summer loves....

Posted by katecotten / at 2:04 PM / / 1 comments

ok, so again, even though i am still half failing miserably at updating this thing, i have a few quick updates and then some awesome etsy finds.

i keep talking about fixing up kate cotten designs on etsy, and have yet to do it. so i think instead of adding it to the ever-growing to-do list, i am just (sadly!) going to put it off til the new year. i know that sounds forever away. BUT, two months, then two weekends in a row is dave & i's respective "bachelor/bachelorette" weekends. then im going to dallas. then the wedding. then honeymoon. then thanksgiving. then belated reception. then daves birthday. then christmas. then new year. so were going to be slammed, and i am tired of pretending i am going to update kate cotten when the chances are slim! SO, instead i am going to hold on to all my pictures and new items to list, and wait it out, or at least see what happens. who knows, i could end up eating my words and get bored next weekend and upload it all. we shall see, but dont hold your breath.

more and more things are getting crossed off the list for the wedding. and its pretty exciting! the days just seem to be flying by! plus, random coolness-- on tuesday we went up to this show put on by DCI (drum corps international) called Thunder in the Desert with jefferson, ashley, patrick, and tryann. and it was pretty cool. it was nice to get out and do something different! plus, noah and charlotte were being extra precious. and then we headed to the cox's but not before we picked up starbucks of course! and then....we taste-tested some dessert goodies for the wedding. and can i just say (yes, just one more time!) that whimsyandspice is AMAZING. dave is in LOVE with their hazelnut whiskey sandwich cookies, and i would kill for their coconut 5 spice cookies or black pepper and rose thumbprint cookies! and we both viciously fought over their dulce de leche espresso brownies! i STRONGLY suggest for you foodies out there, or hell! those of you who have a sweet tooth, definitely check them out. their goodies may sound intimidating, but seriously, probably some of the best cookies i have ever had!

ok, and now on to the fun stuff! after scouring etsy for hours upon hours for wedding stuff, i have found even more of the coolest stuff ever. and decided to share just a few of my favorites! enjoy!

bohemian vintage 70s wallet purse by tialeyvintage.

alice finds a cobalt room tiered dessert tray by orangeandblossom.

cinderella, your carriage awaits vintage book page by LoveElizabeth.

squirrel couple by melabo.

vintage enamel, 1970's boho bangle bracelet by bethtastic.

free at last - textile wall art by bubbleandboo.

purple rain pansy cluster headband by JustLiv.

vintage hand mirror shabby chic by suesuegonzalas.

vintage red suede bow back heels by PorcelainThreads.

la paon grande necklace by whiteowl.

random smattering...

Posted by katecotten / at 1:26 PM / / 0 comments

ok, so i have totally failed on the blog. its not that i forget, or do not want to, i just dont seem to have enough time for anything lately!

but, good news is, this week alone, we have accomplished the centerpieces for the tables for the wedding reception (thanks to my mom, cause she totally rocks and found all these great vases!), daves suit, and talked to the jeweler and picked out his ring, and figured out how were going to make my ring and band work together. and let me tell you, just that has taken a TON of stress of my shoulders. i am finally starting to breathe a little easier!

so, because of my lack of time, and lack of creativity at the moment, i just wanted to share a random smattering of adorable etsy finds that i have recently come across! enjoy!

el medano porcelain ring by MaaPstudio.

alas by ohmycavalier.

mama and baby birdie vase by redhotpottery.

dainty parnassia solitaire by PearlEverlasting.

tiny little vintage bottles by blueeyeddesigner.

woman's head sculpture shadow box by sofralma.

vintage brooch bouquet...

Posted by katecotten / at 10:15 AM / / 1 comments

ok, so please dont judge me for my lack of blogging lately. i promise once i finally get some wedding projects completed and crossed off of my list, ill be back to it like a fiend. i miss my lovely blogging and sharing all my great etsy finds! and im blaming the fact that since i havent been blogging, i dont have an outlet, so instead i have just buying everything i find on etsy like mad!

so todays blog is a short sharing session about my recent wedding plans, etsy buys, and my *finally* completed vintage brooch bouquet! enjoy!

