Creative Reuse

This cool book of fantastic recycled art and more will be available at bookstores November 1. Amazon has it now. There’s a section near the back called “Art, Interiors + Installations” and on pages 292-293, you’ll find three photos of my hallway of postcards. Google books has a searchable version of the book and this is the link to my pages. Here’s a sneak peak:

More Dragonflies

Speaking of dragonflies, this guy has been hanging out in my backyard the last couple of days. Cute, isn’t he? A friend remarked that the last image looks like he’s singing into a microphone. What do you think of him?

Technicolor Rose

In our kitchen hangs this lovely stained glass panel of cats. Marcie is enjoying the sun streaming in below. What you don’t see is how the colors project onto the wooden cart that sits in the middle of the kitchen. Occasionally, meaning usually, there is a cat sitting on the cart waiting to be petted. The cart is the perfect height for cat petting. Last week, the sun was streaming in and of course, a cat sat on the cart. This time, the cat was Rose, a large, cream colored cutie. Her cream color short hair fur was the perfect projection screen for the colors of the stained glass. I think she looks fabulous as a technicolor kitty. I don’t think she agrees. What do you think?

Sunday Afternoon with Monty

Actually, pretty much everyday you’ll find Monty curled up like a cat on the couch. He’s one happy dog.

Sunday Afternoon With Mickey

Indie Fixx – Spruce Up Your Place

I like reading Indie Fixx blog, interesting interviews, photos and projects. I notice a few weeks ago that they were running a contest for home decorating with Indie products or home improvement DIY projects. I’m pretty proud of my postcard hallway and entered a few photos. If you click here you will see that I was one of the honorable mentions. Let’s hear it for postcards pasted to the ugly hallway walls! You’ll also notice that I’m the only one to comment on the post. Please don’t leave me hanging out there. Post a comment, won’t you?

Mexican Folk Art

Almost a year ago I wrote about loving estate sales and collecting Mexican folk art. Today I am starting another series that will showcase some of the cool Mexican folk art that I live with and love. And we are going to start with Frida. This piece is also the latest addition to my collection. This Frida is a ceramic skeleton bobble head that is about 16″ tall. Do you not love the glitter? I was lucky enough to be given a gift certificate to one of the local Mexican folk art shops in town and when I walked in their door the glittery bobble head Fridas jumped out at me. I have a Frida poster framed and hanging in the living room but it is just so tasteful. I like the trashiness aspect of this Frida and I think even she would appreciate the melding of genres in this creation. If you are not familiar with Frida Kahlo, click on her name. I have linked a different web site each time her name appears.

Isn’t she lovely?

Our House

Well since I mentioned the dining room I thought I should post a few pics. The colors I painted this room were chosen because they were cheap, bright and available. I always cruise the “oops” paint whenever I’m in a hardware store. The colors most people reject are the colors I love. And you can’t beat the price. I have learned not to get hung up on wanting a certain color, I just go with whatever is funky and cheap. Kind of describes my life. There are more pics here in another of my Flickr sets.

I collect Mexican folk art. I usually find it at estate sales. My dining room decor reflects my obsession. I sent my husband to an estate sale yesterday. I was slaving away at my computer at the day job and he was working from the home office and the sale happened to be right down the street. I spied in the ad in the newspaper that they were offering folk art. He came home with some wonderful Oaxacan wood pieces to add to the collection as well as an old ceramic casserole from Mexico and a yarn turtle. Oh, I almost forgot the wonderful framed Mola. I need to shoot some pics of these great finds. I love estate sales.

decor8

I’m a big fan of the blog decor8. Its one of the blogs I regularly read and lust over. A couple of days ago I noticed that she was posting pictures of readers art collections: arty walls. So I had to send pics of my dining room and hallway which I think are both very arty and cool. There are more images of the hallway here in my Flickr set, go see what you think.

She posted the hall of postcards! I feel so lucky to have been blogged by Holly. Her blog rocks. Go visit decor8.