We love this patchwork pillow covered in antique lace, buttons, and brooches. Why keep your collections tucked away when you can put them on display?!
Showing posts with label decorating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label decorating. Show all posts
Saturday, May 19, 2012
A Pillow With A Past
We just got back from A Room With A Past, a flea style home decor and furniture collective. Once a month the "Roomies" load up a warehouse space near us in Walnut Creek with cottage-style flea market finds. We always find great ideas for decorating (they do fabulous displays) and crafts, too.
We love this patchwork pillow covered in antique lace, buttons, and brooches. Why keep your collections tucked away when you can put them on display?!
We love this patchwork pillow covered in antique lace, buttons, and brooches. Why keep your collections tucked away when you can put them on display?!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Welcome Spring!
When the flowers start blooming and the birds start singing, you know spring fever is catching. Greet this season at the front door by swapping out that snowman doormat for a cheerful one covered in cherry blossoms. Then place a bouquet of tulips to the side, and open your door to spring. For more ideas to welcome spring, check out this photo gallery we did for Parents.com. Just click here.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
A Little Birdy Sold Me
Spring is the perfect season for birdwatching at the flea market, so our latest Flea Market Gold column in Create and Decorate magazine is for the birds!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
A Home With Real Heart
Get A Little Soft-hearted: Inspire romance in the bedroom with a simple but luxurious pillow embellishment. Just twist ribbons of raspberry and purple silk into a heart. Scrunch the ribbons as you tack them to the pillow cover with matching thread. Who knew ribbon embroidery could be so easy and look so good? (See more of this Valentine's Day inspired piece we did for Ladies' Home Journal by clicking here.)
Monday, November 21, 2011
Pie, Oh My!
The fall harvest is
upon us and suddenly we have a hankering for pie. Pie collectibles, that is!
Along the way, we
saw some larger “pie” pieces, including a rustic sign that read “Mom’s Homemade
Pies Baked To Perfection.” But the find of the day was a lemon-yellow pie safe
with a wonderful weathered look. Pie safes are cabinets with chicken wire or
punched-tin doors that keep the varmints out while the pies cool. The vendor
was asking $325 for the antique one we found, but Jennifer bargained her way to
$275. Easy as pie!
The flea market is
the place for all things pie—from bake-off cookbooks to painted pie safes.
Right off the bat, we found a pile of old pie crimpers, perfect for making
decorative edges. Vintage pie crimpers can run upwards of $100 if the handle is
made of Bakelite, but Kitty picked out a wooden-handled one and got the price
down from $18 to $12. We also saw rolling pins by the dozens. Kitty fell in love
with a marble one with red handles. It set her back $15, but it comes with the
good blessing of every pastry it has ever rolled out!
Four and Twenty Blackbirds
Since Victorian times, professional bakers (and grandmas!) have used ceramic pie birds to funnel steam out of pies and prevent them from bubbling over. Blackbirds are the most common pie vents, but if you keep an eye out you might be lucky enough to spot a blue bird, a rooster, or even the elusive red cardinal. These little birds are bursting with personality so get yourself a classic crow for about $15 and place it in a niche as a whimsical objet d’art. But be warned, pie birds are so cute you may wind up with a whole flock!
Since Victorian times, professional bakers (and grandmas!) have used ceramic pie birds to funnel steam out of pies and prevent them from bubbling over. Blackbirds are the most common pie vents, but if you keep an eye out you might be lucky enough to spot a blue bird, a rooster, or even the elusive red cardinal. These little birds are bursting with personality so get yourself a classic crow for about $15 and place it in a niche as a whimsical objet d’art. But be warned, pie birds are so cute you may wind up with a whole flock!
Flying Saucers
No country kitchen
is complete without pie tins, especially ones embossed with phrases like “Mello
Rich Pie” and “Flaky Crust.” Back in the day, bakeries had their names embossed
in the bottoms of their pie tins. A homemaker who reused the pan would be
reminded how much easier it would be to buy a fresh pie from “Mrs. Smith’s.”
Legend has it that college students used to play toss with tins that read
“Frisbie’s Pies”—a game that led to the invention of the Frisbee! These days,
Frisbie pie tins can sell for $50 apiece, but we found a “Py-O-My Ice Box Pie”
pan for just $3!
Decorating A La Mode
Ice cream scoops
look cheerful even when they’re not serving up sundaes, so why not add a scoop
of fun to your pie décor with a few of these old-fashioned dippers? Collect ice
cream scoops in turquoise, green, and yellow, then hang them on a narrow wall,
one over the other. You can get scoops for as little as $1 at the flea market
so pick up an extra one for your gadget drawer, and you’ll be ready to serve
anything a la mode!
