Six years ago when my hair was still straight and my nails were purple and I had a giant chalkboard on my wall and I drove down winding country lanes where people tossed the most amazing stuff by the side of the road…
….I posted this DIY on my blog.
It’s a recipe wall.
Truth?
It’s actually started off life as a solution for a wall I couldn’t put any furniture on. It was a wall on a tiny hallway that led from the kitchen to the living room. I needed a simple solution to fill up the wall and make it look decorated and purposeful and mindful without taking up any space. So we added a plate rack.
And then?
The plate rack was a little too plain. A little too ordinary. A little too boring.
Every time I walked by it, I would yawn.
Enough I said.
So I transformed that plain, simple plate rack into this.
A wall that used to be a wall and then it became a plate rack and then we added a recipe.
A recipe wall.
I looked around for the cutest recipe on the planet.
One with cute ingredients.
Like salt.
And cinnamon.
And walnuts.
It was so easy to create.
Just find the cutest recipe you can and plan it out for the wall.
You could use stickers or a Silhouette or a Cricut to cut out your letters.
I actually worked with one of my friends at the local high school and she printed out the entire recipe for me on their giant vinyl machine. It came in a giant sheet of vinyl and I peeled off the vinyl and stuck it to the wall.
You can see the actual how-to here.
And read about the life lessons it taught me here.
And after I finished the project, I photographed it and put it on the blog.
And pinned it.
And kind of forgot about it.
Until.
Until the other day.
When I was sitting in my house eating a blueberry muffin and drinking coffee and watching the Home & Family show on the Hallmark channel…
…and 10 seconds into this episode the host called my name.
She was making her own recipe wall with the cutest recipe card she printed out from her grandmother and she said it was inspired by me.
By Thistlewood Farms.
WHAT?
I almost spit out my coffee.
SHE SAID MY NAME?
On the Hallmark Channel?
Did that just happen?
I had to rewind it over and over and over again just to make sure.
And then tape it for all posterity.
And call my mother.
And tell everyone in the checkout lane at Walmart.
SERIOUSLY.
My favorite channel on the planet reached out through the television screen and said hello.
I know that there are 17 days left before Thanksgiving gets here.
But guess what?
Christmas came early around here. 🙂
PS And speaking of amazing things.
The house is featured this month in the BHG Farmhouse Christmas magazine.
Another Christmas present just for me. 🙂
Yes, it happened! I was watching the show and heard your name too! After I got all indignant that they took your idea without your permission- I was telling my husband that it was your idea from years ago right before they mentioned you!!! Relief flooded over me! So MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had the same reaction when they said they were doing a recipe plate rack. Wait that's Karianne's idea. But when they gave credit to Thistlewood Farms, I was all "Yeah, that's right, that's the recipe wall we know and love!" Congratulations and I hope they feature more of your great ideas.
STOP IT!!! Oh my word- how funny!!! What a fun moment:) I would love to have a recipe wall- I just don't have, wait a minute. I just thought of a wall I could change up and use! Hallelujah! Hope you have a wonderful day Karianne!
How awesome is that!? I would be thrilled too ;-) And you deserve the recognition!
YOU are such a rockstar!! You’re mentioned on the Hallmark channel AND you’re home is on a magazine cover!! So awesome and so we’ll deserved!!
Congratulations! That is so special!! Have a fabulous week.😊
well we knew you and the Hallmark Channel were inexplicably linked somehow...now there's proof! How super cool is that? And congratulations also on being featured in BH&G...quite an honor too.
Omg! That is amazing! We are in Florence st a cafe taking a walking break and I just read this post! My daughter loves hearing all the Blog names I follow! Laura in CO except this week we are in Florence!
I loved that wall the minute you posted it. I can't believe it took this long for it to come to national attention! Congrats!
What company (type of company) would make the vinyl letters for me? Congrats! to you
You so deserve all of it. Great presents and so perfect for sure. I am thrilled for you.
OMG! 🕺🏽💃🕺🏽💃. What an amazing moment in life!!! Congratulations! Now maybe they will invite you on for an actual segment! We can all send good vibes your way!
