Feeling Crafty?

So I've been blabbing about mobiles & Nate projects...and here's some babbling about a couple of crafty books for you to check out...

Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People (Amy Sedaris)
This one is by actress & comedian Amy Sedaris and was featured on The Nate Berkus Show.  With chapters titled: "The Craft of Crafting Craftingly," "Craft Yourself Homely," and "The Joy of Poverty," this one is on my list of books to buy!

The Big-Ass Book of Crafts (Mark Montano)
I don't know if anyone else remembers Mark Montano but I do!  He hosted a couple of shows in the past - 10 Years Younger and While You Were Out ~ design/makeover shows.  As I was scrolling through Urban Outfitters' site recently I came across this book and bought it for myself for Christmas...I mean come on, I was on the "good" list last year!  It's full of goodies - from furniture to paintings to lighting to basic crafts.  I'm drooling. :)

You can grab both at Amazon.com! (**Pics are from there, too.**)

~E

A few new Nate projects...

Here are a few recent Nate Berkus projects from his show that I wanted to share.  Being very opinionated when it comes to design I had to add my thoughts, too...

1) Frame Trays: Have a frame laying around that you aren't using? Pick a piece of your favorite fabric, meaure to size, and place it within the frame instead of a picture.  My thoughts: You may need to remove that backing piece that leans the frame up if using a frame designed for a desk/table so that your new tray will lay flat (frames designed specifically for wall mounting, however, may not have this piece at all).  You could also paint/spray your frame a pretty color, or even use a picture or piece of artwork instead of fabric (I'm picturing a colored frame with a neutral pattern or black & white picture maybe?!).

2) Clothing as Art: A nicely patterned dress or shirt you no longer wear?  Cut it up and turn it into art!  Cut a piece, pull it taut and attach to your frame backing, and hang it on the wall.  My thoughts: If doing more than one, use like colored frames or like/complementary colors in the fabrics in order to make your new display look cohesive. I don't like things to be too "matchy matchy" but I do like them to look unified & cohesive.

3) Sweaters as Pillows: Have a sweater you don't wear anymore?  Turn it into a pillow!  Cableknit, cashmere, ribbed, whatever texture - this will only cost you the price of a pillow insert if using a sweater you already own.  You could also hit a consignment store and look for a sweater to work with.  My thoughts: I think I've mentioned before that one of my favorite ways to change up the look of a room quickly, easily, and inexpensively, is to simply swap out or rearrange a few throw pillows.  The colors shown below from Nate's site would typically be a little blah for my taste, but for winter I can picture a couple of chunky white or gray sweater pillows, maybe with a brooch added for some sparkle. 

4) Accessories as Art: Have some pretty jewelry laying around that you aren't using?  Display it! Purchase shadow boxes to diplay your big, chunky, pretty necklaces and arrange them on the wall, or take a bracelet and use it as a napkin ring.  My thoughts: Don't do this with your nice, expensive jewelry. ;)  I would say "OK" to mounting some elaborate necklaces that you don't wear, and places like Forever 21 are a good place to find cheapy bracelets that can double as napkin holders.

5) Pretty Magnets:  Brooches or baubly earrings that you don't wear any longer?  Turn them into magnets!  Remove the pin or backings with wire cutters and attach a piece of magnet from your local craft store. My thoughts: We have a stainless fridge so we don't have the ability to hang magnets, but instead you could take your pretty baubles and attach them to a pillow for some quick glitz & glamour, then easily remove or change in the future (I mentioned above, too).

**All photos are courtesy of The Nate Berkus Show website.**

These were some goodies I had to share, and add my two cents!  Thanks, Nate!

~E

Mobiles?

I realize this is a little random, but flipping through my most recent Lucky Magazine I came across the most beautiful, natural looking, handmade feather & wood mobile.  It immediately inspired me with the thought of trying to replicate it for my mudroom (maybe to go with my big beehive when I finally hang it?!).  Although, with my love for design combined with both my love for my son & the addition of several new babies in our friends'/families' lives, I guess it really isn't all that random!  Here are some mobile ideas, starting with my inspiration for this post...

FEATHERS!
The January Lucky featured a beautiful feather mobiles from the site SHOPAfterAll. I must be into feathers lately! They have a few gorgeous feather mobiles, but my two favorites are the Pyramid Mobile ($225) and the Hanger Mobile ($150). I think it's pretty self-explanatory which one is which...

 {Above photos courtesy of SHOPAfterAll}

I saved some twigs from the batches I collected for my holiday decorations and didn't spray them silver - I'm thinking they'll be perfect for this project.  And in my many trips to JoAnn Fabrics prior to the holidays, I know they have some pretty feather options to choose from.

CARD STOCK! (Plus other goodies for custom looks!)
It took me awhile of searching mobles to find one that I liked for Baby B's nursery.  I really wanted something modern and colorful.  I discovered Frazier & Wing and their variety of handmade, modern mobiles and garlands.  Their card stock mobiles range from $75 - $200.  Here are a few pics...

They also make custom one-of-a-kind mobiles, a few shown below.  I'd love to make something like this one here with the branch, card stock, and poms, and it looks like some beads, too...

{All above photos courtesy of Frazier & Wing}

FOAM!
Although the Frazier & Wing mobiles were quite unique, they were a bit more than I wanted to spend.  I did lots of looking on Etsy and finally settled on something from The Wonderland Studio, made from aluminum wire & foam.  With names like Constellation, Nebula, Supernova, & Milky Way, they are modern, colorful, and very reasonably priced depending on the model and size you choose (they start at $32 but go up over $100).  Here are a few of the MANY to choose from (and this Etsy shop is based out of New England)...

This is the one I have over Bentley's crib, The Nebula Mobile in Tropical Spice...

{All above photos courtesy of The Wonderland Studio}

YARN!

When I was poking around one of my FAV blogs the other day, Spearmint Baby, I came across this cute yarn mobile.

{Photo courtesy of Spearmint Baby}

On Shari's post, she cleverly thought of using a variety of styrofoam balls from Michael's/JoAnn's and wrapping them with yarn for the solid balls.  It just so happened that when I was watching The Nate Berkus Show the other day, he was doing some simple, fun crafts with actress Amy Sedaris and they were making yarn balls, similar to the hollowed version in the above mobile.  Nate was using what looked like jute and making them for a dining table centerpiece, but I thought of this mobile immediately.  For the hollowed balls in the mobile: 1) blow up balloons to the size you want, 2) dip your yarn in a 1-to-1 mixture of glue and water, 3) wrap your balloon with as much or as little yarn as you would like, and 4) once dry, pop and remove the balloon. 

{Photos courtesy of The Nate Berkus Show website}

For the mobile above, I bet you could use fishing line or some other sturdy (maybe a pretty metallic) threading to attach, arrange, and hang your mobile.  I think this would be another fun one to recreate, but I need one of my preggers friends to want one or else I have no reason to attempt this one right now!

METALLIC FOIL!

The always trusty Martha Stewart featured this pretty gem in her December 2010 issue, the Metallic Foil Paillette Tree Mobile.  Although this one wouldn't work for a nursery, it would certainly be doable as a holiday decoration or maybe even a children's playroom if created & hung very safely.  Martha features step-by-step instructions on her website ~ CLICK HERE for Step #'s 1-3; CLICK HERE for Step #'s 4-5.

{Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart's website}

Last, one of the most simple ideas is to hang paper pom pom's above a crib or elsewhere in a baby's nursery.  These guys also make great decorations for parties - for either children or adults, especially for weddings (my friend filled the tent she was married under with paper poms!).  I was set on hanging some poms in Bentley's nursery but my hubby drew the line - he has let me design this ENTIRE house from top to bottom, aside from most of the lighting (although I usually pick the fixtures and then he'll approve based on ceiling height, etc.), and also the "technology" (speakers 'n stuff) so I caved.  But I have them sitting in a basket on the floor for now, just for a pop of color. Etsy has TONS of shops that carry poms, price per # of poms (you can get singles or I've seen bundles of up to 40) vary but the biggest difference I've noticed is lead time since they are handmade.  Fiesta Pom Pom usually has a quick turnaround (the shops will have it posted).  Anywho, my first inspiration for this idea was the FAB Holly at Life in the Fun Lane, in her daughter's room...

{Photo courtesy of Life in the Fun Lane}

Here are a couple of snapshots of Bentley's nursery, where you can see I used a pom pom for an accessory on a shelf for a pop of color, and the basket of poms in the corner of his room...

Until he was born I plopped one in his crib for another pop of color (you can see part of his Nebula mobile from The Wonderland Studio here, too)...

So, that feather mobile REALLY inspired me and I wanted to share some ideas for mobiles with you.  Hope you enjoyed, especially if you have a lil one on the way!

~E

Design Sponge

I've seen Design Sponge online recently, via another blog.  And then all of the sudden it's on Nate Berkus this week.  It's an AMAZING design blog - design trends, product guides, DIY, and my FAVORITE...before & afters. Check it out!!!!!

~E

Pillows on the cheap...

I love throw pillows!  It's so easy to change up the look of an entire room by changing out a pillow or two or three...I did this when I wanted to change things up for fall in our main living space.  I just swapped some pillows from other rooms in the house and brought some orange pillows downstairs for a fall color theme.  Check out my fall decor here. 

Anyways, I've heard this "trick" before but Nate Berkus reminded me via some of his recent guests...

To make inexpensive throw pillows for your bed, couches, etc. - use square napkins or hankerchiefs and sew them up into pillows.  All you need is a little stuffing and voila!  Whether you see some cute napkins at a local vintage store or pick up some pretty hankies in your travels, they can be used as an inexpensive way to transform your room.  You'll get a custom look on a low budget!!

Something like this would be cute in a beach house or a little boy's room: 

{Images courtesy of TheHoneyPress on Etsy}

TheHoneyPress on Etsy sells cute silk screened "Sneezy Sheets" that would work great as pillows.  Based out of Cape Cod, the patterns are nautical, beachy, and adorable!

Happy hanky hunting!

~E

Check out this blog...

I was watching one of my recent episodes of Nate Berkus (I heart you, Nate...) on DVR and he promoted this cute little blog called Thrifty Decor Chick.  This "Thrifty Chick" Sarah loves decorating on the cheap via Goodwill and thrift stores - right up my alley these days!  She pursued a career as a writer, and then after the birth of her son decided to follow her passion of interior design.  Now, she dedicates her time solely to her great blog - Thrifty Decor Chick.  Check it out for yourself!

Happy blogging!

~E

Nate Berkus!

Happy HUMP DAY!  (Happy Wednesday, that is...)

Have you ever heard of Nate Berkus?  Well, if not...now you will...

Nate Berkus is an incredibly talented interior designer and hosts his own show - The Nate Berkus Show.  He founded his design firm, Nate Berkus Associates, in Chicago and later became involved with The Oprah Winfrey Show.  I liked watching him on Oprah every now and then, so I was PSYCHED when I found out that he would have his own show starting this fall.  It's set on my DVR every day so I can check out his design tips!  A couple of his latest shows have been titled "Five Hottest Home Design Trends" and "Thriftiest Decor in America."  Although he often has celebrity guests, I would consider it more of a 'lifestyle' show, incorporating his design ideas & advice for a happy, beautiful existence at home and in life.  I also just found out that his Mom is Nancy Golden from HGTV and the DIY network.  As another tidbit, he and his partner were vacationing in Sri Lanka at the time of the deadly tsunami and sadly, his partner was killed.  A very tragic story that he's turned into a positive by helping others deal with loss.

Anyways...he is AWESOME.  Love him!  He seems to be a genuinely nice person so for me it makes it even more worthwhile to watch his show and follow his design tips.  On a recent show about auctions, he hosted a live auction for his audience where all of the proceeds went to his favorite animal charity.  So if you haven't already, check out his show!!!!

He also has a line for HSN.  He used to have a line for Linens 'N Things but we all know where they went...OUT OF BUSINESS.  For me, sad in the fact that I don't have easy access to his stuff at my local store anymore.  But I'll show you some goodies from his HSN line soon!  And I'll probably share some tips from his show, too!

If you're working, set the DVR kids and see what you're missing!  He's a happy, cool guy who will show you some really great stuff to improve your pad...how to do it affordably...and as a bonus he's often promoting & supporting some really great causes.  Clearly I am on the Nate bandwagon!  Enjoy!

~E