The Teens are upon us, y'all!

And if there's one thing about me that most of y'all know, I enjoy some Teen...(I AM Teen Tawny, afterall y'all...do have a listen to my songs here!!!):

So a HUGE Happy New Year to my grandbaby dazzler's!!! May 2013 bring y'all health, wealth, love and perfect self-expression-- by way of sparkly headbands and panties!!! LOVE! I also LOVE my new chic porcelain gnome light I scooped up recently on sale at Target:

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This little guy makes me sooooo happy-- I've decided he's my 'good luck gnome'...Target might be sold out b/c he was value-priced to sell, but don't fret, y'all can score one here:

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Commence 2013 dream fulfillment!

Merry Thriftmas...Whores!

Well, damn, it's been a minute since I've been able to work the streets in search of hot thrift whore action...but y'all are in for some tangy treats today!

Those busts are just begging for a hit of some poppy colored paint to chic them up bit...I'll take care of that, y'all...don't get up out of your seat now, please...in fact, let me get you something to sip on, while you sit there on yo ass...and I've got just the glass...

It's not often that I'm slain with textile offerings when out whoring, but lo and behold, this Salvation Army served me some-- all proper-like...

If I hadn't looked closely at that little lady above, I'd have missed that she was a sweet cafe curtain just waiting to be hung in the window with care...y'all, be sure to always get all up in there in that thrift shiot and dig around-- there's gems lurking about...like this...

That fabric is choo choo chooing to become some kind of fabulous in a little boys room-- pillows? curtain? work overalls? Make IT!

Y'all, anytime I see a handmade throw, blanket, etc., in a fun color or pattern, I'm style-slapped and scoop it up...how amazing will this bright young thing be lounging on the edge of a sofa...all textured and fringe-y??? And somebody's gran-ma-ma spent mad hours toiling over this shiot and I salute her! But wait, y'all, there's more:

REAL wool blankets are becoming more and more of a rarity it seems, what with all the fleece and Snuggie's runnin' rampant all over the place, so y'all can never do wrong by scooping 'em up when you see 'em...and as with ANY thrift purchases, make sure you clean your scores...all thorough-like! Happy whoring y'all-- may all your thrifting dreams be fulfilled!!!

The birds have flown the coop in my bathroom...FINALLY!!!

Y'all, it's been since July, but my bathroom pattern repeat paint project is finished...prepare for HOT AFTER ACTION!!!:

I'm really happy with the way it turned out! I think it's an unexpected play on the scale of the existing print of the shower curtain, which looks like this:

And because the print is much more like a line drawing, I could get all cra cra and not worry too much about painting something that was a prefect replica of the original. Talk about not coloring in the lines...damn! Here's how I did it, y'all: 1. Start with a shot of your choice and then proceed with cold beers throughout...this helps your inner Picasso hurl forth! 2. Using interior latex paint in black & brown and a couple foam craft brushes, I picked a cage that inspired me and free-handed it onto the wall. If the cage has a brown base (see above pic), I started with that. To achieve a perfectly round circle for the one cage, I traced the lid of a pot. I typed POT. Hee hee... 3. Next I painted the black bars of cages and other black lines. This was the best part of process b/c I really couldn't make a mistake, since the lines in original print are so askew-- and I was beyond trashed at this point...

Here's a shot of my paint 'set-up'...yes, that IS a cat food can...don't hate, biotch! When cleaned out, they make the BEST paint cans for projects...or, go ahead y'all and leave chunks of food in the can to mix with your paint, the remnants will add texture to your paint treatment, resulting in stucco realness that your cat can eat right off the walls!!! YUMMY!

And here's where this all started:

And let's savor one last look, y'all...this shiot was months in the making...

Meeeeooowww!

Mi Casa...Ankasa!

Y'all, the other night I was swillin' champagne at the swanky premiere/holiday party for Ankasa in Soho! Ankasa is an absolutely gorg luxury home brand with roots in high end fashion, created by Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia. Exquisite pillows, bedding, furniture, lighting and original artwork are in abundance and ready to slay y'all...

LOVING the white lacquered pipe and flange used for display...and y'all can't really tell from my '5-glasses in advanced champagne camera technique', but the paint colors used in this place are divine-- Who ARE these people?!?!

SERVE US!

More Festive Skulls!

Ankasa is just bubbling with all kinds of gorgeousness for the home, so it's well worth a visit to see it for y'all-selves! And for those out of towners, fret not: though Ankasa is in the process of updating it's online ordering system, they are more than happy to facilitate orders over the phone, click here for specifics. And festive skulls!

I'm gonna serve sass at upcoming "Art Enology." Pop-Up Gallery in Harlem!

For those of y'all who are able, please join me this coming Sat 12/8 at Art in Flux Harlem, where along with several other interior experts, I'll be dishing on how to decorate your home for the holidays and how to incorporate art into the home setting! Slain! It's also a wine tasting with some nosh and an exhibit! Woohoo! Art-realness!

The event is part of "Art Enology." Twenty Artists on Wine exhibit to highlight Harlem's growing art scene. Exhibit runs from Dec 2012 to Jan 2013. Here's a more official, proper blurb b/c y'all know my jank description above is so not pitch perfect:

'Tis the Season…for Art & Wine: Sat. Dec. 8th 1-3pm. During the holiday season there is lots of celebrating and decorating to do. In this event, participants will receive tips from experts in art, wine and interior design on how to incorporate art and wine into the holiday season. Questions that will be answered include: how to select art/wine as a holiday gift; how to select the right wine for a Christmas/New Year’s party; and how art and wine can be used to decorate the home during the holiday season and all year-round. The event will also include tastings and an artist meet-and-greet. Fun! Right y'all?? But wait...there's MORE:

Art.com will be showin' some love by offering some prizes during the event...'cause that's how it is when you're an 'Inspired Insider' with art.com...did i mention art.com? The events’ sponsors include Simone International/Papi Wines, Ebony.com and Cuisine Noir magazine, with production by Souleo Enterprises, LLC, an event/media production company.

This is all going down at Art in Flux Harlem, 1961 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd (7th Ave.) at 118th Street, in New York, New York. 646-340-3479, info@artinfluxharlem.com and click here for even more info. Hope to see y'all!!!

Stripped and LOVING IT!

Commence new bedframe backslappery:

Biotch took me task with this one...stripping off all that luxurious 'wood' grain took both my time & my brain cells (toxic paint stripper-realness), I'm not gonna lie...but whateve's, it's a small price to pay for all this metal/stainless steel luxury...here's a refresher of what she used to look like:

Here's more hot AFTER Action:

Let's see this lady without some of those pillows:

Those streaks on the headboard aren't my shoddy photography skills, y'all (sorry about moody lighting)...they're REAL...they came about from my scrubbing and are a bit unsightly, but I'm ok with them...when removing paint or other finish from metal, you often have to use an abrasive (sandpaper, steel wool, scrubber) as well as stripper, to get everything off...and depending upon what & how you use it (by hand vs. power tool), it will "scar" the metal. For instance, sandpaper will remove everything, but you'll be scratching your metal underneath in the removal process, so you have to be careful...some peeps use sandpaper or other abrasives & make it more of a deliberate design detail, creating a pattern or some such in the metal. I wanted the metal here to be more random and hand-finished, so it looked as natural as possible. Also, I can always re-sand if I want to tone down anything, etc. at a later time...b/c y'all know this shiot didn't take long enough in the first place...shut the FU&$ you I'm not touchin' that damn thing again!

Overall, I'm thrilled beyond belief at how my new bedframe turned out! From Thrift Whore score to sassy stainless seductress...consider y'all-selves taken there!

'shroom II-- Style Slapped...twice!

Y'all, my second mushroom ottoman has been turned out! Here's the fabric she got done up in:

Velvet wasn't my first choice, in all honesty...I wanted to do this awesome blue cotton canvas, but the company stopped making that particular shade of blue, and I wasn't really loving the upgraded color they were trying to pass off as it's replacement. SO, I came across this velvet in the same shade of blue as my inspiration, which I was intrigued by...but then I noticed all this distressing and it was over! 2.5 yards couldn't get into my bag fast enough...and I think I ended up with the right choice:

And now, let these two ladies SERVE IT:

BIG shout out to the good folks at Economy Foam and Futon who reupholstered these gals! They did such an amazing job!!! If y'all need ANY upholstery, throw pillows, etc...get yo a$$es to Economy...they're soooo affordable and they do soooo much more than just futons, tell them I sent you!

'shroom gets style-slapped!

