Arty smarty

Dollar Store Crafts recently featured my Dollar Store Abstract Expressionism project.

Heather, the queen of Dollar Store Crafts, earlier made this Mark Rothko look alike pictured above, which is a great project for adding a little color to your interior. Get the full how-to at DSC.

Momma of Two at My Search Within did her own black and white abstract expressionist work inspired by mine. There's a lot of energy in that painting, don't you think?

Have you ever DIY'd your art?

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Guest post at Dollar Store Crafts

I'm guest posting today at Dollar Store Crafts where I show you how to make this Shamwow dahlia.

Dollar Store Crafts is a great resource for inexpensive DIY projects, most of which feature at least one dollar store product.

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Bromeliad Living bib necklace project featured on Craft

Craft, the former print magazine turned web site and blog, recently featured my bib necklace made from vintage pins. Check out the Craftzine blog for a million craft ideas from cool to crazy. (Where else can you learn to sew a cancer cell?)

Thank you Natalie for featuring my project.

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Homies Wrap Up

Last year I posted every single nominee to Apartment Therapy's Home Design Award. This year my wrist gave out. If you got less than five votes, I dropped you. Sorry. I have to go to bed.

I should quit. There are too many of us. Sheez.

The Big Boys

217 younghouselove.com
197 remodelista.com
19 doorsixteen.com
184 decor8blog.com
171 makingitlovely.com
132 retrorenovation.com
129 desiretoinspire.net
126 brooklynlimestone.com
122 allthebestblog.com
97 chezlarsson.com
96 trickmybrick.blogspot.com
91 littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com
90 habituallychic.blogspot.com
88 sfgirlbybay.com
84 myleshenry.blogspot.com
78 theletteredcottage.net
77 elementsofstyleblog.com
74 tobifairley.com/blog
72 cocokelley.blogspot.com
66 myfavoriteandmybest.blogspot.com
64 www.whorange.net
63 allbowerpower.wordpress.com
61 creaturecomfortsblog.com
60 maison21.blogspot.com
59 thedesignfiles.net

The Medium Size Boys

51 simplygrove.com
49 isuwannee.com
47 poppytalk.blogspot.com
47 purestylehome.blogspot.com
46 emmas.blogg.se
46 blog.urbangrace.com
45 colourmehappyblog.blogspot.com
45 plastolux.com
43 bloesem.blogs.com
42 cotedetexas.blogspot.com
42 decorno.blogspot.com
41 MaterialGirlsBlog.com
41 theselby.com
41 ohjoy.blogs.com
40 fromtherightbank.com
40 shelterrific.com
39 high-heelfootinthedoor.blogspot.com
39 peppermintbliss.com
38 annesage.com
37 thebedlamofbeefy.blogspot.com
37 centsationalgirl.com
36 improvisedlife.com
35 design-milk.com
35 designtherapy.com
34 thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com
33 swiss-miss.com
33 discoverinteriordesign.com
33 katyelliott.com/blog
32 dosfamily.com
32 kitchenandresidentialdesign.com
32 madebygirl.blogspot.com
32 yvestown.com
32 brookegiannetti.typepad.com
32 visualvamp.blogspot.com
31 ishandchi.blogspot.com
31 paloma81.blogspot.com
30 joannagoddard.blogspot.com
28 eddieross.com
28 livethehomelife.com
27 hashai.com
27 midcenturymodernist.com
26 absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com
26 thepeakofchic.com
26 houseofturquoise.com
26 stylecourt.blogspot.com

