Getting It Together

I was curious.  I saw people posting sets from Polyvore featuring items that are not in their bank of images, which are limited mostly to fashion.  How could this be? After a little poking around on their site, I found a "clip to Polyvore" button for my toolbar. This may be common knowledge, but in the off chance I'm not the only one who hadn't figured this out, here's the link.

NewHaus by poppyhaus on polyvore.com

Pinterest is great for putting together visual inspiration, and I have a board 60 pins deep with ideas for my new house. I wanted to see some of my textile ideas together in one space to figure out what direction I was going in and I wanted to decide what I really wanted the mood of the space to be. A Polyvore set proved to be a little better for that, plus I could spiff it up with text, like creating my own editorial page. You can actually lay out furniture with rugs and console tables and art. This would have been so helpful when I got married, and decorated my first nursery. Perhaps we have too many tools at our disposal, but I just can't get enough.   

Springtime at The Parker

Just some pictures I took. I want to live here. I am not kidding.

The Good Life

I'm getting really excited for my ladies weekend in Palm Springs.  We've rented an Alexander compound and I plan on mid-mod shopping and lunching at Norma's when I'm not poolside at our place with a cocktail in hand...you know, what I usually do, only I'll be in Palm Springs. Here's a short of two boys playing tennis at The Parker.

Note Worthy

What do you do with your pretty calendar when the year is over?  It seems a shame to toss it out.  Today I got out the old paper cutter and made some note cards from last year's Snow & Graham calendar. Thanks to the rather large envelope collection I amassed a few years ago while making wedding invitations I was able to create 20 note cards. Way to upcycle and declutter! I can't wait for next year.  Who knows what will come of my Jonathan Adler travel posters...

I love you Alexander Girard

It's no secret that my favorite artist/designer is Alexander Girard.  When I grow up  I want to be him.  Alas, I own only one textile featuring his work, but it's a pillow with boobies on it, so at least it's a good one.  I have tried to style my house in Girard, Jonathan Aldler kind way- kid friendly, happy colors, tongue in cheek graphic pattern with simple lines. So far I am most happy with the dining area, which features my grandparents 1950's Drexel table and chairs.  I am soon going to be adding their record player credenza and after moving my desk downstairs, I needed some DIY art for the wall. Looking to Girard for inspiration, I made three pieces using a lot of paint swatches lifted from the Home Depot.

I tried to tell a simple story with the three patterns... Sun and Rain make Flowers... All I need is that record player and my sunny yellow Release The Sunbird album will have a nice home. To make, you'll need: several colorways of paint swatches, a punch, some scissors, white paper stock, and a permanent glue stick. Arrange the design before you glue down.  For the rain drops, I made a stencil ahead of time and traced the shape on the wrong side before cutting out and arranging.