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Thursday, December 29, 2011

{Rustic Chic Christmas} Making OUR house a HOME for the Holidays!


For those of you who don't know-I have an obsession with all things rustic chic.  And for those of you who are now saying "HUH?", let me explain. Rustic chic can mean many things, but to me it is is best described as natural elements, with a little bit of worn vintage and a splash class. Still confused, stick with me (here is a hint)!


     As with every project I do there are lessons to be learned and challenges to be had, and transforming our home into my Christmas vision was no exception. Our house decor without the Christmas added in, is quite the collection of his and hers. My husband Josh, had already owned our home before we married, I moved in and lovingly :) took over all decor and renovations. (He had lived there for 4 years without me and made little improvements or upgrades).


     Since I took over, we have done several things-new carpet, new paint, some new fixtures, and even a few new pieces of furniture. But like every other young couple we have a budget so our house is not "complete" and full of projects. We have some of his modern decor mixed with my vintage pieces, not exactly the Ralph Lauren Ad I was trying to accomplish, but it is getting there. So this, (my hodge podge, mish mosh, his and her decor) presented me with my biggest challenge. I was trying to now blend in Christmas to an already somewhat un-blended pallet. But,  being that this was my first Christmas as a married woman, I was determined to really do it up BIG. I had a list of all the baking I wanted to do, gifts to get, inspiration for decor and a theme (Rustic Chic of course). This was the first time that a lot of my family was going to see our house, so the pressure was ON! 

Challenge Accepted!

     So here is how our entry way turned out. I used a red plaid table square to give our regular entry way table so color! We got a TON of Christmas cards this year (so cool, I feel so loved) and I wanted to incorporate them into our decor as well. I used twine and clothes pins, to string them along the table. And that is Josh's childhood stocking, forgot to hang mine up before I took this pic.


Our entry way! We even got new tile for Christmas (this isn't it-but it is coming soon!)


I used ball jars filled with Epsom salt (looks like faux snow) and mercury glass votive's to add a touch of candlelight!


Pinterest project! Faux snow, ornaments, pine cones and pine leaves filled in an apothecary jar

This is actually a large candle ring that I hung with twine. It was the perfect fit for my smaller mirror.
 On to our living room! I love having a house with a fireplace to decorate! I hit up my local craft store and bought a lots of red berry garland. I added some more faux snow, pine cones and ball jar votives. The stockings and tree skirt I purchased at Crate and Barrel several years ago. And our reindeer stocking holders came from Target.


More candle ring wreath! I love these vintage inspired mirror trays and my "Home for the Holidays"sign. I picked these up at LaurieAnna's Vintage Home in Canton.

Our tree! Now looking at it, I wish I would have added more too it! But I have a good start for next year :)
New Rustic tree topper from Target.

I used kraft paper to wrap all of our presents! Also added green and natural colored twine, red ribbon, tea dipped doilies and tags! You will even see some plaid fabric strips!

Some I phone photo close ups! I tied cinnamon sticks on to some of the gifts as well!
Made everything smell so wonderful!



Here is our bar area. I found this awesome reclaimed wood piece a few weeks ago and it fit our new wine fridge perfectly! But I had yet to install the shelves above to hold all our glasses and bar tools. So I found this little Christmas tree and decided to add some other goodies that I picked up at Canton! I think it turned out pretty cute!


More Christmas cards! This was the perfect place to display them!


Here is our Christmas Card from the very lovely and talented Julie at The Type Tree


     And finally our Christmas table! My pride and joy :) I was so happy at how this turned out! We hosted two family dinners this year so it was the one place everyone was going to be spending lots of time in! And we finally got to use lots of our wedding gifts! Most of the decor items were purchased at local craft stores, I already had lots of ball jars, the mercury votives and I picked up the to die for berry bucket in Canton! (PS its available to rent-yeah for you!)



We served two different types of chili (hints the table setting). I will post that recipe soon-it was SO super good! I used two table runners instead of one and put them side by side to add some color to the table without covering up all the pretty wood! (PS this was my husbands table before we married-pretty decent :)


I made these burlap place mats.  So easy and cute! Maybe I will have a DIY post or put them up for sale in the shop!


I picked up the chalkboard place cards at a new local shop Southern Simplicity

More ball jars in various sizes and some left over mercury glass votive from our wedding.

Here is a close up of the berry bucket centerpiece! Lots of red berries cinnamon sticks, pine cones and ball jars! I basically just put everything in there and played around with it until it looked like I wanted. PS-I usually don't care for fake plants etc. but I make Christmas the exception Its just too hard to find find a lot of natural florals like these when its still 70 degrees outside! But I did purchase several pine wreaths and cut them up and added them thought my decor so it's a mix of the real and fake stuff.
     And there you have it folks- A Rustic Chic Christmas! I love the way it turned out and I think that our family did too, they all seemed to be impressed with the improvements from my husbands bachelor pad days. Of course like any other type A person I am thinking about next year and planning my theme! I hope to use a lot of the same things, but here are a few things I would do differently-Lessons learned:

Lesson #1: Rome was not built in a day, and neither will my supply of Christmas Decor, unless I win the lottery. I realized this after my 3rd trip to the Christmas Store in a week, that I was about to blow my budget, just on decorations! So work with what you have and add a few pieces each year. Those that have a house full of Christmas, had been collecting items for many years! Lesson #2: Limited time means-it can't all be done! I literally had one weekend to do all things related to Christmas. Next year-START EARLIER!
Lesson #3: No one or home can be perfectly coiffed for Christmas. Your decor, home or event should reflect you, your style and where you are at in your life.


I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! And I wish you all a very Happy 2012!
~Jenn


Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Tiffany & Co. Baby Shower

I was so excited to help in designing some of the elements of Alaina's baby shower. Why you ask? Well for starters it was a brunch shower, and who doesn't love brunch!  (Dreaming of biscuits, bacon and mimosas as I write this!)  And this very sweet mommy-to-be loves Tiffany & Co. another one of my fav's! The hostess had some awesome ideas for how she wanted to incorporate Tiffany blue, a touch of pink and of course BACON! Check out the pics below to see what we came up with. 


This was definitely the BIG project of the party and this pic doesn't do it any justice! We spent hours making different sized paper poms and adding them all over the dinning room chandelier.  We hung more paper poms, and lanterns from the ceiling and left some ribbons hanging  loosely throughout.  There was ribbon, tulle and fluffy poms everywhere!
Just Kate Etc. created this custom triple ruffle runner especially for this event check it out in our etsy shop!
Paper lanterns covered the lights on the chandelier. 

Waffle ice cream cones with fruit! Perfect update to a standard fruit tray!

A decorated chair for the new mommy to sit in while opening her gifts

No baby shower would be complete without a diaper cake the hostess did a great job making this one!

Super cute Tiffany & Co. inspired cake
 
By far the best baby gift I have seen in a while! Wish I could have seen the look on her hubby's face  when she showed him.  Looks like he will be prepared for anything :)


Beautiful baby bump! Congrats Alaina!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Now Featured at...

Hey y'all! I am so excited to announce that you can now purchae Just Kate Etc. mercahandise at the fabulous Southern Vintage Glam  boutique in Downtown Plano! April (the shops owner) has a very cool shop featuring lots of local crafty desginers and she even does hair in the back!  And she is a whiz when it comes to repurposing vintage furniture! Just check out this one of a kind piece that I picked up, now available to rent for photos, weddings or other events!

EEEKK! I am so stinkin' excited! If I would have brought a bigger vehicle (like a semi) then I would have left with a lot more-TRUST ME! So stop by Southern Vintage Glam, bring a large vehicle and pick up some goodies you can't live without -including some exclusive Just Kate Etc. products-not found online!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Taking it to the streets of Rockwall

     Just Kate Etc. is more than event design, prop styling and rentals we also have an Etsy shop! If you haven't already become addicted to Etsy then you are totally missing out! Etsy is a fantastic market place for anyone looking to plan an event, purchase a unique gift or something handcrafted for yourself!

     But Etsy is not the only place you can find custom items from Just Kate Etc.  Recently I praticipated in my local Aspasians Fair in the super cute downtown Rockwall with one of my fellow Etsy craftsman.  This was my first fair as my own crafter ( I use to do these things all the time with my grandmother-but more on that later :) So needless to say it was quite an experience! I was totally up for the challenge and very excited to show off my items locally.  Heres so pics of my little booth I shared with the lovely Rachel of Rachel Carl and Co.
     




Here we are open and ready for business-very early in the morning :) 
Lots of burlap runners and napkins! 

Some new samples and some great stuff for fall :) 

We had lots of help! My mother in law spent the whole day with us! It was great to have an extra hand!

