November 11, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Anthropologie Holiday Workshops 2014

I had the pleasure of going to two Anthropologie holiday workshops the last few weeks. Each one was a lot of fun. I did not take as many pictures as last year, because, honestly, I am super shy. I did not want anyone to know I was blogging about it. Which in not taking a lot of pictures, pretty much almost made that a sad reality. Sometimes I do not think things through.

The first holiday workshop I attended was in Corona, California. It was a very small crowd. There were just six of us plus the girl teaching the project.

At this workshop, we made pearblossoms that were going to go on a wreath. We took crumbled up butcher paper and rolled it into a rough shape. Then we taped around it with masking tape. We then painted the masking tape and added glitter and a stem to the finished project. I think this is a cool skill to learn because the wadded paper and tape trick would work for a number of projects (including bodies for Christmas critters). The glitter they use is so cool. Much better than regular ol’ glitter. It figures that Anthropologie would have awesome glitter. It very much looks like powdered magic. I want some of my very own.

I vow to get a picture of the finished window this time! I will place it in Keepin’ It Real. I was a dork and wore one of my favorite dresses to the workshop. That is because last year I wore clothes that were not my favorite and they did not do anything messy. This year, I wore an embroidered dress and the project could not have been messier. They kindly let me borrow their apron. Phew!

I only took one picture of the inside of the store. I did not get one of their cool atrium in the middle of the store. Last year I learned this was one of the most expensive Anthropologies to build because of the atrium. Next year, I promise!

I met two lovely ladies there and it has been fun getting to know them on Instagram. And the sweet girl who ran it, gosh I wish I could remember her name, was fantastic. Warm. Welcoming. Encouraging. Everyone loved her.

Here I am with one of the finished projects.

At the end of the session, they gifted each of us girls who participated in the workshop a miniature pumpkin and a 25% off coupon to use on a full price purchase. The generosity of the gift made my head explode. I had done some reviews in the dressing room prior to the workshop and had made a wishlist in my head. Well, all of that went out the window. Suddenly, I could not remember what I had yearned for. I ended up buying two of these Kantha pillows, The Fanned Flora Dress, floral tights, and the llama skirt. I was halfway home when I realized that the thing I actually came to the store to buy… the one item I had really, really wanted… I forgot to get. It was this shirt (in a happy ending, the shirt arrived last week. I bought it with a different code).

A week later I went to the workshop in San Diego. I had also wanted to participate in the one in Carlsbad, but their workshop started incredibly early in the morning and it would have been impossible to get there and get kids to school. I chose getting the kids to school. Where’s my Mother Of The Year Crown?

The San Diego Workshop had two different stations to pick from. One station was very crowded. It involved making the coolest pinecones. The other station was fairly empty. It was just cutting thin cardboard. My introverted self chose cutting cardboard.

Both Anthropologies had pretty little setups with food and drinks for the guests. I forgot to take a picture of the table in Corona. At this Anthropologie they had about four people helping out with the crafts. I met a lovely woman (I do not know if I can use her name here) who also participates in Effortless Anthropologie’s discussions and such. It was so nice to meet her. I would love to make plans to go again next year to chat with her again.

I took some pictures of the pretty store:

This is what I wore that day. My favorite Free People top, The Mix Print Tunic. And my mustard yellow Old Navy Rockstar Pants. I took these pictures in the dressing room, because I squeezed in a couple of reviews that will run later this week.

This Anthropologie gave away the sweetest ornament made of bark and with a burnt “A” for Anthropologie on the wood. Of course, I could take it as my Mother Of The Year Award. They also gifted the 25% off code to participants.

The year before, neither Anthropologie gave participants gifts, so I would not go to a workshop hoping for something. It was a sweet unexpected gesture this year, but next year might be different. I would go for other reasons. I went to learn a new craft. Meet new people. And step outside of my comfort zone. I feel like I did all of those things. Probably not well. I was still too shy. I am still the Amelia Bedilia of crafts. However I did meet new people in spite of those things.

Did you go to one of the workshops this year? What craft did you get to do? Do you plan to attend one next year? They are usually held in the middle to end of October so check the website at the beginning of next October to call and register for a spot.

Last year’s workshop posts can be found here and here.

this post contains affiliate links. Clicking on or purchasing from a link will result in a small commission for ~~glitter~~ this site.

December 22, 2013 by gn0mel0ver

Easy Christmas DIY Ideas

These Christmas projects I have completed around my house are so incredibly simple anyone can do them.

I see you are still skeptical.

Well, let me introduce myself.

“Hello. I’m Anyone.”

And if I can do these crafts, you can, too. I use the word “craft” very loosely here.

First up, instead of spending money on flowers during the holidays, I load my vases with giant paper pom pom flowers. This is a fun project to do with tissue paper. I purchased mine from a seller on Etsy. However, I have also made my own by cutting tissue paper. Martha Stewart also sells a fun and easy kit.

I usually use red and pink during Christmastime. But this year I needed something more peaceful. I chose the taupe and white. I have reused all of my paper pom poms for years. I had these leftover from my sister’s baby shower. No, I never throw anything away. Yes, it’s a problem. Just don’t tell Anyone.

I saw this project in a woman’s home many years ago in Country Living Magazine. It is just a cheap felted red tree skirt you can purchase anywhere. I believe I bought mine during an after Christmas sale for $2. Just take a black sharpie and trace your kid’s handprints on it every year. The first year will look pretty sad. But each year the skirt gets better and better. I have done this for four years and it is so much fun to see how they have grown. Make sure you put the name and age of the child under the handprints.

This could also be a fun couple’s project. Just trace your husband’s and your own handprints each year with the date.

When the children are grown and out of the house, I plan to embroider around each handprint. I’ll have more time then, right?

I like twine. A lot. I kind of want to use it on everything. I see my kids running now.

Any time I see a set of ornaments all the same, I think garland. The owl and little bird garlands both started out as cheap ornament packages. I just cut the strings on the ornaments and tied them onto the twine. Then I made a loop at each end. Hang these wherever you desire. And done! This is such an inexpensive project.

I have even made a mushroom garland for my little tree.

What are your fun and easy projects you have done during the holiday season? I would love to get some new ideas. I still have to make two gingerbread houses with the kids tomorrow. I hope your week is as peaceful as it can be.

And if you feel you are overwhelmed, well, you are not alone:

“Time stays long enough for Anyone who will use it.” (Leonardo da Vinci)

I hope that is true.

I could really use a visit from the temperamental fellow.

P.S. I shared this on My Romantic Home.

December 12, 2013 by gn0mel0ver

It’s The Little Things: All Wrapped Up

I am going to just come out and say it: I don’t like the typical holiday wrapping paper.

Oh no! I am beginning to sound like Scrooge! First the poor elf, now cute paper? What’s next? Santa’s suit?

Weeeeeellllllll…

Just kidding. His suit is perfection.

Anyway, back to the cutesy paper: That is not to say it does not end up in our house. Santa Claus has an affection for the stuff and he loves to give the kids their gifts covered in outlandish cartoon wrapping paper.

But for my presents under the tree, I like to keep it streamlined.

Usually this = a disaster.

Years and years ago, I wrapped all of my presents in brown kraft paper. It was so pretty under the tree. But then it happened… Presents started being exposed left and right as the tape popped off of the heavy paper.

I learned my lesson.

Or did I?

After that came the year of the all-white wrapping paper. Again, pretty, but very expensive.

Then there was the year of the fabric. Combine all of the problems I had with the brown kraft paper and the expense of the white paper and imagine this headache.

So, I caved. I bought the wrapping paper that I did not like. And I endured.

Heroic.

But this year I had an idea. I stole into my daughter’s room and I snatched her giant roll of white drawing paper from Ikea off of her desk (if you have not used something in our house within a year, it becomes fair game. Meaning: it reverts back to being Mommy’s. Seems fair, right? Oh, and this rule does not in any way apply to Mommy). I began to wrap presents in it.

It still needed something.

Every year I buy rolls of beautiful ribbon from Costco. They come in rolls of 50 yards for $7. This is an unbelievably fantastic price.

I wrapped my presents in different colored bows.

And I was happy.

For the larger presents (like the ice cream maker I purchased for ~~myself~~ my husband because I he always wanted one), I am using gold and silver wrapping paper.

It’s the little things: beautifully wrapped presents under the tree.

Now, if only I could get someone to wrap them for me.

Any takers?

I think I know of an elf who might be available.

P.S. I shared this on Savvy Southern Style.

And My Romantic Home

November 19, 2013 by gn0mel0ver

Pumpkin Patch

“I’m late! I’m late! I’m late!” This should be my mantra with all of my posts. I still have to post about meeting Patrick Rothfuss at Comic Con. My post is written, it is just a matter of squeezing things in.

And, I went to a pumpkin patch! At the end of October. We buy all of our pumpkins at the local farm. Being a farmer’s daughter (bee farms count, right?), I think it is so important to do so.

First, look at my husband’s dope (yep, usin’ that word) pumpkins he carved after we visited the pumpkin patch. We are starting this post with the end at the beginning result.

Of course, I took the prerequisite blogger photos of me amongst a farm setting. ‘Cause that’s what you do. Or what I am thinking you do. So, I wore my bandana dress purchased on sale for $40 during the summer from Anthropologie with an old denim jacket and my vintage Frye cowboy boots. I had to dress the part… Of crazy country girl.

It was kind of hilarious, because almost all of the moms at the pumpkin patch were in some kind of get-up. I felt sort of ridiculous as we all trudged through the gravel in our cowboy boots and dresses. I would be willing to bet none of us had ever roped a calf or could even ride a horse.

Suburban Mom. In a pumpkin patch. This is what it looks like, just so you know.

I am allergic to pumpkins. And hay. Pumpkin patches = hives for me. But I was careful. I did not touch anything!

This particular pumpkin farm has pigs that they race. It is good, clean fun. I love taking the kids here.

There was the petting zoo that I photographed through the fence. They changed the prices this year. It used to be $4 or $5 for the whole family. This year it was $2 a person…Have fun kids!

I always appreciate their pretty farm trough to wash your hands in after touching the ~~dirty creatures~~ cute animals. They even use Method soap.

There you have it. I went to a pumpkin patch. I watched my kids go into a corn maze. I tried not to panic. And I definitely did not mutter a single, “Yee Haw!” whilst wearing this dress. Not a one. ~~I am lying.~~

Did you go to a pumpkin patch this year? Did you have fun? Did you get a pumpkin? Are you as behind as I am with these holidays?

Gnome Lover

Stumbling through life while still having fun

craft

Anthropologie Holiday Workshops 2014

Easy Christmas DIY Ideas

It’s The Little Things: All Wrapped Up

Pumpkin Patch