Film Interiors Unwrapped: Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

0



When Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium first came out, I assumed it was just for kids and didn't make any effort to see it. One day I caught part of it on cable and ended up putting the DVD on my queue because it so captured my interest. The film is a visual feast. The toy store at the center of the narrative is exactly what its name implies--bursting with wonders both new and vintage. Mr. Magorium's apartment above the shop is equally charming--full of quirky curiosities and jewel-tone colors on the walls and furnishings, not to mention a pet zebra.  Molly, played by Natalie Portman, also lives in a space rich in color and the pleasant clutter of one-of-a-kind furniture. Besides being a gorgeous film to watch, the story itself is lovely and life-affirming. Mr. Magorium utters one of my favorite movie quotes to a struggling Molly: Life is an occasion. Rise to it. 

No living room is complete without a life-size toy soldier.

Beyond the zebra, tangerine curtains and quirky silhouettes in oval frames.

Love the high-backed armchair with a cityscape design on the fabric
and the miniature Tiffany lamps lining the table.

Industrial molds and newspaper-wrapped chairs are stacked precariously.

The kitchen has one blue wall, one purple one and emerald green plates displayed on a shelf. 
The look is pulled together by two jewel-toned glass chandeliers.

My eye goes to the turquoise walls, the lamp with a coral shade and the parasol.


Architectural posts with stained-glass windows between them make unique room dividers.


Etsy is full of creative options that channel the magic of Mr. Magorium's world. A bold coat of paint makes the perfect companion to some of these pieces.

Horse silhouette from Flea Market Trixie.


Armchairs from Name Design Studio.


Newspaper Dress Form from Corset Laced Mannequin.


Mid-century Mod Lamp from Arty Czechs.


Japanese parasol from Poppeacock Vintage.


Stained glass window from Silence DoGood's.
Movie Images: Walden Media.

Continue..

Filed Under: ,

Reclaimed Wreckage will be FULL TIME at the downtown farmers market this summer!

0

Yup. Thats right. I LOVE the downtown market. It's one of my favorite markets of the year.... and now I'll be in it full time! Every Saturday you can find me with my green and white canopy set up in Pioneer Park just off the 400 S exit in downtown Salt Lake City. I'm so happy.

Small_Farmers_Market_w-tag

Continue..

Filed Under: , , , , , , ,

Magic of our first hive

0

What a gorgeous day for a mini road trip, while picking up our grouping of bee's. High 60's F. Sunny clear skies. Could not have asked for a better day to travel the hour drive to Mantua.
The drive home had my car filled with the buzz of our bee's and the intense joyful scent of bee's wax from my new hive set up.
I quickly got to work setting the hive up and making the sugar syrup before the kids got off the bus. I never noticed before how light can be seen through their little bodies. As I peered in watching their movements, I could see their little bodies light up a brownish orange as the sun sat behind them in the Eastern sky. Amazing! 
As soon as I had everyone tucked in, well most of them anyway, Lil Man crept in for a closer look. There were some stragglers in the screened box that would just not let go, after I "knocked" the lot into the hive.
There were a few things missing from the set up I bought. I was unaware they were not with the hive until I began setting it up.
No entry reducer which I quickly found a proper width piece of wood & whipped the reducer up with the jigsaw. And then ...there was the Feeder setup. Rain was on the horizon so I had to brainstorm quick. No waiting around or buying one in time {which could take days if not a week or more.} So I grabbed 2 of the chick waterer's, filled the reservoir with gravel and screwed on the sugar syrup filled jars. I also placed the can, of their water feed, inside since it still had a good half of the liquid left.
They quickly converged on the queen in her cage, completely covering her from any recognition of even being there. Beautiful and amazing.
So now we wait. 1 week before we take a peek inside to ensure the queen has been released from her marshmallow corked chamber. The problem with waiting is...I am not known for patience. Add in  inexperienced bee keeper.
I have gone out every hour since their homing, to assure myself they have not run away. My imagination got the better of me and I would picture them slowly clinging to a branch, more and more joining, leaving the queen behind. Leaving me with an empty hive. I was afraid I had read the Book wrong and should not have left that finger width space open on the reducer. Maybe it said to keep it closed for the first week? Reread and of course it says nothing about bee's swooping out as soon as the new beekeeper walks away. Of course there is nothing in there saying it wouldn't either... So like a new mother checking on her sleeping baby, I would pacify my worry with the hourly visits. Only to find they are accounted for {not that I counted but the stragglers were still inches from the entry & plenty of buzzing & guarding going on}.
I am sure as I lay down to sleep my over active mind will bring dreams of an empty hive or chasing a swarm of bee's  like a runaway flying chicken, too high to reach in the tree's. I will try to sway the dreams with a few chapters of garden chatter. Maybe stories of country life. THAT should help my mind focus on something less stressful. But just in case, I might take a quick look through my Beekeeping book.
Just to reassure myself  this sort of thing is not likely to occur ....
Sweetest dreams,
~Tammie

Continue..

Filed Under:

Greyhounds

0



A few years ago, I saw a feature on television about an agency that helped find homes for retired greyhounds. I decided then that if I ever got a dog, it would be a greyhound. Though puppies are gorgeous, I've never wanted to take on a pet that needed constant attention as well as basic house training. Retired greyhounds are not only elegant and easy going, they are generally between the ages of two and six when they're done with racing. My window washer at the shop, Mark, was recently telling me about his two greyhounds and he got me hankering for one of my own. All of a sudden, I'm noticing greyhounds everywhere -- the real variety and and a few that take inspiration from their real-life counterparts. With their natural elegance and svelte physiques, greyhounds were a popular inspiration for art deco designers. The intertwined pair above are thought to have been part of a department store display. I may have to settle for a stylish imitation until I can bring a real one into my life.

Playing card from Paper Picker.

Bronze statue from Julia Boston Antiques.



Dog park sign from The Antique and Artisan Center.

Images: Flea Market Style magazine, 2011 issue. Paper Picker. Julia Boston Antiques. The Antique and Artisan Center. The McNally Company Antiques. The Antique and Artisan Center.

Continue..

Filed Under: , ,

The Table that took 6 months to build...

0

No, that is not an exaggeration. It truly took 6 months from start to finish. Not because the table actually required that much work. No, it's more like I refused to brave the cold & work on it during the winter. Yes, I dislike being cold that much.
I first mentioned this Project last September, showing a beautiful upcycled barn wood table. It had a rather alluring bottom shelf for the Farm House table. LOVED IT! So begun the construction which did not end looking like the one in the picture. None the less, it is unique and huge! 8 ft long and 3 ft wide.
I did not like square edges on the end, so I cut a slight crescent into the frame corners and round the top corners. Then applied a light layer of white paint just to the base.
 I'm not Bob Villa but I am very happy with how it came out. I made it so the top sits at 34 inches high, perfect to prevent slumping over the top in normal dining chairs. Once my new dining chairs are finished with their new cushions, our old table chairs will be transformed into wood bottom {removing the cushions} for using with this table outside, under the future Arbor.

I also managed to finish tilling under the winter rye cover crop in the garden. To feel the cold soil freshly turned under my feet, was exhilarating. BUT it came with a consequence. Within 1/2 an hour I soon broke out in a massive case of itchy red skin & hives all over my body.It felt as though my skin was really crawling. I could feel a swelling in my throat & saw my limbs begin to get puffy.I grabbed the benedryl, which was followed with the antihistamine induced nap. I woke up as though I had partied the night away.Headache, sensitive stomach. Ack! Lesson learned. Do not till winter rye while barefoot.
The chickens are loving this recent turn of Mother Nature. Their coop is still awaiting it's final home INSIDE the chicken pen, but they stay with a 10 ft range of the coop despite not having barriers. Dust bathing, playing "who's got the worm now football" and of course flying in circles testing out their wings.
Moving the coop is a matter of awaiting for the person whom is doing the job to get the time to come over. Supposedly that will tomorrow. I truly hope so. I would like to finish the painting & decor soon.
I got the call today.Our Bee's will be ready for pick up on Thursday, which I will not be able to drive the hour there & then back until Friday Morning. Being my first time doing this alone, I decided to take you along for the ride. I did not realize there is not much at all in the books I have about bringing them home & what to do that day/night. They concentrate on once you have them settled in..
Hopefully I can get enough good footage of all that will be happening as to make a video for sharing. Gas has been keeping me close to home and of course plenty of none returned emails/phone calls to destinations. lol.
Sweet Dreams,
~Tammie 

Continue..

