New IKEA Rug

So a few days after insulting IKEA for it's lack of nicely designed rugs - I see this on the website!

Well done, I say!

The Stockholm



The LUSY and LUSY BLOM are also new....but maybe a tad too colorful? whimsical?, I'd like to check these out in person, the price is right.

Overstock Rug Roundup!

So I'm a bit obsessed with rugs, that is - finding a decent rug at a decent price. I love Ikea, but am always disappointed in their weirdly designed ugly impractical low end rugs, and I can't afford some of the pricier rugs at West Elm, CB2 and the like, not to mention my dream rugs by Angels Adams. I love Flor solid color products, but they really need to hire some better designers for the print lines! Then there's always the Home Depot/Lowe's bargain nightmares, or the remnant route, but YUK.

So surprised is me when I discover some pretty decent looking 4' x 6' rugs on Overstock.com that are all UNDER $100!!! Now I really have no idea about the quality of these rugs, but for the price, it might be worth the risk!


Browse here!

"Hey I Know That Guy" Show

My talented friend Momo Shinzawa had an opening on Friday night at The Washington Street Art Center in Somerville. The show was a "group show focusing on portraiture in a variety of media. This show will feature the work of approximately 30 artists working in painting, photography, collage, and mixed media." The turnout was great - the pieces were a real mix of styles and talents.




(Momo's Piece)

Marimekko Spring/Summer 2009

Always Mod, the Marimekko blog, has posted 2 of 3 previews of the new 2009 collection, and I'm thrilled to see at least two patterns that I know are the work of Sanna Annukka - one of my favorite artists - I will finally be able to purchase some of her work in the states - at the Cambridge Marimekko store! Woo!

Isn't this amazing? I plan on stretching a repeat to hang in my apartment.

Thank you Emma!

So I really try not to re-post things from other folks' blogs, (barely resisted jumping on the Orla Keily for Target line bandwagon) I really love this piece from the new Ikea PS line out in April (maybe)- Craft room storage!

via emmas designblogg - check out the other pieces on her blog!

IKEA SINKA

I Heart the Seventies: Inspriation

This weekend I found a late 70s home remodeling book, with some inspiring and just...awesome images. Honestly, I love this stuff, weird built-ins, lots of wood, natural light - I think a lot of the ideas in these images still hold up!

Well, maybe not the hairy dude in the tub....

Enjoy!

Gocco ccards!

I also made some Gocco printed cards to mail for the holidays. They are getting harder to find, and supplies may be dwindling, but get your hands on one of these babies if you can. At the very least it's a great excuse to spend an hour at Paper Source picking out cards and envelopes from the mind boggling selection.

I made way more than I mailed, realizing after that I'm a slacker and am missing many addresses - sorry missing address friends!

Making Beauty Goo in the Kitchen

Since we did small gifts this year, I made homemade shaving cream, deodorant and candied citrus peels. Here are the recipes - after some trial and error - they actually came out great.

Homemade Deodorant:

2 Tablespoons coconut oil (whole foods organic)
3 Tablespoons baking soda
3 Tablespoons corn starch
3 Tablespoons cocoa butter (Queen Helene's from CVS)
2 vitamin E oil gel caps
15 drops Essential Oil (vanilla EO from Whole Foods)

Melt everything slowly in a double boiler (chopping up the cocoa butter first helps) and pour into a container. The deodorant is fairly stiff when cool, but softens on your finger tips - next time I will pour into an washed out commercial deodorant dispenser.

It doesn't have a lot of scent, but keeps you from being smelly, I really like it!

Recipe is based on the recipe posted at Angry Chicken, except for my changes - I discovered I don't like the smell of Shea Butter, and wanted a firmer deodorant, so I added more dry ingredients.

Homemade Shaving Cream:

2 bars (10 ounces) grated Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap (I used peppermint)
10 Ounces water
2 Tablespoons Cocoa Butter (Queen Helene's from CVS)
3 Ounces Vegetable Glycerin (Pure Glycerin from CVS)
2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil (from Whole Foods)

Grate the 2 bars of soap with a cheese grater and soak in the water overnight. Melt and combine other ingredients in a double boiler, and pour in to the soap/water mixture. Use a hand mixer to blend into a light creamy consistency, and pour into a container.

(the recipe is specific about the mixer - no blenders.)

This makes quite a bit of shaving cream, I made 3 full mid-size tupperware containers! Next time I will make a half batch for myself (I froze the extra conatiner) It smells great and works awesome!

Recipe based on the one posted at Frugal Granola, with a few tweaks.