Aspiring Artistry

Chevron iPhone Case

I don't know about you, but I often find myself overrun with all the seemingly-necessary devices that are just a part of our lives now. The iPhone, obviously. The laptop. The iPad. The DSLR. And all of those that belong to my husband. And those belonging to my children (well, just some very old iPods, but still!).

In an effort to warm up all that technology, and in an effort to keep my hands busy when watching TV or waiting in carpool line, I embarked on a new project. I'm the first to admit, it took me a long time to make it through this one ... I thought it would be quick! (And you'll see, I still have just a few rows to go!)

I am love, love, loving my cross stitch iPhone case, which I found at Purl Soho. 

Cross Stitch iPhone Case Kit from Purl Soho

The kit did come with some suggested patterns, but I wanted to do my own take on the ubiquitous chevron design. It's so bright and cheerful, I've never lost it in the bottom of my purse, and never would it get mixed up with a friend's iPhone.

Plus, it's just a great conversation starter!

    

Greener Pastures

It's chilly and dark. Rain alternating with blistering cold. Frost on the windshield each morning. I'm craving the outdoors... craving green out my windown, not brown. Thinking about the steps I need to take to make my rather bare landscape into beautiful outdoor rooms and vistas.

Taped above my desk is this photo, taken early last spring, of a bank of gorgeous peonies in my garden. 

I'm dreaming of creating gardens like these someday:

Source: marthastewart.com via Laura on Pinterest

 

Source: Uploaded by user via Laura on Pinterest

 

For now, I obsess over pictures, read magazines galore, and take classes to learn what it takes to make these beautiful landscapes a reality.

Practice graphics from one of my many gardening and landscape classes

 

 

Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Have you checked out Mel's Kitchen Cafe yet? Her blog is quickly becoming one of my go-to sites for recipes that I enjoy making, and that my family really enjoys eating! I initially found her via Blue Lily (ridiculously fun and fabulous nomadic photographers), and am now hooked.

Last evening's experiment was her Rock Salt Roasted Chicken ... how divine! I've had various and assorted luck over the years with roasted chicken, and never seem to get it just right. My husband can roast a great bird in his sleep, so I've got tough competition and a lot to live up to. Well, this. is. it.

Roasting the chicken on a bed of salt is clearly a great way to do it, and resulted in a tender, juicy and crispy chicken that everyone loved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mel's recipe calls for a bed (a 4-lb bed!) of rock salt (ice cream salt). I scoured my grocery store, and couldn't find anything resembling it, and I wanted to make this chicken pronto. I grabbed the chunkiest salt I could find (remembering that I also had a half can at home), and thought I could make it work.

I used a slightly smaller pan than she called for (an 8x11 vs a 9x13) and only 1.5 lbs of coarse sea salt. After letting it sit for a few minutes, I lifted the chicken and transfered it to a plate, lifted the foil tray of salt out, and put the chicken back in the empty pan. This was I was able to capture some of the great juices that ran out while I prepped the rest of the meal (a basic green beans almondine and a great Israeli couscous with raisins.)

I frankly can't imagine how it could've turned out better! Many thanks, Mel, for a great new family staple. Check out the recipe here.

Broken Mirror = Make-it-Work Chalkboard Moment

For years, we've been the owners of a huge, burgundy framed mirror that has traveled with us to our various homes. In each house or apartment, it has lived over a fireplace, although it was large enough to use as a dressing mirror. 

It was never my favorite piece, but it's large frame was perfect for our high-ceilinged homes. Most recently, it was propped (key phrase here!) over our dining room mantel - high, but seemingly secure. Alas, the curiousity got the best of the cat, and she jumped up to peek behind the mirror.

You can guess what happened next ... crash! Everyone survived (meaning the cat and my dining room chairs), but the mirror was history. Which, frankly, I wasn't too sad about. 

This miraculous event (good luck? bad luck?) jumpstarted me into finally making some decisions about decorating the dining room. Since then, I've painted, aquired some new chairs, and had the curtains redone.

Next up is the perfect piece of art to replace the mirror. I think I've found one, but I'll save that for another post. But I had to fill in the space for the holidays, and had a wonderful time lettering this great framed chalkboard with a familiar Christmas sentiment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a really great time making this piece. I found a few fonts that I liked and typed out the appropriate words. I used those as a guideline for my own lettering, and thought it worked pretty well. A great tip: a small pencil sharpener works on chalk, and lets you get that sharp point you need for outlining letters.  Oh, and buy twice as much chalk as you think you'll need!

Thank goodness for all the great blog entries and Pinterest pins that provided inspiration for this make-it-work moment!

 

Box it Up

I'm constantly inspired by floral arrangments that I see at other people's homes, at restaurants, and in the plethora of catalogs that arrive, especially around the holidays, full of lush gift baskets and beautiful florals.

For years, I've loved the arrangments I've seen in the Olive & Cocoa catalogs. I've never actually purchased one, but as the stack of accumulated tearsheets in my office can attest, I am inspired. I love the use of boxes as vessels, and the tight arrangement of stems and moss.

In anticipation of hosting a big dinner for 15, I knew I wanted centerpieces that were low, but striking. I knew the dinner would be slightly chaotic with lots of people, kids, talking, passing of food and drinks and didn't want the centerpieces to be in the way or have to be moved. 

I knew that this would be the time to break out that stack of tearsheets and see what I could do! Here are a few that I love:  

I've had a few wooden boxes stuffed in the basment for years, and now, after lining with some plastic and filling them with Oasis, they finally got put to use! I took my inspiration photos to the flower market with me. While they didn't have all of the specific flowers I was looking for, I found that we were able to come up with some great replacements.

While they certainly don't replicate the Olive & Cocoa arrangments, I think they are pretty fabulous!

