Living
All About L&V Living
It’s the season of Gratitude & Pie! I wanted to tell you how truly grateful I am for all of you! Thank you for being here. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy this month’s hand-lettered wallpapers.
To download for free during the month of November 2019 use coupon code: DDNOV19
Guys! I love today! It’s the day of our Holiday Collection launch and I’m always giddy with excitement to show you what I have been working on all these months for the Christmas season. This year we launched 9 new prints and 5 cards! I wanted to share a bit of the backstory and inspiration behind these new designs.
This collection is all about nostalgia meeting modern, which you know I love! It has a mid-century and playful feel to it. Plus, some whimsy thrown in just because it’s Christmas! I love the boldness of the Jingle Bell Rock print that inspired the whole collection theme. The past couple years’ prints have been more soft and muted, so I was looking forward to throwing in some bright holiday red pops to change it up!
This is another piece with all the retro vibes! A record player seemed perfectly fitting to go along with the theme especially since most of the designs have a Christmas carol nod. Mak and I started a tradition a while back where every Saturday morning we put a record on while we make breakfast (mainly Billy Joel) and this print was inspired by that tradition.
There are two new chalk art designs this year! First, “O Night Divine”: The lettering was created by erasing the dust. Doesn’t chalk just make the perfect, cloudy night sky? I love accenuating the dustiness of chalk – that’s what makes working with chalk so fun and unique. I also think this one looks elegant and rustic at the same time. Since it’s black and white it will fit in with many existing holiday decorations.
The second chalk art print is a recipe! Every year I illustrate a new holiday recipe and this year I chose a beloved Christmas cookie. Peanut butter blossoms are a very important holiday tradition in my family. My Mom pulls them out of the oven and we’re immediately grabbing for them (it’s just the BEST when the chocolate is still gooey.) Side note: Someone asked me on Instagram if this was a Pittsburgh thing? And I honestly have no idea! Are peanut butter blossoms just a Pittsburgh thing? Tell me! haha.
I’ve drawn designs in the past using the word JOY and I seem to always do it in the same way- big and bold, with capital letters! For whatever reason, the word just screams to be drawn large to me! I love this year’s take because although the word is bold, the colors make it soft and pretty. I think a magnolia and mangnolia leaves are also just really pretty for Christmas decorating.
It seems that in ever holiday collection there is always that last-minute one. The collection is already done, I’m about to photograph it all and then inspiration strikes and I try to squeeze in one more. This is that design. I was really loving that bright holiday red and wanted to showcase it more in the collection! Plus candy canes are cute. playful and fun, which is exactly the vibe I was feeling for this year.
This design is traditional and classic. Red, green, white poinsettias- it’s quintessially holiday. This phrase has been stuck in my head and I knew I wanted to use it. Many parts of my year have been so heavy. I think that’s why I’ve been gravitating toward a playful Christmas. I wish you all LIGHTness this season.
I got carried away drawing a few little holiday botanical icons and then thought – why not combine them into a print? The idea of putting a pattern on a print was new for me, but I think it looks really fun and unique. The little oranges are my favorite part about this one.
And I had to save this one for last….
I wanted this one to be whimsical and fairtyle-esque because that’s how the song feels to me! I don’t typical draw animals, but I love that little partridge drawing. He’s so cute! This one was really fun to draw and add all the berries and swirls.
Five of this year’s prints have a card counterpart for your greetings. I have to mention that Mak’s favorite typewriter made its photoshoot debut, too. If you follow me on Instagram, you may know that he has become quite the typewriter collector. I love it!
And that is the 2019 Holiday Collection! I can’t wait to hear what you think! Let me know which ones are your favorites.
As always, thank you for supporting L&V for another season. It just means the world to me. Thank you for allowing me to create this art that I love and hope it resonates with you too. Love you all!
I’m so excited about this little addition to Vienna’s nursery – a hanging flower mobile! I think this concept could be so cute as a flower chandelier for a party, too!
It’s a bit time consuming to make because of the safety precautions for hanging above a crib, but I love how it turned out!
This project is especially nice when you have leftover faux flower stems from making other arrangements or wreaths! That way you get a nice variety, but I think an all eucalyptus mobile would be gorgeous, too! I went with these colors to match her nursery, but the possibilities are endless for combinations. Most of these faux flowers come from Hobby Lobby or Joann Fabric.
To create a mobile with lots of interest, you’ll want the blooms to fall at different lengths. This also helps you stagger greenery vs. blooms and fit pieces in any empty spaces. Think of it like creating a flower arrangement, you want a nice dispersement of color and texture. It helps to plan it out on the floor first. You can vary the length of the faux floral stem, but also tie the string on the embroidery hoop in different lengths to achieve the look you’re going for.
