The Revival of Macrame

Macrame.  A lost art?

Think again!  Macrame is back in a big way!  In fact, it's back and hanging in the room I'm staging as an office!  I told you I was changing up the vibe in this house.

I love how this piece adds depth and texture to my office wall.  I also love how you just don't see macrame everywhere.........it's different, maybe unexpected, and definitely one of a kind!  Not to mention, it's the work of a fiber artist, my friend Layne.  She made that beautiful piece.

But let's back up a little bit.

Not too long ago, my friend Layne asked to interview me about my favorite hobby!  She wanted to know a little bit more about my thrifting skills.  Funny thing is, I wanted to know a little bit more about her favorite hobby too.........macrame!  So we traded interviews!  You can check out my interview at her blog The Room Journal.  And you can stay put to hear more about Layne's favorite hobby.......

How did you get into macrame?
My dad got me interested in macrame.  He made a lot of plant hangers, etc, back in the 70's, and he taught me a few knots. But then I became obsessed with it a few years ago when I discovered the work of Sally England.  Seeing her work made me start getting serious about learning more advanced knots.  I am self-taught, using vintage macrame books and YouTube videos.

Tell me about your Etsy shop name Viola Maye....
When I first started my Etsy shop, I called it "Eck Art."  I just couldn't think of a anything pretty, so I went with something silly. But I really wanted to find a name that had a nice sound to it.  Then one day I was digging through a drawer and came across something that had my grandma's first and middle name on it, and realized how much I liked the sound of her name, so I went with that.

What different items can you make? 
I offer pre-made and made-to-order macrame items, including wall hangings and plant hangers.  I also take custom orders.

What materials do you use?
I use cotton rope.  I also use driftwood I find along the coast of Puget Sound.

What gave you the idea of finding driftwood along Puget Sound to use?
I've noticed so many macrame artists using lots of different things to tie knots from ~ dowels, copper rods, lucite, driftwood, etc.  I've always loved the driftwood the best, so I was pretty thrilled when I discovered my new home in the Pacific Northwest had plenty of interesting pieces of driftwood everywhere I look.

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I have driftwood from Puget Sound hanging in my house?!?!?!  That is pretty darn cool!!!  AND YOU COULD TOO!  Layne is offering 20% off orders over $50!  Use the code VINTAGEGROVE20 to receive the discount!  Hop on over to Viola Maye to snag a beautiful piece of your own!  Or you can buy the piece named Evelyn for ME.  I have lots more wall space to fill, and I've had my eye on Evelyn since she added it to her shop!

We can call it an early Christmas present!

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You can find Layne on the internets at.....

*her shop: www.violamaye.etsy.com

*her blog: theroomjournal.com

*on Instagram: @layneeckhardt

Linking up with Two Thirty-Five Designs

Vintage Rug Dreams

Have you ever scared a FedEx driver by doing a little jig on the porch as he walked up your steps with an extra exciting delivery? It's possible that happened here a few months ago when my vintage Turkish rug was delivered.

Yes.  Months ago.  And I'm just now showing it off?  Yep.  For a great reason.  I could not find a rug pad in this town that I deemed good enough for this antique baby of mine.  And without a rug pad, the rug was bunching and shifting a lot.  So I rolled it up and put it away until recently......

More on the rug......when we got our new furniture, I knew I wanted a rug to anchor the space.  I knew I wanted a vintage kilim. And after lots of online searching, I found the perfect one via the Turkish Rug Man!  I loved the design and colors, and of course, it was just the right size!

But, like I said, it wasn't staying in place on slick hardwood floors without a rug pad, since vintage kilims are thinner than rugs tend to be nowadays.  So the day it was delivered, I went to - no joke - FIVE STORES in town to look for a rug pad.  All I found in each store was a pressed plastic pad, which I'd had no luck with in the past.  Which tend to smell a little chemical-esque. Which I feared would damage the rug and possibly, the hardwoods too, which are original to our house!

There was no way I was putting a plastic pad under this vintage dream of mine.

Enter the Rug Pad Corner who completely saved the day!  They make pads that are 100% chemical and glue free.  This meant, no strange smell coming from the pad.  It also meant that my rug and floors would not be damaged.  Annnnd they are made in the USA!

They had a few to choose from that would work with hardwoods floors.  I decided to go with one called the Ultra Premium. The Ultra Premium rug pad is everything I'd hoped for.  First of all, when I opened the package, there was no scent to the pad at all!  No chemical smell whatsoever.  Next, the pad flattened out immediately!  I didn't have to wait to throw the rug on top! The felt side went against the rug and held it in place.......

Since vintage rugs tend to have odd dimensions, another feature I love, is that they are made and cut to be custom to your rug! They cut mine to be just a tad smaller than my rug, meaning no pad peeks out!

During the short time I actually left the rug out - pre-pad - my rug would shift a lot, especially with my rambunctious pups. Once the pad was underneath, my rug has not budged an inch.  It would also bunch up under the coffee table before.  Now there is no bunching, since the felt seems to adhere to the rug, and the rubber side grips to my hardwoods nicely......

The pad also adds a little depth to my pretty thin rug!  It's about 1/3" thick, which is the perfect amount of cushion underfoot!

To say I'm happy with this pad is an understatement.  For any future rugs I purchase, vintage or not, I will definitely be using a pad from the Rug Pad Corner.  And you should too!  Use the code REVIEW15 for 15% off your purchase!

Good thing I wasn't home when the rug pad was delivered.  I would have scared the UPS driver too!  I was so excited about finally getting put the rug down for good, I might have tackled him!

*I received this rug pad in exchange for an honest review via the Rug Pad Corner!*

Essential Oils

Don't roll your eyes at me.

I know oils are trendy right now.  I see those Facebook and Pinterest posts daily too.

That's why I waited almost a year to talk about them on the blog.  I wanted to give them a chance before I could stand behind them ~ or not.

I took the leap because of my migraines.

I had tried acupuncture.  I had even tried massage therapy.  Nothing worked.  So why not give oils a shot?

Now, I'm not only a believer, I might be a bit of an addict.....

This post could get out of control, so I'll keep it focused on the original reason I joined Young Living:  migraines.

The last time I ran to the pharmacy to get my meds, the pharmacist said, "You never come in anymore!"

No kidding.  It's true!

Before oils, I was going in about every four weeks to buy another round of Treximet.  Since I started using oils to combat them, I have been to the pharmacy twice.  Twice in almost a year's time.  As opposed to monthly visits.

The oil Stress Away has been my favorite for nipping them in the bud.  I roll it on my temples or neck, and usually within ten minutes, I forget that I was feeling the onset of a migraine.

I have a lot of other favorites too, which help with different things (sleep, germ fighting).  I could go on and on.

Is this the birth of a series?  Maybe!!!!!  

Questions???  Please ask!

Essential Oils Bag:  Has To Be Pretty

Linking up with:  Because Shanna Said So

A Mid-century Christmas

The mister and I have never mailed out Christmas photo cards.  Unless you count the card Sir Chester posed for.

This year though, we didn't have a reason not to.  All because some friends had a vision.  A vision of a mid-century styled photo shoot.  With era appropriate furniture and clothing!!  A vintage-themed photo shoot?  Yes please!

I was so excited that BR Photography asked us to be included in the fun!

And speaking of fun, Funtiques in Ozark, MO was the perfect venue for a shoot such as this.  Funtiques had little mid-century vignettes staged, annnnd they had already decked the halls!

This was also my first chance to wear the vintage dress of my dreams that had been hanging in my closet for two years...... 

The mister was such a good sport!!!

And between you and me, he was really pleased with the outcome.  So much so, he was on board with the whole Christmas photo card idea......

So a huge THANK YOU to BR Photography who totally made this possible and had a perfect idea of a stylized Mad Men-esque shoot.  We had so much fun.

And I got the mister on a Christmas card!  #winning

Merry Christmas!!!

Linking up with:

Two Thirty-Five Designs 
Still Being Molly

Find BR Photography:

On Instagram

On Facebook

Summer Sunnies

Yesterday was the last day of school!!!  Which means summer break is here!  And that means I've got to get started on my summer to-do list.

One thing I like to accomplish in the summer (so I don't have to get a sub) is making all the doctor rounds.  Dentist and optometrist included.

Boring, I know.

But not when you've got an exciting reason to see the eye doctor, right?  When a new line of sunglasses roll out (and you really should update your prescription) and you know exactly what you'd like to purchase.

Yes, gone are the days of my disposable Old Navy sunglasses.  I loved buying fun, silly styles when I didn't need prescription glasses.  But now that I need them, I have to be more selective.  And obviously cost, quality, and style are all important factors. 

Enter Warby Parker and their new Karlie Kloss Collection......

The frames in this collection are right up my alley.  Exactly what I've been looking for in my next pair of prescription sunglasses.  They are classy with a fun twist.

I have my eye on (HA!) the Marple in Heirloom Gold........

However, the Clara and Julia frames are equally fun.  (Oh, and if you don't need prescription sunglasses, no worries........that is just an option!)

One last benefit of ordering?  Not only does a portion of the sale go to a specific charity selected by Karlie herself, but Warby Parker donates a pair to someone in need.

So it's a win-win.

A cute, stylish pair for you, while you are helping two charitable causes with one purchase!  So go check out the collection today!

Which pair would you like to sport at the pool this summer?

*I was not compensated or given product to express my opinion of this company or collection.  The opinions are my own.*