Weekend Projects!

So I set my goal for this weekend to get a tray for my island.  I found a tray but not the tray. It's a small wooden tray I plan to paint and use on my desk.  Unfortunately, the inspiration didn't come to me this weekend.  Still on the hunt for the island tray!

I was able to get a few other projects finished this weekend.   It feels so good to finish things!  When we moved in we went on a painting spree.  Included in that spree was our bedroom.  In the hot August weather I imagined a blue and white room.  I thought it would feel fresh and crisp and airy!  Now it is January and it just feels cold and sad.  Last week I chose a few other colors that might add some depth to the room.

Hydrangea

Lagoon

Azurite

I am sure interior designers have some better process for picking color for a room.  But this was the best I could come up with and it inspired a very fruitful weekend.

Once we painted our walls our Pottery Barn duvet cover was "I-can't-live-with-it" wrong.  So I got a cheap white duvet cover from Ikea.  Over time and after many snowstorms I have regretted the all white on the bed but haven't figured out what I wanted.  Then I saw this post on Little Green Notebook.  Jenny sewed binding tape onto simple white duvet covers and it added just enough to the bed for me.  Because I am not very experienced with the sewing machine and this looked simple (and cheap!) I decided to give it a go.  I learned a few things while doing it...so don't look too closely.  Now that I know I can do it I am thinking of trying a more involved pattern on the other side...something Regency inspired in a different color?  

Please excuse my laundry...at least it's clean.

While I was out looking for a tray I stumbled across those two bedside lamps at the Antique Co-op in Malden.  They just happen to be the azurite paint color which was fantastic.  And they were only $20 total!  I have to get some new shades but this was the best surprise of the weekend.

In a desperate attempt to keep the color additions coming to my room I found this container at Christmas Tree shops for $1.29.  

I painted it Lagoon and gold.  Later today some silk peonies and magnolia flowers I found will find their home in it.

As you can see, my room is a work in progress.  Adding just these little things has made my room so much more comfortable!

Things I want to get done:
-Find a shorter bedside table for the right side.
-When it gets warmer paint the bedside tables Martha Stewart Pebble.
-Make pillows for the bed!

I love that scene from Along Came Polly, which is a terrible movie, when Ben Stiller takes a knife to the insane number of decorative pillows his ex-wife had on the bed.  (It's been a while since I saw that movie...so I hope I am remembering correctly!)  Sean was particularly amused by that scene as he hates having extra pillows.  That's why I have hesitated in getting any for the bed since we got married....but a few pillows won't kill him.

On the hunt - Tray

We have an island in our kitchen.  I love the extra work space on one side and the eating on the other side.  (Sometimes that dining room feels so far away)  I have never lived in a house with an island and am having the hardest time keeping it cleared off and organized.  It is a junk drawer for everyone to see.  I don't know if this is just a problem with how we live but I have faith that I can find SOMETHING to help me keep it looking nice.  It doesn't have to be perfect...it just can't be awful most of the time.

Attempt #1:  Fruit Platter  Thought... "My kid loves fruit.  I will keep a fruit platter (like a fruit bowl but rectangular) out...it will look nice and serve a real purpose."  Wrong.  It only looked nice when there wasn't junk around it and when we ran low on fruit foreign objects would creep into the bowl....Christmas ribbon...?  Mail...?  Toys... I even (finally) hung up our Pottery Barn wall Letter Bin and Office Organizer to keep keys and mail off the island.  New junk crept in where those things once lived.

Attempt #2:  Flowers.  Thought..."They will look pretty and inspire me to keep the space neat."  Wrong.  They did look pretty but they didn't provide much inspiration.  When they started wilting the mess of petals on all my STUFF made the situation even worse.  Next.

Attempt #3:  Nothing special.  Only or lack of an idea has this become attempt 3 and, unexpectedly, the best attempt so far.  For some reason having no focal point has proven to keep the most stuff off the counter.  I could go into the reasons I think this works but I won't because, although it works, I don't want it to.  I want something nice to look at....to make it feel like I care about how it looks.  

Attempt #4 and my weekend project.  I have been seeing some great trays in blogland.  I know I am behind on the tray revolution but I love it and I think it will look nice.  It will also be functional.  I want to have a candle to provide nice smells post cheeseburger making (what a terrible smell), have a pretty bowl for loose change and small things, maybe a cup for pens (maybe not)...Will it help keep me organized?   We'll see.  

So for this weekend I my mission is to find a tray for my island. If you have any great ideas for kitchen islands please, please let me know.

Lonny Magazine

Dabney Lee

Z Gallerie

Rue Magazine

Lonny Magazine

The Box Chain

I saw this bracelet by Jill Golden in my Daily Candy email today and it stopped me in my tracks.  I immediately went to the website.  It's pretty simple but I think the structure of the box chain with the pop of color is striking.

I am really glad the box chain is making a comeback.  I have always loved it.  There is something about how simple and strong it looks.  Unfortunately, the simplicity is also a problem...a box chain alone is pretty boring.   Pairing the industrial chain with textiles or pearls...something feminine...somehow both tones down and intensifies its strength.

anthropologie

Muse and Me

Muse and Me

JCrew

JCrew

Kris Nations

anthropologie

DIY: Cake Plate

I was talking crafts with some ladies at the art show my jewelry was shown in.  One of them mentioned making a cake plate out of a plate and candle stick holder.  I can't for the life of me remember who it was or I would give full credit...sorry.

I started this one in the fall with this intention of it being a Christmas present but set it aside when I realized how many Christmas presents we had to pack for our trip to GA.  Santa was a bigger deal this year.  I opted for a gift that was more suitcase friendly.

It's really simple.  It would be great to take a dessert to a get-together and leave the cake plate as a gift.

I bought the plate at HomeGoods for a $6 and the candle stick holder at Ikea for $ .50.  I opted for a more simplistic candle stick holder because the person to whom I am giving this is a guy that has modern taste.

from ikea.com

I primed, painted and sealed the candle stick holder and then glued it on to the plate with E6000.  

I call this a cake plate DIY b/c that is the idea...For this gift, however, I used a small plate and would probably call it a cookie plate.

P.S.  I have mentioned this before but I hate/am terrible at taking pictures.  I hate it because I am terrible.  My husband has more patience and talent than me but would only stand by and advise me as I took a million pictures of this project.  None of which I am happy with.  It reminded me of getting help on my math homework in high school from my Dad.  Neither would come CLOSE to giving me the answers...but I guess that's how you get better.  I ended up minoring (word?) in Math in college....hopefully my photography skills only get better.

Walt Perkins Photography

Walt

I am proud to share Walt Perkins Photography with you!  I am proud not only because he is a great photographer but also because Walt Perkins just happens to be my brother.

Walt has been working on his photography for seven years during which he has developed a distinct style and a unique eye.  He has traveled the globe and come home with interesting, fresh views of some of the most photographed scenes in the world.  In addition, he captures everyday life in an intelligent and witty way.

You can check out a full range of his work here.  Also, check back to his Etsy store often as he continues to list new items.

Venice, Italy 2006

Sydney Opera House, August 2008 

Palm Cove, Australia, September 2008

Orlando, Summer 2009

Antler Ring

I went to Etsy for some reason just now but saw this on the front page and forgot what I was supposed to be doing.  So cool.  It is the Whitetail Deer Antler Ring from Moon Raven Designs.  If I wasn't going to be holding a small child for the next 2-3 years I might buy this right now.

Art Walls

I like art walls.  They are all so unique...different frame colors, frame widths, frame spacing, no frames, white mats, black mats, no mats, etc.  As a whole the arrangement itself is art.  I really like them.  That's why it makes me sad that they are everywhere and I am getting so tired looking at them.  I used to stop when I saw them in a magazine and now I turn the page with only half of a glance.  

Thankfully it feels like editors are getting bored with the more standard looking art wall because I have slowly been seeing an increase in the theme...MORE....CLOSER!  LOTS OF FRAMES AND PUT THEM UNCOMFORTABLY CLOSE TOGETHER!!  Do my caps make you uncomfortable?  That's how this type of display makes me feel....but that's why I like it.  It makes me take a step back and think.  It's like modern art.  I like it for what it does for me mentally but visually I am unsure.  More, closer together almost feels like the dying attempt of the art wall to remain relevant.  But who am I?  Maybe art walls are classic and never out of style.

from elle decor

from eye spy

from lonny

skona hem via livebreathedecor.com

my sleepy art wall

my sleepy art wall 2

All of that being said....I have an art wall (above).  Unfortunately, mine is arranged in the way I am most tired of seeing.  Maybe this will be added to my project list.  It won't be near the top but...maybe I will change it up eventually.  I like to have a lot to look at all around the house.  If I employed the "more, closer" technique people might feel overwhelmed.  I definitely see the amateur attempt...my amateur attempt turning into one of those situations where you feel like someone has too many tchotchkes.  I almost feel that way about the professionally hung walls!  If I do keep it, I know I will definitely try to increase the feeling of texture you get from looking at the wall...mixed media.  Painting, collage, photo, plates, something more obscure.  

I really like seeing the inspiration behind things.  Although, the translation from something to my art wall isn't the most compelling the inspiring piece is too beautiful not to share.  This quilt was a wedding gift from my Mom.  I cherish this quilt.  It is one of the most beautiful things I own.  It has three things I like in interiors: color, texture and a geometric design.  I painted the mats to resemble the colors of the quilt.

Oh, and this is one trend I just can't get into.  I just ask, "Why?"  Living with this hallway can't be psychologically healthy.

Help!

