Monthly Archives: June 2010
Inspired By…LA Plates
| June 23, 2010 | Posted by Linsi Brownson under accessories, favorite things, featured biz, gifts, Inspiration, kitchen |
I’m a big fan of prints and patterns, color and texture, so I was pretty excited to discover LA Plates in a recent issue of House Beautiful. The concept is so simple, a melamine plate that you can personalize for any occasion – pick the background pattern, pick the color and go to town with initials, short phrases, you name it!
I love the idea that you can so easily create something beautiful and personal. These make awesome gifts or favors for bridal showers, and the fact that you can use them again and again is right in line with my standards.
Get inspired in the gallery at LAPlates.com and check out their blog too, which shows all the amazing fun things they’ve done for celebrity events and fancy parties. As a business owner I am totally wowed by how quickly they took off. Pretty cool!
Shiny New Things
| June 21, 2010 | Posted by Linsi Brownson under accessories, favorite things, furniture, weekly favorites |
It’s a little gloomy here, so this week at Redefine Home I wanted to feature some of our shinier, happier decor. Check ‘em out, Mmmm shiny…
This is a gorgeous, handcrafted metal base with either marble or a green glass top. Seriously luxurious and it fits pretty much anywhere.
This is the Quad Clock and the picture doesn’t do it justice because it’s huge! Not ridiculously huge, but bigger than you would think at almost 16″ square. It’s sturdy and really well made and, of course, shiny. I love this thing.
Also featured last week (see post on Relight) this soy based candle was hand-poured into a vintage glass by LA Artist BJ Papas. It’s totally eco-friendly and the best part is that you can still use the glass when the candle is gone.
One of my favorite items in the store, these are repurposed beer bottles that have been ‘antiqued.’ These look awesome anywhere you put them – in a table setting, on the patio or in a collection of varying candles, and the glow is mesmerizing.
Okay, so it’s not shiny but it is glossy and the textural quality of the print is worthy of some notice. I love this tray because it is simple and bold at the same time. Gotta love that Thomas Paul!
So this is what’s on my mind this week. You can check these out in our What’s New section at Redefine Home and save 10% on any of these items when you enter code NEW10 during checkout this week. Happy Monday!
Introducing BJ Papas of Relight Candles
| June 17, 2010 | Posted by Linsi Brownson under accessories, gifts, Guest Bloggers, redefine home |
I’d like to introduce a guest, artisan and owner BJ Papas of Relight candles – and one of my newest vendors at Redefine Home. Check her out.
Wow, blogging. This is my first time and I am not exactly sure how to do it but here goes…
Hi! My name is BJ and I live in West Hollywood, CA. I make 100% soy candles in recycled/vintage glassware. I have always been concerned with the environment and believe in recycling – from garbage to clothes, anything that can be…should. One of my favorite things to do is shop and I have always love antiques and old things. I frequent flea markets, antique malls and thrift stores. I enjoy the search and, of course, “the find.”
A Coke scented candle in a vintage glass.
I started making soy candles for Christmas gifts when I would see the perfect glass that reminded me of my friends and family. It was so fulfilling to see their responses. After gifting a candle to a friend who had a friend who was opening a new store in Silverlake, CA, (www.everittinteriors.com) I was quickly pushed into selling them. I had no idea about marketing, but it meant I had an excuse to go shopping.
Finding unusual, beautiful, vintage glassware is very time consuming and it’s a lot harder now than it used to be. There are fewer treasures out there and they are more popular than ever! I shop way more that I should, but I have to, in order to find the perfect glasses. The search is always on and you never know what you are going to find. I have always been obsessed with vintage glassware and had a weakness for all the glasses that break and are no longer part of a set. I love to give them a purpose and create something that stands alone, a one of a kind beauty.
A vintage, metallic coin glass with blackberry-sage soy wax.
My candles are environmentally and people friendly. I use 100% soy wax and the vintage glasses are reusable. Soy candles burn slower, longer and cleaner than paraffin. It’s made from American-grown soybeans, is biodegradable and a renewable resource. I try to keep certain people in mind when shopping and I often think of men. Men like candles too but I feel like candles are just geared toward women.
So, I started making beer-scented candles in vintage beer glasses. Sometimes it’s hard to find a good gift for a man. This way he can laugh, light and drink from his new “old” glass. I also tend to find more manly glasses-like cars and liquor for them. I use other manly scents as well, like Cedar and Rustic Woods.
Candles seem to be loved by all and I really enjoy hearing everyone’s suggestions. They keep me inspired to try new things-so please feel free to comment.
Thanks Bj! You can find these and more in the Relight candle shoppe at Redefine Home. You can also email BJ directly at info@relightcandles.com
Buttah
| June 16, 2010 | Posted by Morgan G under cooking, food, Guest Bloggers |
Buttah.
In certain situations – okay, a lot of situations, a pat of butter can make all the difference. Case(s) in point:
On a fresh-from-the-grill ear of corn.
On a piping hot baked potato.
On a perfectly toasted slice of hearty bread.
On a heap of steamed broccoli.
On a stack of blueberry pancakes.
And so on and so forth.
Butter certainly pulls its weight around the kitchen. Every now and then I like to return the favor by dressing a stick of unsalted butter up in something sweet or savory. It’s a really simple trick and you can probably pull it off with items you have in your cupboards right now.
For sweet butter, any of the following will work: cinnamon, honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, cloves
For a savory spread, opt for: garlic, chives, thyme, basil, dill, cheddar cheese
Making a flavored butter stick is done the same way with any of the ingredients above. As for me, I’m whipping up cinnamon-honey butter here.
First…place a stick of softened, unsalted butter in a bowl and mix with ingredients of your choice and stir.
Second…Transfer the butter mix onto a sheet of wax paper. Fold an edge over the butter and roll into a log.
Third…Give the ends of the wax paper a twist to seal. The result looks like a log-like piece of taffy. Place the log into the fridge and seal for an hour or more before using.
Your new and improved butter stick will look something like this –
Slice into it and spread it on a slice of toast, pancakes, a scone, an english muffin, a crumpet or teacake – whatever you’ve got handy. Now, say it with me. Mmmm. Buttah.
…and many thanks to Linsi for having me “over” this week! Much Gratitude, MG.
Find more of Morgan’s great recipes, tips and ideas on home and garden on her blog Grounded. And find her every third Wednesday here!
Monday Eye Candy
| June 14, 2010 | Posted by Linsi Brownson under accessories, redefine home, weekly favorites |
I think Mondays get a bad rap. Most of us are back to the grind, weekend fun fading into memory. But Mondays can mean a fresh start too. New opportunities arrive and we face our futures head-on with a renewed energy. Okay, for some of us this may not quite be true, but it’s a nice thought right?
Each Monday at Redefine Home we are featuring our latest and greatest new decor and I thought it would be fun to share some pretty things here at Inspired Design Daily. Whether or not you feel invigorated from the weekend, everybody could use a little eye candy.
Happy Monday!
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