Decorating Some Eggs

With Easter coming up, some of you might be decorating eggs with the kids.

I found this article in a magazine that showed a TADA! way to decorate eggs. Basically, you take a square of textured fabric like lace or cheesecloth, wrap it tightly around the egg and immerse this in dye. When the egg dries, it will take on the design from the fabric.

I tried it out with a few empty eggs. 

 

I used these blah produce sacks 

{packaging material from 

onions and garlic}.

I wrapped the fabric around the egg and secured with knots. Alternatively, rubber bands can be used.

Dunk the eggs in food safe dye and 

let sit for several hours.

Here's the result. I admit, the webbed pattern is very faint. 

The finer netting pattern on the orange egg did not register at all. On hindsight, I could have wrapped the netting tighter and used more dye.  

My first attempt was blah. But I'll turn my Easter egg into a TADA! with paint.

I choose a scallop pattern in a cheerful yellow. 

I hope it's not too early to greet you a HAPPY EASTER!

Have a colorful weekend!

Spring Has Arrived

Spring is officially here and I'm all-over giddy about vibrant shades and floral prints to replace the blah colors of winter.

As I've mentioned many times, I adore Anthropologie and I've been spending "quiet time" looking through their catalog/website. 

Since we're all friends here, can I just share a few favorite items?

via Anthropologie

I would wear this dreamy dress to Easter brunch.

via Anthropologie

This clutch can add TADA! to any simple outfit.

via Anthropologie

Isn't this collar necklace darling?

via Anthropologie

This bathing suit reminds me of kimono fabric.

via Anthropologie

A scarf that reminds me of Impressionist paintings.

via Anthropologie

A vase to put in fresh flowers from the market.

But even without flowers, it's very pretty!

via Anthropologie

Did you know that Anthropologie sells wallpaper?
I'd use this for an accent wall in my pretend
craft room or imaginary boudoir.

via Anthropologie

And finally, uber cute napkins for a spring soiree.

Felt and Yarn

Sometimes, I go to the mall not to buy anything. Instead, I walk the aisles and look for crafty inspiration. Here's what I found at Target a few weeks back:

After a blah winter, this banner is all we need to welcome spring. It's easy to recreate with cardboard, felt remnants {or markers and paint} and hot glue.    

I'm so digging this wreath! It's so simple but the colors scream "springtime". To make a DIY version, twirling yarn or ribbon around a foam wreath turns blah to TADA!

These baskets come in handy to gather Easter eggs, pick flowers or wrap presents. We can make our own version using an empty yogurt or ice cream container embellished with felt! TADA! 

Surprise Inside

When we were little, my brothers and I received Easter eggs from a very thoughtful aunt. They closely resembled this:

via Sugar4U

An egg made entirely of sugar, decorated with flowers and Easter characters like bunnies or chicks. Of course we'd try to eat them, but couldn't go as far as a few licks {they were too hard}. One of the best parts of the egg was that it was hollow and there were pieces of chocolate inside! Those we devoured without hesitation.

Because of this childhood memory, here's a round-up of Easter eggs that have a built-in surprise.

via Sugar4U

Another version of eggs made of sugar, this time with 

an Easter backyard vignette inside.

via Williams Sonoma

A papier mache' egg covered in vintage paper and 

filled with sweet treats.

via MiaPuPe

My heart melts over this bunny hatching out of a felted egg.

via Fairyfolk

More little rabbits hiding inside eggs.

via bySol

Crocheted eggs and lil' chicks.

via SesameSeedDesigns

Springtime gnomes resting in egg-shaped sleeping bags.

These are blah to TADA!, don't you agree?

Easter Baskets

Easter is this Sunday and I have a few blah to TADA! ideas this week in case you're in a crafting or entertaining mood.

blah: an empty egg carton {ain't the pink shade adorable?} 

With scissors, divide the carton in thirds.

Trim the edges so they're neat. 

Attach a handle {I used an old tissue box} with hot glue. Fill the crevices with confetti {I made these out of colorful plastic bags}.

For a more festive touch, I jazzed up the handle using an old plastic bag {first cut in a strip, then edges were scalloped.}  

The last step is to add the candy. TADA!

A perfect party favor for Easter!

Quotable Grace

Hello and Happy Friday!

Before I bid you a "Happy Weekend", let me share a few memorable quotes from "Grace".

On dealing with difficult people:

On seizing a life-changing opportunity:

That dreaming never stops:

I hope these words of wisdom turn your day from blah to TADA!

Have an enjoyable weekend!

Make-up Please!

Putting together a magazine is truly a collaborative effort. 

That's one of the lessons we learn from Grace Coddington's book, "Grace: A Memoir". An editor's vision comes to life with the help of photographers, designers, stylists, models and all of their assistants. 

Grace Coddington's sketches of her favorite hairdressers and
make-up artists, page 298, "Grace:A Memoir"

Together with these important people are hairdressers and make-up artists.

In her book, Grace shines the spotlight on them: "And I learned early on, as far back as the seventies in London, when everything was based on silver-screen glamour, that a great hairdresser or makeup artist can make a picture better, even when it looks as though they have done very little."

via Dandy Bohemian
Make-up artist Pat McGrath, and Grace Coddington
with hair sytlist Guido Palau

One of her favorite make-up artists is Pat McGrath because of her topnotch talent, thorough organization and cheerful personality. 

I love this anecdote about Pat that she writes in the book: "Pat did an amazing job. Even Helmut {Newton, photographer} was impressed. Nadja {Auermann, model} had never looked more dewy and luminous. From then on, I worked with her whenever I could. Soon afterward she began collaborating with Steven Meisel {photographer}. It was love at first sight, and they ended up working together virtually everyday. Pat is very loyal to him. Once, in the middle of the international collections (she does practically every single show), she flew from London to New York to work with Steven and me for the day, then flew back the same night, the instant she finished. She would do anything for him. If he cant get her for the make-up, I know he often doesn't take the job."  

Isn't that TADA!?

Here are samples of Pat's work:

via Models.com

via Models.com

via Models.com

via Models.com

via Models.com

via Models.com

Another inspiring woman -- Pat McGrath.

via New York Times.com

 Her work is indeed blah to TADA!

Grace, Annie and Alice

Today's blog post is about three women: Grace Coddington {creative director of Vogue and author of "Grace"}, Annie Leibovitz {famous photographer}, and Alice {of the storybook "Alice in Wonderland"} -- and how they created one of Vogue's most memorable fashion spreads:

via Trendland

This was published in December 2003, and boy, do I still remember it to this day. A real live version of Alice, dressed in couture, cavorting in Wonderland -- such a great concept! In her book, Grace discusses its genesis:

Anna {Wintour, Vogue's editor-in-chief} had just seen the award-winning musical version of Mary Poppins on the London stage, loved it, and returned to New York eager to base our seasonal special on that children's story. But when I sat down, I thought, "Mary Poppins wears black throughout, which really isn't going to work for Anna in the end," and so I said, "What about Alice in Wonderland instead? It could be just as much fun, and I can then ask the designers to make up all the dresses in blue, like the illustrations in the book." Anna thought about it overnight and the next morning, said, "Yes. We'll do  Alice and cast all the designers as characters from the book," which was the most brilliant idea.

via Trendland

Russian model Natalia Vodianova was cast as Alice. Everything was shot in Paris and in the surrounding area of the Chateau de Corbeil-Cerf.

via Trendland

Tom Ford played the White Rabbit {a role originally 

meant for Karl Lagerfeld}.

via Trendland

Nicholas Ghesquiere, who designed this ruffle dress, 
makes a cameo.

via Trendland

John Galliano, dressed in drag, as the Red Queen;
his boyfriend Alexis portrays the King.

via Trendland

Marc Jacobs as the hookah-smoking Caterpillar.

via Trendland

John Paul Gaultier as Cheshire Cat.

via Trendland

Viktor and Rolf as Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

via Trendland

Christian Lacroix as the March Hare and Stephen Jones {milliner}
as the Mad Hatter. 

via Trendland

Donatella Versace and her friend Rupert Everett as the
Gryphon and Mock Turtle.

What a production! Clearly we see in these images that a photographer is not just one who clicks the camera, but has a creative vision that improves the overall look of the photos and the stories that they tell.

You can read more about the drama {and who was a diva} in Chapter 15 of "Grace: A Memoir." Also, you can watch this little clip for a few more stories behind this fashion editorial.