My boys have been asking for a plant in their room. Seeing as how things can get rowdy in there on a regular basis, I’m thinking a hanging plant would fare best.

I came across this brass himmeli hanging planter on etsy. Isn’t the design perfection at its simplest? The modern style is a nod to Finnish tradition. The Swedish word “himmel” means “sky” or “heaven.” Prism-like ornaments were originally created to celebrate the winter solstice and bring good fortune but they’ve grown in popularity and now you’ll find them all over the world any time of year.

I want air plants. Like, bad. How adorable is this beaded planter? Each bead is dyed and strung by hand. It’s sort of the modern version of macrame hangers. I could see it hanging out in a small office or nursery.

Speaking of nursery…this mobile is would be perfect for a baby’s room. It’s so delicate and dainty.

Each of the items above is available through HRUSKAA, an etsy shop specializing in Scandinavian decor. The shop’s owner, Melissa, says that all of her designs are created keeping small space living in mind. She believes everyone – even those of us not living in McMansions – deserves beautiful pieces to display in their home. True!

Do you have any hanging plants in your home? Any suggestions for me plant-wise?

images: HRUSKAA

My below average, off-the-shelf iPhone case broke a few weeks ago. Since then, I’ve been on the hunt for a new one. I would love a leather one. {On a side note: did you watch season 5 of Project Runway a few years ago? Anyone remember Stella and how she always referred to leather as “leatha”? Well, that’s how I always pronounce it now. Leatha.}

Whilst browsing etsy this week, I came across TRIMleather. The shop offers quality handmade leather accessories – everything from belts to phone cases. The craftsmanship is impeccable. The pieces are constructed using vegetable tanned vintage leather. The stitching, embossing and metal details give a luxe look.

Whenever I come across a new {to me} creative shop, I’m always interested in the story behind it. It turns out, the creator of TRIMleather is Corey Le Me, an interior designer by trade who quit his day job and decided to teach himself how to craft with leather. He says his very first coin purse was a disaster but he kept at it until he reached the high standard of quality that his shop is known for today.

Corey keeps three things in mind when designing new pieces: user friendliness, environmental friendliness and minimal design. “Easy isn’t interesting” is one of his favorite mottos.

Personally, I would love to own a piece of Corey’s work. I think the leather phone cases would be a hit with guys {father’s day gift?} as well. Leather is so versatile and durable.

P.S. – I have received a few emails from House*Tweaking RSS subscribers saying they are having trouble receiving posts via the feed. Anyone else having problems? If you wouldn’t mind letting me know what you use to read your blog feeds, I’d appreciate it. I’m trying to figure out what the problem might be. So far, everything looks okay on my end. Sorry for the inconvenience!

images: TRIMleather

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, I’d like to share one of my favorite mom-related etsy shops this week. Mod momME is a shop that I have personally purchased from and love. The shop offers stylish handmade mom & baby accessories – everything from diaper bags to cosmetic bags – for those moms not wanting to sacrifice style for practicality. You can have both! Here are my favorite items.

This is the exact changing pad I have in my diaper bag. I prefer to use a roomy, good-looking tote as a non-traditional diaper bag so it’s applicable long after my baby-rearing years. When the tote is fulfilling its diaper bag duties, I toss in this lightweight roll up changing pad for on-the-go diaper changes. The brightly colored pattern makes it easy to spot in the diaper bag amongst all the other baby paraphernalia.

If you prefer having your changing pad, wipes and dipes together, I like this all-in-1 diaper clutch. Great for quick trips {it can’t hold a bunch of diapers} and quick changes. Both the roll up changing pad and diaper clutch have a wipeable TPU changing surface. TPU is non toxic, hypoallergenic, fungus resistant, PVC free, BPA free, lead free and phthalate free. Yesssssss.

I wish I had this wet bag. We use cloth diapers on Mabrey most of the time. I bought a different wet bag before she was born and after two washings a seam ripped and it started leaking. Um, yuck. The great thing about a wet bag is that it isn’t just for dirty cloth diapers. You can use it for wet swimsuits or stinky workout clothes after your baby is potty-trained. You know, that’s when you start wearing a swimsuit and working out again anyways, right? Ha! The inner layer of this wet bag is made of TPU like the changing surfaces above.

Kristin is the mastermind behind mod momME and I was amazed to learn about how her little etsy shop came to be. In her words…

When my youngest child was turning 1 I wanted to make her a dress for her party. I did not know how to sew nor did I own a sewing machine but I was not going to let that stop me. I was on a mission so I purchased a sewing machine, fabric and some patterns. Those purchases led me to etsy where I fell even more in love with handmade. It is also where I acquired my love of fabric.

Over the next few weeks I taught myself how to sew. I discovered 2 things: I was actually pretty good at sewing and I hated following sewing patterns. I became inspired by all the original designs from the artists on etsy and I decided that I was capable of creating my own designs.

I chose to create products for mom and baby. The products had to be innovative, practical and stylish. I prefer to steer clear of cheesy character prints and offer prints and designs geared more towards mom’s liking. As moms we often define ourselves by our children and we lose sight of who we are. I wanted my products to help moms ‘rediscover the ME in mommy!’

How awesome is it that Kristin didn’t let her shortcomings {not knowing how to sew & not owning a sewing machine} keep her from doing something she really wanted to do? Instead, she tried and learned something new and solved a problem in a creative way. I’m always inspired by moms who go after dreams – no matter how big or how small – with kids in tow. What great role models. For me and for their children.

Have you ever tried something new or something just for yourself with a family in the mix? Was it easier or more difficult than you thought it would be? How did you feel afterwards? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

images: mod momME

I’ve had requests to share my favorite etsy shops and finds. Dare I say I spend more time browsing etsy than pinterest? It’s true. I’ve decided to try weekly etsy features and see how they go over. Let me know if you enjoy them!

This week on etsy I stumbled upon the most amazing collection of handmade chandeliers and sconces via Stimulight. The urchin-like starburst lighting has a midcentury vibe that reminds me of the Sputnik but is more affordable than the popular vintage pieces. Most of the fixtures are listed with a price tag of less than $400 while true Sputniks and even high end replicas can sell for upwards of $1,000.

The custom fixtures are made with the utmost attention to detail. The metal spines are crafted from high quality wire and can be adorned with hand painted wood beads for an explosive effect.

Along with chandeliers, the shop also offers handsome wall sconces and table lamps. I could see a pair of urchin sconces above a buffet in a dining room or flanking the bed in a master bedroom. A single sconce near a rocking chair or glider would be so adorable in a nursery.

After discovering this inspiring little shop, I was delighted to find out more about the maker and designer behind the pieces. The shop is the result of a creative collaboration between a visual display manager and an engineer. Zach Dutton, one half of the Stimulight duo, is a visual display designer for West Elm. Yes, THE West Elm. I’m a huge fan of West Elm so it’s really no surprise that I’m drawn to the experimental lighting gig spurred by one of their designers. I don’t think this newly introduced tangent shop will be sitting on the sidelines for long!

What do you think of these affordable spins on a vintage design? Are you a fan of West Elm too?

images: Stimulight

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.*

Congrats to Cindy who is helping a friend with her daughter’s wedding and is in love with the cute wording on the RSVP cards!

Yesterday Jessica shared her oh-so-cozy bedroom with us and today she’s kindly offering you all the chance to win some pretty special product from her etsy shop.

Creating fun, stylish and eco-friendly stationery is Jessica’s passion. {I guess that’s why she has an office in her bedroom!} After playing around with paper for a decade, Jack & Ella Paper Press was born in 2009. The paper shop offers an array of stationery for nearly any occasion.

I’ve featured Jack & Ella Paper Press on H*T before. I personally buy and use the stationery myself and it’s wonderful! I’m drawn to the simple designs, sweet text and heavyweight recycled card stock.

Want in on the paper goods goodness? See below for entry details.

