Free Shiot Friday

Y'all, some FREE Shiot you don't want-- like this raging flu that had it's way with me (and the rest of the planet it seems?!) for several days...it's been next to impossible to get my dazzle on around here! But then this little lady saddled up to the curb, all woody and cute-like and brought me right back on the road to my former sassy self:

Y'all, clearly someone has just emptied their entire bedroom on the sidewalk here...scary, but then table lady had even more to reveal than just her scalloped decolletage:

Well, Style Slap-- she SPINS, y'all! Can't say I've ever come across a table with a spinning top! And I can totally see why it would be super-functional albeit slightly unstable, for a dining room table, but this one threw me even more b/c she's a side table, or at least, based on size/scale, that's how I'd use her. But, perhaps she was a potter's wheel/table, or some sort of model making or other art table? Whateve's-- she's unique, in great condition and with some very minor TLC, she'll be livin' it up with Debbie as a side table in her new place...woohoo...I just LOVE it when cool, Free Shiot finds a new, loving home!:

Happy Free Shiot Friday y'all and stay healthy!!!

"The hills are alive...with the sound of thrift whores!"

Y'all there's very few things in life that compare to thrift whoring in the mountains of Tennessee!!! Prepare y'all-selves for this very special Tennessee Mountain Magic edition of Thrift Whore Thursday!!!

And what to get for the person who has everything? Oh this:

Awwww, don't y'all just LOVE the south?? Football figurines...and then this:

How AMAZING is that?!...Just about as amaaaaazing as this:

This place couldn't STOP reminding us of the season at hand...and I for one, couldn't get enough:

Fa la la la la...la la la la..and the gifts kept on coming, y'all...looking for an easy way to decorate your table for that uber-special occasion...try this:

This baby was begging to be brought back to NYC, and trust y'all that we hashed through all the different ways to make it work, but sometimes even I have to play thrift whore hardball...

And damn if we weren't completely torn asunder by Orange-adorbs, this biotch finished the job:

Yellow mid-century molded-plastic file cabinet realness BEYOND! And I know exactly what y'all are gonna be saying when you see how much she costs:

Here's to the happiest and whore-eriest 2013 to all of us!!!

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!

Gifts that keep on giving...and giving...and...

Y'all, it's mad scrambles for a lot of folks out there right now searching high and low for 'the perfect gift'...I had the pleasure of styling a news segment by Lauren Glassberg on Eyewitness News Channel 7, featuring a company/e-commerce site called, Gifts that Give, created by the fab Nancy Taylor.

$1 out of every $5 y'all spend on purchases, goes to the cause of your choice! Talk about double value! And better still, is the variety and selection of awesome gifts that are on offer...so log on and get your shopping frenzy on...you'll tackle those wishlists and help some peeps out in the process!!! And be sure to check out Lauren's full story and video here. Happy shopping AND giving!!!

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!

It was a dark and stormy night...

and then someone left this shiot out on the curb:

and then y'all know it must be FREE SHIOT FRIDAY, round ye ole Blog-A-Dazzle! YES!!! And won't someone start their weekend off right and grab up this little red number and take her HOME already??? All she needs is a good wipedown-- I'm not even going there with that-- and before you could even place a knick knack on her shelf, you'd be style-slapped when she takes residence in the corner of your living room!!! That chinoiserie fretwork all along her sides is just flat-out FIERCE!

And don't y'all just j'adore carving out some extra storage in your space, that you never even knew you had-- with a biotch that sits in the corner, completely outta the way of everything else??!!! For FREE?! Well then, shut the FU&% y'all and Happy Friday!!!

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!!!

My Mother, My Hero

My mom is arriving today from SC for my upcoming bday...here's a text I received that just HAS to be shared...pure genius: Don't no how happened,but my ta-ta's rhangin out of my bra.the cup is perched @ top of ribs_ will need 2 make adjustment b4 go2 baggage.waitin 2take off

Now y'all know EXACTLY where my humor comes from!!!

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!

Compose Y'all-selves!

One of my many 'job duties' as a prop & set stylist for photo shoots is to compose items/objects being photographed, like this:

That's an early version of a cosmetics shot that I composed for the Taigan.com 2012 holiday gift guide...it's not brain surgery here, folks, but it's a close second at least, I mean, c'mon...the beauty industry? The economy? Y'all do the math! Anyway, I digress...here's where we ended up:

A little composition love goes a LONG way, right? What started out as cute & contained grew to be fun & flirty with lots of energy and movement. Now, don't y'all just want to buy all that shiot right now? I mean, look how gorg it is, spread all across the place just beckoning, ever so tenderly...Cosmetic Confessions!

Shout out to the uber-talented photographer dynamo, Emily J Anderson, and Ellie Sommerville McNevin, who art directed beyond belief! Trebbie! We had a great time together and I think we served up one sassy gift guide...check it here. So now, none of y'all have ANY excuses for last-minute holiday shopping scrambles, OK?!

'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!

Little Thrift Whore Lovin'

Ok, Thrift Whores, it's been a while, but TRUST that y'all haven't been forgotten! It's been a helluva past couple weeks, to say the least...and I haven't been able to do my usual full-on whoring, but here's a few 'licious little nuggets:

Well, y'all, look who got all dolled-up at this Goodwill? She's even got a hole in her dress for easy access...for...um...a plant?! Yeah, y'all...a PLANT, that's it...

Not really certain what in hell is happening here, but it looks difficult:

And the award for 'Most inventive way to re-purpose your wedding cake topper' goes to...

Going out on a limb here and guessing that couple is no longer together? Happy whoring, y'all!!!

Reflecting on Sandy

Y'all, to say that Sandy was beyond a biotch is putting it mildly. This gal had BIG plans for most of the mid and northeast and for some, sadly, it seems she's still not done with her 'reveal'. Dyl and I are so blessed to have made it through safe and sound... We sit, just awestruck, at some of the images we're seeing and stories we're hearing about here in NYC as well as New Jersey and further afield --- most seeming like they're straight out of some post-apocalyptic movie, not possibly real life. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have endured such tremendous loss and devastation. God bless. And for those of you who have the means and feel compelled to do so, here's a link to the Red Cross where you can make donations... it sure looks like they could use it, as this recovery will be massive:

Donate here y'all

Sandy is SERVING it, y'all!

But so am I:

Biotch Sandy isn't the only one going all Girl Gone Wild around here! Oh Shiot! That bread aisle was already ravaged by the time I did my dance routine down it, but that's ok...I still had a captive audience begging for more AND made out with some Stove Top! Be safe, y'all!!!

Aw, guess what TODAY is?

Y'all, it's Thrift Whore Thursday!!! YUMMY! Look at this menu at one of my favorite sandwich shops in Williamsburg Brooklyn:

A touch difficult to read, but the name of one of the sandwiches on offer is, "My Girlfriend is a Whore"-- how sweet is that, y'all?

Speaking of sweet...my Salvation Army is serving all kinds of goodies for us thrift whores:

The conundrum continues...

I just found a fix for that sad pooch above that should cheer him right up:

Either way, y'all...chaise chic! Oh SHIOT-- I HAD to!

Damn-- someone unleashed an entire set of scrumptious here:

Slap some dark stain on that heinous oak trim and reupholster those chair seats & backs with some funky fabric and just shut the FU&% you already!

Oh and don't think I didn't notice the leather ottoman serving sass near the chair set:

When she gets reupholstered, she'll be running your life! The silhouette:

Consider y'all-selves sufficiently served! Happy Whoring, y'all!