You Can Do It: Golden Glass Bottles

I’ve been collecting glass bottles from seltzer, sangria, and sauces for months now. Last weekend I finally figured out what I wanted to do with them, make gold colorblocked home accessories of course! It’s really easy if you have a half hour to spare and makes a great display when grouped together. Wanna learn how to make your own?

 

What you’ll need:
• glass jar(s) or bottle(s)
• painter’s tape
• spray paint in the color of your choosing
• newsprint or garbage bag

Start with a clean container. I soaked them labels off of mine in the sink with a little dish soap, then used a green kitchen scrubber to get the glue and label off.

 

Next, figure out where you want your paint line to hit and use a strip of painter’s tape to make a clean line all the way around the container.

 

At this point move the whole project outside if you haven’t already. Lay down a piece of newsprint or a garbage bag and flip the container upside down. Spray a light coat of paint to cover the base.

 

Once it’s dry, flip the container back over and use a bit more painter’s tape to attach a piece of a paper that covers the part you don’t want to get paint on. Then stuff the excess paper inside the opening.

 

Now lightly spray the sides, making sure to overlap the tape and paper. Allow to dry, then go over again if glass is showing through.

 

Once the paint is completely dry remove the paper and tape. Tada! A super clean line. And now you have a vase, or pencil container, or insta-accesory.

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Stately Sandwiches

There’s definitely a trend of state-based projects making the circuit lately, and I have to say I love it. The latest is Kelly Pratt’s Stately Sandwiches. She and a group of friends around the country will be noshing on sandwiches from all 50 states, then Pratt will create a poster for each deconstructed sammie. She’s eleven states in, so stay tuned if yours hasn’t shown up just yet! (via Laughing Squid)

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Happy Weekend

01/ Mapping the origins of NYC rappers.
02/ This compatibility quiz is AWESOME.
03/ Faces in strainers.
04/ A fun ombre embroidery sampler.
05/ Dogs In Cars, a photography book.
06/ Check out this show-stopping glass raindrops installation.
07/ Reel is some super fun bike storage.
08/ Crushing on this interchangeable stamp ring.
09/ I could really use one of these notebooks!
10/ Pretty DIY watercolor linens.

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It’s Party Time (Well Almost)

I’m really excited/humbled/overwhelmed that Design Crush is turning 5 next week. That’s like a grandma in blog years! I never could have made it this far without all of your support and dedication, honestly. I’m thankful for each and every one of you. </end sapfest>

I’m also really thrilled to announce that there will be a party to celebrate the occasion!!! Thanks to the always-on-top-of-it Engage OKC, we’ll be commandeering the Wedge on Western Avenue July 8th at 6pm. There’ll be a cake by Cookie + Kate and goodies galore!  Head on over to check out the goings on and make sure to RSVP by July 4th. I hope to see lots of you there – I’ll be the girl in the pink dress with black polka dots. xo

UPDATE: Due to the awesomeness of the Oklahoma City Thunder and their place in the NBA Finals, the party has been rescheduled for Sunday, July 8th. Now you have no reason not to make an appearance. *wink, wink*

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Little Corners: For Me, For You

Opening the doors to her L.A. apartment is today’s Little Corners’ hostess, Kate Miss of For Me, For You blog and jewelry renown!

I’m a restless creature in many aspects of my life, and my home is no exception, if not the biggest victim/benefiter (depending on your point of view) of this side of my personality. Everything is in a constant state of flux and never quite finished. Therefore I love the idea of just showing you a few of my favorite corners of my apartment because that’s what I’m all about: perfecting little spots, rather than entirely decorating me home. Sure, I’d love for it to be entirely decorated, but that’s not the reality of the situation most of the time. Someday.

 

 

Living in LA means reaping the benefits of the sunshine, and I’m lucky enough to live in a classic old Hollywood apartment (owned by Clark Gable back in the day!) with tons of French windows, which means abundant light. Which means my love of plants has turned into a full-blown obsession. I can’t stop buying them and my boyfriend is no help as he loves them as well. It started with one plant table and has now grown to three different clusters in the apartment that get the best rays of sun. I like keeping it a little wild and full, it’s the first thing people comment on when they walk into my apartment: “Dang, plants!” Luckily our cat Wendy has zero interest in nibbling on them.

 

 

some details: kitchen posters by Reference Library, all furniture is vintage except the dining table, which is self made with hairpin legs, art above the cat + chair by William Steinman, prints on the white shelf are by Prismatic Print Shop and Carolin Loebbert, the tree poster peeking out in one of the plant photos was limited edition with Amelia’s magazine and not for sale anymore! My favorite places to buy plants in LA: on the east side – Sunset Nursery, on the west side – Lucky Plant.

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The May That Was

Decorated with some eucalyptus.
Created my own golden menagerie.
Started reading Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson and could barely put it down.
Planted a kitchen window herb garden.

 

Bought pretty flowers for my mom on Mother’s Day.
Created some DIY neon color blocked planters for my herbs. (Similar to these.)
Accidentally did some nail art with gold spray paint.
Reacquainted myself with Banana Bread Beer.

 

Dined at OKC’s newest hot spot – Flint.
Did a little rearranging in the house.
Bathed Piper. Several times, much to her chagrin.
Took advantage of some blooms.

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Pen + Ink

I have five tattoos, did you know that? I also have about five more that I want. Pen & Ink is a blog about tattoos and the stories behind them. Every one has a tale, kinda like scars. Pen & Ink tells them through line drawings and beautiful hand-lettering. If you’re inked and have a hankering, you can even submit yours and it just might show up on the site.

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Chariot

When I daydream about the perfect bar cart (which I actually maybe do), this is it. Chariot by GamFratesti has a look that’s destined to become iconic with it’s large-wheeled profile and sleek design. Bottles on top, glassware underneath! (via Plastolux)

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Everything I Wish I Could Be

Artist Kent Rogowski’s Everything I Wish I Could Be is an exploration of language, emotions and the desire to change and improve. Self help books run the gamet, from relationships to death and every topic in between. Rogowski’s photographs these tomes arranged by theme, creating an image of emotions and lives lived through title pages and spines.

In the artist’s own words, “I had been thinking about how people deal with moments of pain and change in their lives and knew that I wanted to explore this in my work.  I started collecting self help books and realized that there was literally a book for every moment in life: from relationship advice to dealing with a midlife crisis. I liked the idea that I could create images that would represent individual moments in life using the books that were written to soothe and help with those moments.”

Lovely work that we can all identify with.

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