Red Leaf Style

August 10, 2013

Rainy Days

I have a thing for dreary days. Give me gray skies, a steady storm, that cold scent of rain, and I’m happy. The unseasonably wet late summer we’ve had here in Kansas City has been my perfect weather. A happy do over for the always too short spring rains. There has been a lot of drinking coffee on the porch and lazy afternoons going on around here. This is what the view from my porch has looked like lately… No, that gorgeous brick number isn’t my house. But I get to look at it every day, so that’s something, right? Of course today, the day I’m writing, it’s all blinding sunshine and high temps outside. But the day I took these pictures, the rain poured for hours, and then… …that magical soft light that only comes out after a hard rain appeared. That fellow is my sweet boyfriend who recently injured his knee. Hence all of the porch sitting and lazy afternoons we’ve had lately. I thought that I should finally show some pictures of my neighborhood because there might be some changes coming for me soon, hint, hint. The skinny houses, Virgin Mary statues and red, white and...

July 28, 2013

Easy DIY Denim Book Straps

When I cut a couple of pairs of worn out jeans into jorts (jean shorts) the other day, I had a pile of denim left over. Because I’m a no-waste weirdo, I couldn’t just toss out the scrap fabric. I might be able to something with it. Something really cool. Something unexpected. Much to my surprise, I actually did come up with a pretty neat use for that leftover material. The thin strips of denim left over from trimming my shorts work great as book straps for notebooks. You know, like the straps that go around Moleskin notebooks. All notebooks tend to expand with time and use. Their pages get all flared out and they won’t stay closed properly unless you set something heavy on top of them. Now, you have an easy (and inexpensive) solution. Strap that notebook down with a sweet denim band made from your old jeans. See…just like a Moleskin, only better! I like the clash between the industrial look of the denim and the ultra-feminine images on this notebook. You can also use the strap as a bookmark! What do you think? Would you use a scrap of denim as a book strap? Do...

July 2, 2013

DIY Cake Stand Jewelry Holder

If you can’t see your jewelry, how will you remember to wear it? That’s my problem, anyway. Instead of stashing my necklaces, bracelets and earrings in jewelry boxes, I like to use clever organization to display them. When I can see everything, then I’ll actually put it on. A cake stand makes a smart (and pretty!) way to display jewelry. Plus, it repurposes an item that doesn’t see a lot of other use. (Unless you whip up a bunch of cake stand-worthy baked goods all the time.) The dish portion of the stand provides the perfect space to corral smaller jewels and the raised pedestal adds visually-appealing height to wherever you place it. Using a cake stand to display your jewelry couldn’t be easier. It’s the ultimate DIY. Simply take a cute cake stand and arrange your baubles on it. You can even dangle earrings off the edges of the dish. I like the look of my tarnished silver vintage cake stand, but any color would do. A glass cake stand would set off sparkly jewels nicely. Just use what you already have. You can’t go wrong. Have you used a cake stand to display your jewelry? Show it...

June 21, 2013

Vintage Dresser Display

The slightly quirky display above my dresser evolved slowly. It started with just the mirror. I wanted to a hang a mirror above my dresser to make the area somewhat resemble a vanity. I imagined a pretty place to get ready in the morning. From there, I added the plate, miniature mannequin and white compote dish to hold my jewelry. I like using unexpected items to hold jewelry and all of these also fit the simple, pretty feel I wanted. The lamp base I picked up at a thrift store and repainted white. It was brass. I was excited when I found it because I had been looking for a tall lamp base to fit that gigantic lamp shade I already owned. My favorite part of this display is the jewelry hanger made from a tree branch. (You can read all about it here.) I love the whimsical look of my necklaces draped across the branches and my metal owl hanging beside it. And, you can’t beat something made for free. I’m all about bargains. Here’s a breakdown of where I found each item on my dresser: Tree branch: Outside (Free) Metal owl: Antique mall ($30 for two) Mirror:...

June 19, 2013

Weekend Finds: Bargains and Freebies

This past weekend was one bargain-finding weekend. My favorite kind! I spent the weekend just outside Meta, Missouri (population: 230) visiting my boyfriend’s parents. Mixed in with the tiny towns, cows and rolling hills, the drive there also featured loads of antique malls and flea markets. I was itching to stop at every single one, but we didn’t stop at any. Not even one. Not to worry though, the best finds were later. While my boyfriend and his dad split wood (you read that right) and dug up gravel, his mom and I visited her booth at Old Towne Antiques, an antique mall in Doolittle, Missouri. The antique mall is where we found these goodies: This metal stovetop ring cost $1.50. Here I used it to frame a mason jar filled with flowers, but it could also be used as a picture frame….or…or…ideas anyone? I picked the flowers on the side of the road during a pit stop on the drive home. (They might be weeds, but I don’t know the difference.) This ladybug necklace, which I’m only using for the chain, cost $0.25. I’ve been looking for a longer necklace chain for a while. I think I’ll use...

June 11, 2013

15 Ways to Clean With Baking Soda

Do you have a box of baking soda in your cupboard? Lucky you. You won’t ever need to spend money on chemical-filled cleaning products again. That humble little box holds the ingredient to clean, refresh and deodorize your entire home—and it’s completely natural. Conventional cleaning products on the market today expose us to a lot of scary ingredients, including toxins linked to asthma, allergies, cancer and a slew of other health issues. For a healthier home, use baking soda to clean, well, pretty much everything. Here are just fifteen uses. 1. Scrub stainless steel Once I discovered this easy method to clean my stainless steel sink, I’ve never used anything else. All I do is shake a layer of baking soda onto the bottom of the sink. Then, I turn on the faucet for about one second, or just long enough to make the baking soda slightly damp. The water and baking soda mix together to form a paste, which I scrub into the sink using a rag. Every time I do this, I’m amazed by the shiny transformation pulled off by just a little baking soda and water. You have to try it! 2. Absorb odors Plain ol’...

June 7, 2013

Today’s Mantle Display is…Rustic

As you can see from my mantle display today, I’m in the rustic kind of mood. Springtime makes me dream about country cottages, gardens with hedge mazes and weathered statues, and lazy outdoor dinners with fresh food. My reality (an urban apartment) is thousands of acres away from that dream. Still, I can at least make my mantle look all “rustic garden”. That’s something, right? I’m digging the combination of flowers, mason jars, wooden elements and potted plants in terracotta containers on my mantle display. What do you think? Let me know in the comments… Keep Up With Red Leaf Style! Follow Red Leaf Style author Kirsten Hudson on Twitter @kirsten_hudson, Google+ and Pinterest....