"WE WON'T GET FAR....FLYING CIRCLES INSIDE A JAR."

When I first starting going to thrift stores and garage sales people were practically giving away mason jars because they had accumulated so many over time. I never even looked twice at them because A) I don't make home-made jam and B) they were usually rusty and dusty. To be honest with you, I used to view them as, well...junk.

One day I was looking for something in Matt's parents' pool house and came across a shelf of pristine mason jars. They were starring back at me and saying "Take us home and make us into something beautiful." They didn't really say that, but they might as well have since the next thing I know I'm asking Matt's dad if I can "borrow" one. He told me just to keep it since they had so many and a grand love affair began. For whatever reason, I had a change of heart and since then, I've starting collecting these glass cuties from anyone who is willing to give them to me or wherever is willing to sell them to me. I only have a handful so far, because as it turns out, the day I decided that I actually like these jars was the day they ceased to exist. I no longer come across any at garage sales and even thrift stores seem to have given up on them. If and when I do find one, it's like winning the mason jar lottery.

If you're wondering what on Earth I'm planning to do with these jam jars, I think you'll approve of my ultimate goal: to create a show-stopping dining table centerpiece comprised of a collection of mason jars all varying in height, width and styles. I was inspired by these simple yet gorgeous wedding centerpieces and think that they would translate well into an interior space. And by interior space I mean my dining room.

There is something so country (the good kind of country) about these centerpieces. The way they light up the environment is romantic, nostalgic and calm. Not to mention, it is so easy to put this together for your next dinner party or movie night. This doesn't just have to wait until your wedding, the beauty of mason jar centerpieces is that they are versatile and not too fussy. They are appropriate for almost any occasion and set just the right mood during any time of the year.

For now, I have just a few displayed on my coffee table (pictured below) and there is nothing prettier and more relaxing than sitting down to write or watch a movie by mason jar candlelight. Obviously my collection doesn't look anything like the lineup in the photos yet, but I promise you, I'll get there. I envision about 20 jars, staggered and arranged down the middle of my rustic dining table, lighting up the table, food and the faces of our friends.

EARLY EVENING

LATE NIGHT

If you think that I don't have standards for my jars, worry not. I specifically look for ones with no cracks, knicks, or label residue and they must have some sort of personality, as you can see in this one. It says Atlas Mason, and I love that I have no idea what brand that is or where it came from. The more mystery and character the better.

I've guess you could say that at this point I've become a scavenger, and my never-ending hunt for these jars has become desperate because I would love to have this arrangement finished before the summer ends. I'm simply not satisfied with the teeny-tiny display that I have going on my coffee table right now.

I know that you can buy mason jars at Target or on Amazon, which I consider the easy way out and to me, there is no thrill in doing that. By doing so I would be depriving myself of the rewarding feeling I get when I finally score one.

This smaller one has a fruit design representative of the jam it once contained. Alongside my jar arrangement I also add some glass candle holders that I pick up at estate sales and thrift stores. This gives my small collection some much needed height and adds visual interest. I will be collecting mason jars all throughout the summer so keep your fingers crossed that someone ends up begging me to take them off their hands at a random garage sale...I'll be more than happy to do so.

"STUCK IN A MASON JAR WHERE I SEALED UP MY HEART..."

If you were to ask me, I'd tell you that just about anything looks better with a doily on it. These long forgotten and usually overlooked lace masterpieces are versitile and one of my favorite items to accessorize with. When it comes to doilies, the possibilities are just about endless and there are dozens of art and craft projects that center around doilies. If you're cringing and thinking of the doilies that your grandmother puts stale mints in a jar on top of, think again. Yesteryear's doilies are one of today's most sought after and unique decorative pieces so the next time you see some dusty doilies in a thrift store corner or in a lonely stack at someone's garage sale, buy them (some people even try to give away doilies) and keep them handy for a future Saturday when you feel inspired to create something.

A few weeks ago my Lighting professor assigned our final project; to design a functional and innovative light fixture. I just about fell out of my chair just thinking about how difficult this would be since A) I know  close to nothing about electrical wiring, and B) metals, electricity and I just don't get along. I quickly shot up my hand to ask if there was an alternative option, which there was, but if you can believe it Option #2 and #3 seemed much more consuming and daunting than designing a LAMP. I spent the next few hours brainstorming and Googling until I saw something that spoke to me: a beautiful mason jar chandelier. Well, it didn't literally speak to me, but it sure did catch my eye. I started drawing some concept sketches and decided that for my final project I would make a mason jar lamp. Above are some of the basic components I'll be using to create it. First and foremost I'll be using doilies to create a lampshade (still haven't decided on whether it will be a free form or if I'll sew doilies onto a ready-made lampshade). I've already ordered the mason jar lamp kit from Wholesale Craft Supply on Amazon and Matt's dad gifted me the perfect mason jar. I also found an antique shaped light-bulb at Home Depot but still need the lampshade frame and MORE DOILIES.

Thanks to a some generous family members, I have amassed a few doilies but not enough to complete the lampshade. So this Saturday will be devoted to garage sales, estate sales and thrift stores. Sounds like the perfect Saturday to me. I'll make sure to post photos of the final product (if it's not too embarrassing) as well as other doily craft project ideas.