Decorating on a Limited Budget

Last month, interior designer Gail Doby provided some wonderful tips on how to decorate a new house on a limited budget. Since we recently bought a new house with a main floor in desperate need of a makeover, and to say we have a limited budget would be an understatement, I decided to try some of Gail's suggestions for our dining room. I took a look around our house to see what we already have to work with, and found out that we had more than I thought we did. Then I chose some colors and went to the paint store.

This is what I started with - a dull and boring color, an almost empty room and an old table with a missing chair.




And this is what I ended with. I painted the walls a bright yellow, replaced the missing chair and refinished the table and chairs, and moved an old dresser into the room along with some art that was in another room.




And the total price tag for supplies was under $300 if you can believe it. I still can't get over how much of a difference a few cans of paint and rearranging furniture can make in a room. And it is something anyone can do.


I would still like to change out the art work on the smaller wall. So, I searched the Design Style Guide website and found a few wonderful prints that I think would look great and complete our makeover.


Like this Sleeping Bunting print from Wannabes, Photography by Deborah Brackenbury.




And this Colorful Tulips print from Renie Britenbucher Glass Tapestry Artworks




And this Rooster Print from Torrie Smiley




So get inspired with Design Style Guide website and go makeover your home!

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Martine Petra: Etsy Artist from Norway

This interview was originally posted on my own blog, jn3 Hand Crafted Woodworks, about a year ago. Martine Petra is one of the most gifted photographers I have ever run across. I wish I had known her 16 years ago when I was putting together a role playing game magazine, because her work would have fit perfectly.

Anyway, I am including the original interview with the original art (enlarged), plus a few extra pieces. And I have asked three new questions which the lovely Martine was kind enough to answer.

Martine Petra is a young woman with whom I've had the privilege of communicating for the past two months or so. I "discovered" her in a chat room at Etsy, saw her in a couple of others, and finally decided her photography was too intriguing to ignore so I invited her to join Design Style Guide, the Etsy team to which I belong.

She was born in Norway, has been living in Sweden, she's a dancer, and she's frequently the model for her own photographs. And away we go...

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?

martinepetra.etsy.com where I sell different kinds of prints of my photography, artwork services/I edit other peoples photographs, and to come is small stuff like magnets, cards etc featuring my photography as well.

2. Where can you be found on the web?

Etsy

Main

Blog

FLICKR

Myspace

Design Style Guide

3. You're a dancer as well as a photographer. How do these two things work together?

I started to photograph because I felt the need to document my life, and I kinda see photography as a different way of dancing. My photography has taken on a life of itself apart from my dancing, but they still belong together. It is great when I feel I'm stuck in a choreography to work with it in photographs and try to see it in a different light.

They work very well together, and it's great when I need a rest from one of them to dive into the other before my well runs dry. That way I don't burn out.

•••••Be sure to check out Martine's dance video on YouTube.•••••

•••••Speaking of video, check out this Design Style Guide video, featuring many of our wonderful artisans, including Martine Petra•••••

• New Question: How did you end up being your own model in so many of your photographs?

It's convenient, just as simple as that. I enjoy makeup, clothes, expressions, moods etc. It is easier for me to convey what I have in mind myself rather than explain it to someone else. It's just eliminating that link. But photographing for me started out because I wanted to document and try to freeze movement, moods and ideas in dance, and that is how it began and then developed quickly to be something else when it came to photography for me.

4. How does your environment affect your art?

Huge impact on my emotional self! My environment always inspires me to do or not to do certain things, but I feel my art is from a different place. It lays below the surface, and when I make it or bring it forward it is not motivated by economic situations, political issues, or the people/cases/places/news that we all get so bombarded with every day. My art is my inner world, and it has its own references and values when it comes to what beauty, strength and wisdom is.

• New Question: I know that you are moving back to Norway soon. How will that affect your work?

More possibilities I think. I have my eyes set on a house where there's this relatively large space I could use as a dance studio, so space is a big factor when it comes to new work both within dance and photography. A clean studio environment where I can dabble more with ideas and execute them better than I can when creativity strikes in the comfort of my own home now. I always like to see change as something positive and exciting.

5. When did you start selling on Etsy?

In October 2008, but didn't really become active before November.

6. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?

It's art, and it reminds me of how important it is for us to continue to be stimulated creatively! There's a change going on in people. I remember visiting small independent stores with tons of charm and personality whilst growing up, a lot of those stores have had to bow down for bigger brands/malls and superstores, but Etsy kinda takes back those small special stores, and gives them a venue to connect and interact. And it really is a great way to make contact with people who are likeminded.

7. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?

The feedback of someone who really appreciates my work.

8. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?

I am real keen on all metallic prints, they have a spark in them that I really enjoy studying!

9. I know that you are new to Design Style Guide and it's the only team you're on. What have you discovered about it that surprises or pleases you most?

That union and strength in numbers can land you in places you wouldn't necessarily have thought of yourself.

10. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?

I actually find that appreciation pictures are fun to do, no strings attached, and no one's forcing it on you. To be able to show someone you appreciate their products is giving. It's not conventional promotion, but people see when you give back and I think that is worthy as promotion.

11. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?

There is so much great stuff out there that it's hard to single out a few, certain things catch my eye, and if I can't stop thinking about it, I buy it. But what really catches my eye are those who sell items and donate to charity/causes, and I think that is big.

12. What do you do in your spare time?

I realize more and more how important family and my family of friends are in my life, so I spend time with and enjoy those people that I find intriguing, exciting and interesting.

To work with dance/photography/music and art in general is spare time for me. Research and reading about history, people, animals and lifestories is something that captivates me as well.

• New Question: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just thanks a lot for adding new questions, they make me search for answers myself.

