dear kiki...

into my bedroom.

I've been meaning to share these photos for a couple weeks now as you will see from the calendar...I finished my room in my new place and I love it.  My whole apartment is really amazing and magical but I love how my room turned out.  It has been a really loooooong time since I've had my bedroom be just my bedroom.  There is also an adorable little balcony off my room including the original screen door from the 40's I'm guessing.  I get tons of light.

part of my wall collage.

The hat storage idea was not mine, I found the tip here however I didn't measure anything, I am not a measuring person, I eyeball everything, I just know where I want things and I put them there. I'm too impatient for measuring, luckily I have a decent eye...but I fuck shit up sometimes too.

It's funny I got this glasses display idea off of a beautiful mess too!

This blanket was an amazing gift from an amazing roommate I had for a mere 3 months, she was one of the sweetest, kindest most giving people I have met.

So I made 5 million pom poms of varying sizes for an art show these are some of the left overs, my sister has some in her room and there are some in our hallway and a hatbox full of more...yeah I got a little carried away...awesome tutorial can be found here on honestly WTF I love that blog...I mean it's called honestly WTF...its like we are soul mates.

trees and windows.  This is why we call our apartment the Treehouse, also the living room is one huge long wall of windows in the trees.

The whale print is by Tara McPherson of course! Love her, love her work, it's tattooed on my body, I have 2 other prints of hers and so does my sister!

 

Art on the left starting from the left and moving clockwise, Vintage Disneyland Tiki Room Print from when they re-opened it and shag did a bunch of art for it, I have a pair of his prints of the jungle cruise too.  By the way I'm mildly obsessed with the tiki culture of the 50's and 60's. 2) oh I LOVE this piece taco head print by John VanFleet love him love his work. and then 3) my dork original which is basically a self portrait.

i just like these colors.

artwork starting from the upper right moving counterclockwise 1) vintage hawaiian print inherited from my grandparents 2) print from the super talented Scott Barry 3) fucking amazing "sketch" of Harry Potter by Tommy Lee Edwards I love his work so much, his work is just insane! 4) cover from the first issue of our little mini comic anthology from back in the day called Nice by Lee Bermejo yes it's me at 18 holding a chainsaw...not much has changed.

collage wall again.  Unicorns print by Vol. 25

The artwork in the blue frame is a little painting of my favorite Sandman character delirium by the watercolor genius Rebecca Guay it was a gift from a very good friend.  I love her work.  The photo is a beautiful one of my grandparents on their porch reading the paper.  The brown hat hanging on the wall belonged to my grandfather.  It still has his business cards in the rim.

daily reminder It's ok.

So that's my room!

Pretty party time decorations!

oh hello!

Valentine's Day was my little sister's Birthday so we had a party for her this past Saturday at our beautiful apartment.  Obviously I had to go crazy making massive decorations and cupcakes...yus!  I had an idea in my head how I wanted it to look and gathered inspiration from the following sources...............

 

Source: confettisystem.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: confettisystem.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: confettisystem.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: confettisystem.com via Katie on Pinterest

 

and

Source: abeautifulmess.typepad.com via Katie on Pinterest

 

I had originally planned on making these..............

Source: jordanferney.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: jordanferney.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

 

On my hunt to find crepe paper however, I failed to find any in sheets, it was more difficult to find than I thought. If I had planned better I could have found some I'm sure but I had to come up with a plan B.  I had a beautiful pile of tissue paper and decided to come up with my own version of all of these!

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First I chose my colors and then I cut out a random triangle pattern through several layers of each color.

Then I cut fringe into the triangles like so    »» »» »» »»    »» »» »» »»    »» »» »» »»   »» »» »» »»

and then you get this awesomeness!!    »» »» »» »»    »» »» »» »»    »» »» »» »»   »» »» »» »»

Then you take your fringe pieces and wrap the folded edge of 1 fringed piece over twine, securing with tape; repeat.

»»»▲I also had two yes two other banners I planned to make first up this glitter letter banner▲«««

 

Source: lovelyindeed.com via Katie on Pinterest

 

Find the full tutorial HERE and I actually first saw this on Creature Comforts one of my favorite blogs! Well anyway I made this    »» »» »» »»    »» »» »» »»    »» »» »» »»   »» »» »» »»   »» »» »» »»    »» »» »» »»

It was a big hit, that's my sister's artwork below it so beautiful! I also fell in love with This Banner and made my own version for the party (This is for PERSONAL use only this is NOT my design!!) Here is the finished look for the party minus the twinkle lights because I took these pictures during the daylight!

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through the windows is our sun porch/studio space so many windows isn't it a dream???!!! So right there you can see some of the stuff I was talking about covering yesterday but now you can't see it because I turned my storage bins into a Bench check it out HERE it's freaking awesome, I felt productive this weekend! I had so much fun and we are kind of in love with the banners...they may be a permanent installation...loves! I also made vegan cupcakes for sister, her favorite, chocolate and vanilla with chocolate buttercream frosting! I also made these little cupcake toppers out of cut wood pieces, sharpie oil paint pens and wood skewers...I didn't get a good picture of the detail though, they were painted in patterns and triangles.

»»»▲I had so much fun creating all of these pretty things for my sisters party!▲«««

We had glow bracelets    »» »» »» »» »» »»    »» »» »» »» »» »»    »» »» »» »» »» »»    »» »» »» »» »» »»

»»»▲The Birthday girl and her friend Kirsten▲«««

oh and Albie had a good time too!

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Convert Storage Boxes Into No-Sew Seating DIY!

via www.re-nest.com

I saw this how to on Apartment Therapy today and got really excited!!! I have 3 of these storage bins that were out on my sun porch/studio area and driving me nuts! I was thinking of making curtains to cover that storage area but they were blocking the windows as well so that would still be a problem.  Not anymore!!! Now my problem is solved, I think this took me like 35 minutes in total and is super cute! I'm so HAPPY!!!

For the full tutorial look here it's super easy, super useful and all you need are your bins, some plywood, which I already had (a future canvas) and some fabric and then you get this.............

YAY!!!

diy doggie Birthday Party!

Last weekend was my friend Amber's dog Pesto's Birthday and being the nerds that we are, we wanted to throw him a little Birthday Party! Also any excuse to get Pesto and Albie together because Albie loves Pesto and playing with friends and Pesto reluctantly loves Albie back.  Amber and Pesto helped choose Albie when we were adopting him because they were our roommates!! Did I mention Pesto is a cutie pie who was turning 3???

So this was the plan of attack..........

1. Make special doggie cakes
2. Make doggie party hats
3. light candles sing happy birthday
4. take a million pictures
5. let the pups pig out and play!

It worked out quite well!  For the cake we used a version of this recipe totally easy, the dogs went nuts for it and the yummy PB smell (we let them lick the batter and spoons!) We didn't use an egg, we used Bob's red mill egg replacer instead and the honey can easily be omitted/replaced for vegans like me! I also have a great recipe in My Sweet Vegan that is basically the same but vegan! We popped them (we also made cupcakes instead of one big cake) in the oven and then started on making the puppy hats!  I also found some great recipes here with cool frosting ideas if your feeling extra adventurous!

For the party hats I found this pattern and even though the design was cute we wanted to make our own so we used it as a template instead!

we printed out the regular sized party hat

then we cutout the template

and got ready to trace it onto a nice thick card stock

 
then we cutout the outline

Yay time to decorate!!!

we used stickers, glitter pens, wasabi tape, ribbon and little pom poms I had left over from another project!
After we were done decorating we made the cone shape and taped it on the inside with regular scotch tape. Then we cut little slits one on each side and thread the ribbon through taping on the inside to totally secure.  For the pom poms we pulled the yarn strings at the top through the hole at the top of the hat and then taped those as well!

 

Pesto's hat

 
craft time!

SO CUTE!

Happy Birthday Pesto!!! (Albie's hat!)

 

Yeah we are GOOD! :)

Time to cool the cakes on a wire rack!

Get the pups ready! They were already tired from playing before it was even cake time haa haa!

um did you know I'm cute???

Seriously MOM i'm CUTE!!!

Birthday boy and mom!

mom please stop taking photos...

ADORBS!

GIVE US CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wait where did the cake go????

CAKE TIME!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Pesto, wait he's eating his cake!

I can't see the cake!?!?

Finally CAKE!!!! OMG CAKE!

caaaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkeeeeeeeee!

So everyone had a blast!!!!! It was super easy, tons of fun and the pups were even more tired than us!!!  I hope you enjoyed this puppy party diy as much as I did!! Super fun nerdy, crafty Sunday!

Oh and for kicks this pic of of Albie and Pesto, Albie's hat kept sliding down and with the flash and his light green eyes he looks like an evil villain!!!!

heee heee hee!

 

 

Mismatched Drawers: Found Object Inspiration

via www.apartmenttherapy.com

I fell in love with these photos of mismatched found drawers at a store in Berlin on Apartment Therapy yesterday!! Read more about them here and more amazing photos! This is kind of part of a dream studio situation for me, I LOVE this! Hopefully I can find some similar vintage amazing!

Who runs the insanity? on we heart it

via weheartit.com

True. Also RAD.

Really cool diy project on Design*Sponge

via www.designspongeonline.com

Go check out this awesome diy project from design*sponge diy project: bliss’s colorful log caddy. 

a) it's a log caddy

b) it's really colorful and pretty

c) did I mention the fact that it's a log caddy?

d) it reminds me of Twin Peaks

e) I like to say log

Someone want to make it for me?

