Another Fast and Easy Giveaway

I just uploaded LOADS of new products and thought it would be fun to play a little giveaway game.

Here goes:  First 20 people to pin (on Pinterest) 10 of their favorite Darlybird items will get a pair of earrings shipped to them for free.  They don't have to be from the New Items category, but I'm sure you'll find some cute ones there for starters.  If you've pinned Darlybird items in the past, those don't count toward your 10.  Come back here and comment, and tell me three of the items you pinned.  Then email me at rachel@darlybird.com with your shipping address.  You'll get a little package in the mail in a week or two.

Happy Pinning! (and happy weekend....I've been needing one for a week!)

xo--

Rachel

Plates 2011

I neglected to show you this year's plates of my wee little gals. I got the vintage Pyrex plates from a thrift store for $1 each. Yay!  I loved that they matched for some reason, even though I loved last year's mismatched plates. This year, I did a bit of a formula. Each plate has the initial of the daughter, a butterfly, an xo sticker, the age of the daughter, a quote pertaining to their personality, a heart, a bird, and some flowers. I added other embellishments, too.  I had to bust these out in one morning (right before Christmas!) and the formula helped me get it done quickly.  So now I have two sets hanging in my dining room.  Next year, three.  Then I'll have to start moving them around to other spots.....but then again, I can never get enough of these three faces (especially when they're smiling and happy and dreamy and cute).  Thanks be to Lindy Lou for the photographs!

Did I Ever Tell You?

Just about 2 years ago, I got a strange phone call from a woman at a hoity-toity event planning company in NYC....she was desperately trying to track down some Monarch Butterfly Garlands for a top-secret event, and had seen my butterfly garlands online.  She was so desperate, she was even considering hopping on a plane to China to get them straight from the manufacturer.  Never Fear, Darlybird to the rescue!

In the course of this transaction, it slipped from her mouth that these garlands were actually for an event at the White House.  And I mean THE WHITE HOUSE.  It was top secret, and she wouldn't tell me what they were going to be used for....

Fast forward 2 years, and I was talking to my monarch butterfly supplier, and she said, "did you ever see those pictures of the butterflies at the White House?"  And I said, "No! Where are they?"

You'd think I'd be a little more internet savvy, what with the fact that I own a web business.  A simple google images search yielded photographic evidence that my butterfly garlands were in the same room as the President. And not just the President, but Michelle.  And not just the First Couple, but Beyonce, who performed at the event.  And you may not know this, but I adore me some Beyonce. (I think she is WOMAN personified....)

After a few clicks, I found out the event was the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon. The monarch butterflies were there to symbolize the mass monarch migration in Mexico. Fitting.

I'm just thrilled that my MONARCH BUTTERFLY GARLANDS were in the same room as the Pres, Michelle, and Beyonce. Kind of a dream come true.

And in case you were wondering what they ate?

 Jicama with Oranges, Grapefruit, and Pineapple
Citrus Vinaigrette
Ulises Valdez Chardonnay 2007 "Russian River"

Herb Green Ceviche of Hawaiian Opah
Sesame-Cilantro Cracker

Oregon Wagyu Beef in Oaxacan Black Mole
Black Bean Tamalon and Grilled Green Beans
Herrera Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 "Selección Rebecca"

Chocolate-Cajeta Tart
Toasted Homemade Marshmallows
Graham Cracker Crumble and Goat Cheese Ice Cream
Mumm Napa "Carlos Santana Brut" N/V

I'm still kind of bummed they didn't invite me.

Thrifty Thursday....the chair.

before:

 

after:

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love a good thrift store.  Since we moved from Sacramento, I have been a wee bit disappointed with the selection/prices here in good ole thrifty Utah.  Too much competition, I suppose.  Anyway, I had 20 minutes to burn the other day before picking my Phoebe up from preschool, so I pulled into the Deseret Industries, and told myself it had to be a blitzkrieg of a visit. And lo and behold! I found three really great pieces of furniture all in a matter of 5 minutes.  I'm sure I was a sight to be seen with 2 chairs and a huge mirror, trying to maneuver my way to the register and then out to the car.  Luckily, this one had wheels.

I'll take you through each of my purchases (as soon as I refurbish them to my liking)....The first finished project is The TUFTED ROLLY CHAIR 

PROS: I love the tufting and nailheads on this chair. A-mazing. I also like the industrial base and the swivel/rolling action on bottom. It was $20. I asked for a markdown, and they gave it to me for $15. Not bad.

CONS: It's vinyl. And brown. I have so much wood energy going on in my house, and especially in the computer nook where I put this chair.  It looked crazy and monotone and redundant with the wood built-ins, the exposed wood beams, and the wood floor.  Too much wood! (Didn't think I'd ever really say that....) 

MAKIN' IT MY OWN:

I searched online for products that could paint on vinyl upholstery.  I first wanted to avoid spray paint, because I wanted to be able to paint around the nail heads, and taping off nail heads to make something spray-paint-able was going to be next to impossible. And then I realized that I was looney toons because anything that I was going to brush on would look incredibly brushed on. So, spray paint it was!  

I decided that I wanted to go with a metallic paint, mainly because I wanted those dang nail heads to still look like nail heads. If they were spray painted blue, it just wouldn't be as cool.  I went with Rustoleum's Universal Spray Paint in Satin Nickel because it would balance out all of the wood, and also bring a little brightness into the room.  I wanted a cool color to tone down all the brownish yellow. This particular line from Rustoleum is considered their "ANY SURFACE" spray paint, with a built-in primer.

PROCEDURE: 

1. Scrub the chair down with a rag and a little soapy water. Let dry. 

2. Take the chair outside in high 30-degree weather (I know, I know, not supposed paint under 50 degrees! I have no patience....)

3. Spray in steady strokes, for a light and even coat.

4. Recoat after it dries. And then again, if needed. (I went through 2 whole cans of paint, and might even give it another light coat in a few weeks.)

5. Spray with a clear coat/sealant. 

I'm actually quite thrilled with the result. Who knows how long I'll have it around, but it's already made the room look more balanced, and has also provided a comfy spot for computer use. YAY! 

What do you think? My husband told me (under his breath) that he liked it better in brown. Oh well! No going back now...

Current Lip Obsessions

I need to share my new find with you: Revlon's Lip Butter in Candy Apple.  It's a perfect shade of red--more coraly undertones than pink or blue. It's glides on, keeps your lips hydrated, and I'm pretty much pleased as punch with it.  I might have to go buy a few more shades, but actually I think I found the IT color on my first try.

I also have the famous NARS lipstick in Heatwave, but it's way more matte, and definitely more orange, and also a lot harder to apply with it looking decent. But I still love it. I hear that JCREW used this color exclusively on all their models in the Spring catalog. Apparently it looks good on everyone, and you can really control whether it's super strong, or just a tint. I haven't mastered that part of it yet.

  

And here's a cuckoo pic of me with the Candy Apple Lip Butter, and my current earring fave from the Darlybird lineup: The Gold-Plated Mykonos Earrings.  They're really that cute. 

Adios, friends! Have a happy day!

$200 Giveaway! (and 20% off)

Lots of New--including a new site!

I'm happy to announce the launch of tons of New Products! And I've still got ~100 new to post. These images represent a few of my new faves.  From top to bottom, Spring Green Wall Vase, Flotsam and Jetsam Shopper, Brass Inlay Wood Bangle, Polka Dot Salad Servers, Bien Sur Bow, Be Happy Bow, and Mykonos Earrings.


If you click on over to Darlybird, you'll also notice a brand new look.  To say I'm excited is a bit of an understatement!  There are still a few kinks to work out, but I'm happy about the newness---a little more whimsy, a little more eclectic.  I think it represents Darlybird a little bit better....after all, I'd fancy my esthetic as a good Catch-22 between modern and vintage.

Props to my designer, Karisa Winkel, and programmers Christopher and Melissa Esplin.