annabelle at home

Road Food: Astoria, Oregon

2012-01-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

I loved everything about Astoria Coffee House & Bistro: the food, the coffee, but especially the decor! Very vintage chic.

L'Amour Fou art

2011-11-16T12:01:00.000-08:00

I'm crazy about the opening and closing titles for the film "L'Amour Fou" as illustrated by Aurore Giscard d'Estaing after Yves Saint Laurent's own designs.

What did I think about the actual film? Well, it was interesting to see how much of a toll being in the background can take on a person. Pierre Bergé, partner in love and business with Yves Saint Laurent for 50 years certainly loved his husband, but the film painted a dark portrait of Saint Laurent as someone difficult to love and live with. In one part, Bergé says that he only saw Saint Laurent happy twice a year: at the close of his runway shows each year. Within 24 hours of the end of applause, Saint Laurent would descended into a deep, deep depression. Perhaps it's not surprising that Bergé would want to sell the artwork they'd acquired together over the years, that they did not bring good memories, instead a reminder of a bittersweet life. Who knows. For his part, Bergé seems quintessentially French: stiff, reserved, formal, unsentimental. Not really a fuzzy bear to come home to.

Yet, I thought about how much of Bergé's own ambition was set aside in order to facilitate the life and business of the manic artist. Another casualty, it seems of Saint Laurent was his "muse" Loulou de la Falaise who the Guardian called "a fixer, friend and supportive shoulder to" Saint Laurent, but, given other circumstances could have had her own fashion empire without living in the shadows.

Ahhh, fashion. It's really not so glamorous underneath it all.

All aboard!

2011-10-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

I saw this train on the tracks outside OMSI and I just about had a design-induced heart attack! What a gorgeous color combination! What tremendously cool fontage!

This is an actual operable train, though I have not been on it or taken a journey on a train in many, many years. I might be convinced to take Amtrak if it looks this great...

Summer's Last Splash

2011-09-01T20:54:00.000-07:00

Richard Christiansen is the fantabulous brains behind Chandelier Creative in NYC. His weekend getaway house in Montauk is bedecked with fabulous vintage linens, Anthropologie globes hanging from trees, witty phrases written in lipstick on bathroom mirrors, and on and on. It's a glorious place and not any of it, down to the Hawaiian shirts made into cushions lining the dock is a mistake or the result of happenstance. As Penelope Green of the NY Times describes him:

Having grown up helping his parents package “the authentic Australian experience” for Japanese tourists on their farm (putting frozen crabs into a river to be “caught”), Mr. Christiansen is adept at creating stage sets and finding shortcuts that read as authentic.

Having worked with Richard for almost two years in NYC, I can attest to his nearly insane level of creativity. It comes out of his pores and he lives and breathes his work. Quite inspirational really*. And authentic, actually. He really loves his friends and the (usually) gorgeous creatives that surround him. So if he had to work extra hard to create an authentic surf shack, it wasn't fake. There was a lot of heart in there too.

(I love what Richard does, but I couldn't live the life he does, or did back nearly 10 years ago when we worked together. But what's inspirational was that even back then he said he wanted to have his own agency and he worked his ass off and did it. And did it fabulously, I might add!)

Photos: 1-3 via Garance Doré, 4 & 5, the NY Times.

1970s Film Posters

2011-08-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

Fun & funky movie posters from the 1970s (Via wrongsideoftheart.com)

Basement Office Tour

2011-08-17T09:46:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures of my office that happens to be in the basement. I like to have a bed in my office not so much for napping (which comes in handy when I'm having a George Costanza moment) but for making piles of projects that might otherwise end up on the floor.

I'm also a big fan of bulletin boards:

I try to rotate pictures, but I love all of these images so much that I can't bear to take them down. There are Walker Evans postcards, paint chip samples, variations on "reclining lady" paintings, a poster from Leslie and the Ly's when they played in Portland, a trailer park motel in Arizona that I want to live in... But one of my favorite images is below, next to the zebra:

That's Leigh Bowery, a performance artist, and his parents. I absolutely love these two very proper British parents posing for a picture with their son who happens to be wearing completely crazy makeup. To me, it's the ultimate in acceptance of both child and parent. Or as they say in Hair: "Be whoever you are, do whatever you want to do. Just so long as you don't hurt anybody."

Here's a little nook that I crammed a bookshelf into and topped with one of my father's taxidermy birds:

This is a little vinyl letter art that inspires me:

Little Person lost in the desert.

2011-07-10T11:34:00.000-07:00

What a terrible way to go.

Toddler appliqué!

2011-05-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

About a week ago, I found this adorable T-shirt at Target. The very next day, the adorable shirt was involved in a very sad incident involving dirt, mustard, and other unknown staining agents. Upon washing, the multi-colored stain extended over the entire front of the adorable shirt. But, I refused to throw it away. So, I used a vintage pillowcase from my fabric scrap bin and cut out a rose design, pinned it so that most of the appliqué could cover the stain and sewed it on with my sewing machine. Here's the adorable shirt before:

And after:

Still adorable!

Little People Overboard

2011-04-05T13:22:00.001-07:00

Ikea hack: Magnetic easel board

2011-03-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

Here's Ikea's $19.99 MÅLA easel:

Seems like a pretty good deal, except that one side is a faux-chalkboard and the other other is a dry erase board. Maybe it's just my kid, but if there was a dry erase pen around, the only place it won't be used is the dry erase board. So, with $10 worth of metal sheeting from Lowes, and we've got a magnetic board for her letters:

More Creepy Little People

2011-03-10T20:26:00.001-08:00

FisherPrice Little People. Who knew what their interior lives were all about...

Creepy cool Little People

2011-03-08T20:49:00.000-08:00

These are photos that I did of my daughter's Little People collection. I love how they are so cheerful, but a little creepy.

Roadtrip

2011-01-11T14:51:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year, when it's cold, windy, and dusty gray here in the Northwest that I start dreaming of a road trip...

Images: anthropologie, rachelredlips.blogspot.com, Rob Hann via DesignSquish
Christophe Kutner

New at West Elm

2011-01-04T10:48:00.000-08:00

It seems like a new West Elm catalog appears in my mailbox every week. Every week, I'm tricked into thinking that there will be new items inside, but alas, it's the same products with a different cover. With much incredulousness, I opened their new catalog that arrived yesterday, and what a shock! New and exciting stuff everywhere!

New Year post (a few days late)

2011-01-04T10:37:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!
"Whenever I'm With You" poster by Spreadthelove

Some inspiration

2010-12-07T21:09:00.001-08:00

From the newest Lonny magazine (October/November 2010)

Yummy pink with framed Polaroids:
Textiles, textiles:
This should be my bedroom:
This is a hotel in Florence, Italy. I love how the Italians use ribbons on their drapes:
Ahhh! I LOVE this room for girls and grown up girls:

Awesome Austin Texas (with a toddler)!

2010-09-21T10:04:00.000-07:00

Last week the whole family flew down to Austin for six days of sun and fun (well, Hubby had to work for most of it). When we lived there a few years ago, before we had a kid, I knew a different kind of Austin, one where the margaritas flowed past 7 p.m. bedtime. This visit, with a toddler in tow, I wasn't sure what we'd do for fun. Rest assured, there's plenty for kids and their parents. Here's my little guide to Austin with a toddler:

1. Flora and fauna: With new and interesting species of birds, bugs, and other critters all around, Olivia the toddler chattered non-stop about the cool sights and sounds of nature. We saw turtles, frogs, grackels, geckos, and all kinds of beautiful flowers and plants that don't exist in the Pacific Northwest.

(View of the Colorado River along the train route.)

2. Zilker Park: Ride the charming green Zilker Park Zephyr through the trees and along the paths of Zilker Park. Plan ahead for times and tickets on weekends and when the weather is nice. There's also a great playground right next to the train with a variety of play structures and a super-cool music creation area.

(At Deep Eddy Pool)

3. Swimming: Rent a motel with a pool (we stayed at the totally groovy Austin Motel, which has a spacious and relatively quiet pool area). There's really nothing more interesting to a toddler than water. In Austin there are other options than a chlorinated pool, we loved wading in the cool waters of Deep Eddy, a historic pool on the banks of the Colorado River with water supplied by the river. Of course Barton Springs is incredible too, but less manageable for young kids.

4. Toy Joy: Easily the coolest toy store in town. A little spendy, but with a variety of small trinkets toddlers dig, such as a vast array of rubber duckies.

(Making "tamales" at the "In My Family: En Mi Familia exhibit)

5. Austin Children's Museum: ACM's large, open space is perfect for little ones on the run. For me, it was nice to be somewhere that I didn't have to worry about Olivia breaking something or someone. We went on a weekday afternoon when it wasn't crowded. That was crucial, since friends tell me that the weekends see an overwhelming number of tots. Check out "In My Family: En Mi Familia," a wonderful and creative interactive space inspired by the art of Carmen Lomas Garza.

