I'd Like You to Meet, Pete & Frankie

This seems to be the age of self-promotion. Everyone wants to be independent and make money in their own time and in their own way. And be wildly successful at it. I am one of those people. And I guess so is my sister.

I started my Etsy shop 7 years ago, when Etsy itself was only 1 year old. I'm basically a pioneer! Just kidding. I started out selling refinished furniture and other various crafts. It was basically my job in high school and I had so much fun with it. Through college I kind of dropped the ball, but now with more spare time on my hands, and the realization of how much I miss creativity (hence this post), I wanted to start it up again. I approached my sister, Sarah Kamolz, about joining me in this venture of rebranding ourselves and our products. Thus, Pete & Frankie's was born.

When we were kids, somehow the nicknames Pete and Frankie came about and we thought this seemed to be more of an original store name than, say, Castor Sisters or ya know, something with sisters in it...

So let me introduce you to my sister, if for some reason you don't already know her. She is the older sibling and talented photographer who took these photos of us. She was my idol growing up who grew very tired of me copying her interests in art and in other areas. I suppose now she is okay with that. I don't see it, but we get mistaken as twins often, especially when she had longer hair and I was in a straightening phase. She is pioneering through life a couple of years ahead of me and I am constantly asking her for advice. Now I am excited to share this new experience her and to see where it takes us!

For now this online shop is more of a hobby, but if it turns into something more, how exciting would that be! I don't think either of us have very specific things we want to market, unlike many of the stores featured on Etsy. For me I would like to work to find a crafty/creative area I like to hone more specifically, but for now, it may just be a smorgasbord of various items and art.

Maybe it seems a little crazy to think you can make a career out of crafting, but somehow, real people do it every day! To be honest, I hate promoting myself. I feel very silly and almost like I'm full of myself to think people might actually be interested in my life or something I make, but shoot. If you aren't interested you don't have to read, right? Maybe it will stay just a hobby, but you never know, and how can you know if you don't try? I feel like my parents always taught us that we can do anything we want to in life, and I want to instill that in my own children one day- to not be afraid to go after those things. So here is us doing that. 

And with that, why don't you check out our store! We both are interested in doing any free-lance work as well, if you are interested.  If you feel us worth it, we would so appreciate your promoting us as well, whether it be on social media or by word-of-mouth. 

Like our store on Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/Peteandfrankies

Shop and Favorite our store on Etsy: 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/PeteandFrankie

In His hug, 

Molly 

Junklahoma

In my family we grew up going to garage sales every Saturday morning. We carefully dug through thrift store bins and tip toed through antique stores as to not knock over any of the cramped shelving with carefully placed items piled on top of each other. So you could say we like "junk" and apparently, so does Oklahoma! I came across this event on Facebook that happened to be on my off weekend and quickly spread the news that we must attend!

My sister, her daughter, and Grandma Marilyn were able to go with me and we gal-palled up to the city in an empty vehicle the night before. The event was a lot of fun and very well put together. (And how have we been missing this event for the last 25 years?!)

Surprisingly, I didn't come home with as much junk as I was expecting, but many homemade items from various vendors. I love the originality and authenticity that goes with buying homemade so I thought I would share the treasures I purchased. 

My sister and I both purchased matching Oklahoma pillows from the main store that hosts this event, The Old Store located at 100 Monroe Ave. in Piedmont. It is open in regular business hours and has lots of great items from awesome junk to antiques and redone furniture as well as various homemade crafts. 

I'm always keeping my eyes out for neat frames at a good price. I bought this one

to frame this artwork I bought from Joss & Main that I thought would appear bigger than it did. I wanted an oversized frame to take up more space on the wall, the frame ended up being a little too small for what I had in mind but I'm sure I will find use for it. 

Lately I have been loving studs! So when I found this booth with 2 for $5 I was all over it! Studs are great to add some style with my boring scrubs without hanging down in the way. And hello, there is a unicorn pair!

These kitschy barrets were at the same booth. I don't really wear barrets but I mean, obviously I had to have them?! This sweet shop owner also has a lot more precious items for sale, you can sneak a peak of them here- https://www.etsy.com/shop/SewingWithSqueak?ref=shop_sugg

I also got this sunburn at Junklahoma. Can you guess where my purse strap was? 

This lacy top I scored in The Old Store for $8 and the Kimono was another handmade item by the Junk Trunk Divas. You can check them out on www.facebook.com/stylereflectionsbylynnemarie 

And last but not least, my favorite purchase was this nifty Bluetooth speaker! It was by far the priciest item I bought, but I love it! I'm always telling Josh how I wish we could put speakers throughout our whole house to play music through. Obviously, I need a few more to make my dream come true, but this is a good step. 

You can find these speakers at www.hstechdesigns.com 

So I thought about writing a shpeal about the importance of buying handmade/ repurposed, but I'm not feeling political so here it is: Buy handmade items! It's good for the economy, and, and... and the WORLD! so there you go.

In other news, I'm trying to decide on a song to sing at church tomorrow, anyone have any ideas? Have a happy Sunday tomorrow, all!

In His hug,
Molly

Christmas Decor at the Brooks Household

So, it has been a busy while. Since my last post we've been in the process of redoing one of our bathrooms, working working all the time, celebrating thanksgiving with family, and wrapping presents like crazy. Much has happened, yet I haven't felt there has been much to blog about, though I am excited to share my bathroom with you once it is completed.

Usually by the first week in December I am basically finished with Christmas shopping, but this year has been a whole new ballgame. I still have yet to receive many presents in the mail, but I think they are at least all bought by now. I think. I didn't do much DIY-ing this christmas, but I will be happy to share with you all our Christmas home this year.

From our first year of marriage we have gone for a white tree, though our first one was only about 2 feet tall :) Now we have graduated to a 6 foot pre-lit tree.

Our first tree, isn't it cute! 

I don't think you can really go wrong with a Christmas tree, but there is something about the white lights with the white tree that appears so etherial and captivating to me. I also like how colorful ornaments really pop on the white tree as well. We go for the look of mix-matched ornaments rather than a themed tree. I think it's a little more personal when every ornament has a little story.

Above: This ornament was one my in-laws brought us back from their cruise to Jamaica.
Below: Our alien ornament was one of the first ornaments I didn't buy at a thrift store. I can tell through the blogosphere that you are jealous.  The 3 wise men beside it was one of Josh's favorites on his mom's tree growing up.

 This embroidered Mary and baby Jesus was made for me by my mom. When I was growing up, she had a full nativity scene that she made in High school. My sister and I expressed one year how much we loved them, and now we receive a few handmade pieces from the nativity each year.

I bought these shadow boxes at our Alco (RIP Alco :( ) a few months back, not really sure what I wanted to put in them. I decided to make them a piece that I can change out with each season. I used Christmas printables that I found off of Pinterest glued onto a thin sheet of foam, glued onto scrapbook paper and embellished with random baubles I've found at thrift stores. Here are the ones I made for Fall:

I'm not particularly fond of this retro light fixture, but for now I decided to dress it up for Christmas. I had seen versions of this on Pinterest (of course) and had some snowy branches I wasn't sure what to do with- thus, this light accessory was birthed. 

Once again, I had all of these little wooden ornaments that I collected from the thrift store. For some reason I find them adorable, so I was happy to find a unique way to display them. 

We don't have a fireplace mantle to decorate so I make pretend like our TV and entertainment center is the same thing.

I made this banner using this printable, scrapbook paper, and ric rac... that I probably got a thrift store...

We haven't reached the Christmas decorating expanse that say my mother and father have (6 christmas trees people!), but I think it all comes together nicely! I have fond memories of not just looking at decorations, but doing the decorating for the Christmas season with my family. I remember my sister and I would argue about who got to put up the Christmas village and who got to do the nativity scene. I love that I now have those memories with my husband as we argue about who gets to hang which ornament (hehe) and I'm excited to make those memories with my future chillens. 

I hope you enjoyed this Christmas tour of our home and are enjoying this holiday season! 

In His hug, 

Molly

P.S. - Patch's favorite Christmas decor is the tree too, it's the perfect spot to sleep under. She has also taken up a part time job as an elf for Santa this year. Here she is to show off her uniform.