You know the old saying, “The cobbler’s children have no shoes.”

Sometimes I joke, “The contractor’s house is in need of repair.” I remember about three years ago, my husband installed beautiful hardwood floors in our living room and dining room. They were gorgeous! These same hardwood floors were to be carried into our tiny 2 ft by 4 ft hallway. But, the day had grown long and the boys had run out of steam. “I’ll get to it next weekend,” he said.

Fast forward one year later. I had purposefully said ABSOLUTELY nothing up to this point, about the floors needing to be finished in the hallway. One, I didn’t want to nag him. Honestly, I’m not the nagging type. But, I am a girl who likes to prove a point. So, a year later I said, “Honey, do you think you could lay the hallway floors down this weekend?”

He said, “Yeah, I’ll try and get to it.”

To which I gently said, “You know, it’s been a year.”

He started to disagree with that, but I could see his mind doing the calculations. “Oh my goodness! It has been a year. I’m so sorry,” he replied.

The floors got finished (in like 2 hours) that weekend.

I get it. He works on other people’s homes all week long. The last thing he wants to do on the weekend is do more work. I want him to rest and relax, BUT, I also want the honey-do list to get tackled. Well, the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day, he came home with left over hard wood flooring from a job. It was beautiful and he promised to install it in my office. I couldn’t wait!

But, to my chagrin, Saturday and Sunday passed us by in a flurry of kid activity and there sat the boxes of flooring in the middle of my dining room along with the stacks of books we had cleared out of the office.

St. Patrick’s Day morning I said, “Babe, we have company coming over tonight for dinner. Do you want me to put the books back and have the boys move the boxes of flooring into the garage?”

His eyes widened when he realized what day it was. He cleared his work calendar, brought in his tools, prepared the area and set to work. As his hammer was going and the compressor groaning, I got the corn beef started and the Irish soda bread a baking.

He wrapped up the floors with a couple of hours to spare. We put the office back in order. He changed his clothes, popped open a Guinness and whipped up the rest of our dinner. He added sautéed whiskey glazed cabbage, roasted potatoes and parsley sprinkled carrots.

This wife wasn’t complaining. Things might not always get done in the most timely fashion, but I feel pretty blessed to have a man who can help make my home beautiful and functional as well as whip up a delicious meal. I’m just glad I don’t have to wait a year for dinner to be finished.

*He alternated 3 in and 5 in Mulligan hardwood flooring. to create more interest. The finish is called graphite.

I have to confess, one of my favorite things to do is to set a table. I see it as an art project. It’s a place where I get to be creative with small projects that have big impact. This year I decided to use our Snow Plush Pumpkins as the inspiration for a Wintery Tablescape. (More on that in another post.) If you’ve seen our tables in the past, you will know that textures and layers are important to creating a stunning table. I decided this year to use different fabrics, with different patterns as a way to create interest for my tablescape.

About 5 years ago, I picked up a few stacks of bamboo plates at a yard sale. (They were new in the package.) I have gotten so much mileage from this purchase! For years I have used them as “natural element” chargers. The slight bamboo grain and the color added warmth to my table all year around. They were beginning to get a bit tired, so I decided to up-cycle these babies by covering them in fabric.

This is a super easy project.

The supplies you need:

1 jar of modge podge

1 paint brush

bamboo “disposable” plates

fabric

1. The first thing you want to do is cut the fabric about 1 inch larger than the plate. I recommend getting thinner fabric. It won’t be as bulky or difficult to glue down.

2. On the front side of the plate, cover it with an even coat of Modge Podge. (I used what I had on hand, but there is another type offered that is perfect for fabric. But this worked fine.)

3. Gently lay the cut fabric over the glue and press while pushing out any wrinkles. I started on one edge and worked my way into the middle and then around. 

4. Turn the plate over and brush Modge Podge around the rim. 

5. Going around the rim, gentle press the fabric into the glue while pulling the fabric so it makes a clean edge. Trim any excess fabric.

I love the way this sophisticate pinstripe turned out! This fabric was a linen and I found linen worked the best. I also found this textured fabric that I just loved, but it was a little more challenging to get it to stick to the glue. I wonder if the Modge Podge for fabric would have worked better.

But with a little ingenuity and a few wooden clothes pins…

I made it succumb to my whims.

I finished with a pile of textured beauties and can’t wait to show you how they were the key ingredient to a delicious table!

Our DECOR category covers all the things that inspire us about decorating the home.  In this category you will find organizing tips, home DIY projects, garden, and decor inspiration.

Probably the biggest news around here this year was the opening in August of our newly redesigned online boutique, LoveFeast Shop.  This has been an exciting year of growth for us and we are loving getting to know our customers.

LoveFeast Shop is our online curated boutique of beautiful home decor items, stylish accessories and gifts!

 The Lights are on in the NEW LoveFeast Shop 

Add Unexpected Elements In Decorating

Winter Patchwork Sweater Table Runner

Paper Topiary Tree DIY

Décor Best of 2013 

Join us on Pinterest ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Facebook or sign up for our Newsletter HERE!

Last winter the LoveFeast Girls got together right before Christmas.   We decided to celebrate our past year and the season with a winter dinner party.  I wanted to set a mood for our winter table, that was beautiful and festive, yet cozy and relaxed.  I also wanted to show off the Snow Velvet Pumpkin set from LoveFeast Shop.  I had a vision of creamy tone on tone layers and natural elements for my winter table.

This easy to make Winter Patchwork Sweater Table Runner DIY Project helps set the perfect table for the winter season and makes a great DIY gift.

I created this Winter Patchwork Sweater Table Runner especially for this festive night.  And believe it or not, I pulled it off just an hour or so before dinner.

For this Winter Patchwork Sweater Table Runner DIY Project all you will need is :  Burlap, old sweaters and suits, hot glue, and a sharp pair of scissors.

I begin my cutting my burlap on my table to fit, allowing a bit of extra to fall off each end of the table.  I used good quality sweaters and suits I had gathered from a second hand store.  Using quality textiles will insure an elegant and refined look to this casually cobbled patch-worked together table runner.

Good quality always shows from the luster, weave and dye of the fabric or knit. 

Begin cutting, and layering the patchwork of knits and fabrics down the burlap, hot-gluing as you go.  Allow for nice buttons or fur trim to show.  This will add dimension and visual interest to this runner.

Interesting is beautiful.

If you really wanted to finish this up nicely you could add a layer of hand-stitching to each patch-worked part.  But, with guests about to arrive, for our winter dinner party I only had time to quickly layer my table with chargers, dishes, velvet pumpkins, and paint dipped pine cones.

This Winter Patchwork Sweater Table Runner would make a beautiful hand made gift.

And, of course some candlelight.

I store this runner in the off season, rolled up and tied with a burlap string.  I’m getting ready to roll it out again now that the winter season is here.

(For other DIY ideas check out Holiday Cheer in the Blogosphere at hi sugarplum!)

We’d love to have join us at the table again!

If you’d like, we’d love to have you follow us on Instagram to catch our random moments of inspiration, on Facebook for the conversation ~ or join our Newsletter to receive promotions and new product information from LoveFeast Shop!

We’re getting snow later on today, and I’ll confess, I haven’t finished my front porch.  With not a lot of time to spare, I’m going to be making this holiday planter with birch and greens in 7 easy steps.  Chances are you have the same items around your home that I’m going to use – a laundry hamper or bucket, some hand weights or a heavy item (to weigh down the hamper with), some burlap and greens and birch logs or trees from a local nursery or garden market.

7 Steps To A Beautiful Birch Tree & Burlap Planter

 Tip ~  Add extra and unexpected elements and textures to make your planter more interesting and beautiful.

Voila!  Go out and seize your front porches and entry ways.  I know that it just what I’m going to do today, before it snows!

We were all gung-ho to build and fill raised beds. My husband built the frames and we were looking into the best places to buy dirt and compost.

Then one day, I was in my office and caught a whiff…of mildew. It was wafting down from my boy’s flat. I called my husband and said, “I’m changing the order of the “honey do” list. I want to move raised beds to number two and put the boy’s bathroom up to number one.” That weekend, he began the demo.

He had a little help.

We wanted to do this on a budget. When we had our kitchen flood last year and pulled up our slate tile floors, they were piled out back until further notice. Devon decided to cut each tile into quarters and reuse the slate tile on the bathroom floor.

The floor became the inspiration for the tile and border (see first photo) that would be installed around the tub.

It’s taken a few days to get it done. A little extra manual labor cutting tile…and two tile blades, but for very little money, our boys’ bathroom looks much better and no longer has organic, toxic nature, climbing it’s walls.

I  like the challenge of decorating with re-purposed materials. What about you? What do you have in your home that you want to repurpose? What will you do? We’d love to hear!

We are always looking to create a festive table whenever we throw a party or host an event. We created this paper topiary tree with materials from around the house.  Not only was it cost effective, we think it turned out quite festive.  This DIY Paper Topiary Tree decoration would be perfect for a reception table, wedding, or spring party.

DIY Paper Topiary Tree Party Decoration

Materials:  Hot Glue Gun, Pins, Scissors, Burlap, Old Vase, Wood Dowel, Brown Paper Bags, Dried Spanish Moss, Floral foam, Styrofoam Ball

Step 1:  Glue burlap to old vase, frayed edge side up if possible.

Step 2: Wedge flower arrangement foam into vase.

Step 3:  Poke wooden dowel of desired height into the foam.

Step 4: Attach foam ball to the top of the dowel to create the topiary form.

Step 5:  Scallop open edge of paper bag with scissor.

Step 6:  Scrunch bag slightly to create a textural rumple.

Step 7:  Pin and glue the base of the scrunched brown paper lunch bags into the foam ball.

Step 8:  Finish with moss at the top of the vase.

We think our Paper Topiary Tree was the perfect way to welcome our guest with festive party decorating.

 No what else we love for tablescaping?  Our Rustic Marquee Lights found in our LoveFeast Shop.

We used our Heart Marquee Light to tablescape our Handmade Market Table.

  Check out all the Marquee Light options we have at LoveFeast Shop for your next event or party!

I have a thing for fabric. It’s a love affair really that started years ago when thrifting and yard sale hopping with my mom. She collected dollies and vintage handkerchiefs which eventually became the adornment of a handmade pillow.

My affair with fabric took hold when I had my own home to decorate.

I’ve collected paper thin linen, antique napkins with initials stitched on the corners, embroidered dish towels edged in lace that I turned into kitchen curtains and runners woven together with fiber and metal. I love to layer with fabrics and patterns of different hues and patterns. (I really could go on about it!)

Recently, a friend posted a project she did with her kids. She did a kid friendly version of batik using glue. I have always wanted to batik fabric! Batik is an Indonesian art form, using wax and dye to leave patterns on fabric.

Now, being the foodie that I am, I’ve also been looking for a reason to create natural dyes using food products, especially using Avocados from Mexico.

After a bit of research, I discovered that Avocados from Mexico, produce a subtle peachy pink color once you’ve boiled down the skins and seeds. To think, you take a fruit known for it’s green color and with a little love, you can produce a gorgeous pink hue from it’s skin and seed!

So, this morning, after a cup of coffee I set about cutting up,

and scooping out the flesh of 4 avocados.

I filled a large pan with water, the skins and seeds of the avocados and brought it all to a boil.

I let it boil for about 5 minutes then reduced to a simmer for another 10. I turned the stove off…

and ran to Target to purchase my favorite flour sack dish towels ($3.99 for a set of 4). 

At first, I thought I’d follow my friend, Pear Mama and do the glue resist batik, but…

realized, it would take all day for the glue to dry. Being impatient and without kids for the day, I dug into my candle drawer and found an old beeswax candle. With a saucepan of water and an old tin can, the candle quickly melted down into batik worthy wax.

I took three different size biscuit cutters and with a pair of tongs and a layer of wax paper (to protect my counter) I proceeded to dip the cutters in the hot wax and create a pattern on the dish towels.

I decided on using a repeating pattern of 6 rings to create a flower.

Once the wax had dried (it only took a few minutes) I added a 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the strained avocado dye and soaked the dish towel for about 1/2 hour.

I hung the dish towel outside on my back porch (you don’t want to use your dryer as it will melt the wax) to dry. I set up my ironing board, iron (on high) and cut a few pieces of craft paper. (You want a layer of craft paper under the dish towel and on top of the dish towel.) Once the towel was dried, I put it between the craft paper (I had dollar store printed craft paper on hand) and began to iron. The wax adhered to the paper.

It took a few times to get all the wax off the dish towel, but once it was done, my batik dish towels revealed themselves!

With Mother’s Day coming up, wouldn’t this make a great gift?! I totally picture it on a breakfast tray next to a set of mix matched vintage plates and heirloom silverware. Again, it comes back to pattern and textures!

Because I had so much fun hand dying dish towels from avocado seeds and skins, I thought you might too! Today we are Giving Away a gift basket valued at $50 from Avocados from Mexico. The prize pack will include: a copy of Chef Roberto Santibañez’ cookbook, Truly Mexican; an “I <3 Avocado” t-shirt; a time-saving avocado slicer; and a $10 gift card to an area retailer where Avocados from Mexico are sold.

Our winner has been chosen!

 Congratulations to Kamille @ Redeeming the Table!  You won the gift basket from Avocados from Mexico! 

There are two ways to win:   This giveaway has closed.

1. Pin one of the photos to your Pinterest Board. (Make sure you come back here and leave a link to your pin!)

2. Leave a comment telling us your favorite way to enjoy avocados OR a favorite memory you share with your mom.

*The contest is open to US citizens and will close on April 7, 2013. 

*This is a sponsored post from One2One Network and Avocados from Mexico. But creative expression and execution are all my own.

Our DECOR posts cover all the things that inspire us about decorating the home.  In this category you will find organizing tips, home DIY projects, garden, and decor inspiration.  Below is a recap of some of our favorite posts from DECOR.

Above image from Home Office Decor.

Just Because

Creating Wonder In Your Home

Glitterizing A Vintage Picture

How To Make A Vintage Frame Cork Board

Velvet Pumpkins Inspired Fall Mantel

Front Porch Outdoor Inspiration

Do you have any New Year’s goals for new DECOR this year?

We hope you join us here as often as you can!  We always have a chair to pull up for you at our table!  Wishing you all the best in 2013 ~Chris Ann & Kristin, owners/curators/writers/editors of LoveFeast Table and LoveFeast Shop!

Join us on Pinterest ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Facebook or sign up for our Newsletter HERE!

I’ve been thinking of doing a fairy garden for some time ~ and since warm spring weather has been playing hide and seek with us here in Minnesota, I decided to take matters into my own hands and make an inside fairy container garden.  Fairies it turns out are kinda overpopulating and are in need of habitats – thus the rage.  And, well with my bff all the way in Maryland, I’m thinking why not make friends with some invisible people.  (Hmmmm. Lonely for some girl time much?)

Fairy Gardens are starting to become popular enough (remember the overpopulation issues) that my local garden center had a fun selection of tiny plants to choose from.

It turns out even fairies have celebrities now.  Girls like Kay Kay, Cindi and Dee Dee are savvy enough to cash in on their looks, personalities, and skills.  They are “rebranding” gardening favorites such as Honeysuckle, Golden Globes, and Angel Vine.  Word on the street is that they have a Killer Tribe.

I lot of fairy girls like pink, but my fairies are from suburbia and are a little “over” cutesy-ness.  My suburban citified fairies were going to prefer a more upscale spa zen feeling.   So I went with small river rocks.

Garden fairies have the best intentions.  I am quite sure they want to “get to” their chores.  So, I picked out some small tools for them, in case they want to “work” out.

After the layer of river rocks, I added enriched potting soil to my container.  The last think I want to do is kill my plants and ruin a good fairy get-together.  Just like any pretty thing it’s all about the foundation it’s built on.  Practicality hides under every well run get-together.  And, I wanted my fairies to stay and play.

I wanted a hint of mystery in my garden, a little enchantment.  This container was for fairies after all.  I arranged the “branches” of my “trees” to cover a small circular center hidden garden hangout within my container garden.

This hidden fairy garden will be the perfect place for my little girlfriends to gather together in a circle to shake their chakras.   I want all my fairy guest to feel at home.

Decorating a fairy garden is just like setting a table.  It’s all about hospitality and making your small guest friend comfortable.  I created a path leading to a secret mosh pit out of small river rocks, and added the  small tools for “working”.

A tipped over terracotta planter table is perfect to share a couple of Honeysuckle-ritas over.

This fairy chick habitat disguised as a chic decorative tabletop planter ~

takes on a magical vibe in the evening.

I’m thinking of putting a tiki light or two out for the chicks (maybe a birthday candle?)

It’s fun to think of the things to add, a penny, a wooden spool, a garland made of a broken bracelet?  What might these princess girls swipe off my floor?

I’m not too worried though ~ because I’ll be keeping an eye on my magical fairy space.

I think the girls are going to like it here.

This would be a great fairy garden gift for a kid!