Sydney Pener

I have had the luxury to meet an AMAZING gal who is not only talented but is also one of the nicest people that I have ever met.  Sydney Pener is a metalsmith and jewelry designer who I met at Crafts and Drafts (a local KC event) after seeing some beautiful jewelry of hers at the Westport Art Fair.  I really like unique pieces of jewelry and when I came across this branch ring, I knew that I had to have it!

Luckily for me, Sydney is a metalsmith and she designs and makes jewelry in any material that your little heart desires.  This is great for me because I do not do well at all with Sterling Silver!  I wear jewelry all of the time and I wear my jewelry frequently (I am basically the girl who sets off metal detectors because I am always wearing so much of it) so therefore Sterling Silver turns colors on me very easily when I wear it. 

One of the things that I love about Sydney is that she teaches metalsmith classes at Johnson County Community College and her passion for teaching her craft to others truly inspires me.  Seriously, I wish that I was that talented!  Anyway, I wanted my branch ring to be in yellow gold and she told me that if I had any old jewelry that she could melt it down to make my ring and that it would save on costs!  And anyone who know me knows that I am the type of person who LOVES to save money anywhere I can!

The final product was amazing (see above) and I get so many compliments on my branch ring!  If you are looking for a one of a kind piece, Sydney can probably make it for you!  She has her own studio in KC and since she designs and constructs the jewelry, she will work with you to help create your one of a kind piece!  Here are some pics that I have of Sydney making my ring-it is truly an art!  Happy Shopping!

 Sydney Pener
Metalsmith and Jewelery Designer
(816) 718-6510
sydneypener@sbcglobal.net

Vintage Eats N Sweets (Best Povitica Ever)

Last weekend, my family celebrated our Zuptich Family reunion!  My mom did all of the work (I really don't know how she did it) and we had a big fat Croation family reunion!  I had one job, which was to provide the povitica (a sweet Croation bread), which is essential to have at any Croation event!  Many of my family members asked me if I would be making the povitica to which I politely responded, "Do you want Good Povitica or Bad Povitica?"  Ofcourse, my family responded that they wanted good povitica and that is why I called Greg and Patti from Vintage Eats N Sweets and ordered 3 large loaves.

Greg also comes from a big Croation family and he makes the best povitica (just like my Grandma made it).  You can order the povitica for $25 a loaf (and let me tell ya they are huge loaves).  Vintage Eats N Sweets is located on the top floor of Bella Patina every first weekend of every month.   They not only serve povitica in their restaurant but also cabbage roll casserole as well as many other Croation favorites!  The Family Reunion was a success and as you can tell by the photo above (half of the povitica was already gone before I could even get a picture of it).  The family reunion was a success and I really want to take the time to thank not only my mother who organized it, but also to Greg and Patti, who helped make our Croation family reunion a success by providing some of the best povitica that my family and I has ever had!  You can order povitica from Greg and Patti by contacting them below!  Vintage Eats N Sweets is definitely a hidden gem that you have to experience!  Happy Eating!


Bella Patina (Open every first weekend of every month)
1320 W 12th Street Kansas City, MO 64101.
Contact: Greg and Patti at (913) 522-0567
Email: vintageeatsnsweets@yahoo.com

Industrial Shoe Rack (Home Goods)

One of the things that drives me absolutely crazy is the number of times a day that I am picking up shoes in our house and putting them away.  My husband and I don't even have any kids yet and it always feels like there are shoes scattered everywhere in our house.  Also, when we get home we both leave our shoes by the entry way door from the garage.  I thought it was a good idea to leave our shoes there so we didn't track mud in the house but by the end of the week there were 5 different pairs of shoes by the door (mostly mine since my husband only owns 6 pairs of shoes total).  Also, I would find myself putting his shoes away in our upstairs closet only to find him looking for a certain pair as he was leaving for work the next morning.  It was a mess.  So finally one weekend, my hubby and I decided to go to Home Goods on State Line Road and look for a shoe rack.  We wanted a durable cabinet that could hold a good number of shoes and that also fit in our laundry room on the main floor close to the garage.  This was no easy task but we came across this one and we both liked it.  It has an industrial look with the metal and the wood and it is very sturdy.  It holds 9 pairs of shoes and you can also put things on the top of the cabinet which makes it nice.  Plus, it was very reasonable in price since Home Goods has great deals.  Overall, this has totally solved our shoe problems.  I am kind of glad we figured out this issue before we had kids because there will be even more shoes added to the mix in the future.  Problem Solved. 

