Planties

Ivy

Lavender

Moss

Ivy

Maiden Hair Fern

Moss

Ivy

Button Fern

Moss

Custom Batik Bedding

This project is since done and (almost completely) sold.. but definitely worth sharing. Over the summer my boss picked up 2 really cool cotton batik tapestries. One in a blue/green color way and one that was sort of pink with red stamped accents.

This is the bedding (2 Euro Shams, 2 Standard Shams, 1 Kidney Pillow) that I designed to sell on the showroom floor with the pink/red/mustard colored version. Each of the 26" Euros are backed with a really soft linen in a rainy blue-gray. The standard shams have a quilted 2" flange and are accented with a Kravet mother-of-pearl shell trim. Likewise, the kidney pillow is trimmed with the same shell trim and a custom tapestry banded trim. We displayed the pillows, on an Black Iron bed with a really cool vintage-y bedding line that we just picked up.

(Prices ranged from $299.00 - $328.00) 

There is still one standard sham available that we're using as an oversized lumbar pillow on a cool cotton linen slip-covered sofa. I'm  still in the process of figuring out what to do with the second piece.

Walking - Hart Park

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have breaks between classes from 8-10 and 11-1. Naturally, 11-1 seems like a practical time to eat lunch so I'll like do that and catch up on reading, etc. However painful it might be to get up in time for my 7:00 "Yogalates" class, the break between that class and the next is even 10x more annoying. Today I made an attempt at walking along the trail behind Hart Park in Orange. 

Dan and I, when I could convince him that it was a good idea, used to walk this trail from Main to Tustin a few times a week.. for exercise, sun exposure.. and fun :) Somehow it wasn't the same and I made it about 10 min before turning around and going to Starbucks. It's too bad people my age aren't into power walking. 

Oh! In sync with the "TO DO" theme... This is a great walking trail and lots of big family-friendly events take place at this park... In the summer they have Concerts in the park and on some weekends all of the Rockabilly Vintage Car lovers bring their refurb'd Model ... whatevers. This is what finally convinced Dan that the walk was a great idea :)

Terrarium Fun

A past "TO DO" I felt worth sharing. One of my summer projects at work (a McKee and Company Interior Design and Fine Furniture) was to design and plant these adorable moss covered terra cotta terrariums. The idea in and of itself was great. "Things" (as my boss likes to put it) like this set our store apart from all the other chatchka (sp?) out there. So I read a little about the concept and drove to Costa Mesa to select the species that liked a lot of water and not very much sunlight (we're using them inside.) 

The first round I bought a maiden hair fern  (see above) and paired it with a little button fern, added some moss and preserved lichen and called it a day. It was surprisingly easy to assemble and didn't require a skilled eye for design. I have now attempted 3 rounds of terrarium plantings and failed miserably at all three.  I even tried orchids, despite rumors of their fickle temperament... Surprise Surprise.. those died too.

Every group of terrariums adds a nice splash of organic "specialness" to the store for about 3 days... After that, bugs, spiders, and mold overtake the cluster and I'm instructed to throw them out and start again. Despite my failure, it's a brilliant idea... Plants that essentially water themselves! 

Frame Wall

The first thing on my "TO DO" list... a task that is very much underway... is to read Mary Gilliatt's Interior Design Textbook. Since I have plans to continue my already prolonged education to include an associates degree in Interior Design at Wade College in Dallas. Since I already have to job to which the technical skills could be applied, I might as well get a jump start on the whole process and make sure THIS is it. 

Side Note: I am unusually comfortable with the lack of cohesiveness in my life plan right now. The plan is currently more like a to do list. This life "TO DO" reads something like this:  Pursue a career where I can express myself creatively while integrating my lifestyle. 

On a totally different note... This is project No. 1 -- appropriate for my condo or future loft style apartment. 

Project No. 1: Frame Wall.

I would really like to collect lots of sizes and shapes, all complimentary colors, of frames.  (I'm currently really into shades of green... but even using shades of silver, gray, and naturals against a cool green wall would be awesome!) Once I get to the point where I feel comfortable posting the finished product... I will. 

For now. Here's the inspiration for this project:

Change of Pace

Dan and I initially created this blog with the intention of documenting many of our delightful explorations during our tenancy in South Orange County. In July of last year, an immediate curtailment of our shared living situation led to the inevitable discontinuation of entries to this blog. However, as of lately, I've begun to wonder if I could continue to use this as an outlet to share more than "places to go", and focus more on the "things to do." For any of you who know my tendencies, you know my fond appreciation of the "To Do" list... Therefore, I am drawn to the idea of blogging for that purpose. This entry marks the beginning of my interminable "TO DO" list.