Sneak Peek: Karly's Jewelry

First, sorry we have been lame as far as blog posts. It's been a little hectic with this summer/fall limbo.  That being said, there are a lot of new projects we have been working on to prepare for the Merry Market in November.  After coming to the realization that our craft booth will not be equip with the space for many of our larger pieces, we have been pursing smaller projects (smaller in size that is). 

Above is a little sneak peak of Karly's accessories, which will be available at the Merry Market November 23-24th.  You can see more information on Merry Market Facebook page

Any accessories not sold at the Market will be for sale on Etsy!

Happy Hump Day!

Natural & Chic Chandelier

It looks simple enough, but this project was a true challenge.  However, the results are pretty rewarding, so it goes without saying that there will be many more beaded chandeliers to come.  Hopefully we will have a decent amount done and ready for the Merry Market this November.  Mom started this one weeks ago when she began a wild goose hunt for the right wooden beads. 

This project was inspired by our love for Turkish Chandeliers that are showing up in decor everywhere.  I personally cover the Turk Chandeliers found at Furbish Studio . 

We figured to give it a try rather than shelling out the cash.  After completing this project, we definitely understand their high price tag.  The supplies alone for our low budget materials cost over $150, not to mention the countless hours put into assembling it. 

If you are interested in purchasing one of our "Turkish" style puppies, just let us know. I'm sure that we can attempt a made to order piece to match your decor.  You might have to be patient, since we only have one under our belt...haha. 

Summer Swag

Summer is in full swing and while we have stepped away from our larger pieces while living at the ocean we have not slowed down.  Karly has turned the kitchen table into a jewelry workshop and Mom is stationed at the sowing machine in her room overlooking the bay. 

I have recently added three table runners and a chandelier to our Etsy page.

Burlap Table Runner with Green and Lace Trim 68"

Printed Burlap Table Runner with Lace Trim 72"

Two of the runners are made form burlap, fabric and lace trim.  The third runner is very unique, made from three April Cornell napkins and vintage lace.  The burlap runners are going for $25 a piece while the Vintage up cycle comes in at $35.  

April Cornell and Lace Trim Runner 53"

Mom has also been working on some clothing pieces, which will be posted to our Etsy page along with Karly's latest jewelry early next week!

Birdie Chandelier $200

Summer Entertaining

Summer creates a change of pace.  We work less, relax more and certainly entertain A LOT. Nothing brings people together more than a family beach house.  When I think of summer I imagine a bushel of crabs in the backyard, a big bowl of fruit salad and endless amounts of food from kabobs to quinoa salad provided by mom.  Let's not forget Brownie Sundays.  Obviously we stuff ourselves only to leave enough room to fit some more. Thank you metabolism. 

So at the start of each summer our bay front household undergoes a seasonal spruce up.  The weather and salty sea air is hard on everything, especially outdoor furniture.  This means that every year there is painting to be done.  Below is a photo of a patio table that was just refinished.  Originally purchased at Pottery Barn, the table was a mosaic of a Lobster.  We don't eat much Lobster in Ocean City, MD.  A Blue Crab seemed a little more fitting.  This table will host endless amounts of dishes all summer long.  Family and friends will fill their plates on the patio and head down to the yard to enjoy.

Another tip for summer entertaining at the beach: Lighten the load with your serve ware.  When transporting from inside to out, you want your plates and dishes to be light and sturdy.  Being mermaids, we like to stick to the nautical/beach theme.  Find something that is somewhat common and easy to mix with other dishes. Below are a few nautical examples I have been coveting. Number 1 is a tasting dish from FURBISH STUDIO for only $5.00.  Number 2 is a seascape plate set (4 included) from World Market for $15.96.  Good Prices and totally inline with the Eastern Shore theme for summer. 

One last must have for summer dinning and entertaining is an outdoor rug, but you knew this.  World Market once again has AMAZING prices on outdoor decor.  I am absolutely in love with their 4'x6' Blue Shell Seascape Rio Floor Mat 

This rug has a similar texture and color scheme to the one we have placed with our Blue Crab table.  Which, I am sorry is not for sale.  If your like the idea of painting some kind of image on a table, give it a try.  Or we could, we love doing it.  Below is a mermaid I painted on our picnic table a couple of years ago:

What should we paint on the picnic table this year? Post below!

DIY BAR: I was "Crafty" before it was cool

In the age of  DIY I find it hard to show off a new finished product without someone saying "I saw that on Pinterest".  Don't get me wrong.  I love Pinterest for inspiration and ideas, but some of the messages that site sends just straight irritate me (shout out to Ashleigh Hilker).  There is 5 minute six pack abs, low calorie desserts and DIY furniture that costs more to make than it would to purchase new.  Oh if it only took 5 minutes to have six pack abs.  I'm sorry, but low calorie dessert does not taste like the real thing and if DIY furniture was easy, we would all furnish our homes with refurbished garbage.

Lucky for me I was Crafty before it was cool.  This means I know that not every project turns out the way you hope.  I would say 1/3 of my attempts are flops, but that is just part of the DIY game.  You have to just take a step back and try and different approach. 

Since moving into my new Reston apartment I have been doing some crafting myself.  Our most proud DIY project is home bar.  Props to the man Finch Eric(a) my dad.  He pretty much came up simplest way to get a sturdy bottom shelf up with as little work as possible. All it took was a trip to home depot, a drill and stud finder.

We decided to make a bar because we had this awkward little area in our hallway that was designed as a computer area. With some idea's from Dana and some Pinterest inspiration we built the beaut last weekend.  While we have not been mixing drinks every night, or any night this week, I am so excited to entertain for the first time tomorrow!

So here is what we used to create our bar:

•  A Dresser from The Pink Finch of course
• Home made canvas: "Brunch without booze is just a sad late breakfast"
• One Floating Shelf and One 48 inch Board with shelf hangers from Home Depot
• Wine Glass Holder from The Container Store
• Antique Wine Bottle Holder
• We decorated the bar with previously owned items and added some color with accessories from Home Goods.

This project worked because we did not model it off of some tiny url picture we found online, we worked with what we had and kept it simple.  My advice when starting a DIY project is to roll with the punches.  If your original concept is no longer plausible, switch gears. Always get input from others, it helps to have a second set of eyes.

Even though this was a DIY success I wan to thank Pinterest for the unrealistic expectations it creates! Feel free to post your Pinterest Fails below :0)

Mirror Mirror

Currently I am in the process of moving.  By process I mean that I have packed five boxes and barely put a dent in the copious amount of "STUFF" I own.  It's tedious and stressful and I would not be able to do it without my Mom (the crafty lady behind the Finch).  She is a superhuman when it comes to packing, moving, unpacking and staging a home.  I think I would be in a sea of panic laying on the couch with a bottle of wine come Sunday if I did not have her help to look forward to.  When I move in I need to unpack and set up immediately.  If my house is a mess, I am a mess.  I get it from ma mama. 

When I was at my parent's house this past Sunday I was noticing just how many mirrors my mom has throughout the house.  I would say there is AT LEAST one in every room.  I love that. My current apartment is a little sad when it comes to our mirror to room ratio, I want to make a point to add more reflection to our new place.  It has high vaulted ceilings and arched windows so it will be much brighter than my current apartment which has a dungeon of a living space. 

Here is a new Mirror at The Pink Finch Shop that I covet: 

 I love the distressed look.  It looks good as old :)

The majority of the furniture in my current apartment are Finch finds. Luckily if my furniture pieces don't fit in the space, I can always swap for something a little more feng shui.  Perks.  If my place doesn't look to impoverish when we are finished decorating, I will gladly post some pictures of my furniture throughout our spankin' new apartment.  

Wired: Gnarly's Rings

Yes, we are now selling hand made jewelry. 

Our shop is a home decor and furnishings shop, but lucky for us Karly is now selling her one of a kind pieces on our Etsy site.  Currently she has only rings for sale, but keep your eyes peeled for charm necklaces, bracelets and earrings as well. 

The inspiration for the jewelry is the sea. I would describe it as beachy or bohemian. Karly has been making and selling her Jewelry at Quiet Storm Surf Shop (the uptown store) in Ocean City since last summer.  You can look for more of her pieces there come June. 

Rings range between $10-$20 with free local delivery

If you would like a custom ring with your preferred color scheme you can contact Karly Siegel

To know more about the jewelry maker see her style blog BEWILDERMISS.