Storage 101

Like I said in an earlier post, I think a recurring them in design mags is 'storage solutions.'  Luckily, I have a couple of friends that are interior designers that gave me some free advice.  The best piece of advice of all the advice they gave:  GET RID OF KNICK KNACKS!   

I threw out tons of knick knacks.  Very liberating.

Look at this interesting book I found:

Tadaaaaah!  It's not a book at all!

Giggle!  I was reading about this place on the web where you can order books with genuine titles that are hollowed out for storage.  It's like those movies back in the day where folks would hide secret keys and money and weapons in books.

I hate having a zillion remotes.  This makes everything central and tidy and out of sight.  So clever!

It was only like $8 at T.J. Maxx.

Holla!  :-)

ERR-E-A (Area) Rugs Revisited

Years ago when I first moved to Asheville and lived in a one room hovel, I invested in these matchy-matchy JCPenney area rugs.  I seriously live in a studio apartment.  ONE room living.

The huge rug defined my kitchen area.  The runner defined my hallway to the bathroom.  The tiniest defined my bedroom.

I had no idea then that I was doing exactly what area rugs are designed for . . . defining areas.  I thought the taupe carpet was ugly and boring and needed some color.  I was going for a Southwestern motif.  That's a whole 'nother drama/blog.

Anyhoo, some well meaning acquaintance told me later when I moved to another apartment, that rugs on rugs, (carpeted floors), was just silly. He was way gayer than me when it came to what's what.  So I deferred to his judgment and tossed the rugs and never reinvested.

Cut to 10 years later.  One guy I went out with had area rugs placed strategically in his hovel.  It looked great.  Plus he helped paint the ceiling of the downtown courthouse when they went through their renaissance.

His gay card totally trumped my other friends.

Then another interior designer balked when I told her about not having rugs on carpet.  She said rugs on carpet were absolutely acceptable and done all the time.  So armed with this new info and lots of HGTV, Ikea and free advice from an interior designer, I got to work:

Zebra stripes are dangerously tacky if not done just right.  An entire room with zebra stripes as a focal point to me is very nouveau riche.  But as a rug to add a splash of energy and interest to a bland hallway floor . . . ME LIKEY!  :-)

I read that a rug at about 4x6 by the bed added warmth and unity to a bedroom.  And with all the black and white already going on with the bed, I really wanted to go for that "POP" with red.   And CONTEMPORARY shag carpet as area rugs is so way cool.

This is a perfect square I found at Ikea.  It separates where I park my butt in front of the computer from the kitchen.  It's like a gateway rug.  I read that rugs and furniture can help guide folks where to go.

So if the kitchen sink throws people off, my handy dandy rug is here to assure them, "Yes!  That's the kitchen biotches!".

On my mad dash shopping spree last weekend, I found this little gem.  It's simple and understated yet cute enough to blend with my decor AND keep your paws clean.  It sits in my miniature foyer.

By the way, I learned a while ago that wearing your shoes indoors on carpeted floors is like a major no-no.  Apparently you track in major Major MAJOR quantities of nastiness by doing that.  I try to always take mine off in the foyer.

Another Ikea purchase.  Super cheap.  It's in front of my laundry room.    It's not the cherry red I  like.  But it's hidden behind a mini wall so it could be vomit green and you wouldn't remember it exists once you step inside the condo.

It serves it's purpose:  another place to wipe my filthy paws.

And finally, here's the leader of the pack.  Meet my big ass red shag rug for the living area.  I read the living area rug helps unify the seating arrangement and traffic.

It totally does.  It makes a world of difference and adds character, warmth, energy and completeness to the room.  I got it from Ikea so it's adorable AND affordable!

Bonus!

Next post I'll try to remember to discuss more storage solutions.

Bedroom Drama

So last post I got the eclectic mess thrown out.  Now it more or less looks like this:

I have a big secret I may reveal later.  For now, bear with me.

So thanks to Target and Ikea, I found some stuff to make my bedroom look like a "grown ass man", (thanks for the phrase Mimi), lives here.

I was frustrated looking for literally 'red' furniture.  I kept finding physically brown furniture from 'red' trees.  I wanted to spit.

Patience paid off.  I found lots of naked furniture.  Again, I don't paint.  Period.

I don't even spray paint. I want my crap already done the way I want it.  That's why God created Ikea.

He knew lazy asses like me would want bright fire engine red furniture right off the showroom floor.  Ikea had these bedside tables in their magazine and I fell in love.

I found the comforter set on Target's website . . . I think.  All I know is that over the years I've discovered something about myself:  I love beds with a bunch of pillows.

It looks complete and filling and cozy when a bed has a bunch of coordinating pillows.  I read the only drawback is having to take the pillows on and off everyday to make the bed.

Silly book.  I make my bed once a week!

I call this my 'herd of pillows.'

I read that it's ok to have different patterns mixed together as long as they were the same color or color derivatives. I love that look.  So I made it my own.

Holla!

And some jerk once told me rugs on carpeted floors were nonsense.

Whatever!

One thing I've learned is to listen my inner 'like'.  It's like a Facebook 'like' only you're too scared to like it on Facebook because it's controversial or something.

I was later assured area rugs on carpet are very much OK.  Area rugs add to the cozy quotient.  And I learned area rugs are supposed to define an . . . wait for it . . .AREA!

More next post.

Meanwhile, here's my big secret:

That's right.  I haven't won the battle.  I still have some unfinished clutter business to attend to.

The saga continues!

A Grown-Up Bedroom

I'm the "Friends" generation.  I loved Monica Gellar's eclectic pad.  That was my look for the longest time.  

Eclectic is just a fancy word for, "I can't commit to a style I like so I'm just putting in a hodge podge of crap I like whether it totally matches or not."

I look back at reruns of "Friends"  now and think, for Monica's character to be so anal about things being clean, that is one junky cluttered looking space.  

My bedroom was no exception.  I did always keep the rule to NEVER have a tv in the bedroom.  Something about the zen or balance or whatever.  

I just think it's tacky.  I don't want to ever end up 'living' in my bedroom.

Otherwise it was a pretty random mess.  Hand-me-down rickety end tables with chipping paint and overstuffed drawers in 1970's boring brown.  Hand-me-down dresser I was gratefully able to hide in the closet.  Hand-me-down bed and mattress that I am too embarrassed to admit the age.

At one point I was going for gold and angels.  Shut up.  It looked so much better in my head.  

It never quite panned out the way I wanted.  The comforter was like some gold thing I found at TJ Maxx.  The sheets didn't match the flat sheet.  The flat sheet didn't match the pillow cases.  The pillow cases didn't match each other.

I had angel paintings, wall decor, knick knacks up here and there.  But no one got it because they were too diminutive compared to the size of the room.  

It was a mess that even Monica Gellar would have frowned at.  

I had an idea to continue the red/black/white theme.  Voila!  (details later):

My Bins Have Bins

Storage solutions.  I think that's got to be the most popular phrase in interior design.  Lord mercy!

I abhor, despise, hate, CLUTTER.  I have yet to win the battle completely.  But I'm getting there.

And places like Ikea, Target and Walmart have some sweet, AFFORDABLE ideas and solutions.  Several years ago, another interior designer friend introduced me to shelving and baskets as a storage solution.  It was and IS one of the most clever solutions I've ever used.

When folks come over, they always comment on the shelving/basket system I have going on.   So I got to thinking of how I could incorporate that same idea with my new condo.  Another interior designer friend introduced me to Uline, http://www.uline.com/.

Then I found out about these cool bins Target carries and grabbed every red one I could find.  I needed more and a high school friend got in touch on Facebook and hooked me up.

Here's how it turned out:

So it was open shelving for the stereo.  The designer suggested closed shelving for the tv area:

I went for black shelving from Ikea.  I was looking for red but I had to be careful.  Too much red can be overwhelming.  Too much black can look too heavy.  I had to balance it just right.

