July 01, 2009

Tell me you don't wish you lived here

The ivy-clad wall
Climbing fragrant rose

via our little corner of paradise

Thinking I should really put my foot down about afternoon tea, Alice

June 21, 2009

Maybe

DSC03358
via Lobster and Swan

Maybe I just like the sun through any curtains.

Wondering if anyone else thinks it is funny that Sylar is also Spock, Alice

June 19, 2009

Sam Weber

Deer

Ocean

Storm
via Sam Weber Illustration

Sam Weber's paintings are dark, haunting, and awfully pretty.

Feeling crazy since googling Urban Homestead, Alice

June 14, 2009

Two things I will admit to

Ikea-bookcase  
$350 at Ikea

Ikea-linen

$299 at Ikea 

If I had room in my house, I would buy these*. Even though they are from Ikea.

a.) they are actually wood

b.) they are fun colors

c.) I have piles of books everywhere.

*on a side note, I would probably not use the glass doors that come with the red bookcase.

Glad that I don't have $300+ to blow at Ikea, Alice

June 13, 2009

Air Dry

2374511081_6708ef7713_b

Clothesline

via flickr

The promise of warm days wakes me up from winter zombie mode, especially when it comes to laundry. I think it is possible to have an air dry system in any home, and if it is outdoors, even better. I love it when being eco-friendly is free, and fun, and smells good.

Here is a nifty temporary clothesline, with instructions.

Armed with a drill and some rope, Alice

June 09, 2009

In the Closet

Hangers
via flickr

While visiting a dear friends' new house, the coat hangers in her hall closet caught my eye. Not just because they were vintage and wood, but because they were red. I have never seen such great hangers anywhere. I figure I should make some, so the next time I visit Ikea, I will pick up some of these, and a can of red spray paint. I think it will work out well. Ikea-hanger $2 at Ikea

Yours truly, Alice

June 08, 2009

Fire Pit

Fire-drum-main_Full
This may be the most fantastic use of a washing machine yet. For everyone who wants a fire pit; a place to roast marshmallows, and sing songs, the instructions for a similar contraption are here.

Firepit
Most people want something more like this, along with a good book from Oprah's book club and a glass of something expensive reccomended by the market sommelier.

Let's meet in the middle. Take a trip to your local home center, buy eight pier blocks, an eleven gallon (or about 20") galvanized washtub, and a bag of sand. Arrange the blocks on their angled sides, so that they form a circle, with a raised edge that slants inward. Put the washtub in the middle, fill it with the sand, and you have a $20 firepit that looks quite modern. Here is a visual shopping list.
Pierblock

Wash_tub_galvanized-lg


Blackbeauty
I have recently learned you can use a tractor tire rim as a redneck fire pit. And finally, here is a tiny option for everyone short on space.


Having some late night coffee, Alice

June 07, 2009

Window Dressing

WhiteCurtains_wb
via David Mazer Photo

Curtain  IMG_3543

Lately I have been rather fond of the way the sun looks through white curtains. There is just something so nice about it, in a very anti-design kind of way. Cost Plus has some economic and lovely choices, including these, that I am tempted to buy.

Sorting tools, Alice

June 06, 2009

While I was out

IMG_3422
  IMG_3484
I got some work done on the kitchen floor, which is no longer the color of dirt.
The back window got a face lift, and a few other odd jobs were begun.  The project has lasted a little while longer than expected, beginning with the brilliant idea to open up the wall a bit, and ending with nearly changing everything in the kitchen, finish wise. It's official - I'm amazing! (did anyone else watch HGTV's design star?) What I'm saying is, I am officially crazy. Kitchen projects are now off-limits for me. I mean it. 

This week is a getting-back-in-the-swing-of-things kind of week for me, aka, making up for lost time.

Cooking dinner, Alice

May 21, 2009

Tee Pee

DSC02461
We are building a tee pee tomorrow, out of 6 willow trunks, and some duct tape. Sewing a cover might be tricky since it will be awfully wonky {lots of knees and elbows in the trees}.

I don't think I have ever found something quite like this before. Thank you, late night google image search!

Burning the midnight oil, Alice

*

art and design