Very cool! Great idea !!
Oh my gosh!!!!!! I heard it, saw it and felt like a proud momma when I was watching it!!!😍❤️😍❤️😍 I told my husband “I know her”!!!!! Like I really know you, well kinda....I feel I do! You go girl.....you deserve to be recognized! Congratulations!!!! Hallmark is the BEST .....my channel is turned to it exclusively......and your the best!!!
Very cool! I still love that plate rack so much :) Have an amazing week!
Whooo-whooo! I am so excited for you. I missed it. Do you remember the day? I can go on my Hallmark app and rewatch it!
I would love to know which Hallmark movie it was in. Congrats!
woot woot
Yay to you! :)
Yes! The little kitchen that could, the farmhouse kitchen that helped launch your blogging career, lives on!!! I am so happy to see this post! Now to find that magazine.! Congratulations, Karianne!
Wow..that's so awesome!! I wished I would've seen it..I love that show, but miss it alot and don't have DVR anymore lol Congrats!!! And congrats on thr magazine feature!!
Karianne and Hallmark go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly...maybe in my world like Cinnamon and Sugar😋. I too was so excited when Paige said Thistlewood ❤️❤️❤️ Congrats on the holiday magazine feature. Everyone at my local Barnes and Noble now knows about your blog🤣
Yep! I saw the show as well. I was like I know her.🤗
Congratulations, you made it to the Hallmark channel for the most most clever diy ever! And I can’t wait to read the latest issue of BHG Farmhouse Christmas and see your beautiful house all ready for the holidays xo Pat
You are amazing. Congrats on the Hallmark Channel. That is so cool!
I was packing the car up to visit the grandkids when I saw the “coming up next” teaser for the plate rack. My immediate thought was hold on just one cotton pickin’ minute... That’s Karianne’s idea! Lol. So glad they gave credit to Thistlewood Farms. And I’m glad I set the dvr so now I can watch the whole thing!
I have always loved your recipe wall. I do hope the people who bought your house kept it! Congratulations on getting the recognition you deserve whether it’s in a movie or a magazine- you always were a rock star.
Just like everyone else I was thinking “that’s KariAnne’s.! They do tend to steal ideas from others posts quite often. So glad they gave you a credit (but would a call have hurt?). Still one of your best projects ever!
Congratulations! I bet you were grinning from ear to ear all day long, weren’t ya? Haha!
Congrats! You should have your own show!
So happy for you and your amazing "early" Christmas gifts!!
I would have thought I was dreaming!! Way to go!! Congratulations!! Another smitten by your wall. I love mine so. Thanks for inspiring all of us...even those of us who don’t jump from the pages or screen. So proud of you, sweet friend.
That project is SO worthy of The Hallmark Channel. It's even worthy of HGTV in my opinion.
Oh my goodness, that's awesome! That had to be such a cool moment for you! I love the recipe wall behind the plate rack and want to put one in our home. Since we are probably moving this summer, I'm hoping to put it in my next home :)
That is so cool, I can't imagine how you must feel. I also love the Hallmark channel and just couldn't imagine them referencing me in one of their movies. Way to go! You deserve it! And they definitely picked an awesome project to reference. I have always been envious of your recipe wall.
Coolest thing ever!! Congrats!
I saw that episode, but only the very end. 😊 I’m so glad they gave you credit for your idea.
So awesome!! Merry Christmas to you! Please let us know what episode it was.
I'm so happy for you I almost cried!! That's amazing, you're amazing, and I'll be looking for that magazine! Sigh . . . now, if you have any pull whatsoever, get them to buy the rights to my book and make a movie out of it! LOL!
Karianne, I watch Home & Family all the time...even my husband will check it out. The day you were mentioned I saw the receipt wall and thought they stole Karianne's idea...but then they gave you credit. How wonderful and what a great surprise for you. Always look forward to your blog. Your writing is a gift from God. Thank you for sharing it.
AWESOME and AMAZING!!!!!!!!! just like You :) !