Styling the Home:: Vintage Frame to Chalkboard

Happy Election Day! I hope that everyone can get out there and vote. I know that my eyes will be peeled to the television tonight awaiting the results.  

  I have developed quite a liking for turning pieces that you might not give a chance, a chance, and turning them into something beautiful.  Oftentimes there is a piece in a thrift store that you might pass by thinking that the color or fabric is off and you are left buying it's counterpart in stores that is usually over priced and definitely doesn't have the potential like it's vintage store counterpart.  I recently was in a shop by my house and saw this empty frame - I think that it held a mirror. I spotted it as soon as I walked into the store, in particularly the elaborate molding on top; it was piled behind a slew of other frames.  I immediately began to dream of the things that I could do to it, like make it into a bulletin board by buying cork or turn it into a chalkboard. I decided to do the latter and I am so happy with the results, I ended up with a gorgeous piece hanging in my office.  

On another note, Gabrielle Aronas, the talented floral designer behind G! Designs is donating 100% of her net proceeds during the month of November to hurricane Sandy relief efforts in the New York and New Jersey area.  Her goal is to deliver 100 arrangements and make a donation to the Red Cross, so please help her meet her goal! I am sure there is someone special in your life that you need to say 'thank you' or 'happy birthday' to and there is no way better to do this than giving back and helping those that lost their homes and are displaced due to the storm.  

(It is all in the details - this is what lured me in) 

How To: Gilded Bookends & A Guest Post

 A while back I saw an idea on Martha Stewart on how to make your own bookends using a brick that had been slightly chiseled.  I decided to go ahead and make it but taking it a step further by spray painting it, you guessed it, gold. This couldn't be easier and the results couldn't be prettier.  It is almost as if you turn a brick into a gold nugget.  It works perfectly to hold up a variety of coffee table books and also doubles as a nice paper weight.  

Also, I am so thrilled to be featured today on Mimosa Lane, a gorgeous blog dedicated to even  more beautiful things.  I am sharing six of my favorite things, be sure to stop over and see Albertina's wonderful blog! 

Continue for more...

How To: Golden Office Storage

I will be the first to admit in my personal life, I am not that organized.  I am constantly ripping tear-sheets out of magazines or catalogs, not to mention recipes and I have a serious issue with collecting magazines.  That being said, I am always in need of some extra organizing pieces, but I find there are few things out there that I actually like, so recently I decided to take matters into my own hands.  I turned a boring black wired mesh desk accessory into a gilded piece definitely worthy of displaying.  Continue for instructions...

Handmade Gilded Cakestand

I must admit that I really love cake stands or really anything for that matter that allows you to display food in a beautiful way.  I have been eyeing several from Fish Eddy's (this one and this one) but really didn't want to fork over that much for a cake stand.  However, one day a while back, I was flipping through and old Martha Stewart Living and saw the genius idea of taking a ceramic pot and saucer and turning it into a display piece.  This project is incredibly easy, not to mention inexpensive and the results will definitely impress.   I decided to make two of the same size so that they could be stacked one on top of the other. I also plan on making a larger stand to create a three-tiered effect.  My cake stands made their official debut at the bridal shower and were perfect for holding cupcakes and macaroons.  

 (The four essentials - a small pot, a larger saucer, super glue and spray paint)

(Apply a generous dose of super glue to the base of the small pot)

(Allow it to dry then spray paint with the color of your choice)

A Few Things: If you decide to spray paint the pottery, I recommend that if serving food you  add a doily or parchment paper, just prevent the stand from having to be washed.  

*All photographs by Alison

Lemon & Honey Sugar Scrub

I must admit that I have a bit of a beauty product problem, some might call it an obsession, I call it a (healthy) addiction.  There is nothing quite like making yourself feel good by slathering on a luxurious moisturizer or swiping on a bright colored lipstick to brighten up your entire face.  I also love body products, especially scrubs and during the summer my usage of body scrubs and moisturizers are increased due to so much leg and arm baring.  Making homemade beauty products has always been an interest of mine, so I decided to make this recipe for lemon and honey sugar scrub.  The sweet aroma of the honey, combined with the sugar and the lemon zest created not only a wonderfully fragrant experience but also left my skin incredibly soft and moisturized. I am now officially 

ready to take on the summer season.

A Few Things: In order to get the most out of your scrub, especially it if is an oil-based product, exfoliate before you get into the shower - doing so allows you to achieve maximum exfoliation results, as it is best to slough-off dead skins cells on dry versus wet skin.  Also, just a safety tip, be careful, as the oils can create a slippery bath surface, so please step lightly!

*All photographs by Alison

Random Bits of Love

So much to love out there - here are some things that are sparking my fancy this week.

This is a project that I am dying to try - homemade gold clay bowls. This step by step process doesn't seem that difficult and the results are absolutely stunning! 

Paint swatches, how I love thee. I could spend hours browsing under the endless color options.  I always find myself picking up colors, even if painting is not in the cards for me, and  never know what to do with the stack of paint colors that I pick-up, until now.  I discovered this DIY project that allows you to turn the chips into a beautiful decorative lantern.  This would be a great idea for a bridal or baby shower. This project is simple but incredibly beautiful.  

