ALY ALLEN | THE BLOG

i've been scouring etsy and pinterest for lovely things to add to my big girl's new room... there's too much! remember, here's the bedding i'm seriously considering: Source: bedbathandbeyond.com via Aly on Pinterest and here's some artwork that i'm loving to go with that, on the wall opposite the bed: Source: etsy.com via Aly on Pinterest Source: etsy.com via Aly on Pinterest Source: etsy.com via Aly on Pinterest Source: etsy.com via Aly on Pinterest Source: etsy.com via Aly on Pinterest last but not least: new print, from my shop, blossom & vine can you even imagine all that beauty and color in one place? put all that together in a collage, add some hoop art or a yarn wreath and it's done! i will definitely want to live in her room when i'm done with it. oh, and just in case you're in the market... look at this cute bed for only $180: Source: furniture2go.com via Aly on Pi...

i had so many fun things to show you today, that i was able to finish this weekend... but you'll have to settle for the photos i took with my phone. lame, i know! i finally finished that yarn wreath that i wrapped but never embellished. i am beside myself in love with it: and while i was in crafting mode i also wrapped a cardboard "A" with yarn. but now, of course, i want to change it to a gray yarn. either way i love how it turned out [sorry the photo is sooo small] and here's my whole entry wall, that i'm finally considering to be "complete"... not finished, because i'll always be changing and rearranging, but just  complete . [of course i have big plans to add white beadboard to the wall, and paint the table black... but those are long-term goals. for now, it's complete] oh, and just in case you're thinking that huge outdated air conditioner thing is such an eye-sore... i know it is! i tried putting the hoop art directly on to...

well, if we were meeting for coffee today, i'd tell you there was a lot going on. first, as soon as you walked in the door, you'd rave about the hoop art and this yarn wreath hanging on the wall. i'd tell you that while i was supposed to be getting ready for the Queen Bee Market next weekend, i managed to sneak in some time to make them, and i couldn't be more pleased with how they turned out! [okay, that's not true. i could be more pleased if it didn't look like m my two year old attached the trim. it's crooked and doesn't line up evenly. and don't get me started on the yarn that's fraying. i'm such a perfectionist with this kind of stuff, but i still do love it for being my first attempt] [totally  copied leslie on the pom pom trim . it adds that perfect finishing touch, huh?  i bought it here  from the sweetest gal] [embellishments have yet to be finished and attached. i'm sort of burnt out on flower-making for now] but t...

inspired by yesterday's post , i've added some new prints to  the shop . i gathered up all the verses that i have plastered all over my house [on a 3x5 card in my handwriting] and made prints out of them. they're "print-it-yourself" [i email you the file] unless you come visit me at the Queen Bee Market , where they'll be printed and packaged and ready to frame! here are the new ones [yes, i watermarked them. lame, i know. click on them to get to the listing in my shop to buy] [click here to buy in any color] [click here to buy in any color] [click here to buy in any color] which one is your favorite? i have more that i need to get done, but believe it or not, these take a long time to do!!

i'd love a little help?!? i'm trying to choose a few photos to frame in my kitchen. all of food. all that i love. trying to decide if i should stick with one artist, or pull from a few different ones. i want the overall feel of the photos to be the same. so i either want all of them to be subdued in color, or vibrant in color... what are your three favorites together? here's a snapshot of my etsy favorites: of course, i could throw my own photo into the mix? maybe this could be #4? or is it too orange? i could re-stage this shot using lemons or strawberries. that might go better with the other photos? oh, and what do you think about these egg shots i snapped? should i just take my own photos and save the money. i realize they aren't as good, but maybe worth saving the money? your opinions, please!! featured shops above: Gallery 32 630 Photo Erica Lea Photography Poetic Photography Haley Johnson Fine Art Collection Lynda Naranjo Photography Honey & Jam Photography a...

the decor in my house, that is... i hung a few more things last week, and i even found the perfect [for now] spot for my lovely  hoop art that i won from Leslie . i plan to give it a permanent home on the wall, in a different location, but i need to finish up a few projects that are going to be displayed with it. i'll keep you posted on that. for now, it sits here in the dining room [which is functioning as a playroom while there's no table in it].  the bottom book was a graduation gift from my parents. they snuck onto my computer and downloaded every single paper i wrote in college [i was a history major. there were at least 1 to 4 papers per week]. and published them in this book. are you kidding me?!? it is priceless. wondering if i should do this to the top two books [and lots of other books that i use as decor] . i might cover them in paper first, since they're actually new-ish books. the little guy on the right was a ross find. it was a bright green, like the color...

ah, the joys of spray painting. i literally have a hundred picture frames. i've just collected them over the years. usually black or some sort of dark metallic. but since that doesn't really fit my decor style anymore, i'm embracing the spray painting  addiction  trend that's taking hold of the [mostly blog]  world. my husband thinks i'm nuts, until i place everything back into the house and he loves me again because it looks perfect. i even spiritualized spray painting/repurposing here . yes, i really did. this is my little bookshelf. given to me by my mom. the corkboard is from Homegoods. the other items i've had for years [except the lantern which is a $1 Goodwill find, painted black]. the "a" holds up my books, "j" holds my husband's, and "r" holds my daughter's. she knows that she can only touch her shelf but she always talks about ours.  the crate might be sprayed to match the [krylon "jade"] frames. not sure...

i thought i'd lighten up a little and post about something else that i'm really passionate about. i am a frequenter of goodwill, ross, tj maxx, homegoods, marshalls, etc. i love finding deals. it's such a rush! we just moved into a larger house. i'm not kidding, our old condo's entire contents fit into one room... so, needless to say, i've been having fun filling it up! but we're on a tight budget. [i'm talking $15 a week for discretional spending money]. here are just a few examples of things i've picked up over the past few months: * HUGE disclaimer * i know these photos are absolutely hideous. please humor me and don't worry about the quality! focus on the great deals. i promise i'll break out my NikonD50 and start experimenting with the manual settings really soon :) [i think you may have to click on these to enlarge and see all the writing. sorry!] [yes, my inspiration for the white dishes filling up the hutch IS none other than the nest...