Paper cutting

Everybody knows Rob Ryan.
Everybody should know the incredible work of Catherine Winkler.
At least everybody can afford this Bild poster from IKEA....

PS : Have a good weekend!

Distant cousins

Ester Bowls from Danish Brand House Doctor.



...Bowls from Martha Stewart's Lorraine Stencil collection few years ago.
With a more successful positioning of the white lines, among other disturbing things...

after sunday comes, sunny day!

(Photo from Shop Terrain)

Sphere metal lanterns are everywhere right now in the NL.
While I must say I always tend not to like what's in...just because it's in...well, Zenza makes some gorgeous ones.
Shop Terrain also has very nice ones.
Here is my attempt with the help of my Big Bite puncher at doing something quite less expensive but inspired by it with a €2.99 IKEA rice paper lantern...

We'll see how it turns out. As you can see, this is only the trial stage (on postcard bags).
My first intention was to try eyelet patterns like here or here but they seem too girly to me. Hence a more 'organic', ethnic, whateveryoucallic pattern.

And since we're at it, meet my new HEMA polka dot iron board cover.

Would almost make me like ironing. 'Almost' says it all :-(

when you can't resist using Xmas lights a little longer...

A tripod would have been put to good use with such a dim light outside and too little coming in...but it is still in the container.....and I don't mind the blurred finish actually.

The asian lantern I had my eye on was on sale...oh destiny....

slowly and surely

Trying new things, transitioning from Xmas to wintery-early spring decoration. Transparent Jip en Janneke nail polish from Hema.

Corners of Home (5)

Sedums in turkey feeder.

Corners of Home (3)

A flea market children size breakfast chair waiting to be painted (color suggestions? I'm thinking robin's egg or mint green)
The white apple is my submission (ages ago) to a Bijenkorf (dutch Bloomingdale) contest.
Wicker wagon from Pottery Barn Outlet in San Marcos -for anybody in Texas.
Leather moose from Jackson Hole, WY. Long votive holder is an old sugar mold.


(des suggestions de couleur pour repeindre la chaise en bois? elle est pour l'instant dans les tons avoisinants mais j'aimerais bien quelque chose entre œuf de rouge gorge (sais pas le nom de cette teinte en français...honte sur moi) et vert menthe.
La pomme, c'est une participation à un concours du Printemps néerlandais, De Bijenkorf.
L'élan en cuir provient de Jackson Hole, Wyoming et le long porte bougie est un vieux moule à sucre)

corners of home

An old Coca-Cola bottle tray hiding a socket and showing my private collection of Réré's brooches, few unused door knobs and bits and pieces I particularly like.

(une vieille caisse Coca-Cola cachant une prise et montrant ma collection privée de broches made in Réré, des boutons de portes n'ayant pas trouve porte a leur pied et des petits trucs bidules que j'aime bien...)

Waoolachancecesttropbeaujenveuxun!

Finito!

Still have to see which way each little elephant will decide to go...

On Display and background paper

Here at OnYourBikeSunshine, we looooooooove anything resembling printer trays, little wooden houses, old crates, in other words a small shelving system perfectly displaying your cutest (kitschest?) finds.

Few days ago, Decor8 wrote this post on Shannon Fricke's scrumptious wallpaper cabinet.


About the same time, HausMaus showed us her flea market finds and Jane Schouten's revamped wooden houses.


I had long been looking for something to welcome my tiny black elephants and had found a month ago a plain black square comparted tray.
After almost venturing painting it white or a very light mint green (which could have given an interesting contrast with the deep black...), meaning I would probably have need at least three coats of paint... I decided to keep it black for the time being (matching the elephants) and opted for lighter shades as background. a mix of paint swatches and scrapbook paper.

More pix when finished!

Paint swatches, brilliant idea! I like that pink, the one next to the yellow. Lovely!

time flies

Is August already? Seriouly?
This last couple of months - this year- has zipped by and I can't believe it is already time for us to put the house on the market and fly back accross the Atlantic.
Good thing though, the house is super tidy and that gives me a chance to get good snapshots. that is...when I get a hold on the camera charger.....

Me too, me too!

Stumbled upon Oi Soi Oi (don't remember where...decor8 I think) not long ago and loved it all at once!

Summer rain

A little frame I have just made. I'm not totally satisfied with the photos (am still trying to fiure out how to use my new Lumix). And wish I had put the pink dot on the right bird side behind the gold, to underline the impression that the bird is turning golden by drinking from the golden puddle.
The Chinese cloud design was inspired by a ceiling painting I fell in love with when watching a while ago a Question Maison subject on the Chateau de Courances. (still on view if you search their website) Anyway, it was a first and I wanted to share it at once.
Feedback appreciated, guys!

(Champagne bottle collar, scrapbook paper, Ribba frame from IKEA).

Beautiful. Love it!

sigh

Stumbled upon this Doshi Levien sofa (they'll kindly forgive me for pasting their image here) and wanted to have it immediately in my living room, only to seat accross the room and look at it in awe. endlessly.

Step T(h)ree

'Ambiencing' the house. Getting you in the mood. Decking the halls. Whatever you want to call it. Dressing up your house. Be bold, be bright, be generous, be merry.
Now, don't go putting the flashy reindeers and their far too bright red neck ribbons because I said so. Don't inflate those ugly and costly Santas. My point is (though I am not the best lesson giver) to stick to one material, one theme or one predominant colour.
In my case, you've seen on the Xmas tree : white, silver and pink. not very original, I agree, but I like it!

My first soft tree...and the whole story behind it (in case you have some time to kill) :
the first time I ever read a 'blog' was by accident.
While browsing the internet couple of years ago, I bumped into Two straight lines if I remember well. It was her version of the famous soft trees, following Stephanie's pattern from little birds's blog. Voilà, there I stept into the amazing and at times abyssal of craft blogs....
Few months later, a fabric store was closing (story far to common) not far from my place. I got several yards of beige felt and hadn't tried the soft tree pattern yet. Now it's done! Circle completed!

thanks you ladies (why not dreaming they'll read this one day)!

From Russia with Love

You have seen them everywhere in stickers, plastic, felt, as keyholders, boxers, planters (I'm sure, okay, I'm guessing for the two latter) these past years, but if you have had enough of Matriochkas, here are few version you CAN'T miss.

1. La poule's keyholders.
2. Rosehip's lovely matriochkas. THE absolute cutest, hands down, according to me.
3. ThePrintemps 'Slavonic Christmas' displays in their stores 18th/19th centuries handmade fabric dolls from Eastern Europe, fascinating.
4. The Strasbourg Christkindelsmärik where 2009 guest country is Russia
5. One of my fave books as a child (and another one years later-you'll reconize...)
   
   Quatre Matriochkas Ed Rouge et Or Coll. Rouge et Bleue
   

Project no Pink

I can't take a picture to save my life but this is evidence.

No pink this year!! Quite an achievement for me.

This looks much better in real life if I may say so.

Roll on Xmas!!

Love the plaid stars. Step 2 complete on both side of the Atlantic...yeah!!!

Step Two The Christmas Tree

You are all guessing from the font colour that the Step 1 was mine (Béa) and so is Step 2! hopefully we'll get to see Réré minimalist style in action...okay, maybe...alright, one day...fine. back to our subject.

Meet Mr 'I want to be a Christmas tree' fungus tree.
Yes, its real name is Mr. fungus tree only because this branch was cut off by one of our garden trees itself (whose name I don't know) for having fungus (typical behaviour of the species I was told). It is happily standing in 36kg of concrete all year long in our living room.
The picture does not render its beauty and the pride with which it shows its Texan identity. Yes, people outside of Texas decorate their Xmas tree with stars too.....maybe just somewhat smaller...and even I'm not sure.

Beautiful tree.

I'll try my best to show you mine.

The plan is a white and red colour scheme this year.

I have a sneaky feeling some pink will creep in. Watch this space.

Step One, The Advent wreath

Grödby candles on sale for 1.99$ at IKEA....
Metallic painted pebbles brought back form SoCal.
Various bulbs from past years among which the fake brushed metal one from OBI (French equiv. of Home Depot).
Cactus decal on the wall from Gali Art.

ps : pourquoi ça pixellise tellement ces photos?? si vous avez un tip, je suis preneuse...


PPS : another Advent wreath I simply adore.

Floating dots

Hey, we'll make it brief :

lovely flat paper (from Little Léon)

or in volume (by PukaPuka)?

Floating dots are calling me.
So it will be either in a mobile or a curtain, in paper or mixed material, hues or not...Am still pondering.