My signature hasn’t changed much over the years since learning cursive handwriting, and I sort of take solace in that. It’s my mark, my brand. I’d love to wear Brevity’s Signature Necklace as a symbol of that, of me. Sign a piece of paper five times and then Brevity chooses the version best suited to creating your personalized necklace. You can even choose whether it hangs horizontally or vertically. (via Design Milk)
PHOTO: Kelly Beall
You just did a double-take, amiright? Well, I promise that this isn’t a 30-day late April Fool’s joke. Pantone, the global authority on and standard of color, has teamed up with Valspar to launch a new line of paint! The Pantone Universe Paint Collection will be available exclusively at Lowe’s beginning this month.
PHOTOS: Kelly Beall
The collection features 100 on-trend hues ranging from classic neutrals to eye-popping brights. It also includes the 2013 Pantone Color of the Year, Emerald, as well as the 2012 selection, Tangerine Tango!
PHOTO: Edelman
This past weekend I visited NYC to participate in the 2-day Color with Confidence event along with several other bloggers and editors. Our first day was filled with inspirational talks from Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute Leatrice Eiseman, interior designer Elaine Griffin, and fashion designer Nanette Lepore. These ladies were nothing short of lovely and brilliant.
TOP PHOTO: Edelman BOTTOM PHOTO: Kelly Beall
After listening to Leatrice, Elaine, and Nanette (and noshing on some tasty treats and colorful cocktails) we were taught the proper way to paint from Valspar’s Jill. I consider myself a fairly knowledgeable painter and was clueless on half of the tips she spilled!
• Use a wooden brush, it catches drips better.
• Use the handle of said brush to seal the edges of your painter’s tape.
• Remove your tape before the paint is actually dry to avoid peeling.
• Use high-quality brushes and roller to avoid shedding.
• A good paint roller is both washable and reusable.
• Load your roller with way more paint than you think necessary, four bathe + rolls in the tray is optimal.
• Paint in 4 x 4′ sections.
• Use a W technique (seen above). Make the letter W, then fill it in. Reload roller each time.
• Once the wall is filled go over it with vertical stripes of paint to even things out.
• Use a church key not a screwdriver to open paint cans.
• Put cellophane over the can opening before putting the lid back on to keep paint fresh for a year.
• Keep the paintbrush’s original packaging to retain shape.
• Always use a canvas drop cloth, it’s less slippery than plastic and absorbs drips immediately.
• Use a roller scraper to avoid wasting paint left in roller.
• Store paint in a cool place (i.e. not your garage – whoops!)
PHOTOS: Kelly Beall
We played around a bit choosing a color palette and talked to Nanette Lepore about how color inspires fashion. Then we mingled and headed home to rest up for the next day, when we’d finally get to dig in and get some paint on our hands!
PHOTOS: Kelly Beall
PHOTOS: Kelly Beall
After grabbing breakfast,we all loaded into a black bus with tinted windows (so VIP) with a moving truck tailing us, and headed to Hell’s Kitchen flea market. It was a beautiful sunshiney day and we were chomping at the bit to find the perfect pieces to upcycle. The first thing that caught my eye was a beautiful metal horse bust. I was in love. But the vendor wanted $500 for it and would only negotiate down to $275. Waaay out of my budget. Later we stopped in at the Salvation Army and I found this dresser that would have been perfect in my bedroom, but it was unfortunately already sold.
PHOTO: Edelman
Luckily I’d picked up a just-in-case piece, this gorgeous typesetter’s drawer. I’ve been wanting one since high school and had never seen a specimen in such perfect condition, and with unfinished wood. Success!
TOP PHOTO: Edelman BOTTOM PHOTO: Kelly Beall
I suspect we all looked like a sideshow hauling pieces to the end of flea and loading them into our truck, but oh well. We had everything from a TV console to mirrors to end tables by the end of our excursion.
PHOTOS: Kelly Beall
I didn’t realize just how dirty my piece was until I started wiping it down. So gross. (You can see the color difference between this photo pre-wash and the post-wash below.)
PHOTOS: Kelly Beall
It took me awhile to figure out just how I wanted to transform my newly acquired type drawer, but after some thought I decided to start by painting the borders a nice charcoal grey. When that didn’t seem enough I debated painting the entire interior, but it would have required smaller brushes and more time than I had. I settled on taping off a few “gallery sections” and painting them white, I’ll be able to use these areas to highlight special tchotchkes once I get it home and hang it on my office wall.
TOP PHOTO: Kelly Beall BOTTOM PHOTO: Edelman
I’m really happy with how it turned out! I plan on going over the white areas with a smaller brush and one more coat before calling it complete, but I’m counting this guy as a success. The Pantone Universe paint in Valspar’s Signature covered like a dream and was so incredibly saturated with color. I only did one layer of the grey if that tells you anything. Oh, and it dries to the touch in 20 minutes! I know you’re going to love it as much as I do.
Disclaimer: Travel and hotel in NYC provided by Pantone and Valspar. All words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Design Crush going!
Posted In house and home, sponsored post, walls
Have you ever grown anything using hydroponics? I haven’t, but I’m intrigued by Modern Sprout. I love how simple this windowsill box looks and can definitely imagine it in my kitchen busting at the seams with herbs. Place the planter near a sunny window, set the timer, add plants and organic fertilizer and plug it in. That’s it. Even my brown thumb might have trouble messing that up!
We dyed some of my favorite Easter eggs ever, they were striated! Bebe got her first haircut and came home looking like a totally different dog (I’m only just now getting used to her lack of scruff!). I retired my 5 1/2 year old MacBook Pro for this new beauty, and after a few weeks finally have everything transferred/installed/updated. I turned into a little bit more of the old lady I’m destined to become by hanging a few plates on the wall in my kitchen. Paused for a selfie or two. Spied this tongue in cheek moving truck on Broadway. Met a 17 year old (!) lab named Billie, after Billie Holiday naturally. Spent 4 glorious days in Austin. And spent another 4 in NYC.
Posted In my life
Geometric things resonate with me. Jewelry, tattoos, art – you name it. The Animal Alphabet in Primitive Portraits by Mat Mabe is something I’ve been thinking about since first seeing it several days ago, each face is so distinct and each animal feels so alive it might jump off the print. (via Design Milk)
I love crystals and gems in a very un-magical, un-hippy way – it’s more of a holy crap science connection between us. These scarves by Jen Altman for Cisthene are rocking my world in a big way. The 48 x 48″ beauties are created from her photography on crêpe de chine silk fabric and I think I wouldn’t mind turning them into everything from dresses to head wraps. Science!
01/ La Petit Prince, an imaginary world created for a boy with Muscular Dystrophy.
02/ Warp and Weft, an intricate series of portraits created from thread and nails.
03/ Invisiplug is sort of brilliant.
04/ Talk about space-saving, canvas furniture that hangs on your wall!
05/ Two clouds carrying human figures is suspended above travelers at a station in London.
06/ CMYK halftones recreated by hand.
07/ A recent look at the remains of the New York World’s Fair.
08/ A telephoto lens for your iPad!
09/ Picture our devices and gadgets in 100 years.
10/ Skies created from hundreds of stacked photos.
In case you missed it:
Tips&Tricks: Gardening + Landscaping
Emily Barletta
Crane & Canopy
Nicole Aquillano Ceramics
Wonderful Forever
Pants: Loose + Patterned
When In Austin
Austin, Texas is just about 400 miles or a 6 hour drive from Oklahoma City, but I’ve only visited a few times. When The Jealous Curator (aka Danielle Krysa) announced her Girl Crush workshop with the extremely talented Alyson Fox I knew I had to be a part of it in some capacity. So what does one Crush do for another? She volunteers to be an assistant for a few days of course.
Last Thursday I made the trek down to Austin and picked up Danielle at the airport before we headed out to Alyson’s stunning modern home in Spicewood. She and her husband helped to design it from the ground up and it’s incredible – not to mention the view that tranced me out more than once. Alyson was kind enough to invite us to stay with her for a few days, and each morning I woke up to the sun. I hadn’t slept as many hours as usual, but felt so well rested. (I think that definitely had something to do with with the sun and not a blaring alarm.)
Danielle and I spent Friday in the SoCo (South Congress) neighborhood. We had lunch at some of Austin’s famous food trailers (mahi mahi tacos and cheesy waffle fries!) before visiting a few galleries. grayduck Gallery was definitely a standout. But the day wouldn’t have been complete without a stop at Gordough’s Big Fat Donuts, I went with the Funky Monkey and definitely had a moment.
And then it was all about Girl Crush! We put together a gift bag for each lady with Alyson’s book A Shade of Red: One Lipstick and One Hundred Women
Saturday morning we started off with a bevy of fruit, pastries, and coffee before digging into the nitty gritty workshop Danielle has perfected. All of the ladies were so open with their creative triumphs and struggles, I walked away feeling rejuvenated and knowing I had to make more time for my own creativity again.
Alyson is not only a mind-blowing artist, she’s also amazing in the kitchen and made our entire meal (for 14!) herself. I have an APB out for her recipes.
The afternoon wrapped up with tasty cupcakes from Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop (who just won Cupcake Wars!) and several hours of post-Girl Crush chatting.
That night Danielle and I were lucky enough to stay over at artist Rebecca Rothfus‘ new home. She and her boyfriend had moved in literally a week prior to our visit! The space was amazing on so many levels – the mid-century just oozed out of it. (There’s even a built-in espresso maker in the kitchen!) I think I walked around most of the time with my mouth hanging open.
After a quick brunch with friends at Bouldin Creek Cafe I was back on the road to OKC. I’ll be back, Austin. I will be back.
Posted In my life
Sun Tile Mix Print Palazzo Pants by Ella Moss // Gwen Neon Lights Pants by Elizabeth and James // Garden Daydream Pants by Talulah
This is one of my favorite spring fashion trends – loose patterned pants that can be paired with a simple tee, strappy sandals, and a smile. Some are looser than others, but all look perfectly suited to wear for a good-to-the-last-bite brunch or cookout. Do you think you’ll be grabbing onto this style or have you already?
Marais Pant by Wilfred // Silk Trousers by Sea // Brushstroke Gessler Pants by Elizabeth and James
Culottes in Scarf Print by ASOS // Zig Zag Wide Leg Trousers by Topshop // Minos Culottes by Mother of Pearl
Posted In round up, wear it
Even though I don’t think I’ve ever visited a national park (sidenote: that needs to change), I’m definitely crushing on these Wonderful Forever maps from best Made Company. Choose from three park maps – Grand Teton, Yosemite, or Yellowstone – that are designed, silk screened, and numbered in St. Paul, MN.
