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Thursday, January 30, 2014

Ice Cold Hearts

The extreme cold weather continues.  Thanks to Lucy at Craftberry Bush, Grace and I busied ourselves making lovesicles. 

So, though I don't love the cold weather...I certainly do love making things with Grace, especially heart shaped things.


I'm not sure what Lucy used to color her heartcicles but I used food coloring mixed in water.


I let nature do her thing and freeze our heartcicles.

Once they were frozen, I quickly ran outside and decorated our yard with some love and heartcicles...


before my fingers froze, forcing me back inside.

When I did come back in, to warm up, I found someone had stolen my spot. 


I let her keep my spot...because, contrary to this post, I do not have an ice cold heart.


*Don't forget, there is still time to sign up for the Uncommon Goods giveaway where one lucky While Wearing Heels reader will win a $50 gift certificate.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

How To Embroider Wood Tutorial

I used a power tool for the first time, completely unsupervised and I survived.  All my fingers are intact.

What does one do, after they've used a power tool?  Embroider something of course.

Ever wonder if wood could be embroidered?  The answer is YES!  And, I'm about to show you how.


First, you'll need some sort of wood to embroider (driftwood, barn wood, wood coasters).  If you want to use slices of a log, like I've used, check out my wood coaster tutorial for full directions.

Next, lightly sketch out the shape you want to embroider in pencil.  Once you have your shape drawn, again, in pencil, mark approximate location for the holes to be drilled.


Using the smallest bit on your power drill, begin to drill holes through the wood.
*Place a thick board beneath the piece of wood you are drilling.


Make sure the drill goes completely through the wood.


Once you have completed drilling your holes, you can start embroidering your wood.


Thread an average sewing needle with embroidery thread, knot the end of the embroidery thread.


Start embroidering.


Come up through the back of the wood (point a).  Your knot should hold in the back of point (a) (if the knot comes through the front, simply make your  knot larger).  Bring your needle down through point (b), pulling the thread taunt as you go.  Come back up through point (c), continuing to pull the thread taunt.  Return the needle to point (b), going back down.  Come back up at point (d) then go back down at point (c). 


Continue until you have completed embroidering your shape. 


Whatever shape that might be.


What more fun could you possible have using power tools and embroidery thread?

These would make great coasters, ornaments, home decor, art or the sweetest Valentines.


Of course, if you decide to use them as Valentines, make sure you include a card that says something like:  


Wood you be my Valentine?

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Rustic Love Coasters Tutorial

I love the idea of incorporating rustic natural touches in my home.  And when I am able to incorporate them into holiday decor, even better.

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays.  The theme of love and hearts really speaks to me.  Every year, I happily add a new heart creation to my Valentine's Day decorations.

This year, I decided to make some Rustic Love Coasters.


Want to make a few of your own? 

You'll need some wooden coasters, cut from logs.  Need a tutorial...I've got you covered.  Check out my Wood Coaster Tutorial.

You'll also need some chalkboard paint.


Draw a heart, in pencil, on your coaster.  And, yes, if you have a snowman pencil, even better.


Fill in your heart using chalkboard paint.


Allow the paint to fully dry.

Then, write in chalk 'love' or 'amore' or your initials + your love's initials.


 Use it as a coaster, paperweight or simple decoration


Regardless what you do with these rustic love coasters, I hope you LOVE them.


*Don't forget, there is still time to sign up for the Uncommon Goods giveaway where one lucky While Wearing Heels reader will win a $50 gift certificate.

Monday, January 27, 2014

It's Time For a Giveaway!

Guess what?

I have a fun giveaway for you today.

While Wearing Heels typically doesn't participate in giveaways.  I've been contacted by several companies and it just never seemed a good fit...until now.  Uncommon Goods, a company I love, has offered to give one of my lucky readers a $50 gift certificate.


As a lover of unique homemade items made by creative people, Uncommon Goods is often my go to source.  They make it their mission to support and provide a platform for artists and designers, most of which are created right here in the USA.

They feature unique designs and handcrafted gifts created in harmony with the environment and without harm to animals or people.  Which makes the crafty eye candy they provide even better.

As a lover of Valentine's day, I'm quite smitten with the collection of Valentine's day gifts Uncommon Goods has put together.  You can see their complete list by clicking here.  I'm considering getting Grace this 'What I Love About You By Me' book.

I think it would make a memorable keepsake.  And, I can easily share 50 things I love about that little girl.

Where Grace is often easy to buy for, my husband is not.  Uncommon Goods provides a wide variety of unique gifts for the man in your life too.  From the bicyclist to the sports lover to the musician, this list has a little bit of everything for the man in your life. Visit Uncommon Goods to see their extensive list.

I even found something the woodaholic would love.  This wood carved skyline though ours would have to be of the Chicago skyline.

My sweet husband is a reader of While Wearing Heels.  So, let's just say this is a subtle (ok, not so subtle) hint that he could find some beautiful, one of a kind pieces of jewelry here

This makes my heart skip a beat.

Uncommon Goods is generously offering a $50 gift certificate to a lucky While Wearing Heels readers! This giveaway is open to all who have a US shipping address. Please leave one comment for every entry.

ALSO IF YOU ARE A NO REPLY BLOGGER, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL SO I CAN CONTACT YOU IF WIN.
  1. Entry #1 (mandatory): Like Uncommon Goods on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/uncommongoods)
  2. Entry #3: Like While Wearing Heels on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WhileWearingHeels)
  3. Entry #3: Visit Uncommon Goods and tell me which product you’d like to try in the comments section
Enter by midnight January 30. Winner will be randomly selected on January 31st and contacted via email. Winner will have 24 hrs to respond to email or another winner will be selected. Winner must have a US shipping address. Good luck!

Uncommon Goods has sponsored this giveaway however all opinions are my own. While Wearing Heels does not make any commission from purchases made at Uncommon Goods.

*A winner was selected using Random.Org.  That winner is Nova.  Congratulations Nova.  Have fun shopping at Uncommon Goods...and thank you for following While Wearing Heels.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Embroidered LOVE Letter Dress

I have a confession.

I love embroidery.

If I notice a blank canvas, or if you standstill long enough, something is likely to be embroidered.  You have been warned.


This proved to be the case with a dress I had bought Grace, from Goodwill (a dress that I think is actually a women's top...sigh).


With a water soluble pen in hand, I decided to sketch out LOVE, written in faux school lined paper.


With a needle and thread, I embroidered over the lines and 'Love' using a back stitch.  If you've never embroidered, I promise you a back stitch is SO easy.


Of course, if you don't want to embroider a 'Love' letter dress yourself, you can always purchase one at Anthropologie for over a $100. 


Or you can find a blank canvas of your own and add your own personalized embroidered touch for a fraction of the cost.  In my case, $2.99.

Monday, January 20, 2014

15 Valentine's Day Inspired Projects

Valentine's Day.  In the world of retail, Valentine's hype started the day after Christmas.  Today, the Valentine's hype starts right here, with a roundup of previous Valentine inspired projects I've shared.

Finger paint animal silhouette Valentine's along with some puns.

 
Hand print Valentine's


Band-Aid Valentine's.


You stole my heart Valentine's.


DIY Heart Eraser Stamp.


DIY Angel Wings.


Heart Pin or Headband.



Eraser to stamp tutorial


5 minute Valentine's day decor, you are guaranteed to love.


Embroidered 'loved' tee shirt.


Doggie Bag Tutorial.  Perfect bag to collect all those Valentine's day cards in.


Heart shaped bird seed ornaments.


Heart shaped, stamped, clay ornaments.


Dino-mite Valentine Day Cards.


'Love is all you need, all you need is love' garland.


I hope this look back on Valentine's days of the past leaves you feeling inspired.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Chicken Chili

There was a time, making dinner meant heating up a frozen pizza.  The days of being young and single.
But then...

I met this guy.  This guy who would eventually become my husband.  If they way to a man's heart is through his stomach, frozen pizzas were definitely not going to win him over.

What did end up winning him over?  Chicken chili so thick, so delicious and so belly warming, he obviously could no longer resist my charms.


The ingredients in this hearty chili are:

(2) Tbsp of olive oil
(3) Tbsp of cumin
(1) large onion, chopped
(5) cloves of garlic
(1) green bell pepper, chopped
2 lbs of chicken, cubed
(2) tsp of chili powder
(1) tsp of oregano
(1) bay leaf
(2) cans of diced tomatoes
(2) 4 oz cans of green chilies, chopped
2 1/2 cups of chicken broth
(2) cans of kidney beans, drained and rinsed.


Directions to make this delicious chili:

Heat olive oil and cumin in a big chili pot for about 1-2 minutes, over medium heat.  Add onions, garlic, and green pepper.  Stir and cook for another 10 minutes, giving your vegetables time to saute. 

Season your cubed chicken with chili powder.  Add your seasoned chicken, along with oregano and 1 bay leaf to the pot.  Cook for about another 10 minutes.  Add diced tomatoes, green chilies and stir to combine.  Cook another 5-10 minutes.  Add chicken stock, kidney beans and season with salt.

Simmer your delicious chili concoction for at least 2 hours.  I like to make this a day in advance, letting it sit overnight so the flavors have time to really come together.  If you decide to do the same, let it simmer on the stove for another hour or two the next day.

Top it with some cilantro, sour cream and cheese...


And, enjoy it with some chips.


Bon appetite.