Monday, June 27, 2011

A Change of Plans

Crazy, crazy weekend! We were supposed to go camping with the Boy Scouts - our first time with the troop--but my son came down with a cold. In a way I was thankful--his cold bought us some time. We had purchased most of our camping gear, all of it piled in our front living area, during the week. You see, we haven't been camping since before we had kids. Here's why, in the most condensed version: all our camping gear was lost in a flood in 1997, then we had babies, then we were poor, then the boys grew up a little, we were less poor but had very little PTO, then we got older and only liked the idea of going camping, then we decided we better get our boys into outdoor activities and shelve the tech gadgets as forms of entertainment, and then we were invited to join the Boy Scouts and here we are! Our biggest obstacle was that we didn't have a camping friendly vehicle. We thought about renting a truck but HELLO they want anywhere from $90-$150 per day. At that rate we'd be poor again! Then my husband found a small SUV type vehicle to rent and we were good to go! I even took Friday off work. Then my son caught a cold and it changed our plans. Instead of going camping we stayed home and had a yard sale. This meant cleaning out closets and hauling out furniture and whatever else has been precariously stacked in our garage into the driveway. We did use our new shade canopy we bought for camping in our driveway to put our tables under to block the near 100 degree sunshine from melting our treasure hunters. Do you know we had a number of people ask us how much the canopy was going for? Seriously! Anyway, on Sunday we rolled out of bed like tinmen after a rainstorm and made our way to the living room to enjoy some coffee and our newspaper--yes, we still enjoy holding paper in our hands while we read. On the third or fourth page of our paper was a full-page add for a big blow-out sale on cars and trucks. My husband oiled his joints and headed out the door around 11:30, and by 6pm we were proud owners of a big truck that practically screams camping! It's even dark green. My PT Cruiser didn't make it back home, it was traded in, and I am now a truck driving mom. Hmmm..........still getting used to that. Our next camp out is in July. We are so ready! Except we're poor again..............

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The Chevron Stripe

Virginia Johnson tote bag as seen on Daily Candy.


Alexa Vega wears this chevron striped dress by Gypsey 05 to the MTV Movie Awards Gifting Suite. Gypsey 05 is known for its beautifully dyed garments. Don't be afraid to DIY it yourself!


Miley Cyrus carries a Giorgio Armani chevron striped bag.



Top Shop

Mermaid Mood

John William Waterhouse



For whatever reason, I am thinking about mermaids and the allure of the sea. Maybe it's because it's 103 outside and I am anchored to my desk for the rest of the afternoon with no hope of walking along the sandy edge of the Pacific Ocean any time soon. I don't even own a pool! Or maybe I am thinking about them because I need a creative escape and mermaids are the coolest myth I know.


Bebe Long Mermaids and Prada


Monday, June 20, 2011

Something's Bugging Me............

Jessica Kagan Cushman

Pillow by Jonathan Adler




Alexander McQueen


Alexander McQueen


Wingbeat rug / Anthropologie
Blumarine


Siecile


Anthropologies' March catalog


Friday, June 17, 2011

Blues

Blues in various shades and hues - like Delft, Cobalt, and Spruce - are definitely on trend for fashion and home decor. Inspired by the sky, the ocean, and natures minerals and gemstones, blues are calming and regal. Blue is a key color trend and will remain strong in the coming seasons.

Dip Dyed Denim


Jessica Alba


Akademiks


You can dip 'em in bleach or dip 'em in color; either way you'll be right on trend! Erica Domesek gives you the D.I.Y. version. And you can find all the right dye colors at iLoveToCreate!

Get dippin'!











































Monday, June 6, 2011

Americana Trend & DIY Project


In case you haven't noticed there are a number of trends that are happening and evolving all at the same time, that are like pieces to a puzzle, coming together. Americana -- taking pride in our American heritage -- is a movement that is being seen on the runways and across all markets. It's not so much about waving the American flag or wearing red, white and blue (although that is a part of it) -- it's about brands returning to what defined them in the beginning; it's about authenticity and value; and its about nostalgia and tradition. The interest in handcrafts like crochet and macrame, canning and even urban gardening have their roots in American tradition. As part of the huge tribal trend, the Native American prints, textures, and colors are having a heavy influence on the fashion and interior decor markets. Brands like Ralph Lauren continue to provide vintage style with a modern Americana feel. Rodarte brings us patchwork patterns on the Fall runway, reminding us of a simpler life where materials were reclaimed and reused to make something new. And of course, denim is always at the heart of American fashion. Denim fabrics in all kinds of finishes, and in combinations with other fabrics like leather and lace rule.My project is a combination of reclaimed denim and the classic American white tank or tee-shirt. It's perfect for the July 4th holiday, and for celebrating all that America represents.
Here's what you'll need:Tulip One-Step Dye - Red
Aleene's Fabric Fusion adhesive
A scrap piece of denim
A star template made from paper
A pencil, marker or white chalk pencil
A foam brush
Scissors
A small cup


Here's how you make your Americana-inspired top:


Draw and cut out a star(s) from a piece of paper. Place the star template on the denim scrap and trace with a pencil. Cut out the denim star and set aside. (You may wish to distress the star by pulling some of the threads along the edges.)Following the dye instructions on the Tulip One Step Dye box, mix water with your color and add some of the dye to a small cup.
Dampen the white tank with water and squeeze out the excess--it should be damp, not wet. Lay the tank top on flat covered surface and smooth it out in preparation for the dye application.

Dip the sponge brush into the dye in the cup and begin to apply it across the tank starting at the very bottom. The dye will soak through so don't worry about painting the backside. Leave about 2"-3" between each stripe.
The stripes will bleed a bit, creating a handmade irregular stripe. Continue to make as many stripes as you like. Be sure to follow the dye instructions for allowing dye to sit before rinsing and washing.After the tank has been thoroughly rinsed, washed, and dried, use the Aleene's Fabric Fusion to adhere the denim stars. Let dry 2-4 hours before wearing, and 48 hours before washing.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Design Sponge




I just had a 'smack my head' moment! I wrote on my previous entry about loving my voyeuristic roamings through Apartment Therapy, but I have to give equal props to another favorite DIY/home decor site, Design Sponge. Hmmm, I wonder what Liz is thinking.......

Apartment Therapy

Real people. Real places. Real house tours.....
If you are like me you LOVE to check out other peoples homes. I am curious about how they style their place and how they deal with their design challenges. I want to see their backyards, courtyards, and balconies. I admire a great color scheme, a great kitchen, and bathroom. I want to see how they artfully arrange their stuff. Here's a favorite site that let's me do all these things. You get to tour the home, and get some basic info on the owners and the house--like how long they've lived there and the square footage of the place. Here's a great example of what I mean:

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