some treasures to feather your own nest!

Tea, Anyone?

Do you know how healthy tea is for you? There is a reason why this wonderful treat is the second most consumed beverage in the world (after water, of course). Aside from its delicious flavor, it is also a great alternative to coffee if you need your caffeine fix. My Scottish grandparents faithfully drank tea every evening as a night cap, so I came by my love of tea honestly.

So what are the health benefits? It contains high levels of antioxidants, which is great for protection and fighting against diseases. Tea also contains fluoride, which is excellent for your teeth. High quality loose leaf teas are the most healthy for you, but don't don't shy away from bottled tea as it still is much better for you than sugary soda.

After you finish drinking your tea, don't throw away the bag or leaves just yet! You can use it as a compress over your eyes to relieve puffiness. Wash your hair with it to bring out its natural shine. It has also been proven to help acne if you rinse with it after washing your face with water. I have actually used tea as a marinade in cooking before. It is an interesting alternative to herbs and spices.

White tea, black tea, green tea, oolong tea, chai tea, hot tea, iced tea. With all the types, flavors, and methods of drinking tea, you shouldn't get bored any time soon. I'm about to brew a pot, so why don't you do the same and let's drink to better health!

Valentine's Day in Kauai

Corey presented me with these gorgeous mums. They are actually this vibrant in real life!

Neither of us had tried piña coladas until Hawaii and we fell in love with them - yum!

Pad Thai that doesn't taste like cat pee! (read below before you think I'm insane)

We had these parfaits on our honeymoon that were to die for. I tried to imitate them for our Valentine's Day dessert.

We switch off who is in charge of Valentine's Day each year and it was my turn this time. I decided to recreate parts of our honeymoon since we have such good memories from that trip. I greeted Corey at the door with an "ALOHA!", plopped a lei around his neck, and handed him a piña colada. Playing on the television was a slide show of pictures from the honeymoon along with memorable music from our trip.

We had the most amazing meals on our honeymoon. I couldn't believe how delicious the food was until I ordered Pad Thai one night. It smelled and tasted like cat pee (or what I would assume cat pee to taste like). We politely asked for a doggy bag and left a nice tip anyway. We laughed so hard about this meal disaster and I'm actually glad we had at least one bad meal on the trip. I always like something to laugh about! Anyway, I decided to make an attempt at pad thai as a joke, seeing as I was going with a theme here. I was skeptical, but it actually turned out pretty yummy! Corey says it's one of my best meals to date, so that made me happy.

Free gifts that are from the heart are my favorite! We tried something new this year and wrote out 100 reasons why we love the other person and presented them to each other. I was so touched and cried happy tears while reading mine. We both exclaimed over how easy it was to come up with the 100 reasons. I felt like it was a very special gift to each other and I think it both made us feel appreciated.

The weather was so warm and beautiful yesterday that it seemed like even God was trying to give us a little bit of Hawaii for Valentine's Day. :)

The New & Improved Eclaire Art!

Welcome to the fresh, new Eclaire Art!

It was definitely time for a change. So what is new? The overall design, banner, photo signature, and tab section. Also, I have FINALLY figured out how to make the images bigger in posts! The banner was so much fun to design and create. My inspiration came from the beautiful lanterns in the N.C. Museum of Art gift shop. I went for a monochromatic look because it really makes the photos within the blog pop (Okay... it is also because I am in love with this color...).

I feel refreshed and rejuvenated and I am ready to post post post!
Regular updates, here we come!

Down Memory Lane

We put this vignette together so that residents could remember some of the items from around the time their children were small. We hope this will bring back good memories for them.
Everything was securely attached, placed in a shadow box, and hung up on the wall.

The little boy figurine looks mischievous!
I'm so happy we found this paper because it went together perfectly.

The image is the front of an old Vogue magazine cover.
Women were so elegant back then!

LOVE this graphic compact!
Things just seem like they were better made in the past.

I adore the art in these vintage ads! We ended up framing them and putting them in the seating areas.
Please click on the photos to see the images enlarged.

* The pram is from the very early 1900's, so the residents may remember this from their own childhood.
* The thermos has fantastic images on it and looks like it is from the 1950's.
* This charming photo made Mum and I laugh so hard after we saw what was written on it (click image to see a larger picture). Now whenever we are content with something, we exclaim, "Well, Larry thinks it's alright!"

Of course Frankie had to be included. These records turned out nicely when framed.

The company I work for not only does staging work, but interior design and permanent display as well. One of my favorite projects we did a few months ago was for an assisted living center. My boss had already decorated the entire facility before I even joined the team, but the retirement community contacted us again and asked if we could find some vintage items to decorate the memory care unit.

So Mum and I set off to "work" doing something we love most: vintage thrifting! We searched antique stores all over to put together the vignettes and items pictured above. We also found an old vanity and equipped it with vintage hairbrushes, combs, and perfume bottles. My boss scored a lovely 1950's wedding dress and put it on a mannequin. One of the residents described her own wedding dress to me after seeing it.

The whole goal of this project is to encourage these elderly residents to travel down memory lane. These areas are set up like stations where they can either interact with objects from the past or discuss old memories that may emerge. My Grandmother had Alzheimer's disease, so this really hit close to home for me.

During the several days of installation (and putting up Christmas decorations later on), I really enjoyed getting to know some of the residents and hearing their incredible stories. These people have such wisdom and experience in life. We could all benefit from taking the time to listen to the elderly.