Ombre Woodland Sticks

This afternoon as the dog and I went on a walk, we picked up some lovely sticks laying in Northwest Washington, DC. When we got home I set out my ombre (variegated) embroidery floss and choose my living room colors to create a pop of color for a shelf. So simple, 1. cover the sticks in embroidery floss 2. push into small stones in an interesting vintage canning jar and boom! 3. Color for a shelf. 

 

 

 

 

Pickled Vegetables

My usual weekend routine is to choose a few recipes that I'd like to make for the week night dinners and then grocery shop for them on Sunday morning. I came across this recipe for pickled taco vegetables and was totally inspired the simple pickling process. I am sure they will be a great condiment for fish tacos.

 

Taco Pickles
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2 bunches of radish
a handful of carrots
2 jalapeños with seeds removed (more or less depending heat preference)

4 cloves of garlic
handful of chopped cilantro
salt to taste
1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup sugar

Bring the sugar and vinegar to a slow boil and whisk until all the sugar is dissolved. Pour into another container and cool fridge or bring it back to room temperature. Dice the vegetables and place into a glass seal able container. Next, add the vinegar and sugar liquid to the vegetables. Add the handful of chopped cilantro and salt and close the lid and shake, shake shake!.  Place in the fridge and enjoy your pickled vegetables over the next couple of weeks on tacos or whatever you like.

Adapted from: Eva Kolenko 

Tribal Necklaces

Finally, a new update is coming to ItsBella. The shop will be carrying a few new vintage necklaces with a tribal theme this weekend! Two of the necklaces are a striking black and white geometric theme. There is also a bright rainbow colored necklace made from tons of tiny beads and lastly there is a great metallic triple strand necklace with wooden beads.

Be Brave

Usually I am not one for reposting, but this struck me. In the current situation I am in, I hope I am presented with an opportunity tomorrow to "be brave" and move on with the last element of change I need to make.

“You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.” -Stephen King

Vintage Area Rugs

A nice sized update is coming to the shop over the next two days. Five different vintage navajo / aztec style rugs. Each one is unique and interesting and I am really excited for them to be in stock.

Wooden Tealight Holders DIY

Over the holiday break I also made some really fun tea light holders. My dad and I cut tree branches to size and then drilled a hole the size of a tea light in the center of the tree rings. It was freezing in his wood shop, but it was nice to work side by side with my dad.

I made two different sets. One from natural wood, a Bradford pear tree, and the other set is from reclaimed barn wood. Check for them in the shop now!

Holiday Vintage

When I go home to visit my parents in Pennsylvania, I love to go through my mom's vintage collections. I found these super cute vintage Christmas tags and gift card. They are so colorful and inspiring. So Scandinavian.