welcome september

So I started this post over a week ago. Such is my life lately and the reason I rarely blog anymore! Too many other things to do be doing. And as Evie gets older, I try to spend less and less time in front of a computer screen. But I do miss blogging. Anyway…

I am ready for all things fall. Like REALLY ready. And today is definitely delivering! Windows thrown open, crisp breeze flowing in, candle lit, wearing a long sleeve shirt with coffee in hand. (Ok, coffee is always in hand, but you get the idea). LOVING it!

Evie has been doing so great at her preschool. She is always so excited to go and has a great time. She got into some trouble on the second day (!!), but I think she was just testing her boundaries and figuring it all out. I'm really thankful for her teachers, who didn't let her get away with acting out and give her some clear boundaries. It's exactly what my little independent girlie needs.

Me, on the other hand? I totally spaced what day her school actually started, and didn't realize it until the day before. Cue the scramble to gather all the things, including tracking down a rest mat that I'm quite certain will see minimal use. Oh. And I got in trouble on the first day of school:

Yes, yes I did see the emails. #momfail

Post-partum hair loss is for real. And gross. My only saving grace here is that I have enough hair on my head for 2.5 people. So no one will really notice unless they happen to see 2 or 3 long strands plastered to the back of my arm at Target. Again- gross.

We are heading to the West Coast soon for a wedding and to visit some family. We're planning to hit up Disney Land while we're there and I can't wait to see Evie's reaction. She's gonna flip!

What exactly does one wear to a beach wedding these days?? I seriously have not dressed up in soooo long. I need to update my closet in the worst way, but it's just not easy to do with the little ones. Also? I like to pretend I'm a yogi and wear my sweats most days.

Speaking of stretchy pants, I randomly read an article in InStyle recently about this trend of people wearing work-out type clothing all the time, sans the actual working out. They dubbed it athlesiure wear. I am ALL OVER THAT. I told my hubby that I wanted to just start buying and wearing athleisure type clothing all the time. He was less than thrilled.

The next Vintage Market Days event is coming up in 2 weeks! I am getting so excited, I always love these events. If you're local, I hope you'll stop by our booth, Lilac Row! 

Lilac Row

I made the first batch of pumpkin muffins on Monday, and by Tuesday, they were gone. I would like to blame my sticky-fingered daughter, but I'm pretty sure I ate my weight in them. Thinking today is a good day to make some more!

Have a great weekend!

Lilac Row at VIMD & a Giveaway!

I wanted to share a few pictures of our booth at the Vintage Market Days: Urban Fairytale event. I can literally take no credit for our booth... my mom was a rockstar and came into town a day early while I was recovering in the hospital to get everything set up. Then my friend Sarah jumped in and helped with some finishing touches and they basically ran everything!

I can't tell you how excited I am to have Lilac Row be a part of Vintage Market Days. We had to skip out on the May event this year, because I was just too overwhelmed with building our house and I didn't want to stress about it. Since we've been at the event since the beginning, I really wish we hadn't missed out this spring, but such is life! The two amazing women who organize the event have done such an awesome job and work so hard for their vendors and shoppers.

The warehouse before all the vendors set up.

 

  

 

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to shop and say Hello! If you haven't Liked our Lilac Row Facebook page yet, now is the perfect time! I've put together a little giveaway over there for your chance to win one of these fun linen and stripe Oklahoma pillows. Don't miss out!



 

 

 

 

Antique Vanity {Lilac Row Before & After}

It suddenly dawned on us yesterday that the next two weeks are going to be crazytown. What with Vintage Market Days quickly approaching and all the prep that's involved.. family coming in and out of town.. oh and Labor Day shenanigans. And let's not forget those last 4 or 5 boxes that no one seems to want to unpack.

So since I have no pictures of our house to share, I thought I would show you guys a recent Lilac Row project- a sweet little antique vanity and stool that I made over for a friend's little girl. I love that this is an heirloom piece that she wanted to keep and use in her daughter's room.

BEFORE

AFTER

Fresh lavender paint, white ceramic knobs and some sweet fabric on the stool breathed new life into this set. It turned out adorably and fit perfectly into this sweet girl's room.

Happy Monday!

 

Recent Client Projects {Lilac Row}

The past few months have kept me very busy with custom client projects. I have been loving it! My businesses (Lilac Row and coco & moss) are such amazing creative outlets for me. My ultimate dream/goal with them is to generate enough regular business to be profitable. :) It's a lot easier said than done, but I know we'll get there! Anyway, having someone come up with a project for you to execute, rather than dreaming them up on your own every day is really refreshing, creatively. It gives me a nice weekly balance of working on a "big" client project, coupled with all the little odds and ends projects I have half-completed at any point in time. I'm just really thankful.

Now, on to the pics!

BEFORE

AFTER

 

This awesome vintage hutch was a Craigslist find for a friend of mine. It was just what she was looking for to use as extra storage in their play/family room. (Sorry for the bad iphone pics!)

 

I also worked on some coordinating pillow covers and ruffled seat cushions for the same client. Her MIL had made the original seat cushions for their daughters' table and chairs, so I used one to make a pattern for the new cushions. I think they turned out so cute!

Next up was a fun project for a client's daughter's room. She already had a stack of fun Amy Butler fabrics and wanted a ruffled chair cover for a desk chair they already had. I also sewed a coordinating bench seat cover, but I can't find a picture anywhere!

 

And finally, I just finished refinishing another pair of Bergere chairs. After posting the first pair I made over on Facebook, a friend mentioned she would be interested if I ever came across another pair of similar chairs. She knew just what she wanted- something bright and fun!

BEFORE

AFTER

If you would like help refinishing and/or reupholstering a piece of furniture or have a sewing project to tackle, I would love to help! Contact me at thelilacrow {at} gmail {dot} com.

Learning as we go

 

So this weekend, my mom and I set up a Lilac Row booth at our local Flea Market. We have a pretty decent flea market here in town each Saturday. We really didn't want to set up a ton of big stuff like furniture, so our plan was to have a bunch of our jewelry, some Coco & Moss aprons, handmade signs and smaller items for sale. Which is what we did!

Overall it was a good time, but not as great as we were hoping. It was pretty busy, but there were so many vendors (which is great for shoppers!), that it didn't seem like any of the vendors had amazing sales.

As for us, I think it's pretty clear that we should save the jewelry portion of our business for more women-centric events. DUH, right??  :) We did sell quite a bit of jewelry, but let's be honest- who goes to a flea market to buy boutique style accessories?? Not me!

Oh, well, live and learn! And I did post a few more jewelry items on the Lilac Row Facebook page yesterday- go check it out!

Lilac Row: Jewelry Sale!

Just wanted to pop in and let you guys know that I did decide to list some of our jewelry for sale on the Lilac Row Facebook page.

 

Be sure to check it out and tell your friends! My plan is to list a few new items each week. AND I'm thinking of giving away a necklace or bracelet once we reach 100 likes! Stay tuned and be sure to follow us for all the details!

Oh! And PS- shipping/delivery is FREE!

 

randoms & a coco & moss discount!

// Loving this Summer Tour of Homes. I always have home decor and interiors on the brain, so I love seeing home tours.

// Evie has really given me a run for the money this past week, in the nap department. She didn't nap last Friday, Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. Cripes! is what I have to say to that! I have been hoping and praying that it's just a growth spurt or something weird and not the actual Dropping of the Nap. Because that is my dreaded fear. Thankfully she slept really well yesterday, but so far today? Babbling coming from that room all afternoon.

// My mom and I have signed up to do an upcoming Saturday Flea Market here in town! If you're local, come out and see us on Saturday, June 22 at the Fairgrounds. We'll have some smaller Lilac Row items and will be focusing on a lot of our jewelry. I just got a bunch of fun new jewelry in and shocker- I want to keep tons of it for myself! I've been thinking about listing some of it on Facebook and letting people buy there, if they want. Any thoughts on this? Does that interest anybody?

 

// We have been getting a TON of rain and storms this spring. And honestly, I'm loving it. Of course I hate to see all the devastation tornado season can bring, but growing up in the middle of the country, I've always loved this time of year. I love the vibrant colors after a fresh rain, the sound of thunder and heading outside to watch a massive storm roll in. And usually by the first of June we've had ridiculous heat for a month already, so the fact that I have yet to force myself into a swimsuit has been amazing.

// Evie, on the other hand, has put on her cute little swimsuits every day. Swim lessons!! Tomorrow is our last day, so pictures to come.

// And finally, I decided to run a little summer discount on my Etsy shop. Order now through the end of June and get 20% off your order! Perfect time to buy a cute little apron. :)

Bergere Pair {French Chairs Before & After}

A little before & after action for you today... 

I found this pair of Bergere chairs in really good condition at a thrift store last summer. I had been on the lookout for a pair of French chairs like this for a while, so when I saw the price, I grabbed the tag and ran right up to the register. I wasn't sure exactly how I was going to make them over at that point, but after reading through Jenny's awesome tutorial for reupholstering this type of chair, I knew it was something I wanted to tackle.

I'm really thrilled with how they turned out. I bought the fabric last fall, but didn't start in on this project until about a month ago. So when I pulled it back out, I started second-guessing myself. But I love it!

Here are some close-up shots:

 

 

 

By far the most difficult part of this entire thing was just getting myself motivated to get to work.

Oh, and sanding. I hate sanding.

 

 

So what do you think??
I'm still on the fence as to whether I'm going to keep these or sell them at Lilac Row. However, one certain little somebody has made herself (and her tea party) right at home with the chairs. :)

 

Linking up:

Thrifty Décor Chick

Miss Mustard Seed