My Office Bookshelf...(Via Made By Girl)

One of the things I worked on this past weekend was my office bookshelf.  My husband suggested we paint the back of the bookshelf in 'black beauty' by Benjamin Moore... I agreed & TA DAAA!! He was tired of all the white in the home office & I guess I was too.... To see what the shelves looked like BEFORE, go here.

I've also been working on some paintings, which I'll be REVEALING soon.... for sale!  

Painting can be HAZARDOUS to pretty hands, I need a MANICURE bad!

How cute is my BIBLE wrapped in Python??

 

-image by jen

Update on My Day......(Via Made by Girl)

Hey everyone, how's your DAY going so far?? 

As for me, I've been dealing with this kitchen RENOVATION for a few days now, I feel exhausted. Today the door installer is here, and I admit he's actually doing a pretty decent job. Thank God. Unlike the other contractors who were a bit of a mess! WOW, I now have a white kitchen!  

All we need next is: 

• Back splash
• Panel around the island 
• Hardware

Well, I ordered the hardware from some company online on December 4th, and they still haven't shipped! That's not nice is it?? Well, you can be sure I'll be on the phone after this post looking to ask where the hardware is. If they haven't shipped, I'm just going to ask for a REFUND & go elsewhere to buy them. Anyway, more pics coming soon!

In the meanwhile, I filled up the plain wall behind my desk with another painting I did!  It's a smaller version of the LARGE ART piece I did for our living room. What do you think? Adds a bit of PRETTY to my work space no??

image by jen

Painter: Nicole Leigh Smith... (Via Made By Girl)

I love painting my own artwork but I also admire other painters like Nicole Leigh Smith.  Her STYLE is FUN and reminds me of frosting spread on a CAKE...they look yummy! Of course, it's paint, but I love the way she applies it to her canvases! 

My FAVORITES are the nail polish & the blue flowers. I bet they'd BOTH look even more amazing as a 30"x 40" canvas!  What's your fave?!?

You can visit Nicole's blog here or her shop, if you want to buy any of these beautiful one-of-kind paintings! 

images via nicole leigh smith

Queen of Jimmy Choo.... Tamara Mellon's Home

Tamara Mellon, is the stylish founder of Jimmy Choo. We all know Jimmy Choo right?? Well, Harper's Bazaar was let in to her New York apartment and I think you'll be amazed at all the interesting and unique qualities of her place. Her apartment is a mix of high art and glam minimalism....AND let's not forget, a TON of shoes! 

I'm so excited to pick up the new issue and read more about this interesting lady! I hear that in the interview with Harper's, she opens up about her lifestyle, overcoming challenges, and building her Jimmy Choo empire. But, is its true she may sell Jimmy Choo?? Hmmm

(click on pics for larger image)
 

Here she is posing with pretty little daughter, Minty. 

Yes, those are photographs of SNAKES.

I really loved the Terence Koh neon installation that reads “love for eternity” in her entryway.  In the upstairs sitting room, there is a Warhol silkscreen of Grace Kelly which is also eye-catching!  In the kitchen, there’s a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting, which she has put onto a track and can be rolled away to reveal a flat-screen television.

For the rest of Tamara's home tour visit the Harper's Site.

photography by: Douglas Friedman

Interior designer:  Martyn Lawrence-Bullard

Cyanaa - ART, a mouse click away....

CYANAA  is a Contemporary Art shopping website.  It's sort-of-like Manhattan’s Chelsea art district at a mouse click. If you're like me & collect art (for my future dream home) this is a great site to go ART shopping!  Take a peek (below) at some of the art work featured on their site. For more go here.

Dressed in Watercolor by Laura Trevey...

Have you seen the new watercolor artwork by Laura Trevey? These are so cute!! I love the vivid colors and the patterned backgrounds. These would make great artwork for a little girl's bedroom! You can pick anyone of these up here. Enjoy!

An Original Vincenzo Rizzo Painting....

Many of you may recall I wrote about Italian Painter, Vincenzo Rizzo back in March. Well, I can now say I own 4 of his original pieces. One of those includes a custom piece he did of me (below).

GIVEAWAY NEWS:
A blogger friend of mine Tam, from 'Get it Girl Style' blog, is having a GIVEAWAY that includes a painting from Vincenzo's collection !! Click on this link & leave a comment on her blog for a chance to win one of his original paintings from Italy!
(Deadline Saturday 10/17)

Shabner & Tretchikoff

So many amazing artists out there & 2 that I really LOVE are, Lou Shabner & Vladimir Tretchikoff. The pin-ups girls are by Lou....his style is mesmerizing & I am still looking to get my hands on one of these via Ebay. In the meanwhile, I'll also hunt down an affordable, original Tretchikoff, but I'll take a reproduction. I also love J.H Lynch, of course, their styles are strikingly similar. Anyone out there own any of these beauties?? Where did you get yours?

Below Tretchikoff in his studio with his paintings
(via NY Times)

Also shown above (lady in the water): 'Nymph' & 'Tina' by J.H Lynch.

Image above also via : Tretchikoff the Gallery

Shabner pics via : Girl Whimsy

Thanks Lauren....!!

After blogging about Lauren Nicole Love's work here, I was pleasantly surprised to find these 2 prints in my mailbox from her! Thanks to Lauren Nicole Love for sending me her artwork, they're now hung up on my art wall, loooove them! Check out Lauren's work here.

Lauren Nicole Love.....

I love this simple watercolor by Lauren Nicole Love, who is also a talented photographer. You can see more of her work here. These go for $20, please visit her shop here.

via Design Work Life

Another one of my paintings... 6 1/2 hrs later

Here's another thing I spent time doing this weekend.....painting. This one will hang in my living room as soon as the frame I ordered arrives. Can't wait! This painting took me a total of 6 1/2 hours, I'm so exhausted right now. But, painting is very soothing....do any of you paint??!? Feel free to leave your site in the comments, I'd love to take a look.

Watercolor cuteness by Paola Zakimi

These are so sweet! All done in watercolors by artist, Paola Zakimi. The colors are so calming....you can purchase these and other art here.

Nice Treat for your wall (Treat Zone)

Treatzone has some really cute 5x7 gocco prints. I can totally see these in my home on my art wall. Each of the prints are printed on a piece of vintage floral textured wrapping paper....love this idea! What do you think?

My Family room in process...

Anything else you think would look great with what I have so far?? Art, painted mirror, another cushion? Feel free to comment. See below to see where I got most of the items...

Light blue Sofa (I purchased a few years ago in a furniture store for $425 on sale. I just moved in into my family room so I could make space for my upholstered french provincial sofa in my main living room).

Elk Cushion - Feed the Dog AU

Small Deer Head - Hart and Helm in Australia

Butterfly Fabric Print - My Etsy shop at MadeByGirl

LOVE Embroidered letters- Chez Sucre Chez

Paris Vintage Map -Touch of Europe

Uk Flag Cushion- Karen Hilton

Looking for more art...

Remember I said I was adding new art on my walls??? Well, I'm still working on it. I have quite a few more frames to fill. If anyone out there makes ART and has a shop on Etsy, please let me know about it. Leave your website in the comments section please. I'll take a look at it & see if it goes with my current decor. This is a portion of what I have so far.... Enjoy your weekend....!

From left to right: (Top row to bottom)

Hijiri Studio
Ruthie Designs
Brandi Strickland
MadeByGirl -(butterflies)
Ruthie Designs
Sarah Ryan Studio

More good stuff....

A few more items arrived in my mail & I LOVE them! Can't wait to hang them on my wall. First, more art from Brandi Strickland & Sarah Ryan Studio, and then glamorous looking Hollywood Regency clutch from La Vita Lola. Check these girls out, lots of good stuff! Thanks Ladies!

Brandi Strickland Art
Sarah Ryan Studio Mini Love Print
Hollywood Regency Clutch La Vita Lola

I neeeeeed some new A-R-T....

I am in the process of changing out these old empty frames and adding some ART, then placing the UK flag painting elsewhere in my home. I think the empty frame trend is just about done.....don't you? However, I want to add a bunch of frames placed close together...this time with art in them, including some of my own. Here are 11 pieces (with the exception of 2 that are mine) that I'd like to see on my wall. What do you think of my selections??? Any art you'd recommend?? I'd also like to keep all the pieces relatively small. Would love to hear from anyone....please leave some links or comments thanks!

1. Marmee Craft 2. MadeByGirl 3. Groundwork 4. Project8256 5. I love you, blogs & tea by Made By Girl 6. Day of my Deadly Hearts by Ruthie Designs 7. Queen Screen Print 8. Hijirik Studio. 9. Lisa Congdon 10. Laurie Coyle Designs 11. Hadley Hutton

Ballooooooons

I was over at Decor 8 reading Holly's blog and I came across this post and was so inspired to paint again. I haven't painted or drawn in quite awhile....probably ever since I made the UK flag canvas painting for my family room. I love balloons and Holly's post inspired this 8 x 10 painting below. She mentioned that Joy from 'Oh Joy' had blogged about balloons being the next trend....hmmmm I have been seeing balloons in many places, maybe. Anyway, hope you like it.....I may place re-prints in my Etsy shop on Monday, not sure yet. So, what do you think of it ? I know its not what you all are used to seeing from me, but I do have a softer side and I kind of like it! Have a great weekend!

P.S. Now available via my Etsy shop for $9.50 each! 

Talented Dallas Shaw...

Dallas Shaw is a designer...she makes some really cool artwork! I remember seeing her work for the first time a year & a half ago....she was one of my inspirations. DALLAS has been lucky enough to been featured on many blogs as well as magazines like 'Domino'. Here's a small peek at her stylish art, take a look at her site for more. Go here pleeeeease!

* Also be sure to check out the Dallas Shaw blog 'Dilly Dallas'.

Life & Style Magazine...

I've never been in a tabloid style magazine, but I know so many people read them. I love to open them when I'm waiting in line at the supermarket, mostly to see what celebs are wearing. I can't help it, I LOVE fashion! This time I opened it & there I was, part of the "Top 10 Custom Shopping Sites" for best art! I was aware I was going to be in the next issue, but I was so busy this weekend, I totally forgot. Thank you to Life & Style Weekly for having MadeByGirl in your issue.