The Smallish Boys

25 kennethbrowndesign.com
25 rdekko.com
25 mylove-foryou.com
24 slimpaley.com
24 style-files.com
23 brynalexandra.blogspot.com
23 nestegg.typepad.com
23 hookedonhouses.net
22 thehappyhomeblog.com
22 plushpalate.com
22 theestateofthings.com
22 mimicharmante.blogspot.com
22 seenandsaid.blogspot.com
22 blackwhiteyellow.blogspot.com
21 design-crisis.com
21 sketch42blog.com
21 funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com
20 casasugar.com
20 happymundane.com
20 moodboard.typepad.com
19 jennskistudio.blogspot.com
19 heathersthompson.typepad.com
19 knackstudios.blogspot.com
19 anh-minh.com
18 www.nestledin.net
18 raenovate.com
18 rebecca-june.blogspot.com
18 atomicindy.com
18 oursuburbancottage.blogspot.com
17 citified.blogspot.com
17 designismine.blogspot.com
17 jordanferney.blogspot.com
17 blog.piajanebijkerk.com
17 kitkadesigntoronto.com
17 layersofmeaning.com
17 blissfulb.blogspot.com
17 elseachelsea.typepad.com
16 roomremixblog.blogspot.com
16 pleasesirblog.blogspot.com
16 simplelovely.blogspot.com
16 aphrochic.blogspot.com
16 acreativemint.typepad.com
16 thedesignfile.net

Little But Charming and Worth a Visit I'm Sure

15 darlingdexter.com
15 bromeliadliving.blogspot.com
15 shoeboxdecor.blogspot.com
15 sweetsweetlife.typepad.com
15 daveandjoi.blogspot.com
15 fermliving.blogspot.com
14 blog.addicted2decorating.com
14 itssoverycheri.blogspot.com
14 katie-d-i-d.blogspot.com
14 casacara.wordpress.com
14 warymeyers.blogspot.com
14 delightbydesign.blogspot.com
14 moroccanmaryam.typepad.com
14 cafecartolina.blogspot.com
14 dressdesigndecor.blogspot.com
14 ifthelampshadefits.blogspot.com
14 chictip.com
14 apartment-412.blogspot.com
13 theinspiredroom.net
13 ninainvorm.punt.nl
13 dwellstudio.com/blog
13 notcot.org
13 rearrangeddesign.blogspot.com
13 unclutterer.com
13 aestheteslament.blogspot.com
13 jeanierhoades.com
13 slipcoveryourlife.com
13 mrsblandings.blogspot.com
12 afieldjournal.blogspot.com
12 freckleschick.blogspot.com
12 moggit.com
12 pinkwallpaper.blogspot.com
12 hollisterhovey.blogspot.com
12 brightboldbeautiful.blogspot.com
12 tartanscot.blogspot.com
12 howaboutorange.blogspot.com
12 houseandhome.com/blog
12 hollymaus.blogspot.com
12 inthefunlane.com
11 thediyshowoff.blogspot.com
11 copycatchic.com
11 purplearea.blogspot.com
11 creategirl.blogspot.com
11 thenester.com
11 decorartsnow.com
11 cottageinstincts.blogspot.com
11 mloves.typepad.com
11 lovinglivingsmall.blogspot.com
11 mynottinghill.blogspot.com
11 thebottomoftheironingbasket.blogspot.com
11 asoftplace.net
11 inchmark.squarespace.com

Ten Votes

everythingleb.blogspot.com
designformankind.com
brabournefarm.blogspot.com
bohemianvintageonline.com
ramblingrenovators.blogspot.com
designevolutionblog.com
strangeclosets.com
lorilangille.blogspot.com
remarkablydomestic.com
beachcottage.com
lushpad.com/blog

Nine Votes

bootsandtotty.com
charmhome.blogspot.com
kitchensync.typepad.com
backgarage.com
getitgirlstyle.blogspot.com
mirrormirror.typepad.com
beachvintage.blogspot.com
belgianpearls.blogspot.com
livingwithlindsay.com
missmustardseed.blogspot.com
itsthelittlethingsthatmakeahouseahome.blogspot.com
abloomsburylife.blogspot.com
sweetpaul.typepad.com
scandinavianretreat.blogspot.com
sanctuaryart.blogspot.com
maloblogg.blogspot.com
hueconsulting.blogspot.com
isabellaandmaxrooms.blogspot.com
bossycolorblog.blogspot.com
lifeaccordingtocelia.blogspot.com
crocodiletears-keyse.blogspot.com
girl-world-decor.blogspot.com

