It's Friday

Friday is finally here.....

Enjoy your weekend!

High Style Low Budget Design - Restoration Hardware/Ballard Design

Is it purely coincidence that the Restoration Hardware Fall 2011 Source Book and the Ballard Designs October 2011 catalogue arrived on the same day in my mail box?  I think, not!!!

Restoration Hardware's Reclaimed French Floorboard Coffee Table is crafted from thick 150 year old salvaged floor boards set on iron bases that are hand finished with an antique industrial patina that complements the pine planks.  Each table is unique given variations in the wood and metal work. 

The smaller table measures 55"L x 32"W x 18"H and is priced at $1195.

Comparable in design and size to its Restoration Hardware look alike, Ballard Designs' Durham Cocktail Table is inspired by a vintage bricklayer's table with heavily distressed planked solid hardwood top set atop an aged steel frame.  It measures 18 1/4"H X 50"W X 24"D but also offers a generous lower shelf which provides plenty of storage and display room.  This table is currently on sale for $269 for a limited time.

Truly, high end design on a low end budget....

Let me know what you think....



Larissa Hill Designs was featured on DIY Showoff Fabulous Furniture Features.  Take a look!

Etsy Inspiration & Giveaway

I am changing the name of Monday Market & Giveaway to Etsy Inspiration & Giveaway.  This weekly posting is a feature on "Etsy" shops and I feel the title should reflect that. 


So, today I am launching Etsy Inspiration & Giveaway with Rococco Co.


I have fallen in love with Antique Book Art prints and during my weekly shopping trip on Etsy, I stumbled upon Rococco Co.


WHAT IS Rococco Co?   According to the shop owner Zlatka, it is the place where Marilyn Monroe meets a 17th century bird in the playground of a vintage Dictionary and exclusive home of "LOVE CARRIES ALL", even an ELEPHANT!!!!!!

Zlatka is an artist and designer working in numerous media - paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics and jewelry who loves to twist ideas, forms or meanings of things. Her current inspiration comes from her old Bulgarian- English Dictionary.  After 20 years of living in the US, learning English and a lot of appreciation for world culture, her desire was to give new life to this treasured book, recycle the pages and share them with you. You will be amazed with the art she has composed, created and printed.


Rococco Co has been featured on numerous blogs including elementsofstyle displayed as an "incredible series on a wall".


Rococco Co  has a unique art print collection on upcycled dictionary pages ranging from vegetables, botanical, birds, marine life, people and the list goes on.  Here are a few of her gorgeous prints....




And of course, here are a few whimsical Halloween prints....



As part of Etsy Inspiration & Giveaway, Rococco Co is offering 4 of her fabulous Book Art Prints to the winner.  Just visit Rococco Co  etsy shop and find your favorite designs. Then come back to Larissa Hill Designs and post a comment letting me know which one, two or three of her unique upcycled dictionary art print designs you like best.  Expect to spend some time perusing her shop.


You'll be amazed at all Rococco Co has to offer!!!


Remember you must be a subscriber in order to participate in the giveaway.

As most of you know by now, I try to recreate what the Etsy artist has done.  Well, this time it was so much more difficult than I thought it would be.


First, I had to go out and buy a dictionary (I haven't used an actual dictionary in so long).  Then, I had to find graphics that I liked.  So, off I went to Graphics Fairy.  I chose 3 trees that I can use in my guest bathroom.


Then I had to play around with resizing and printing the graphics on to the dictionary pages.  I wasted more pages than I care to admit. I had far too many problems centering, resizing, printing and so on....I think I'll leave this art to Zlatka at Rococco Co.


Anyhow, here are my 3 Antique Book Art Prints that I created.

Let me know what you think....

Monday Market & Etsy Giveaway

And the winner is of the Paper Bleu Studio subway art giveaway is.....

Jane Cliff Little!!!!

Thanks to each and everyone of you for participating. Please stay tuned for another great giveaway to be announced tomorrow.

Some more exciting news,  today I reach 100 followers!!!  Can you tell I'm excited???

Additionally, Sassy Sites Sunday Spotlight  featured Larissa Hill Designs today.  Please take a minute and visit Sassy Sites and see what she has to offer.  I'm honored that Larissa Hill Designs was chosen to be a Sunday Sassy Spotlight.  Thank you.... It is an incredible blog that features a week full of fun for subscribers.

Monday- Made by ME!

