I XOXO CLEVERNESS: 5 Cool DIY Ideas from Atlanta Gift Market

As I strolled the floors of AmericasMart at the recent Atlanta Gift Show, I spied several clever DIY ideas. Whether for sale or just for show, these DIY projects and furnishings used recycled or re-purposed elements. Since I am not a clever DIY-er, but merely an observer of what's good, stylish, and blogworthy, I will not be supplying instruction. This is purely inspiration.

1. CRAYON PEACE SIGN

 is one DIY project I believe I could actually do with a glue gun, board, and a lotta crayons.

(by Mike Farrell, as part of a rotating exhibit called Blue Home)

2. SHUTTER SHELVES

enable you to display cool stuff while adding architectural interest.

(at Aidan Gray Home in JDouglas )

3. SOUVENIR LAMP

allows you to stow/see the mementos -- corks, shells, spools, a weird doll -- you've been collecting, plus it comes with a nice linen shade.

(from Regina Andrew )

4. THE GARBAGE FLOWERS KIT

enables the pack rat to become a floral designer

(@ Sugoi Group)

5.  THE RULER CHANDELIER

simply rules immeasurably.

(from Go Home)

VIVID COLOR AT THE ATLANTA GIFT SHOW

Retracing a smidge of the 7 million sq. ft. AmericasMart, 

here are 20 instances of eye-popping color. 

all photos taken by me

Top: 

Stray Dog's embroidered shade; French Bull melamine cake plate and server; 

belt buckle by Princess and Butch; leather chair by Global Views; E. Lawrence books

2nd Row:

Tweet Tweet HomeDIY bird feeder; Design Legacy floral pillow; Kalalou's twig deer; 

Eames House of Cards mug from Aesthetic Movement showroom; striped shoes from Eliza B.

3rd Row:

necklace from Yellow Owl Studio; turquoise ottoman from Arteriors; Company C wool rug; 

TAG floral plate; Pip Studio rectangular bolster

Bottom:

Bike baskets from Nantucket Bike Basket; Michele Keeler Turkish towel thru Karen Alweil Studio; embroidered runners that each take 15 days to make from Gold Leaf Design; gravel and rocks from Accent Decor; wool felt wreath from Cody Foster

Every now and again, 

I wonder what it would be like to live in a white house. 

But I know I never could.

p.s. for more info, google any of the companies

I Am Self-Published

the cover of my first book features painted popsicle sticks

A few hours ago, I joined my desire to write a book with my XOXO of photography and self-published a soft-bound publication through Lulu Press. It is being printed as I write this blog! My 21-page photo book measures 5 1/4" by 3 1/2" and has about 150 words and17 original photographs. I called it "The Colorful Counting Book." It is not destined for adult book clubs, but rather may feel more welcome slipped into a purse before setting out on a cross-town bus with a toddler.

"13 silver shoes" did not make the cut because I felt my niece wouldn't relate to the old styles

Putting it together was fairly easy considering that I was totally winging it as I uploaded from my vast bank of photos and dragged them onto the pages. I knew that I wanted to make a unique book for my 2 1/2 year old niece. Tired of predictable imagery and licensed characters found in many children's books, I used photos taken from travels, flea markets, and numerous saunters down the aisles of antique malls. Beyond counting things and identifying colors, I chose photos that can easily spur other conversations and motivate your toddler's imagination.

Conversely, "4 feet" did make the cut.

Self-published books are creative and thoughtful gifts. They can also be moneymakers. I did not make this book with the intention of selling it, although a Lulu rep, featured on "The Balancing Act" on Lifetime Television, spoke about a woman who self-published a cookbook on the site and sold quite a number of them. If sales happen for this book, well...that'd be a nice surprise. But i want to preview it, hold it in my hands, and judge the quality before I promote it.

I will have an update on "The Colorful Counting Book" on the 26th.

I have a feeling this could be the start of something addictive.

AIRPORT LOVE

Jason Turner has a lot of goodness to come home to.
photo: Jane Dagmi

On Wednesday morning at the Greenville-Spartanburg airport, the Turner family was waiting anxiously. Ansley, Carson, and Laney were waiting for their dad. Little Camden was waiting for his grandfather, and Mr. & Mrs. Turner were waiting for their son.  Jason Turner -- father, grandfather, and son -- was coming home from Afghanistan to spend the holidays with his family, and he is sure to be hugged, kissed, and lovingly admired as soon as he gets within sight of his family.

I am a seasoned airport greeter, and truly love the whole build-up that goes with waiting for family to arrive. My children and I plot ruses that will surprise our visitors but not scare them. I am the front person, seemingly alone, and then the kids jump out from the wings and into the arms of an aunt, cousin, or grandmother. This is our welcoming committee scenario.

screen shot taken from the opening airport sequence in "Love Actually."

One of my favorite movies, "Love Actually," pays homage to the wondrous airport love-fest. Beyond the fab mostly British cast -- Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Kiera Knightley, and Emma Thompson -- who each tackle and triumph with affairs of the heart, the general theme supports the idea that "love is actually all around." The first and last scenes of the movie take place in airports; the camera, in slow, lyrical motion, catches a multitude of happy reunions. The narrator's opening sentence is: "Whenever i get gloomy about the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport."

So if you find yourself in an airport this holiday season, take note of the XOXO that's all around. It's pretty spectacular.

Spruced Up: 5 Easy Christmas Decorating Ideas

We celebrated Hanukkah in our house, but I always loved decorating for Christmas.  I was thankful for our gift-a-night tradition, but for a girl with a penchant for decorating, picking out the colorful candles for the menorah couldn't compete with picking out ornaments and tinsel for the tree. I was lucky to have friends with trees though, so I got invited to "do Christmas" at their homes. Thank you Linda and Hope.

Fast forward 20 years...

I work at Country Living Magazine; I live and breathe holiday at least 4 months a year. I plan photo shoots in season and pray for snow. I shoot holiday in June and it just feels wrong. Whatever the timing, year after year I come up with new ways to decorate trees, mantles, and any other part of the house, and also hope that the homeowner has done it for me.

Here are 5 easy Christmas decorating ideas -- all taken from the pages of Country Living Magazine, from shoots that I produced. Hopefully, one or more will work for you!

Mary Jane's Porch. Photo: John Blais

1. Paint popsicle stick or twig stars in an unexpected bright color. Buy made or use a glue gun to make yourself.  I chose yellow because it had no traditional holiday connection. It just seemed to go really well with all the red.

Kathryn's feather tree. Phoho: Keith Scott Morton

2. Cut out paper shapes and punch a hole and hang. Use a stencil, or a Fiskar's shape punch. Keep it simple or personalize with words, drawing, etc. Other paper goods that work well as ornaments are photos and postcards.

Christine's pear place cards. Photo: Steven Randazzo

 3. Decorate with fruits of the season. Pears are lovely to look at and to taste. Tie a card or tag onto the stem and you've got an instant placecard.

Diane's bounty; photo: Steven Randazzo

 4. I never tire of the look of glass jars brimming with colorful ornaments. Each arrangement turns out differently and there are good views from every angle.

Mary Jane's bed; Photo: John Blais

5.Some beds naturally call for sprucing up, and an open canopy is the perfect spot for some garland swag. A strand of lights makes for a merry mood.