Y'all check out my 'shroom ottoman's new outfit:

That giant-a$$ shadow was insistent upon getting in on the photo shoot, but thankfully it doesn't distract from all the gorg babygirl is serving us:

I LOVE how it turned out...Economy Foam and Futon did such a terrific job (who knew they did upholstery? Y'all DO...that's who!?) It's so scrumptious now, compared to what she was serving us before:

For those folks interested in the fabric I used for this ottoman, get y'allselves over to fabric.com and order some up! It's soooo chic!!! And remember to check back for the BIG REVEAL on the other mushroom ottoman who's getting tricked out in a tangy blue velvet! Yummy double 'shroom love coming y'all's way!!!

Free Shiot Friday!

Who needs a giant marble countertop or island? For FREE???

Which, apparently, comes complete with a marble base as well...damn, DOUBLE value, ya'll! This would probably cost well over $1000 for something like this from a marble yard...look how thick this is:

THIS is the way to start a weekend!!! ENJOY!

MyColor inspired by Pantone Blog-A-Dazzle winner is...

Jennifer C!!!!

Congratulations to Jennifer who commented on last week's painting par-tay, saying, "I've got a few pieces of furniture I've found that I want to paint"...

Well, girl, your painting destiny is about to be fulfilled with 3 jars of MyColor inspired by Pantone paint in whatever colors you choose!

Now go get your PAINT on...and please feel free to send pics of your project, would love to see the transformations!!!

Congratulations!

Magic Mushrooms!!!

Y'all, I've had these two vintage mushroom-shaped ottomans for a while now. Love! They're quirky, small, portable and quite comfy. Problem is they're both rockin' the original fabric that they were "grown" in...heinous shag situations...that wouldn't be so bad, except I've already got a vintage shag rug in our living room...and that's just too much shag on shag action, even for me:

That, and one of them is full on disintegrating from the inside out...that's what happens to foam from the 60's:

Anyway, I'm giving these gals an update with new fabric! This print is going on the rotten mushroom:

J'adore this fabric! It's kinda like a barkcloth in texture, which is great for durability. And the colors/print just style-slapped me right across the face! Hello Ikat-realness!!! The 'shroom will also get all new foam and batting...the other ottoman is going to be redone in a solid canvas, most likely some tangy shade of blue, which as soon as I get, will share. I could've easily done both in the same fabric, but didn't want them to be too matchy-matchums. Check back to see the other fabric and HOT AFTER Mushroom Makeover shots!!!

Children + White Upholstery= A MUST!

Y'all, long gone are the days of being terrified of white upholstery. Especially those of y'all who have little ones. YES!!! I'm working with a client who has two boys, both under the age of 10. We recently got this luscious ottoman for her living room:

Damn! Are we absolutely cra cra, y'all ask? Well, yes, generally speaking, but before you get all manic panic contemplating how anyone would make such an insane choice for their living room-- AND put that bad boy dead center for all the world to kick back on, get a load of this:

To all those parents and others prejudice to white upholstery, may I introduce y'all to your new BFF, Scotchgard for Fabric protector spray.

This fabric protector has actually been around for a while, so this isn't anything new, but I just wanted to share. Also, it seems everyone is gearing up for Holiday parties, so do y'all-selves a favor and get a can of this protector and follow the easy application steps on the can. Whether or not you are in the market for any light colored upholstered pieces or you already own items that currently hide under towels, blankets, etc for fear of them being stained-- this will be the BEST $10 you've spent in a long time. It goes on clear, dries in minutes and does wonders for protecting fabric and upholstered pieces. So, for those of y'all out there who LOVE white/light colored furniture, and have always been too afraid of spills and stains to own any-- ESP folks with children-- go forth my friends and buy with confidence!

It's ON: MyColor™ inspired by Pantone® Painting Party!

Woo-hoo! It's 12p EST and y'all know what THAT means? It's par-tay paint time!

Welcome to the MyColor inspired by Pantone painting party! Let's GET this! To review: there are a group of awesome diy blogger dynamos, including yours truly, who have all done up some projects using My Color inspired by Pantone paint. Expect to be inspired (duh), mesmerized...titillated even...by paint! Uh huh! Y'all could even win stuff! OH! And maybe, just maybe, today's the day y'all are gonna finally have your decorating destinies fulfilled, not only here on Blog-A-Dazzle...oh, no, y'all...you're embarking on a full-on painting treasure hunt, today! YES!

See, after you experience what I've got to share, you'll click on over to Cassie, at Primitive and Proper blog, who will beguile y'all with her paint magic! Here's the complete list in order:

Courtney @ A Thoughtful Place *Go Back to the Beginning!* PJ @ Blog-A-Dazzle *You Are Here!* Cassie @ Primitive and Proper *Continue to this Blog Next!* Holly @ Life in the Fun Lane Angela @ Number Fifty-Three Heather @ Paper Princess Studio

But first, I'm gettin' all kinds of diy dirty up in here with My Color inspired by Pantone Paint, 'cause that's just how I roller-on my parties (pun intended!) Oh shiot!:

I'd been given these three amazing graphic popsicle art prints from the amazing designer & illustrator, Erin Wengrovius, a while ago:

Y'all can score some of her work right here.

I've always had the best intentions to have them framed in some 'licious way, but y'all know how easy it is to blow out your decorating budget with custom framing...am I right? So, when asked to participate in this event, I knew just what I wanted to tackle: frame these lovelies!!! What's that got to do with paint? Well...

When framing, I love to take my color cues for my frame choice right off the artwork that's being framed and then sass up the whole situation even more by surrounding artwork with a thick white mat-- yummy! I also j'adore the idea of contrasting subject matter in the artwork with the frame type, like my modern & poppy art prints, paired with frames that look like this:

I scored these ornate-y frames for value dollars at thrift stores and flea markets. They're all kinds of janky-- some chips & dings, one was missing glass, but they're giving us all kinds of gilded glam that will contrast perfectly with clean & modern art prints.

The real icing on the cake starts oozing when I paint each one of them in a different coordinating color from My Color inspired by Pantone paint! Paired with the white mats, these sweet treats are gonna style-slap y'all with bright bold painted frame realness!!! Paint biotch!

FIRST: With either your artwork or measurements of your artwork in tow, troll area thrift stores, flea markets or other fun places you know that could yield used frame bounty. Each of my three frames were less than $15, so go dig up your own value!

SECOND: Take both your artwork AND your "new" frames to your local art frame shop. Have them cut mats for your artwork to fit into the frames you're providing in the color you choose. I almost always choose white, single mats. Prints Charming in Brooklyn is my go-to spot for these types of projects, they're awesome! (Note: Avoid drama here by calling ahead to your frame place to confirm they'll do this service for you. Most locally owned shops allow you to bring in your own frames, but there are some that prefer you purchase frames from them. By just purchasing mats and having them customized you are saving a small fortune with this step. Another great note: The frame you find doesn't have glass? Most frame shops offer glass for frames for dirt cheap, so GRAB it!)

THIRD: Prep frames for painting. Remove backing and glass. Clean frames. Once dry, paint frames in desired colors.

Depending upon the original color and finish of your frame, expect it to take two to three coats. Allow to dry between coats and before next step. For reference, the colors I used were: Tangerine Tango for the orange creamsicle art, Dandelion for the rainbow popsicle and Blithe for the rocket pop.

FOURTH: Reassemble frames by carefully inserting glass, your artwork with new mat and secure in back of frame. Now, go rock yo walls with your new artwork, y'all!!!

So as you can see, my mis-matched ornate-mess frames turned out stunning when style-slapped with bright poppy paint that matches the art within. How hot is that y'all? Tangy!

BUT WAIT, there's more: If y'all want to win a sample of MyColor™ inspired by Pantone® for y'all-selves, just comment on my post (you'll have up to a week from today to do so for y'all lazy a$$ skanks) and share how you’d use MyColor™ inspired by Pantone® in your next project or your life! Feel free to comment on the other blogs in the party too – they’ll all be giving away samples-- oh my, y'all, that's 5 potential samples! For a second chance to win, tweet your project ideas to @MyColorPaints using hashtag #PassItOn. Also check out and like the MyColor™ inspired by Pantone® Facebook page to get access to the schedule for today’s parties as well as the rest of the parties going on this month! Share your project ideas there for one more chance to win!

And don't forget to continue your DIY Painting Party journey with my fellow Par-tay bloggers. Next stop on this party bus is with Cassie at Primitive and Proper. Happy paint party!

