PhotoSimon Upton Suddenly I've got this thing for black furniture and it's all Darryl Carter's fault, once I saw this picture I was intrigued. I love how the black pops against all the white really making the furniture a statement and brings out the clean lines. Less seems to be more!
voila! Then I saw this beautiful black bench on 1st Dibs and kept thinking how stunning it would look in an entryway. Before I knew it everything kept coming up black, so I'm now wondering is black the new gray?
Cote de Texas It wasn't just furniture I was seeing in black but doors as in Joni Webb's home from Cote de Texas. Kitchens and whole rooms were taking on a whole new meaning of sophistication and seductiveness.
House Beautiful
House Beautiful I love how all the white ironstone pops in this beautiful cupboard, it looks so elegant.
House Beautiful Black and white can look very classic, timeless, the walls almost seem to float.
Tate Gunnerson
Design Sponge A splash of bright bold color can keep a room from feeling to stark and adds a touch of playfulness.
Design Sponge
lonny mag
http://www.melanieacevedo.com/ So my questions are to you, is black becoming the new gray? Could you make a bold statement such as this and paint a room black? I don't think I could paint a whole room black but I'm certainly going to try it out on an interior door this weekend thanks to Joni at Cote de Texas. Baby steps for me, how about you?
I have to tell you about this amazing find... As an antique frame collector, I was in awe when I recently came across this beautiful marble frame. The oval frame is 9-1/2 x 12 with a 5x7 opening. It's a lovely size for an intimate portrait although I've temporarily inserted a print of one of Matisse's nudes, which I think goes quite nicely with the rounded lines of the carved marble. The aged marble indicates that it's probably from the late 1800's. The oval detail is so beautiful and in such perfect condition that holding the frame made me feel as if I was granted a pleasure typically reserved for museum staff. But I wasn't in a museum. I was standing in an antique store thinking that this little gem would cost hundreds....hundreds upon hundreds of dollars — oh, who will be so lucky to have it? But as I turned to look at the price tag (adhered with Scotch tape), it read, "$75." I may have started to hyperventilate at this moment because I couldn't believe something so rare and so beautiful and in such pristine condition, could be priced so modestly. So I splurged big time and brought her home with me. I absolutely cannot wait to learn more about the origins of this lovely frame. This is such a part of my love for antiques — discovering the amazing stories that come along with them.
T he nursery is finally complete and ready for the arrival of our sweet babies.
At first we thought we'd wallpaper the nursery but we never did find a pattern we absolutely loved, nor a pattern that was in our price range. We also considered stenciling the walls but couldn't find a pattern worth the effort or cost. I have been wanting to do panel wainscoting ever since I tore out a 'how to' article on it from This Old House magazine years ago. It turned out that the nursery was the perfect room to do this. It added a wonderful detail and even better, was very affordable ($200 for materials). The walls are painted with Benjamin Moore's Simply White in flat. The trim, doors, windows and wainscot are painted with semi-gloss Simply White. You can go here to see what we started with when planning the nursery.
From the very beginning, I knew I wanted the nursery to have a natural earthy warmth. I find rich wood hues provide that warmth, especially with abundant natural light. I used white and gold colors to provide additional lightness to the room. I also thought that this color scheme would offer a nice neutrality for our baby boy and girl.
From the opposite end of the room, you can see the paneling detail and the antique French armoire. Draped over the chair is my old baby blanket.
Update: we added a changing table a few weeks after I took these photos. The talented Patricia Banner from Cottage by Design made this for me!
I wanted an armoire for easy access to baby clothes and linens. I also liked the idea of having a beautiful antique in the room and the rich warmth of the wood.
Baby girl clothes are on the left and baby boy clothes are on the right.
I chose a Da Vinci Jenny Lind crib in cherry to match the armoire and brightened it with white bedding.
I went with basic cotton bumpers to save on cost, but did dress them up by sewing white satin ribbons to secure them to the spindle railings. The second crib is upstairs in our bedroom where the babies will sleep at night.
I love the ornate detail of this antique frame and its beautiful gold glow. To go in it, I ordered a print of The Screech Owl by Albrecht Durer. In addition to the picture rail, we secured it to the wall as an extra precaution.
The art next to the nursing chair is a beautiful watercolor landscape my Grandmother used to have in her bedroom. I've always loved it and knew that one day it would go in our nursery. To freshen it up, I added a new mat.
The armoire mirror reflects the natural light from the windows.
