New Book: Wallpaper Projects

I received my copy of Wallpaper Projects that I ordered after reading a recommendation for it on another blog.  I had a 50% coupon to Borders that was about to expire so....why not?  This will be one of those books that you see in the used bookstore in 10 years and as you flip through it you think about how dated it is.  There are a handful of ideas I thought, "Oh.  Cool.  Never thought of that." but there are quite a few ideas that you can see for free in blogs....and a few ideas that you think, "Ok, they just needed to fill pages."  Probably the most valuable part of the book for me is some advice on adhering wallpaper to different surfaces.  I am interested in wallpapering but the act of adhering it to walls intimidates me to a point that might prevent me from ever attempting it.

Today is brought to by the word LAMBREQUIN

LAMBREQUIN

This word and everything about it are completely new to me.  If I have ever seen a lambrequin before it didn't register at all because I feel like yesterday was the first time I have ever laid eyes on one.  And I love it.  Love. LoVe.  lOvE.  But I am worried.  Why haven't I seen them?  I have a sneaking suspicion they are some dated design element that was REALLY popular in the 80s or 90s...probably 80s because I had a memory in the 90s...and I never saw my mom make a lambrequin.  Also, I have been looking at a bunch of pictures of lambrequin fails...and the fails would have been considered wins in the 80s.  But...despite my worrying that I am completely oblivious to how horrible they are...like I am seeing a scrunchie for the first time and think they are the next big thing.  (Yikes...that would be embarrassing.)  Despite all of that part of me doesn't care because look what I could do to my window:

via Simply Fursnishings

Moroccan Style!  If no one writes to inform me that I am way off base about lambrequin appeal...and I will be crushed if that happens...I might just ignore that person and do it anyway....if no one convinces me otherwise I will probably create the above shape.  The Moroccan inspiration will likely end there as I don't have any interest in a Moroccan theme...so don't worry about me having crazy colors or gold with tassels.  I am content with restrained bursts of inspiration.  We will see what happens when I start brainstorming this week with my Mom but I can see it with decorative upholstery tacks and a simple, solid colored fabric.  Something to this effect:

via RowleyCompany.blogspot.com

We'll see.  That's just my gut reaction.  

I think lambrequins bring the DRAMA in a new and different way.  Look at the potential!:

via RowleyCompany.blogspot.com

via Kasmir Fabrics

Some of the above are clearly dated mistakes...but I could see someone attempting a few of those dated mistakes with modern materials or in gray and trying to get it to work. 

I will be mulling over lambrequins for the next few days at least.  I will let you know what I decide.  But I am way more excited about making one or doing something inspired by them than I am doing a drape.  

Rowley Company

Kasmir Fabrics

Simply Furnishings

Essie vs. OPI

Turquoise & Caicos

I have been a loyal OPI user for many years now.  Especially since joining the dark nails train.  While checking out the latest colors I wandered over to the Essie display.  This brand keeps coming up in different parts of my life...good marketing.  They have some great light colors.  I am so reluctant to try new nail polish brands because it is so frustrating to spend money on a color that chips off after a few days.  After a short internal debate and loving one of the colors too much (above) I decided to give Essie a try.  So far so good!  I actually like the brush better than OPI because it is smaller which makes getting the right amount of polish in one try easier.

Bangle Tumblers

I visited Pier 1 last week with a coupon.  I saw these green glasses on sale.  $3 each.  I love the color of them and how the color is graduated.

I showed them to Sean.  He is unsure of them for all the reasons I am sure of them.  Oldest story in our house.  After a little discussion we are keeping them.  The only downside to the glasses is they are hand wash only.  Boo.

I really like how they look old-lady-ish at first but they have a completely modern pattern on them.  Love them.

A post worth reposting: Blue Hydrangea

via Blue Hydrangea

Posted on Blue Hydrangea today are Origami balls.  I absolutely love the one above.  Check out other pictures of Origami balls on her post here.

Going once, going twice...

I grew up going to auctions with my parents. They would get me a lot box every now and then to keep me interested.  Recently, I went with my friend Karen to a local auction.  It was so much fun!  Bidding is dangerous fun.  I bought a lot box of cameras for B...he has been carrying a camera non-stop since I got home with them.  He tries to take a picture by putting his forehead against any part of the camera.  Love it.

I also got this chair for....wait for it....$10!  It's completely sturdy.  It obviously needs to be recovered.  Karen lifted up the seat cushion and the fabric underneath has a color!  The exposed fabric is completely faded.  My Mom is coming to visit in June and has agreed to help me reupholster it.  She is an upholstering extraordinaire!  While I await her arrival I have lots of time to figure out what I want to do with it.  I love that it has no arms.  

House Stalking

Sean, B and I were walking through Cambridge one night this winter to a birthday party when suddenly Sean stopped in his tracks almost making me fall into the snow.  I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out why he stopped.  He didn't say anything.  After starring down this driveway for a few moments he started walking again.  After waiting a while for him to explain I asked about it.  He said the driveway at the house he looked at is heated.....wait, what?  It's a man thing, I guess.  I am amazed he noticed out of the corner of is eye.

This weekend we were driving down the same street and he pointed out the house.  I have noticed the house before.  It is a pretty beautiful old house in one of my favorite styles...Mansard.  As I am trying to get a glimpse at the driveway to see what Sean might have seen that would make him know the driveway is heated.  No snow on the driveway after a winter like we have had would be suspicious but our next door neighbor removes every speck of snow from his driveway with a shovel...so my mind wouldn't leap to heated driveway.  Anyway, as I am looking something catches my eye.  Do you see it?  The very modern building behind the very old house? 

So now I am obsessed.  I want to know everything.  Is it an odd extension of the Mansard?  Could they fit a modern house behind the house in front?  Who are these people?  Were the designers worried about putting such a modern house in such an old neighborhood?  Were they less worried about it because it is practically invisible?  I have been trying to figure out how I can see more of it.  It would be really stalkerish of my to walk back there and check it out.  So I googled it.  (ha)  After some searching I found it on Zillow!  

It is a separate house built on the lot behind the Mansard.  It is huge.  It has a waterfall in the backyard.  And, yes, the driveway is heated.My thirst for knowledge about this house is not fully quenched yet.  I want to know more.  I'll keep stalking...online.

Made it Monday: Ghost Lamp

Life in the Fun Lane

After seeing this diy lamp on Life in the Fun Lane (above) I was inspired to create my own version.

It was really fun to make.  I found the above lampshade at Goodwill for $3.  It looked like a corset....where do you put a sexy corset-like black lampshade?

I don't know but I washed my hands after I removed the fabric.  Anyway.

The tutorial on Life in the Fun Lane left the wire frame as-is after removing the fabric.  That is a little too shabby chic for me so I wrapped the wire in navy ribbon.  It created a knobby, twisted affect which I like a lot.

ikea

Sean and I couldn't find a pendant kit with a wall plug in any local hardware store.  Ikea sells one for $4 but it is just far enough away to be too far for a quick trip.  We bought all the parts at a hardware store and Sean made the whole thing from scratch.  It's empowering to know that I could make a lamp from scratch...Sean did it but I watched closely. I am not 100% satisfied with the cord being white....but I haven't figured out what I want to do with it.  I will probably get the idea when I figure out where I want to put the lamp.  When I do that I plan to also secure the socket to the lampshade.

Sadly, there is no home for my lamp yet.  I want to hang it!  I initially thought about putting it in B's room but after some thought I don't think it will work.  Nowhere in my house is screaming for it at the moment.  I have an idea forming but I will need one or two more lamps to make it work.  So I am keeping my eye out for complimentary shades.  On the bright side, it was as fun and educational to make as I had hoped.

My men decorated!

Sickness hit our house this week...again.  I have been focusing on getting well so we have a good trip to Florida next week!  B and I are flying alone for the first time.  While I am gone (two weeks) my posting might be as frequent as it was this week.