Eight Votes

shanty2chic.blogspot.com
yellowbrickhome.com
designsprout.com
onceuponateatime.blogspot.com
theconstantgatherer.blogspot.com
thandstate.blogspot.com
frenchessence.blogspot.com
thelittlebighouse.blogspot.com
thehousethata-mbuilt.blogspot.com
smallchic.blogspot.com
perchneworleans.blogspot.com
swishandswanky.blogspot.com
meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com
gogoabigail.com/blog
artwallblog.blogspot.com
kaylovesvintage.blogspot.com
shabbynest.blogspot.com

Seven Votes

fabulousfindsandco.blogspot.com
dailyimprint.blogspot.com
decorpad.com
trouvais.com
marieclairemaison.fr
blondiensc.typepad.com
patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com
mabelshouse.blogspot.com
hopingforhappyaccidents.blogspot.com
mrshowardpersonalshopper.com
varnishid.blogspot.com
oliveaux.blogspot.com
decorology.blogspot.com
livingwithwhite.com
enhabiten.blogspot.com
notcot.com
fourwallsandaroof.com
windhula.blogspot.com
newlywoodwards.blogspot.com
chezerbey.com
gettogethablog.com
blackeiffel.blogspot.com
aestheticoutburst.blogspot.com
architectdesign.blogspot.com
shannonfricke.blogspot.com
allthingsgd.blogspot.com
design-ties.blogspot.com
ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com

Six Votes

thingsthatinspire.net
lakejane.com
sweethomestyle.tumblr.com
twentytwentyone.blogspot.com
coloursdekor.blogspot.com
freshdesignblog.com
ruespeanutbutterandjellylife.com
theserovingeyes.blogspot.com
bellemaison23.com
heart-of-light-blogspot.com
sweeteventide.com
kitchenclarity.com
m-a-belle.blogspot.com
oldworldcharm-oldworldcharm.blogspot.com
designerdetective.com
7ideas.org
urbancasita.com
highstreetmarket.blogspot.com
patchworkharmony.blogspot.com
kellyandolive.com/blog
newlyweddiaries.blogspot.com
kitchendetailsanddesign.com
stylenorth.ca
marleyandlockyer.blogspot.com
brickcitylove.com
madebystephie.blogspot.com
pikaland.com
freshome.com
theruralmodernist.com
blulabelbungalow.com
decoraddict.blogspot.com
poppytalk-thetownhouse.blogspot.com
acountryfarmhouse.blogspot.com
lolalina.com
helloloverofbeautifulthings.blogspot.com
jgkitchens.blogspot.com
jubella.com
archdaily.com
matissecolor.blogspot.com
casamoxie.com
laurelstreet.wordpress.com

Five Votes

contemporist.com
beautifulbonesdesign.blogspot.com
coconutsandlimes.blogspot.com
home-biba.blogspot.com
sohaute.typepad.com
remotestylist.com
interiordivine.blogspot.com
thefabricofmylife.wordpress.com
twoellie.blogspot.com
thehauntedlamp.blogspot.com
peacockfeatherevents.blogspot.com
driedfigsandwoodenspools.blogspot.com
casapinka.typepad.com
brownbutton.blogspot.com
grantkgibson.blogspot.com
hyggehouse.com
thompsonfamily.typepad.com
styleswoon.com
shelterinteriordesign.blogspot.com
sixdifferentways.com
createhdesign.wordpress.com
picnicsunderthemoon.com
lobsterandswan.blogspot.com
dottieangel.blogspot.com
homersoddisnthe.blogspot.com
thezhush.blogspot.com
pewterandsage.blogspot.com
sosylvie.typepad.com
blog.mydeco.com
carriecan.blogspot.com
onegrandhome.wordpress.com
frenchlarkspur.blogspot.com
lovelyclusters.blogspot.com
tinyhouseblog.com
mochatini.org
simplystated.realsimple.com
annechovie.blogspot.com
luxxurylivving.com
thisphotographerslife.com
studiog.greayer.com
theofficestylist.com
theothertiffany.blogspot.com
eatdrinkchic.com
deptoftheinteriordc.com
sunsetgurldesign.typepad.com
jackiebluehome.blogspot.com
thishomesweethome.blogspot.com
mckevitts.blogspot.com
theshabbychiccottage.net
shockthebourgeois.blogspot.com
modernests.com
designspotter.com

