when i’ve heard how big my stand at the craft fair will be (2 x 1 meter) i thought about how to decorate it. i yet don’t know it but i knew i needed a table cloth to hide some boxes unter it.

so i got me 2 pieces of white cotton from IKEA that i will sew together in order to cover the whole table. my brother made me a stencil of my label.

with white and navy blue texile paint i’ve mixed a pretty light blue color to stencil on the fabric.

the amount was JUST right to cover everything.

with a kitchen sponge it was pretty easy to dab the paint. since the template didn’t stick on the fabric it was a bit difficult to hold. the edges didn’t turn out 100% accurate but that’s fine.

happy happy joy joy.

yeah… welcome to idotland… don’t forget to put something under the fabric before you paint.

my paint dried very quickly so i could remove the stencil right away. after letting it rest until it’s desert dry i had to iron it to fix.

and that’s the result.

i can’t show you how it looks like on a table but i will tell about my stand after the event. stay tuned for more :-)

• author: lou
• category: customize, decoration, DIY, tutorials
• comments: None

Please welcome my sweet friend Virginia today. Normally she has her own cupcake column over at Steffi’s blog Ohhh Mhhh every Friday. But this week she was extra nice to share a sweet Valentine’s tutorial with us. Dankeschön Jeanny!

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This tutorial actually isn’t a tutorial. It is so easy I would feel ashamed to call it tutorial. Let’s just call it “inspiration”. I was inspired to do this project when my little son Henri came home from kindergarten the other day proudly presenting me what he had crafted: a sweet little origami heart. It is so easy he can already do it on his own and I thought this would be a sweet idea to make valentines gifts for his grandmothers and little girlfriend Charlotte. We started making a whole bunch of hearts out of card stock and gift wraps but I didn’t have any idea how to convert those into valentines gifts. About a week later I stumbled upon a beautiful flower bouquet at a nearby florist: they had tucked little birds on florist wire and mixed them with nice spring flowers. Wow. Gorgeous idea and perfect for our 2011 valentines gifts. Flowers are alway a very welcome gift for us girls, right? I put on my most charming smile and begged the florist for a handful of pure wires. Back home these were taped on our little paper hearts in various sizes and matching patterns. For Valentines Day we will mix the little paper hearts with beautiful white and pink flowers. Maybe white and pink tulips or a bouquet of dreamy ranunculus. My favorites. I am pretty sure Henri’s grannies and “girlfriends” will love them.

You will need:
- florist wire (available at craft stores too or just try the charming smile trick at your florist’s)
- coloured cardstock paper, cut into squares.
- tape or glue gun
- flowers

1. Fold bottom corner down to top corner and right corner to left corner. Unfold again.
2. Fold top corner down to the center of the paper and even the crease.
3. Fold bottom corner up to the very top. Even the crease again.
4. Fold the right corner to the middle. Do the same with the left corner. This nearly looks like a heart, doesn’t it?
5. Turn around and fold the very tips of the heart wings back down. Do the same with the right and left tips.

Apply florist wire on the back with (masking) tape or glue gun.
Mix with flowers, give it to the people you love and earn big smiles.

Please give a warm round of applause to my lovely friend!

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You might wonder why we’re having a tutorial here on a TUESDAY?! Yep. Why not? It’s a special week and special weeks deserve special treatment :-) AND it’s because there will be another one tomorrow. YAY. Let’s shake it up a littlebit!

• author: lou
• category: decoration, DIY, handmade, tutorials
• comments: 6

Last week Thursday I’ve posted a colorful collection of things to wear or keep or carry…. and Maddy said she rarely wears colors but loves “to decorate with touches of happy colors!”. So I promised to make a home decor collection of those colors that will bright up the darkest place.

I’ve been loving those bird lamps since ages. They come in so many cool colors and are just adorable. I can see a pretty bunch of them in a nursery or in a nice corner of the living room together with some green plants…

AtelierBB’s wobbly bowls are fantastic. I could fill our whole cabinet just with those plates. Vibrant colors and delicate patterns are the perfect combination. * Just when I was researching for this post today I discovered this fun wall ball. Just like the bird lamps he comes in different colors and have place for flowers, keys, some coins, masking tape.. there are a million things you can use it for. * I always thought hanging bowls are boring until I found those here from Vessels and Wares. It reminds me of Italy and summer and delicious fruit.

I love pillows to spice up a room. Different materials, colors and patterns can enhance a couch in seconds and they are SO easy to make!! (love the ones on the picture? they’re here, here and here)

And of course there are other nice things you can decorate with. If it wasn’t $2,630 this colorful shelf was mine. Isn’t it just the coolest thing?! But I guess I’ll start with a normal Billy shelf and paint the back piece :-) A nice chalkboard at my work space (at home) and some soothing stones add some fresh air to our nests.

Did you find any home decor items that you love? Drop me the link! I’d love to see what you’ve found!!

• author: lou
• category: decoration, handmade markets
• comments: 3

It was our 2nd love anniversary yesterday and of course I thought of something special for him. I had this Shanna Murray decal that I’ve bought at my friend Piper’s shop some time ago and a white metal magnet board from IKEA. With a little bit of turquoise spray paint all this became our new kitchen message board. Very simple. Very easy. Quick and dirty.

Step 1: spray the paint on the clean board and let dry for an hour (check spray can how long it takes to dry)

Step 2: Apply decal.

Step 3: Hang where you want and spread some love every day.

Yes he liked it and we had a happy happy day. :-)

• author: lou
• category: crafty, decoration, DIY, handmade, quick and dirty, tutorials
• comments: 6

While I tried to assemble my Wiesn outfit I found adorable accessories for the ladies.

Thomas Sabo makes adorable charms for either necklaces or bracelets (first row). You simply hang them on the chain and they make a nice individual piece of jewellery.

What amazed me that even Longchamp/Le Pliage that mostly offer very basic and traditional bags – not playful at all – offers a little leather bag for the Oktoberfest. The front reminds you of the traditional leather suspenders the guys wear with their leather pants. Very chic. Very expensive. 310€.

Another bag I found and instantyl loved was the BREZNBAG. That made me think “DOH, why didn’t you think of THAT?!” It’s just too cool. The German designer Christine Münster invented this bag and uses high class materials like wild silk or velvet, the little logo is made of Svarovski diamonds… just too nice. And I think it’s even nicer than Longchamp and it’s only 180€.

On Dawanda (our German Etsy) I’ve found 3 adorable pieces, handmade by undiscovered talents. Nice white lace cuffs with red hearts make a nice addition to every dirndl. I find them very elegant. Then there’s a fantastic handmade felt necklace with a big edelweiss flower. I really like unusual findings combined with traditional ones. The white clogs made me smile and imagine how sweet they would fit to every dirndl.  The little deer pendant by “Die kleine Fee” would make a great gift or you can put it on your dress as well.

There are so many things available that it’s hard to choose (again) what to buy. But there are all kinds of materials and styles available it makes it much easier to find something you really really like.

• author: lou
• category: decoration, events, inspiration, lovely items
• comments: 2