Filed Under: , , , , ,

Joy

0

Joy lives above the door...

Photo Scandinavian Decor


Continue..

Filed Under:

Finnish winter cottage

0



Photo Scandinavian Deko

Climbing up the sledging hill. Spring is on the way- the light is bright.





Photo Scandinavian Deko

Warm seat+cup of hot blackcurrant juice+spectacular view opening up to the snowy lake.




Photo Scandinavian Deko

After a day of crosscountry skiing+staring at the flames= nordic meditation.




Photo Scandinavian Deko

With fist size snowballs you can create your own snow lantern, place a little tealight to shine the light to the darkening night.




Photo Scandinavian Deko

After brisk walk in the snow, it is time to cuddle up in this rocking chair, who knows, maybe fall asleep- I sure did.


Continue..

Filed Under:

A request for herbal wisdom~ Folk lore, recipes, charms...

0

First I must share my excitement is getting to over flow. Sometime around the 15th of this month I will be traveling out to pick up our grouping of Bee's and a new hive. For the first hive we will go with the traditional stack box style. Then when it's time to split them, we will use a top bar hive.
Now as for my herbal request, it has to do with something I have been slowly making for some time now. I have been compiling a Wise woman Herbal book for my children. The only herbs in it are ones we can grow ourselves or harvest from the surrounding area. I was once told "It is best to know 40 uses for one herb then to know 1 use for forty herbs". After much dilemma I have had when locally buying herbs I decided not to include herbs we could not provide ourselves.

swinging upon the outstretched limb of our Magic Tree next to the old garden, June 2009.

I have my list compiled of herbs for the book. Roots, leaves, trees, etc. for making it easier to write in alphabetical order, but the book itself is no where near complete.
I found a few folklore "charms" in a book titled :Mugworts In May by Linda Ours Rago
I am looking for simple backyard {Ohio grow able} ingredient herbals. Especially little sayings to go with each herb such as the one found in the above "In Dock Out Nettle. Don't let the Blood settle".
The book has helped in my understanding of what the masses thought of as "Witch Charms",which were actually knowledge passed down from mother to daughter in Rhyme. In a time when women were uneducated, unable to write, they passed the knowledge of herbs in rhymes. Making it easier to remember & repeated with their application, again reinforcing the memory.

May Day Basket 2006

I would also like to include the source of the knowledge shared from you and if in the future I decide to make this compiling of Herbals more public, ask of your permission to share & be able to mention the source. It would be through self publishing since I would like to share a copy with friends & family, meaning I would be downloading my finished compilation through an online self publishing site. Keeps pricing low for publishing a book with color pictures and durable cover.
 I will share here when all is done should anyone else like a copy.

Feel free to share either by comment or Via email. If you go to my profile, you will find my email below profile picture.
I must Thank you ahead should you choose to share your herbal wisdom/ rhymes. One or ten, or even a suggestion of where to find what I seek. All are appreciated.
Sweet Dreams,
~Tammie

Continue..

Filed Under:

How to create an eclectic...exterior! Rugs, seating, lanterns and other colourful patio ideas

0

April always seems to be one of the best months in the North East of Scotland and today we had tropical temperatures of 19 degrees Celsius! It was incredibly windy, but still, I managed to enjoy lunch 'al-fresco'. Each year I hope that we'll have great weather until at least August, but unfortunately we've had plenty of wetness and cold too.... Anyway, enough about our crappy Scottish Summers, let's talk sunshine! As I have recently been writing a couple of posts about how to create an eclectic interior, I thought it would be nice to focus on how to create inspirational outdoor areas today, since we'll all be walking around in our flip-flops soon.

As you may have seen in earlier posts my husband and I are still busy building our own patio area from beautiful natural stone, which hopefully will be finished before Summer. Can't wait to dress it up with furniture, cushions and pot plants. The rockery plants are in place already.

To give you and myself some inspiration, I selected some great images to get our creative thinking going...

Tegels500x375
I adore everything in this picture. Look at those tiles! Image: www.style-files.com

20899_0_8-7673-eclectic-patio

How romantic is this...! Image: La Belle Vie

Viva-chandelier-l

How to create this eclectic garden chandelier, read it on www.sunset.com

Lanterns-hanging-l

And another wonderful alternative chandelier

Hg0609-59

Not exactly a patio area, but wouldn't you love to have your al-fresco Summer lunch here? Image: Modern Interior Design

Colourful-family-patio-main-image

I have a thing for colourful cushions, like necklaces, you just can't have enough of them! Image: My Deco

108494_0_4-7940-eclectic-porch

Even small balconies can be transformed into wonderful spaces. Image: Houzz

280661

Indoor furniture doesn't have to stay indoors! Image: House to Home

Country-garden-table

Get your vintage linens out to create a wonderful country chic dinner table. Image: House to Home


64_french-style-patio

Yup, told you so, get those vintage linens out. What a lovely French style patio! Image: House to Home

Lounge-on-the-terrace-above

And of course...an example from Stockholm, where we'll be heading for our Summer holidays. Great use of a tiny roof terrace! Image: Pitut.com
-
Don't know about you, but I am really looking forward to Summer now...hope you like this post.  How do you create that individual look on your outdoor area?
---

Continue..

Filed Under: , , ,

Product Review in SLUG Magazine

0

Check out my latest publication in SLUG Magazine!!!!

SLUG Magazine

Continue..

Filed Under:

Cement compost bin a week of hard labor

0

 With the few sunny days over the last week, we have accomplished clearing out the South side strip of our woods.Lots of overgrowth, debris and brush. The bad part of it...I gave my son Poison Ivy...
So as I'm chopping vines, pulling dead tree logs & raking the mini forest floor~ I unknowingly threw Poison ivy vine into the brush pile they were picking up. Poor guy has it all over his neck & face, arms & leg. He's mending well but we did end up seeing the doc for some medicine.
I have some kind of immunity to poison ivy & oak.{I call it one of my "secret super powers" when the kids wanted to know why I've never had it}. I hear all the time, rather smugly "there will be a day you get it after all these years of immunity. It does not last forever". When it happens then so be it, in the mean time...I'll keep playing Jane of the Jungle.

In the beginning of the week we traveled out to Massillon for a truck load of freebie {intact} cement blocks. The guy had used them for a raised garden bed & we are now using it for the future planned Compost pile. The cement block is mortared together, a felt sheet applied to all of it's surfaces & then a cement like plaster is applied. Giving it an almost stucco smooth appearance.
Photo from book:
 I found the how to in the book " Easy Concrete:43 DIY projects for Home & Garden by Malena Skote" . I was very happy to find it on the new release shelf of our library. Lots of inspiration & really cool projects in there.

AND speaking of projects, I am ALMOST complete with my farmhouse table. I had a little issue with the flat top slats...as in I bought them a few at a time and all 3 trips produced 3 different lengths. Yeah. Not a surprise but at least it is something I can fix with the saw. It's almost done minus the above & some little touches. I have a few other projects like removing the paint from Bike of Sunshine now that it is all disassembled and more clean up before we begin the Grape Arbor on the south side of the Garden by the Bonfire area.
The Captain lost all his Hops with our move last summer and is excited his new order came in. I had to share with you how their simple packaging held such charm compared to many such things we have ordered.
Simple burlap but far more charming then newspaper and a plastic bag. {and a welcome surprise of an extra Rhizome in one of the bundles}.
I truly can not wait for it all of this to be done.Not because of the work. No, it's final product I desire. I keep picturing it in my head. Trying to hold on to the image.  Many a sore back, freezing body & numb finger moment, melted away knowing all this work will be worth it. Summer evenings spent by the Bonfire. Meals under the Grape arbor and on my 8 ft long Farm house table. Views of cleaned and tended mini forests and wildlife habitats.And a garden that is not only fruitful of edibles but bountiful of pleasure.
 Instant smile and plenty of work to get the body heat pumping.

Sweet Dreams,
~Tammie  

Continue..

Filed Under:

AD

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...