5 Decorating Tools You Must Have

1. Paint

2. Fabric {we'll talk about where to shop for fabric, and buying tips}

3. Upholstery Tacks

4. Plate Hangers

5. Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

Those are my top five {a condensed version of this list} If you are armed with those tools, you'll be amazed at what pretties you can crank out in a limited amount of time. We'll go in depth with each item over the next week. What's on your top five?

Bird Watching ::

Embroidered Headboard @ Design Sponge {love it but I'm too lazy for that, you could get a similar look by just drawing the headboard on the wall}

Newspaper Basket @ How About Orange


Decorating with scrapbook paper @ Design Dazzle

* * *

Are you a local going to the Faith Family Freedom Concert at the Knights Stadium tonight? I'll be there too. Email me nestergirl{at}gmail{dot}com by 3:00 if you want to meet up--we'll be tailgating.

Nesterize your Boo Boos!

The following is a Guest Post from Sandy from 4 Reluctant Entertainers

I really don't think of myself as the creative type when it comes to taking something that went wrong and turning it into something beautiful. You know, the way that The Nester would beautify something. So when I got into a battle with my backyard blower - it just made me think of The Nester all the way.

Here's my story.

Last week I was ready to go out with my husband to a casual party, and I was dressed in one of my favorite sundresses. In Sandy-style I thought I could get a "last minute" job done quickly before we left. Just one more thing to check off my "to-do" list, right?

As I was blowing the back patio, my wonderful polka-dot sun dress got sucked up into the blower.

My daughter, Abby, and her friend were in the pool and watched it happen. I turned the blower off and we all just stared in disbelief at what had just happened.

No, not my favorite dress!

As I was getting ready to toss the dress, I noticed that the material was the color of my daughter's bedroom. So in Nester-style, my mind started twirling ...

What could I do with this material?

Now I know that pink is rarely talked about in The Nester's home, having 3 boys. And now that my daughter is almost 13, this last fall we changed her room colors from pink to green, blues and browns. We took down her pink bulletin board, which has been sitting behind her door for about 9 months now. My daughter was finished with pink. No more pink!

I cut the usable fabric from the dress and stapled it over the pink board.

I covered up the big PINK dot with a blue sticker.

Added her favorite picture of her Daddy back to the board. And hung it in her room.

Even Hobbes liked the new look.

And I surprised Abby when she got home from school. A new board, a new look, and now when I walk into her room, I get to see my favorite sun dress.

It all worked for me!

First of all, have you ever had a battle with a yard tool?

And secondly, are you creative with taking your boo-boos and Nesterizing them?

The Nester and I would love to hear your creative stories!

* * *

I love how resourceful Sandy is! And if you haven't had the chance to meet her online yet, you will adore her, she is a no nonsense entertainer/decorator/mentor to tweens/writer/friend and full of encouragement. I was lucky enough to room with her at the last blissdom.

Do It Yourself Pot Rack?

Photo Country Living via Old Post Road--thank you! I LOVE this pot rack!

Our ceiling is begging for a pot rack. I loved ours in our last house that we owned but we left it with the house. Wouldn't it be great if I could make one myself?

I found a Ten Dollar Pot Rack at Wise Bread but my ceilings are high so it has to hang down really far.

Here's one from DIY Home Projects using a metal wall scroll work thingamajig. Like that idea.

Lowe's told me how to do it but there's no way I'm going to measure that much.

So, I'm going to the best source {you} before I go to the second best source {ebay}. Have you made or seen a neat hanging pot rack?

Flying Monkeys

Yesterday you asked to see the flying monkeys.


I'll admit, I had already cleaned up because my sister was/is here visiting so the horribleness was mostly gone by the time I took these photos.


But, like I said, I focus on one room at a time. Yes, that's a mattress on the floor.


Our tween boy wants a "low" bed and needs more room in his room. So we took his sleigh bed and we'll sell our old bed.


Mercy there are 4 windows in our room. I feel some mistreatments coming on. I wish I could snap my fingers and have this room done. The living room took about 4 hours for me to get right. Anyone want to come help me with our bedroom? Can you please bring a bag of cash with you? It's so much easier to make a room pretty with a big bag of cash. Cold and hard preferably.


This is where we are supposed to be parking my husband's truck. Our neighborhood has rules and one of them is if you vehicle has writing then you have to hide it and not bring down the hood with your blue collar lettered truck. I feel a yard sale coming on too.

Living In Color

Once again, we have boring white walls in this rental. But look at those wonderful floors. I love them. Unfortunately, they give the walls a pinkish hue, what huge challenge.


Secretly, one of my favorite parts of moving is when you get to try out something different in a room. Our dining room was entirely too small for the hutch and table. What a great problem. I might not have ever considered using the hutch in the family room but it fills up what could have been a huge empty wall. If it would have all fit in the dining room I doubt I ever would have tried it in this room.


Because of the size and shape of the room and my lack of cold hard cash to go out and by all or any new furniture, I had to make everything we had work where I could. Again, I LOVE the challenge. I'm not a big fan of a floating sofa but it is anchored on a rug so hopefully it won't float away. Then I had to deal with another big empty wall. It was also a walkway so filling it with lots of furniture {that I don't have} wasn't an option. Remember my old fireplace mantle? Now they hold up photos of my fellas.


Here's the view into the kitchen. Whenever we move, I focus on one room and try to at least have it up and running as quickly as possible. Everything else looks like the wicked witch chased Dorthy around while holding a broom on fire and dodging flying monkeys who have no manners and poopie inside. And then sprinkle legos and dirty socks on top and that's pretty much what the other rooms look like.


Wow, there is so much to talk about, I feel like I could write a month's worth of posts just from this one room. Here are a few things we'll discuss as soon as I clean up the monkey pies.

• using wall shelves
• how to add color to make white walls unboring
• painting the armouire
• the nondining room
• using fake art {f-art for short}
• pink walls counseling center. help. I really don't want to paint.
  

How to Hang A Chandelier

1. Catch the eye of a strapping man, preferably a tall man.

2. Say "yes" when he asks you to marry him.

3. Bear his children.



4. Do his laundry for 14 years.

5. Stock the refrigerator with bison burgers and chocolate covered strawberries just cuz.

6. Place the chandelier that you want hung in close proximity to where it needs to be installed. Make sure it's in the way enough to be noticed daily but not in the way enough to actually be in the way.

7. Ask politely only once a week if he can hang the chandelier when he gets a chance. Only ask at a time when you know he cannot do it like as you snuggle down into bed or when you are in the car. That way he doesn't think you are telling him to do it right then. They need to think it was their idea.

8. Do not nag, fuss, whine or complain about the chandelier. Let the unhung chandelier do that work for you while you be nice.

9. Enjoy watching him hang said chandelier.

10. Gush and gush about how thrilled you are to have it done.

I only had to ask twice. And the second time was a full 12 hours before he hung this. I looked up, and he was on top of the table inspecting the fixture without me uttering a word. One down, two to go.



I know I'm capable of hanging a chandelier. But I never want to know how. So, this is how I hang them. And yes, this chandy was supposed to go in my office. We'll talk about that very soon.

Giveaway Winners Announced

Photo: Vinyl Vineyard

Wowooosie! You sure do like you some giveaways! Huge, HUGE, HUGE response! Let's get strait to the winners:

1. L. Herbert Designs :: Stephanie

2. Whitney Caroline Designs :: Blue Ridge Gal

3. Lisa Leonard Designs :: HopiQ

4. Back 40 Life :: Wendy @ The Shabby Nest

5. Maggie Whitley Designs {Gussy} :: Chelsea & Nick

6. Monarch Creations :: Trish

7. Stinky Toes Designs :: Stephanie M {no blog, I emailed you and you emailed back}

8. Just Simply Southern :: One Crowded House...

9. Star Hitched Wagon :: Finding Normal

10. Urban Industrial Farmhouse :: Dodi {no blog, I emailed you!}

11. Imparting Grace :: Carmen

12 Dreams of France :: Andrea

13. Chrissie Grace :: Truly Blessed

14. Small Words :: Julie Brooks

15. The Tarnished Crown :: Splendid Things

16. Noodles & Milk :: Bridget

17. Heatherjoile :: Dwelling in the Details

18. Jeanne Winters :: The Grigsbys

19. Vinyl Vineyard :: Nicole at BogaBoos

Congrats to all the winners! I'm too lazy to email you all, and I'm moving {how long can I use that excuse?} so you winners can either email me: nestergirl{at}gmail{dot}com or email the shop owner directly.

And I want to say a big thanks to the wonderful, generous shop owners and artists and bloggers who joined in. There were waaaaay too many for me to include in the giveaway so for those of you who did not get in, thank you and I adore you all!


My internet service is supposed to be up and running for realz this time by Monday, for now I'm getting fat and poor and distracted at Starbucks. Life is slowly getting back to normal and it's really fun playing, I mean setting up the house. Miss you all!

Giveaway Day :: Vinyl Vineyard

The last giveaway. Thanks so much for participating!


Vinyl Vineyard is giving away your choice of 3 yes THREE items from their etsy shop!


You know how I feel about vinyl wall art. And VV has sold over 500 items and has a slew of creative sayings and images to choose from. Visit them and be inspired! I could browse the shop for hours.


This has been so fun! The winners will all be announced on Thursday. Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win the fabulous prize from Vinyl Vineyard. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Jeanne Winters

Jeanne Winters is a bonafide decorator and writer who's book, Inspirational Home is available right now.


She coaches us on how to incorporate faith and crafts and good design. What a winning combination.


Jeanne is giving away two items from her etsy shop of your choice. You can pick the book and a print {love the nest one} she's also got a ton more prints and cards and other stuff to choose from.


It makes me so happy to see women and their craft and how they incorporate their beliefs and personality all into one appealing package. Don't forget to visit the blog! Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win the Jeanne Winters stash. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Heatherjoilie Designs

It's my privilege to introduce Heatherjoile Designs. One of the most creative artists I've ever featured.

Here's what she says about herself, quite fascinating.

I LOVE jewelry designing, however, am also an interior decorator and love fabrics. I have tried to incorporate textiles into my designs because I think that they are sometimes taken for granted. I love coming up with new and different ways to use textiles, fabrics, ribbons etc. in jewelry.

Fabric + big chunky jewelry? I'm in awe. I would wear any of these pieces. Heather, don't you want a walking advertisement?


Look at that ring!

Stop. The. World.

Enter to win a $40 gift certificate to anything in Heatherjoile's etsy shop. If you don't want it, you can send it to me. Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Noodles & Milk

Complete Adorableness. Have you heard of Noodles & Milk yet? Sabrina is the owner of the etsy shop and she makes everything herself to help supplement her family's income. Just the kind of person that you want to support, right?


This stuff is eye candy I tell you. Look at the colors and pattern and initials. All of my favorite things. Am I too old to wear a onesie {however you spell it}?

One totally lucky person will win a $40 gift certificate plus free shipping.


I would want to frame these and never use them. Or make a mistreatment out of them. Too sweet.


Good Glory she's got one of those fancy tags too. Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win some cute loot from Noodles & Milk. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: The Tarnished Crown

Seasoned Flea Market Vendor, Rose from The Tarnished Crown is offering up a 22 x 22 inch burlap pillow for you to win.


You know how everyone is all about burlapping it these days.


Rose sews the pillows and let me tell you, she knows what people want so you are sure to know that what you are getting is something that is highly popular.


Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win a pillow from The Tarnished Crown. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Small Words

Do you remember Kim from small words?

She's so funny that I thought I would just quote her email I''ll comment in italics

I'm offering a $50 gift certificate that can be use towards a painting of the winner's choice. They can add to it when they are ready to redeem it if they want a piece of art that is more than 50 smacks.

Then she says this:

Hey - I totally lifted the wording from the last give-a-way you did for me {the one that had 900+comments! Remember that?? That was one of my most shining moments!} You wanted a description and I'm in a hurry and can't think of a good one - and well, you know my stuff - I just figured you could tweak it a little to change it up!! haha!

Your description as follows {the first paragraph was my fav-O-rite!}:


This is the description strait from the old post because I am lazy and it's 11 am and I still have 5 giveaway posts to write and Kim told me to do it.

Y'all, this is my favorite giveaway yet. I am telling you if this woman, I mean if Kim Wheeler is not one of the most talented women I've ever met then I don't know who is. Look at her hand painted, "incredibly cute personalized art".

She can custom make a sign to match your nursery. Would this not be a perfect wedding gift? Look at the detail.


Everything Kim makes is packaged to the hilt. I felt like royalty when I received my "S" that she sent me all wrapped in clear packaging with all of her shiny cards and darling tags and thank yous and ribbon with her logo. I also felt like I needed to personally apologize for my boring packaging for my tassels. I hereby promise to step it up a notch. I shall not be out packaged.



Kim is offering a $50 gift certificate that can be use towards a painting of your choice from Small Words!!! Lucky. Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Chrissie Grace

Chrissie Grace is entirely too cool for me. Her etsy shop, She Said is full of mixed media prints and pillows. She was probably that pretty, funky girl in school who could put an outfit together and look fantastic no matter what styles she mixed. And she probably didn't even appreciate just how cool she was. She's all spunky and fun and fresh and oh, I want to be her as I sit in my black shorts, plain green shirt {my black ones were all dirty} and black sweater.


I could so design a tween girls room entirely around one of these prints.


Chrissie Grace is offering a $40 gift certificate to use towards anything in her shop. Think of it as cash to help you get hip.


Oh and look at this stitched up pillow! I LOVE IT! I would get that if I won. But I cannot win. Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Dreams of France

More, more, more giveaways! One every hour until 11pm. This one is hosted by Dreams of France.

If you haven't visited Dreams of France you just must see her collection of pillows and kitchen ware and other beauties. This girl is all Frenchy and has impeccable taste.


Jackie, the owner is generously offering a "I love the Eiffel Tower" Sterling Silver necklace with a freshwater pearl and heart all on a 20 inch chain. Even the clasp has pearls on it. A $42 value. You know you want it.


Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win the Eiffel Tower from Dreams of France. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Imparting Grace

You know how the fun part of blogging is meeting people? One day a few months ago, I went to my PO box and got a package and a letter. It was from Richella at Imparting Grace. She told me a little of her story and what that had to do with Nesting Place. And let me just say that her letter is forever sealed in a protective sheath and has the place of honor in the very front of my blogging notebook.

It's been a long year for Richella and her family. She just started blogging again after her long year and even went out and got herself a lovely, new blog design. In honor of that, and I say in celebration of being able to look back on this past year, Richella wants to offer you the chance to win a Burt's Bee's Gift Basket valued at $75.


If you live under a rock and don't know about Burt and his bees then you can read all about it here. They started out just like so many of us--at a local craft fair. Now they are the leading manufacturer of earth friendly natural personal care products. I used some of their lip balm just hours ago. I love their products because my husband and I can share them.


I stole that up there from the BB website. But now their headquarters is close to Richella and her family so it was only fitting that she give aways some of their goods.


She's gonna kill me for putting that picture up there. Richella. It's pronounced rih-shell'-uh. As she says, kind of like Michelle only fancier. I have a different name as well. I also have to tell people how it's pronounce, rhyme it with another familiar name and explain why it's half man. We have so much in common. I hope you love Richella as much as I do. And I'm hoping to meet her in a few months!

Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win the Burt's Bees Basket. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Urban Industrial Farmhouse

Are you tired yet? So many giveaways, so little time. We are about halfway through. Make sure you scroll down and enter as many giveaways as you would like to win! Don't forget to bookmark your favorite shops so you can support these talented ladies the next time you need a gift or have a hankering for an exquisite item!



Here's an unbelievably posh pillow up for grabs. I'm pretty sure we'll all have these pillows in heaven. Instead of me telling you about how luxurious this pillow is, I thought I'd let you hear it strait from the artists' mouth, because I could never describe it so wonderfully:

Satisfyingly rich and whimsical all at once, a round center-tufted pillow of rusched bronze silk, embellished with early 1900's drawer pull....or let us choose a fantastic vintage jeweled brooch from our collection for even more glam....or add your own! (down and feather inner)

$125.

Wow. Makes me want to marry that pillow. And the description of the company was good too. I figure why not let them tell you their story...

Urban Industrial Farmhouse is a family owned company, led by designer/founder Rachael Urban. The UIF concept revolves around two main ideas: 1) that simple is good and less is more, and 2) that style need not be expensive, impractical, or difficult to acheive. Industrial and modern cottage decor is our specialty, using a healthy dose of vintage and antique fabrics and furnishings and repurposed industrial elements. UIF is the umbrella that covers a design group, product development group, a line of pillows and home accessories, and a fragrance line that is currently in development, with a lifestyle oriented, multi-topic blog thrown in for good measure.

Our website and store are under construction....in the meantime, visit our family life blog at www.thecottagechild.blogspot.com. Leave a comment and let us know who you are!

Did you catch the name? Urban Industrial Farmhouse? It's like all of my favorite words rolled up into one incredibly remarkable name. Oh not only that, but the last name of the family is Urban! Charming.

Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win this wonderful, anything but ordinary pillow worth $125. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Star Hitched Wagon

Get ready to squeal with delight as you tease your eyes with some fab-u-lucious jewels.

Mercy. Do you not love this? Do you not? Stacey is the brainchild behind these tantilizing creations that she sells at her etsy shop, Star Hitched Wagon. She's been making this stuff since 2003 so she's a real pro.


She has a great eye {actually two eyes} for design and I love how she pairs colors and textures and finishes to make something so lovely that I'm almost willing to drive cross country to her wagon and try on some of these pieces myself.


Now the good part. You can win a $50 gift certificate towards whatever your heart desires over at Star Hitched Wagon. Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday.

Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Just Simply Southern

We are still going strong with the giveaways! Thanks to all the fine, fine people who offered up their goods for free for you! I think you will really love every shop that is represented--make sure to take a few minutes and visit your favorites after you enter the giveaways!

Up and coming artist and Houston gal, Kristi Perry, owner of Just Simply Southern {yes, she had me at Southern} makes these wonderful distressed, vintage style frames.


These frames are already available in one retail store and online but now, of course, you have a chance to win your own, frame. You can pick the background to go with your decor and what I love about these frames is the fact that they have a big fat clip at the top so you can change the photo whenever you want. Y'all.



Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win a darling frame from Just Simply Southern. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down, down, down or go to the previous page and enter the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Stinky Toes Designs

I am so jealous of the name Stinky Toes Design. Amy named her shop after her two boys. I'm sure in real life their feet smell as sweet as a toaster strudels.

There are three treasures up for grabs from Stinky and the Toes to form a gift pack worth over $70!


You've seen them all over and know you want one. Keep Calm And Carry On {they should add a Y'all at the end of that for us southern folk}. Size S-XL and all sorts of colors for the winner to chose from. Available at the Stinky Toes Blog.


How about an initial pendant necklace? You get to pick the background color--fabric or paper and of course, whatever letter you want. Hand made people.


Oh, one pendant necklace is not enough for you? You are so demanding. OK, Amy is also including yet another pendent this one is larger and custom and can hold a photo of your children or dog or favorite fabric or something else really creative that I cannot think of. Wish I could enter to win this loot.


Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win all this totally rad stuff from Stinky Toes Design. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down and visit and enter the other giveaways too--there are lots and lots of em! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Monarch Creations

The next giveaway is hosted by Monarch Creations. Can you believe that the owner of this shop, Tracy and I live in the same town? And go to the same church? Wait, don't we go to the same church? Yet we have never met. We tried to organize a meet a few times but kids got sick and we go to different services and life happened and I've got this bird of a feather right in my own back yard but don't even know her! {update, as of 9 am this morning we met at Starbucks. Love her!} Enough about me. Let's talk about this great stuff and what you can win.