PRIZE: $30 gift card to Jack & Ella Paper Press

RULES: You must be at least 18 years old and have a shipping address within the U.S. {no P.O. boxes please} to enter. One entry per email address.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this post proclaiming “OMPG!” {short for “oh my paper goodness!”, of course}

DEADLINE: Enter before Friday, March 15th at noon EST. One random winner will be announced later that same day.

WHILE YOU’RE AT IT: Since we’re talking paper for all occasions…do you have any special events coming up that are stationery worthy? I’ll go first. No “events” here per say but I am in need of some everyday notecards. It seems like every time I open the desk cabinet in the kitchen in search of a last-minute birthday card or thank you note, I come up empty-handed. Looks like I could use some blank cards!

Thanks Jessica!

images: Jessica Bates

Blog sponsorship. It’s a touchy subject. But the truth of the matter is, if you have a blog that receives a fair amount of traffic, blogging turns into an expense – financially speaking.

When I first created House*Tweaking, I had a free Blogger account and I was working part-time as a pharmacist. Blogging was purely a hobby. Over the years, with an increase in readership {I’m still not entirely sure why you guys choose to follow House*Tweaking with so many amazing blogs out there but I’m truly grateful that you do. Thank you!}, I’ve obtained a URL and transferred House*Tweaking from Blogger to a “meh” web host and then to a private server. Oh, and I left my day job. Those things combined have made it necessary for me to look into sponsorship opportunities in the form of side bar ads, affiliate programs, writing elsewhere and collaborating with reputable companies. I am not looking to get rich. My hope is to cover the costs of maintaining this blog, DIYing projects and decorating our house so that I can continue doing what now has become a passion.

In working with companies, I always try to feature businesses and products that I would use myself. I say no to potential sponsors ten times more than I say yes. I really want it to be a win-win-win situation. The company gains some traffic. I cover my costs. You are introduced to an inspiring and useful product/service.

All that mumbo jumbo to say I’ve been brainstorming new ways to partner with businesses. When I signed on to write for Wayfair’s blog, My Way Home, I had an “a-ha!” moment. Why not feature items from their site that I would like to use in my own home? I had shopped Wayfair before {I bought the saddler’s bench shown above} and was really pleased with my purchase. I pitched the idea to Wayfair and the monthly “Wayfair in the House” series was born. This is the first of such posts! Here we go…

I’m so ready to have a cozy bedroom. I tried capturing a current pic of the room but was immediately photobombed by three rugrats. It’s hard to tell from the image above but there are random paint sample patches painted throughout the room. There’s even painted foam board living in our closet and paint swatches propped on the windowsill. Do you spy them? My nightstand drawer is full of color swatches and paint decks. It’s bad. I’ve tried no less than a dozen colors and don’t like any of them. This northeast room with not great light is tough. But one swatch I’ve kept in the mix is Benjamin Moore’s 2126.

Namely, I’m really drawn to anchor gray 2126-30. It reminds me of my favorite jeans. In thinking about our bedroom {and I do it waaaaaaaay too much}, I really want it to feel like a room that I would wear. And I like nothing more than wearing my favorite dark jeans with a heather gray top, leather boots and simple gold jewelry. HH also wears a lot of denim and gray so having masculine navy and gray in the room feels right.

Then I found this.

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.*

Congrats to Jenn who was a fan of the TV show Cheers {one of my dad’s personal favorites} back in the ’80′s. Jenn is this week’s winner of the EcoColor giveaway! And to those of you who were only babies/eggs in your mama’s uterus in the ’80′s…you make me feel verrrrrrrrry old.

What do you like more than pillows? What’s that? FREE pillows, you say. Well, that’s just dandy. Because this week’s giveaway hails from EcoColor, an etsy shop that specializes in colorful pillow covers made from eco-friendly fabrics.

The graphic color blocking and bright hues would be the perfect companion to a mostly neutral decor. {You may recognize the top left pillow from a mood board I created for the boys’ room and then later switched up. Although, I’m thinking my house could still use one or two of those red and white cross pillows.}

I love that some of the pillow patterns have hidden meaning.

Kim, the mastermind behind EcoColor, can customize pillow covers to represent any of the international signal codes shown above. How clever is that?! You could literally plant your “I just don’t get the pillow thing”-thinking hubby/mister/lover/friend/baby/puppy/cat in the middle of the couch surrounded by pillows spelling out S.O.S. Hehe. More realistically, you could designate children’s beds with the first letter of their name OR use a pillow signaling the first letter of your surname on your family room sofa. Pillow talk at its finest ;)

I’m calling it. Color blocked signal code pillows are the new monogram.

Want in on the color blocking pillow action? Great! See entry details below.

PRIZE: two 18″x18″ red and white cross pillows {shown above} + two inserts {!}. Yes, you read that right – two pillow covers + two pillow inserts.

RULES: You must be at least 18 years old and have a shipping address within the U.S. {no P.O. boxes please} to enter. One entry per email address.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this post proclaiming “COLOR BLOCK ME!”

DEADLINE: Enter before Friday, February 22nd at noon EST. One random winner will be announced later that same day.

WHILE YOU’RE AT IT: Since we’re talking color blocking…it hasn’t always been so chic. I keep thinking back to those baggy ’80′s sweaters with hideous color blocked patterns a la Punky Brewster. But I was a HUGE Punky Brewster fan. What was your favorite TV show in the ’80′s? C’mon let’s reminisce.

BUT, WAIT!, THERE’S MORE: Use the discount code “HOUSETWEAKING” to score 10% off your EcoColor purchase now through February 28th.

Thanks Kim!

images: polyvore collages by Dana Miller featuring EcoColor imagery

Here’s the deal. A photo shoot will be taking place at our house right after the new year. I know. What?! Who in the world would want to come take pictures of our house in the state that it’s in?

Our front door doesn’t work properly. The garage is completely dysfunctional and in disarray so we have resorted to entering/exiting through the mudroom’s french doors at the back of the house. There are some baseboards still missing in the hallway from our water leak scare. One full bathroom is gutted and awaiting finishes. The TV area above the mantel is open to the cinder block walls. All of the interior doors are installed but need paint and a few still need hardware. The laundry nook looks like we stuck the washer and dryer in a corner. And I haven’t done any real decorating other than Mabrey’s room which I wouldn’t consider finished. Don’t even get me started on the outside of the house.

Luckily, the photo shoot will only focus on three rooms of the house. But even those rooms need a ton of work before they’re camera worthy. With the holiday season in full swing, we’re in a rush to check off a bunch of projects on our to-do list. Nothing like a photo shoot to light a fire under your tush!

The good news is I’ll have a bunch of decor-related posts to share in 2013 but the bad news is you have to wait until 2013. And since I can’t postpone Christmas or the photo shoot, the blog is pretty much taking a back seat to everything else in my life. Which sucks. Because I really enjoy blogging. I write mental posts in my head all day long. I have 4,188 unpublished posts just sitting in my brain taking up space. In fact, that’s why I started this blog. To empty my brain. Oh, my brain is so heavy right now. My neck can barely support it. THE AGONY.

We’ve been fortunate to have a little financial help in the way of a photo shoot budget. The money is going towards projects and decor that we had planned on funding already. We’re not doing or buying anything that we wouldn’t have done or bought otherwise…just getting to it sooner than we had anticipated. This ‘recent purchases’ installment includes some of those photo shoot items AND some other random stuff. I won’t tell you which is which. Because I like surprises. Especially when I’m the one doing the surprising.

1 – Endless Topography 4 I found this amazing original artwork via the Aldas Project on etsy. The plan is to hang it in the kitchen. HH and I are stoked about incorporating some real art into this house. We were drawn to the colors and movement of this abstract piece.

2 – Seagrass runner This rug is for the hallway that leads back to the bathrooms and bedrooms. I wanted something durable and simple. Seagrass was the way to go.

3 – Navy linen I bought 7 yards of navy linen to DIY a slipcover for the petite sofa in the mudroom/dining room. I had an interesting conversation with the employee at the cutting table. Of course, they always ask what you’re planning on making with your purchase. I told her a slipcover. She said I was braver than she was then said she never sewed anything without a pattern. I told her I was the complete opposite. I have never sewn anything according to any pattern. Not because I’m a particularly expert sewer. It’s just that if I have a pattern then I see all the things I’m doing incorrectly. If I make it up as I go, there’s nothing to tell me I’m doing it wrong.

4 – Tulip side chair We actually bought four of these for the dining room. They’re modern, comfy, kid-friendly and easy to clean…everything we were looking for in a dining chair. They came with plain white seat cushions. I’ll recover them at some point.

5 – Moravian star mirror I found this gorge mirror on a whim while perusing a Joss & Main event last week. As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted a pair to hang on either side of the TV above the mantel. They are just the right size and shape to work around HH’s boob speakers. I’ve decided the best way to deal with the orbs is to just decorate around them. We’ll see.

6 – Stainless steel containers I bought four 3-packs of these containers to organize our herbs and spices. When we moved in, I threw all of my cooking spices into the cabinet above the microwave. What was I thinking?! Obviously, I wasn’t. I have to get up on a stool every time I need my oregano. Which happens quite often. Because I love tomatoes. And nothing goes better with tomatoes than oregano. I’ll be editing my spices and what makes the cut will live in these round containers on the side of the fridge.

7 – Chevron runner Nate Berkus. Chevron. Dhurrie. ‘Nuf said. This handsome man lives in my kitchen now.

8 – Batik pillow cover Have you been over on etsy lately? Seriously. Is it just me or is etsy just getting better and better? I couldn’t get enough of this vintage Hmong textile cover. I added it to my favorites and visited it several times a day for a week or so until I decided to go for it. It’s one of those decor items that I would totally wear if it were in clothing form.

9 – Velvet pillow cover I have been wanting a velvet-covered something for a while now. I love the texture velvet brings to a room. The bright pop of chartreuse is unexpected and fun. I’m going to try pairing this velvet cover with the batik one on the leather couch in our family room. No matchy-matchy pillows here!

There it is. My bounty. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some weekend warrioring to do. Yes. The weekend officially starts NOW. Go!

Click here to see who won this week’s giveaway.

images: polyvore collage by Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.*

Congrats to Josie who thinks of the beach and flowy white fabrics when she hears the word ‘bohemian.’

When Mabrey was born {eight months ago! Can you believe it’s been eight months?! Some days it feels like she just got here and is becoming independent way too fast. On other trying days, I can’t remember NOT being outnumbered by three brain-sucking weasels. Today was one of those days.}, Jessica of Jessica’s Serenity graciously sent me a girlie bracelet in honor of my new pink bundle.

{Oh! Her feet were so tiny. And wrinkly. And pink. It almost gives me baby fever. Almost. Btw, Mabrey’s toes are still long and still all the same length. I keep saying she’s either going to be a runner or a dancer. Maybe a carny?}

I’m happy to report that my bracelet is still going strong. No unraveling or any wear-and-tear to speak of. I get compliments on it all the time. Jessica recently contacted me about sponsoring a giveaway and I couldn’t resist another peek at her bead-a-licious jewelry. Jessica specializes in fun, surfer chic, beach and nature inspired bohemian jewelry. She uses a variety of beads in her creations so you’re sure to find a piece that suits your style. Each item is hand crafted for a one-of-a-kind look. Whether you lean towards bright colors or neutral naturals, there’s something for every wannabe surfer girl.

That yellow one is totally rockin’ my world right now. Could your jewelry collection use a little bohemian flair? There’s good news for you. See details below and maybe win a bracelet of your own!

PRIZE: one bracelet from Jessica’s Serenity up to a $45 value

RULES: You must be at least 18 years old and have a U.S. shipping address {no P.O. boxes please} to enter. One entry per email address.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this post proclaiming “BOHO ME!”

DEADLINE: Enter before Friday, December 14th at noon EST. One random winner will be announced later that same day.

WHILE YOU’RE AT IT: Since we’re talking bohemian…what comes to mind when you hear read the word ‘bohemian?’ I’ll go first. I think of long wavy locks that have been kissed by the sun. I think of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ I think of Amber Interiors.

BUT, WAIT!, THERE’S MORE: Jessica is offering House*Tweaking readers free shipping on any order placed now through December 15th! Just enter the coupon code “SHIPFREE” at checkout. These unique bracelets would make a great Christmas gift for just about any girl with a wrist. And I think that covers pretty much all girls – minus the random shark attack and farm machine injury. In which case, my apologies.

images: Jessica’s Serenity

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.*

Congrats to Andrea who is overdue for a bathroom update!

‘Fess up. Which of you went out and bought the new iPhone 5 last week? My sister did. I didn’t.

Seeing as how HH had to drag me to the store when I finally caved for my iPhone over year ago, I’m not one to jump on the latest technology bandwagons. I still haven’t tapped into all that my phone can do, so I’ll be using it for a while. In fact, the phone I had just before my current iPhone was a very outdated Motorola Razr. It was in bad shape. The wire connecting the keypad portion to the flip-top was fully exposed and I had to hold the phone with two hands to use it. That upgrade was similar to when my country-lovin’, Harley riding, hillbilly dad bought a Lexus sedan last month. Whaaaaat??? He also wears cargo shorts now. Up until a year ago, I couldn’t even tell you what his legs looked like. I’d seen them maybe a total of two times in my 30+ years. He always wore jeans. My bonus mom is opening my dad’s eyes to all the things me and my siblings have been trying to turn him on to for three decades. And she’s done it in two years! Without nagging or changing my dad’s personality. She’s pretty amazing.

Anyhow, for those of us who still like our older iPhone models, there’s a brand spanking new etsy shop that’s got us covered. Literally.

Scribbles & Stripes offers a variety of modern printed cases compatible with the iPhone 4 or 4S. From polka dots to chevron to ombre, there’s a pattern for everyone. You can update your iPhone without paying for the expensive upgrade. Want something a little more personal than a pattern? Well, check out the custom instagram and photo options as well. These would make lovely gifts, don’t you think?

Could your iPhone 4 or 4S use a little love? Great. See details below and win a case of your own!

PRIZE: one iPhone 4/4S case of your choice from Scribbles & Stripes

RULES: You must be at least 18 years old and have a U.S. shipping address. No P.O. boxes please. One entry per email address.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this post proclaiming “UPDATE ME!”

DEADLINE: Enter before Thursday, September 27th at 9:00 p.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced Friday, September 28th.

WHILE YOU’RE AT IT: Since we’re talking updates and upgrades… what’s a future update or upgrade you’re looking forward to? A new hairstyle? A reliable car? Replacing something in your wardrobe? Or maybe you’re updating something in your house? I’ll go first. We’ve done a lot of work around the Underdog but there’s still one full bathroom sitting completely gutted. All five of us have been sharing our master bathroom and while it hasn’t been impossible, I’m really looking forward to finishing the other bathroom for kids and guests. It’s on the calendar for winter.

BUT, WAIT!, THERE’S MORE: Can’t wait to win or are you doing your Christmas shopping early? Scribbles & Stripes is offering an exclusive discount to House*Tweaking readers. For the next two days four days, use the coupon code “HOUSE25″ to score 25% off your purchase! After that, use the coupon code “HOUSETWEAKING” to score 10% off any purchase through October 24th 2012. AND…if you’re interested in a case for an iPhone 5, you can pre-order them now through Scribbles & Stripes!

Don’t forget to like Scribbles & Stripes on facebook and follow them on instagram!

Do you have an etsy shop or small business you’d like to introduce House*Tweaking readers to by way of a giveaway? Please contact me at danarmiller {at} hotmail {dot} com for more info.

images: Scribbles & Stripes collage by Dana Miller