Big news!

"Row of Houses" by August Wren - Jennifer Orkin Lewis

I'm interrupting my regularly-scheduled Instant Art Collection this week to announce some big news: we got a house! Finally. Most of you know we've been looking for a long time, and I honestly wasn't sure if it was going to happen. I've heard some horror stories about house hunting in this area though, and overall, I feel very lucky. It's a small, one-story brick house (only 1170 sq. ft.) about 20 minutes outside DC. And yes, even though it's just 20 minutes away, it feels like uncharted territory for us. We will need to buy a car for one thing, the sooner the better. Actually, I alternate between being really excited and kind of overwhelmed by all the work we need to do (and money we need to spend); sometimes I go back and forth several times in the span of an hour. But mostly, I just have to remind myself that this house means I get to have a studio/office of my own, a place to spread out and make a mess and create big projects or little projects or whatever I feel like making; that thought usually calms me down and brings a smile to my face. And we also will finally be able to get a dog (that is, if we can afford one after all the house bills and car bills-eek!).

I will share photos at some point after we move in and get some furniture in place, art on the walls, etc.

Also, how cute is the illustration at the top of the post? Check out Jennifer Orkin Lewis's shop; she sells fantastic colorful prints from her watercolors and oil paintings as well as digital illustrations.

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(Click on images to go directly to sources.)

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."

This weekend, we'll be going through our things to decide what should come with us to the new place and what should go on to a new home with someone else. I'm really dreading packing and moving again; I joke all the time that I have PTSD from the last move. I got rid of a lot of stuff last summer, but you guys, the books are out of control! We have way, way too many books. I use the library a lot, and I donate often, but somehow we still find ourselves in a situation not unlike this:

(Source: My Modern Met)

This is an installation by Spanish artist Alicia Martín, part of a series called Biographies.

Anyway, I suspect that most of our books will be coming with us. I am definitely going to clean out clutter though, and probably donate some clothes to Good Will. Perhaps I'll do a "yard sale" online or a giveaway?

I did happen to see a timely article on Apartment Therapy yesterday with three "junk-busting" apps and websites, specifically how to stop junk mail, automatically organize email newsletters, and find people online who want your stuff. Definitely worth checking out, even if you have no plans to pack up all your belongings and shift your coordinates several miles to the west. Humans are so silly; why do we do this?

Hope everyone has a great weekend. xo, Mary

*Post title courtesy of Groucho Marx.

(Clockwise from top left: altered vintage matchbox from Lobster and Swan; "Milkweed Pod" by Amber Alexander; ceramic still life by House of Ceramics; "So Long As Nothing Changes" by Windy Lane Studio; "Seasonal Eggs" by Leah Duncan.)

This week's Instant Art Collection is full of still lifes, botanical bits and bobs, and nature...the kind of collection likely to appeal to the amateur botanist, archaeologist, or someone who simply loves to display beautiful objects. If I had more space and more funds at my disposal, I'd have a room chock-full of handmade artifacts, natural wonders and other curiosities.

Are you a collector too?

Pantone Fall 2012

I took a peek at the Pantone Color Report for fall, and it's full of rich bright colors paired with softer neutrals. I think this particular combination of Tangerine Tango, Titanium, and Pink Flambé would be really great in interiors. I picked a few things from Etsy in similar styles in each color. It only takes a few new pieces here and there to make a space feel totally new, don't you think?

Tangerine Tango: vintage Knoll Bertoia side chair, and large porcelain bird feeder.
Titanium: paper origami lamp shade, and Cloud Birds cushion cover.
Pink Flambé: pillow with half circles, and porcelain mini bowls.

What colors are you loving for fall?

Scenes from Life

 I mentioned earlier that I've been on a berry kick this summer...can't stop eating them (and apparently, can't stop photographing them either).

My summer uniform every year always involves stripes and polka dots in some variation or other. And I also have a tendency to scatter my shoes around the apartment. Must try to be better about that.

There's always one rogue cupcake.

It looks like it's trying to make a getaway. (These are from Hello Cupcake in Dupont Circle if anyone's curious. Apparently, they've opened up a second location in Capitol Hill, which is awesome because that's closer. They make the best cupcakes ever.)

We went to Screen on the Green on the National Mall to see Psycho, one of my all-time favorites. Pretty Janet Leigh.

And Anthony Perkins, who is so good.

We realized during the shower scene that we were too close to the speakers because it was loud, really loud, like someone was stabbing us in the ears. So we moved farther back.

You can see that tons of people were there, too many to fit in the frame.

 We passed these horsies on our way home.

And also this sculpture outside the Air and Space Museum. I always think it looks cooler at night because when the stainless steel "sails" rotate, they reflect all the street lights. It's called Delta Solar, I think, and it's by Alejandro Otero.

Happy Friday! Are you guys doing anything fun? I think we're going to take it easy this weekend because next week is going to be busy. I'm about a year overdue for a haircut--seriously, it's kind of a drastic situation--so I might see if someone will take pity on me and fit me in their busy weekend schedule. Other than that, we'll probably just be hanging out. xo, Mary

(Clockwise from top left: "Pansy" by The Black Apple - Emily Winfield Martin; "Portrait of Lovers" by Bec Groves; "White Tiger Tea" by Janet Hill; "Dried Rose Collection" by Miles of Light; and "Bloom" by little low - Caitlin McClain.)

This week's collection is for the lady or fella who enjoys vintage-inspired art, dried flowers, faded colors, and who also probably doesn't mind a mismatched frame or two. I love modern art, but sometimes I just want to surround myself with pretty old things. Know what I mean?

To see other Instant Art Collections, click here.