6. Hot dogs: After the Children's Museum, visit Frank, located just a few blocks away on 4th and Colorado. They serve fancy Chicago style dogs (veggie dogs too!) but to a kid, even a fancy hot dog is still a hot dog. I think Olivia's favorite part was the vintage phone booth complete with a 10 cent rotary phone.

Women on the verge

2010-08-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

I'm loving these photos by Alex Prager. (She's a part of MoMA's New Photography 2010 exhibit.)

So many images about the conflicting realities of being a modern woman. Love it.

Portland food carts: An explosion of food made in trailers!

2010-08-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes, we're all aware* that Portland loves to eat food from souped-up travel trailers instead of eating indoors like everyone else. Me, I've been more than a bit skeptical of eating from a kitchen on wheels. I dunno, I barely survived food poisoning once, I'm not willing to tempt fate (or room-temperature mayonnaise) again.

So it was with great trepidation that this weekend, I ate my first cart meal: a "Mississippi Bowl" from Native Bowl at N. Mississippi and Shaver. It was incredibly delish; a vegan bbq sensation of rice, fake bbq TVP, spicy bbq sauce, and topped off with cold coleslaw. And even better, the next day? No food poisoning!

Today, emboldened by my strong stomach and curious about what other culinary delights are out there, Chris and I ventured to the North Station food carts at N. Greeley & N. Killingsworth. We both decided to try Korean street food at the bright pink trailer housing Yogio. I went for the "paper and scissors" combo that included thin veggie pancakes with cabbage and thin sauce and a variation of the Korean dish dokpoki that included hot and fat noodles with vegetables in broth. It was good, but no Mississippi bowl.

I have to say, for the rest of the warm weather this summer, I can see more cart meals in my future. It's kind of addictive: after dinner we rode bikes back to the carts to try out the handmade ice cream.

(We were just voted #1 “World’s Best Street Food” by CNN/Budget Travel.)

Post-modern wedding rings

2010-06-24T09:39:00.000-07:00

The wedding ring is a loaded object; how many pieces of metal are infused with so much hope, expectation, love and a lifetime of dreams? That's why I'm in love with Portland artist Erin Rose Gardner and her jewelery that investigates the meaning of this most significant symbol. (She's also the winner of the 2010 Oregon Arts Commission's Artist Fellowship.)

Gorgeous Design (without killing a single tree)

2010-06-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

I'm kind of in love with the new online magazine Lonny. It's got all of the best parts of dearly-departed Domino (which is no wonder since the editor is a former staffer at the magazine), but without killing any trees since it's online-only. Here are just a few of the gorgeous images:

Before and After (Or How Long Landscaping Really Takes)

2010-06-08T09:18:00.000-07:00

I think there's a desire--no doubt encouraged by HGTV shows--to have a complete landscape transformation in hours or days. This is possible, with a lot of money, but for the rest of us, redoing a landscape takes time and patience. When we moved into our house 2.5 years ago, the landscape looked like this:Yes, completely empty. We hired my brother-in-law, who's a landscaper to help us create garden spaces in the front and back yard. The most expensive part was the labor, including sod removal, bark mulch and soil application and rock placement. Here's the yard right after we put in all of the plants.

And this year:

Since we bought small plants (1 gallon or less) t's taken a while for them plants to fill out and not all of them enjoy the full direct sun during the summer. But overall, I think the front yard looks lush but not overgrown.

My Poppy Garden (No vegetables allowed!)

2010-06-07T15:52:00.000-07:00

This year, instead of using my large raised bed for planting vegetables or other practical plants, I planted a whole box of flowers, specifically poppies. I long for poppies when I see them in other peoples' yards and this year, I wanted my own. Early in the spring I put in six different seed packets to see what would actually come up. Here are the varieties I used from Botanical Interests:

And here's the result (two months later):

Because most poppies are short lived, I also put in nasturtiums and sunflowers to make sure there were flowers for the whole summer.

One thing I would do differently: plant fewer nasturtiums, find medium-sized plants to go along the front of the box. Who knew that poppies would grow over three feet high?!

Now I have many many seed pods for decor and as a source for seeds to plant next year.

