Day 24

A Bit of History on Italy Ava

Take a 4 day blog journey with me on how

 Italy Ava became Italy Ava

FUN FACTS:

Every week (no exaggeration) there are two questions I'm asked by customers:

Are you and Leiah sisters? 
 No, Leiah and I aren't sisters but I have finally told her if customers keep asking make sure to tell them I'm the younger one..

Where did the name Italy Ava come from?
As most know the name was derived by a name I would have given my daughter if that was the hand dealt but I have 3 beautiful boys..so my store inherited the name "Italy Ava"
/

This is my very first blog entry back in September, 2010..

The beginning of my story: 

 "We wanted to start fresh, plant some roots, and raise a family on a tight budget" Moving from the Minneapolis, MN area back to our hometown seemed fitting for us.  We had been working crazy hours and that didn't even include our commute.  I just couldn't get into the groove of it and felt my country girl roots pulling me home.  I wanted to give my kids the same kind of small-town upbringing, so within months we packed our bags moved back home.    

 

We find home in a quaint 1945 cape cod cottage that sits on a corner lot begging to be loved.  The cottage needed a lot of work but had great long run potential.  I fell in love with its exterior and my husband fell in love with the asking price (less than our little place up in the city) so we knew it was meant to be. 

 

With a little time and patience we knew we would not only make this cottage ours but we would do it in style. I became a homemaker for our now three rambunctious busy boys which is definitely priceless but this also left me getting creative with the financial part of our renovation. 

 

Creative is exactly what we did, during the day my husband managed a wind turbine park, but at night and week-ends he became the house craftsman.  He renovated bathrooms, kitchen, basement and added many custom built-in's to the house.  If I could think of it or find it in a magazine he would build it. He relied solely on this orange Home Depot DIY book.   I stuck to my passion and what I do best, the decorating aspect of the home.  I relied on rummage sales, hand-me-downs, thrift stores, and retail store sales. 

 

Three years later we have a house that is completely budget friendly and for our visitors always gives them inspiration and ideas that they can take on and do themselves in their home.    

 

This house was a jewel box waiting to be opened and without its magic, Italy Ava wouldn't exist.  The home gave us an unexpected opportunity and taught us patience not to mention how to get creative on a budget.  For all those people who asked if I would hire my husband out or recreate some of my designs, thank you for molding this idea into my head.    

 

We were asked to be on the 2009 House Christmas Tour so I'll add those fun pics...Enjoy!

 

Laura-Italy Ava 

Day 23

Hilltop Acres Continues 

This entry feels a bit bitter sweet since it's my last entry on my days spent at my parents preparing, but it also means the Trunk Show is upon us and drum roll.......the furniture is complete, all 75 pieces per my dad's last hundredth count..

I woke up to two little squirrely boys jumping on my bed begging to go to grandma's to shoot their BB gun, fish, ride bike, 4-wheeler rides, etc...for the love of god just 10 more minutes.  I reach for my cell anticipating decent weather, I admit a bit out of it, but I believe it said 33..  One thing you must know is, I don't paint furniture unless it's above 55 due to bubbling and I don't do well in cold temperatures, I had two elements against me.  To say the least karma was not in my favor..what could go wrong did and what could go right didn't. At one point my mom asked me if I liked my scream..umm I guess I've never pondered that but will think about it.  In the end it all came together and the karma was gone and I think we all just felt relief that the day came to a end with the furniture completed..  Enjoy the pictures!!

All three boys rode out with their dad, so I was solo and opted for the scenic back route

As I wait for the temp to rise I worked on more Enchanted Forest Headbands for a photo shoot with Studio B Monday..

We have quite the collection of tables which is crazy because they are the most complex pieces to upcycle..  Since the table top receives a lot of ware we take the extra steps for ware-longevity 

Hours later it's finally complete in a soft distressed gray.  

I don't have a before picture on this table but I love love the color result and I'm pretty sure my dad worked and reworked the table top for the last 3 weeks to make sure it was perfect..

Quick homemade salsa snack and I'm back to work..

This trunk isn't an ordinary trunk is super sized, if I were to guess it was an old tool chest..  What I  love about this piece is the versatility..coffee table, end of the bed chest to store linens, table for kids to play on, the options are endless.

This is another piece that my dad spent 3 weeks working on.. Once again, he originally said it should go to the fire pit and then after just ripping the original cabinet door off and replacing it with this clever shutter and added the chicken wire as the finishing touch..  It was then given to me and  I applied a soft mint/celery green and a light dusting of distress..  You may ask yourself why this piece is sitting in my mothers house because I asked her the same question..  Of course taken a back from my comment, she replies with, she is just storing it conveniently in her kitchen until the show..  


There are so many pieces to show but I have to leave some surprises.. Remember, Sunday, October 7th..we went out of our way to make this a special event so please come and bring the family or make it a girlfriend day..  12:00pm-4:00pm.

One things is for sure, and that is I'm bound to lose lb's not going out to my parent's every weekend..  We ended our day with squash, wild rice, cheese biscuits and stuffed pork chops and gravy, always gravy.

Day 22

DIY Saturday

Torn Fabric Garland 

On today's blog, we are doing a tutorial on these really easy Torn Fabric Garland. These may be super easy, but they are also time-consuming. They would be fun to do with someone and great for any event! Who doesn't like to add a bit of handmade pretties?! 

You will need : 

Rope, yarn or twine

Fabric of your choice

Scissors

Grab your fabric and make cuts at the bottom of the frayed edges- roughly 1-2" apart. Here we love the shabby chic look, so no two fabric strips are the exact same.

Start to rip your fabric, desired length is up to you. Here I did around 15" for the length. Anywhere from 15-30" would be just fine. 

Repeat until your fabric pile is large :) I ripped around 23 pieces of each fabric choice. 

Grab a piece of fabric, if you want it in a pattern try to lay out each fabric in coordinated piles, tie it to the twine ( or your choice of yarn or rope). Leave some room, around 6" or more, at the start before you add your first fabric scrap. That way when you are done, you are able to attach it anyplace you wish! I don't cut a length of twine until the end, that way I can make it however long I wish with as much fabric as I think it needs. Continue to tie the fabric along the twine until you reach your desired length, or run out of fabric. Leave the same length as you did at the start, 6" or so, and cut.  

Voila! You now have a gorgeous torn fabric garland ready to make any space extra pretty:) 

We have this huge one hanging in the store. For this garland, we actually cut the fabric to create a nicer edge rather than if you were to rip it. Either way, they both look great! 

Happy Saturday! 

Day 21

Fabulous Fan Fun Friday

Jenessa & her fiance had engagement pictures last week, she  took home this amazing peacock hi-low dress for them.
Photo Credit : Alyssa McDowell-.

Lakota is all the way from Montana, here she has on our cute button  earrings.

Patty is Lakota's mom, this was her first day teaching this year,  you look great in our lime green dress! She also is wearing a brown tie flower belt. 

Steven came in last week to get a dinosaur lunch box for school, you are so handsome!

Jonas is so adorable wearing a hat from our vendor Little Snuggle Boutique and the beautiful picture is by Moon Photography!

We had a little visitor last week, Bella is so cute Shannon! Shannon is  in our mint bird  tank  and a cute white watch.

The lovely Jenessa in a shabby chic coffee brown flower. 

Shannon has our line of Purple Chameleon head wraps on and our heather blend over sized sweater! Always looking fabulous!

Sherri has on an adorable felt headband. 

Eden in a mint chiffon blouse ~ new this week!