per requests:: sunglasses -Karen Walker, sweater - Zara,  pants -J.crew,  shoes - Tahari ( found at Marshall's for $40.00 -holla.) gold bracelet- vintage from etsy. inset photo:: wallet - urban o., scarf - Hermes, sunglasses-same as above. Lipstick-Mac, 'Fleshpot'.

OK, this is it for my crafty posts. With the holidays coming up, and my supply of gold paint pens.... this could have gotten totally out of hand.



I found the original idea for this bag over here ( there's a tutorial if you need further instruction - but I bet you can figure this out ). I originally was going to use this, bandaid colored, bag and give it a bright neon pink stripe. I tried it and just wasn't feeling the whole vibe. And besides, I have gold paint.....a lot of it - and have gold paint, nothing is spared.



This is a project for those of us in the  'Easily Distracted' category. It takes minutes to produce. The bag is from American Apparel, runs about $50.00. Lots and lots of colors from which to choose. But I'm liking the whole neutral trend right now, and this weird, doll skin color, worked perfectly with my 'Cosby for Zara',  sweater.   Paint is a Martha Stewart, super toxic smelling product called, 'Liquid Gilding' in 'Brass'. (note- the gold is starting to flake off. I, actually like it better, but you might try a spray paint that would adhere a little better if you want it to stay )

I told you I was wielding the golden pen over the weekend. Standing in the middle of the room, looking for things to gild, nothing off limits. Actually, this project was the impetus to the whole crafty-girl weekend I had with myself. I originally saw it on a dedicated email that I get from The Glitter Guide.com (know of it? if not, check them out. They're doing a great job) . It's a rose vase/bowl, inspired by the kate spade, Cloverdale, rose bowl. These would make great centerpieces (a bit smaller maybe) marched down the middle of a long table or similar sized on a round table for 10. Also, what  great vase to have on hand when you need to bring a friend flowers and want to give them something lasting as well.

1. Glass bowl via Michael's (ugh. sorry to make you go back to that stinky, crowded place.) $3.00 approx.

2. Sharpie gold paint pens - fine nibbled and broad nibbled 

3. I used a template that I had on hand, but you could definitely, trace 2 different sizes of lids, onto paper and use those to trace around. 

um. Honestly, you just trace, and color in. The whole project, takes under 15 minutes.  I used two different sizes and staggered them. Didn't measure, just eyed it. 

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Guess, what. There's one more project that I'll post about tomorrow. I mean, it's ridiculous what sorts of crafty things you can come up with and create given a bit of inclement weather. No wonder I was always sewing and making stuff when I lived in SF and Boston. 

Stuff to do, now that your kids are back in school.

love this simple, and easy touch that anyone could do to a wall in lieu of wallpaper. And you wouldn't have the guilt of changing your mind in 6 months and wanting to do something different (me. imperial trellis wall)





Speaking of an easy little update. I found this on my IG feed the other day......

This would be so easy to recreate using a dumpster dived, piano bench and the ikea Rens. I think this works, too, because of the context. The sheepskin against the cold marble and glass is a welcome touch of fluff.

And one more DIY,  "wall treatment" ( god, I just had a flash back to 'ragged rolled' glazed walls of the early 90s bleh. ) I  found these walls in the bathroom of beautiful home store in Kansas City, MO called, "George".

This  would be so easy to recreate. If you don't have illustrating skills, relax, use vintage postcards. Or even give everyone in your family a try at creating their own postcard. I think that even an naive approach would be charming so long as it's framed, crisply by a black line as they've done above.  You'd probably also want create a stencil but only for penciling the lines in. The hand painted, imperfect paint strokes adds to the whimsy.

oh what a clever web we weave....

I'm searching high and low for a piece of cast away furniture that I can use upholstery webbing. In the meant time a bit of my inspiration.....

 

top two- via brooke gianetti

 

via the long threads

 

nice..eh? great color combo with the touch of green.

 

 

via: vignette design

I think this would be a completely satisfying summer evening project. Don't you?

why don't you.....

cross stitch a fancy iphone cover. kit here

dip cheesecake in chocolate, put it on a stick, freeze and serve at your bbq. found here

switch out the laces that the shoe came with something that says, you the man. 

found here

Ombre your nails this weekend.

 

make a lantern out of cocktail umbrellas. Tutorial here

make your own lavender simple syrup to add to lemonades and other cool refreshing drinks. 

