our home – Page 2 – Elizabeth Smillie

Instagram bits

May 26, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

the photos that I capture on Instagram are just little bits and pieces of our life, and it’s really interesting to see what moments I capture {and which ones I don’t} – of course, it seems as if {since I instagram from our iPad} I only capture the things that stand still. Which of course explains why Emma Grace, Ian and John don’t show up very often, but flowers, projects and Olivia do. :)

This week’s post is kind of a catch-up – so you get two weeks rolled into one. Enjoy!My Mother’s Day rose bush is looking so lovely <3 I’m a rose lover! Especially the soft colors – pink, white, even gray and soft purple – and the full, blowsy cottage types. :)
I asked – and you answered! This storage dresser in the sewing room might be getting a do-over, and many of you chimed in with your color suggestions. Thank you! A sweet color combo on the It’s A Girl! cupcake toppers – I normally stamp the girl version with pink ink onto either vintage or white paper, and this customer asked to add some pink on pink – they turned out super darling! our darling baby being her sweet little self <3 It’s graduation season! These purple stars are the size I normally carry in the shop, and the large gold ones are coming soon! a custom bouquet of “Congrats Grad!” and “Class of 2013” dessert toppers

John had a week of vacation, and we spent most of it at home {or with my in-laws}. We did get away for an overnight, though! Brown County is Indiana’s largest state park, and quite lovely {and quite!} this time of year. We took the kiddos to Story Inn for the night, and then for a bit of an explore in the park itself the next day. They loved being on an “adventure” so much. A sweet color combo! These purple and pink butterfly toppers are on their way to a baby girl’s first birthday party :) And my baby girl just keeps getting bigger! She’s a roller now, and loves to roll her way across the room. She started out on the blanket in the lower right, and made it all the way to my stash of baker’s twine on the other side of the sewing room. :)

How about you – you Instagram? What do you find shows up as a recurring theme in your photos?

Also, don’t forget to use the shop’s free shipping coupon if you’re planning on stocking up on any summer party goods! It expires tomorrow night, so don’t dilly dally too long :)

Chair Garland Decor Ideas {a continuing series}

May 14, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

Have you heard? The chair garlands in the shop aren’t just for decorating chairs!
When it comes to using these petite garlands, there are so many options that chairs are only the the start! This is the beginning of a continuing series where I’ll share some of my ideas with you {and, if you’d like to share some of yours, I’ll post them as well!}

Use a chair garland to decorate a frame – this has been such a fun way to add some quick, seasonally appropriate, decor to my photo wall!

For Valentine’s Day I had the Red and White Heart Garland here, and as the spring holidays approached I switched it to this sweet Doily Garland. I find that they add a perfect touch of softness and unexpected color and am in love with this idea <3

little Instagram pieces

May 11, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

the photos that I capture on Instagram are just little pieces of our life, and it’s really interesting to see what moments I capture {and which ones I don’t} – of course, it seems as if {since I instagram from our iPad} I only capture the things that stand still. Which of course explains why Emma Grace, Ian and John don’t show up very often, but flowers, projects and Olivia do. :)

here are some of the little pieces of this last week: Monday morning loveliness on our kitchen windowsill <3

I make our black beans from scratch – both to save money and because I like knowing what is {and isn’t!} in our food. Usually I do the “quick soak” method {boil them for an hour and then rinse and cook} because I’m usually making them when we actually need them and not ahead of time, but this week I thought ahead and let them sit overnight. I was so surprised to be greeted by these lovely purple gems when I rinsed them out the next morning! Is it just my beans that do this? Or have you experienced it, too?
A custom cake garland order – triple layered gold scallops! It will be so lovely on her cake, don’t you think?

Emma Grace asked me to make her a braid “all the way down” so that she could be like Rapunzel – the braid reached her shoulder blades, and she decided that might be good enough :)

<3

little pieces

April 12, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

the daffodils and candles on our table, just before I took the photos for {this post} gardening hands – I almost always forget to wear gloves! one afternoon I had a fun surprise – my vintage book page lanterns were featured in an Etsy Weddings email! new product in progress – it means lots of experimenting with colors. Creating new things for you is one of the things I love about having a handmade business <3 sleeping babe – just another few days and she is moving from her moses basket to the full size crib we have used for both her sister and brother {onc John gets it down from the attic and I make her some sheets :)} Olivia and mama <3

today is our 5th wedding anniversary {did you see the project I posted for it?} and I gave John this sweet “you & me” mug I found <3

and last but not least, the coupon code for you!

so there you have it! some little pieces of our past week – do you Instagram? If so, did you know that when you post photos of your purchases from the Path Less Traveled and tag them with #thepathlesstraveledmarket, they show up here on the right hand side of the site? It’s a fun way to share with others how you’re using your purchases, and I love seeing them, too!