I decided the "heavy" stuff would need to be "breakable" black.  That means the shelving would be black but I could break it up with red and white.

White was very important too.  Solid red, solid black and solid white with no pattern would look way too bland and heavy and manufactured.

Breaking up black or even red would help keep the rooms light and airy.  Think of it like the sky.  Just a bright blue sky is pretty, but it's monotonous.  Once you pop in some fluffy white clouds with varied shapes and texture . . . VOILA!  Beautiful sky.  :-)

Doodle Divas Corporate Office

Better late than never.  I've been busy.  I bought my condo almost two years ago and just last week really got to setting it up the way I like.

So maybe I procrastinated a little bit too.  But I have been super busy for real.  Anyway, some folks wanted to see what I'd done, what I would do, etc.

So here goes:

Number one:  I do not like yard work nor dealing with the outdoors.

Number two: I do not like critters.

Number three:  I do not like to hear people stomping their feet above me when I'm chillaxin' or sleeping.

Therefore, it was imperative I have these three items handled with my abode purchase.  I bought a third floor condo.

No yard work.  No critters from living on the first floor.  And I'm THE top floor.  So no one above me.

I got it brand spanking new.  Like I got to choose if I got fans or not, (I did).  Carpet or wood, (carpet).  Washer?  Dryer?  (Yes.  Yes.)

Then two years later, I decided to actually make it look like a respectable human lived here.  I threw myself a birthday party.  That way I was FORCED to get it looking right for the guests.

It's still a work in progress.  But I'll do a post by post of various features.  All in this one post is a bit much.

But here's one:

Color scheme

I knew red would be my main color preference.  I also knew I wasn't painting any walls.  I don't have that kind of patience or focus.

I did a lot of research and an interior designer buddy came over and helped me get things set up a certain way.  Then lots of reading and paying attention to things I liked that I came across.

There are different types of red.  It took some trial and error but I finally figured out I love Love LOVE BRIGHT cherry red.  Burgundy, blood red, or other off-reds just don't cut it.

Ikea and Target typically have the red I go for.  Ikea is hands down my favorite when it comes to sourcing my favorite red.

Once I decided on red, I already knew black and white would be the accent colors.  And since Doodle Divas was all about black and white with a splash of red, the color scheme was perfection.

I'm Ready For My Close-Up

This really cool place called Zapow,(http://zapow.net/).  They're like super fierce and have all this really way cool cartoony-comic-book-like  vibe going on.  I got to put some stuff up and did some final touches today:

Then one of the owners wanted to do a video-bio thing.  I went for it because he wanted spontaneous versus rehearsed.

Ugh.  I'm normally way animated.  But as soon as the spotlight is truly on me, I'm sweating bullets. 

And of course, I abhor the sound of my own voice.  Double ugh!  

He claims it's great.  I thought I looked OK.  We'll see.

Denied! Denied! APPROVED!!!

One thing for sure I've learned and am learning:  What I like and what the customer like can be COMPLETELY different!

And that's OK!

I had the honor of being selected as a featured artist for the Fall 2011 East of Asheville Studio Tour.  As I recall NOW, the designer requested something like this:

' . . . one of your divas faces will be shown in the rear view mirror of a car she's driving to/from the studio tour.  It should show her signature sunglasses, red lips and hair swoop . . . '

Easy right?

Nope.

Turns out I suffer from 'hear-what-want-to-hear-itis'.  And I truly don't mean to.  Plus it was so difficult to wrap my brain around anything beyond the image between my two ears.

So I came up with this:

Denied.

There's not a single thing rear view about this.  Duh!

So I tried this:  

Denied!  It looks like a creepy lady in the back seat is about to scare the beegeezus out of the driver.  Plus, where are the lips?  And is that mirror image right?

So I tried this:

APPROVED!  :-)

Funny how things work out when I get out of my own way!  

Homework!

Back in the day,  the school library carried all these magazines.  I really wanted to peruse through "Vogue" and "Bazaar".  

That was just like categorically unacceptable for boys.  

So I was reduced to pretending to be totally absorbed in an issue of "Car and Driver" or "Sports Illustrated"!

YUCK!

Well that was grade school/junior high.  Things changed rapidly.  Fashion became very, Very, VERY important.  

By high school, MTV wasn't just a music video showcase, it was a living and breathing fashion magazine.  

Elsa Klensch was my hero as a fashion journalist that covered fashion designers and fashion shows across the country.  She taught me who the pioneers and designers were like Chanel, Donna Karen, Ralph Lauren, and Calvin Klein.  

I learned terms like 'haute couture', 'basic black', 'classic style', 'cut on the bias', 'hounds tooth', and 'paisley'.   

By college, I knew who all the supermodels were, what was happening in fashion and the  powerful influence of Madonna and Michael Jackson on what us ordinary people wore.  

Today, I am just short of clueless on what is considered the latest and greatest fashions.  I THINK skinny jeans, jeggings and burnout t's are the style of the day.  

I'd look silly in some of today's styles. But since I learned at an early age what 'classic style' is, I just wear the basic classics so I don't get laughed out of social situations.

I did my homework.  ;-)

Big Hair

I'm the 'bigger is better' generation. And when it came to hair, COLOSSAL was best. My most elaborate doodles were in the 80's with divas sporting mounds of hair supported by huge bows or that invisible wonder called "hair spray".

Hair volume reached a fever pitch with the invention of . . . WEAVES! Suddenly women of color went from hair barely beyond their temples to hair swaying in long strands well beyond their hips. 

Of course, times changed and big hair fell way to the more paired down styles of today. Even I never cared for the foot long bangs that stood at gravity defying verticals while the rest just kind of laid there.

But I also know their are those of you that, just like me, will always have a place in your heart for . . . BIG HAIR!!! :-)

Doodle Divas: Classy or Sassy?

Doodle Divas: Classy or Sassy?: I've discovered over the past few months a pattern. The Europeans really, Really, REALLY like Audrey Hepburn. I'm actually surprised at th...

Classy or Sassy?

I've discovered over the past few months a pattern.  The Europeans really, Really, REALLY like Audrey Hepburn.  I'm actually surprised at the amount of moolah Europeans have invested in my Audrey Hepburn inspired pieces.

I'm not complaining!  Thank you Europeans!

It seemed Americans really, Really, REALLY liked Marilyn Monroe.  I was actually surprised at the amount of moolah Americans have invested in my Marilyn Monroe inspired pieces.

I'm not complaining!  Thank you Americans!

That got me to thinking:  Which diva is tops among my fellow Americans?  Audrey or Marilyn?  I assumed it would be Marilyn based on sales alone.

I recently did an informal poll and sure enough . . . Marilyn Monroe won hands down.

 . . . I thought.

I forgot about the same poll on another site.  And when I peeked at it . . . Audrey Hepburn won hands down.

So in general, half of the Americans that took my little informal poll prefer sassy Marilyn while the other half prefer classy Audrey.

Makes perfect sense.  Even splits in situations like this are nice.  Of course, considering the trademark Doodle Divas 'look', I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to figure out my preference.

But when it comes right down to it, for me at least, all classy with no sassy is just dullsville.  And whether it's 49% sassy or 51% classy, as long as it has 'diva' associated with it . . . it's 100% good!  :-)

Garbo talks . . .

 . . . and is misquoted.

I'm  fascinated by beauties with incredibly humble beginnings.  Folks 'discovered' on reality tv just don't have the same bite as an impoverished child that watches their own father get sick and die, has only a grade school education, and makes ends meet by preparing men's faces to be shaved at the local barbershop.

That was Greta Garbo.  WAY, Way, way back in the day, she starred in silent movies.  She kind of paved the way for model-turned-actress types.  Although in her case, she was actually an extremely gifted actress.

