Challenge Reveal: A Love Supreme

Earlier this month, I began working on a scene to feature some of the new items I purchased or received as gifts. Last week I decided to pull the rest of you miniaturist in when I posed a quick and dirty little challenge but then I went and got all more is more. Hey it's all still very modern, plus it tells a story or 10. 

Welcome to the craft room/studio for two sisters. Meet the Illustrator and the Cellist, neither has a valentine this year so they chose to be one another's. Their month has been busy thus far. They've attended a number of events from a Wear Red dress fashion show to raise money for heart disease in women, to a National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day seminar, to performing in the Vagina Monologues which raises money to end domestic violence.

These ladies are so full of talent they each suffer a bit from adult ADD (attention deficit disorder) and this room truly reflects that fact.  

After spending time earlier in the week enjoying songs from the John Coltrane catalog like A Love Supreme and making cards and such, they've decided to spend the evening watching movies. Up first...Imitation of Life. A powerful story about maternal love. Followed by...KamaSutra. It's about...well, the name says it all! Breakfast At Tiffany's, The Notebook and Love Jones round out the roster of pull-at-your-heart-strings tales of love (and/or romance). The snacks are in place. Tonight they dine on sushi and chocolate. Why you might ask? Because it's great to feel sexy always, weather one has a man or not, no? 

Happy Valentine's Day! Be sure to click through the link to read more about the February Design Challenge reveals.

Details: Lil'Bratz Stylin' Space from eBay; cork side table with script from PRDminiatures, bottles filled with micro beads purchased from The Dollar Store; scrollwork mirror purchased from local flea market; red vase inside bookcase was swap gift from Mini Dork; "Love" cut-out was a gift from The Shopping Sherpa. 

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. 

Swaps, Giveaways & A Challenge

Parcels have been crossing the globe and two special one's have found their way to my mailbox. Each quite literally coming from opposite sides of the world.  I just had to share them. First during Inauguration week(end),  I received a hefty package from Mini Dork in California.

This is just my second swap. (Here's more on my first swap.) I'm still a newbie and get very, very excited. Thanks again M!

Quite honestly, I only discovered earlier this week while perusing the archives over at The Shopping Sherpa (TSS) that part of the etiquitte of a swap is to open only one package in the parcel per day until there are no more left. TSS explained it all but I didn't know this until after opening up all this "green goodness" (that was our theme) to discover exactly what I'd received. Now that I'm more informed, I think I just might try to exercise some restraint on the next go 'round. But I'm curious to know just how many of you all open just one package a day upon receiving your swaps? Please do tell!

Next, I was quite surprised to learn that TSS decided to make it rain goodies from one of her favorite stationary shops called Typo. (At least, for everyone who commented on her blog post that day). Woohoo! I like receiving international packages. It's so fun thinking how far it traveled just to reach me.

I received this package of cool laser cut wood icons and one of TSS's postcards showcasing her mad photography skills. It read, "I can't wait to seeing what you make with these."

So I've decided to put out a quick and dirty small challenge. Design a scene around some holiday or observance in February (Valentine's Day, Wear Red for Women, Chinese New Year) you see where I'm going with this, right? I'll be publishing my reveal post next week on Valentine's Day (February 14th). Please try to post your own challenge reveal on (or as close to) February 14 as possible, then link back to this post. I'll add links for everyone who participates, as well. Everyone is a winner here as we add to our blog conversations for this month. Tell me, are you in?

Tutorial: Miniature Magnetic Furniture

napkin rings, West Elm 

Last spring, I picked up a pair of white metal napkin rings from West Elm.  I believed they would be a staple in creating any number of awesome pieces of miniature furniture. Little did I know exactly how much I'd love them and use them again and again. When I returned to the store to buy more, they were all sold out (sighs with disappointment). You can imagine my surprise when an unpainted version reappeared during the holiday season. I've picked up four more napkin rings hoping that will be enough to satisfy my imagination.

These are great supplies for building furniture
with magnets.

I began attaching different shaped magnets to the napkin rings and other metal miniatures I had on hand.  There's a brand called Mighty Magnets that are strong enough to maintain their attraction through glass and acrylic pieces. Great, a chance for more versatility. So this is just about the easiest tutorial ever. Use super strong magnets of various shapes with metal, acrylic or glass to make some awesome modern furniture and fixtures. Unleash your creativity! Check out the pieces I made below.

Metal side tables (horizontal)

Painted side tables (on left: horizontal; center: vertical)
Coffee table (on right)

Vessel sinks on pedestals (on left: tall; on right: low)

Rear center: metal fire pit 

Details: metal and glass condiment bowls are from Ikea; acrylic blocks from Michael's; all magnets purchased from The Container Store

Oh, here's a short little video to sum everything all up...

Champagne Chair Contest Winners Announced

DWR announced the winners of it's Champagne Chair Contest late (for EST) this afternoon. They did something different this year by choosing 10 finalists and 7 honorable mentions.  I don't think my email had anything to do with that decision, since I have yet to receive a response from them. (I wonder if they received my original message? Doh!)

Nevertheless, the blog post announcing the winners read...

"On behalf of our judges and everyone here at DWR, we would like to congratulate the winners and all of the contestants on their beautiful, innovative and functional designs this year. Thank you for taking the time to create a champagne chair for our special contest. Please browse all 319 submissions here." 

