CYBER MONDAY: A FEW GOOD SALES!

While I wholly admit that I avoid Black Friday with a 100’ pole, Cyber Monday is another story. There’s nothing quite like shopping sales from the comfort of my own home! Unfortunately, rather than shopping for gifts as I should be, I’m getting sucked into a little retail therapy for myself. I know I wrote a post this morning, but I couldn’t help sharing a few great deals that I’m currently looking at…

My husband and I have been looking for a few outdoor chairs for the table we built for our pergola last summer. Not only are these guys on sale for $98 at Home Decorators, but shipping, which would otherwise be almost $50 per chair, is currently FREE!

I love, love, LOVE the industrial look of the pendant light, and the size is perfect. Today at Wisteria, you can get 25% off site wide! This light is typically $169 but with code thx25, you can get it for $126.75. Here it is in a dining room (so you can get a good idea for size)…

The fern wall décor is also on sale for $149 each (originally $199)!

I love the look of boxwood trees, whether in your home or on your patio. I do not, however, love the price tag that typically comes with them. At West Elm and for today only, not only can you get a LARGE boxwood tree for $31, but shipping is free!

Unfortunately, I don’t know too terribly much about art, but I do know what I like and I know where to find an excellent deal. Today only, Art.com is offering 30% off! These oversized stretched canvas prints are typically $249 on up – with 30% off, that makes them $175. Pretty hard to resist!

And lastly, there’s something about a plaid blanket that oozes comfort. I can imagine myself in a log cabin, fire roaring, feet curled up, hot chocolate in hand, and plaid blanket thrown over my lap. Ah, perfection! This blanket from Pottery Barn is not only on sale for $119, but shipping is free!

Happy shopping

EPIC PHOTOGRAPHY: OH SWEET NIGHTINGALES!

I stumbled across the work of David and Libby Nightingale a couple of years ago when searching for photographers for my own wedding and immediately fell in love. But in the midst of wedding planning, buying a home, moving to a new city, etc. these amazing artist became buried in the back of my mind and soon forgotten.

Only recently did they pop back in my head as I continue browsing for that perfect piece of art to hang in my living room, and as I arrived on their site, I remembered exactly why I fell in love with them in the first place – the only word that comes to mind is BREATHTAKING. I will leave you to make your own opinion…

The final picture above is my absolute favorite. The background, the style, the expression – how can you not smile the moment you set eyes on it?! I can imagine this old man throwing quite the party for all his old buds; a few apps, some bloody Marys, and a healthy competition of Venetian solitaire…

 

Venetian Solitaire Soiree by kkutie on Polyvore

You can purchase prints of David and Libby Nightingale here. Simply click on any image and you will see the “buy print” link. For me, I think my search for the perfect piece is over!

Have a great weekend ya’ll!

ART: A BATTLE BETWEEN ID AND EGO

I don’t think I am the only one that feels completely bewildered and flabbergasted when faced with the prospect of choosing art for my home. It feels like such a momentous decision and a thousand questions pour into my mind: what kind of style, personality, and mood do I want to portray? What does this piece mean to me? Will it clash with the colors in my [insert room here]? Will it brighten or darken the room? Oh my GOD, what will people think?!

The Rorschach Test: I see a battle between Id and Ego! Image via Out and About Africa.

It’s a constant battle between aesthetic and logic, the id and the ego, that goes something like this:

my id: I love it, I love it, I love it! What pretty colors! What perfect lines! What amazing serenity! It makes me smile, it makes me happy – I want it, I want it, I WANT it!

my ego: Just you wait a minute crazy id, don’t go getting ahead of yourself. Your happiness isn’t everything. Think if the cost factor – it’s way too expensive (for an oversized canvas print). And more importantly, think of the WEIRD factor. What will people REALLY think if you have a giant photograph of a horse head in your living room – you don’t even ride horses!

Image via Etsy.

my id: yeah, but…

my ego: Don’t give me any buts. Haven’t you heard of that thing called patience? It’s a virtue, you know. One day you’ll find something that fits ALL of  your criteria – the PERFECT painting. Kind of like the perfect man…

my id: but, um…

my ego: I don’t want to hear it anymore!

my id: *sigh*….Okay….(as it stomps away into the recesses of my mind)

And there you have it folks.

Art is indeed a very personal and intimate thing, and the art you have in your home should somehow reflect this. But finding that art shouldn’t be paralyzing, it should be fun, it should be playful, and sometimes, it actually shouldn’t make sense. If an artwork speaks to you, if it touches your soul in a deep and unexplainable way, that’s a good thing. Buy it and hang it with pride. Kind of like these folks:

Via Design Sponge.

Via Lonny Mag.

Via Dust Jacket Attic.

Via Pinterest.

I love how just a few pieces of art can create such bold and powerful focal point.

Next time I find myself gravitating towards an artwork, I’m not going to let my ego get the better of me!

DIY THURSDAY: STENCILING!

One of my favorite, go-to, easy-as-pie crafts that I can’t quite get enough of is stenciling. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it instantly adds character and personality to any room. Most importantly, it’s easy on the wallet!

There actually are quite complicated stencils out there that require time, a steady hand, and lots and lots of patience, but I, of course, lean toward the very uncomplicated, instant gratification kind of stencils. Yes, that’s much more my style…

I actually sold all of these pieces and plan on making many more in the future, but you can make your own with just a few, simple items:

1. Letter stencils, which you can purchase in various sizes at any hobby store (I got mine from Michaels). Or take a browse on Etsy!
2. Stencil adhesive (ditto). Just be sure to not spray too much adhesive on the stencil, and allow it to dry for 30 seconds before applying onto your board. Otherwise, the adhesive could leave behind a residue.
3. Paint and small paint brush – I like to use a flat, rounded brush to dab into the stencil rather than using brush strokes. That way, paint doesn’t get stuck into the crevices and/or seep under the stencil to create a huge mess!
4. A distressed board. Or, you can simply create your own distress by adding a few drops of water to a darker base color of your choice, watered down just enough (similar to the consistency of a fruit smoothie) to create a stain – brush on, allow to sit for about 15-20 seconds, and then wipe of with a cloth. Continue to do this until you have your desired color, but allowing the grain of the wood to still show through. After the base layer is dry, do the same with a white paint, but add just a couple extra drops of water for a slightly thinner consistency (this is called white-washing). The grain of the wood should still show through. Once the top layer is dry, use sandpaper (I prefer 180-grit) to distress it to your desired look.
5. Picture hangers, twine, or ribbon to hang your original art!

I tend to see stenciled art everywhere – and I love it, knowing that I can create my own. Even Décor Steals’ “deal of of the day” today was a stencil piece that I (and you) could easily recreate!

So, now that you have this effortless craft fresh in your mind, what phrase do you plan on stenciling? A few of my favorites are:

“Be calm & carry on”

“Think happy. Be happy.”

“Ooh la la!”

“It’s always worth it.”

And of course,

“Farm Fresh”

Enjoy!