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We are continuing the Decorating for Christmas Series. Last week it was the Traditionalist, but today we'll focus on the Rustic Lover.

The sole word "Rustic" implies the smell of wood and pines, burlap, weathered antiques and warm, soft natural textures.

Via Domestically Speaking

The rustic Christmas tree is calmer in tones embracing ornaments in natural colors - those being white, beige, brown, grey with a great amount of golden or silver sprinkles, although red as a festive color is also included.

Via AnExtraordinaryDay

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Via theroomedit.stfi.re

Rustic decorations come from the nature. You don't need much to give your place a festive look. You need lots of pinecones, pine branches, some wood slices to hold your handles, an eye-catching arrangement of all and the magic is on.

Via Curated Interior

If you want to make a fairytale fireplace, arrange the same gifts of nature into a wooden crate, add colorful baubles and winter berries branches.  

Wonderful Rustic DIY Ornaments

Popsicle Stick Sleds

Twine Balls

Twig Ornaments

Homespun Fabric Ornaments

Gnome Ornaments

I hope you enjoyed the post!

Aleksandra Ivanova who creates behind the brand Sofija Filigranska has a new collection of amazing wooden necklaces.

We talked to her about the inspiration and the idea, as well as the drive to create illustrated stories:

"I make my jewelry with a great passion and love, driven by personal excitement and joy inspired feelings while I watch every single piece come to life and each necklace is dedicated to transfer all those emotions to the woman that will carry it. For this collection I played with spots in the background and minimalistically drawn flowers, fruits or cookies in the foreplan with their full growth and juiciness, or you can see a scene of the favourite ritual of tea drinking and cookie eating... The black spots on a white surface gives a possibility for combining colorful details that will be emphasized and completely harmonious when matched together. Such match-making resembled a French lady wearing a spotted dress with a colorful brooch, thus I named the collection "Bonjour Madame".

Check her shop for more illustrated stories transferred on necklaces.

December is inevitably associated with Christmas. What better way  to celebrate the end of the year with and mark the new beginning than Christmas. The sole word has magic in it and just by saying it one gets hilariously giddy and joyful. Especially if you are into decorating and love to get your place in shape for the holidays.

This month we've decided to go big on Christmas, focusing on decorating, gift making and gift wrapping so there will be plenty of posts to give you a tickle and get you inspired.

Understandably the roots lie in the traditions that kept themselves from the tooth of time so this first post is going to tackle decorating for Christmas as a traditionalist.

Traditional Christmas decorating focuses on simple, yet effective décor where red and green with accents of gold prevail along with lots of stylish plaid ribbons and fairy lights to create a  warm, calm and cozy atmosphere.

The Christmas tree - the everlasting bringer of joy to both young and old - is the focal point of the living room adorned with lots of decorations, baubles, ribbons and lights. Vintage baubles ,the ones inherited from your grandma will certainly make the tree more charming and give it a character.

Other décor to add to soften the living room and make it cozier are throw pillows and fluffy blankets, socks hung on the fireplace.

Hot chocolate, mint sticks and gingerbread cookies are a must and not only to give your sweet tooth a piece of heaven, but you can use them to style your coffee table.

Other simple accents to scatter around the house for a more festive look which by the way you can make yourself:

A candle into a jar with a ribbon and jute wrapped around it.

Or put that jar /glass into a tray and decorate with baubles and greenery for an eye-catching table centerpiece.

Or simply put baubles and lights into a glass vase and the sparkles will make the evening even more magical.

All images taken from Pinterest except the logoed ones.

via The Glamourai

Brooches have ages long history. In fact the first ones appeared in the Bronze Age later becoming popular with the Romans, Greek and Celts as ornamented clasps mainly made out of bone or metal, designed to get attached on garments - often to hold them closed.

They came in many varieties and held prominent significance for the identity of the wearer, indicating ethnicity and class. During centuries they came and went out of fashion, but recently they made a magnificent comeback.

via The Glamourai

The myth that brooches are for old ladies has long been broken and abandoned. Brooches aspire to be the ultimate fashion accessory. They are becoming a unique personalization tool - they add originality to clothes and make them stand out.

via Nicole Warne

via Pinterest

They are versatile. You can wear a brooch on almost everything -from a lovely velvet evening dress to a heavy tweed coat. Millennials get inventive with the brooch and wear it on shirts and even place on belts, hats and bags.

The materials a brooch can be made of varies to the extremes, so today you can find them made out of diamonds and precious gems as well as paper and wood. What kind would you choose?

Check out these brooches from our shops:

Ocre and Champagne brooches

Blue and Carnelian Brooches

Pink & Blue Girl Brooches

Cat  & Elephant Brooches

Paradise Bird Brooch

Gift wrapping Christmas presents is the moment I eagerly look forward to. I always pack gift in traditional Christmas colours - red and green with a sprinkle of gold to add a bit of glamour to it all. And then it occurred to me that I could use those colors for my jewelry. My first makes were the brooches that are now worn on scarves and hats, as well as jackets, sweaters and coats... I put mine on everything...

After that I made some stud earrings for the shop and some to give as gifts to my close friends and family for Christmas. 

As I was left with a heap of materials, I covered a small glass candle holder so now it throws a festive red & green light, prepping us for the holidays!

I am all ready for Christmas! How about you?

Yours,

Classy Clay Jewelry

Pillows

Pillows immediately transform the looks of your place. They add warmth and coziness to the space and create pleasant and attractive visual appearance.

If you are feeling creative, use vintage linen / tea towels for a quick wrap up of old throw pillows or bolsters. Another great idea is to find vintage rugs or kilims and turn them into pillowcases.

Bandana Tapestries

Another simple boho infuser are the bandana tapestries which became all the craze in the boho world. 

 Rugs & Kilims

Vintage and shabby kilims give a true character to your room. They do not have to match the pillows but having something in common with them will make a unified and polished composition. Instead of buying them which could be pricey, you can always thrift them or make some yourself.

Coffee tables

Made out of wood slices, pallets or drift wood, coffee tables can give an original and unique touch to your bohemian home.

Other small touches include lamps, small decorations, decorative plates and such. 

All images taken from Pinterest

With the holidays peeking on the horizon this insanely easy DIY is certainly going to be handy if you want to whip up presents for your dearest or treat yourself with a beautiful necklace.

Roll up your sleeves and gather these supplies:

This photo does not show the exact number of things you will need, because you are going to make a custom necklace, but I will give the numbers for the... let's call this - tutorial necklace.

For the tutorial necklace I used:

* 37 (9mm) beads

* 74 filigree bead caps

* 4 (10mm) rings

* 1 (3 mm) ring

* 1 big filigree cap

* 37 eye pins (I didn't have such so used ordinary head pins instead)

* 1 lobster clasp

* 1 ribbon end crimp

* velvet ribbon (23 cm in length)

(nose pliers + cutter)

Making the beads / beading it up

Take the cutter and cut the head pin take the nose pliers and make an eye (a)- if you have eye pins, skip this step. Insert the cap (b), the bead (c), the other cap (d), and make the other eye (e). When you make the next bead, insert the first one onto the pin before making the second eye (see second picture).

Bead on until you reach desired length. For the tutorial necklace I made two strands. The first was smaller - I used 17 beads while the second had 20. Attach both onto the big rings. Those are for the closure.

Joining

The ribbon is 23 cm long. Double it and pass it through a single ring you've attached the strands of beads on the bottom part.

      Finishing up

On the other side of the ribbon attach the ribbon crimp. Because I didn't want the ribbon exposed / showing at the end, I added a decorative cap over it.

Attach the small ring with lobster clasp on it and you are done!

It is as easy as it sounds, isn't it? Have fun making this!

*This tutorial was created by Maya Kuzman.

Maja Tasic is the designer behing the brand "Steampunk by Maja". 

As the name suggests, she creates unusual and unique steampunk jewelry, employing old clockwork mechanisms into stunning pieces of jewelry. Check out her collection.

 Via ElleMilla

The first chill that slowly creeps in the early fall mornings makes us reach out for the warmth and coziness of  sweaters. And they have never been more versatile and attractive. The range is wide so there is something for everyone.

What seems to be in the rise is the chunky oversized sweater. It wards off cold and promises warm hugs and  pleasant coziness.

Via Flax & Twine

Following the shirt trends, sweaters now come in different sleeve variations, but the most popular have oversized and bell shaped sleeves.

Via Pinteresting Plans

 Via Free People

An interesting option is the so called sweater dress which was a "tunic" in the past :)

Via Luvv it

 Via Pinterest

What kind of sweaters do you like? 

 Images via Pinterest

Autumn in all its beautiful and warm colors paints the perfect scenery for a fall picnic.

Chose a place where you will create a romantic and unforgettable day out. Take warm wooly blankets (and pillows) if you plan to sit on the ground. Fill a wicker basket with a thermos filled with your preferred drink and cups, or a bottle of white wine and glasses.

A cheese platter to tickle the palates: cheese, bread, crackers, olives and seasonal fruit (grapes, apples, walnuts), maybe marmalade or honey for those with a sweet tooth.

Spice it up with a good book and good music.

Via Hither and Thither

Via Pinterest

Polymer clay is a great material because you can use it to cover glass or metal.

As I didn't have a candle holder ready at hand, I thought it would be fab if I make one myself!

If you work with polymer clay, then I guess you have everything needed for this DIY. 

Supplies:

* A small glass jar

* White polymer clay

* 2 other colors of polymer clay

* A metal leaf

* Rigid and flexible blades

* A cutter

* Liquid polymer clay

Take the white polymer clay and condition it well, then slip it through a pasta machine. Do the same with the other color – I chose yellow, but slip this through a narrower opening on the machine. Cut both into squares, first the white, next the yellow and put the metal leaf on top.

Repeat this step with the other color – in my case – the green polymer clay.

Now you have “a roll” that you have to cut in half and join those two halves one on top of the other. Cut the roll vertically to get strips. Use the strips to cover the jar.

The other variant is the Mokume Gane technique.

Using a flexi knife and the cutter, cut the roll but do not separate the cut parts.

Cut the roll horizontally.

Optionally you can use small different shape (cookie) cutters to make shapes through which you can see the candle light.

When the jar is all covered up, bake it at 100⁰C for about 30 minutes.

Tip: If the polymer clay is still hard and it is difficult to cover the jar, apply a little liquid polymer clay onto the jar before you apply the polymer clay.

Tutorial made by Classy CLay Jewelry. Visit her shop for OOAK jewelry. 

Via JoAnn

Via West Elm

Whether you have a special room as an office or just a corner transformed as such, the work space is one of the most important points if you are running a business from your home. 

Having a designated work space works wonders as you will be able to concentrate on work easily and prevent being distracted. Working in a aesthetically appealing, beautifully and inspirationally organized environment is the key to increased productivity and functionality.

We have selected 10 different work spaces to spark up some inspiration. 

                      Via laminutedeco.com                                                    Via Flickr

                            Via Design Sponge                                                  Via Vivircreativamente 

            Via Note to Sarah                                                                  Via Decorology

                  Via facilisimo.com                                                        Via  Editorial Mooi

Images via MLovesM

Images Via Ivory Lane

Image Via A Lo Profile

The velvet trend remained steadfast this fall.

And it is the best fabric that we needed to linger just a bit more, because of its luxurious and rich finish, appealing feel and delicately soft quality. Along with jackets, dresses are the  most wanted pieces because they can transform a look immediately.

You can pair a velvet jacket with a pair of jeans for a more casual look and wear a velvet dress for a glam night out. With the right shoes and accessories, you can make your velvet a statement piece.

Image Via The Girl from Panama

Image Via Penny Pincher Fashion

Via Fashion Tasty 

Summer is slowly transitioning into fall and fashion experts have been quick to offer useful advice on how to make this transition seamless, attractive and more importantly - wearable and comfortable.

Glamour, InStyle and More Fashion have compiled the most interesting pieces for transitional styling combinations.

1. Blazer to top it off

Put on a blazer or a jacket over summer dresses or strapless tops and trousers/jeans for a modern and stylish look.

Via Pinterest

2. Extend shorts season

 Via Pinterest

You don't have to put away your favouite pair of shorts. You can extend their wear by putting on some tights under for the chilly mornings.

3.  Scarf it up

Via Pinterest

 Scarf - the all time favourite accessory is the perfect thing to wrap it around and add a sophisticated glam to any outfit.

4. Don't kick off the sandals

Via LucLuc, TopJewelryPicks, BlogStyleEstate

Experts suggest you prolong summer shoes wearing season as long as it is practical and tasteful. Preserve the summer for a bit longer.

5. Layering is always in!

 Via Room Suggestion

The winning combination. Experiment with layering and don't be afraid to mix and match!