The room needs a few more finishing touches before I can call it done but I'm really happy with this project. At least for now :)
Do you want to know how I made them or is that too obvious?
Whats up? Display boxes!
It took a little more time than I had hoped but these DIY display boxes for my favorite vintage cameras are now hung up in the little room. Hooray! I think they look so much better here than they did crammed on a bookshelf downstairs. The only problem is that now that I have these, I want to make another few empty ones so I have an excuse to keep collecting.
The room needs a few more finishing touches before I can call it done but I'm really happy with this project. At least for now :)
Do you want to know how I made them or is that too obvious?
The room needs a few more finishing touches before I can call it done but I'm really happy with this project. At least for now :)
Do you want to know how I made them or is that too obvious?
Steal this Idea: DIY picture ledges
Its Friday (yippee!) - time for another Steal this Idea* feature - a tiny show of appreciation for a well executed tutorial.
Today's feature falls into the "of course" category straight from Viva Cindy - an easy DIY book ledge that anyone can love. Especially great when you have an usually sized space and can't find something ready made or just have some extra wood laying around.
Starting with this
...she made this.
Check out all the details as well as this nursery's fabulous striped ceiling over at Viva Cindy.
postscript: *When I say steal, I really mean borrow nicely and give proper credit!
**If you have an idea/tutorial you would like me to consider for a feature, email me. I'd love to see!
Today's feature falls into the "of course" category straight from Viva Cindy - an easy DIY book ledge that anyone can love. Especially great when you have an usually sized space and can't find something ready made or just have some extra wood laying around.
Starting with this
...she made this.
Check out all the details as well as this nursery's fabulous striped ceiling over at Viva Cindy.
postscript: *When I say steal, I really mean borrow nicely and give proper credit!
**If you have an idea/tutorial you would like me to consider for a feature, email me. I'd love to see!
Li ho Taiwan
In keeping with my strange backlog of travel posts, its about time I shared the trip we took back in February. I haven't been on any other trips since so this will put me all caught up in the category.
When I told people we were going to Taiwan for a holiday, I often got a weird look. And the people that gave us the strangest looks were the few native Taiwanese people I know! Everyone seemed to ask "Why Taiwan?"
Well in a word: Lanterns! Once a year Taiwan holds a large lantern release festival that looked so amazing we had to see it for ourselves.
I admit it's nothing like the calm zen like experience I imagined. Its more like being placed in a foreign country's version of grand central and then figuring out how to get to your train on time. Thankfully we arranged a guide to help us get to the valley and figure out all the details. Although it was nothing like I expected, it was still a magical experience.
The big release is at night but you have to get there way early to grab a spot. Earlier in the day we spent a little time in the small town of Pingxi, which just so happens to sit right on top of the railroad tracks, to paint our wishes on our own lantern and send it skyward. Every so often a train would stop and send all the painters onto the tiny sidewalk. Since there are virtually no western tourists here, we were quite the spectacle as people were taking photos of us as we wrote ours in english.
When it was time for the big release, the anticipation in the crowd was high.
My photos don't really do the experience justice. Maybe a video will help. You definitely need to turn your audio on for this one. You can hear the excitement very clearly as well as our own giggles.
So having crossed the Pingxi Lantern Festival off my life list, what else is there to do in Taiwan? Eat!
The food is delicious and exotic and cheap. Taipei is famous for its night markets that feature stall after stall of little nibbles. If it weren't for the smell of fermented tofu wafting around, its heaven. I had the most amazing fried chicken and freshly made donut at the Shilin night market. Yum!
There are other things Taiwan has to offer like interesting temples, natural wonders, hot springs and fun shopping.
But it was all about the lanterns and the food for us on this trip. We had a great time and would love to return one day.
When I told people we were going to Taiwan for a holiday, I often got a weird look. And the people that gave us the strangest looks were the few native Taiwanese people I know! Everyone seemed to ask "Why Taiwan?"
Well in a word: Lanterns! Once a year Taiwan holds a large lantern release festival that looked so amazing we had to see it for ourselves.
I admit it's nothing like the calm zen like experience I imagined. Its more like being placed in a foreign country's version of grand central and then figuring out how to get to your train on time. Thankfully we arranged a guide to help us get to the valley and figure out all the details. Although it was nothing like I expected, it was still a magical experience.
The big release is at night but you have to get there way early to grab a spot. Earlier in the day we spent a little time in the small town of Pingxi, which just so happens to sit right on top of the railroad tracks, to paint our wishes on our own lantern and send it skyward. Every so often a train would stop and send all the painters onto the tiny sidewalk. Since there are virtually no western tourists here, we were quite the spectacle as people were taking photos of us as we wrote ours in english.
When it was time for the big release, the anticipation in the crowd was high.
My photos don't really do the experience justice. Maybe a video will help. You definitely need to turn your audio on for this one. You can hear the excitement very clearly as well as our own giggles.
So having crossed the Pingxi Lantern Festival off my life list, what else is there to do in Taiwan? Eat!
The food is delicious and exotic and cheap. Taipei is famous for its night markets that feature stall after stall of little nibbles. If it weren't for the smell of fermented tofu wafting around, its heaven. I had the most amazing fried chicken and freshly made donut at the Shilin night market. Yum!
There are other things Taiwan has to offer like interesting temples, natural wonders, hot springs and fun shopping.
But it was all about the lanterns and the food for us on this trip. We had a great time and would love to return one day.
Changing up the Little Room
It was one of those weekends. You know the kind - you set out to accomplish a moderately simple project and by Sunday evening you are just staring a big mess with no end in sight. Well, yea, that's how it went.
Remember the card catalog conundrum I shared nearly a year ago? Its been sitting unsolved since that. We finally go around to cutting down the door turned desk in the little room.
Of course this means changing up the gallery wall. I could have just rearranged the photos but I have something a little different in my mind. It required I get a few splinters but I think it will be worth it. Sadly I didn't get to finish it this weekend so that will have to wait for another day. Can't wait to share.
You'll also notice the card catalog itself hasn't been moved in yet. That requires brute strength I don't have. Thankfully my husband and my brother (who doesn't even know he has been nominated for this job yet!) are strong!
Did you finish your weekend projects?
Remember the card catalog conundrum I shared nearly a year ago? Its been sitting unsolved since that. We finally go around to cutting down the door turned desk in the little room.
Of course this means changing up the gallery wall. I could have just rearranged the photos but I have something a little different in my mind. It required I get a few splinters but I think it will be worth it. Sadly I didn't get to finish it this weekend so that will have to wait for another day. Can't wait to share.
You'll also notice the card catalog itself hasn't been moved in yet. That requires brute strength I don't have. Thankfully my husband and my brother (who doesn't even know he has been nominated for this job yet!) are strong!
Did you finish your weekend projects?
Come Away With Me Giveaway [Marrakech]
So now that I've shown you how gorgeous Marrakech was, its time for the souvenir giveaway. This is the second prize in the series (last month was bangles from India) in the series so I'm calling a tradition from here on.
Unlike last month's bangles, this souvenir is distinctly less practical. I saw it and had to bring it home with me without any particular rhyme or reason. It looks like a plain old rock on the outside but inside reveals a bit of glittery goodness. I think it would look just lovely on a stack of coffee table books or papers on a desk. I guess I'm a sucky for a surprise sparkly.
find photos and details of marrakech here
Want it? Just leave a comment. It's that easy.
Enter more than once by
-sharing the giveaway on your blog
-tweeting this link
-sharing a post or feature suggestion you'd like to see
-making me laugh
Don't forget to add a separate comment for each so I can tally them up. I'll announce a winner next week.
Unlike last month's bangles, this souvenir is distinctly less practical. I saw it and had to bring it home with me without any particular rhyme or reason. It looks like a plain old rock on the outside but inside reveals a bit of glittery goodness. I think it would look just lovely on a stack of coffee table books or papers on a desk. I guess I'm a sucky for a surprise sparkly.
find photos and details of marrakech here
Want it? Just leave a comment. It's that easy.
Enter more than once by
-sharing the giveaway on your blog
-tweeting this link
-sharing a post or feature suggestion you'd like to see
-making me laugh
Don't forget to add a separate comment for each so I can tally them up. I'll announce a winner next week.
Upside Down Tomato Garden?
Continuing my adventures in the backyard, I just hung two of these monstrosities
tomato photo via smitten kitten
Anyone use an upside down tomato planter before? How did it go?
Flea'd: Ready to makeover chair
I threw out my back (don't I sound like the ultimate old lady) a few weeks ago and I have been on the mend ever since. It's really putting the literal cramp in my DIY projects. Lucky for me, my shopping abilities remain unscathed!
I picked up this chair at Brooklyn Flea from Millie+Corina (which looks quite a lot like this Jonathan Adler $650 bad boy) With the right makeover, I think its going to be perfect in the shore bedroom - finally replacing the kitchen chair currently there.
To work the way I want it, I need to paint and recover the cushion. Despite the apparent hatred for the chevron trend, I still really love the pattern (how uncool of me!) and like how this fabric pairs well with the orange so it might be a winner.
Also digging this honeycomb fabric from Spoonflower but I'm not so crazy about spending $40 for a little bit of it.
Any other fabric suggestions?
I picked up this chair at Brooklyn Flea from Millie+Corina (which looks quite a lot like this Jonathan Adler $650 bad boy) With the right makeover, I think its going to be perfect in the shore bedroom - finally replacing the kitchen chair currently there.
To work the way I want it, I need to paint and recover the cushion. Despite the apparent hatred for the chevron trend, I still really love the pattern (how uncool of me!) and like how this fabric pairs well with the orange so it might be a winner.
Also digging this honeycomb fabric from Spoonflower but I'm not so crazy about spending $40 for a little bit of it.
Any other fabric suggestions?
Bowl me over. Toilet Planters
Somehow a new trend has made a big splash* in the decor space without even a whiff* of notice. Old toilets are now this seasons new planting vessel. I got my first introduction when I saw this gracing a neighbors front yard.
Flushed* with disbelief, I googled 'toilet planters' and saw that this really is a thing.
photos via dreamworker32000 / mapawatt / art at home / design salon
I'm a big fan of repurposing old items but I somehow can't get behind* this one.
*Sorry, I couldn't resist the bad puns with this post!
What do you think? Am I being prude or is displaying old bowls crude? Discuss.
Flushed* with disbelief, I googled 'toilet planters' and saw that this really is a thing.
photos via dreamworker32000 / mapawatt / art at home / design salon
I'm a big fan of repurposing old items but I somehow can't get behind* this one.
*Sorry, I couldn't resist the bad puns with this post!
What do you think? Am I being prude or is displaying old bowls crude? Discuss.
Flea Market Finds: All that Glitters
Im so happy to welcome back the always impressive Matthew Mead for another smart project. This time he is sharing a sparkly take on traditional piece of art. If you like his simply beautifully classic style, be sure to check out his new book-a-zine, Flea Market Finds.
To do this project, I photographed a portion of the painting and printed it with my everyday color printer. I decided, however, to make the piece my own by updating the colors, adding some interest, and framing it in a simple contemporary cream frame.
You Will Need: art or a photo printed on double-sided matte brochure paper, artistic pastel chalks, make-up applicator, glitter in desired colors, mod podge, small paintbrush, tray or cookie sheet to use as a work surface
Apply the pastels with a make-up applicator to restore some vibrancy to the image:
Once you have highlighted the art and added color to the image you can add more dimension with glitter.
I used a super fine glitter from the crafts store that came in a pack in a multitude of colors:
Use a small liner brush to outline and highlight the watercolor.
Turn paper on edge and tap into tray to remove excess glitter:
You may want to clean the tray after each different color application. Repeat and re-glitter each spot as you embellish the leaves, flowers, foliage and stems.
Hold the finished piece up to the light to see if you have glittered all the highlights to the best effect.
In every family, there are often works of art passed down to some that are coveted by those who do not have the piece hanging in their homes. This was the case with this very beautiful water color painting of clematis plants painted many years ago by a relative. In today's techno savvy world, it is possible to make copies of such pieces so that each family member can have a little piece of that special heirloom.
You Will Need: art or a photo printed on double-sided matte brochure paper, artistic pastel chalks, make-up applicator, glitter in desired colors, mod podge, small paintbrush, tray or cookie sheet to use as a work surface
To Make:
Photograph and print the subject.
We chose to use a home printer, so the size limit was 8.5 x 11. Use pastel chalks in various colors to highlight and enhance the colors of the print.
Many times, vintage pieces fade from excess exposure to light and a scan or photograph of the piece can dull the look even more.
Apply the pastels with a make-up applicator to restore some vibrancy to the image:
Glitter comes in many, many colors today and the bit of sparkle in the light really draws attention to the art work. Begin by gathering your glitter colors, glue, and brush and work on a tray or a cookie sheet:
I placed glue along the dark edges of the flowers and leaves and then sprinkled the glue portion with glitter:
Clean the finished piece with a 1/2 paint brush to remove any excess glitter and place piece in frame:
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