Pip Notes: Art and Musings By Pilar

Bathroom Redo-A DIY Adventure

I am not sure if it was due to the Million Dollar Decorators marathon I watched on Bravo or inspiration from my dear friend, Nath aka The Honey Bean, but I decided it was time to give my bathroom a much needed make over. 

 
1. laundry bags 2. counter trays 3. fabric wrapped canvas jewelry organizer 4. designer inspired painted canvas

The Highlights

Canvas

I adore fabric. With so many amazing and colorful prints out on the market, sometimes I can not even make anything with the fabric I purchase because it is so pretty. Using some of my favorite prints from Melody Miller's Ruby Star, I wrapped gallery style canvas and staple gunned the fabric into place. To create a jewelry organizer, I added some tea cup hooks and clear push pins with insta-tack. For some diy wall art, I revisted my fabric stash and repeated the above process sans the tea cup hooks and push pins. 

1. fabric covered canvas 2. laundry bags

Laundry Bags

I don't know about you, but I hate hampers. They take up room and, everything, but the clothing makes it into the container. A win/win situatuion came to mind: laundry bags. Using a simple draw string pattern and white quilter's broadcloth, I made a bag for each sorting pile I would create when it was time to wash my clothes. The Graphic Fairy has great French Typography and Transfer Printables on her DIY blog, which worked out nicely for this project. (Check out this great tut by Gina for GF's DIY blog on how you can create your own French Inspiried Laundry Bag.)

Extras

-simple nickleplated trays from the dollar store

-making my own designer inspired painting using sponge sproucers 

-distressing hooks and hangers with sandpaper and paint

For the most part, this room is done for now. Next stop, the office.....

 

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dia de los muertos 2011

dulces de los muertos

ancestor altar

 

comida y luz por los muertos

tequila decanter celebrating the day

honoring the memories of our loved ones

 

a day at the gardens-part ii

I have many more pictures from this visit. I will sprinkle them here and there through out the season. Bff, Kelly, has a wonderful post on her trip to Blackstone Theater, here.

a day at the gardens, part 1

Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach/Corona Del Mar. Outside the beautiful variety of botanics, the gardens have become famous for their holiday presentations.

  
This year their Halloween extravaganza is Blackstone Theater.

Inside a variety of treats of hand crafted decorations, vintage decore, prims and mache of all kinds.




Will post more in a day or two. I haven't even begun to scratch the surface of the wonders inside the theater nor have shown the wonderful heirloom pumpkins they offer.

blast off

  
 

You might remember from an earlier post that I was making a quilt for the wee one using Michael Miller's Retro Rocket Kids as the focal point of the block. Here are some photos of the finished product.

 

Finished Quilt: 55x 65

 

I based this quilt on Elizabeth Hartman's pattern, Sunspot. You can find the specifics of this design in her book, The Practical Guide to Patchwork.I decided to quilt this piece with a Random Straight Line motif to enhance the action of the focal blocks.

When I was taking snaps of this quilt, a gust of wind kicked up and the clouds hid the sun. Obviously, this quilt has a mind of its own and very specific wishes on how it would like to be photographed.

For the backing, I used a variety of fabric I had purchased a few years ago with a similar color story.

I am not sure how much longer my quilting binge will last. In the last six weeks, I have made five quilts (3 have been shared here). A new record for me.

 

 

dog days

With the recent spike in temperature, I am afraid I am running a bit behind on blogging. Here are the highlights of my existence.

 
a new pair of glasses

acquiring a stash of Ruby Star Rising fabric by Melody Miller

buying wine for the label and not the taste

celebrating a late harvest of tomatoes

 

The Forgotten Post

close up of pillow by Laura Bray, 2010
Knowing that the last few weeks in August would be hectic, I had strategically prewrote postings to be published during this time. However, I seemed to have goofed saving these posts as drafts vs. the publish later option. I am going to chalk it off another casualty of Mercury and the tricks he plays during the retrograde cycle.

 
bracelet by Kelly Snelling, 2010

In a previous posting, I had mentioned my landmark 40th birthday. This posting was to show you all the delicious loot I received from dear and cherished friends.

     The ever sweet, Maija, gifted me with this beautiful silk scarf, which she picked up on vendor day at Art Unraveled. The silk has been hand dyed with handwritten script. It is so pretty and works well with Cali weather. Maija also gave me a gorgeous wired work brooch, which I could use with the scarf or as a separate. I can't not wait until I get an opportunity to wear these two.

     Home girl extraordinaire, Kelly, made me these exquisite hand hammered and tooled silver bangles of silver and Labradorite. Little did she know I love Labradorite and have several pieces in my collection. Home girl also took me out for a most delicious dinner of Spanish cusine at Cafe Hildago in Fullerton. I took pictures of our dishes, but I can not seem to located those pictures at this time. The food was very nummy and just plain delish. We later visited our hommie, Nancy, at her shop, Gilding The Lily. It was a perfect evening of fun and friendship.

     Soul sister, Laura, gifted me with this artful patchwork pillow, which included piecing, applique, and pen work. This pillow is not only very pretty, but most comfy. Laura wrote a posting on her blog about the construction of this pillow and some of the techniques she used, here.

     Although a quite birthday, I am overwhelmed and touched by the kindness of the three incredible women above as well as those who sent special birthday messages and well wishes here, through email, facebook and twitter. Thank you all!

 

on turning forty

      There is an elephant in the room or should I say on my blog....It has been exactly seven days since I hit the big 40 and I have yet to post.  In actuality, I have written at least four various drafts discussing this "landmark" event, each draft different in tone and theme from heavily sarcastic rants against mandatory self reflection to a soci-anthropological discourse on modern day rites of passage. Despite the variety of theme and analysis, none of these posts have worked.

     The truth is there was no "light bulb moment" last Saturday. I woke up as I do every day except some calendar said I was a year older.  If anything, the anxiety I have experience for the last six months as I approached doomsday was lifted and I could breath again. The watershed moment was here and quickly passed before I even realized it had arrived.

     Age is a state of mine. I do not feel like I am any particular number, but I believe I have matured in my mind and approach. I do not see the world in black and white as I did when I was in my 20s nor do I feel the pressure to "have it all" as 30 brought. My goals are simple: Health and happiness. Love and joy.

In the immortal words of my homeboy, Julius Caesar,

" veni, vidi, vici- I came, I saw, I conquered."

Happy Birthday

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

to Sir Robert Plant

Here is a video clip of the birthday boy performing with the super talented, Alison Krauss, Zeppelin's Black Dog.

To Market, To Market: Conclusion

One thing that Laura and I constantly discussed during our visit to the Mitsuwa Market is the deep aesthetic value of Japanese culture. Everywhere you turned, artistry and skill were exhibited from the packaging of an item to the display. It was a wonderful day of culture, beauty, and fun. Thank you, Laura!