MEET THE SPONSOR >> The Kavanaugh Report

Here is another great meet and greet from one of our sponsors.

Id like to introduce Nicole from The Kavanaugh Report!

Thanks Nicole for joining us! Now for some questions!

So, Tell me about your blog/shop?

The Kavanaugh Report is a parenting, tot schooling, dog wrangling, cooking, crafting, work-at-home mama blog.  

Who/What inspired you to start your blog/open your shop? 

Well, I started the blog to chronicle my life during law school. As law school, ended TKR evolved to my life with one hilariously grumpy baby.

What is your favorite post/item in your blog or shop?

 My favorite post is a flashback highlighting my son, Henry's famously pouty grumpy lip. This little boy just kills me with that lip: http://thekavanaughreport.blogspot.com/2012/03/pouty-lip.html

Name a list of your top 5 favorite blogs or shops? 

The Naptown Organizer (http://thenaptownorganizer.blogspot.com/), Growing Up Geeky (http://www.growingupgeeky.com/), The Froggy and the Mouse (http://www.froggyandthemouse.com/), 1+1+1=1 (http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.net/), You are the Roots (http://www.youaretheroots.com/).

Do you have any tips for new bloggers or shop owners?

 Be yourself and write about what you love. The best blogs are honest and true to life. 

Thank you so much for joining us and being a sponsor for us this month, and that pouty lip. So cute! 

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MEET THE SPONSORS >> Little Homemade Housewife

We decided to throw out some questions to some of our July sponsors. Here is a little more about them!

Meet the adorable Mrs. White:

So, Tell me about your blog/shop?

 My blog is something that is rather niche-less. I'm not even sure what 'lifestyle blog' is supposed to mean, though I know I started out towards craft & DIY. But I've found it really satisfying to share what's going on in my life, and going on in my head, oftentimes to the detriment of my dignity. I also love to share graphic design that I work on [mainly blog design], and my shop, where you can find out how to get one of your very own. :) Or e-mail me for more precise questions/details on it.

Who/What inspired you to start your blog/open your shop? 

 What inspired me to start blogging was the fact that I was newly married and, at the time, a stay at home wife. I didn't have chillin's to take care of, so I decided to occupy myself with crafting. I stumbled upon some craft blogs that I absolutely loved, and decided to try it out myself. I used to be 'that's all I'm gonna do' but with what my focuses have changed in my life, so has my blog evolved along with me. As for my shop, I was inspired to open that as kind of a test. To see if people would actually want to pay me for my design services. I'd done a lot of free stuff on the side for a while, but it was actually quite amazing how many people were willing to pay for a piece of me. I also believed that people on a budget should have the opportunity to get something beautiful as well.

What is your favorite post/item in your blog or shop?

 HMmmmmm. That's really hard. I'd have to say my favorite post would probably be either the post I wrote for my husband's birthday recently, or going further back, probably this post that was kind of my first time I felt like I could really share me and it got a really great response. My favorite item in my shop is actually one no one seems interested in, but it's a premade layout that's a fifties diner theme. It's really fun in my opinion!

Name a list of your top 5 favorite blogs or shops? 

 Another tuffy! Jeez louise. Okay, in no particular order of preference: Imprintalish, The Dreamy Meadow, The Funny Thing of it is, aunie Sauce, and I Never Really Told You.

Do you have any tips for new bloggers or shop owners?

 Hmmm new bloggers. I'd have to say do you. It's kind of something everyone says, but it's the truth. Do what you want, regardless if it's popular or if it's what the 1209338 follower bloggers do. Blog to make yourself happy, or relieve stress, or connect with others. Don't be afraid to reach out, because you'll be surprised [pleasantly] with how friendly the rest of us are. For new shop owners (which I still am mind you), I'd have to say word of mouth is a beautiful thing. Never underestimate it. That and customer service. I've worked in it all my life, and I'm a fairly charismatic person, both in type and in person [so I'm told], and it's what I get complimented on and recommended for all the time. Taking the time to be accommodating and pleasant to the people paying you their money seems like a no brainer, but it does help a lot!