After a considerable search, we finally settled on a 100% jute braided oval rug, which offers a nice softness to the room. We also like that the oval shape leaves more of the original wood floors exposed.
I bought this beautiful antique crocheted baby blanket years ago.
I absolutely love these curtains! They're a very lovely brown and white old-fashioned rose floral pattern. Putting together the nursery was a unique experience for me. Besides finding the armoire, (which I purchased early on in my pregnancy when I was much more mobile), I wasn't really able to get into Portland to shop for things. All of the items in the room are ones we already had on hand, or were able to purchase online. I hope that you enjoyed visiting our nursery. We know it will evolve over time and we'll be adding things and making adjustments as the babies grow. We're looking forward to welcoming our babies home very soon. xo Here is a resource list of some of the items we used: DaVinci Jenny Lind crib $199. (from Target) Oval 5 x 8 jute rug $130. (from here ) Jenny Lund slipcover chair $199. (from IKEA ) Floral curtains $24.99 per panel (from here ) Antique brass curtain rod and drapery rings $110. (Home Depot) Owl print $40. (from here ) Go here to read posts on the green nursery.
"It's 18th-Century Chinese. I stumbled across it at an auction, this pile of dilapidated pieces that nobody else wanted. I had to have it. I found three large scenes, placed them around the room, and pieced in the gaps and torn bits. The idea was to create a jewel box effect in the bedroom, with pattern to distract your senses from the tight quarters. I papered the wall in the spirit of a collage, trying to make the most of a beautiful old thing...." David Kaihoi in House Beautiful, August, 2010
Thank you so much for your kind words. It's always fun to read your comments. Sometimes you don't have as much time as you want, and that's the way my life is right now. So today I will just post a beautiful picture, and hope you will find it equally beautiful. Enjoy!
Kicking it into four-wheel drive up I thought I'd share with you what I do each morning to start my day off, hike with our golden retriever Dylan. We're fortunate enough to live in a state that offers so much clean outdoor space so we hike every morning for an hour and a half through the woods, unfortunately the views are usually from the top of a range. (Yes, it was so easy hiking with a camera!)
On the way up, outcroppings of granite, we're called 'The Granite State' in reference to our tradition of self-sufficiency.
Yes we're still going up but nothing gets your day going quite like a little exercise! (Although I'm not against sitting around in my pajamas first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee in my hand!)
Once at the top of the ridge there are open spaces and a well-worn path through the forest.
Topside you get a lovely view of the mountain range before descending down to the lake. Trust me there's an easier path below to the lake and I wish just once my faithful companion knew that.
Although it's beautiful and peaceful walking in among the trees without a soul around.
At the bottom we're rewarded with a beautiful view of the dam....
and someone gets to take a dip....
and have a bit of a roll in the crunchy leaves before heading back.
Almost home....
Home! I keep wondering why everything is always up hill but I guess the best things in life are worth working for. I hope you enjoyed our hike in the beautiful fall foliage. Anyone who wants to hike Dylan's always ready, willing and able!
My dining room. Well, like everything else around here, it seems like it's taking forever to pull together. I am oh-so-close to doing a full reveal for you (like next-week-close!), but I wanted to give you the juicy details about the fabulous lighting that we installed that totally completes the look I was going for. Love it when that happens! The last time you saw this space, it looked like this:
Awesome planked wall, beautiful white-washed table and the doesn't-quite-fit-in spray painted chandy. I'm happy to report that it has come a long way since then. When this picture was taken, I was feeling so stumped as to how I could make this room feel like I wanted it to, and I knew that what was holding me back was that coral chandelier. I mean, don't get me wrong- I love the color, but it was definitely limiting me. And limits I do not like. That's when Brad, from Lucent Lampworks, stepped in and said he might be able to help me.
His lighting. Oh, his lighting. It's gorgeous and simple and modern and vintage and industrial and cool all at once. Brad invited us over to his shop to take a look at his work and we were blown away. He's not a lighting guy by trade, but creates some beautiful fixtures in his spare time. Just recently one of his lights was featured on Extreme Home Makeover, so you know if Ty P. is sold, then this guy is the real deal. Anyway, I digress. I told him what I wanted, and you know what? He made it for me. Custom. And they're awesome. And his prices are ridiculously reasonable. See? I like Lucent Lampworks so much I can't even write in complete sentences. Let's just cut to the chase, shall we?
I really wanted two sconces to flank the piece of Marbled Paper Art that fit in with the whole coastal, cottage feel. Brad searched for these cages and found them on Ebay and turned them into fabulous sconces. I absolutely love them- all they need are some edison bulbs, but I keep forgetting to pick them up when I'm out!
I love the contrast between the industrial sconces and the marbled paper art.
I'm still messing around with the final touches for the dining room (for instance, those plant pots aren't staying that color, but it's been too darn cold to spraypaint!), so most likely this buffet will look different next time you see it. As for the pendant light for above my dining room table, I decided to go with a white enamel shade (similar to this one in his shop) that Brad reclaimed from the Scranton Lace Factory. This light is probably from the early 1900's, which I love! It has loads of character and chippy goodness.
It's perfect, isn't it? And, I am thrilled with the view from the kitchen, now that it includes my fabulous lights!
The pendant has really soft uplighting from holes in the top of the shade that is just beautiful and helps illuminate the space better at night.
I seriously could not be happier with my new lights! If you guys are in need of any lighting, head over to Lucent Lampworks to see all that Brad has to offer! You will not find a nicer, more accomodating guy than Brad and he is super talented. Use the code EC2tenoff to receive 10% off your order and tell him we sent you! Tell me, what does your dream light look like??
This has been a very long week for me and I'm exhausted. I've been hard at work but my work can be extremely fun especially when it means shopping! It's the start of the antique season for us on the east coast and it really gets a start with Brimfield, an antique show that takes place three times a year and has over 5000 dealers spanning 21 fields, it goes on for miles! To start the week off is an annual antique textile show in Sturbridge, MA and being an antique textile dealer of course I'm first in line. The line was just getting started here but by the time the doors opened this line was the longest I've ever seen it and I've been going to this show for well over ten years.
Wendy Lewis Here's Wendy Lewis who owns Textile Trunk in Vermont and just began showing at the textile show but is a staple at the New England Motel antique show one of the Brimfield show fields with over 400 dealers on this field alone. Wendy who is known for her grain sacks and large variety of linen and hemp sheets also offers a wonderful selection of 19th century printed textiles. I've know Wendy forever, before her second child was born but this is the first time I've met her in person and I have to say she's just as lovely, warm and friendly in person, it was so great to finally meet her. My bad since she only lives one state over!
Beautiful French and English offerings at Wendy's booth....
Carolyn Forbes Another favorite dealer is Carolyn Forbes of Carolyn Forbes Textiles standing in front of a display of 18th century textiles. She has a studio located right here in beautiful New Hampshire and can be found showing throughout the east coast. Carolyn features not only textiles but also a large display of clothing as well.
There were so many people at this show that taking pictures was a tad tough, this front woman was thrilled my flash went off in her face....lol.
Marston House Antiques If you've never heard of Marston House you really should get to know it especially those of you who are true Francophiles. The Marston House is own by Paul and Sharon Marston and own a bed and breakfast in Maine they also own property in Luberon a small town located in Provence. Their 17th century home in Luberon has several apartments for rent throughout the season.
Sharon is seen here after dying linens in her 17th century home.
One of the views outside her window in Luberon, talk about picturesque!
The slipcovers were made from some of Sharon's dyed linens, her linens are amazingly deep in saturated color.
A pair of panels that were on offer at the textile show made from tapestry fragments. A bit out of my price range at $25,000 but still beautiful.
Just a few of the textiles I brought home featuring an 18th century French silk brocade, 16th century pillow that needs to be remade, a small silk velvet Fortuny purse, a very early Fortuny hanging and a 17th century tapestry hanging with a rare crest motif.
While driving home I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures out my truck window since driving was slowed to a crawl. These are images of dealers setting up for the Brimfield antique show.
You can see from the front that the tents go on for as far as the eye can see.
Just some of the offerings at Brimfield. This show really offers it all and if you can't find it then you don't need it! At the time of this posting there's only one more day left of the show at Brimfield but you can always make plans for the next shows in July and September and don't forget to bring cash!
T his time of year, I'm reminded of the other part of our farmhouse renovation....the yard. The above picture shows what the side of the house looks like today...
....this is what it looked like after the contractors left. Due to new electrical, plumbing and water lines, and grading new elevations around the entire house, we were left with a sea of dirt and gravel. So we had to start from scratch. The yard landscaping was a project we hadn't anticipated when we set forth on our farmhouse renovation and is one that is taking time to complete. Last summer, we put in a picket fence, front walk and stairs, and dining patio....these tasks alone took the entire summer to complete!
Here's the what the front of the house looks like today. The picket fence offers a coziness to the area around our house. We also wanted to define the area of our property that would be for gardens (inside the fence), from the part that would be more natural and simple (outside the fence).
This is what the front of the house looked like when the contractors left.
This is what the outdoor dining patio looks like today.
This is what it looked like after the contractors left. Once again, Mr. Engineer (Hubby) used all his know-how to design and build a retaining wall, level floor and two sets of stairs.
This is what our 'backyard' looked like just before we went through the renovation. The edge of the 'lawn' previously dropped off a couple of feet past the old deck (which was torn down during the remodel due to rot). The fill we had excavated from the front of the house was hauled out back to extend the lawn area.
This is what it looks like today. We planted over sixty (back breaking work!) White Simplicity hedge roses along the entire perimeter of the lawn. We have yet to rebuild the deck/balcony (this comes off from the french door in the living room)....as we're trying to enjoy summer this time around instead of always working on the house. Also, we're still deciding on some of the design elements of the balcony. I'll do a separate post on that soon. So that's what we've done so far. Landscape design is something I love but is not something I know. I've always loved gardens, especially old country gardens, and I love old houses with hedges and a sense of outdoor coziness. But exactly how to create that with a blank canvas completely stifled me. Then last fall I came across Tara Dillard's beautiful blog and was overjoyed to discover that she did long distance consults! After sending her dozens of photographs of the yard, and discussing ideas over a few phone calls, she created a beautiful landscape design plan for our property. It was just what I needed....professional vision. The plans will evolve over time, as money and time permit, but it feels really, really wonderful to have a plan. Tara's amazing gift for creating beautiful landscapes is something I truly admire. I feel quite honored and very happy that her vision will be expressed here on our property. As we progress with our landscape projects, I'll be sure to keep you updated!
If I had more time in my life, I would absolutely be spending a majority of it reading blogs. There are so many amazing, talented, creative people out there (including some of you!), and it's so fun to be inspired by their awesomeness. I read loads of different blogs, all of them wonderful, but here are my top 3, must-read-every-day blogs. I rank the importance of reading these blogs up there with brushing my teeth and eating, so you know they've got to be good. 1. Vintage Revivals
Source: vintagerevivals.blogspot.com via BusyBeeEmily on Pinterest I can honestly say that there are very few people who are as original as Mandi. Her style is tooooootally not my style (much more Monica's), but you can't help but be completely wowed at the stuff she comes up with. My favorite project she did was a living room makeover for her best friend:
Source: vintagerevivals.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest I mean, seriously, isn't that incredible? 2. Jones Design Company
Source: jonesdesigncompany.com via Jessica on Pinterest We've mentioned JDC before, but it's worth mentioning again! Emily has impeccable style: classic and clean, and she's a neutrals-lover like me! Not only that but she is genuine and thoughtful in her writing (you just have to read this post), and creates beautiful art prints. Plus, she's my hero because she hand-painted the"wallpaper" in her beautiful office.
Source: jonesdesigncompany.com via Jessica on Pinterest Oh good, you're drooling too? 3. Enjoying the Small Things
Source: kellehampton.com via Crissy on Pinterest
Kelle takes the most gorgeous pictures of her kids (she must take, literally, millions of pictures!), and her writing is just killer. She has a knack for writing about things we all do in our daily lives in such a beautiful, touching way. Plus, it's so much fun to see what outfits both she and her girls are wearing on any given day, because man, they are quirky (and adorable)!: ) And if you are brave enough, make sure you read about the birth of her daughter, Nella. Have tissues on hand.
Source: kellehampton.com via Jessica on Pinterest
So, if you find a few extra minutes in your day, I promise you, you will not regret reading through these three blogs. What are your favorite blogs? Any we should know about?
House Beautiful with our master bath re-do in full swing, I keep looking at saved images of bathrooms. Ours won't be large enough for it, but isn't a chair in the bath just the thing....?
W hen I was a Music/Art major in college, I visited a home with the most amazing collection of original art work. The home inspired me because the people who lived there were not wealthy by any means. In fact, you could probably call them 'starving artists.' Nevertheless, they had an amazing collection that included paintings by well-known regional artists as well as unsigned paintings found at tag sales. It was a collection that they had been working on for many years and it was a collection they acquired passionately. And it showed. Their house breathed a wonderful sense of vitality because of it. My collection of paintings has been greatly inspired by them. Here are a few of my favorites.
18 x 14 I bought this Eric Jacobsen painting, unframed, at a fundraiser for our local art gallery. Months later, I happened to find an antique frame that fit it perfectly (see this post ). The painting in the first photo was also purchased at the same fundraiser, and is by the same artist. I found an antique frame ($15) that happened to fit it as well.
15 x 18 This still life was purchased at Matthews Gallery in Portland. I had taken the owner a few paintings for him to appraise, and ended up trading them for this piece.
18 x 23 This piece is a reproduction of the The Torn Hat by Thomas Sully. It's signed by a well-known Seattle artist. I purchased it for $60. I found an old wood frame for $20 and had it cut down to fit the piece for another $20.
28 x 15 This is one of my favorite pieces. I love the companionship of the horses. It was a rare find in that the original frame was in pristine condition. I paid $120. Margaret and Graham have taken a liking to this one too!
9 x 13
13 x 9 A few years ago, an artist friend of mine allowed me to raid her seconds bin in her art studio. This pair of landscapes paired nicely with these antique Victorian frames ($45 each).
26 x 19 This piece is one of the largest pieces I've acquired. The frame drew me in as it's a beautiful chunky gold frame with clean lines and a wide profile. I knew the frame alone was worth the cost of the painting — $225.
17 x 22 I did a post on her here. I found this portrait unframed for $44. When I got home, I was thrilled that she happened to fit into this antique floral frame I had picked up several months prior ($20). My friend Steve described the frame poignantly as a beautiful 'dress' for her.
13 x 11 This is done by a local artist, Cathleen Rehfeld. Cathleen's work lovingly captures the essence of the landscape in our region. I bought it unframed and paired it with an antique frame I had cut down to size by a frame restorationist for $100.
16 x 13 This lone oak is by the same artist. I had this frame cut down as well. As you can see, I'm especially drawn to landscapes and portraits. And I love finding beautiful antique paintings, but I also collect new art that offers that classic Hudson Valley School aesthetic. I look forward to continuing to grow our collection. The vibrancy of the art is one of the reasons I'm so drawn to having white walls in our home. I love the way the neutral wall contrasts with the brilliance of the gold frames and the lovely imagery of the paintings.
This past Sunday I attended a baby shower for my older sister at her mother-in-law's house in Lititz, PA. If you don't know where Lititz is, it's right in beautiful Lancaster County. Honestly, if I had to move out of Bucks County, you could find me in Lancaster. I really love the charm and old-world feel. Anyway, Mrs. W. (the mom-in-law) has lived in the same house her entire life, with the exception of only six years. It's a lovely old farmhouse that has undergone several renovations. One such renovation occurred in the seventies, and transformed the house into one with wood paneling and shag carpet. In the nineties, however, the W's started making some changes to update the look, while trying to preserve the good bones of the farmhouse. This wasn't easy, since the previous renovation had gotten rid of the great deep-silled windows and some of the other important historical pieces. That brings us to three years ago, when Mrs. W. decided she had enough with the small, enclosed rooms and decided she would knock down some walls to form what is now her gorgeous kitchen. This is where my kitchen envy comes in. Just take a look for yourselves:
The house has high ceilings- I don't know, maybe 10 feet high- which just adds to the spaciousness of the kitchen. I couldn't get enough of the stove area, the hood above it and the mantle/shelf mounted to the hood. And the backsplash is beautiful as well.
There are soooo many cabinets, so there's plenty of room to store all your dinnerware, your neighbor's dinnerware, their friend's china and a small child. Also, check out the double wall ovens! {Swoon} I have no need for double ovens since I try my hardest to never have to bake anything, but it's still swoon-worthy as far as nice kitchens go.
On the opposite wall of the work area and across the kitchen, there are these gorgeous built-ins. They honesetly look like big, beautiful pieces of furniture.
Here's a glimpse of the entire length of the kitchen, including the 10 foot-ish island in the middle.
You may wonder why I would take a picture of the sink, but did you happen to notice that it's copper??!! So cool!
The entry has a copper-paneling ceiling which was fabulous, as well. I had to stop taking pictures because I feared that the W family might think I was crazy and I didn't want to be the cause of any issues between my sister and their in-laws. That would not be good.
