Must-Have Tools and Supplies for Any DIYer

Do-it-yourself projects can be really daunting at times, can't they? Even if the steps of a project aren't particularly elaborate, it's easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of supplies necessary to complete it. Well, today, I want to disprove the notion you've got to have millions of tools to get down to DIYing because...you don't. It's as simple as that.

The Book of the Peony

It's easy to be inspired by the naturally-sculptural shape of flowers; for me, my favorite flower is the peony and one of the aspects I love most about this variety is the full shape of the bloom that practically defies gravity. Each stem is like a tiny piece of art from the garden.

Published in 1917, Alice Howard Harding's book The Book of the Peony captures the organic beauty of my favorite flower in a series color and black-and-white photographs that deserve to be framed like art and once you see these images, I think you'll agree.

Pair of Vintage Open-Arm Chairs

Friends, I benefited from my own auction tips last week. Last Monday afternoon--despite nursing a bad cough and cold--I drove to an auction preview and left an absentee bid on a pair of upholstered arm chairs for the living room. In their current state, they weren't pretty; but my reasonable bid was enough to bring them home (I got them for $130!). Their open-arm style was calling my name even if their fabric left a lot to be desired.

Let's start musing inspiration for the transformation of these cool chairs, shall we?

Hey, JCP. I'm Digging Your Style.

(one / two / three / four / five)

Let me be the first to admit: I can't believe I'm writing about the stylish offerings from JC Penney because, truthfully, the store never had many products that appealed to me. Sure, I remember loving to study each page of their huge paper catalog as a kid, but that was a long time ago.

Yet, with a new visionary leader in Ron Johnson, the once-ugly duckling of a brand has emerged this spring like a swan. Only a few days into the spring, this season's goods are colorful, exciting, and attention-grabbing. We should take a look at them, no?

Where Have All the Comments Gone?

Look, I'm not asking; they are. Paula, Elvis and the ladies of the Supremes want to know. 

Rush, Rush

[Yep, that's a Paula Abdul reference; you're welcome.]

For Christmas, I received Ben Pentreath's book English Decoration and promptly began studying it. What appealed to me about the book was the English approach to interior design that Pentreath presents: imperfect, collected, aged, loved, layered. 

Aren't those adjectives we'd all like to use about our own homes?

Examining the pictures inside, I noticed a running theme, a recurrent element appearing in many of the homes featured in the book: the use of rush matting as a rug or rug underpinning. Traditional rush matting or baskets, like grasscloth or linen, is a staple in decorating with texture (and a decorating staple in England, in particular). So why not learn a little more about it?

Everything You Wanted to Know about Auctions, But Were too Afraid to Ask

(Note: try not to get escorted from an auction in police custody, like Roger Thornhill)

I could have entitled this post ‘Everything You Wanted to Know about Auctions, But Were too Afraid to Raise Your Hand and Ask Because You Were Scared You Might Actually Bid on Something You Didn't Want” because, really, isn't that everyone’s fear with auctions?

Today, I thought it would be fun to share tips for a successful, stress-free auction experience and I’m not talking Ebay auctions; I mean the bidding-in-person-with-a-numbered-paddle-kind of auction. Since I was a child, I've been attending auctions and during that time I've gleaned a lot of knowledge that’s worth sharing, especially for those who want a good deal on antiques or first access to pieces without paying the retail markup.  And remember, auctions aren't meant just for millionaires. We've all heard of Sotheby's or Christie's, but auctions can be a great venue for finding affordable treasures; after all, at auctions, the bidders name the price. I've walked away with furniture for $20, $10 and even $5! With that, let’s get into it.