Nail Art? Not!

These small jars are filled with extraordinarily tiny beads. Apparently manicurists use them to create create on-trend nail styles.  

The Caviar Manicure.
(Image from primped.ninemsn.com.au)

I take a fairly classic approach to manicures and pedicures. In fact, I generally forgo polish all together on my fingernails opting simply for a buff and shine.  Why? Because I hate chipped polish and I don't have the discipline or disposable income to keep up a manicure. For my feet I opt for short, well shaped nails adorned in a single bold or bright color. Think: Chanel's Vamp knock-off or orange. 

Thriftier Vamp option: Tell Me Moor! by OPI

Decals, jewels, micro beads...uh...not so much. Once, I did get daring. I purchased a bottle of gold glitter polish by OPI to complement the purple pedicure I'd just received. A coat of old gold glitter over my purple tootsies (just one on each foot) to recognize the centennial celebration of my father's fraternity...Omega Psi Phi! I didn't get too many comments on the pedicure when I went out that night. Oh well guess there weren't that many foot fetishists out and about ; )

Glitter top coat looked a little like this. 
(Image from www.luuux.com)

Color base coat looked a little like this purple glitter.
(Image from air-tan.com/blog)

Enough of the digression on beauty trends! I was lucky enough to pick up this pack of 8 bottles from the dollar store. Wow, that's a little more than 12 cents a bottle. I cannot wait to use these in a mini scene. Perhaps my next kitchen or artist's studio. Who knows...we shall see. Most of you in the miniature blogoshpere are a pretty thrifty bunch. This post is a simple reminder: don't forget your dollar stores. 

A Modern Eclectic Style

All I want for Christmas is the new collection of modern furniture pieces from Dolls House Emporium. This room setting from their website was captioned, A Modern Eclectic Style. And indeed it is! I am surprised at how DHE continues to add contemporary and modern pieces to their inventory each year. My number one pick added to my miniature lust list? The Ghost Chair, of course!

Form Over Fame

Day 59. Image source: brandspirit.tumblr.com

What happens to an object when you take away its branding? Andrew Miller is the branding and marketing strategist behind Brand Spirit, a 100-day design project where he gives us the answer to that very question. He documents the results on his blog by the same name.  He describes the project in this way:

"Every day for 100 days, I will paint one branded object white, removing all visual branding, reducing the object to its purest form. I can purchase each object for less than $10, it can be something I own, something another person gives me, or something I find."

From top to bottom: Days 100, 39, 60, 61 and 14.
Image source: brandspirit.tumblr.com

I really enjoyed this project and was surprised to see how a simple paint job could alter the way I viewed an object. Some of the most humble minutiae from everyday living was elevated into an interesting study in form, perhaps even a soothing sculptural object. Well, that's my take on it but what do you guys think?

Challenge Reveal: Design Within (my) Reach

Magazine/Catalog Challenge:

Many may be elbow-deep in major undertakings such as the DHE Creative Competition, Greenleaf's Spring Fling Contest or the Miniatures.com Creatin Contest. However, after the fun and near immediate gratification from the wallpaper challenge, Cyd of My Mini Mod Pod took up the gauntlet and suggested we recreate a scene from a catalog or magazine in miniature.  The deadline was May 1st. Fortunately, in the realm of challenges for inspiration and fun, deadlines are shall we say flexible. Ha ha. Thanks also to Megan of Mini Modern Houses and her insatiable archival needs, no challenge is ever forgotten.

I'm so captivated by the recreated in miniature scenes.  Be sure to check out the Home Beautiful Magazine scene recreated by The Shopping Sherpa in the link below. It continues to be a stunner, even today.  When it actually comes down to doing a scene of my own, I always seem to get stuck. I feel my inventory of miniatures furnishings is too small or my miniature craftsmanship skills are too limited.  That being said, my approach to this challenge was...let's just call it...minimalist.

modern and miniature Design Within (my) Reach

This was taken from a July 2007 Design Within Reach catalog. Hence, the title of this post. Why do I have such an old catalog? For research, of course! (I'm not so sure if the DWR.com website was the powerhouse of resources it has become today.) 

Like everyone else, there were elements to this set up that I had to make by hand. The "Little Field of Flowers" rug required that I painstakingly punched each and every tiny leaf from scrapbook embellishments---which were themselves leaves made from mulberry paper.  I also made two of the books.  So there you have it!

Check out other miniature catalog/magazine layouts at these blogs:  Jazzi Mini, Left Coast Mini and My Mini Mod Pod

We were also inspired by the works created by these great blogger pre-challenge:  Raum für Raum and The Shopping Sherpa

More Details:  bamboo floor samples from Lowe's; Eames chair by ReacJapan; yellow book from Kaleidoscope House Collection by Bozarts Toys; rug made by me from eco-friendly felt covered with leaf-punched scrapbook embellishments, both by Recollections.

Love Your Shoes

Images via http://cubeme.com

I spyed this lovely piece of furniture recently.  It's a wonderfully simple design that can change and evolve depending on how you fill it---be it with 30 pairs of... 

these



or

these.
Image source: thecontainerstore.com

Though,Yordan Atanasov has named his design "Love Monono" (warning: designer shoes not included) it would nicely showcase any shoes.  I like these...

