Tuesday, August 31, 2010

fully lined

so i have this kind of weird, kind of awesome idea. i want to line the back of my medicine cabinet with scrapbook paper. why scrapbook paper, of all things? because it's cheap, and because it comes in so many great prints and colors. i love the idea of creating a beautiful little place you open up to each day. nice bathrooms are so important to the psyche, and this is just a honing in on that concept.


so, the bathroom in question has a mild tropical thing going on art-wise, so i thought about doing it in a pool blue or a bright coral. as you can see above, i've slid in a piece of the only scrapbook paper i have at the moment and i'm liking it, in theory, though not in color given said artwork and pool blue towels.

should i go for this kind of weird, kind of awesome project? thoughts?

Monday, August 30, 2010

head of the class

how adorable are these photos? i discovered them on green wedding shoes and they're from an engagement session with illinois photographer tim tabailloux. they're of an enfianced couple who met in high school. i love how authentic and perfectly retro all the props are - so fitting for high school sweethearts.



i think the shoot sums up so well their innocent beginnings and gives them a wonderful foundation to build on now that they're all grown up.

images from green wedding shoes

Friday, August 27, 2010

projecting

to me, one of the best things about being a blog reader (and blog writer for that matter) is the constant exposure to interesting and beautiful ideas. specifically, i love all the projects that are out there, especially because so many of them are so doable, even if you're not that great at projects. yesterday, i shared the crumply goodness that is tissue paper, and today i have two more to share.

the chrome pig above is by an artist named harry allen, and has been featured in elle decor and other places of note. it's $190 which isn't outrageous for a special flourish in a room, but it's an investment.

so the lovely blogger at hello gorgeous came up with her own version and it looks amazing. feast your eyes.

home goods pig: $6

krylon chrome spraypaint: about $6

finished chrome pig for $12: priceless

and then decorno came out of blogger retirement to update her faithful readers on this little chestnut:


LOVE doesn't begin to capture it. i don't think it's exactly the same as the fabric eddie ross and i love (yeah, i like to make it sounds like we love it together), but it's very close.

on another note, remember this project? LOVE.

things like this inspire me to look at all things old and new with fresh eyes, not seeing only what's there, but what could be there. you too?

all images from linked sites

Thursday, August 26, 2010

a festive crumple

i have to show you these adorable tissue paper things i've seen around the web. first of all, my interest has been aroused by the tissue paper balls i've seen all around, first in the papyrus store window in grand central station, as shown above, and then of course martha has a version that only she could pull off.

love love love this color scheme, by the way. remember all the pink and orange here? but as i often do, i find martha's how-to a little daunting, not being a very crafty person myself. to achieve the exact look, i would buy these balls from etsy seller melodywei, or make friends with someone crafty. but look at all the color combos you can order!! you can order her sets, or choose your own! they come pre-made, you just unfold them.




balls aside (yup, i said balls aside), naturally, i was thrilled to find these other fabulous tissue paper ideas that just seem more...doable to me. but they have such impact too. first, on jackie fo, i saw this pretty wreath and picture frames - love the idea of using both ideas at the same party for a running theme. how cute? i also love that they're in different shades of pink - such a fan of the not-exactly-the-same-but-in-the-same-family color scheme.


and then i got spun to another blog called a blissful nest (which i fell instantly in love with) because a blissful nest's rebekah is the one who gave jackie fo the idea in the first place. LOVE BLOGS! check out some of rebekah's tissue paper creations, and be sure to look at some of the parties she's done, like this one for starters...so talented.

and her how-to seems so much easier.





i also love rebekah's idea of spraying a tissue paper ball or wreath with glitter spray for a light shimmer.

so many possibilities!

all images from linked sites

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

all in the wrist, part 3

3 parts about bracelets? seriously? YES.

remember when we talked about the sets of bangles that are such great foundations for bracelet collections? well, i came across two sets that are too good to pass by, so i have to share.

i am loving both of these sets from bloomies, both by aqua. the one at top is the copper set of 16 and the other is the oxidized silver set of 27. 27! they're $68 and $35, respectively, and either set is a great deal for what you get. plus it's exciting to be able to buy something that you can enjoy now and in a month or two when fall has (finally!) set in. these babies know no season.

just had to share since i know i'm not alone in my bracelet love.

and p.s: aqua's enamel bangles are on sale for $15 each.

if you can't get enough bracelet love, remember jill zarin's fab-and-a-half bracelets from the reunion show?

all images from bloomingdales

Monday, August 23, 2010

if you knew suzani

for whatever combination of reasons, i've found myself gravitating towards suzani and ikat prints in a way i never was before (more on ikat later this week, and here. and here.) suzani means needlework, and are defined as "decorative tribal textiles made in tajikistan, uzbekistan, kazakhstan and other central asian countries." and i love them. a lot.

generally, suzanis carry meaning in regards to fertility, household stability, protection and health, so they make a perfect decor item in any home. i love the idea of mixing these patterns in with other patterns and pieces of furniture and art that don't directly correlate.

to me, textiles like these add such warmth and grounding to a space, and contribute to the feeling of a home that has come together over time. of course, there is a great appeal to the real deal, visiting these countries themselves and sourcing your one perfect piece from a local market, but there is also a wealth of access out there to collections of these pieces, including great sources on ebay. here are some of the pieces i love that i found there:






how gorgeous are these? and what's really lovely is that most of the sellers of pieces like these know a great deal about each one, so you have a sense of the provenance of what you're buying, which is so authentic, and really a nice connection to the craftsmanship and culture of the suzani.

a large piece like these is perfect as a wall hanging, a bed cover (on top of a comforter) or a topper over a tablecloth. they even look amazing just draped casually over a great chair or ottoman. wisteria sells some pretty ones which are "inspired" by vintage suzani fabrics, shown here.


for other real-deal suzani pieces, i love jayson home and garden (let's be serious, love them for everything) and i particularly adore these pillows:


and etsy shop material recovery is a mind-blowing sea of vibrant colors and textiles. it's a project put together to "unite antique embroidered textiles.....with furniture salvaged from second hand stores." YES PLEASE. look at this bench and chair:


I DIE. sort of reminds me of this anthro chair i was coveting. and then the pillows:



for some other beautiful "suzani-inspired" pieces, wisteria has a few pillows i love, and an ottoman that's pretty close to perfect. i love the image of it in front of a broken-in leather couch and an oriental rug underneath.



etsy seller eleganttouch makes pillow covers inspired by suzani designs which are a less expensive (around $50 each) step into the suzani world. these are my favorites - i love how they're sort of washed out looking, and think they'd look great in a more subdued, spa-like space, even though they are still vibrant.





even dwell by target has taken on suzani, though i would stick with the throw pillow since it has an embroidered texture which the comforter and shams do not -- so much of the look is about the embroidery, and i'd hate to have it all flattened out and mass-produced looking.



to me, even buying the reproduction versions of suanis supports the tradition of the embroidered art and keeps the place of the important heritage in today's design.

top two images from elle decor and soul pretty; all other images from linked sites
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