You are very welcome, Maritne.

• • • • •

If you make Handmade Home Decor Items, come and join our team by clicking on the image below. Not only will you be able to network with us, but also you will have the ability to post your listing on our team website.

If you like this blog entry you'll love my blog, jn3 Hand Crafted Woodworks. Check it out. I'll be glad you did.

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Featured Artist - Arlene Taus Salomon

I would like to share the work of Arlene Taus Saloman with you, she is a 4 star member of Design Style Guide. Arlene resides in Hawaii and her Etsy store is iliahi.etsy.com

She is a very talented photographer, her photographs are exotic and beautiful and come in different photo sizes from 5x7 to 11x17 inches. Most images are also available in Giclee print and Gallery Wrapped on canvas, sized from 11x14 to 24x30 inches. So you have many options from a small simple print, to a large fantastic gallery wrapped print. All depending on the look you want.

Here are some of her images that are available;

Hawaiian sandalwood flowers

Red Orange Wiliwili Flowers

Ohi'a lehua Hawaiian Tree

The Mighty Silversword

Trees Of The Lava Fields
Straight from her Bio;
"Arlene Taus Salomon has her B.F.A. in Fine Arts and is an ISA Certified Arborist. She is an instructor of art and plant sciences and has taught workshops at the Art Center and Community College on Maui. She has a multimedia studio in her home where she experiments mostly with photography, fiber art related mediums, metalsmith and jewelry design. Her photography features views of Hawaii with dazzling botanical prints and sweeping landscapes reproduced as large size giclees. Her handmade papers are made by cooking and pounding local plant fibers. Recently, she has begun to print her images onto her handmade papers using alternative photographic techniques like cyanotype, Van Dyke brown printing and photogravure. Another aspect of her life is Arboriculture or tree/plant biology. When she is not in her studio she is out in the field managing her horticultural business in which she consults, specializes in native plant landscape design and all aspects of tree care."

I hope you enjoyed seeing Arlene's work as much as I enjoyed sharing them with you. Make sure you check out her etsy shop.

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Village in Late Summer by Carl Sandburg

Lips half-willing in a doorway.

Wallflower by ArtSnark.

Lips half-singing at a window.

Cat in a Window by Gary Heller Photography.

Eyes half-dreaming in the walls.

Linger by Robin Maria Pedrero.

Feet half-dancing in the kitchen.

Red by Zombie Penguen.

Even the clocks half-yawn the hours

Framed Photograph on Canvas by The Painted Lily.

And the farmers make half-answers.

Cultivating the Peas by Walt Curlee.

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Good Day Sunshine

I woke this morning with the song "Good Day Sunshine" in my head and decided to see what sunny yellow items I could feature for my post today.

I love these sherbert lemon flowers from ffflowers. They are so bright and sunny. And the best part about these flowers is that they never need watering and they never wilt.

This Spring Sunshine giclee print from Karen Faulkner is so sunny. It would definitely brighten up your room! Karen Faulkner is also featured in the first Design Style Guide giveaway, which ends June 3, so hurry for a chance to win!

This Silver Copper Sunrise sun catcher from Nature's Studio would bring the warmth of the sun right into your room.

Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers. I love how this Sunshine watercolor by Sagewest captures their weight and sunny disposition.

Be sure to visit Design Style Guide

or search designstyleguide on etsy

for more beautiful, handmade, sunny home decor items.

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Room With A View - Zen and Now

Buddha in the World Original Mixed Media by Zen Dot Studio

Humboldt Esquire Lively Lidded Vessel by Barbara Dunshee

Habitat Chair by l+j industries

Violets and Birchwood Beaded Soy Candle by Mireasma

Glass and Copper Garland by Tapestry Arabian Farm

Fused Glass Vase by Moon of Glass



Raisin Magic Orchid Original Photograph by From My Eye

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Winter is here...

I live in Portland, OR, where the climate is mild and the winters are rainy. Right? Well, usually that is the case, but having just come through the biggest snow storm in 40 years, I have just one thing on my mind - snow, snow and more snow! I'll walk you through the winter wonderlands of more than a few DSG artists who have celebrated the snow in their work.

Winter Sparkles 4x6 original painting by Melanie of The Creators Palette.

Christmas Light original 8x10 oil painting by Brenda Thour of Luvs2Paint.


Frozen 8x10 photographic print from Jorjia.


Christmas Eve Snow #287 16x20 oil painting from Paint With Barb Oil Paintings.

Sunrise Snow 12x18 photographic print from Alison Du Bois.

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Fine Art Photography

I graduated from college more than 10 years ago with my degree in photography. I never wanted to photograph weddings or do portraiture and I was too timid to pursue photography as a fine art - so I turned to a life of clockmaking. Every now and then I feel a little wistful about my decision and I go back through all of my accumulated prints and slides. Today, instead of turning to my past to revisit my love of fine art photography, I decided to look through the Design Style Guide group's photography and find a few pieces that I most imagined decorating with. So, humor me, and take this little tour through the fine photography offered by some of the Design Style Guide's most inspired photographers. Delight in the range of composition, style and technique. Feel the emotional tug that can only be experienced when viewing something real and natural through another person's eyes.

From Ashton Photography + Design, a gorgeous low angle view of a wooden windmill with cherry blossoms in the foreground.


From Madrin Photography, an inspiring macro shot of a transformative insect on a pine bough.

How beautiful is this? Macro cactus shot from Thrive Style photography, a stunning lotus design courtesy of mother nature.

I love this technique from Linda Plaisted of Manymuses Studio. She uses it masterfully to place her subjects in the land of dreams.

I couldn't resist the jellies from Mystiqueisland. I imagine that having this on my wall would be a little like having my own private aquarium (minus the maintenance)!

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