Expect To Pay
Ice Cream Scoops $1 to $20
Embossed Pie Tins $3 to $50
Rolling Pins $5 to $20
Recipe Pie Plates $5 to $25
Silver-plated Pie Servers $7 to $25
Wooden-handled Dough Crimpers $12 to $40
Pie Carriers $15 to $35
Pie Birds $15 to $75
Pie Safes $250 to $2500
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
8 Things To Do Now To Get That Cozy Fall Feeling
With Halloween behind us and Thanksgiving around the corner, it's the perfect time to get in the fall mood!
Spring Into Fall
Welcome the season with a harvesty display on your front
porch. Just load up an urn with a bundle of late summer sunflowers and wrap it
in a bonny plaid ribbon. Complete the scene with a pile of painted pumpkins and
a woodsy pinecone owl. What a hoot!
Dress It Up
Swap out casual summery throw pillows for more dressy ones
embellished with embroidery, gems, and sumptuous trims. Silky sari fabrics in
spicy hues like cinnamon, ginger, and clove lend an air of exotic elegance
without being too formal or fussy.
Make A Little Switch
With a small space like the bathroom, changing seasons is
all in the details. Guest towels in terra cotta and Turkish blue add a dash of
warm color. Earthy accessories like a cast twig dish topped with verbena leaf
soap will harmonize with your bath no matter what your décor.
Get Back To Nature
Capture an autumn moment with a bouquet of birdy branches.
Gather sticks and give them a metallic patina with copper and silver spray
paint, then tie on organdy ribbons to echo the last-to-fall leaves. Finish with
feathery faux birds perched on the ends to look like a flock stopping over on
its way south.
Turn Over A New Leaf
Fall is a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll
when you set a rustic farm table with modern style. Die-cut leaf placemats in
bold red let the beauty of the weathered wood shine through. And with
cosmopolitan black-and-white plates and brushed silver napkin rings, you can take Manhattan to the countryside!
Savor Fall Colors
Adding an appetizing autumn palette to the kitchen is as
easy as pie! Go for dishtowels and mixing bowls in colors like marigold,
persimmon, and green apple. A red fluted pie plate with a recipe printed inside
gives the look a vintage twist. Setting out your wooden spoons and cutting
boards reveals them as handcrafted decorator pieces––that you already own!
Get Glowing
Put the whole house in the mood with an aromatic candlescape
inspired by the great outdoors. Have the family collect acorns, pinecones, and
seedpods from the yard. Place these natural materials in mismatched mason jars,
then light them up with flameless candles in scents like mulled cider, spiced
orange, and chai latte. Autumn aromatherapy!
Blanket The Room With
Texture
Starting to feel a chill in the air? Then snuggle up with a
warm throw. Hunt for fabrics that fit the season as comfortably as a favorite
sweater. Plush wovens and faux fur in espresso and teal will inspire you to
curl up and get cozy.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Instant Halloween!
Oh no, Halloween has snuck up on us! No worries. Jennifer took her gorgeous fall wreath and gave it an instant frightfully-fun makeover. She took a drugstore spider and wrapped his legs around the edge of the wreath. Enter if you dare!
 |
| Spider Attack! Instant Halloween Wreath! |
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Steampunk Chic is here!
It's here! It's here! Our new book just arrived! Hot off the press. The UPS guy just dropped off 2 big cartons full of Steampunk Chic: Vintage Flair From Recycled Finds. Whooo hooo! So exciting!
Our wonderful editor Pam Mostek would want us to tell you it's loaded with fun and funky steampunk crafts and step-by-step how-tos. Kitty's favorite is the mantel clock made out of a cigar box and Jennifer's favorite is the cupcake stand. Take a sneak peek!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Shadowboxing
Soda crates are a flea market favorite and have dozens of uses. When we found this weathered 7-Up crate, we thought it would make a charming shadowbox. Then we took that idea a step further by turning it into a shadowbox table. The crate only cost $3, but the table looks like a million bucks!
Materials:
Flea market soda pop crate
Glass tabletop, 1/4" thick, cut to fit inside crate
4 wooden legs, 22" with mounting plates
Basswood stick, ½"x½"x24" (in the dowel aisle)
4 black self-adhesive rubber feet, ½"x½"
Foam core board, ¼" thick, enough to fit inside crate
Dark green velvet, enough to cover foam core board
Plaid Folk Art acrylic paint, Napthol Crimson, 2 oz.
Amazing Goop all-purpose contact adhesive
Foam paintbrush
Handsaw
Electric screwdriver
X-Acto craft knife
Masking tape
Metal yardstick
Straight pins
Scissors
Pencil
Instructions:
1. Mask the brass foot of each leg with the masking tape. Paint the wooden legs Napthol Crimson red and let dry.
2. Measure the inside of the crate. Using the metal yardstick and the X-Acto craft knife, cut the foam core board to fit inside the crate. Watch your fingers! Cover the foam core board with the velvet. Secure the velvet to the back by sliding straight pins through the fabric and into the foam core board at an angle. Cut off any excess fabric. Place the velvet-covered foam core board in the bottom the crate.
3. To make a support for the glass top, stick the piece of basswood inside the crate at the corner. Mark it with the pencil ¼" from the top of the crate. Cut the basswood with the handsaw, then use that piece to measure and cut 3 more identical pieces. Glue the 4 pieces of basswood into the corners of the crate using the Goop adhesive. Attach a self-adhesive rubber foot onto the top of each piece of basswood.
3. To make a support for the glass top, stick the piece of basswood inside the crate at the corner. Mark it with the pencil ¼" from the top of the crate. Cut the basswood with the handsaw, then use that piece to measure and cut 3 more identical pieces. Glue the 4 pieces of basswood into the corners of the crate using the Goop adhesive. Attach a self-adhesive rubber foot onto the top of each piece of basswood.
4. When the glue is dry, flip the crate over onto a stack of books, so the foam core insert is resting on the books. Attach the mounting plates to each corner of the crate with the screwdriver. Screw in the red legs. Flip the crate table over onto its new legs.
The Art of Display
To create your shadowbox showcase, start with a theme such as travel, wedding, or holiday. Arrange flat items like vintage postcards and photos in the bottom of the crate to create a colorful background. Then overlap the images with a few meaningful objects. To remember a wedding, you might include the bride’s garter and dried flowers from the bouquet. For a holiday theme like autumn, choose a glass pumpkin paperweight and ears of Indian corn. Don't worry about making the perfect display—this shadowbox is easy to open, and museums change their exhibits regularly, so why can't you?!
5. Arrange a collection of items inside the shadowbox. Place the glass tabletop inside the top of the crate so it rests on the 4 rubber feet.
Shopping Tip: Getting a piece of glass cut is cheaper than you think, even for odd sizes. Our 9 5/8"x14 3/8" glass with polished edges cost less than $10!
Shopping Tip: Getting a piece of glass cut is cheaper than you think, even for odd sizes. Our 9 5/8"x14 3/8" glass with polished edges cost less than $10!
The Art of Display
To create your shadowbox showcase, start with a theme such as travel, wedding, or holiday. Arrange flat items like vintage postcards and photos in the bottom of the crate to create a colorful background. Then overlap the images with a few meaningful objects. To remember a wedding, you might include the bride’s garter and dried flowers from the bouquet. For a holiday theme like autumn, choose a glass pumpkin paperweight and ears of Indian corn. Don't worry about making the perfect display—this shadowbox is easy to open, and museums change their exhibits regularly, so why can't you?!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Light Up Your Life Candlestick Lamp
You don't need to be a professional electrician to make your own candlestick lamp. With a bottle adapter lamp kit from the hardware store, all that's left for you to do is find the perfect flea market candlestick and follow these simple instructions. In minutes, you'll have a working candlestick lamp. To embellish the lampshade for your boudoir, choose an ornate rubber stamp, a paint color that complements your candlestick, and glitzy beaded fringe. With the flick of a switch, you'll be reading by "candle light."
To make the lamp, you will need:
candlestick, 8 inches tall (made for a taper candle with a 5/8-inch to one-inch diameter)
bottle adapter "Make-a-Lamp" kit
light bulb
screwdriver
rubber bands
To embellish the lampshade, you will need:
white clip lampshade (clip attaches to the bulb), 7 inches tall, 9-inch diameter at bottom
metallic silver acrylic paint, 2 fl. oz.
squeeze bottle of iridescent glitter paint, 2 fl. oz.
rubberstamp, 4 inches across
crystal beaded fringe, 29 inches long
hot glue gun
hot glue
How To Assemble The Lamp:
Step 1
Select the rubber adapter from the bottle adapter "Make-a-Lamp" kit that fits the candlestick opening. Slide the adapter all the way onto one end of the threaded pipe.
Step 2
Screw the socket bottom onto the threaded pipe.
How To Embellish The Lampshade:
Step 1
Using the rubber stamp and the silver acrylic paint, stamp the image four times around the bottom edge of the lampshade. (For even spacing, stamp on one side, then turn the shade 180 degrees, and stamp again opposite the first image. Then repeat between the two stamped images.) Turn the rubber stamp upside-down and stamp around the top edge of the lampshade four times between the bottom stamped images.
Keep It Clean: For a cleaner stamped image, dab the paint directly onto the rubber stamp. Try a few test stamps on a scrap piece of paper until you get the hang of it.
Step 1
Select the rubber adapter from the bottle adapter "Make-a-Lamp" kit that fits the candlestick opening. Slide the adapter all the way onto one end of the threaded pipe.
Step 2
Screw the socket bottom onto the threaded pipe.
Step 3
Tighten the side screw with a screwdriver.
Tighten the side screw with a screwdriver.
Step 4
Feed the loose-wire end of the electrical cord through the hole in the side of the socket bottom.
Feed the loose-wire end of the electrical cord through the hole in the side of the socket bottom.
Step 5
Pull the cord apart to create some slack, then tie the ends in a knot. This will keep the cord from pulling out of the socket cap.
Pull the cord apart to create some slack, then tie the ends in a knot. This will keep the cord from pulling out of the socket cap.
Step 6
Connect the neutral wire to the silver screw (the rubber insulation on the neutral wire is ribbed) and tighten with a screwdriver.
Connect the neutral wire to the silver screw (the rubber insulation on the neutral wire is ribbed) and tighten with a screwdriver.
Step 7
Connect the other wire to the brass screw and tighten with a screwdriver. Make sure the brass tips of the wires are secured under the screw heads.
Connect the other wire to the brass screw and tighten with a screwdriver. Make sure the brass tips of the wires are secured under the screw heads.
Step 8
Slide the brass shell with the paper liner over the lamp socket. Snap the brass shell onto the socket bottom and rock it into place until it clicks.
Slide the brass shell with the paper liner over the lamp socket. Snap the brass shell onto the socket bottom and rock it into place until it clicks.
Tight Light: If the rubber adapter feels a little loose in the candlestick, make a tighter fit by wrapping the adapter with a rubber band or two.
How To Embellish The Lampshade:
Step 1
Using the rubber stamp and the silver acrylic paint, stamp the image four times around the bottom edge of the lampshade. (For even spacing, stamp on one side, then turn the shade 180 degrees, and stamp again opposite the first image. Then repeat between the two stamped images.) Turn the rubber stamp upside-down and stamp around the top edge of the lampshade four times between the bottom stamped images.
Step 2
When the paint is dry, trace the edges of each stamped image with the squeeze bottle of iridescent glitter paint.
When the paint is dry, trace the edges of each stamped image with the squeeze bottle of iridescent glitter paint.
Step 3
When the glitter paint is dry, hot glue the beaded fringe around the bottom edge of the lampshade. To finish off your lamp, insert the lamp fixture into the candlestick, screw in a light bulb and attach the lampshade to the bulb. Then light up the night!
When the glitter paint is dry, hot glue the beaded fringe around the bottom edge of the lampshade. To finish off your lamp, insert the lamp fixture into the candlestick, screw in a light bulb and attach the lampshade to the bulb. Then light up the night!
Keep It Clean: For a cleaner stamped image, dab the paint directly onto the rubber stamp. Try a few test stamps on a scrap piece of paper until you get the hang of it.
Perfect Pair
For twice the fun, buy a pair of candlesticks and turn them into matching lamps for your bedside tables.
For twice the fun, buy a pair of candlesticks and turn them into matching lamps for your bedside tables.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Give Your Bath The Spa Treatment
Turn your bathroom into a retreat with simple, chic accessories.
A spa bathroom lets you pamper yourself with little indulgences for a fraction of what you'd spend at the spa. To create your own spa bathroom, just think "relaxing" with calming candlelight, soothing scents, and big, fluffy towels. Then just add a few personal touches to create your own retreat in the middle of a bustling household.
Decorating Scents
The spa experience always starts with the aroma—when you walk through the doors, the calming scents help you transition from traffic to tranquility. Get the same effect in your own home with personal aromatherapy blends. Add aromatic essential oils to drugstore Epsom salts for a professional mineral bath that is a treat for the senses. To refresh and revitalize, try scents like tea tree and eucalyptus. Ylang ylang and neroli are perfect before bedtime. For a relaxing mini-facial for puffy eyes, use Victorian Trading Company’s Eyes Tea, filled with fennel, chamomile, and rose petals.
Lighten The Mood
A spa should make you feel good and look good! So do like the spas do and lower your lighting. Turn off the overhead and place small jar candles on the counter and candle tins around the tub. Candlelight flatters every skin tone. And in this room you see a lot of your own skin, so why not make it look its best!? Don't be afraid to mix large and small pillars with votives and tea lights, just choose a single scent to keep the aromas from clashing. Specialty candles, like Victorian Trading Company's Soybean Beauty Candle, melt into a smoothing emollient you can massage into your skin to make it velvety. Talk about soft lighting.
Keep It Simple To get a refined spa look, clear your counters by stashing less attractive products in linen-lined baskets. Then dress your counter with elegant glass jars like The Container Store's Vibe Canisters. Fill them with lovely bath products like Organic Bath Company's flower-shaped Bath Petals. They not only please the eye, the lavender vanilla scent soothes the soul. Personalize the containers with scrapbooking tags tied with twine. Then add a glass vase of blooming lavender to your countertop, nature’s own aromatherapy!
Put Yourself On a Pedestal
The finest spas have a serene space where guests can relax while they leave the stresses of the day behind them. Create your own relaxation zone with a sleek Teak Stool from Smith & Hawken—the perfect perch for a foot soak. To make an authentic footbath, fill a large bowl with warm water and your own aromatherapy salts. Now you can give your feet a pampering pedicure without teetering on the side of the tub!
Wrap Yourself in Luxury
A spa should make you feel good and look good! So do like the spas do and lower your lighting. Turn off the overhead and place small jar candles on the counter and candle tins around the tub. Candlelight flatters every skin tone. And in this room you see a lot of your own skin, so why not make it look its best!? Don't be afraid to mix large and small pillars with votives and tea lights, just choose a single scent to keep the aromas from clashing. Specialty candles, like Victorian Trading Company's Soybean Beauty Candle, melt into a smoothing emollient you can massage into your skin to make it velvety. Talk about soft lighting.
When it comes to setting a spa mood, don't forget the acoustic music and soothing nature sounds. Spa music is designed to transport you to a tranquil place of inner peace, and you can have all of that for the price of a few CDs! Get a small CD player and store a selection of CDs in a tidy wooden box. Then with just the touch of a button, you can close your eyes and listen your way to inner calm.
The finest spas have a serene space where guests can relax while they leave the stresses of the day behind them. Create your own relaxation zone with a sleek Teak Stool from Smith & Hawken—the perfect perch for a foot soak. To make an authentic footbath, fill a large bowl with warm water and your own aromatherapy salts. Now you can give your feet a pampering pedicure without teetering on the side of the tub!
Wrap Yourself in Luxury
Nothing says "ooh la la spa" like fluffy cotton towels. When it comes to these bathroom necessities, a little splurge can make a big splash. Instead of regular bath towels, go for oversized bath sheets, like 100% Turkish Cotton LuxeSPA Allure Towels from Bed Bath & Beyond. At 40 inches by 70 inches, these ultra-soft towels are so big they'll warm you from head to toe--literally. To complete the spa effect, hang a natural cotton shower curtain from simple chrome hooks. Then add a matching bath rug, the plushest you can find. Your tootsies will thank you.
Tray Chic
What's the best reason to have a spa bathroom at home? You can soak in the tub to your heart's content whenever you want. With a wooden tub tray from IKEA, your bath essentials will always be at your fingertips. Fill your tub caddy with exfoliating oatmeal soap, a pumice stone, and a natural loofah sponge. An organized space is a relaxing space, and that's what a spa bath is all about.
Now that your bathroom has been transformed into a spa retreat, celebrate by easing yourself into a bubbling whirlpool. You don’t have to replace your standard tub with a Jacuzzi to have the ultimate in relaxation. Conair's Dual-Jet Spa Bath fits over the side of the tub and whips your water into hydrotherapy whirlpools. HoMedics Massaging Bubble Mat fills the water with thousands of bubbles. So put on that mud mask, close your eyes, and let your new spa bathroom give you the spa treatment.
What's the best reason to have a spa bathroom at home? You can soak in the tub to your heart's content whenever you want. With a wooden tub tray from IKEA, your bath essentials will always be at your fingertips. Fill your tub caddy with exfoliating oatmeal soap, a pumice stone, and a natural loofah sponge. An organized space is a relaxing space, and that's what a spa bath is all about.
Now that your bathroom has been transformed into a spa retreat, celebrate by easing yourself into a bubbling whirlpool. You don’t have to replace your standard tub with a Jacuzzi to have the ultimate in relaxation. Conair's Dual-Jet Spa Bath fits over the side of the tub and whips your water into hydrotherapy whirlpools. HoMedics Massaging Bubble Mat fills the water with thousands of bubbles. So put on that mud mask, close your eyes, and let your new spa bathroom give you the spa treatment.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Souvenir Style
Little treasures -- from antique spoons to unique flea-market finds -- can be a decorating windfall.
Global chic is everywhere. Walk through your local home decorating store and you're bound to see motifs with international roots. Accessories like hand-carved bowls from Thailand, hand-woven kilims from Morocco, and hand-hammered tin mirrors from the Mayan Riviera infuse your decor with texture and color. But why buy the same picture frames and candleholders as your neighbors when you can add spice from your own personal travels? As you hit the road this summer, keep an eye out for decorator touches posing as souvenirs. Look for items your destination is famous for, such as linen from Ireland, pottery from Portugal, and baskets from the Bahamas. Then give those mementos a place of honor in your home and every time you see them, you'll think of your trip to another country, not your trip to Pier One.
To get a taste of jet-set style, seek out exciting objets d'art while you explore your destination. Don't be daunted by large items or breakable pieces--many places will ship the item to your home. Taking a voyage to Venice? A hand-blown glass vase will look stunning on your credenza. Exploring Kenya? Hand-carved wooden animals will remind you of your wildlife safari (and seeing the Big Five!). How about a matte black rice bowl from Hong Kong? It will look like a modern work of art on your coffee table, and the prices in the markets are so good, why not get three? Get a Chinese Chop with a hand-carved puppy and you'll never forget you went to China in the Year of the Dog.
For more global flair, mix color and character into your decor with folk art. You can buy original works right from the source while you're on vacation. Visit the Huichol Indians in Mexico, learn about their culture, then bring home a colorful yarn painting made by the very same artists. Headed to the big city? You can buy "local folk" art there, too. Just watch for street artists selling watercolors of scenic hotspots. What exemplifies a trip to the Big Apple better than a painting of The Brooklyn Bridge? Once you decorate your home with real art from your travels, you'll never hang mass-produced art on your walls again.
Smaller souvenirs can make a big statement when arranged into travel vignettes. Russian Matryoshka dolls look like priceless collectibles when you showcase them with handpainted lacquer boxes. Buy postcards or take photos to serve as backdrops for your displays. Show petrified wood from Arizona in front of a postcard of the Grand Canyon. Exhibit evil eyes from Istanbul with a picture of you buying them at the bazaar. These vignettes are ideal if you already have lots of little mementos from past trips. On their own they might be hodgepodge, but displayed with your best snapshots, they become a three-dimensional vacation scrapbook that is a custom decorator touch.
Kitschy keepsakes are inexpensive and irresistible! And if you love this look but think it isn't decorator-chic, think again. Vintage state map fabrics are showing up in decorator showrooms, and you can get your own as tea towels on your next trip to a roadside Stuckey's! Other classic souvenirs, like snow globes, floaty pens, and magnets, can make a big statement grouped together in a big collection. Thirty snow globes side-by-side make a whimsical conversation piece. One hundred matchbooks from around the world add spark to a plain vase. State spoons, teacups, and plates look charming together--and these silly souvenirs are practical, too. Next time you have the book club over, break out the teacups and lighten the mood with Key Lime Pie served on a Florida state plate. Now that's souvenir style!
Global chic is everywhere. Walk through your local home decorating store and you're bound to see motifs with international roots. Accessories like hand-carved bowls from Thailand, hand-woven kilims from Morocco, and hand-hammered tin mirrors from the Mayan Riviera infuse your decor with texture and color. But why buy the same picture frames and candleholders as your neighbors when you can add spice from your own personal travels? As you hit the road this summer, keep an eye out for decorator touches posing as souvenirs. Look for items your destination is famous for, such as linen from Ireland, pottery from Portugal, and baskets from the Bahamas. Then give those mementos a place of honor in your home and every time you see them, you'll think of your trip to another country, not your trip to Pier One.
Fabrics from exotic locales pack well in your suitcase and pack a big punch in your decor. Look for locally crafted textiles like French country tablecloths in Provence, batik bedspreads in Bali, and raw-silk runners in India. Reverse applique Molas from Panama make bright and beautiful wall hangings. A cushion cover from Peru adds a touch of South America to any room. If your trip doesn't take you abroad, you can still bring home fabulous fabric furnishings. Think quilts from the Amish country and wool from Pendleton, or visit a sidewalk art show for one-of-a kind pieces by local fiber artists. With such striking fabric accents, even your home will feel refreshed after your holiday.
To get a taste of jet-set style, seek out exciting objets d'art while you explore your destination. Don't be daunted by large items or breakable pieces--many places will ship the item to your home. Taking a voyage to Venice? A hand-blown glass vase will look stunning on your credenza. Exploring Kenya? Hand-carved wooden animals will remind you of your wildlife safari (and seeing the Big Five!). How about a matte black rice bowl from Hong Kong? It will look like a modern work of art on your coffee table, and the prices in the markets are so good, why not get three? Get a Chinese Chop with a hand-carved puppy and you'll never forget you went to China in the Year of the Dog.
For more global flair, mix color and character into your decor with folk art. You can buy original works right from the source while you're on vacation. Visit the Huichol Indians in Mexico, learn about their culture, then bring home a colorful yarn painting made by the very same artists. Headed to the big city? You can buy "local folk" art there, too. Just watch for street artists selling watercolors of scenic hotspots. What exemplifies a trip to the Big Apple better than a painting of The Brooklyn Bridge? Once you decorate your home with real art from your travels, you'll never hang mass-produced art on your walls again.
Smaller souvenirs can make a big statement when arranged into travel vignettes. Russian Matryoshka dolls look like priceless collectibles when you showcase them with handpainted lacquer boxes. Buy postcards or take photos to serve as backdrops for your displays. Show petrified wood from Arizona in front of a postcard of the Grand Canyon. Exhibit evil eyes from Istanbul with a picture of you buying them at the bazaar. These vignettes are ideal if you already have lots of little mementos from past trips. On their own they might be hodgepodge, but displayed with your best snapshots, they become a three-dimensional vacation scrapbook that is a custom decorator touch.
Kitschy keepsakes are inexpensive and irresistible! And if you love this look but think it isn't decorator-chic, think again. Vintage state map fabrics are showing up in decorator showrooms, and you can get your own as tea towels on your next trip to a roadside Stuckey's! Other classic souvenirs, like snow globes, floaty pens, and magnets, can make a big statement grouped together in a big collection. Thirty snow globes side-by-side make a whimsical conversation piece. One hundred matchbooks from around the world add spark to a plain vase. State spoons, teacups, and plates look charming together--and these silly souvenirs are practical, too. Next time you have the book club over, break out the teacups and lighten the mood with Key Lime Pie served on a Florida state plate. Now that's souvenir style!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Smashing Tile Table
Accent your entryway with a colorful glass-tile table. Mosaics are traditionally finished with opaque grout, but clear resin lets the beauty of the vitreous glass tiles shine through. A simple wood veneer edge gives the table a clean outline and creates a bed for the poured resin. For a table this size, three legs are plenty and add a playful touch. This delightful modern mosaic piece will add a splash of color to your decor.
You Will Need
plywood disc (17 ¾" diameter, ¾" thick)
adhesive wood veneer edging tape (13/16" wide, 56" long)
3 unfinished wood table legs (16" tall for a side table, 28" tall for a pedestal table)
3 mounting plates for legs (with 5/8" screws)
16 finishing nails (1" long)
spray primer
spray paint, Larkspur Blue
UHU all-purpose glue
vitreous glass mosaic tiles (¾" size):
200 Pacific Blue tiles
100 Lemon Yellow tiles
100 Lime Green tiles
Envirotex Lite Pour-On High Gloss Finish, 8 oz. kit
chalk
pencil
ruler
screwdriver
hammer
scissors
plastic cups
disposable stirring stick
protective gloves
safety glasses
Directions
Step 3
To transfer the design onto the plywood disc, enlarge and photocopy the template onto an 8 ½-inch by 11-inch piece of paper. Draw a 16-square grid on the template (3 horizontal lines and 3 vertical lines). Draw a scaled-up 16-square grid on the plywood disc using chalk. The grid on the plywood disc will be larger, but will have 3 horizontal lines and 3 vertical lines just like the template.
Step 7
Mix the Pour-On Finish resin according to the directions on the box. Resin is persnickety, so follow the directions exactly! Pour the resin, slowly covering the entire tiled surface. Use the mixing stick to push the resin into unfilled areas. Let dry for at least 48 hours on a level surface in a dust-free area.
Mind the Gaps
Tip the disc slightly to evenly distribute the resin to the edge of the wood veneer tape.
