My Top Five Unfounded Fears

Goya - from Disasters of War

1. getting bed bugs from a movie theatre
2. dying from eating bad mayo
3. plague ridden bus hands
4. hantavirus
5. finding an eye in an egg yolk

I thought I'd let you know since apparently we're all supposed to die tomorrow. I guess 2012 will take care of those of us who don't kick the bucket Saturday.

Quote of the Week - Federico Fellini

Experience is what you get while looking for something else.

The Gift I Made My Mom - Easy and Inexpensive I love You Gift

I adapted this gift idea from a column by interior decorator Barb Lunter that was in the North Shore News a few weeks back.

What you need:

• 2 vases - this isn't as easy as you think. One vase must fit inside the other with enough room around it to put some goodies yet it has to be large enough to hold a few bunches of flowers. I found both of my vases at a local thrift shop.
• a couple bunches of flowers. I used five bunches of tulips.
• a whole lot of goodies. Be creative. I opted for chocolate loonies* over the simpler jelly beans. I bought these from the bulk section at our local grocer but you can also find some unique stuff at sweet shops like Sugar & Co.
• an elastic or string

Instructions:

1. place the small vase inside the large one
2. distribute your goodies around the inside of the large vase so you can no longer see the small one
3. put a little room temperature water in the small vase
4. hold the bunch of flowers in your right hand. With your left hand take one flower one at a time until you have formed a little bouquet of flowers. Tie the bouquet together with the string or elastic.
5. insert the bouquet into the small vase with the water
6. adjust the leaves and flowers accordingly

*a loonie is a Canadian dollar. plural form = loonies

Thanks for a Wonderful 3 Years!

From the bottom of my heart - I couldn't have done it without you. Who knows what will happen over the next three.

Here's Bijou Living's very first post, May 17, 2008.

'Raccoons and cats become a little bit boring...'

About a year ago I came across Grey Gardens. A beautiful film that gave me nightmares. The Cult's song Ciao Baby is about Edie Sedgwick not Little Edie. It would be nice if Little Edie had a song.

There's a great fan site dedicated to Grey Gardens and you can view it here.

Mens Sandals

The only way I can interpret men's sandals as being sexy is by imagining it's a hot August afternoon in the 70s and I'm on the beach at Osoyoos Lake spying on my older cousins as they hit on long haired, tanned, shirtless skinny rocker guys in tight worn out frayed Levi's and hurache sandals. Oh, and it smells like Hawaiian Tropic tanning oil.

These might work:

1. Ann Demeulemeester although these somewhat remind me of Tevas and I'm not a fan of any item of clothing or footwear that uses Velcro.
2. Lanvin a little dressier
3. Dolce & Gabbana second choice
4. Pachuco Huarache my favourite

The Scent of Spring

It would be wonderful if I could send this smell to you.

Design Lover - Torcan Fan

circa late 1960s

I'm not one to tell you how to spend your money

DSQUARED - LYCRA TWO PIECE BATHING SUIT

DSQUARED - NYLON BOXER BATHING SUIT

but if you have it in you to spend $290 on either of these go right ahead. I won't ask why.

My Current Fix

Vintage Matisse Renoir Copper and Enamel Bracelets


(l) HHDollhouse (c) Coronetweedsvintage (r) Timeraveler
(l) overlookjulie (c) 123hollybee (r) luvintage

Happy Mother's Day

Michael, me, Mom

From the Archives - How to Transform a Boring Room - Wallpaper with Newspaper

Originally published April 2, 2009

Ace Hotel - Portland

using player piano paper

image Stacy Reynaud

The Ace has drawn attention to boring walls using a material not usually associated with wallcoverings. The look is achieved using ordinary papers such as comics, sheet music, maps, blueprints, magazine cuttings, newspaper, paper doilies, or heavy foil—the more creative, the better.

newspaper

How to wallpaper with newspapers and other stuff.

Materials:
* glossy polymer medium
* sponge brush
* scissors
* your selection of magazines, newspapers, or other ephemera
* (optional) glossy water-based polyurethane (clear or tinted)
* paintbrush

The polyurethane can be omitted. However, it gives a protective glossy coating. **If you decide to use polyurethane, make sure it's water-based, or it will smear and ruin the print. Also, the picture from the other side will show through.

The polymer medium can be used as an undercoat and final coat.

magazine pages

Steps:
1. Cut the strips of paper you want to use and turn them face down on a work surface.
2. Apply polymer medium with a sponge brush to the surface. Do only a small section because it dries quickly.
3. Place the paper strips on the wet surface and press down.
4. Coat it lightly with the medium; if foam forms on the paper will not dry clear.
5. Continue to cover the surface this way; overlap the edges and corners as you continue to make the collage.

maps

6. Rinse the sponge brush thoroughly so you can reuse it later.
7. Once both sides have a coating of the polymer medium applied to them, they are sealed, and regular water-based polyurethane varnish can be applied on top. The polymer medium is used as a gluing agent as well as a sealer for the paper.
8. (optional) With a paintbrush, coat all surfaces with glossy water-based polyurethane. This gives the paper a hard protective finish. It takes 24 hours to dry and must be painted on evenly in one direction.

tinfoil

9. If you decided to omit the polyurethane finish, the surface will require several polymer medium coats to give it a final finish. This dries within fifteen to twenty minutes. The finish will not be as smooth as the polyurethane and will turn white if anything wet touches it for a prolonged period of time. Other than that, the finish is extremely durable.

Here is a dresser where I used the same technique:

Tilley making sure the table is sturdy.

We grabbed this trashed side table, raided the free newspapers, picked up some sponge brushes at the dollar store and invested in some polymer medium at our favourite art store. Total cost $14.50.

stacy reynaud laviolette

Good things come to those who wait

Remember my outing to the junkyard a few weekends ago? I'd mentioned a little number we picked up that was much cooler to use as a table top than an old door. Well yes, Mr. Junkyard Dog I will take that old lucite and alabaster countertop off your hands.

After a trip to Rona for some concrete blocks and jaunt to Opus for some Montana Gold chrome spray paint, voilà - new patio table!

Home Sense still might have a chance with me if they have these Morrocan lanternsleft.

Simple Inspiration

Leather Photo Album
Vintage Army Officer's Bag

The most irritating thing I read last weekend

"Our culture has become obsessed with everything being available in one place, but carrying my straw basket around to neighborhood specialty shops is essential to entertaining." says Morrell, who is known to work the kitchen in a vintage Yves Saint Laurent top and polka-dot apron.

LaCava, S. 2011. Dinner at 8. The New York Times Style Magazine. May 1, 2011

Quote of the Week - Confidence

Lend yourself to others, but give yourself to yourself.
Michel de Montaigne