Thank you so much for sponsoring our blog this month, and we hope to have you back next month! Please visit the links below to see Mrs. White's wonderful sites.

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SPONSOR POST >> Repairing Vintage Fabrics

Hey everyone! Here is some great tips on vintage fabrics from our sponsor Rachel @ Cute Vintage! Please visit her site and enjoy these great tips! Go ahead Rachel!

Okay - so we all like a little vintage, and can either thrift or splurge on our hand-me-down purchases, but, when it comes to buying vintage, what fabrics work best for modern times? and if we thrift a little something-something that's less than perfect, how do we go about repairing it? 

Here a few things to think about when on your next thrifting spree - 

Materials to be careful of: 

Acrylic wool. If you're prone to a little skin sensitivity, avoid acrylic wool like the plague. I love nothing better than a little beaded/sequined 80s wool throw-back or a Norwegian inspired knit. However, if labels are still attached - check the wool content of the fabric, as acrylic wool can be incredibly itchy to wear, and has once or twice brought me out in a rash. AND acrylic wool (or wool period) is a bit of a nightmare to keep, as it tends to get moth eaten. So pre-purchase, check over your jumper to make sure there aren't any teeny-tiny bug holes. If there are, don't pay more than a couple quid for it as once moth eaten-always moth eaten. You can darn wool, but it will be noticeable.

  Lace. Lace can be a complete and utter nightmare. Old white lace WILL turn yellow, so if your aim is crisp white don't bother with vintage lace. Having said that, you can take lace to a specialist dry cleaners to be treated - but there's no promise the saffron hue will leave. Consider dying lace - it tends to be the easiest way to restore a piece back to its' former glory. 

Lycra/Stretch synthetic fabrics. I learned the hard way that leggings in the 90s should stay in the 90s. Like most people (I suppose) my highstreet bought leggings sometimes loose their elasticity, and tend to crinkle around me knees after I've had them for a while - but a wash at 90, and they usually snap back into their original size. However - vintage fabrics don't always take so well to a hot wash...as I learned when I disintegrated a pair of vintage leggings in the wash. I was left out of pocket with strips of age-old Lycra stuck to my washer.

  Poly-cotton/Synthetic mix. Anything synthetic, especially around the 70s era will itch. During the 60s and 70s, fabrics like crepes, and synthetic mixes became a huge factor in highstreet fashion, and as great as they all looked in their jumpsuits - some of these fabrics are not fit for 2012. For that reason, I tend to stock up on vintage sewing patterns for simple cut dresses and jumpsuits and remake an original pattern with fabric that's kind to my skin instead!

 Easy to repair:

  Cotton. The old faithful of fabrics, cotton is a vintage lovers best friend. Easy to wash, and easy to rework or restore. So long as you're handy with a needle and thread, you can repair almost anything that's made from cotton fabric. The most common problem I find when thrifting is a burst seam - you can sew by hand or with machine, but all in all a split seam is no big deal (ask your Gran for help if you get stuck).

  Leather. Vintage leather can be a little daunting at first. Stained leather looks so unsightly, it often seems worse than it is. Remember - leather can ALWAYS be dyed. No mater how bad the condition of a stain on leather or suede, you can always dye it a darker colour to cover it. So long as you can sew, read the instructions on a dye box, and have a trusted dry cleaner on speed dial - thrift to your hearts content. However, before spending your hard earned dosh on a bigger or more expensive piece of vintage, consider the time it will take you to get the item back up to the standard it once was and how much cash you'll need to shell out along the way!

 Over and out, Rach.x

 Cute Vintage

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THRIFTY THURSDAYS >> A caterpillar & a sail boat

We went thrifting today to just enjoy our Friday! By the way, im very excited. I cleaned up the blog and added a feature section in the bottom left, there you can pull up any post with the key word! So here are the little items I picked up today!

This lovely Elgin clock! It doesn't have mushrooms but it was in mint condition and looks so pretty in our kitchen!

This little Caterpillar planter! Those teeth are so cute! I love them!

This wonderful sailboat planter! Our bedroom is ocean themed so it fits perfectly!

Have you found any great thrifting finds lately?