Colorful Subtleties

The weekend involved a few house projects (none of which were painting M's room) and a bit of garden tending. Three of the five beds in the front yard have been taken over by crab grass. It's still there, I need to plan an attack.

No matter how many pictures I took I just couldn't seem to capture the subtle variation and intensity of the colors of the broom sorghum. The colors are enough to put it in the Definitely growing again category.

Next time I'll space it out correctly, too. The ones with good root space developed fuller heads, which is what I wanted for broom making. Looks like I'll have plenty of seed to start the next crop, too!


I know I read Seesaw Designs' blog every now and then, but for some reason when I re-found it this past weekend everything looked fresh and new. I sat down and read all the way back through May. (Might be one reason we didn't get any painting done: too much computer time.) They have a definite aesthetic (unlike us Sneakies over here). Even the color selection from post to post remains consistent. Through Seesaw I found and fell in love with Kirra Jamison's work (esp these).


How was your weekend? Fully of colorful experiences and delights? I hope so!

Go. Give. Good.


Just thinking about the recent devastation from flooding in Owego (and other parts of the country) brings tears to my eyes.  I do a lot of talking on this blog about our home and our "stuff". I can't begin to imagine the devastation of losing all of it to erratic weather.

Devastation that continues and continues: as people move their water logged furnishings to the curb so mold doesn't become even more of an issue; as all of the debris, gathered at the curb, becomes a potential fire hazard.


Abbey lives in Owego, and when we heard about the flooding we knew we couldn't sit idly by.  So here's the deal, to to the Owego Flood Relief site and donate. Your contribution is tax deductible in any amount, but we want to see you give $20 or more if you can. So, if you give at least $20, when  you "check out" check the option to send an e-card. Send it to nobiting [at] gmail [dot] com and let us know you donated. We'll send you a $20 gift certificate as a thank you! The gift certificate is good for any print in the shop, and is printable, so even if you don't need any art yourself, you can give it as a gift to someone else.

Of course, you'll also get lots of karma and good tingly feelings in your heart, 'cause that's what doing good for others does. 


Owego flood relief

Heirloom tomatoes adorning our kitchen

My absence yesterday was brought to you by the 2-year molars coming through my little M's gums. Fever and general crankiness were present and understandable. Throughout the day M would look at me, say "ouch" in a genuinely heartbreaking tiny voice, and open her mouth wide.


During a brief break from her clingy-ness I shot a few pics of the tomato poster before the heirloom tomatoes I had on hand went bad.


One of these days I'll have actual photos of ALL of the posters, but it'll just have to happen as it can. The colors would've been so much better if Charlie had been the picture taker, he knows the technical stuff. I just know how to [sometimes] focus and change a setting or 2.

Just to show off a little behind the scenes action, here's our kitchen. I know I show it off fairly often, but I love that wallpaper. What can I say? Retro melons and flowers in greens and blues? More more more!


He lights up my life


I don't remember if it was Thursday or Friday of last week, but on one of those days work was slow. On slow days I wander around the internet and sometimes revisit my favorite items/houses/blogs...whatever pops up in my mind. I visit The Brick House. A lot. Her lamp haunts my bedroom daydreams. After a quick search for cantilevered sconces (and variations thereof) I had a small collection of favorite "one day when we're rich" lamps bookmarked. Starting in the upper left going clockwise: Jean Prouve original; different color scheme and scale lamp like The Brick House's made by One Forty Three; bottom right is Andrew Neyer's Crane Light; bottom left is Brendan Ravenhill's Cord Lamp.

 
So I sent C an email that said something along the lines of, "When we're rich we should get lamps like this for the bedroom." Not that $100 for a handmade lamp/sconce is ridiculous by any stretch of the imagination, it's just we have some things we have to pay for and we need to get it all sorted out before spending on any non essentials.




I guess I lit a spark, because he emailed me back later and said he had some sapele that would be perfect for bedroom sconces. Saturday morning, after I finished my volunteer time at the farmer's market, he went to the hardware store, spent about $5 on parts and came home and started building. They have the same minimalist vibe as the Prouve inspired lights, but a Danish Modern vibe that really fits well with the rest of our house.

By Saturday evening we had new lamps on the wall.  The images immediately above are of his design, but are not the finished version. I'll take a picture of the finished version, but first we have to repaint and redo the bedroom...and the rest of the house.