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Haiti’s Colorful Art {For Sale!}
It’s been weeks since Haiti was devastated by a catastrophic earthquake. Since then, we’re not hearing as much about relief efforts, but they are on-going. Haiti still needs our support and prayers. If you’re a collector of colorful artwork or just inspired by it, you may be interested in helping through the Vassar Haiti Project, a non-profit organization that provides aid and assistance to Haiti through the sale of Haitian art.
One of the Vassar Haiti Project’s main goals is to support education and sustainability in Chermaitre, a rural Haitian village. Since the earthquake, the organization has expanded their monetary aid to relief efforts and a fund that is helping artists rebuild their homes in Port Au Prince.
You can purchase the artwork directly from the Vassar Haiti Project website. Even if you’re not a collector, this vibrant artwork can serve as a striking focal point for any room in your home. It is truly inspiring.
Many Haitian artists are self-taught, and their artwork is rich with color and culture. Their art reflects the beauty of their country — despite the struggles and tragedies that they face.
“Through political turmoil, natural disasters, and crippling poverty, the Haitian artists have preserved a cultural heritage, and offered pride and hope to the Haitian people through their beautiful visions of their beloved country. Protecting and supporting the art community and culture in Haiti will be vital for its long-term recovery and its rebuilding as a nation.” — excerpt from the Vassar Haiti Project Blog.
The artwork presented here is from the Vassar Haiti Project. Visit their site to purchase. However, please note that due to the large number of recent sales, some paintings on their website are no longer available. If you see a painting you’d like to purchase, please check with them to see if it is still available.
This Year’s Purple Trend
Turquoise has been declared Color of the Year, but so far it seems Purple Reigns. Join me, as I take you on a tour to the many different faces, places and products where Purple has been seen:
The color Purple has been spotted everywhere: in fashion, home accessories, magazines, advertisements and make-up collections, as the beautiful Zoe Kravitz shows us here {photo from InStyle; Fancy Pancy eyeshadow from Sephora}.
There were 1-2-3-4-5 celebrities who donned pretty Purple dresses at the Golden Globe Awards in January. In addition, Michelle Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden all sported the color at the President’s State of the Union Address last month.
Coach has a lovely new spring collection of handbags that features a fun mix of Purples in a variety of shades and tints.
On the decorating front, there are plenty of Purple pleasures available for our homes this year.
{from Target and Bliss Living Home}
Purple is a great color for your home because, in it’s truest form, it is a perfect balance of warm {red} and cool {blue}. For a little variation try a wine-colored plum for even more warmth, or a blue-periwinkle for a touch of cool.
Purple chandeliers and Purple chandelier earrings are both very chic right now. I love the Murano glass chandelier, but the earrings fit into my budget so much better.
If you’re searching for a new fragrance, Halle Berry’s new perfume gives you the chance to sport a Purple-y scent.
From violet to plum to lavender, fashion designers have shown their Purple pride on the runway. If you want to know what will be hot in home design, keep your eye on fashion trends.
{Tracy Reese Spring 2010, photo by NYmag.com}
{Rachel Roy Fall 2010, photo from NY Mag}
Venus and Serena Williams’ new ad campaign for Nabisco is positively Purple.
…And finally, at our last stop we come full-circle with another show of Purple make-up. This time from MAC Cosmetics Spring 2010 Colour3 {Plum} Forecast Collection.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this ‘tour’ as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I love many colors, but purple is my favorite. However, I’m looking forward to seeing what other colors will stand out this year. When I find out, I’ll let you know!
Color and Style
I just wanted to share a random selection of spaces that demonstrate a creative use of color and individual style. Enjoy!
{Bloomingdale’s Big Window Challenge Winner: Eddie Ross, photo by Addie Juell}
{I love a colorful dressing table!}
photos from: decorpad; houzz; apartment therapy
Glam Girls Bedrooms
Today, over at Design Dazzle, you can see my post about creating glamorous bedrooms for teen girls, using cool colors — such as gray, black and silvery shades of blue and green.
Teens’ tastes are becoming more sophisticated; their calendars stay filled with studies and activities. Many teen girls are requesting tranquil spaces that are also elegant. These days, even our children sometimes need a serene space to unwind.
photos from decorpad
Romantic Dessert Table
I created this fun and funky dessert table for Valentine’s Day, but I’ve been told this would be a great idea for romantic spring events, too. This colorful table is romantic, whimsical, and totally bohemian. My inspiration pieces? Two sarongs that I purchased while vacationing in Jamaica a few years ago. With their bright colors and tribal print motifs, they made the perfect tablecloth to build upon.
To pull this look together, I headed over to Antique Depot, one of my favorite antique stores in the DC – Baltimore area. Then it was off to the Salvation Army Thrift Store. Definitely not the most glamorous shopping trip, but it resulted in a fun and surprising mix of candy jars and other dessert table essentials.
One of my favorite finds was this terrific ruby red cake plate. I placed it on top of one that I already owned to create a delicious cupcake and cookie tower.
This trio of retro candy jars turned out to be a cute addition to the dessert table. As you can see, they provided plenty of love and happiness.
Other elegant finds included pairs of vintage candy dishes to display grapes, atlas vases for the Tootsie Pops and Asian mini-vases for the flowers.
I added personal touches {and additional color} with scrapbooking paper and ribbon — my two entertaining must-haves! The baked goods, candy and flowers all came from the grocery store. I really saved time and money by mixing in items that I already owned with my new purchases from the antique and thrift store.
This dessert table is clearly a reflection of what I like, which is a mix of modern, vintage, color and cultures.
These days, entertaining is all about injecting our own individual style. So make sure your table and displays include your unique, personal touches.
All images by Kelly Porter of Porter House Designs
Romantic Bedrooms
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner…what better time to bring sexy {and maybe even a little color} back to the bedroom?
A romantic, cozy bedroom can do wonders for your marriage, and with our busy schedules these days, your bedroom should be a place where you can feel comfortable and unwind.
Whether you’re married or single, your bedroom should be your haven — that serene space for relaxing at the end of the day and an inspiring space that rejuvenates you in the morning. And yes, bold colors can be relaxing if they are colors you love.
Aside from crazy, sexy, cool colors, your bedroom should have great lighting. Make sure your lighting sources are on dimmers, or switch some bulbs to a low wattage so that you can create a romantic mood. See more great tips at the bottom of this post.
My tips for a romantic bedroom:
- Remove clutter! Get rid of those piles of clothes, magazines and mail, and return your kid’s toys to their rooms. It’s difficult to relax and romance in a room filled with out-of-place stuff.
- Invest in quality sheets with a thread count of about 400…and if it’s been a while since you’ve purchased a mattress, you may be due for an upgrade. These days, mattresses are thicker, have pillow-top options, and will offer you a better night’s sleep.
- Layering equals comfort & versatility, so use a combination of silky and textural bed coverings {duvet, coverlet, throw, etc}.
- Be disciplined with T.V. watching. Viewing too much television or watching the wrong thing can kill romance {and give you weird dreams}. Instead, hook up your ipod or invest in a Sound Soother to hear the ocean waves.
- Use scented candles, home fragrances or fresh flowers to make your bedroom smell scrumptious.
- Give yourself permission to linger and enjoy your space by having a late-night dessert or morning breakfast in bed.
By all means, put your bedroom first! It really is the most important room in your home.
All photographs from House To Home
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