Using Google Reverse Image Search

Don't you hate it when you click on a pin from Pinterest and it's a dead link?There's nothing worse than having your heart set on making something only to not be able to find the how-to.  Or maybe you want to use a photo in a blog post, but you can't find the source anywhere.  

Luckily, Google has made it easier to find the image source by allowing users to do a reverse image search.  I'm coming out of blogger hibernation to show you how to do it.  


For my example, I'll use a photo a FB friend posted today, without providing a source.  Aren't these the cutest little bunny coats???  Wouldn't you just love to know where to find them??  Yeah, me too!

source

To find the source:

Save image to your computer.

Go to Google.

Once there, click on Images (top left of screen).

Then click on the camera icon (inside search bar).

Now click on upload image and then choose file.  

Once you've done that, find and upload your saved photo.  Google will automatically begin searching for photo sources.

My image search came up with 2 possible sources.  Sometimes pages of sources will come up depending on how many times the photo has been pinned or blogged about so you may have to do a little detective work.  I've found that just looking at the link results being displayed can rule out many.  For example, I ignore any Pinterest links because they're likely to lead you to the same broken link.  I've done this about a dozen times and I can safely say that the originating source will most likely be on the first page of the results.  

Most of the time, you'll find yourself at the originating source, but not always.  You may still need to do a little more digging.  For example, this link led me to a post where this image was featured. 

Luckily, the source was provided and I was able to find the place where the photo originally came from. Yay!

Hopefully this will be helpful to some of you.  Now can I ask a favor of you?  Once you find the original source, would you pretty please pin from the correct place and delete the old pin?  There are so many bad pins out there and it's a shame that things don't get pinned to the appropriate sites.  

Pinterest Inspired - Quilt Binding Tutorial

Last year, I created a board for all of the things I'd tried from a pin and succeeded at.  I've decided to start doing posts on these and then pinning my posts to the Pinned It, Made It, Loved It board. 

.................

I'm really bad about putting off learning something new because it seems too intimidating.  After putting it off, for sometimes years, I'll finally do it and have a major "DUH" moment when I realize that it wasn't nearly as complicated as I'd expected.

This most recently happened with quilt binding.

Back in 2007, I began quilting.  Nothing fancy, just some really primitive beginner stuff.  After all of the work I put into my quilts, I would finish them pillowcase style because I was afraid to try binding.  Now, there's nothing wrong with finishing that way, it just looks so much better when they're finished by binding.

One day back in Jan, I decided to look for a binding tutorial.  I came across a really great one, which I promptly pinned and then tried.

It's from Diary of a Quilter and it's a great tutorial on how to do binding with half machine stitching and half hand stitching.  She even teaches you how to make your own binding!  She's also got a tutorial for binding completely by machine, but I haven't tried that one. YET.

Just like everyone else, I hate to waste my time, so I made a couple of pot holders to try this out on.  It worked perfectly! 

Since finishing the pot holders (I plan to make many, many more of those), I've quilted and bound a small floor blanket for Zoe and a small quilt for her.  

If you've been afraid to try binding, I want you to just stop it and get on with it already.  You'll feel like a big old dorkus for not trying it earlier.  

Pinterest Inspired Project - Infant Peasant Dress

A couple of months back, I created a board for all of the things I'd tried from a pin and loved.  I've decided to start doing posts on these and then pinning my posts to the Pinned It, Made It, Loved It board. 

A week or so before Zoe was born, I decided to try the Infant Peasant Dress from Sew Much Ado.  

 (closed eyes because it was pretty bright out there)

This was a very simple project.  I consider myself a beginner when it comes to sewing clothes, and this was pretty easy for me.  I decided to skip the elastic for the arms, because I wasn't sure how to maneuver such small holes on the machine.  I think for the next one I make, I'd sew the elastic into the arm casings, before sewing the arm seams, and then trim the excess elastic.  I don't really think the elastic in the armholes are necessary so if you choose to skip this part too, it wouldn't be a big deal.

