Etsy finds: stylish oilcloth accessories

Sure, I know oilcloth is not the first fabric that many of you think of when you're buying home accessories, but I think the laminated fabric adds such a distinctive touch that's hard to resist.

My latest search for oilcloth was spurred by the adorable bike pannier I blogged about last week. I just couldn't get it off my mind and I wondered what other cute oilcloth items people were creating. Of course, I did most of my searching on Etsy because I like to support independent artists and crafters. What I came up with shows just how sophisticated oilcloth has become:

Modern June

Banners are all the rage these days, but this party banner definitely tops the list for me as an attractive and durable option for all those summer parties. Forget using paper streamers that end up in the trash. This banner, which can become a fun yard or patio accessory for the summer, is made by Etsy seller Modern June, a homeschooling mom of two who was formerly a costumer for film and theatre.

Chalkydoodles

This oilcloth pillow from Etsy seller Chalkydoodles really took my breath away. It looks just like regular fabric but with the added feature of being more resistant to the elements. Plus, it adds such a distinctive touch to outdoor decor. Don't you think?

Chalkydoodles

Chalkydoodles also had these adorable oilcloth and chalkboard label tags in stock. These are great for adding pretty touches to your organizing projects or to give as reusable gift tags.

Sewing Momma

Sewing Momma

Sewing Momma has outdone herself with these stylish oilcloth bins that are perfect for so many things. Organizing in playrooms, dens or family rooms, kitchens, bathrooms. I first wrote about Sewing Momma's Sarah Latimer of Denver last year in a post about earth-friendly gifts for kids shortly after she launched her Etsy shop featuring eco-friendly bins, some made with Amy Butler fabrics. The mother of four has since grown her business tremendously, offering pretty bins in a variety of styles and sizes.

Stitches from the South

Somehow, I'm drawn to kids' ottomans or pillow cushions that double as seating for kids. I've seen them at so many online and discount stores but never in oilcloth, obviously a great fabric for kids. This oilcloth floor cushion is made by Etsy seller Stitches from the South, a grandmother of seven.

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Yes, I'm still pining for that bike pannier but this oilcloth bike pouch from Etsy seller partyfavorsparties is a great alternative for those short bike rides when you only need to take your keys or other small items.

rbt Bags

I'll take one of these lovely oilcloth three-ring binders in every color, please! I've got a few organizing binders around the house for various projects and am always on the lookout for pretty covers. These stylish binder covers are removable in case the binder itself wears out, you can just pop it right over another binder.

Rachel Bode Tucker, the creative force behind rbt Bags, is a mom of five boys who says in her Etsy profile that she discovered oilcloth while searching for inexpensive, stylish and practical products for her family. Working on a borrowed sewing machine, this creative mom began whipping out everything from key fobs to checkbook covers to tote bags.

Her store description aptly describes the virtues of oilcloth: "We try to use our resourcefulness to create products that add whimsy to people’s lives without sacrificing practicality or sophistication."

Kids' rooms, Pottery Barn style on a budget

OK, am I the only one who has conflicted feelings about Pottery Barn? On the one hand, I love their perfectly styled rooms, especially those that blend the modern with vintage touches. On the other hand, I really don't want my home to look like a replica of the rooms in their catalogue.



This will come as no revelation if you read my post here, where I showed you a tour of a Pottery Barn outlet near my home and confessed my love-dislike relationship with the mass retailer.

My solution? Pick just a few items I truly love, then use the Pottery Barn styling ideas as inspiration only to create an entirely new look.

My little dilemma now resolved, I just couldn't resist when I received an e-mail invitation to take a free decorating class at my nearest Pottery Barn Kids store recently.

I was particularly interested in hearing behind-the-scenes styling tips, like those featured in the Pottery Barn Kids book that I often thumb through for inspiration. The book features great kids' spaces showcasing great decorating ideas and stylish organization. Most importantly, they are rooms with plenty of fun for the kids who will use them.


My son would love the traffic light featured in this room

My daughter would likely swipe the lifesaver from the wall and use it to practice her swimming moves while in bed!

I did glean a few nuggets of wisdom from the class I attended along with 10 or so other women who attended the Saturday morning class.

