My Final Photo Good-Bye to My True Home, KC...The best city ever!

Sitting here curled under my cozy white fleece blanky with the silky trim, on my leather couch, looking out my very large windows all I see is snow, everywhere.  I don't think I've seen this much snow for years and years.  Our little white American Eskimo doggy, Lexy, went outside and the snow came up to her  chest.  It didn't stop her playing by buyrying her little black nose  in the snow, and then flipping it up to throw the wet, cold white stuff off...so cute.  But the snow is NOT cute..not in my timing.







 

Fortunately we're out of here in a couple of weeks, we hope.  My two sweet sisters are supposed to be travelling from the icelands of Illinois  the day after tomorrow to help me finish up packing, cleaning, and for one last, fun good bye!  They will also bring my three pieces of art  I just purchased on ebay for my new home in Phoenix.  If they don't bring them, I may have to give them up.  The shipping would be horrendous. I bought a rather large 'poster' (?) where on side only bears the words in red and black "reinvent yourself".  The next piece ,or pieces I should say, are letters.  One very large, vintage, red  "P". My brother in law, Dan, who was sooooo kind to pick it up a half hour from his house, said the letter probably measures almost three feet high and 18" wide.  Then there is a vintage, red "M" for my grand-daughter Maya.  It lights up!  The last thing I bought is a black metal sort of suit case...Hopefully they'll make it here and I'll be able to show you pics once I incorporate it all into my decor scheme.

In any case, even though I will not miss this extreme weather, KC is very beautiful in the winter when all is white and soft..here are some examples:






(david eulitt photo)












Kansas City is probably the most beautiful city I know. There is so much to do (when blizzard conditions aren't in effect) like Power and Light District, Plaza of course,  the West Bottoms is really becoming artsy with great antique and vintage shops, the City Market area , Crossroads with the great 'First Fridays',  Martini Corner and never leaving out the great 18th and Vine for amazing jazz, .  Here are a few picks of these great places and some misc pics that I'll truly miss:


Power and Light District



A pic of our daughter, her husband and of course her father and my soul mate/husband Phil at the Power and Light District right before a Dave Matthews concert...we doubled...Such fun!!!!!!!!


Another pic at the Power and Light District with my mother in law.

Power and Light District


the Plaza

Bottoms Up Antique Market, Kansas City

West Bottoms

City Market entrance

City Market bars and resturaunts

Crossroads on a First Friday's night...obviously, a summer night.  Nice!

Crossroads gallery

18th and Vine

18th and Vine

Below are just some random pics of my, what used to be, normal drive into work.  I really enjoyed seeing the city as I drove.

Starting out from the burbs.

One last pic...how could I ever forget the Royals???????????  Ladies Night Out at the "K"......geeeesh.....what fun! Especially with Casey, my little Lamb ;-)

So all you faithfuls who read this....my last photo good-bye to my favorite city.  Although I wasn't raised here, I've lived here for 20 years and it feels more like home to me than anywhere...so I call it MY home. 

Good-bye my beautiful Kansas City (and Burbs of course)  You have been the best to me...I'll miss this city!! BUT NOT THE WEATHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Funky, The Fun, The Young...and YOU

Industrial vintage, that really means exactly what it says...the year is the time the industiral revolution happned.  Now of course, we're in the technical revolution.  Back then it was a hugely new idea of sleekness, promise, ease, comfort and simplicity.  Oh, and did I mention shine?  I'm loving the young feeling it brings me.  You know when room is stagnant and stuffy when it's there just to be there, like an afterthought.  Uusally a space speaks volumes about a person's personality, likes, dislikes and even attitude.  It's sort of like a second language. 

Anyway, back to the sleek look which I've been obsessing over lately.  In vintage idustrial, there are always pieces that reflects industry and the design that helped make things simple, easy, and closer to the space-age. The great thing about people who are drawn to this is that they always mix their great finds with other textural, older, and sometimes even colorful pieces.  Example:



Los Angeles Central Library....1926

Notice that the building looks sleek and clean but has the beautiful intrinsic rooftop.


I love this shelving unit...vintage industrial?  Seems to fit.





End tables...(above)  Favorites of mine.











This is sooo cool..and it's not wood, it's metal.




This is a 'rubber glove mold' a whimisical, funky accessory that really makes interesting art.

How cool is the below pic...I'd love seeing that framed on the wall.

Okay, wanna hear something really, really sad?  I had a chair just like this and sold it.........yeah! 'nuff said!!!


The table below would make an amazing dining table wouldn't it????? 












See what I'm saying...??? Industrial vintage..it has a soft look as well as sturdy, stable and like it's always belonged.

I am sooo ready to get to my new home because I have no idea how to put all my great stuff together to make one, funky, young, HAPPY statement. 

I am not supposed to be buying things....but I found some amazingly great stuff online...ebay to be exact. The buyer who owns these things have collected these over the years and is now selling...the sellers name 'skullswe3    (Don't you just love that name?  I'm already thinking of a jingle that goes with it.  Definately look her up if you want a great deal...pluss she's great at communication!)  Here are a few of her (and my) favorite things...and yes, they're for sale.

AWESOME vintage paper weight. (and the bid is ONLY up to $7.95....I told you.)





Seriously cool metal basket...seriously great price....right now, it's only $6.50  O. M. G. 




I want this....it's a mid-century locker basket.  Can't you just see this on top of a fridge or on top of a primitive china cabinet (like MINE)  This amazing container/vintage industrial accessory is starting at $14.50.



I tried to enlarge this, but it's a 7 foot  metal ladder with a green faded paint...Okay, think bathroom...haning towels from this.  Guess what the starting bid is ????? .99 cents.  mmmm hhhmm




Old milk bottle with green, painted name and pics...Love this and it would look great with daisies, or any sort of live flower...Again, 99 cents starting bid....geeeeeeeeeeez louise!  Adorable and young.



Another fave of mine from skullswe3 on ebay...It's a funky, wicker ball hanging light fixture.  Starting price, 16.50.





Okay, fave, fave, fave!!!!!!!!!!  These are the real deals...and you can buy all of them for a little over $40....






Okay,  have you been convinced to check these items out if you're a fan of industrial vintage to add a couple of these things for your funky, fun, young side to show up in your space...

I'll show you how I'm going to incoporate some great things I bought when I finally move in to our new space out west...Until next time all you wonderful people....have a great one and don't forget to be fun.....

What makes YOU come alive???

Style is important to me...but even more important is looking at my space and seeing the things I love.  There are, however, styles to be reckoned with. Styles can mix together by cohesiveness.   In my opinion, when there is a cohesiveness, there is beauty. When I was young and my mother and grandmother and great grandmother decorated, there were rules that people followed.  You would never find something rustic mixed with something traditional.  Most of the time, you wouldn't even find anything rustic, except maybe on the lawn.  I don't think I ever saw something contemporary mixed with something victorian.  Now hey, I could be wrong, but I'm talking about in the 50's and before.  I think it was the radical, let's break all the rules 60's where all that changed.  Outside came in and inside went out.  I loved that...maybe because I'm a rebel at heart. 

Even though I'm not too fond of rules, there are some that sort of apply dontcha think?  I mean in decorating to be sure.  The rule of beauty is one I'm especially fond of; but then again that's really subjective.  I would love to hear some of your opinions.  What do you think could be a good rule or rules of thumb in decor?  In the meantime, some more of my favorite things..............

Can you tell I LOVE white and neutrals?




When it comes to color, I like to add it with accessories. Here's a perfect example.

(above, from decorating with me and alice)


Pink, orange red and great big geometrics...that speaks YOUNG - FRESH......to me.
(decor8 blog)



And I'm always a sucker for all things Spanish...
(hgtv)




I chose the pic below mainly because of the coffee table/trunk.
(hgtv)

This one is from a home improvement blog on how to give your home architectural detail.  (Something I'll have to do, for sure, in the new space.)



Today in church the pastor spoke about what makes you come alive.  Me?  I just thought of making things beautiful.  I thought of creating a beautiful space that just might give one a hint of heaven.....what do you think????? AND  what's YOUR style...

Take care and have a great rest of this Sunday.