Happy Mardi Gras!

For the first time since I can remember (maybe ever?!) I am away from Louisiana on Mardi Gras!  Actually, I am travelling home today, but I missed the weekend parades and Mardi Gras will be all but over when I get home. 

I did have fun making some cute onesies and t-shirts for my Etsy shop.  The king cake design was new this year.

I’ll just have to rely on memories of past Mardi Gras fun times and look forward to next year!  Check out THIS post from a couple years ago for some of my Mardi Gras memories.

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!

Circa 1857 Art and Architecture

I was in Baton Rouge a couple weeks ago for my little sister’s graduation and we spent the day after shopping around town.  We found this great little antique/architectural salvage store.

Plenty of photos ahead of the fabulous treasures to be found….

All of the architectural pieces were outside or on the porch.  Stacks of old windows, doors, spindles and tin ceiling panels.

Inside, different booths were set up with both new and old merchandise.  Everything from antique light fixtures to handmade soaps and local art, including these vintage seltzer bottles:

Looks like burlap is still in style, I love these pillows.

Check out this lamp adorned with oyster shells:

Just about every style of doorknob you could want!

I came away empty-handed, but it was still fun to look!  I definitely recommend checking it out if you are ever in the area.

What I’m Working on Wednesday

I haven’t been doing much crafting or decorating lately, but I have been working on some new embroidery projects.  First up, a Teddy Bear version of my popular personalized Bunny Peeps:

These will be great year-round and make a great baby gift.  Find them HERE in my Etsy shop.

I just love this Louisiana Crown applique from Applique Frenzy so I stitched it out in a couple different color-ways. 

I couldn’t resist making another ruffle-butt onesie!

It’s crawfish season here in Louisiana, so every little girl & guy needs a t-shirt for the crawfish boil!

Thinking ahead to football season with this cute little outfit….also available for boys in a ringer t-shirt & shorts.

So that’s what has been keeping me busy lately!  We have a really big “house project” coming up soon, I’m so excited and you’ll hear all about it soon!

Mardi Gras Decorations

With Mardi Gras day just a week away, I guess it is about time I shared my Mardi Gras decorations! They are pretty similar to last year's, but it’s always fun to look at a little sparkle, right?

The great thing about Mardi Gras décor is that it transitions so easily from Christmas.  You can use many of the same gold and green sparkly ornaments, wreaths, etc. that were on display for Christmas and just jazz them up for Mardi Gras.  Case in point, my front door wreath:

This is the same gold glitter wreath I used during Christmas, I simply changed out the bow, and added a garland and some glittered feathers.

The wreath on our backdoor is my favorite.  I re-vamped it last year and just added a couple more things to it this year, namely some glittered peacock feathers from Hobby Lobby and more gold foil picks.

Inside, another carry-over from Christmas, a purple tinsel tree:

It’s always fun to shop the after-Christmas clearance sales and pick up decorations that can be used for Mardi Gras, too!  Most of the glittered candles and ornaments were purchased at 50% or 75% off!

These gold glittered candle holders and basket did double-duty as well:

I jazzed up the coffee table with a purple candle arrangement mixed with beads and ornaments:

A great way to “recycle” all those beads caught in the parades is to use them in your own decorations!

Be sure and check out last year’s posts for more Mardi Gras decorations, wreaths, and craft ideas!