FFFFOUND! | Jessica Hische

via ffffound.com

wants!

The Forecast looks...Carl Kleiner

via ffffound.com

Mind blowing!!! i love paper and i love this!

Proust was…The Batman (by Brandon Schaefer) (... - Designers Go To Heaven

via ffffound.com

yus!

Twig & Thistle » Blog Archive » No Computer

via ffffound.com

oh hello awesome!

LET'S MAKE OUT

via www.etsy.com

totes.

Perfect bike basket for your dog!

via www.adelineadeline.com

Can I just say.............one, two, OMG!!!! Someone please buy this for me and albie, we would both promise to love you forever.  Albie would also throw in some sloppy kisses.  How cool is this basket???? And there is the removeable top for safety!!!  This company has really cool bike accesories check it out...

sooooo pretty!

and this next one is a bit larger

with the top off

and this one i just think is retro swell

adeline adeline a very nice bicycle shop indeed!

    
This blog is Albie approved 2 paws up!

Stuff and Things this Saturday!

It's almost here!!!

To see a little more and larger photos check out my flickr here

Very excited, very busy and very tired.  Trying to decide what kind of Vegan cupcakes I want to make for the show, Red Velvet for sure, contemplating ginger with lemon cream cheese frosting and saw these Rainbow cupcakes from aesthetic outburst over on a beautiful mess

which got my rainbow heart pumping...thinking of veganizing the martha recipe because I love spice cake and a rainbow of glazed cupcakes plus that's simple for bulk baking...what do you think? I'm kind of in love with these.  Hmmmm....if I make these I think no ginger though because that's a lot of spice...maybe a mexican chocolate or simple vanilla...I'll be exhausted so I don't want to get too complicated but I'm scouring the vegan blogs for good stuff!!!

I want to go there...Dollhouse

I want to go there....

Such a fan of Heather Benning and her incredible work!

This is an onsite installation that transformed an old abandoned farmhouse in Manitoba into a pastel painted life size dollhouse.  The plexi-glass wall might not be all that private but I don't think anyone is looking way the heck out there!  How insane would that be to live in???  More pictures and some of the transformation...

Plus a rainbow...be still my gay little heart.

Megan Galante

via www.booooooom.com

IN LOVE!!!!! Check out the link to see more, I want them all!!

Keep Calm and Carry On on we heart it

via weheartit.com

Someone PLEASE gimme this RING!!! It's bad ass!!!!!

Really cute D.I.Y. gift idea!!

 

via aestheticoutburst.blogspot.com

Seriously how cool is this idea from aesthetic outburst I've been searching for some good D.I.Y. gift ideas for the holidays and think this is super awesome and could look great on presents or a package of baked goods which is what I usually give away each year.

For Moustache Lovers...

via blog.theleagueofmoveabletype.com

...who also love to type.

 

Yus I love the moveable type blog!

My Room*Studio was on Modish: Handmade Spaces: Dear Kiki

via www.modishblog.com

My Monday kinda sucked, stress emotional turmoil, did I mention stress??? BUT I got the sweetest little tweet from Jena of modish that she had featured my space on Modish Handmade Spaces!!! You can see the lovely post here omg I'm sooo honored!!! It was seriously the best surprise on a Monday EVER!!! It was really cool that she featured my space since I live in San Francisco where rent is might expensive and work out of my room/studio!!!  So yeah that's my bed/desk ;) Anyway it was a really nice surprise!!!

I'm working like crazy finishing up some projects and pieces for HOLIDAYLAND the big group show Holiday handmade extravaganza put on by Compound Gallery and Blankspace Gallery in Oakland, CA!!! It's going to be soooo RAD that's a capital R*A*D!!!! Check it out!!!

If you are local YOU HAVE to go and come to the opening reception and meet me live in person...I can't wait to break out my new plaid fake glasses that match my peacock feather hair............sweeeeeeet!!!!  So yeah I feel crazy soooo much work, so little time, Holidays prep, 3 craft shows still yikes!!!! Stresscakes but at least its the best kind of stress right??? One little emotional breakdown or two is normal ;)

Also here is a link to the events page so you can check out all the details!!!

And two more things to make you smile and laugh like crazy from Halloween I have more silly pictures coming but here you go this will tide you over...................

I am bret michaels........... I totes am seriously, I think we have similar bone structure...........

 

watch.....................

seeeeee???? TOTES AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and then the best............Panda Bear...................wait for it...............

as a CHICKEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG he was a hit!!!! He only tried to eat himself about half the time! Plushies=crack for Panda...poor bear he has a serious plushie problem :D Both Photos by Anne Laurie

Yeah that should make your day!!! Happy Wed and Hopefully I'll get some pictures taken today so I have more to share tomorrow and now back to work!!!!!!!!!!

xoxo