Information Station

If you followed this blog last year, you may remember this space.

I loved that look, but it just didn't flow with the rest of our downstairs (we have an open floor plan) which to me mimcs the Pottery Barn look; lots neutrals and unique accessories.  Sometime last year, I pinned this photo to my Entryways board.  It was the inspiration photo for my new space.

pottery barn

The T was one of those gold letters from Hobby Lobby.  I just spray painted it.  The clock, calendar, mail pocket, bulletin board and fake plants all came from Target.  The "HOME" plaque came from Hobby Lobby.  The key and rusted number sign were thrifted.  I just love that number sign!

Underneath all of this, I have a small table that I thrifted for $8.  It used to be an ugly brown sewing table, but I painted it black with a couple of cans of spray paint.  The basket under the table is for shoes.  We used to just kick our shoes off here and leave them in the floor, but now they're neatly corralled in the basket. 

Linked to:

Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous 
Weekend Wrap-up @ Tatertots & Jello 
Whatcha Got Weekend @ Lolly Jane Boutique  
Show & Tell Sat @ Be Different, Act Normal 
Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Knitted Egg Cozies

 

Aren't they cute?  I found the pattern for them on Ravelry.  You can go directly to this free pattern by clicking here.

I'm planning to put a couple in Han and Zoe's Easter baskets, as well as my niece's and nephew's.  Since most of the kiddos are itty-bittys, I embroidered the eyes instead of using beads as instructed in the pattern.  

I know it's only a couple of days before Easter, but these are so fast to knit.  I'm talking minutes here!  

Happy Easter, everyone!!

Linked to:

Fridays Unfolded @ Stuff and Nonsense

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home 

Creative Things Thurs @ The Vintage Farmhouse  

Free for All Friday @ Sassy Sites 

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest 

Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous  

Weekend Wrap-up @ Tatertots & Jello 
Whatcha Got Weekend @ Lolly Jane Boutique  

Pinterest Inspired Project - The Layer Cake Skirt

I recently created a board for all of the things I'd tried from a pin and loved.  They're mostly food pins, but there are a few crafty's mixed in.  

I've decided to start doing posts on these and then pinning my posts to the Pinned It, Made It, Loved It board.  

The last two weeks of my pregnancy, I went through a flurry of sewing projects.  I guess that was my way of nesting.  I didn't have much energy to do much else.  You know, like cleaning.  

The first sewing project I tackled was the Layer Cake Skirt.  I made one for my niece, Ava, using coordinating fabrics from Hobby Lobby.  The day I brought it over to have her try it on for photos, she just happened to already be wearing matching clothes.  Perfect!

Linked to:

Wow us Weds @ Savvy Southern Style
Sugar & Spice @ seven thirty-three
Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage 
Fridays Unfolded @ Stuff and Nonsense
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home 
Creative Things Thurs @ The Vintage Farmhouse  
Free for All Friday @ Sassy Sites 
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest  
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous  

Master Bedroom Inspiration

I may have mentioned that we're moving our bedroom from downstairs, to one of the bedrooms upstairs.  To make a short story long, as Leslie likes to say, we'll be switching Charles' music studio with the master bedroom.  His studio, is next to the bedroom that Han occupied until a couple of weeks ago.  We moved her down the hall and we'll use her old room for the baby.  The short version of this is, we want to be closer to the baby.


There were some other deciding factors in this, mainly that it's too loud on the main floor.  Not only do I hear every cricket living in the backyard, but our room shares a wall with the living room and as luck would have it, it's the TV wall.  Charles rarely goes to bed before I do, so when I do go to bed, it's like I'm trying to sleep in the living room.  Another plus to moving is there'll be no more lugging laundry up and down the stairs.  The laundry room will be right down the hall!  One last plus is that I'll get the whole closet (not a walk-in) to myself.  Charles will keep his clothes in his studio since he'll still be using the master bath (I'm now sharing a bathroom with Han.)


