It Works if you WORK IT!

  

 

admit I have a dark side to my design aesthetic and happen to love absurd details relating to addiction incorporated into my home.  I'm absolutely jonesing, and have been, for Jonathan Adler's vices canisters.  I'm eagerly awaiting the newest additions to the collection - the one with Viagra inscribed is my favorite for no particular or personal reason. Ahem.  Anyhooo....leaning on the morbid side of dark would be this elaborate chandelier made of syringes by artist, Andy Diaz Hope.  Beautiful in it's own right, but not necessarily something I want adorning my living room.  So, as I save up for my JA canisters, I'll settle for some cute (and quite inexpensive for the impact) coasters with pills on them from Fishs Eddy scattered about surfaces.  Very Valley of the Dolls, no?  And I'll be awaiting with MUCH anticipation the arrival of my new needlepoint kit.  I have been laboring over which image to choose and finally landed on a Madge picture circa 1980-when?   Clearly, pre-Kabbalah & the health conscious Madonna we know and love today, but the incarnation to which I am most drawn.

Boobies!

very so often I take a moment to remember to feel grateful I have my Tia Lonna in my life.  She is my Godmother and FAVORITE aunt.  She endured breast cancer and survived!  Her strength is a constant driving force that helps me in countless ways.  So, this post is in honor of her courage and grace.

Which brings us to the color PINK, patron saint and official color of Breast Cancer Awareness.  Happens to be one of my favorite colors and one that I'd utilize more in my fashion and home decor if I were a girl, that's for sure.  Alas, I am only able to use it sparingly but I do and that's the point.  Le Grand Trainon - one-time home to the French Royal family - is one of my all-time-make me faint uses of the color pink in architecture.  All that glorious pink marble!!!  Decadence beyond belief - tho' this is the type of attitude where gross displays of wealth and entitlement caused a few heads to roll. Ouch.  Still, I'm glad this beautiful structure exists. 

Yo Mama!

pecial.  That was the make of Buick I owned and my only source of transportation during my dreaded high school years.  And, it was anything BUT special.  Somehow, from 1967 to 1987 it had acquired a patina which rivaled even the best Richard Serra sculpture.  I hated it! And I subsequently hated the color and texture of rust.  Until now.  These lighting fixtures by Mammalampa have restored my faith in the beautiful process of corrosion.  

Note: I eventually painted my car white and checkered it using black Contact paper squares painstakingly stuck to the body.   

Window Dressing

orgeous!  That's what I'd like to think when I view my windows.  This is not the case and seriously, if I have to stare at my ugly wooden "came-with-the-apartment" blinds for one more month I don't know what I'll do!  I can't afford to sew up something stupendous with the lovely Sarah Morris Maharam fabric I've been coveting since I first saw it, so I've been brainstorming as to what "cheap" solution I can come up with, yet will still add a chic touch tothe room without looking too homemade (ick!).  On my usual Monday morning strolls thru fashion on Style.com I stumbled across the Dior Fall 2010 Couture collection.  Some of the skirts, well, blew MY skirt up - so to speak.  I love the way the deep ink blue of this dress bleeds into the crisp white.  What a WONDERFUL idea for curtains.  I'd do the bleeding more at the bottom of each panel, but what an impact.  Plain silk curtains and a little dye and I'm visually appeased for the duration of yet another year on my lease!  You really never know where inspiration will strike.

Right To The Point

othing would irritate my boyfriend more than for me to endeavor to take on yet another creative project.  As it stands, I have about 4 in the works and not enough time to devote to any of them at the moment.  But, try telling this rationale to the ever churning creative wheels of my mind!  Thus, bringing me to my latest "want du jour": a custom needlepoint pillow.  In order for me to turn this one into a reality also involves needlepoint lessons.  Nevertheless!  I want it and need it.  I was inspired by the Jonathan Adler Disco Lady pillow.  Not sophisticated enough for my living room, but definitely headed in the right direction.  His pillow evokes a certain Liza quality so I went on the hunt for an image of Ms. Minnelli circa her Studio 54 days.  I decided the raw images of her from her sessions with Warhol - shot with a Polaroid camera - were just perfect.  They translate very well into the traditional medium of needlepoint and for about the same price as an Adler.  Check out the wonderful site Needlepaint.com.  Course, the hours and hours it will take me to complete will only make the finished product that much more enjoyable.  Remind me to tell you about my "latch hook porn" I made.  That's a whole 'nuther story.

Nymphen-mania!

orcelain tchotchkes aren't exactly what one thinks of when thinking modernity.  Or so I thought.  I have always been an admirer of skilled workmanship and old-world details and Nymphenburg certainly has some mad skillZ!  They often partnership with designers of all sensibilities.  I was drawn to the Capitano Spavento figurine from their Couture line, birthed out of a collaboration with fashion designer Gareth Pugh.  It embodies just enough of the funky, punky attitude I love.  Reminds me of the Grace Jones erotic dance scene from her cult(ish) hit(ish) vampire movie - aptly named VAMP.  She's painted head to toe in Keith Haring black and white makeup.  I want this "Nymph" piece for my mantle - which could get very crowded, very soon! 

Tie One On

bsolutely forever!  That's how long it takes to come across a vintage patio chair to match my Eames era vinyl laced lounge chair.  But, my persistence has paid off.  I found two cute little bucket chairs.  Sure, they are in need of a little lovin' touch, but thanks to a site that sells vinyl cording (for $150 - yikes!) I have all the confidence in the world these will look as wonderful as they did in the 60's.  I'll spray the metal body white and then decide on a color for the lacing.  I have been eyeing the Jonathan Adler "Kaliedoscope" pillows.  A pair of the small size propped on each chair would look amazingly adorable.