DIY Handmade Wood Block-Print Tablecloth

Block-print textiles are an obsession of mine. So, when it came time to dress the table for a recent family celebration, I searched for a block-print tablecloth that would compliment the lavender, purple and white color scheme.

When I couldn’t find a tablecloth I was envisioning, I decided to make my own. Using some Indian wood block stamps with a paisley pattern, purple & lavender fabric paint and a simple white cotton tablecloth, I created the tablecloth. I actually have three blocks and originally was going to use the pair of blocks which patterns overlap, but it was difficult to keep them lined up.

For the sake of time, I stuck with just one block and created a pattern by alternating the color from row to row.

Block printing is an art and I am by no means an expert, but I really liked how it turned out. And in case you missed it; Here’s how the ribbon chandelier and flower arrangements were made for the party.

I love the ikat fabric Elizabeth at The Mustard Ceiling made. She has a great tutorial and printable too. Hmmm. Maybe this will be my next project!

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day!

xo,

* image source.

Modern Bird Studios

* You are based out of the San Francisco area, and I must say that those crazy steep hills make me nervous. Do you have any suggestions on how I can better cope with them?

* Do you think you could escape from Alcatraz?

* Who do you think would win a cage match between Martha Stewart or her daughter Alexis Stewart?

These are just some of the silly questions Megan from Modern Bird Studio asked me yesterday. For my answers, visit her blog.

Megan’s husband, Gregg is the creative force behind Modern Bird Studios. Gregg combines his original urban-style with photography, graphic design and traditional painting to create handmade, original art pieces. My fave is the acrylic and wood artwork seen above. Love!

How to Hold a Successful Garage or Yard Sale

Spring cleaning is in full swing and for many of us that means it’s garage sale season. Hosting a garage or yard sale is the perfect time to edit items from your home that are no longer used or fit your lifestyle. In addition to de-cluttering your home, a garage sale is a great way to make a little extra money.

Holding a garage sale however takes organization and pre-planning. Here are some tips for hosting a successful garage sale:

{images by Thayer Allyson Gowdy via Real Simple}

Select the Right Day & Time.

1. Typically the best months for garage sales are in the spring and summer. Steer clear of holidays and summer vacation months {i.e. July & August}.

2. Saturday is the most popular day for garage sales, but a Friday or Sunday might also work for you. Go with the flow and see what day is trending in your neighborhood.

3. Serious garage sale shoppers get up earlier, so set a start time no later than 8am.

Consider a Multi-family Sale.

1. Inform family and friends about the garage sale and encourage them to participate. Ask them to help out on the day of the sale and assign them a task {cashier, helping customers, keeping merchandise neat}.

2. Let neighbors know about your sale. If they too want to have a garage sale the same day, share marketing efforts {signage, Criagslist posting, etc.}. Muti-family garage sales always pull in more traffic.

Determine, Organize & Price Items to Sell.

1. Schedule a day {or two} to go room by room in your home to de-clutter and make a list of items you would like to sell.

2. Don’t sell items that are damaged beyond repair or have been recalled. In fact it is illegal to resell items that have been recalled – go here for a list of recalled items}.

3. Make a note as to what price you would like to sell the item. If you have no idea how to price an item, you can always look up a similar item on eBay or Criagslist.

4. Set up a holding area for the items you will be selling. Typically this is in the garage, because it eliminates moving the sale items multiple times. You’ll be able to move the items easily out the day of the sale.

5. In the holding area, group sale items into plastic bins {clear ones are best because you can see the contents inside} and boxes. Be sure to label the bin or box  {i.e. toys, DVDs, 0-3 month girls clothing, etc.} and price the items in the grouping the same.

6. Save time by minimizing labeling each item. Instead label the tables, bins or racks {i.e. $5-$10, $1 or Less, $25 or Best Offer}.

Supplies Needed On-site for the Sale.

1. Shopping bags and small boxes to make it easier for customers to take away the goods.

2. Tables, clothing racks and shelves for displaying items.

3. A calculator for adding up sales.

4. Spare light bulbs, batteries and extension cords plugged in to show that items work properly.

5. Tape measure, pens and scissors.

6. Trash can.

7. Paper towels, tissues and hand-sanitizer.

8. Pre-made sticker labels or color coded stickers for pricing items.

9. Newspaper to wrap fragile items.

10. Cash-box, hip-pack or apron with pockets to hold cash and change.

{image via Yard Sale Bloodbath}

Advertise the Sale.

1. Create a listing one week prior to the sale on Craigslist or a similar on-line site. It’s free!

2. Inquire about placing ads with various local newspapers. Ask how many words, how much it will cost and when you need to submit the information by.

3. When listing your ad, include your big items and/or categories {i.e. 1940s oak dining table, baby gear & clothing}

3. Create signage to be placed at large intersections near your home.

4. Signage should include the date of the sale, your address {cross streets can be helpful too} and the sale hours. Use foam board and make the signs large enough for them to be read easily by drivers.