You Will Need
plywood disc (17 ¾" diameter, ¾" thick)
adhesive wood veneer edging tape (13/16" wide, 56" long)
3 unfinished wood table legs (16" tall for a side table, 28" tall for a pedestal table)
3 mounting plates for legs (with 5/8" screws)
16 finishing nails (1" long)
spray primer
spray paint, Larkspur Blue
UHU all-purpose glue
vitreous glass mosaic tiles (¾" size):
200 Pacific Blue tiles 100 Lemon Yellow tiles 100 Lime Green tilesEnvirotex Lite Pour-On High Gloss Finish, 8 oz. kit
chalk
pencil
ruler
screwdriver
hammer
scissors
plastic cups
disposable stirring stick
protective gloves
safety glasses
Directions
Step 1
To create a bed for the mosaic tiles and resin, attach the wood veneer tape to the edge of the plywood disc, making a lip the height of one tile. To keep the resin from seeping through, make sure the tape is tightly pressed to the edge of the wood with no gaps. Secure with evenly spaced finishing nails.
To create a bed for the mosaic tiles and resin, attach the wood veneer tape to the edge of the plywood disc, making a lip the height of one tile. To keep the resin from seeping through, make sure the tape is tightly pressed to the edge of the wood with no gaps. Secure with evenly spaced finishing nails.
Step 2
Prime the plywood disc and the three wooden legs, then spray paint Larkspur Blue.
Prime the plywood disc and the three wooden legs, then spray paint Larkspur Blue.
To transfer the design onto the plywood disc, enlarge and photocopy the template onto an 8 ½-inch by 11-inch piece of paper. Draw a 16-square grid on the template (3 horizontal lines and 3 vertical lines). Draw a scaled-up 16-square grid on the plywood disc using chalk. The grid on the plywood disc will be larger, but will have 3 horizontal lines and 3 vertical lines just like the template.
Step 4
Copy the image from the template to the plywood disc, square by square. Look at each square in the template grid and draw the lines you see onto the same square on the plywood disc using chalk. When the entire image is transferred, remove the grid lines using a cotton swab and water. (Leave the image lines!)
Copy the image from the template to the plywood disc, square by square. Look at each square in the template grid and draw the lines you see onto the same square on the plywood disc using chalk. When the entire image is transferred, remove the grid lines using a cotton swab and water. (Leave the image lines!)
Step 5
Break about half of the green, blue, and yellow tiles by tapping the tiles gently with a nail and hammer on top of a very hard surface like a sidewalk. Protect your eyes please!
Break about half of the green, blue, and yellow tiles by tapping the tiles gently with a nail and hammer on top of a very hard surface like a sidewalk. Protect your eyes please!
Step 6
Glue the blue, yellow, and green tiles to the disc surface, filling in the design as you go. Leave about a 1/8-inch gap between the tiles. Select triangle-shaped or curved broken tiles to use along the curved edges of the design. (Wear protective gloves when handling the broken tiles.) Use unbroken tiles to fill in large spaces. Smaller broken pieces can fill in the gaps. Let the glue dry thoroughly, then clean any remaining chalk lines with a damp cotton swab.
Glue the blue, yellow, and green tiles to the disc surface, filling in the design as you go. Leave about a 1/8-inch gap between the tiles. Select triangle-shaped or curved broken tiles to use along the curved edges of the design. (Wear protective gloves when handling the broken tiles.) Use unbroken tiles to fill in large spaces. Smaller broken pieces can fill in the gaps. Let the glue dry thoroughly, then clean any remaining chalk lines with a damp cotton swab.
Step 7
Mix the Pour-On Finish resin according to the directions on the box. Resin is persnickety, so follow the directions exactly! Pour the resin, slowly covering the entire tiled surface. Use the mixing stick to push the resin into unfilled areas. Let dry for at least 48 hours on a level surface in a dust-free area.
Step 8
When the resin has cured, gently turn the plywood disc over. Attach the three mounting plates to the underside of the plywood disc one inch from the outside edge at twelve o'clock, four o'clock, and eight o'clock. Screw the legs into the mounting plates. Flip your new mosaic table over and feast your eyes!
When the resin has cured, gently turn the plywood disc over. Attach the three mounting plates to the underside of the plywood disc one inch from the outside edge at twelve o'clock, four o'clock, and eight o'clock. Screw the legs into the mounting plates. Flip your new mosaic table over and feast your eyes!
Mind the Gaps
Tip the disc slightly to evenly distribute the resin to the edge of the wood veneer tape.
Italian Vitreous Glass Mosaic Tile furnished by Mosaic Mercantile, (877) 9-MOSAIC, www.MosaicMercantile.com.
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