To DIY For: Jersey Knit Bracelet from V and Co.

I used to love a good friendship bracelet.  The thought of those braided rainbow bands bring me back to Camp Timber Trails, campfires, and pigtails.  But somewhere down the road, friendship bracelets became childish and unfashionable.

Until now...

If these DIY bracelets by V and Co. don't make you want to run to the nearest fabric store and make one for each of you closest friends...you had no childhood and I pity you.  But for those of you who enjoy a handmade bracelet, check out this tutorial from V and Co.

It's super easy, ad once you get the hang of it you'll be making bracelets in just 5 minutes.  Vanessa shows you how to make two, three, and four-fingered woven bracelets that are perfect for summer trips to the beach or backyard BBQ's.

Here's how my first one turned out:

Mine is a little rougher around the edges, as my edges weren't as clean while I was cutting my fabric.  I don't mind it though...it gives it a bit more edge.

Happy finger-weaving!

Brotherly Love

I'm super stoked...

My little brother is coming to visit me in Los Angeles by himself for the first time.
Since booking the flight, I have been concocting various plans to treat him to the best week of sibling fun ever known to man...or 16-year-old-boys.

The latest of my ideas is to turn the garage (or at least my side of it, since I share it with my neighbor) and the back patio area into a BBQ fun zone.  All I need to make my hosting dreams a reality are:

1. Pig Terracotta Grill - World Market
3. Paper Lanterns - Luna Bazaar
4. Red/ White Meditation Beach Chair - World Market
5. Pompeian Red Adirondack Loveseat Collection - World Market
6. USB Amp Speaker - Urban Outfitters

Pssssst!!!!!

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House Envy: A green home in Hoboken

Please enjoy the beauty that is Cindy & David's house tour on Re-nest.

What I love most about their space is the way they reduced their IKEA percentage by adding vintage Mid Century Modern pieces throughout.  It still feels modern and anti-kitschy.

 I love how the main wall, sofa, and table are neutral while the artwork and area rug set the color scheme for the living room.

This lamp is just amazing.

Like what you're seeing?  See more after the jump.

Hello Gorgeous: DIY Heroes

Every now and then I come across a DIY project that makes me wanna slap a bitch.
I mean, like...how amazingly amazing is this?

Design Sponge blew my mind with this beauty.  She's embellished with...get this...old shutter slats.
Yeah.  This is why I leave the DIYing to the pros.

I Don't Get It: Vintage Phone TP Dispenser

Ring, Ring!
Hello?
Yes, this is the tackiest DIY Project ever calling.

Someone please tell me this is "Tacky DIY Project" Day.
This vision of beauty is a toilet paper holder made out of a vintage phone.
Great, I'm gonna need this to call my doctor since the sight of this thing makes me constipated.

And the classiness continues.  The toilet paper roll is held up by...you guessed it!  A GARTER.
*Sigh*


IDGI Disclaimer:  All images credits and sources in "I Don't Get It" are intentionally left out to protect the original poster from embarrassment.  If you really want me to tell the world that this is your awful idea, please leave a comment and I'll be happy to do that for you.  *wink*

I Don't Get It: Stupid Candleholder

This is just dumb.

This design atrocity is DIY Cobbler's Stand Candleholder.

Whhaaaaaa????  I don't know whether to light the candle or put my foot on that thing so someone can shine my shoes.  Oh my sweet Jesus...those exposed nails... and it's nailed into a BOOK!  A BOOK, PEOPLE!

Two points for the mason jar votive holder...but the rest is just a hot mess.

IDGI Disclaimer:  All images credits and sources in "I Don't Get It" are intentionally left out to protect the original poster from embarrassment.  If you really want me to tell the world that this is your awful idea, please leave a comment and I'll be happy to do that for you.  *wink*

To DIY For: String Mâché Lanterns

Who wants to come have an art party with me and make these?!

This to-DIY-for project is brought to you by Wednesday.  It's messy, but looks relatively cheap n' easy and could be lots of fun if done with some crafty buddies.

Check out the full tutorial here!

Gallery wall frames...check!

I scored this 10-piece gallery frame set at Ross for under 10 bucks!

The set includes:
one 8x10
three 5x7
four 4x6
two 2.5x3.5

I can't wait to fill them with art!  Here's a peek at some of the prints I have my eyes on.

I will most definitely be getting one of these "Home Is Where Your Heart Is" prints by LilyGene.  I'd like to get one of the Carribean Islands with one heart on Puerto Rico and another heart on Haiti (my two places of ethnic heritage).  I'm digging her colors "Deep Sea" and "Cherry"

thebigharumph

Who wouldn't want 10 thousand kisses?!  And this peacock turquoise blue...gorgeous.

Judykaufmann

I love this Frida Kahlo print.  A inspirational Latina who's now afraid to rock a unibrow...and she fits in my color scheme.  It was meant to be.  Oh, and did i mention that the sizes for this print are customizable?  Swoon.

Foodie Wannabe: Asparagus, fava, and pecorino salad

So yummy...and even better, SO EASY!

I saw this crisp little treat on Bliss this morning.  This would be a perfect salad to bring to a pot luck barbeque, or to fix as a healthy mid-day lunch.  Check out the full method after the jump!

Self Interview: Living Room Edition

In an effort to clear the clutter from my mind and cure my design ADD, I've decided to interview myself the way bloggers interview the participants of their house tours.  Only, my interview will be about what I would like my apartment to eventually look like!  Here goes!

How would you describe what you'd like your living room to feel/look like?
Bohemian meets contemporary rustic.  Lots of textures.  Nods to both global bazaars and nature.  World Market meets Urban Outfitters with a splash of thrift.

What color schemes do you enjoy for this space?
For my living room, I am enjoying the idea of a "Moroccan Carnival" color scheme, which would be centered around my chili colored couch and my gun metal colored Apostrophe Chair.

 

Moroccan Carnival A

Moroccan Carnival B

 

What are the top 5   6   7 must-haves that you'd like to incorporate into this space?

1. Faux Antlers/Horns/Animal Heads (shown: Z Gallerie)
2. Faux Fur or Flokati Rug (shown: IKEA) 
3. Hanging Moroccan Lanterns (shown: Apartment Therapy)

4. A terrarium...or four. (shown: Augury on Etsy) 
5. Colorful throw pillows (shown: Sukan on Etsy) 
6. A wall gallery of neato Etsy prints (shown: Apartment Therapy)

7. Owls (Shown: AVelvetLeaf on Etsy, West Elm, Birdmafia on Etsy)


What are your dream decor sources for this room?
1. Urban Outfitters
2. Etsy
3. World Market
4. West Elm
5. Anthropologie 
 

Bike Racks from Urban Outfitters

I've been looking for you guys!

Bike Tire Tray & Wall Hook

Folding Wood Shelf Bike Rack

 This one is especially neato cuz it folds up into a more discrete position!  See?

Folding Wood Shelf Bike Rack

Design ADD - Part I

I've been so flustered lately.
Not only do I want to buy so many things and have NO money to pay for them, but I love TOO MANY styles.  I really should just shut-up, suck it up, and start DIYing.  But I have a fear of effing up a perfectly good piece of furniture, or spending money on fabric only to make a busted ass pillow.

I recently read about the "homework series" at The Marion House Book, which tackled the task of commitment issues in design and curating a cohesive home.  She actually got the idea from Holley & Gill, which I looked into as well.  Anywhoo...this got me thinking about these issues in my home.  I tend to be drawn to so many varying styles, color schemes, textures, and ideas that if i went with my gut (and had the income to actually do so) my apartment would look like a funhouse.  And not in a cute kitschy way.

I also had my usual recurring daydream of moving back to New York and thought to myself: "Self?  If you moved into a tiny little studio apartment in Morningside, your living room stuff would totally clash with your bedroom stuff.  Maybe you should try to make your whole home a bit more cohesive."  I agreed with myself.

So here's where I stand now:

BEDROOM

LIVING ROOM

All my walls are bare (eek!!!!) and i can't decide what fabulous Etsy prints I want to hang on them.  I have elements of every genre of design represented in my house (mid-century, contemporary, bohemian, scandanavian, etc.) and I need to bring it all together.

Stay tuned as I embark on this journey to cure my design ADD!

Hello Gorgeous: Button Bouffants

I am in LURVE.

Louis Vuitton Model

French metalworker, photographer, and design hero Anouchka Potdevin has stolen my heart with her button-on-canvas creations.  Inspired by models and performers with amazingly awesome hair, she has fashioned simple portraits of them on canvas and used buttons to style their 'dos.

Louis Vuitton Model

 Diana Ross

 Erykah Badu

Sadly, I can't see where I can actually purchase on of these beauties.  It does seem simple enough to DIY if you have the ability to screenprint the images onto canvas or are really good with a pen.

I Don't Get It: Overpriced Pillows

This just pissed me off.  Seriously.

I really want to get some cute throw pillows to spruce up my living room couch, but I keep coming across cute-yet-insanely-overpriced finds like these.  This makes me want to hurl four-letter words at my computer.  Why the hell would I pay $100 for a f&*%ing COUCH PILLOW?!  Who do you people think you are?!  I may not sew (I don't own a sewing machine) but I DO know that sewing a pillow is one of the easiest sewing projects known to man.  And unless your fabric has been woven with wool from the lamb of God, you can suck it.

That is all.

IDGI Disclaimer:  All images credits and sources in "I Don't Get It" are intentionally left out to protect the original poster from embarrassment.  If you really want me to tell the world that this is your awful idea, please leave a comment and I'll be happy to do that for you.  *wink*

Are matching shams a sham?

This is my bedding:

Lovely Nest

This is the über chic "Mandala" line by DwellStudio for Target.  I currently don't have the matching shams, which are often not in stock.  Besides, I can't bring myself to spend $50 on two shams from Target anyway.  If I'm gonna spend that much money on two pillows that I don't even sleep on, they better be spun with gold.

I've also been toying with the idea of going with a different-yet-coordinating pattern.  Like these Zig Zag Shams from Urban Outfitters:

Zig Zag Shams

I should add that the hardware on my bedroom furniture is a similar Robin's egg blue, as is one of my sheet sets.

Yes?  No?  Maybe?

How Cool: Garage Turn-Around

If I didn't have to share half of my garage space with my neighbor, I would SOOOO turn it into a space for social gatherings.

Style At Home

Now granted, my garage is not nearly this big, but it would still make for a great social space.  I would add a small grill so that I can BBQ with friends.

Style At Home

Summer Must-Haves: Shoes

And we're back with another edition of Summer Must-Haves!

Next up, is shoes.  This summer there are three essential shoes I need in my wardrobe...in various colors each, preferably.  But I'll settle for one of each kind if I have to.

I need some fun flats.  Whether they be metallic boat shoes, lasercut oxfords, or dainty ballet flats...I need them.  Extra points for flats cuz they transition well into the fall.

I am LURVING braided sandals and heels.  In flat sandal form, they give a little polish to your jeans and tee, and with a heel you can take them from day to night like this *snaps fingers!*  Numbers 3 & 5 would look especially cute with little ankle socks or tights, no?

And then of course, we need a little height.  What with the sun shining and the breeze blowing and all...a lady needs to walk tall!  I'm loving floral heels, cutouts, and of course - tribal prints.  Wedges are extra cute if they're of the espadrille breed.

Take a peek after the jump to see where all these delicious finds are from.  I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised.