Step On It, Joe!

I once had a GO AWAY doormat in my first Boston apartment, and someone stole it.

Now I have this:

Barnboard Doormat

Though it's still off-gassing, I have it in my kitchen in front of the sink. I especially like its trompe l'oeil effect. My only minor quibble aside from the off-gassing: I wish they hadn't rounded the corners so it would look even "rawer." In any case, I think it was an excellent update, and it complements the new natural shade I installed on my window this past summer.

Torero! Vintage Wallpaper Collage

This is the largest wallpaper collage I've done so far. It measures 17" x 24", which is about the full size of the wallpaper sample. This piece is entitled, Torero! on vintage Salon de Paris wallpaper with fishnet.


First, I drew the bullfighter by copying an illustration from a vintage LP cover, Torero! Music of the Bullfight. The original definitely looks like a watercolor. I used colored pencils and Tombo markers to achieve a similar effect.

In addition to the difficulty in getting the proportions of the drawing correct, cutting and pasting the drawing onto the wallpaper was also a challenge. Originally, I was going to use blue and red party toothpicks for the arrows attached to the bull, but I managed to cut them out successfully from the drawing.

I added the fishnet last to give the piece a more gothic feeling suggested by the very dark wallpaper (Can you imagine having wallpaper this dark in your house today?!). I wasn't sure how to attach the fishnet to keep it taut. I thought thumbtacks might work but they were a bit too long and would have pushed through the foamboard. So, I used black thread to tie the fishnet in the back:

It looks very much like a mess of spiderwebs, doesn't it?

Check back here in December, when I post the Christmas wallpaper collages I completed last year.

Vintage Wallpaper Collages

This first collage is Mr. Owl on "Fontainebleau" vintage wallpaper.

This second collage is Mr. Owl on "Virginia Colony" vintage wallpaper.

I drew Mr. Owl using colored pencils and Tombo markers.

This is the vintage wallpaper book (I'm guessing it's from the 1950s) I salvaged from the trash in my condo building years ago from which I took the wallpapers I used for the above collages. The book measures 20" x 24". A lot of the designs are dark and predominantly floral, but there are some interesting deviations of scenes and textures, some with metallic details. 

This is the inside cover of the book. Apparently there was a showroom of some sort at 405 Boylston St. in Boston at one time. Many of the samples are brittle and falling apart, and it seems a shame for this book to sit and deteriorate, so that's why I'm using the samples for collages.

I'm currently working on another vintage wallpaper collage. I've chosen the wallpaper sample but haven't tackled the drawing yet. I'll post it here when it's completed.

Last year I made a series of Christmas collages with some of the samples in this book. Revisit this blog in December at which time I'll post those.

Gnome Man's Land

Meet Leo... 

I don't have a garden of my own, but now I do have my very own garden gnome, Leo. I thought of naming him Vinny since part of his ear is cut off, but the name just didn't suit him well. He seems too jolly.

He was a great bargain I snatched up for $20 at the most recent Brimfield Antiques Show.

He's currently residing in my computer/play room, but I will probably move him around depending on my mood. If nothing else, he'll make a great doorstop (he just gave me a dirty look — sorry, Leo). He is quite heavy.

La Cage aux Folles Comes Home?

What economic recession?

These caged chandeliers by way of the latest Restoration Hardware sepia tome are stunningly beautiful, strongly whimsical, yet also tragic.

They're light imprisoned, cascades of captured diamonds, completely untouchable. Ultimately unknowable — unownable. Which makes me want one.

I envision these in a grand Victorian mansion, a Gothic castle, a marble bathroom or how about inside a Catholic church?!

To "free" them, I would refinish the cold metal cages in high-lacquer paint in hot pink, white, turquoise, orange or chartreuse, and hang them over a furry Flokati rug.

August's Color Scheme: Rhinestone Glam Power Point

Inspiration: Fab rhinestone buttons from M&J Trimming.

These shimmery pearlescent rhinestone buttons are the punctuation to a neutral background of taupe, yellow and olive green with an animal print to give the color scheme some teeth. It's not readily apparent from the photo, but the buttons have green and purple-pink highlights from which I pulled the paint colors. What I especially like about the buttons is the way the rhinestones are embedded inside, so there's no danger in them falling off.

Elements:
Paints: Old Straw Hat, Lily Lavender, Bright Lime (all Benjamin Moore)
(I'd use Old Straw Hat for the ceiling, Lily lavender in an eggshell finish for the walls, and Bright Lime for baseboard trim, and possibly windows and doors depending on the room)

Fabrics and Wall covering:
Wall covering is Classic Washi by Pallas Walls in Linen.
Nubby green fabric is Impala by Robert Allen in Celery. Rayon/polyester/nylon.
Animal print fabric is suede (details not available).

I envision this scheme in a living room or dining room. I would use the wall covering for the top part of the walls with Lily Lavender paint for the bottom portion. I'd use a chair rail in between made of dark stained wood or brown leather fabric, and place the buttons strategically onto the chair rail. I would use the nubby green fabric for a sofa, loveseat or chairs, and the animal print for a large ottoman, X-base chair or dining chairs.

I think this look would be sophisticated and chic, especially great under the crystal glow of a grand chandelier, and reflected in the bubbly glow of Champagne glasses. Cocktails anyone?

July's Color Scheme: Breakfast Circa 1961

Imagine eating a hearty bowl of Quaker oatmeal followed by a dish of chocolate pudding topped with Cool Whip, and you have the essence of this color scheme for a breakfast room just off your kitchen or patio. It's G-r-r-r-e-a-T!

Inspiration: Vacron-Bopp Decker melamine plastic cereal bowl, early 1960s vintage, made in Birmingham, Michigan. (I've literally been eating out of this bowl since I was an impressionable Saturday morning cartoon watching kid). I recently discovered they also made these indestructible bowls in delicious yellow and pink, in addition to the aqua. They also made other pieces such as coffee mugs, a coffee pot, and a covered round casserole.

Elements:
Paints: Araucana Teal by Martha Stewart Living; Alpine White, Chocolate Mousse, and Natural Brown by Benjamin Moore.
(I'd use Alpine White for the walls, Araucana Teal for trim, and I'd paint a hardwood floor with fat stripes of Chocolate Mousse and Natural Brown).

Fabrics: Mixer BK-Patina by Robert Allen. Polyester/cotton. (I'd use this for a mid-century modern sofa or loveseat).
Dune in Birch. Linen/cotton.
(I'd use this for dining chairs or even as curtains because the fabric has a nice drape to it).