5. Consider making smaller directional signage if you think people may have difficulties finding your home.

{image by Thayer Allyson Gowdy via Real Simple}

Display items with Style.
1. Remove or cover items in the garage you don’t want to sell.
2. Organize your items and display them in an interesting and easy-to-view format.
3. Use clothing racks {consider renting or borrowing some} to hang items such as dresses, jackets and suits. Group clothing according to size.
4. Place like items together and make signs so customers can easily find what they are looking for {i.e books, housewares, boys clothing - sizes 2T – 3T}

{image via CountryHome}

Managing the Money.

1. Go to the bank ahead of the sale and have between $75 and $100 in small bills {$1s, $5s and a few $10s} and a couple rolls of quarters.

2. Designate a person to handle the cash-box at all times. If this isn’t possible, have one person where an apron or hip-pack to mange the transactions.

3. Have a “Cash Only” rule. It’s no fun to get a bounced check!

Fun for the Kids.

1. Encourage older kids to earn extra cash by selling donuts, bagels or cookies.

2. Set out a box of gently used stuffed animals labeled “FREE – Kids Take One” for customers with  young children. Used stuffed animals are rarely accepted by charities, so this is a great way to pass them along! You will have some very happy, little customers too :)

After the Sale.

1. Do not bring any unsold items back into your home or garage.

2. Immediately after the sale, pack unsold items into your vehicle and drive them to the nearest charity or donation center {be sure to get a receipt for a tax credit}.

3. Place unsold items curbside with a “FREE” sign.

4. Schedule a date and time for one of the local thrift stores to pick up items that are too big for you to hall away {have them leave a receipt for a tax credit}.

5. Remove all posted signs from the neighborhood.

If you don’t have a yard or garage for a traditional sale of this kind, try TagSellIt. It’s a a traditional garage sale in a virtual format.

I don’t tend to host garage sales {too much work, my hubby says}, but I love going to them. Just downloaded the iGarageSale app for my iPhone too. The reviews are glowing.

Planning a yard sale this year?

A Little Flower Arranging for Our Purple Party…





Last week I showed glimpses of a family celebration for my daughter and explained how I made the Martha Stewart-inspired ribbon chandelier. Today, I’m sharing the floral arrangements. Fresh flowers are a beautiful way to decorate an event and pull together a color scheme. I’ not a professional, but love arranging flowers and wanted to create some for our family celebration.

A couple days before the event, I went shopping at the San Francisco Flower Mart and boy was it inspiring. It’s a great time to go because the vendors are over-flowing with gorgeous springtime flowers. To coordinate with the event’s purple color scheme, I was drawn to these beautiful cabbage {aka brassica}  with lavender centers and knew I had to use them some how.

Here are some of the floral arrangements created for the party.





In a clear glass vase, I layered the ornamental cabbage with black calla lilies {actually a beautiful prune purple color} and bells of Ireland {a nod to our ancestors from Ireland}.

In the mint julep vase {purchased at the San Francisco Flower Mart}, I surrounded white long stem roses with delicate misty blue statice {aka Limonium}.





Six mini mint julep vases I purchased on One Kings Lane arrived the day before the event and as I was arranging the flowers. I didn’t plan on using them, but it was meant to be. Originally, I had clipped five white roses to be placed in a wreath for my daughter’s hair. The first hair wreath had white roses with sprigs of misty blue – it was way too heavy looking and a no go. I ended up only using the misty in the wreath hairpiece and although not perfect, it was sweet. I thought to myself, “Why did I cut these roses prematurely? They are too short to do anything with. What a waste.” Then I remembered the sweet mint julep vases. I decided echo the larger white rose & misty mint julep arrangement using the petite mint julep vases.

The misty blue floral wreath didn’t stay in my daughter’s hair and end up hanging around the neck of our white ceramic horse. We thought it fitting though because it was also the day of the Kentucky Derby.

One of the arrangements that I ended up really liking was the tightly packed dark purple carnations with pops of yellow with Billy buttons in a vintage milk glass bowl. It’s a dramatic look, but like it mixed in with the more feminine arrangements.

Do you enjoy arranging flowers?

*all photos by Jennifer Jacobson or Simplified Bee

Win a $50 Gift Card from Local Pages

How does some extra cash to spend on furniture or home décor sound? The folks at Local Pages are giving Simplified Bee readers a chance to win a $50 gift card at a store near you.

Entering to win is easy…

Visit Local Pages and find a furniture or home decor store in your city. Leave a comment below with a link to that store’s page on Local Pages and tell us about your favorite room in your house.  The winner will be selected using random.org and will be awarded a $50 gift certificate toward the store you found on LocalPages.com.

For an extra entry or two…

* Mention this giveaway in a blog post, FB link or tweet, then leave a comment letting me know.

* Become a new follower of Simplified Bee's Blog, Twitter or Facebook Page.

Eligibility requirements…

In order to be eligible to win, commenters must be at least 18 years old, reside in the U.S. and must not have won any Local Pages giveaways within the past 30 days. There is a one prize per household limit per 30 day period.

Deadline to enter…
The entry period closes at 5pm {PST} on Monday, May 30, 2011.

Good luck!

DIY Ribbon Chandelier in Shades of Purple

This spring we have hosted several family celebrations. One was for my daughter. She requested the event be “purple.” Originally I was going to add pops of black into the color scheme, but my Mom said it would look too harsh. I agreed and instead mixed shades of purple. The result was feminine, fresh and fun.

To capture the moment, I hired Jennifer Jacobson Photography. She took all of the images in the collage above. I think she did an amazing job!



Martha Stewart’s ribbon chandelier was my inspiration and starting point for decorating the party’s main table.

To make the ribbon “chandelier”, I first wrapped lavender satin ribbon around a 12-inch wreath form to cover the surface of the form. Using three colors of satin ribbon – lavender, purple and white – I cut lengths of about 16 inches. Then I created a pattern by knotting cut pieces of ribbon around the wreath at their midpoints.

The ribbon “chandelier” was hung using three smaller cut lavender ribbons and tied to my dining room’s chandelier. I love the whimsical touch and the way it pulled the color scheme together.

Next I will share the floral arrangements and block print tablecloth made for the party!

Wishing you a great weekend!

Design Blogger Series #6: What Would You Do?

For the sixth  Design Blogger Series: What Would You Do?,  I invited four talented design bloggers - all of whom have up incoming careers in the design field. Michaela of Michaela Noelle Designs, Kerry of First Time Fancy, Marissa of Roost, and Mackenzie of Design Darling were asked to design a space around the sleek,  white lacquer console by Jonathan Adler by incorporating four or so home décor items of their choosing.

Made in Vietnam using traditional, artisanal techniques, the “minimalist sparkle” Jonathan Adler console is coated in twelve layers of lacquer. It is quite a process; Every coat is allowed to dry for 48 hours and water-sanded before the next coat is applied.

{Foyer by Michaela of Michaela Noelle Designs}

“My style is a mix of modern and vintage, so I knew I wanted to add a touch of vintage with the juxtaposition of a few whimsical items.  I can see this console table in a foyer. I imagine the walls painted this cool shade of gray {Benjamin Moore's Cobblestone Path} to add just the right amount of contrast between the white items and the walls. A classic zebra patterned rug in gray and ivory will cover the floors.  The curtains are consistent with the geometric shape of the console, but also point to a more vintage feel with the addition of the turquoise organic swirls. An echo of the turquoise is found in the lamp to be placed on the console. The modern white chair will sit to one side of the credenza, providing a chic place to slip on your shoes before you head out.  To brighten up the space, above the console I would layer an oil painting from Jen Ramos with an eclectic, mismatched mirrors ...and let's be honest, we all want to check our lip gloss one more time before running out the door!”

* Simplified Bee’s favorite thing about Michaela’s design: the oil painting by Jen Ramos.

{Nursery by Kerry of First Time Fancy}

“Most of the time, if you give someone a console table, they will automatically think entryway or living room. Maybe it's because I have some serious baby brain recently, but I put together a sweet little nursery using the lacquer console. I picked the Jennifer Delonge Glam Glider because I love the simple lines of it, and think it looks like the perfect spot to curl up with a babe in the wee hours of the night. The Aerial Crib mimics the same clean lines, while the Tiger Boo rug brings some fun and colour to the space. Then, to give the console purpose in the space, I picked the Jonathan Adler Giraffe Lamp to go on top, and some Pottery Barn canvas buckets for storing baby toys underneath. If we had, had a bigger budget for our own nursery, I am sure at least a few of these pieces would have made their way in.”

* Simplified Bee’s favorite thing about Kerry’s design: thinking out of the box and placing the console in a nursery!

{Foyer by Marissa of Roost}

"I am usually drawn to pretty traditional design, so it was fun for me to step out of the box to use this cool modern console in my imaginary entryway design! I started with Navy Bean Grasscloth from Phillip Jeffries. Grasscloth is so classic and works well with a lot of styles.  In my imaginary entry, there is a nice big set of windows, which I would frame with Lyrical Branches Curtains from World Market. A lot of the other elements I chose for this room are very symmetrical and/or geometric, so I like the flowing, organic lines of the branch pattern. Under foot, I chose the grey Riviera Rug from Calypso St. Barth, and overhead, Troy Lighting's amazing Sausalito Pendant. I love gold accents--so glamorous and refined. Under the console, more gold with a pair of Circe Benches with Greek key detail, which I'd reupholster in Tapdance by Stout Fabrics, available at Decorator's Best. I love mirrors in entry ways (or anywhere, really), and I chose Horchow's Bone Inlay Mirror as the statement piece for this entry. I can't get over how beautiful and intricate it is! This is a pretty pricey little design, but a girl can dream. Or surf Craigslist to DIY some of it myself!"