When Garbo finally got a talkie, she was  highly successful and critically praised for her work. And wouldn't you know, that just as the press and Hollywood can spin a positive into  a negative today, apparently they had plenty of practice back then.

Garbo was reportedly a major recluse and will forever be known for uttering the phrase, "I want to be alone."

Or did she?

Another article quotes  Garbo as saying she never said that.  She said, "I want to be LET alone."  Big difference.

Regardless, from humble beginnings, she emerged a diva.  Garbo commanded huge sums of money and was able to pick and choose her roles in an era where strong women were jaw-dropping exceptions and not the rule.  In other words, she didn't lose any sleep over the misquote.

Interesting how the answer to what is beauty changes from generation to generation.  By today's standards, her thin lips were unacceptable and would need unnatural plumping with collagen and fillers.

But in my humble opinion, Garbo's thin lips and style made her stunning.  She wrote the book on the whole diva-hiding-behind-huge-sunglasses look.

She had looks, talent and humble beginnings.  Once you throw in an infamous misquote, it's all the ingredients of a true diva destiny!  All hail Greta "I-want-to-be-LET-alone" Garbo!

Is this YOU?

When you scraped your knee as a child, did you scream as if you had lost a limb?  Did you demand stitches for a cut that barely required a bandage?

Did you throw temper tantrums growing up?  Do you STILL as an adult?

When you enter a room, are you HEARD first and then SEEN?

When the doctor popped you upon entering the world as a baby, did you cry or did you say, "OMG!"?

When you get the sniffles, are you convinced it's the bubonic plague or the beginning of a mass epidemic?

If you answered 'Yes' to a couple of the above questions, you very well could be  . . . a DRAMA QUEEN!  

And if you are . . . 

. . . welcome to MY world!  ;-)

Shut the Front Door!!!

August 6th?  Are you kidding me?  My last blog was almost two months ago?!

Golly geez!

So my dealings, doings, what's-going-onings, seem to be like some Doodle Diva Diary.  Between 'Bottle Blonde" diva this past Summer and the top secret diva a boutique just got approved for later this month, (it's FALL now!), a whole hell of a lot has happened.

A lot has been personal.  I personally am working a 40-hour work week at a new job I started in August.  And no. That's not code for 'I-am-a-full-time-Doodle-Diva-artist/designer.'

That seriously cut into my all-doodle-divas-all-the-time zone - at least parts of it.  Of note - BLOGGING!

And I am ever so grateful.  Not only is it a great career move, it has forced me to be more balanced.  Let's just say there was a point when I wanted to hurl Doodle Divas out a very high window.

Doodle Divas was stressing me out.

Or so I fooled myself into thinking that.

Actually, I, as usual, was putting myself in my own way and getting stressed in the process.

What was causing this stress?  Two words:  time management.

To that end, I've incorporated a few changes:

1)  I actually use the alarm clock.

I didn't for years because I hated having some random lovely dream abruptly interrupted.  Yeah.  Whatever.  It's set with a battery back up now.

2)  Set the delay brew on my coffee maker the night before.

Yeah.  I whined about wanting a delay brew coffee maker, got one for Christmas several years ago, yet  I've actually used the delay brew option maybe six times in six years.  I know.  I'm shameless!

3) The sofa and or my home work station must be cleared before bed.

OK.  So I am a perfectionist.  I have this put together, clean, shaven, preppy vibe I show the public.  However, my condo tells the real story.  Since my sofa is the first thing I see when I walk in the door, it impacts my p.o.v. and tells the tale of what my insides are feeling like.  So I chose to at least keep the sofa uncluttered before my head hits the bed at night.

Much more has happened.  But for now, I'm going to hop off here and make good on my time management commitments.  Details to come.

Meanwhile, it's October already!  Enjoy one of my witchy divas while I fold laundry and discover if my sofa can still stand under all that weight.

And yes.  The laundry is CLEAN laundry!  :-)