Finders Tweakers

It never fails. Every time I set off on a thrifting trip, I start the day with a skip in my step because I just know I'm going to find everything I'm looking for, and it will all cost, like, a dollar, and I will have so much fun sprucing my findings, and then everyone will lavish me with oohs and aahs because I am the most amazing thrift sore decorator that ever did live.

I don't know where I get these notions. I never find what I'm looking for, things almost always cost more than I think they should, and I am only a so-so thrift store decorator.

Nevertheless, on Saturday morning I set out, giant cafe latte in hand and that little skip in my step, to find whatever there was to find and a few specifics:

1- Two frames to begin my "hooked" project

2- Something large and sculptural for the top of my bookshelf

3- Louis chair for my god-awful bedroom (if I was lucky)

So it is not surprising that after six stores I dragged my tired self home with absofreakinlutely nothing. I know. It's sad. 

But it's OK! I persevered and sneaked in a trip to TJ Maxx on Sunday. I didn't find anything on my list, of course, but I did find some other goodies:

BUDDHA BOOKEND - $7

The plan: Maybe I'll saw him off of the base and gold leaf or paint him a bold blue. Or maybe I will find peace with Mr. Buddha Bookend and just leave him be.

What he could be:

LACQUER BOX - $9
The plan: As soon a I saw this I imagined a copy cat west elm jewelry box

 

What it could be (in a hundred years when I finally find some sort of metal greek key applique)...

NESTING TRAYS - $5 and $4!
The plan: I know... these are the most hideous things ever. I hate map motifs, but I LOVE lacquer trays, and these have a fabulous shape. I think whatever I do will involve some gold, black, and white paint because these babies are gonna live on my entry table.

What they could be (so many possibilities!)...

kolektorbali.tumblr.com
westelm.com
bp1.blogger.com
westelm.com
store03.prostores.com

Return of Venus

My jaw dropped when I saw the first page of the new Lonny issue. If you've been following Swoon, you'll know why... 

My waning inspiration to complete my copy-cat Venus in Yellow has been unearthed! I haven't figured out who this artist is yet, but I wonder if he/she was inspired by Hanseggar's Venus as well. The mood of these pieces is a little dark for me, but I do love them. I hope this knocks me off my lazy horse this weekend so I can get crackin on this project. We'll see.

venus in yellow

I cannot stop thinking about this painting by John Hansegger. I want to make my own. In fact, I've already started planning the piece. I'm going to do a HUGE portrait of one of my favorite sculptures, Pauline Bonaparte. You can read all about her here.

My problem (yes, I always have a problem) is that it's very hard to contain myself when figure drawing. I tend to go crazy with detail. Here is the first study I did last night. See what I mean? I'm pretty darn proud of those pillows though.



So I knew I had to chill out. Here is my second study. I'm getting the hang of it.

My other problem is I don't really know how to achieve the look of Hanseggar's painting. It says it's in oil, but I'm not sure how he penciled over the paint. I'll have to play a little this weekend. If you have any ideas, please post a comment! Looks like it will be a while before I'm done, but hopefully it'll be worth it. Imagine her in an ornate gilded frame! So sexy!

Sources:
Valerie Goodman Gallery
Borghese Gallery

A definite maybe

Just ran across this photo on Design Sponge. You know what I'm thinking don't you? These gorgeous wall panels may be exactly what my ugly bedroom needs! What do you think? Should I fill the huge frames with a darker shade of aqua, a crisp white, or maybe a fabulous damask wallpaper... say, something like THIS:

We'll see. First step is convincing Joshua to do it. I'll keep ya posted (pardon the pun).

Screw it!

Sometimes I just sit in my bedroom and stare at the walls wondering…

What the HELL was I thinking?

I’ve been obsessing over this room and how to FIX it for 2 months now. I’m about ready to drown my frustrations in vodka martinis and Lays potato chips, which is never a good thing. So before I drive myself absolutely insane over this, I have decided to for-get-IT! At least for now.

This weekend I intend to head back over to Rosa Leigh’s room for some fun finishing touches to her walls. 2 reasons:

1: Thanks to Uncle Sam, this month's budget is busted. So I need to do something free.

2: I love working in this room… it makes me feel like a little girl again. Pink and Aqua make great medicine!

So here is what we have so far:

 

And here is what I’m planning:

-Finish her photo board (ran out of ribbon)

-Paint a cute frame on the wall around it

-Paint the bookshelf from the playroom and move it in (I think)

-Hang pictures with maybe some cute mural above the bookshelf.

You will see a post of the results next week. God willing.

Bedroom Gone Wrong

Although I have yet to “finish” any other room thus far in my crazy house, I decided to begin work on decorating our master bedroom right after Christmas. I think I was just too jealous of Rosa’s fabulous big-girl room. Three full months later, and maybe halfway through, I’m already swooning over ideas for the playroom. Dammit I need to focus. So instead of posting about the playroom wall project I’m dying to tell you about, I’m gonna post about the frustrating state of my marital bed (a weird term I’ve grown to love from my recent John Rosemond reads).

It took me a long time to decide what direction to go with this room. I wanted an oxymoronic scheme that was both bright and cheery and dark and sexy. I finally found my inspiration while on a romantic getaway with Josh in Asheville, NC. The b&b we stayed at was luckily managed by a gamut of gay men, and there were many home décor mags on site. While thumbing through a House Beautiful issue, I discovered THE perfect boudoir. I don’t know if I was high on the claw-foot antiquity of the b&b or the ornate gorgeousness of the Biltmore Mansion we had toured that morning, but I fell head over heels with this:

 

Oh yes, the bright blue-green walls with those sexy red curtains just hit me right in the spot. So I began my reno as soon as we returned home. First I hurried over to Benjamin Moore to get the exact color the article suggested, Blue Diamond, but in person the swatch looked way too bright. After testing a few sample pots on the wall, I ended up going with Forget Me Not

Next, I needed the perfect red curtains. I scoured the Internet for red velvet ones, but everything I found was either too porn-set or too darn expensive (oh how I woulda loved to order PB velvet drapes, but whatever. I’m poor). I finally found these blackout drapes from Overstock.com and couldn’t resist. They were the perfect price, length, and color, and they had amazing reviews.
So here is where I’m at so far. Ugh:

I know it's not that bad, but I hate it. One major problem is the mirror. It’s a FABULOUS mirror that my mom gave me many years back as a birthday present, but it’s just not working. It’s too round, too silvery, and too… I don’t know. Anyway, it’s gotta go.

The whole thing is too much bright-and-cheery and not enough swank. Maybe I need to French it up a bit. I’m dying to try an ornate, gilt mantel mirror, echoing the headboard in the mag feature. I’ve been searching ebay, and I really want to get this, but I can’t afford it.

 

In my wildest dreams I'd get this thing and gold leaf it in a hurry, but It’s listed for $495. Aint happnin. Maybe I need to support my local antique shops and get off of my butt to go shopping instead of surfing websites. I'm hoping to find something that may need some gold leafing. I’ve been dying to gild something! Rosa is too wiggly and Josh is too resistant. A mirror’s the next best thing. Stay tuned.

Cloudy With a Chance of Glitter

I am in love with this Holly Fulton dress featured in one of my back issues of Lucky Magazine. I could never hope to bask in the sparkle of this shimmery getup, for it costs, um, two thousand some odd dollars. Buuuut how awesome would this design be painted on something! I don't know, maybe a flee market chest of drawers in the bathroom or a plank of wood on the wall with glossy grain filling the background. I'll get to it one day. No really, I will.

More cloudy digs *sigh*: