Project #1

 

 

A while back, before we moved into our rental, we inherited these two awesome wingback chairs. I saw the potential in them right away.  I have never tackled reupholstering something.  I am surrounded by fabric all day, every day.  If I'm not, I'm looking at it online to see what I can buy.  I knew what this could be, and when my boyfriend and I bought our house, it finally gave me a reason to finish them. 

 

The chairs weren't in bad condition, the arms and the seat were just a little dirty.  No rips or anything, they looked like they had hardly been sat in!  As I started to peel back the layers, the foam and padding were all in perfect condition and completely reusable.  I wanted something with a pop of colour, and finally settled on this amazing fabric.  It was hard to capture the exact colour on the camera, it's even brighter in person!

 

It took a little trial and error, having to pull the fabric and operate the staple gun at the same time.  For the first bit, I had a hard time getting the staples to even go into the wood of the chair.  Eventually I managed to get the hang of it all.  Surprisingly, no injuries were sustained!!

 

 

I didn't post a play by play of the taking apart and putting back together process.  I was so anxious to get it done, that once I started I didn't want to stop.  If you start by peeling off the back of the chair first, the rest is self-explanatory.  You will see how it was all put together.  I kept each piece and used it as a guide when cutting the new piece. 

 

 

 

 

There you have it! We are going with something a little more neutral for the other chair.  Renovations are underway to the new house, and I'm getting wayyyy to anxious to post pictures.  I might have to post a sneak peak of what we've been up too. 

 

Some people may think we are crazy taking on a total gut renovation, but I don't think we would want it any other way.  It's fun and we can make it our own from top to bottom, start with these chairs!

 

Fabric from Sew Fine Fabric

Wishlist Part 2: Home

This wishlist is the one I'm most excited for.  

BECAUSE I'M OFFICIALLY A HOMEOWNER!  That's right, my boyfriend and I have purchased our first home and we couldn't be more excited.  It's a project and it's far from move-in-ready.  We would go into a home and there was always something one of us didn't like about the property.  This was the perfect oppourtunity to do a house exactly how we want it, but still keep with the charm of an older home.  We didn't want to purchase a cookie-cutter house.  I'm excited to pick out flooring, kitchens, bathrooms and paint colours.  I've always found interior decorating very appealing and this is the ultimate test.  

What Etsy is also amazing for, is home decorating!  I can't get enough of the amazing products these shop owners offer, and it's taking everything I have NOT to go buck wild and buy everything...yet.  Some of these things will be the inspiration behind the pieces I create myself.

Here is some of my favourite looks right now for the Home, all of which I hope to have sitting in my house someday!

Pillow Cover - 5CHomeDecor

Knitted Blanket - KittysFlower

Vintage Kitchen Towels - sadieolive

Industrial Mirror Frame - GalahadFurniture 

Large Wall Art - saradecemberrose

Click the pictures to be taken to the Etsy shops! So excited to take this vision and apply it in my new home!

XO

My Fall Etsy Outfit Wishlist

I find myself searching online for those perfect fall pieces.  Sometimes I forget that they are right in front of me everyday!  I spend hours on Etsy, updating my shop, answering inquiries or adding new pieces.  It doesn't occur to me that most of what you are looking for online with those well known shopping websites, you can find on Etsy.  The fact is, the pieces are often much better quality and they are handmade..you can't go wrong!  If you have any questions, the shop owners are always happy to answer them. If the shop doesn't have what you're looking for, chances are the shop owner is willing to make it for you.  Fall is my favourite for weather AND fashion, so here is my fall Etsy wishlist!

Oversized Cowl - Victory Garden Yarn

Headband Ear Warmer - Plexida

Women's Oversized Cardigan - onor

Leather Tights - coloURlegs 

Vintage Leather Boots - greenbeing

Leather Purse - HandmadeLeatherkomal

There you have it! I could go on forever. Click on the picture to go to the Etsy shop.  Check back tomorrow for my fall HOME wish list!

XO

Fall In Love With Lavender

 

The uses and benefits of lavender are endless!  As many of you know, my yoga eye pillows are filled with lavender and flax seed.  We can start by talking about how relaxing it is. That's why it is perfect for yoga class! Many use these eye pillows to assist in Final Relaxation at the end of the class.  It relieves stress and anxiety. I suggest smelling lavender or having an eye pillow on your bedside table to use just before you go to bed.  It relaxes you, and you are more likely to sleep just a little better.

Lavender has been used in medicine for centuries.  Using to cure the common cold, lung and sinus infections, and for joint relief.  Have a headache? Pop an eye pillow in the freezer for an hour and place over your eyes or on your forehead.  If you feel a scratchy throat coming on, brew some lavender tea! Add lemon or mint for extra flavour.  Along with medicine, it is commonly used in everyday household cleaners.

So sit back, relax and let lavender into your life! Purchase a yoga eye pillow from HASinspiration on Etsy for only $8.00 or email me for wholesale pricing!

Catch Up

EYE PILLOW BOOM!

 

That's right, I've been swallowed into a sea of lavender and flax seed.  I can't complain though..at least it smells nice!  These last few weeks have been crazy and I keep making myself a promise to blog more.  So far, I haven't kept that promise.  It's crazy that the summer is almost over...I have some great things coming out on the Shirley line for the fall..I'm anxious to get them out and in the open.  It's hard for me to accept that a product is ACTUALLY done. 

 

 

Between wandering off to Toronto and Bancroft for some R&R, I've been working hard on some new products and I can't wait to get them out for sale!

 

 

My handsome boy.. <3 p="">

"love what you've got and always remember what you had"

 

 

Summer time in the city..

 

 

Summertime in the country..

 

 

My new fabrics as yoga eye pillows all packaged up and off to a yoga studio in San Antonio!

 

 

 

 

And last...my new product.  Little tiny baby leggings! Available in 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Stay tuned!

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Holiday Recap

Monday...the only thing good about it, is that Bachelorette is on.  That's right...hate all you want, but I have watched every single season. Even that sad, sad season called Bachelor Canada.

 

Last week was my first week back from holidays.  We didn't do much while on holidays, but it was nothing short of perfect.  I'm so lucky to have someone who will drive me three hours to spend a mere 10 minutes with someone very missed.  It is exactly what I needed, and I feel refreshed and replenished just from that little visit.  It was perfect timing -- last weekend was 5 years ago that I lost my dad.  It feels like yesterday, everyday..but I can't believe how time flies by.  I was 19 when I lost  him and I feel like I've come so far but half  it's half a decade later,  and it still feels like yesterday.   I know that a lot of good things are going to come my way, and I only have him to thank for that.  After the two night trip to Napanee, we spent the next day at the pool.  I clearly hadn't been outside since Winter and burnt to a crisp! I'm still peeling.  Needless to say, we didn't do to much to finish off the week. 

 

I don't talk about it much, but it what drives me to sit at a sewing machine and sew.  It's a form of therapy, and it gets my mind off of things.  I've found something that takes me away for a little bit, away from negativity.  Even if I didn't succeed in selling my products to other people, I'm still happy with just making things. 

 

 

 

Find what makes you happy!  Take a ride on the wild side and jump into something crazy, even if you don't know what's going to happen. 

 

Take a peek at this baby leggings I made for a mom-to-be.  Obsessed!

 

 

Vintage Tees + Holidays!!

 

It's Friday, the best day of the week.  What makes it even better is that I am officially on holidays.  I'm keeping it cool but inside I'm going crazy.  This is where I insert something about slaving away at a desk in a stuffy office for 8 hours a day.  I'm looking forward of a week of not knowing what I'm doing at all.  Normally it would be camping, but in an effort to possibly save some money, my boyfriend and I have chose to keep it to some day trips here and there. 

 

Speaking of boyfriend..do you ever slip on his t-shirts just because they are so comfortable and worn in?  This is where my next project came into play.  I loaded up on old t-shirts and turned them into concert rocking, beach wearing, night-time slummin, crop top tanks.  The perfect way to add a little something extra to a plain old boring top, is to add a bright pocket!

 

Don't forget to enter the draw below to win the skull tank top! Draw will be made in less than a week!

 

 

 



Skull and Crown Tank Top Giveaway!

Today, I'm giving away one my favourite tank tops (starting at noon)!  You have one week to enter and the draw will be made on Wednesday, July 17th. 

 

 

 

What would you pair this with?  I think I'd do something a little edgy, and pair it with some leather skinny pants and some killer booty heels.  And of course, accessorizing is everything.  I'd finish it off with a pop of colour in a cross body bag and some layered bracelets.

 

 

Enter the giveaway below by telling me what you'd pair it with!  Good luck!

I'm back! And I want to thank all of you who still come by to read!  Apparently I'm really picky and as it turns out, I wasn't happy with the website I had launched!  I'll be coming back to that, but for the mean time, I realized that I kind of like blogging like this, so this is what I'm going to do!  You can shop Shirley and HASinspiration by just clicking the links at the top of the page. Easy, right? 

 

 

I had the opportunity to work with an a very talented young lady to shoot my newest pieces, and I'm very happy with how they turned out! Take a peek!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscribe to my website, I'm doing a giveaway next that you might be interested in! 



Get Your Sunnies On!!

 

 

Why hello there everyone.  You should know that I'm writing this post while listening to some old school Usher..and it's amazing, I kind of forgot.  I'm sorry I've been a little M.I.A but I've been so busy! But I guess that's a good thing!  I recently did a little collaboration with the one and only Cara Loren.  The skirt turned out amazing, and she is such an amazing person to work with.  You can see the outfit post here, but I'm warning you..you might be reading for a long time!

 

 

 

I am so excited to announce something amazeballs to you! I am currently selling my Yoga Eye Pillows, and a couple of other goodies at Moksha Yoga in Cambridge I'm so happy to be working with a local business, and some amazing ladies!  Swing by if you are downtown visiting the market on a Saturday morning!  The ladies there are so friendly.

 

 

 

Yoga has been in my life for a couple of years now, and I was attending classes regularly.  Life kind of got in the way, but I've kept up with my downward dog a day.  Seriously, it's probably my favourite move.  I have a horrible back and neck and everything stretches right out when I do one and I feel like I can breathe again.  Try it out!

 

On another note, I'm so happy to be gearing up to coach at my old stomping grounds.  I'll be sqeezing back into the spandex and lacing up those speedskates once more.  I'm excited, and it's a great oppourtunity to get back into shape again.  I may have started running so that I don't get my ass kicked by the kids.  I'm not sure where I thought I would have time for coaching though, but I like to keep busy.

 

The weather this week here has been amazing, and it's putting everyone in such a good mood.  It's BBQ weather and even though I'm a vegetarian there is nothing like the smell of a steak cooking away.  Weird, I know.  We seriously haven't had a crappy day, in days.   Here are some more photos from the amazing photo shoot I had with Britt!!  Sorry I'm so late in sharing them.

 

 

Hopefully you're having a dose of the beautiful weather!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHEERS!