{Fabric & Threads} Borrowed, Bargained, Black & Tan

New series alert: I thought it might be fun to share with you my favorite outfits every once and awhile! The rules are simple. Whatever I share with you must be a look that that was frugal {either thrifted, hand-me-down, borrowed, or on super sale}, brings together vintage with modern, or that has some other element of style fitting to Pearls Poppies Pinkies Up (DIY, handmade, etc). I'd love to know your thoughts on this type of series!

The Look: Sushi Date Night
Teal Purse UO $10, Polka Dot Sweater OLD NAVY, Baubles DIY

I just loved this polkadot sweater, first noticed at Happily Grey. I was not even planning on the purchase until I was in Old Navy while revamping my fall work wardrobe and realized with the sale they had going on that the top only cost $15! Tired of summer clothing, yet still warding off the heat, I paired this top with dark denim shorts, my diy colorblocked necklace, and an old teal UO purse. 

The Look: Dressy Downtown Work Event

Black Dress GAP sale, Vintage Necklace BORROWED, Tan Wedges URBAN OUTFITTERS sale

What to wear to an awards breakfast at the aquarium, that just so happens to also be your first day of work? I went for a classy neckline and neutral tones. Black, tan, with a pop of gold. I definitely did not want to be the new girl that sticks out of the crowd, but I did want to be the new girl who is remembered for grace, personality, and sincerity (and a classy fashion sense). My favorite black dress left me feeling confident (as well as the confidence in my heart and soul, of course) while meeting all of my new coworkers. And the gold and black beaded necklace (borrowed from my lovely neighbor!) added a touch of vintage feel. And did I mention that there was also a tiger show? Yes, there was. There was a tiger show on my first day of work. 

Three month Blogiversary,100th post, and a feature!

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This post is significant because it is the first of triple digits! Post ONE HUNDRED! Let's celebrate! Because it is also this little blog's three month anniversary! Boy have we been busy or what? Thank you so much to all of you loyal readers and fellow bloggers for loving and caring for this creative outlet. Affordable design, diy, thrifting, old meets new, pretty meets functional, design inspiration, frugal fashion and other bits of lovely have found their home here. Now, go share with your friends about Pearls Poppies Pinkies Up! {As a milestone marker, a fun new board was created on Pinterest--over here. AND to top it off, today the hand painted hour glass tea towel was featured at Hi Sugarplum!--over here}. Happy Friday!

Thoughts for Thursday: Leopard Print.

This weekend, these shoes found me. I had fallen for a similar pair back in March when reading this post by Jenny at The Little Green Notebook. Now, compliments of Target, there is a little bit of leopard print in my life. And now for a bit of color {print} translation:

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I just love this rug! I think that leopard print can really bring some interest to an otherwise neutral palette. The clover shape of that chair back is darling also. I am craving a scoop of vanilla icecream in a cone after looking at this one.

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And what about this print for fall? This dress would be lovely with tights (black or navy) and boots. And I also love the messy twist the girl in this photo has done with her hair. We should ask the ladies at Le Coeur De La Vie what they think.

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The mix of leopard on the staircase combined with the red plaid rug in the hallway, large artwork, orange upholstered chair, and classic decor items like the vase creates a very modern yet traditional mix.

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Not only do I love the end of the bed bench (and how wide it is!), the print, books, and frames on the wall make me so curious about the couple who lives here! And I must ask this simple question, what are your thoughts on leopard print? 

My Morning Cup.

This week I have been sharing with you a few simple things related to design, diy, organization, thrifting, style, etc. In case you missed the short, sweet, and simple posts this weekso far, you can check them out here and here. Life has been so full and so lively, I've had to set my paintbrush, organizing, and thrifting aside a bit {Because I recently was offered a new job and start this Friday!}. I am sure you can relate to crazy busy. 

Confession, coffee has become my latest vice. I'm not sure when this turn came about in my life. But its here. And although I am so busy lately, I still try to enjoy my coffee time each morning. I love that warm cup of Jo--yet, if you are like me, the start of your day is on this sort of time table where every minute counts, and sometimes making coffee can take too much of that time! I have had to compromise my a.m. routine a bit so that I can enjoy a few minutes out front with my lab-shepherd mix Shelby each morning before I head off to work. During these minutes out front, this is vital: Warm cup in hand, cool breeze to start the day, and a  9 year old pup running about the dewy grass. 

