Millions of Unusual Small Creatures Lurking Everywhere

Brad kindly added some M.U.S.C.L.E. men to my growing pottery collection.

I wrote about this DIY pumpkin orange CD storage unit here.

The white birch twig picture frame is from kindling.

Living in a fishbowl

'the Night I Met Mr. Fish' ~ print from this Etsy shop.
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Brad and I are currently living in a fishbowl. Must. Sew. New. Curtains.

A few years ago, Brad's grandmother made us some delicate curtains made out of cheesecloth for our front sun room/art studio. {The boy is working in the space here}. They had a good run but now need to be replaced {ie, didn't make it through the wash last weekend}. Consequently, the space feels so open now. I didn't realize how much privacy the thin cheesecloth actually gave us. It is now a passerby art gallery- and we live 1 1/2 floors up. Strange I tell ya! :) Neither one of us enjoys working up there at the moment.

New curtains are making top priority on the to-do list as we both have several art projects in the works. To assist in these artistic endeavors, his grandmother gave us a sewing machine this summer as a his-and-her birthday gift. I'm hoping four new curtains will be a "fun" project and not a "chore." Hmmm. I haven't sewn curtains before but these are just going to be hung on simple tension rods. Wish me luck. I'll post pictures of the space when it's completed.

Brad told me about this Textile Discount Outlet in Pilsen. 3 floors! Oh my! I should be fully stocked with material to complete the various sewing projects I've bookmarked.

This is Just a Test

One of my projects from Sunday was to try out freezer paper stenciling. I used this tutorial. I gave life to a yellow t-shirt that had an annoying little stain. I found the sparrow image online and purchased the chocolate fabric paint at Michael's. The tutorial is remarkably fairly easy.

50% Vintage Modern

Sproost says my interior design style is:
50% Vintage Modern
38% Cottage Chic
12% Rustic Revival

That seems pretty accurate.

my {our} design style

My good buddy Alyssa {real life AND blog friend!} tagged me...
Pick one image that best describes your design style.

I found this image via Oh Happy Day.
{also seen on Apartment Therapy}

Alyssa and I met in college- Architecture School to be specific. She transferred to another school and majored in Interior Design. Brad and I graduated with an Architecture Degree. My friend is an interiors virtuoso! We on the other hand, just sort of throw things together. I would say that our style is a mix of found art, made art and a mix of vintage and new. My husband is also a fine art painter- which means he thinks more about the color wheel than most. We live in an older apartment building. As is the case with most renters, we have white walls. Though the Go Go Girls are an exception! A lot of our pieces have a story to tell (someone made it, thrift store find, etc). They also add a splash of color to an otherwise white backdrop.
Whom do I tag? Hmmm, if you'd like to play along... feel free!

Little details...

One of my 2009 goals was to accomplish at least one creative project a week. I made some Valentine's Day cards, for the kiddos of some dear friends, this week. Sorry if I ruin the surprise... but I figure little Niko doesn't read my blog {Hi Vana}. I found the darling flower note cards at Marshalls.
I adore arty, whimsical stickers. These little details came from Target but the Paper Source has a lovely collection as well.

I assembled the cards in our art studio {aka, front sun room}. Brad and I met in architecture school and have acquired A LOT of art supplies over the years. Hmmm, not that I'm complaining. It is a wonderful blessing to be surrounded by such an artistic guy and not to mention our creative friends.
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Yesterday, I posted a little entry about my love of Thursdays. The reason being: 30 Rock. LOVE that show! The short clip wouldn't play today. Oh well. Brad and I laugh so hard in those 30 minutes. Good therapy, ha! Have an enjoyable weekend...

Goods

So my new theory about Spring! is that I'm going to tackle a bunch of {overdue} organizing projects. And when I'm finished, the warmer weather will be here as my reward. :)

On Saturday, I designed a poster for this winter farmers market I'm promoting**, deep cleaned our bedroom AND revamped my resume... booyah!! On Sunday I rested.

I love this dresser piece in our bedroom {click on the picture for a better view}. My mother works for a school district and they have some sort of inner-district Craigslist of sorts. I think we got this piece for around $200 and it was in perfect condition. Brad painted that piece above our bed.
I keep some of my jewelery in that green, Depression Glassware {gift from my mother or grandmother}. Little Brad is in that little, mod circle frame. And my adorable nephews are there in black/white. The dude in the middle, with the cute, curly hair is going to be SEVEN! next weekend. Goodness. Brad's grandmother made our curtains and my grandmother made the beautiful quilt at the end of our bed. A lot of the furniture and artwork in our apartment have stories to tell. I think that's the best kind of decorating!
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**The Genesis Group is hosting a winter farmers market at the end of the month. Churches' Center for Land and People (CCLP) is sponsoring the gathering. Their Winters Farmers Markets & Meals for Hope provide small, local farm producers with additional venues to extend their income beyond the growing season.

House Tours

Anyone else love the house tours section on Apartment Therapy? Some I absolutely hate while others I daydream about. Ha, isn't that the short description of d.e.s.i.g.n. Too each its own, right.

Alyssa, when are we going on our next scouting trip? I noticed this AT post.

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Speaking of house tours, here is a better picture of that piece in our bedroom.

Excuse me, but has anyone ever told you..

..that you look just like Justin Timberlake? {comic drawn by Brad}


I picked up this suction-cup-clothes-line at The Container Store awhile back. It was on sale but I didn't really know where to put the thing. Those sale signs really get you, don't they?! I also happen to love the Container Store! I checked online but they don't seem to carry this item anymore.

It is hanging on my large kitchen window and I like to mix + match little doodads, postcards, pictures and such.

For a "classier" version, pick up one of Alyssa's antique message boards. Aren't they lovely! She's so talented.

Salvaged Doors As Deck Railing

Did you see this post on Apartment Therapy?

DIY: Fine art on a budget

I like oversized matting around small snapshots or postcards. It gives pieces a more artful look. Last month, Apartment Therapy linked to a helpful framing guide in Real Simple.

Greg Otto postcard from the Chicago Architecture Foundation
Medinah Athletic Club #2 (this piece hangs above our CD storage unit)


Beate Gütschow's exhibition handout from her show at the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago
LS #13, 2001, 42 1/2 × 33 1/2 inches, C-print

The Go Go Girls

Brad and I wanted to add some artwork to the walls in our living room but LARGE original artwork is so dang expensive! Don't get me wrong, I fully support artists and their work but at the present time, we just don't have the budget for fine art investments.

In the fall of 2006, I happened to catch a segment on Martha Stewart and she was making t-shirts using these amazing (and inexpensive!) graffiti stencils from Stencil1.

GoGo girl stencil $10.50
Blue 2-ounce Benjamin Moore Color Sample paint- about $4.00
Cheap!!!

A bit Andy Warhol-ish?



...I hate our (free) old lady sofa.

drawer pulls

Alyssa, my wonderfully talented friend, just added her first batch of drawer pulls on her Etsy site. The knobs are embellished with reused art. She'll do custom orders (personal art, family photos, etc) as well.

Go check them out!

Repurposed, #2

Brad made this salvaged art piece in a college painting course. He used oil paints and Elmer's Glue. Our apartment guests seem to like the piece and it's one of our personal favorites! Yeah for found art!




I got a summer haircut yesterday. If you're looking for some hair suggestions, you should consult this website. The writer focuses on the hair dilemmas of complete strangers. Hmmm.

Repurposed

Brad and I looked and looked for a functional yet creative CD storage unit. No luck. We picked up this old wooden mailbox system at our church rummage sale and painted it pumpkin orange. Brad covered the outside with rolled-out aluminum cans from our recycling bin. Tada!!






Music currently on our play list...

Top (L to R): Over The Rhine, Feist

Middle: Tapes 'n Tapes, American Analog Set

Bottom: Sufjan Stevens, Arcade Fire

Save Polaroid Film!

Check out our cheap apartment "chandelier."
Photo Clip Mobile
Purchase here.






Save Polaroid Film
On February 8, 2008, Polaroid Corporation announced that it will discontinue production of all instant film.

Artsy friends

I am blessed with some wonderful artsy friends! I met both of these girls in college. Alyssa and Vana have both been a big source of encouragement to me over the years.

Vana is a mother to a beautiful little boy and works part-time from home as an architect. Earlier this year, she also established an Etsy site where she designs prints, invitations and stationery. Check out her site!



Alyssa recently launched her own full-time business, Revamp Boutique. Her background is in interior design. Alyssa focuses on a process called "repurposing"- developing ways to reuse old furniture, flea market finds, junk, etc.