Sunday, August 29, 2010

Framed Fabric

Another flea market find inspired this project.  I found this flower tablecloth on the dollar table and I thought it would go well in my bedroom so I decided to find two other coordinating fabrics and frame them.  I got these frames at Ikea.  I really like how the lavender-blue and cream-tan go together. 

I was going to hang these in front of the bed but I found them to be too stimulating, so I moved them to bookshelves on the side of the bed.  I think I need to stare at a blank wall before I go to bed to quiet my mind - otherwise I will be up all night thinking about design projects!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Vintage Wood Bird Tray

I was so excited to find this tray at the Lawrenceburg flea market in Indiana a couple weekends ago.  It is so me! 

When I first picked it up and was considering buying it, I suddenly saw the moon hiding in the tray (you might have to click the image to see it better).  That totally convinced me - it is so subtle and beautiful the way it has worn down to the wood in places to make it look like clouds in front of the moon.  It makes me wonder if it was that way when it was brand new.  Intentional of not, it is lovely and I love the overall Asian flair and the scant brush strokes near the bottom.  It is amazing what treausres you can find at the flea market for less than five dollars!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Paver Patio

Before
After
Now that the paver patio is finished I finally feel like the porch project is done!  If anyone ever needs a stone mason I really enjoyed working with Tim Hodge.  He did a great job and I cannot say enough good things about him.  Send me an email and I will send you his contact info. 

I did have a moment (no, let's say a day) of freak out when the pavers arrived and they looked very grey.  I even made a trip out to the paver store to check the color and it looked different than their sample.  But I am very happy with them in the end and now the mud pit is gone! 

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Tole Tray

I found this great tole tray a couple weeks ago at Duck Creek Antique Mall.  I have been totally addicted to folk prints lately and this orange-red tray caught my eye.  I looked up exactly what a tole trays are and apparently they are typically metal trays that have been enameled and decoratively painted with a colorful design heavily influenced by folk art.  The practice of enameling and painting has been widely practiced in Asia for centuries, but tole trays seem to have emerged around the 18th century, primarily among Scandinavian immigrants in New England.

I decided to hang it on the porch and it makes me happy every time I look up at it.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Homemade Tortillas!

George has been spoiling me rotten lately by making these homemade tortillas.  He got the recipe from my mom and in typical George fashion altered it a bit.  Instead of mixing it in a bowl he uses the cuisinart and that makes it a lot easier.  He also doesn't sift the dry ingredients and uses butter instead of shortening.

If you have half an hour they really are worth it.  When they are warm they are heavenly! You can download a pdf of the recipe below by clicking here.  Enjoy!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Tsutsumi and Furoshiki

This is what I found on my pillow yesterday!  There are so many things to say about this I don't know where to begin!  First, of all I love cute surprises like this.  Second, could my hubby be any more awesome than to wrap it in this incredible flour cloth from Kate Spain?  I have had this cloth laying around for months because I was going to blog about how much I love Kate Spain and her great collection.  I am still going to blog the other flour cloths I got from her because I love love them. 

But I also have to mention that I love tsutsumi and furoshiki.  Tsutsumi is the Japanese art of gift wrapping and furoshiki are the Japanese cloths used to wrap gifts.  It is not only a very considerate, beautiful way to give a gift, but also a "green" method as there is paper waste. 

Wondering what's inside?  Check back and I will post it tomorrow on my bday!

Friday, August 6, 2010

Hollyhock August

My inspiration for this month's illustration comes from my back yard.  I am always fighting with hollyhocks because they try and grow in my garden where I don't want them.  They are very hardy and almost impossible to kill.  I actually like them but they consistently pop up in the most inopportune places.

The illustration shows the pod that forms after they flower.  They are in the genus Alcea and I was tempted to call this month Alcea August but the name "Hollyhock" is just too cute not to use.  Happy August!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Flea Market Bull

Last weekend my Dad and I went to the Lawrenceburg flea market in Indiana where we found this beefy beauty. My Dad is a collector of southwestern items so we were excited to find this super cute cast iron bull. We were surprised when we went to pick it up...we could hardly lift it! When we got home we weighed him and he weighs 15 lbs!

I tried to find similar ones on ebay but I could only find hollow cast iron bull piggy banks. I think my Dad should take him to the antiques road show to find out how much he is worth.

Monday, August 2, 2010

More Tree Pods!

OK, I know I just posted about tree pods, but who ever tires of looking at tree pods? Again, I am embarrassed to say I don't know what species this is. If anyone out there has an idea please let me know.

These photos were taken the same day as the spiral pod photos and the lighting was nice because it really illuminated the beautiful delicate skin of these pods.  Some of them seemed like they were glowing.