Shop: Umbra

So, in my spare time I browse the internet.

A lot.

And I found this cool store. Umbra - it reminds me of those stupid shorts that people had when I was little, like 6th grade or so for playing soccer. When I actually got a pair, I was so pissed that they kept riding up, I gave them away. My mom was mad. This is a different Umbra.

This is one European treasure that you'll adore. Storage to decorating to furniture to office stuff. Browse away, because I can't stop!

A grassy organizer for your desk, the bathroom (I want one for my brushes) or any small kitchen stuff is $9.50.

Plus their selection of paper towel holders will amaze you - even better than Bed, Bath & Beyond!

They even have a pretty selection of wallpaper - if you're feeling adventurous! The above wallpaper is $39 for 55 square feet, a bit expensive, but pretty for a bathroom or a reading nook - imagine sitting in a warm, cozy alcove with the soothing blue and reading your favorite book with tea (or a martini for me!).

Enjoy!

PSH

Pictures... of Letters... For Your Home!

There are so many websites out there that offer photographs of letters so you can create a sign, may it be "welcome" or your last name or first names or whatever.

Check out this website to offer you some creative ideas for what you can do along with examples of photos.

I've been thinking about offering to do this - but just developing the photos (5x7's) and shipping them off to whoever wants this.

The hard part: going out into the cold and finding creative parts of architecture that look like letters. I think I might start offering it on my photography website, www.psphotographyonline.com this upcoming April.

I better get to work! Outside of my living room window, I see several pieces of architecture that could be letters, "I," "H," "A."

PSH

B-Town Happenings...

Luna Moth Gallery At The Caldwell ECO Center
December 10, 2007 - December 30, 2011
Times: Hours M,T,W &F 1-5 • Open most 1st Fridays
Location: 323 S. Walnut St. • Bloomington, Indiana 47401
Phone: 812-345-5774
Admission: Free

The Luna Moth Gallery at the Caldwell ECO Center exists to bring attention to art based on nature and/or ecological principles while also bringing attention to the activities of groups under the umbrella of the Caldwell ECO Center -The Center for Sustainable Living, Heartwood, Hoosier Environmental Council, Indiana Forest Alliance and the Caldwell Center for Culture and Ecology.


The Kinsey Institute Gallery - "Women of Pleasure" exhibition
January 18, 2008 - April 4, 2008
Times: 2:00 to 4:00 M-F
http://www.kinseyinstitute.org
Location: The Kinsey Institute Gallery, Morrison Hall, Indiana University
Phone: 812-855-7686
Admission: FREE

The Kinsey Institute Gallery presents an exhibition titled “Women of Pleasure,” which explores the depiction of women in 18th and 19th century European erotic art. The exhibit contains paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, books, and other materials from the Institute’s extensive collections. Highlights of the exhibit include a pair of engravings by British satirist William Hogarth and several rare editions of "Fanny Hill; or Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure," John Cleland’s 1749 erotic novel.



SARAH FITZSIMONS Fusion Culture: Transportable Living and the Landscape
February 19, 2008 - March 7, 2008
Times: Tuesday - Saturday, 12 - 4pm
http://sofa.fa.indiana.edu
Location: Indiana University School of Fine Arts, Bloomington, SoFA Gallery
Phone: 812.855.8490
Admission: FREE

The School of Fine Arts (SoFA) Gallery at Indiana University is pleased to announce Fusion Culture: Transportable Living and the Landscape, an exhibition of sculpture, installation photography and video. Fusion Culture: Transportable living and the Landscape will explore ideas about environmental change related to global warming and inventions created by visual artists in response to these changes.



Argentine Tango Classes
February 20, 2008 - March 26, 2008
Times: 9:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: Blooming Lotus Studio, 106 E. 6th St., 2nd floor
Phone: 812-339-1361
Admission: $60 per person for 6 weeks/$30 for full-time students with ID

Learn to dance Argentine tango! New beginner series starts on February 20th and meets for 6 consecutive Wednesday evenings. Absolute beginners welcome. No partner necessary.


PSH

Etsy Find

Corkboard. Easy to use, easy to buy and looks incredibly pretty! Corkboard is surprising sustainable for a green home - reusuable and earthfriendly, I'm in love with this etsy find! Uncorked is a great shop for neat interesting corkboard finds. $28 gets you the corkboard above with layers of the artist's personality!

Another good find - earrings! Yeah, yeah, I know they're not exactly home decorish - but still - you just can't deny a good pair of homemade earrings! For $18, the earrings above are a pretty good deal. Made by Elizabeth Williams, you'll find so many cute things from her shop, that I'm sure you'll find a few presents for others as well as yourself!

Time for another DECOR ITEM:

Prestige is the manufacturer of this lovely lamp (now I regret registering for lamps for wedding presents, but then you don't know crap about decorating until you start to learn what you like and what you don't like along with what goes together and what doesn't). The seller's marketplace, Sea Glass Vintage, also includes items like goblets, hand thrown pottery, a candy dispenser and awesome gadgets for displaying on bookshelves (hint: look at everything and you'll find SOMETHING you love!).

So onto Etsy it is... Happy hunting!

PSH

Inside Out

I grew up in Minnesota - I'm huge fan of outdoor living. When I nannied in the summertime, I don't think we spent more than 1 hour inside. Whether it was so hot we'd be sitting on the front steps drinking pink lemonade or running around at the park, being outside was so incredibly freeing - it was as if we didn't have any constraints. Lovely, just lovely one of my co workers would say!

Pottery Barn has always had some of my favorite outdoor furniture, yet it's still way out of my price range for almost anything! Above has been a favorite look, but it's just not personal enough for my tastes - it looks like it should be in one of those HGTV home selling shows. Blech.

Smith & Hawken has sets under $1500 - talk about a deal (if you find one that you like)!

S&H also has a great BBQ grill - shown above - that's not too seriously expensive. Since they do sell things at Target - they can't be too bad, right??? (ha ha, I love s&h!)


Light up your outside world with some copper oil lamps (but don't forget the oil).

Outdoor spaces need to be decorated just like indoor spaces. Don't forget the details, otherwise you'll end up with something that just seems unfinished. Get an outdoor rug, candles, bring your bar outside in the summer and voila! An outdoor space that you'll never want to leave!

PSH

Desks? Create your own? Seriously?

You can now create your own at JC Penney, seriously!

Boy was I shocked when I read that...

I say take advantage of it if you can. It seems pretty cheap, plus you can always find online coupons for free shipping and delivery. The only problem - I'm not so sure of the quality, then again I'm the person who goes out and buys bookshelves from Ikea. So this furniture has to be better quality!

The only bad thing, they don't "put it all together" for you, so you have to imagine it first. And measure!

JC Penney is also having a rug sale and what I wouldn't do for a shag rug! It's on sale from $99 to $449. Did I mention it's shag? I'd like it in the bedroom, for right when you wake up in morning - I love feeling soft and cozy first thing in the morning.

Enjoy!

PSH

I'm BACK!!! From the depths of personal assistant life...

So I have a new day job. I'm an assistant, more like a personal assistant to a Vice President at a major university. Yes, yesterday I was creating a Flickr account for his photos...

Which literally had me thinking that maybe I need to focus on things I like when I come home, back to my new year's resolution!

And aha!

Welcome to Acacia!

You'll be welcome to find all the recycled materials and zen-like flavor it offers for peace and tranquility.

Take for example this stone pebble door mat. For $45, it's really not a bad deal for pretending to walk in water, right?

Ha! No, but I love the feel that it brings right away to your entryway, front door, it reveals a calming sense of your home for visitors.

Looking to show of some lovely drinks, maybe your fabulous foodie creations? Try this utsukushii tray (means beautiful in Japanese). $29.95 can bring you the creativity to host a Japanese themed dinner party, purchase some Japanese prints and maybe a budha or just enough inspiration to find more decor that you absolutely love!

I could seriously link to everything (including their lovely sexual intimacy DVD collection), but I just can't help showing the ones that I purchased this past week.

Enjoy!

PSH