Obligatory Bump Shot & Giveaway Winner

Okay, okay, so you guys have worn me down. I've resisted showing pregnancy photos of me up until now primarily because (a) I honestly wasn't showing until around Thanksgiving and didn't look really pregnant until Christmas so until recently there wasn't much to look at and (b) I manage to remember that I should take some photographs only at really inopportune moments...like when I've removed all my make-up, am in my pajamas and look really, well, rough.

But let the record show that here I am: 32 weeks and 3 days pregnant...and in my pajamas! I'm pleased to report that I can still see my feet (though I'll admit I have to crane my neck somewhat) and my belly button is still an innie (though it's getting shallower by the day!).

On some more baby-related business, the winner of the Binth Baby Book giveaway is...#3 -- Patch! Congratulations Patricia and many thanks to everyone who entered to win and for continuing to support this little blog. 

Happy weekend!

Win a Binth Baby Book!

Today I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be giving away a Binth baby book (in green -- perfect for either sex)! Original woodland illustrations lead from the day of birth through the 3rd birthday with ample room for photos, thoughts and memories. This would make a wonderful gift for the expecting or new parent. 

To enter, simply leave a comment here and be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you're selected as the winner. I'll select one winner randomly next Friday, January 14. Good luck and happy weekend!

Win a Bold & Noble Screen Print!

So a few weeks ago I ordered the Noah's Ark print in turquoise from English design collective Bold & Noble for the nursery. Unfortunately, they initially sent me the print in poppy red -- a great color, but definitely not what I ordered. Quick to make amends, however, B&N shipped me the turquoise version and offered to let me keep the red version for myself.

Well, of course the first thing I thought of was that I should give it away to one of my readers -- tis the season, after all! And so, if you'd like this gorgeous, hand pulled print for yourself, all you need do is leave a comment to this post (Note: please include your email address). A random winner will be selected on Wednesday, December 22. Good luck and happy weekend!

And the winner is...

I'm excited to announce that the winner of Mary McDonald's new design book, Mary McDonald Interiors: The Allure of Style, is Anastasia from Precious and Pink. Many thanks to everyone who entered to win! This weekend, I'm off to entertain the in-laws so I'll see everyone back here next week. Have a wonderful weekend!

Weekend Progress Report

As the countdown to the holidays continues and the specter of hosting seven people over Thanksgiving looms ever larger, my desire to get the new house in order has increasingly become a necessity. This weekend saw the completion of a few more random projects around the house and the delivery of some new pieces for the living room (finally!).

After weeks of waiting we finally got one of the pieces I purchased at Ethan Allen over Labor Day. My Rand wing chair arrived on Saturday and I absolutely love it! Between the nail head trim and the subtle metallic and blue hues in the fabric, I nearly swooned when I saw it in the show room back in September. If every room has a star, then this chair is a bona fide diva, and my hope is that the sofa (which should be arriving in two weeks) and other major pieces (not yet purchased) will play a supporting role as they compliment and hold their own against the chair without overpowering with it -- after all, two or more divas in a room can end very badly.

I've paired the wing chair with this greek key floor lamp that I bought from Shannon over at The Designer's Attic. Shannon (of Pink Wallpaper fame) features unique fabrics, accessories, lighting and small furniture pieces that she's scored in her years as a designer. It's a "must" follow for anyone on a perpetual hunt for unique, designer-y finds at wallet-friendly prices. I simply added an inexpensive shade from Shades of Light and a cheap-o harp and finial from Lowe's and -- voila! -- gorgeous floor lamp for under $100!

Ever the princess, Olivia is rather fond of it, too.

Progress was also made in my study as I added a ceiling medallion around the new chandelier that Dave so painstakingly hung last month. Because of the height of this room -- and the look on Dave's face when I suggested we add a ceiling medallion -- I used a ceiling medallion that came in two separate pieces, which allowed us to mount the molding around the existing fixture without having to remove it!

Since the medallion is made out of lightweight polyurethane, we installed it easily with just some heavy-duty glue (which saved us an additional step of caulking and painting over any nail holes!). Prior to mounting, I did repaint the ceiling medallion in our trim paint to ensure an exact match. I was a little concerned that the seams between the two pieces would show, but from the ground they blend indistinguishably with the petal detail. All in all, this was a quick and simple upgrade that took us under an hour (dry time for the paint not included).

And lest you think I've forgotten altogether, I'm also announcing the winner to the oh, kirby! giveaway tonight. Through the highly scientific process that is random.org, the winner is...

Maple!

Christina, please email me with your address and choice of print. Many thanks also to everyone who participated in the giveaway and congratulations to Christina!

Artist Spotlight: Oh, kirby! {and Giveaway}

Elizabeth R ($70, original painting on wood panel)

I first became acquainted with oh, kirby! artwork via decor8 way back in 2008 and have been charmed by Sarah Kirby's original work every since. My attraction to her art is partially based on a shared fondness of similar historic periods and figures and partially because her style recalls the many, many paper dolls that I cut and played with as a girl. Knowing that anyone who regularly paints the likes of Anne Boleyn and Marie Antoinette is a girl after my own heart, I got in touch with Sarah after making a recent purchase on her website and asked her if she'd mind doing a little interview for Odi et Amo. Fortunately, Sarah was happy to indulge me and my amateur attempts at interviewing and I hope you enjoy her responses as much as I did.

By way of a brief introduction, Sarah is an artist, vintage clothing dealer, and freelance costume designer from Georgia. Although Sarah is a self-taught artist, she has an undergraduate degree in art history and master's in museum studies from St. Andrew's University, both with a special focus in historical clothing. Drawing upon her historical background, Sarah creates lovely, stylized portraits of both famous and ordinary historical figures that possess a certain undeniable charm. Any oh, kirby! print or original painting would be lovely additions to any space where you're looking to add a little bit of timeless whimsy. Be sure to check out Sarah's other Etsy shop oh, kirby! the vintage shoppe, which features vintange clothing, as well as her lovely blog.

The Lady Who Had Her Cake and Ate it Too ($18, 8 x 10" print)

Odi et Amo: How did you first become interested in historical clothing? When and how did your interest in painting historical figures and costumes begin?

Sarah Kirby: I've always been fascinated by history and the clothing of the past. I've been sewing historical costumes since I was a young teenager, but even when I was little, when we would visit museums I would find myself gravitating towards displays that featured historical clothing. Now that I’m older, I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to work with historical clothing in museums, and being able to lovingly prepare them for storage and learn the stories about the people who wore them has only increased my love for it. Likewise, I've been making art all my life. I've done everything - landscapes, portraits, abstracts, etc - but if you looked inside my sketchpad, all my doodles were always of costume illustrations and historical characters. A few years ago, I decided to do a few pieces inspired by my sketchpad doodlings, and haven’t stopped since!

Blackbird, Victorian Mourning Lady ($85, original canvas painting)

OetA: What historical periods and types of fashion are you most interested in? Why?

SK: There are so many that pique my visual interest. I don't think I could pin down one, or even a few, periods in fashion history! But if I had to choose, I have always been very drawn to the Rococo period and the Renaissance period. It's quite funny, too, because they are so different from each other. One is the epitome of decadence, frilly and pastel, and the other is very rigid, with more earthy, realistic colours. I also love the Victorians, because their frills had a strange, pinned-up, gothic quality, and I find this inspiring both for my art as well as my own personal style.

Marie Antoinette necklace ($18)

OetA: What do you think future historians will have to say about early 21st century fashion?

SK: I think they will write that fashions in the early 21st century were very much influenced by the 20th century, but that there were a few rebels, such as Alexander McQueen, who broke away by creating designs that were completely ground breaking and truly modern. With that said, I like that the 20th century still plays such an important role in fashion, because it means that vintage continues to be relevant! I think there is room for both ground breaking and old-fashioned, and that is what is so great about 21st century fashion. Anything goes.

Miss Austen ($18, 5x7" print)

OetA: What's your favorite piece currently available in your store?

SK: I would probably say Miss Austen. I just love the simplicity of the portrait, and the colours -- and of course, the Jane Austen reference. When I painted her, I knew I couldn't sell the original, and it is now in my bedroom!

OetA: Your store mentions that you're making room for lots of new pieces -- can you give us a preview of what's to come? Do they represent a departure from what you've been offering?

SK: I am working on a few projects that will be appearing in the next few months. In November I will be introducing my holiday themed card and original art collection. This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this, and I’m very excited! As far as whether or not my upcoming projects will be a departure, I don’t know. I just paint as the inspiration comes to me! Sometimes a piece will seem wildly different from what I usually do, but then sometimes it will be cozy and familiar.

Sarah, modeling some of her own vintage finds

OetA: What attracts you to vintage clothing as opposed to modern, "of the moment" fashion?

SK: There are so many reasons, yet somehow I find this question hard to put into words! Simply put, I’ve always found that vintage fashion just suited my shape and my look better than modern styles. There isn’t a single item of clothing that I feel more comfortable in than a full-skirted cotton 1950s dress. I also love how unique each piece can be. When you wear vintage, the chances of meeting someone else who owns the same dress is very slim!

OetA: Tell me a little bit about your vintage clothing Etsy shop. Where do you find most of the pieces? Do you have any helpful hints on vintage clothing shopping in general?

SK: My vintage items come from thrift stores, estate sales, antique malls, and personal friends. For example, I recently acquired all the clothing items from the estate of a friend’s mother, who was an antique dealer, so I suspect those will be keeping me busy for quite a long time.When looking for vintage clothing, I try to go with an open mind and persistence. You’re looking for a one-of-a-kind piece, after all! Sometimes I go to five different shops and find nothing, and other times I go to one shop and find thirty items. Also, certain vintage items may not look fabulous on the rack, but keeping an open mind can bring about so many more fashion possibilities – sometimes a simple hem is all you need to completely change the look of an item!

Just because it's Tuesday, I thought I'd give away one 5 x 7 print of Kirby's original artwork. To enter:

1. Head on over to Oh, kirby!'s Etsy shop and select your favorite 5 x 7 print.

2. Come back here and leave me a comment, letting me know which print you'd select if you won.

3. If you'd like a second entry, become a follower of Odi et Amo (and be sure to let me know you have by leaving a second comment).

I'll be taking entries until midnight CST, Sunday, October 25, and the winner will be announced Monday, October 26, 2009.

And the winner is...

Alicia from Delightful & Delovely! Alicia, please send me an e-mail with your choice of color along with your shipping address and we'll get the vase on its way to you. Thanks again to Maureen over at The Inglenook Decor for the generous prize -- and the generous store discount! For those of you who didn't win, the discount will run through August 9 -- simply enter the discount code "Te Amo" at checkout to enjoy 15% off on your entire purchase.

I'm out for the weekend. Dave and I will be installing cabinet hardware, waiting on the refrigerator to be delivered and satellite TV to be installed, and doing some more painting. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a lovely, productive and restful weekend! I'll be back Monday with more pictures of the new house (including, hopefully, some good "afters").

Photograph courtesy of Amy Atlas.

Discount {and Giveaway}: Inglenook Décor

Last week I had the opportunity to interview (via e-mail) Maureen, a fellow Texan and the owner of the newly launched Inglenook Décor, an online boutique that features both vintage and new home accessories that range from pillows and candle holders to classic artichoke finials and vintage jamming jars. Maureen also blogs regularly over at Ingle Talk, so be sure to check her out there as well for plenty of fresh ideas on design.

Odi et Amo: Tell me a little bit about yourself. What’s your design background? How did you get interested in design and in owning a home decor store?‬‪

Maureen: I'm from the Philippines and have been here in the US since 1995. I'm a bit ashamed to say that I really don't have a design background. But I do believe I have a good eye and I do a lot of design/decor research. I do plan to sign up for some courses though come fall (not really to get a full-fledged degree though). I remember even as a young child, trying to organize stuff at the house and I would get obsessive with the details -- turning picture frames the right way, straightening rugs, etc. I think as a child, my predilection was to use the right side of my mind (I drew and painted a lot...) but as I grew up, going to the medical field made better sense. I became interested in design and owning a store maybe about 2 years ago. I think all of us go through a stage of "finding yourself" and a feeling of dissatisfaction somehow as to the career path/life we are pursuing.

OetA: Is Inglenook Décor your full-time job? If not, what else do you do?‬‪

M: It is about to be my full-time job! I've been a physical therapist for 14 years, two of my college friends and I opened a private practice in Beaumont [Texas] in 2002. It's doing well and I've been preparing for my exit strategy for the last two years too! I'll still perform some administrative tasks, but I won't be there in the day-to-day operations. My partners and the whole staff has been very supportive. I'm so blessed!

OetA: How long did it take for Inglenook Décor to become a reality? What were some of the obstacles/hurdles you had to overcome in order to start up shop? Any advice for folks interested in starting up their own online business would be greatly appreciated I’m sure.‬‪

M: I guess, about two years. It could have been faster if I was pursuing it full-time. As far as advice for the online business....Gosh, I'm still learning and I'm certainly not a guru at this. But I guess, the time that I've spent so far, my advice is to be very, very picky with the website company or person you are thinking of making your e-shop. Sometimes, family and friends are not your best bet. They want to help you but if it's not their full-time job then their focus is not your website. Research and compare definitely. Don't feel bad to ask for references, check the Better Business Bureau, etc. Get one with 24/7 support. Believe me you'll need it in the wee hours of the morning.

OetA: Where did you get the idea for the name “Inglenook Décor”?‬‪

M: Ahhh, love this question. Inglenooks are built-in alcoves centered on a fireplace where friends and families gather. It's like the center of an old-fashioned cottage. Just like what this built-in alcove represents, I believe homes should provide warmth and should be a place of refuge from the outside world and a reflection of our own personal style and taste.

OetA: Where do you get your merchandise? What do you look for when you’re out shopping for the store? Is there an archetypal customer you have in mind when shopping?‬

M: I started subscribing to trade magazines, I've checked importers from my country and have gone to several markets in the US. Of course, antique and flea market shopping. This can be tricky, you have to separate the trash from real great finds. A little self-serving but some of it, I kept for me.... As for my archetypal customer? Highly independent, confident and creative individuals that thrive on making all of their choices definitely unique and their own. I picture them as sophisticated men and women who totally agrees with one of Coco Chanel's famous quote: "An interior is the natural projection of one's soul." A little frivolous for these times perhaps, but they realize that a beautiful surrounding inspires.

OetA: What is your favorite item or items in the store?‬‪

M: I'm a little biased with this one as I love them all! Ok, I'll give you my top 5: the bird taper candelabra, the shoe forms candle holders, the black floral in beige pillow, the vaillanvourt bonbons tray from Montreal and the travel trug (it states" Paris, London, Rome..." -- ahhhh i love traveling!). [OetA Note: The travel trug is my favorite, too!]

OetA: I love the decorating tips and ideas featured on your website. Any other fail-safe tips for accessorizing a room that you’d like to share?‬‪

M: Very cool, a lot of people have commented positively on this feature. I do plan to keep it updated. Maybe once or twice a month. I do have the "decorating tip of the week" updated weekly of course at the homepage. I guess my other tip will be what's featured this week, to be creative & see your home decor items in a totally different way. I do have a small plate that holds some of my jewelry, it's just so cute to look at at my bedside table.

OetA: What’s next? Where would you like to see Inglenook Décor in six months? A year? Any plans for a brick-and-mortar store?‬‪‬‪

M: I do plan to open a storefront. I don't want to jinx the plans, but it's something I'm definitely working on slowly but surely. Maybe the economy and retail negativity has slowed my plans some but not entirely. There's a movement that's pushing people to shop locally and independently and a lot of big box stores are losing out because they're way too big, with unedited selections and poor customer service. The Inglenook Decor [store front] would definitely focus on what's most important: quality of [both] service and merchandise.

To celebrate the e-store's recent launch, Maureen has graciously extended a 15% discount on all merchandise to Odi et Amo readers. To take advantage of this great offer, simply enter "Te Amo" at check-out. This offer will be available until Monday, August 10.

In addition, I'll be giving away one beaker vase (shown above) in the reader's choice of color (I'm partial to the fuchsia myself). To enter, simply leave a comment here and I'll randomly select one winner on Friday, July 31.

And the winner is...

...Beth from Style Redux and Chinoiserie Chic! Beth, please email me with your address and choice of pillow and I'll pass it on to All Modern. Thanks to everyone who participated and thanks again to All Modern for donating the prize.

Photograph courtesy of Rebecca Thuss.

Win a Blissliving Home Pillow!

Today I am absolutely thrilled to bring you a giveaway courtesy of AllModern.com, an online retailer for all things hip and modern for your home. Part of CSN Stores, All Modern is just one of over 260 retail sites that offer a diverse array of products from Herman Miller’s popular Aeron Chair to cookware by Rachael Ray. All Modern carries just about all of the hottest home decor brands out there like Amenity Home, ferm LIVING, DwellStudio, Thomas Paul and many more, including modern classics from Knoll and Hermann Miller. In short, they're a great one-stop shop for modern furnishings and accessories. Even better, all items over $69 ship free of charge to the continental U.S.

When AllModern approached me to host a giveaway I suggested that the prize be the reader's choice of one decorative pillow from Blissliving Home, one of my absolute favorite brands for bedding and soft home accessories -- in fact, I featured their modern chinoiserie-style pilows from their Spring 2009 collection in the mood board for my new bedroom. I've selected a few of my favorites in the collage above, but there are many more styles and colors available on AllModern's site.

So here's how this is going to work: One winner will be selected at random to receive a free Blissliving Home pillow (up to $75 in value) courtesy of AllModern. To enter, simply visit AllModern's extensive collection of Blissliving Home pillows (HERE) and then leave me a comment here letting me know which one you would select if you were chosen as the winner. The contest will be open until noon on Friday, July 24, and a winner will be announced that afternoon. This giveaway is only open to residents in the U.S. and Canada and only one entry per person will be counted.

Good luck, y'all!