The Cottage Cheese

2009-11-05T13:03:00.002-05:00

I just scored by first Treasury! I'm always missing them when they open up, so I'm so excited! My treasury is entitled "Two of Us", and was inspired by my favorite Beatles song, which kind of mirrors the wanderings of my husband and I...

So happy that I'm hitting the road on Saturday...

Photography by Floris van Breugel

2009-11-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

I'm completely enamored with the photography of Floris van Breugel.

All pics via van Breugel's flickr page. For prints and more info, visit his website and his adventure blog.

Upstairs, Downstairs

2009-11-02T08:16:00.002-05:00

One day I hope to live in a home with an interesting staircase (something completely unlike the dull carpeted stairs in the 1970's suburban homes I grew up in).

recycleart

couturecarrie.blogspot.com

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T12:13:00.001-04:00

I'm attending the annual Halloween bash at Aretha Frankensteins tonight, and thought I'd share a few pics that my husband took at the first party back in 2003. That is our illustrious Senator Bob Corker (although he was the Mayor of Chattanooga at the time), posing with a friend of ours. The dude in the tribal codpiece in the background is my husband's former neighbor.
Spooky...
Our host and hostess.
Happy Halloween everyone!

A good Saturday: Architectural Exchange & Assorted Wanderings

2009-10-30T14:13:00.000-04:00

Two weekends ago, my husband and I were a feeling a little restless, so we wandered around town (both on foot and by car) taking pictures along the way. I was actually testing a vintage camera, but pulled out the digital when the mood struck me. We stopped in my favorite salvage shop in town, Architectural Exchange. The salvage area is so dark that I didn't get good pics, but for an old-house lover such as myself, it's like a playground. In addition to all of the old doors, trim and mouldings, fireplace mantles and tile, windows, doorknobs, etc., the owner also stocks great old light fixtures and chandeliers, and part of the building is dedicated to antiques.
Check out the mod door. Love...
Collection of Breyer horses...
Coke crates, mirrors, unique shutters, old prints and paintings, (and I dig the ladders hung from the ceiling)...
I really wanted this adorable metal turkey platter, but had to resist because I'm so short on space for new things. I think it was only $14.
I had to include this shot because I do love some Russel Wright. But I have to say, EVERY single shop or antique mall I've ever seen Russel in is ridiculously overpriced. I don't think that shop owners really want to part with it. The big stack of saucers was mid-century Bob's Big Boy (though I think the restaurant was called by another name, and it wasn't Shoney's).
I loved this pair of large desert prints, and thought they were well priced at $50.
After leaving Architectural Exchange, we took a walk around Coolidge Park. I know some of you are giraffe lovers like me, so imagine my delight when I came upon this little piece of "graffiti".

I'm sad to say that we thought we would be out of town, so we made no real plans for Halloween. So I can't wait to see your pics and hear about your Halloween madness, bwaaahhhahaha... (<---evil villain laugh). Have a great weekend!

Featured blog: What's blogging my view

2009-10-27T12:08:00.004-04:00

A reminder: if you haven't already done so, don't forget to enter my giveaway hosted by Down and Out Chic. You can win your choice of a Danish modern peacock candelabra or a 1940's Argus camera. International entries are welcome too, but hurry up and enter - the winner will be chosen tonight!

I'm long overdue for a feature on one of my favorite blogs: what's blogging my view. Not only does Norwegian blogger Janne provide constant design inspiration for me, but her various posts about her adopted Fox Terrier Kurt, her little boy, her attempts to save a baby bird, her travels, and everything else that she blogs about have me alternately smiling, laughing, crying, googling, thinking, and thankful that there are people so lovely and talented as Janne out there in the world.
Janne has been featured in several publications, including Norwegian Elle(!). She finds the coolest things for her home, many of them vintage, often thrift finds. The shelves above Janne's couch include a dog pencil drawing dated 1931, which she found at a junk yard. That amazing oil painting is by Norwegian artist named Ansgar Leiten, and is dated 1965. Another amazing flea market find!
In Janne's tiny sewing room, a cupboard inherited from her grandfather, and a lovely plate display (which I know Christina will appreciate).
Just a tiny example of Janne's extensive mid-century dinnerware collection.
A furniture makeover by Janne.
I envy Janne's dinnerware and pottery collection, because it's extremely hard to find fabulous mid-century Scandinavian pieces where I live.

Janne makes beautiful pillows and pillow covers from vintage fabrics and silk scarves. She sells her pillows and other handmade items for the home in her online shop JB Design. She also has an Etsy shop, where she sells her book covers and magnets sewn from vintage fabrics, and brooches made from vintage dinnerware.

And for all of you who enjoyed my Omodern post, here is some great info from Janne: "Omodern is Swedish for unfashionable, by the way. And the white box in the shower is the hot water tank/boiler. I have a whole book on 'man bands' as you call them - I keep thinking I should make a blog post..." Pretty please, will you do a blog post on the man bands, Janne?

Omodern

2009-10-23T09:39:00.000-04:00

Exciting news everyone! Down and Out Chic is hosting the first ever giveaway from The Cottage Cheese, so be sure to pop over and enter!

My husband stumbled upon Omodern last night. This site features design so bad that it's good and man-band-fashion from the 1970's, and is so funny that it actually hurts a little. Imaginary real estate ad for this home: "The kitchen is conveniently stable-adjacent." Um, is it wrong that I think the green paneling is kind of cool?

I don't know what's going on here, but that kid is really pissing Mom off. Mom's outfit is kind of adorable.

I dig this bathroom. Yep, I said it.
Although it's loud, I think this room is kind of fun. I envy that wall shelf.
Yellow and bronze make for one sexy bathroom. Heh.
A number of things puzzle me about this room. Is there some sort of electrical appliance plugged into the shower area? What is that little green rectangle on the wall behind the lavatory? Are carpet AND area rugs needed in a bath (seems a redundancy of germ collectors)? Does that white box hanging on the wall dispense some sort of feminine hygeine product?
Coordinate your kitchen with your car! A bit overboard on the green, but I still think this is one of the best 70's kitchens I've ever seen.
Not only does Omodern show off really good bad rooms, but we also have examples of decorating with faux fur...
And a wonderful spread of fashionable 1970's boy bands (although the "boys" were all middle-aged, or perhaps just looked middle-aged). Soooo many unattractive men in double knit poly in every color of the rainbow...
I love you Omodern.
Have a great weekend everyone! Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

12 Great Workspaces

2009-10-22T08:00:00.001-04:00

When researching interiors for this blog, images of studios and home offices are the pictures I always get really excited about. But why? I'm not an artist, crafter, or writer by trade. Yet I dream of having a workspace as well-organized and stylish as any of these spaces. I would happily sleep in a tiny cubby of a room and have the largest room in the house dedicated to shelf after shelf full of books, drawing tables, attractive storage boxes and my supplies, while surrounded by great lighting and large windows. My dream room would definitely include a comfortable yet stylish Eames aluminum group chair (I still kick myself for passing up the white leather one I found on sale for $400 NEW a couple of years ago). I have studied each of these pics for a quite a long time, and I find elements in each that I would love to incorporate into my ideal workspace one day.

Perhaps one day when I settle in a house that I think of more as a home rather than an investment, I will create a beautiful, organized workspace. Even if it's just a pretty closet.

A Teaser

2009-10-21T11:38:00.001-04:00

Via The Project Girl...
I'm working on a proper post full of envy-inducing work spaces, this pic is merely a teaser. Not only is this cool little closet workspace perfect for small homes and apartments, but it's also a great way to incorporate wallpaper into a space, especially for those with wallpaper commitment issues (like me). More later...

Fun Mid-Century Living & My New Addition

2009-10-20T15:30:00.000-04:00

I love this living room from blogger Welcome to Deluxeville. Brightly colored mid-century rooms can sometimes be a bit difficult to pull together (speaking from personal experience), but this room is so inviting. Dreamy Heywood Wakefield tables...
My new addition: The "My Double"dress form made by Dritz. Sorry for the cruddy picture. It was night-time and I was feeling impatient. I love her and can't bear to part with her, although I have no idea where I will put her yet. Her stand was missing, and my husband offered to make one out of copper pipe, which could look pretty cool, but I don't think that project is going to be underway any time soon. I found the dress form at an antique shop in Sparta, TN.

'Round the World We Sail

2009-10-20T07:35:00.000-04:00

I sold this sweet vintage childrens' book in the shop a few months ago, but think the beautiful illustrations are worth sharing here. 'Round the World We Sail by Janet Laura Scott was published in 1939. This sweet book tells the story of twins Jib and Jigger who sail around the world on a clipper ship called Flying Cloud.

White + Wood

2009-10-19T10:30:00.000-04:00

Sources: Sarah Leeab (#1,3,7)
Dwell (#2)
Modern Craft (#4,9)
Nestled In (#5,6)

Plaid

2009-10-18T15:05:00.000-04:00

Plaids are great for any season, and it's easy to lose one's self for hours in a search for Etsy handmade and vintage plaid items. I fell in love with a plaid messenger bag, and the rest of this outfit evolved from there.

Vintage blazer from jaderiver7. $20
Lacy leg warmers from smallpackagess. $37
Red Vines Skirt (Corduroy) from indigofeet. $58
Gray beanie from lindadiane. $10
Vintage Fred Hayman Casadei ballet flat from OwlVintage. $95
Cap-sleeve tee for layering from jocole. $20
Plaid messenger bag from mariforssell. $79

Vintage plaid jacket from backtothevintage. $33

Organic vintage linen tea towel sandwich bags from countrylifenaturals. $14

Plaid Minidress from ViolaFern. $23

Macbook Pro Envelope - 15 inch from fernfiddlehead

50's Vintage Paid Dress from ivoryandbones. $55

Vintage plaid puff-sleeve top from aNewLifeForYou. $32

Scotty Keyring from fieldytweed. $10.50

Icy-Hot vintage thermos from BrightWallVintage. $14

The Clans and Tartans of Scottland from splendorinthetrash. $14

Kitty No. 63 from penguinandfish. $45

Asymetrical tartan cowl from elf518. $44

Plaid Tartan ruffle skirt from zwzzy. $25

(Plaid post inspired by this little guy.)

Are you mad for plaid like I am?

Somewhere in Central Oregon...

2009-10-15T21:13:00.000-04:00

I must see a bigger picture of this house. So many jack-o-lanterns. Insane!

What to see the best treehouse ever?

Ugh, I have to go pack a really big box of Eames chairs. This will not be fun.

A Makeover...

2009-10-14T09:02:00.000-04:00

Just showing off some pics of my latest makeover. I can't really call this collage the "before" pics, because flaky chick that I am, I forgot to take pics of the stool before I sanded it. I quite liked the look of the sanded stool and considered applying a couple of coats of poly and calling it a day. However, I had already spent an hour obsessing over just the right orange (which I will also use to paint my kitchen stools), and had the paint can at the ready, so I pulled the trigger and painted it. I'm guessing many of you will feel the way I do about this stool, and dig the funky sanded look as much as the tidy finished product.
I also wanted an excuse to buy cute pumpkins and squash. The stool is now available here.

I promise that at some point this week I will post about non-autumn related colors and design, but for now I'm just loving fall too much...

Autumn Originals

2009-10-12T09:21:00.000-04:00

Did everyone have a nice weekend? I watched scary movies, found several fantastic items at an estate sale, enjoyed some time out in the beautiful weather working on art tiles, making frames, and finishing a project for the shop. I'm still dealing with sinus stuff, but feeling much better than I did last week. Thanks to a tweet from Etsy last night, I found myself perusing hundreds of original works that included the words "autumn" and "painting". A few of my favorites:

Jenny and Ralph, Original Oil Painting

Kansas Autumn - Along the Roadside

Swallow - watercolor postcard, original bird painting

Autumn

Falling Oaks - watercolor painting

Yay It's a Deer, Original Painting

Someone please buy the deer painting before I do.

I Want a Cookie

2009-10-09T11:08:00.000-04:00

Some yummy fall cookies for you to bake (or order!) this weekend. Num num...

Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Glaze from Heather Bullard.

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies from Stylish Cuisine.

Peanut-Chocolate Macaroons from Sunset Magazine. These are almost too pretty to eat. Almost.
Snickerdoodles are the perfect simple cookie, particularly paired with a cup of hot cocoa, a nice soft throw to snuggle under, and a chick flick. Odds are, if you have cream of tarter, then you already have every other ingredient in your home that you need to bake these. I'm too lazy to dig up the tattered, stained clipping of the recipe that I always use, so here is Martha Stewart's recipe on The Cupcake Review, which I'm sure is equally good.

If you're not a fan of baking, Etsy has so many goodies to choose from. Vegan Oatmeal Cream Pies by SweetFritsy.

Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies from FancyThatCookies.

Fall macaroon cookies in flavors like Caramel Apple with cinnamon macaroon, maple filling with maple macaroons, and Pumpkin Spice. From lemonadestandnyc.
Perhaps I'll bake some snickerdoodles this weekend. They remind me of my sister because this was the cookie that we always baked together through high school and college, and we still bake them every once in a while when I visit her in Texas. Have a great weekend everyone, and go eat a cookie!

Sandwiches and Asylums

2009-10-08T08:10:00.002-04:00

Just a couple of quickies, then I think I'm going back to bed for a while. I'm now full-blown icky sick (though very thankful it's not any kind of flu!). First link: Decay at The Kingston Lounge (discovered thanks to a tweet from junkculture). Incredible photography of abandoned asylums and hospitals. Seriously, go there now.
Ever wondered exactly how much your roast beef on rye cost? Should you splurge for sprouts? Then you need the Sandwich Price Calculato r. Warning, might make you hungry. Via Cockeyed.
I have interesting dreams when I'm sick. This morning I was dreaming of making a light fixture from an Eames shell chair. Now I have to figure out how to do it, and find a 14 foot or higher ceiling to hang it from.

Thanks for all of your get well wishes! Off to collect my kleenex and cough drops and make a cup of tea and crawl back under the covers...

