Pinteresting Tuesday {3}

pinteresting tuesday {3}
Originally uploaded by {me}longings

It's 'Pinteresting' Tuesday again already. 'Pinteresting' Tuesday is my weekly post where I share my thoughts behind some of my favorite pins on Pinterest.

It was a very exciting week for me. I started grad school at Queens University, I was interviewed by Modern Bird Studios, and I finally painted my breakfast nook.

1. This dog art on wood sums up the best part of my week. I'm hoping my husband follows through on my wish to have our dogs' portrait created like this one from Modern Bird Studios as my Christmas gift this year.
Last week I was interviewed by Gregg and Megan, the super talented duo at Modern Bird Studios. They are something special, for sure. Over here? I'm a vessel overflowing with gratitude because of their energy and support for my blog, and the rest of the design blogger community. You can read my interview on their blog, and learn how I really feel about shoulder pads, decorating my bedroom with my mom in 1985, and other humiliating stories. I enjoyed every bit of it.

If you want someone fun to follow on Twitter, Megan is your gal and Modern_bird is her handle.  She's one of my favorite people on Twitter. You should also follow her husband for even more laughs. She's always calling him a jerk, and he complains that she spends too much time on Twitter ignoring him completely. I love their shtick - it's awesomesauce {that's their mantra for 'super duper'} because we all know they're the perfect pair - so in love with each other, their kids and their life. Like I said, pure awesomesauce. Also, I love that Modern Bird Studios will begin using a new eco-friendly paint from Montana Gold for their pieces.  Bravo!

via Chanee on Pinterest

2. To appease my three-month long fascination with the color teal, last weekend I painted the breakfast nook a deep teal color using the eco-friendly Benjamin Moore Natura paint line.  {a before and after post coming tomorrow} I'm so happy with the result. Because the room is adjacent to the living and dining rooms both painted in white, I worried that the contrast would be too great and disturb the flow of the house. But then I saw this white dining space that leads into a breakfast nook painted and wallpapered in almost the same color as my breakfast nook. I just wish I had those dining room chairs - wow!

via Chanee on Pinterest

3. Once I finish giving my 1950's bar cart a facelift, I'll need to stock it. I don't drink much, so I doubt my bar cart will be full of top shelf liquor bottles. To get some ideas on how to accessorize it, I've been collecting images of some really classy, well-stocked bar carts - view the whole "stocked in style" collection.

via Chanee on Pinterest

4. The wallpaper search is still on for the entryway or hallway. I could never go this bold even in such a small space, but I still love it. I've found several eco-friendly wallpaper lines that I'm considering. Let the search continue.

via Chanee on Pinterest

5. Two words "Horse" and "Head." My animal figurine obsession continues but has morphed into animal busts. Let me clarify, not actual busts from deceased animals, like a deer or a boar. I'm a vegetarian - PA -LEASE! After flipping through the fall Anthropologie catalog, this new infatuation began. You'll start seeing some wood and metal horse busts popping up at my place very soon.

via Chanee on Pinterest

6. Glamorous metallic golds have been swirling around in my mind this week. I'm on the hunt for a few vintage accent pieces for the living room with touches of gold. I'm hoping to hit the thrift stores this week to find something striking and sophisticated {like this lamp}. Last month I returned from thrifting with an amazing 1950's brass and glass bar cart. I painted it a silver matte color because it was quite rusty, and of course, I'm second guessing my choice. Now I'm all about the original brass finish. No big deal, I'll repaint it. However, if I get a can of gold paint in my hands, I might end up painting more than the bar cart. Must control myself! Isn't this vintage brass lamp from Fabulous Mess sensational?

via Chanee on Pinterest

See the rest of my pins 

Pinteresting Tuesday {2}

pinteresting tuesday {2}
Originally uploaded by {me}longings

Pinteresting Tuesday continues. Last week I started a new series called "Pinteresting Tuesday" where I share my thoughts behind some of my favorite pins on Pinterest. Check out last week's post.

My pins over the past week tell me that I'm ready for some cooler weather and that I'm still quite enamored with mustard yellow and teal. In fact, over Labor Day weekend, I picked out three teal color samples to test on my breakfast nook wall, which is currently a light blue/grey color. The color I like is a bit too dark on the wall, but in the can it's perfect. So I'm going back to sample a slightly lighter shade tomorrow. More to come on that painting project - it's going to be a dramatic change for autumn at my place.

1. Terrain never fails to inspire me. I found this wrought iron pendant made with woven jute and burlap. I love the organic textures and the warm glow it creates - perfect for an autumn evening.

via Chanee on Pinterest

2. Oh the charms of cottage life! Downsizing has been on my mind a lot this week. Living in a home with a smaller footprint is less expensive and better for the environment. Of course living with less space can have its downside, but I'm always up for the challenge of making more out of less. This amazing cottage uses the covered patio as an outdoor kitchen. I just love the casual feel of this kid-friendly cottage home.

via Chanee on Pinterest

3. Like I said, my love of mustard yellow is still going strong this week, especially after seeing the tri-colored dresser from Remodelista. I can feel a craft project coming on.

via Chanee on Pinterest

4.  I've been searching for creative ways to hang brooms, mops and dusters inside my hallway closet. The cheap metal strip ripped out many months ago and the closet has become a mess of brooms and mops leaning against the wall. After seeing Martha's hanging method, I'm on the hunt for several vintage hooks to get the broom closet organized and functioning again.

via Chanee on Pinterest

5. I'm considering wallpaper in two areas of my home. The first is in the downstairs hallway that leads to the dining room with grey linen drapes and newly painted white walls. The second, the entryway that leads to the the living room also with white walls. This bold grey botanical print wallpaper from Ferm Living is on the short list for the hallway.

via Chanee on Pinterest

6. Let me take you to the back porch of my imaginary lake house. Have a seat in my vintage bamboo chairs {yes, they're so comfortable!} and I'll get us a glass of wine. Isn't that sunset nice?

via Chanee on Pinterest

To see the rest of my pins from last week, you can follow me here

What are your pins saying about you this week?

Monday Meet & Greet: My Etsy Favs

Happy Labor Day! The weather felt a little like autumn in the Carolinas this weekend causing a little creative streak in me.  I was somewhat productive and started a few projects around the house. 'Started' being the operative word.  I'm celebrating Labor Day by cleaning up the mess my projects left behind.  How was your weekend?

Last Monday I participated in a blogger meet & greet with a twist. It was progressive, like a progressive dinner, where you start at one blog and then move onto the next blog. Since I met so many new bloggers, artists and designers who stopped by to say "hey," I thought I'd do a 'meet & greet' every Monday.

For today's Monday Meet & Greet, I'd like to introduce you to my favorite Etsy sellers.
{This was a hard list to compile because I have over ninety sellers in my "Favorites Shops" section on Etsy.}

Introduce yourself, your blog, your shop or just say "ahoy!" Also, if you have a favorite Etsy seller, please do share!

1. Trampoline {ethanollie} If you haven't seen anything from Kim's shop, you've obviously never visited my blog before. I feature her perfectly photographed vintage finds ALL OF THE TIME. She's sensational. If Etsy shoppers and sellers voted for their most admired shop, Kim's shop would be in the top three. Her talent? She finds the best vintage pieces, photographs them and sells them - but she's really good at it. Her photography is art. Her photographs draw you in making you feel the history behind the piece. I so wish she had a blog - come on, Kim, start a blog!

Vintage Cheerleaders Pom Pom

2. Half Pint Salvage is one funny and talented man named Karl, and apparently he has a beard {according to his blog}. He works very hard to rescue and salvage old wood windows, moldings and cabinets in Seattle. Then he transforms them {with eco-friendly finishes} into useful, one-of-a-kind pieces for the home. He's very eco-cool!

Recycled, Vintage Window Chalkboard, White, 24 x 17 - WHOLE GRAIN WOOD

3. Hindsvik is Daniel and Valeria and they are absolutely famous from where I stand - but so humble. Their Etsy shop is an extension of their clean, danish vintage style. They'd make Etsy's top three sellers list, too - such superb photography. The iconic husband-wife team have a must-see blog with amazing home remodeling and decorating projects. They are guest blogging on Poppytalk every Tuesday this month. {told you they were famous!}

Vintage Large Children's School Desk

4. French By Design is a fine mademoiselle {wish I knew her name!} from France, but now living in my state of North Carolina, it appears. I discovered her a few weeks ago and she instantly made my heart flutter. I love her vintage decor style {we may be style twins}, her blog, and all of the unique beauties in her Etsy shop.

Antique French Milk Jar

5. Harmonie Park is Elizabeth, and I adore her wit, her kindness and her creative outlet that is her Etsy shop. She's one of my favorite online friends and someone I hope to meet in person someday. Please swing by her blog {co-authored with her husband} for some laughs, inspiration and pure coolness.

Vintage mid-century lloyd lamp

6. Lucy and Ellen is named after the shop owners' grandmothers, Kristen & Jennifer. They are treasure hunting sisters who know good style when they see it...obviously. Their shop is new to Etsy, and is full of fresh vintage pieces. I just found their gorgeous blog and started following them on Twitter - can't wait to get to know them better.

Vintage brass desk calendar

Pinteresting Tuesday {1}

Like many of my fellow bloggers, over the past few weeks I've made Pinterest a part of my daily {if not hourly} social networking and inspiration-hunting routine.

I sing its praises {though, I wish we could all get better at tagging to make searching more effective} and now plan to dedicate every Tuesday to sharing some of my favorite pins.

Today marks the beginning of "Pinteresting Tuesday."

1. Now that summer is starting to wrap up {only in the 80's this week}, I'm drawn to deeper shades of my favorite summer colors. This deep teal room featured on the cover of Vogue Living Australia from 2007 is very close to the color I want to incorporate into my living room. Once I find fabric in this color, I'm making slipcovers {with my mom's help} for the two slipper chairs currently covered in white linen. These deep jewel tones will give the room some much needed warmth and coziness throughout the autumn and winter. I'm looking for a medium to heavy weight linen, hemp or linen blend fabric with some texture in a deep teal color. Please let me know if you've seen anything like this online.

via Chanee Vijay on Pinterest

2. This dining space is enchanting. It's chalky, grey walls and white-washed linens look perfectly aged. The cane-back chairs and splashes of gold from the glassware and fabric give the room just enough warmth. My latest decorating obsession is with vintage animal figurines make from wood or metal. This dining space has quite the collection making it a touch spooky to me. Do you think it's kind of spooky? I like it!

via Chanee Vijay on Pinterest

3.  I've never seen a wood stove like this before and I'm quite happy I found it this week. This space has it all, the yellow, the stacked wood, the built-in bookshelves and the clean, practical Scandinavian styling.

via Chanee Vijay on Pinterest

4. I've never been much for patterns - too risky I suppose - and I've always preferred paint over wallpaper for simplicity's sake. They are both growing on me. I found this pattern and color combination from Ferm Living and I'm considering the possible applications. Isn't growing fun?

via Chanee Vijay on Pinterest

5.  My favorite wood figurine to date. I saw this camel on Etsy's front page last week and I'm trying really hard not to buy it. I already have a vintage wood rhino in the family room and an owl in the dining room. I think this camel would look great in the living room with the deep jewel tones and metallics, don't you? Come on...help me rationalize this purchase!

via Chanee Vijay on Pinterest

6. Like teal and turquoise, colors in the yellow family, especially mustard, have caught my attention this month. These vintage French café chairs in mustard yellow make the dining space cheery, causal and chic. The huge asian-themed framed art, and rustic wood dining table create earthy textures that balance the bold color of the metal chairs. I love it all.

via Chanee Vijay on Pinterest

To see the rest of my pins, you can follow me here: http://pinterest.com/melongings/

What's "pinteresting" to you this week? {aren't I cute!?}

Positively Perfect Progressive Meet & Greet

Hello, welcome to {me}longings. It's my first Monday "meet and greet!" So introduce yourself, and leave a link to your site so we can all see what inspires you.  If you're along for the progressive "meet and greet," you've probably just met Beth and love her sensational blog, Hello Splendor , as much as I do.

When you're ready to meet another fab blogger with an eye for the lovely, hop over Estelle's blog, Under a Pink Moon.

The progressive "meet and greet" idea is from Michelle, a designer, blogger at Surface Studio, and one of the sweetest, most welcoming people you'll meet. Thank you, Michelle! {join in next time by reaching out to Michelle}

I hope you had a productive, yet relaxing weekend.  I had a very crafty weekend and finally completed a project idea that's been brewing in my head for quite some time. Ever since I painted the living and dining rooms white, I've been trying to assemble a collection of photos, art and mirrors to hang on the living room entry wall.

I went around the house pulling pieces sitting alone in a corner, and dug through boxes of storage to find the best items for the entry wall collection. This was a very slow process (slow design at its best), using mostly what I had in the house, a key vintage find {the hanging mirror from Trampoline = must have!} and a little painting project to pull in a specific accent color.

Since the items were all so different, I knew I had to go for a more eclectic feel.  I had plenty of inspiration from room images I've been collecting over the past few months.

I wanted to pull in jewel tones of jade, teal and turquoise, while displaying the warmer colored art and objects from India and Indonesia, where my husband spent his childhood. I also needed to find a way to display two of our India wedding photos, which are full of warm tones.  To accomplish this, I painted an oval mirror from white to teal - it once hung {gold} in my parent's dining room during the 1970's.

I'm happy with the outcome, and plan to add a few more pieces as I find them.  I'd love to add some smaller round pieces, and more teal and turquoise pieces.

Before

During

After

Get inspiration to hang unlikely collections of what you already own and love from these eclectic spaces.

via Chanee Vijay on Pinterest

via Chanee Vijay on Pinterest

via Chanee Vijay on Pinterest

via Chanee Vijay on Pinterest

via Chanee Vijay on Pinterest

via Chanee Vijay on Pinterest

via Chanee Vijay on Pinterest

via Chanee Vijay on Pinterest

A few vintage and eco-friendly wall hangings I'd love to add to my entryway wall collection.

1. Antique Wall Mirror from Etsy seller Vintage Haven

2. Old Rustic Metal Industrial Pulley from Etsy seller The Vintage Cabin

3. Squirrel Art-Olive painted by Etsy artist Amber Alexander. {this piece is so lovely - a must have for me. Plus, the description of the piece is great} "When Olive picked out her new dress, she thought it was the bee's knees, but now that she's "out", it feels a little short. "

4. Decorative bowl wall art made from natural woven grass from West Elm

5. Vintage Gold Swan Shelf from Etsy seller Shaving Kit Supplies

6. Vintage Beautiful Royal Wooden Frame with Design for Mirror, Picture, Painting from Etsy seller Vintage Galaxy