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!

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Smile, it’s Wednesday.

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This morning I listened to the quiet.

It started off as a typical Sunday sort of day, you know, the kind of day where you hit the snooze button oh, about six times for ten minute snoozers. Okay, so I didn’t make it to an early morning gym meeting, church meeting, or even an early morning coffee klatch sort of meeting.  Instead, I simply lay back in bed and caught up with a private moment of Sunday Morning Gratitude.

 

I felt grateful for the early morning warmth between the sheets and the quiet whispers of a town not quite awake to the challenges of the day.  Listening for the sound of a car engine roaring to life, ready to join the other big engines on the road to wherever, I was pleasantly rewarded instead with Sunday Morning Quiet.
I kept listening and all I heard was the sound of nature coming to life.  I heard the sound of birds, all in a nest, chirping together.  Those chirpy little birds, breaking the quiet of the morning, served to remind me of a book I used to, as a child, read to my younger brothers – -  ”Are You My Mother?” It was one of the books in the Dr. Suess “Beginning to Read,” series.  Remember the book?  Still popular today, it has a turquoise green cover with a bird standing on top of a lounging dog.

 

image courtesy of ShannonsBookNook.com

Namaste.

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This was interesting:

The Disney Princesses got a makeover from @designtaxi

news from designtaxi.com

If Miss O’Hara can make a dress from curtains, you can make a curtain from your bedsheets –  from @ShoutWithJoy

Bees go to the Opera from @PureGreenMag

I almost got a pixie cut.  Goes like this.

This is where the cool bloggers go but I’m the geeky girl who hides in the bathroom stall listening to their conversations - RT from @simplygrove, @jasminestar

Happy Weekend.  Start it early.

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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.

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The exhibit itself, called EAMES WORDS: Eames Designs- the Guest/Host Relationship, is centered around the quotes that highlight the couple’s approach to design, as well as their view of the world, shaped by their travels and personal collections.

‘From tumbleweeds to strawberries, a bolt of cloth to a keg of nails, to elephants in India and the bread of Scandinavia, the whole world was their canvas.’ -aplusd.org

‘The role of the designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host, all of whose energy goes into trying to anticipate the needs of his guests.’ -Charles Eames

Hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the lives of Charles and Ray Eames, and for more information on the Pacific Standard Time collaborative, check out some favorite shows we’re looking forward to seeing, or the official website for a complete schedule and exhibit details.

Thanks for reading!
Lauren

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3 Things this week

1. I am looking forward to: today’s launch of a fun project called Design Your Life – a collaboration of health, home and fashion – along with Nicole of The Wardrobe Code and Erica of Knocked Up Fitness.

2. I am grateful for: A network of amazing business women to to feed the creativity, share in the successes and help each other through the rough spots in entrepreneurial life.

3. Will accomplish: Going to the gym 3 days. I used to be such a health nut but, you know, life happens. I’ve been slowly getting myself back into the habit – and this week I am motivated by the arrival of my all-time favorite protein shakes from Herbalife, my new audiobook, and the difference I’m seeing in my waistline from the last couple weeks of being “pretty good.”. This week I’m gonna be great!

I want to hear your 3 Things for the week. Please share in the comments below!

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