Homemade

Way back in the day when I first started my blog, one of my first posts was on these chairs that Aaron bought and refinished, and for which I made chair covers.  Well, it's been almost three years and they have finally made their way out of our downstairs office and into our living room.  Since the old green covers clashed with our new couch, it was definitely time for some new covers!  While I was taking off the old ones I couldn't believe they even looked halfway decent - I really tortured those things while I was making them.  This time around things went much smoother and I made much better-fitting cushion covers.  I don't know when it happened, but sometime in the past three years my sewing skills improved!  Yay!

I know- we went with a kinda boring off-white.  We couldn't decide on a fun color, so we just decided to go with a safe neutral and I bought some fun fabrics for future accent pillows. 

So I sewed away this weekend.  It may sound funny, but I love being indoors on a super beautiful day, in my pink sewing room with the warm sun shining in through the windows.  I can appreciate a lovely day just as much as if I were outside.  :)

The Happiest Place

Is where I spent my Thursday.

Day Tripping

[Anza Borrego Desert]

Today we took a short road trip to the Anza Borrego Desert to go hiking.  We've never been before.  It was fun, especially after the hike when we were leaving town, we came upon dozens of these sculptures of animals and dinosaurs in the middle of a vast desert landscape.   It was pretty neat. 

Wednesday Wishlist

Only one thing is on my wish list today.  (Well, four, or more if I'm really being honest.)

I really like animals dressed up like people.  I'm not sure what that's about!  Maybe it's a subconscious thing because I believe you should treat an animal as you would treat a person, kindly and compassionately.  But alas, some animals are more equal than others.  And now I'm getting all deep ;)  Anyway, I think these prints by Ryan Berkley are super awesome and I think my home needs them!

Inspired

Today I read an article in the Winter edition of Modernism magazine and I can't help but feel a little inspired.  The article was Fabulous 50s Fabrics, and it featured three British women textile designers, one of them being Lucienne Day.  Ms. Day was a textile designer who worked to lift the spirits of a nation, post-WWII, through her designs.

Day conveyed her innovative and modern design aesthetic with abstract shapes, a graphic style, and bold use of color.  She was interested in modern painting, but instead became a designer so that her work would be seen and used by the general public; she liked that many consumers who may not be able to afford a modern painting could alternatively use her textiles in their homes for curtains and upholstery. 

I'm always amazed at what my generation's grandparents have lived through; to see the world at its worst and then to be reborn.  It is inspiring to read about a woman who was nothing less than groundbreaking at a time when the world needed regenerating. 

[Lucienne and her husband, furniture designer Robin Day.]

Thrifted

I'm not really sure what this is.  Some sort of panel, obviously, but it also has lighting attached to it.  I don't know what I'm going to do with it, but I saw it and knew I had to have it.  I'm a sucker for some mid century panels.

 

Mr. Man is going for an industrial look in his office.  He found this chair at the thrift store last week and the printer stand this week.  He also got that Fisher-Price record player.

 

I love looking through old books at the swap meet.  They are so cheap and you can find some really good stuff!  I picked up a French Dictionary and some French visible vocabulary readers - one is from 1936 and the other is from 1893!  I also got some more vintage cookbooks to add to my collection.  I'm going to start experimenting with these soon!

 

I never shared the wonderful presents Aaron gave me for Christmas.  He gave me this pretty mid century magazine rack and sewing stool.  I'd been wanting a magazine rack, but I never even knew a sewing stool like this existed.  I love them both so much!

 

I love the holidays, but I'm glad they are over so I can get back into my normal routine of treasure hunting every weekend! 

My Wednesday Wishlist

If you have a desk job, like me, you know it's usually best to have lots of work and be a busy bee so your day goes by quickly.  That being said, sometimes it's nice to have slow days where you can do some leisurely internet-window shopping.  I was hoping to find stock up on some basic knit sweaters, but instead I just found a bunch of other stuff I want.

This bag and this bag from Anthropologie.  I love a cross-body bag and I love the pretty pretty blue!

 This dress from ModCloth.  It reminds me that Spring is just around the corner :)

Is it weird I want a book cart?  But, like, not for books...  really the possibilities are endless!

Boring days are good every once in a while ;)