Here are more pics of my flowers and their names:

Bread Seed Organic Poppy
Papaver - somniferum

Shirley Single Blend Poppy
Papaver - rhoeas

Peony Poppy Double Blend
Papaver - somniferum var. paeoniflorum

Iceland Nudicaule Blend Poppy
Papaver - nudicaule

California Poppy - Orange
Eschscholzia - californica

Flanders American Legion Poppy
Papaver - rhoeas

Outside Bed Part III

2010-06-06T15:48:00.000-07:00

On my other blog, I wrote annual outside bed posts, but since that blog is on hiatus, I'm posting pic of my current outside bed. It's a bed roll from Urban Outfitters on a pine frame made by my husband Chris. That boy is handy! And since we have killer squirrels in the yard and a never ending rainy season here in Oregon, I wrapped the bedroll with thick plastic and then covered it in white canvas. Pretty fab, no?

Refurbished Ikea Chairs

2010-05-18T13:33:00.000-07:00

A friend gave me these IKEA chairs and we've had them outside for two summers now. For some reason, they were attacked by a crazed squirrel. The attack left both chairs with scars, to wit:

But, thankfully they had covers that I could remove to sew new covers. Here they are:

First I cut the old cover along the seams and used those pieces to cut pattern pieces out of paper. The fabric is a laminated cotton, which is not water-proof, but I'm hoping it's at least squirrel-proof.

(Fabric on the right: "Big Blooms" by Kaffe Fassett for Westminster; Fabric on Left: "Little Folks" by Anna Maria Horner for Westminster.)

DIY Toddler Kitchenette

2010-04-28T14:35:00.001-07:00

My hubby Chris created the cutest toddler-sized kitchen created entirely out of recycled and re-used materials. Here's the before and after:

BEFORE: A humble bookshelf from an estate sale:

AFTER: Voila! The cutest darned toddler kitchen ever!

Here's how he did it:

Step 1: Gather the pint-sized kitchen hardware. We found the metal bowl used for the sink at an estate sale and Chris found the faucet, knobs, pulls, and plexi-glass at The ReBuilding Center in Portland. The hinges are new though. Total cost: about $8

Step 2: Get to drilling. Chris cut out the sink and faucet holes.

Step 3: My contribution: paint. I primed and painted all of the surfaces with leftover interior paint from our house:

Step 4: Oven and sink area. Chris installed a shelf on the left side (oven) and cut out the doors with the cut-out for the plexi-glass in the oven door. (I found mini-kitchen items at Goodwill including a set of plastic dishes and a tiny muffin pan all for around $11.)

Step 5: Late night paint-job. We painted the top burners with acrylic paint.

And that was it! Chris did all the hard work, and Olivia loves it.

Toddler Bloomers! (Featuring an actual toddler!)

2010-04-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

The pattern, "Britches and Bloomers" by Jackie Clark Designs was pretty easy for a beginner like me. (Thanks to some help from the Sandi of Fabric of Vision in Ashland, Oregon who walked me through the pattern and gave me some good ideas for the elastic waist.) You can't see from this picture, but there are two pockets: one on the side and one on the bum. So cute!

Toddler Bloomers!

2010-03-26T11:39:00.001-07:00

Here's my first project using my new sewing machine:
Once I get the kid in them, I'll post another pic.

Weekend In Ashland and Jacksonville, Oregon

2010-03-22T09:18:00.000-07:00

The Ashland Springs Hotel, view from the parking lot:

In Jacksonville, a tiny historic town 20 miles NW of Ashland:

Back in Ashland where they keep poppies under lock and key:

The view from my room at the Ashland Springs. Ahhhh, it was wonderful.

My Basement Office: Less dungeon and more sunshine!

2010-02-26T12:09:00.000-08:00

I'm so in love with my new office space. I have to give mad props to my husband Chris who drywalled the room and installed the window framing. Here's a little tour!

Picture 1 (above): The pencils in the Little Prince cup are from annabelle's "Pencil of the Month Club," one of my genius marketing scheme that resulted in a whole lot of extra pencils engraved with phrases like "Suitable for pocket protectors."

Picture 2: My family and a photo of my husband when we first met 15+ years ago. The window was enlarged quite a bit to make it a legal egress window. Now it floods the room with light, and unless a squirrel peeks into the window from above, I hardly notice that I'm in a basement room.

Picture 3: I painted the concrete a dark navy, though it took me two tries and $50 worth of paint from Lowes to get just the right color. The rug is the jute TÅRNBY rug from IKEA.

Picture 4: I rescued this yellow chair from its lonely life outdoors at an estate sale. I made the cushion from fabric I found at Bolt Fabric Boutique on Alberta Street, Portland.