Dazzle Disclaimer, y'all: MyColor™ inspired by Pantone® reached out to me to participate in the MyColor™ inspired by Pantone® Painting Party. My post represents my honest experience with MyColor™ inspired by Pantone® paint. I am not being paid for my answers, but I did receive MyColor™ inspired by Pantone® paint to use for this project.

Blog-A-Dazzle & MyColor inspired by Pantone Painting Party TOMORROW 10/17, 12p EST!!!

Y'all, I'm thrilled to share that I was asked to participate in a painting party for MyColor inspired by Pantone paint!!! Holla! What in hell does THAT mean, y'all ask??? Well, along with four other awesome diy bloggers, who will be blogging at the same time with cool projects of their own, I'll be completing a special diy project using MyColor inspired by Pantone paint.

In addition to learning all the 411 on my project, y'all will be able to scoot over to the next diy blogger's post in a pre-determined order and get more ideas and inspiration from their projects. The BEST part? Y'all can comment on my post for a chance to win a sample of MyColor inspired by Pantone paint!!! What-What?! FREE PAINT, y'all!!! Get IT! VALUE! Here are the other diy dynamos and the order of the party (they'll be links and more detailed instructions in tomorrow's post, this is a friendly heads-up):

Courtney @ A Thoughtful Place PJ @ Blog-A-Dazzle Cassie @ Primitive and Proper Holly @ Life in the Fun Lane Angela @ Number Fifty-Three Heather @ Paper Princess Studio

Remember, the par-tay starts at 12p EST sharp. So, this means, regardless of where you live, y'all need to do some math and figure out what time 12p EST is for you and then hit up Blog-A-Dazzle to fulfill your painting destinies, ok?!!

Show Me Your Teeth, Thrift Whores!

And that means it's Thursday, y'all! Get ready to do your Thrift Whore dance...5...6...7...8...cue dry ice...and when the smoke clears, look and see what the Brooklyn Heights Housing Works is serving us this week:

We've just been style-slapped by this pony covered settee! DAMN! It's so un-p.c., I KNOW, y'all, but the decorating deed has already been done long ago, so somebody better saddle UP and get this in your house...PRONTO!

Right about now is the point in my Thrift Whoring that I wish all my years of dreaming for some sort of warehouse space was a reality, b/c that settee would be on my back on it's way there...alas, one day...and this too...damn double hot in one place:

And the hotties just keep jumping off the shelves in the Housing Works...what what!

So chew on that, y'all! And happy whoring!!!

Forward Momentum

Happy Friday! Thought I'd end this week with a quick pic update of a clients new dining room light fixture...

Apologies for the poor image quality, but y'all get the idea of what's going on here:

This the Meurice Chandelier, from Jonathan Adler, in Brass, and I think It's pretty stunning! It's paired with this rustic and rectangular chunky farm table and this chic as sin paper from Tempaper! Gorg! I'll include 'to-buy' details later...oh, and that's superstar Henry already making good use of the new light by doing his homework! How inspiring!!!!

This, btw, is what we were dealing with BEFORE:

And...

We've still got LOTS more ground to cover, but I'm pleased as punch with how we're moving forward!!!

Happy weekend!

What the Fluff is going on???

OK Goodwill, message received: y'all scored a giant donation of Marshmallow Fluff! So much that I've now seen copious amounts in four different stores throughout NYC...this is getting gross, y'all...no one has more of a tolerance for questionable thrift than a Thrift Whore like myself, but even I have standards...dump this shiot, Goodwill and make room for the goodies we really want! Damn...

PJ Mehaffey opens online store!!!

Y'all may or may not recall that I started a new company last year called, Alchemy Eclectic, or AE. In addition to interior decorating and styling services, I'm excited to share that AE also has a new online boutique that just launched late yesterday!!! Woohoo! The AE Shop offers curated, one-of-a-kind, mostly vintage items that have been tricked out in some way by yours truly. It was a lot of work putting together...thanks to Dyl...and I look forward to it's evolution. Now y'all can get y'all-selves some PJ sass to decorate your space with!!!

Art.com is INSPIRED!!!

Y'all, I'm thrilled to share that I was selected as an 'Inspired Insider' for Art.com and my feature launched TODAY on their site! Woohoo! I curated several galleries of amazing AND affordable art, available with the click of a mouse! Check it here!