Happy Christmas!

This is my hilarious nephew acting out the pink nightmare scene from A Christmas Story.  My sister-in-law makes Christmas cards every year depicting a scene from the movie.  This year marked the 5th year of this tradition.  My nephew is such a good sport!

I'd like to wish everyone a very happy and loved filled holiday season.  As always, thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  It means the world to me.  xxoo

My Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

I never really do Christmas decorations.  But this year I found these cute little pieces of art in a gumball machine!  They are by someone who calls herself Joan of Art.  I love them.  Then I found the perfect stick in my yard.  I love the little tree so much, I'll probably keep it up all year long.  Merry Christmas dear readers!  Thank you so much for reading, I can never tell you how much it means to me.

Lamp Tramp

Today I am obsessing about lamps.  Not unusual, I obsess about lamps all the time.  I love them as much as I love pottery.  Or maybe today I have lighting on the brain because my whole neighborhood is lit up with Christmas lights!  Lighting - it's fun!  I thought I'd show some unusual, unexpected lighting today.  Any of which would fit in a modern loft (something I am always obsessing about, as you know).

I adore hanging resin lanterns from the 1950s.  They look especially fab clustered together.  Sometimes you can get lucky and find them at the Salvation Army or the Good Will.  Image Vogue Living, Jan/Feb 2010.

I saw this beautiful standing lamp with resin lanterns at a local vintage store.

Stunning 1960s Scandinavian lights.  Love the shape, love the color.  Image Elle Decoration, April 2010.  Please contact me if you know this designer.

Beautiful capis drum chandelier.  Image via Oly Studio.

 Atelier Abigail Ahern.  I know I've shown this lamp a million times, but I can't help it!  Look at  it! I love the geometric base that looks like pottery.  And the oversize shade in yellow - scrumptious!

 

Image via bijou kaleidoscope.  Love the geometric shape of this base.

Fascinating, sculptural table lamp.  Looks like it would be easy to DIY.  I'd probably use softer bulbs.  Or maybe a black glass bowl.  My bad on organization with this image.  This is from a Japanese hotel.  I got the image from flickr, and now can't find it.  Please contact me if you know the designer/hotel.  Thank you.

I saw this standing lamp at TJ Maxx.  I think it would look cool inverted and used as a hanging lamp.

These beautiful half-moon lamps, with drum shades were at Home Goods.  A real steal at $49.00.  I could see these in a modern loft.  Bed -  large and ultra comfortable bedding.  Matching simple nightstands and one of these babies on each table.  And nothing else.  They make me think, hip and zen minimal.

Sorry for the poor quality.  This one was taken guerrilla style.  This unexpected beauty was spotted in a local art cafe.  Looks like a DIY, and not too hard.  Sticks, little Christmas lights and fabric.  I may try a version of this.

Local Hip Hop Radio and the Reign of Nicki Minage

107.9 is a local hip hop radio station.  I'd like to say that they are cutting edge, but they're  disappointing.  Rickey Smiley is not funny, and it's irritating that the cast members laugh at everything he says.  If I'm in the car in the morning, I have to turn it off.  I get really angry at Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon for inventing that formula.  Boy Ed really had the game beat didn't he?  I mean talk about money for nothing...sorry I digress.  DJs sometimes forget the reason we listen to the radio - music!   DJ K Nice is the freshest part of day time radio.  I tune in if I'm in the car at noon.  He spins old school.  Impossible not to move to.

The radio station ought to change its name to Minaj radio.  The rest of the day is dominated by Nicki Minaj, in a way I've never heard.  Man is Minaj enjoying her 15.  I was in the car for two hours the other day -  and I am not kidding - almost every song featured Minaj.  I gotta give props to her producer.  What a genius.  Not sure who it is, but they are on a level with Dre, P Diddy and Jay Z.  They've made sure she is dominating radio by a multitude of duets.  She's done duets with Drake, Usher, Ludacris, Eminem, Rihanna, Kanye West, just to name a few.  And then, of course, there's her own singles and new CD.  I mean the girl owns the air waves.  I imagine the public will get saturated with her.  But right now is the queen.

I first noticed this Trinidadian phenomenon on her verse to Monster.  I was like, "Damn who is that?"  I mean the girl rhymed monster - gangsta - Sri Lanka - Willy Wonka - conquer.  Don't believe me?  Have a listen.  Poetry. But most importantly - in my humble opinion - the girl rocks a pink wig.

Dig those boots.  Nicki you are the shit.  You go girl!

Smeg Refrigerator!

The Smeg refrigerator is the most beautiful refrigerator ever made.  I've mentioned the Smeg many times on  this blog.  If it's possible to be in love with a  refrigerator, I am in love.  When I win the lottery,  I will buy one.   I especially love the look of a pink Smeg in an industrial loft.

Gorgeous minimal loft designed by architect Romolo Stanco.  (Featured in Elle Decoration, December 2008)  Love all the white with pops of pink provided by the Smeg and the sofa.  (See also gorgeous loft space with pink Smeg below).

 Desire to Inspire.

House Beautiful.

Desire to Inspire.  What a beautiful color palate!  It's just a matter if personal preference - but I'd never put magnets on a Smeg.
 

 

 Three above images from Apartment Therapy.

The Smeg has a vintage 50s look to it, but it looks great in a modern room.  The Smeg looks great in an open environment like a loft, because you definitely want to display it.   This room is gorgeous - love the modern lighting juxtaposed with the rustic looking ceiling beams, the white floors, the stainless steel and, of course, the Smeg.  Image via Elle Decoration, January 2010.

The Perfect Sectional and Lamp

Here it is dear readers!  The perfect hot pink sectional.  I adore it!  

 I need this.  Image via Living etc.  Love the silver ottoman/coffee table and the silver globe.

I am thinking of glam decor once again and want pops of black with my hot pink sofa.  This lamp will do nicely.  Love the sensuous shape of the base.  Love the size and shape of the shade.  Image source unknown.

A Perfect Loft

Dear readers, here's a treat for you.  You've probably seen this absolutely perfect loft making its rounds on the blogosphere, but I just had to feature it.  I dream of a loft space.  This is my fantasty place.  Love the pink and feminine touches combined with the industrial.  I want to move here.

 Love the chandelier.  Love the sofa!  Love the ottoman.

Love all the textures.

Industrial table, check.  Smeg fridge, check.  If it is possible to be in love with a fridge, I am in love with the Smeg.  I've dreamed of having a pink Smeg.

 The stainless steel combined with the pink.  I'm having palpitations.

It's official, I'm moving to Spain.  Buenos dias.  Images via Micasa.

Purple Sofas

There's a Starbucks near me that has purple velvet lounging chairs. They're big and slouchy and so comfortable. Ever since I went there, I've been in love with purple sofas.

I featured this sofa previously in a post about orange (see previous post here). Purple looks great with orange. I love the pop of that orange pillow. Image via HGTV.

This gorgeous room was featured below in my post about about yellow. I adore the low scale of this sofa. Image source unknown.

This is the new Spring line from DWR! Totally fab! Image via Dwell.

If I were going to do a purple sofa, I'd definitely do gray walls. I adore this sofa! Kind of looks like a tufted mattress or an updated version of the Togo. I love everything about this room. The gray walls and floor, the fab rug and lamp. Image via Apartment Therapy.

Love living small.

Here is the piece de resistance! Sorry I don't know how to do accent marks in blogger - but I'm sure you get my meaning. I almost fainted when I saw this room. Oh how I love thee. Purple sofa, check. Gray walls, check. Hot pink pouf, check. I think this is my inspiration for spring. Hot pink, purple and gray. Love it. Image via Desire to Inspire.

My OCD

Here's a quick review of the changes that have happened in my living room since moving to my new apartment, that probably no one cares about but me. :)  It's amazing how you can get a whole new look with just accessories, and it's so fun moving them around. I have to give props to interior stylists and photographers. It's not as easy as it looks. I need to win the lottery because I want a hot pink sectional.

 

 

Gallery Hopping on a Friday Night

Friday night was such a thrilling night. I went gallery hopping with my two best girlfriends. Of course, we had to go to Wall Eye since they were kind enough to include a couple of my photos in their second annual Festivus celebration. Here's some of the art that I saw.

This cool piece was hanging in the door. Must be the mascot.

Isn't this a great idea! Leave your grievances at the door. My sister-in-law and I cracked up as we decided which grievance to leave behind. Some of the grievances were hilarious. One of my favorite went something like this: "It makes me mad when poo stinks." Ha! I am pissed off at the state of health care in the U.S., because one of my loved ones is not able to get the help he needs (and he has insurance!). Whew, works me up even thinking about it .... So I put my grievance on a posted note and forgot about it for a while. I turned my thoughts to my favorite thing - art! Sorry that some of the photographs are not great quality, there were lots of people, which is a good thing! I think you'll get the idea.

Here's my photos on the wall. I can't tell you how thrilling it is to see my work among other artists' work. This is part of my Abandoned Series. If you'd like to see more, click here. It's my belief that art elevates the consciousness of a city. I do believe that Cleveland sometimes gets a raw deal in the public perception. There are many artists who are trying to change the perception of Cleveland. I love to take gritty, urban shots and turn things that may be seen as ugly into art.

Every art show needs sculptural elements, and this fits the bill nicely. Not sure if he's the abominable snow man or the yeti, but I dig him. I forgot to write down this artist's name, but as soon as I find out, I will update.

I adore the moody multi-media pieces by Sarah Dougherty.

Gorgeous works by Stephanie Rond. I believe these are silkscreens, they looked like real lace. And how fab are the ladies in pink armor! Girl power! I want these.

This piece by Marlee Pickles is one of my favorites. I had the pleasure of meeting Marlee and she is a sweetie. I told her how I loved work where the human is a tiny part of the work. Kinda shows the insignificance of being human when compared to the cosmos. She said her take on the piece was "one boat". That we think we are alone, but that we are all in the same boat. Awesome. I intend to follow Marlee's work.

Sorry for the flash! But here is the totally fab art by one of the gallery owners, Dante Rodriguez. I want both pieces! Besides being my favorite colors, they make me think of the monolith in the movie 2001. I love the play on headless bipedal and four legged creatures and evolution.

Next, we stopped at the 78th Street Studios. If you think Cleveland is not a happening place Wall Eye, Gordan Square Arts District and 78th Street Studios are places you should explore. The W. 78th Studios are post-industrial lofts. The lofts are still kind of raw, which adds to their character. I want to live there!

Fab patina is everywhere. Tin tiles, ceilings and industrial doors and windows are part of the charm. And there is so much art everywhere my head was spinning. The gallery owners of Legation and Forum Art Space made us feel very welcome. I plan to do individual posts on some of the artists who have their work there. Stay tuned. If you are interested in seeing photos of some of the great people I met, you can check out my facebook, here.