Picture 5: My mom helped me sew these curtains. I love the pink and orange together--the top tabs are orange grosgrain ribbons and the fabric is "Garden Trellis" by Michael Miller that I found at Fabric Depot in Portland.

No art or pictures on the walls yet. I'll update soon to show the room's progress.

Lovely Jewels

2010-02-19T08:45:00.000-08:00

I got a nice email from a new jewelery shop called 24Karas. I'm loving the delicate romantic feel of their line--lots of nautical and literary references.

Inspiration Collage

2010-02-17T15:32:00.001-08:00

My office is so close to completion! I will take some pictures in the next few days, but in the meantime, here is my inspiration collage.

Kid art explosion

2010-01-30T09:31:00.000-08:00

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

Then add flooring

2010-01-21T09:01:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-20T15:08:00.000-08:00

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?

2010-01-05T15:50:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-18T12:40:00.000-08:00

Screenshots from the best Christmas movie ever.

A room of my own!

2009-12-04T14:01:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-01T19:31:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-11-21T09:21:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-11-13T10:02:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-12T09:28:00.000-08:00

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

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

2009-11-10T09:40:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-11-08T20:07:00.000-08:00

(Photo by Light Locations)

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

2009-11-01T19:51:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-10-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-10-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-10-02T16:12:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-09-23T19:29:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-09-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

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

Instant art! "Stella and Sunburn"

2009-09-13T09:36:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-07T20:23:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-09-01T09:36:00.001-07:00

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

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

Decorating with dishes.

2009-08-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-08-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

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

My Margot Tenenbaum Dream

2009-08-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-08-18T15:58:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-08-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-08-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-08-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-08-03T12:24:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-28T09:25:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-07-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-07-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-07-21T16:16:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-07-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-16T19:59:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-15T08:41:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-07-13T09:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-07-09T11:08:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-08T10:01:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-07T20:45:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-07-06T20:48:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-07-06T13:04:00.001-07:00

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!

2009-07-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-07-01T09:30:00.001-07:00

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

2009-06-30T06:53:00.000-07:00

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.

Pondering the sun.

2009-06-29T21:21:00.000-07:00

Bright sunshine art by Kate Banazi.

Flashback Friday: Q is for questions!

2009-06-26T20:37:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday! (Photo via Wardomatic)

It's a beautiful life!

2009-06-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love these photos? They are the work of the wonderfully talented Atlanta Bartlett. (Check out more of her stuff here.) Everything seems so casual and breezy and very feminine. Gorgeous!

I'm sensing a pattern...

2009-06-24T20:21:00.001-07:00

I'm in love with Indian-inspired textiles and linens. How great would it be to open the linen closet to see a stack of crisp and colorful fabrics?

(Photos: Indus Decor, John Robshaw, Plover Organic, Roberta Roller Rabbit )

Wedding Wednesday: Pick a color, any color!

2009-06-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

I'm a firm believer in picking a color scheme for a wedding and then sticking to it. Of course, the trick is to integrate your colors so seamlessly into the wedding tableau that no one even notices that the napkins match the candles which match the flowers, etc. One way to avoid being a slave to the scheme: Pick a general palette such as the citrus-hues of Mark & Allison's nups:

(Photos by Union Photo, via Once Wed)

Vintage Art Find

2009-06-22T19:56:00.000-07:00

I found the sweetest little 25-cent ceramic dish while estate sale shopping this weekend. Here it is:

A little Google-ing told me about the artist, Bjørn Wiinblad (1919-2006), a Danish painter and print maker who also did a great deal of decoration for pottery. I just love the whimsical style. Here's some of his other work mostly from eBay and poster stores:

(Images via eBay, IHeartSisterBrandt)

Picnics In the Park

2009-06-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

I'm in a picnic phase these days. Maybe it's the fact that the weather in Portland is foul for so much of the year that when the sun finally appears, I want to spend every second outdoors. (This, by the way, is the reason why Oregonians have such a high rate of skin cancer. But I digress.)

I think the easiest way to have a picnic is to grab a blanket, silverware, unbreakable plates then hit the deli counter at the grocery store for finger foods, salads, and cold drinks. Find a nice place to spread out at the park and enjoy yourself.

We have so many wonderful parks here in Portland: Waterfront, Washington, Peninsula, and Laurelhurst Parks are my favorites for dining al fresco. Do you have a special spot that's perfect for a picnic in your town?

(Photo: Blyton Vintage Picnic Basket $160 from PicnicFun.com)

Wedding Wednesday: Bridesmaids in Boots!

