Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

As many of you know, Karly and I hosted fabulous bloggers Molly of Designer's Brew and Raina of If the Lampshade Fits for a weekend of fun filled Texas sized activities. We had such an amazing time, and KP and I plan to regale you with tales of boozing, shopping, and redneck adventures, very shortly. But today we need a little break to catch up on our beauty sleep. Because you don't want to see us ugly, anyway.

Rise and Sigh sheets by Martina Capelan leave a lasting impression, just like Molly and Raina. The whole visit really was such a pleasure!

Back tomorrow with bells on...

Surprise Dining Room Make Over

Yesterday I got a surprise dining room make over.  No, Ty Pennington did not show up at my house with a bus and a bullhorn, but an unplanned overhaul did occur.  My dining room has needed work since day one, but with a kitchen renovation scheduled for this winter, which involves tearing down a wall between the dining room and said kitchen, I figured I would just wait. The Gods had other plans for me, they sent Erin as their petite messenger,  convincing me to buy a table I really didn't even want, but clearly needed.  Let's look at the before then I'll tell you the story.

Ok, so it's a pretty sad before, and not just because I can't hold a camera still for half a second.  Most of the items in this room got placed there when we moved in and just stayed.  Hence the dresser acting as a sideboard and the unhung picture.

I would have moved forward through the next few months with my blinders on if Erin hadn't needed 6 chairs.  Let's clarify:  Erin has been OBSESSED with finding 6 new chairs to go with her stunning new table in her stunning new dining room.  So obsessed, in fact, I've witnessed her squinting her eyes at ebay trying to imagine that some pretty iffy chairs weren't really so bad at all.  

Spending her days and nights peaking at any craigslist posting that offered the promise of multiple chairs she forwarded me a listing with this photo:

The price was right ($250) and I wrote back advising her to get the chairs.  She responded by saying "I don't want those chairs, you need that table." I denied her claim on both counts, and she countered by insisting that I did, infact need the table.  Somehow or another, despite the fact that neither of us wanted the table or the chairs, we decided to purchase the set and split it between us.  I got the table.

Since she got the chairs, and I had none to go with my new set-up, I have her tulip chairs on loan until I'm able to find replacements.  Should I have kept the chairs?  Nope, they look awesome in her house.  

All 4 images on the wall are by my friend, Bryan Keplesky.  I had planned to put them in the office I'm fixing up for myself, but clearly, they were meant for this room.

And that map that had been leaning against the wall in photo 1?  It's frame got a fresh coat of white paint and is now officially hanging on a wall.  Well, at least until we tear that wall down.

Note:  Overt your eyes from the horrid front door, it is getting replaced as soon as the asshats at the door hardware shop send me the right hardware, unlike the last time where they took 2 weeks to send me the WRONG piece.  Photos of that soon I really really hope.

Bust Out the Jamz

Well, Karly just screwed me over by writing the best post of the year, and now I have to follow THIS. I hate you, Karly. I mean -- I love you. No, I really do hate you. Are you people out there as inspired as I am to redo your entire house now? As soon as I can figure out what coordinates with the oh so trendy Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo (primary colors will come back in style someday, right???), Ima gonna get bizzy. Until then, here's some more heady ideas for sculptures you can stuff into the lonely corners of your home.

Guardian UK

So, is it too early to capitalize on the death of the biggest star in the world? Nah. This is America! Actually, MJ's gold painted plaster bust was slated to sell in the April auction of his possessions, but since the auction was canceled, it's ostensibly still floating around the ether somewhere. Estimate? $100-$150. I have a feeling the price may have gone up since then.

Jane Antoni's Lick and Lather (1993) comprises two self portrait busts, one of chocolate and one of soap. Let's hope she didn't lick the soap, although lathering oneself with chocolate sounds not half bad.

Speaking of deliciousness, this chocolate head by Paul Wayne Gregory would last about 2.2 seconds at my house before someone determined whether the inside holds a sugary Cadbury cream filling. I secretly hope there's a buttery yellow yolk in there somewhere.

In the grand tradition of busts of great heads of state like Lincoln and Napoleon, we have a deftly decorated Delft Lenin. So nice to see his softer side, but I'd love to see him pitted against this guy:

Wax Obama looks like he's getting ready to take a bite out of Communism. Seriously, I like our prez, but did they have to make him look like a jaundiced beaver?

Lego man is ready to sacrifice himself for your good time. Just don't bring him to my house, because Momma don't allow toys with tiny pieces destined to collect dust underneath the couch. At least, that's my stance for today. Ask me how it's going in year when baby Ike throws a tantrum in the middle of the store because he just wants some damn legos.

When superbloggers Molly and Raina come to visit in a few days, we're going skeet shooting Texas style. After seeing these amazing self portraits by Julian Hoeber, I think I have a new project idea.

Ok, I have 3 days to cast a bronze sculpture of myself. I can make it, right?

And let's not forget about my buddy Beethoven. His ubiquity offers many chances for modification... I love the little dude painted black in my dining room, but now I'm coveting Karly's new wave rainbow treatment. Also, I think I need something bigger, so if you guys see something worthy out there, send old Erin a heads up, will ya?