winter storm

I'm a Kansas City dweller... and apparently we're about to get hammered with a winter storm that could cause power outages. I just wanted to write a quick update in case our power goes off and I'm offline for a time {praying praying praying that's not the case}. Otherwise I'll be posting regularly. Stay warm!

{giveaway}

Today {to celebrate the winter storm... or just for fun} I'm having a 

Here's what it is!

3 handmade cards 

a flower headband

a flower clip

two custom silhouettes from my shop

Here's how to enter! 

Write a comment 

&

"Like" Back {to} Domestics on facebook or "Follow" the blog {if you are already a follower or liker then just leave a comment}


for a second entry
repost the giveaway on facebook and let me know that you did.

I'll be choosing the winner on Friday {February 4th}!

{pearls & prayer}

This is just a little story I love about my daughter that I thought would be fun to share.

Whenever I see pearls I am always reminded of Zuriah, my sweet first born {3 1/2 year old}.

When she was a baby I would sometimes go into her room in the night before I went to bed and get her out of her bed, rock her in the dark, and pray over her. {Sleeping babies are just too sweet}.

One night I remember asking Jesus about her and feeling like He said, "She's my pearl." I remembered the parable in Matthew about the pearl...

"The kingdom of heaven is like a a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."

I sat and meditated on that for awhile- wow this little baby in my arms was worth Jesus dying for! Even if it was just her- he would still have done it.

We were shopping not too long ago {at Michael's no less} and she stopped me in the aisle and said, "Mom, we need to get these, they're pearls and Jesus said I'm a pearl." 

I was shocked she had said that because I hadn't told her about how I felt like He told me that about her. It was a tub full of pearl beads {that were a little on the expensive side} but I bought them anyway. {How could I not?}

Now every time she sees pearls she always has to have one to hold. I love that! Jesus is speaking to her even now at 3 years old.

I want to encourage you to pray over your little ones- it's amazing how much impact a mother can have through prayer!

nix wallpaper coming back...

Remember when {two posts ago} I said wallpaper was coming back? Nevermind about that. I found something SO much better!

photo by Ashley Ann Photography

I saw this post from Under the Sycamore about painted subflooring and was super inspired. {How beautiful are her floors??} Then yesterday while shopping at Hobby Lobby I stumbled upon a number of different giant stencils to use for walls or floors! To give the appearance of wallpaper! 

I'm pretty excited... and am pretty sure I have much more patience for painting stencils than putting up wallpaper. {Plus there's no tearing down if you want to change... hallelujah!}

I must say I love this website I found- Royal Design Studio. Please check them out- SO much inspiration and amazing stencils to buy. Here are just a few inspiration rooms from them I know you will love...

So much fun, I can't wait to stencil a wall or floor! 

knobs and hardware

I've grown up with some attention to detail- especially in door and cabinet hardware- thanks to my parents' little business where they sell these things. Watching a movie Dad would say, "that's a Baldwin knob", and Mom would say, "yep they put it on backwards." 

Not uncommon. 

So I think door and cabinet hardware is really fun and can add tons of character to a space.

One day while shopping in one of my very favorite stores {Anthropologie} I came across some really beautiful hardware I can't get out of my head {and that I really think Mom and Dad need to start carrying} 

Beautiful huh? They are pretty pricey over at Anthropologie, but I've seen some beautiful hardware also sold at antique stores, World Market, and Hobby Lobby {which are often on sale!} 

My cabinets are hardware-less right now. A perfect time for dreaming!

adding {character} to your house

I'm in the planning and dreaming mode of re-design.

Can I tell you how much I love a house with character? LOVE old houses that have beautiful moulding, crystal door knobs, built-ins, old fixtures. Unfortunately our house was built in 1967 during a time when houses were built pretty much cookie cutter without much character. I've always wanted to live in an old house, maybe someday... but in the meantime I can add some character myself.

Like a crystal chandelier for the dining room...

photo from Coastal Living

And some paneling...

photo from McCabe Lumber

I have to say I'm REALLY excited about adding paneling. And I refuse to spend a fortune, so I'll share with you how I do it when it comes time. Until then,

Here are some of my favorite ways to 

add character to a house:

1. Add crown moulding 
2. Replace flat doors with paneled doors
3. Add vintage or interesting hardware to cabinets and doors
4. Exchange outdated {un-pretty} fixtures with vintage or stunning new ones {I like the new ones that look old}
5. Add wall sconces 
6. Buy ornate outlet covers, switch plates, and vent covers to replace the white {or worse- beige} ones.
7. Add paneling to walls {no not that 70's retro pretend wood that covered whole walls- although I've seen that painted and it can look really good... painted} 
8. Build a fireplace {even if it's faux} 
9. Add built-ins {shelves, cabinets, desks, even murphy beds}
10. Update your front door with a pretty leaded glass door
11. Instal french doors {I love them in offices and dining rooms... pretty much anywhere} 
12. Refinish or put in wood floors 
13. Use antiques {an old desk for a bathroom vanity? Vintage curtain rods?} 
14. Dare I say... wallpaper? I know... I'm even scared of it, but have you seen new hotels that use it to texture a wall? It looks incredible! Or really fun big vintage patterns... but paint can also add nice texturing. {I think wallpaper is coming back- mark my words}
15. Expose {or add "exposed"} beams to the ceiling 
16. IF you need to replace windows... go for the really pretty, original designs {by no means replace them to just to replace them- if you're going to do that call me, I'll find a use for your old ones}
17. Spiral staircase anyone? My parents somehow managed to add two to their house- but they are fun and very pretty. {There's no way one would fit in our house but I wish}
18. How about outside... a cobblestone pathway or patio

Hope this inspires you! 

snow day!

We woke up to 6 inches of snow today! 

Happy snow day!

the girls' room

Here are some pictures of the girls' room right now- they're sharing a room, and praise the Lord Anah hasn't figured out how to climb out of her crib yet! {Like Zuriah was doing at her age} So we are still able to use the crib.

And I like it.

I love this dresser, it was given to me and I doubt I'll ever part with it.

Zuriah's bed, I love the headboard- I got it off Craigslist a few years ago. When the girls are a bit older Ben and I will be tackling the project of bunk beds- but not just yet.

Also a fun bit of information- I was painting these branches and verse on the wall when I went into labor with Anah! {I finished it just as I wasn't able to talk through my contractions anymore}. It says "even the sparrow finds a home" Ps. 84:3

for paper

I needed something to put my scrapbook paper in... 

So I made this- {Using chipboard and pretty paper from The Paper Source}

It's very roomy.

And makes me happy.

recipe book {tutorial}

A DIY Recipe book! {Or journal - just change the iron-on design} A perfect handmade gift for a cook or writer! {Or perfect just to keep for yourself!}

All in all I spent only a few dollars making this mostly using materials I already had.

It's simple to make, here's what you need:

:::

glue gun 

scrap booking paper {amount is your choice}

fabric scraps

chip board

rafia, ribbon, or rings for binding

hammer and nail

hole punch

iron

2 sided iron on interface

:::

As far as scrapbook paper I chose these solid colors {they were on clearance at Michaels} and used one sheet of coordinating paper for the inside cover. 


I cut all the paper in half {my sheets were 8x8 inches to begin with} You can cut according to how big you want your book.

Next I traced onto my chipboard but added 1/4 inch to all but the binding side. 

I cut mine 4x8 with a 1/4" border.

I used an exacto knife to cut the chipboard.

Use the cut chipboard as a pattern to cut your fabric- cut about an inch or so extra on all sides.

Before you glue your fabric to the chipboard do your iron ons or embroidery. {I thought about embroidering "recipes" on the front but couldn't find my embroidery needle. Bummer.}

Iron on the fabric to the non paper side first. 

Once adhered {check to make sure} trace and cut your design. I used a real fork and spoon for a stencil for the design, and free handed the details.

Cut your pattern.

Remove the paper backing and iron on to your fabric.

Now you can use your glue gun to attach the fabric to the chipboard. I folded in the corners like I would a package.

Next glue on the paper for the inside cover on each side.

Now that the covers are done decide where you want the binding to be. Use the hammer and nail {or in this case a mini screwdriver- nails were scarce} to create holes in your chipboard.

Mark where you want the holes to be on the inside paper using the holes you made on the cover for a guide. 

Hole punch all the paper. 

Now you can bind it! I used rafia {which admittedly was a bit of a headache to thread and isn't as strong as I'd like} but you can use ribbon or rings as well. I recommend threading with a needle! {A time saver for sure}

There you have it. A pretty little cookbook or journal, a gift anyone would love!