2009-06-17T19:05:00.001-07:00

I L.O.V.E. this wedding. The bevy of bridesmaids in blue is stunning. What a great idea to have them all wear cowboy boots. Very cool.

(Via Once Wed, photos by Our Labor of Love, Event planning by Epting Events)

Birds birds birds

2009-06-16T20:21:00.000-07:00

I saw these bird paintings a while ago and even planned to blog about them, but then, alas, I couldn't find who the artist is was or where to find them. Thanks to Sunset magazine's blog, I found them again and can now give credit to the artist: mincingmockingbird. The titles are almost was fun as the paintings!

Clockwise from left:
"Will You Please Put Down That US Magazine And Listen To Me"
"All This Leering Makes A Girl Tired"
"You May Think You Can Play Games With My Heart, But I Will Own You At Scrabble"
"He Thinks My Sudden And Terrifying Mood Swings Are Kinda Cute"

Pickled Fiddleheads & Other Discoveries

2009-06-15T16:42:00.000-07:00

I finally checked out the Saturday Portland Farmer's Market at PSU and it was fabulous! So many booths with so much Oregon bounty! We discovered one stand called Picklopolis where they sell fresh pickled veggies, kraut and even fiddleheads. For $8 we bought a variety pack and started eating it on the spot. Along with pickled delights, we also brought home natural morel mushrooms, a huge bag of green beans, and a $10 bouquet of peonies. What a treat! I highly recommend visiting the market if you are ever in Portland.

Flashback Friday: Vintage Vacation

2009-06-12T11:24:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday!

(Via thepointol.com, truusbobjantoo, www.ultraswank.net)

Wedding Wednesday: Sisters Doing It For Themselves

2009-06-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

Such a great story, courtesy of the Etsy blog. Five sisters worked together to create one fabulous day. Everything was DIY, including the silver wedding bands inspired by a gumball machine ring one sister (a jewelery designer) crafted. So sweet!

The Good Life

2009-06-08T17:02:00.000-07:00

The good life, according to Slim Aarons...

Flashback Friday: Pretty Swanky

2009-06-05T16:24:00.000-07:00

The 70s really knew how to get mellow. Dark woods, subdued lighting, clingy polyester... A recipe for some sweet, sweet, moments.

Yeah, those are cheese graters as light fixtures...

Better to use bundt pans:

This room makes me feel weird.

Weirder.
Beware of putting your love tub outdoors where the neighborhood mountain man can find it.

Have a very swanky Friday. See you next week!

(Top photo from a 1970 Look magazine, all others from the Flickr group 1970s Interior Design Pool)

For the love of pink

2009-06-04T17:08:00.001-07:00

I love that this room shows the color pink looking classy and grown-up instead of Barbie. Fabulous!

(Originally printed in Domino)

For the love of chartreuse

2009-06-04T16:54:00.001-07:00

Yummy room!

(By Amy Lau Design)

For the love of brown

2009-06-04T16:27:00.000-07:00

There are so many things to love about this room: the giant letters, the tiny boots, the cowhide rug, the guitar... Adorable!

(via Inside Out's blog--Australia)

Wedding Wednesday: Fabulous Flowers For Free (-ish)

2009-06-03T11:14:00.000-07:00

My husband loves getting things for free--or more precisely, he likes to find free things. He'll drag home wood, dirty clothes, tape measures, even plants pulled from sidewalks. I find his Freegan tendencies endearing as I've been known to save perfectly good furniture from garbage piles.

But today, we're talking about weddings and more precisely, flowers. Of all of the areas in the wedding budget to get for free (or really cheap), this is a good one. Here are some ways to save:

1. Have your wedding in a botanic garden or park with public flower gardens.

2. Have a gardener friend build flower pots and boxes filled with plants grown from seed. This is especially good for outdoor weddings.

3. Build bouquets with grasses and wildflowers you find in nearby fields. You could even let your own grasses grow and then harvest.

4. Supermarket flowers make great bouquets. Using carnations and rose sprays will stretch a small budget without sacrificing style. Expensive blooms such as orchids and lilies are overused anyway, this is a perfect way to show your individuality.

5. Use fruit, candles, and natural elements such as branches and pine cones make great centerpieces. Add flowers as necessary. (Or what about feathers?)

6. Make your own corsages. This is super easy and the materials are readily available at Michaels: florist tape and pins. Take a bloom, add an accent foliage, tape them tightly together, and voila! You've saved your money!

(Photos: Real Simple, Shelly Huynh Lewis, Southern Weddings, Our Labor Of Love)