Monarch Creations offers an entire line of crib bedding, nursery accessories, and Minky Blankets.


Look at the sewing skilz.


From time to time she even offers custom work.


Loving the monogram.


Hope she doesn't hate me for using this photo. I found it deep in her blog. But look how she draws out her plans for the bedding! I thought that was so interesting.


Now, let's get to the nitty gritty. Free stuff for you! Monarch Creations is giving away a free Minky Blanket of your choice to one lucky bird. A $60 value. After your friends see this blanket, they will all be scrambling to get pregnant in hopes that you will give them one as well. That's just how powerful these blankets are.

Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Maggie Whitley

Last November, Maggie Whitley {affectionately known as Gussy} borrowed her parents sewing machine in an attempt to teach herself how to sew. Since then, she's closing in on 100 etsy sales, I'm thinking she learned to sew.


Gussy makes bags and wallets that have a vintage meets modern meets comfort accessories quality. I've been a fan since I first stumbled across her blog a few months ago.


Look at the attention to detail.


The colors and textures are screaming to be caressed. {caress me} Did you hear that?


I am madly, MADLY in love with this laptop bag. Look at those pleats.

And her cute Gussy tag. Love her. Or hate her, she's only 23, what a baby. And so much talent. Gussy is offering a $40 gift certificate to Maggie Whitley where you can pick out whatever you want and be the envy of all of your friends. Don't be alarmed if they want to touch your new bag.

Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Back 40 Life

Vinyl Wall Art is all the rage right now. You can easily apply the vinyl to your walls or just about any surface and when you move, the vinyl peels right off to reveal an undamaged wall. A perfect way for us renters to have a more personalized look to our walls.


At Back 40 Life there are 17 colors to choose from and they can help you create your own custom message for your walls. And look, they even carry vinyl chalkboard! You can stick it on a wall or on your refrigerator or above your son's desk or in your laundry room...

Jodi, from Back 40 Life is offering a $45 gift certificate towards anything in the shop. Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Lisa Leonard Designs

Lisa Leonard is the creative genius behind the darling custom jewelry that you see all over the internets. It's personalized people. It doesn't get any more special than this. It feels good to get this stuff and it feels good to give it as a gift.


There are so many lovelies to choose from at Lisa Leonard Designs. And the winner of this giveaway gets a $50 gift certificate. Lucky.


I've got a few of her pieces myself and I love, love wearing them. I'm a sucker for anything customized.


Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win a $50 gift certificate from Lisa Leonard Designs. Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!

Giveaway Day :: Whitney Caroline Designs

This giveaway is hosted by Whitney Caroline of Whitney Caroline Designs. A good southern name for some southern styled gifts, if I might say so myself.

Whitney's husband is in the Navy so instead of having a brick and mortar shop, she has a cute as a button on line gift shop full of items that can be personalized from umbrellas, to soaps to jewelry, bags, pacifier clips, towels, message boards, stationary and invitations.... and so much more.


Whitney Caroline can even custom gift wrap your gift items whether it be one gift or a slew of bridesmaids gifts. She believes that presentation is highly important and her attention to detail is quite evident. Fly on over to Whitney Caroline Designs and see all the possibilities.


Leave a comment to be entered to win a $50 Gift Certificate to Whitney Caroline Designs! Scroll down to enter the next giveaway!

Giveaway Day :: L. Herbert Designs

I thought I'd start us out with a little art. You know, we could all use some culture in our lives. Laryssa Herbert of L. Herbert Designs {she is so near and dear to my heart} is uber talented.


And you know, contrary to what I like to talk about, she can do a lot more than mere feathers and eggs and birds.




She's got seasonal watercolor prints, scripture prints, animal prints and soon, she'll have her prints available on mugs and pillows and tote bags and note cards and hmm, wonder if I could get a feather tattoo? I'll have to ask her about that.



I had to include one bird. Leave a comment {with your email address if you don't have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win two 5 x 7s or one 8 x 10 of your choice from L. Herbert Designs. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Good Luck!

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Giveaway Peeps, I have not forgotten about you! Realistically, I won't be able to get back with you until late tomorrow or Saturday to let you know if your product will be included. The response was HUGE! And I have no internet access at my new house yet! STOP the world! THANK YOU!

Trashy & Brassy to Sassy & Classy

This is a guest post from my blogging sister in decorating crime, Kimba from A Soft Place to Land. If you've been under a rock and have yet to meet her and all her genius ways fly on over and say hello.

When it comes to furnishing my home, I love the challenge of finding a piece of bedraggled furniture and rehabbing it into something that I love. This method also works nicely with my cheapskate tendencies.

Let me start with this disclaimer...What I do isn't furniture restoration or even refinishing. If you do that type of work, you really should look away now. The pieces I work on are usually someone's unloved trash or thrift store bargains. I use paint, fabric and some elbow grease to create something new and pretty that I can love.

I was up for a challenge the day that I saw this brassy, trashy vanity stool at the Salvation Army for $5. I threw him into back of the van with visions of a dramatic makeover for my bathroom. Every girl needs a soft place to sit in her bathroom, right?

Here's what I used for this dramatic makeover:

• Brassy, trashy stool
• Rustoleum spray paint in Heirloom White
• Burlap
• Staple gun
• Stencil
• Lumiere fabric paint in metallic brown
• Sponge brush
  

The seats on these types of stools (and most chairs, for that matter) are easily removed by unscrewing the seat from the bottom and lifting it off. This will let you paint the frame without protecting the seat.

Two or three coats of my beloved Heirloom White spray paint (satin finish) covered up the horrible brass. Note: I did not prime this piece because it's going in my bathroom where it won't get banged around (and because I'm lazy like that). BUT, if you want to increase the durability factor, a base coat of primer will greatly increase the chances of your paint not chipping.

Recovering a seat like this one is as easy as wrapping new fabric over the seat cushion and stapling it to the bottom with the staple gun. Once the seat is recovered, you just reattach it using the same hardware that you just removed.

The monogram was done using a regular stencil, fabric paint and a sponge brush. Burlap takes fabric paint beautifully, so it was an easy way to add a bit of personalization.

I'll be honest...Even I, lover of all things aerosol, (spray paint, hairspray and cheese whiz) wasn't convinced I was going to love the end results on this one. I knew that the brass could be transformed with spray paint. But I was worried that the scrolls and swirlies would look dated even when they were painted. But now I love it! What do you think?

Do you have something at home that you could transform with some paint, fabric and elbow grease?

Thanks Kimba, I now want to paint everything I own, and used to own, and got rid of too soon. By the way, today is moving day for us. I'll have some photos soon!

In other news, Jon and Kate's {K8?} old house is still on the market {thanks em} if you are interested. It brings back so many nice memories. I'd love to know what the note in the bathroom say. Because I am nosey like that. But let's play nice in the comments about them please.

A Non Informative, Time Wasting Post

I'm sposed to be being productive. I get the keys to the new place in 1 hour, 43 minutes and I can do nothing until then. My mind is full of wonderings of where sofas will go, if two twin beds will fit in any of the bedrooms and if the refrigerator had one of those rich people ice doohickeys in the door.

I could be doing stuff like taking beds apart, but I think I packed my drill so I'll let my husband help me when he gets home. Or cleaning the oven, but, then I'd have to clean the oven. Instead, I'm here, writing to you dear reader. Our adventure continues.


Movers will be here tomorrow to get the big stuff. And we'll have to hillbilly {no offense to hillbillies} the rest of the stuff ourselves.

By the way, if you are trying to avoid something you should be doing too, you can go vote for June, who never fails to make me laugh. Bye, Bye Pie was nominated for Funniest Blog-- Vote Now! Remember, I wrote an ode to her and her old blog? And then I forced her to go to lunch with me. Then I stalked her house when I should have been packing last year when I thought we were moving for the last time for a long time. Yeah, June and I go way back. And she totally deserves to win.

Giveaway Day

I'm declaring next Monday, June 15th, GIVEAWAY DAY here at The Nest! I've got some fun giveaways lined up for you. You can win great junk, for FREE! How sweet is that? I thought that would be an extravagant way to start of the summer, no?

Are you an artist or etsy or other kind of shop owner and have a great product that you would like to give away? I've got a few more spaces available. Contact me nestergirl{at}gmail{dot}com only take out the {}'s and make the dot a real "." please. Put the words Giveaway Day in the subject of the email --you don't even have to write any thing in the email, and I'll send you the details in the next 24 hours. Giveaway items must have a minimum worth of $40. Thanks!

Bird Watching

My New Kitchen @ Fancy Schmancy Designs

Play it Again Momma: Finding Beauty in the Ordinary @ The Mother Load

$15 Entryway Makeover @ Remodeling This Life

Spray Painted Glass Bottles @ A Soft Place to Land

How to Yard Sale

a tiny percentage of my precious wooden hanger collection

I am addicted to yard sales. When I would go home from college, instead of getting together with friends or going out at night, I'd wake up early and ride in the backseat while my parents drove with me to various yard and estate sales. It was thrilling. Seriously. I'm not being sarcastic. Like, I really, really enjoyed it. I was no where near cool and I did not care because I was able to collect enough wooden hangers to last the next 17 years, hangers that no one will ever see or care about. Who's cool now, suckers? Yeah, I showed them.

Since I consider myself somewhat edjumakted in the school of yard sale hard knocks learning the ropes one quarter at a time, I thought I would bestow on you my plethora of yard sale-ing smarts.

For Shoppers:

map provided via garage sale tracker

1. Find Out Where the Sales Are

Check out sites like garage sale tracker {you can see photos and maps!}, craigslist, and as a last resort, the newspaper, these are all resources I use to sniff out the hot spots. Keep your eyes open for signs as well.

my boys enjoying the touchable bubbles I got from a yard sale, unopened 25 cents

2. Find the multi sales

Once you find all the listings for sales, if you are lucky, you'll have to decide what sales to hit. Look for neighborhood sales, multi family sales, school fund raiser sales, church sales...anything that includes a group of people will tremendously up the odds of you finding great stuff. The more time you can spend shopping and not in your car trying to find a sale, the better.

3. Start early

The best stuff goes fast. I like to be in my car before the sales are scheduled to open which 'round these parts is 7am. But, if you are out later in the morning don't fret, sellers are wanting to dump their junk on you by that time so you are likely to get something for a much lower price.

photo: Yard Sale Bloodbath

4. Be ye prepared

Here's what I try to have with me:

• room in the car to put stuff
• map
• cash {ones if possible}
• drinks & snacks
  
• friend
• fabric file
• small tape measure

5. Ask for a lower price.

Just ask. Unless it's 7am. To me, it's bad yard sale etiquette to ask if someone will take lower for something too early. Unless it's a big ticket item, I usually pay asking price for the small things the first 30 minutes or so. Don't be afraid to ask. Remember, it's more about the attitude then the price someone wants. Being genuinely kind and encouraging can go a long way.

6. You do not have to buy something.

Sellers don't {shouldn't} get their feelings hurt if there's nothing you need that they are selling. You don't owe it to them to stand around for at least 3 minutes loitering and acting like you might buy something. You are stealth, your time is limited, get in, give it a good look see and get out if you don't see anything. A quick "thank you" or "good luck" can be added if you feel really bad. Always remember, that every minute you spend taking your sweet time is a minute someone else somewhere is buying exactly what you are looking for at a killer price.


7. Have a goal

Have an idea of what you are looking for. Right now I'm on the prowl for some high bar stools. I really should go ahead and figure out exactly the height I'll need so I won't have to try to call my husband and have him measure while I'm out. I'm always in the market for kid's toys that could be gifts, housewares that I fall in love with and feel sure I can use and fabric. Tell your friend what you are looking for too, you know for accountability. That way when you see another huge birdcage for a bird you won't ever have she can remind you that you don't need it.

For Sellers:

1. Advertise.

I hear that people usually look at garage sale tracker {free to list right now and you can post photos!}, craigslist and the newspaper to find sales to visit. Use them all to get the word out and PUT UP SIGNS! Please, please, please. I cannot tell you how many times I have given up on finding a sale because of lack of signage. My dad has some huge red arrows that he cut out of heavy duty cardboard. No words, just the arrow. He places them at intersections pointing out the way every year during the neighborhood sale and people always comment on them saying they were compelled to follow the arrows just to see where they led. Quite clever.

2. Have a group sale

Plan a sale with others for optimal customers--people look for group sales so it's worth it to wait for the neighborhood sale. You'll attract more people and can share any of the advertising costs.

3. Start early

Don't try to be all fancy and start at 8:30am. Unless that's the time that everyone else in your town starts. I have passed up sales before never to come back because I was there at 7:30 as they were setting up and was told that I needed to come back at 8. As if. Make it easy on people, start at 7am.

Trays: 2/$1

4. Be prepared

Here's what I like to have when I have a sale

• tables to set stuff on and sheets laid out with stuff organized on it
• clear prices or signs with prices
• food
• phone
• money box {or if you don't mind looking dorky and 98 years old, a fanny pack}
• change--lots of ones and quarters
• a few grocery bags for your big spenders
• SIGNS
• kids selling drinks in a cooler and prepackaged snacks
• good company to sell with, I prefer my mom and sister
  

5. Take lower than your asking price

Stick to your prices for a little while but count the cost of being stuck with something as opposed to selling it for 50 cents less. Decide before hand the lowest price that you will sell something for and if someone tries to get you to take less tell them you are still on the fence about selling it and are only willing to sell it if you can get x amount out of it. There's no arguing with that answer.

6. Don't take it personal

Not everyone will buy something. Remember, this is your used stuff. If it's something great you can always sell it on craigslist or ebay. Don't expect to sell a dusty, dirty unfinished dollhouse for $300 at a yard sale because it was once worth it to you. Not that I've seen that or anything. People are looking for great deals, and you get to get rid of your junk, it's a win win.

armoire I bought with yard sale monies

7. Set a goal.

For one yard sale I wanted to make enough to buy a goose neck faucet for my kitchen. In another sale, I sold our old furniture and my goal was to be able to pay for a new armoire with cash. I met both goals. It's much more fun when you have a goal and see all your old stuff leave in exchange for something you've been wanting. And, it frees you up to adjust your prices as the day passes.

Final Thoughts:

There are all kinds of schools of thought on pricing. I usually price all my stuff since I only have sales with my mom and my sister. Every year we swear it's not worth it and every year, we have another sale. We each use a different color tag/sticker or we at least put our initial on the tag so we can keep track. All the money goes into one pot and we take all the tags off the items and stick them on a notebook that has three columns--one for each of us. At the end we add up the amounts in each column and divvy the monies up. Doesn't it sound like more when I say monies?

Some people like to just tell the prices as people ask. As a buyer that doesn't bother me at all and I could see how that would be easier. As a control freak that totally bothers me because I wouldn't want my husband to sell something for $3 when I was gonna ask $30. But I'm always happy when someone else's husband sells me the $30 item for three dollars.

I'm sure I forgot like a hundred things, feel free to add your 25 cents to the list.

Online Fabric Sale

I wasn't gonna have a post today. But, this is urgent. From time to time I check out Fabric.com {one of my affiliates which means I get a small percentage of sales if you click on the link and buy something from them} and right now they have some loverly fabric on sale under Clearance and Closeout Fabrics that I had to show you. Let's start with the expensive stuff. This Braemore Chiara Robins Egg blue is on sale. It was $20.98 per yard and is now $14.69--30% off. More than I like to pay but a great deal for this fabric, especially if you have your heart set on it. These would make some great mistreatments. Want to see it? Click on the link up there then on "Home Decor" then the "30%off" button.


You can coordinate it with this.


Or go for the green.


Need fringe? How about $4.95 per yard! Y'all, that price is sick. Sick I tell you.



How about some $4.95 per yard fabric? Search for Cidalia Sepia under Clearance and Closeout Fabrics {click on the back in time summer sale at the bottom, the tag for $4.95} for this one--wouldn't it look charming in a boy's room? They have fabric for as low as $1.95 per yard. Crazy! And, if you are like me and think it's weird to buy fabric online, how about a no hassle return policy and FREE SHIPPING on orders $35+ from Fabric.com.

I hope this wasn't too commercially. I debated whether or not to even post it but the deals are so good, that I'll risk sounding like a commercial in order for some of you to get the fabric you've been looking for at a great price. Happy Shopping. And what? Aren't I supposed to be packing? You are gonna laugh when I show you what I've been doing in a few days.

Lampapalooza Roundup

Edie's Clip Lights @ Life In Grace

How fun was that Lampapalooza party? You never cease to amaze me with your willingness to share your ideas. I was so inspired, encouraged and motivated to light it up! Y'all are endlessly creative and you know how to use some lighting. Let me assure you, I visited every blog that linked up and I picked just a few of my favorites to share with you. We'll start with honorable mentions--starting with Edie up there. So many people email me asking about kitchen lighting. Clip on lights add an artsy feel and really highlight how great those cabinets look. Want above cabinet lighting without using clip lights? Buy a roll of rope lighting and just lay it on top of your cabinets. There is a plug in the cabinet above the microwave so you just need to drill a hole to get to it. Nice job, as usual, Edie--I think I mention you in every round up.

Isabella & Max Rooms

Janell from Isabella & Max shares how she found the perfect shade for some vintage lamps to go in her daughter's room. She even gives tips on how to shop for the shade. Love her.

Clean & Classic Interiors

If you didn't spend 5 hours reading every entry over the weekend, I'll give you a few highlights. The creativity was inspiring, from scrapbook paper, using a skirt as a shade, revamping vintage lights, colander lighting, photo shopping for ideal recovering solutions, polka dot lamp shades, I could go on and on. And I will.

Glued Ribbon and Pipe cleaner monogram @ Unexpected Necessities {scroll down on the post}

Ribbon and Broach embellishment @Imperfectly Beautiful

Use a Foyer Fixture in the Dining Room @ The Eck Life

Make a Personalized Lamp from Blocks @ Sherrie's Rose Garden


Cork Stopper Lamp Kit @ Koehmstedt

Shell Chandelier @ Bliss Journey


What Lamp Tour is complete without a Major Award? @ Tales From Bloggeritaville

*****

Speaking of Awards, I picked three of my very favorite lighting tales and these three have won a tassel from moi. Although I cannot promise it will be hand made, it will be a tassel and it will be perty. Send me your address ladies!

Winner for Most Creative:

Kelly from On a Whim!

Kelly got super sassy and wanted a chandelier but didn't want to spend much money. She bought a planter basket, filled it with pink Christmas lights and wired her extension cord to the box. GENIUS! I asked Kelly to tell us simpletons exactly how she did this...

I just used an extension cord- cut it to the length I needed and pulled apart the 3 wires (usually white, black and a green ground) Then in your electrical box on the wall or ceiling just twist together the matching colored wire and cover with wire nuts. Oh and make sure the power is off. HA! That is it! Easy Peasy.

Winner for Quick and Easy Fix That Any of Us Can Do:

Hot Glued Cord Cover @ Mrs. Jones


Winner for Biggest Transformation:

Chandy Facelift @ Kristin and Company using spraypaint and fishing line! Click on the link to see the before.

Yes, I realize that all of these happen to be chandeliers. My apologies, but I make the pretend rules around here and if I want to pick all chandys then so be it. I am so impressed with you all! Thanks so much for participating!

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Special Announcement

Over the next few weeks my family will be moving to our new place. My online presence will be limited although I'll still be posting and reading each comment, I won't be able to respond to comments and emails like I normally do. I cannot wait to play in my new nest and share it all with you! You make moving not only bearable, but fun and something I'm actually really looking forward to! Thank you for sharing in our adventures!