Perhaps the best lesson I learned is that you don't need a ton of money to achieve the Pottery Barn look. Yeah, I know I shouldn't be surprised with so many budget-decorating blogs around. But I keep thinking of all the times I've walked through Pottery Barn stores (outlet included) where I've overheard shocked men exclaim to their female companions over the stores' high prices. This is why I was pleasantly surprised to hear the decorating class instructor dole out a few budget-friendly tips.

The instructor told us about PB Kids latest rug offering. It's a smart-looking striped rug, shown in the photo above, and is currently the only machine washable rug offered by Pottery Barn Kids and a great option for those who don't want to worry about spending extra to have a rug professionally cleaned. A similar version is offered in a red-and-blue combination.

Sometimes, even the smallest touches can make a world of difference. The instructor recommended changing knobs on a dresser for a distinctive look without having to shell out for a new piece of furniture.

If you are going to splurge, do so on a piece of furniture your kids will use a lot. Here, my son is sitting on a chair like the ones he and his sister have at home. I guess he couldn't resist sitting in it even at that odd angle. But I can definitely say it is comfortable since I sit on it every night when I put my daughter to sleep.

I am in love with the butterfly mobile, shown in the photo below.

But here is where I deviate from the Pottery Barn script and add in a few money-saving tips of my own.

1. Use some of the Pottery Barn accessories as ideas for a crafting projects. For example, the mobile below could probably be made with different sized embroidery hoops, or just simple but sturdy wiring covered with pretty ribbon or strips of cloth.

2. Rather than spending a ton of money buying brand new furniture at a Pottery Barn store, search the Craigslist listings for used Pottery Barn furniture. You could save hundreds doing this. The photo below shows the many styles of cribs offered by Pottery Barn, an enticing but costly option for those setting up a nursery.

3. Or even better, buy a vintage well-made piece of furniture and refinish it in a modern color of your choosing. Most of Pottery Barn furniture pieces are classic and traditional styles commonly found among furniture sold at thrift shops and garage sales.

4. Be patient. Wait until the Pottery Barn item you want is on sale. Most everything at Pottery Barn eventually goes on sale. You just have to be vigilant about monitoring the store's website and getting on their e-mail list.

5. Check out similar furniture and accessories from other retailers. A few stores, such as JC Penney, Ballard Designs and Company Kids (bookmark their daily sales page) have similar pieces of furniture for much less. Be sure to check reviews to note any comments on quality.



What are your thoughts about shopping at Pottery Barn?

Serena & Lily: bargain and global goodies

The clean, crisp designs of Serena & Lily have long called out to me. What hasn't been so appealing are the ultra-high prices on their bedding and other accessories.

Serena & Lily's Freida collection, their latest addition

I was pleasantly surprised when I clicked on their website over the weekend after spying an adorable kids' ottoman in a Serena & Lily magazine ad. I figured the simple soft cube would run upwards of $100, but I loved it so much I couldn't resist looking it up. Further temptation awaited me when I discovered the ottoman, or rather the "square chair" as it is called, costs $45. Maybe not pocket change for many of us in today's economy, but certainly more affordable than most designer pieces.

The square chairs come in various colors

Serena & Lily's high prices had previously prevented me from doing much exploring on their website, but this time, I clicked away, finding all sorts of delightful wares, like this doggie pillow.

The stylish letter pillows are charming without being frilly, though a bit of a splurge at $59 each.

I did find that most Serena & Lily items were still rather pricey, but the sale section contained many lovely finds, including adorable fabric for $12/yard, down from $40/yard. My favorite from the sale section was a collection of stuffed toys, the perfect whimsical accessory for a kid's bed.

This handsome curduroy bear is $20, marked down from $48. A lamb and bunny are also on sale for the same price.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of all was when I clicked on Serena & Lily's Bazaar section, aptly described as a place to "find your inner eclectic." I discovered all sorts of unique items from artisans all over the world. Bazaar products are those found by the designers and their stylists while shopping for props for their catalog shoots.

Honestly, I can't afford the $350 price tag for this stool, but I love its graceful curves and wonderfully graphic ikat fabric from Uzbekistan. I have a recently thrifted foot stool that is awaiting a dramatic makeover, perhaps inspired by this Serena & Lily foot stool.

I also enjoyed browsing the artwork featured in the Bazaar section, especially the more affordably priced woodcut blockprints from Brazilian artist Jose Francisco Borges.

