My Workspace: Before

Ok, so I have taken on a BIG project...organizing a workspace in my home. Please don't judge me as I share with you this lovely before picture:

Yes. That WAS the area I stored all my craft, design, art, gift wrap, etc. supplies (and the spare toilet paper, and the recycling, ooooh, and where we sometimes hang our jeans to dry). The hus decided I would enjoy living in our home more if we actually took this nook by storm and really transformed it into an efficient and inspiring work space for me. THANK GOODNESS! So it's been a couple of months since the awful picture above was taken...and I have since collected some inspiration from Real Simple, Martha Stewart & Design Sponge...



I LOVE organized spaces. LOVE LOVE LOVE. I decided I wanted my work space to be both inspiring and colorful, yet clean and very, VERY organized. This would make it a productive, efficient and wonderful place to create.



I just love the giant chalkboard calendar above! It's useful, graphic, and inexpensive to create! I also am a HUGE fan of monochromatic (in color and style) containers to organize magazines, files, supplies, etc.



I especially like the creative bulletin board alternatives above. On the left, carpet squares give a totally fresh and textural finish to cork board squares. On the right, clipboards are covered in coordinating graphic papers. Both super easy and inexpensive ideas!



Since I live in the city, utilizing wall space will probably be a necessity. Above, I especially like the floor to ceiling shelving as both storage AND desk space. Smart space-saving technique (and proves you don't always need a giant, bulky desk!).

Stay tuned for more photos from my before & after creative space re-vamp!

{image sources: 1 & 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6, 7 & 8}

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It's Raining in Cali!

Rain

I realize rain isn't that big of a deal to all of you who deal with snow,
but bear with us
because rain is our big deal!

If you're Emily, you're sloshing in the streets of SF on your way to work all wet.
If you're me, you battle keeping a toddler trapped inside.

So- I am on a hunt for rain boots.
Of course I found these that I love...but hate the price
Piperlime for $70.00

then I found an alternative which I can totally stomach
(although wish I had the others ;)

Target for $24.99

Who wants to go puddle jumping with me?

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Bunting for the Holidays!

Want to spice up your home for the holidays?  On a budget?  Making your very own bunting is easy and inexpensive and adds a major pop of design and color to any space!  F&F got down to bunting business over the weekend with some amazing fabric from...wait for it....WalMart!  I know, right?  The colors and patterns were beyond perfect for fall/winter...

Once you have your fabric (and you don't need much), you will need to purchase some Stitch Witchery, get out the scissors and iron, and choose a hanging material -- we chose Jute Twine, but you could use ribbon, yarn, raffia, anything really!

Decide on what size you want your pendants to be (and shape...scallop? rectangle? triange?).  Cut out a pattern from card stock.  Cut a stack of pieces of fabric that will fit the pattern, pin the pattern to the stack, and trim around it.....this way you'll get lots of pendants cut at once, all in the same shape, as opposed to cutting out one at a time.  

Then cut a strip of Stitch Witchery, iron onto fabric pendant pieces, peel off backing, fold over the Jute Twine, and iron to bind.  Wallah!  You have bunting!!!!  You can make it as long or short as you want....then hang ANYWHERE!

Don't have time to make your own?  Purchase your very own F&F bunting in our shop!  We think these colors and patterns are the perfect combination to take you from Halloween through Christmas!  Happy Bunting!

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Trick or Treat.

So my friend Jess has officially started blogging for Apartment Therapy SF!!!!! Seriously pumped for her new endeavor, and can't WAIT to read more from her on both blogs! The image below is from her post highlighting some awesome Halloween decor....seriously LOVE the stuffed pumpkin from this Etsy shop!

AND I love these printable goodies from Love.Obsess.Inspire....definitely getting in the spirit of Halloween and wanting to do some fall crafting! Who doesn't love an adorable FREE download for a little DIY?????Goodie Bag Tags are perfect for Halloween gifts, goodie bags, or party favors! Get them here. Designed by Etsy shop Pretty Smitten.
Iron on transfers for cloth trick or treat bags....TOOO cute! Get them here. Designed by the ever-talented Oscar+Emma Design!

Oh, hey!! You might want to make sure you stop by here tomorrow....there may or may not be a big surprise headed your way....
maybe....
;)

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What's For Dinner?

Are you a planner?

Confession: We Are.
We're about the details, the budgets, the organization.
(Too bad we both aren't about cooking. That's Emily's dept.)

Managing a family can be a lot of work.
Juggling the budget and health of a family, a BIG challenge.
It gets pretty easy to say, "Kraft Mac N' Cheese night!"
While I had the organization down, I lacked the healthy menu and I needed help.
(One of many reasons Emily is my other soul half!)

So are YOU out of time this week to come up with meals and figure out what to shop for?
Well, enjoy this insanely awesome treat that Emily helped me with this week!
She's made the shopping check list, given you the recipes, and put it all in an easy to follow format!
*Note: This menu was made on a $50 budget and includes dinner for 3 that can stretch into leftovers for lunch the following day.
Let us know how this works for YOU!
Click HERE to download the Meal Plan SampleClick HERE to download the blank Meal Plan Templatemore of our images can be seen here

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Joey + Aly Part II

So much thought and care went into every detail at Aly's wedding.  The team of

 incredibly talented women who helped to create this event put so much

 thought and attention into every single inch of the sprawling estate...they thought of EVERYTHING!  Here are some of the detail shots: 

The bouquets were made my mom's amazingly talented FABULOUS friend Bobbie.  I could go on and on about how wonderful she is (she's doing my flowers too) but I'll let the pictures speak for themselves!  

The centerpieces were a mixture of mossy covered balls on black pedestals, black wire apples and milk glass filled with gorgeous flowers, all done by my mom's dear, talented friend Carol.  She is oozing with talent and creativity and the flowers were simply stunning.  Milk glass and jars filled with flowers everywhere really completed the look!   

Aly and Joey are both teachers, so there is an apple theme going on!  There were DIY chalkboard chargers that anchored each centerpiece on every table.  ANYONE could make these...they are simply pieces of plywood cut to size and painted in chalkboard paint!  So easy and cheap...

The chalkboard squares were used to show the table numbers as well.  They coordinated with each guests name and table number which were hand written onto painted popsicle sticks sprouting out of the antique milk crate planted with grass...

The cake was made my another one of my mom's friends and it was by far the most delicious wedding cake I ever have tasted (and I'm not even a huge cake fan!).  The burlap runner was made by another family friend using black grosgrain ribbon to create the monogram.

More centerpieces...the mossy balls were hand made using recycled Starbucks Christmas decor that Aly got last January (she used to work there and they used to be gold with giant string covered ornaments on them).  The pedestals were repainted and the balls covered in moss...clever repurpose idea, right?

Another DIY project were the apple votive candleholders featured on every table.  These are surprisingly simple and very inexpensive!  All you need are apples, votives, a utility knife and a spoon for scooping!  For quick instructions on how to make your own, click here.

The favors were homemade apple cookies (made from scratch by grandma and my sister Annie) and they were seriously delish!

The Hitchin' Post sign was hand painted and coordinated with the local to the Central Coast Hitching Post wine my dad found especially for the wedding!

One more DIY project and some Etsy vendor love coming next!  Stay tuned....

{images: all images from Ellie Grover, oh and a few from Carol}

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DIY from Project Wedding - Pots of Moss

These moss pots are pretty much adorable....and a ridiculously inexpensive way to decorate a table for a dinner party, a garden wedding, or to give as hostess gifts or party favors. I am in LOVE! Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day gives step by step DIY instructions at Project Wedding. FABULOUS!

all images from: Oh Happy Day

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Repurposed Treasure

Here at Frenchie & Flea, we LOVE repurposing!
1. It's a great money saver (and we are all about saving money).

2. It's all about the chase!
Buying a piece that is mass produced is easy, but hunting a coveted item down and building that anticipation for hours, days, or weeks can be FUN!

3. It gets the creative juices flowing!
A piece you find on ebay or craigslist or at a garage sale may be great the way it is OR it can leave room for a little TLC.

This chair was a craigslist find and the fabric was from Anthem Fabrics at Etsy.
This ended up being a $25 dollar project!

Some other things you'll see here are a repurposed table that we found at the Alameda Antique Show.
Another trick?
We needed a new area rug. They are expensive! We bought a remnant piece and had a bordered sewn on.
That saved us $50!

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