Tuesday- Trash to Treasure link up

Wednesday- your sassy sites
Thursday- your sassy sites
Friday- Featuring YOU link up

Saturday- Shout Outs!
Sunday- Sassy Spotlight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's Friday

Well, Friday has finally arrived......

Will you join me in a cocktail!

High Low Decor

Introducing High Low Decor.....

I intend to showcase High End style at Low End prices so come along with me as I discover the hottest decor at affordable prices.

This beautiful Frances Palmer Pheobe Vase is one of the artist's fabulous handmade pieces.  It's "deliberately asymmetrical, with quirky misaligned fluting that dramatically expresses the hand of the artist".
The retail price is $135....a bit steep for a vase!

This Target  Magnesia Vessel Vase is very affordable at $29.95  Although this vase is made of resin, it has a ceramic look and can accomodate a variety of large floral decor pieces according to a customer review. 

Place it on a vintage table with character and fill it with flowers and I think you'll be pleased with your high end style on a low end budget...

Let me know what you think....

Monday Market & Giveaway

ETSY, ESTY, ESTY...need I say more!


Subway signs have been a hot decorating item lately.  They have been featured in many magazines and sold at many major retailers.  These two signs from Restoration Hardware range in price from $650 - $850.....a bit pricey for my pocketbook!!!

    

Well, I stumbled upon Paper Bleu Studio while researching Subway Art on Etsy and I was amazed by her talent for creating unique subway art.  Rebecca Gouin of PaperBleu Studio has taken this art to an entire new level. Here are just a few examples of her creativity....

I DO! ME TOO!

A perfect gift for the bride and groom that Rebecca personalizes with the couple's love story.  It can be whimsical like this print, or it can be a re-creation of their invitation.        

FORE!

This fun typography print pays tribute to some the best golf courses around!  A perfect gift for the golf lover in your life.

And then, of course, Rebecca has more traditional Subway signs representing major cities like Paris, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and so many more....

              

Paper Bleu Studio offers both Giclee vintage canvas style and art prints in a range of sizes.  And for those interested in a more custom prints, Rebecca will create a lovely, personalized piece with you together.


As part of our weekly Monday Market & Giveaway, Rebecca is offering a $39 gift certificate for use in her Etsy shop. It can be used to purchase any one of the items at this price point or it can be redeemed towards any other purchase as well.
                                      .
Just visit Paper Bleu Studio  on Etsy and find your favorite design.  Then, come back and post a comment letting me know which one, two or three you like best. You will fall in love with her designs!


Remember, you must be a subscriber of my blog in order to win.  The winner will be announced Sunday, September 25th.


Inspired by Rebecca's art, I thought I would try to create my own subway of Pittsburgh.  I first purchased a 12" x 24" canvas at Michaels (of course, using a 50% off coupon) and then I hit the web for a tutorial. I found a large number of them but so many of them required you to cut your own stencils and then place them strategically on your canvas etc... To be honest with you, it was just too much work for me. 


So, PowerPoint came to my rescue.  I set my canvas size and then used a number of different fonts for the names and places from Pittsburgh.  Once I was pleased with the overall layout, I changed to background color to black with all the typography in white.  To make it just look just a bit more authentic, I then used Background Style 12 to make it appear more realistic. 


Happy with the final outcome, I called a friend at Signs by Tomorrow and he transferred the final copy onto a canvas like material.  I then sprayed the original canvas with adhesive, wrapped my subway art around it and stapled it on the backside.  VOILA.....



Let me know what you think.....


Come back and see what I feature on next week's Monday Market!

Monday Market Giveaway Winner

Drum roll please......

The winner of the Graphique $25 Giveaway for 25 downloads  is

Heaven's Walk

Please contact me via email @ hmh308@gmail.com to claim your Graphique giveaway. Thank you, Graphique for your generously participating in my weekly giveaway.

Thanks to everyone for participating in my giveaway. I'm so excited by the turnout.  Please remember that in order to win, you must be a subscriber to my blog. 

My giveaway tomorrow will be posted a little late as I am not quite finished my inspired piece.  As soon as it is complete, I will be posting an exciting giveaway!!!

Heather

Painting for Charity - "Under The Sea" Step Stool

As mentioned previously, one of my favorite things to do is to create items for fundraisers.  I am often asked to paint a piece of furniture and in this case, it was a step stool for the Western Pennsylvania Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The step stool was the focus of a larger silent auction prize that featured an underwater children's theme.

I painted the entire stool with acrylic paints using stencils that I created with vellum and then sealed the stool with a poly acrylic finish.

Voila....the playful step stool sold at auction!!!

Let me know what you think.....

Monday Market 1st Giveaway Winner

Drum roll please......

The winner of the 1st Larissa Hill Design Monday Market Giveaway,

the gorgeous Jolie Marche pillow is......

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here

Please contact me via email @ hmh308@gmail.com to claim your Jolie Marche pillow cover.

Thanks to everyone for participating in my giveaway and for subscribing to my blog.  I have a new giveaway tomorrow so please come back to see what's next.

Austin's Playroom Project

I am a little late in getting a posting out today but I have a very good reason.  Yesterday, I was honored to be a part of the Dedication Ceremony of Austin's Playroom at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland in the Warrior Transition Unit.

For those of you who are not familiar with Austin's Playroom Project, it is an initiative of the Mario Lemieux Foundation. The foundation was created by the hockey legend and his wife, Nathalie in 1993 and to date, 23 playrooms have been opened in a variety of medical facilities.  This room at WRNMMC represents the first room in a military installation.  It is meant to provide "comfort, warmth and happiness for these very special families".  Nathalie Lemieux.

If you are interested in supporting the project or to just learn more about the Mario Lemieux Foundation, please visit  http://www.mariolemieux.org/app/app.html

Monday's Market and Giveaway

I am launching Monday's Market and Giveaway today which will introduce you to Esty designers and their items.

So, here it goes....

ESTY, ESTY, ESTY...need I say more.

Decorative accent pillows add the final touch to a room.  You can mix and match designs and fabrics to create the perfect decorative mix.  Lately, french inspired and printed pillows are all the rage.  We've seen similar pillows featured in magazines, catalogs and online recently.  Most recently, I found these pillows on One Kings Lane priced from $49 - $69.



                                               

I stumbled upon these gorgeous one-of-a-kind pillow covers from Jolie Marche Inspired Vintage over the weekend on Etsy!!



 

Jolie Marche pillows are detailed and unique designs.  These vintage inspired pillows will add a pop of color, pattern and style to any room.  The pillow covers feature designs on burlap, grain sacks and linen and incorporate whimsical chandeliers, french script, birds, flowers...the list goes on. 


I am excited to announce that Jolie Marche is offering a gorgeous pillow cover as Monday Market's Giveaway.  Please visit  Kristi at http://simpleeverydayglamour.blogspot.com/ and post a comment on her blog.  Remember to leave a comment here to participate in the Jolie Marche Giveaway!!!  You must be a subscriber to participate. The winner will be announced on Saturday, September 10th.

Also venture over to her Etsy site and take a look around.  You'll fall in love with her designs, I guarantee it!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/JolieMarche 

Inspired by Jolie Marche designs, I thought I would try to reproduce similar pillows.

I used painters drop cloth that I washed, dried and ironed, ironed and ironed. I then copied two delightful pieces of calendar artwork from Flora & Fauna 2010 calendar onto Jolee's Easy Image transfer sheets.

I ironed the transfers onto the painters cloth and I sewed the pillows together.  Voila!!!

Let me know what you think....

Come back and see what I feature on next week's Monday's Market...



Vintage Bassinet Makeover

A few weeks ago, my dear friend, Lynn asked me to recover a bassinet that had been used by her family for 3 generations and her daughter is now expecting her own daughter.  I was honored and of course, a bit nervous. 

We decided on a flax colored linen as her daughter wanted a non gender specific color.  I struck pay dirt stumbling upon a delicate pleated linen curtain at Bed Bath and Beyond for the coordinating fabric.  The already pleated curtain saved me tons of time from having to sew pleats.   Repurposing is one of my favorite things to do!

Believe it or not the inspiration for the design came from a linen tea towel by Two Girls in Avignon http://twogirlsinavignon.com/

You can find inspiration just about anywhere at anytime.

I struggled initially putting the piece together as I wanted the interior to be removable for washing. 

Here it is prior to the slipcover...

I lined the inside with batting and then used the pleated curtain to finish of the liner.  You can see the detail in this photo.  I trimmed the removable liner and covered the buttons with the flax linen.  It is removable for washing.

Take a peek inside to see the pillow I made awaiting a monogram for her expected arrival.



The flax linen skirt was designed with deep reverse pleats and a touch of green with a grosgrain ribbon.

Here is the beautiful expectant Mom and 1st time Grandma with the bassinet. 

Let me know what you think....