Gramercy Guest Post

Today I am visiting the girls at Gramercy. They have the most amazing store in Atlanta and a wonderful blog.

Please stop by and check out their new series "Between the Sheets". You can read my post here.

Warning...

This post contains craft ideas. Are you sick of my crafts and projects? I only have 261 more ideas to share with you, so hang in there. This is a fun project I started at Art Camp then modified for my niece's birthday.

I wanted a creative way to give her cash and came up with this...a money bouquet. The best part? It is super easy!

I started with these woven newspaper baskets we made at art camp. Directions here. I love the natural look of the newspaper, but decided to paint one for the birthday bouquet. I then got $20.Three 5's. Five 1's. Each flower is made from two bills. You lay them vertically then accordion pleat them, wrapping with a pipe cleaner in the middle. Separate and fluff.

Throw in a few tissue paper flowers and you are done! Happy Birthday Mary Banks!

Should I Let Her Pick?

Remember the chair I got for Cricket's room? I still haven't recovered it. It is not totally my fault. I want it covered in a yellow and white fabric, Cricket wants an orange and white fabric.

The rest of her room is blue and white. I would love yellow to be the accent color. She would love for it to be orange.

I do like blue and orange. Just not as much as blue and yellow.

But it is her room. And it is just one chair and maybe some pillows.

What do you think? Let kids make the decisions in their own rooms or guide them and help them to see the wisdom of our choices?

Pictures from: Material Girls, Girl Meets Glamour, Mark Cutler

Spin Art

First I saw this....

Then I saw this.

I did a little research...

And found Damien Hirst. I am hooked and had to try this for myself.

Lucky for me I found this in Cricket's closet. I have been practicing on paper plates and now I am working on a plan to super size it. Picture a giant lazy susan. By "I" I really mean Bill. He is good at building things and you know he loves to come home from a long day at work and relax by working on one of my craft projects. Hopefully I will have something fabulous to show you soon. Cross your fingers!!

pictures from: Hidden in France, Alex Papachristidis, Damien Hirst

Two Ellie and a Winner!!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I am visiting with one of my favorite bloggers, Paula, at Two Ellie.

Just a hint of my post to grab your attention.
Please pop over and see me. Here.

And now for the winner of the Dr Perricone Cosmetics High Potency Evening Repair....drum roll please...number 18: Sarah Hossfeld!! And this is perfect because in her comment Sarah said her birthday was this week and the High Potency Evening repair would be a perfect gift. Congratulations Sarah. We want to see some before and after pictures. And a big thank you to Dr Perricone Cosmetics for a great giveaway!!

Reader's Room Part 4

I am so excited to share this bathroom with you.

Can you stand it? Hooper Patterson, a decorator here in Wilmington, sent me these photos of a bathroom she designed.

I was blown away. The walls are hand painted by Ann Schutte.

Yes, I said hand painted. Don't you wish you were that talented?

Need decorating help or a one of a kind paint job? E-mail me and I'll hook you up with Hopper and Ann.

Have a great weekend!!

I Love It!!

I love Sally King Benedict's fabulous artwork. One day I would like to own an original. At this point in my life it is not going to happen, but I am saving up.

This is one of my favorite pieces. It is funny because I am not usually a pink person, or so I thought. But this painting makes me happy. I am also not a very patient person, so while I am saving up for the real thing, I decided on a DIY project. Remember Art Camp?

I decided to have all the children from art camp try their hand at abstract painting. I prepared the canvas with some background colors; then using Sally's painting as inspiration, I let them go to town.

After the first week the kids were off to a good start.

The second week of camp I had a new batch of kids and new colors added to the painting. I added a little myself and ta da!!!

I love the colors and texture and the fact that all my campers helped to paint it.

I also love how it looks in my guest bathroom. The painting adds a much needed pop of color.

No, it is not a Sally King Benedict, but it sure makes me happy. What do you think?

Don' forget to enter the Dr Perricone Cosmetics Giveaway here.

And the Winner Is...

I finally got my computer back. It had BSOD. The Blue Screen of Death. Thankfully the wizards at Affordable Computer Help were able to save everything!!! And yes, they were very affordable!!