http://www.homegoods.com

The Jeweled Gypsy

My husband and I went to Porchfest KC last weekend and while we were listing to some really great music, I discovered the greatest thing ever: The Jeweled Gypsy.  The Jeweled Gypsy is a mobile fashion truck that sells jewelry, purses, scarves, and even sunglasses.  The Jeweled Gypsy is also getting ready to feature a men's line as well.  The Jeweled Gypsy is owned by two lovely local ladies from KC, Janet Schmutzler and her future daughter-in-law, Kristi Sargent.

Ofcourse the fashion truck has a name, which is "Esmerelda," and you can book her for private parties.  One of the great things about the private parties is that it is free to host a party with the Jeweled Gypsy and the host receives a free gift and a $20 in store credit for every $250 in sales.  The Jeweled Gypsy requires at least 8 guests for their private parties and it is a great way to get your friends together and do what every girl does best: Shop!

The Jeweled Gypsy also carries jewelry from local KC designers, which I love.  One of these designers that The Jeweled Gypsy carries is local Columbia, Missouri native, Lily Dawson.  Her jewelry line is amazing and here are some of her pieces that The Jeweled Gypsy carries.

I highly recommend shopping at The Jeweled Gypsy.  Their innovative fashion truck, "Esmerelda," is so amazing and I guarantee that you won't leave empty handed.  To find out where The Jeweled Gypsy will be located in the KC area or to book a private party, please check out the Jeweled Gypsy facebook page or feel free to contact them directly.  Happy Shopping!

The Jeweled Gypsy
Janet Schmutzler and Kristi Sargent-Owners
https://www.facebook.com/thejeweledgypsykc
(816) 752-0586
thejeweledgypsykc@gmail.com

Gigi Moon Gems

For those of you who don't know me, I really really LOVE jewelry.  I am that girl who always sets the metal detectors off because I am wearing so much of it!  Even as a kid, I remember finding my mom's diamond engagement ring in her dresser drawer and wearing it.  I was about 8 at the time and I remember that I wore it all day.  I remember going out to eat that evening at Barbosa's Castillo (best mexican restaurant in St. Joseph, MO) and my mom discovering her engagement ring on my little finger as I was eating.  I remember telling her that I found it in her dresser drawer and that I loved it and that I was keeping it forever.  She quickly demanded it back and I remember getting a long lecture that day.  Needless to say, my passion for jewelry goes WAY back.

Last Friday night, my husband and I were at First Fridays down at the Crossroads in KC and I wanted to find Gigi Moon Gems, which is owned by the very beautiful and very talented Garnet Griebel Booth.  Her studio is located on the second floor of the Bauer building and she has so many AMAZING pieces.  There were a lot of people in her studio looking at and buying her jewelry and ofcourse I found something that I couldn't live without!  I ended up snagging this amazing oval turquoise ring that sits in this crown-like copper base!  I am so in love with it!

The jewelry at Gigi Moon Gems is very reasonable in price and I love knowing that it is designed by a local KC artist.  Here are several other pieces that I am kind of obsessed with.

Feel free to check out Gigi Moon Gems on etsy and facebook (listed below).  Gigi Moon Gems' website is currently being constructed but it will be up soon.  I definitely recommend Gigi Moon Gems because not only is Garnet's jewelry AMAZING, but it is designed right here in the heart of KC!  Happy Shopping!


Gigi Moon Gems
Garnet Griebel Booth-Owner
The Bauer Building
115 W. 18th Street Suite 205
Kansas City, Missouri 64108

gigimoongems@gmail.com

816-914-5739

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GigiMoonGemstones

https://www.facebook.com/GigiMoonGems

www.gigimoon.com

Very Violet Boutique in Lee's Summit, Missouri

Another stop that I made when I was in Lee's Summit, Missouri was Very Violet Boutique.  This hidden gem is located in a rustic home and features re-purposed furniture, home decor, and jewelry created by local artists.  This store is AMAZING and has many pieces to choose from.  You know from my blog that I love shopping local and this hidden gem in Lee's Summit, Missouri is a place that you will find many unique treasures for your home.

 I ended up snagging a really cute tote-purse shaped chicken wire basket that hangs on the wall.  It is really cute and I plan on putting pine cones in it during the holiday season!  I strongly recommend visiting Very Violet Boutique in Lee's Summit, Missouri.  It is definitely a hidden gem.  Happy Shopping!


Very Violet Boutique
111 SW 2nd St
Lees Summit, MO. 64063
(816) 434-5513
www.veryvioletboutique.com

Cameron's Home Furnishings in Lee's Summit, Missouri

This past weekend, my husband and I decided to explore different cities in the Kansas City area and we ended up in Lee's Summit, Missouri for the day!  We had never been there before and when we arrived in downtown Lee's Summit, we discovered that they were having their annual Downtown Days festival.  There are so many amazing local businesses in downtown Lee's Summit and all of the people there were so friendly and helpful.

One of the stores that we came across that I absolutely fell in love with was Cameron's Home Furnishings, which is located in downtown Lee's Summit Missouri.  They have the most amazing home decor and I had the opportunity to meet the lovely couple who owns the store as well as their two beautiful daughters.   I can tell you that this family puts a lot of love into their store!  They have so many unique pieces at Cameron's and I immediately fell in love with this distressed white cabinet that is shown below.

Cameron's Home Furnishings also carries I Heart KC socks, which I am kind of obsessed with!  I mean you don't fully support KC until you rock these AMAZING socks to work!  I am thinking of snagging some for my husband the next time that I am in.

If you are ever in the Lee's Summit area, you have to check out Cameron's Home Furnishings.  It is a local business owned by amazing people who put a lot of love into their store!  You won't be disappointed!  Happy Shopping!

Cameron's Home Furnishings

Address: 26 SE 3rd St, Lee's Summit, MO 64063

Phone:816-554-9190

https://www.facebook.com/cameronshomefurnishings

MeWe Designs

I go to many local KC events and there is one vendor that I really love to buy baby gifts from.  The company is called MeWe Designs and it is owned by Meghan West.  Meghan sells the cutest REVERSIBLE baby bibs and they are made so that babies cannot lift them up or take them off.  These baby bibs are designed to fit over a baby's chest and they tie in back instead of only around the baby's neck. These baby bibs slide on the baby very easily and they cover the baby's chest and tummy to stay in place. (they are kind of genius actually)!  Everything that Meghan sells is handmade and she is so very talented.  My mom and I bought several baby bibs as gifts and they are so cute and really well made!  Here are some pics below.

She also sells really amazing toss pillows that I am kind of obsessed with!  She is so creative and her work really speaks for itself!

These are just a few samples of the AMAZING pieces that Meghan sells so I definitely recommend that you check out her etsy and facebook pages listed below!   Happy Shopping!


MeWe Designs
Meghan West-Owner
816-803-7455

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeWeDesigns

https://www.facebook.com/mewedesigns

Stay Gold

https://www.etsy.com/listing/172642203/stay-gold-poster-print-words-to-live-by?ref=shop_home_active_7

The lovely Lindsey Nichols from The Curious Nickel created a print that I live by when it comes to home decorating: "Stay Gold."  While I love my rustic farmhouse kitchen, I would have to say that my design style is rustic modern and I really really LOVE gold!  My living room is centered with a modern velvet chocolate brown couch and it is surrounded by gold accents that give my living room a modern feel.  I think that every room in a house doesn't have to be the same and you are free to combine several different design styles.

I really think that the gold in my living room makes it fun to decorate for the holidays.  The main three colors in my living room are gold, chocolate brown, and turquoise.  Here is a picture of my mantle during the holidays and as you can see the gold really warms up my holiday decor.

Here are some of my decorative pieces that I love and that are staples in my living room.  Shown below is the Branch Votive Holder that I snagged from Z Gallerie.

Also, here is a cute little acorn candle holder that I snagged from Crate and Barrel during the holiday season-okay I bought two acorn candle holders but I just could not help myself!

I sometimes find myself taking rustic pieces like the tree branch votive holder and the acorn candle holders but buying them in gold, which makes my living room decor very modern.  However, it gives a nice break from my rustic farmhouse kitchen and it makes me happy in my heart-which is all that really matters!  Happy Shopping!

Junque Drawer Boutique and Studio

Another hidden gem that has AMAZING gifts and jewelry and clothes and purses and much more is Junque Drawer Boutique and Studio.  I took my mom to this store one day when she came to visit and we were both impressed by this rustic home that was filled with amazing pieces.  This store is located in downtown Olathe, KS and it features items from local KC artists.

Every room of this house is filled with so many unique pieces, that you have to take the time to take it all in!  My mom bought a few sparkly headbands for my sister while I was drawn to all of the amazing and affordable costume jewelry that Junque Drawer had.  I ended up snagging this AMAZING necklace and it is such of a versatile piece that can be worn with so many things! 

 I strongly recommend Junque Drawer Boutique and Studio because it is such of a hidden gem in the heart of downtown Olathe.  Happy Shopping!

Junque Drawer Boutique and Studio
junquedrawerstudio.com
233 S. Cherry
Olathe, KS  66061
913-261-8183

Gypsy's Jewelry and Gifts in St. Joseph, MO

Last weekend I headed to my hometown of St. Joe to hang out with my sister while my parents went to a wedding in Nebraska.  While I was there, my sister mentioned a boutique that had really cute clothes and jewelry.  The owner, Amy Vohl, actually travels to Dallas and L.A. to get her merchandise and she carries AMAZING clothes for women of all sizes.  Now I am really picky when it comes to clothes shopping, but she has such of an amazing selection that I think that I actually might have put a dent in my credit card.

I ended up buying A LOT of clothes and jewelry and even a pair of cute boot warmers (I know it is May but I will wear them in the Fall and Winter I promise).  What I really like about this boutique is that Amy, the owner, has such of a good eye when selecting her merchandise.  She also offers cute and affordable clothes to women of all sizes and she does not order the same item in over and over again because she doesn't want everyone in St. Joe wearing the same thing!  I can totally tell that Amy travels to Dallas and L.A. to get her merchandise because her selection of clothing and jewelry is AMAZING!

I snagged this super cute brown dress from Gypsy's and I am kind of obsessed with it!

If you are in St. Joe, you have to check out Gypsy's Jewelry and Gifts!  It is such of a hidden gem and it is definitely worth checking out!  Happy Shopping!

Gypsy's Jewelry and Gifts
Amy Vohl-Owner
3302 Mitchell Ave
St. Joseph MO  64507
816-294-4507

Barn Wood Designs, LLC

I love whiskey barrel tables!  I think that they are so rustic and they are perfect for any home.  Luckily for me, I found an old whiskey barrel at a flea market and snagged it for about $100 bucks.  I also found a guy named Jim Bell who builds and sells beautiful custom tables down at the West Bottoms for a fairly reasonable price.  His work is AMAZING and he uses reclaimed lumber that he has from two barns that he salvaged.  I contacted him because I wanted a table top for my rustic whiskey barrel that matched the barrel.  He was so reasonable in price and I ended up with a really AMAZING table.  I could not find chairs to match for my whiskey barrel table so I headed over to my Grandma Rosie's house (because like I said in my last post-she kept EVERYTHING) and I found four chairs that work well for the table.  Here is a picture of my whiskey barrel table shown below.

Here is a picture of the table top that Jim Bell made for me that really transformed the piece.

If you need a custom table built or anything made out of reclaimed barn wood, Jim Bell is your guy.  He is one of the nicest guys that you will ever meet and his work speaks for itself.  Happy Shopping!

Barn Wood Designs, LLC
Jim and Joni Bell
913-908-5554
jhbell2@yahoo.com

Fixer Upper #2

You know the saying, "one man's trash is another man's treasure!"  Well I wholeheartedly believe that and I love re-purposing items to give them new life.  A few weekends ago, I was helping my mom and my first cousins go through the remainder of my grandma's house to get ready for an upcoming estate sale that we are going to have this summer.  My grandma passed away back in September 2011 but she kept EVERYTHING!  And I mean EVERYTHING!

As I was helping my mom, we were going through and dividing up what people wanted in my grandma's house.  I was very close to my grandma and we talked every day up until she passed so I wanted to take some sentimental items of hers.  I ended up taking a rosary, some pictures, four chairs, and a black mirror that I re-purposed for my guest bedroom.  Here is a picture of my guest bedroom that I like to refer to as our guest suite:

The white floral bed frame is my childhood bed growing up and I purchased the mirror above the bed (as is) at Restoration Emporium at the West Bottoms in KC about a month ago.  I am kind of obsessed with the color coral so I turned the guest room into the perfect girly room that I would have wanted growing up.  Since I already had a mirror that I purchased for above the bed, I took the frame out of my grandma's black mirror and spray painted it the same exact color as the mirror above the bed (this happened totally by accident-I went to Lowe's and apparently picked out the same spray paint color that the mirror above the bed was painted).  True story!

Here is my grandma's mirror that I re-purposed and displayed in the guest bedroom (shown below).

I think that the empty frame looks nice and in the future I might get a letter "H" for Hamilton, spray paint it coral, and put it in the center of this frame.  I find it interesting how this black mirror that my grandma picked up at an estate sale could be transformed into such a great piece for my guest bedroom.  I really feel that I gave this piece new life by re-purposing it!
 

The Magnolia Market

So those of you who have followed my blog are probably well aware that I am obsessed with the HGTV show Fixer Upper!  Well now you can shop at The Magnolia Market and buy items that have been featured on the show!  I have already purchased three things from The Magnolia Market and they are AMAZING!

Here is the link to The Magnolia Market:

https://shop.magnoliahomes.net/


Happy Shopping!

Charm by Restoration Emporium

Restoration Emporium is my favorite store at the West Bottoms in KC.  Recently, Restoration Emporium bought the store, Charm, and they made it their second location.   Charm features re-purposed furniture and pieces from local artists in KC.  Charm recently had their Grand Opening event and outdoor flea market this weekend so ofcourse I had to go and check it out.

I love rustic decor and I snagged this cute chicken wire basket.  I think that it is so cute and a girl can never have too many baskets!

Another piece that I got from Charm is rustic art that goes really well above my restored wood table that I bought at a flea market.  For some reason I was really drawn to this piece and I thought that it would work really well in our basement above the table.  This is the piece that I bought (as shown below) for our basement and I am kind of obsessed with it.

I definitely recommend checking out Charm.  Charm is located in a rustic home and it is filled with amazing restored pieces.  It is such of a hidden gem and one of my favorite places to go.  Happy Shopping!

Charm by Restoration Emporium
Chrysalyn & Jeff Huff-Owners
612 E 135th
Kansas City, MO

JKLM Finishes

Another one of my favorite KC businesses is JKLM Finishes.  Julie Matthews specializes in painted furniture, painted interiors, faux finishes, and custom cabinetry.  She re-purposed this antique chair for me and I love it.  The character of the chair is so pretty and you can tell that it is a vintage piece.  The blue/gray color that she chose looks great in my formal dining room.  The upholstery for the seating of the chair is also very fun.  This piece also looks really nice next to my blanket ladder and my Happy Habitat blanket.  If you need furniture re-purposed, I highly recommend Julie Matthews from JKLM Finishes.  She is very reasonable in her pricing and she does amazing work.  Happy Shopping!

JKLM Finishes
Julie Matthews
913-424-3638
juliekm59@gmail.com

Faux Bois

So about a year ago, I became obsessed with anything faux bois (wood grain pattern).  I love how natural that it looks and my eye is really drawn to it.  I purchased this Williams Sonoma cake stand (as shown above) and I have had many compliments on it!  I love how natural the wood grain pattern looks but also how it can be dressed up for any occasion.

 I also recently purchased new casual dinnerware that matches very well.  The Lenox Park City Collection  (as shown below) is from Bed Bath and Beyond and these pieces go very well with my faux bois cake stand.

This dinnerware collection is great for entertaining as well as for everyday use. These plates are very durable and they are also dishwasher safe, which makes them great for everyday use.  I also bought a 5 piece place setting of the Lenox Park City flatware to use for entertaining as well as some serving platters and a serving bowl (as shown below).

I always emphasize that when decorating to buy what you love!  I think that is the key to decorating because if you don't buy what you love, then your home will not reflect who you are as a person.  Always go with your gut when decorating because if you love it, that is all that really matters.