The "Laranja" blockprint is $65

This wool felted rug from Kyrgyzstan (a region which I talked about here) is also another stylish offering from the Bazaar section.

I enjoyed my online shopping experience at Serena & Lily so much this time that I know I'll come back again to see if anything fits my needs and price range in the future, especially now that I know the designer's web site is more than just pricey bedding. As a shopper, there is nothing more exciting to me than designer bargains (of course) and finding unusual wares that allow for a little armchair traveling.

Are there any designer web sites do you enjoy shopping just for fun?

A charming French boutique

LouLou Addict is a charming French boutique with the most exquisite things for kids and the home. The boutique is in Paris but also offers online shopping here.

Take a look at some offerings:











The shop owner is a mom, Cecile, whose blog is equally charming. It's in French so you may want to use Google to translate the site, but the photos by themselves offer a great peek at the life of a mom in France. Cecile opened her shop near the Bastille in May 2007 to share her love of decoration. Some of my favorite shots on her blog are of LouLou Addict's shop windows, which make me feel as though I'm right there in the 11eme arrondissement in Paris. Just click on "les vitrines" to see the shop windows.

Lusting after vintage goodies on Ebay

In case you hadn't noticed, I love to shop. Everything from finding bargains at thrift shops and 99 cent stores to discount racks at upscale boutiques. You don't want to know what happened when I first discovered Ebay. I went a little crazy.

But, as we all know too well, the days of irrational exuberance are long gone, even for this shopaholic. So now I window-shop and admire. Here's the current crop of eye candy for me on Ebay (prices as of this posting, click on title below photo to access Ebay listing):

Vintage oil painting $35

I feel like you can never have too much artwork. I've been enamored of flower paintings lately, perhaps because I'm such a fan of the blog Absolutely Beautiful Things, where decorator and blogger Anna Spiro uses flower paintings to help create such lovely and inviting rooms.

Abstract painting $12.34

When I was putting together my home office, I spent hours looking for paintings featuring women. I wanted to be inspired by beautiful images of women around the world as I work. I like this image because it reminds me of my almost everyday indulgence of taking a break from the kid chaos and sitting at my kitchen table while enjoying a magazine.

1962 Portrait $51

What loveliness! I adore this painting. I've been staring at it for a while now, wondering what this beautifully dressed woman is thinking. Is it sadness, quiet hope, despondency I see in her eyes? Maybe none of these. I enjoy paintings that allow me to imagine the story behind them.

Vintage Uzbek Hand-Embroidered Suzani $44

I don't care if the Suzani craze is over because I'm still craving a Suzani to hang above my bed. I like this Suzani for its wildly colorful design, which suits me perfectly. Of course, my husband might have different ideas about what should hang over our bed.

1960s Mexican straw tote $17.50

You may have noticed a pattern in my Ebay finds. They're all vintage. I just can't seem to get away from things that seem imbued with so much character. And I'm such a fan of vintage items to help organize one's home. This straw tote would be divine to hold towels in the bathroom or my current crop of reading books in the living room.

Antique card file box $10.50

Yum! This box is such a delicious dark chocolate brown. Among my many obsessions are cabinets with many drawers. The more drawers the better. Someday I will show you my collection of these type of cabinets but I've yet to add a card file box like this one, which I think would be great for holding so many things in the kitchen, office or bedroom.

Vintage red, black and silver wallpaper $15.92

I've been gathering my courage to put up a wall of wallpaper somewhere in my home. Since red figures prominently in several rooms, this one seems like a nice, bold choice for a great accent wall. Or, I could also use a smaller dose of it and create my own "wall sticker." I'm thinking a wall sticker of a tree or a giraffe, but I'm artistically challenged on the drawing front. Ideas?

Vintage Contac paper (yellow bamboo) $7.99

This is another more subtle (and less expensive) choice for a wall-sticker but the width is smaller. Also, the spot I'm thinking of adding this wall sticker is rather bland at the moment and in dire need of color so I'm not sure a subtle yellow would do much for that area.

So there you have it, my list of current Ebay obsessions. I'm finding it difficult to hold off on buying things when there seem to be so many good deals out there, but I'm also proud of myself for being disciplined on the fiscal front. What about you, are you shopping more or less on Ebay these days?

Pottery Barn: Decorating friend or foe?

Who can resist the glossy catalogues full of photographs of perfectly attired rooms that arrive in the mail about once a month from Pottery Barn? I certainly can't stop myself from poring over the pages, despite my self-professed love for all things vintage and thrifted. There's just something about those handsomely styled rooms that draw me in.

I'm not interested in replicating the rooms, but I love the inspired assemblages of furniture and accessories. You can imagine my glee then when a Pottery Barn outlet store opened near my house last year.

Rows upon rows of merchandise beckoned. I heeded the call right away, excitedly scooping up merchandise, particularly in the back "clearance" room, where non-returnable items were typically marked down 75 percent.

The Pottery Barn outlet store is like a giant warehouse, with just a few snippets of the everyday living vignettes that have made them popular.

I'm particularly grateful for the kids' and teen items since there are so few brick-and-mortar options for these type of products.

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But. recently, the rows upon rows of the same merchandise has left me a little despondent. With about 200 Pottery Barn stores throughout the United States and Canada (and 10 U.S. outlet stores), does this mean countless other people are sporting the same comforter, table, sofa or whatever's in stock at the moment?

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There's certainly a lot to be said for the variety of options offered by a store like Pottery Barn. Recently, I was looking for a specific shade of pink for two pillowcases to update the bedding on my two-year-old's toddler bed (recently converted from a crib) and found exactly what I was looking for at the outlet.
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To be sure, it can be comforting to have a store like Pottery Barn, where its talented designers anticipate or perfect a trend. And certainly those well-designed catalogues play a big role in stoking our interest in the store.

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Pottery Barn isn't exactly cheap, unless you're lucky or patient enough to snatch up what you want on sale, but the store does offer convenience, variety, and designs to fit most styles.

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For example, those of us with a hankering for quality rugs at somewhat affordable prices can find them at Pottery Barn. The outlet prices are even better, but the outlet rugs are non-returnable so you have to be sure about your purchase.

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Table and kitchen linens are available in an ever-evolving array of colors and designs.



And, I really can't say enough of about the kids' offerings. As the parent of two little ones, I've shopped everywhere from Target to exclusive online boutiques and I constantly find myself returning to Pottery Barn Kids for its variety, quality and sales.

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This is why the outlet store continues to attract my attention even though I've become more immune to its charms. As an inveterate bargain-shopper, I find msyelf constantly drawn to the Pottery Barn outlet not just for the expected lower prices but also for another bonus: all the brands owned by Williams-Sonoma, Inc. under one roof. This includes: Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, Pottery Barn Bed + Bath, Williams-Sonoma, Williams-Sonoma Home and West Elm.
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Let's face it. You're not likely to find these prices even at Target.

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I've yet to buy anything from the Williams-Sonoma Home line, mostly because of astonishingly high prices, even at the outlet.

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Of course, I must mention the trade-offs. Most of the furniture is still not cheap, though it is far less expensive than catalog prices and a major attraction for most shoppers is not having to pay high shipping prices. If you're buying a sofa at the outlet, you must be willing to take the same sofa where countless husbands/significant others have sat while waiting for their loved ones to shop.

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Shopping at the outlet also gives me the opportunity to see all the damaged merchandise and defects in workmanship, which is not always a pretty sight. I've seen many items that seemed better destined for a dump or the workshop of a very handy carpenter.

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You must also be willing to shop in a warehouse atmosphere. Though mostly friendly, outlet staff are often harried and checkout times can be quite lengthy.

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My fondness for Pottery Barn is a little embarassing since I do often pride myself on finding unique items for my home. I decide it's time for a little inventory check. I look around my house and count off to myself all the Pottery Barn items we own. Most are accessories (pillows, organizational items) scattered throughout the house, while five pieces of furniture form the backdrop for my home office.

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I don't know how most people would fare during such an inventory, but I suppose I didn't do too bad considering I've regularly trolled the halls of the Pottery Barn outlet since it first opened.

I remember then that I enthusiastically gushed to a Pottery Barn outlet employee about how overjoyed I was to find so many bargains. "How do you do it?" I asked, "How do stop yourself from buying up the store?" He looked at me quizzically, then responded quietly, "Well, there's always the mortgage to think about."

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Oh, that.

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Thank goodness for that.

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