breaking a sweat for my hardwood floors

It hit 80 degrees in Boston the other day, so I did what any normal person would do, I opened all of my windows, rolled up my 8' x 10' seagrass rug, and slipped it into a big plastic bag. And I did this ALONE. To call it a challenge is an understatement. At one point I was standing up with one foot on either end of the rolled rug, desperately trying to keep it from loosening up. Moments later, I sat in the middle of the rug (yes, straddling it), while I shimmied the plastic bag down the rolled rug in small sections. If you know me, yes, this is the part where I laughed out loud at how utterly ridiculous this whole idea was (and probably looked).

It would have been nice to have a crew like this to help me....

But I lack patience and didn't have anyone to call, and I really wanted to reveal my beautiful hardwood floors. I have had the same rug down for over three years and it was just starting to feel tired. My hard work paid off.

I got a lovely little workout...
(do yourself a favor and don't click on this photo)

And my living room looks fresh and quite a bit bigger now that I don't have a rug filling most of the space. 

 

The only thing missing is this Moroccan pouf that I'm planning to pick up at Target on Sunday when they reveal their collection of Calypso St. Barth's apparel and housewares.

 I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

happy easter!

getting around to it

Remember last year when I posted about the vibrantly colored silk that could be worn as wrist wraps? I never did get around to ordering them, but today I found some at local store, Bead + Fiber, and I can't wait to show them off. Each is about 18" long, and I chose a beautiful dark magenta, a lime green and a dark cerulean. Knowing that the silk could also be used as a cord for a necklace, I also bought three small (but heavy) brass rings that I plan to hang loosely in the middle in a cluster, or tie lightly with a knot so they hang together as more of a lariat. I could even weave them into the silk if I decide to wear it as a wrist wrap. Yes, I intentionally chose colors that will look very nice against tan skin since Summer is almost here!

It's got to be hard for small stores like Bead + Fiber to even exist anymore. Places such Jo-Ann Fabrics sell a lot of the crafting basics that one would need to make a simple bead or thread necklace, but when it comes to finding unique, one-of-a-kind materials, stores such as Bead + Fiber stand alone. For such a tiny space, they carry a dizzying variety of items that reveal the work of a careful, inspired buyer. I think I could find inspiration browsing bazaars and markets across the world! Just look at some of the goodies you can find.

They also offer instructional classes, and I'm thinking of signing up for one of their kumihomo classes, which teaches the Japanese art of braiding to make gorgeous, colorful cords like these:

 

 (even though it will require the use of one of these looms... which kind of scare me)

I can't even count the hours I spent at Beadworks in Harvard Square in high school, and while 80% of the things I bought there sat (and still sit) in little plastic bags waiting for my attention, it was the kind of place where one could spend hours browsing and imagining. It's also a major bonus that they encourage their patrons to touch everything! Note: Beadworks now does business under Boston Bead Company, but they closed their store in Boston and are now only in Cambridge.

If you're looking to get crafty, may I also recommend The Pear Tree in Brookline, where you can also sometimes find beautiful jewelry.