The NEW Typewriter

Once again, Anthropologie has done it. Can they do no wrong, I ask??

How cool is THIS????

We just got an iPad this weekend and all I could think about was how amazing it would look docked in this super cool "typewriter"...

Sigh...

The Most Amaaaaaaazing Rugs!

I came across the most amazing rug today on the interwebuales (I know, I sort of made that word up...):

Right?!?!?! Totally blows my mind. I love it SO much.

But then, the same artist (Sonya Winner) also did this one:

WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW! I think I love them both equally...though they are completely different, no?

Genius work by this artist.

DIY: Organizing your Garden Tools

I loved this idea when I saw it - so simple! And this is the perfect time of year to get everything corralled before the cooler months roll in.

Check out Martha Stewart for all the great details on creating this beautifully organized storage solution for all of your garden tools!

Trulaaluu

My new love, my new line Trulaaluu. Loving creating again after a few year hiatus. I've got my etsy store up though most of my merchandise was bought out either through the two farmers markets I just went to and the store in town that I'm now working with.

Isn't being creative marvelous? Check out my etsy store and see if there is anything that you're interested in; I promise to add some new items very soon :)

DIY: iPhone 4 Cover

I have a confession to make: I have now owned four iPhone covers and haven't been FULLY satisfied with any of them. And I've only had my phone since May of this year. So yeah, not a great track record with the cases...

Anyway, this past week I decided to just make my own and now I am SO much happier. I bought a clear case with white bumpers from Target. I then cut a piece of oilcloth from my craft stash to fit inside the clear back against the back of my phone. The most time consuming part was cutting out the camera hole but it turned out really well.

And the best part? It is EXACTLY the way I want it. Seriously, this was the easiest project ever. Try it!

DIY: Decoupaging a Filing Cabinet

This week I took my very utilitarian (read: boring) grey file cabinet from drab to fab. I had been thinking about doing it for awhile, then suddenly, I just DID it. Love it when creativity + time = perfect moment to make something.

I decoupaged the sides and drawer fronts with pages from the classic "Atlas Shrugged". It was a very old copy so the coloring was perfect. I simply bought a container of decoupage glue from Michaels, ripped up pages randomly (sorry Altas...) and applied everything while watching TV.

Once it was dry, I finished up the project with some handles I had laying around from Anthropologie.

The whole project took about an hour, plus 12 hours for solid drying. It was worth it. I'm really happy with how it turned out.

DIY: Fall Garland

I was so excited when I saw this on Pinterest that I went out the next day and got felt and yarn to do this project. Super easy, colorful and lovely handmade seasonal decor - perfect :)

And as a side note, the blog this project was originally found on, A Beautiful Mess, is wonderful - be sure to check it out.

Brilliant Organizational TIP

When I saw this come through on Pinterest, I thought it was brilliant.

Check out what this very smart woman used to store her canned veggies in her pantry; a magazine holder! Brilliant, right?!

Wreath Love

I NEED to make this...though this may be better suited for warmer weather and not the rainy season that will soon be upon my part of the Bay Area :)

Isn't it pretty?

Cuteness Overload

These just kill me with cuteness...

And if I may say, I have been a fan of Uncommon Goods for years - they are my go-to online store for unusual gifts. Can't say enough good things about them (and they didn't even pay me to say that!)

Etsy Love: Repurposed Gift Tags

I came across this Etsy seller earlier today and fell in LOVE. She has taken repurposed manilla folders and collaged them with 1978 NYC subway maps to create gift tags, finally tying them up with bakers twine. Genius! So fresh and cool - I LOVE it.

Don't you just love the creative brilliance that can be found on etsy? It is SO inspiring.

The Creative Process

I couldn't agree more...

Introducing: Trulaaluu

Years ago I had a thriving baby accessories business called Spongy Feet. Then I adopted two little babies, doubling the number of our children to 4 and suddenly having a nearly full time business run out of my home (and very much on the fly) didn't seem like such a good idea anymore. And certainly not fun.

So I put things on hold back in 2009...and waited.

Lately my meds for Lupus have really started to kick in and I am now experiencing more good/great days than bad ones. I've felt my creativity surging back. The babies are now 2 1/1 and life is getting a little easier in that arena.

Recently one night I started sewing...and designing...and thinking...and creating again.

And Trulaaluu was born.

It's little but for right now that is just the way I like it. I plan to add more home decor goods and more childrens clothing. But life is full and busy so Trulaaluu will be ever changing. Please stop by and check out the shop - I'd love to hear from you!

Wooden Tub

I'm not a bath person (I love my showers) but this tub had me swooning when I saw it. It is DIVINE, isn't it?

My Chandelier

I get a lot of comments when people come into my kitchen about my chandelier. By itself, its nothing special. But draped with the bits and bobs I have found over the years (ie: garlands from Tibet, small glass lanterns, ivy, lampshades that I have made and also purchased from Anthropologie, Christmas ornaments that don't quite make it back in the ornament box...you get the picture), it becomes much more than just a light fixture - it becomes the focal point of our kitchen.

I love it.

So True...

Not gonna lie, this is totally true. So it's probably just as well that I don't have a Brit accent :).

Kahala Chandelier

I recently stayed at the Kahala Resort in Oahu (which btw, is AMAZING). I was spellbound by the gorgeous chandelier in the lobby.

Handmade for Home: White Board Calendar

Do you have one of those white board calendars where you write in all of the numbers...and sometimes the numbers get smeared...and you get frustrated about it? Hmmmm...can you tell that has happened to me?!

Well, I decided that there was a better way.

I went to Michaels and purchased a package of wooden numbered circles, took a dab of hot glue from numbers 1 through 31 and afixed a magnet and voila! Numbers for my calendar!

I then found ABC circle stickers in a font I admired, glued them to flat wooden circles and afixed another magnet to the back and voila! A whole set of the months of the year!

Now our kitchen calendar is so much more streamlined...and less likely to get smeared.

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A Floral Kind of Mood...

I'm feeling florals lately...

Like this pretty little number above...

Or this adorable valance...

Ahhhhhh, this gorgeous throw from my favorite store is another stunning floral...

And finally this gorgeous rope floral rug from the Free People store. I'll admit it: I am coveting it :)

Maybe its just summer or maybe its my mood, but the colors of florals are really inspiring me. How do you feel about floral in your home decor? Too much?

Playroom Tour: Creating a Playhouse INSIDE your House!

I have an enormously talented friend named Krista who lives in the Salt Lake area of Utah. We've known each other about 9 years now; I am in awe of her decorating prowess and adeptness with power tools. She really is inspirational - if she wants to create something in her house she simply goes out and DOES it :) Love that.

(That bridge links one side of the "2nd level" to the other - it is a garden bridge! Genius!)

Her and her adorable family recently moved and Krista BUILT a playhouse (2 story, I might add) in the loft playroom on the second level. I about died when I saw it. It is incredible; my pictures don't do it full justice.

Slide, bridge, juliet balcony, turret, ladders, brick, Tudor styling, interior nooks and crannies, actual shingles, lighting - Krista went all out and it shows. I am not exaggerating when I say that I could happily live in this little playhouse and have not one care in the world :)

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Baby Quilt - Brilliant

It may be the most brilliant AND truthful baby blanket ever. That's saying a lot :). Go to the link to find out how to make one. Isn't this great?!

DIY: My Playhouse Redo

In early May I was driving around a community yardsale in our area when I struck gold for any mother of four young children: a large Little Tikes outdoor playhouse. And in very good condition. And only $40. SOLD. My car literally did an only-in-the-movies skid into the family's driveway, I yelled out the window, "I'll take it", loaded it and peeled outta there.

The trouble was, the colors were awful. My backyard already looks like Romper Room. I did NOT want to add to it with this Smurf blue door and teal roof. Uggghhhhh. Shuddder.

So I did a little research on spray painting plastics. It turns out there is a whole line of spray paints just for painting outdoor plastic things! I went to Home Depot and gathered the necessary supplies. I took the structure apart (which was very easy considering it is just 10 screws) and began.

First I power washed the structure and let it dry completely.

Next, I roughed up the whole surface of the play structure. I used painters tape to tape off parts I didn't want certain colors on. This part was time consuming (as all taping with painting is). I spray painted over a few afternoons when I had time and when additional coats were necessary (the black roof required several coats of paint because that teal kept bleeding through).

Once everything was dry, I glued a steel number '8' to the front door, moved it into place on our patio and called it a day!

I am SO much happier with the finished result. In truth, this project took twice the amount of time I thought it would and I made a lot of mistakes that I now have to live with (but hey, its a kids plastic playhouse so I'm not going to beat myself up over it).

At least the play house and my backyard looks cohesive now and much less like Romper Room.

Except of course, for the kids :)

A Crafty, Colorful Lantern

We've all seen the standard white hanging paper lantern. And we've all seen the cute little paper umbrellas that perch atop specialty drinks at your favorite Mexican restaurant. BUT. What if these two paper products got married?

Well...in this fabulously awesome tutorial THEY HAVE! Is that not the happiest most beautiful hanging paper lantern you have ever seen? I am rushing out to purchase all necessary supplies for this project today. Must. Create. NOW.

Factory Window as Shower Enclosure. Discuss :)

Maybe my favorite shower idea...ever?! A repurposed factory window given new life as a shower enclosure. Clean, urban, loads of character to spare. Sign me up! LOVE this idea.

Photo credit Remains Lighting

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Sorry...

I've been out of town a ton lately...first Utah visiting family for a few weeks then on a vacation sans children with my husband to Hawaii this past week. That one was quite lovely :) But all of these trips have meant that blogging has been light and for that I am sorry. One benefit of traveling and taking a break from the normal routines is that is clears my head and gets me rejuvenated for projects and inspired for new decor ideas. So get ready: I've got a few fun things up my sleeves :)

DIY: Bottlecap Thumbtacks

I saw this idea on Etsy and thought - WOW, this is fabulous and so EASY!

Take some bottlecaps, the funkier and more colorful the better, a little hot glue, attach a standard thumbtack and voila! A far more interesting story to tell on your bulletin board, no?

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Catch the Rain

Saw this on Tumblr and loved it. Have a colorful Tuesday, friends :)

Tiny Homes

These are so enchanting. I came across these little clay houses in a post on Apartment Therapy and when I clicked over to the artists website on Etsy found even MORE I was in love with.

I especially like the ones that are on necklaces... So creative.

The MOST Beautiful Sofa...According to Me

I saw this on Apartment Therapy and it literally took my breath away. Its like someone decided to make a couch JUST for me.

Now, who knows if it is comfy, but just the looks of it make me dizzy with design joy :) I pray that someone appreciative will buy it and love it for me!

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Pom Love

I adore color - it feeds my soul. I also love pom poms. So this picture marries my two great loves.

Find a way to feed your soul today with something creative, big or quietly small. Just feed that creative need.

Have a glorious day :)

Lovely Kitchen

Well, there it is...my current dream kitchen:

The chandelier really makes the room for me. Then the aged farmhouse table with stools, that gorgeous floor, the cutglass in the cabinets, the LIGHTING in the photograph - it just all comes together beautifully. And for that reason, this kitchen is my current favorite. Ahhhhhh...bliss.

Pennies Are Always An Option!

If you feel that you have run out of flooring options, just start counting your pennies...

Picture of the floor of the Standard Grill in the Standard Hotel New York.

Apparently they make a wicked cool floor. Yes please, I'll take that!

Gadgets I Want: iPhone Case

Check out this iPhone 4 case, designed to look like a sleek Leica Rangefinder camera:

Yep, that's ultra cool. Totally want that.

Story Stones

I saw this on Pinterest and Ohdeedoh recently and fell in love. I happily bring you Story Stones, a fabulous DIY project for your kids this summer or as a gift for the little ones in your life. There is something deliciously summer-like about painting rocks, don't you think?

Emily from Red Bird Crafts is the genius behind these happy, colorful stones with a story to tell and has detailed how to create them on her blog.

Please go check it out - I mean, just look at how adorable these little rocks are! Instead of just being rocks they are completely transformed into colorful, happy components of a story! Love it :)