Feels Like Spring!

Today, I saw a Scissortail Flycatcher fluttering overhead as I sat waiting for the light to change in the intersection. It's one of those friendlier harbingers of spring here in central Oklahoma (the unfriendly one being severe weather and tornadoes). It's hard to believe it's that time of year already!

There are other reminders of spring around here, including my flowering plum tree, which looked like a giant ball of pink flowers until about a week ago. It was the model for my hand-embroidered wall art.

 The sun is already shining brighter than it was before, but the air is still cool and crisp, especially on a rainy day like today. It's sort of like the colors in this scarf.

Can you feel that breath of fresh air just looking at this picture?









However, when the sun does come out, it seems like the whole world is adorned in shades of white, yellow, and green. Sort of like this cheery 70s Mod plaque!



As for me, I've been spring cleaning around my house these past two months, and it feels so much better! I don't know how I have managed to accumulate so much clutter, but I certainly have. It can catch up with you and overwhelm you. I'm working on being a little more "house proud."

The first step has been to declutter. I have gotten rid of tons of paper I don't need any more (magazines from years ago, old records that I needed to shred, and clippings I just don't need to save). In the process, I found that a lot of what I have lying around is connected to negative or stress-inducing memories. I'm clearing that out, too. It's almost like an emotional spring cleaning!  I didn't expect the feeling of freedom to be so instantaneous. If you feel your house pressing in around you, maybe you should try it.

The second step, coming soon, will be to update my furnishings and surroundings. It feels so good to dream! It must be spring.

Southwestern Winds

I tried to blog here about a week ago, concerning the Olympics, but I had some issues with the graphics and ended up giving up on that idea.

Anyway, a week has passed, the Olympics are coming to an end, and I'm now blogging here again, this time about a different topic.  I recently took a road trip to the US desert.  July, in New Mexico, to be specific. I stopped and took pictures of some abandoned buildings that used to be part of the town of Cuervo, New Mexico. Here is one of them!

It occurred to me that the Southwestern desert is becoming a big trend in fashion and design this year.  In any case, it seems the desert influence is best used in subtle touches for maximum effect.  For instance, touches of stamped silver, turquoise, aged wood, sandy colored rope textures, leather, adobe, and Indian blanket motifs are very popular in clothing this year.

I decided to make a collection over on Artfire today to celebrate the Southwest.  Unfortunately, I can only link to it here, instead of showing the pictures, because it, too, is affected by a graphics issue. Not all of the pictures show when I try to display it here. I hope you'll get curious enough to follow the link and congratulate the sellers featured there. They have worked hard and deserve some support.

Southwestern Brown Scarf

I have a few Southwestern things over in my Etsy store, but only a few, and they are going fast.  I've not been able to keep anything with these motifs very long over there!  I have made the captions on these images clickable, in case you would like to learn more about these items.

The scarves, like this one, are perennial best sellers.  This one happens to be washable (for those who think vintage always means dry cleaning), and it's in the long, rectangular shape that is so popular these days.

I also found these interesting cups or mugs while hunting for vintage treasures.  I was intrigued by their unusual shapes, particularly the handles.  I did some research on the maple leaf mark on the bottom, and figured out they were actually cups from the "Mojave" pattern from Maple Leaf Pottery of Illinois (a division of Western Stoneware out of Monmouth, Illinois).  These cups date to the mid to late 60s, just judging by the mark and what I could learn of the pattern.  Very cool, huh?

Mojave Pattern Cups

Have you ever been to the Southwest?  What is your favorite part of the setting?  I think my favorite desert landscape includes mesas and a sunset.

New Year's Resolution: Redecorate on a Budget

In the spirit of making a change in 2012, many of us may have wished for new horizons and surroundings.  While it may not be workable to move right now, it is still possible to transform our surroundings in small and large ways.  One way to make a change is to redecorate, and it's even possible to do so on a budget.

Here are a few tips, in case redecorating was part of your New Year's resolutions for 2012:

• Seek out ideas from interior design blogs, magazines, and tv shows.  As much as possible, gather clippings together in one place.  I hear Pinterest is a great place to find interior decorating images and gather them on a digital pinboard.  There is also the old reliable method of collecting magazine clippings in a binder, notebook, or journal.
• Try to work with the furniture you have.  You don't have to run out and buy a whole new set of furniture if you want to redo a room.  Try making a graph of your room and small paper outlines of your furniture, so you can rearrange the pieces virtually before you exert your muscles, and be willing to swap furniture from other rooms in your house.  Another option is to paint or reupholster what you have (just not valuable antiques).
• Consider repainting the room.  Paint does cost something, but it is one of the cheapest ways to dramatically transform the room.  Before you pull out the drop cloths and get started, it is generally recommended that you paint a piece of posterboard with the paint you want to use and tack it to the wall for a few days.  This gives you a chance to see what the color looks like in different light levels (night, sunny day, rainy day, etc.), and lets you change your mind before you make it permanent.  For other tips, look online for articles such as this one.
• Bring in new pieces of art or other objects of interest.  If you have a good backdrop already established in furniture and wall color, it's time to accessorize the room!  Don't be afraid of some color and texture.  This is a chance to express your personality without spending a lot of money.  If you decide later that you don't like these things, you can replace them without a lot of regret.
• Buy vintage or handmade for maximum impact.  Stores may not have the style or type of furniture or decor you are looking for.  Here's your chance to have something custom made for your needs, or find something that no one makes anymore.  If you shop carefully, you might find something that will brighten your home and your life for years to come.

Until next time, I'm wishing you a happy new year!

P.S. I am currently running a 30% off sale on vintage fashion scarves for women.  Visit my Artfire store and enter the promo code NEWYEARSCARF in the box on the right at checkout.  Vintage scarves can be worn, framed as art, or reclaimed for decorating projects like throw pillows, so be sure to check out this deep discount!  The coupon is available all month.