Mosaic Monday

My first mosaic and it was difficult to choose only 13 pictures that represent me. So I hope you likey. I am linking back to a wonderful blog where I found this helpful info. Little Red House..thank you!

Link love and community confirmation...

Ok if you haven't read my post from yesterday...catch up!...lol

Seriously scroll down and read it first, so this one makes sense.

I talked about how the arts and crafts era has returned and showed you specific examples, from the Spring High Point Furniture Market. All of that is because I want to encourage a lot of you talented people out there to make history.

pic via Vintage Designs

Antique arts and crafts have value, so why shouldn't yours? I am seeing true talent from everyday people like me. For instance, DIY monogrammed hurricane lamps taught by Eddie Ross(who should so have his own show dangit!). One of the class members posted the "how to" on her site, it is very detailed y'all, thanks Anne!

Or how about the DIY lamps Adrianna did, I would buy those!

What about the owl and lamps Dayka did?

The majority of these sites have tons of tutorials and great design ideas. I have many more references, but these standout.

I cannot say this enough...it is time to MAKE your own pieces(you know I have to throw the recycle element in here), for your family, your home, and maybe for a bit of cash. Ka-ching!

Let's create our own history and stop reading about or admiring it. You with me?

You have all the resources you need, so "show me the creativity"!

PS let me know (by email) if you are willing to be a supplier, as I am interested in purchasing pieces.

Furniture Market DIY?

Here is the post I promised...
(Adrianna, I posted this purple just for you love!...)

I believe a lot of my fellow bloggers can do a lot of the designs I saw. I also went to a seminar provided by For your Home's Vicki Payne, who stated that the Arts and Crafts era has returned. She went on to say that people want something that tells a story. I don't know about you guys, but I have lots of pieces around my home that have a story. I am sure my clients do too...so why not spruce them up and reinvent them so they can live on!

As I was walking around with Sonja on the third day, she began to blurt out! "I know you can do that"...lol it was hilarious
You can actually see her doing it in this picture..look closely...


The picture? a seashell lamp, do you see that kicka$$ design?

The first "trend for the Spring Furniture Market 2010", that caught my eye was scrapping, they may not call it that, but  even in her slide show Vicki has a piece that was covered by remnants too example:



Notice the stitching? here is the full chair


As a set


Cornucopia chair..have you done this?


This newspaper roll thing was huge! I saw it everywhere, from jewelry, to lamps to dressers...

This sitting bench is friggin hotTT! Can you guess what the design is made from?



Eggshell!!

Here is a cool behind the couch display..I have tons of cardboard fabric rolls, I am so doing this. You can get some from your local fabric store, they throw them away...recycle y'all.



This ottoman deserves a standing ovation..Nate Berwwwwho? In his dreams!




NAILHEAD LOVE!!!

Next, can of spray paint, foam balls, power drill, lamp kit and cool lamp shade...Oh yeah!


Check the couch, somebody better do this!(Not the entire couch)


Up close


Post knobs people!!...what the?

This pic is one of my fav's...it reminds me NOT to be so hard on myself, if I don't get a piece just right...

this is in a high end showroom and one of the buttons is coming up...lol Although it is just a showpiece, and the ones sent to customers will be tight, it makes me feel better about trying to always be perfect. But I took the pic because of the legs...look familiar?

Don't we love a $500 divider plate wall?...yup!


Love this pic for the side table...


Up close,,what is that?

Yup fabric between the glass and wood...love it! I also like the fabric on the entire table..I never understood those tables and the idea of the two different elements always turned me off, but when it's three..Hot dayum! We have a winner!

Now, I'm going to look for some wooden and glass tables, so I can do this..oooh or maybe I will..(Nah gonna keep that one to myself)
Here is another


Last but not least, I actually went to this piece and tried to pull it off....ha ha It was not stitched, but it was also going nowhere...Loved it!





Applique..that is the word!!! Duh, Kindle!

Have you done any of these? care to share?

Day 2 and 3 of Market

As I mentioned before, I got the opportunity to trail an awesome interior designer for a few days, and here is what we discovered on days 2 and 3. The kids rooms are from the SpongeBob tween line (hard to believe, but true).

The other designs are from Century's showplace. If you are new to design like me and didn't know,  Century sets the trends....Check out the rooms

Tomorrow, I will show you the ideas I saw, that were all over the place and I suggest you try because I am...stay tuned!

Did a room in the show tickle your fancy? I would love to know

Shout out and eye candy!

Quick shout out to my ace, during the market, Mrs. Sonya Herrera of Son Marie Designs. She is a Model merchandiser.  This chick was such a blessing to me. Not only is her story of raising her baby, strapped to her body, while starting her own business, 3 years ago, amazing, she let me trail her as she visited her suppliers. I asked if she had a blog..lol... funny. I soon learned that if you are as busy as this woman is, you won't have much time to blog or even read one... we were visiting, talking, and ordering(well she was) all day for two days straight. I loved it! On the third day, we played, she is a color specialist and very good at her job. . . She figured out my style, within the first day and took me to some amazing showrooms, I will show you soon.

 *Now, cue soft music*  I knew God put us together, as our eyes met, while the lead singer of Wonderbread 5 was dancing, hilariously, on the entertainment stage (our eyes were saying, "alcohol obviously makes folks THINK they can dance"). Good group by the way, they had me at "BOOM BOOM POW!"

Thanks Sonya!

We attended a party sitting here..this piece was in Century's showroom

And of course here, listening to music, while relaxing on this lovely set from Century at an outdoor party.

 

here is another wonderful woman I met in a seminar, at market, on the fourth day, Yataye (pronounced like latte). Three "choco-latte" peas in a pod!

Thanks for hanging out with me girls! But most importantly encouraging and supporting me through my Sustainable Furnishings "Green" Program...that junk was not easy!! Oh and I passed by the way i am an official, "Green, AP"...now I am really aware of what is going on with climate change and how it affects us. DANG!

Yataye and I hung out and went to visit my favorite new designer, "Christopher Guy" we had a blast. She is a jack of all trades and soon to be master of lots of things...I never thought I would meet someone who has experienced so much, and is  as passionate about the future, as I am...Go girl!

Here is some eye candy...Diamond tufted! I know someone recycle  a piece to look like that.

Turquoise stone and pearl chandelier

Can you read what this vase says?

Day 1 of market

Ok, so on day 1 of Market, I was freaking out about how I should dress, what type of accessories to wear, if I had the right shoes, etc. My initial thought was to go buy a ton of jewelry and then take it back(lol), but then the diva in me kicked in...I had recently seen a way out necklace with a peacock feather on the end, so I thought I have something I can use from home, I am sure. This is what I came up with.

Remember the tutorial on how to make feather earrings? Well the beads I used came from the end of that necklace. So I figured why not make that into my new peacock necklace?

Here is the before,

After...

I tried to get a shot with my earrings, but my hair wasn't havin' it. Have you done a makeover with your jewelry you don't wear lately? I would like to see! Links?

My brain is pulpy and eyes are bleeding

Alright peeps, this will be a quick lil' diddy as I am in my Sustainable Furnishing Council certification course and it is hard!...Lots to learn in such a short amount of time plus an exam. We are on a lunch break right now so what else? blog! Also, I have not had a full nights sleep in almost a week and I believe in eight hours, so mama's body is tired right now..but she is holding her own..lol

Here is a picture of me and Candice Olson, yup she was here! And I have to report has a very sweet spirit. She bent down a bit to take this picture and as she was giving me her autograph, she said, "Kindle, what a pretty name, I like that name! I should change my middle name to Kindle..."lol. She has some awesome new lines, which I will tell you about later. Also, here is one with Ty Pennington, he is a goof nut! and yes uberly sexy in real life..yyyyuuuuummy!

Lunch break is almost over so, I am directing you to Erika of Blu Label Bungalow posted some good info on the Furniture Market trends, so I am directing you to her page for now. I plan to visit the showrooms in the publication on her page and will report back very soon. I can't wait to share the showrooms and new designs I found!

QUICK BIT OF INFO: one of the TV Personalities which hosted a seminar stated that "Arts and Crafts" type designs are coming back!!! If you are good and you know who you are..."get to re-making"!

High Point Furniture Market 2010 is HERE!!!

Ok peeps, I am so excited I can hardly type. But let me tell ya! I am excited for good reason. The High Point Furniture market starts Saturday. This market has been around for 100 years now. I was blessed that my first  experience was during the Fall centennial celebration last year. If you didn't know this is THEE leading home furnishings show on the East Coast. 

In the fall last year they had Gavin DeGraw performing at the kickoff party. I don't know about you but, IMO that soulful singer, is the bizness! And I missed him...DARN! Well this year, I am going there (alone again) full throttle! I am ready!

There are so many events, I don't even know where to begin, but I will definitely report back on all that I learn and experience. There are seminars galore, and I feel so blessed to live close enough to partake of them. I am going to the Candice Olsen meet and greet for sure. Although, I think her designs are expensive, and without Chico and his amazing lighting, they would be boring, I have to admit that her Designs are Divine...pun intended .

I am excited people...you remember the first time you saw someone who made your heart flutter and you just wanted to scream? I feel like that. So much anticipation, so who cares how it turns out, right?

Here is a link to all the events....if you see a good one let me know...I haven't planned it all out yet. I cannot wait to meet more good people and great designers

Soooooo, if someone wants to come with or is going, let me know. I would be glad to have a friend there ...

But in the meantime, let's celebrate Earth week which is the 18th -24th. I googled  "North Carolina Earth Week events for 2010" and "North Carolina Earth Day festivals" in my area. They are generally free with vendors, activities for adults and kids, food, and music. Here is one I found for next weekend in Durham . Here are the ones going on this weekend, Raleigh  and Charlotte. 

What burns me is the Furniture Market, Earth Day festivals, and a really great church garage sale are all going on this weekend on the same day. I will have to start early, but I am committed to going this weekend, to at least two of these events.*hint: Furniture market and garage sale*  I feel tired already!

For my computer Earth Action, here is recycled post  from this time last year, about cardboard recycling and crafts. These projects were so much fun and folks are still surprised when they receive one of those cardboard postcards...

Challenge: Earth post (post something about your Earth saving contributions no matter how big or small and post a link here)

image via tchochkes.com and treehugger.com

seeing red

I know, I said I would post more gardening. Wah wah wah.... I am just not feeling it. The posting that is, I have some things growing and because growing things takes some time; I have to learn patience.

Meanwhile, I have a ton of projects going at once and most of them revolve around the color red. Odd because, red is not one of my best or even favorite colors, but nonetheless, I have to honor "the feeling".

Here is a chair, I am attempting to reupholster

This upholstery job is not so easy, as there is no removable cushion, so there ain't gon' be no foldin' , staplin', or simply glue/iron on bonding going on here.There is going to be some real sexing  (oops where is my mind...) sewing required.. According to my handy dandy fabric guide, I am going to need 2.5 yards of fabric.

Honestly, this chair is modest and sleek with a real vintage feel. I drove past it a couple of times and picked it up after my son went to school, because you know he scorned me to leave it curbside. Couldn't do it, and been hiding it ever since. I hope I can do it some justice. Finishing this chair scares the bee joogee out of me!

It had the biggest dip in the middle from some serious azz wear...

But I fixed that with filling left from and older pillow and some batting

Now I am left with wondering what color and in what fabric to re upholster it. And how to make sure the fabric is taut and continuous...I do have an upholstery needle and an idea so....

What do you think of these fabrics?

Initially I thought red again, but was bummed I didn't have any until.....


I found this one last week, and almost peed my pants it was so plush and juicy! (or maybe I had too much water to drink?)




Deep purple....(my prediction for Pantone's color of the year 2011, I was on the money with Turquoise)

Cream,




(I don't think I want to diva this in white though...)



Super smoky gray


Lastly, this brown, cream, blue one, it screams "MOD!!!!!!!" and is stretchy too



Now, this fabric is fun and versatile... Aesthetically, I can stare at it all day. I adore it, but it may get lost in translation on this piece...lol



I have too many to choose from. (yup you found out my secret passion- shopping the discount fabric store by my house. If fabric were money, I would be rich! Or maybe I would be rich if it weren't for the fabric???)

Either way, this chair is going to end up with some nail head trim on it to hold the seams down. HELP ME DECIDE!!!!!! PLEASE....

If you have seen/done a similar chair, link it here...I need ideas people!!!!