A system that has really worked to give me that extra morning time and still provide me with a warm cup of coffee, is to have an organized prep area and coffee grounds at the ready. We buy our coffee as whole beans, and in bulk, to be a bit more frugal. I love my beans whole, because I can taste the freshness, which I love {don't you?}. But this means the beans need to meet the grinder. We've gotten in the habit of grinding beans for a few days worth and storing them in an air tight container {it still keeps the freshness!}. This takes away the entire grinding process in the morning. One less step means more time for something else! Keeping all of our mugs, beans, filters, and french press in one place also helps with coffee prep. Less time moving about the kitchen!

 

On the topic of coffee and breakfast {and to show you that Potterybarn style can be thrifted} check out these darling letter pressed plates I found at the Goodwill. For one dollar even! It is little lovelies like this that make an 'in a hurry breakfast' not lacking design delight and thrifted elements. Do you find time at the start of each day to enjoy five minutes of a warm morning cup, devotionals, or fresh air? What have you made efficient and organized within your morning routine? 

Birchbox drawer organizers!

Have you ever heard of Birchbox? Well, the only thing you need to know for this little post is that the fun goodies that arrive each month come in these cute rectangle boxes. These boxes are the perfect size for drawer organization. And this is the photographic story of how I keep my organized drawer, thanks to Birchbox {and a handfull of other little cardbaord boxes}. I hope to organize my next drawer with a collection of tiny bowls and thrifted china dishes!

 

What simple ways do you keep your drawers organized? Anyone else out there find fun ways to repurpose boxes? (and...a funny parody on BIRCHBOX man -- over here)

Cheer up that lowly bottle.

Retired Bottles: Nothing cheers up a room more than a blooming flower stretching its petals toward sunlight. And to  the vintage lover or farm girl at heart, using retired milk bottles as a bud vase makes that blooming flower even more endearing. Repurposing items that may otherwise stay forgotten is something that I love. Fear not lowly bottle, you have a life purpose after your dairy days and after traveling from porch to porch with the milk man! Bottles like these can be found at flea markets, garage sales, or like in my case, at a thrift store. I lucked out and found this bottle for $1 (and they go from upwards $15 on eBay!). And to my delight, while enjoying my most recent coffee table book Found, Free, & Flea, I came across a photograph of milk bottles being used as bud vases. With red print on the bottles and all. Aren't they darling in a picnic table setting? What not a better way to add that old home feel to any table or room.

Reusing Tin: The red color pop under my found bottle is a tin lid from a Voluspa candle. I save the Voluspa tin after the candle is used up and find ways to repurpose them around the house. I've used them as tiny tin gift boxes, a container for bobby pins, a button tin, loose change jar, and a place to keep little notes and words of encouragement. Here the red works perfect as a little coaster for the bottle turned vase. The tins are too pretty to throw away! 

 And yes, the top of this dresser is rearranged for the tenth time this month ;) 

Thoughts for Thursday: Brave the Thrift

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Have you ever stepped into a thrift store and immediately found yourself just. so. lost. And this is after your first shock of musty smell and not so aesthetically appealing display. The motivation and courage you mustered up to get your booty in the door begins to waiver and you start to ask yourself, why didn't I just go to Nordstrom Rack? Home Goods? Or anywhere else but here? Even the thriftiest have felt this way, I'm certain (or at least, I can vouche for myself here). It takes some getting used to. A crafted skill you might say. To be able to quickly sift through and skim the surface for the good, skipping the bad and the ugly. After time and time again in a Goodwill/Sals, I have been able to craft my eye for the thrift. Even when looking at clothing, I am open minded yet at times when I have a mission like "look for work clothes" or "be open for prints". Having a bit of direction when walking into a thrift store can really help the whole experience. Yet, there are times too where I walk in and wander and have no agenda at all. I'm going to send you over to A Beautiful Mess where you can be visually inspired by the thrift in photographs and also follow along with Elsie's Thrift Store Tips! I loved this blog post when I first read it, and rather than recreate something similar, just go see what those stylish ladies have to say about thrifting for yourself! A few of my favorite of Elsie's tips include: Keeping a list of running wants & needs. Don't forget the little things. It's okay not to find a 'find'. Happy thrifting!

{And, on another note: Exciting non-blogging news, I (Lauren) have taken on a new role in my full time profession working in the field of Child Development, and will be working in a new position as an administrator in the heart of Downtown Denver! This means that my free time is drastically cut back, so you may be seeing a little bit of a change around the blog. I do promise to keep Pearls Poppies Pinkies Up going and growing! I appreciate each and every one of my readers and so love this little creative outlet of mine. There may just be a few changes here and there, ie. a few more articles like this one sending you to my blog faves or maybe a missed day or two at times! Just wanted to be real and tell you what is going on with me in the non blogging world. XO, Lauren}

Photography in Blogging

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Photography in blogging can either draw the reader in or push the reader away. I have found myself countless times getting hooked on a blog first because my jaw drops at the visual interest, and then second because I fall in love with the content. Love at first {photograph} sight? Maybe. Something I have always admired about my favorite blogs are the vibrant photographs, the way they edit and keep just the right amount of visual points to tell a story, and the styling behind it all. The photographs seem intentional and just as thought-worthy as the articles themselves. Whether it be a blog like Thoughts By Natalie, with one key photograph that seamlessly compliments the heart of the article and the thought provoking words; or a fashion blog like Happily Grey telling a styling a story with a  collection of shots portraying movement, stature, and fashionable grace; or a blog like Crafternoon Delight with images that are vibrant yet soft, making it feel as if you could just sit right there in the photograph and sip a cup of tea or warm your soul with a a friend nearby crafting away with you. All of these photography styles draw the reader, me in this case, in. And quite often, it's the simple photographs, of the little things, that inspire me the most. A few of my other visual favorites are A Beautiful Mess, Darling Magazine, & Oh Happy Day. What is it that really makes you stop, think, and feel visually inspired by a blog post? {All of the above photographs are from the ladies over at Crafternoon Delight. One of those ladies being one of my soul mate best friends. You can see what else these girls have been up to, and feel inspired as well, over here.}

{Guest Post: Happily Grey} A Pop of Sunflowers!

Hi! My name is Mary from Happily Grey and I could not be more excited to share one of my favorite DIY projects that I recently made. The idea first came from the all addicting Pinterest via Whit's Amuse Bouche! Since we recently just moved into a a new space, I have been knee deep in several projects attempting to fill vacant wall spaces in a more creative, personalized light! This project caught my eye for many reasons (small vase bottles, natural twine, and the pop of sunflowers & weeds) AND it is sooo simple! It literally took me 1 hr from start to finish! Here are a few of my pictures of the needed supplies and shots along the way! For the full tutorial please visit the original Hanging Wallflower creator Whit's Amuse Bouce. 

 A few tips I can add:

• I found my old frame in the "damaged" section at Michaels for $5. I liked the original color so I did not paint or sand the frame. 
• Michaels and Walmart have the small vase glass available for $1 a piece. Pick out pieces that have a lip. 
• I also found my flowers and weeds from Michaels ...great selection and I bought when they were 50% off! 

Hope your enjoy this DIY as much as I did! Thanks Lauren for letting me share my DIY inspiration. I am loving your blog and everything you are doing...you are truly talented and have such a creative eye! Check out my favorite post by Lauren here, here, and here!

Hand Painted Tea Towels {Maraschino Red}.

When I first got out my flour sack linen, Tulip soft Fabric paint, and flat rounded paint brush, I had the thoughts of painting my next tea towel with a geometric pattern such as stripes or chevron. Yet something held me back from painting. I love chevron, yet I am beginning to feel its loosing its novelty as every other DIY I come across embraces the zip zag pattern. Believe me, I still love it, and you would most likely wow me with your very own DIY showcasing the pattern, as I am still adding chevron pins to my Pinterest boards--however, I am needing a new pattern to be my new chevron, you know what I mean? And in regards to stripes, my hand felt a bit wobbly, so that idea went out the window!

To try a pattern with the similar zig zag that is near and dear to the chevron lover's heart, yet add in a new little twist, I decided to go with this hour glass shape that I continued to dream about from a recent perusing of West Elm pillow cases HERE. The pattern still embodies that zig zag quality, yet it somewhat tricks the eye with the brush stroke length increasing and decreasing in size like it does. I also love that the pattern goes well with the Ikat prints in my home and compliments the last tea towel I painted HERE.