I love this dress. It has a retro/vintage/feminine feel.  Absolutely gorgeous.

I am dreaming about a subscription to Vogue: The Archive, which features every single page of Vogue ever printed from 1892 to today. This amazing database comes at a whopping cost of $1,575, but honestly, it would be worth every penny.  

What a gorgeous idea! This easy DIY combines three of my greatest loves - gold, the sea and candlelight.  

Speaking of candlelight, I am quite smitten with my new Voluspa candle in Bella Sucre housed inside a beautiful etched glass jar. It is a delightful melange of sugar, tropical tiare flower and milky coconut and just because it is Voluspa, it will have 100 hours of burn time.  

Gilded Coasters

There is something wonderful about giving a handmade gift to someone special during the holidays.  I personally was in the need for some beautiful coasters and once I saw this idea from Martha Stewart, my search had ended.  This is a very easy, not to mention inexpensive, project that leads to absolutely gorgeous results. Tied up in a bow, these coasters would make a beautiful present.   

(The essentials - lace trim, tile and spray paint)

(There are so many different lace patterns to choose from. I chose a floral motif)

(Lay the lace over the tile)

(Apply the spray paint - less is more in this situation. You don't want the lace to be completely saturated in paint, otherwise the pattern will not be revealed once you 

remove the lace)

(Gently pull back the lace after the paint has nearly dried)

(The impressive finish)

 A few things: Lace trim can be purchased at any fabric or trimmings store. I bought my lace trim from Mood Fabrics.  Also, the tiles can be purchased individually from Home Depot, either on-line or in-stores (outside the NYC area, of course). 

How to: Holiday Ornaments, Garland and Branches

This holiday is all about do-it-yourself projects.  There is something special about creating your own holiday decorations that you can bedeck your house with for the season.  One of the festive elements that I decided to create were ornaments.  It is very easy, not to mention inexpensive and the decorative options are limitless.

Ornaments

(The essentials - clear glass ornaments and acrylic paint)

(I decided to create a polka dot effect)

(The pretty finish, as seen through Instagram)

Garland

I was inspired by strings of garland made from felt balls at West Elm.  Since this year I am on a kick of making as many homemade decorations as possible, I thought that I would create my own garland using winter white felt balls.  I purchased these inexpensive felt balls from here. I purchased 48, but you might want to order more depending on how you want to string them.  You can place them close together, or if you prefer space them out - either leaves a simple, yet gorgeous decoration. 

(The essentials - felt balls, needle and thread)

(Insert the needle through the center of the ball)

(Strings of garland to trim the tree)

(Our tree)

Branches

Tree twigs/sticks, for the normal human being (that is the person living outside New York City) are very easy to come by.  They are found in your yard, on the streets, etc, but not in New York. I have been looking for a nice pile of sticks to create a festive center piece for a table and luckily while looking for a Christmas tree, I salvaged quite a few.  

(The essentials - branches and gold metallic spray paint)

(Coating the sticks completely)

(Leaving them a little bit undone)

(The beautiful finish, as seen through Instagram)

How to: Gather a handful of sticks of varying lengths. In a well-ventalated area spray paint them in your choice of color. I chose gold, because well I love gold as you might now.  Other pretty choices? White or silver.  Let the twigs dry completely, then place in a large vase and arrange to your hearts content. 

What I Am Loving Right Now - DIY's

Here are some great DIY's that I am itching to try right now...

*Eau de Salvage - I love the idea of taking something that others might deem as trash and making something beautiful out of it.  This idea is genius! Turning an old wooden fence into a wine rack is really inventive with a side of rustic.  If I were to make this I would paint it white. 

*Ombre Hand-Dyed Vases - I love flowers, so my next love shortly there after has to be vases.  I have made my own by simply wrapping decorative printed paper around a tin can, but discovering this DIY, I think that I am officially ready to branch out.  This idea creates such a beautiful result and the colors the colors of the vase will only accentuate the hues of the flowers.

*DIY Envelope - I love stationary, whether handmade or store bought, I still cherish that idea of receiving a handwritten note over an email.  I have made many homemade cards using stamps, ribbon, fabric, etc, but I always have to buy an envelope to go along side; however, this is no longer then case! I discovered this template to make your own envelopes and will be trying this DIY out shortly, after all the holidays are coming, so I better start cranking. 

*Floral Garland - I know that it is almost that time of year when the white lights are unpacked and evergren garland will fragrant the room; however, my love for flowers doesn't fane during the winter months.  I think that my adoration actually grows.  I would love to make this floral garland out of light pastel paper. This would be perfect if I was hosting a briday shower. 

*Putting it on the Shelf - Too many books on a book shelf can create the feeling of clutter.  I love this idea of making books on a book shelf into a sort of collection with uniform color and design.

*Mirror, Mirror on the Wall - I am quite smitten with the idea of making your own mirror arrangement, so when I found this idea, I was immediately enticed.  I love the idea of using an IKEA hexagonal mirror and creating your own shapes.  This DIY is a definite must!