artist: Tove Styrke

Well, here’s what I ended up with for my Fall 2011 centerpiece. As mentioned, I wanted to do something with greens this year. However, I was also loving the idea of white. This idea of grouping bottles with candles on top spotted awhile back in Elle Decoration has always stuck with me. I also saw a cluster of white porcelain bottles like these recently in a store- so I decided maybe I could merge the two concepts. This would mean more of my beloved white spray primer! I sprayed a bunch of random bottles and some cheap candle holders I got at the 99¢ store. I then threw in a plastic skull and re-used a skull candle holder I’ve had for years. I then threw in some green glass bottles and candles. I’ve always found something somewhat creepy about melted drippy candles, which thus felt appropriate for Fall/Halloween. I then lit some cheap white tapers and let them burn and drip away. Then came the drippy glaze-y pumpkins, and in the end- we now have a happy drippy green-y Halloween-y!

It’s been a crazy week for me here in happy mundane land. Lots of commotion in the blog-o-sphere too! Let’s get to some amazing things:

• 1) Did you know West Elm has their very own awesome blog now? And oh, look who we have here? ME! lol- If you’re curious, check out this little interview West Elm so kindly had with yours truly, and then check out the rest of their beautiful blog here. (Thank you West elm for having me!)

• 2) Speaking of new blogs, I’ve known Igor Josifovic via twitter and facebook for awhile now. Well, now Igor FINALLY has a blog up to call his own! It’s bright, happy, and stylish, just like Igor, so check it out here.

• 3) and MORE lovin’ from the blog-o-sphere?! I told you this was a crazy week! This time, my dear and devoted lil stinker Pepé! is featured on “the ScooP” on Dog-milk! A wonderful resource and site for dog-owning design lovers! Check out Pepé’s interview here. (thanks Dog-Milk!)

• 4) Love these Addison candle holders. Some of them have lower trays which can hold additional items and lets you go vertical when dressing a tablescape.

I have big news next week in my life that will ultimately affect the blog, but I’ll wait until everything’s official to announce it. However, this video is a big clue. Hope you all have a great weekend!

I know I had said that this year’s Fall centerpiece was going to be about glass, skulls, drips and lots o’ green, but in the process I got totally side-tracked and inspired to do another side project involving pumpkins. The last time I played with pumpkins, I came up with these “mod / pop” pumpkins. This year I’m going with green tones as originally planned, but taking my cues from pottery instead.

I’ve always loved the different glazes that were popular with many potters and ceramicists during the 60s and 70s. I especially love the drippy glazes, like the ones below. (top image via, bottom right via) After my wonderful visit with Tracy, I knew I HAD to do something that involved some sort of matte/gloss glaze look. And why not on pumpkins right? So I played around, and here’s what I did:

First, here’s what you’ll need:

White spray primer

Some tubes of acrylic paint (I went with green tones, but obviously the possibilities are endless)

A bottle of acrylic gloss glazing medium. (you’ll mix this with your paint to help enhance the shine)

Sponge brushes

A some paper bowls/dishes or something like that to mix the paints in

Cup of water

Tons of paper to protect your surface.

1) The first thing I did was prime the pumpkin. Using spray primer gives things a wonderful matte look. If you’ve been following my blog and projects, you’ll know I use this for almost EVERYTHING.

2) and 3) Mix your paints. It takes some experimenting to get the right consistency. You don’t want it too think, or too runny- but more runny than thick. About the consistency of a good tomato soup. Make sure you mix in lots of the clear glaze medium.

4) Then I just dabbed it on! I started at the top and worked my way to about halfway down. I found that the more uneven and loose your coverage is, the better. The more you dab, the nicer texture you get and I intentionally let parts get heavier to encourage drips. You might want to practice on a tester pumpkin first. Acrylic dries pretty quickly so that’s a plus.

5) I didn’t want all my drips to go all the way down, so on certain ones I used the tip of a paper towel to help absorb the excess paint without losing the drip.

And voila! Creepy cool drippy glaze-y-esque pumpkins.

Are you guys doing anything fun to your pumpkins! Leave a comment and share! Tomorrow I’ll post up the rest of my fall centerpiece project 2011… stay tuned!

