DIY Paint Chip Garland Inspired by Orla Kiely

Who doesn't love Orla Kiely's designs? My personal favorite is the original multicolored stem pattern. My only problem is I can't afford hardly anything she makes. (except the laminate bag I found brand new at a thrift store for $15 a few years ago) Hate me a little? It's ok, I would too.
Anyway! Since I had noticed how "right now" paint chip projects are I came up with one of my own. I decided to make a garland in honor of the original "Stem" Orla Kiely designed. Here's what I did:
1. I went to the hardware store to pick out some lightweight durable string and paint chips.
2.Once I had picked them out I folded the chips in half and drew a stem stencil on the colors I needed.
3. I cut out the stems and paired up the colors I wanted to go together right side out.
4. Then I glued each one together sandwiching the string in the middle
5. After trimming the edges to match, I just needed to decide where to hang it up (still can't decide)

Whole project cost? - about 4 dollars for the string if you include the cost to vacuum up all the trimmed bits on the floor :) What has inspired you lately?

Anniversary

So this week is my four year wedding anniversary. I hope I will never take for granted how special these days are for us- my husband and I. We have grown as a true team who looks out for one another and who often sees the needs of the other as more important than our own. ( I would say Robert has mastered this better than I at this point) I am so grateful for my husband in my life. Sound kinda typical of a younger married couple? Sure it does. Only, we aren't a typical married couple. Our marriage almost didn't make it. I'm not going into any reasons why and I don't owe anyone an explanation, but I know what its like to fight for an "unsalvageable" relationship. This is our fourth anniversary legally, but our second anniversary actually together.  We really are a story of healing and maturing that I can only give credit to God for. He gave us the right people in our lives, together and individually, that would encourage us to be strong and work out our marriage - no matter how long it took. (it took roughly three years) I do not regret a single moment after making the decision to become the person I needed to be to make this marriage work and glorify God. I would love to thank God actually, for bringing me through this all and being my strength, I want to thank my husband- who did the most and went through the most to be the man I admire and respect- who loves me and leads me caringly and in whom I have no doubts- And Pastor Bob who taught us to see each other in new light, and Pastor Roger who faithfully stuck with us all three years and knew if we stuck with God and grew in our faith we would one day be ready again. There are so many others who upheld us and helped us prevail against the status quo of divorce. Thanks to all of you (you know who you are) we made it. We have the best relationship I could ever have hoped for. I love you all thank you!
                 All that being said I am REALLY excited about my anniversary this coming friday! We are going to spend the day wandering around the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, and finish the night at our favorite restaurant in the world, La Petite Greek, in Hollywood. I am wearing a newly thrifted day dress and there will be LOTS of pictures- I hope. I will do a follow up post about our day out together sometime next week! Thanks for Listening- maybe someday I will write a book about it.

My Old Affair: Vintage Photographer's Lamp

( I would LOVE to have this apartment) 1.bp.blogspot.com

(Also gorgeous trunk table) coolthings.com

Mikasaestukasa.files.wordpress.com

Lovely spread at modculture.typepad.com

Pottery Barn Photographer's Lamp

Homemade Lamp at thepaintedhive.blogspot.com (exact post detail below) sorry for the miss-label I will try to avoid it in the future!

Once every once in a while my husband and I have a lovely overlap in vintage taste. Recently I have highlighted our mutual love for leather chairs, today its the magic a vintage Hollywood tripod lamp supplies to a room. You can virtually hear the classy style singing. Here are some of my most recent favorite examples!

Vintage Masculine: The Perfect Leather Chair

Dwell Studio on apartmenttherapy.com

blueprintbliss.blogspot.com

decoratualma.blogspot.com

dezeen.com

potterybarn.com

xote.tumblr.com

I highly find it necessary to design around myself a life which reminds me constantly my husband and I are a team. I want to have things around us which are as much him as they are me. (easier said than done) How many homes have you walked into where the husband's tastes are nowhere to be seen? I must admit that often Robert's taste does not coincide with mine but we work it out. Some things much to my delight we both have always wanted- in this case we are on the hunt for the perfect leather chair for his someday office. Here are a few that inspire us.

Rose Bowl Flea Market: Treasure #6

I can't wait to do this with real branches

I steamed the pictures first in a steamy bathroom or with an actual steamer them rolled them up into the bottle

I love giant glass jars, especially water jars :D Here's a couple ideas for incorporating them into your home. The bottle with arrows on it is my new one from the flea market- the other one is older and I have had it as a picture terrarium for about two years.

Another DIY: Time to Try Again

So, of course being the person I am, it wasn't long before I was yet again perusing the paint cages at my local hardware store. Red? Teal? Why not? "I'll buy them both please!" Dancing around in my head were the endless new projects to be done- old things to be painted! (this time I'm tried to stick to the directions.)  Here are the pictures from my most recent DIY adventure! All you would need to have an adventure of your own is a few handy sanding blocks fine grit to course depending on the project, Rustoleum canned paint color of your choice, and (urgh) patience. Everything turned out pretty good- just ended up with a blue balcony. oops.

Rose Bowl Flea Market: Treasure #4 and #5

Ok. So these are tiny treasures. The mint bangle is vintage and plastic but oh-so-lovely. Kind of a go with everything wonder (plus it was free) and the ring is actually carved bakelite. FOR ONLY 8 DOLLARS! (swoon) I love LOVE bakelite and have never been able to afford the perfect piece, but this one was a steal. I can't wait to pair it with different outfits that need a slightly girlier flair.

Current Crush: Vintage Lobster Molds...and Stuff

I'm not sure what happened, but all of a sudden I am totally smitten by vintage copper molds. Especially lobster molds. I also like the little sea shell and crab molds too. Again, kitchy and beach themed!  Just in case I'm totally crazy here are a few pictures to prove my point plus a few other lobster inspired goodies :D

Apartment therapy

Chicagohomemag.com

etsy.com

etsy.com

Something Foxy

I love foxes. They are my tip top favorite animal. They are very cat-like canids who are mischievous and sport the most lovely colors in their coats. In honor of the foxies out there here are some fox-inspired designs.

Rose Bowl Flea Market : treasure #3

I find them hauntingly beautiful, my husband's reaction was "What is that?!"

My "pups"

Apartment Therapy

Tumblr.com

Staghorn Fern. Ever heard of it? Basically its a subtropical fern that lives by growing into the bark of trees. It has gorgeous antler-shaped fronds (hence the name) and it quite easy to keep indoors until it starts reaching the more than thirty pounds mark. (they get big!) Well, I was quite pleased to snag one from a vendor who had "raised it from just a pup." I fell in love with these plants years ago and recently have noticed them popping up as indoor decor. Here is mine, and here are a few other inspirational photos. Enjoy!

Decor Inspiration: Wood Grain

diy inspiration painted plywood (I think this is from Apartment Therapy)

Dishes last season West Elm

Last Season West Elm

Ok- this is zebra, I am aware- but its a fine line to woodgrain- image from West Elm

There is just something lovely about nature- especially the variety of patterns and shapes found in wood grain. I have noticed some fun ideas incorporating wood grain pattern into daily life and I though it would be a gas to put them in one place. ( I think people should bring back that phrase don't you?- although, I will have to practice saying it without giggling)

Rose Bowl Flea Market: Treasure #2

Here is treasure number two! This beauty is as ORANGE as you can get- and happens to be the perfect match for its smaller sibling which I have already rescued last year about this time. I cannot wait to serve strawberry or lavender lemonade this summer from my new darling!

Inspiration: Antique Bed Posts

So some exciting news! I just found out I am the proud owner of a double-sized antique wrought iron bed frame (from my late-grandfather's old work shed). My love of antiques and vintage style runs deep because 1. its awesome 2. I was raised in my grandparent's antique store just yards from my front door.  Grampa squirreled away all sorts of things and even now almost more than ten years after his passing we are still finding his hidden treasures. Back to bedframes! We found three pairs of head and foot boards and I am sooo excited to meet mine next month when I visit home. What might I be inspired to do with them when I actually have a house? Maybe these pictures will give a peek into my daydreams. (I am also convinced they can be styled in much less girly settings too- we shall see!)

yellowcottage.wordpress.com

susannahbean.com

her library adventures blog

google.com

decorpad.com

anthropologie on louryn.files.wordpress.com

Rose Bowl Market Treasure #1

I promised telling you what neat things I found during my grand adventure at the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market. I haven't had a lot of off time other than flea market day itself so rather than make you wait- I will show you in small installments. Today is the most darling set of 40's juice glasses. Why? The color is incredible- nothing more lovely than tomato red, PLUS, sailboats! Retro, kitchy, and beach theme- cannot get any better. What will I show you tomorrow? Not sure yet- you may have to wait and see.

Grand Day-Off Adventures

me and Rachael - joyful treasure hunter

I get one day off a week between my two jobs. (saving for a house what can I say?) By the time I get to my day off I am pining to go do ANY of my favorite activities. Today I skipped church (which I never do unless I'm dying sick) and went to the Rose Bowl Flee Market, in Pasadena, California. OH MY GOSH! This place is like my Disney Land! I spent six hours roaming with my coworker and her friend- and even bumped into my dear friend Rachael from Joyful Treasure Hunting! Here are my picks of the day! And my spoils you ask?- nope! you're gonna have to wait tehe!