Meaghan's Muse: December 2010

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Window Inspirations

Some days I am inspired by just looking out my window and I just have to go with it! This week I challenge you to get inspired by the little things in life:)

The great thing about being an art teacher is that I get some time off for the holiday season! I promised myself that I would spend my week making things and going fun places.

I have been getting into necklaces lately. Look at these cool necklaces from Vintagemint.com.

Necklaces
My sister got me a vintage necklace for Christmas!

My first project of the week, tasseled necklaces.

I got the idea from Vintage Lune.

Here are my creations! They are so easy to make and they take 5 minutes.

French music goes perfectly with winter craft making. I am in love with Carla Bruni's Music. My sister bought me her C.D. for Christmas!

This week I took a trip to Fredrick. I ate lunch at this really cute restaurant called,
J T's Little Deli . It was very affordable and adorable.I felt like I was eating lunch in someone's dinning room.

I found handmade paper from Nepal at Terressentials 115 E Patrick St Frederick Maryland. It's one of my favorite shops to go to.

I also found a little French shop called, Evangeline-The Colors of Provence. The women gives tours in France every June and September. I would love to go some time!! Check out this website for more information. http://www.francestuf.com/etravels/.

Old friend coffee conversations at the Bean Hollow.

I made a pinhole camera this week! I will share with you later how the pictures turned out:)

This week my sister and I have been daydreaming about going to Iceland someday:) Don't ask me why.

I guess all this French stuff is starting to rub off on me! For New Years Eve I decided to wear something inspired by the French. My favorite French fashion blog is, MissPandora.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Tis the Season to be Creative

December seemed to sneak up on me unexpectedly this year. I was kind of nervous because I knew I only had a few weeks to come up with amazing gift ideas for not only Christmas, but Birthdays too! I always want to make my holiday cards and gifts. If there is one holiday out of the entire year that I need to use my creative skills for it should be Christmas! Plus I am an Art Teacher which means there is NO excuse! Of course I put a whole lot of pressure on myself to come up with new ideas different from last year. But I took it one day at a time and approached it like I would any other piece of artwork. I am proud to say that I am almost completely done! Even my Christmas cards are finished( which I will share with you later):)

I also have one celebration to check off my list. The holiday season started with my Boyfriend's Birthday which happens to fall in the month of December! So I got it in my head to make Steeler colored cupcakes(since he is a huge Steelers fan)! I would not consider myself a baker AT ALL, but I think they turned out pretty well considering!

I wanted my cupcakes to look like Martha Stuart made them. I knew I had to get special icing tips. When I went out in search of icing tips, I happened upon a box of cork and felt flowers that were only $5 originally priced at $14 at Tuesday Mornings! I'm super excited to use them on my gifts.

I couldn't help attaching the flowers to everything as soon as I got home!

Christmas gift

I knew my bag needed something to set it apart from all the other brown leather bags that exist in the world;)

I have gotten into lace this winter! I absolutely love Free People's holiday boutique lookbook. Black and white can look so fab! Going out to dinner to Portalli's for a birthday dinner was a perfect excuse to wear a free people inspired outfit!

I have about four pairs of lace stockings that I love to wear. Sometimes it is too cold to wear them so I came up with my own solution! I wear leggings or another solid pairs of tights underneath. It makes my stockings look different depending on which colored leggings I wear underneath! Now I can wear my lace stockings even on a cold snowy day:)

I also tried Free Peoples holiday make-up idea.

I think lace looks amazing with a vintage rose ring like the one I am wearing from Vintage Girls.

My complete outfit inspired by free people holiday boutique!

Record players are so vintage! I decided to give one as a Birthday gift. Lune Vintage Girl had great tips on finding records. A thrift store just opened up near my house and I am excited to tell you that I found a Kiss record for $1.50 that went perfectly with my gift!

Here are my christmas cards that I decided to make this year. I got my idea from The Crafty Fox Blog. I didn't want to use typical Christmas colors so I used variations of red and green.

I also got scrap booking paper from Michael's Craft store to make my paper collage cards.

I know these songs have nothing to do with Christmas, but I am totally in love with them:)

That's it for now! To be continued....:)<3 Meags

Sometimes when I get bored I play music with my sister. It's fun to pretend we know what we're doing;) Here is one of our favorite songs by First Aide Kit.

Have a Very Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Unique Gift Ideas

I don't know about you, but I love finding unique items to give as Christmas gifts. Here are a few of my favorite items found on Etsy.com

These hats make me want to be a kid!!

Children's hats

Snowflake Earrings

Handknit chunky scarf

Green Feathered Headband

Hat with Teal Fox

Moccasins

Vintage Mushroom Containers

little house slippers

Vintage Mugs

Art Box

bandeau feather headband

Handmade Vintage Stripe Afghan

My Personal Favorite:)

Vintage beaded Native American Boots

Sunday, December 12, 2010

NYC Nostalgia

NYC is where it all began. The city always reminds me of my family, because it is the first place where my great Grandpa and Grandma breathed American air. I've listened to so many stories told by my relatives about NYC that it makes me feel like it is my city too. When I go to New York I feel like I'm going home.