Design^Sprout | Your Guide to Green Design

D^S Contest! Win a GIRARD rug by FLOR!!!!

  Oooooh yeah, it's that time again! Spring is in full bloom and what better way to remind yourself of all the new possibilities and cheerfulness in the air than to look down at this sunny rug made of graphics from legendary textile designer Alexander Girard.

WIN THIS RUG!!!!

   The lovely people at Flor have generously donated one 3x5 La Fonda Del Sol area rug to give away to a Design^Sprout reader. Flor has long been a favorite of Design^Sprout (and the design world for that matter!) for their eco-friendly, modular approach to flooring. Your kids spill soda on the carpet - hey, just replace a piece - no need to scrap the whole kit n' caboodle!

   You know the drill by now - leave me a comment for your chance to win. Any 'ol comment will do, of course it's always great to know why this rug would complete your life and that type of thing!! :)

   I will run this contest through next week and announce a winner on Monday June 9th. GOOD LUCK!

A new use for old tea cups!

   What can I say about Madeline Boulesteix's whimsical recycled, tea-cup chandeliers except, "Is it too much if I hang one in every room?"  As seen on Apartment Therapy, the fixture's simple beauty combines the charm of little girl tea parties with the eccentricity of Miss Haversham. Tea anyone?

D^S Contest! ORGANIC towels WINNER IS.....

     After receiving waaaay more entries than I expected (450 to be exact!) I realized navigating through page after page of comments might not be the best way to spend your Monday ;)

So here it is...

^^^^^^^^^THE   WINNER   OF   THE   ORGANIC    TOWELS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

IS......

Bunny - congratulations.  She wrote: "Ooo! Sweet :) I would love to win this! They sound like lovely pieces of luxury must-haves! :) Thank you so much for the chance."

Thanks to everyone who entered. I'll be posting another contest this week!

One man's trash...(is another man's insanely well-priced Argentine treasure!)

     Market day in Buenos Aires! Few things make me happier than digging through other people's junk but today was especially l-u-c-k-y! Woke up early this morning, which is no easy feat in BA - even the flea markets don't get into full swing until at least noon, had breakfast at a lovely outdoor cafe, then attempted to navigate my way through the hundreds and hundreds of vendors. Selling everything from peanuts to priceless antiques, it's a challenge keeping that wallet in my bag!
     

   The pencils above took my breath away. Made from fallen tree branches, local crafters hollow out the center and replace with colored lead.  The result couldn't be more stylish and organic. I think I'll take a bundle home for everyone I know!

   This waterfall of sparkle made the little girl in me go nuts! - costume and precious jewelry from every historical period...and so shiny! I secretly took this picture while the owner was yelling at someone else. :)

     My finds! This scarf was handmade from slub yarn by a local artisan, the bag was crafted from recycled leather and grommets and this antique broach is positively charming. I think (if I ever get around to it!) it would make a really funky ring. 

     This 2'x3' painting was bought from a local artist and will always remind me of this street fair, Argentina and of course the sexy (and insanely difficult) tango!

    End of the day lesson:  Always leave money in the budget for cool Virgin Mary painting...damn!

DIY - Recycled Ball-of-Yarn Hanging Screen!

   Organization - it eludes me every time! But occasionally happy accidents occur - while sorting through my Buenos Aires pictures and trying to organize them enough to form some sort of interesting post, I ran across these inspirational photos from the recycler's paradise SCRAP in San Francisco.  I'd totally forgotten about this fantastic, whimscial screen and how easy it was to re-imagine- lucky find!

The oh-so-simple instructions!

1.  Gather together as many spherical objects as you want for the size of your screen. When making mine, I used old Christmas ornaments but I'm thinking styrofoam balls or old tennis balls would work as well.

2.  Find about 3 yards of yarn for each ball. I found a ton of short yarn lengths discarded in a bag at a local thrift store.

3.  Take the beginning of your yarn piece and secure into the ball with a straight pin.

4.  Start wrapping! Try and cover all of the color underneath.

5.  Secure end with pin then pull a little yarn over top of pin to cover.

6.  Repeat for as many yarn balls as size screen desired.

7.  Using a long upholstery needle and fishing line (clear plastic and very strong thread) secure a knot at one end and thread balls through las though you are stringing cranberries. Depending on what type of ball you used as your base you may have to drill a hole for your needle to pierce through.

8.  Have wooden dowel cut to your desired screen width.

9.  Secure end of ball line to dowel.

10.  You may want to repeat this same process for a few of the horizontal lines so they are not flailing loose.

11.  Viola! Use a room divider or funky curtain!

Don't cry for me. Design^Sprout goes to Argentina!

     Now that I have bid a fond  farewell to the good 'ol US of A and am safely nestled in my colonial apartment smack dab in the middles of Buenos Aires - a place full of amazing designers, crafters and architecture! I'm going take tons of inspirational pics (including a dramatic! few of me flinging open tall wooden doors and singing from iron balconies ala Evita!) to bring you the best of what this city has to offer. Woo Hoo!

   The photo above was taken in an Argetnine home accessories store and I thought it was so clever.  I'm such a fan of hodge-podge (no surprise there!) but the way they've anchored all the different frames and photo types with that statement wallpaper is just so creative! There are soooo many fantstic new wallpapers on the market but frequently they are none-too wallet friendly. With this idea, you only have to buy one $$$ roll, hit up a thrift store for some old frames and pow! You have a whole art statement. Bueno?

   Below area few ideas along those same lines.