Afternoon Shadows

Photos of Bertoia Side Chair by me

Monday Style: Color Blocks

I just love, love , love the retro pattern of these items!
Shawl Collar Coat
Ana Striped Candles
Stephenson Chair Slipcover - College Stripe Wool
Ranch Cotton Stripe Rug, Dash & Albert

How To Dry Hydrangeas

I have always wanted to figure out how to dry Hydrangeas properly, so the petals keep their shape and color. Turns out the trick is in the timing. It has to be toward the end of the season, October - November, when blooms start drying slightly out and changing colors, but still are in good shape. Apparently, this cannot be achieved with store-bought Hydrangeas, as they are just too fresh and full of moisture. Once your plant is ready, cut off the flowers, remove leaves off the stems, and display them in a vase filled with water. The water will evaporate with time and this will allow for the flowers to stay fresh and dry out naturally, preserving the color. In the end, you will have beautiful dried arrangement that will last you for years.

Friday Arts & Crafts: Pillow Coronation

The pillow I made in the summer turned out to be beautiful, but the wide stripe of the linen fabric front needed some interesting detail. I decided to make a stencil and used professional dye to add a silhouette of a crown.

Monday Style: She Is A Vision

Halvah Maxi Dress by Leifsdottir

Pillow Talk Nailpolish, a personal favorite from Essie
Fresh from Fresh: Sugar Passion Lip Treatment
Foxglove Boots by Pezzella
Victorian Cameo Ring by Doyle & Doyle

Perfect Fall Flower Arrangement: Chinese Lantern Plants

#79 Chinese Lantern Plant





Physalis

Friday Art: Face, The Challenge

Drawing a face is always a challenge. Somehow it always turns out to look like your own face. Try it for yourself.

Design*Sponge At Home

Today I attended a very special event at Plant Zero where I met Richmond native Grace Bonney, the mastermind behind the ever-inspiring Design*Sponge. She gave an incredible lecture about how it all began, what brought her to start the blog and how it evolved into what it is right now. She shared a lot of points from her personal experience, how she always searches for new inspirations, learns new skills, never settles for familiar, always takes risks. She has a mind of a businessperson; she grew through experimenting with blogging about what she loves, through collaboration and networking with others, through tons of research. Grace knows her audience well and it results in a tremendous following.

Energized by her story I return home with her new book, Design*Sponge at Home. It's autographed to navyblueshoe!

Monday Style: Yarn Jewels

Erin Considine

Friday Art: Fashion Design & Illustration

It is Friday morning and I am on my way to attend my favorite class, Fashion Design & Illustration, with our fabulous teacher Catherine Southall. The thing is, I cannot get enough of this class, it is so much fun!
Fascinated by the illustration style of Eduard Erlikh, I make an attempt to draw with an unfamiliar medium, watercolors. The trick it to be fast, and I am the opposite of fast when it comes to drawing and painting...

Monday Style: Brand New Wardrobe

It is Monday. The end of Daylight Saving Time makes days seem noticeably shorter. The chill is in the air, lots of it... It is time to brighten up the wardrobe with items that will keep you happy, warm and super-stylish. I am so happy to see the variety of styles this fall's fashion has to offer! These are my favorite selections for this week:
Lulu Blue/Gray Hat from Line Collection by Claudia Schulz
Harlequinade Necklace from Anthropologie
Swizzle Socks in Gold from Marc By Marc Jacobs
Leather Wedge Lace-Up Shoes by Burberry
Linea Cropped Cardi in Lilac from Anthropologie
Tile-Quilted Pencil Skirt by Charlie & Robin

Friday Art: Johnathan Brilliant

Today is the first Friday of the month, and all of the local galleries are about to open their doors to showcase new artwork from favorite artists. I was lucky enough to see a sneak preview of the Stick Stack Show, an installation by Johnathan Brilliant at the Visual Arts Center.
Materials:
~wooden stir stick, woven (no glue was used)
~paper cups, stacked
~paper cup sleeves, stacked
~plastic straws, stacked
~plastic lids






Photos by me. Thank you, Ginny Hass, for posing!