Adventures in Art, Product Design, Home Decor, Cooking, and Gardening
So I’m doing laundry this morning and Pig, in a customary move, dove right into the warm, fresh laundry and settled in for a nap (note the green stuffed animal that he’s using as a pillow; that boy loves his toys). He especially loves finding an occasional Bounce dryer sheet in the pile. He’ll root it out of the stack then rub his back all over it. I appreciate the fresh smell that lingers on him.
Here’s a picture of my laundry helper:
Last weekend my mother and I spent the afternoon shopping for porch accessories. The first blooms of spring are popping up here and there, and I’ve got a serious case of spring fever. I can’t wait for warmer weather. So what better way to pass the time than to spend an afternoon with your mom shopping for pillows, rugs, and accessories in fresh, sun-drenched colors?
We were able to find everything we needed at Pier 1 Imports. It’s a color lover’s dream store. There were plenty of fun outdoor accessories in every color imaginable. For this shopping spree, I took a photo of my inspiration rug with me (remember the tulip rug I posted a few weeks ago from GrandinRoad.com?) and used it as a guide. I grabbed a variety of pillows and accessories and arranged them in the back of the store, adding to and editing the mix until I found a pleasing arrangement. I asked my mom to guard my growing collection of items while I shopped so no one would grab a pillow out of my haul–I couldn’t allow that to happen.
I still have to buy some spray paint to paint the porch furniture. I’m thinking a sunny yellow-orange would be scrumptious. It’s going to take several coats of paint to cover the grape color the furniture is currently sporting. And I need to either find or make a wreath to match to hang on the front door.
It’s a bit windy for spray painting today. I’m hoping for better weather tomorrow. Check back soon to see the completed porch. I can’t wait to see it all come together and enjoy my first cup of coffee on my new spring porch.
Here are some pictures of my porch booty:
Here’s a picture of Pig entering the picture to check out my loot:
Pig giving the items a quick “sniff test.” Looks like they passed with flying colors.
Pig hamming it up for the camera and trying his best to distract me:
It worked! End of photo shoot. Enjoy your weekend.
Have you ever wondered what your pets do when you’re not home? Here’s my little Corgi mix, Marty (aka “Piggy” because of his curly tail), enjoying a good book on my living room couch. Interesting reading list. Is that a drink on my couch?
I’m working on something a little more challenging today. I’m using a wet-on-wet painting technique this time, and I’m happy with the results so far. Here’s a preview:
I love experimenting with color and I love paint. Watercolor paints, spray paint, a gallon of Benjamin Moore–any of them will do. I love them all. If an item in my house can be freshened up with paint, believe me, I’ve painted it. Several times. Like my family room fireplace wall. It’s been a dramatic navy blue, a beachy aqua, and more recently a serene light blue. Paint is the easiest and least expensive way to add character to or freshen up a room. There’s no need for an expensive room overhaul. All you need is a gallon of paint, a few new pillows and accessories, and you’re good to go. Here are some photos of my fireplace wall in various shades of blue–from dramatic to serene.
I thought my recent “I Love You” painting might be more interesting if I gave it an aged appearance to match the cute note my daughter wrote me many years ago. So I brewed up some tea today, soaked a sheet of watercolor paper in it, placed several teabags on it in an attempt to give it a mottled effect, and let it dry. Here’s the result. I think it’s an improvement over my first attempt. What do you think?
It all started with a picture in a magazine–a worn-out looking white enamel teapot filled with fresh daisies perched in the center of a kitchen table. I loved the juxtaposition of the antique teapot and the freshness of the daisies. So, I asked my neighbor to join me in a hunt for a similar teapot at a local antiques shop. I wanted to fill it with spring flowers from my front garden. It looked fabulous holding all sorts of flowers. I had an abundance of pink tulips in my yard that spring and decided that they would also look amazing in a pale yellow teapot, so I grabbed my neighbor again and away we went in search of a yellow teapot. That led to a search for a green teapot, a blue teapot, a red teapot, and so on. An obsession was born.
My neighbor and I spent many months searching for teapots in all sizes and colors. And when we’d found antique teapots in every color of the rainbow (except the elusive purple–I never did find one), I refocused my search on patterned teapots.
My collection eventually found a home on my family room bookshelves. I think the best way to display a treasured collection is to showcase all the items together. It packs a much greater visual punch than placing individual pieces or small groupings in multiple areas within a room or home.
Here’s a peek at my teapot collection. I’ve limited the selection in this display to colors that match my family room. But a rainbow display in a monochromatic room would also be amazing.
I just love these Colorful Serve bowls from Pottery Barn. I love the bright, primary colors and the simplicity of their design. I love them so much that I’ve given them a starring role in my kitchen. They look particularly beautiful when filled with fresh fruits and vegetables in shades that match the bowls. Do have pieces of pottery that you love that you’ve stashed away in a cabinet or closet? Take them out of their hiding place, put them to use, and give them a starring role in your home.
I was searching through a box of artwork my daughter created when she was young looking for inspiration for my next painting when I came across this cute note she passed me when she was 8 years old. It was so typically girly that I just had to save it. I call this painting “The Love Note.”
My digital sketch:
My daughter’s sweet note:
My painting:
My daughter’s painting:
Here are a few pictures of my porch today, which is still decked out for fall and winter in deep purple, wine, plum, and gold. You’ll notice that the red rattan chairs in my last post are now a deep eggplant. You should have seen my neighbors’ expressions when they saw me painting my porch furniture purple last fall. I thought it was a bit risky but I love the results. My inspiration for this project was the awesome plaid pillows and fabulous wine colored pillows; I couldn’t resist those ruffles. I carried those pillows around the store and selected everything else with those items in mind–the wreath, the chair cushions, the rugs, the silk flowers, and paint (Rustoleum in Grape). I purchased all of the items on this porch, except the furniture, at Target.
