DIY to TRY: Ornaments

Welcome back!  I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Last week was a little blog break for me as you may have noticed.  I took some time to clear my head, brainstorm for a better blog, and naturally spend time with family over the holiday.  Sometimes a time out is just what is needed. Some years it takes me a bit to get into the Christmas spirit, but this year once we checked Thanksgiving off the calendar, it was game on.  I'm not one to do any over the top decorating, but I do love me some white lights, gold everything, and Christmas music filling the air.  It just puts a smile on my face.

I'll be DIYing some ornaments as I seem to do just about every year, but before I share those later in the week, here's a round up some awesome DIY ornaments that may also make their way onto my tree.

**Please be courteous and click through to the original sources and pin from there.  Thanks!!**

Clay ornaments aren't anything new, but they're still one of my favorites.  Simple and elegant with endless ways to adorn them.  These feathers from 100 Layer Cake are a fun twist on a classic.

While these aren't currently a DIY, that's where my mind went as soon as I saw these on Modcloth.  Chop a stick, sand it smooth, paint it with fun patterns, sand lightly for distressing, and add hook.  So cute!

Another simple twist on a classic is these Kate Spade inspired ornaments from Hi Sugarplum.  So simple yet so fun.  I'm clearly a sucker for gold and white... especially with polka dots.

Origami ornaments are another that seem to win me over every time.  While quite involved, these origami ball ornaments from Giochi di Carta are gorgeous.

For a slightly simpler version, these paper diamonds from Design and Form would look wonderful dripping from any tree.

And since I clearly can't get enough gold, isn't this starburst ornament by Brynne of The Gathered Home simply divine?  I came across them when she shared them on eHow a few months ago, but she's sharing them over on her blog today too.

What are you planning to DIY for the holidays?

Podcast Love

Podcasts are addictive listening.  It starts with one podcast, then snowballs to 6 or more in no time.  Personally I'm always looking for new ones and I know some of you are too, so let's share the love.  Here's what's currently on my listening roster.  Share what podcasts you're loving in the comments below! Design Minds

Style Matters: These local ladies talk all about WHY style matters.  What does it mean to us personally?  It's not all about something pretty or expensive or impressive- it's about how style makes us feel.  AMEN!  Each week they talk to a different guest about what style means to them.  Now in their second season, the guests just keep getting better and better!

Small-Business Rock Stars

Being Boss:  I cannot say enough good about this podcast.  Insert all the heart emojis and that might be a start.  This podcast has also given birth to an amazing facebook group of listeners and like-minded bosses- which is actually where I connected with the Style Matters ladies.  If you want to be boss in a job you're passionate about just give a listen- whether you have a side hustle, are freelancing, or full time, there's so many take-aways.  Plus Emily and Kathleen are so hilarious.  No more gushing required- just go listen and you can thank me later.

She Percolates:  In full disclosure, I wasn't sold when I listened to my first episode since these ladies don't have soothing radio voices, but ya know- who cares!  When I really listened to the content and got to (virtually) know these ladies, I kept coming back.  They don't sugarcoat life or success but have frank discussions about success.  The first question they always ask their guests is "what is your definition of success?"  Each week, I try and come up with what my own definition of success is, but it seems to change week to week.  In a nutshell, She Percolates discusses how success is different for everyone.

Elise Gets Crafty:  Along the same lines as the previous 2 podcasts, Elise chats with small-business owners.  Not as chit-chatty as all the ones above since it's just her and the guest, but that mean's there's less filler chat and more useful stories.  I love hearing about the paths people took to reach success.

General Life Inspiration

The Lively Show: this was the first podcast I listened to and it got me hooked.  Jess talks to guests from all walks of life about how to live life with intention.  Sometimes she's focused on business, other times family, or finances, or beauty.  Really any topic that might help you live your life more intentionally, she's probably touched on.  Let's be frank- who doesn't want to live there life a little more intentionally and maybe be a bit happier?

Intellectual Stimulation

TED Talk Radio: This is the most recent add to my weekly listening.  Each episode explores a topic and pulls from several TED talks.  My favorite so far is "The source of creativity."  Just very interesting adventures into interesting topics.

Now I want to hear from you!  Do you love these podcasts or have others that you think I should add to my list?

Franken-Chair Plans

Ever been so eager to start a project that you forget to take proper before pictures?  Me neither.  I would never do that...... Since reworking, rearranging my office and getting a proper desk a few months ago, I decided that this very sad vintage chair that I adopted at Brimfield several years ago was just the right piece to add some mid century pizzazz to the room.

I'm ashamed to say that I've been sitting and working in this pre cat clawed (not from my cats!), musty, old pleather chair ever since.

The seat height was a bit too low and I craved a chair on casters, so I held off on doing anything to it until I had a plan.  First step was to make sure that I wasn't sitting on a mid century gold mine.  The chair looks suspiciously like the Eero Saarenin Executive Armchair- even down to the color.  The official version of this chair is still available new for the paltry sum of $1800+.

Lucky for my franken-chair plans, mine is just a close reproduction.  Without a makers mark or tag, I had to rely on checking the dimensions against the original designer chair.  While close, a half inch shy of the designer width and thinner seat cushion told me my chair wasn't worth thousands.  It would be cool to own a vintage designer chair (that I procured for only $25), but I now have the freedom to make it the chair I want instead of the pressure to restore it originally.  Can you see my wheels turning?  I tried to think of how I could add casters and raise the seat, but no casters would work with those original legs.  I was at an impasse.

Enter trash chair.  (which was in 1 piece when I found it, but I swiftly picked it apart, whoops)

This beauty had been sitting in a neighbor's trash pile for days.  Since I'm a recovering chair-a-holic (ha recovering...), I was trying NOT to grab it even though it called to me every time I left my house and had to pass by the pile.  Finally I gave in.  At the end of a run one day I grabbed the chair and wheeled it down the street and to my yard without a plan for it.  I just knew that this cool old chair did not deserve to end up in a dumpster.  The wood part of the base was loose and the top had seen better days- much better days.  While not beyond repair, the top is certainly in the sorrier state and won't be needed for my plans.  I probably can't bring myself to get rid of the top, though, but it will be set aside and the base is getting a new life.  Because look at this beautiful base.  It's all about that base, that base...

Wow, I wasn't planning on being so verbose today.  I guess I have a lot to say about chairs.  It's a real problem folks.  Check back next week to see how I plan to make these 2 vintage gems into the perfect office chair!

Feel free to feed my chair addiction on instagram and tag your chair discoveries with #chairhoardersanonymous