Friday, March 30, 2012

XOXO: FARM FABULOUS

As urban centers welcome rural sprawl, down-home style is now-home style! While farm life imagery was once predictable decor in American country houses, an appreciation for what is wholesome, home-grown, rustic, and green is very modern and in demand. There's plenty to XOXO about the farm.

Farm for all! Farm for walls!



1.

  
At 31" tall, this colorful, reclaimed bead-board rooster from Dryads Dancing will wake up any room.

2.

"They're my Andy Warhol inspired farm animals," says Eric Fausnacht about his new silkscreen prints on hand-painted paper. While the rooster and hen are his own animals, Fausnacht scouted for additional animal models at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.


3.

Mad for Cow -- this 24 x 19  painting titled "Morgan" is done with a palette knife.  By HamJ


4.

Ruby Williams used brightly colored painted signs, such as this 24 x 37 wooden one, to draw attention to her roadside produce stand. Available at Jeanine Taylor Folk Art.


5.

A farm blog wouldn't be complete without a pig or hog! This painted quilt is by Theresa Disney.  I saw it last month at Jeanine Taylor Folk Art Gallery.

6.

Benjamin Moore's "Farm Fresh" AF-360 is the color of brown eggs.



And also, FARM for your bookshelf or coffee table:

Photographer Michael Hanson documented the urban farm movement in a book called "Breaking Through Concrete: Building an Urban Revival." He went on the road with his brother David and urban farmer Edwin Marty, and captured the success of 12 city farms around the country. From University of California Press.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

MORE DECORATED WOMEN

If you catch me staring at your chest, it's probably your jewelry. 

scenes from The Art Girls Road Show
featuring the Earth Angels artists at Jeanine Taylor Folk Art, Sanford, FL

Marie Pendley of Derby Blooms wears her own corsage and a necklace by her sis Melody.
Mme. Earth Angel Jen O'Connor pairs Melody Elizabeth's Pretty Purse with a masterpiece Swatch.
(top) Debbee Thibault slings her own jewelry. The more the Debbee-er.
(above)) Letty Worley rocks a fab cuff by Melody Elizabeth's.

Melody Elizabeth in Melody Elizabeth.

Valerie Weberpal flaunts one of her own wearable dolls and on another day 
sports the big "V" by Melody Elizabeth.
Miss Vermont
(or Laurie Shuran Meseroll in Melody Elizabeth with a side of Derby Blooms.)
Ar-risting arm decor: book bracelet by Melody Elizabeth.
ALL ITEMS ARE MADE FROM UNIQUE VINTAGE MATERIALS OR HAND-PAINTED, SO NO TWO ARE EVER ALIKE EXACTLY WHICH IS OF COURSE PART OF THE ART, CHARM AND DESIRE AVAILABLE  @ EARTH ANGELS TOYS
.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

I BET YOU'LL WANT ONE TOO: THE PORTABLE PEDI-STICK


{Inspired by a recent blog I wrote for Benjamin Moore about portable paint decks, I created a pedi-stick. Read all about it. You just might WANT one too}

my present polish repertoire
voila! my pedi-stick looks cool.

I have big feet. They’re not particularly good looking. But I still like to paint my toes.

It’s 1 a.m., and I decide to polish my toenails. I start with Stormy.

It looks a tad dull.

Dots? Stripes? I reach for Minted.

I need a finer brush but I am too lazy to go to my craft cupboard for a super thin paintbrush. I find a thin wooden manicure stick instead and use the pointy end to apply pattern.  

I notice how pretty the first inch of the stick looks dipped in Minted, so I decide to paint the remaining length with some of my favorite color stock.
I love my daughter's hands.
I wish the pale Lily on the end was brighter like the color my daughter Dylan is wearing now.

Photo courtesy: A Perfect Gray
Many interior designers say that dressing a room is like dressing oneself. To that I add, polishing one's toes is like dressing a room.