To start, I used blue painters tape to hold in place the plain white flour sack towel on my kitchen counter. Underneath the towel was a drop cloth as the paint does seep through a bit because the material is rather thin. I started painting from the top left corner of the fabric and worked my way down.  Each vertical line painted was either a bit larger or shorter than the proceeding line (as you can see in the photographs). Each line was the width of the brush I used. I did this purposefully to keep a consistent and easy line width. Below you can see the process of painting one line:

After painting the very first hourglass row at the top of the linen, I went back to the left side of the towel and began line two. To master the zig zag pattern in this hourglass look, each row needs to compliment the row above and below. This means that where the row is in its thickest points, the rows above and below should be in their skinniest. After your first two rows, it is easy to see the zig zag and use that as reference for the spacing of your following rows. The main trick is to stay consistent in spacing of where you start and end each row. Just use your eye and your gut to make the call on whether it looks right, that's what I did! After completing about ten rows, I left it to dry for about 3 hours. When washing, wash on cold and preferably not with your clothing (you never want to chance getting any remnants of fabric on your favorite comfy tee!).

This tea towel is so bright and cheery. I have a lot of aqua blue in my kitchen along with the almost black cabinets and stainless steel appliances. This red really adds a color pop and I just love it! And, like I have said in the past, my outfits always seem to translate into whatever I am painting, designing, or swooning over. 

Its true,West Elm pillows have been a common inspiration for my projects. You can see the fabric chevron inspiration HERE. And in case you missed the last tea towels painted, you can check those out--over here. Any thoughts on the next hand painted tea towel design?

In the Kitchen.

I am making it a goal to spend more time in the kitchen. When truly examining my heart, I can honestly say that cooking is not my strong suite and equally not a strong desire of mine. I would much rather have something quick so that I have more time to swim, read, blog, be outdoors, paint, thrift, and watch How I Met Your Mother. A bowl of greek yogurt, some apples, and a side of sugar snap peas? Yes! That is a perfect meal! Well, it is in my mind but not for the rest of our home. SO. Here I am putting it in print. I am going to cook more, and cook well, and make it fun! And how fun is my kitchen already? An elephant apron hook, I love you in German, yummy smelling soap & lotion duo, encouraging magnets, tiny art prints, and my favorite red, teal, and yellow. Now all I need is more pans on the stove, more aromas in the air, more foods being prepped, and more flavors being tasted. How do you get motivated to cook in your little kitchen? Even during the busiest of weeks? Any design elements that make your kitchen a particular happy place to be?

For the Love of {Chair} Fabric and Curves.

There are two chairs that I am currently obsessed with. One being a Pinterest find, the other being a Goodwill find. Can you guess which is which? {Not that the huge 'Buy Me!' tag doesn't give it away} I have some alterations I need to make to the Goodwill find, including doing something with the legs that are black and somewhat of an eye sore. But OH. MY. GOODNESS. The seat shape is just to die for. It is real wood. The print is ever so vintage. And the black painted detail is just the cherry on top. The details of the Pinterest find are equally if not more appealing (that plaid, the leather piping, those curves!), but I would be too lucky of a girl if I owned both. Question posed by my husband, "Where are you going to put these chairs?" First, did I mention the Goodwill find came with a twin! Yes, great things do come in twos. Second, in response to his question, "Who knows yet, but I will make it work!" Wouldn't you for two beauties like that for $12 each? Any thoughts on what year the Goodwill find may be from, or ideas for leg transformation? Happy Friday! 

It's Named "Chair No. One Eighty" in Plaid, HERE

Color Translation: A Cozy Space.

Color Translation. Pinks, Print, and Cheery Cozy:

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This week I have spent more hours in my covers and sheets, sprawled out on the couch, and buried in pillows and kleenex than I have in ten years. You can read more about that HERE. It is only suiting that my wanderings on Pinterest lately have been heavily weighted in browsing photographs of cozy spaces. In my last post on color translation HERE, I mentioned that I often find myself translating home decor items, photographs, and well loved outfits into home design color palettes and aesthetic. Although the feel of Pink, Pattern and Cheery is far from Brown, Plaid, and Equestrian {and visa versa}, both design aesthetics in this collection derive from the utmost in comfy, cozy, curl up with a good book, take a cat nap, and rest your soul necessities. These beautiful spaces could have also been inspired & translated from these vintage {meets modern} home decor and style items. One thing is for certain,  with a cup of tea and book in hand, all of these rooms fit well with the wise words of C.S. Lewis "You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me."

Color Translation. Brown, Plaid, and Equestrian Cozy:

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{All Home Design Photographs can be referenced HERE, unless otherwise noted}