My Faves from Sweet Paul & Lonny

Two of my fave online mags launched their newest issues this past weekend & I have to say I was super inspired by both! Here are my favorite pages from each issue. 

First, Sweet Paul. It's a mag filled photos of food mostly, you won't be disappointed if you like to eat! 

I absolutely LOVED the pages about eggs. Reminded me of this little treat I made for myself last week here.

image of tart above by Melina Hammer

Then we move onto Lonny Magazine. This is my favorite online home decor mag. Maybe because there's a bit of Domino Magazine with Michelle Adams as founder thrown in the mix! These were my fave pages from the issue!

This is my favorite Lonny cover so far....

What's currently your FAVORITE online magazine??

- images for Lonny by Patrick Cline

- images for sweet paul by Suzanne Blaavarg

Sally Wheat Interiors

I'm a FAN of Sally Wheat. Her Interior design has always attracted me & her style is sooo inspiring! She recently featured one of my old 'Butterfly' fabric prints in a little girl's room! I was like, "no way, so cool!" - I was excited.

Sally Wheat is one of Houston's freshest new designers and I'm sure you'll be seeing more & more of her work around the net! You can take a peek at her portfolio here.  

-images via sally wheat

Design: Amethyst

Hi again, fellow design enthusiasts!  

It's Brooke (While Jen is on her way to NYC) I'm here again to share with you my latest obsession: AMETHYST. I stumbled across this amazing image a few weeks back and can't get this semi-precious stone off my mind!

Using amethyst in decor is a little bit glam, a little bit rock and roll, a little polished and a little raw- the perfect combo for a statement accessory, if you ask me!  Here are some picks to add this look into your home and wardrobe:

1. Framed Mineral Art by Christopher Marley from The Pheromone Gallery

2. Purple Rock Crystal Ring from Fred Flare 

3. Raw Amethyst Cuff by Jody Candrian from Far Fetch

4. Amethyst Mineral Lamps from 1st Dibs

Mother Nature creates the most beautiful art, no?

{image via The Glam Lamb}

-post by brooke jones

Design: Gemstones

Hello dear readers. Drew here, bringing you insight from a different perspective on my views of design. I was browsing home decor on the internet & came across a feature on a new trendy home accessory.  It struck a nostalgic chord of childhood memories. 

GEMSTONES. 

I fondly remember mining for rocks in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, freezing water running over my hands as I cleaned and polished every gem I came across in the heavy white bucket. What used to be a collection can now be something much more. 

 

Quartz and agate seem to be rising to a decor stardom level. They come in all different brilliant shades, shapes and sizes. You can get fancy and add these precious gemstones to a fireplace, mimic them in a bed spread, use them as table surfaces, as glamorous lamps and even a fashionable mirror.

Just admire these gems in all of their natural splendor! 

image via We Heart It

image via Kelly Wearstler

image via Design Therapy from Pinterest

image via La Belle Vi from Pinterest

image via Amanda Nisbet Design linked from Matters of Style

image via Kelly Wearstler

Take a peek at some of these clever approaches to making a simple gem come to life:

1. Tish Mills Chandelier via One Kings Lane

2. Tish Mills Yellow Quartz via One Kings Lane  

3. Arteriors Home Lamp via Coco+Kelley

4. Arteriors Fergie Agate Slice Sculptures

5. Tish Mills Amethyst Embedded Table via One Kings Lane

6. Rug via Pinterest

7. Sky Parlor Bookends via Etsy

8. Lille a shop Stacking boxes

9. Matthew Studios Table

10. Zhush Clock  



-post by drew humphries

Sofa: To Sell or Not to Sell...

Hello everyone! We've been busy packing things & selling stuff around here, my head is spinning! Today I came to a STOP & wondered if I should sell the  white provincial sofa I purchased in 2006. Yes, 2006 & it's been wrapped in (plastic) in my garage ever since - have never truly used it.

For those of you who don't remember when I wrote about it on my blog, you can check out that 2006 post here. I begged my guy to pull it out of garage today (with my help) & put it in our living room...I needed to see it in a home setting & not the garage. It looks so cold & lonely down there, not a pretty sight, know what I mean ladies?!? He was sweet enough to help me - it was crazy - but we did it.

Anyways, I'm faced with a dilemma, my guy likes the sofa but doesn't think it's practical to have a white sofa as our 'main' sofa! Perhaps he's right...but I paid for it & have never used it. I feel like I'd be cheating myself.  He says we'll have to be covering it up with throws, like you see in the photo below...and again, maybe he's right. He also told me that he wouldn't feel like he could relax on it without me watching over his shoulder...

I'm so confused, I don't want it to get dirty...should I care that much??  Should I get creative & paint a black pattern or spots on the couch with black fabric paint???  I figured the dots would conceal any potential dirt, basically making it harder to spot it.

So, I could just SELL it as new ($880), since I've never used it or haul it to my new place in NYC. PLEASE let me know what you guys think......I'm seriously at a loss.  It's so pretty & comfortable...I want it, he doesn't so much...

This is what it looks like in my living room right now....& what it would probably look like in my new place, all covered up in a fur throw. Do you guys think it would look good with my white daybed in the same space?!?

This picture below was the inspiration for getting the sofa reupholstered in a white fabric...

- top 2 images by jen ramos

- last image domino

The Coveteur for Closet Inspiration...

I've said it before...I LOVE sites like the Coveteur & visit it often for inspiration! The site highlights closets of several prominent people in the fashion industry. 

You basically get an inside look at how they decorate the closets in their own homes. I found so much variety & unexpected details throughout the entire site. It focuses small personal details & that's why I love this site so much! With a talented photographer like, Jake Rosenberg, you can't beat it! 

Check out more closets here.

 -images via the coveteur

DIY: Decorative Tray

Hi Made By Girl Readers! It's Jenny Bevlin bringing you another wonderful DIY project. I love decorative trays because there are so many uses for them. You can use them to serve food (preferably breakfast in bed!) or you can put them on your bar cart or coffee table to serve cocktails. 

You can also use them to display jewelry, perfume and nail polishes. The best part about this tray is that it is made with a picture frame. This lets you switch out the design inside the frame with your changing decor. 
 

  

What you need to make this tray:

 

• Picture Frame
• Two Drawer Pulls or Handles
• Drill and Drill Bit (The drill bit should be the same size as your screws.)
• Two Screws that are a little longer than the thickness of the frame
• Measuring Tape
• Pencil for marking
• Decorative insert (You can use decorative wrapping paper, fabric etc. I designed my insert in Photoshop and had it printed at the local print shop.)

Steps: Flip the frame over and measure the length of one of the sides.  

Mark the center with your pencil.  

Measure the bottom of one of the handles to see where the holes measure. Mine measured at 0 and 3, therefore I know that I need to drill the holes 1 1/2 inch on both sides of the center of the frame. 

Mark where the holes will need to be drilled with your pencil.  

Drill the holes for one side. Repeat by measuring, marking and drilling the holes for the other side. 

Insert the screws up through the bottom of the frame and put the handles on the front of the frame. Use your drill's screw driver to screw the screws tight into the handles.

- images by Jenny Bevlin