* Simplified Bee’s favorite thing about Marissa’s design: it’s a toss up between the bone inlay mirror and the Greek key bench.

{Foyer by Mackenzie of Design Darling}

"I love Jonathan Adler having interned for him last summer so this challenge was a real treat! I envision his divine lacquer console in a playfully chic foyer. My first move is to soften its straight lines with a curvy framed mirror and to-die-for vintage chairs. His traditional-with-a-twist zebra rug is a must and I love that the Quadrille Kazak pillow ties in both the orange and the hot pink. Topped with a sparkly chandelier, it's everything a preppy foyer should be!"

* Simplified Bee’s favorite thing about Mackenzie’s design: the pillow in Quadrille Kazak {swoon} – it pulls it all together beautifully.

Don’t you love what these gals have created? Each of these spaces has a distinct feeling, but I couldn’t help but notice the similarities: 1. Three out of the four used the lacquer console in a foyer, 2. Three out of the four coupled it with an animal print rug, 3. All paired it with a upholstered chair or bench, 4. All incorporated lighting that makes a strong statement. What similarities or differences do see?

Also, a big thank you to Michaela, Kerry, Marissa and Mackenzie for participating in this series!

xo,

Interior Designer: Amanda Nisbet’s NYC Home

Colorful, layered and inviting. Amanda Nisbet’s designs are some of my favorites. Recently New York Social Diary interviewed Amanda and toured her lovely New York City home. Let’s take a closer look…

In the front entry {above} colorful tulips greet guests and bark skin handmade paper from Caba Company covers the walls.

In the living room, Amanda divides the space into two seating areas. A console table separates the sofas and houses a pair of Aurora double gourd lamps by Christopher Spitzmiller. A macassar ebony coffee table from Pollack is placed in front of a sofa topped with raspberry and tangerine pillows {fabric from Manuel Canovas}.

Original artwork in various styles is hung throughout the living room. Between the widows draped in tangerine fabric by Pierre Frey, an abstract painting by artist Maureen Russell is hung.  For a coffee table, Amanda selects a playful ottoman upholstered in a zebra print.

Adding wonderful texture, an oval, handmade ceramic mirror by artist Eve Kaplan is hung above the fireplace mantel. Amanda is a master of mixing styles, colors and pattern. Here she pairs modern, purple velvet covered Lucite stools with gilt French console from Gerald Bland. The console is layered with colorful books, family photographs and modern art.

I love to see how a room evolves overtime. Here’s a photo of Amanda’s living room a couple of years ago. As you can see some changes have been made. The drapes {now tangerine}, stools {replaced the pillow tucked under the console} and sofa {darker upholstery fabric} are all new.

The formal dining room features beautiful parquet wooden floors, crystal scones from Niermann Weeks and stunning crystal girandoles atop the dining table {a family heirloom}. Between the windows artwork, ‘White Wave’ by James Nares coordinates with the lilac covered dining chairs and really pops against the Venetian plaster walls.

Love these tufted chairs covered in a brown silk ikat fabric with black lacquer legs flanking the traditional fireplace mantel in the dining room.

Amanda’s master bedroom is serene. A muted palette of pink and yellow are quiet feminine. Farrow & Ball ‘Tarlow’ covers the walls. A built-in, white bookcase provides additional storage and adds visual interest to the room.

A sweet canopy in ‘Springtime Rose’ fabric by Christopher Farr frames the bed beautifully.

The color pink is carried into the master bath with the ‘Pali’ wallpaper by Manuel Canovas. It is a bold statement and apparently one that surprised her husband. 

Amanda’s daughter’s bedroom features shades of lavender in the Roman shade, throw pillows {love the ikat!} and throw at the foot of the bed. And more outstanding artwork!

Here is a look at Amanda's boy’s bedroom. The persimmon banded headboard with nail head, vintage tree art and wallpaper ceiling are my design  favorite elements.

Benjamin Moore’s Jalapeño Pepper covers the walls in the study. Gorgeous ikat pillows by Madeline Weinrib are layered on the sofa and slipper chair.  A pair of 1940's brass bar stools are place in front of the sofa and used as drink tables.

The eat-in kitchen breakfast nook has also been updated {see the old version below}. The cozy banquette is now covered in an avocado leather or vinyl fabric and a banded Roman shade replaces blinds.  The chairs, table and photo art remain the same.

Which room is your favorite?

* Photographs by Jeffrey Hirsch via NYSD