Maybe I was washed out like a lip print on his shirt...

Whoa--it's been over two weeks since my last post! I've been busy, going back to acting for a show coming up in June, so that's taken up a lot of my free time. So for the next couple of months, I might just post things that catch my eye, rather than screeds or polemics.

Today I checked out the One Kings Lane sale for SF designer Antonio Martins. Some of the artwork he was selling was really cool. I thought it might be fun to do DIY takes on pieces like these, out of old posters or books:

 

Of course, I remember one of the coolest Apartment Therapy posts a little while ago about how to update thrift store art and had to show you this image:

 

I LOVE the dipped painting with eyes peeping over the top!

Fake Plastic Trees

Hey everyone, remember these large scraps of designer vinyl wallcovering I rescued from the office trash a while ago? (Red flip flop added to show scale.)

I went to Blick Art Supply, got some wooden stretcher bars, and got crafty at my cousin's place. This actually happened about a month ago, but it's Before and After time.

It's finally starting to feel like a home! I think the most fascinating part of this decoration process has been understaning my cousin's priorities, especially about artwork and wall decoration. It's true--some people don't think about art; it may not be that important to them. Ever. But once you get something up on those blank walls, you can see how a space can come to life.

In her case, she knew what she didn't like--insects, animals, technical or overly bold abstracts. So we stuck with something kind of safe and agreeable--lots of florals. The pixelated, vinyl mosaic scraps from Elitis were perfect and became the first step to turning her house into a feminine, glam retreat.

More updates--and better photos--soon!

I love LA (we love it!)

Just got back from a little weekend getaway in Los Angeles. We stayed at the Chamberlain in West Hollywood and stopped by some nearby showrooms and shops I actually use for Ye Olde Dayjobbe. It was fun to finally put a face to a name.

The Chamberlain was apparently designed by a former Kelly Wearstler staffer and it shows--I personally loved the eclectic mix of dark/glam/masculine/feminine. And the pattern on pattern--totally fearless. Basically everything I'm not allowed to do at Ye Olde Dayjobbe.

The lesson: Go crazy...you might just like it!

Getting crazy with the Cheese Whiz...

Been busy lately with some acting endeavors and making some quality time with my partner. Also celebrated my birthday last week, so that was an excuse to not post anything ;-)

Anyhow, I get this DIY newsletter from BHG every week, and even most of their posts lean towards this blue-green color combo that I can't condone, they do have some interesting ideas every so often.

I like this update on '70s string art. In black and white, it actually reads more chic than crafty. There were a lot of other cool ideas in the same article. Just keep in mind SCALE--how many big pieces of art do you really have in your home? Make something this week that's at LEAST 36" x 48". No matter the size of your home, you need a few large scale pieces (for height, drama, scale, etc.)

 

Anyhow, more updates soon. Taking a day off soon so I can finally get crafty on my own place!

Where is my love?

Last week I had a chance to process things after the death of my cat and make some sense of the house. The entire house was in a state of upheaval, and to make matters worse my partner had to leave town for business. So each day after work I moved things around and made some progress here and there.

Community Thrift came by to take away our old black leather sofa (a reminder of my partner's bachelor days) as well as our old drop-leaf dining table, which we haven't used in over a year. We got a more useful dining table from our friends at Modern Past in Glen Park and decided to turn our Living Room into a Library/Dining/Work space instead.

But most importantly, I re-potted some plants that a friend had sent us after our cat Chino's death. It was a very sweet arrangement of peace lily, azalea, ivy, and some other pretty yellow flower. I was surprised that they were actual plants in the arrangement and not just cut flowers. This way, we'd have something living to help us remember our little guy.

I re-used some pots I had lying around the back sunroom and split up the arrangement. I put the pink azaleas in the Front Room/Office:

And then I put the lily/ivy arrangement to one side of the mantel, where I also placed a succulent arrangement that had some special meaning:

I had planted this arrangement of succulents years ago and watched as they grew. I always thought each one represented each of us in our little family: me, my partner, and our little guy. But the smallest plant died last year, coincidentally around the time of our cat's cancer diagnosis. In an effort to challenge the fates, I took another tiny succulent from our back garden to ensure that Chino's little plant avatar would continue to live in the arrangement. As the months went on, I surprised to see Chino's plant sprout something new and grow toward the light:

When this little antenna sprouted up and over the side of the pot, I thought maybe there was a chance he'd beat the cancer. Now it serves as a little symbol of hope and perseverance. Along with the new plants we've received, it really feels like Chino's spirit continues to live in patches of sun around the house.

I was able to move the new dining table into the center of the room and heaped more books on top of it. Now it's a place to read, eat, put our shoes, and even spread out to work. And if need be, two leaves extend from the table to seat up to eight people. I'm glad we made the change. I just wish our little guy could have enjoyed it.

 

Now the Front Room needs some updating. I got some new frames for some artwork recently, mostly for some little drawings I did years ago for our wedding invitations. I really liked the linen mats--they're so much warmer than standard white. I think I'll put them up in the Front Room this week when I have time.

         

I also got this shadowbox frame for another little sketch from years ago. It went up on the mantel next to Chino's ashes and paw print.

Lots of rearranging and changes around the house. At least there's more space in our back sunroom now that we donated our old furniture. (We kept our great orange lacquer nesting tables, but now they're stored away in the back room.) With so much going on, I felt like the clear nesting tables would work better to show off our crazy collection of cat and owl items.

More updates next week, as I continue rearranging. Any thoughts or ideas from readers out there?

Every season has its change and I will see you when the sun comes out again...

How do you remember a loved ones that has passed? When it was someone older--like my father--who had lived a long, rich life, it felt like the end of a story. But what about a pet, a creature who depends on you for almost everything and gives unconditional love in return?

As my magical cat was succumbing to cancer, I read this article about how we can sometimes grieve more for a pet than a person, and found I had many feelings in common with the author.

And in the strange way my lil' guy came into our lives, he decided to check out during an equally strange time of change. The cherry and plum blossoms have started to come in with spring, and things around the house are shifting as we get rid of old furniture and bring in some new pieces. Chino came into our lives as something other than what we expected. And when we picked up his ashes this past weekend, he came back to us in a box we never would have chosen but that fits him so well.

Life is full of these wonderful little surprises.

Even walls fall down...

I get this DIY update each week and a recent one was about using scraps of wallpaper for little decorative projects around the house.


There were some really good ones in there, and it reminded me to do something with these two large scraps of fancy wallcovering I rescued from the trash bin at Ye Olde Dayjobbe (flip flop thrown into the picture to give you a sense of scale.)

 

I think I'm going to use them at my cousin's place. The pale pink blossom will look great in her bedroom, and the gold will look really dramatic somewhere in her hallway or living room. I'll probably just put them on canvas stretchers and hang them as art.

 

Stay tuned!