Reflecting on a Depression Era Sign

Simple changes are my favorite kind of home project. You know...moving a piece of furniture, adding some artwork, changing out the pillow covers. Simple changes that make things just feel right.

This simple project involves a light that we put in a few weeks ago. See Star Light, Star Bright, First Star...is My Kitchen Light. We've simply added of a single piece of art to that same space for some warmth, interest, and inspiration.

STEP 1: 

A few weeks ago, we changed out the light...(for full post see Star Light, Star Bright, First Star...is My Kitchen Light)

(Move your mouse over the image to see the before and after! NOTE: If you are viewing this in a reader, you'll have to visit the post to view the effect.)

STEP 2:
I added some character above the sink with this small Depression Era sign.

(Move your mouse over the image to see the before and after! NOTE: If you are viewing this in a reader, you'll have to visit the post to view the effect.)

STEP 3:

Wait! There is no step 3. Unless you count taking photos a step. Nah, we won't count it. Two steps is all!!

The sign is an authentic hand-painted sign from the Depression Era. I picked it up at Sue's "Garage Sale" last August. I laugh at the term garage sale, because Sue Whitney's (of JunkMarket Style) version of a garage sale rivals any flea market, antique store, or junk shop. See here, here, and here. If you look at this sign close up, you can see the pencil outlines and the brush strokes of the ink. Old school sign making at its finest!

I've wondered about the sign and what it meant. Why would Depression Era employers not cash paychecks on payday? Perhaps it was because the employer didn't have enough money to cover everyone. That's just a guess though. Or maybe they didn't want the employees to spend their money carelessly over the weekend.

I love the historical significance of the sign. Like my recent inspirational toaster project, it provides an unexpected conversation piece in an unexpected place. As we all face the current recession, it also reminds me to be grateful each day.

Adorable Recycle Bags

We are loving these recycle bags from 18 Karats.  Bright and colorful, you can use them as gift bags also.

These bags run about $7.50-10 each. You can buy them directly at the 18karat web site.

Fabulous Lighting from Jonathan Adler

One of the biggest challenges we face as a small online retailer is finding good stuff to buy.  It's so hard, let us tell you.  We have to find things that are inexpensive enough, pretty enough, and nice enough in person so when the customers receive them, they'll be happy.

You think it's easy?

Ha!

Fortunately the lamps from Robert Abbey fit those criterias.  They are so well-made and well-priced, we never have been disappointed.

Here are some fabulous pieces from the Jonathan Adler collection for Robert Abbey:

These items will be posted on our site soon!

House Doctor 'Everyday' 2010

House Doctor har den specialla blandningen av färgglad kitsch, robust lantligt och bohemiskt avslappnat som känns så väldigt aktuellt just nu. I årets kollektion 'Everyday' snuddar de även vid 60- och 70-talet i sina mönster och former. Lägg märke till de härliga lampskärmarna. Hela katalogen kan du bläddra i här.

How to Show Love Every Day of the Year

Valentine's Day is not a big deal for us. In fact, it wasn't even this year. Ron went to an event with a buddy most of the day. I stayed home, did laundry, enjoyed quiet time, took Tanner for a walk, etc. What? Not spend Valentine's Day together?

Well, he was home for a couple hours. I gave him a card and some Hershey kiss roses that were sold as a Haiti fund-raiser at work. He started a fire in our fireplace and we just finished watching a movie together. Now he is off again to another buddy's house...something about snowmobiles.

  

This post is not actually about Valentine's Day. It is about my loving husband who surprises me with things all the time. You remember the "Just Because Day" post. Well, here is one more example of other times that Ron does stuff "just because."

The sculpture you see was another of Ron's inspired garage creations. He doesn't plan stuff out. Like an artist, he creates when inspired. The sculpture is made from three gears and a hollow metal ball. He surprised me with it a few weeks ago. 

Of course, I had to add my feminine touch to it. I noticed the ball had a hole in one end...hmmm...a vase? Definitely! Worked in with some other accessories, it is a mix of space-age and traditional materials.

 

The point of this post is not to focus on gifts themselves. It is to share the meaning of the gifts and the deep, respectful love they represent. The gear sculpture cost nothing. It was made with scrap pieces from the garage. The thing is...I love it, because it was created and/or given to me with one intention...to express my husband's love for me.

There are many other expressions of love. I remember reading "The Five Love Languages" many years ago. It's helped me to see that people give and show love differently. With that understanding, I could list hundreds of ways my husband expresses how much he loves me on daily basis. Besides saying "I love you" and giving gifts, even mundane things, such as lawn mowing, snow shoveling, and vehicle maintenance, are expressions of love. I know that when I do things around the house, I am also telling him that I love him, too.

Now, I am many things, but a relationship doctor or love expert is not one of them. Many people wonder how Ron and I can be so different yet stay together. He is an extrovert who loves engines and being always on the go. I am an introvert (believe it or not) who loves silent sports (no engines) and having quiet time. I am the thinker, he is the doer. The opposites thing works for us. What counts is that we share important core values, mutual respect, and an ever-deepening love for one another. Everything else works itself out.

So, today I know that I am loved. I know I married a wonderful man who knows how to love me. In that, I am content.

Loft Living

The LA Times has an article on loft living that's worth checking out. It features four lofts in the Toy Factory building, done four different ways.   The one shown below is our favorite.  It's so unique!

Image  via LA Times.

You can check out the rest of the feature here.

Hotel Convent de la Missió

Eftersom jag och min familj blivit väldigt förtjusta i Mallorca gör vi små resor dit då och då. Jag försöker alltid passa på att välja något kul och annorlunda hotell med häftig inredning. Ofta får jag massor av inspiration och idéer som jag sen kan använda i mitt jobb. Senast vi var i Palma blev det det här som heter Hotel Convent de la Missió. Inte världens bästa namn men ett väldigt vackert hotell som nästan helt går i vitt, beige och cremefärgat. Både rum och reception har vackra spanska kalkstensvalv. Pampigt men man hade också skapat en ganska avslappnad känsla med låga soffor, sacosäckar och fluffiga vita mattor. Den runda bollen som hängde i receptionen var gjord av grenar, ståltråd och glitter. Det tog mig ett tag att inse att den faktiskt inte hade något ljus inuti i. Bilderna är mina egna.


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Du hittar fler häftiga hotell under kategorin 'Hotell/Restaurang'

Pretty Cocktail Ottomans

We love, love using cocktail ottomans instead of cocktail tables.  It's a much softer look, plus you have more versatility with it.  For example, if you were to get bored with it you can always upholster it, put nailhead trims around it, change the fabric on it, make it tufted or untutfed...You get the idea.

Here are some that we kinda like from Jessica Charles.  They run between $900-1000 depending on fabric.

This round cocktail ottoman is our favorite.  You can get it skirted, or un-skirted as shown below.

If you like to design your own, Vanguard Furniture has a good program for personalized, customized ottoman. You can find it here.   Contact us if you need help with it.

Inspired Valentine's Day Thoughts

We wish you a love-filled Valentine's Day!

As you communicate your feelings to friends and family,

remember to show yourself some love

through kind thoughts, words, and actions.

Appreciate yourself as much as other people do!

What loving thing can you do for YOURSELF today?

Cool Architect Desk for Small Offices

We were looking for an interesting, cool, and most importantly, cheap desk for a small home office and came accross this one. It's similiar to the one at Williams Sonoma but it's less expensive. It's so adorable in person too...

The desk is small (about 60W by 30H), which makes it perfect for a small space.  It costs $850 including shipping.  It is manufactured by Bailey Street.  You can find it here.

Some ideas for items that would help complete the office:

Rug from Mats-The Basics

Flowers Arrangement

Leather Chair

Jonathan Adler Table Lamp

Here are some pictures from Willams Sonoma (love that store!). that shows the desk in room settings: