Donkee House

Tag Sale Saturday…Visual Feast

The husband and I made our way to Connecticut on Saturday to walk through a tag sale and their sister antique and salvage gallery.  It’s 45 minute to an hour away by car (flew by on a beautiful day like Saturday) and I had the best time discovering and browsing.  I feasted on all the treasures they had, laughed a bit at some and played a whole lot of “what if’s”.  Oh yes, I did procure some bits of special goodness…some for the shop…some for the home.

Take a look at some of their really cool stuff – this is just a teeny tiny portion of what they have, I swear!  Take a good look at the pics because there are great pieces next to, behind and in front of what I’m snapping…

Somebody had a fun, cheerful and most definitely interesting take on a kitty.  Kitty sat atop a drum table along with this awesome triple mirror stand:

I really love this industrial gunmetal steel cart with original casters.  I love anything on casters and this rolled perfectly AND  I love anything steel.  I just don’t have a place for it at home…yet:

Fun wooden dog…think he would make a great greeter by the front door…but the cats do a decent greeting job (sometimes…if they’re not pre-occupied with napping, playing, grooming, staring into space, etc.):

This bird scared the shit out of me.  I’m not afraid of our avian friends, but I actually gasped and hopped a quarter inch or so when I turned around and it was in my face…like in mid flight with his eyes all wide open:

Want a closer look?  Eeek!

Then I turned around again and saw these pretties and my world was warm and fuzzy again.  Yes, here you turn and turn and turn and turn and you see something new and different with each dizzying spin.  I wish I had as many doors as there were these door handles:

Really cool cabinet hidden behind some other really cool stuff…if I had the space…:

This is an awesomely beautiful statement piece – in a fantastic light blue – this would take up almost half our living room wall…thinking about it…:

I have been secretly scolding myself for not taking this with us.  I do suffer from an obsession with chairs.  I saw this and my world was all, “gaahhh, gahhh, gahhh…” accented with drool:

Want another look?  I do, damn it:

I love this round wooden hanging light…the husband, not so much.  An organic base material sculpted into an organic shape…come on!

These precious babies were all the way up…guess they were not yet ready for the floor.  I so wanted to climb up there and touch!

We almost bought the pendant that is second from the left.  Actually, we did.  But they couldn’t get it down until the day after and of course, no shipping.  We can’t make it back for a few weeks at least…so hopefully, it will still be there.  Now I have my eye on that copper drum one all the way to the right instead.  However, the steel and silver works best in our home because we have an industrial stripped metal breakfast table.  Funny thing is, we originally were looking for a copper top breakfast table…and around and around it goes:

Just feast on this…I don’t have enough words here…I just want it all:

A couple of chairs for the DIY-er that is not afraid to upholster…excellent bones and beautiful lines:

Need some fabric for that upholstery job?

Zippers and trim?

I can’t wait to make a quick trip up again…so inspirational and fun.  When I do, I’ll definitely snap a few more pictures!

Before and After: Metal Shelf (Almost)

A couple of months ago, I got this little 3 tier metal shelf for a STEAL.  A $15 STEAL. It’s a solid piece – the only thing not perfect was the handles needed to be replaced.  Despite that, it was an easy decision at the end of the day because:

1. I need storage…always

2. I love metal

3. Dowels or handles are easy to replace

4. No rust, not rickety – SOLID little guy

5. It was $15

We brought it home and let it sit around for a while because I was lazy and indecisive.  I found a place online that makes dowels to specifications, but I haven’t ordered them yet because I wanted to paint the piece first.  Black is nice, but I needed something HAPPY!

So off to the corner hardware store we went and picked up a few cans of spray paint and went to work:

This was mid-spray when we realized that despite the hardware guy and some blogs saying that yes, we can use the spray paint indoors with all windows open, we suddenly realized we were standing in a misty cloud of yellow.  Teeny, tiny, misty yellow droplets of paint were starting to drop a cover on most of our apartment.  We decided to take this baby outside and finished it up.

It’s now sandwiched between our two huge bookcases working hard as storage for some of my fabrics – it’s overflowing right now, which is kind of embarassing…but what the heck!

