Urban Comfort

Inspired by Natural History

 

I knew before I went to California that I was suffering from creative depletion. It happens sometimes when you work alone, when you're creative-for-hire, when the nuts and bolts of running a small business take as much time as the creative work itself, when the only creative stimulus you're getting seems to come from your computer. It's generally temporary, but when you're in it, it feels like you'll never be inspired again. And when that's your business, it's scary.

I went to California not expecting much, just hoping to enjoy time with friends. What I came home with were new skills and practical information, and some fresh creative energy. Lesson learned.  I don't just need to be around people when I'm in a rut, I need to be around women who are passionate and excited and geeky in the same ways I am - and I need to learn something new, even if it's something small. (Thank you, ladies!)

I was also able to spend a day exploring Petaluma and Sebastopol's antique malls and shops, which is one of my favorite things to do. That gave me a jumpstart as well. It helps that there was an abundance of all the things I've been loving in the past couple of years - display pieces, labware, vintage industrial, typography, and lots and lots of natural history artifacts - with price tags that felt reasonable, instead of the prices I was seeing when those goods were in short supply. 

Next year, I may be sick of natural history and not need quite so much of it in my home. But right now, it's really working for me!

 

I absolutely adore this mix of display cases with fresh greenery. It doesn't take much, but I think a touch of the outdoors is what makes a room sing.  (Sara Sjogren)

 

 

The mix of textures - wood, greenery, and glass - feel airy and feminine to me, despite the original uses of these elements. (Sania Pell At Home)

 

 

I've been all about butterflies lately and I love how they play against all of the other elements - spring in a bell jar.  (Martha Stewart Living)

 

 

Well made replicas stand in for things we don't want to disturb, like bird's nests. Quail eggs are often found in gourmet grocery stores and these display domes are becoming more plentiful (and less costly). (FinderMaker)

 

 

Achitectural salvage, typography, shells, glass, old book pages, and natural fibers coexist harmoniously outside of their natural environments. (via Homes Stories A to Z - check out the tutorial for creating faux coral, too).

 

 

Original botanical and bug prints are still pretty expensive, but I believe in the DIY approach using free clip art from sites like Vintage Printable. You can download them and have them printed professionally for a fraction of the cost, or if you have a large scale printer (like some of the Epson photo printers), you can do it at home. (Paige Morse via Design Sponge)

 

 

Another version, using butterflies. (via The Estate of Things)

 

Title Image via Indie Fixx ("Special Collections Natural History" group on Flickr).

Urban Comfort's been nominated!

 

 

I just found out that Urban Comfort has been nominated to the Top 25 Creative Mom Blogs 2012 on Circle of Moms (which amazes me because it means someone out there reads this blog, a miracle in and of itself!). There are currently 86 blogs that have been nominated and you can vote for your favorite once a day until March 15 by clicking through this link or through the badge at the right of this page. If you enjoy Urban Comfort, I hope you'll show your support by voting - and I thank you in advance!

When I started this blog, I did it because I needed a creative place to express myself as an individual. It has been that place for me and so much more! I've met some amazing people along the way (in person, even!), stretched my abilities, and created more challenges for myself in the future. It's my hope that this blog will continue to evolve, as I do.  Watching my readership grow over the last year has been incredibly gratifying and I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate it!

Have a great weekend! I'll be in Northern California, spending time with a few of the amazing women bloggers and friends I've been lucky enough to meet along the way. I'm looking forward to rest and inspiration! I'll see you back here soon.

Fat Tuesday

 

Laissez les bon temps rouler!  Happy Mardi Gras Day from New Orleans! 

 

Stenciled Coffee Table

 

I wanted to share my latest column from the March issue of Family Circle, in which I stenciled an inexpensive coffee table that I purchased from Home Decorators Collection (currently on sale for $68.99!). The stencil is the Small Eastern Lattice stencil from Royal Design Studio, which has some of the nicest stencils I've seen on the market.  

My technique varied from the norm a bit this time, simply because I wanted a brown base with metallic highlights and that wasn't possible with the configuration of the stencil. So I brought a piece of the table with me to Home Depot and had them match the paint and mix a sample jar for me (which was the perfect size for the tabletop). I also purchased Martha Stewart Living Metallic paint in Vintage Gold, again in a small container. 

I coated the base of my tabletop with the metallic paint and let that fully dry. Afterwards, I went back over it and stenciled with the brown paint. Admittedly, it took some time to do this, simply because the stencil wasn't the same size as the tabletop and I had to wait for sections to dry before proceeding with the next area. But if you have a weekend, the actual stenciling of each section doesn't take very long (the other option is to have a stencil cut to the size of your table). The end result is a unique piece at a reasonable price.

Visit Family Circle.com for directions.

Tissue Paper Heart

 

 

We're hosting a Valentine's party this evening, with a mix of adults and children, couples and singles, and we've unabashedly embraced our inner child for this one. So when I saw Martha Stewart Living this month, I absolutely knew I had to try to make the giant tissue paper heart that graced the cover.

I made a similar version, though I shifted the color palette and made the tissue paper pom-poms myself in a range of sizes (it really is easy and a lot less expensive). I also veered away from arranging the entire thing on the wall. It lost some of its organic nature by doing that, but I simply don't have those kinds of skills! I found it a lot easier to create the layout on the floor first.

To make it, I put two pieces of poster board together and cut a half heart out, then taped the two pieces of poster board together with packing tape, so I had a whole heart. After that, I loosely arranged my pom-poms on the surface of the heart, then attached the wires to the poster board with more packing tape, pushing the pom-poms together so they completely filled the space. Then I attached the heart to my wall using Command Removable Mounting Strips by 3M. I used an entire package of 4 large, 4 medium, and 8 small strips and the heart's been hanging securely for a week now, so I'd say it's a safe bet. 

Have a happy heart day - filled with love of all kinds!

 

 

(Click the images above for full size versions).

 

Here's a tutorial to make your own tissue paper pom-poms. Just remember to use 4 or 5 layers of tissue instead of 8 (as stated in the directions above).

33 Ways to Stay Creative

 

 

I've completed #32 and #33 and #31 really must follow!  Stay tuned...

 

via Frederik Frede based on the original from Life on Michigan Ave.

Cupcake Liner Valentines 2.0

 

You can find me on Momster today, with a (slightly) grown-up version of one of my popular kid crafts, the cupcake liner Valentine cards.

 

Valentine Stamps

 

 

Personally, I've been appreciating more of an industrial mood this Valentine's Day, so I ordered some new rubber stamps that reflect that aesthetic. I'm so happy with them I thought I'd share the resource.

You can find all of these rubber stamps at Impress Rubber Stamps. If you hurry, you can still get them in time for Valentine's Day. And while you're there, peruse their other designs. They're one of my favorite stamp and ink resources and I tend to find cute packaging items on their site as well.

Annie Sloan Paint Workshop

 

 

Regular readers of this blog and my Family Circle column know I like to paint furniture (thanks to my multiple thrift store and curbside finds). I'm by no means an expert and I'm always looking for ways to improve my technique and create more unique results. So I was excited when I got information about the upcoming Annie Sloan Paint workshop taking place this spring in eight cities, one of which is my own (Yay!).  

Here's the scoop (but hurry, space is limited!):

British decorative paint expert, author of numerous paint technique books, and creator of the one and only Annie SloanChalk Paint – will tour America in March and April 2012.   Ms. Sloan will be leading one-day demonstrations and overseeing hands on workshops in eight cities starting in New Orleans, where the north American arm of the company, AnnieSloan Unfolded, is based.

NEW ORLEANS           3/12
DALLAS                      3/16
SAN FRANCISCO        3/19
DENVER                     3/21
CHICAGO                   3/24
NASHVILLE                3/26
A T L A N T A             3/29
LEESBURG, VA         3/31
BOSTON                     4/2

Each event will feature a demonstration by Ms. Sloan, book signings (Creating the French Look and Quick and Easy Paint Transformations have both been recently released in paperback here in the US), and hands-on technique sessions for all attendees.  These will be in smaller groups, led by Annie Sloan and trained stockists who are well versed in all aspects of using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Soft Wax, and the myriad techniques and effects that are so easy and fun to create.  Annie Sloan will visit each break-out group to offer advice and recommendations to groups and individuals while they practice. Attendees will end the day with a book signing and social hour with Annie Sloan.

In addition, the ‘Antoinette’ paint is being launched to coincide with the tour, and $1 from the sale of each can will go to breast cancer research, as will a percentage of the proceeds of the workshops.  There’s more information about the tour on the US website:  http://www.anniesloanunfolded.com/event/

 

Who should attend:

People who love DIY projects, such as old furniture makeovers, and are keen to learn new techniques to use in their home – on furniture, accessories, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, walls, floors – anything that can be painted!

Tickets:  One-day workshops are priced at $350, include all materials, refreshments, and lunch.  Purchase online at: www.anniesloanunfolded.com.

The public is encouraged to attend the event in their home region and there is a limited number of seats per state that will go on a first come// first serve basis.

 

For a comprehensive list of US retailers for Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, go to http://www.anniesloanunfolded.com/retailers.html

About Annie Sloan
Annie Sloan is one of the world’s most respected experts in the field of decorative painting and a key figure in the painted furniture revolution, through her lively and creative approach to painting and 40 years of painting experience. She runs successful workshops at her store in Oxford, England, and throughout Europe. Her numerous books, include ‘Creating the French Look’, just released in paperback in the US, published by Ryland Peters & Small, and ‘Quick and Easy Paint Transformations’.