SHELTER Sets: Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer

Relativity Media (2011)
Jordana Beatty, Heather Graham
Set Design: Cynthia Charette, Don Diers

I have never seen this movie, but the images on the Set Decorators Society of America (SDSA) website captured my attention. The look of this film is the work of production designer Cynthia Charette and set decorator Don Diers. The designers took their inspiration from the Judy Moody books written by Megan McDonald and its black and white illustrations, drawn by Peter H. Reynolds.


Image: Suzanne Tenner

Adorable house, even more adorable to me if the door was orange and the shutters leaf green.


Image: Ken Haber

I could move right into this living room without changing much. I could even stand the wallpaper, but I would need a richer, spicier rug. That sofa is a dream; the color, the comfy shape, and well, come on - it's velvet! I like that the furnishings used were from a myriad of sources; Pottery Barn, Home Goods, LampsPlus Crate & Barrel, Target, CraigsList and even local thrift stores.


Image: Ken Haber

This pass-thru shows the eclecticism of the decor, with the whimsical and graphic grandfather clock and the folksy, hand-painted secretary desk on the other side of the entrance.


Image: Ken Haber

The kitchen is a room where I might make a few more changes. Love the floor, not the rug, Change out the table and chairs for a round wooden table and black Windsor chairs. I would also exchange the chandelier for a old-time surface mounted light fixture, remove the quaint wallpaper, and paint the walls a nice cake batter yellow.


Image: Ken Haber

Here is their imaginative take on a thrift/antique store. Check out that orphaned old teacup car and the seven foot tall legs! I want to go to there!

Images: by Suzanne Tenner, Judy Moody Productions and Ken Haber. Set Decorators Society of America website

Something To Remember In The Future

This is a local story of a grass-free xeriscaped* yard. The owner removed the grass in his front yard and replaced it with plants that don't need to be mown (saves gas, electricity, man power) or watered by artificial means (city water through hoses or rain barrels). These plants (mostly sedums) can exist on natural rainfall, even in near-drought conditions.

Richmond graphic artist Noah Scanlin posted on the continued progress of his front yard on his blog Another Limited Rebellion here.

Here are pictures of other xeriscaped lawns using rocks and drought-resistant plants:





Since I already know that I am lazy (and eco-conscious) this will be the #1 way I will landscape when I get that sweet cottage in the future.

Images: landscapes-design.com, luxuryhousingtrends.com, landscaperm.com

*xeriscape = Greek for xeros = dry, -scape = view or scene

Those Easy Quilts of Summer

Okay, looking through the archives of this blog it seems every year I talk about making a quilt. I now have so many saved tutorials and patterns that it is truly ridiculous.

But one day...one day it will happen.

In the mean time, here are a few I want to share with you. If you make any of them please let me know. Perhaps, I can complete a quilt through you.


The Purl Bee's Zig Zag quilt

Here's a handy tutorial on an easier way to construct the triangle blocks.



And from the Bee Square Blog, here is another great way to make a zig zag quilt without using ANY triangles.



Another design from the Purl Bee blog is this unique Sunny Tied quilt

What Do You Think I Should Do?

The 54" width of the fabric.

I've had this fabric, "Brunei" by Lee Behren, for over seven years as drapery rolls wrapped in plastic in my closet. I have at least six yards. In fact, I went back later and bought more so I'm not really sure how much I have now. I really loved this fabric and did make two pillows out of it; however, the motivation to make this into a coverlet/quilt like the one below passed years ago.


Detail of fabric middle.

A photo shoot in Living Room* magazine of an Anthropologie comforter.

You see how the Anthropologie coverlet has a distinct color change down the middle just the same as my fabric? I remember feeling that it was a sign and "meant to be". And it was at the time, too bad I took too long to stitch it up. Now I'm not so much into a lot of pink in my bedroom. So I'm trying to think up some way to make this fabric work by combining it with more orange and green fabrics. Perhaps a big border of another patterned fabric? Intersperse strips within the design or create a patchwork like the examples below?

Comforters from The Company Store.

However, that would mean buying more fabric and I already have enough for two coverlets! Can somebody help me with this?! Suggestions are welcome!

It's lovely though, isn't it?

*A great magazines that was canceled after only three issues.

A Log Cabin in Alabama

Sorry, no original content but I had to mention this not-what-you-expect log cabin in Alabama built by the owner, artist Butch Anthony. The place is incredible and he's still working on it. In fact, this is his second log house; the first, a one-room cabin was built when he was only 14 years old!

Mr. Anthony, who is in a relationship with sustainable clothing designer Natalie Chanin, has decorated the home on his 80-acre compound with unusual objects. The wire contraption in the picture above is actually an old wire bed spring, the seats of the two flanking chairs are woven with old neck ties, and the base of the platform bed is lined with recycled car license plates. Not typical log cabin furniture at all.

Yes, another quirky bathroom!

The rest of the house is furnished a bit more traditionally though there probably is always a little twist somewhere in the decor. He is an artist, after all.

Check out the New York Times slideshow here.

Images: Robert Rausch for The New York Times