Bad Girl Leroy Brown over here. I couldn’t resist, I bought this piece by Nate Lambdin from the Seattle based Studio Piano Nobile last Friday! Turns out I had almost the exact cost in an old Paypal account so it felt like it was meant to be! There are still a few left on Piano Nobile’s website. Contact Isabelle through their website for availability or check out their Etsy shop for other goodies.
I just stumbled upon the website for art studio Piano Nobile and instantly fell in love with these marker drawings by artist Nate Lambdin. It’s a dream of mine to have my own art gallery someday where I would carry affordable artwork by talents like Nate. In the meantime I will need to figure out how to buy just one of them for myself. I’ve contacted Piano Nobile for info on availability but for $225-325 I would imagine they will sell out quickly. I’ll update later.
I already have an eyeshade that says “Princess” made of pink silk with black fur around the edges - it’s very girlie. It was a joke gift from the hubs, but he stole it from me! He took it to help him sleep in hotels when he is away for business trips. I love the image of a maid coming to make up his bed and finding the pink silk “Princess” eyeshade on his bedside so much that I’ve decided he can keep it. Here are some snarky versions from Hambone and Jennicakes that would make a suitable replacement for the Princess.
I have been a fan of Alexander Henry fabric ever since I first saw them on ReproDepot a few years ago and bought the Mocca pattern, which I have yet to use for a crafty project. So I was happy to see a bunch of Etsy sellers are using these whimsical and bright fabrics for their crafty projects. Here is a little selection for you to enjoy!
Clockwise from top left: Giraffe (Starbright Baby $14), Leo Pillow (Nora Jane $18) , Lemon Bib (So Bright Designs $10), Wallet (Bliss By Heather $34), Bird Apron (Dapper Duds $28), Bird Bag (Chick Bags $35)
My love affair with textiles, especially of the exotic kind, continues with these suzani’s and turkish towels from Laviva Home. These are just a few items from Laura Aviva’s hand selected collection. Look here for more gorgeous textiles from around the world.
When I spotted the Raksha Bella collection over at More Ways to Waste Time I almost cried because they’re so beautiful. I’m sad to be leaving our little house in the hills of Mill Valley but I when I saw this lovely bedding it made me excited to set up house all over again in Utah. It’s on the pricier end for bedding, $311-$449 for duvets, but since it’s handmade in India using quality certified organic cotton I’d say it’s more than justified. Drool over it at any of these Bay Area locations.
I finally snapped up an original edition print at 20×200, the online art project from NYC gallery owner Jen Bekman. The idea behind 20×200 is to make art accessible and affordable to the masses by offering two new pieces a week, one print and one photo and make them available in three sizes. The smallest size is 8.5 x 11 for $20, a medium size is $200 and the largest size is $2000.
Each week I eagerly await to see which emerging artist is featured and what they’ve created. Art being subjective, it’s pretty rare that I react to a piece and have to have it. But this week when I saw Sophie by artist Jacob Escobedo, I fell hard and quickly snatched her up. I love how the intricate spirals and twirls of the pen lines make the slow kerplump movement of Sophie the elephant come to life and make her bigness appear graceful and beautiful. It looks like the $20 are sold out, but if you’re up for a splurge there are a few $200 versions still available here.
I am loving the handmade textiles and tableware collections from Jacaranda Home. I love the bold colors and the happy designs. The beautiful au natural cotton canvas is embroidered in the traditional style by Mexican Otami Indians and can take up to three months to make! I also love the various ways you can use the textiles, from pillow covers to shower curtains or as framed wall decor. As usual they have been all over the design nets and design mags but yours truly is just getting hip to them. If they’re new to you too enjoy!
On Tuesday night, after running around like a mad woman all day getting the house ready for the first broker open on Wednesday, our new light fixture from Restoration Hardware finally arrived. At that point I was beyond exhausted and couldn’t imagine dealing with the installation. So up I get at the crack of dawn Wednesday morning determined to install it myself. Let me paint the picture, there was almost no light in the bathroom that early in the morning so I was using a flashlight balanced on the back of the toilet for light, I’m in my PJ’s surrounded by all the parts on the floor and my enormous cat George was bent on stretching out on the floor on top of all the tiny screws and hiding them from me. Oh and it was during a heat wave and its never hot out here! The whole fixture was so heavy I was grunting like Maria Sharapova trying to hold it up and screw it to the wall. There were more than a few curse words, oh hell an entire book of curse words, but I am happy to report I DID IT! When I hit the switch I swear a tear of joy rolled down my cheek. It was my proudest moment and no one except for George was there to rejoice with me.
Therefore I think its only fitting that I treat myself to a merit badge. A Proud As A Peacock merit badge! Yes I am a total dork. Artist Lee Meszaros has created a whole collection of merit badges for Good Egg Industries. Silk screened and embroidered on cotton by hand, Lee has created some really adorable badges to praise yourself or a friend for surviving whatever life throws at you. $25 at Good Egg.
Rolling with the Punches Merit Badge
Surviving First Love Merit Badge
The skies have parted and I can finally see the light! This selling your house business is no joke!
With a long to-do list from our agent these last few weeks have been a little nuts. While the hubs has been working in Utah, I’ve been managing a very sweet and sincere contractor through an interpreter, one stubborn know-it-all Italian tile guy and one stoney landscaper. This past weekend with the hubs home for a few days we painted and de-cluttered the house and cleaned out our frighteningly messy garage. Our savior Haley was coerced into painting both bathrooms which gave us the freedom to get tons of stuff done and ultimately saved our marriage 
I am happy to report the work is almost complete and so far the house looks AMAZING!
I would like to publicly thank my Mom and Dad who sold all of our houses while we were still living in them. They prepared for open houses while cleaning up after five kids and then packed up a house full of all of our crap with hardly any help from us as far as I can remember. You guys are my hero’s.
Check out these fun Zoo Timers, designed by one of the founders of the American modernism movement, George Nelson. They would be perfect in a modern kids room. Available at the funky kids shop Genius Jones for $125 each.
How fantastic is this striped lawn lounger (available in single or double size) from The Handpicked Collection out of the UK? Just roll it up and take with you to the beach, the park or use it for camping out. I also love this shabby chic oilcloth picnic blanket. Just wipe it down, roll it up and pack it to go.
(via Ruby Press)
KEP are the initials of Kerris Ely Parkington, the cutest 10 month old this side of the Missa-sip, but it’s also the name of jewelry designer Kelley Pillman’s KEP Designs. Her bold KEP Classics are perfect for a wedding on Nantucket with their preppy pink and green color combinations and exaggerated beads. But it’s her delicate filigree earrings that caught my eye ($150 a pair). Kelley uses semi-precious or precious stones with 14k gold to create elegant baubles that are simple, stylish and work for most budgets. Prices start at $30.
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