I guess that's the part I found most meaningful. I was surprised to discover that there had only been 319 submissions. Perhaps, I should feel less bad about not making even a ripple in the design pool that is the Annual Champagne Chair Contest. And who doesn't like being told they had a "beautiful, innovative and functional design"?

F8 Chaise, Aaron Padilla---3rd Place

There's no need for me to cut and paste the DWR post since it was pretty short and to the point. You can read all the details for yourself here.  However, I will give a shout out for the F8 chaise, my personal favorite created by Aaron Padilla. I cannot believe it only won third place, the $250.00 DWR gift card! But hey, I'm not a professional designer. Well, perhaps Aaron will enjoying picking out a nice pillow or some other sort of accessory. Actually, I've taken the liberty of "recommending" a few items for that gift card. We all know DWR products don't come cheap and $250.00 spends like $10.00 elsewhere. He he he...

18"x26" Design 9297 Pillow, $250

Geneva Sound System XS, $249.95

5 Neutra House Numbers, $24 ea

Eames Hang It All, $199.00

8 Almoco 5pc Flatware Settings, $30 ea

2 Corniche Shelves,  $235.00-250.00

Congratulations to Jeffery Molter and Miwa F. as well for their designs of the second and first place winning chairs respectively. Hope to see them all on display at the DWR Georgetown before too long. 

Presidential Inauguration Style

Just seven days ago, the President was sworn into his second term of office. If you are a big fan of symbolism and history, know that 21 January 2013 was over-the-top full of it. Inauguration Day was also MLK Day in the 50th year since the March on Washington, the 150th year since the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the completion of the dome on the Capitol (for the second time). It was also the day before the 40th anniversary of the momentous Roe v. Wade decision. Although I wanted to drop these pearls of historical trivia, it is not the primary purpose of today's blog post. As so many of you know, the presidential inauguration is a major production filled with design, fashion and style.  I've collected some images from this year's celebration and the celebration four years ago.

The first family graces the podium with style and color. The Obama women prove to be an asset, each color and personality complementing our 44th president (who also opts for a bright red tie).

In 2009, A new birth of freedom, the youth and changing of
the guard marked by the Obama's arrival was punctuated by
a palette from the entire color wheel. (Image: Reuters)

In 2013, Faith in America's future, an older Obama family is 
outfitted in an analogous color palette. 
(Image: tomandlorenzo.com)

Prom, wedding, golden anniversary...inauguration is the closest Americans come to a coronation with all the pomp and circumstance one would expect to accompany the occasion. Do you love typography, paper or political ephemera? Enjoy this.

Clockwise from the top: 2009 commemorative single day
Metro fare card,  DNC Inaugural Reception ticket,  gallery 
exhibit flyer, 2009 Inaugural Staff Ball ticket

Official 2013 Inaugural Invitation with raised presidential 
seal in gold foil

2013 Inaugural Ceremonies Program

Clockwise from top: 2013 commemorative renewable 
Metro fare card, map of ticketed inauguration viewing 
areas, Inauguration Ceremonies ticket, commemorative 
Inaugural Invitation with raised gold foil logo

Instagram: my 2013 Inaugural 
Staff Ball ticket

Many of you are used to seeing the cliche red, white and blue ribbon that adorns the inaugural stage constructed on the west lawn of the capitol every four years.  However, the set production for the inaugural balls is far more elaborate.  These pictures below show stages from the 2009 and 2013 venues. Each features the official inaugural logo. The perfect backdrop for the first couple. The formal white tire attire for POTUS* is both modern and minimal. For each celebration, FLOTUS** opts for a moderately adorned gown in a patriotic color that is flowing and ethereal.

2013: Presentation of the Colors at The Staff Ball

 

White tie & Jason Wu white
silk chiffon (Image: Getty, 2009)

White tie & Jason Wu chiffon &
velvet in regal red (Image: Getty, 2013)

In 2013, the First Couple dances to "Let's Stay Together" as serenaded by 
Jennifer Hudson. In 2009, the First Couple danced to "At Last" 
as serenaded by Beyonce Knowles.  Both songs appropriate for the times. (Image: michellepictures.com)

 
  *POTUS - President of the United States
**FLOTUS - First Lady of the United States

Elevate Your Style with Jean Prouve

Here's my haul from Spain!

I fell in love with the African stools featured at Minismodernas. I held off making the purchase for some time because I try to avoid international shipping fees.  Alas, these stools were too fabulous to pass up. When I did make my purchase, I added more great items to make the shipping price worthwhile, of course. Everything was well packed and arrived in great condition.  I really like that PayPal was available because it makes transactions so much easier. Thank you Minismodernas!

Guy gets girlfriend and suddenly a little style and flair are
infused into the starter-apartment.

You've seen a version of this scene before.  I began working in the new pieces to raise the level of design. (Maybe our apartment owner just got a new girlfriend.) Prouve chairs are a mid-century modern staple. Perhaps they were purchased from a thrift store in bad condition and refurbished for this starter-apartment? A day spent at the flea market on 26th at the Avenue of the Americas (Manhattan, NY) plus great negotiating skills helped our guy get a deal on the African stool. You get the idea. So have you ever lent your creativity and design expertise to a college boyfriend/future husband (or anyone else) to help them step up their design game? Please, leave a comment and tell me all about it.