Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Seasonal Pillow Covers

Hey All!
Tis the season for crafting, no? I got started on my own seasonal decor with some new covers for three of my throw pillows. Previously they were a mish-mosh of pink and burgandy and asparagus green, now they're all light blue velvet and cream and gold brocade!


Aren't they purty? I made this one first:


With the brocade on one side and the blue velvet on the other.


I thought that looked a little bland, so on the next one I did brocade on both sides with an edge all around and stitched on the word "joy" in the blue velvet. 


Love! 
For the large square pillow I wanted to do a bold image, but not something that would look silly after Christmas was over, so I decided to do a bird. Let me say now I suck at art. So I took inspiration from a partridge-like bird I saw appliqued onto a pillow at HomeGoods last summer. Can I find that photo now? Of course not. So you'll just have to take my word for it that this is a good adaptation!


It's a little odd... but if I think of it as a penguin, or an homage to Despicable Me, it works! 
I'll probably go back and stencil something on that plain pillow with fabric paint, but I need to get some paint first, so that's on hold!


For now they all look quite nice lined up on my fancy couch. (That's as opposed to the big comfy couch!) Tembo seemed to think I needed to pay more attention to him and less attention to those pillows! Funny boy... 
I've been working on my Christmas mantel, so check back soon to check that out!
: ) 

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Spain, Barcelona

Ready for more photos from Spain? Well, like I said in my Valencia post, the biggest reason I chose Barcelona for the vacation portion of our Spain trip was because I wanted to see some Gaudi design, so there's a lot of that in here! Prepare yourself! ( I suggest a beverage and a snack... and mascara. I need mascara for just about anything.)
Ready?
Good! Here we go to Barcelona!

First stop: Segrada Familia!
Proof we were there. 

Passion Facade, Segrada Familia
Passion Facade, Segrada Familia
Nativity Facade, Segrada Familia
Nativity Facade, Segrada Familia
Random church we passed on the way to Segrada Familia. 
La Padrera- this was on the corner of the street we were staying on, so it was our landmark for where to turn. So Cool!
Casa Batllo at night.

Casa Batllo and neighboring building, check out that line! (It wasn't too bad, actually.)
Casa Batllo interior.
Casa Batllo interior.
Casa Batllo interior.
Casa Batllo cool ceiling.
Casa Batllo stairway door.
Casa Batllo roof-line.
Casa Batllo, the "dragon's" back.
I may have loved the building to the left of Casa Batllo even more! (Puig i Cadafalch’s Casa Amatller) 
Isn't it pretty?
Port Vell by night.
Ancient church and statue we found while lost. It is in the guide book, but I forget...

Push-up leggings? Sign me up! (Unfortunately I could never find this store while it was open.)
H&M... in a castle......
Imprints on sidewalk on Passeig de Gracia. 
Anyone who says Spaniards have no sense of humor clearly never saw this sculpture!


Gaudi's Parc Guell.
Detail of ceiling in first structure of Parc Guell. 

Posing with the famous mosaic lizard.

A long line of vendors taking advantage of the masses of tourists. There was a police raid while we were there- those guys can pick up and move FAST!
Cool cave-like passage. 

Me and a view from the park.
These guitarists were fantastic (I bought their CD!)

Chillin' out, listening to the music. 
The backside of that bench we're sitting on. 
Lunch at the beach. 
Very pretty beach!
Such stylish people everywhere!
Arc de Triomf- everyone needs one!
Palau de la Musica Catalana.



Sneaky interior shot (through the window) of the Palau de la Musica.

Exterior of Cathedral... Barcelona? I forget which this is!


Beautiful light in Santa Maria del Mar.

Stained glass in Santa Maria del Mar. 


Santa Maria del Mar.

Santa Maria del Mar. ( I went a little nuts with pictures in here!)

Very unusual stained glass windows in Santa Maria del Mar. 

Interesting light and shadows. 
La Boqueria. 

Incredible displays!

Fresh squeezed juice, anyone?

How about some mushrooms?

No? How about a couple of goats heads? AH!

Statue at Museu Nacional d'art de Catalunya- she made me feel so svelte!


Haris ponders the male statue. 

And finally, the view of the sun setting over Barcelona from Museu Nacional d'art de Catalunya . If  you blow the picture up you can see the Segrada Familia in the backround!

PHEW! I don't know about you guys, but that was a little exhausting for me!  
Well, now we're back home getting into the Christmas spirit (some of us more than others!) I've already started on a few projects I'll be sharing, so check back for the start of sparkly season!