Tuesday, November 22, 2016

How a Clock Inspired Me to Decorate! (and a Review)

True Confessions: I have decorating-phobia. I know, it seems kinda strange, the art teacher who takes wild and wacky fashion risks has a fear of hanging a single thing on the wall, but it's true. I am fully aware that my taste level is questionable, at best. The beauty of fashion is that you can take off that rainbow wig, those cat eye glasses, fish net tights, faux fox stole and that telephone print dress (you think I'm making that outfit up? Get yourself here) and try again tomorrow. With decorating tho...well, things are a little bit more permanent. I guess that means I have a fear of commitment. Don't tell my hubs.
So when Regency Shop, a modern design retailer out of Los Angeles, contacted me and asked if I'd like to review their Nelson clock, I readily agreed. I flippin' adore anything mid-century mod and, after taking one look at that clock, I fell in love. The problem was: where was I going to put it? Most of my house is decorated to the point where I'm kinda happy (is it just me or is decorating a continuous work-in-progress? WHEN WILL IT EVER END.) However, we do have a spare room that sits over our garage which the real estate lady called a "bonus room". Over the last seven years, I have referred to it as "the bogus room", "that room the cat likes to vomit in", and "that space where I occasionally attempt to exercise". This past summer, it became "the book-writing room" and, having spent months creating in this open space, I realized I really enjoyed being in the bonus room. What I didn't love was the look of the place. But I had no idea what to do about it or where to start. 
When I got the Nelson clock in the mail, I was immediately smitten. It put me in the mind of Mary Blair and the Disney ride she designed It's a Small World. The painting I created inspired by Blair was one of the few things I'd actually got around to hanging. I decided to pair the two pieces together and see how that worked. 
Just seeing this clock and thinking of Disney makes me smile!
As soon as the clock was hung above the painting, I was inspired! I started pulling out all of my favorite thrift and estate sale picks from over the years and playing around. 
One thing I always struggle with when decorating is a color palette. I know you need one...but I love ALL THE COLORS. As strange as it may sound, that clock helped keep me in line. I used the burnt orange, black, gold, shades of sky blue and avocado green as my guide. It really helped me decide what worked (according to my wacky vision) and what didn't. 
After putting together this wall, I decided to create a gallery wall along the stairway. I've always wanted to make one and I had stacked of framed works of art ready to go...but, again, decorating phobia stopped me.
I was so inspired by how well my wall had come together, I thought, what the heck!
Again, I used the colors in the clock as my guide. Those amazing molas and the basket were thrift store finds, if you can believe that. The prints are REAL and signed Charley Harper prints which I got a decade ago when a print shop was going out of business. In the stacks of matte board they gave me, I discovered these signed prints. I had no idea what they were until years later. The wall sconces are from Anthropologie's sale room (do they have any other rooms in that place? Because my wallet says they don't) and the LOVE signs are from my friend Bebo
This is the view from the stairs. I spent a whole lotta hours at that table this summer, working in air dry clay, writing and snapping photos (I'll keep you posted on dates for the book as we get closer, eep!). I purchased an extra large foldable table a year ago as an inexpensive and expansive work space. I love to cover my work surface in oil cloth because it's happy and easy to clean. By the way, did I mention that I like color? And prints. Love me some pattern-y goodness. 
This area was given an update as well. When my husband and I first bought our house, our main priority was to pay the house off. (My hubs is very monetarily minded. True Story: the day I met him in the computer lab where I taught, he asked me two questions. One, "do you have a boyfriend?" and two, "do you have any college debt?") That meant very little cash was left for much else. For that reason, almost everything in our house is from the thrift store, a discount joint (we love Big Lots) or homemade. That ottoman on wheels? I made that with some lumber, foam, wheels and IKEA fabric. 
Of course, anything we do spend cashola on has to be Asha-colored since it's sure to become covered in cat hair. When we went furniture shopping, the hubs carried around a tuft of Asha hair to make sure that it would match. I can't even make this stuff up.
One decorating phobia I DON'T have: overdecorating for Christmas. I just can't stop!
Storage in a craft room is a big deal, as y'all know. I love using this vintage sewing box for my paint stash. Also, that chest of drawers is filled with art makin' supplies. 
Our bonus room has a wet bar which is never used. In fact, we filled the wine area with our books!
Y'all don't even know how happy this room now makes me. I still have a couple more projects I want to do to make this room feel complete but, for now, it's in a really happy place, I think. 
 Thanks to this guy. By the way, the clock operates with a single AA battery. The white base is metal and rock solid. The entire clock feels heavy and solid, not flimsy or fragile. I'm in love. 
And so thrilled with my new space. Just had to share with y'all! Happy Thanksgiving if you are stateside and have a wonderful week!
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20 comments:

  1. Super LOVE this Miss Cassie! I feel that your entire home could be swept up and placed inside my dream board. Just love the Mid-Century Mod vibe. Have a glorious break!

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    1. Aw, thank you much, Patty!! Coming from you and your good taste, that means a lot :) Happy Thanksgiving!

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  2. Gorgeous room - happy colors and filled with curiosities! I have the same commitment problem on the walls in my house. I can arrange a mantle or shelf like nobody's business, but hanging art is a whole other ball game. You did a great job.

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    1. I'm glad to know I'm in good company! I will seriously have framed art laying around FOR YEARS before hanging it. Why are we so crazy?! ;)

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  3. Anonymous11/23/2016

    Again you inspire! MY budget is strictly thrift store, consignment shops, and second hand, but you really find the best stuff in there! Beautiful spaces! I'm trying to restraint myself until after Thanksgiving to pull out all my Christmas stuff, so HARD!-M3

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    1. It is hard!! My mom is coming this weekend and she is gonna give me he%% for decorating "to early". But I have the time to do it now...so she'll just have to deal ;)

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  5. I am loving the explosion of colors around your house. The clock is fantastic for your space. I see you even have a book about Charley Harper. Pat S

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    1. Yes! I didn't discover Harper until years later when the Oldham book came out. It wasn't until I was flipping through that book that I realized those prints were by Harper. The signature on the prints is written very hastily so it was hard to read. Funny, huh?

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  6. Beautiful! Decorating a house is a lot easier than decorating me!

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    1. Thank you! You and I have the opposite problem, don't we?! Now I'm thinking about redoing some other parts of my house, oh boy ;)

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  7. Thanks for glimpse into your home and favorite room! I'd say I have the same problem with decorating. Since we moved to our new house 5 years ago the walls are pretty bare. The things I've put up tend to be folk art, thrift store and a few prints my husband and agreed on. My fear is that I'm too artsy and will turn my house into an homage to me. Then I tell myself to "Get over it, who cares!"
    AND I LOve Color too!
    Thanks for sharing! Anxious to read that clay book of yours! I really need a alternative for makin' clay... kiln not working. :(

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    1. My husband is very minimalistic and I'm the complete opposite! For fear of turning the house into something he hates, I don't hang a thing...thankfully, he doesn't see much of my crafting lair so I went for it! We are silly, we should just decorate like crazy!!

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  8. Thank you for this little peek into your abode- I love the way you explained how you used to the colors in the clock to help you coordinate the look. It embarrasses me that I'm an art teacher and have no sense in this area- it's been more "oh this was free / cheap and it covers or fills this space. PS- I do love how you color coordinated the books on your wet bar! Happy Thanksgiving!

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    1. I know....I LOVE seeing other's spaces! This is currently the ONLY tidy space...the rest of the place is a wreck. How do neat and tidy people do it?!

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  9. Fantastic bright happy colors truly inspire bright cheer and joy. Thanks so much for spreading your jubilation and wonderful positive attitude.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words :) This room does make me super happy!

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  10. Good Morning Cassie! Hello I sent this message below via email on the 23/11 9.00am GMT and then this morning I have only just realised that it was the wrong email address- Sorry :(

    Hello Cassie!

    I love what you did with the space inspired by the clock below, I really like Mid-Century, we (that's the Royal we ;) have a few pieces at home mixed in with our 1930's pieces.

    I am in the UK and as you know we do not do Thanksgiving as a Holiday, although I have a lot of American Family - so Happy Thanksgiving to you.

    I have started my Christmas decorating slowly (my hubby thinks I am a little early – what else is there to expect he married a crafty-artist) and I have been loving the process as I have decided on my theme: A Victorian and Edwardian Inspired Christmas.

    As I have been researching that period for the past year and half due my interest in an Edwardian Lady Parachutist by name of Miss Dolly Shepherd, so I thought this year I would let myself be fully inspired and go with it.

    Thanks for sharing you blog post and have a lovely weekend.



    Kind regards

    Debrafide

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    1. Debrafine, that sounds amazing! I want to see more, please do email me when you get the chance and your decorations are up. Truth be told, I started decorating super early this year, right after Halloween...the house looked too sad and empty once Halloween was taken down that I had to put up something :) My email is cassieart75@gmail.com. Love to see your decor! xo!

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  11. Thanks,Cassie. very inspiring. I love this clock so badly

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