Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Inspiration for Art

Posted by Head Fly at 6:22 PM 0 comments
Our house needs colour. I'm craving it like I craved banana Popsicles when I was pregnant. We're gearing up to add colour to the house via art. Now, I wish we could run out and invest in original art, but we've chosen to invest in the basics (like the chairs), and we also have a possible kitchen reno and bathroom reno in the future that we have to save for. One day we can afford real art. Right now we're all about the DIY. Now, as with any project I've started to look of inspiration.

Lonny has actually been a great resource for modern art inspiration. In the December issue, I spotted this photo of Eileen Kathryn Boyds house and fell in love of the pink pillows on the couch and also the big art above the couch. Perhaps I could do some watercolour project that would give me a similar look?


Then there is this photo, oh how I adore that green in the art.

Above is a screen shot from the Lonny July/August issue. Maybe if I blew up a HUGE photo that I have taken, and frame it like they have. Or maybe I could do a huge piece like this that is from Eileen Kathryn Boyds portfolio. (Actually she has TONS of wonderful art incorporated into most of her designs)

The options are endless, but you can see where I'm going with the colour. The decision now is how to do the art in a relatively easy + inexpensive way.

xo Lindsay
(Oh, and PS, I am kind of obsessing over those blue and green pillows in the last picture.)

Fun Times & Big Changes

Posted by Head Fly at 5:50 PM 0 comments

Hi everyone!  Although you can’t tell due to my lack of blog posts, I am still here and still alive.  I didn’t intend to neglect my blog near this much after the baby, but have been quite busy.  I would love to say that the reason I haven’t been blogging is due to the baby, but that is only somewhat true.  I also have a new and exciting project that I’m working on. 

The day after Chase was born, while I was still in the hospital, I got a call from Chip Wade, from HGTV’s Curb Appeal, letting me know that I was being considered for a new TV show that he was putting together.  I auditioned for the part with Chip when Chase was 2 weeks old.  Then I got the call that I had been selected later that week.  I basically went back to working [for the show] full-time the following week.  It’s been so exciting, so exhausting [as a new first-time mom] and SOOOOOO much FUN!!! 

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[Fun trip to IKEA for the show]

Filming for the pilot just started at the end of last week.  I can’t really go into too many details about the show yet, but can tell you that I’ll be the designer on the show.  I will be decorating the homes that we renovate and adding the finishing touches to the spaces.  It should start airing sometime in early 2012.  As soon as I can dish on the details I’ll be doing it.  Filming for the pilot should wrap at the end of June.  Then I’ll get back to work on Charm Home for a while until the regular season starts filming.

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[Another shopping expedition for the show]

I can’t wait to start blogging again, and now that the little one is sleeping through the night I should have more time to devote to blogging.  I don’t know how you other blogging moms do it.  Any advice would be much appreciated. 

Also, I know it’s been forever, but I finally added the sources for Chase’s nursery to the nursery post.  A few readers had requested sources on particular items.  You can see them by CLICKING HERE and going to the bottom of the post.

xoxo,

Cristi

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{ More Vintage Pages }

Posted by Head Fly at 2:53 PM 0 comments
another re-do for the stairway...




my summer sales

Posted by Head Fly at 10:14 AM 0 comments
Too late for a spring clean so we're calling it a summertime tidy up!!



Time to clear some shelves and move along.  

I am happy to offer a selection of monogrammed sheets at discount price. 



For all details click here

Watercolor

Posted by Head Fly at 4:52 AM 0 comments
Yes please. I am loving everything "watercolor" inspired these days, including this dress.
Dress Anthropologie

Mamarazzi by Stacy Wasmuth {Book Review and Giveaway}

Posted by Head Fly at 4:30 AM 0 comments

I was recently sent a copy of "Mamarazzi - Every Mom's Guide to Photographing Kids" by Stacy Wasmuth for me to review here on the blog.  How adorable is that little girl on the front cover?  Seriously, I don't know if it gets much cuter than that!

I was so excited to get my hands on this book because, though I love to take pictures of my girls, and I do have a nice camera, I don't exactly know what I'm doing.  I hope that's ok to admit.  Yes, I'm outing myself - My name is Lindsay.  I have a dSLR camera. And I don't know exactly how to use it. 

But with that being said, I have been working really hard to learn more about photography and how to take good pictures, so this book came at the perfect time!  I find so many photography books are way to technical for my liking.  I am a visual learner, so I love pictures and examples and many of the books I've picked up are just filled to the brim with text.  I want to take good pictures of my kids, but I am by no means looking to become a true professional.

Mamarazzi by Stacy Wasmuth was written with a casual, friendly tone and addressed all of the issues I have with photographing children.  She covers a wide-range of topics that will interest many moms who just love, love, love taking pictures of their little ones.

Here is what the table of contents looks like so you can see what all the book entails: 

This book goes into some detail with how to use your dSLR camera but it also has other great photography tips for those that use basic point-and-shoot cameras as well.  I love that the author goes into some detail in regards to photo editing as well because I end up doing a lot of that with the pictures that I take.


She talks about shooting different children of all ages, what to have them wear for photo shoots and how to get those winning smiles out of them without them saying "cheese" (which if you've ever photographed kids before, you know that never looks attractive).




Mamarazzi has some of the best eye candy of any photography book I have ever seen.  The sample photographs are amazing and there are TONS of them.  Besides being very informative, who doesn't love looking at photographs of adorable babies, cute toddlers, beautiful children and happy families?



Here is some additional information from Amazon.com about Mamarazzi by Stacy Wasmuth:

Calling all mamarazzis! Every camera-toting mom will want this guide!

Moms, if you can't seem to take enough great photos of the children in your life, this is the book for you.  Now you can learn how to photograph children with the style, clarity, color, and beauty you see in professional photographs.  This fun guide combines humor with solid know-how to show you how to compose shots, handle cameras from basic compacts to advanced dSLRs, take portraits or candids, create prints that impress, and even work with kids! Packed with beautiful examples and written in a down-to-earth style from one mom to another, this book will help mamarazzis everywhere take better photos.
  • Moms are one of the fastest-growing segments of the camera-toting demographic, and the blogosphere has a term for them, mamarazzis
  • Mixes information, inspiration, and fun for women who want to take better photographs of the children in their lives
  • Explains how to set up a camera and use the controls on basic compacts up to advanced dSLR cameras
  • Covers shot composition, determining settings, exposing images correctly, the essentials of printing images, how to process for clear and bright color, and more
  • Includes stunning examples of portraits and candids of children

So today, we are giving away one copy of "Mamarazzi - Every Mom's Guide to Photographing Kids" by Stacy Wasmuth to one lucky The Cottage Home blog reader.

Here's how to enter:
Please use a separate comment for each entry (enter all three times or just once....it's up to you).
1. Tell me who you love to photograph or why you need this book.
2. Become an official follower of The Cottage Home blog.
3. Become a fan of The Cottage Mama on Facebook (click HERE to do so).

Giveaway will be open until Friday, July 15, 2011 at midnight (CST).

Monday, July 11, 2011

ce mercredi je mange ... des madeleines!

Posted by Head Fly at 2:34 PM 0 comments





I've been finding beautiful old madeleine baking moulds for the store, and it's filled me with a longing for sweet buttery madeleine cakes.  




If you haven't tried these, you may like to attempt this recipe from Epicrious that I have found very successful.


  • 2 large eggs
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, cooled slightl
  • Powdered sugar


Preheat oven to 375°F. Generously butter and flour the baking tin, especially designed for madeleines.   Using a mixer, beat eggs and 2/3 cup sugar in a  large bowl.   Beat in vanilla, lemon peel and salt. Add flour; beat just until blended. Gradually add cooled melted butter in steady stream, beating just until blended.
Spoon 1 tablespoon batter into each indentation in pan. Bake until puffed and brown, about 16 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Gently remove from pan. Repeat process, buttering and flouring pan before each batch. (Can be made 1 day ahead.)
Dust madeleines with powdered sugar. 




Tomorrow I'll be announcing reductions of a large selection of monogrammed linens!


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