Slingback Wedge Ankle boot by 
Diane von Furstenberg

Julie by Dolce Vita

Bella by Dolce Vita. Pick any of these up 
from studio7 at Styleowner.com

Here's a nice bonus. He has intended the design be environmentally friendly and specifies that the cabinet should be constructed from recycled plastic or reclaimed wood.  Never mind that I don't have the space, this "Love Manolo" shoe cabinet would be such a fabulous alternative to my current shoe storage option.  

Practical but lackluster storage solution for 
just some of my shoes.

Well, you can't stop a lady from dreaming or getting some design inspiration for that matter. That's my shoe situation.  How do you love store your shoes?

This post is part of a Fashion Fridays blog hop hosted by Kori of Blonde Episodes. 
Check out Fashion Fridays!

Got Midcentury Modern Chairs?

I found these at a cute home accessories store called Tabletop and I thought about just how on-trend the pattern is and all of my friends here in the modern miniature blogosphere.

So you've collected all the Reac Japan Designer Chairs or decorated with as many refinished vintage finds as your life-sized house can hold, but you still haven't satisfied your craving for the modern designer chairs from the mid(20th)century.  What are you ever to do??? From Etsy to Inhabit to SFMOMA, check out this roundup of the iconic silhouettes on everything.

Is this good or bad design?  Does it take away from the original sculptural beauty of these chairs? Which chair is your favorite? Talk to me, let me know. (Note: click through to Olioboard for all the details on the items in the roundup.)

Going Bold in A Small Space

I came across this photo while web surfing.  It was part of an article entitled Go Bold in A Small Space and I was reminded by the scale of the wallpaper in this bedroom that there is a miniature challenge under way.  The task is to begin with a sheet of speciality paper and see where the inspiration takes you.  With that said, I considered these choices...  

but settled on this.

The iconography makes for an easy room choice, huh? So, I reached in my stash...

This is what's slowly taking shape so far.  Stay tuned...

The Genius of Charles & Ray Eames

Image Source: USPS

Back in 2008 on what would have been Charles Eames' 100th birthday, the US Postal Service issued this set of commemorative stamps to honor the husband and wife design team. With 16 different panels, the set demonstrates the breadth of their influence and talents. I bought them immediately thinking I might some how work them into a miniature scene as paintings, like this.

Photograph by Doris Nathanson of Mini Modernista as
seen at A Miniature Obsession blog.

Fast forward to now, they still remain (safely protected) in the bottom of a drawer. I guess I wasn't sure how to display them without destroying the collector value of the stamps. Ugh! You can't have it all, right? Would I really want to sell or trades these stamps? Ah, no! But, they shall remain where they are---waiting to be showcased and appreciated.

 Image Source: (c) 2011 Eames Office

PBS also celebrated this creative couple with the documentary Charles & Ray Eames: The Architect and the Painter as a part of the American Masters series. It debuted last December but appears not to have an expiration date for streaming on the PBS website (what a treat). I really enjoyed learning about the personal and professional lives of the Eames couple. The film explores the 40 years that their studio, Eames Office thrived with productivity. It also includes archival film footage, photographs, ephemera, and even love letters. I didn't know that Charles was such a womanizer. Perhaps he always needed a new muse?  The film spans from the period shortly after the couple met through the death of Ray Eames.  It was an excellent visual biography so if you haven't done so already, check it out.

Don't Be Afraid of Snakes(kin)

Darien1 Booty (Image Source: Piperlime.com)

I adore these shoes! They are sculptural, sexy, and snakeskin, I mean python-embossed leather. I scooped up a pair of these Darien1 booties at Max Azaria in Georgetown after Christmas at a deep discount.  They are still available through Piperlime.com.  Although these funky beauties are a holdover from last season, it looks like this animal print will continue its popularity throughout the spring.

Kristin Wristlet (Image Source: Coach.com)

Over at Coach.com embossed python leather is featured on this new Kristin Wristlet as well as on many of their other handbags and accessories.  So my appreciation for and excitement over the current It fabric got me thinking, "Can you design a room around this item of clothing?". You remember, like they used to do in Domino Magazine.  (I'll still miss that magazine!)  Well of course you can!  And I did!  In miniature, of course.

I used this fabulous fabric (no animals were harmed in the design of this room---I promise) to upholster two walls in this room and I think they make a great backdrop for the bed. Full disclosure, this room came into being before I purchased my beloved pair of shoes. But that just lets you know that I've been an admirer of snakeskin, er uhm python-embossed leather for some time now.

Here are the details on the goods in this room: pink ant chair by Reac Japan; box spring, mattress and pillows are Kaleidoscope House furniture set; table, tansu step chest, and Marimekko mug by Rement; cell phone was an accessory that came with a mini Bratz doll; plaid teddy bear was a cell phone charm I picked up from a local store that specializes in Asian imports; and the framed photograph, pink neck rolls and Marimekko floorcloth are also custom made by me.