dashing

it's Friday & I'm nearing the time to leave this place, work...

from inspiration; <3

heart u

Inspired while browsing my favorite Anthropologie store.

four more days

love vintage market sundays

We got to the market for the later half of the day, we enjoyed all the outdoor art, crafts, music. We met up with two artist-friends that had set up shop and chit chatted a bit about who has the best finds, most unique talent and well the rest just gossip. It was good to hear how well their art had been selling and made me give Greggers a big nudge of encouragement later (for he is my fav artist of all time) for doing more of what comes so natural to him. After the great outdoors environment we headed into my place of love, it sucks me in and I feel at home with all the vintage finds. Swear I was not meant to come in this world in the 80's. I snapped photos and took it all in, bought a few trinkets and felt my weekend become complete.. all while Gregg played atari, which almost made it home with us. I'm sure his fingers are crossed its still there next weekend. Well the wheels are def spinning on our holiday crafts and homemade items to come, the market really gave that extra touch of inspiration.

loves

Christmas shopping the shabby chic way. Vintage marketplace in Boston, great atmosphere... even better finds.

Happy Holidays!

spell it out

Fun things to come with these. I am so hooked on Etsy, all I can do is shop shop shop. But its good shopping because its ME being CREATIVE again... I thought I was losing my touch for awhile with all the crazy around me. So here they are, the metal stencils I purchased, next is shopping for polymer clay & image inserts to complete such a cool project. When they're done they should look like the last few images...but with my own nifty twist.


Final goal will be to find a deep set frame to place them in & told ya, the "c" & "s" thing... its all around me, except him the real thing.

spiral

I went antiquing yesterday, in search of an old desk. The first shop i went to had a beautiful burnt orange/yellow desk, my eyes went right for it when i walked in. I ran to it, while wanting to shout "its mine, i saw it first" get there take the clutter off the top and see a BRIGHT orange sold sticker. WHAT, no Its perfect i want it. I pick up a lamp shade cover the sticker and then tell the man...how much for the desk, I'd like it please. All to be put back in my place.

This one place yesterday had things packed on top of each other. And I mean packed, floor to ceiling...literally. Tight isle to walk thru and I wasn't feeling it. Except the house the antique store filled had a beautiful stair case. I was mesmerized. Three Floors that a beautiful old wooden spiral staircase led you. Oh and that's were I saw Susy Scribbles, when did she become an antique? She was stacked on old dressers and chairs, she sat in her little white chair with her head touching the dusty ceiling.

I did go back to the first store where the orange table still sat haunting me. I found an okay white desk that i brought home....still looking though, i need a shabbier chic piece to inspire me. I've also been finding a lot of "s" things where ever I go....I'm taking it as a sign, for the better.

caged

freedom is a state of mind....

halloween

Happy Halloween!

vintage

eye jewels

for 500 to 1,000 euros and in just 15 minutes, you can get a "jewel" implanted in your eyeball; to be exact, in the conjunctiva (the mucous membrane lining the inner surface of the eyelids). it's so popular already that there's a waiting list. it's made out of platinum and available in the shape of a heart, half moon, a star or circle.

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I can't believe this is so called art. I work at an Ophthalmology practice, eyeballs are what we see all day, everyday & I've never come across this. Must be a European thing? I don't get it, why would someone want a jewel stuck to their eye? Please don't mess with your eyes!

bits & bobs

one shabby chic

Shabby chic is a design style deliberately using worn and deteriorated items.


~Rainy weekend, glad to see the sun today. With that rain i locked myself in with these two old chairs i had rescued. Sanded, cleaned, primed and painted then for the seats i tore off the old and in with new. I bought some canvas and recovered the seats and backs, all matching the shabby chic style that now fills the house. These two chairs are so beautiful, you wonder who once sat in them? On one of my weekend drives there they were on the side of the road next to this old barn that was being torn down. Not a common road i travel or one i ever need to use, but i am happy that they found me on that rare occasion. Gregg cursed these chairs as he helped me drag them out of the rover...."more chairs? i think we have enough, it is just us you know!" With all that said and no comment back he looked at me yesterday to say i gave life back to something, and he was proud. Although later that night at dinner i did hear how that doesn't mean i have to use my creativity on every poor thing i see out there, like the desk i re did last fall from this old lawyers home...oh and there will be more its just something i cant help, and he knows this all too well!~

History-

The style started in Great Britain and evokes the type of decoration found in large country houses where there are worn and faded old chintz sofas and curtains, old paintwork and unassuming 'good' taste. The end result of shabby chic is to achieve an elegant overall effect, as opposed to the sentimentally cute Pop-Victorian. Neither is it an expression of caring for the environment through recycling, even though recycling old furniture and fabrics is an important aspect of it.
The early forms of shabby chic were rather grand but the style has evolved taking inspiration from many forms of decoration. These range from 18th century Swedish painted decoration, the French Chateau as well as the American Shakers where simplicity and plainness was essential.
Shabby chic is mainly popular in interior design where furniture and furnishings are either chosen for their age and signs of wear and tear or new items are distressed to achieve the appearance of an antique.
Shabby chic items are often heavily painted with many layers showing through obviously worn areas. The style is imitated in Faux Painting using glaze or by painting then rubbing and sanding away the top coat to show the wood or base coats. Fabrics tend to be cottons and linens, with linen being particularly popular, inspired by old French linens. Whites and worn or bleached out pastels are favorite colours. Fabric is often stained with tea to give it the look of old fabric. Bleached and faded are terms often applied to the style

art for animals

When watercolor artist Jill Fynne went looking for a way to give back to her community she decided to combine her love of art and animals together. Touched by the inspirational stories she had heard about how therapy and companion animals help people heal from both physical and emotional trauma, and shocked by the fact that it cost close to $20,000 to train a single therapy dog, Flynne knew that she wanted to do something to support these programs. In November 2007 she established the New England Arts For Animal (NEAFA), a non profit organization that would collect money from the sale of artwork and donate it to programs that train therapy and companion animals such as NEADS (dogs for deaf and disabled Americans) and Canines for Combat Veterans. In addition to supporting animal therapy the organization also brings attention to the local art community. People who wish to contribute to NEAFA can purchase a 2008 desk calendar filled with Flynne's watercolor and charcoal images of animals. For more information, visit http://www.neartsforanimals.org/

Thanks to south shore living for bringing this to my attention! http://www.ssliving.com/

italian girl ♥s france

anyone who knows me. this blonde haired, blue eyed Italian girl knows i do love my background i love Italy and all things it has to offer. I def. want my children to grow up knowing Italian and eating all our homemade Italian meals that have been pasted down. I even named my dog after my papa Enrico, it means Henry in English & who knows we may have a son one day name Pasquale after my uncle, jk but who knows. Anyway, with all that said...I just have a very unhealthy obsession with all things french instead-- i heart Paris...I won't say more then Rome just yet because I may get myself in trouble (for some unknown reason?) So this man in my life needs to get me there in a hurry if he wants to stop living in this french like museum i made for ourselves =]

ok here are some great french reads.

this is paris
"So here we are," begins M. Sasek's iconic This is Paris. Sasek's whimsical drawings and witty prose introduce children to life in Paris, from sidewalk artists to mademoiselles carrying baguettes, to the history and culture of the city.






Paris Out of Hand: A Wayward Guide
Do not try to make a reservation or plot a walking tour with this deliciously droll illustrated guide to an imaginary Paris. Just close your eyes and dream. By Karen Elizabeth Gordon, Barbara Hodgson, and Nick Bantock.






My French Life
http://www.vickiarcher.com/

In 1999 Vicki Archer fulfilled a lifelong dream and bought a home in France. With chapters such as "The Women," "The Scents," and "The Weekend," coupled with sumptuous photography, Archer chronicles an insider's view of life in France.