Holiday Animal Decor + Free Printable

During the holiday season, we’re looking for festive decor and gifts to give. In today's MACC video, I show an easy animal DIY that accomplishes both! Create a winter woodland feel with these geometric animal designs on wood plaques.



Use the FREE PRINTABLE design below, or create your own geometric animal friends!

New Digs: A Look at Our Loo

Our bathroom was one of the first rooms to feel "finished" in the new place. It's obviously the smallest room making this an easy fete. Aesthetic-wise, I knew I wanted to take our beachy bathroom into a tropical/jungle place. Art work is the main way to create this look, and I think we're on our way. Above you'll see my vintage tiger print from my dear friend Casey. It was once in her tv room in her childhood home and in our middle school years thought it was hilarious for some reason, so she gave it to me as a joke gift in college. It has since become a serious favorite and agives the room the jungle vibe I was hoping for. The red serpent mola my grandfather got in Panana and gallery wall add a layer of texture and warmth to the look and feel of the space. I love the juxtaposition of the warmth and texture of the artwork with the cool, clean, crisp white subway tile that lines the spa-like shower and the sink. Now a simple shower has gone from a functional routine to a more luxurious, "me-time" moment that I look forward to. VERY grown-up.

My other favorite elements of this room:

+ This washer/dryer combo. It is a TOTAL GAME CHANGER.

+ My World Market Ikat shower curtain.

+ The rainforest shower head.

+ The giant, modern medicine cabinet.

+ The dark gray tile floor.

+ Our vintage seagulls flocking the wall.

+ The window that looks out to the vibrant fall leaves in the backyard.

MORE New Digs

Balcony Life // Kitchen // Kitchen Details

Mine: Yarn Puff

In January I shared with you my love for Brooklyn-based artists Cold Picnic, especially their lush and gorgeous YARN PUFFS. I am mildly (when I say mildly I mean wildly) OBSESSED with these fantastic pieces and was just blown away by Phoebe and Peter's generosity when they sent me my very own puff yesterday. I love it. I love it. I love it. 

Thank you Cold Picnic for your incredible work and super sweet gift. 

Ate This/Made This

This weekend I...

+ Ate this.

+ Dined at this delicious restaurant.

+ Hung out with this DIY genius.

+ Lounged under this dream fort.

 Morgan Hungerford West, of Panda Head Blog, for BYT

+ Made these for this sweetheart.

+ Posted this new video.

+ Went to this and this.

+ Wore these. 

Inspiring Interior: Jenny Ng

Framed lace seen at Jenny Ng's Greenpoint, Brooklyn apartment.

3D Graphic Painting

3D Graphic Painting

This vintage 3D painting is everything. I am obsessed with it and bring people by the stellar vintage shop Horizons, where it resides, just to take a look. Pop in some time to see it in person and feast your eyes on the excellent pieces that also reside in this retro mecca. If you do, there is this hand-dyed shirt from Thailand that I am DYING for and haven't picked up yet, so, try not to snag it before I can. Thanksss.

Currently reading...

Reading Torch, Cheryl Strayed's novel. 

// More favorite reads //

Phantom Limb

Last month my darling husband was out of town for the longest time we've ever been apart. Ever. In over ten years. While he was away our house felt less like home, our bed felt so empty. I still set out a plate for him out of habit and reached for him in the night out of longing. He is my best friend above all else and by far my favorite human being to ever walk the planet. I missed him deeply and cherish every second he has by my side since he's been home. This card from Catbird said all of that in one sweet and concise sentiment.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Inherited Native American art from my Oma newly hung in our bedroom

I find it hard believe that this Memorial Day weekend could be anything but delightful with a "Super Moon" tonight, 15 new episodes of Arrested Development arriving to Netflix on Sunday, and a 20% off sale at ASOS all weekend long. Those 3 fun facts plus a 3-day weekend is an equation I can get behind.

Correction: I originally posted that Arrested Development starts Saturday, but alas, that was wishful typing. Sunday new episodes are available. One. More. Day.

DIY Moon Phases

This week I have the sweet pleasure of being a part of Morgan Hungerford West's No News is Good News, the monthly newsletter of Miss West's lovely lifestyle blog, Panda Head. Panda Head is a favorite daily read of mine, made dearer by the fact that Morgan is a hilarious, super-smart, incredibly talented long-time friend with a heart of gold. Combine all of that goodness with this month's newsletter theme being "Heaven and Earth", and you have yourself a dreamy, way-fun collaboration that included many e-mails with lunar galactic references and Real Housewives jokes peppered throughout. MY IDEA OF FUN.