To me, the trickiest part of making the mobile is having a way to hang it while you tie the blooms on. If you have a small, round side table that works perfectly. If not, you can balance it on a chair or keep holding it up once you tie a flower on to make sure it is hanging nicely.
Be sure to knot the string multiple times onto the bloom as well as onto the hoop. Again, safety is of utmost concern here!
I took it a step further and hot glued all of my knots to really make sure they wouldn’t come apart. Additionally, I used super glue on the heads of the blooms and leaves where they attach to the stems. Nothing should be loose, but I didn’t want to take any chances. This is a time-consuming part, but important for safety.
To hang the mobile, measure how long you need from the ceiling, then cut two pieces of string that are each double that length. Tie each side of the string on opposite sides of the hoop to balance it.
I think Vienna likes it and that just makes me so happy to see!! She is three months now and just so curious about everything. I love seeing her soak everything in! She loves looking at the flowers and trees when we are outside too. A girl after my own heart!
I really loved making this mobile! Let me know if you give it a try! 🙂
October is my favorite month out of the entire year! The weather is finally cooler, the leaves change, Fall festivals are going on, and it’s my birthday month! Every year I fall in love with Fall! I hope you enjoy this month’s wallpapers. Hand-drawn with love as always.
To download for free during the month of October 2019 use coupon code: DDOCT19
Friends, I always love the days when I get to share something new! Today, I’m so pleased to introduce you to the newest line up in our best-selling Keepsake Kitchen Diary series! This new book is all about BAKING!
If you love to bake, love to eat baked goods (more like me) or are a sentimentalist wanting to record the stories and memories behind your favorite desserts, this book is for you!
If you’re not already familiar with our Keepsake Kitchen Diaries, what makes them special is that we’ve made room for the memories! In addition to beautifully organizing your treasured recipes, each spread includes a journaling memory page to truly create a family heirloom. At Lily & Val we believe the small, ordinary bits of life become the parts that mean the most when we look back. The Keepsake Kitchen Diary is an expression of this belief and our passion for savoring and recording these small moments. You can read my full story for creating the Keepsake Kitchen Diary.
So, the brand new Baking Kitchen Diary continues our belief that the fondest memories are made when gathered around the table. Those stories and memories matter and deserve to be recorded!
We made a few updates to this version from past versions and here’s what you will find inside:
The Baking Diary is broken into 8 new sections: Cakes, Cookies, Frostings & Fillings, Breads, Candy, Pies, Pastries, and Miscellaneous. In my personal Kitchen Diary, the “dessert” section is filled up the most, so I’m really excited to have an entire book dedicated to all things sweet!
Each tabbed section opens with a new hand-drawn illustration! I loved drawing these! There are also little drawings spread throughout the book and on the spreads.
On the flip-side of every illustration in each section you’ll find a helpful baking guide!
This is what the new spread looks like! We made the lines tighter than our original versions since baking recipes tend to be a bit more complex. We’ve also updated the “Baking Memories” side with a large space to tell the story of the recipes and the memories that coincide with it. The beauty is, you can use this space however you see fit!
Many people like to scrapbook this page by adding photos and decorative tapes, stickers etc. You could also leave it simple with just your handwriting! You cannot go wrong and certainly, no perfection needed here. Whatever you choose, you’ll be left with a priceless family cookbook!
As with our classic, lemon, and newlywed versions, this book also includes tear out recipe cards at the back of the book and pockets on the inside and back covers for storing special notes and keepsakes.
I cannot wait to hear what you think about this new Keepaske Kitchen Diary! These books are such a passion of mine and I’m so grateful to all of you for the support!
Happy FALL, my friends! If you know me you know how giddy this time of year makes me. And although I’ve been in the mood for all things pumpkin spice for a few weeks now, the coming of September makes it official! This month’s desktop download was created with my fellow Fall-loving friends in mind. Happy Pumpkin Season!! I hope you enjoy these free designs, hand-drawn with love, as always!
To download for free during the month of September 2019 use coupon code: DDSEPT19
FRIENDS! It’s the most wonderful time of the year (well, to me it is anyway!) Dreaming up and drawing Fall designs is always my favorite – no surprise there! This year, we released eight new prints to cozy your home this Fall.
I started calling this collection “Back to Basics” (chanelling Ina Garten here!) and that seemed to stick. So, we’re taking it back to basics with our Fall 2019 collection, which means making room for the warm and classic elements of autumn that made us fall in love with the season to begin with. From pumpkin spice styles to prints that encourage staying home—we hope these designs will delight the cardigan-clad Fall fanatic!
