Spring Styling at Anthropologie

to add to my collection of merchandising ideas... should I ever need them.

Been watching "Design on a Dime"

Spoiler: This entry is a somewhat hodge-podgey collection of thoughts and ideas

Why is it that I always feel so inspired when my budget for redecorating / designing my own living space is virtually nothing? Even those creative DIY projects require some kind of funding... (not to mention an outdoor location to spray paint on).

I love these light fixtures.

        

via Design to Inspire

Instead... my "To-Do" list for today has nothing fun or creative on it.

(Note: This practice is what's keeping me sane -- Writing a To-Do list everyday. I just LOVE crossing things off as I go.)

To Do

--Get rid of Bethany's stuff in the back of my "new" car/ Clean-Out center console

--Get Car Insurance

--Get a Safety Inspection

--Go to the DMV

--Call My Grandaddy

--Go to the Bank

--Go to Ikea for a desk and more storage baskets.. maybe a side table and barstools? 

--Figure out how to be unemployed (financially and emotionally)

--Keep a Positive Attitude about the "Job Search"

Favorite Quote: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last human freedom – to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstance” ~Viktor Frankl 

Wish List

Again & Again Consignment Store

Accent Chairs would really complete the "living-room" in our apartment.

But definitely not priority.

These things are higher on my list.

A small (VERY small) dinette or cafe table.

And a desk with LOTS of storage. (Unfortunately, not at all like this REALLY cute one from Palacek)

Maybe I can still get away with just buy LOTS of these little desktop storage boxes from Ikea.

I already need to go up to Ikea for more of these little guys.

BEGINNING SEWING

I really did think it would be easy to find a 3-day sewing workshop.. even a 6 week class.. but so far, I've got nothing. Nothing at the community college, nothing in Adult Ed and not anything through the Sports and Req Department. Do people offer private lessons? and sell them on craigslist.. I should check that out.

 Taken out of context, I'm guessing the 30-sec mini rant about sewing classes makes no sense... Rewind a few days:

I offered the (particularly brilliant) idea to Tracey (my bosses wife) of starting a line (under the McKee Home label, of course) of custom toss pillows. The store sells some really cool vintage burlap and linen toss pillows that pretty much fly out the window as soon as we get them in.

Here is an internet quality picture of one of them. For integrity purposes I guess I shouldn't reveal the name of the vendor. Either way, she makes these very organic looking toss pillows in all sizes and shapes. Some with shell inspired details.. others with pearly bead crosses. 

Tracey and I figured that we could make them for relatively cheap (even using really cool textured linens, like stuff in Threads by Lee Jofa collection... or just burlap)  and buying cool beads and trims from international vendors. Only problem is using our drapery/upholstery workroom for labor is pricey. Basically we left the conversation (not likely to be revisited) "I'd really love to learn how to sew" - Me "I could keep you busy for weeks making things for the store" - Tracey

Sounds like job security to me. AND I'm really interested in creating some sort of product like that and selling it on the side. If I could learn to weld I could make a fortune collecting vintage bottles and crystals to make these cross bottles that everyone are so obsessed about. (This would be a very costly set up, so not really an option) However, sewing is definitely a life skill i'd like to posses. Currently added to my to-do list: Find a sewing class... or tutor. I'd pay someone up to $30/hour to tutor me in basic sewing. 

P.S. I'm getting a sewing machine for graduation.. it's not a new beamer.. but I'm pretty stoked about it.

batik bedding II

What am I going to do with this second batik tapestry?

I really think it could look cool paired with some cool neutrals and whites mixed with really dark gray/greens.

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.

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: