Archive for the ‘home decor’ Category
These small scale artworks speak volumes. Collage creations, mixed media paintings, and original illustrations all flowing from the hand of Michele Maule in her Portland, OR studio. Influenced by little pieces of her history or her heart, Michele employs such tidbits as vellum, thread, found papers, and pine panels to create her tiny masterpieces.
Every year around the winter holidays, as the stores begin to put up their decorations, and the Christmas tree lots spring up around town, I struggle with how to keep all of those pieces in line with my modern home decor. Of course, many people just go the traditional route and put up all the pieces that they have collected or been given over the years. I have never been a typical red and green Christmas type of girl, so I wanted to pull together a few looks that give off that holiday vibe without looking like the standard fare.
One of my favorite looks is to bring wintertime nature indoors. Twigs, pinecones and basic pine greenery are a great way to holiday-up your space without going overboard. Add in a little sparkle, either through lights, glass or metallic finishes, and you have a subtle winner. My personal favorite is a green, white, silver color scheme. This a great way to pull in modern and traditional pieces while keeping them visually organized. Or try the simplicity of a Scandinavian look, with wooden and geometric pieces and perhaps a shot of bright color. A mid-century vibe can be another great way to go, marrying a silver tree with shots of chartreuse or aqua decorations. When in doubt, opt for a simpler look, but don’t forget to include at least one of those special pieces, either something from your childhood, or something made by your children – one of those pieces that makes you smile each time you see it. And have a happy holiday!
(above) Bringing Nature Indoors
Simple Color Scheme + Scandinavian Wood
Pine and Flowers + Rustic Charm
Yellow and Silver Color Scheme
Amy wrote this post. She is the designer and owner of FormFire Glassworks, where she creates modern lampwork glass beads and jewelry, and by day designs custom homes for a small firm in Southern California. You can follow her twitter @formfireglass.
Ready to tell your loved ones just how much they mean to you? Wanna do it in a bold way? Look into the vivid handmade screenprints from Conilab. Designed and hand printed by graphic designer Coni in her studio in Barcelona, there is something for your family, your partner, and even your mom to feel extra special receiving this season. I’m partial to the We are a team print for my little family.
Rachel Anne wrote this post. She is a 20-something wife and mother of one, who enjoys making things for her embroidery and tiny handmade goodies shop called, Goose and Trisser. You can visit Rachel Anne on her blog here.
I have a few handkerchiefs that I’ve collected over the years, but I never know what to do with them because I feel like they are kind of hard to display. So for Christmas this year, I’ve decided to show off a couple of my favorite hankies in a holiday diy wreath project that is just too easy not to replicate in your own home. The best part is, none of your family heirlooms or your prized fabrics will be damaged in the process – because once the season is over your can simply remove the materials and they are basically as good as new. Interested? Good…
This is what you need to make your own holiday hankie wreath:
1. syrofoam wreath 2. old and antique hankies 3. straight pins 4. ribbon (optional) *NO GLUE REQUIRED. How great is that?
This is how you make it:
1. Grab your materials and take a cozy seat by the fireplace. You can do this project pretty much anywhere because there is no messy glue or tedious sewing.
2. Layout your pieces around your wreath to figure what patterns and colors would be best next to each other, etc.
3. Start with the hankie (or ribbon – I decided to use a little vintage ribbon to bring in another texture) that will be the undermost layer. Fold your first handkerchief in half to form a triangle (seems to work best that way).
4. Using a small straight pin, secure the tip of your hankie to the back of your styrofoam wreath and then begin wrapping it around and around.
5. Secure the other loose end to the wreath with another straight pin.
6. Move on to your next hankie and repeat steps 4 and 5 until the entire wreath has been covered.
7. Create a small bow using some extra ribbon or an additional hankie and attach with another straight pin and you are all set.
**Once the holidays have come to an end, you can easily remove the pins, unwrap your hankies, and put them back in your drawers for safe keeping. No damage and you can use them again next year.
Here’s a step by step in pictures…
And here’s the finished wreath….
What do you think? Pretty easy huh? If you decide to make one of these little guys on your own, please share a link to your finished project in the comments. I’d love to see what you come up with.
And if you like this tutorial… Please help spread the word by sharing it on facebook, twitter, or stumbleupon using the handy buttons below. Then be sure to grab your free copy of The Happy Holidays Guide to DIY by clicking below…
It is the littlest things that we miss in the hustle of every day. That’s why Germany-based photographer Julie Davis stopped me in my tracks this morning with her dreamy, nature photos, capturing the smallest details of life in the moment. She has frozen the elements of her surroundings so I can stop and enjoy them in the midst of my never ending to-do list.
Here’s something big, use code PAPERNSTITCH for 15% off!Check out her collection at Julie Davis Photo on Etsy.
When we look at finishes for our interior spaces, most thought goes to paint colors, perhaps wallpaper, maybe a wood finish. Stone is typically reserved for flooring and fireplaces. But a stone wall of any type can be a textural foil for all of our other furnishings. Of course, my preference is for stone walls that are part and parcel of the architecture, meaning that they begin outside and make small or large appearances in the interior spaces. You may luck out and find and older home with an actual stone wall. But remember that even the stone walls created in new homes today are standard framing with a stone veneer over the surface. An actual stone wall is cost-prohibitive to create, especially in larger areas. But you can use this gorgeous material even if you don’t have large stone walls as part of your architectural aesthetic. Just be sure that you spend a bit of time thinking about the termination points for your wall, or where the stone ends. Only end at a window if you can put the stone on the exterior surface as well. Your best bet may be between two perpendicular walls where the end condition disappears. If not, be sure to give some weight to the wall – a skinny 4″ stud wall covered in stone doesn’t look realistic, but one whose ends are thickened to 10-12″ looks right at home.
Stone finishes vary dramatically, from colors across the spectrum, to a wide array of sizes and textures. Thin pieces of dry-stacked stone come across very differently than large, perfectly-cut rectangular pieces. The first reads as a highly textured surface, while the latter can be a smooth background for other pieces. The amount of grout between pieces of stone can make a huge difference as well. Thin grout can make for a more homogeneous surface, while large grout breaks the stone up visually. Whether you add stone to a fireplace, interior dividing wall, or just at the end of a room, stone surfaces add a natural feel to the home environment.
(above) Irregular Stone Bed Wall
Stacked Fireplace + Random Shape Interior Partition
2-sided Fireplace + Skylit Bath Walls
Heavy Grouting with Modern Touches
Amy wrote this post. She is the designer and owner of FormFire Glassworks, where she creates modern lampwork glass beads and jewelry, and by day designs custom homes for a small firm in Southern California. You can follow her twitter @formfireglass.
With the end of the year fast approaching, images of holiday parties and twinkling lights are on my radar. I’ve absolutely fallen for the Ruby Slippers print from MKendall Photography. An Atlanta-based photographer who loves to do collage inspired photography, Morgan Kendall puts it simply, “I tend to create images of a world I can only dream about, but long to go to.” Check out a couple of my other favorite sparklers from the collection:
Make your holiday a little twinklier with 20% off in her shop with code HOLIDAY2011
Enjoy the sights of MKendall Photography on Etsy.
