Kid art explosion

Kids produce art at alarming rates. I love this display idea. (Photo: Isabella & Max Rooms Via madebygirl)

Then add flooring

Thinking of using Flor tiles for the cement office floor. Maybe this combination will be too much when paired with my new curtains.

First step: Make curtains

Here are the curtains I made for my new basement office:


Hanging up they will look way better, I assure you. The fabric is "Garden Trellis" by Michael Miller. It's lovely and graphic and the pink is not too pink, but more of a raspberry sorbet. Using the ribbons for curtain tabs was an afterthought, but I love orange and pink together.

Here's my Colourlovers palette for the room:

Here's another inspiration picture from Elle Decor:


I love the breezy feeling in this picture and the Roberta Roller Rabbit blanket in the background really should be mine.

Can we go?

Date: 1/5/2010
To: Hubby Chris
From: Alice
re: Vacation to Palm Springs

Below, I've illustrated some of the top reasons why we should go to Palm Springs in March. Please advise.

Exhibit A:
Ace Hotel Swim Club (looks totally rad):

Exhibit B:
This could be us! (in 20 years and naked, but whatever):

Exhibit C:
Disregard early photo of nudists and check out the robots:

Exhibit D:
And the cacti:

Exhibit E:
Joshua Tree is nearby:

Please respond.

Best,
Your wife

Charlie Brown Christmas

Screenshots from the best Christmas movie ever.

A room of my own!

We're almost done with the downstairs room and I'm so excited to finally have a room of my own! Growing up, I shared a room with my younger sister until I was 13 and as an adult I've had my own room for a cumulative three years, the rest of the time sharing with live-in partners. That means I've only had my own space for eight of my *cough* 36 years.

I've had so many day dreams about what the room will look like, what color paint, what pictures I'll put on the walls, what type of rug, etc.

Here are some of my inspirations:

Fabric: Amy Butler, Inspiration boards via Decorology

A Drawer Full of Cuteness

Isn't this the sweetest idea? Sharilyn, the mom and blogger behind lovelydesign created these perfect sized boxes to hold her daughter's dishes and cutlery. It's such a kind way to help a toddler stay organized. She also kindly included directions to make perfect boxes of any size. So cool!

Well aren't you the horse's mane?

I'm detecting a trend: giant photographs of horses, especially horse manes and faces. Here are two examples:

The first is a room by Garret Cord Werner from Seattle, and the other is in the bedroom of Francisco Costa, creative director at Calvin Klein. Here's another by Tony Stromberg that could look great in a large size print:

Gorgeous imagery, don't you think?

Happy Weekend!

It's so cold and rainy here in Portland and this morning we woke up to a smashed window in the car and missing GPS. Not a fun morning of calling the insurance company, glass replacement guy, and the cops. Pretty much three people you don't want to ever talk to.

Anyway, I am looking forward to this weekend and some q.t. with good friends and maybe cleaning up the house a little. But where would I really love to be? Sitting on this porch in Mississippi with a good book and a warm breeze.


(Photo by Anne Coogan of her porch in Starksville, MS, via design*sponge)

Gorgeous Poster Art

Poster art for the film Precious by Ignition Creative. Stunning!

I've got the itch to take a road trip...

Don't you just love these gorgeous images from photographer Anna Wolf? Makes me want to load the family into a van and drive off somewhere without a map or a care in the world.

What a great way to vacation!

(Photo by Light Locations)

Looking for the perfect table lamp. (Are you out there?)

We're in the market for a really cool table lamp; a piece that is surprisingly difficult to find. We have some parameters: It should be big enough to make a statement on the large side table near the couch, but not heavy in case the baby finds a way to bring it down, and should cost less than $150.

Here are some of the contenders:







(I like this one because it will give the room a shot of color.)

(From top: Hi-Light Task Lamp from PBTeen, Phoebe Table lamp from Crate and Barrel, Jack lamp from Crate and Barrel, 60 Degrees Table Lamp in Red by George Kovacs )

I have such a creative girl crush!

I love the photos by this talented group of photographers who gathered in Marfa, TX for a creative convergence and have the photographic evidence to prove it!



(Photos by brooke schwab texas, millie holloman north carolina
sarah rhoads washington eliesa johnson minnesota kelly moore louisiana
carmen nauseff ohio melanie mauer kentucky cheryl muhr texas kristy behrs oregon lyndzee ellsworth california amy smith florida laura muehlendorf virginia shannon sewell washington jesse chamberlin georgia davina fear north carolina)

Why drive a Jag when you can drive a cupcake?

I love the idea of riding around my (imaginary) estate in a cupcake-shaped car! It is battery powered, tops out at 7 mph, and I'm not sure, but I think the hat comes with it.

(From the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book, 2009)

Vintage oversized sunglasses. So cute!

I'm a huge fan of sun glasses. I love these vintage ladies and their specs!





(All from the LIFE archive. Photo #4: Carole Lombard from 1938 by Alfred Eisenstaedt)

My life would be so much better if I had endless amounts of money...

I was wheeling the baby through the Pearl District this afternoon and had to check out Anthropologie. Oh, that store makes me SWOON! It's like they've created all of the clothes that I believe I should wear and the home decor I believe I should own and then placed them in one gorgeous menagerie of a store to taunt me.

For instance this top:



I would be so much happier if I owned it.

(Flourishing Filigree Top, $68)

Isn't this the neatest?

"We Grew Together,"mixed-media illustration by Angela Stasio available here.

Instant art! "Stella and Sunburn"

I've been looking for just the art for our bathroom since we moved in. I wanted something that could go with the blue bell walls and giant yellow straw tote bag that sits atop to loo and is really the only other shot of color in the room.

Then I found an old picture featuring my sunburned legs and my dearly departed dog, Stella. We'd spent a summer day at Fire Island, NY without any sunscreen and I wanted to document my own stupidity, but then Stella got into the frame.

Anyway, I did some color correction and made it more yellow and then sent it to Snapfish to blow it up. I'll let you know how it looks in the bathroom...

In love with love

I'm in love with love. Ooey, gooey sweet and ridiculous love. Pass it on...









(Photos: #1-3, by me, #4 & 5 by I Love You Cards iloveyoucards.org, #6 by Chris Paynter)

More vintage phones!

I'm loving these British phones available at Sweet Bella!

(My pink Starlite phone is still for sale on Etsy!)

Decorating with dishes.

I have a *small* collection of cream-colored commemorative plates featuring pictures of churches. I know, kind of random, but they are so sweet that I can't resist them.

But, how to display a plate collection without making it look too granny or cluttered? Here's a great display that is both cozy and elegant:



(Via The Ten Cent Designer)

New Items in the store!

Here are two vintage pieces I listed today. Check them out! :)

My Margot Tenenbaum Dream

I'm finally parting with my lovely pink 1960s Starlite phone. (You can buy it here.)

I bought it at the height of my Margot Tenenbaum obsession, particularly the idea of taking to the bathtub for long soaks while chatting on my pink Princess phone and sneaking cigarettes.

In reality, vintage phones operate in a different era. This one had a four prong adapter that would have also connected it with the home's ringer. Thus, when I rewired it and used it in my apartment in NYC, I also connected another (less attractive) vintage phone that did have a ringer in another room, but I'd only answer the pink phone. Annoying, I agree.

Though I don't use it, I'll miss it. But maybe I'll miss Margot more.

p.s. You can win a free name plate! Check out my contest on Katydid and Kid!

Find: Bell'occhio in San Francisco, Je t'aime!

Here's a store that will inspire gasps and squeals of joy: Bell'occhio in San Francisco has so many European-favored items, you'll think you've died and come back as Amélie.

Anniversary luxury!

My very sweet husband made reservations at The Nines for our anniversary last weekend. It was great to finally see what everyone's been talking about since the hotel opened last year in the building that formerly housed Meier & Frank. (I have to admit, I was skeptical of the transition, I mean, Meier & Frank was THE place to shop downtown for decades. To replace M&F with Macy's with a hotel on top was just one more homegrown Portland landmark gone to the national chains.)

BUT, I loved it. The room had plenty of glamour, including chandeliers, a powder blue fainting couch, dark woods and a marble shower. Very fancy. (One quibble: No in-room coffee maker!)

If you are in Portland, I'd recommend a night at The Nines for some large living.

Craft is not a dirty word.

I found fiber artist Sonya Philip via the American Craft Council's site. She combines knitted and felted pieces with clay and other materials resulting in some gorgeous pieces that transcend the limited description of "craft."

Called "Spleens," these red clay faces are painted with oil paint and encaustic medium then stitched to hand knit bodies.

Her Etsy store holds delights such as this knitted lamp. It must give off a gorgeous glow.

Aprons: What do they mean?

I have an automatic response to aprons: They make me uncomfortable. It's not that I disapprove of their function, rather I bristle at their implication that I should be in the kitchen AND looking good! To me, they are better left in another era, one when my grandmothers toiled silently dressed in colorful aprons they stitched themselves.

And yet, these adorable aprons from Jessie Steele might make me change my mind:

Pattern Making

I have a sweet 1960s top that just doesn't fit right. (Have you ever noticed that the necklines in vintage clothes are tight?) Anyway, I can't part with the shirt because I love the print so much.

In an effort to save the shirt and the pattern, I've been trying to replicate the pattern to print on another fabric. Of course, this meant I had to learn how to create a repeating patter for a length of fabric which is like, really hard. ;)

First I scanned the shirt and came up with this:
Then, I used a tutorial by Julia Rothman I found on Design Sponge and created this pattern:

Only, I haven't exactly lined it up perfectly, so this is only a snapshot of the whole thing.

Now that I've learned how to create a repeat pattern, I'm obsessed with it. I'm thinking of patterns all day long. I curse the Internet!

Flashback Friday: A Family Affair

For today's Flashback Friday, I'm focusing on the family. Or, what family and family spaces looked like back in the 1970s.

First up, what looks to be a very fun family picnic:

And then on the next page (literally, you turn the page) and see this ad for a fridge repair service.
So, being a suburban housewife is like, so not fun. But here's a nursery that is all cheer (love the sunflower wallpaper!):

I love this sweet cover for a 1971 children's magazine from the makers of Golden Books:

This picture struck me: You just don't see kid buns in magazines anymore!


Have a happy Friday my lovely readers!

My Last Carmel Post: Gates and Doorways

For my last Carmel post, I wanted to share some of the town's gates and doorways. (I wish that the light had been better, it was so cloudy!)

Wedding Wednesday: Family Wedding

I wanted to share some snaps I took at my brother's wedding last weekend. It was one of those weddings where everything was perfect, not one false eyelash out of place!

The gorgeous table floral arrangements with roses, dahlias and blackberries:

At the Carmel Mission, the ceremony's location:
A Tiffany-blue wedding cake in a ranch setting:
Sweet paper lanterns:
My niece Ava, one of the flowergirls:

Alison & Franny sampling the chef's fresh blackberries:

Great idea for hot weather: Succulents in containers.

I just returned from a family wedding in lovely Carmel, CA. The reception was held at the Holman Ranch where the gardens nearly outshined the view of the rolling hills of Carmel Valley! I was particularly inspired by their use of cacti and other succulents in terra cotta containers. Here are some pics:




I'll post more pics from my adventures around Carmel. Stay tuned!

Lotta Prints

I finally bought a copy of Lotta Jansdotter's Lotta Prints. So many great ideas and inspiration. Her designs are simple and organic--probably deceptively simple. But I'm excited to try out the prints carved from potatoes or leaves from the garden. I'll let you know what turns out!

Freeling pretty beachy...

Here's a sweet beach house in the Hamptons, yet the style is very cozy and swanky at the same time, don't you think?

(From House Beautiful, Interior Design by Leslie Klotz, Interview by Frances Schultz, Photographs by Laura Resen, Produced by Elana Franke)

Giving a little hustle.

Sorry that I haven't posted in two days! I've been working on marketing and promotion of our new store and that takes a lot of effort! My efforts did earn a mention on Babble's blog, though. But no sales yet!

Evidently, the lack of sales on Etsy is, unfortunately, the norm, and this is causing quite a storm from craftspeople who see Etsy as their path to riches. Here's a very interesting article from CNN/Money about the Etsy backlash and the company as a whole. Bottom line: Being an artisan will not make you rich, that is for sure. The most successful sellers are out there all of the time and getting exposure through blogs, word-of-mouth, and even *gasp* advertising! It's just not enough to be on Etsy. You have to give a little hustle.

Summery patterns will make your bed.

Oh, I'm so excited about this! Roberta Roller Rabbit, the popular NYC store just opened a new online shop. I love love love the patterns and colors in her collection of homewares and their signature kurta, a soft cotton tunic perfect for the beach. Now, which one do I want...

The NEW annabelle store!

I'm so excited to tell you about our new store on Etsy! Perfect as a shower gift, these personalized name plates are handmade by moi and you can choose between four different paper styles. Super cute, no? And, they're only $15, so go buy one! We'll be adding more items soon: vintage clothes and fun stuff, so stay tuned.

Pretty pretty book papers

Check out Hollander's gorgeous Italian decorative book papers. The uses are endless: posters, art projects, wrapping paper... (These are mostly details from larger pieces, but still pretty, no?)

Wedding Wednesday: Wedding Posters

Flat wedding invitation too boring? How about a poster? I love the designs by Unless Someone Like You. Perfect for a save-the-date or an invitation that's sure to be saved rather than thrown in the recycling bin.

Print to your heart's desire!

Have you ever heard of Spoonflower? It's a website where you can upload your own fabric design and they'll print it for you. Genius idea for crafty folks, indeed! What's so great is the cost is comparable to buying fabric retail ($18-32) and you can order test swatches for $5. I love it! Being a textile designer has always been one of my secret career dreams (yoga teacher and psychiatrist being the others), and here's my chance to play with designs with very little commitment in terms of money or lifestyle changes...