 I used two arrangements, spaced down the middle of the table, with gold mesh fabric woven around and through. There was plenty of room for food and wine, and beautiful arrangments to look through and across, while enjoying everyone's company. They stayed fresh for quite a few days, andI thoroughly enjoyed looking at them each meal after the party!

Terrarium Love

It's well known around these parts that houseplants and I simply do not get along. Now, don't get me wrong, I love plants. And I have some serious thoughts about outdoor flower beds and gard 

ens, and some pretty big plans for my future.  But indoor plants ... blech.

I see them, those tempting indoor plants, at the garden center, I am inspired and think "Oh, that is just the perfect fern/succulent/ivy to fill that gorgeous cachepot/planter/box that I've had sitting around." 

And that's just what it does ... sit around. Without light, without water. No fail, I forget about it. 

Enter the terrarium ...

Supercute tiny plants make them appealing. I have scads of apothocary-type glass jars that I love to fill with decorative items throughout the year. And they are fairly self-sustaining ... a dribble of water now and then and they are happy as a clam.

I created three or four terrariums back in the fall, and they were flourishing at Christmastime. I kept them in the dining room, and moved them on and off the table as a centerpiece as needed. The light coming through our dining room windows is simply perfect for these creations!

This terrarium was completed before the holidays, and was full of tiny little plants that have now grown and spilled up over the edges when the top is removed. Isn't it great?

This one also has had a few months to marinate. The long fern fronds press up against the glass when closed and the other shoots are eager to emerge!

All gathered are the eleven terrariums I've finished, both back in November and more recently, with their tops removed. I can't decide whether to keep them all together in this perfect-light atmosphere, or distribute them around the house!

 

This Moment: Sweetness

Inspired by Amanda Soule of Soule Mama

Powder Room Redo: Wallpaper?

Our first floor powder room is a nice size ... it actually used to house a toilet, claw foot tub, and small vanity. When we renovated the house (and moved our bedroom from the first floor living room to the upstairs!) the bathroom returned to it's rightful roots as a powder room. 

The cabinetry matches that of our kitchen, a beautiful dark wood with black/green granite counter, and a large arch over the vanity. It is currently painted a deep purple, and wide, white shutters cover the windows.

I'm toying with the idea of wallpapering the space, just to emphasize the coziness of it all. These beautiful papers (found via the FamilyStyle blog on Babble) by Amy Butler, one of my favorite fabric designers, caught my eye.

 Field Poppies - what great color!

The same pattern, in a more subdued color choice.

  Fountain - I love the damask-like quality of this, in a sophisticated color combo.

Georgia - Is it an old-school pattern, or a more mod interpretation? 

Last but not least, Lacework. I'm drawn to medallion patterns...I just can't help it! 

All images from Graham & Brown.

Bur-lap it Up!

I consider my design style (if I have one at all!) as fairly classic and traditional with a pinch of boho and a splash of modern thrown in for good measure. I tend to watch the trends, dream about how much I love them, but can't imagine who to fit them into my own decor (hello, spa blue and chocolate! Never figured that one out in my own house.)

With baited breath, I've been waiting for the burlap-apalooza to burn itself out, but alas, it lives on! Three or four years ago, on a trip to High Point market, we observed it everywhere, usually paired with the beachy, washed-out look. Since then, I think it's gone more mainstream, but is still typically paired with light, airy colors (which won't work in my bold-colored, purple, red, and yellow interiors).

This is one trend I could embrace wholeheartedly. I love it, for the simple color, the over the top texture, and the plain old simplicity of it. However, I'm certainly not planning to ditch my lovely silk and nailhead loveseat for it, or to pull down my gorgeous drapes to redo. So I'm searching for little ways to work it into an existing plan.

Earlier this year, I found a great printed burlap runner, of sorts. Not a typical runner, it's nicely lined and not a standard size, so I imagine it could be used as a wall hanging or in another decorative use. 

 

I like to pair it with a crisp white tablecloth, and casual-down the formal dining room using everyday dinnerware and natural woven place mats. 

Moving on to the kitchen, I wanted to insert a little burlap-feel here as well. Enter this photo (Pottery Barn, I believe) as an inspiration to add some excitement to plain-Jane chandelier shades.

Now, this chandelier is nothing like the one over our breakfast table, but the shades are the same, and I knew just where I could get some cool flat braided jute trim like those.

After doing some much-delayed additional fixes to the chandelier (extending the wiring and chain, sewing a cord cover out of basic linen, and actually hanging it centered over the table - hallelujah!), the new shades added just the right touch of rough texture.

Since runners and tableclothes are such an easy way to add a new texture to a room, I whipped up a new burlap one for this table. It's just wide enough that placemats (there they are again!) overlap it just enough.

Next up, some long pillows for the back of the bench seats. I'm contemplating using a regular bed pillow, sewn up and cut longways. The fabric might be burlap, might be light linen (like the cord cover), or perhaps a mix of both. Ahhh, I do have some of that jute trim left ....  

 

Sunprint Experimenting

As a photography buff, I've always loved making sunprints. And now with the total takeover of digital photography, I enjoy taking the process back to the most basic: light, shadow, image, exposure, development.

I found this stack of small (3x3) sunprints that I made last year and tucked away in a book. I wonder what else I might find if I start going through the bookshelves?

 

I imagine these would make really lovely prints, if enlarged and framed properly. I've certainly seen such artwork sold by mass-market publishers, but why buy those when it's so easy to make your own?

Or perhaps enlarged and printed straight on canvas? The texture of that might be a nice contrast to the print.

Or tweak the settings in Photoshop to customize a color that works just right for your interiors.

 

How would you use prints like these in your home?

Now I'm off to open some old, heavy coffee table books and see what might be hidden inside!