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i lucked into finding THE MOST GORGEOUS dress for the rehearsal dinner! hand made by the ever talented iesha of audreyandgrace. just try and tell me that it isnt beautiful! with that special vintage flair? i feel so privileged to be able to wear one of her gorgeous creations!

Ravishing Ultra Elegant Custom Floral Sweetheart Dress by audreyandgrac e.

dave and i came across this amazing vase one night when we were actually searching for boutonnieres, it fits the wedding so perfectly, how could i pass it up?!

art deco style bird vase by redtruckdesigns.

one of my favorite finds has been by a talented fellow fun-lovin' texan, courtney of timelessNchic. not only did she make me laugh in all of our traded messages, but she takes these plain picture frames and creates these perfectly "aged" antiqued frames that are just wonderful! my mom and i each purchased a lot from her, and theyre super kick ass! i cant wait to use them at the wedding, and then hang them in my living room!

bohemian eclectic chic - a vintage gathering by timelessNchic.

another one of my finds i am super excited about is by becca of DivineLionesss. everything in her shop is eco-friendly! made without adhesives and all that, and anything that is not biodegradable is either recycled or repurposed. and i had been eyeing her tapioca wood blooms for a while, and finally purchased them! two sets that were planning on putting them on the table with the guest book! we also purchased tags for our favors that are plantable! how sweet is that? so when the guests take the tags home they can plant them and up pop oregano and thyme. awesome!

tapioca wood blooms by DivineLionesss.

50 herb seeded plantable tags by DivineLionesss.

i also bit off more than i can chew with attempting to take on the task of making our own dinner napkins, and pillows. why would i add yet another project to my list? im not sure. but theyre AWESOME fabrics! even if nothing at the wedding really matches! i found all these great anna maria horner fabrics i liked, and bought each design in two different color schemes. here is a sneak peek of the fabrics:

many thanks to the following shops for supplying the great fabric and working with me on creating custom listing and custom yard requests: fabricworm, materialgirlchic, thefabricfarm, sewdeerlyloved, and imaginefabric.

and last but NOT least, diane of the aptly named etsy shop, DianeA creates the most magnificent multi sided paper ball garden that dave says just reads "casual romance". she creates them all and strings them by hand. i was mesmerized the first time i came across them, as soon as i showed dave he thought they were just the coolest things, so we started thinking of places to put them, and so of course i commissioned her the very next day! i am EXTREMELY excited about all the garland! shes wonderful!

pretty multi sided paper ball garland by DianeA.

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so as you can tell, i am REALLY excited with everything that has been going on for the wedding. of course there is much more but these are my recent favorites! it literally is an all etsy wedding. and i could not be more pleased with it! dave is also pretty pumped about it because like he told me last night, he feels like we have been fortunate enough to "meet" all these great etsy sellers that are helping us make this wedding VERY us. it has our style written all over it, and our personality will be screaming from every nook and cranny! i just love how its all coming together, i have to admit, it makes me giddy!

now, im only sharing this with blog readers first! so get excited! i completed my vintage brooch bouquet last night, and though i am no expert, i am EXTREMELY thrilled with how well i pulled it off! and much as i was cursing and yelling last night when i kept flipping poking myself with the pins, i am SO glad i did it myself. it means that much more to me, that much more to dave, and we can keep it always.

so here it is, after two other rough drafts (first, a moss ball, and then a half circle of styrofoam) i just sat down with some 18 gauge floral wire and an assortment of lovely brooches: half passed down in my family, and half from wonderful etsy sellers! and went to town. i wish i had gotten pictures of it in the making, but i was on a mission! so here are the first sneak peeks...(sorry the pictures arent super fantastic it was late, i was exhausted, and they got taken with the iPhone, and we still have to finish the "handle" of the bouquet) and as always: feedback is appreciated :)

::drum roll please::

side view:

view from the top:

wedding registry...

