Bringing the outside in with driftwood

I found this piece of driftwood while beach combing at my cabin in the San Juans and decided to put it to use in my house. Right now I am using it in my bedroom as a much needed place to hang scarves and jewelry but here are two other fun ways it could be used.

Displaying collections doesn't have to be tacky. By picking a few items that compliment each other you can avoid clutter and really enjoy what you have. I displayed Pearl's collection of handcrafted Mexican dresses and for another example I put together a grouping of treasures from our travels in Asia.


I love the idea of using natural elements in a bathroom and this is one idea that I plan on using someday when we have our own master bath, a girl can dream, right?

Remember, anytime you are drilling into a wall make sure to find the stud or use drywall screws that are rated to the necessary weight.

Feathered Headbands

Feathered headbands are a popular trend right now and while they are plentiful on Etsy.com I thought it would be fun to make my own to save some money. The first example is one that I made for my daughter Pearl and it requires a needle, thread, and fabric glue. The second is an option for achieving the look if you are the sort that requires a band-aid after a sewing project!

1.) I decided to go with stretch lace because it has a lot of flexibility and the edges were already finished. I bought the feathers at the fabric store but if you are looking for something more unique or higher in quality there are many more options online. Measure your head and be sure to make it snug because the lace will stretch over time. After you have sewn the ends together it is time to play with the feathers and any other elements that you want to include. I have a lot of vintage buttons so I decided to sew one on after I had used the fabric glue to attach my feathers. The finished project was darling and durable enough for Pearl to take on and off herself…over and over again:)

2.) Here is the “no sew” way to achieve this look. I used the same stretch lace but instead of sewing it I tied it in the back. Then I picked out some feathers and fastened them to the lace with a hair clip that I got at H&M for a few dollars. Another fun way to change this look up is to use vintage clip-on earrings or broaches as the feather fastener. 

All said and done this project cost me under $20 and I have two headbands and plenty of extra material to work with.

Note to self:  next time keep giant bag of feathers out of Pearl's reach.  I am still finding them floating around the house. 

“Are you there Blog? It’s me, Piper”

Please tell me that you read this book when you were in 6^th grade. You know the book that was always checked out at the school library, with the spine bent in a few choice places. Oh Judy Blume, you knew we needed someone to address our prepubescent curiosities. We opened the book a child, timid and unsure, and closed it a woman, self-aware and “in the know”. Why did I wake up at 4:30am with this thought in my head? Maybe it’s because I am having that feeling again. You know that “I am standing on the precipice of something great” feeling. I know that in this blog there will be discovery, growth, and the beginning of something. So here I go, nervously making my way up to the librarian’s desk, fumbling with my library card, the hurdles we must navigate in the quest for knowledge. "Mumble, mumble, thank you” shuffle shuffle…audible sigh of relief all fear quickly erased by the sheer ecstasy that is turning that first page!

Too much information? Probably.

Because life is more about the journey

Born February 17th, 1981 in Sidney, Australia, whilst my parents where circumnavigating the globe on their sailboat "Southern Cross". Named Camiguin after a beautiful island in the Philippines and Piper after the marina where our boat was moored.

On my way to visit the Komodo Dragons, which begs me to question whether watching giant lizards rip into a fresh goat constituted as desensitization in 1981.

 "One of these these things is not like the others..." Hanging out with my friends in TY Court, Bangkok, Thailand.  My parents taught at Bangkok International School for two years.

 

Have passport, will travel. Begrudgingly.

 

 Checking out the catch of the day.  Yes, the cute chubby one is my brother, but hey let's stay focused here.  This relationship could also be illustrated by a picture that fortunately never was taken.  It involves a baby in a crib, an urge to go #2 and a very jealous and nimble big sister.

Because someone had to address the effects of salt water on Grandpa's hair.

 
My 3rd birthday just off the coast of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.  My mother set the bar pretty high with homemade party hats and a German chocolate cake from scratch.

 
I spent most of adolescence with my nose in a book, which hopefully explains what you see here in terms of personal grooming...

...and the rest of my time in a ballet studio or on stage.

 
In college, I honed my culinary skills and sense of humor.  Additionally, I managed to walk away with a degree in creative writing with the encouraging words of a professor, "there is no job called writer" ringing in my ears.

 
 Met my dream guy and married him despite concerns that he seemed a little too perfect.  "Are you sure he is not a serial killer?"

Yes, I am sure.

January 31st, 2008 our precious Pearl is born.  I promptly place her in a clam shell and take her picture, savoring the symbolism.  My husband looks on wondering if his mere presence can implicate him in this abusive act.

 

 

But as it turns out she has no problem with the spotlight.

This blog is my reminder to live each day grateful for what I have and to look to each new day as an opportunity for discovery.