See my DIY Moon Phases tutorial in this month's edition and subscribe to keep the good times a comin'!

Morgan Hungerford West // Panda Head Blog // No News is Good News // Panda Head Mag

Records: Labeled + Sleeved

In this week's This/That I shared the above photo of our Elton John record collection. It's a combination of vinyl I've thrifted over the years and my dad's coveted collection that he recently bestowed upon us. Now that they are in OUR apartment, home of Willie Dictionary + Handstand Records, they are in the protective hands of record sleeves. OCD? Anal? Maybe. But we like to think of this truly effective way of preserving our beloved records as EFFICIENT. 

My dad labeled this particular Elton John record ALLAN, in his unmistakable all-caps block letters with his football-Coach-necessity, a red pen. I find this incredibly comforting for some reason. Our records are labeled and sleeved by *my two Williams. 

*Dad-William John Allan 
Husband-William Battle Cole III

Accidental Art

White paper paint backdrops, part 4.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Happy Weekend

Over the next few days I plan on making Berry Scones and Black Bean Quinoa dish, taking naps in our bedroom, and working on a DIY art piece that fits under the aesthetic umbrella "Heaven and Earth" for darling Morgan Hungerford West's newsletter No News is Good News. 

It'll be tasty/cozy/spacey respectively.

Have a dreamy weekend, friends. 

Accidental Art

White Backdrops, Part 3

                                       White Backdrops, Part 1 //  White Backdrops, Part 2

Dog Portraits

Last weekend we hung the beautiful dog portraits I gave Will in our bedroom. I also wanted to add a natural wood shelf so we rearranged the whole wall. We face this wall when lying in bed so we wanted it just right. We *located the studs for the shelf, measured, double-triple-checked each piece, and hung our pieces with confidance. I really dig the new layout and plan on spending most of THIS weekend staring at it from the comfort of my bed with snacks nearby.

*Pro Tip: Locate studs in your wall with a magnet. I show you how HERE.

More bedroom:

Paper Cut Lamp // Upholstered Headboard // Bedside Table

Accidental Art

White Backdrops, Part 2

// White Backdrops, Part 1 //

ONE YEAR AGO

On March 5th, 2012, I was shooting my segment for the The Martha Stewart Show making my Ombre Mountain Paintings. The episode aired a week later on March 12th, and the whole experience was a dream come true and one of the top moments of my life. It was a good thing, to say the least.

Every step of the process I shared with you, sweet readers and viewers. You helped me choose my outfit (POLKA DOTS OBVS) and got to come along with me VIRTUALLY in this very special behind the scenes sneak peek of the show. Thank you for making the whole experience even more special.

Mo' MARTHA Posts:

The Show !! (a portion)

My Original Mountain Video

My Martha Appearance // Dreams

Martha Vlog 1 // Martha Vlog 2 // MAKE's Post

Wore This/Hung This/Watched This

This weekend I...

Planted this.
Wore this.
Hung this.
Watched this.
Cuddled this.

Custom Dog Portraits

Cristina Victor is a California-based multi-faceted talented artist friend of ours who has recently gotten into DOG PORTRAITS. When I saw how incredible her portraits were I just had to commission her to make one of each of our dogs for Will as a 10 year anniversary gift. The paintings arrived this weekend and Will was SO HAPPY. He adores our dogs as much as I do (which is crazy) and was really beyond touched by the custom-made pieces. Cristina did an amazing job. Not only do they look like our dogs, but the paintings seem to exude the life and personality of each individual. She captured their essence from Milo's black eyeliner and one lone black whisker to Strudel's alien ears and eyes that look into the depths of your soul.

MILO SHOESHINE

GRACIE STRUDEL

Contact Cristina to commission your own dog portrait by sending an email to: cvictor22@gmail.com

Cristina's: Dog Portrait Blog // Personal Blog // Official Website

Accidental Art: White Backdrops Part 1

 With a constant plethora of projects on my plate there is always a steady stream of supplies trailing between my office/craft storage room and living room table, where I do the MAKING. A constant companion is a big white roll of paper that I cover my table with when I need to paint, which seems to be allofthetime. It serves as a table protector and a clean, fresh background for video and photoshoots. I reuse the white paper over and over again to prevent as much waste as possible, and after several rounds I have noticed that the paint backdrops are becoming quite layered and very interesting.






The organic shapes and vibran colors are inspiringly abstract and I am kinda feeling the vibe they are embodying. I'll share a few photos of them every Tuesday in this new series, Accidental Art.