It's Curtains for You, Batman!

Disclaimer: This post has nothing to do with Batman or any other comic book superhero for that matter.

Riddle me this (Dang! There I go with the Batman references again): What do Alexander Henry, Lizzy House, Robert Kauffman, Decolello, and Daisy Kingdom have in common? Their irresistible fabrics of course. Now, I don't know if Alex and the gang are actually real people or just clever company names because. . .h e l l o. . .I'm lazy . . . and I'm at work trying to look busy. . .work with me people. BUT, I do know that I would love to any of these here patterns hanging in my kitchen windows in the form of cafe curtains. Please tell me you agree!


birdseed, $12/yard


forks and plates, $6.75/yard


mommy's menu, $18/yard


dutch girl,$10


mixers, $2.25/quarter yard


apples and pears, $7.50/half yard


coffee shop, $4.00/yard


japanese apples and pears, $10/75/half yard

Incidentally, the birdseed and apple and pear fabrics (both by Alexander Henry) are super versatile. My wee baby girl has dresses and bibs in these patterns so I guess you can say I'm obsessed with them. I'm dealing with it.

Regardless of my fabric issues, I urge you to check out Bee Square Fabrics and Nuno for more textile fixes.

Tick Tock And You Don't Stop

Much like Cinderella, I always awake with a song on my lips, a spring in my step and a sparkle in my eye. As little blue birds help me pick out an outfit while cherubic mice brush my hair, I have to wonder what the big deal is with rising and shining.

Over on the other side of the bed it's a different story -- one that involves hissing, thrashing, threatening and sobbing.

Help is at hand in the form of these fetching, durable and cunning alarm clocks. Exhibit A, the Iron Radio Alarm Clock from ModCloth ($18.74, was $24.99) lets you plug in your iPod and wake up the way you want to, be it with Enya or Motorhead. Exhibit B, Clocky the Mobile Alarm Clock from Target ($49.99) is an impish fellow. If you reach for the snooze button, he'll jump off your bedside table and roll away, sounding his alarm in defiance. Exhibit C is the MUJI Rubber Alarm Clock from the MOMA Store ($36). Throw this guy all you like -- he'll always bounce back. And Exhibit D is the LED Wood Clock from Home Republic ($59.95). I just think it looks cool.

Foo On You

This just in: There are people out there who are willing to pay $500 for this:

When they could pay $30 for this:

Who knew Foo Dogs were such a must-have? The world is a strange and frightening place.

Forbidden Fabric Fantasies

While I was home in Virginia, I picked up an old piano bench from a second-hand shop for $10. I figured I could sand it, stain it, swap out the fabric and have myself a cute little ottoman. (Stay tuned for the results). The hardest part was choosing the fabric -- I must have called Matt over to the computer to evaluate 50 different prints. I ended up settling on some Betsey Johnson fabric I already had, but that doesn't mean I don't dream about these other designers every night. Dreams don't count as cheating!

All of these swatches range from $8-$16 a yard.

That's a Wrap!

Pip & Fig offers the mother-of-all-DIY-fabulous-table-setting-money-saving deco necessasity: the wrap vase. For $4.00, that's right $4.00 (as in 4 one dollar bills!) you can have a wrap vase to call your very own.

"What IS a wrap vase?" you ask.

"It's a 8 x 11-1/2 sheet of heavy card stock," I say before adding, "Look."




Yes. That is a 2 liter plastic Fresca bottle. Props to Pip and Fig.



Pop!



Fizz!

Ahhhhh. So refreshing. Much like a Fresca I might add.

Of course the way P&F explains it, the wrap vase is better than a citrusy soda:

Create a wild rumpus atop your table for pennies using our fun new Vase Wraps. With a little tape, you can turn a empty soft drink bottle, a juice glass or a jelly jar into a fabulous vase for your next special occasion dinner, shower or party. Set a table where modern sensibility meets wonky illustrations meets humor. Dish up affordable high design.

Simply assemble your Vase Wrap with tape and slip it over a repurposed jar or glass and fill with fresh flowers.


Well I am all about rumpusing, people.

This Just In

LOYAL FOLLOWERS (ALL TEN OF YOU) STOP UNABLE TO RESIST THE RETRO CHARM OF HOOP.DEE.DO BULLETIN BOARD STOP THEY’RE PRACTICAL STOP THEY’RE VIBRANT STOP THEY’RE ADORABLE STOP THEY’RE FREAKIN’ AFFORDABLE STOP NO GO TO THE NEAREST COMPUTER AND ORDER THEM FROM LITTLE PRETTY STUDIO STOP AVAILABLE IN 6” ($12.50) 9” ($16.50), 12” ($21.00), AND 14” ($24.00) STOP HELL, GET SOME FOR ME WHILE YOU’RE AT IT REALLY STOP.

I <3 Mom

I always wait until the last minute to get my mom a Mother's Day present, and end up scrambling to order flowers the day before. Not this year. This year I'm going to get her a vase and flowers. She'll never see it coming. Here are some cute and cheap bud receptacles sure to please your dear old mum.