In the Bedroom

2009-10-07T09:16:00.000-04:00

Ione Skye's bedroom (from Domino 2006)
xJavierx

Morroccan Bedroom
abbeville

Sheila Bridges

Sarahleeab

Have I told all of you lately how much you kick ass? Thanks so much for your comments yesterday, it seems I'm not the only one feeling kind of off this week. My closet reorganization (only partially completed) was just the beginning of a long house clean up/clean out, and my mind is already feeling a bit less cluttered. Only a bit though, because I woke up with so much pressure in my ears and sinus pain that I think my head is going to explode. I wish I could spend the day lounging and napping...

Feeling on edge

2009-10-06T15:59:00.001-04:00

I'm having a frustrating day, which includes total blogger's block. I keep re-reading these stairs and thinking "serenity now" and other inner peace mantra b.s., none of which is working. I think I'll chuck my "to do" list for the afternoon and go clean out my closet. Parting with some stuff will be cleansing. Perhaps pulling out the fall/winter clothes will put a smile on my face. Boots...sweaters...serenity now...feeling better already...

Photo Credit Country Living

And the Winner is...

2009-10-06T08:49:00.001-04:00

The winner of the Down and Out Chic Giveaway (chosen by random.org) is Danielle from Beautiful Schlopp Glass. Congratulations Danielle! Thanks to everyone for entering, and thanks so much to Christina for generously offering her adorable goodies in this fantastic giveaway! It has been really fun getting to meet so many delightful bloggers through this giveaway, and I have Christina to thank for this too!

Tom Palumbo

2009-10-05T09:35:00.001-04:00

Tom Palumbo photographed for Harper's Bazaar from 1953-1959 and Vogue from 1959-1962. Visit his flickr page for more...

P.S. If you haven't already done so, don't forget to enter the Down and Out Chic giveaway. The winner will be drawn this evening!

Acorns and Oak Leaves

2009-10-02T07:50:00.003-04:00

It is an acorn-producing year for the giant, majestic oak tree in our back yard. Inspired by the falling acorns and soon-to-be-falling leaves, I've chosen some of my favorite Etsy items using the search terms "acorn" and "oak leaf".
10 Needle Felted Wool Acorns - Mimosa from truLuxe. $20
Vintage Leaf Swirl Dinnerware Set from Canonsburg from bythewayside.
Fields of gold - natural crown from whichgoose. $45
Q botanical perfume mini from IlluminatedPerfume. $25
2 Sprays of Vintage Metal Oak Leaves from MostlyMadelines. $10
Twisted oak / keyhole necklace from UnderGlass. $29
Wee Acorn from J2Jewelry. $25
Autumn Oak Leaf Cuff from paintedmetal. $65
Oak Branch Earrings from colbyjune. $55
Acorn. Copper. Simple Necklace. from shesells. $12
Oak Leaf Necklace from maggiewooddesigns. $28
Oak and Acorn Paper Garland from paperacorn. $12
Swanky Cocktail Set with Autumn Leaves from HappyHeartsVintage. $45
The Classic Caryall in Corduroy with Oak Leaf Appliques from peskycatdesigns. $80
Oak tea towel natural/cream from elisabethbentz. $13
Chatty acorn post cards (set of 6) from Stockton. $6
Acorn pattern handmade notebook from juliepeach. $8
Acornies blank card from lauredesign. $3
Acorns, Gift Tag (Set of 8) from YOUniquelyyours. $5

P.S. If you haven't already done so, don't forget to enter the Down and Out Chic Giveaway!

P.P.S. Have a great weekend!

Tiny Dream Homes

2009-10-01T13:23:00.001-04:00

How is today already Thursday? I've spent too many hours (yes I said hours) working on an autumn themed post that still isn't finished, so for now I'll just pass along a couple of dreamy images from the always cool Tiny House Blog. The first colorful little home is in the village of Oia, on the island of Santorini, Greece. Wow. I mean, WOW.
I cannot remember (or perhaps never knew) the location of this lovely little red cabin, although I think it's somewhere in Scandinavia. Can you imagine living at the foot of a Glacier?
It's good to dream...

The Ladies Room

2009-09-30T09:31:00.001-04:00

Inspiring baths....

via Hashai.

(Tile work based on a New York subway map). Via Charles and Hudson.

via the little big house

via Victorian Plumbing

via Lorena Fernandez-Fernandez

(1930 Gordon-Van Tine bathroom plan, from house kit) via Retro Renovation.

(1959 American Standard bathroom) via Retro Renovation.

(1946 Briggs Beautyware bathroom) via Retro Renovation.

via Gustavsberg

via Sara Says Awesome

via Freshome

via sarahleehab

How many of you want to hang plants in galvanized pots from your ceiling? I know I do!