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Bromeliad Living nominated for a Homie . . .

. . . along with about 300 other blogs. But still. Thanks!

Apartment Therapy is back with its annual Homie Awards, which lets readers vote all this week on the best shelter blogs in five categories.

AT founder Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan is a proponent of simplifying one's life to improve one's well being, so I eliminated a major stressor a few months ago when I gave up trying to read AT on any regular basis.

So imagine my surprise first to discover that the Homies are on again and then to have been nominated. And then to have such nice things said. (As opposed to "a favorite cuz this blogger is so lame she makes me feel better about myself.")

Check out the (growing) list of home design blogs and cast some votes if you're so inclined.

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We love Young House Love

Thanks to Sherry and John over at the ever popular Young House Love blog for featuring our armoire to fountain transformation. For the two or three people on the planet who have not heard of YHL, this is the former This Young House (before This Old House got all huffy about trademark infringement), a peppy and practical home design and renovation blog. Stop by and say hello.

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Blog awards

I've received two blog awards recently - the One Lovely Blog Award from Cristin at Simplified Bee and the Honest Scrap award from Lucy at Four Walls and a Roof. I'm flattered to be so awarded since both are real live interior designers and classy ladies to boot.

Passing one or both along to the following:

Elizabeth at Absinthe and Orange - For fearless, honest DIY projects and for sucking me into the whole refashioning old clothes thing.

Alexis at One Grand Home - Great decorating deals, including 100 DIY headboard ideas.

Struggling to be Stylish - For being down to earth, funny and practical.

Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog - Best explanation of what to buy or not buy at a dollar store that I've read.

Jill at The Good Life for Less - For cute cheap outfits.

If the Lampshade Fits - Gotta love any blog with a category called Eat the Rich.

For the Honest Scrap award, I'm supposed to post 10 honest things about myself.

1. Blog awards make me nervous.
2. I have a hard time thinking of 10 honest things.
3. Aye yi yi
4. Oh, here's something. I have a theory that people are alloted a certain number of words a day. Some people are given millions, so they start early in the morning and talk as much as possible to run through their share. Others, like me, get only a few thousand. So that's why by about 4 p.m., I've run out of words and I'm starting to blather.
5. Sometimes this occurs way before 4 p.m.
6. I pretend to be allergic to animals when really I just think they are gross.
7. I write reminders on my hand.
8. I watch with lurid interest programs like I Didn't Know I was Pregnant and Monsters Inside Me.
9. I once had a dog named Puppy.
10. I can put my foot behind my neck.

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Bromeliad Living makes Brokelyn.com

Many thanks to brokelyn.com, one of my favorite cheapster sites, for the shout-out to Bromeliad Living, specifically my ode to the IKEA Lack side table.

Brokelyn.com is a great source for news and bargains around Brooklyn but also has plenty of journalism relevent to readers outside of Kings County - like How to Make Money on Etsy and a fascinating piece on couch surfing - the practice of allowing a total stranger to crash on your couch instead of in a hotel in exchange for the opportunity to do the same yourself some day.

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The pouf makes Apartment Therapy

My celebrity footstool is here, thanks to AT blogger Amy Azzarito. Amy got hammered about a year ago for suggesting a $20 Moroccan pouf, yet she fearlessly revisited the subject.

Many thanks to Red Shoes for jumping in and saying something nice. Those AT'ers are a tough crowd.

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