Ximi's Mod Nest

Ahh... Our Vacation

2011-06-14T12:07:00.007-04:00

Our vacation was long overdue; last time we traveled was last year we visited my parents in Puerto Rico, but let's face it, visiting family should never be considered 'vacation'. Not unless you're waited on, served unlimited pina coladas and your bed is always made with a little mint chocolate on your pillow. Then that would be a whole different experience and maybe a little weird?

So for our trip on May-18-25th, as we decided on hotel resort I had a few strict requirements: All - Inclusive (didn't want to worry about money or tipping half the planet), tons of activities, (I wanted many options whether I participated or vegged out on the beach), great food and most importantly, a toddler camp where my 2 year old could play with other kids while my hubby and I could have lots of alone time.

We chose Club Med - Punta Cana, DR and we were so, so happy with our choice. We had a blast and brought with us great memories. It was over too soon but luckily we have pictures to remember those days under the sun, really feeling like we could relax and simply enjoy being.

To Brimfield and Back

2011-06-14T11:26:00.006-04:00

Ok, so off went to Brimfield, MA to attend the last two days of the Antique Show and despite not buying anything on our list, my husband and I had tons of fun walking and checking out all the vendors and their wares and simply being in each other's company. Of the items on our wish list and spied at the show were rotary phones and vintage world globes but since the vendor and I couldn't agree on a fair price, I would simply pass on it. I guess I expected that since it was approaching the end of the show, I'd be able to get the lowest price. Oh well, so it only means my searches continues and frankly that's what is so exciting - the thrill of the hunt and the exhilaration of the find!

In retrospect, I think that we approached the show with the wrong strategy. I figured that having a set wish list would be helpful by keeping us on track, but in the end, I think it caused us to overlook potentially cool stuff and prevented us from considering them.

There's always the next show to get it right!

Brimfield Antique Market here we come!

2011-05-12T11:04:00.000-04:00

I'm SUPER, ULTRA estatic about this coming weekend because my husband and I are going on a roadtrip - destination……Brimfield Antique Market! It's THE largest outdoor antique show in the world, held three times each year in Brimfield, MA. It attracts thousands of dealers so imagine just how massive this market is! We attended last year in September for the first time and were blown away. We were so glad we decided to stay the night because it was definitely going to take more than one day to cover everything.

In the end, we came away with some great finds: 2 pairs of antique boxing gloves, teardrop wooden mid century shelf, mid century ottoman, child rocking chair, textiles, samsonite train case and a few other nick nacks. I'll provide pics of those items on my next post. My husband, who has recently learned to appreciate antiques, was so impressed that he declared that we must return to their next show and come prepared with lots more loot and a solid wishlist.

My wishlist:

Mid century wall shelves
Entertainment unit - mid century style
Lounge chair for our bedroom
Rotary Phone
World globes
Chalkboard
Kokeshi dolls
Wooden toys
Lamps (for both bedroom & living room)
Wall décor
Doll crib & highchair
Wooden box/crate

And of course, whatever else catches my eye (and fits in our SUV!)

I Spy....Rainbow of Rotaries

2011-05-05T12:37:00.008-04:00

Like most toddlers, my 2 year old daughter loves to 'talk' on a phone….or box of crayon or the remote control. Her conversations are long and animated, full of wild hand gestures and facial features and while so fascinating to watch, it actually leaves me feeling quite self-conscience as I realize she's mirroring many of my own movements. Thanks for that, Little A...

So on the subject on phones, I thought how much she would enjoy a good ol' fashion rotary dial phone to continue her conversations in. Maybe this way I'll get my smartphone back? So on the hunt I went to Etsy and Ebay to see if I could find one in a gnarly color like red, orange or blue but to my dismay, I found that people are not paying you to take them off their hands?? After all, rotary phones have no redial buttons - it doesn't even show you the numbers as you're dialing, BUT most importantly, Lady Gaga doesn't inform you your husband's calling! They're commanding a pretty penny at $45-65 not including shipping which is pricey considering how heavy these suckers are! And so for its intended use, I can't see myself paying that much dinero for one. But just look at all the yummy rainbow colors! Their delicious retro vintage appeal moves me to say: I must have one and I will search to the ends of the internet (those who know me, can testify to this true statement) to find the perfect one at the perfect price!

Little A's Toddler room makeover!

2011-05-03T11:38:00.017-04:00

Hi there! It's been a while since I last posted but, wow, am I ready to fill you in on all the 'action' while I've been away! Well, not that I was really away anywhere, unless you count moving from one address to another as being away then I guess I have been! =) Mainly, I've just been up to my elbows in redecorating our new larger apartment we recently moved into. It's what you call here in NYC - a classic 6. Basically 2 bedrooms, eat-in kitchen, separate dining room and living PLUS….get this……a maids room! Yup, now we have a designated space for our office/art studio with an actual door to hide any mess (which is mostly my mess!). While exciting, our challenge has been to carefully decorate and furnish all this extra space without creating clutter by only bringing in smart, meaningful items that will not only work in this new space, but also in future spaces.

While moving here meant we gave up our quiet, tree lined street apartment where our daughter was born (literally - we had a home birth!), we needed more space and patiently searched until we found this really rough gem of an apartment. Since my husband and I tend to prefer gut renovated apartment, we had to do our damnest to look beyond the surface of the mess and see it's potential. Ugly moldings, filthy kitchen with suspicious items in the fridge and the bathroom?? Let's not go there, ick. Our reward now is having enough room to stretch out, wiggle our toes and just as importantly, my daughter can practice on her drums courtesy of the solid pre-war walls!

Of all the rooms, Little A's room was the one I wanted to tackle first. She was approaching 2 years old and so I wanted to transition her space from a nursery to a toddler's room. Coming from a teeny tiny room (8'x9') I had painted only one feature wall so I was really looking forward to using one color in the entire room. So after hours and hours (and hours) of obsessively browsing for inspiration through all the nursery/children's room tours on Oh Dee Doh.com, I chose a robin's egg blue color. Unlike her gender neutral nursery decor, this robin's egg blue felt fresh and light and feminine that would declare it - A GIRL'S ROOM!

You'll see that I've mixed old (Fisher Price toys, cabbage posable dolls and vintage clown, etc) and new (curtains, rugs, furniture) in her room but it's still a work in progress and think it will always will be so. I hope you enjoyed a peak into her new toddler's room!

Mod Ladies - New Collage Series!

2010-08-09T11:16:00.017-04:00

I love vintage patterns! I'm especially fond of the ones that look well loved and just plain ol' USED. You know, the ones with fragile edges held together with tape and that look as though they'll fall apart in your hands? Yup, those…. There's something about the illustrated models and their the feminine poses that simply transports me to times when jeans didn't rule the world (I mean, I love jeans like the next girl but dresses are sooo much prettier!) And well, since I don't think we'll ever see those days again, I'll have to content myself with perusing my mom's vast collection of vintage patterns (who is an amazing seamstress, if I say so myself!) and letting the smell, look and feel of them take me there.

You know, of all my childhood memories, I must say that my fondest ones are of my mom sewing. She was always sewing SOMETHING. Whether it was a "Sunday best" dress or my school uniforms, she was always creating something for me. Not being much of a helper, I'd sit surrounded by fabrics and patterns on her bed and listen to the gentle hum of the sewing machine until I dozed off. So, enough to say, I lack the patience and skills to sew my own clothing but, I found a lot of joy sketching fashion models and creating my own imaginary wardrobe. I know, I know, it's not nearly the same, but it's still fun!

So with this inspiration in mind and in honor of my mom, who nutured creativity and craftiness in me, I created the Mod Ladies collages! Each piece brings back the warm yet bright colors of the 50's and 60's era and oh-so-chic poses I simply LOVE! Check them out here!

Wood & Wool Stools

2010-01-20T13:50:00.006-05:00

I love these stools from Wood & Wool Stool! They're so cheerful and colorful with it's recycled wood legs & crocheted slipcover seat; it makes me happy just looking at them. All of Wood & Wool Stool's products are all handmade and use lots of different recycled materials. Stools are just a few of their goodies; they have gorgeous crocheted pillows, blankets wood, wool, crochet, clothing hangers and even even picture frames! What's not to love??

Happy New Year! (and happy shopping!)

2010-01-04T12:08:00.004-05:00

I've been on a personal shopping binge lately and it's wierd because it seems like it always hits me AFTER the holidays. I guess it's because after buying everyone else presents I started feeling a little left out. So I decided to take action and buy myself a few pretty things! Above are my latest vintage addition to my shoe department; I can't wait to get them! I found them on two different Etsy stores: Suzanne Sigmund Designs & TimeEchoVintage.. Happy Shopping to you all!

Sew Cute!

2009-11-24T16:22:00.005-05:00

I have a sewing machine buried somewhere my closet and lately I've been thinking about digging it out, dusting it off and begin creating 'beautiful' things (or at least I hope they'll turn out beautiful; my sewing skills are a little wobbly!). I thought I'd start with this little cutie of a bear who's pattern can be found here among other wonderful, crafty projects! I'm hoping I can tackle this project and finish in time for X-Mas to give to my little girl; wish me luck!

New Collage - Brooklyn!

2009-11-10T13:37:00.003-05:00

Here's the second collage of the NYC series I created for J.M. I'm really excited how it turned out; especially when I was asked by a buyer, shortly after listing, if I could make another for her!

Keeping Calendar

2009-11-09T16:52:00.006-05:00

I've been having calendars on my mind lately, I dunno, maybe I'm a little obsessed because I just had a birthday (Yikes, I'm officially 30!) and while my search is not over these are a few fun and unique ones I've found on a great website called ModCloth. So many goodies could be found there, clothes, decor and acessories! I have a coat from there on it's way, I'll post once I receive it!

I Spy on Ebay - Vintage Danish Mid Century Teak Rocking Chair

2009-11-02T12:17:00.005-05:00

It's beauties like this Vintage Teak rocking chair I'm watching on Ebay that make me fall in love with mid century modern design all over again! It's sculpted shape and gorgeous teak wood give this rocking chair a flair that will never be confused for your granny's rocking chair. =)

Miller Goodman

2009-10-30T15:59:00.006-04:00

I really love this new toy from Miller Goodman called PlayShape! It's a modular set of 74 geometric wooden shapes which can be arranged or stacked to produce tons of creations which truly allows children to be fully engaged and get the most out of the creative process. For me, this is the best kind of developmental toy where there are no boundaries or rules where you have to "color inside the lines", nope, just a child's endless imagination!

New Series of Collages

2009-10-26T15:02:00.005-04:00

Introducing a new series of Fairy Tales,Fable and Nursery Rhymes inspired collages, check out my new pieces now for sale in my Esty shop!

Three Potato Four

2009-10-22T10:22:00.003-04:00

I love this shop, it's beautifully curated with unique and charming items from 50's, 60's and 70's. I ordered a paper pack from them which i hope to incorporate into my collages!

Custom Collage -NYC CitiScape

2009-10-14T12:30:00.004-04:00

I was commissioned a collage featuring beautiful NYC! Thanks to J.M for trusting me with bringing her ideas to life! Also for her, I'm currently working on a series of NYC collage featuring landmarks and places that hold special memories in her heart and I can't wait to see how it will turn out! My NYC is truly a worthy subject.

Gotta have FLOR Tiles

2009-10-05T16:01:00.005-04:00

This past weekend, we moved to a larger 2 bedroom apt in the same building and although we've have a lot of work to do in putting away and organizing everything, I'm looking forward to enjoying the extra footage. The baby's room is huge and can finally hold all her things; no more tripping over her swing or taking a detour around her excersaucer. Most importantly we can all actually fit and hang out in her room, including the dog! However, her rug looks lost and tiny in the middle of her room so now I'm on the hunt for a new rug. So far, I'm leaning towards getting the FLOR tiles above. It's bright (meaning - hide stains), durable, and will look great with baby's large yellow accent wall. Flor tiles have tons of awesome colors, patterns and textures and what's even more fabulous is that if any of the tiles were to become stained/soiled/ruined, it can easily be removed and replaced with a new one. No more tossing out a stained rug, now how perfect is that??

Very funny!

2009-10-01T15:37:00.005-04:00

I have a weird sense of humor sometimes. Sometimes the most obvious things seen in movies, comedians, etc. rarely make me laugh out loud, not that it's not funny, rather that it only manages to make me smile rather than get teary eyed with a belly-hurting laugh. However, bloopers and awkward moments, well THAT totally and completely cracks me up! There's something about the spontaneity and clumsiness of an expectant stumble or remark that I find hilarious and these pics found on Awkward Family Photos are perfect examples of awkward and the clever captions are just too funny! Enjoy!

I want one too!

2009-09-29T12:37:00.018-04:00

I saw these lovely, unique handmade dolls from Tumbleberry Toys and I want one! It makes me want to be a little girl again; since that isn't possible, I'll contemplate buying one for my daughter. Everything about these dolls are special from its' natural materials, to her pure wool stuffing and cotton interlock skin and her handspun, hand dyed hair. It's a work of art, simple as that! My only reservation in handing such a beautiful doll to a baby or even a toddler (when my little one becomes one) is the possibility of her damaging it. I know, I know, what's the whole point of buying her a toy she won't be allowed to play with?? But what if I set it aside and hold it for her after she turns say.... 4 years old??

Grown up Nursery

2009-09-24T16:54:00.006-04:00

I love the idea of a nursery that is modern, stylish, sophisticated yet still sweet and child-like, it's a hard combination to pull off but DwellStudio does it effortlessly. The colors and patterns are bright, cheerful with a dash of simplicity. Check out their new arrival of their baby/kids collection. Everything is so irresistable that makes me want to redo my baby's room like: now!

Rex Ray

2009-09-23T16:46:00.004-04:00

I've been a huge admirer of Rex Ray's artwork for a while now and if you saw his work you would see why it's so amazing! His eye and use of color, design and texture is just simply brilliant.

I see potential!

2009-09-22T16:36:00.006-04:00

While digging around on craigslist for a folding table for the upcoming craft fair, I stumbled across this blog called Circa60 selling this fabulous set of mid century modern lounge chairs and I'm in love with them! They have crazy potential; I envision them reupholstered in a textured fabric with fantastic graphic pattern, I can just see them now. If I could just convince my husband that we have indeed have space for them, the world would be a happy place….….*sigh*

I Love Orange

2009-09-18T13:29:00.006-04:00

My absolute favorite color is yellow, but you would never know it by looking at our living room's decor. We have sheer orange linen curtains, orange accented pillows, orange accented chairs and Vintage 50's artwork with orange accents too. Plus my workspace as you saw in a previous post has an orange striped rug and orange storage boxes on the shelves. Even my baby's stroller is orange. Oh and our accent color for our wedding was orange too. It was never really a consicence choice; it just happens that Orange is a great color that both my husband and I always agree on.

So like fine china, I use the color occasionally so it's always a treat when I wear a yellow dress or something. In the meantime, Orange will always be that bold color that looks irresistable on just about anything, like these fabulous items from Jonathan Adler!

Sketch book pouch

2009-09-16T11:37:00.007-04:00

I'm a chronic doodler/sketcher so I see every blank space on a paper as an opportunity to give life to my little creatures. I got my moleskine sketchbook to curb that habit and keep it contained in one safe space since it looks unseemly in my corporate day job, to have little monkeys or elephants dancing around my reports and other paperwork! I just love my moleskine and I take it everywhere with me, problem is, it doesn't have a pocket or even a loop for me to attach my pencil. So when a sudden inspiration hits, I have to spend a few minutes digging around my bag for my pencil and eraser and quite frankly, it's just a big pain in the butt!

After plenty of searching, I found this fabulous seller on Etsy: downstairsDesigns.etsy.com, who makes really cool clutches/pouches where you can neatly carry your notebook, pencil, biz cards etc. I love the combination of the linen fabric with the variety of fabric prints she offers. I'm having her custom make a pouch similar to the one (same fabric print) above but larger to accommodate a larger sketchbook plus a little pouch to contain my pencil, eraser and biz cards, I can't wait to see how it will turn out! I'll be sure to post a pic once I receive it.

I'm back!

2009-09-14T11:32:00.006-04:00

I'm back from my vacation in Jamaica tanned (or burnt, depending on how you look at it!) and feeling well rested and ready to rock out as many collages as I can for a craft fair I will be attending on October 17th called Crafts in Chelsea in NYC. I'm excited to be a part of this event which is being co-sponsered by The NewNew NY etsy team, a local NY Metro group of etsy sellers, mainly because I will be meeting and interacting with potential buyers! If you'll be in the area, feel free to stop by, I have a big headful of curly hair so I'm hard to miss!