The yellow came out soft, mellow and buttery.  The husband is not a huge fan of the color, though.  I like it for now.  However, we might dial it up a notch to a more highlighter yellow.  Not now…just thinking about it.  I’ll need a couple more months to sit on that one.  As for the dowels/handles…I haven’t ordered them yet…what kind and color of wood would best play off this yellow, you guys?

Steam Cleaning the Floors

Back from the little Christmas getaway!  Right back into the routine of things – which meant we dove pretty deep into our cleaning regimen.  The husband was extraordinarily fantastic by getting me a steam cleaner for Christmas.  I’ve been talking about it for months and was just about to get one myself.  Perfect timing on his part, don’t you think?

Check out the grossness above.  Left side is brand new cleaning pad (it attaches to the bottom of the steam cleaner).  Right side is the grossness of the cleaning pad after cleaning the apartment.  I knew we were going to encounter some yuck since the steam really gets down deep and lifts up dirt, grime and the residue other cleaners have left behind (that sounded so much like an advertisement, but really it’s not – I ain’t getting paid to write a WORD).  But holy crap, that crap is really crappy and ugly.

We have a no-shoe policy and our feet have never gotten dirty traipsing around the apartment.  Plus, we use Bona to clean very regularly, but I guess this stuff was REALLY embedded in there, huh?  Granted, this apartment is so NOT new and I’m guessing these original floors have seen 50+ years of abuse.

We used the Haan Steam Cleaner and Sanitizer – a breeze to use, really:

In terms of cleaning time, it was about the same amount of time as using the Bona, except we didn’t have to spray, spray, spray, then clean, clean clean and repeat.  This was just go and clean after the water has heated up (about 3 minutes).

Another great thing is that there are no chemicals involved – great if anyone has any sensitivities at all.  The steam does all the work – just use water.  We used 2 cups in total for our apartment – wood and porcelain (bathroom).  Imagine all the money saved not having to buy cleansers anymore.  LOVE!

Accomplice: The Village

Last weekend, the husband and I went to see/participate in Accomplice: The Village.  Accomplice is an interactive show where the streets and real-life bars, cafes and restaurants are the venue.  With about 8 people in our group, we set off on two and a half hours of mystery solving around the village.  We searched out the players in the game in various locations where we got additional clues by asking them questions and scavenge hunted our way around the streets.  Kudos to most of the actors and actresses because aside from staying in character and on plot, they ad-libbed their way through our myriad of questions, remarks, jokes and I don’t know how many tangents we went off on.

I don’t want to give away the premise of the show/game/hunt and I can almost guarantee that everyone will have their “AHA!” moment.  I CAN say it was a whole lot of fun and unlike any other show we’ve ever seen.  The keys were the interaction between the group and the actors and the pavement pounding location and clue hunting.

The only setback that both the husband and I agreed on was the over-acting by one actor.  He made a caricature of his role and it was annoying at best.  Other than that, I highly recommend it for a different kind of fun!

There are a few different Accomplices out there – The Village, New York, Hollywood and they are currently working on one in the Natural History Museum.  YES!  The husband and I will be there!

Recycled Yarn Ornaments

The husband brought these ornaments home yesterday.  Made from recycled yarn, these little guys are fun and can definitely hang around on more than just the christmas tree.

He got this little guy hugging the body pillow because it reminded him of me.  I have this body pillow that I absolutely LOVE to death and probably won’t be able to fall asleep without it.  We got it because I like to throw my legs over something (used to be his legs) and hug something fluffy to sleep – helps to keep me warm because somehow I’m always left with only the sheet in the middle of the night.  Someone almost always tootsie rolls the blankets (we have two) around himself during the night.

Then he would whine, complain and threaten divorce because my legs would make him sweat and HE couldn’t sleep because it.  Now that I have the body pillow, I don’t bother him at all.  Except now he complains incessantly about the body pillow taking up too much space on the bed!  Oh, and that IS exactly how I hug the body pillow to sleep!

He’s a pirate – complete with a hook hand, swashbuckling sword, eye patch and pegleg.  Argghhh argghhhhhh!

Don’t know who this guy is supposed to be…anyone know?  He is cute, nevertheless…

Petalbelles’ Whimsical Ornaments

I came across petalbelles’ stunning ornaments during one of my Etsy rampages during the week in an effort to find some beautifully handmade and affordable Christmas gifts.  (I ALWAYS try to support artisans and independents!)

I felt so giddy and happy when I stumbled across her work, I HAD to share!  She features handmade angels, teachers, mothers, fairies suspended inside a clear ornament and they all somehow seem…in motion.  I bought one as a gift and I can’t wait to see it in person.  The best thing is – I would hang this not just for the holidays, it’s so beautiful, it should stay out year round!  I would hang a cluster from the ceiling near a window perhaps….

Above is Goth Fairy.

Sewing Fairy

Periwinkle Angel

Mother Holding Baby Boy

Cheerleader Fairy

Ballerina

Zip It Up!

I need to step it up on the zipper pouches.  I’m going to make at least 15 of these babies for gifts (or part of gifts) and it’s slow going.  Some fabric are vintage, some are new – I love them all, though.  Maybe I can bang out a few more this coming weekend…wish me luck!

By the way, are you guys making any of your own Christmas gifts this year?

Pillows from The Home Centric

This beautiful Lord of the Rings pillow is from Urvi of The Home Centric.  Made with silk dupioni and and metal rings, it’s quite mesmerizing.  Only thing is, I don’t want to rest my head on it – I just want to hold and stare at it for hours – it’s so intricate.

Check out a few more of her pillows…all of this handmade goodness for less than $30 each with her Cyber Monday sale (most are far less than $30)….

The Wheel of Pearls – silk dupioni with copper embroidery and mother of pearl.

Almost Real – pin tucked silk with crystals.

The Canvas Carnival – cotton canvas with sequins, beads and leather flowers.

Vintage Frills – crushed silk with frilly ruffles.  So soft, delicate and pretty, don’t you think?

Where is This Living Room?

This living room seems quite comfortable, warm and well lived in, doesn’t it?  But where can you find such a place?  Take a guess…

Continue reading…

Superior Donuts

We saw Superior Donuts by Tracy Letts directed by Tina Landau Tuesday night.  The husband pointed out after the show that I laughed out a few times.  I never laugh out loud.  That’s not true, I RARELY laugh out loud.  I’m talking plays, movies, comedy shows, books, etc., people.  (Although I must say – there have been a few books that did make me laugh out loud continuously, not just a few particular spots.  On the train in the morning half asleep and “ha! ha! ooooo…”.  Funny like I have to put the book down and just laugh and chuckle it off, then proceed reading again).  I DO laugh out loud with common day occurences, though, because I’m not as weird as you think.  Maybe spontaneous humor is more funny to me than PRESENTED humor?  Yes.  Not that I think a lot of stuff aren’t funny, just not funny enough for me to laugh out loud, maybe just an inward chuckle.

Anyway, based in Chicago, Superior Donuts made me laugh out loud and that was good.  (No, I can’t type LOL, I just can’t!)  Yasen Peyankov as Max Tarasov was awesomely real and awesomely russian and provided most of the laughs for me.  Jon Michael Hill (charisma oozes from this guy) as Franco Wicks was refreshing – his energy and ambition played so well with Michael McKean‘s Aruthur Przybyszewski – the donut shop owner who was much more still and stagnant.

There was a lot in this two hour plus play.  An awakening from a dull and resigned life for a donut shop owner by a driven and clever young man who talked himself into working at the donut shop for minimum wage.  They help each other (Franco helps Arthur P. out of his sleepwalking life and Arthur P. helps free Franco of his debts by selling his shop).  The fight scene between Arthur P. and bookie Luther Flynn (played by Rober Maffia) was Arthur P.’s release and fight against his own barren and spiritless life.  Race played into this as well – how many black poets can you name? – but played lightly.

I say definitely go see it if you’re in town – the acting was all around believable and tremendous.  Who doesn’t need a good dose of laugh out loud with a wonderful story behind it all?