Art & Design of Kelli Murray

Bam and I have had a good Saturday.  He is a good craft project partner, although his paws don’t handle modg podge too well. haha.

I just got a new bookcase for my living room and I LOVE IT! But it is huge….and empty.  Since I have recently become a little obsessed with vintage books, Sam and I took a trip to a few antique stores in search for some cool decorative books for the bookshelf.  We definitely found some good ones….but once we put them on the shelf, we realized we needed A LOT more.  Here is where I started thinking….DIY.

DIY:

I took a handful of my more “modern looking” books and gave them a new face.  Or I guess you could say an “old face”.  At one of the antique stores I found a newpaper dated back to the year I was born, 1984.  It was yellowed and coffee stained and torn on the edges….so just perfect!  I also found an old hymn book from 1964 who’s paper I thought would look great paired with the newspaper.  I had some leftover burlap and ivory linen fabrics laying around the house, so with a few of the books I added labels with the fabrics.  All the supplies needed were mod podge, a bit of tacky glue, and a sponge stick.  Nothing fancy, but it gave my bookshelf a bit more of the vintage “used” look I was hoping for!

I just love these images.  It makes me want to take a trip to the flea market and paint my house all shade of blue.  I have never been a blue girl, but I think I just became one.

…and OHHH that wallpaper!  I am thinking about adding wallpaper to a wall in my office. Something soft and vintage like shown here.  Wallpaper can either be VERY good…..or VERY bad.  I am definitely taking my time on this one to make sure what I choose is JUST right!

Photos by stylist IRINA GRAEWE.

mmm.

RUCHE

A modern boutique with a vintage touch.  This store is packed with adorable  items that are ALL super affordable (gotta love that).  I am all about their jewelry!

FEY HANDMADE

This store is chalk full of unique and inspiring finds, all handmade by various designers.  I am partial to the artwork and paper goods available on the site, but really…all of it is wonderful.

POPPYTALK HANDMADE

This just might be my favorite.  Poppytalk Handmade is a monthly online street market created to showcase, buy and sell handmade goods of emerging design talent from around the world. There is so much “goodness” on this site one could spend HOURS browsing through it all. So if  you don’t have HOURS to waste….don’t click HERE.

Happy Monday! xo – Kelli

How I love Studio Violet!

It is a collaboration between two artists, Camilla Engman and Elisabeth Dunker,  who decided that a mutual project or two was simply not enough.  I adore each of their work individually, but together they have produced some amazing products. My favorite being the re-used porcelain with circus themed art!  Whimsical graphics on individual pieces fit together to tell a story. *sigh.  It’s unfortunate this is all sold out. I will have to see what they come up with for their new collection!

Be sure to also check out Camilla’s new book “The Suitcase Series”.  (I NEED this!)  And the Studio Violet BLOG.

It has only been in the last year or two, after purchasing my home, that I have really become fascinated with interior design.  After years of splurging on clothes and shoes, I now find myself swooning over  beautiful bedding, wallpapers, and eclectic furniture.  My how life has changed! As I continue to fill my house with odds and ends, I’ve realized there is one style I keep running back to : Modern Rustic.  These interiors are simple, clean and warm, but they are filled with raw textures, organic materials and a mix of old and new.

I tend to lean toward a more subdued color palette. Natural, earthy and cozy.

Out of all the rooms to tackle first in my house, priority number one : the bedroom.  Here are a few of my most recent buys…

Waterfall Ruffle Curtain from Urban Outfitters.

Creme Cirrus Bedding by Anthropologie.

Cross Stitch, hand embroidered, and crocheted decorative throw via ETSY.

Weatherworn Ferris Wheel from Anthropologie.  Crochet Pendant Lamps by Rian Rae.