Snowstorm

Merry Christmas!!!! Xoxo

Holiday busy-ness

Helloooooo you!

Right now, my little girl is sick! Can you believe it...3 days before Christmas! But we are hopeful she will be her cheery self in No time! You hear me Santa?

Craving Anthropologie...

In shades of creamy pinks and wintery whites!

Weekender..........

Hello you...It's Sunday Evening and I'm catching up on my DVR'd Nate shows!!! I'm clogging up all the memory space on my DVR since I'm so behind. Oh well. I love that I don't have to watch commercials.

This weekend we had a holiday party at a friends house, Hanukkah dinner at the in-laws(yes, belated), and hours worth of Xmas shopping. I'm still not quite finished with the gifts...so I'm actually doing a little searching online too.

Yesterday, I was also framing some posters and art work for the family room, which someone else calls 'the man cave'! What I really love about these pieces above are that 'the mister' drew them! (not the posters obviously) These inks were done ages ago. And he no longer attempts to do any creative things anymore. I just can't believe that he thinks he can't do it anymore. I think if you had that within you once it doesn't go away. You might be a little rusty but it's still there!!! You can probably imagine how shocked I was when he first showed me these many years ago. So I love having them hanging up in our home.
The 'little girl' and I were just sitting in bed sketching some girls on paper. She was showing me how to do it! We love having a little time together before bedtime.

Saturday's are my fav

Saturday morning- Me, posing with my new bday present......having my pic taken by my personal photographer... she is 7 1/2 years old and totally awesome ; ) What's with the crazy outfit?! I have no idea...yeah I do that sometimes.

Did I tell you I love my present? Oh, I did...Ok, carry on.

Happy Friday!

I really want to make jewelry out of playdoh with my daughter! She would totally love this!
Such a great idea. And she could make some for her friends as gifts.
So what's goin on this weekend? Hopefully we will be getting some Xmas shopping done and decorating and a little bit of nothing thrown in!
I might pop in this weekend..........See you!

Thursday happenings...

Well, this really happened over the weekend. This was my first effort at doing anything for the holidays. I have not shopped for a single teensy weensy present yet. BUT I have decorated Xmas balls with personalized names for family and friends! And being that this happened before Dec 1st is quite a miracle in itself. I'm that girl who sends out cards between xmas and before the 1st of January wishing you a Happy New Year. Yup. I'm totally fine with it.

These were so much fun to make, I could of kept going forever! If you trying to find your name on an ornament...stop! And you better act suprised when I give you one!

So last night was a day that was extremely windy and raining throughout the day around here. When I got home from work, I hurried up the porch steps because I forgot my umbrella. I look up to grab the mail from the mailbox and for a quick second I was so excited to see my Anthropologie box. Yayyyyyyy! The one I've been expecting with my birthday present inside that has been on back order for 2 MONTHS. My very next reaction was freaking out when I realize Mr. Delivery man left MY ANTHRO BOX...IN THE RAIN!!!! YES, soaking wet, box. Couldn't you atleast have stuck it inside the screen door! I was afraid to open it... praying that my bag would be inside a plastic bag, sealed. It has to be, right?

Well it was! Inside a plastic bag, nice and dry. Wrapped in WET tissue paper and a soaking wet box...but it WAS DRY. And I was happy and my bag is perfect!!!! I will take some photos this weekend.. Now I have to go pay attention to 'Grey's Anatomy'...apparently I can't multitask!!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Puppies!!!! No they aren't mine, but I wish they were!
My brothers Husky had puppies! We stopped by to see them today on Thanksgiving. They really were just the cutest things ever, they are about 3 weeks old now. We could of just stayed all day playing with them.

My flash makes the puppies look mean...but I swear they are super sweet.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU!!!

I'm completely smitten with Rue #2

I am smitten over Rue's issue #2, that's true!!!!

I'm suprised, how much I really love so many of the images in there. It's full of great inspiration and ideas! I wish I had the real glossy in my hands though. I really do. Go, read, enjoy!!!

Craving Anthropologie....

Orissa Coasters.........

Well-thumbed book Boxes...........

Relaxing.........

A little night time reading....of my favorite blogs and mags!

A Gray Monday...

It was Lunchtime, I sat on a bench and gazed out at the the NY City skyline, just catching a break and breath from the busy-ness of work. I love it....even gray and gloomy it's still a beautiful sight to me.

Here's what I was reading while I was there. ; )

Happy Weekend

These two images below were in my 'Inspiration folder' on my laptop. I usually keep the source(except now), so if you know please comment so I can give due credit.
In this first image there are so many things I enjoy...I really like the black and white contrast, the moroccan lantern is gorgeous, the shape of the coffee table is so great, the arched entryway with the beautiful twisted pillars are perfect, and finally the large piece of artwork and mural on the other wall are so eye catching.

This 2nd image really drew me in with all its beautiful LIGHT!!! I am a sucker for bright rooms. I really like the neutrals paired with whites, I find it very calming. It's something I would love to recreate.

So this weekend I am catching up on some of my DVR'd Nate Shows since my hubby threatened to delete them. I do admit they are taking up alot of memory!

This lil' pic above shows snippets of my living room. I know I haven't shown many updates.... If you are like me you hate posting pics of your unfinished space. I could use your help so I really need to get over that. I still need an area rug...coffee table...accent chair.......curtains.......and maybe some bookshelves. I will get around to sharing soon!

Sunday's happenings.......

So I go back to work and totally neglect my blog! No fair, I know. It's an adjustment for everyone, I'll get back into the groove again. It's my only creative outlet at this point so I need to get back to blogging.

We are making cookies now. It's freezing out! We went to the park for about 10 minutes and we were out of there real quick, such wimps. I finally found out how to get the photos off my android..yay!!!!

Like this pic of one of my fav mirrors...................

Thinking about the holidays coming up.....trying to remember where I spent last Thanksgiving...my family or my husbands. This is a big debate EVERY year! Most of the time we have to look at pictures to know for sure.

Sad that this weekend we roll the clocks back...... hate when it get's darker earlier. Really hate it.

Time to eat some fresh hot cookies...see you later!!!!

DIY Porcupine Quill Mirror.....

Well I can finally share my first Do-it-yourself attempt at the Porcupine Quill Mirror!!

Of course we should take one more look at the inspiration...remember it......*swoon* ...

INSPIRATION

I really fell in love with this mirror when I saw it. But I also knew at that price ($699.00) it would never be mine. The more I looked at it my brain started thinking...hey those quills sort of look like painted bamboo sticks...and so I got started.
Your supplies should include:

• 149 bamboo sticks (usually 2 packs)
• a round foam disc , 15/16 x 7 7/8
• 10" mirror
• black paint , Paint brush
• glue gun
• felt for backing (not a necessity, just hides the ugly foam)
• leather strip for edging of mirror or ribbon
• twine for hanging
  
  The most expensive part of this project is YOUR LABOR!!! The longest part of the project is the first part, painting your bamboo sticks. I must admit I totally messed up the first pack. I originally spray painted all the sticks a creamy white and was going to paint the stripes over it. BUT I didn't realize the white paint I had was waterproof and therefore the stripes would not adhere.... Oopsy.

1. Painting the bamboo sticks----Starting again...I just painted the black stripes on without using the creamy white base. This is just my impatience...I think the first step gives it more of a finished look. But from a distance you can't tell.
Yes YOU WILL be hand-painting the black stripes on. Place them sort of randomly...with the largest amount of black towards the bottom of the stick. You don't want them to match up exactly. I originally only used 100 sticks but today I added 45 more in and I think , 145 should be your minimum amount for this size.
Let them dry a couple hours.

2. Bamboo placement---Next I start to insert the bamboo into the foam. I suggest you make your hole by inserting the stick where you want it..then remove it and using your glue gun, apply glue to the bottom inch and re-insert to the hole you just made. You need the glue to keep the sticks from falling out. Insert, remove and glue each stick one at a time as you go.

I started first with the back layer, closest to the wall. I inserted those pretty straight like a sunburst. Then there's room for 2 more layers to the front. Those I started to angle forward only slightly. Be random and just use your eye to fill in the space.

3. Mirror- Then Glue the mirror on the front of the foam. I also glued a felt circle on the back to just cover the foam.

4. Hanging- I admit, thinking about hanging this puppy was an afterthought. I used twine around the circumference of the foam, inbetween the sticks. It's pretty rough looking...

5. Edging----Lastly, I used a strip of leather to place around the edges of the mirror. You can use ribbon or anything else you like. I think I would like a thicker piece of leather next time.

That's it!!! Not bad for under $15.00, I say! The finished mirror measures about 30 inches in diameter.

Warning........This project was not injury free. Getting bamboo under your fingernails and a sliver of glass in your hand......hurts like a mother.... But hey we are imitating porcupines after all!!!!!

But I will tell you this mirror should hang in an area that people will not bump into this!!!!

 If you are going to try it, send me your links I would love to see it! And post them. If you are not the DIY type but want one, email me : )

Post edit:  Here's how this mirror ended up- layered on top of another square mirror in the entry way.  This made for an ever greater visual impact.  Love it this way!

Weekend update..........

Not as much celebrating this weekend... since I have a sick little girl. We are going to the doc tomorrow.....hoping her fever will break.
Since I was housebound, I was able to work on a project I mentioned to you...remember the Porcupine mirror, well I finally worked on my DIY version. I'll share with you tomorrow when I can take pictures in daylight!!!!! I do love it.... it's not perfect, but it's perfect for me!

See you then!
J

Working Girl!!!!

Well it's official, I'm a working girl again!!! (or will be next week)I'm so thrilled to have a job again in these times, really... I feel lucky and thankful.

So...I will be working for a Brokerage firm again, (yes, my creative soul aches) in my ole' hometown of Jersey City. I'm so thrilled about that part. I love that area on the waterfront. Of course I don't live in town anymore or that would of been an awesome commute.

But I do get to look at the amazing NY City Skyline everyday!!!!!

Lots to do...getting ready. Need to get back in that whole groove again. But first some celebrating this weekend!!!!