On a side note, check out these adorable cupcakes that my sister's sister-in-law made for the baby shower. She made chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter icing and vanilla cupcakes with white chocolate icing, both of which were delicious. The cupcake toppers came from here and were the perfect addition since they were going with a safari-theme.
Too cute!
Have you ever wanted to take pictures of other people's houses, or am I the only strange one?
I made these pysanky last year HOW TO MAKE PYSANKY (Ukrainian Easter Eggs) (pysanka — singular, pysanky — plural) PART ONE: HOW THEY ARE MADE I was taught how to make pysanky by my father John, who was a first generation Ukrainian-American. My grandparents were from the Carpathian Mountain region of Lviv, Ukraine. Designs on the eggs are fundamentally traditional, passed down generation to generation, and differences in styles are mainly regional.
What are pysanky? Pysanki (pronounced: puh-sahn-key) are Ukrainian Easter eggs. They are made from real chicken eggs. The most interesting thing about them, aside from their intricate, beautiful designs, is the way they are made: The designs are not painted on, but are done in a wax-resist technique using hot bees wax. The process is similar to batik. How do you make pysanky? Basically, you start with a plain white egg. You begin by drawing designs on the egg in hot bees wax with a pen-like tool called a kistka (stylus) and whatever areas you cover with wax will remain white. When you are finished covering the areas that you want to keep white, the egg is then dipped into a dye bath of the lightest color, such as yellow. The white areas that you have covered in wax will not absorb the yellow dye and will remain white because they are beneath the wax. Once the egg is the desired shade of yellow, you remove it from the dye, dry it off completely, and then, again using the kistka and hot wax, you cover the areas of the egg that you want to keep yellow. Then the egg goes into the next, darker dye, such as orange, and the process is repeated until you reach your final, darkest dye bath'and so on and so on until you have finished your design in wax. In the end you will have an egg that has a lot of wax on it! The last step is the most fun: you carefully melt away all the wax and the colorful design is revealed! You do not need to use many colors, but traditionally the main colors used are: yellow, orange, red, brick, brown, and black. Nowadays you can buy the egg dyes in many shades such as green, purple, blue (light, dark, royal), turquoise, pink, fuchsia, scarlet, etc. One important note: you MUST use dyes made especially for pysanki. These dyes are poisonous and should not be used around or by children. Also, the egg should never be eaten. Sometimes I will use only one dye bath, such as purple. First I will wax the areas that I want to keep white, then dip the egg in purple, then the result will be a purple and white egg. Two-tone eggs are beautiful! PART TWO: TOOLS AND PREPERATION Supplies Needed: Many paper towels Mason jars or large peanut butter jars with lids boiling water regular white vinegar large spoons for mixing dyes and dipping eggs pysanki dyes a candle for heating kistka and also for removing wax from egg when finished matches or lighter Block of beeswax made specifically for pysanky kistka (stylus) pencil with eraser for sketching designs on eggs chicken eggs optional: pysanky how-to book with designs and instructions straight pin and tool for blowing out inside of egg Gathering supplies: I have found that my local AC Moore carries pysanki supplies, but only seasonally, and the dyes tend to sell out fast, so when I see them I stock up! To do the day before: Make your dyes Mix dyes according to package directions. It is best to prepare the dyes the day before you are going to use them, because most directions instruct you to use boiling hot water, and it takes the dyes while to cool down. Be sure to follow the mixing directions exactly, especially when making the orange dye, in which vinegar is NOT added. Vinegar IS needed for most of the dye colors. Pysanky dyes are PERMANENT and if you spill them they will stain just about any surface including clothes and tabletops'use with caution! Prepare your eggs: I use large or extra large chicken eggs. You can use whatever size you like. Try to purchase ones that do not have dates stamped on each shell, as that stamp will usually show through your finished design. Use only raw eggs, and be sure to remove them from the refrigerator for a few hours before you begin working with them so that they are room temperature. Cold eggs will sweat and be impossible to work with! Do not attempt to warm them by putting them in warm water or by any other method. Just remove them from the fridge the night before and let them naturally become room temperature. Do not keep them in Styrofoam egg cartons, as these will retain moisture. Use only cardboard egg cartons to hold and store your eggs. The Kistka (stylus) Kistkas come in three basic sizes, fine, medium and heavy.
Traditional kistkas The size of the kistka refers to the thickness of the line that it draws. Traditional kistkas are like pencils with wood handles and a copper end that is held over the candle flame and heated, then held gently against the beeswax. The beeswax will melt and fill the kistka and then the wax flows through the opening and can be applied to the egg. Nowadays many professionals use electric kistkas, which are great because they maintain temperature and are a lot faster to use than the traditional kistkas, but they also take a lot of practice to get used to. I use both types but always find myself going back to the traditional type of kistka. I highly recommend learning to make pysanki with traditional kistkas.
Beeswax block A natural colored beeswax block is used with the traditional kistka, and black colored beeswax is used for the electric kistka. This is because the electric kistka will not blacken the wax when heating it, and the candle flame will.
Traditional kistkas Here are a few supplies and kits to get you started!
Egg blower for emptying out eggs easily
Egg lathe for holding the egg while drawing on those first lines. I love this tool!
A kistka — I recommend three sizes, heavy, medium, and fine Pysanky dyes are available online
Three different types of Ukrainian egg decorating kits — great for beginners!
Here are two kits that come with electric kistkas — no candle flame needed! What do you think? Have you ever made Pysanky? If you enjoyed this post, you might also like my post on Batik: Beautiful Batik: What it is & How it's made
Today we have a Jessica (not our Jess, a different one) from Arcadian Lighting guest posting about blending modern and country designs. We love this trend, so we were excited to see what she had to share. I (Monica) happen to love Arcadian Lighting. We made one big lighting purchase when we built our home. Our foyer needed a huge light and it needed some major wow factor. We must have looked at 192364 stores, and Arcadian was where we found a winner!
It's one of my favorite things ever (and they have great sales, so of course I didn't pay full price!) So, thanks for being here today Jessica! **********************************************************************************
Hi there! I'm Jessica, a writer for Arcadian Lighting, which is a wonderful online resource for beautiful, affordable lighting fixtures. I'm delighted to be guest posting for Monica and Jess today because I'm going to be sharing a collection of inspiring modern country interiors. Rustic and casual with a sophisticated modern edge, these country interiors are just right for the fresh, airy days of Spring. I hope you enjoy!
A simple checked table cloth and set of traditional English china give this lovely dining table a classic farmhouse feel. The contrasting modern wine glasses and Donghia stacking chairs are cool accent pieces.
A chic neutral color palette and a checked upholstered arm chair in the corner bring together new and modern with old and classic beautifully. The branch candlesticks are fun and unexpected.
A gorgeous mix of crisp, modern furniture and rustic exposed wood beams creates a perfectly elegant, yet relaxing atmosphere in this living room. These types of ornate wooden mirror frames and chandeliers add a bit of drama.
The slate fireplace, twinkling candles and brilliant chandelier give this sophisticated dining room just enough simple country beauty. A lovely bouquet of fresh greenery makes the perfect accent, as well.
The vaulted ceiling and shelving gives this living room a distinctly farmhouse appeal. Weathered antiques and cushy modern furniture make the room cozy and inviting.
The handsome dark wooden floorboards and rustic, industrial stools add a rugged edge to this chic kitchen. The pendant lights overhead are simply beautiful, and the under cabinet lighting is a great touch.
A dusty blue wall color and sheer white curtains make this bedroom absolutely dreamy and romantic. The wood beam ceiling add so much natural texture and color that it makes a perfect accent against the very simple furnishings.
The paneled walls in this bedroom lend a cozy country atmosphere to the room, especially with a serene beige paint color. The rustic nightstand and modern headboard are particularly handsome together. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 Which of these modern country rooms is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! And be sure to stop by Arcadian Lighting for a modern light fixture or two to brighten your home! -Jessica
My family travelled a lot growing up, and still, to this day, we all get together one week out of the year, and vacation with each other in a new, unexplored (to us) location. I was also fortunate enough to live in Greece for three months during college. My friends and I (and my future hubby, unbeknownst to both of us), toured Greece, Italy, France and Spain with abandon, and I loved every second of it. Why am I telling you this? Over the past year, I've been trying to figure out what my design"style" really is. Instead of randomly acquiring or making things that may or may not fit the rest of my belongings, I want to be purposeful and intentional (there's that word again; ) with the design of my house. I want my home to have a nice flow, (which, if you've ever been to my house, is not the case), and to be comfortable and relaxing, yet beautiful. That's not too much to ask, is it? (Envision me looking exhausted). I find that thinking about the places I've been that have really impacted me and that I fell in love with, help me discern what styles I want to incorporate in my home. Each place has a certain feel that I would love to capture at home. This is the first post of three parts about my top 3 favorite destinations and what design elements I have gathered and want to incorporate in my home. Destination #1: Greece
Zacynthos, Greece (We affectionately call this place"Paradise Beach") Ahhhh…memories. This country holds a special place in my heart as it was the place I met and got to know my hubs (no, he is not Greek. He was on the same trip I was), and it was the first place that I really had to be completely independent. There are two main design elements from Greece that I want to include in my house: simplicity and history.
Source: perivolassuites.gr via Jessica on Pinterest This room is SO simple. Nothing competing with each other, no knickknacks. Just two beautiful blue bottles, a plant and a purple blanket. Makes me want to take a nap.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Jessica on Pinterest White on white on white. {Sigh} I told you I was in a white phase, and this depicts that perfectly. Even though it's devoid of color, it's still an interesting room with those totally cool stool/table thingies that add loads of texture, and the khaki/white rug. I understand it's absolutely not practical in any way with two little ones running around, but I so admire how peaceful and simple this room is.
Source: 79ideas.org via Jessica on Pinterest Again, nothing dramatic in this room, but somehow this room is perfect. That table looks like it has seen its fair share of dinner parties. I love the old furniture paired with the fancy chandelier, and beamed ceiling. I can totally envision eating a late dinner here with friends.
Source: flickr.com via Jessica on Pinterest If this doesn't inspire you to bring the outside in, then I don't know what will.
Source: trekearth.com via Jessica on Pinterest This is gorgeous, old and falling apart. It gives me hope that someone might find the peeling paint on my porch banisters gorgeous.
Source: indiehome.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest There is a very simple color scheme in Greece- white and blue, with a little pink thrown in there from the wild, climbing flowers. And still, it's so interesting and pretty.
Wow. That light fixture is fabulous. This room is breathtaking. Enough said.
Have you been anywhere that has inspired you to decorate differently? Please share!
I love Victorian furniture. I love the ornate lines. I love the rich hue of the dark wood. I love that each piece possesses such intricate carved detail.
I purchased this Victorian chair for just $62. When I look at this chair, I see a work of art no different than a piece of artwork hanging on our wall. It's absolutely beautiful. The fact that this delicate chair has 'lived' for over a hundred years is just fascinating to me, especially seeing that it's in pristine condition. It must have known some very loving homes along the way.
The needlepoint is in good condition — just a few thin spots, which I think come from moths rather than wear. The preservationist in me says leave it alone. But in my effort to blend my passion for antiques with the modernity of our lives, I thought of perhaps brightening the chair with a nice light velvet, which was also popular during the late 1800's. Alternatively, for a more contemporary juxtaposition, I thought a nice botanical fabric could also be quite beautiful and honor the Victorian era's love of nature.
I've placed the chair next to my bed, in place of the chair that was already there. It goes just so beautifully next to the Eastlake nightstand, as they share the same intricate carved detail and the same lovely bird's eye maple veneer. Considering the placement of the chair, I'm leaning towards brightening it with a soft, light velvet as I think it would best match the feel of the bedroom. If I do this, I will preserve the original needlepoint — perhaps by covering over it. What do you think... leave it alone? Or do you like the bird toile, or the light soft velvet fabric?
I just love this hallway! So simple, but yet so beautiful. I love the colour of the rug and the gorgeous stool, but most of all I love the Moroccan tiles.
Hubby came to the flower farm with me last night. How cute is that?
The flower farm is surrounded by rows upon rows of orchards. Set amongst the orchards are two acres of glorious flower fields. The photo above was taken in the dahlia patch, which consists of six long rows of every dahlia variety you can imagine.
This is the back entrance to the flower farm house, a pristine Dutch Colonial that is now operated by our local historical society. Indoors, a local winery gives tastings and shares the history of the house and farm. Let me just say, that I want to move in and play house here!
It was cute to watch hubby walk around and say things like, "how about a purple one?" We had only one pair of pruners so I did all of the cutting. Hubby made his visit more of a nature walk and it was really sweet to watch. It reminded me of that poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay that goes: I will be the gladdest thing Under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers And not pick one.
The flower farm is such a nurturing place to go. To see so many flowers blooming in abundance offers the biggest case of warm fuzzies. It's also exciting to go home and fill your house with so many beautiful flowers. Our excursion to the farm provided us with four beautiful bouquets of dahlias. The cost: $10.