(Top to bottom: Yellow birds clutch. Made with fabric from the artist Karin Grow printed by Spoonflower Fabric Designs. "Ornamenta100" by Jamaica Byles. "Baby heads" by Sara Lechner. "Rain Drop Repeat" by Katy Harris.)

Flashback Friday: Polaroids

Perhaps you've heard about the Impossible Project, a plan to recreate an instant film like the late, great Polaroid film. While so much of the past is destroyed, I'm hoping the Impossibles can make a film as good or better. There is something so melancholy about Polaroids, the way the light is muted and the edges are never crisp.

Anyway, here is an image gallery I put together from a huge collection of reader Polaroids sent in to the NY Times. There's a story here somewhere...

All Polaroid images from NY Times blog, Lens by David W. Dunlap:
Greenery: Jonathan Hankin
North Carolina state fair: Julia Parris
Poppies: Pascale Simon
Home: Kari Hartmann
Cupcake: Amanda Gilligan
Drive-in: Kari Hartmann
Red shoes: Paula Brandao
Curtains: Catherine Buca

Free is a very good price!

Bargain alert! For the next 10 days, Urban Outfitters is offering free shipping on selected furniture. If you are in the market, now's the time!

(Images: Urban Outfitters)

Wedding Wednesday: Wedding Most-Certianly-Dos

Last week I wrote about wedding ideas that probably sounded like a great idea at first, but in reality should have been forgotten. This week, let's focus on wedding ideas that are memorable and tons of fun:

1. Don't wear white: I love this dress (above) worn by Essie in her wedding to Sara-Jane. Made from 13 yards of silk by a theater costumer, it's lovely and grown-up at the same time.

2. A choreographed dance: My friends, Jon & Larisa, an otherwise very intellectual and sedate couple, busted so many moves with their wedding dance that the entire crowd gave them a standing ovation. Take the time to learn a dance and then do it. (Remember that couple who learned and performed the entire "Time of My Life" routine from Dirty Dancing at their reception? Genius! Or how about doing the "Thriller" dance?)

3. Photo op: I'm a fan of a Polaroid station where people can snap their pics and then write a message to the happy couple. Or go crazy with a backdrop and costumes.

(#1 via Off Beat Bride)

Feeling yellows, blues & greens

Some fabric finds:

What a fine coincidence that this lovely fabric is also named Annabelle! ("Annabelle Oasis" by Liz Claiborne Home):


Here's a fabric that makes me want to go for a swim ("Aqua Tile Mosaic- Lantern Bloom" by Laura Gunn for Michael Miller):


Here's a rich blue historic print that comes from the archives of the Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia ("Williamsburg Tucker Resist Bird" in indigo, by Waverly).

Mon cheri, where have you been all my life?

As the mother of a 6-month-old, I can indulge my love of toy animals, such as this little cutie, Stinky Le Skunk by jennylovesbenny bears.

Can this music video be turned into a room?

Here's a super-dork experiment: Can this music video be turned into a room?

These are stills from REM's "The One I Love" video (via YouTube). I've always loved the hot Southern afternoon this video evokes, along with the dilapidated interiors and creative use of fireworks. Very moody. So here are the stills:

And here is the room:

Fun! Any other ideas for a video that has great interior design inspiration?

(Video stills taken from YouTube, Photo via katy elliott)

Flashback Friday: Look Fabulous Wherever You Are!

Happy Friday! I'm off for a few days. I'll be back next week with some fabulousness. Until then, ta ta my lovelies!

Wedding Wednesday: It seemed like a good idea at the time...

There are always a few misfires in every wedding plan. Ours was not spending $2,000 on catering and instead having a potluck. A bad idea we are still kicking ourselves over. I've uncovered a few other choice cringe-worthy wedding ideas...:

1. A memory book the bride & groom would rather forget. An "alternative" guestbook by NYC planners Melangerie encouraged guests to “air out” the bride and groom’s dirty laundry by writing their misdeeds on cute little paper cut-outs.

2. A wedding cake that looks like the bride. Hmmm, just disturbing on so many levels.

3. Theme wedding. I'll bet that if I'd suggested we have a Star Wars theme wedding, Chris would have been ALL OVER IT. Just imagine the flower Yoda! (I think the only reason why I'm putting this in the "don't" category is that theme weddings are a bit of a drag for the guests. They have to rent a costume and pin their hair into giant Princess Leia donuts...)

4. A choreographed high-five. How about no.

I'll be back next week with some wedding dos!

A Tower of Talent

Kate Towers is a fabulously talented designer here in Portland, Oregon. Her aesthetic, full of frills and feminine details, influenced a whole generation of DIY designers who aspired to sell their designs in her store, Seaplane. I stumbled on her etsy store and then took a closer look at her portfolio online. Pretty amazing stuff.