Last night, while I was cooking dinner, B and Sean decided to do some decorating in B's playroom.  Since he was tiny, B has been intensely interested in all things basketball.  I wish I could get in his little mind and figure out how/why.  Neither Sean nor I are basketball fans.  We don't watch it.  We don't play it.  Brady can't get enough.  One of the ways I could bribe him to eat while he has been sick and lacking an appetite is to show him basketball pictures from Sports Illustrated.  "Take two bites and you can see a picture."  This may sound terrible..but his appetite is back and we don't have to bribe him anymore.

Sean managed to sneak in one hockey picture and one soccer picture.  Brady loves it.

Scale jewelry

Andara

I looked at different scale designs while figuring out what to do for B's window.  I came across the above bracelet and bookmarked it right away.  I like how the scales are different materials.  I decided to see what other jewelry out there has been inspired by scales.

Paper Biscuit

Eternal Elf

Interesting.  Not sure what occasion in my life would call for such an accessory.  It is definitely interesting though.

KSK Jewelry Designs

Snake scales....I love the organic look of the earrings.  

Made it Monday: Baby's Room Window

Brady will soon be sharing a room with a baby sister and I have been working out what I am going to do with his room to make it more gender neutral.  Currently the colors are green, blue and ivory/neutral.  I haven't done too much with his room but his window treatment and bedskirt (made by my Mom are/were blue, green and ivory)  I intend to keep the green and ivory and add something else to make it suit both a boy and girl.  

googled fish scale pattern and found this cool grate cover

My favorite pattern is the fish scale pattern and I have wanted to use it.  I also love texture.  Instead of buying a fabric with the pattern printed on it I have wanted to make something with more texture.  After I decided to use it on a window I had to figure out how to do it so it wasn't too gaudy/tacky.  Last week I finally figured out what I wanted to do!

You can see the different fabrics best in this picture

I used terry cloth, fleece and felt fabric and cut them into 4 1/4 inch circles.  Using Fabri-tac I glued the circles to a cloth that I marked off to get the design straight.  I wish you could tell the different fabrics in the pictures..but in person it creates a really cool texture that is better than I expected.  I tend to put off projects that I come up with on my own because there is a high probability that it will suck and I will be disappointed by how much time it took and didn't come out like I hoped.  It didn't happen this time!  It turned out better than I envisioned and I am so thrilled with it.  Thank goodness because it was a lot of work.  

one last picture

Fighting the Winter Blues with earrings.

Janna Conner via Max and Chloe

{The color is vibrant and fresh.  The wire wrapping around the stones gives these earrings an unexpected restrained feeling.  They are clever but not over thought.}

Winter Blues be gone!  I am so tired of feeling blah.  I am DETERMINED to shake this lazy, pity party mood.

What do you do when you can't fit your pregnant belly in to any of your cute clothes?  Accessorize.  

Anthropologie

{I am not crazy about the heart shape but I love the colors and the way the beads fill the gold borders.  The color gives the earring movement.}

Sean bought me some beautiful earrings from an art gallery in Boston.  I wore them for the first time to his birthday dinner last weekend and they are magical.  I didn't wear anything special....I just put the earrings on and I felt better than I had in months.  So, in anticipation of a rough day taking Brady to a weekly function he has not been enjoying, I put the earrings on.  Today wasn't that bad.  There are lots of reasons why but my earrings let me start my day off with a little extra pep in my step.

Arena CPH

{I love brushed finishes on beads.  I also like the graduated size of the beads.}

Ben-Amun via Max and Chloe

{I have been enjoying all types of blue + green color combo.  It is so peaceful.  The vintage costume jewelry look has taken me a while to warm up to but I really like it here.}

Blu Bijou via Max and Chloe

{Ay yiyi!  I couldn't choose a favorite color.  Sometimes earrings convey too much try in the design.  You have such a small space to make an impact and sometimes you can just sense frustration with proportion and color.  These earrings make such a dramatic statement with two simple shapes and a simple pattern.}

Catherine Weitzman via Max and Chloe

{I am not sure I can put into words what I like about these.  They look like they are being blown upwards.  They are kind of gross looking and I like that.}

Citrine by the Stones via Max and Chloe

{The little nubs on the wire caught my eye.  Also, the wire is so delicate...the earrings looks to fragile to wear.  I like that.}

Anthropologie

{I am a sucker for tortoise shell.  Even though these have an eighties 

vibe in their shape...the broken hoop or whatever official name it 

has...I am digging the tortoise shell.}

Bookcase Before and After

Today's post is brought to you by Made It Monday....because I didn't post anything Monday.  This is a before and after/almost after....you'll see why.

Before:

I found this glass doored bookcase a few months ago on craigslist after a long search.  I love it.  It's just what I wanted (it could be a darker wood/stain but price and style won over color).  Unfortunately, it's just kind of blah in my room.  Too dark on this inside.  I thought things might improve once it wasn't against such a brown/red color but it still needed something.  I saw this post on Hi Sugarplum! a while back which gave me the idea to do this:

What I did: 

I got the fabric from fabric.com.  Ribbon trim from Joann Fabrics.  Using spray adhesive I glued the fabric to some poster board that I ducked tape together to be the size of the bookcase.  Then using fabri-tac I glued the ribbon around the edges.  

I was realllly (unnecessarily) lazy and didn't measure the size of the bookcase before ordering the fabric.  The consequence of my laziness is this:

The yard of fabric was about six inches too short!  I have to order a little more.  Being lazy means more work in the end.  I did learn from Cassie's mistake, however, on Hi Sugarplum! and measured the inside twice when cutting and taping the poster board so it fits pretty well!

I really like how the fabric background lightened up the bookcase.  You can see everything now.  I can't wait to have it finished.  I am going to go order more of the fabric now.

Stopped in my tracks

Jaw to the floor when I saw this dress.  I want. I want. I want.  I can't tell if it is some kind of horizontal pleating action or a stripe that causes an optical illusion but I love the color, the shape, and horizontal action..everything.  It doesn't transition beautifully from the shape of the top to the bottom but I can forgive that because of the previously mentioned aspects of the dress that I love.

Oh and the necklace....perfect.  I love the color, texture, length, weight...ok.  I have to walk away.  Heart pounding.  Coveting.

Women in Fashion

I am not fashion forward.  I come from Florida where I had flip flops for every occasion.  Tank top and jeans was my uniform.  I don't follow fashion from afar reading blogs and fashion magazines.  I read Bazaar...I watch red carpets.  That's about it.  But oh man I love reading about women in fashion.

I have read several biographies of Coco Chanel.  What a lady.  The best and worst description of someone's character I have ever read was about Coco Chanel.  She was described as having "acid charm".  I loooove that description.  I would be really disappointed if I was described that way but I wouldn't mind something I made being described that way.  Anyway, I respect everything Coco Chanel went through to get to the top...she grew up in an Orphanage and basically lived a made up life in order to escape that.  She faked it until she made it.  I love her ambition and confidence.  I envy it.

I am also in awe of Lady Gaga's commitment to her art.  I really hate when people just blow her off because she is a little unusual.  She isn't making fashion mistakes in borrowed dresses.  She is CREATING.  That is like dissing Jackson Pollok because it looks like something your 5 year old could do.   Just because it looks simple/easy doesn't mean it is unintelligent.  In Lady Gaga's case, just because it is a little unusual doesn't mean it's not deep.

via Mod Cloth

Until I read the article in this month's Bazaar about Daphne Guinness I had only heard of her a few times.  When I saw the pictures in the article I thought, "Aren't you a little old to dress like Lady Gaga?"  Then I read the article and found out that she is an INSPIRATION for Lady Gaga.  For some reason I have tremendous respect for that.  Why shouldn't Lady Gaga be inspired by something?  I guess I just never imagined it would be another human...?

Right after divorce.  via Harpers Bazaar

Today.  via Harpers Bazaar

Daphne Guinness' story is interesting.  She was married until she was 30ish and then underwent a crazy fast evolution into a crazy fashion icon.  I can't imagine the life where you can dress like this in public on a regular basis.  Performance artist? Yes.  Socialite/Fashionista?  I wonder.  Anyway, I think this she is pretty cool.

wearefreshfish.com

Vogue