Collaboration between Jack Spade and JP Williams for Jack Spade Fall 2011. More info and images here.

There’s only 9 more days until Halloween, which means I need to get a move on with this year’s fall centerpiece! Unfortunately I’ve also caught another cold… (again! ugh.) So apologies for the lack of posts this week. This year, I’m venturing into uncharted territory so my idea for this fall is a bit of an experiment. I’m completely straying from orange pumpkins, and instead playing with darker greens, glass, white spray paint, and drips… oh and skulls. We’ll see how it turns out… stay tuned!…

Never trust a big butt and a smile.

These trees were outside the Royal Hawaiian hotel main entrance. The leaves appeared to be in transition between a beautiful ivory with little bits of marbled green. Anyone know what they are?

• 1) Jeff Canham flags and pennants for the Standard Hotel

• 2) If you love terrariums, Potted in LA is having a fun contest! You could win a $500 shopping spree! Check out all the details here!

• 3) Love these “kilim” mugs by Jasper Conran for Wedgwood

• 4) The Canada stationery kit from RAD AND HUNGRY is out! The grey tipped pencils are awesome! Get it here.

Aloha my friends- Somehow I’ve found myself back in da islands (hate when that happens, lol). Follow me on twitter and FB (add me!) to keep tabs on my mundane tropical hijinx. Also “like” the HM page to keep up on all HM goodyness. Hope y’all have a great weekend! Here’s a great mix to get you started:

Intake, home bake, you’re the icing on the cake Full up, can’t stop, dicing on a chop chop. viva 1982 kids.

I’m finding these decorative objects d’art from Dwell Studio’s new collection quite appealing. Check out the rest here.

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure to spend some time with the always awesome, Tracy Wilkinson. Laure and I went to visit her place she recently moved into (her old place was featured in J3:Z2) and also get a sneak peek at some of her new pots that she’s been working on. It was a gorgeous day in Los Angeles and a perfect time to get together and catch up. So great to step out of the office and spend some quality time with some good friends. Here a few snaps I took of her amazing pots and how Tracy has integrated them in her home.

Laure also took some (way better than my) pics of Tracy’s effortless chic style.

Ok, and the view from her back patio? C’mon…

Check out more of her pots over at her etsy store or her big cartel store, and also be sure to head over to her personal blog.

A great set of prints by Veronica Corzo-Duchardt.

“Neche Collection visually documents materials collected by my grandfather Neche Eugenio Hadad, a Cuban Exile of Lebanese descent, accountant, collector and sometimes thief. I acquired many of his belongings. I created this project to be both an archive and a source of continued inspiration.”

Check out the collection available via Felt & Wire.

This turquoise accents in this Swedish summer house are EVERYTHING.

The stairs?

Genius.

The bookcase that flows into the door frame and then the opposite ledge? Yes, please.

The shower tiles?! I’ll take two! (Le sigh…) By LASC studio. (via architizer)

Whoa. Can I just say how brilliant the cover story to the Nov/Dec 2011 Inside Out is? Neon + Neutrals?!- Yes Please!! This issue also marks the return of the amazing stylistics of Vanessa Colyer Tay (who had been away on maternity leave). If you don’t already know, I am a such a massive fan of hers. Read her HM interview here. I love the range of muted pastel colors, light wood and white,  mixed with accents of neon yellow and green. So fresh and so clean!

Photography: Sam McAdam, Styling Vanessa Colyer Tay, Scholten Baijings scarf photo print: Viviane Sassen – all via Inside Out.

Such a great and easy DIY transformation! The always talented Amy Butler has her home featured in the November 2011 Living Etc. One of the highlights for me was what she did to her MASKROS pendant light from IKEA. By simply spray painting it gold, totally transforms it! Now it looks more like a vintage brass fixture!

Another moment that I loved from her feature was this bedroom detail. Love the framed graphic prints mixed with the wood dressers and bold print wallpaper. (photos by Matthew Williams/styling by Lili Diallo via Nov. 2011 Living Etc.)

Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Steve Jobs today.  This was my first Apple computer I owned. The awesome Apple IIe.

I’ve been an Apple user ever since. He really changed the world. He definitely changed mine. Thank you Mr. Jobs for your vision and inspiration and creating the tools that help me to create as well.