Have a good weekend & week recap!

i admit it...i am addicted to true blood on hbo...which is weird for me because i normally do not like vampire stories. i have started reading the sookie stackhouse books by charlaine harris and started book 3 last night. so, i have this show on my brain. above is a beautiful compilation of photos via tobequitefrank from the opening sequence to true blood. i think it is one of these most beautiful openings for a show that i have ever seen.

in case you missed any of the line up this week...i have summed it up below. have a great weekend my lovely readers!

furniture: pick chairs by studio dror

lighting: color stack by roger borg

interior: adam neale and megan freitas' dream house

finish: conrad shades jazz collection

architecture: modern japan

accessory: floorplan dishes

artist interview: megan kimber

recycled content: recycled belt floor tiles

diy: garden planning

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Etsy Lunch Hour: Matryoshka Doll Necklace

luxedeluxe is one of my favorite jewelry designers on etsy. this is one of the cutest little charms i have ever seen! it opens up and there is another little nesting doll inside. ugh. i need it.

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DIY: January Garden Planning

as some of my readers may know, i moved into a house last july. the previous owners had a tiny little garden in the back yard with tomatoes, herbs, peppers and lots of pretty flowers. i am a city girl, never having had green space of my own. i thought annuals meant that they only bloomed once a year! ha! so when i found out that all of my vegetables that died were not coming back i was so sad. i didn't get to plan out the garden last year, but this year i can and it is the perfect time to start your planning. lettuce and a few other things can even be planted very soon! i found some great vegetable garden designs via domino. (yes, so sad it will be no longer soon!) get to planning guys, even if it is just a single pot of herbs. i feel with a weak economy that people are going to try to be more self sufficient. vegetable gardening is such a great way to start.

i also read up on doing a garden journal via journallife. it's a great way to keep up with plants and what works/doesn't work. you can keep little pockets of seeds with photos to what they go to or just jot down your thoughts. old school blog style!

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Recycled Content: Recycled Belt Floor Tiles

thank you monica, at of paper and things for posting these recycled belt floor tiles from ting london. i haven't been able to stop thinking about them ever since. modular floor, recycled, and leather belts all wrapped up in one. it makes me so unbelievable happy!

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Etsy Lunch Hour: Poppies

recycled poppy pin set in peacock by foundling

i love poppies! last summer i had a few poppies pop up in my wildflowers. they were so dainty and fragile. each bloom only lasted a day or two before their delicate petals fell off one by one. i love all of these sweet poppy finds.

Little poppy bowl by PrinceDesignUK

Orange Poppy original watercolor painting 5x7 inches Affordable Original Art by karenfaulknerart

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Artist Interview: Megan Kimber

Megan Kimber is an amazingly talented artist that currently resides in Birmingham, Alabama. She graduated with a BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA from Savannah College of Art and Design. Her work is so beautiful and amazing that I wanted to share her thoughts and images with you.

Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, NY. lived there 18 years.

I understand you spent a lot of time in upstate new york with your grandparents when you were young. How has this shaped your imagination and how you paint today?
Good lord, it had a HUGE influence on my work. My grandparents spent their summers in a big old 100 year old house in upstate NY on their family's land, out in the middle of nowhere. i spend a good portion of my summers up there as well when i was growing up. There was no AC, no TV; a very simple existence. So i just ran around the woods, inspecting everything i could - moss, rocks, animal bones, animal tracks in the mud, ferns, fossils, etc......there is a waterfall there, about 50 feet high. The house was also right on the edge of a lake, with a pebble beach leading up to it. We would search for "lucky stones" which had holes in them, and watched the tadpoles hatch. I was very lucky to have this place to grow up in - it was like the background of a fairy tale - a GOOD one, not a frilly one.

I first found your work by seeing a skateboard that was painted for a benefit for UAB visual arts. I also found out after, that your paintings have been used by Yellow Brand Skateboards. How did that come about? That sounds like a very fun project.
Yea i was surprised at how that all came about. A close friend of mine who has skated forever was the first to suggest that i contact some skate companies. I kept putting it off because i thought my painting style was nowhere near what would look good on a board. my stuff has tons of brushstrokes and subtle balances of color and usually you see really strong graphic styles on boards. But Lucian Moon at Satori wrote me back and said he was starting up a side company, Yellow Brand Skateboards, and he wanted me to do some work for him. We were both really excited to bring in a new look to the arena.

A lot of your paintings to me tread in the beautiful invisible realm between reality and fairy tales. What is it that draws you to this place?
you know what? sometimes i have no idea. I just get these ideas on my head as to what would be a beautiful, fascinating reality to me, and i paint it. You know, actually the more i think about it, the more i realize that i think i go that surreal route because i get terribly bored with day to day life and people and what i see around me. i need more stimulus than that.
All artists to some extent like to remove themselves from a certain reality and make their own, and i fall into that category as well. Alot of human interaction is just wayyyyy too complicated and ugly, so i take myself away from that with my work. There is no room for that bullshit in there. its more about simplicity; about humans and their emotions stripped down to their core.
My mom also read tons of fairy tales to me when i was little and so my brain was stimulated with the excitement of a secondary reality from early on; one in which really amazing things happened. My dad taught me tons about nature, which in and of itself is like a fairy tale - so much that happens in nature, on a minuscule or massive basis, is sometimes seemingly impossible and fantastic.

Could you walk us through your process when starting a new painting?
I start with a sketch in my sketchbook or a random piece of paper, usually of a person. Sometimes i sketch someone i know and just warp their features a bit, other times its just a made up character. Usually while I am sketching, i get this feeling or emotion off the character, like it just formed its own personality .... and i kind of envision what they are thinking about. then i think about what sort of environment to put them in. I have tons of reference photos that i have taken over the years to help my inspiration along as well. I will sort through and find a nice pattern or color swatch or mood or environment that would match the character's story well. Next i either transfer the sketch to the board i will paint on, or i just do it freehand. I go over the lines with a crappy pen and ink and dont worry about shaky hands or mess ups. Then I think about what the main color scheme will be in the painting. I lay down washes of thinned out color that i want to be able to show a little beneath the painting. usually i do opposites in temperature - cool washes for a warm final painting, or warm washes for a cool final painting. Then i just go to town and build up layers of paint, shadows to lights.......I always use acrylic paint.

What other artist(s) do you admire?
oh man, there are many. Chris Berens is my latest art crush. I also love Andrew Hem, Jonathan Viner, Scott Radke, Edmund Dulac, Egon Schiele, Sally Mann, Derek Weisberg, Sterling Hundley, Kris Lewis.

I see you have painted a picture of Louis Schefano! What prompted this? He is an old friend of my husband’s. 2 years ago on new years eve i didnt have any plans, so i just went to Rojo just to get some food. Louis was playing there that night, i think with Taylor. Around that period of time, I realized that I have always just painted women and i needed more practice painting men. Louis was interesting looking and I really was surprised at how much I liked his music. So after his show I just asked him if i could paint him and he said yes. He was very cool to paint. he has these crazy good planes, angles and colors on his face.

What do you do when you aren't painting?
working my regular job. running errands. taking photos. listening to music, research random things online......

What brings you to and keeps you in Birmingham?
I was living in Savannah, GA for the 6 years prior to coming here. I got my Master's degree at SCAD in Illustration. I tried staying on there for a bit because I love the FEEL of that little city. It was very inspiring and spooky and full of stories and visual interest. However, in terms of jobs, there was little there for me unless I decided to go into the medical field or work at the stinky paper plant. A relationship was also in the process of crashing and burning so i knew it was just time to move. I chose Birmingham cause my sister lives here with her family and I wanted to be around my nephew as he grew up. On the other hand, I made the mistake of thinking that Birmingham was a bigger city than Savannah and so there would be more art jobs for me. FALSE! I dont know what keeps me here, I dont know how much longer i will stay here. I have the perpetual "grass is greener" syndrome.

Are there other artist in Birmingham you like? if so who?
Merrilee Challis, Wendi Flowers, Daisy Winfrey, Jonathan Purvis, Charles Buchanan, Pat Snow, Chris Lawson..... I'm sure i am leaving some out - im a flake, sorry.

Where can people see your work? web, galleries, etc.
my main site: megankimber.com. I also now have my work up on a permanent basis at Matt Jones Gallery at 2830 6th Ave South, here in town.

What are some of your favorite blogs/websites?
you know, i really dont have any. anytime i try to find some cool ones, i get so many links to other cool sites that it becomes overwhelming so i dont even bother delving in. but i must admit, i am a bit of a nerd, i just started reading the Popular Science website lately. And i like the backlogs of the Daily Coyote.

What do you for fun?
well, lets see. i go through phases...... Honestly, I get stir crazy sometimes because i cant find different, original things to do around here. I hate to say it but I get bored alot. I guess I still dont know enough people to tell me the secret cool places to go. But this weekend is the Chinese festival! I like festivals......But for the most part i really do love exploring, like nosing through some abandoned place, or wandering through the woods.....I almost always have my camera with me....I love flying, I love going on trips.....i also hang out with my nephew, who is 4. we just have these hilarious, random, crazy conversations and make faces at each other. He's sweet and keeps my head in perspective. He's fun to explore with, too. Also I love eating really good food from different, faraway lands.

Things i want to do in the future for fun?

I want to learn how to fly a plane. i want to go to Thailand.

What is on your ipod right now?

hmmmm.....alot of Grandaddy. Explosions in the Sky, The Breeders, Devotchka, Elliott Smith, Arcade Fire, old Liz Phair, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Band of Horses ....and some random stuff that i put on there to get me inspired to go running and get healthy. You get a bad heart and a funny looking ass when you sit around and paint all day!

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Accessory: Floorplan Dishes

from someone that sits behind a computer and works on floorplans all day, i love these dishes. i think they would make the sweetest little gifts. a work mug, or a plate for appetizers or even the sweet little coasters would be perfect for your architect, designer, or draftsman friend. buy yours here.

(via fishseddy)

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Etsy Lunch Hour: Hate mail

HateMail - U G L Y

i've been loving on these hate mail cards from carolleedesigns on etsy for some time now. i don't think i could ever send one, but it make me so happy every time i read them.

HateMail --- You Suck

HateMail --- When I Found Out...

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Architecture: Modern Japan

modern japanese architecture at its best, located just outside tokyo. i love the views. can you imagine taking a bath in that jacuzzi tub while watching the sun set. simple, white, and gorgeous.

(via c77c)

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Finish: Jazz Collection

conrad shades has just introduced the jazz collection which is described as "celebrating the vivid beauty of color and the vibrant rhythms and harmonies of jazz". there are five colorways: riff, boogie, vamp, swing, and groove. the designer line window shades are made from handwoven wood pulp. this is a beautiful way to add a pop of color to any space.

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Etsy Lunch Hour: Table Linens

(via)
i am so excited....my dining table is getting delivered to my house right now! when i get home from work i will have a burl wood dining table, 6 chairs and a beautiful buffet. my husband and i have been married over 7 years and have never had a dining table. now, all i need is some awesome placemats, a runner, and perhaps some coasters. filzfelt on etsy has some of the most beautiful table top items that i think will go beautifully with my grandmother's taylorstone cathay like the saucer pictured above.

Wool Felt Placemat ...

Wool Felt Table Runner in 200 Natur - Natural Grey

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Interior: Adam Neale and Megan Freitas' Dream House

i love the natural light, outswinging windows, diamond chairs, and the artemide castore pendant lights...to name a few things that are wonderful about this interior. it's so warm and cozy and I would so love to live here. read the post from aparment therapy below to find out more about this wonderful home.

Adam Neale and Megan Freitas' Inverness home is a mix of modernism and Bernard Maybeck's Arts and Crafts-era building style. Chronicle design editor Zahid Sardar calls it "sensible" and even goes so far as to say that "it could well be used as a template for other homes in the West"...

There are some "green" aspects of the North Bay house, too: Recycled teak floors; a concrete wall made of fly ash that absorbs and generates heat in the winter and provides shade in the summer; tall French doors that allow cool breezes to flow through. (via apartment therapy)

Zahid Sardar's article is here: Adam Neale and Megan Freitas' dream house

Images: Paul Dyer / Courtesy Gustave Carlson Design, Michael Maloney / The Chronicle

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Lighting: Color Stack

color stack by roger borg is a series of bent neon components to make a seriously cool table lamp.

(via moco loco)

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Etsy Lunch Hour: Quail

whole quail egg necklace by kookoobird

a friend that lives up the street lost her quails she had raised since they were eggs to some neighborhood strays. i was so saddened for her loss and think that the quail may be one of the most beautiful and interesting birds. these etsy artists think so as well.

Modern blanc de chine style ceramic quail by mudpuppy

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Furniture: Pick Chairs

i love these BBB pick chairs from studio dror. i think it would be awesome to have a dining room decorated with these beautiful chairs and when a guest wants to sit at the table...just grab your chair off the wall!

(via atelier a+d)

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Inspiration: Her Morning Elegance by Oren Lavie

i thought this was a beautiful video.

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Have a good weekend & week recap

i hope you all have a great weekend visiting friends/family, cooking dinner, cleaning house or bathing the dog. yes, this is maggie after she discovered a mud puddle at the park a few years ago. she befriended a daschsund and they rolled, wrestled, jumped, and chased each other through that puddle. i couldn't be mad. look at that face.

in case you missed anything this week here is a recap:

Furniture: petal5 stool

Lighting: flight 815

Interior: trans artist office

Finish: wood grain rug

Architecture: ring house

Accessory: notebook dishes

Recycled content: tube light

Artist: camilla engman

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Etsy Lunch Hour: jwhitney100

shelves
i found a new shop on etsy that i love...jwhitney100! i love all of these wood designs for the home...all original designs, handmade, and awesome! go. shop. here.

wooden origami seakers with retro grills

all wood urban record player table

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DIY: Photo Headboard

(via poppytalk /photo via the anemi)

this is a great d.i.y. from poppytalk on how to make a headboard and more from a photograph. i think this is a beautiful and modern way to add functional art to any space!

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Artist: Camilla Engman

camilla engman is one of my favorite artists. my friend monica at of paper and things posted on camilla's cut paper collections a few weeks ago and knew i needed to share. i hit camilla's blog daily which i think is lovely and you can buy her work here if interested. oh, this color palette. i love it so.

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Big Window Challenge at AT!

(the downtown chalet)

have you voted for the big window challenge over at apartment therapy? go check it out! apartment therapy and bloomingdales have teamed up and let 3 AT readers create a window using their new line furniture on 5. i had a hard time choosing! which one is your favorite?

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Etsy Lunch Hour: nectarjewelry

modern embroidered leaf

nectarjewelry has some of my favorite jewelry on etsy. these embroidered pieces are my absolute favorite!

distressed relic hoops

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Inspiration: white bathroom

(via)
i love a white bathroom. especially a white bathroom with natural light. here's some bathroom eye candy.

(via)

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Recycled Content: Tube Light

(via)

i've decided to add a recycled/green/LEED/sustainable post to the weekly line up. i started last week with the recycled denim insulation. i have to say this tube light is pretty badass. the recycled fluorescent tube ligts are used to create the shade and inside is a pair of incandescent bulbs to create the warm glow of light. i love a white light with a red cord. what is it that makes it so appealing? maybe update it with compact fluorescent fixtures or leds to make it more energy efficient? thoughts?

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Accessory: Notebook Dishes

dishes based on notebooks? love it! above is composition cup. below is notebook mug and graph paper tray. i really love the notebook mug and wouldn't mind having one for myself! check out the other paper types available here.

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Etsy Lunch Hour: Friend

Friend... Print 8x10 by michelemaule

i found this sweet print on etsy while looking for art for the house. this makes me so happy with the fun color combination and the little boston terrier peeking off into the distance. if my peacoat was red i would think this was a painting of me. i think i might need it.

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Architecture: Ring House

the ring house, designed by tna architects, consists of rings of glass and wood and is located just outside tokyo, japan. the rings are of varying height to reflect the function in which each is concealing. the glass creates a 360 degree sight line which is fantastic. i want to live in japan in the woods in a ring house!

(via coolboom)

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Make your own fabric!

(via)
have you ever wanted to make your own fabric? i have! how about $18 per yard with no yard minimum? sounds too good to be true? then you need to check out spoonflower. i've been wanting to do this for a while. i just need an awesome image now!

(via)

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Finish: Wood Grain Rug

check out this cool wood grain rug from west elm. it comes in espresso and green. i personally think the espresso is fantastic.

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Etsy Lunch Hour: Hope

Hope necklace by finchmetal

WHILE WE BREATHE, WE HOPE tiny text bowl commemorative obama design election inauguration by palomasnest

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Oh happy day!

(via)

i've had the song "oh happy day" stuck in my head all morning. hmmm...i wonder why?

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Interior: Trans Artist office

Trans Artist's office, designed by Overtreders W, places artists with artist-in-residence opportunities around the world. the residence files are placed in plastic bags that hang above the long table where the file is then cross referenced with a pin that is stuck in the map on the wall at the location of the residence. i love the birch and black combo throughout and the simplicity of the system.

(via dezeen) (pics by Jorn van Eck)

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Ruffner Mounatin Visitor Center

i went for a hike yesterday at ruffner mountain with my husband, my friend john, his dog jake, and my two boston terriers. it was perfect weather. all we needed was a light jacket. ruffner mountain is literally 4 blocks from my back yard. it is over 1000 acres of woods and over 11 miles of trails. they are building a new treetop visitor center that is coming along nicely. i snapped a few photos while there to show the progress. it will be a LEED certified gold project by KPS Group. you can see the rendering above to get a better idea of the scope of work. check out how beautiful the quarry is even in the winter!

one of the overlooks at the quarry

my chunky little boston and i didn't quite make it to the top with the boys and my other boston.

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Furniture: Petal5 stacking stool

i am in love with these petal5 stools from 4 pli. they are crafted from baltic birch plywood and painted with low VOC milk paint.

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Etsy Lunch Hour: Tiny White House

Shelf City by weedsandwildthings

Medium Raymor Ceramic House Container by ladiesandgentlemen

Heart Factory by PearsonMaron

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Lighting: Flight 815

this week is the season premiere of LOST, one of my very favorite shows! well, if you are a fan as well you might like this lamp designed by Cedric Ragot and inspired by Oceanic Flight 815. i love this light without the LOST association, but love it a little more because of the inspiration. come on wednesday night already!

(via unplugged)

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MLK Day

happy martin luther king jr. day. i don't need to tell you how significant this day is...especially this year. living in birmingham, alabama, there is a rich history involving mlk. above is a picture of martin luther king in a birmingham jail cell after he had been arrested in april of 1963 for a non violent protest against segregation. read the letter he wrote while in jail here. i lived downtown for 4 years and was only 4 blocks from the 16th street baptist church where the horrific bombing occured on september 15, 1963 that killed 4 children. the church has been rebuilt and a civil rights institute has been erected next to it with a beautiful park in front of them both. below is the statue of mlk that is in that very park gazing upon the church. obama has asked that we all contribute to our community today...do something to help our neighbors. we have a neighborhood meeting tonight. that might be a good place to get an on going community effort started.

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Community Center Bathrooms

i went out to the community center this morning and snapped a few photos. i really loved how the bathrooms turned out. see for yourself. the first two photos are of the main restrooms, next two are the office restrooms and the last is the laundry facility bathroom which will get the most abuse...hence the wall tile and wall mount sink.

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Flickr Find: Nikki's West

(via)

one of the wonderful things about living in the south is the food. this is where i will be tonight...nikki's west. it is my favorite meat and three. well, i am more of a meat and two actually. check out these awesome plates and everything comes in it's own little dish. i'm thinking greek chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans with a yeast roll and glass of sweet tea. hope you all have a happy and warm weekend!

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DIY: Shoe rack

love this fun diy for a shoe rack via not martha. check out the step by step directions here. i need one of these full wall height in my bedroom. my shoes are still living out of a box...since july!

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Recycled Content: Recycled Blue Jean Insulation

recycled blue jeans into insulation? insulation without the itchies? ooohh i want to insulate my bedroom with this awesome creation by bonded logic! (via inhabitat)

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Inspiration: Mind Mapping via decor8

(via decor8)
yesterday on decor8 holly did a great post on creativity and mind mapping (basically brainstorming on a central idea) about what we liked to do as a child. the idea was to get her readers thinking about the joys of their childhood to get them inspired as adults. it's the small things that really have the biggest impact for me. i made mine yesterday (below). ignore the mess, it's supposed to be a pretty spontaneous thought process. i didn't want to rewrite it and make it more blog-worthy. need some inspiration? try it for yourself. read the entire post here and the comments to see more takes on it.

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Etsy Lunch Hour: Silver and Concrete Jewelry

i am in love with this concrete and silver jewelry by lulubugjewelry.

Silver and concrete oak tree necklace by lulubugjewelry

Silver and concrete wave necklace by lulubugjewelry

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Blogger Laptop Bag

i got a new laptop bag yesterday from Timbuk2. if you know these bags, you know they are expensive. my husband found this bag (called "the blogger"!) at T.J. Maxx for $20. i love it!

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Artist: James Spicer

i adore these photographs of miniatures from james spicer. it reminds me of being a child and watching the intro to mr. rogers. i found him on etsy or you can check out his website here.

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My home.

1938
well as some of my avid readers might know....i bought a house last July. she was built in 1928 and i'm very excited to get a historical marker on her. in order to do this i have to do a little digging at the local library and get a picture, find out who the original owners were, and fill out a little paperwork to send with a $125 check. see the before picture (above) taken in 1938 and the after taken in 2008 (below). i believe her name will be "The Mainard House". in the 30's pictures were taken of all existing structures in town and archived. i think she was originally turquoise with white trim from small flakes on the house and what the owners before us said. i like her yellow and think she looks like a little gnome home.

2008

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Accessory: Teardrop Vase

love this teardrop vase from urbana design. i think i'll take the one above with the yellow interior. it comes in a large and small version and is available here.

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Etsy Lunch Hour: Some accessories I want...

Keyhole Flat by HydraHeart

Flower Hanger Sterling Silver Earrings by TheBeadGarden

fighting vintage robots pillow case standard size x 2 by moresassvintage

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Architecture: Rogner Bad Blumau

rogner bad blumau is one of the most unique and fascinating hotels that i have ever seen. this hotel/spa & wellness center in austria was a vision by artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. it makes me so happy and looks like something i might have invisioned as a child for a castle to escape to. everything looks like it was outlined and colored with markers or crayons. in my world of straight lines and mathematical curves it's wonderful to see something so freeform and imperfectly perfect. from their website: Rogner Bad Blumau is a trip of discovery. Green roofs, round shapes, colourful facades and golden domes make up a spirited work of art in the middle of fields and madows.

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It's freezing!

Constellation, 5x7 photo by violetjulia

it's so cold outside. we southerners are not used to these cold temperatures. i hope you are all staying warm tonight.

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Finish: Concrete Sink

(via)
it's not a secret that i have a love of concrete. first, i would like to have concrete counters in the kitchen. next, i would like a concrete sink in the bathroom. how beautiful are these concrete bathroom sinks? if i had three bathrooms, i would take one of each! but, i only have one so I will have to decide. which do you like best?

(via)

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Etsy Lunch Hour: Vintage

Vintage 60's Super Form Mid Century Danish Modern RETRO CEILING LAMP by moderntoretro
this is how i'm feeling today...colorful and modern.

Vintage Summer Time Drinking Glasses Trio by vintageuniques

60s MID CENTURY MODERN Orange Planter POT by fabulousmess

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Interior: Dream House

i found this beautiful interior on desire to inspire and was very inspired indeed. i love the striations in the wood floor, the pendant over the dining table with eames chairs, the gorgeous bathroom with a wood wall, the stark modern kitchen, dark tile flooring, the sweet pool with a waterfall and that breathtaking view. this is the home dreams are made of.

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Hanging Tons of Art

(via)
do you have more art than you can hang? i don't, but i wish i did! what do you guys think? wonderful or excessive?

(via)

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Lighting: Ping Pong Light

ping pong light anyone? it comes in a table and floor option. i want both! (via)

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Etsy Lunch Hour: Jewelry Box

Scandinavian House Music Box by ladiesandgentlemen

i have a habit of leaving my jewelry strewn about in our bathroom which drives my husband a little batty. i love all of these sweet little jewelry box options off of etsy. is that a strong enough hint? heehee

Solid Oak Jewelry / Keepsake Box by JMCraftworks

Cupcake Trinket Box Strawberry by fruitflypie

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Furniture: Full Moon Sideboard

Sotirios Papadopoulos designed this full moon sideboard for ennezero. the image of the moon is created by a special paint that glows in the dark and creates special effects.

(via yatzer)

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DIY: Punch collage

here's a sweet little diy involving a punch and repetition. i love this sweet little butterfly example. fun paper, a fun punch, and a sweet little frame and you have an easy and beautiful new piece of art for your home or a gift. (via aliedwards)

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Matte Stephens at Jonathan Adler Stores!

(via)
my favorite painter and favorite potter have teamed up! i am so very excited! All 9 of Jonathan Adler's stores will now carry Matte Stephens paintings! currently the paintings are at soho and will be in his madison avenue and columbus street stores this week. so if you live near a jonathan adler store pop in and see matte's work. below are a few pieces matte has posted on his blog that will be available in jonathan's stores.

school bus

new orleans

uncle rutherford gives the kids a lift to school

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Artist: Doubleparlour

oh yarn 5x7
doubleparlour is an art collaboration between ernie and cassandra velasco. check out their etsy shop here. i really love these ink and acrylic drawings. the structures stand out so beautifully on these muted palettes with black or white silhouettes.

oh deer

the letter O

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Accessory: DWR collection

(top: block puzzle, robot, eames bird)
(bottom: donkey, bird whistle, eames miniature)

i'm a sucker for some good bric-a-brac and this is the best! dwr has such an awesome collection of items to help liven up any shelf, credenza, mantle, and home!

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Etsy Lunch Hour: Midcentury Chair Love

i have a weakness for midcentury modern chairs. the eames rocker and the womb chair are two of my favorites! check out these etsy artists who share the love.

Modern Hang-Around - Rocker by byrdandbelle

Matted Giclee Print - Absence no. 12 on Veneer by mimidoodles

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My big project!

i've been working at cohen carnaggio and reynolds for about a year and a half. in that time i have done as builts, space planning, a number of tenant spaces, planned for a soon to be built library and this...the community center...the first big project of mine and the first that i have seen through from preliminary layouts to actual construction. it's so awesome to see what you draw up come to life. i'm super excited. i am still waiting on most of the furniture and hope to head out there on the 16th to get more comprehensive personal photographs. we should be getting some professional photography done in the next few months too. i will update. here is a sneak peak of mckenzie court community center in tuscaloosa, alabama. all interiors by me!!!

main entry

waiting room

open office (waiting on cubicles for left wall)

community room stage

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Finish: Interior Stone Veneer

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interior stone veneer adds such beautiful dimension and texture to a space. i love the muted palettes of these cleft-stones. i want that library and kitchen too!

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Inspiration: Pizza by the slice search

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i was asked today at lunch to help with a little pizza by the slice restaurant and have spent a little time this afternoon looking for inspiration from google searches. this is my favorite way to get my creative juices flowing. here are a few really cool pizza restaurants that i came across. what do you guys think?

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Etsy Lunch Hour: Wing

Print - Over Rooftops by Roadside
i was watching antiques roadshow the other night and was fascinated by a painting a man brought in. from a distance it looked like a van gogh, but up close you could see each "brush stroke" was created by an insect wing. here are a few of my very favorite wing finds from etsy by three of my very favorite etsy artists!

Golden Cicada Line Earrings by sudlow

Wing by ohmycavalier

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Interior: Indoor Ice Skating Rink!

i love this indoor ice skating rink by chilean architects Mauricio Léniz + Alberto Moletto. the lighting is beautiful and i love the color palette. now i wish i could ice skate!

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Lighting: Brass Bird Pendant

i have been trudging through my 2 weeks of emails today at work and came across this new little beauty from urban outfitters. it is a brass bird pendant by artist Hung Ming Chen of Hommin Studio in Sweden. how simple and beautiful is this to dress up a basic bulb kit?

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Etsy Lunch Hour: Succulents!

Cup o' Baby Toes Succulent Potted Pink Mug by monkeysalwayslook

i know i have been talking about doing a succulent garden for a while now. well, i now have all of the planters, thanks to my wonderful husband and thoughtful friends, to make my dream come true. so i guess it's time to shop for plants! i went to home depot last week and they were completely out. stupid christmas decorations and poinsettias were there instead. check out the awesome selection etsy has to offer! oh my gosh they are so beautiful! the baby toes above make me miss my salt water tank. don't they look like coral?

Graptopetalum amethystinum - Jewel Leaf Succulent by TwoDogGardens

Sedum Cuttings in Bulk by thegardensage

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2009!

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2009 is the year of hope...hope for my personal goals and hope for the state of our country and economy. i have so much to look forward to this year.

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#1: in 15 days we will inaugurate a new president! this is also the first time that someone i have voted for will be elected into office. it's really very exciting!

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#2: i turn 30 this year! Yes, the big 3-0...not until April though!

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#3: i want to learn to knit something besides a scarf. i think i can knit a long rectangle beautifully now. i am sooo addicted to ravelry.(check it out if you knit!)