Fa-la-la-la-la...la, la, la, la...

'Tis the season to be jolly...

Wishing you all a Happy and Merry everything!

Dear Santa,

Besides the usual (world peace, health and happiness), I have some items I've had my eye on.  As long as you stick to asking my dog (who thinks I'm the best thing ever), I imagine I'll be making your list this year.  Do you think you could squeeze some of these in your big, red bag for when you make your stop at my house?  

Saw this amazing coffee table at one of my favorite local shops.
It provides extra surface area where I can leave more milk and cookies for you next year!
(Is it not okay to bribe Santa??)

I picked up this incredible french wing chair recently for  a steal at consignment, but
I need some really funky fabric for it.  Can you leave me some cash for that?
I know you don't usually do that, but I'm not sure your elves are keen on the fabric trade.

Gotta support the local boys!  This book is awesome...I need it!

You know I love Twizzlers!  Extra long ones.....Yes, please!

Anyway Santa, I hope the North Pole is treating you well.  I imagine it's pretty cold there, so listen: be sure to bring your shorts on Christmas Eve because it's likely to be warm and muggy here in New Orleans.  I'll be on my best behaviour until then!  

yours truly,

Katherine

No Mommies Allowed

While I've been busy not blogging, a certain five-year-old in my house has been busy maturing into a teenager.  Seriously, he turned the big 0-5 on Monday and he's already trying to get rid of me.  


The fiver in question politely asked me to help him write a sign for his door.  As he dictated, all I could think was:
a) He was so courteous about asking me to stay out.  
     (Notice the two 'pleases'...I can pat myself on the back for that.)
b) At least he's still calling me Mommy, and not by my first name yet.
c) He only asked me to stay out for A minute -- that's not that long.  I can handle that.
d) Where has my baby boy gone?


The best feature of this door sign is, of course, the drawing he created at the bottom:

That's a picture of me in the circle with a red X on top of it.  

So in the event that I can't read what I wrote, I can refer to the 'No Mommy Allowed' symbol.  He's a genius!


Here's big boy's room:

The mid-century chest actually came from grandmother's house --
it was in my Dad's room growing up!  I hand colored the old baseball photo above it.

I love this flame-stitch wing chair!  The colors in the room are green
and blue with orange accents so I put a fun orange zebra  pillow .

You know me and how I love to paint things...his bed got the orange treatment!
I painted the pop-art piece above his bed to add more color.

Sock monkeys with an awesome needlepoint pillow by his God-Momma!

His bookshelves are such a mess right now I will spare you that view.  I really want to do some canvas curtains in here with a fun blue trim, or just a big fat blue border on the bottom.  What do you think?  You think this look can last him a few years?


And speaking of kid's rooms...my niece's room is almost finished!  It has taken forever due to several fabric back-orders.  But, curtains are done and hopefully will be put up this weekend!  Look out for pictures soon!


xo.

Thanks, Thank you, Thankful for and Thanksgiving

In the spirit of giving and thanks, this Thanksgiving I'm giving you a list of a few of the random things I'm thankful for, and that just make me feel happy...

NEW ORLEANS:  No city like it and I love it, quirks and all.   
Thank you NOLA for being you:

SAINTS FANS: If there was ever a definition for eternal optimists, Saints fans would be it.  It took a long time for our team to be 'winning,' as Charlie Sheen would say, but the fans never gave up.  Also, the sheer creativity behind many of the die-hards' costumes is genius.  


Thank you Saints fans for seeing the glass half full -- we could all learn a lesson or two from these people:

BOOKSHELVES and STACKS OF BOOKS:  Even if you don't read them, books in your home make you appear smart.  Perception is everything, people (kind of).  Plus, colorful book spines and cover art are pretty additions to any shelf or coffee table.


Thank you books for providing an inexpensive form of decor (and for making me appear smarter than I actually am):

PUBLIC ART:  It's free to enjoy and something we can all share in.  Art like this gets the conversation started.


Thank you to all the talented artists and patrons who provide the cash to make this type of art available to us all:

Arthur Silverman

Claes Oldenburg

Leandro Erlich

Ida Kohlmeyer

FAMILY:  The dysfunction in all of them is sort of what makes all of these inherited units function.  We love them, but admit it, they are all a little dysfunctional.  Otherwise, we'd have no need for friends -- the people we actually pick, and I'm way thankful for those too!  

Thank you to family and friends who make my life so fulfilling, strange, exciting and wonderful!!  Being this is the favorite time of year for the requisite family photo-op, here are some great family portriats to inspire us all for our holiday cards:

Shorts, strangling and sneers from the skunk-haired sister.  Interesting.

The bigger the hair, the bigger the love.  Rock on.

Yes, mama's tired...tired of the '70s clothing and haircuts perhaps.

A family who hot-tubs together, _____ together. (fill in the blank) 

My all time favorite dysfunctional family.

My second favorite dysfunctional family.

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  XOXO

Breaking up with the green...

Remember these chairs?  

Farewell green.  Onto other-colored pastures.

The more I looked at them, the more I agreed with my friend.  Green and the chairs were just not a good match.  Breaking up can be hard, but the parting was amicable.  Plus, I have a power-sander.  


Where do good-looking, repro Italian armchairs go to find their next match?  1stdibs.com of course.  The number one online marketplace for all things beautiful, antique and vintage, 1stdibs.com provided me and the chairs' owner with ample inspiration for the next look.


Nothing phoney about these online photos (all courtesy 1stdibs.com).
These are the real deal:

Pair Italian neo-classical armchairs

But then we also saw this, and loved the hints of gold in the paint:

Ohhh la, la, gold!

Here are the chairs in progress:

Come to mama hot stuff!

Details....

A little antweak crackle goes a long way...

We're in the process of narrowing down fabric choices.  Check back soon for the 'happily ever after' photos...