Wayback Exclusion

Wayback Exclusion

The Painted House Has Moved!

www.tphblog.com

Follow me to the new digs...see you there!

One

Hot (veggie) dog! One more day... See you there!

Two

Three

Three more days. Enjoy your weekend and then please come see me in my party dress Monday. If you're feeling generous, let your friends on Facebook know about the new Painted House that is all about art, house, and all things beautiful (and sometimes goofy). We're celebrating with fun party favors next week--art, giftcards to William-Sonoma and Crate & Barrel and Anthropologie, and jewelry from a local Atlanta artist. Yeah, we're not talking a piece of gum and a wazoo--these are party favors you can use! Come back on Monday to enter! Three...two...one...

Four

What are you doing next Monday? I hope it includes stopping by the new Painted House for a little look-see, and I hope you find it utterly delightable. I love making up new words. Stop by next week for a chance to win a painting from yours truly or giftcards from William-Sonoma, Crate and Barrel, and Anthropologie. Stop by tomorrow to find out the last giveaway goodie. Oh, goodie-goodie-gumdrops, just four more days! Thank you for spreading the word!

Five

Cinco dias! I am now counting down on one hand--and each day is one long, bony finger. Monday kicks off the new Painted House, all redecorated and pretty. To celebrate, I'm giving away something for five days. The goodies include a painting, a William-Sonoma giftcard, and a Crate & Barrel giftcard. Check back tomorrow to see what else you could win. And, thank you for celebrating with me!

Six

Six more days until The Painted House debuts new! Giveaways start on Monday, March 22. It's easy, just leave a comment each day of the giveaways and you are entered to win. Post about The Painted House relaunch on your blog and get four extra entries for each giveaway day. It's shameless, I know--but the more the merrier, right? We're giving away a painting and a William-Sonoma gift card...check back tomorrow to see what other loot could be yours.

Many thanks to Hooked on Houses and It's a Slow Learning Curve for spreading the news.

Seven

Seven days--one week--until the NEW Painted House! Next Monday kicks off FIVE straight days of giveaways. I've already spilled the beans about one--an original oil painting by the lady of the house. Come back tomorrow to learn what else will be up for grabs. And, if you want to be so sweet and thoughtful, why not spread the word about The Painted House on your Facebook or blog? Please let me know if you do, and I'll link you up next week as a thank you--and THANK YOU. {giant 100% smiley face here}

One. More. Week!

Eight

(And happy Pi Day to you.)

Nine

Ten

The Beginning of the Rainbow

It was a rainy day today in my corner of Georgia. But as I spent a little time organizing my closet, I discovered a rainbow within reach.

Spring is so close. And with spring comes The Painted House! I am happy to announce The Painted House launches on March 22, with fabulous giveaways each day of the week. My 10-day countdown starts on Friday, the 12th. Please help me spread the word!

Your Sneak Peek

The hair, folks.

And your other peek...my new painting series. Maybe I'll call it Dialogue. I'm working while the inspiration is striking. I'm even dreaming up new paintings in my sleep, yes, literally dreaming them up! Stick around and I'll give a new painting away during The Painted House launch week. It is small and adorable and full of meaning. You need it. I'll start a countdown soon once I decide which day is official launch day.

Okay, now, do I look younger?

Chihuly-esque for the Home

Sometimes I don't know how I feel about blown glass. I'll see it in a gallery and think "ooo, pretty," but I walk on. Then other times I'll see blown glass and I gotta keep ahold of my britches. Case in point, the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Artist Dale Chihuly's ceiling installation contains over two thousand pieces of blown glass. Absolutely gorgeous!

Combine his sculptures with clear sunlight and you have Medusa's younger, prettier sister.

While I was shopping 19th Street last week in the Houston Heights, I stopped into Eclectic Home, a decor store specializing in affordable trends. Here you can have your own Chihuly-inspired fix.

The chandeliers come in 30-, 60-, or 90-piece sizes and can be customized with any color combination. Prices range from $1,200-3,800. However, the lights come IKEA-style--you have to put them together. Okay, no big deal, I had to do that with my IKEA artichoke light...but it was only $40. I say, any light that costs $40.01 or more should come already assembled. But que sera.

Assembly required or not, they are pretty.

What color combination would you do?

I'm a sucker for white. This one would sing soprano with that gorgeous gilded mirror I saw next door at Antiques on Nineteenth...you think the kids would help me put it together?

Eclectic Home

345 W. 19th Street

Houston, Texas

713.869.1414

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

So I'm glad I'm not the only one who cries at the loss of long hair--thank you for your support! But I am quite liking the cut--especially since I keep hearing, "you look so much younger." Thankyouverymuch and we are friends for life. I know it is wrong to cut and be a no show. Let's just say it doesn't look like this:

Mullet and red bowtie. Little Ping-Ping, you are a lucky chica that your Daddy loved you so much.

I've been busy painting and getting ready for the blog (I know, start it already). I am SO excited about getting back to work, but I'm a perfectionist and I want it to be, uh, perfect. At least close to it.

I'll continue posting occasionally until I'm ready. If you get bored, try this maze (courtesy of my 6-year-old):

I'll try to post a photo next week of my shortened locks, and you can then proceed to tell me how much younger I look. Please.

Snip, Snip...Big Changes

There are a lot of changes going on here. Among the changes, the new blog officially starts up later this month and this:

While it could be mistaken for any number of unsavory objects, that is my ponytail. Detached from my head. Lying on a table.

Years to grow. A moment to snip.

And I cried. Ugly cried. I didn't expect to be so emotional.

Have you ever made a drastic cut, hair or otherwise?

Retropolis, Houston

The girl and I spent last weekend in Houston, Texas. I feel so jet-setter as we fit in a surprise birthday party, meetings with friends, shopping, and even some eyebrow threading. I dragged my mother-in-law and daughter to 19th Street in the Heights for browsing at Retropolis yesterday.

[photo: Flickr]

A fun way to spend an afternoon is digging through this mammoth vintage clothing store. And, dig you will. This shop comprised of various dealers isn't about editing its stock--but then if it did, you would miss out on the outrageous and gasp-worthy.

The place is decked out for cowgirls looking to dress for the Livestock Show & Rodeo corralled up on the South Loop right now. Sadly there were no boots in my size.

I used to pine for dolls like this at the Motts 5 & 10 in my girlhood town. How exquisitely beautiful I thought they were.

I didn't leave empty handed from Retropolis...

A slinky batik mermaid skirt...that stretches to my toes! What Gigantisaurus owned it before me?

And, then, aloha, how are you?

It's the softer (and more tropical side) of Sears.

I'm going to 80s it up...me, black leggings, and every shade of neon. Hubby says it is my Barbeque Hut dress. He once owned a yellow and orange check shirt that screamed, "I work at Barbeque Hut!" This is so not Barbeque Hut...well, maybe it is.

From Retropolis to the ATL, I'm giving these old duds, a plastic 80s necklace, and a straw purse new life. Do you retro?

Retropolis

321 W. 19th Street

Houston, Texas 77008

713-861-1950

It's Okay...

It really is okay. Don't fight it. Give in to the love affair.

Get this shirt and other cool artist-made stuff at Hello-Lucky in Houston, Texas. If you aren't lucky enough to make it to Teresa O'Connors' adorable shop in the Heights, order online. For you haters out there, she also has one that says "It's ok to [skull-n-crossbones] Austin."

Art & Family

My friend Susan recently emailed me this quote. It had me in tears.

...my mother was biding her time, pacing herself until she could achieve her goals. She was a proud and passionate and boundlessly talented woman taking a step back from her artistic dreams and signing on instead for the opportunity afforded my father and our family. It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to embark on a truly unique adventure. The reality of my mother's situation ws that she put a huge part of herself on hold, and hit that reset button for my father, for our family...

She was still an artist, but for four years she was an artist on pause, counting the days until she could hit that button again and put herself back in play. Even as a child, I could sense she was frustrated--like a racehorse stuck at the gate. She kept up with her work in fits and starts, but during that period she was constantly setting aside an essential piece of her identity, and then picking it back up again. In all that time, she never lost sight of her goals as an artist.

Yes, we can be all things at once, my mother told me. In fact, we must. But we must also accept that we can't do everything all at once.

-Mika Brzezinski

All Things at Once

I wipe my wet cheeks and second guess everything all over again. Can you relate?