1. Bring water and lavender to a boil.
   


2. Stir in sugar until fully dissolved.
   


3. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
   


4. Keep in the refrigerator for 3 days, then fine strain the lavender. 

or buy it here from, kate's addiction

do the math

this: 

ebay

plus this:

paint store

almost equals this:

via: waterleaf interiors

 I mean, nothing beats Red Egg for the perfect lacquered woven piece- hands down, one of my personal go-tos.  But if it doesn't fit your budget, this is a close facsimile. God I love my can of turquoise spray paint........... And ebay, on the rare occasion I can get a deal.

spare me.

Before you kick it to the curb, try a little spray therapy. 

The inspiration:







the offending party:

 

Which actually looks nice in this photo. In real life, the frame is having a 90s Indonesian 'Moment'. Fake orangey distressing and all.

 

spray, spray, spray 

...and....

Try as I might, I couldn't get the color right in this photo. It's actually the color of the inspiration photo. And it's really cute. Much cuter than before.

Off to find what else I can spray I mean, spare.

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"David Hicks is on the phone for you"

Do It Yourself. Customized, designer, wallpaper for your iphone.

1) search on your iphone browser for the wallpaper you want. I searched 'david hicks, Clarence house'

2) choose images and click on the image you want to enlarge to full screen.

3) hold the dimpled button and the on-off button on the top right similtaneously until you hear it 'photograph' the screen. 

4) go into 'Settings' - 'Wallpaper' and choose the photo from your 'Camera Roll'.

easy peasy. Also, it's like my on-line shopping trick: buy it, stick it in your 'shopping cart' and then leave it for a few days. I usually feel the itch satiated.  This keeps me from buying the real thing at every whim to change out a fabric or wall around here. Something I'd be doing every month if allowed.

DIY :: bistro awning

Ok, it's Thursday which means the week is almost done [phew] and you have enough time to pick up the necessary ingredients for a little DIY project this weekend.

Nick Olsen for Domino

Got nothing better to do this rainy Spring weekend?  Channel your inner Nick Olsen with this incredibly chic way of delineating a task specific area in a room or small space. [ by the way, he covered that Lantern with grass cloth himself. Another DIY idea for your bad-ass crafting self ]



Found over on MADE is this great, step-by-step tutorial for crafting a 'Bistro Awning' with a few detail tweaks of your own.

You could do, as Olsen did,  a more 'tented' feel by adding the Greek Key element and maybe a complimentary liner [ he rocked a pale blue in his ] this would be a, seemingly easy way to make a big difference in a room or studio space.

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And one more thing.......

I'll be speaking on a design blogger panel tomorrow, Friday, March 25th,

@ Cassina at 8793 Beverly Boulevard.

Design Blogging : L.A. Style - 

discussing the city's role as a hotspot for innovation and influence that inspires the global design communit.

Please join myself , Ashlina Kaposta from The Decorista, Christian May from Maison 21, Laura Pardini from My LA Lifestyle, and Gregory Han from Apartment Therapy Unplggd. Moderated by Scott Kramer from multibrain. 

Hope to see you there!

hitched

what is it? 

"One hell of a showcase event for brides + grooms + curious seekers of a fresh vision in wedding planning "

I was so disappointed when I figured out that I wasn't going to be able to attend last month's hippest bridal event, probably ever. I had some other plan already in place {what... I can't even remember at this point- short term memory loss } 

Hitched, the collaborative work of some of our area's most talented visual artists, party planners, collectors of cool, harbingers of hip....was, not surprisingly, a  beautiful effort chocked full of fantastic party/wedding ideas. From the tabletops to the pastel streamered, photo backdrop {below}, It's all just screams of originality and par tay. Check it out:: 

 

an array of letter pressed stationary and calligraphy::

My favorite are all of the table top displays::

>

but then the sun went down and the dj started playing that 808  and the party turned it up a notch. 

confetti snow angel

and if you're thinking, 'But this is soo up my alley! I can't believe I missed it. Will they be doing another one??' well ,yes. funny you ask. Coming in January, Hitched takes it to the desert. The Ace Hotel in  Palm Springs that is.  Get the skinny and the low down right here.

but wait, there's more! 

check out this great little super 8 film by videographer, Sharkpig::

 

all photos via:: yes, please