Posted by katecotten / at 1:38 PM / / 5 comments

so everyone keeps telling us we need to get on the ball with the wedding registry. which is making me freak out, because i have been trying as hard as possible to ignore that fact, or add even one more thing no matter how big or small to our to-do list. but, i know it will be fun once we get in the mode, or at least thats what everyone keeps telling us. but, can i just say, i love etsy. i am addicted. but i wish they would get on the ball...

i emailed sometime last fall, to the etsy questions and suggestions, and i wrote in that they should have a etsy wedding registry! (how AWESOME would that be!) and they said thank you for the suggestion, they have had other people tell them the same idea, and that they were currently working on it. at the time...i was like i have a whole year until we get married, SWEET ACTION! i can totally register on etsy for the wedding! but its ok...dave and i will register for all the neat stuff we want and then i can keep entertaining myself with me etsy addiction! BUT....hypothetically, if i could register on etsy...check out these sweet finds...enjoy!

1950's or 60's set of six drinking glasses by JeanB123.

top hats and pearls print by blackoutwell.

vintage bird cage 'liberty lantern' by Atelier688.

big bad wolf by rubyslounge.

vintage solid brass matching pair of deer bookends by vyeshi.

set of four bone appetit 9 in dinner plates by foldedpigs.

love in french (knots) embroidered wall art by GoodBehavior.

custom tree print pillow cover by cozyblue.

complete wooden salad serving set by inmynest.

60's glam hollywood regency wall sconces by fabulousmess.

cast iron deer knocker with antlers by mechanicalstag.

tall wood drawer by Hindsvik.

circa 1950's-70's retro green goblets by fixthepain.

vintage gathering bohemian upcycled frames by timelessNchic.

hello i love you print by Juliapott.

its been a while...

Posted by katecotten / at 1:53 PM / / 0 comments

it has been a while since my last few posts. everything in my world seems to be getting more and more hectic and stressful. BUT...on a lighter note. a few weeks ago i found a wedding dress. actually, not just a dress but THE dress. its AMAZING! super gorgeous! and yes, i totally cried like a girl when i first saw myself in it. but its just too AWESOME! and very me. streamline and elegant enough to hold to tradition. BUT with a bit of a twist that is OH SO very me. :) i mean come on, did yall really think i would end up with a traditional dress? no way. traditional is not in my vocabulary! and yes, its white. much as i would have loved to make everyones jaw hit the floor when i walked out in a purple dress, it is classic ivory. and KICK ASS. plus, we got to spend time with my parents, which is always awesome. for those of you that dont know this, my mom totally rocks. and dave and my dad went out on the town while we were dress shopping and had fun. plus, my little brother is basically my hero. long story short, i was very glad i got some much needed family time.

and now, i have the dress, and a photographer: who is totally great. and the caterer is stamped! so its a win-win-win situation. AND...im so glad the stress of all the big stuff is out of the way. i mean its going to be amazing, if i do say so myself. seriously, who doesnt want to get married in a beautiful and meaningful location, with a super fun dress, a great photographer, and delicious cajun food. yes, indeed i did say cajun! a sweet little homage to my genealogy. and i mean, i guess the groom is okay too.... lets face it, anyone who can put up with my cynicism, sense of humor, odd fascinations, outlandish personality, and my affinity for all things owls, is pretty much a saint. sure it kinda helps that hes cynical, has a crude sense of humor, fascinated with the weirdest things, and extremely, ridiculously, and hilariously impetuous. ya, im definitely lucky to have such a great best friend and future hubby :)

anywho, now that ive babbled away, lets get down to the fun stuff. since i havent blogged in what seems like FOREVER, you know ive found a TON of great new etsy finds, and i kept switching back and forth on what kind of theme i should go with, and the i realized theres just too much great stuff, and i didnt want to narrow it down today, so i wanted to share all the AMAZINGLY awesome things ive come across. just beware ive been really drawn into delicate florals and patterns and bold solid colored items lately--GORGEOUS! so...enjoy!

italian army vintage ammunition case by mimivintagedesigns.