Also, this weekend I’ll be sharing some customer photos – you’ll love them!

anniversary keepsake art via the Path Less Traveled

How-Tuesday: anniversary keepsake art

April 9, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

Come this Friday, my husband and I will have been married for 5 years. 5 amazing years!

To celebrate that milestone, I have a sweet anniversary keepsake that I’d like to share with you for today’s How-Tuesday – of course, it doesn’t just have to be for an anniversary. You could make a version of this for any special photo: an engaged couple, babies, graduations …. just switch out the marriage vows for a quote or poem and viola! A new piece of art to grace your wall {or to use as a gift – this would make a lovely, cherished gift!}.

materials needed: your marriage vows {or whatever poem/quote that you’d like to use}, lined paper, vellum {or tracing paper}, a fine point pen, your photo, a frame

optional materials {not pictured}: photo corners, photo mat You’ll need to determine the area that you’d like your writing to cover – if you’d like it to go all the way across your frame or just be centered over your photo. Place your vellum over the lined paper and start writing. {or maybe, if you’re nervous, practice on some scratch paper before starting on the vellum} Take your time! Once you’ve finished writing – being careful not to smudge the ink as you go along – you can put the layers of the art together. I used an 11×14 frame with a 4×6 photo, and so of course need a mat to fill out the frame. :) The layers, as I stacked them, are: glass, vellum, mat, photo, cardboard reinforcer that came with frame and frame back.

– Because I chose to place the vellum over the mat instead of under it, I used white photo corners to anchor the corners and add another layer of texture.

Once you have the layers adjusted to your satisfaction, carefully pop them in the frame and secure it. Then either wrap it {if using as a gift} or display on your wall – you’re done!

I can hardly believe that 5 years have already gone by – being married to John has been a blessing each and every day.

This project is a great way for us to be able to see {and be reminded of} our vows on a daily basis, and it has the added effect of renewing my gratefulness for him when I see how he’s fulfilling his vows on a daily basis. God gave me a winner! The congregation at our wedding laughed as I jumped with giddy joy when I heard John say “I do”, and I love being reminded of that moment – and his continuing faithfulness – each day!

Did you miss the coupon I shared yesterday? If so, you might like to click over and check it out – it’s a good one!

{I’m sharing this on the Girl Creative, Sew Can Do, A Vision To Remember, Skip To My Lou, Sew Chatty and C.R.A.F.T.}

St. Patrick's Day from the Path Less Traveled

a little St. Patrick’s Day party

March 16, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

what do you get when you combine some green, some gold and a few cupcakes? A little St. Patrick’s Day party!

So, I’m not Irish. And we didn’t really celebrate St. Patrick’s Day growing up. But I do love a good party {and any excuse to have a cupcake} and I really enjoy the story of St. Patrick {my kids are most familiar with the Veggie Tales version}, so here’s one that I styled to celebrate!

You can find everything that I used {except for the chocolate coins and napkins – those are from Target :)} in the shop: Shamrock garland, chair garlands, party bags, shamrock cupcake toppers and book cupcake toppers

So, are you Irish? How do you celebrate? I’d love to hear!

hearts everywhere

February 11, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

Today I thought I’d share a few photos of our home, which has {apparently} been subjected to an explosion of little red {and pink} hearts for Valentine’s Day <3 {warning: you are about to see a ton of photos!}

These little red hearts are showing up everywhere, from the clock by the front door …

…to the shelf next to it …

{the heart wands in the vase can be found here and the “this is love” printable (free!) here}

…to the plates on our kitchen walls …

…and then everywhere in the dining room!

{the love note tree tutorial is here, and the frame garland can be found here}

{it really is amazing how much impact a simple little pack of hearts can have!}

…even the bathroom got heart-bombed!

Last, but certainly not least, there’s even one on the door in from the garage to welcome my Sweetie when he gets home from work <3

There you have it! Hearts everywhere. You can get a similar result with just some tape, hearts and maybe a few doilies <3

p.s. I’m still looking for ideas to make this Valentine’s Day special for John and me – do you have any ideas you’d like to share? We’ll be staying home with the little ones, and other than decorating for it, I’m coming up dry!

Elizabeth Smillie

The Path Less Traveled

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