puppy paintings!

Hello everyone! 

I'm back with a project I love to do: puppy paintings! Well, I love giving them at least.. sometimes throughout the process I get MAD if it's not going as well as planned.. Here's a little tutorial if you'd like to give it a go yourself! 

First I grid out the picture in Illustrator. If you don't have Illustrator, you can print out the picture and draw out a grid on top of it.

Meet Devo! Richard's pup pup! 

The grid helps with the sizing the sketch. I draw the grid out on the canvas I'm using and determine where I want the pup to be placed. Then I sketch it out referencing the grid on my computer. I used a 12" x 12" canvas in this example.

I started painting before I took a "before" pic. I also didn't like the way he was standing in the before picture, so I put his body in a sitting position. 

Close up view of the face. I've found it's best to paint from back to front, so I always start with the background.

I hated the initial color, so I made it a bit greener. Since Devo is brown, I made the background lighter around his body, and gradually got darker as it went out.

Here he is with some color! I did not like the way he looked in this picture. I had never done a brindle doggie before. I think it's easiest to start with the eyes, then the fur, and save the nose for last.

Here's my setup. I worked on Devo over a period of several days. I redid his coat 4 times. It was "les mis" during the process (aka miserable)..

But he ended up looking alright in the end! 

Everybody's happy! 

Here's another pic of Devo after he rolled around in the grass. I was using it to get another view of that crazy striped fur on his head.

Here's the first one I ever did: 

It's Possum, my sister's doggie. I call her my niecey pup, since she's my niece.. duh. She was a huge painting (24" x 30"), but waaaayyyyy easier because she has short fur that's plain white.

I love doing these. If anyone is interested in one of their pup pup, let me know! 

convex mirror obsessed

Hello everyone! 


Last week I told you how I had been searching for a mid century modern piece for a long time, and I finally found one at the thrift store. Unfortunately, this weekend was not as productive as I had hoped, so instead of a reveal post of that piece, I am going to tell you about another piece I have been searching for a looooong time: a convex mirror! I can't seem to find one anywhere (or at least one that is not super expensive). Here are some spaces with convex mirrors that I'm digging: 

This one below is actually what is called a Federal Mirror or Eagle Mirror. 

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So chic! 

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How soothing is this space?! I love aqua with gold accents.

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I love the pops of color in this room, and I am obsessed with the herringbone/chevron floors. I also love the high gloss teal walls! So fancy! 

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I like that the mirror is placed on the bookshelf. 

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I love this room! The chandelier, the chairs, the mirror.. ahhhh! 

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This couch is a bit too funky for me, but I dig the convex mirror with a sunburst around it.

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I'll just have to look at these lovely images until I can find one for my own!  

look at me now!

Look at me now! Look at me noooooooooowww! I'm gettin' paper!! 

Not really. I'm just getting a new bloggie header and layout! For some reason, the old header felt very generic. Not design-y enough. I know I did it myself.. but I guess I did it too fast and sadly, I grew tired of it very quickly. 

Here's a recap: 

I just now realized I should've taken a screen shot of the old layout. I had a background that was circles on top of circles like this:

Except it was blue on blue.

I thought it looked like fish scales.. genius, eh? 

Anyhow, it all felt too busy after looking at it for a while, so I decided to clean it up. Completely white background. Too plain, you say? Well, do you know how many sites you probably look at that have white backgrounds?? 

Facebook.

Google.

MSNBC.

Apple.

And some smaller ones I read..

http://simple-pretty.com/

http://www.invitationcrush.com/

http://lovelypackage.com/

You get the idea. There are tons more, those are the ones I could think of off the top of my head.. anyhow..

Here's the new header! 

And here is a screenshot of the whole layout (bc I bricked last time): 

I lubs it!!! 

(until next time..)

Oh, and here is the video I was referencing in the title. It. is. amazeballs. 

my first mid century modern piece!

I have had an obsession with mid century modern for a long time now. I have scoured the thrift stores and garage sales in hopes of finding a credenza like these beauties below. It's what I originally wanted to go in the dining room where the blue side table is, but could never find one... Le sigh. Here are some I really like:

This one is very unique.

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I love love love the handles on the doors and drawers on this one.

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EEE! This whole setup is asking to be recreated at my house.. The globe, the blue lamp, the green accents.. I love this look.

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Ohhh myyyy greatness! TONS of mid century modern furniture in this room! I love the details in this space. 

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Not my favorite room, but one of my favorite credenzas.

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I really dig the white on wood look.

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Love! 

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Here is a plethora of wood with white accents. I'm obsessed! 

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Like I said, I always search places for these types of tables. I dropped by the thrift store closest to my house on my way home from work this week, AND LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!

FOR $45!!!!!!!!!!!! 


I love how the wood grain on the top row of drawers is vertical, while the bottom six are horizontal. There are obviously some scratches, but I'll just sand those out.

He rode around in my car for a few days due to the fact that it's rained here everyday after work (I didn't want his sweet self to get wet). Here he is! Thank goodness I have a big car to bring home these adopted pieces! 

I can't wait to get started! 

He definitely needs a little lovin'. It looks like he use to have a mirror, so I'll have to remove those brackets on the back.

I almost danced a jig when I saw him in the store. I have no idea where I'm going to put this puppy, but I know that he belongs with me. I may be tackling my first stain project with this one. I can't decide if I should paint part of it white or leave it all wood... decisions, decisions.. 

Hopefully there will be a reveal post next week! 

merry christmas, ya filthy animals!

Jeez, I don't do near enough Home Alone references on the ol' bloggie. 

ANYWAYS, guess what time it is, Diesel (my little filthy animal)?!?!? 

TIME TO DECORATE FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!

Here is my sweet baby Christmas tree! I got it in college, and I am just in love with this sweet little pea. It will always have a spot in my home! 

I moved the smaller side table of the nesting tables in the corner to the middle of the chairs for this little beauty.

Here it is in the day time!

EEE! 

I was walking the streets of Pinterest and saw a classy looking house with wreaths in all the windows. Of course I copied. I got the wreaths at Walmart for under $3 each, the bows on them were about a $1 and I already had the spool of ribbon to wrap around the window.

In the daytime!

This sparkly wreath hung outside last year, but I brought her inside and placed her on the mirror for this year's festivities. I used painters tape to stick the ribbon to the back side of the mirror, and I reenforced the wreath with the tape on the mirror as well. 

This toy is a HUGE hit! I actually have two, because my sister didn't want hers when we got them one Christmas.. I put them on the side tables for peeps to play with! 

Here are our stockings! Sadly, there is no mantel in this house. Le sigh.. 

I tucked that center one back so it didn't cover the TV. 

And here is the shiny garland up the staircase! I also have a reindeer door hanger up there. There's a snowman and Santa on the other roomies' doors! 

Here is my lovely grouping of Christmas trees! 

And here they are in better lighting! Notice that the small feather tree is missing some feathers on the backside?!? WELL that's because my sister decided to sneak upstairs on Halloween (when we lived together in Auburn) and RIPPED THEM OFF TO MAKE AN INDIAN HEADDRESS FOR HER COSTUME!!! RUDE!!!!!!!!! Apparently I complained about it so much that my mom bought the big one for me to make up for it! Yeah!! I laugh about it now, but man ol man was I mad at the time.

Here are my lovely circle lights! 

There was no other great place to hang them, so this seemed appropriate.

And look! The first Christmas gift of the season! 

It's from the neighbors! How cute!!!! So funny! 

(it says Ho Ho Ho and Merry Christmas! from the Ding Dongs next door!)

Lastly, I took a picture with as many Christmas decorations in the frame as possible. HA! I got six! 

 These lovely hand towels are from Target out of the dollar bin! Two came in a pack (the other had Santa on it, it just wouldn't fit on the stove).

Oh, hey Diesel creeper!!! 

He loooooooves to follow me around while I take pictures. My schweet little helper! 

I made them both my little elves as models in a photo shoot I did so I could put an example picture in a few of Christmas cards I designed! 

They have on jingle bell collars, although you can't really tell with the furry mane Cotton has..

One in green as well! 

And a snowman one! 

Merry Christmas, y'all! 

(if you're interested in the cards, visit my Etsy page here!)