I want.

this:

and this: 

from this: 

Yes, Please. 

XOXO, 

Kate

Fall Decor Part 1: DIY leaf art

Found this fabulous antique wood frame for only $3 at an antique store in Lenoir City, TN.
{man, I miss getting to drive around all these beautiful small towns}.                                          

Use a small eye hook on each side; then wire wrapped about twice through & around keeping it nice & tight
Use basic acrylic paint to paint a variety of leaves from your own trees {magnolia ones work best--luckily we live in the south}
Hang your leaves using the same wire {wrap carefully around stem, then onto main wire}

Had a few extra leaves so I wrapped more wire around the stems, then used "look-alike twine yarn" and wrapped & wrapped.
Tied this one the pumpkin stem. 

This is a simple & thrifty way to do something different for your fall outdoor decor.  Over the next few weeks, I will slowly be showing all my projects including my referbished bench I got off Craigslist {yes, there is an app for that}.

Until then, I hope you find the time to do this yourself!

XOXO, 

Kate

Linking this up here: 

& here:{I mean the project started Monday}. :)
Friday 9/30 update: linking this up here,

& here:

Swanky Sneak...2nd release!

COLOURlovers.i.love.

The other night I was on Pinterest & COLOURlovers looking for some fall decor inspiration.  COLOURlovers turned into much more than fall inspiration.  After I played around and made an account, I designed my fall color pallet, which lead to creating a ton of patterns around those colors! O.M.G. This is like a wannabe fashion/fabric designer's dream! I cannot believe the talent some of the members have on this page.  Before I knew it, I was getting hearts on my color pallet and patterns; now comments, messages, etc.  I began doing the same & feel like I am in a whole new creative community.

What makes it SO fun is the naming part.  If the color you create does not have a name {i.e., you are the first one to create this color, you get to name it}.  Also, when designing patterns, {talk about talented designers who pre-make these}, you get to name that design.  SO.MUCH.FUN.

I would like to introduce you to one of my color pallets & coordinating patterns: Baby Boy.  {this is my direct profile, JOIN, and come play along with me}. :)

XOXO, 

Kate 

a BEST FRIEND kinda weekend!

Between Market Square & a farm in Sweetwater, Tennessee, I have to think Avery is one happy girl.

Whats REALLY going on.

I was very excited about taking Avery to the library to get her first library card.  For a few days, we talked about all the library rules {be quiet, be gentle with the books, we borrow them,etc}. So I would love to tell you this cute story about Avery loving story time and sitting sweet & listening, then how she stood patiently while the librarian got her a card, bla bla bla.  {Okay, super moms who have the perfect story, share your tricks}. 

Story time; Avery: "Mom, she is scaring me" {in a NOT SO quiet voice} 

"Mom, she is really scary looking, I don't like it in here, lets go look at books." 

Me: "Avery, "shhhh" hunnie, we have to be quiet and thats not nice." 

Avery: "But mom, she is just scary looking." 

{Story time lady tries to stay focused, but secretively is hating my kid right now}. 

Phew, this ends quickly & we are off to do the whole "awhh, your first library card" thing. 

Librarian: "Awh, Hi Avery, are you here to get your first card?" 

Avery: "Yes, but I just want to go read books."  

Librarian: "Okay, this will just be a few minutes while your mom fills this out, mom do you have a card?" 

Me: "yes." 

Librarian: "Oh I see you have moved, we need to update you in the system as this doesn't match the address on Avery's card application." 

Avery: "Mom, come on, I just want to read books, I don't need a card!!" 

Librarian: "Now Avery, you have to be quiet in the library." 

Avery: "I know, I know, Pepa Pig's dad said that, but I just want to go read books." 

{25 minutes later and her face shows her excitement for her card}. 

Enter Children's book area. 

Avery: "Oh hi guys do you want to play books with me?" {to like 8 year olds} 

Kids: "giggle, giggle." 

Avery: "Mom, they don't want to play books with me." 

Me: "thats because we read nice and quiet here, come on, sit with me on this couch and I will read you this one." 

Avery: "No mom, I will read mine to you!" 

{sighhhh, you don't know how to read yet Avery} 

Me: I let her.  She flips through pages, pretends like she is reading the story, I encourage, say "awh good job." 

{She picks out 4 books and we leave} 

{Hallelujah, I was sweating like Pepa-Pig up in there}

Anderson gets 2 firsts--his first pair of Chucks, aka Converse & his first pair of MJ straightees.  I never really liked Straightees on Avery, but let me tell ya, I love them on Anderson.  No wonder all those mamas snatch them up for little guys.

He hates his shoes.
{hates}.
He sat on the floor for an hour crying, trying to pull them off, staring at them, eating them, anything he could do to get out of them.
{This will take time}.

