Ladies and Gentlemen, We Have Lift-Off!

6 months ago, I posted about my annual Halloween party. I wasn't joking when I said planning began in March, and this year is no exception! I've started compiling inspiration for this year's theme even though the event is over 6 months away.

While I can't disclose too much information at this juncture, I will tell you that the theme is 1960s outer space. Think along the lines of Lost In Space, Neil Armstrong, Space Mountain, the Jetsons, Stanley Kubrick, etc. Clean, modern, "high-tech" (for it's time). The house will basically be transformed into something right out of Tomorrowland, and I'm very excited to share that with you all!

The brilliant folks at Mantium Industries will be assisting me with all kinds of exciting projects to make this the very best party I've thrown to date. Mantium was an invaluable asset to last year's Carnivale d'Abnormale party, so I'm super excited to have their talented minds involved in this project. The party was also brilliantly captured by Pacheco Photography. Be sure to check out Travis' post if you haven't done so already!

This year's party is going to be completely out of this world, so stay connected to the blog for exciting updates and project highlights!

End Tables are a Lot Like Love

The saying, "You'll find what you're looking for when you least expect it." has always proven to be true in my life, and this weekend was no exception. I ventured out to the antiques faire without any particular items in mind. That's when I stumbled upon a sad little end table that had seen better days.

I didn't particularly want a new end table, but this one was something special. Though rugged and caked with all kinds of nastiness, the unique dovetail inlayed top immediately caught my attention. Upon closer inspection, I was admiring the classic tapered legs and atomic-shaped handle. This piece screamed 1950s, and I think I heard a faint whimper saying, "Rescue me, please!" When I opened the little drawer on the front and found the maker's mark "Lane, Altavista Virgina," I could no longer resist.

The Lane Furniture Company started in 1912 as a cedar chest manufacturer. The father/son business was widely recognized for its quality craftsmanship, and emerged into a leading retailer of fine american furniture throughout the 20th century. Lane Furniture is still in business, and is considered a top quality brand alongside Broyhill, Thomasville and Drexel Heritage.

Knowing a little about the Lane company, I figured this table was going to be priced on the high side. I searched for a price tag, but it was unmarked. I offered $35, and to my amazement, the seller accepted my offer. No counter offer. The table was mine! After some research, I came to find out that this table is part of Lane's Acclaim collection (one of their most successful lines in the early '50s). Knowing you snagged a quality piece of furniture for a deal is always a great feeling! I got the piece home and started refinishing right away.

Products I used for this project:

• Heavyweight canvas drop cloth
• Chemical resistant gloves
• Chemical stripper (I prefer a chemical stripper as it gets the job done fast)
• Medium sized putty knife (I prefer plastic as it is gentler on wood surfaces)
• Old paintbrush (one you don't mind throwing away)
• Lint-free rags (old t-shirts work great)
• After wash
• Sanding block
• Sandpaper (220)
• Wood finish stain (I used Minwax dark walnut)
• Polyurethane spray (I used Minwax satin)

A few tips about refinishing:

• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions on these products. They know what they're talking about, and I've never been steered wrong.
• Sand, then sand some more. This is your chance to remove any imperfections, so sand away! Getting down to raw wood is also the key to a rich, beautiful stain.
• Have patience when staining! Allow 6-8 hours between stain applications. Laying on stain in one thick coat only makes a gooey mess, not a richer finish.
• Spray the polyurethane in light, even strokes from 12" away. Heavy sprays will only lead to a tacky, drip-marked coating. A 2nd coat can be applied after 2 hours.
• Allow sufficient time for poly to dry. Your project may look ready for use after a few hours, but don't be fooled! The poly coat needs 24 hours to fully set...THEN you can put your lamps and chotchkes back in place! 

In addition to the sanding/staining process, I painted the leg caps with a matte black acrylic, and cleaned up the hardware with Brasso. With that, this unexpected find has a new look and a new home where it will be loved for many years to come! 

Time Well Spent

My annual visit to Ohio was a great one this year. I had the pleasure of spending lots of time with my family and friends, which is always a treat. There were quite a few nights spent at my parents' house, just hanging out, eating and watching TV (That's just how we roll in the midwest), which I'm 100% fine with!

Close to the end of my visit, my mom and I ventured into the basement in search of some vintage glassware that she had at one time. It was that signature 60s style, Dorothy Thorpe glassware with the mirrored edge like you see Don Draper drinking from. Mom said the glasses were mine if I could find them, so naturally, I was on the hunt! I climbed up into the basement crawl space, carefully moving boxes and clearing cobwebs in hope that I wouldn't encounter some Ohio-sized, hungry wolf spider or any other creature for that matter. Mom got curious as to what was in these boxes, so she crawled into the space and aided the search effort. After an hour of rummaging around on our hands and knees on cold concrete, searching every box, the glasses were nowhere to be found, and we determined that Mom must have sold them at a garage sale or donated them some time ago. Sadness for all.

However, the search wasn't a complete loss, as we stumbled upon a box of old photos and baby books, which we took upstairs to sort through. This got us talking about some long lost collection of family photos that I had apparently never seen. Mom said, "Oh, I think they're in a bag in my room...somewhere." With the disappointment of the glassware in the forefront of my mind, I was now bound and determined to find these photos. We rummaged through dresser drawers, a cedar chest and eventually, the closet. "Oh, here they are!" Mom shouted, as we parked ourselves on the floor in her closet. We sorted through this substantial stack of photos—all of which I had never before seen. We sat there for at least 2 hours, and yes, our feet were tingling with numbness.


While I would love to post the entire collection, I treasured one photo in particular—a photo of my grandparents (Me-Maw and Pa-Paw), taken on their wedding day in 1947. There aren't many photos of them, especially vintage gems like this, so I was thrilled to have found this! As you can see, the snapshot had suffered some damage over the years, and was in need of repair. I asked Mom if I might take this photo (and the entire stack) back to California so that I could scan and restore these wonderful memories. Of course, she let me, and so the photo restoration began.

With the intent to enlarge this photo by 200% or more, I first scanned the photo at 600 dpi into Photoshop. Removing the dingy, yellow hue was my first correction, so I converted the file to grayscale. I then healed creases and cracks with the clone tool, using various sized feathered brushes. Water spots and flecks were also removed with the clone tool and paintbrushes. Levels and curves were bumped up for a more stark contrast, and some hazy areas were corrected with the burn tool. Lastly, a 1/4" white border was added to the photo, which cleaned up the crackled, discolored outer edges.

Perhaps I make it sound easy, and truth be told...it was! I only spent 30-40 minutes repairing the photo, and it turned out spectacular! If you have old, damaged photos laying around, I definitely encourage you to dig them out and start the restoration process. If that's something you're not up to par with, read up on it, or hire a designer to assist you. Having these memories preserved holds infinite value for years to come.

The plan is to have the photo printed and framed for Me-Maw's 92nd birthday in June. Shh...don't go telling her! I'm not sure when she last saw this photo, but it's certainly a special one—Well worth crawling through a cold basement to be without what I had set out to discover!

Bittersweet Indulgence

Taking down the Christmas tree is always a little bittersweet for me. While I'm happy to get the house back to a state of normalcy, I also miss the warmth of the holiday season. As that last little bit of Christmas remains in me, I wanted to share with you my 2011 Christmas card!

I'm a big fan and collector of 40s-60s advertisements, so I thought it would be fun to incorporate that theme into this year's card. With Mad Men on an extended hiatus, I needed a fix, and this seemed to do the trick! The concept: A vintage mini-magazine featuring me and my recommendations for holiday tips, recipes, decorating and style.

I came up with the title Indulge, which really encompasses how I feel about the holidays. There's no better time to let go, celebrate and take part in every wonderful thing the season has to offer! With that in mind, I decorated the tree on Nov. 1, and got Travis on-board to help me shoot the cover scenario. My goal was to show different versions of me, all shot in the same room, interacting with one another. This took some planning and test positioning, but we really nailed it in our first attempt! I thought it would be even more clever to show different facial hair styles for each "Robert." So, in addition to 5 wardrobe changes, I also went from full beard, to goatee, to pencil mustache, to clean shaven, which made for an even more interesting and humorous shot.

With this festive cover in-place, I began to research old ads as inspiration for the products I would feature inside. Here are a few that made an impression on me:

I came up with the ideas for advertisements on the interior pages, and made a list of "products" that needed to be photographed. Travis and I got together to shoot these elements on a white background. I drew clipping masks around each image, then placed them into the ad layouts, which were created with a combination of Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.

Kitschy fonts played a big part in achieving that vintage look. Here are a few of my favorites used in the ads:

Putting my graphic design skills to work, I came up with these ads to complete the 8-page mini-magazine:

The cards were a big hit this year, and I certainly had fun designing them. With all the time spent creating this artwork, you might think I'd be completely burnt out on Christmas come January. However, it's no big secret that I love holidays, and 2011 was no exception! It's projects like this that keep me feeling creative, inspired and happy all year round! So, Christmas tree...you may be tucked away in the closet for another year, but rest assured, you shined brightly on the cover of Indulge Magazine and provided many warm, glowing nights in 2011. Happy post-holidays, everyone!

Vacation Renovation

Every Christmas, I head back to Ohio to visit family and friends. My 92-year old grandma (Me-Maw) has a 2,000 sq. ft. home with lots of room, so I stay with her. Me-Maw's house was built in the late 60s, so there are some interesting design elements in the space.

Of course, I can't sit still for 2 seconds, even when I'm on vacation, so I asked Me-Maw to make a list of projects for me to tackle during my visit. This year, there was no list as Me-Maw informed me that I "work too hard." Pa-lease! Despite her recommendation, I traveled from room to room in search of a task, and found the perfect project when I reached the upstairs bathroom.

I've updated quite a few rooms for Me-Maw over the years, but hadn't gotten to this bathroom, which was adorned with wallpaper and carpet...eesh! Now, I'm a big fan of wallpaper and I'm so glad to see that it's making a comeback in the design world. However, when it's an outdated design that's curling up at the seams, it's time for a makeover! I proposed to remove the paper and apply a fresh coat of paint to the walls and ceiling. I thought this redesign would take about 1 1/2 days to complete, but as I peeled away the first few sections of wallpaper, I soon realized that I may be in over my head.

Me-Maw had forewarned me of a "soft spot" in one of the walls near the bathtub. She assumed this was an electrical outlet, but didn't know for sure. I couldn't hardly wait to uncover the mystery! I tore away the first layer of paper and sprayed the next layer with vinegar water. The paper peeled away, and a layer of duct tape was revealed. Wow, this was getting interesting! I removed the duct tape and found a 8" x 5" section of wall missing. It looked to be about the size of a large electrical outlet, but no wires were to be found in the void. I did however find a piece of baseboard molding nailed to a stud, which "patched" the hole. Perplexed by this strange, ghetto repair, I continued to peel away the paper. I uncovered 2 similar holes (roughly 4" x 5") that were made just below eye-level on the same wall. One hole was treated with the baseboard-to-stud method, and the other had a small soap box crammed into it. Yes...a soap box! Who on earth did this, and more importantly, WHY?!

Aside from the disastrous holes, I was contending with heavy amounts of dried paste, crackled paint, and severely damaged wallboard. This project was turning into a nightmare fast, and my vacation time was running out. I made a shopping list of materials and put myself into overdrive. With supplies in-hand, I patched and sanded the walls, applied a skim coat of joint compound, sanded some more, primed, painted and cleaned up the copious amount of construction dust.

I chose a light green color (Summer Mist by Valspar) for the walls as it paired well with the 60s avocado color tub and tiles. The retro fixtures are making a comeback, and I really like that look. When you're on a tight budget, I think it's better to work with the color scheme rather than fight it. The vanity looked a bit dingy compared to the fresh walls and trim, so I primed and painted it a bright white. The same treatment was applied to the mirror above the sink, and the dust-ridden faux ivy chain was also removed.

Total cost for this sparkling update was a mere $150 - a definite value for the degree of transformation! The carpet remains in the bathroom for the time being, but will soon be replaced with a light grey marbled linoleum. I hope Me-Maw adds the flooring project to my to-do list for my next visit, but I'm on-board to take care of it regardless!

Extreme Party Planning

34 days is a long time between blog posts, but it's with good reason that I've been on this little blog hiatus...it's Halloween time! Second to none, (not even Christmas) Halloween is my favorite holiday, and each year, I look forward to throwing a bigger and better party. This year's theme was Carnivàle d’Abnormàle, a Halloween Freak Show that I started planning for in November, 2010. Why so early, you ask? When you see the amount of work and detail that goes into one of my parties, you'll have a better grasp of what's involved.

I always start by branding the party. Developing a catchy name and logo are essential to a memorable event. This year, I was giving a nod to the Victorian era of circus. Using a mix of Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, I developed a grungy, yet playful and romantic feeling into the logo and invitations.

The "Abnormàle" font used is called Phaeton

With these key pieces developed, I was able to begin working on the party website. Yes, my parties always have a website! Guests often remark "I don't know what kind of costume to wear." or "What day did you say your party is going to be?" What better way to provide all the answers in one place than with a fun, interactive website that's branded to the party? Here, users have the chance to read up on the details, get inspired by an image gallery and RSVP when they're ready. As a host, this is an invaluable tool that I am glad to create each year.

With these essentials out of the way, I'm able to focus on the fun of interior decorations, games and prizes. I knew the entrance and decor had to be bold in order to really play up the carnival theme, so I ordered over 200 yards of red and white canvas to tent the living room from floor to ceiling. Since I had no experience in making a tent – especially indoors – the tent started going up in July. Let me just say, living under "the big top" for 3 months was a bit much at times, but deep down, I was enjoying every minute of it! I can't say the same for my sewing machine.

Beginning stages of tent hanging

Completed ceiling

While the back of the house was well underway, I began to focus on the foyer and entryway. I wanted a creepy element, and and nothing says creepy like a 20-foot tall clown whose mouth you have to walk through. I may be a little demented, but this really made for a spectacular greeting into the party space. The addition of hand-drawn sideshow posters and festival lighting really transformed the foyer into a genuine carnival entrance. These works of art were drawn in Illustrator, printed on a large format grayscale printer and hand-colored with markers, colored pencil and paint.

Over the past 2 years, I've been blessed with the friendship of Zack Spencer, a talented craftsman who's every bit as passionate about party planning as I am! Zack's motto is "If you can draw it, I can make it." which suits me to a T. I drew up plans and specifications in Illustrator, provided Zack with a .dxf file, and he was well on his way to making my vision a reality. This year, we made classic carnival midway games including a fortune teller (Mme. Vadoma), wheel of fortune, and skee ball machine! Between Zack's construction and my painting skills, we make a great team!

Zack also built a lighted marquee that greeted guests as they stepped through the exterior tent surrounding the porch. Guests were then directed into the space by way of a framed iMac, which belted out classic circus music and informed them how to play the games and win prizes from the "Curiosities Cabinet." Atop the cabinet were vintage circus toys I had collected from various antique shops and flea markets throughout the year. Among my favorite finds was a pristine, in-the-box Musical Jolly Chimp, which I named Carl. Seems fitting for a psychotic, chomping monkey, right?

Other elements that made this party a hit included a self-serve cotton candy station, popcorn cart, old time candy bar, homemade jalapeno corn dogs, deep fried BBQ pulled pork belgian waffles, onion rings, and caramel apples. A special thank you to Sally for stepping in to take over cooking while I mingled. You're my 4-legged hero!

Last, but certainly not least, Travis Pacheco was on-board for another year of party photography. Travis is always able to capture my guests in their Halloween best, and I'm so very grateful to have his skills on-hand each year. I set up a studio in the garage, which consisted of a painted canvas dropcloth, boat ropes, and 5 straw bales that I brought home in my Volkswagen Beetle convertible – top down, of course, which was indeed a giant mess that resulted in straw in places I can't even mention. Anything for the love of Halloween parties! Here are some of my favorite shots that Travis captured. You can view the entire collection here. Be sure to check out his blog, too!

With a vivid imagination, a year's worth of design and planning, and some extremely talented individuals, Carnivàle d’Abnormàle is a party that I will remember for many years to come. Many thanks to all who contributed and attended. Onto planning for next year...