Yay or Nay?

I have a 1960's hutch that I got for $1.00 at an auction a year ago. That being said, I like it but I don't love it and I want to convert it into a bookshelf in the living room. I get a lot of ideas and I'm really indecisive so I was playing around with it in photoshop trying to decide what to do with it. I thought about a fabric backing but I think most prints would be too much against items on the shelves unless it was a really subtle pattern.

This is what I was thinking of doing, thoughts anyone?

Rosemary's Baby, Interior Design

I watched Rosemary's Baby last night. Excellent movie. Last time I watched it was in high school and I never appreciated how gorgeous her apartment is! Here are a few stills from the movie:

I made an etsy treasury inspired by the movie (click the link to view items):

DIY Cut Paper Ceiling Light

We had 4" of snow yesterday so I spent the day by the woodstove, watching Masterpiece Theater's Wuthering Heights with my roommate and being a complete bum. Somewhere at the bottom of my massive to-do list was finding replacement lighting for the less-than-cute 1980's ceiling light my parents left in the hallway (they have since moved to CA and left me to rent and redecorate their 1940's cape cod where I grew up). I found a very basic mod-looking white globe light at the thrift store and decided to fix it up it in some way -- plus it was only $3.00 so even if I ruined it, I figured it would make for a good snow day craft.

I'm in love with the end result! After mulling over what to do with it all day I decided to use cut paper and liquid starch (inspired by some liquid starch fabric wallpaper ideas).

Supplies:

You'll need basic white light fixture, liquid starch, scissors and thin paper (test with light bulb), clear gloss spray paint. I got my light from a thrift store but home depot sells the same globes for $15.00. IMPORTANT: only use a CFL bulb in the light since they don't get hot.

As for paper, I was sorting through some 1940's magazine ads and noticed a lot of them had dark ink and the thickness is perfect for the project. I also like he way the light shows the back of the ad which was unintentional.

I chose a design that could be done with easy accordion folding but I'd love to try a more elaborate cut paper design with an exacto knife at some point. After you cut your design, using a brush apply a thin layer of undiluted liquid starch to the area you are working on. I liked this because it was easy to move designs after placing them down by simply rewetting. I kind of winged it in the design area since this was just an experiment- next time I'd probably use a measuring tape when applying my designs. After your designs have dried, use a q-tip or tissue and remove some of the extra starch around the edges of your designs. Spray with clear gloss spray paint to finish.

Bookworm

Below are a few pen and ink illustrated bookplates I made for gifts this holiday. My friend Veronika let me use her 9" Xyron "Creative Station" sticker machine-- shown here. I'm definitely thinking of investing in one-- for $50 this would be good for making personalized address labels too and it can be used for laminating and magnets, super easy--you just turn a crank.

I always get excited when I find an Ex Libris inside an antique book.
These are a few of my favorite bookplates from researching online: