Apr 16, 2013 Posted on Apr 16, 2013 | 4 comments

Newspaper Dress?

As I do, I was randomly poking at my fiddle phone while killing time with baby having a snack, when Pinterest popped up with this page. O M G !!! There are other paper items equally as cool on this page but this is clearly a page devoted to a collection of paper dress pictures.

I try to check out the people are who repin my stuff on Pinterest. And in this case, it was really worth it. The Pinner’s name is Homer J. And this is an example of taking this form of social media to a whole new cool level. Ooh La la. Can’t make this stuff out of digital newspapers.

These are the advertisement pages. The ones I’m putting on the bottom of the catbox.

This appears to be an art installation taken by pinner Adunt possibly in London (from her Flicker photostream).

And how about these?

I just can’t stand how beautiful they are. Take a simple medium and let the creativity out of the cage. As with writing, the medium is just that. The talent screams through the medium. To those who would mock this Pinterest practice, Kathy, this is the stuff I get a jazzy jolt of creative craziness from. Visit my Pinterest page to see what other pretty stuff I’ve been oggling.

Mar 5, 2013 Posted on Mar 5, 2013 | 2 comments

Trading Spaces

When we first moved to or house in the boonies, I discovered the Home and Garden Network on my new cable box/best friend. We were renovating the house on a “budget”, as in cheaply as possible without making any real progress that money would require. Channel 43 became my bestest friend outside of General Hospital which I maintained a relationship with far longer than is admittable here.

So HGTV housed all the tips, inspiration, and TV personalities I could handle. My favorite shows were ones where a room would be redone in half hour and included Design on a Dime andDecorating Cents. But my very favorite was the unforgettable Trading Spaces from TLC. Even before I was a was a Design Star fan, and it’s more upscale brother Bravo’s Top Design, I was devoted to Trading Spaces. It premiered 3 months after we moved. And had an impressive seven year run.

This was a reality show produced with the premise that two neighboring families would switch houses for 24 hours and completely redecorate one room in each others houses with the “help“ of a designer. It was crazy and fun. I recently found myself thinking about the show as I contemplated a gallon of Venetian plaster I have yet to use.

Venetian plaster was a favorite medium of designer Doug’s. Those poor homeowners up all night polishing, sanding, and waxing those Venetian plaster walls into the perfect sheen that Doug impressed himself with in his design. He was always right. Until that time he painted everything in the couples’ room white.

Doug and Hildy were known for designing for looks and not for comfort. Many a person walked into their “new” rooms and wondered how they’d be comfortable watching their TVs. Where was their TV anyway?

But the designers who cared about comfort, Vern and Genevieve specifically, ended up with their own shows. I loved Genevieve’s style. From papering the walls with pattern tissue pieces to drawing her own charcoal bull for artwork (did I mention the budgetary factor?), she always valued the artistic and the aesthetic and the comfort for the homeowners.

Design should be both visually pleasing and inhabitable. The most talented designers figure this out within the parameters of the homeowners tastes. And surpass their expectations. And I do so miss the drama that was Trading Spaces. I can not even watch HGTV anymore with all the house selling and buying shows.

Apartment Therapy did a pretty comprehensive retrospective and homage to the show back in 2011 that you can find at this location.

 

 

 

Jan 29, 2013 Posted on Jan 29, 2013 | 4 comments

Handmade Butterfly Thank You Cards

 

 

 

 

You may or may not know, I had a surprise baby shower a little while back. You may or may not know that I love to do paper crafting. And so I set myself to the task of hand creating thank you cards for the all the lovely people who bestowed gifts upon me and my belly baby.

I continued with my paper butterfly theme from Christmas, added a dash of ripped whatever paper, and some old sheet music.

It took me a very long time. And I was very pleased with them. And their imperfectness.

And then I set them free in the post. Sure that I felt thankful enough of my  gracious life and wonderful friends and family.

Notice my son’s thank you note in the right hand corner. I had him make this to copy and distribute for his Christmas presents.

It was Pokemon themed.

Visually pick one out for yourself and know how very grateful I am that you have chosen to visit here and read my post and look at my pictures.

Let 2013 be a year full of gratitude. And stolen moments to revel in the awesomeness of the ordinary.

Dec 19, 2012 Posted on Dec 19, 2012 | 12 comments

Preview My Paper Christmas

My definition of Christmas is the Holy Spirit of Creativity. Every year I aspire to get lost and recover there. This year, my inspiration comes from what I’ve been pinning on my paper Pinterest board. My blog Moodboard begot the folded fan butterflies. The butterflies were then incorporated into the leaf wreaths and gifted to friends. I felt the theme needed a continuance in my holiday decorating.

I prescribed myself a task. To create a white wreath and some white butterflies to go on the tree. Standing at the craft room table, I eyed the box of 60-year-old cards. And saw the envelopes.

At nighttime, the white will pop out on the tree, as will any red.

I love the way the stamps and the flaps of the envelopes give their origin away. I love the color of browned white. The half a clothespin was a given for the body. Lastly, I added silver wire for the antennae. Embellished with map leaves or glitter or a colored pencil outline, they make really sweet adornments for packages as well.

Although I’m very happy with my holiday decorating, I am not completely happy with the pictures. So this is a teaser. A Full post to come in one more day.

 

Nov 4, 2012 Posted on Nov 4, 2012 | 7 comments

Ball Jars

 

I am amused, tickled, and sometimes irked at the resurgence in popularity of the Ball jar. I have always had a ‘thing’ for these glass canning containers. As a shop owner of a gift and antiques store, they were a staple. I always scarfed up box loads full of ball jars when I came across them at flea markets or estate sales. And I’d refuse to pay more than a couple bucks for a box full. As we come to find out, their uses are many.

Personally, I did the sand/candle/jar combo on my cocktail tables at my wedding 11 years ago. And had hanging versions on a horse harness thinger on my porch like a chandelier. You have to put lids on them to keep out the rain though. I love the hanging votive versions and the jar of wedding flowers attached to a ceremony aisle chair. I’m especially drawn to flowers arrangements in the blue ones. And the light fixtures with lids in tact and bottoms gone are coolio.

I’d say I am almost pretty much done with the recipe in a jar however. But the exception would be my friend’s “Brains” in a jar favor for Halloween. It was both yummy and really cool looking too. Raspberry brains, my favorite.

I also kinda like the drink with a straw and a lemon twist in the jar on a hot day. The pre-made jars of drinks in the washtub is nice too. The hose-clamp holders to hold them up on the wall is clever. Especially as planters, scissor, or pencil holders. Always about the sculpture with a practical twist. Same with the garden gate.

So the Joanne’s advertisement didn’t surprise me. The craft they used for the picture is a nice picture mixing scrap-booking with the jar.  And I created a self-esteem booster jar with a Ball jar for another post and of course, I think that was just fabulous.

So here’s to all the other uses of ball jars besides its official canning purpose. Because you know I’m terrified of the process of canning. What with the possibility of Botulism and all. Happy crafty time.

Love,

Shalagh

PS  All opinions welcome on this and any other subject you’ve found me pontificating on.