Consider Yourself At Home: graphics

Showing posts with label graphics. Show all posts

Sep 5, 2011

Art of the Labor Unions

As we celebrate Labor Day and the economic social contributions of workers throughout the history of our nation, I look at the graphic art created during the 20th century for labor unions' campaigns & uniforms. No matter how you might feel about unionized labor systems, you must admit their seals are pretty vintage cool.

Happy Labor Day to all. In the end, we're all workers (unionized or not) and we deserve a small acknowledgement to the efforts we put forth each day in the form of a day off. I'll toast to that.

Still, Labor Day marks the end of Summer. The beginning of football season. And the hibernation of your white pants. It's a goodbye to the comfort and celebration of vacation season. A new schoolyear. An ironically-timed day off in thanks for your hard work before its seems that hard work is all that's in front of you for the next 9 months. Oh brother...

And if you ask me, go ahead and keep wearing your white pants; they look great with a black merino turtleneck.
Cheers,
Whitney

Aug 18, 2011

Map Fad

Is the decorating with maps fad over? Once Ballard and Pottery Barn and Home Decorators start framing maps and hanging them like art, you know its a mainstream idea. But does that mean we have to start moving onto the next fad?

via Elle Decor

via Martha Stewart

via Apartment Therapy

I think that the appeal of cartography-as-art is the personalization that can be achieved. You're from Oklahoma? Go find and old map depicting the state boundaries during the Land Run of 1889. Love to sail? Find nautical maps by the bookload and frame them for your powder room. Have a young astronomer in your house? Have galaxy diagrams wallpapered onto the kid's ceiling.

via Elle Decor

via House Beautiful

via Elle Decor

Martha's Maine House via Martha Stewart

To avoid that overtly-contrived, generic store-bought feel, it's generally best to work with maps that matter to you.

And for this reason -- the seemingly endless options available -- the 'decorating with maps' practice may not be so easy to pigeonhole as "a fad."

via DecorPad

via Martha Stewart

via BlackEiffel blog

by Steven Gambrel

by Pootery Barn (typo, and it stays!)

via Simplified Bee blog

via Forever...Whenever blog

via Houzz

And don't just limit the cartography to your walls. Bring cartography to your doors...

via Apartment Therapy

Get down with your DIY self and Mod Podge some things!

via PS I Made This

via Urban Sardine

Have your favorite globe turned into a hanging light fixture!

via Addicted 2 Decorating

A rolling map can be easily converted into a window shade!

via Martha Stewart

via O at Home magazine

Cartography products can be chic and happy in many forms... A pillow, a plate, a lampshade!

via Rockett St George

via homelife

via Ralph Lauren

All in all, I think it's fair to say that the map fad is indeed a fad. But, it's a long-lasting fad because it can be so widely interpreted. Lots of editorializing from the consumer can keep this fad from looking tired.

The easiest way for you to incorporate a map into your decorating is to choose a map that has personal meaning to you. Whether you frame it, decoupage it, wallpaper with it, cover a window with it or make a lampshade with it is up to you. Keep it personal and it becomes authentic!

Have a wonderful day, world travelers!!
Cheers,
Whitney

Jul 8, 2011

Cute Correspondence

I just sent a thank you note to our hosts from last weekend for a fantastic time. Call me Emily Post, if you must, but I believe that hand-written notes of gratitude are the best way to say thanks. Writing on someone's Facebook wall, 'Hey thanks for the awesome time! You guys are great!' just isn't the same as a proper note.
There is something so wonderful about fine papers, a cheerful stamp, and sending a card via postman to your sender. It's old-fashioned and charming, and really indicative of well-intended thoughts.

The note I sent today was from one of my favorite sets of cards by the artist Carol Boeddiker. A row of colorful mailboxes along a wooden plank seem so apropos for my postman-delivered gratefulness. Aren't they so country-cute and happy!

My Carol Boeddiker notecards. The perfect little correspondence cards.

Carol's work is charming and cheerful. She illustrates and watercolors designs depicting holidays, flowers & landscapes and animals. Her forte is pet portraiture. How fun is that?!

The company accepts custom orders, and they'd be glad to hear from you to discuss your desired illustration. Tell them Whitney from Consider Yourself At Home sent you! I foresee many of you ordering custom baby announcement cards, thank you notes and pet portraits by Carol!

Now I'm off to the mailbox to drop off my cute card! Have a charming Friday!

Cheers,
Whitney

Jun 6, 2011

Walking on Art

Hardwood floors are lovely and timeless by standard. But sometimes they've taken a beating and no longer look their best. Or maybe you're bored with the boards and want to give some pizazz to your floors. A great way to enliven a tired or sad wood floor is with paint.

I've done it in 2 separate projects and had amazing results, using exterior paint/deck paint on old wood floors. Even better, if you have the talent and/or patience, do a design or stencil on the floor for some showstopping results!