Family Affair

Stick figure family auto decals have been a little pet peeve of mine since the trend began. But like all things that have mass popularity but annoy a small few, satirical versions have been cropping up everywhere and some of them are pretty darn hilarious. You can either drive around any given suburb and see for yourself, or take a look at a few of the funniest ones here:


This is exactly what I think in my mind when I pull up behind every SUV emblazoned with a set of these conventional stick figure family decals.


You have to appreciate a single cat-loving woman with a sense of humor.


This is my personal favorite, although I'd find one featuring the wife with the chainsaw to be even funnier.


Perfect for the recently divorced man.


Enough said.


The real American family: Gun Family Sticker available from Desert Dog Decals.


On a more serious note, I recently saw this single parent version for the first time and while that would be the last thing I would ever publicize on my car, I still appreciated it.

Esty Love: Valentines Edition

If I had a Valentine, or gave a crap about yet another bogus consumerist Hallmark holiday (ok, maybe I'm a little bitter), then here are the a few of the unique, decidedly UN-Hallmark treasures from Etsy I'd consider giving or might be keen on receiving, alongside a lovingly prepared breakfast in bed of course. Perhaps my future beau is taking notes for next year.....


I Love You 8x8 Photo Print by Sherri Conley.


Natural Driftwood Heart from Tidal Creations.


5x7 Vintage Heart Anatomy from Encyclomedia Town.


Key Heart Necklace from Tara Jackson Jewelry.


Owl Heart Platter by Black Baroque.


Handmade Heart-shaped Bowls by JD Wolfe Pottery.


I'd swoon over just about anything wrapped in some old newspaper and this I Love You Ribbon from The Lonely Heart.

Ready, Aim, Fire!

Ever since the 2nd Amendment took hold, a large percentage of our country has remained proudly and legally self-armed. However, gun ownership has shown a steady decline in the last few decades down to an estimated 1/4 of U.S. adults owning a legal firearm (clearly, it's difficult to obtain statistics on the very large number of illegally sold and possessed firearms). But that's still no small thing with approximately 4.5 million new nonmilitary guns and about 2 million secondhand firearms sold every year. In the past few years I've noticed the design world adopting firearm motifs in home decor more than ever, visually celebrating of this vital part of Americana, regardless of the decline in those choosing to bear arms. From the downright kitschy to the design icon, firearms have found their way into our homes in a whole new way.



Gun Grip Door Handles found on Geekologie.


A gun table lamp from the Philippe Starck Collection for Flos.


Pistol Cabinet Hardware from Billy Blue 22 on Etsy.


Ruger Mark II MK512 Shower Curtain from Eternal Art, also on Etsy.


Gun-shaped Egg Fryers from Island Dogs, available on Amazon.


Gun Stand Coat Rack from Collections Etc.


Porcelaine Pistols by Yvonne Lee Schultz, via Swag Like Me.

Monday Color: Black and Gold

Like the 100 or so million other Americans who watched yesterday's Super Bowl, I was truly entertained and inspired. It was a great game. Although I have to admit that the most pleasurable source of entertainment and inspiration for me was that thrilling half-time performance by the legendary Madonna (and several talented buds of hers). And so I turn to her wardrobe palette for today's Monday Color combination: the fierce black and gold pairing of her half Grecian, half Stripper ensemble. Here's how it works off the field:





























Images above:

1. An opulent black and gold bathroom.

2. A sparkly gold fireplace in a room dotted with bold black, found on Real Simple.

3. A wild zebra rug with a more subdued gold velvet sofa against deep black walls strikes a unique balance.

4. A living room filled with sexy black seating and a bunch of industrial chic accents from ehomee.com.

5. The combination of gold damask wallpaper and a black bed show how fine the line between tacky and tasteful is, but successfully pulls it off with the sophisticated of black and white photography and crisp hotel bedding (from Decor Pad).


6. Whoa! Daring gold-painted trim with black and gold wallpaper and accessories (from Beautiful Shopping).

7. And DOUBLE whoa! The Midas Touch Collection by Philip Plein (as seen on Luxury Launches).

8. A black and gold Ralph Lauren Home pillow, found on Departures.com.

9. Leonardo Leather Ottomans as featured on ID Best.

10. Guilt Mirror by Koket.

11. Barbara Cahn's handmade black and gold porcelain vase.

12. There are plenty of over-the-top black and gold dinnerware options on the market, but nothing makes this color duo more palatable than classic a Black Astbury Wedgwood set (available from The Crystal Company).

13. From the Metalic Cowhide Collection at Saddlemans of Santa Fe.

14. A clever gloss black and gold leafed Jewelry Armoire by Powell available at Accent Furniture Online.

Etsy Love: (something a little different this week)

This week marked the soft, unofficial launch of my new interior design firm Wolf & Wing Interior Design, which is really just a re-branded, blended fusion of all my design businesses of the last decade into one unified concept that I'm so proud and eager to move ahead with. New Years Intention #1 checked off the list!!!

Since I've been a little busy with all this, I have neglected to post anything here since Monday and am only going to do a modified Etsy Love post today, not featuring a single shop, but rather a curation of items throughout Etsy that feature either a wolf or a wing to celebrate my new endeavor. You can't hear the noisemakers and champagne bottle corks, but they're honking and popping over here nonetheless. Enjoy with me, please.


Brass Eagle from Rhett Didn't Give a Damn


Bird Wing Printed on Vintage Map of NW Australia by Herbert Co (Ingrid, if you're reading this.....you must get this and put it on your dream board!!)


"We Make Our Truth" Graphic Hand Printed Tee from Sirius Grafik (if ANYONE'S reading this, I'd probably fit a Mens Small!).



Two beautiful, screaming-my-name Patina Wing Pendants from Amanda Davies Elements Etsy Shop.


Evolving Habitats Custom Made Wolf Forest Light Box.


Baby Boy On Wolf Print by Hide N Seek.


A Little Lark's Gold Wolf Sketchbook.


Recycled Cotton Canvas Lunch Sak with a hand-screened image of a wolf in a forest, also from A Little Lark.

Monday Color: Blush & Chocolate

My son recently asked me what my least favorite colors are and I quickly answered red and pink. I've warmed up to red in my design work over time, but pink still haunts the tomboy in me. I have one shirt dotted with tiny pink flowers but I always wear it with jeans and boyish cardigans to offset the frilly femininity. But I came across the first bedroom below on House Beautiful's website and saw a sophisticated, soothing side of pale pink that I'd never acknowledged before, thanks to its pairing with a deep brown, crisp lines and touches of subtle glamour. So I delved deeper to find other examples of a how hues of blush pink and chocolate brown work together, outside of a box of Valentine's chocolates, that is.


































Images above:

1. The subtle accents of blush pink and chocolate brown that inspired this post, as seen in the second photo in a round-up of pink rooms on House Beautiful.

2. #35 on a list of 56 beautiful living rooms, also on House Beautiful, the sweet pale pink walls are balanced by hearty chocolate leather chairs and textural sisal in this space.

3. Apple green punches up a pink and brown palette in this sitting area (found on Confetti Style).

4. Found on Odi Et Amo, the wood tones in this living room provide the grounding dark browns for a rainbow of pink hues to dance against.

5. A sweet yet sophisticated pink and brown girls room, found on VT Interiors.

6. A glamorous vignette of pink art on espresso walls.

7. Another bedroom with a contemporary chocolate brown upholstered headboard and plenty of white to balance out the powder pink walls (via a blog called Mama Mona).

8. I love the chocolate brown walls and subtle touches of pink in the chandelier and chair backs in this dining room, found on The Lennoxx .

9. The Gladstone Cast Iron Single Ended Bath comes in a soothing pale pink, from the UK's Victorian Plumbing.

10. The perfect towels to pair with the tub above for a nature-inspired blush and chocolate bathroom color scheme (Cherry Blossom Towel Set from Amazon).

11. A hand block print pillow in brown and blush hues from EarthLab's Etsy Shop.

12. The Don't Be Square Rug from Rugs Direct would be a mod touch in any girls room.

13. Saturday Knight Ltd's Owl Shower Curtain marries light pink and chocolate brown with several other fun hues, perfect for a modern kids bathroom.

14. Carter's adorable Pink Elephant Crib Set from Baby Super Mall.

15. Graham & Brown's Hand-Painted Orchid Canvas Art from All Modern.