After reading a few blog posts about striping walls I wanted to try it out.  I am not sure that I like it enough to stripe the walls of a room (maybe a hallway like sabbespot) so I decided to start with something small.  I have an Ikea Expedit bookcase that I store all my craft stuff in.  Right now it is a white bookcase with white organizers.  It looks nice but it needs some color.  I decided to try the stripes out on a few of the boxes.  My first try (and only so far) didn't go so well.  I used painter's tape which...duh...isn't the best idea for cardboard boxes.  It ripped the top layer off of the box.  I like the stripes but I need help!  What's the best way to get the stripes without tape?  Suggestions please!

 

Airplanes and pearls

My Dad is an aerospace engineer who loves making things.  I get at least half of my interest in and talent for making things from him.  I mention he is an aerospace engineer because that is the formal term for rocket scientist and you can imagine the precision that goes into everything he makes.  He doesn't do something well.  He does it the best.  I guess I have picked up on that about him overtime.  I employ a "lite" version of that method in many cases...but I don't have the endurance to apply it to everything.  Sometimes I really like the Done Is Better Than Good method.

My Dad has an interesting hobby....since he was in high school he has been involved in the model airplane racing world. (Pause....a world of model airplane racing? What?...I know.  Just go with it.)  My Dad is pretty modest but from what I have gathered he is somewhat of a legend in some circles.  Like I said, he strives constantly for the best.  Recently, he and his flying partner teamed up with an innovative Australian team they saw making developments in plane design similar to what my Dad's team is working on.  In telling me about this new creative partnership he said this in regard to new designs:

"When you are doing something you have to ask yourself, 'Am I doing this because it is what I think is best or because it is what has been done?'"  

So. True.  I hope I have the courage to ask myself that question every time I am working on something.  It's boring to be the same.

A few cool things.

I love things that were created from something else.  Love.  Here are a few that I have found recently that are especially striking.

These three are from Recreate.

I love saddle colored leather and tufting.  Perfect,

Just really adorable....I would prefer it to be less rustic.

So quaint.  Good for a bedroom?  It also doubles as storage!

This one is amazing and from the Etsy store ruffhouseart.

Unbelievable.

 Happy Friday!

OMG - Lulu DK

I went to the Lulu DK website today and this picture was on the front page.

I had to pick my jaw up off the floor.  What a beautiful picture and that fabric is awesome. I love this fabric.  I love it. I love it. I love it.

Floating

We found out the sex of our baby today!  I couldn't concentrate before the appointment to write anything and now I am so excited I can't concentrate to write anything.  We are having a GIRL!  Ah.  I am so excited for a baby girl but I am also getting petrifying flashes of a 13+ year old girl.

On the home design front I can report that I found my first road side furniture piece and had the guts to pick it up.  I never have taken anything off the road for two reasons.  First, I have this fear that someone will come out and yell at me that it's not for free.  Second, I fear why they might be getting rid of it/what went on in the house where it comes from.  I have always envied people who have great things that they paint or stain or reupholster and when I ask where they got it...."For free on the side of the road."  I found a chair outside of a friend's house last night and I thought why not?!  I am excited to paint it in a high gloss paint, lacquer it up and reupholster it with some amazing fabric....maybe leather with hammered nails.  Hmmm.  We'll see.  It will be fun to have a before and after to post!

Starting from scratch

I can't wait until I feel like at least one room of this house is done.  I was most excited to own a house because I could do WHATEVER I wanted to it.  But now with a blank canvas I am having....painter's block...?  Where do I start?!  My Mom visited soon after we moved in.  She cut up the drapes from our apartment and made window treatments for both our living room and dining room.

I know this is a strange picture...just go with it.  That's the current fabric in our dining room.

I do love the fabric and I thought it would be an easy starting point.  But she is gone and I feel less and less enthusiastic about my the color pallet that goes along with the fabric.  So I really am starting from scratch.  Scary.  The hardest part is I don't like to mess up and I know I am going to mess up (a lot) while I try new things in my home.

Like I posted yesterday, to jump start....anything really....I went looking for fabric.  I decided to just relax (did I mention rows and rows of fabric makes me anxious...I heard it's normal...) and see what catches my eye.  Apparently it was purple that caught my eye.  

I am thinking of doing something with one or two of these in the living room.  My favorite fabric is the top geometric print.  I love it.  I want it.  I like the middle floral because it has so many colors.  So many bright colors!  I was intrigued by the bottom floral.  The whole pattern has a lot more purple than you see here. Having purple and brown interests me but I am 100% confident in neither the purple nor brown.  Something makes me uneasy.  It is a beautiful fabric, though.  

I love this fabric. I love both sides of it.  It photographed a lot darker than it looks.  I am not sure what I would do with it.  That's just how I work I guess.....buy what I like and then figure it out.  I am not great at forming a full plan.  I am trying!  Maybe pillows for the bed?  We'll see.