That’s right I said make your own f-ing wallpaper! Do you know what you get when you google “diy wallpaper”? Not a whole lot that’s actually related to making your own wallpaper, let me tell you. For top secret reasons I had to do a top secret project- making wallpaper (obviously not secret anymore). This was one of the most fun and most challenging projects I have ever attempted. The results are adorable and badass at the same time. See for yourself.
Ahhh the Valley. Sometimes I’m forced to do some extremely suburban thing like go to the mall and I get something like hives. But mostly I have this secret little stone of appreciation and admiration for the majestic hills, the delicate variations in 50s tract homes, the expansive parking lots, and the surprisingly active industrial parks. For a good part of my life I thought of the Valley as a dry puddle, totally devoid of any kind of inspiration. To my feisty teenage mind the valley was a suburban nightmare. A hot, boring nightmare. You know how they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder? Well it didn’t. I moved away to college and I hated the Valley as much from five hundred miles away as I had when I sat in the middle of it. It took time. Lots of time. Who would’ve thought I’d ever move back, and learn to love really like it a lot?!
Let’s make a list of really cool and inspiring and delicious places! Well, places in or around Los Angeles.
The Urban Craft Center
Sadly, not open for a couple more months, but their blog is fantastic and makes me wish I had known about it sooner! Everything in that blog is incredibly inspiring. I wanna make everything! They support just about every kind of craft ever invented, and I cannot wait to get in on some of that delicious making-stuff action! It’s also in a really fantastic part of town- the cute older part of Santa Monica- in a really cool building. Make sure to get a pedicure at the salon down the block- the one with the giant bobbles in the window!
The Getty Villa
The absolute perfect place to go pretend you’re a Roman senator’s wife (isn’t there a more feminist way to say that?) or a goddess or something. Lunch under the arbor and stroll amongst statues, reflecting pools, and boatloads of marble.
All the way on the other side of town . . .
Cliftons
I can’t actually believe I’m giving away my secret. But it’s all for the love of wonderfulness. Sharing is caring. Anyway, Cliftons is the most cracked out, beautiful homage to the woods- and has a delicious breakfast. Cliftons is this magical, Disney-esque cafeteria in downtown, where the outdoors went in. Words can do it no justice really. I recommend their breakfast, but I’ve never eaten there for lunch or dinner, so I can’t give my word on those. Cliftons is the absolute perfect place to go before hitting the flower mart or the fabric district. Be aware that it’s deep in the city, so leave your wimp-nacity at home.
If you know me at all you know how much I love scallops, and if you’ve been reading my blog, or at least scanning the pictures, you know that I once made a baby blue leather purse with red leather scallops. Well, after a little experimentation I gave birth to Candy Shop, my new set of fabulously adorable scalloped purses. SO cute and so . . . scalloped. I’ve posted two on Etsy, and I’m pushing forward with more fabrics and more scallops!!!!
HECK YES!!!
I think this morning’s exercise stimulated my crafty muscles because I came home and I got crazy in my lil pink room. I messed around with the camera for a while, but then I had the itch to sew. MmmmmMmm. I made copies of two of my favorite purses- purses that I made for myself a while ago. I think I need to share the love!
Behold the original, in soft and sexy leather:
And here is the new version, in sweet and softy cotton:
AWWW, isn’t she cute! I think I’ll name her Candy Shop. Yum!
And here is another original:
May I introduce The Hot Martha Crafty Apron? She’s an homage to the great lady herself, inspired by a favorite Martha color palette. Of course, The Hot Martha is a lil sexed up.
And high five to all the new aprons on Etsy! Yay! Here are some pictures from the photo shoot.
An organized photo shoot is a happy photo shoot!
Make it pretty!
Someone wants in on the modeling action!
More goodies next time- I will tell you all about my trip to the Alley, and the yummy breakfast at Cliftons- MMmmmm!
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