As you work your way through your fall checklist, make sure you don’t miss any essentials with this adorable pumpkin spice print. Whoever said ‘it’s possible to have too much of a good thing’ has surely never had pumpkin spice!
Pumpkin Spice Is My Love Language
Love can be complicated, but not with this print. The pumpkin spice groupie will get a little giggle out of this design, and that puts a huge grin on our faces. Pair this with our other pumpkin spice prints for positively pumpkin-spiced space!
Are you an expert in the art of staying in? Do you love curling up with a good book and a cup of tea? Have your friends been known to ask you for grammar advice? Whether that sounds like you or someone you know, one thing is for sure: every detail of this design was hand-drawn with the bookish type in mind.
As timeless as a great pair of leather boots, this chalkboard print is an instant classic. It is fun, sweet, and a breath of fresh air—all the fixin’s to a Happy Fall.
Staying in doesn’t mean you’re missing out—it means you’ve got everything you need right at home. This warm gingham print pairs perfectly with a pair of fuzzy socks and a cuddle buddy. (Sorry, neither of those are included with purchase.)
For those who would live in a perpetual Fall, keep the seasonal spirit alive as long as possible with this detailed chalkboard print inspired by classic Fall foliage. Can you hear the leaves crunching beneath your booties? No—just us?
Whether you’re eating Grandma’s famous lasagna for the 500th time or trying your love’s cheesecake for the first—there’s no doubting the memories that are made at every bite. Place this sweetly drawn print in your kitchen to remind yourself of all these special moments shared around the table.
We can practically taste Mom’s famous pumpkin pie when we look at this cute pumpkin print. It’s the perfect seasonal touch for those who love welcoming friends and family into a festive, cozy home just as much as visiting the local pumpkin patch.
I can’t wait to hear what you think about this year’s new Fall prints!
It’s hard to believe it, but we have entered our final month of summer! I’m admittedly a Fall girl, but I am trying to soak in the last bits of this season. So, to say goodbye to summer, before all the pumpkins and crunchy leaves, I thought I’d go with an explosion of flowers and a bold reminder to bloom! I hope you enjoy it.
To download for free during the month of August 2019 use coupon code: DDAUGUST19
Hey everyone! It feels great to be back here sharing with you on the blog. I’ve been on maternity leave since the beginning of June and everything has been a blur (in the BEST possible way) since then. Vienna Nicole McKeehan was born on June 8th, 2019 at 5:50 am and she has just lit up Mak’s and my life! For all the baby photos, take a peek at my Instagram!
Today I’m SO excited to be sharing a look at Vienna’s nursery. I’ve spent many months dreaming about this space to welcome our little girl. I especially went back and forth with what art to hang on the walls and what to draw for above her crib (you KNEW it had to be a chalkboard 😉 ).
The inspiration for the nursery is a bit eclectic! I wanted it to have a vintage feel, plus incorporate two of my favorite things: Paris and flowers. These themes were added in subtle ways, like the faux flower swag above a vintage mirror. (This is the same floral swag that I made for my tea party baby shower.)
I wanted the nursery to feel feminine, yet simple and elegant. I loved the idea of the light colors, blushes, and pinks paired with the high contrast, deep-colored pieces like the mid-century modern dresser, dark charcoal curtains, and pops of mustard.
It was certainly hard to not overdo it with hanging art on the walls, but I wanted the pieces to really stand out and keep things looking clean and simple.
I found this beautiful framed chalkboard at Michael’s and it made the perfect statement piece for above the crib. Drawing this chalkboard is quite possibly my favorite one I’ve ever done because it was the first time I lettered her name. The Bible verse is also incredibly meaningful to me.
We painted the main wall in the nursery a beige/blush color (Behr Suede Beige; it’s actually the same color we used on our National Stationery Booth last year!) and I love how the chalkboard and white crib pops against it. Funny side note: we rent a townhouse and this is the FIRST wall we’ve ever painted after living here for five years. I just had my heart set on this blush wall for the nursery and we were very proud of ourselves!
I drew the Flower Alphabet especially for Vienna and I knew it had to have a stand-out place in the nursery above the changing pad. It has that vintage botanical feel and I love how it looks in a simple black frame. The “Bonjour Bebe” print is from the Lily & Val Nursery Art Collection. It was SO tough to choose what to include from this collection, but this one fit the Parisian vibe (and flowers, of course!)
