To read,

Are you an avid reader? I wouldn't always consider myself one, in fact I can go a long time without picking up a good book. But as of late I have been knee deep in several good books and it feels wonderful and intellectually stimulating.

These are the books I'm currently reading or on my list to read.

• The Hobbit, my beau is insisting I read this before the movie comes out.

• True Grit, this book looks delightful and if it is anywhere near as good as the movie I'm certain I will enjoy it.

• Pioneer Woman's Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, I just got this book for my birthday from a dear friend. I can't wait to dig into this steamy romance.

• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, this book is a very interesting look at natural home births.

• Natural Hospital Birth, this book was released very recently and I'm hoping it will deliver some valuable information.

• The DIY Bride, also a gift for my birthday from my dear friend - this is a really cool book on some DIY ideas... I really need to start wedding planning!

• Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions, this book is opened daily in my house right now. It's a comprehensive look at what the North American diet has become and what we need to do to get back to where we were 100 years ago. This book includes 600 recipes, it's pretty amazing.

Have a wonderful start to the week!

Loves!

An Outdoor Wedding

My beau and I are planning on getting married after we purchase our first home. We hope to be able to get married in our very own back yard one day. The thought of two such monumental events colliding makes my heart go pitter patter.

I thought I would share some images that are in my wedding inspiration folder,

Martha Stewart

Rustic Vase Planter

Source

Martha Stewart

French Vanilla Pom

Martha Stewart

Wooden Cake Stand

Let it Rain!

Beeswax Candles

Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy 50th post & Chalk Paint

Although this blog is mainly just to categorize my personal ramblings, I do feel very proud that I have committed to it for over a year now and have hit my 50th post. I love that I look forward to posting neat things that I myself would enjoy reading.

I'm raising a glass of iced blended coffee to toast my 50th post. Here's to many more!

Now onto my new obsession,

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It seems as though these words have graced many of my personal favorite blogs lately. This beautiful paint is perfect for making over vintage wood pieces of furniture and comes in an array of lovely colors.

My favorites,

Scandinavian Pink

Old Ochre

Duck Egg Blue
Paris Grey

Here is a little excerpt from the Annie Sloan website,

"Annie Sloan developed her now famous Chalk Paint to answer the need she had for a paint which would have many uses from acting like limewash to looking like old painted furniture and that had a good range of colour that could be extended by the user. This paint is very easy to work with and allows people to be creative as one doesn't get involved with the technicalities of preparation and it also allows you to change your mind without hassle."

Sounds good to me!

Some of my favorite examples I've seen using this paint have come from Miss Mustard Seed.

Her blog is amazing and inspiring.

A Painted Desk by Miss Mustard Seed
Painted using Annie Sloan's Louis Blue and and Old White.


Dining Room Set Reveal by Miss Mustard Seed
Painted using Annie Sloan's Old White.


Dresser Before and After by Miss Mustard Seed
Painted Using Annie Sloan's Aubusson Blue and Old White.

I love the combination of this paint and the distressing Miss Mustard Seed does.
It makes my heart go pitter patter.

After doing some research I am so sad to find that Annie Sloan's Chalk paint is not avaliable in Canada. Here is hoping this lovely product will find its way onto Canadian shelves.

Loves!

Handmade Spring Soap

Happy May 5! Which is of course Cinco de Mayo and my birthday!

Recently I made a handmade cold process soap to enter in a local spring soap contest. The soap was meant to be spring inspired and I hope I delivered! The top prize is a 75$ gift certificate to my favorite soaping store, so here's hoping I win!

I was going to publish the recipe I used, however I do suggest that if you are interested in learning how to make cold process soap you first check out Soap Queen's tutorials on making cold process soap, this is how I learned myself. To check out the tutorials click here. If you are interested in the recipe I used and an experienced soaper please feel free to send me an email at fromtheseeds@gmail.com and I will be glad to share!

I got the inspiration for my spring soap from my spring garden! I decided to infuse the olive oil and canola oil I used in the recipe with some hyacinths, tulip petals and dried lavender. Please note that some people may be allergic to hyacinths as they are a known allergen.

These are the oils and butters I used, Mango Butter, Olive Oil, Canola Oil and Coconut Oil.


Here are the flowers I selected,


With the olive oil and canola oil added,


After several minutes on a low heat bubbling away,


This is after about 10 minutes of infusing the oil, note how dark the petals have become.


Next I added in mango butter and coconut oil into my infused oil and started my lye. When they both reached about 100* I combined them stirring slowly with a spatula, alternating with short bursts with my immersion blender.

This is what trace looks like,


To finish the soap off I added in a generous handful of Calendula petals.

Love the smell of Calendula.



I poured everything into a lined wooden mold. I covered the soap tightly for 24 hours then released the soap to cut. The soap hardened nicely.


Handmade Cold process Hyacinth, Lavender and Tulip infused Calendula Soap!

Perhaps a shorter name is needed?

The Spring Soap Bar,



The soap smells amazing, so sweet and soft. I'm going to let it cure for 4-5 weeks so it hardens nicely.

Have a great Thursday!



P.S.
I'm linking up to,

Tuesday Inspiration

I recently stumbled upon this lovely blog,

beach house in the city

The DIY design projects featured make me weak in the knees.


White painted hardwoods...

... I love how bright they make the room!

Teal and yellow.. yes please!

Check out beach house in the city, I'm certain you will be inspired.

Porcelaine

Happy rainy Monday!

Today I thought I would share a ridiculously easy and inexpensive project. Porcelaine is a neat type of paint that adheres to ceramic. Best of all it comes in a pen dispenser so you can get fairly good accuracy.


I bought mine at Michaels, I think the pen was around 7$ but I used a 40% off coupon.

I purchased this lovely mug at my local goodwill for 2$. I took a before photo of the mug but I can't seem to find it.


I loved the detailing on the handle.

I was inspired by a few different Etsy pieces that I have seen. The design is basically a very simple little tea bag hanging down from the cup. I don't think mine is as professional looking but I am certainly no artist (I had to get the beau to help with some of the work). I wanted to start small as this was my first Porcelaine project.


The process is really easy. The pen is a lot like a sharpie, you draw on what you want. Let dry for 24 hours then bake at 150* in your oven for 35 minutes.

Then you are done! I think the instructions said it was dishwasher safe but I would still advise to hand wash and not scrub directly on the image to preserve it.

I signed the bottom of my cup,


I know I will be keeping my eyes peeled when vintage shopping for more cute pieces of ceramic that I can experiment on.

My gal pal at Reckless Bliss had showed me this beautiful mug from Anthropologie, I think making a copy cat might be my next Porcelaine project!

(Image Source)

Have a lovely start to the week!

P.S. I'm linking up to
Brag Monday at the Graphics Fairy.

DIY Love

Some great DIY projects out in the blogosphere that are going on my to-do list,

Party Skirt Tutorial by Creative Spaces.

Handmade Car Playmat by homemade by Jill.

Handmade Fabric Baskets by homemade by Jill.

Happy Friday!