Still Mod After All These Years

Been meaning to blather about a sweet anniversary weekend that I had with my wife a few weeks back. By sweet I mean "sweet" and "sweet". We kept our activities on the mod tip as it turned out.




We stayed one nite at the Kimber Modern, tucked away behind the Continental Club, and basically across the street from the San Jose. The place was great- filled with custom made this and that mixed with fancy designer chairs, lights, and decor. We sat in egg chairs whilst not being able to do the NY Times crossword, and drinking complimentary wine.

Then we headed off to check out the Kirk Gallery for the first time. It RULES. The woman working there was wicked friendly, and they carried this great line of furniture made in Mexico City all outta plywood. The company is Pirwi. Check it if you like rad.

They also carried a variety of goodies I've only seen on the 'net, and not in real life... like this here planter I done talked about a year and a half ago. This stuff KILLS me. So awesome.

We topped off the evening with a late night dinner at Olivia, nestled next to the porno shop and taxidermist. After stuffing grandma and picking up a Jugs mag, we popped in for some delightful fare of Texas grown delights. Not a bad way to celebrate 12 years of wedded bliss.

Lake Trippin

Sorry for the serious lack of posts here yous, but you see the family and I just got back from the crystal clear waters of Higgins Lake Meeeeeeeeechigan!



Maybe it wasn't the brightest idea to become uber famous with a filing cabinet, then leave all my new lovers in the lurch, but when you have the chance to go to Higgins Lake, you take it!

Word has it that National Geographic Magazine ranked Higgins Lake as the "6th Most Beautiful Lake in the World." My family has been going there since the Big Bang, so this it the only lake I knew growing up. We moved to Texas when I was a youngster, and lakes here... well, I don't think they cracked the top ten on that list of pretty lakes. Or the top million probably. Lucky for us though, my grandparents have a place right on the lake. With a boat. We live the good life for a week once a year with em.

My grandpa was like, "I don't get it. Why'd you take a picture of the logs?" You might ask yourself the same...

The other part about Michigan is the state is slathered with cool mid century items and houses. I mean Herman Miller Headquarters is in Zeeland, Michigan you know? And scattered throughout my grandparents' house are cool numbers like this lamp... I'm hoping it'll be left to me along with the homemade strawberry jelly down in the basement freezer.

It was Claire's first time to the lake... It won't be her last.

Design Sponge Lowers Standards & Allows THIS In!

I knew the day would come when the filing cabinet planter would be more popular than I... actually, it ain't no stretch- the dog is also way more popular to our 8 month old than I. ANYWAY, back to the more popular inanimate object, the filing cabinet planter was on Design Sponge for chrissakes! And everyone has been so nice with their comments... I know some in the designy world can be a little on the cold side, but Grace at Design Sponge is all aces! Anyhoo, go check it out and get your snark on if need be.

This slab o wood could be yours!

Ye olde Mesquite Treat is up for grabs on my esty site. Who is it going to? MAYBE YOU? Callers are standing by...

Filing Planter Returns!

I ended up leveling out the beds to the filing cabinet planter... and threw in this "Before" shot for posterity.



I think this jazz looks better now as one cohesive unit, instead of different little beds stuck in their filing drawers. More pics below, then I promise to not go overboard on this filing planter banter no mo.

Mesquitey Treat in the Texas Heat

A while back, Claire and I went on a wood hunt via some Craigslist post. After the two of us discussed, we picked up this slab o mesquite with the cool sapwood rings, wormholes and roughness on the edges.



After some quality time scraping and sanding to a fine smoove surface, I slapped on some Watco Danish oil (since it seems like the Danes have a good thing going, and I had this in the garage) and let it marinate.



I attached some hairpin legs and voila! Mesquitey table/bench thang! It ain't exactly done, for I'm gonna poly the beast, but it does hold quite a heavy load, as seen in pic below...



I'm gonna put this thing on my etsy site when it's all finished (Crocs not included with purchase).

File that under DONE.

Honestly, I don't know how it happened, but I finished some golldang projects up in har. I painted those supports, (and the screen door- might post a pic if I'm bold enough to go back outside ever agane)- but check it out. Filing cabinet turned planter is DONE. I built some quicky planter boxes and put em inside each drawer slot, then spray painted it yellow...



Then I blew my entire Big Red Sun gift certificate (thanks Amber) on these succulents, and WHAMMO! BIG YELLA PLANTER!



Luckily I timed my excursion to the place after they had just picked up some new plants from their growers. Unluckily, I also showed up on said day they decided to go to the growers/close the store.



Need to get me some mo potting soil to raise these beds a touch. This succulent is pretty radical.



To keep on the painting tip I MAY git a wild hair to paint those poles that hold up our party cover (read weird old carport in the backyard) that are all rusted and seen in the background here. I also might wait til Texas is moved to Canada before starting that project.