Above the flower alphabet and the chalkboard, I hung vintage brass bows. I LOVED these the moment I laid eyes on them. They frame and accent the art so nicely and add a sweet touch. I purchased them from this vintage Etsy shop.
The hook is from Hobby Lobby and right now I’m using it to hang these sweet bonnets from Kate Quinn Organics.
I added a little shelf in the corner to hold something sentimental for Mak. This panda bear was his favorite stuffed animal as a baby and his Mom, who is an incredible artist, painted the baby panda bear and gave it to me as a baby shower gift.
For my baby shower, I did a lot of antiquing and thrifting for vintage china and in the process I found some great pieces to incorporate into the nursery. Combining the new with the old is one of my favorite things to add some character!
This pink glass lamp with the marble base is one of my favorite finds! It actually came as a pair and I’m not sure what I’ll do with the other one yet. The sweet mustard vase was also used at the shower and I love how it looks with the vintage floral glass apothecary jar to hold cotton balls.
The bookshelf is another mid-century modern style piece we incorporated. It was the perfect size to stand between the door and the closet. I plan to do another post with my favorite baby books, but the “Paris: Up, Up & Away” book tops the list. It is a gorgeous book with high contrast black and white paper cut-outs. Just stunning!
Because of our limited space, we decided on this gray and white glider and ottoman set. It was the perfect size and so comfy! I took the “How Wonderful Life Is” design from the L&V Nursery Collection and turned it into a pillow for the glider. We saw the movie”Rocketman” the week Vienna was born, which made this pillow unexpectedly even more fun and meaningful! On the flipside, I drew a simple V monogram.
For the crib, I have two favorite pairs of sheets. This beautiful floral mustard is from Blueberry Impressions on Etsy.
Also pictured is the Magical Forest crib sheets by Pehr.
My friend Stacie of Gingiber sells the adorable little lamb pillow, another item I had my eye on for months!
Last but not least, I have an L&V fill-in-the-blank birth stat print hanging by the closet door. This is a piece I will certainly treasure even though it took me nearly a month to get the footprints! I just love how it turned out! The hooks are also from Hobby Lobby.
My sweet angel! I wonder how many hours I’ve spent just watching her sleep! 🙂
I hope you enjoyed taking a peek into Vienna’s nursery! Here are more links to sources for you! I’ve also included some items that I’ve loved and have been super helpful to me over these past weeks!
Crib – Target
Dresser and bookshelf – Wayfair
Mustard Floral Crib Sheet – Etsy
Forest Crib Sheets – Pehr
Flower alphabet print – Lily & Val
Bonjour Bebe print – Lily & Val
Birth Stat Print – Lily & Val
Area Rug – Rugs USA
Glider & Ottoman – Amazon (can’t beat the price!)
Accent Table – Overstock (Antique Navy)
Eiffel Tower Rattle – Amazon
Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail – Amazon
Wipes Dispenser (this has made changes so much more convenient!) – Amazon
Diaper Cloths – Amazon (we stocked up on these and use them as burp cloths!)
Waterproof Changing Pad Liners – Amazon (we stocked up on these too!)
Diaper Bag Backpack – Amazon
Bunny Dress & Bonnets – Kate Quinn Organics
Wall Hooks -Hobby Lobby
Baby Balm & Powder- Primally Pure
If a source isn’t tagged, it’s most likely from Home Goods or TJMaxx. 🙂
(P.S. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I get a small commission when you purchase using that link. It does not effect the price you pay and I’m not asked to feature these items. Thank you for your support!)
I always make a new wreath to celebrate every season…sometimes multiple wreaths per season. It’s a fun way to keep things fresh and welcoming. This year I wanted to try something a little different with a patriotic twist. I chose a peach, red, yellow, and light blue color scheme. For this wreath you will need:
These red mums are a beautiful shade, but their leaves were a little too dull for summer. Just remove the leaves to make these stems more appealing for a summer wreath.
To make your blooms easier to wire to the frame, bend them just under the head so that your florals face forward.
Next, trim your freesia stem and wire it next to your red statement flower. Add in your pops of yellow billy buttons as you build your wreath.
Continue to add one stem at a time, layering your colors. To finish off the design, build your last few florals from the other direction to hide your wiring and stems.
I love the variety of texture and color in this design, and it is so inexpensive to make!
Extra tip: Start building your design where the embroidery hoop screw is. This will allow you a clear center point to build the two sides of your floral design off of.
I hope you enjoy giving this wreath a try! What other colors do you like to use in your summer wreaths?
Be sure to share your DIY projects with us by tagging #lilyandvalliving !
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