Owls Make A Comeback
I recently found a necklace in a box of childhood stuff that I used to use as dress-up jewelry when I was a kid. The necklace is a large owl. It was so weird and interesting when I was little that I had to get the necklace out and do some research. Come to find out, the necklace was very popular in the 70’s. Many designers had versions of the owl pendant necklace, each looking a bit different. The sad part, however, is that my owl is missing it’s feet. The parts are connected with rings, and mine has fallen apart. I have the body, but need to reattach it. Maybe with some more searching I can find his poor missing feet. Here is what mine currently looks like.
I think the necklace is so cool even without the body that I am determined to wear it! Here is a vintage owl with his whole body intact, but in a more silevr color:
A little more research led me to find that these necklaces are regaining popularity, both vintage and reproductions. Etsy has some versions for sale:
Ebay also has many versions for sale:
So, go ahead, jump on this owl bandwagon- again! 🙂
Scrap-booking Question
I have been scrap-booking since I was in high school. I love taking photos and loving preserving memories, so this is quickly became one of my favorite hobbies. Due to being extremely busy I quit scrap-booking for a few years almost completely. The other day I found some very adorable paper and was so inspired I have started scrap-booking again full force. (The paper was from Micheal’s, which I recommend!).
I have come across a small problem, however, that I am hoping you out there in the blog world can help me with. My supplies are currently stored in about 4 different boxes. I rummage through the boxes when I am in search of inspiration or the perfect color of paper. The are constantly getting messy and unmanageable. The boxes are not uniform, either, which makes them hard to store. I am such a neat freak that this is really bothering me. I have seen carrying cases for sale that are meant for scrap-booking, but they are ridiculously overpriced!
My dilemma: I am insearch of an affordable, possibly DIY solution to the scrapbooking mess!
Here are just a couple of my unruly boxes of scrap-booking materials. I love the pink box, as it is an over-sized gift box from Victoria's Secret, but the heavy materials are starting to demolish the box!
Here is just a glimpse of the plethora of supplies needed for scrap-booking. Scissors, stickers, markers, pens, accessories, paper...
I was thinking that sticker sheets and paper might be categorized and sorted in some sort of accordion type portfolio folder (Wal-Mart even carries on in a black and white damask pattern!). But, the 12′ x12′ sheets of paper might not fit in one of those. What do you think? Suggestions?
Here is a glimpse of the pages I have completed recently. Any page ideas? If you would like help with your scrapbook just drop me a line about that as well! 🙂
P.S. It really is too bad that photos don’t do the details of these pages justice, as some of this paper is really gorgeous up close!
More Chair Love
This weeks chair love: a recent find of Apartment Therapy reader Alex. Alex found this chair and is now asking the Apartment Therapy readers to help him identify it. Some of the readers think it might be a Gastone Rinaldi chair from the 70’s, worth quite a but of money if it is genuine. To me, money or no, it is really cute. I think it could be even cuter with some new funky fabric or leather cushions (which is what Alex is thinking about doing).
If you know anything more about the chair or it’s style, check out the post and let Alex know the scoop. Otherwise, if you are like me, just sit there and drool away.
Need Your Expertise
On Sunday Tony and I visited my grandparents. My grandma gave me some dishes and also two antique picture frames. She didn’t know much about them, except that they are old. I’ll say! The back of one picture has some writing on it that says 1898! I know the frames are cross corner with leaves, and that they used to be quite popular. Do you have any more information on these frames or the pictures inside?
This is the writing on the back of one picture. We can't make out all of the words, but we can read 1898!
I would love to know more about these, so if you know anything, let me hear it!
Vintage Cuteness
The past weekend my dad and his wife brought us a little vintage present. They had been cleaning and we about to get rid of this find when they realized Tony and I would probably love it. Which we did! What they found was a set of eight drink glasses and a party dish in a carrier. The glasses have gold leaves on them. So neat!
Isn’t this great!? It was just sitting down there in their basement! This will be great for our next party.
Chair Love This Week
A little late this week, but here is my new chair fling:
This is a mid-century modern chrome and velvet armchair that is for sale on Craigslist here: http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/fuo/1003947247.html
I just think it is so cute. It would make an odorable desk or vanity chair.
Little Coaster Project
Tony has Dallas Cowboys coasters. I have Chicago Bears coasters. Neither were going to be displayed in our nice living room. I love football as much as anybody, but the football paraphernalia is reserved for the basement game room/bar. So, we needed some nice coasters to protect our living room tables. I change my mind frequently, so I wanted something inexpensive or changeable. That’s when I found these. The Dollar Store had a pack of four glass coaster for a couple bucks! Not only are they cheap, but they are changeable. They are the kind of coasters meant for inserting a picture under the glass. I decided to put a piece of black and silver damask wrapping paper in the picture slot. Here was my process:
My supplies. All I used was a scissors and the material (wrapping paper).
I used the blank piece of paper that came in the frame as a guide to cut a rectangle out of the wrapping paper. It then slides into a clear picket in the coaster frame. It was really THAT simple.
This is what it looked like slid into the coaster frame.
Here they all are with the wrapping paper inserted.
They even have their own little wooden holder.
It was so simple and I can change what is in the frames any time I want to. The glass is also very easy to clean off. I wish they were all black, as I am not so fond of the different colors, but it does make it easier to keep track of your drink. And, for a few dollars, who can complain?
Little Christmas Shelf
For Christmas, my Secret Santa (my sister-in-law-to-be, Jess) got me the cutest little shelf. We have been debating where to hang it since then! After we arranged some things the other day, we found the perfect place in the living room. The colors match perfectly! She also got me the little diamond studded candle and the LOVE sign that are sitting on the shelf. It was just so adorable I had to post it. Take a look!
I know its dark, but this is the shelf hung in the corner of the living room behind the Eames lounger.
My Christmas gifts from Jess!
Picking The Colors
I am so full of wedding ideas right now! I am trying to weed my way through them slowly, so I thought I would post some of my ponderings here. If any of you out there have any suggestions, adivce, or pictures to share with me, please! 🙂
A small run down of a few of the important things we have been considering so far:
We would like the weather to be warm, not scalding, so we were considering a late August wedding, which probably means August 2010. We are having a small ceremony at the church I grew up going to. We would love to have a large reception with all of our friends and family. We are on a very small budget, which means we are doing most everything ourselves. This also led us to the idea of having our reception outside. Our three possibilities so far are my mother’s backyard where I grew up, our county fairgrounds where Tony says he first knew he loved me (sentimental!), or a hangar at the airpark down the road from my childhood home. I also know we do NOT want a themed wedding, but will probably take influences from vintage themes, such as the 30’s and 40’s.
Now, my first question up for help is the colors. We want black and white. Elegant, yet simple, especially if we are outdoors. But, I would like an accent color. My two favorite ideas with black and white are red or dark teal. I love them both. So, here are a couple pictures for inspiration, and let me know what you think!!
Here is a black and white wedding that was also outdoors. http://snippetandink.blogspot.com/2009/01/board-329-white-barn-black.html
These are just some black and white examples. Ours wouldn’t be quite as barnyard casual.
Here are some examples with red as an accent color. http://justjaime28.wordpress.com/2008/09/07/a-black-white-red-wedding-shower/
This set is a little too fancy for our outdoor setting, but it does show how well red would work with black and white and that damask that we love.
I couldn't find pictures where people actually used teal, but here is a tie. http://www.neckties.com/teal_by_elite_solid_teal_tie.apml
I think that the teal color could add to the vintage-y vibe we are looking for.
If we used teal, we might be able to incorporate peacock feathers into our flowers and centerpieces. http://www.curbly.com/DIY-Maven/posts/5950-Intro-to-Digital-Photography-Week-2-Messing-round-with-f-stops-
I was hoping to use some feathers, even in white, such as in my hair, but, was inspired when I saw this gorgeous picture.
What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Change it up somehow? Help me out here!? 🙂
Chair Love For This Week
The chair obsession continues this week. My latest chair love goes out to this guy: The Egg Chair. Arne Jacobsen designed this chair over 50 years ago. The egg chair was unique when it was first designed, but the 50th anniversary chair with chocolate suede and leather is gorgeous! The picture and much more information came from here: http://the-egg-chair.com
Make Mine Eclectic 