CRAFT WEEKEND!!!!!

    Most of you in Los Angeles are aware that we are having an insane heat wave. Unbearable really. While you all were hitting the beach on friday and today, a couple friends and I were in my stuffy lil apartment crafting! Loralie from Ellenor Postmarked came over and we worked on the office closet doors and the backs of the Ikea shelves... I think you will all be impressed!

    Loralie went to the hardware store and got these particle boards just a little bit smaller than my Ikea shelves. We then rolled it out on to the boards and measured them with a little allowance on the sides to fold over. We then sprayed the boards with Super 77, a aerosol spray adhesive to attach the fabric. 

    

    The corners were folded over and then glued down with tacky glue. Which apparently I suck at. About this time my other friend Rose showed up to help and in the time I glued down one they cut and super 77ed the other two boards. I swear that glue requires hulk skills.

 While the glue was drying, we moved over to the larger task at hand... the office doors. 

    Now, In my mind, this was definitely going to be the easier part of the day. I was sadly mistaken. We  had planned to just roughly cut fabric close to the size of the squares, spray adhere them, and then exacto knife the edges to make the lines clean. So easy right? 

  We paper taped the borders and got all ready to go! I did two squares and as you can see, this photo is Rose, just about to do the first cut. This is when things went a little haywire. I didnt even think about the fact that we were using a really awesome fabric that had some of the properties of linen. The most important one being that it is many many tiny threads that can pull and snag very easily. Which is exactly what happened. It pulled off the corner, it frayed....

    This photo is about three minutes after I TORE the fabric square off the wall, threw it on the ground, stomped off the step stool and said angrily: "I'M HAVING A BEER!!!!" Such a patient girl, as always.

    Luckily for me, I was with two VERY patient and level headed girls that quickly put another plan into action.

    

    The plan was that we were just going to have to measure and cut each one very precisely and individually. Which meant both of my girls were going to give up a full afternoon (turned out working noon till 530, and then another two hours for Loralie and I on Sunday) to help. Awesome friends I have, awesome.

    As you can see here, soon it was assembly line central! Rose and I drilling the fabric covered boards to the back of the shelves, and Loralie cutting perfectly perfect sized fabric squares!

    It was so hot I talked Rose into having a beer with me...seriously bad ass with her beer and the drill. Art Department girls rock. 

    In the end, both projects turned out so amazingly stellar! I couldn't be happier with them. The Ikea shelves are now considerably more stable and insanly more chic. They even cover the cables so no more unsightly little wires peeking through! 

    I really really adore the office doors. I think it gives the illusion of having so much more depth. The girls were so exact with matching the patterns; if you look closely almost all of the lines match up! 

    I cant say enough how much of a fun process this has been. The living room is just about finished! Heres Loralie holding up the new light fixture that is going to be installed soon!

   These are the planned fabrics for the throw pillows! They are great tie-ins to all the other colors and patterns going on in the room! 

   Last, but certainly not least, I wanted to include a picture of my beautiful curtains made by my lovely and talented friend Laura Flett. If you remember, the original curtains were full panels of the chartreuse peacock feathers on the bottom. Loralie brought this great design to me about how to break up the pattern to keep if from being overwhelming. Laura Flett put the whole plan into action; and here they are: lovely, luxurious, elegant but very me drapes.

I love my apartment.

xo

Apartment Facelift Update!

    Loralie from Ellenor Postmarked came over today and we talked about paint colors. She brought over six colors for us to swatch on the wall. I was instantly in love. With all of them. They were each so perfect for the room in so many different ways.

    I love the idea of painting. How its gonna change the light, how its going to enhance all the other elements we have been incorporating...

    These are the colors on the east wall, and then below is on the west hall.

   I really fell in love with the two middle colors. The top, a peachy pink, is Victoria Pearl. The bottom, the grey purple, is Gentle Rain.  I was leaning to gentle rain, until my smart decorator Loralie reminded me that I have had my heart set on a grey sofa... and the bad ass rug I got last week. 

Handmade Alexa Chevron Wool Rug

  So in the end, I went with Victoria Pearl. 

    As Loralie pointed out, its exactly what I want. Its feminine but also, the peach makes it quite modern. It will look amazing with the navy rug, the grey couch, and the taupe tufted nailhead chairs I bought last month.  I am so excited. Loralie is so intuitive with what I want. Todays decision on paint was actually pretty difficult because everything she brought over was amazing. I actually think I am going to use the pale green in my bathroom. 

xo

Ellenor Postmarked!

   I adore my apartment. Its true. Out of every place I have lived in Los Angeles over the past 9 (!!) years, this is the best. I more than adore it. I love it. I never want to move. Ever. I know, I know. Everyone says "You need to own a home." Honestly, do I need to? I get the tax break and all, but would I find a place, in this neighborhood, with this much character, in my price range? I think not.

    That being said, decorating is not my forte. I know what I like, but I am constantly second guessing myself. I am also easily swayed by the trend of the moment; forgoing large investment pieces for kitchy items I will hate in the fall.  If you follow this blog at all, you know I am always getting a new rug, or moving my furniture around, or a new duvet cover. Yet it still never seems right. Thats where my friend Loralie Orr comes in.

    Loralie and I lived a couple doors apart in a fun apartment building in West Hollywood. She has always had a great sense of style and a keen eye for design. I will say I was not surprised when I received an email this fall letting me know that she was opening her own interior design business.

  Ellenor Postmarked.  It was such a great idea...design from afar or near. Ala carte or full service. All with these little guides to lead you on your way. If you get a chance, please bump over and look at her cute site. Its really well put together and very descriptive. I have to say I was intrigued to say the least, especially when I saw some of the photos of her work...

I mean seriously look at this shit! The plum metallic stripes on the ceiling?! AND LOOK AT THAT LIGHT FIXTURE!!!

And this room? Can I just move all that to my place now???

And last but not least, I love her work here on the South Los Angeles Animal Shelter

www.ellenorpostmarked.com


    So Sunday my sweet friend Loralie came over to start the process of us remaking my place. It was really interesting to see her work. She took measurements of my rooms and of my furniture; and had all sorts of really great ideas about upholstering and resourceful shopping. (If you remember, one of my new years resolutions was to get into better financial shape, and Loralie totally understood that) I had made a design board on Pinterest, and she was really excited to take a look at it. (I also spied the Domino book in her little satchel, and I thought "What a savvy gal!")  Loralie is so funny, and sweet. I didn't mind admitting my pension for trend of the moment, or that I couldn't quite seem to put to words why I hate my living room shelves, but I just did; and she just seemed to get it. Just off the top of her head she recommended some paint ideas and lacquering tips that  would never have crossed my mind. This is going to be super fun. I can feel it.

 So here are the OFFICIAL BEFORE PHOTOS: 

   
    Today I made my very first purchase for the new design. I know it was a little premature, as Loralie is still working on the layout... but I emailed her and she said to snatch these little craigslist babies up! I mean seriously...who would give this pair up?

   Love! So please stay tuned! I promise to keep you all updated with my Ellenor Postmarked adventures!

xo

Konad Nail Stamping

    Last year when I was sick, my cousins friend came over and did my nails for me. She is a nail wiz! All the colors I could have ever wanted and these weird stamp plates from Konad.  They make hundreds of little metal plates with all sorts of patterns on them.  You use a stamp and a scraper and it transfers onto your nail! It was so cute that I thought I would buy one. I bought the basic scraper and stamp and one plate in a kit on ebay for SUPER cheap. And then as life happens...9 months went by and it was still in the package. Tonight I walked by and thought...ooooh yeaaaah!

 I started with my basic kit and then just some polish that I had on hand.

The taupe is OPI "You don't know Jauques" and the pale pink is Essie "Not just a pretty face."

First I started out with two coats of the pink. When it was dry, I did a thin layer of the taupe over the pattern I wanted. 

Then you use the scraper and slide it along the plate to take off the excess.

The next step is to transfer the paint to the stamp. You do it in a rolling motion over the plate. The same rolling motion is used to transfer the pattern from the stamp onto your nail.

I finished up with a coat of clear top coat, and Zing! Pink and Taupe Leopard Nails!

    I have to say this is incredibly easier than I had expected. There is  bit of residue on the cuticles, but mine came right off in the shower. I would recommend  doing the scrapping step with a paper towel underneath to have something to take the excess off on. Also its good to wipe the stamp with nail polish remover after a few stamps so you don't build up extra paint. If you miss a spot, just do a little piece on your stamp and fill it in! I love it! If only they made this for Gel manicures!

xo

Camera fun...making a heart with your cam!

Wanna have some fun with your camera? Here's a lil tutorial! Click for fun!

Source: diyphotography.net via Rosy on Pinterest

Clean Program Day 4 Link

Watch this one first.... It gives you all the details on the program...kiddie style.

I know, I know,  he looks and sounds like a crazy french man, but this is Dr. Alejandro Junger MD.

When to Watch: Watch this video before you choose to begin your Clean Program.

What We Will Cover: This video will help you understand what to except during the first week on your Clean Program. Dr Junger will also cover common topics such as: "Dealing with Hunger, and "Enhancing the Detoxification Process".

What To Do After: After this video is done, please begin your 21 Day Clean Program! Stay connected here on My Clean Program and join us right before your Week Two starts.

Early Birthday Date

Kevin and Melissa took me on an early Birthday date last night, and we had the BEST time!


First we had a DELICIOUS dinner at Mas Malo downtown. It is the sister restaurant of one of my fave mexican restaurants in Silverlake.

Mas Malo

Mas Malo is on 7th and Grand. Its absolutely beautiful, in a grand sweeping ballroom with epic ceilings. We had crunchy and chewy chips and a salsa flight for starters, and I had a spicy cucumber margarita... omg in heaven.

We saw this, and although this would normally be up my alley, we stayed away.

This was super fun and we had a great time....but now it was time to move on to the desserts! We crossed the road to Bottega Louie. 

 

The French Macaroons are seriously amazing. We tried salted caramel, pistachio, espresso, earl grey, rose, and vanilla. The flavors were incredible. Mind you, at $1.75 per macaroon, they aren't cheap.  In my mind, they were totally worth it. Also, they guy that helped us was smokin' hot. Melissa said he was def gay, ah well. You win some, you lose some. 

Last but not least, we went and saw this movie at LA Live. 

LA Live is the new movie theatre/restaurant/concert venue downtown. Its all bright and shiny and new. It felt weird seeing a movie there since most of the theaters in Los Angeles are historical and beautiful. The movie itself was cute and popcorn worthy, but the crowd sucked! Totally ghetto! Everyone was talking, on their cell phones,  just being overly rude. I thought it was just a fluke, but today at lunch, another friend of mine had the same experience there. I think from now on I will be sticking to my side of town for movies, but I am glad we checked it out.  

Over all it was a super fun night. I love Melissa and Kevin, and I love downtown LA.