My sweet hubby! The money man and the free labor for the day.  And look at his shirt-I'm a lucky girlt :) 
Lots of jars! 
Rachels side of the booth. Custom calligraphy and applique shirts

Here she is! Check out her shop! ! Thanks Rachel for sharing the booth and making my custom Just Kate Etc shirt!

You can find Just Kate Etc and Rachel Carl and Co together again for the Fulton School Fall Festival in Heath October 29th from 9-5! Come see our stuff, stay for a hay ride and a glass of cider! YEAH for fall! 

Monday, October 17, 2011

Way to long!!

I must confess, I have been a bad blogger! As if you couldn't tell its been over a month-YIKES! But so much has been going on with Just Kate Etc, (very exciting) but leaves little time to blog.  So, I will make a promise to all of you now: I hear by solemnly swear to be a better blogger.  OK- now on to the lovely new Mrs.!


Kelsey and her awesome mom Deborah have great taste!  They really put their heart and soul into every last detail, making Kelsey's wedding very personal. They even used some stuff from Just Kate Etc. Etsy shop!   However, they did  have one dilemma: How in the world were they going to pull all of their great finds together and have Kelsey beautified (trust me she doesn't need much) and down the aisle by that evening.  EEK!  After all, both Kelsey and her mom really wanted to enjoy the day doing girly things not worrying about caterers, linens or flower arrangements.  This is where Just Kate Etc.came in (cue the superhero theme song)! Together we came  up with a plan for the day, a timeline of events and a design scheme for all their lovely finds!  Take a look for yourself!



One of my favorite pics of the bride-isn't she STUNNING!
 
Beautiful moment! So happy to have worked with this awesome family!
 
Bird houses displayed meaningful addresses to the couple.  A story about that address was posted on the back of the each birdhouse.  Burlap runners by Just Kate Etc. 


This wedding had the cutest kids ever!



This cart was over 100 years old and belonged to the venue-AWESOME prop! Rachel Carl and Co. made these pillows which were scattered along benches throughout the reception area. 


I'm sure you've  checked it out but just in case you didn't, stop by the tremendously talented Taylor Lord Photography Blog to see the rest of this vintage affair.  (If you haven't do so NOW-I'll wait right here!)
And if you are a DIY bride who doesn't exactly know how to do it all herself, contact me Jennifer@  JustKateEtc@hotmail.com . Or keep reading my blog (remember my promise) to see more of our work and learn how I can make your wedding or event absolutely spectacular!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Where to find our work!

Looking to see what Just Kate Etc is all about and possibly what they can do for you and your next event, wedding or photo shoot.  Look no further my friends!! Here is some links to some of our most recent work.

Kelsey's wonderful vintage wedding as captured by,  the to die for Taylor Lord Photography!
http://www.taylorlordphotography.com/blog/?p=1385

Jenn's purple and green rustic chic wedding by my all time favorite dynamic duo, Forever Photography! And what a plus it was featured on Wedding Chicks this summer!
http://www.weddingchicks.com/2011/06/27/vintagepurpleandgreenwedding/

More to come on vintage event design, photo styling and vintage rentals! Until then come and visit me tomorrow at the Aspasians Fair in Downtown Rockwall from 9-5, between the courthouse and Kaufman Street! Would love to see you and talk about all thing vintage :)

Monday, September 12, 2011

Well, Hello there!

Hi! And thanks so much for stopping by my blog. As if you couldn't tell, this is definitely a work in progress! So I hope you will check back often as I will be updating things and adding more pretty to the page :)

Until then, here is a quick snippet about me and what Just Kate Etc. is all about! My name is Jennifer and I am a very recent newlywed.  I loved the entire wedding process-I mean every step, down to tiny details.  I was so sad when it was over, that I decided to keep continuing to do the things I love about weddings for other brides. From those few days of post-wedding depression (not found on Web MD) became Just Kate Etc.

My goal with Just Kate Etc. is to incorporate my love of authentic vintage, vintage inspired and eclectic style into your event or photos.  If you love vintage goodies but aren't sure how to add them into your upcoming wedding/event or photo session-then I am your gal! I would love to come up with ideas, unique to you adding charm and detail.  If chippy paint, antique silver and exquisite burlap linens sound good to you, then we are bound to get along just fine :)

Contact me at justkateetc@hotmail.com for prices. And check back for some of our recent work and inventory soon!