Jury Duty Fashion

So, last month, I got a letter in the mail that we all dread...  A jury duty summons.

However, last week was not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be.  It really consists of long hours of just sitting and waiting.  So, if you've never had to do it, don't stress over it!  Just think of it as time to turn off your phone and get away from the outside world.  Kind of like a vacation... Well, not really.

If you've been working for yourself, like me, sometimes it's hard to remember what you wore in the "real world" when you had to actually get "dressed up" everyday.   Lately, me getting dressed up means that I wear my "nice" yoga pants or Nike shorts.  This week, I took it as a challenge to pair some of the things I haven't worn in a while, accessorize, and just go for it!   This post breaks down what I wore each day and maybe it will inspire your fashion too for jury duty, or for work.

Day 1:

Since it's been nearly a thousand degrees here in the South every day this month, I tried to wear something that was cool, but something that I  could wear a sweater over, for how chilly it was in the courthouse.  

This pink top actually came from Sam's Club a couple of years ago and is the perfect length.  

The black dress pants are from The Limited and are a staple in my work wardrobe.

The strappy Steve Madden shoes are from Belk.

The tan cozy sweater is from Old Navy last year.  

Day 2:

I went with the same idea each day of wearing a sleeveless top and a sweater.  

This white peplum top has adorable embroidered edging around the bottom and it came from Old Navy for only $8, this Spring!  

The black dress pants are from The Limited.

The animal print kitten heeled flats have been one of my favorite pairs of shoes for so many years. I've even had to get the heel replaced once and I paid maybe $6 for them at Target on clearance over 5 years ago.  I don't know what I would do without them!

The tan cozy sweater is from Old Navy last year.  

The tassel necklace is one of my designs.  Check it out on my Etsy shop! 

Day 3:

I am loving the whole palm print this Summer!  So, when I found this top at TJ Maxx AND it had pink tassels around the bottom of it, I had to have it!    

These black dress pants are perfect!  They're from Express and have the best stretch to them.  These are the "Columnist" fit.

I also love these chunky tan heels from Belk.  They truly go great with any outfit!  They're made by New Direction.

The off white cable sweater is from Belk several years ago.  I feel like it's one of those timeless pieces that you can keep forever. I love the detail around the front of it too.

The necklace is one of my designs.  Check it out on my Etsy shop! 

The bracelet is also one of my designs and is inspired from the Bourbon and Bowties bracelets.

Day 4:

This burnt orange, rust colored shirt has been one of my favorites for over a year now!  It's from Anthropologie  and goes perfectly with dress pants, jeans, or just about anything!  It's slightly longer in the back and the front is silk and blousy.  

The black dress pants are from The Limited and are cropped skinny leg.

The tan heels are also from Target and are Merona brand.  I bought this pair and a coral pair last year and paid about $8 a pair on clearance.  So chic, and no one would ever know they were $8 shoes!

The tan cozy sweater is the same one from Old Navy last year.  

The bracelets are my design and also some of the bracelets that I wore on my wedding day in 2014.

Check out this blog post for details from my wedding.

New Patriotic Napkin Rings!

I'm so in love with these adorable burlap red, white and blue napkin rings!

You may remember the burlap bunny rabbit napkin rings from Spring.  Before Easter, I sold over 230 of those precious little bunny ears!   Since those did so well, I knew that we needed to create something similar with burlap, but for Summer.  My mom came up with this design and I absolutely love it!  Last week, she finished an order of 70 of them, for a wedding in Washington.  I'm so thankful for her!

Please check out my Etsy shop for these burlap, red, white, and blue napkin rings and many other Painter Designs items!

4.28.17 Friday Favorites

I've been totally inspired by the beach this week!  I think I'm in desperate need of a vacation, to feel the sand between my toes!  That inspiration, is where I'm channeling this week's Friday Favorites.

Think Palm Beach.  Palm Trees. Bright colors. Warm sun.  Cocktails.  Pool Party. ;)

Here's this week's Friday Favorites list, the things that caught my eye and made me swoon.

1.  Lyford Cay Villa Pool from Veranda Magazine 

This week, Veranda Magazine shared this gorgeous 1960s home in the Bahamas on their Facebook page.  How beautiful is this pool and backyard?  Not only could the homeowners swim in crystal blue Caribbean water, they can relax in this dreamy backyard sanctuary.  I can just envision perfect poolside cocktail parties with pineapple swizzle sticks, long flowy dresses, and gold flip flops.

2. Wheaton Whaley Designs Towels

Fellow Greenvillian, Elizabeth Wheaton, owner of Wheaton Whaley Designs, posted these tropical towels this week on Instagram.  I am so in love with this pattern and the pop of bright pink!

3. Sugar Magnolia Cake Boutique Confetti Cake

Sugar Magnolia Cake Boutique always shares gorgeous cakes!  This one really caught my eye!  I haven't always been a fan of the new "naked" cake trend, but I absolutely love it on this funfetti inspired cake! The pops of color make this tiered cake simply perfect!

4.  Milly Black Peplum Gown

When I saw this Milly banded-shoulder peplum gown this week in my Neiman Marcus email, I fell in love.  There's nothing more classic than a simple black dress, but this one has a touch of trendy.  It's the perfect mix of classy and fun.  Pair it with some simple gold flip flops, bright earrings, and it's the perfect dress for a Summer cocktail party. 

5. Jack Rogers Pineapple Flip Flops

As a Southern girl, I love my Jack Rogers!  These gold pineapple Jack Rogers are perfect for Summer and any outfit!

6.  Painter Designs Turquoise and Pink Tassel Necklace

Nothing says Spring and Summer to me more than the combination of turquoise and bright pink.  I've always loved these two colors!  Check out my Etsy shop to order this necklace and other new Spring and Summer trends!

2.17.17 Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! It's been a busy Valentine's Day week, but a wonderful one, spending time with my husband, family, and friends!

Here's my Valentine's Day week, Friday Favorites list, the things that caught my eye and made me swoon this week! 

1. Apple Pencil 

One of my Valentine's Day presents was an Apple Pencil, which I am super excited to use with my iPad Pro and the Pro Create app! Typography has always been one of my favorites and I'm excited to learn more about hand lettering and graphic illustration on my iPad!

2. Kate Spade Keds

How adorable are these Kate Spade Keds?! I'm all about some comfy shoes, but sometimes adorable and fashionable, don't always go hand in hand with comfort. These are both! They would be perfect for running errands or even dressing up for Sunday brunch.  Adorable!

3. Mint Tassel Earrings 

With the warm weather we've had, I couldn't resist being in the spring trends spirit. So, I decided to make some new tassel earrings to add to the Etsy shop.  I am loving these mint tassels! They would be perfect for any spring or summer outfit, and adorable with your favorite Lilly Pulitzer dress!

4. Southern Pressed Juicery

I was so excited to try Southern Pressed Juicery this week at a Valentine's Day pop-up, helping my sweet friend Tabathia of The Adorned Fox.   Since we were there most of the day, I tried the Honeysuckle Dew smoothie for breakfast and the Mama's Jam parfait for lunch.  Both were amazing and so fresh!  Plus, the Mama's Jam is almost too pretty to eat!  Check it out in that cute glass jar!

5.  Jones Gap State Park

I remember the first time I went to Jones Gap with my husband and his family.  We were only dating then, and it was in the fall of 2009.  Since then, it's been one of our favorite places to hike.  The views are gorgeous and it's a fairly easy trail, if you're not an avid hiker.  My husband and I went for a hike on Sunday and it was beautiful!  It had been way too long since we had been there.  If you've never been to Jones Gap State Park, you need to check it out!  It's only a short drive from Greenville.

6. Life Of Bliss Blog - Wreath

I started following LifeofBlissBlog on Instagram this week, after I came across this image.  I love absolutely everything about it!  The wreath, the flowers, the pillows...  All. of. it. !!  Her page is gorgeous and it inspires me to redecorate my whole house in Spring decor!  Beautiful!

DIY - How to Hang a Wreath from a Mirror

I've seen all of these gorgeous pins and posts lately with beautiful green wreaths attached to mirrors in living rooms and dining rooms and I just fell in love with that look!  Since I would consider myself quite the DIYer, I thought I would attempt it!

Well, hanging a wreath to a mirror wasn't quite as easy as I thought it would be originally.

Our dining room mirror is attached to the wall with two nails and two hooks on back of the mirror.  At first, I thought I would just attach a string and the ribbon to the wiring at the back of the mirror...  So, that totally messed up that plan.

After some thinking and Googling, I decided to get some 3M Command Strip Hooks.  I probably won't always want a wreath over this mirror throughout the year.  So, I didn't want to cause any damage to the wall or to the mirror. Therefore, hanging it directly above the mirror frame on the wall, was the easiest thing to do.

So, I went to  the store and found these little guys.

First, I measured the width of the framed mirror, because I wanted to make sure that the wreath was centered.  I measured it as close to  the top of the frame that I could. After I found the center point of the mirror, I used chalk and made a small dot on the wall right above the mirror to mark the center point.  

Next, I used two of the Command hooks, since they are only good for 1/2 of a pound each, I wanted to make sure that the hooks would hold the wreath.  I put a Command Strip on the wall on the left side of the chalk mark and I put another command strip on the right side of the chalk mark.  (Make sure to follow the instructions that come with the Command Strips).  After you attach the hooks, apply pressure to the hooks for 30 seconds each, to make sure that they are adhered correctly to the wall.  

Now, I needed  to attach the ribbon around the wreath and then create a bow to cover up the hooks on the top.  I simply cut one strip of ribbon to loop around the bow, for it to hang at the appropriate length, in the middle of the mirror.  I honestly, just eyeballed this part and didn't measure.  (I hate to measure anything if I can get by with it!)  Then, I used two safety pins to quickly attach the ribbon at both ends, for a sturdy and seamless loop.  You could definitely stitch up the ends to make a loop, but I wanted this to be as easy to remove as possible and didn't want to waste my plaid ribbon, when I changed it out.  Hey, I'm thrifty!