When we first began talking about the move, my first concern was as to how I would decorate the room (of course!).  I just finished the current master look in March, but it just felt odd to do another room exactly the same.  I looked around on Pinterest, and pinned a lot of photos, and decided that I basically wanted the same kind of style, but I'd just switch it up a bit.


The walls have been painted and I chose a Better Homes & Gardens (Wal-Mart) color called Creamy Pebbles.  I had it color matched at Lowe's in Valspar paint with and eggshell finish.  I found the color through Leslie from Goodbye House, Hello Home.  She used it in the bedroom that her foreign exchange student is staying in.  It's a beautiful room, so you should go check it out!  BTW, I don't think I've mentioned this before, but Leslie and I are friends IRL. We met through our blogs and found that we only live about 15 minutes away from each other!


Since Charles is still working on the new floors and trim, I obviously won't be sharing any photos of the room today, but I'd like to share some of the pins I have for inspiration.


Here's my Pinterest link to this board.  You can find the source for each photo by visiting the pin.

I'll most likely be using white bedding with neutral throw pillows.  I especially love the throw on this bed.  Pottery Barn has some that I love, but I was't really wanting to pay PB money for one.  I thought I'd make one myself, but after I totaled the yarn costs, I found that it would be just as expensive as buying one from PB.  I'll still check around to see if I can find a cheaper version, but since I'm not buying new bedding this time, I think we can maybe splurge on a throw (that baby can spit up on... ha!).

This wall color is similar to Creamy Pebbles, and I absolutely love this bedding!

Not sure if we'll have a bedside rug, but I do love this one!

I'd love to make some pillow similar to these for the bed.  If anyone know of a good tutorial, please let me know.

I thought something like this would look nice over the bed, but since we have a tall-ish headboard, I don't think it'll work.  I still like it, though!

I really like this plate arrangement.  I'm planning to move the green desk from our foyer into this room, and if we don't end up installing a TV in the wall over it, I'd like to hang some plates there.  This space is between the two windows in the room, and I think this piece of wall, with the plates on it, would look nice framed by the windows. 

I've got all of the pieces for this little set-up by Miss Mustard Seed and I thought that it'd look great on the desk.

I pinned several boxwood wreaths because I wanted to make one to hang in a large empty frame I plan on using.  I haven't been able to find faux boxwood stems anywhere, and finally just ended up doing a coffee filter wreath.  

I haven't made too many final decisions yet, as far as what will hang where, because I want to wait and see how furniture placement goes first.  This room is considerably smaller than the current one and so I'm not sure which of the two possible ways we'll be arranging the furniture.  Hopefully the transformation will be completed by midweek.  If so, I'll get started on everything that needs to be made and get a post up asap.


Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Pinterest - How to Tell if You've Been Pinned

Have you wondered if your blog content has ever been pinned on Pinterest?  You wanna know how to check???

This might be common knowledge, but just in case, I'm sharing this with ya.

 partial screenshot of my stuff, pinned by others

In your web browser, type http://pinterest.com/source/ and then add your blog address info.

It should look like this:

http://pinterest.com/source/thespeckleddog.blogspot.com/

You'll be able to see every pin made from your blog.  You might be amazed at just how many peeps are diggin' your stuff!

*Speaking of Pinterest, does anyone need an invite.  I think I can give out 10 invites.  If you need one, hit me up at thespeckleddog (at) yahoo (dot) com and I'll get one sent to the e-mail address you used to e-mail me. 

Also, if you want to check out my boards and even follow me (I'll follow ya back), you can find me here.

Linking to:

Wow Us Weds @ Savvy Southern Style
All Things Inspired @ All Things Heart & Home 
We Did It Weds @ Sew Much Ado
Whatever Goes Weds @ Someday Crafts 
Crafty Soiree @ Yesterday On Tuesday 
Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple
Hookin' Up With HOH @ HOH 
Everything but the Kitchen Sink @ A Little Knick-Knack  
Feature Your Sassy Sites @ Sassy Sites