new developments and inspiring rooms

Remember how I said I was "Scribble" and my wonderful husband Ben was "Scribe?"

Let me tell you a little bit about Scribe. Ever since we decided to follow the Lord {about 7 years ago now} Ben has had his nose in the Bible. I'm not kidding. Ever since. At least 2 hours a day, and if he could it would be all day. That boy loves the Bible! And he really loves to study... about the Bible. Commentaries and all that {boring. ha!} Oh and write about the Bible. I think it's safe to say his world revolves around the Bible. {Not a bad thing!}

So putting all this together, Ben's dream job is to be a scholar {more or less}. He would love to take his little hobby and turn it into a job- to him this would be teaching at a seminary or in a religious department at a university, while writing {commentaries and such} on the side.

Lately he's decided to pursue this dream- which for us means pretty  B I G  changes for us.

First it looks like a move to Chicago so he can study at Wheaton {a great school close to our home town}, and after that he'd love to go to the UK- his favorite schools right now are St. Andrews and Oxford, although I think he'd be thrilled to get into any school of that caliper over there.

Am I excited? Yes and no. I hear school for six years and think crazy, hectic schedules,  also we'll be up-rooted from our friends and family, and up-rooting the girls as well. But my husband will be doing what he loves to do, and I forgot to mention- I've been praying for a trip to the UK sometime soon. I guess God knew deep down I wanted to go for more than a few weeks! Ah, how I'd love to live there! {And what better excuse than to just go for a few years to study?}

Anyway I thought I would fill you in on all these fun and crazy new developments happening here. Although it's not all set in stone I'd say we're about 90% sure on all of it. Crazy but true.

On an studious note... I thought it would be fun to share some really amazing home study/library spaces. PS the house I grew up in had a library that my dad built- it's pretty incredible equipped with a spiral staircase and loft- I'll have to photograph it next time I'm 'home'! 

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Every scholar needs a library right? Down the road one of these lovely rooms might just make it into our house! What do you think of our travel plans? I'd love to hear thoughts on schools/areas or even if you've been through a PhD program before. We're a little in the dark about all of it, but are excited!

baby prints & happy 4th!

This weekend I've been working on designing some of these guys-

Vintage Baby Birth Prints.

If you'd like to order one I just put them up in my Etsy shop or you can contact me

 {I can work with you on customizing them to fit your child's room or nursery.}

...

Hope you have a wonderful fourth of July! 

announcing...

I think it's about time I announced a business!

I'm in the very beginnings of a little paper business called:

{Do you like the name? FYI I'm Scribble and Ben is Scribe- a pretty accurate description of the both of us!}

It has stemmed out of years of brainstorming. {But really all I ended up doing was just picking an idea already!}

I'm excited to get started. Right now I've opened an Etsy shop {although a little primitive right now} and am offering my custom silhouettes and will soon move to journals, scrapbook paper, cards, bookmarks, custom invitations- all that lovely stuff you would expect to find at your favorite paper store! {I am totally open to new product ideas- please send them my way!}


What do you think? I'd love your feedback! {Oh and any business advice you could offer}. Yay for little at-home businesses! 

pretty twine & vintage maps

I love the look of twine and raffia. I've been kind of obsessed with wrapping everything in them lately.

Pretty paper

Coasters {made these last night... more on that later}

Labels {this one for a soon to come Am. Girl}

Inspiration magazine tear-outs

And my curtains I shared last week.

Whisker Graphics

How pretty is this twine?? I need to get some. It's called Bakers Twine. Sure to make anything and everything prettier!

On another note I also LOVE vintage maps. Anyone with me? There's something about them. For me it's probably my love of other countries with the vintage combination {which I obviously love}.

I found this vintage poster of Central London at Blick's for $4! {Definitely the way to buy maps- Paper Source also has a wide assortment for just as inexpensive}

RH

I'm determined to have a map like this on my wall someday. 

As I was saying... I made these last night- it took about 20 minutes using my beloved Mod Podge, vintage map scrapbook paper, and some 4" tile from Lowes. {I have yet to spray them with some sealer but that should only take a moment}

Love them. I don't think my love for vintage maps or twine will slow down anytime soon!

DIY Summer

Happy Summer {officially!}

Here are some fun projects I'm looking forward to doing this summer- I thought I could share and maybe inspire you to get creative this summer too! 

Flip Flops Makeover

Tutorial from The Mother Huddle

Rosette Bracelet

Tutorial from Sew Craft Create

Coasters

Tutorial from The Cottage Home

Jarred candles

Tutorial from Mark Montano

Lavender Wreath

Tutorial from Centsational Girl

happy father's day!

Today the girls and I are celebrating their amazing dad, and my amazing husband, Ben!

{this picture was taken awhile ago but I love it}

Yesterday we made him some bookmarks {the only thing he requested... he reads a lot}

It was fun and a little crazy in the dining room for awhile! 

Do you have any amazing plans or surprises today to celebrate? Did anyone else make presents for dad? I'd love to see them! Hope you all have an amazing day! 

pretty windows {101}

I finally got my curtains hung in my dining room {don't ask me how long it's been}. I have to say it's amazing how curtains can change a room! 

Just for fun, here's a super before shot! 

And after again... 

Like my tie-back? I was inspired by restoration hardware:

I used thick twine for the tie back and got my panels from IKEA- $15 for two.

Here are some tips on how to hang curtains for drama and elegance. 

{1}

Hang the curtains high.

I have pretty low ceilings {about 8 ft I believe} but I buy 95" panels for all my windows. The drama long curtains adds is pretty amazing. Plus it makes your window look a lot bigger when the curtains are shut, and visually adds height to the room both when they're open or closed. 

By the way, it's ok to hang them quite a bit above your window trim. 

{2} 

Puddle just a bit.

Not totally necessary, this is just a preference of mine. I would say though to at least have your panels stretch to 1/4" off the floor.

{3}

Hang two panels per window.

The difference in one panel per window or two is mostly about what your window looks like when the panels are closed, but I think it balances much nicer with two per window even when the curtains are open. Instead of stretching one panel across your window, use two to create a softer feel to the room. A rule to go by is your panel length should equal approximately 2 1/2 times your window length.

Any more tips to add? I'd love to hear them!