But he sure is cute, isn't he? Like a ridiculous version of my mom with my dad's eye color & my hub's lips. His hair is blonde, but sometimes tints of red like his Bebe's come out. & then sometimes, he make's a face and looks just like Chris' dad. Crazy how genetics work.

& Thanks to his Aunt Mandie for his hilarious Popeye shirt.
I look excited.
He looks confused.

I guess thats Parenting.  We want to catch so many memories and have a perfect vision of how it should be. 

However, if it was perfect, we wouldn't be able to look back and laugh, right? 

I always say, "man, sometimes I wish Avery was a bump-on-a-log kinda kid." 

{just in my frustrated mommy moments}

However, I wouldn't change her for the world. Her personality shows so many qualities like the lovely women in my family; she's smart, outgoing, caring, playful, talkative, theatrical, & eccentric. 

{so don't judge a mama who is just trying to do her best}.

XOXO, 

Kate 

tutorial & giveaway: Fancy Knee-socks!

Both myself & Ave-O-Liv LOVEEEEE us some knee socks.  Honestly, if I wasn't 28, I would still be wearing some!
I am not sure what I love more; knee socks? OR leg warmers?

So in honor of my LOVE for anything that covers a leg & this newfound discovery of making knee-socks myself, I will be giving a pair away!  So read up on my tutorial & then see how to enter for your chance to win a pair :)

& now onto the Giveaway...

one lucky FOLLOWER will receive a pair of sweet little girls knee socks 

{dark purple lace & pretty vintage style buttons} 

UPDATE: GIVEAWAY ENDS FRI 9/30 @ 10P

Linking this up here:

& here: 

DiY European looking boy onesie {think Oilily}.

I just love how this vision and sketch turned out---exactly how I wanted it {tickled, tickled}.
Step 1; pretty much follow the previous tutorial here: @ Screen Print Shirts

After this was done & completely following the previous tutorial, I used red corduroy fabric and heat and bond to put the red fabric around the screen-print appliqué.  {time consuming}.

Next, i just went to town with a zig-zag stitch {adjusted width on the machine to get a smaller zig-zag}.  It was fun not making the stitching perfect, because I was going for an "un-perfect" look.  How fun to make some areas heavy top stitched and some areas with barely any.  {gosh, I love European designers and their funkiness}.

did some red-star cut outs with the same Red Corduroy material & used heat and bond for some appliqué' knee-patches.  {Think Boden on these}.

 wa-la, you have a cute European {Oilily wanna-be onesie} for about 10% the cost.
....& I must add that he looks so darn cute :)

XOXO, 

Kate

Linking this up @ 

& here: 

each day, you better think twice.

Floral design taken from Lauren Moorhouse via Stylesight blog.

Edited by me-oh-my via good ole Picnik. 

XOXO, 

Kate

Swanky Updates

For the remainder of September, Swanky Baby Vintage is offering a Customer Appreciation Special!

This is a great time to get some fall shopping done, host a no-hassle VIRTUAL SHOW 
OR grab me while you can during the last week of the month for an in-home show.
As a hostess, you earn the same rewards and your guests get free month off purchases--everyone wins!

Do you just want to order? That is fine too!  Just do so at www.swankybabyvintage.net/Kate & use the PROMO CODES at check out.


So who needs some updates?
Lets see what I can give you....
October 14th-2nd release PRE-ORDER day! This is the same as the August 2nd PRE-ORDER day.  This means that you should expect longer delivery time, as these are pre-orders and not officially in stock yet.
October 28th-2nd release opening Trunk Show day! {will share that information very, very soon}. It shall be good, I promise! 

Now for the good stuff, what will 2nd release include? 
Here is what Corporate has told us: 
-New Peasant Skirt {new colors}
-Yoke tee {new colors}
-Maddie's dress
-New Knit style dress
-Single Ruffle Leggings
-New Top
-Faith's Favorite Peasant-Floral Grass
-Knit jacket {YES}!
-Yoke dress {new colors}
-Mya's dress {new colors}
-Brown polka dot triple ruffle leggings

November 1st {or very, very soon after}: HOLIDAY RELEASE 
-Very small collection, 5 girl items
-1 boys tie

I highly suggest you consider booking a VIRTUAL SHOW on Pre-Order day OR that week. We had an incredible response during our first premiere and this is a great way to earn free and 1/2 off clothes! In addition, as October 28th approaches, please consider a Trunk Show.  I have had SO MANY hostesses with successful & incredible shows where almost everything they wanted was Free or little money. If you are even just thinking about doing a show, please do not hesitate to email me at kate.adcock@mac.com for more information.

Swanky Love & THANK YOU to my LOYAL customers!  It has been SO much fun & such a blessing to meet new people & it warms my heart when I see those return orderers come through!

XOXO,
Kate