Category: DIY

Twelve (or more) Days of Christmas

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 1 Comment

Good morning dear readers! I have a confession to make: I haven’t sent out Christmas cards for two years. Somehow each December seems to fly by and before I know it, I’m heading to my parents for the holidays and my stack of cards is still sitting on the dining room table. But this year, in an effort to show how much I value those who make my life better, I’m going to try. I may or may not succeed 100%, but at least I’m making the effort!

Since I can’t send a card to each and every one of you (although if you email me your address, I’ll put you on the list!), my gift to you all this holiday season will be to give 110% on the blogging front. Truth be told, I’ve been saving up some awesome ideas for weeks now, so from now until Christmas, my plan is to post at least every other day (do the math, it’ll make the title of this post make more sense). From décor to gift ideas, I hope I can share a little inspiration and help thaw the brain freeze that can accompany trying to find the perfect present.

An aside: This year, I’ve chosen not to use the politically correct “holiday” in lieu of Christmas. Not because I’m ignoring the other holidays that fall at this time of year, but simply because that’s what I celebrate. Sometimes we take such drastic steps to make sure no one is left out that we end up over-generalizing or making the world feel like one homogenized landscape rather than celebrating what makes each culture unique. I hope you can use the ideas I write about in your own traditions this season, and please feel free to leave comments about how you’d use these ideas in your life!

The BEST Salad Ever!

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 1 Comment

I’m not a salad girl. At a restaurant I’m much more likely to order ribs and fries than a plate full of greens, but lately I’ve been craving just that. Well, actually just one salad in particular. Madison’s most authentic Irish pub on the capitol square, Brocach is home to the amazing Shades of Green salad and today I got all the fixins’ and whipped up my own version. Here’s my recipe!

Ingredients:
•Mixed greens—go with something more flavorful than Iceburg. I like a mix with frisée and some red or purple leaves, they have a bitterness that works great with the sweet elements in the toppings!
•Raspberry vinaigrette—the trick to a great salad is to toss your greens with your dressing before adding the rest of your ingredients!
•Bleu cheese crumbles
•Dried cranberries
•Candied walnuts

Mmmmm… I’m getting hungry again. Enjoy!

Easy DIY Ribbon Necklace

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 2 Comments

Last May, we featured a great ribbon-and-chain necklace in a BRAVA fashion shoot. While everyone from the models to our fashion coordinator coveted the lovely piece, I sat back and thought, “I could make that.” As with most things on that list, it took me months to get there, but finally, I have that perfect mix of hard and soft embodied in a piece of jewelry!

The project was so easy to make, I thought I’d share the super quick instructions with you!

Supplies:
•60″ length of 1.5″ wide satin ribbon
•ubiquitous tacky chain necklace from the ’80s (I’d venture to guess you could substitute a light chain from the hardware store instead!)

Step 1: Lay the necklace flat, making sure the links fall as you’ll want to wear it. Thread the ribbon through the first link. Leaving about 20″ of ribbon at the end, tie a knot.

Step 2: Weave the ribbon through the rest of the links, making sure not to flip any so the necklace will hang nicely around your neck.

Step 3: Keeping the necklace flat, tie a knot at the other end of the necklace to ensure the  chain doesn’t slip down the ribbon.

Step 4: Tie the necklace around your neck so it hangs at a length you like and voila!

Sweater pillow

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 1 Comment

chair+pillow

Accidentally put your favorite wool sweater in the dryer? Don’t shed a tear—you may not be able to wear it anymore, but your living room will be better for it! I made this funky argyle pillow cover from one that used to fit the fiancé (oops).

Supplies:
•sweater
•pillow form that’s the same width as sweater
•straight pins
•sewing machine (a serger would be better, but if you sew over your seams twice you should be good to go!)

Step 1: Turn the sweater inside out. Lay flat and pin the sweater’s front and back together at the shoulders and neck.

Step 2: Break out the sewing machine and continue the existing side seams up to the top of the shoulders.

Step 3: Measure the height of your pillow form and mark that length from the bottom of the sweater. Sew straight across (perpendicular to your other seams) at the mark. Cut off extra material above the seam and on either side (the sleeves).

Step 4: Sew about 1/3 of the way in from each side along the bottom of the sweater.

Step 5: Turn the square inside out, stuff pillow form inside.

Step 6: Hand sew the remaining opening and viola! There’s a snappy new pillow in your home!

P.S. That’s my new chair from Iconi Interiors!