TGIF, 3/9/12 Edition

Good Friday morning, blog friends!

As you read this, I am enjoying a long weekend with my parents in Connecticut and you better believe Mom and I have a project or two to accomplish while we're together--look for it next week! 

But, before I could leave the week and my apartment behind, I had to snap a few pictures of red springtime accents that brightened this past week for me.

A collection of red tulips in my living room.

Long-lasting, lush carnations add a chipper touch to a bedside table.

This $5 cyclamen plant from Home Depot brings an exotic shape to my dresser top.

The timeless red-and-blue combination carries over from my bedroom to my Jack Spade tote.

I hope that you and yours have a fabulous weekend.

'Til Monday.

Linen Napkin Giveaway Winner!

Last week, I shared a sewing tutorial that covered creating eco-chic cloth napkins that even the most novice sewer could easily tackle. Along with the tutorial, I offered a giveaway for one lucky follower of Meet Me in Philadelphia: a set of 4 linen burlap napkins in a warm mustard made by moi.

Thank you all for entering, but there could only be one winner.

Congrats to Caroline of A Flair for Vintage Decor, who is such a lovely blog friend!

Caroline, I'll email you to arrange shipping these to you.

If you didn't win, be sure to try making your own cloth napkins--I'd love to see your creations if you do.

Thanks again for entering and thanks to Online Fabric Store for providing the fabric for this giveway!

Recreating Robert Motherwell

For my birthday, my Aunt Jan was kind enough to send me a set of 3 vintage framed scenic silhouettes because she knew I'd always had a thing for silhouettes. Isn't she thoughtful? Well, in case she's reading, I hope she doesn't mind that I decided to make a temporary change to this trio!

I was absolutely crazy for the combination of black and gold on the frame, but wanted to have a more modern/abstract look to the art inside and felt that a Robert Motherwell-inspired look was perfect.

Robert Motherwell was an American painter and print maker who came into prominence during the middle of the 20th century during the abstract expressionist movement that included Jackson Pollack, Willem de Koonig, and Lee Krasner, among others. Motherwell's work attempted to communicate the "truths" found in the human unconscious. 

1. "Frontier #6," 1958 by Robert Motherwell

2. "Gesture Paper Painting No. 11.," 1975 by Robert Motherwell

3. "Gesture Paper Painting No. 3," 1975 by Robert Motherwell

4. "Lyric Suite," 1965 by Robert Motherwell

For my Robert Motherwell-inspired project, I needed just a few things...

1. Set of 3 vintage silhouette prints
2. 3" x 5" white cardstock
3. a paintbrush
4. black paint

Want to see how I made 3 Robert Motherwell-inspired paintings with my gifted vintage frames?
Here's how.
Step #1:
I started by removing the brown paper backing on each of the three framed prints, which then required me to remove about 78,000 rusty brads from each frame (good thing for that tetanus booster!).

Step #2:

Next, all three frames and the glass were wiped down and I put them aside to begin painting lots and lots of abstract designs on my 3" x 5" white cardstock sheets with black paint. There was no rhyme or reason to the designs; instead, I held the paintbrush loosely and didn't think too much about the end product.

I painted many extra sheets of cardstock so that I'd have many designs to choose from in the end.

Step #3:
After allowing the paint to dry, I picked out 3 of my favorites for a coveted spot in the frames.
I didn't mess around with those rusty brads again, and instead used masking tape to secure the paintings and backings in place. And, while I didn't show it, the silhouettes are directly behind the cardstock paintings, without any damage!

And that's all it took to make these loose interpretations of Robert Motherwell's abstract expressionist style.

Because I didn't ruin the original silhouette scenes, I can always swap the modern paintings out for them.
What do you think of my Motherwell-inspired trio?

Jazzing Up an Ikea Stave Mirror

Last week, I alluded to several projects that I've been working on, so today begins a week of reveals. Enjoy!

I've owned my "Stave" white mirror from Ikea for about two years and, up until recently, was on the fence about keeping it. It only cost me $50 and because it wasn't a major investment piece, I thought I might trade up for a floor mirror with a bit more oomph for my bedroom.

But, I thought I'd take a cue from one of my recent posts that touched on the subject of affordable-but-"meh" catalog pieces that can easily be transformed with the addition of a decorative detail or paint.
I thought I'd try adding both.

For this project, I used:

1.  an Ikea "Stave" mirror in white

2. two pieces of 8' x 1/2" unfinished rope molding (I bought mine at Home Depot for ~$7)

3. a miter box 

4. glue

5. a coping saw

6. spray paint or latex paint in the color of your choice

Want to see how I customized this bland mirror in a few easy steps? Here's how:
Step #1:
I purchased two 8' long pieces of unfinished wooden rope trim from Home Depot that cost ~$7 a piece.
The trim was narrower than the mirror's frame, and I began by laying it on the frame so that it was centered. It looked great!
Happy with the look, I took my coping saw and cut two pieces for the long and short sides of the mirror.
These were straight cuts.

Step #2:
With two pieces of trim cut for the short and long sides of the mirror frame, I marked where each piece would meet at a mitered corner. Then, I used my coping saw and miter box to cut each piece of trim on the diagonal where I had marked it.  

Step #3:
With two short edges and two long edges mitered, I was ready to run a bead of glue along the flat side of the trim. I pressed the trim to the mirror frame and wipe any excess glue.
While glue is drying, it's also a good idea to fill in the spaces in the mitered corner with wood filler.

Step #4:
With the glue set and the trim secured to the mirror, I began painting with abandon. I didn't tape the trim off because I knew I'd inevitably have to use a razor and Windex to clean up the mirror regardless.
I used paint that I had lying around: "Lamb" by Martha Stewart for Home Depot--a fresh, classic white.

I allowed the paint to dry and scraped away any paint on the mirror's glass.
Now, all cleaned up and transformed, I'm ready to share my jazzed up Stave mirror with the world...

 
I'm totally in love and so happy with the custom feel the addition of $15 worth of trim had on this nondescript-but-affordable mirror.
What do you think?

TGIF, 3/2/12 Edition

Before we officially end my birthday week...yes, I do mean 'week'...I thought I'd share a few photos of it.

On Tuesday (my actual birthday), Adam brought me to Kanella, a restaurant just a short walk from our apartment that specializes in Cypriot food--pretty cool, right? Kanella's chef, Konstantinos Pitsillides, was recently named a 2012 semifinalist for the "Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic" award from The James Beard Foundation. 

What a great birthday dinner it was!

 Adam and I devoured the saganaki, sheftali, lamb chops, and pumpkin-stuffed 'winter ravioli' (which I just had to take a picture of, below):

 And, really, no birthday is complete without a few gifts, am I right?

Family and friends were so kind with their cards and presents...I feel so lucky.

One particular gift, a set of vintage silhouette scenes from my aunt, sparked a project..

Be on the look out for that next week!

I hope you all enjoy a lovely first weekend of March.

Come back next week, when I'll be sharing several projects I've been cooking up around here.

AND

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a set of 4 linen burlap napkins handmade by moi!

The giveaway will end Sunday, March 4 at 11:59PM.

'Til Monday, friends.

Napkin DIY & Giveaway (Sponsored by Online Fabric Store)

Today's post is sponsored by Online Fabric Store, and if you're looking for all-things fabric and crafting, definitely check out their extensive, affordable selection!

On Monday, I queried you readers about your napkin usage at home. I'm trying to end my paper napkin habit and begin a lifelong commitment to cloth napkins. Many of you chimed in, and mentioned that you regularly use cloth napkins, to which I say: 

Wow! I'm thoroughly impressed! Who knew I had such classy readers?

Well, when Online Fabric Store approached me about sponsoring a post, I knew I wanted to use the opportunity to use some of their amazing fabric inventory for a practical project--namely cloth napkins. They  were kind enough to issue me a gift card for the fabric of my choice, and I wanted to pass along the generosity in the form of this giveaway!

I chose the Gold Irish Linen Burlap fabric which, at $17.15, was both affordable and rich looking.
In person, I was also able to feel just how soft this fabric is.

(via Online Fabric Store)

I ordered my fabric and within 2 days it was at my door--how great is that?
If prints are more your speed, I recommend checking out their Portfolio fabric collection.
With fabric in hand, I was ready to make a set of four mitered napkins.

If you want to make your own napkins, here's what you'll need:
1 yard of fabric
scissors
pins
an iron
sewing machine and invisible thread or embroidery floss and an embroidery needle

Let's begin, shall we?

Step 1:

Lay out your chosen fabric. I recommend using an existing napkin as a template for cutting.
The napkins I made measured 17" x 17" unfinished and will be 16" x 16" when completed.
Cut four 17" x 17" squares and iron each so that fabric is crisp.

Step #2:

With each 17" x 17" square ironed, take one square of fabric and use your iron to press down 1/4" of fabric down on each of its four sides. Repeat this step all the way around your napkin once more.
Each side of your napkin will be 1/2" smaller than before.

Step #3:
With 1/2" ironed down on all four sides, open up your folded corners.
Take your scissors and snip the corner (see the second picture).

Step #4:
From the corner you just snipped, fold down about 1/8" of fabric and iron flat. Now, fold your fabric in at each corner so it meets at a 45 degree angle--leaving you with a mitered corner.
Iron that corner down and pin.
Repeat for the three remaining corners on your napkin.

Step #5:
Proceed to the sewing machine (or, if stitching by hand, get your embroidery floss and needle ready!).
Sew, sew, sew--this is the easiest part!

Now, sit back and admire your handiwork.

And, as a special treat to you, my lovely readers, I am giving away a set of 4 Gold Irish Linen Burlap napkins, fabric courtesy of Online Fabric Store!

To enter the giveaway:
Make sure you're a follower of Meet Me in Philadelphia* and comment below.
Be sure to have a valid email address so I can contact the winner.
(Sorry, U.S. readers only)

*To become a follower, click on the 'Join this site' button on the sidebar that looks like this:

The giveaway will be open until Sunday, March 4 at 11:59PM.
Good luck!

Thanks again to Online Fabric Store for sponsoring this post, so be sure to check out their budget-and-style conscious offerings!

To Ashley on Her 28th Birthday

Today is my birthday, and I'm not really sure that I have any real expectations for 28.  

Are there specific expectations the world has for late twenty-somethings?

As a 27-year old, I became a wife, grew this blog, and also became a bit of a reluctant housewife (if you're new, read more about those things here, here, and here).

What's exactly in store for me at 28? Who knows. 

I do know though that I am talented, and smart, and motivated. 

I do know I have a lot in me that I haven't yet revealed and, while that makes me sound very confident I'm not always that way. Perhaps that's one of the great lessons I will learn at 28: 

To be bolder and more confident, but always humble and appreciative.

To be less critical of myself.

To learn from every opportunity.

To compare less.

This brings me to you all:

First, thank you. 

I get so much joy from connecting with such kind, supportive people that I can't even tell you.

Meet Me in Philadelphia hasn't joined that next tier of bloggers (you know, the ones with all the name recognition), so I am truly beside myself when I have a new follower or a new comment. 

Really, I am.

Blogging, and having an audience to share with, has really opened up a source of creativity in me that I ignored for a long time and I'm excited (and a bit anxious) to see where it leads me at 28. 

Happy birthday to me, and thank you all for making every day feel like my birthday!