For the next step, I needed a bow to cover up the small Command hooks above the mirror.  I found this awesome video by Michaels on YouTube and used it to create the plaid bow.  Where she uses pipe cleaners to attach the bow together, I used floral wire.  Surprisingly, I have no pipe cleaners in all of my craft stuff!  So, I just cut off about an eight inch piece of craft/floral wire to wrap around the bow and secured it in the back like you would a twist tie.  This excess will be what you attach the bow to the original loop that you created and the hooks, so make sure that you wrap it around and it is pulled tight in the back of the bow.  

You can see in the picture above, where I wrapped the wire around and looped it around throughout the back of the bow.

I am so happy with the finished product! No, it wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be, but it looks beautiful for the Christmas season, and its nothing permanent that did any damage to the wall or mirror!  Happy decorating and DIYing friends!

Check out my next post on my first wreath flocking experience!

Follow me on Instagram for more shots of my Christmas decorations!

09.16.16 Friday Favorites

Happy Friday Ya'll!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!  Here's a look of the things that caught my eye and made me swoon throughout this week!

1.  Sierra Metal Designs Necklace

I originally saw this necklace on Facebook this week, but I think it's absolutely precious!  I love the simplicity of the bar necklace and the words "Trust in the Lord" engraved on it.  Beautiful and inspiring!  

2.  The Savannah Bag Co. 

I've been following the Savannah Bag Co., on Instagram for a while now and can't get enough of these cute little totes!  They would be the perfect gift to bring back to a family member or bestie after a trip to Savannah!  Keep up the cuteness, Savannah Bag Co!  And maybe make one for Greenville, SC! ;) 

3.  Stephendipity Art

Stephanie Griswold's art is so inspiring to me!   When she shared this one this week, I fell in love!  I love the colors, and the abstractness of this painting.  I feel like it would be awesome as a HUGE canvas or even as a tiny painting.  Regardless the size, it has impact! 

4.  Rusticpigdesigns Entryway Decor

I recently acquired an old typewriter and I've been trying to figure out what to do with it.  This week, as I was looking through Instagram, I came across rusticpigdesigns and saw her entryway.  Love it! And guess what?  They're a typewriter on her entryway table!  I love how she incorporated it here with family pictures, the "thankful" sign and pumpkins.  

5.  Outdoor Firepit on Home Beautiful

Us southern girls love a good bonfire or firepit!  House Beautiful shared a list of the best Fall Outdoor spaces and this one was my favorite!  How cozy does this look?

6.  Infinity Scarf

I might be a tad biased on this last one, but I love how fun and cozy this cream colored infinity scarf turned out this week!  I'm on a tassel kick, so of course they were added to this new scarf and I'm really liking it!  

I'm all Decorated for Fall!

Fall is my absolute favorite season and I love decorating for it, almost as much as I do for Christmas!
This year, I added a few new pieces to my decor, to go with some of the decorations I've had for years.  Here are a few pictures of my fall decor!

This handmade pumpkin was my mom's and I've acquired it.  I decorate with it every year. ;)

This gray and mint table is in my foyer and I loved the way that it was already decorated.  The framed picture is of various antique Swedish calling cards from the early 1900s.  It was my great uncle's and my grandparents gave it to me when we moved into our house.  The Tiffany lamp was my grandmother's who passed away this past April and I feel like the lamp and the calling card picture were made to go together.  I simply added small pumpkins in my mint bowl, on the bottom of the table to give this area somewhat of a "fall" look.  

This antique tea cart was my great aunt's and I was so excited to use it in my dining room!  

The flower arrangement was on my dining room table, but I love how it looks on the tea cart!

This little Autumn Greetings sign came from the Dollar Tree for only $1!  I thought it was super cute and it's hanging on my China Cabinet.  

This gorgeous pumpkin came from TJ Maxx this year. 

Marshalls had these cornucopias for only $1.99 this year!  Needless to say, between my mom and I, we bought them all!

These antique milk glass vases were also my grandmother's.  To decorate for fall, I put Spanish moss inside, and put one of these cute gold pumpkins on top of each vase. 

My dining room

I found these placemats this year for my kitchen table and they are the exact same pattern that my dining room table runner is!  Of course, I had to have them! 

My mom bought this copper 3 tier stand for me a few years ago and it has been perfect for parties, decorating, etc!  I simply wrapped a fall garland around it and tucked in these ceramic pumpkins on each level.  

Nothing says fall to me more than plaid and pumpkins.  I loved this Isaac Mizrahi white and gray plaid throw that I found at TJ Maxx.  I thought it was a great way to transition the couch into fall and winter.

My husband actually picked out these glass pumpkins at Costco for us!  

Meet Amy the cute Halloween Witch.  Mom bought her for me several years ago and she's been one of my favorite Halloween decorations since!

How do you decorate for fall?  Use the hashtag #painterdesignslovesfall to show me how you and your family decorate your home for fall and Halloween!  Happy decorating my friends!