Now for the fun stuff..After combining all the comments I was finally able to pick the winner of the CSN $60 gift card. Using Random.Org the winner is number 53. Ann Richardson!! Yeah Ann!!

Her favorites were the Quincey and

The Cyrus

Ann, you will have to let us know what you get with your gift card....
This look or

This one. Oh, I love them both!! Congratulations!! Which look would you choose?

pictures from: CSN, Decorpad

Nothing Fried Cheese Won't Fix...

I am in mourning and a little freaked out. Yesterday my computer crashed. I was totally unprepared. You never think it will happen to you. My computer is on the way to the hospital, please say a prayer and/or add it to your prayer chain.

They say if you think happy thoughts, you will feel better. Didn't work for me. However, the vodka and cranberry I had at the swim meet helped put things in perspective. Out of focus, but in perspective. I won't even mind that much if they can't get my design photos back. What I am worried sick about is my family. photos.

So today I am heading to the beach with my 3 children, my sister and her 3 kids and certainly I will be too busy to worry about computers. I will be sitting on the beach right near that big water tower. And if I am a good girl and don't whine and cry about my computer, I have promised myself some...

Mozzarella sticks for lunch. Nothing says joy like fried cheese!

I promise to have the contest results for the CSN gift card by Monday.

Have a great weekend and don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I think...

High Potency Evening Repair - A Giveaway

Another fabulous giveaway for my fabulous readers. Have you heard of Dr Perricone cosmetics? If you haven't, you will soon. They have an amazing range of skin care products to help us fight aging. Two of their best sellers are the NV Perricone Eye Area Therapy and the High Potency Evening Repair.

High Potency Evening Repair ($95)

The best thing about the High Potency Evening Repair is that it works while you sleep.

What could be better? Go to sleep like this.... Wake up looking like...


This!!! O.K., this may be a stretch but at my age I need all the help I can get!!! Maybe I'll post before and after shots of myself after a month of use. Oh yes, I will be trying out this fabulous product and so will one of my lucky readers!! Just leave me a comment and tell me why you need High Potency Evening Repair. Next Friday I will pick one lucky reader to join me at the fountain of youth! Thank you to Dr Perricone Cosmetics for a great giveaway!!

Now if I could just find someone to do my laundry while I sleep....
(Contest only open to US and Canadian Readers)
Don't forget to leave an e-mail address so I contact you if you win!!

pictures from: Babble, J Crew

Reader's Room Part 3

Last week after doing a post about some curtains I made, a reader, Avis from Slingerlands, NY, sent me a picture of some similar curtains she had made for her son's room.

Not only do they look great but I also love the yellow headboards against the blue walls. And yes, Avis made them herself. It is a great looking room that is age appropriate but doesn't scream little boy.

I thought the room was so charming I asked to see more pictures of her home.

And I wasn't disappointed.

Her house is full of personality. Love her dining room with the bright green walls and built-ins that her dad made.

Love the impact of the over-sized fabric covered canvas.

And it looks like her living room is almost the same color as my den which means...I love it!

Avis, thank you for letting me share your home with my readers!! Don't you love being able to peak in the homes of real people? Especially real people with some style!! Which room do you like best?

Don't forget to enter the CSN Giveaway here

Sunburst and a Giveaway...

You all know I love a sunburst mirror. Who doesn't? While looking for new mirrors for over Cricket and Clay's vanity, I came across some amazing finds at Just Vanities. Don't let the name fool you, they have a lot more than vanities. Check these out...

Quincy Mirror

Napa Home and Garden Sunburst Mirror

Copper Classics Sunburst Mirror

Cyrus Sunburst Mirror

Bruno sunburst Mirror

Ashton Sutton Sunburst Mirror

Ashton Sutton Starburst Mirror

Prices range from $44 to $354 so there is something for everyone. Go check them out and let me know which one is your favorite! And if you see something you would like for yourself. Thanks to CSN Stores and Just Vanities, I have a great giveaway! CSN is offering a $60 gift certificate to any of their stores!!! All you have to to do is leave me a comment and help me out by letting me know which mirror you like best. If you are a follower you can enter twice. Make sure to leave an e-mail so I can track you down if you win.

Good Luck and I will announce the winner Friday!!