More beachy blue

Fashion imitates throw pillows. Definitely having a blue period.

I must learn to crochet

So I can make these rockin' Orly Genger inspired bangles. Been trying to figure this out myself since November.

Get the DIY at Green-Eyed Monster.

Irene, etc.

Not your typical Irene photo footage.

We brought all of our deck furniture and many of our plants inside, including our Morning Glories. Mr. Bromeliad, trapped inside as well, amused himself with night flash photos of the Morning Glories, which were so confused they bloomed all day.

In other news, I got the back cushions of the sofa done. The seat cushions are out getting new foam. Everything looks kind of lumpy at the moment.

Irene gave us a buff and a blow dry. The power didn't even go out.

Buckling down

Irene is scheduled to visit Sunday. I plan to be holed up at home and, if the power holds out, finishing my slipcover.

Hope you other East Coasters make it through without injury or loss.

Mmmmmh, summer

DIY photo wall

Sanity Fair has a great DIY photo wall made from magazine pages she already had on hand and IKEA frames.

More poufs

The pouf trend rolls on. The first two are Pier 1, $140 and $70. The last is World Market, $70 (a knock off of CB2's knock off of Design Within Reach) and already out of stock.

DIY info for fabric pouf here and knitted here. Group therapy available via Meredith's Pouf-a-Long party.

Sneak peek

I spent the entire weekend on a project I've been putting off for five years - slipcovering my enormous dingy off-white sofa.

Sunday night I collapsed from exhaustion with two seams left to go on one seat cushion. (Four back pillows still need done, too.)

Will give you more details when I get it all done. In the meantime, look at the difference!

Better Better Homes and Gardens

The September issue of Better Homes and Gardens was a surprise - lots of fresh fun interiors and familar faces and places from blog land, which I would show you but nothing is online yet except an iPad rendition that I don't want to pay for.

In the meantime, enjoy the work of one of the featured designers - Tia Zoldan - from her own portfolio.

In other news, I have a huge DIY project this weekend. I hope to have something good to report next week.

Kate Spade giveaway winner

Sorry, I almost forgot about this. And I have more stuff to give away.

Nikki P. is the winner of the Kate Spade sunnies. Congrats Nikki.

More giveaways coming. Check back.

Cheapie tribal jewelry

Late summer has me in the mood for some tribal bling.

Kelly Framel's handcrafted necklaces would hit the spot for $100 to $300.

Or there's the $10 range from Charlotte Russe and Forever 21 for those on a teenybopper budget.

What are you wearing these days?

Simple vases

You could even do weeds in a simple glass vase and it could look good.

Images: Super Sam via Aubrey Road; Good Measure via Fondly Seen; via Griege; Livet Hemma via Aubrey Road.

More DIY abstract art

Get the how to at Oh Happy Day.

My DIY: Partial tentative bedroom makeover

This makeover was free because it involved only the dragging of furniture from one wall to another.

Our bed has now been on every wall except in front of the closet doors. Its current location was inspired by bloggie friend Nick Olsen, whose tiny apartment makover was featured in House Beautiful.

As you may recall, Nick placed the bed smack dab under the window.

The other influential man in my life, Mr. Bromeliad, has been persuading me to try the same thing. And it worked.

Here is my new Z Gallerie Tunis Lantern. I have a battery operated candle that lights it up at night on a timer. These modern things dazzle me.

The room feels bigger and brighter.

The only thing I'm not wild about is this wall. I like the screen but the ottoman doesn't seem to have enough heft. What do I need here? A big plant? Chair? Dresser? Something else I don't currently own and probably will never buy?

Make a DIY paper mache side table

West Elm came out with a paper mache side table. In no time at all DIY bloggers figured out how to make their own. See two ways to do it, one at Prudent Baby and the other by my bloggie friend Ashley at Meet Me in Philadelphia.

Above is the DIY by Prudent Baby. Below is the West Elm original.