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Hello September 2013 | desktop wallpapers

I can't believe that we are already a week into September, holy cow time seems to be flying by lately. I wonder if that is because I feel like I have so much to do around the house.

I'm getting ready for A Week in the Life to start tomorrow and as I was perusing the web I came across this collection of September desktop wallpapers rounded up by Creature Comforts. I love switching things up every couple months and these calendar desktop wallpapers are well designed and fun.

Here are two of the four featured:

house update | bathroom remodel

Well... hello there readers! It's been a while since I posted a house update, but I am back with one now. I am happy to show you some serious progress on the hallway bathroom. I cannot believe the transformation when I look at the before and afters. For more on how the bath started out and my fun with removing wallpaper check out this post.

Here is the current state of the bathroom. There are still some more things I want to tackle, like accessorizing and updating the mirror, but I am absolutely loving the way it is coming along.

Hello 2013

I've been listening to this song and I am ready to take on 2013.

source

I haven't made any resolutions just yet, but I have a couple things that I need to finish and a couple things that I neet to begin. How about you? Let's get started!

Secrets from a Stylist video: how to style your mantle

I love love love Emily Henderson. She is a HGTV design star winner, host of the totally awesome show Secrets from a Stylist, and writer of her own hilarious blog. You HAVE to check out her first Style 101 video on how to style your mantle. She gives 3 no fail options on making your mantle rock. 

I didn't want to include the video here, because I think you MUST click on over to her blog and watch it there and read her funny post that goes with it. I love that she gives mutiple options, she shows things that don't work and explains why they don't work, and she talks about her thought process as she is putting the different options together. I cannot wait to see more of these helpful videos. 

Here are a couple of still shots from the video. 

GO! Watch!

home decor - new rug

I've been holding off on purchasing big home decor items because I am hoping to buy my own place soon. Since I don't have this new home yet, I haven't wanted to buy any large pieces for fear that they wouldn't fit into my future home. I did however break this rule yesterday. I came across a rug on pinterest and clicked on over to Urban Outfitters and immediately purchased this rug. I got an email that it's shipping TODAY! I can't wait to get it. I figure I can make it work in my new home too.

 

I can't wait to roll it out in my living room. I think under $100 with free shipping is a great price. And if it doesn't work out, they have FREE returns too. Can't beat that!

UPDATE: I got the rug... loved the pattern, HATED the smell. I left it out and open in the living room for a couple of days to air out and I even sprayed it with some febreeze, but it still smelled all chemical-y. YUCK. I packaged it all back up and after some talk with customer service I was able to ship the item back for free. 

how it's made: Eames fiberglass chair

I've been dying for some Eames chairs for a really really REALLY long time. I just can't afford it. I know there are many cheaper knock offs, but I can't bite the buttet on any of those either; I want the real deal. People can scoff at the cost, but have you ever seen how they are made??? I found these two videos on Modernica that show the work and effort that goes into making these classic pieces.

According to Modernica: Did you know our fiberglass shell chairs are made the same they were over 50 years ago? Sol Fingerhut, the inventor and engineer of the original press and the high pressure, fiberglass molding process passed away last December but with Sol's enthusiastic recount and his daughter Ellen Whittier's help, we learned more about the beginnings of this technology he created over half a century ago. Please have a look at the nearly lost art form.

 

This 1970 video made from Charels & Ray Eames shows entire process from design to production. It is soooo cool.

 

Since my budget still really can't handle a real Eames fiberglass chair, I think I may get some of these fun tattoos instead. They are designed by artist Lisa Congdon. She says she'll be designing more in the future, so I'll be keeping up with her blog to see what's in store!

{source: Lisa's blog}

around the web: desktop calendars

I've been catching up on the gazillion blog posts that I have been to busy to read lately. Being that it is the beginning of September I stumbled across several really pretty and fun desktop calendars. I currently have this one by Oh, Hello Friend on my desktop.

{via Oh, Hello Friend}

If you are looking for something with a more vintage feel Fossil has a couple to choose from. I discovered them on How About Orange. And yes, I realize these aren't calendars (just desktop wallpapers), but maybe you could bust out those photoshop skills and make it into a calendar. That would be pretty cool if you did.

{via How About Orange}

Have you seen the amazing art from Geninne on her blog? Well... head on over and check out this gorgeous desktop calendar and then click through to see more of her work. The details are amazing.

{via Geninne's Art Blog]

I like them all so much that I may have to switch up throughout the month.

I need a LOTTA this fabric

ok... yes my title is a little cheesy, but seriously... I need this fabric A LOT, and I need A LOT of it. Holy cow, Kerry (and all you readers who love fabric) have you see Lotta Jansdotter's new line of fabric? I have loved her simple organic designs since I first spied them (in a book on stenciling). They suit my aesthetic perfectly. I cannot wait to get my hands on some of this. The collectioin (Echo) is being released by Windham Fabrics in November 2011. Check it out:

I'll take some of each please

This quilt is my PERFECT quilt -  I will make it for my bed! Finally found one I love for ME :)

{photos via Windham Fabrics Snip-its}

There are so many possiblities with these great patterns. I'm seeing dresses, shirts, pillows, bags.. All kinds of great options. Do you love it as much as I do?

blog design

Welcome to phase uno of the blog design! I started to call it a "redesign", but since I didn't design one bit of the previous design, I am designing it all, which I am very pumped about. I love taking photos, schoosing textures, colors and designing graphics... I foresee many late nights ahead with me, Reese & some photoshop elements.

Enough of me blabbing.... What do you think so far? I was debating on waiting to make the changes appear "live" until I had it all figured out, but I was beyond tired of the previous dark grey. It seamed dark and not very reflective of how Kerry and I are. I'll be tweaking it along the way, but for now I think this is WAY better than the default freebie template I had. So much brighter and clean looking.

I must say THANK YOU! THANK YOU! GRACIAS! to Elise for her super awesome blog2.0 workshop. I'm in the midsts of trying to learn as much as I can from this talented and creative gal. Another fun thing about this class is seeing what the other "students" are doing to their blogs. 

I hope you like the new look! More improvements to follow as I continue with the workshop.

The under construction graphic was designed by Elise and all the other graphics (fabric tapes & background) were designed by Katrina at Pugly Pixel)