Category: accessories
Tweetable Mentions 2.3.12
| February 3, 2012 | Posted by Linsi Brownson under accessories, architecture, art, Design, design history, favorite things, Gather, Have Fun, Inspiration, interiors, Mind |
Worth chirping about:
Libraries of the World: gorgeous shots of books in their natural habitats – from @PureGreenMag
Gold is IN - from @lovelivesmall
Road Less Traveled store re-opened in its new home – from @rltstore
My favorite wardrobe coach Nicole released her book Reclaiming Your Wardrobe. AND for a limited time you can download it for free from Amazon!
Seriously, do this now. Oh, and also, that’s my closet on the cover 
- from @TheWardrobeCode
I was sick this week so that’s all I got. Is there any big news I’m missing? Other than the Facebook IPO filing, I heard about that. And also Pinterest is taking over the world. Thanks to @TheBigDebowski for that nugget.
Happy Friday, woopee!
Inspired DIY: Pretty Words, Golden Birds
| January 26, 2012 | Posted by Elissa C. under accessories, art, Create, Design, do-it-yourself, Inspiration, interiors, Projects |
I’m currently finishing my last six months of interior design classes and it always happens. My Muse visits me at random intervals and this time she whispered in the form wall art. I was flipping through a Pottery Barn magazine and I happened upon a layout with these amazing hanging pictures of golden birds painted on pages torn from a book. They were classy but also understated, and I knew immediately that they had to be mine. I’m always up for a creative challenge and they looked simple enough to make myself. I already had some of the materials and I knew that my favorite store was having a frame sale, so I really had nothing to lose. The universe was practically begging me!
The project was devastatingly simple and only took three or so hours. I spent roughly $20 on supplies and plan on doing several variations of this with the aim of using them in the master bedroom. I thought it would be interesting to stain some pages with coffee or to tear up the pages and paste them together in interesting ways, playing up the shapes and textures that the blocks of text make. I also want to try using black paint rather than gold, or maybe using a more tarnished shade of metallic paint for a more bold visual contrast.
This idea could also be geared toward a child by using pages from a classic story (The Velveteen Rabbit, perhaps?) and adding the simple silhouette of a bunny. Or do several iterations using various characters from nursery rhymes or poems, perhaps even painting large letters instead of animals. A colored mat and large white frame would complete the look and make a nursery a very happy place indeed.
Whatever theme you choose to use, don’t forget to make it personal. If it is meant for your own home then incorporate words and images that resonate with you. If it is a gift for someone else make sure the thoughts that are conveyed in the final image are a reflection of your feelings for that person. Those are the most important aspects of giving and they transform a whatever they touch into a something sentimental and lovely. By no means is this DIY meant to be followed to the letter. Be creative and let your inner Muse speak to you. You never know what can happen when you let her words fall lightly upon your ear.
Enjoy and Happy Crafting!
E
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Supplies Needed:
Paint Brushes
Metallic Acrylic Paint
Pencil For Sketching
Pages From A Book
Clear Tape
Glue
White Craft Paper
Mat
Frame
Inspiration!
Most of the supplies were already in my possession, so it was pretty easy to convince myself to get started. I chose specific pages from Love In The Time of Cholera, a wonderful book, but one I am not likely to read again. The pages reflect the stages in the relationship between the main characters and contain some of the more poignant lines. I chose a mat and frame to add an informal feeling to the finished piece.
Step One: Choose Your Pages
Choose pages that speak to you in some way. The meaning of the words and the type used are important factors. Carefully tear them from the book so there are no ragged edges.
Step Two: Decide On The Layout
Take a few minutes to play with the layout and placement of the pages, placing the mat on top to help your eye focus on the desired area. Once you find a design that you like, lightly trace around the inside edge of the mat with a pencil to create a guide for taping.
Step Three: Tape It Down
Carefully tape down the pages to a sheet of white craft paper. Any type of white paper will work as long as it provides some type of thickness and heft. In my case, I used to pieces from a thick sketch pad. Tape down just the portion of the pages that will be hidden under the mat, but not the portions that will be seen in the final image. Be sure to cut off any excess that is hanging over the edge of the craft paper.
Step Four: Sketch Your Design
Using light pencil strokes, sketch our image onto the pages. If you're afraid of making a mistake, don't be. Part of the beauty of art are the little nuances that are unique to each individual's style of drawing or painting.
Step Five: Bring On The Gold
When it comes to painting, less is more. Apply thin coats and allow them to dry before beginning another. A variety of paint brushes are helpful, but I only used three round sizes and got very precise results. To secure the edges that are overlapping, take a small amount of glue on the tip of a brush and apply to the backs of the edges, creating an even and flat surface.
Step Six: Mat, Frame, Done!
Bring it all together by adding the mat and frame and you have a completed piece of personal art that will bring warmth and sophistication to any environment. For extra protection of the image, add a piece of glass to the inside of the frame. Display on a table or on the wall and let your creation do it's thing.
Inspired Week 1.20.12
| January 20, 2012 | Posted by Linsi Brownson under accessories, Design, Explore, Inspiration, interiors, Nurture, Places, See and Do, so-cal local |
Has this week been crazy for you?
Last weekend was so busy, and so was Monday and Tuesday – I’ve been all mixed up on my days and I’m pretty sure I skipped a week entirely because there’s really only 1 week of January left…what???
Anyway, now that I realize it is Friday I am pretty excited for the weekend. I’ll be attending a fun event on Saturday in Costa Mesa to celebrate the Grand Opening of Phase II at one of my favorite local spots – the OC Mart Mix. This place was built for small businesses and I’m thrilled to see how it’s grown in just a year. I applaud the companies who took a risk in moving in when it was empty and had the faith (and the means, obviously) to see it through. Hurrah for expansion!
A couple things I loved about this week:
1. I totally changed the blog. Did you notice? I’ve tried to rework the layout a few times before and it always ended up looking pretty much the same. But this time it’s just different enough to be exactly what I was hoping for…with a few kinks that I’ll figure out eventually. What do you think?
2. These freshy fun pillows from Erin Flett – featured on Design Sponge
3. I’d like to think that if my recipes were organized here I would use them more often, simply because I would want to look at the book everyday – from Poppytalk
4. I made my first video. Well, that’s a lie, because I used to make Spice Girls videos with my girlfriends every time a new song came out. Guess which Spice I was? And at the cultured age of 5 I would write, direct and perform in plays with my cousin. So really, this gift has been culminating practically since birth – and this video might be disappointing to you. But I’m pretty excited. So, will you watch it anyway, puhleez?
5. This isn’t really inspired so much as baffled/afraid/proud of the voice of social media but I have to mention the SOPA Blackout Day because it happened. And that was interesting. Google’s foot stomping was my favorite. I don’t think there’s a chance in hell of that insanity passing…but then again, what do I know? The older I get the more things I am dead wrong about. Let’s hope this isn’t one of those things. (BTW, if this does pass I will be in super big trouble for using that Spice Girls poster…see the risks I take for you?)
Like I said, I’ve been a busy lady this week. I just have one last thing to mention, or plug, if you will. I’ve been doing this blogging/social media thing for my own business for over 3 years now…and I tend to talk a lot about the business side of it during offline discussions with friends and acquaintances. Through a series of recent kismetic conversations and events, I have somehow stumbled into now doing this stuff for other people’s businesses. And I like it! What started out as a few quick tutorials, or setting up a Facebook page, has turned into a business opportunity.
I am not one to overlook opportunity.
So, do me a favor and think of me if anyone you know has a business that needs some help with their social media marketing. And I would love to work with you too, cuz we’re friends and all.
Peace, yo. Have a great weekend.
Design: 3 affordable accessories your living room can’t live without
| January 18, 2012 | Posted by Linsi Brownson under accessories, Design, interiors, living room |
I’m a sucker for home accessories, but there is a fine line between decorated and just plain cluttered. Focus on these 3 pieces to make the biggest impact for the smallest dollar.
image from Better Homes & Gardens September 2010
1. Trays
Trays are stylish – which is why you see them in every living room in every home magazine. But the reason I love them is that they are so versatile! In a living room they can serve snacks, corral magazines, create an instant centerpiece or add texture and depth to a bare wall.
They come in a variety of styles, finishes and price points.
Seriously, no home should be without several.
Lacquered trays from West Elm
2. A Decorative Box
So what do you keep in there? Everything. Remotes, coasters, notepad & pen.
Yep. Anything that fits. Where do you put it?
Smack in the center of your coffee table.
Mirrored Box from Z Gallery
3. Oversized Basket
Keep a large basket next to your sofa, stocked with a couple throws and a pillow or two.
This keeps your sofa from looking sloppy, but having extra blankets on hand is ideal for a comfy living space.
Oval Wire Basket from Redefine Home. Contact me for details.
Inspired By: California Mid-Century Decorative Arts Exhibit
| January 16, 2012 | Posted by Linsi Brownson under accessories, art, Design, design history, Explore, furniture, Inspiration, interiors, lighting, Places, See and Do, so-cal local, textiles, vintage |
“I definitely need to get out more.”
That’s what I said the moment I stepped foot inside LACMA – The LA County Museum of Art. The realization that I hadn’t been there in 3 years (or any museum, for that matter) surprised and disappointed me. Isn’t the point of being a designer/creative person to be able to go on these “work” excursions regularly?
Yes. For all the headaches, heartaches and lost sleep you get when you’re a passionate person, you deserve to be able to waste a few days a month wandering stores and museums in the name of research.
So with a big slap across my own face, I promised that this was the beginning of a new phase where I get dressed and leave my home more days than not. By the time I got done berating myself, we had arrived at the front door of the exhibit we drove up to see. California Design, 1930-1965: Living in a Modern Way.
As a designer in Southern California, I developed an interest in Mid-Century design early in design school. But also, as with many designers, I’ve tired of the look since it’s so prevalent around here – not to mention that the term “Mid-Century Modern” is highly overused AND the sheer number of knockoffs is exhausting.
So it was really nice to get a little crash course reminder of why this period is so significant in art and design history and to see some iconic (and impressive) pieces up close and personal. It certainly re-ignited some passion.
Here are some of my favorite pieces from the show.
I love the typography of these college course books.
This stereo sideboard is “the bees knees” (is that period appropriate?).
I was surprised and excited to see that this exhibit included the living room of the Eames Case Study house. The Eames house has been closed to the public since Ray Eames died in 1988 but they do allow people on the grounds of the home – a couple years ago I took a trip up there and, thanks to their liberal use of glass, was able to get a pretty good tour from the exterior. So it was strangely familiar to see all of their interior furnishings had been transported and accurately placed (inch by inch) in a reproduction home.
I’m digging this multi-functional dining/coffee table. So simple and yet so effective.
Creepy and cool, the Rib Chair by Arthur Espenet Carpenter
I was most fascinated with the story behind why and how this form of design began. The biggest reason was the rapid boom in population – people moving west from hardship and artist emigres escaping their war-torn countries. I really tried to get a good photo of this, but the glare was too tough a contender. Still, it’s a powerful shot.
These are the cross-streets of Fairfax and Robertson, the location of LACMA. They were taken just 7 years apart.
Whoa, right?
This exhibit is awesome, and you should go see it. BUT it’s only 1 of 60 museums in Southern California with exhibits dedicated to this historic time. The collective is called Pacific Standard Time - whether you want to see the complete Eames collection or printmaking and graphic design, there is an exhibit for that. Check it out.
More cool stuff:
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