//Lettered Decor// By Anna Linnea

//Lettered Decor// By Anna Linnea

Sunday, August 21, 2016

I don't know about you all, but I am one of those people who likes to decorate! I love to decorate for parties and such, but I especially like to decorate my room! Decorating is one of those opportunities you have to take an empty space and make it your own by adding bits of you throughout. I especially love to decorate with inspiring and encouraging word art that I have either made myself or gotten from a talented and creative artist. 

Etsy is one of those places where you can find the most unique creations and is the perfect place to look when searching for something to add to your room or home decor. As a new Etsy owner myself I love the thought of a community where like minded creatives can come together and do what they love and I especially love the idea of supporting other small business owners.

A few months back I discovered ByAnnaLinnea on Instagram. Turns out that the owner of this darling Etsy Shop is actually from where I live, was homeschooled, and has two siblings who graduated highschool with me (more information than you needed), but aside from those fun facts, she creates the most original works of art, from water color paintings and lettering, lettered wood pieces, knit scarves, hats, and headbands. She actually opened up By Anna Linnea in honor of her late grandmother who used to crochet gifts for people.

A few weeks ago she contacted me on Instagram and asked if I would like to pick out a piece from her shop to share on my blog and socials. Of course I said yes, because I love all of her pieces but I also wanted to share her creations with you all. I had a fun time styling the "It Is Well" wood piece and deciding where I wanted to put it in my room at college. This piece is simple, so it matches with everything and I love the dark stain of the wood, plus the hand lettering is spot on! On top of that, this is also one of my favorite old hymns, so the words "it is well with my soul" are such an inspiration to see everyday!

Make sure to go check out By Anna Linnea on Etsy and Instagram. If you find any pieces that you can't live without (because lets be honest, all of them are perfect) than you can use the discount code: 

OLDFASHIONEDGIRL for 15% off!

(good through September 1st)

Do you ever look on Etsy for home decor? 

Are you a fan of hand lettered pieces?

-Madison

Nook and Cranny

Nook and Cranny

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Sweater/Jumper: Thrifted (Talbots)
Pants: Minnie's Menagerie (DIY paint splatter)
Socks: Old Navy
Earrings: Target

Okay, so here is the thing.....I took these pictures last week (plus more) fully intending on posting them and doing a room tour. However, life happens, lighting isn't right, your camera decides not to act how you want it to and well.....the perfectionist in you wins the battle!!! Nevertheless, while these are not even half of the pictures I took and while they don't show near as much of my room I decided I had to post them because well.....they were to cute not to:)

While in theory I have two rooms, one at home and one at college, I am hardly ever in my room back at home because I am only home two weekends a month (boohoo). However, since college is my life and my home right now it is important to me that my room be just as much home as I can make it. It is also important that my room be something that makes me smile, shows a little of who I am, and also adds joy to my life. Since my room is where I spend most all of my time when I am not in class it has to be an atmosphere conducive to studying, learning, and working on projects. No....I am not one of those college students who goes to the library to study.....I only go to the library to explore:)

I discovered after decorating my room this semester that I quite like color, or at least for decorating my dorm room I used a LOT of color. That is probably because the quilt I made for my bed is made of fabric scraps in all the colors of the rainbow, but I think that is what makes it so very cheerful!
However, since I have a room all to myself (perks of being a Resident Adviser) with my own blue bathroom (yes....blue tile bathroom) and HUGE closet I always feel like I live in an apartment or at least I pretend I do. I love those bloggers who have the most perfectly arranged and decorated apartments.....it just makes me want to have my own! 

I think that my favorite part of my room from these pictures (because really my favorite part is the closet) is the wall above my bed. I would probably have to call it the inspiration wall, but it also reminds me of a carnival with the lights, bunting, quotes/pictures, and the numerous paint swatches that I have collected:) That is one DIY pinterest trick for taking care of a bare wall, simply stick on a collage of paint swatches and you are good to go. 

All in all this is my safe space! My nook and cranny where I escape from the world, sometimes from school, and most of the time from people (though my residents are always welcome) and simply breath.....brew a cup of coffee, or make a cup of tea, put some essential oils in my diffuser and curl up with a good book, a blog post, or get caught up on a TV show. I believe it is important that each of us have a special nook and cranny be it your room or elsewhere that you can escape to and forget about the troubles of the world or maybe sometimes like me brainstorm ways to fix them! 

Is your room your special place?

Are you in college like me? If so how do you make your room fell like home?

Where is your nook and cranny? 

-Madison

Christmas Is Almost Here

Christmas Is Almost Here

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Hello lovely readers! So as I was preparing to go to bed I decided that I wanted to snap a few pictures of my Christmas tree and then I decided I might as well share the Christmas Cheer with all of you. One of our family traditions is for me, my brother, and my sister to all have miniature Christmas trees in our rooms. Oddly, my tree is purple, which is by no means my favorite color, but I don't mind the color so long as I have a touch of Christmas in my room to enjoy:)

Ever since I was a little girl, my tradition was decorating my own tree each year. I love getting out all of my tiny ornaments each year and reminiscing about how I came about them, or who gave them to me. 

This is one of my favorite ornaments on my tree. I have probably had this ballerina for over five years, and I actually first bought it at a dollar store. The reason this ornament is my favorite probably has to do with the fact that one, it is sparkly, and two, I have been a dancer off and on my whole life and ballerina's always bring that memory back.

I LOVE this ornament because it is a CUPCAKE!!! I am a slight cupcake fanatic. Okay, maybe more than slight:) Apparently I have over 30 cupcakes in my room, since my dear friends did me the favor of counting them all last time they were over. I love baking cupcakes, and eating them, and decorating them, and buying them, and I might as well admit I have OCD (Obsessive Cupcake Disorder).

I am not sure how long I have even had this ornament? I probably received it as a gift when I was very little, but I really love how unique it is. This ornament is a miniature porcelain angel doll, and reminds me so much of a vintage ornament. 

This snowflake ornament is a new addition this year. One of my friends made and painted snowflakes for me and a few other girls she invited to a Christmas dinner and we all got to pick our favorite to take home. This was my favorite, because it was the smallest, and I loved the colors!

Last, but not least, I cannot forget about the Candy Cane! While this is not an ornament in the original since, it is the most traditional Christmas Tree decoration that has been around for centuries. I love Candy Canes because they are so fun to eat and also because they are peppermint! Plus, I grew up with some of my favorite Christmas book's being about Candy Cane's and the Candy Cane story, which will always be a found memory I will cherish forever.

I hope all of you dear readers enjoy the Christmas Season and take time to reminisce about your favorite Christmas memories!