OUTDOOR ROOM

Remember when I made that awning a while back? I totally forgot to show off the latest addition... A 'wall'! It really encloses the patio to make a real room. Suddenly my apartment's doubled in size!
It was a big job. Not technically so difficult, but it's the first time I've made something to this scale.  I actually burned out my machine. It just stopped working on the last seam. Always the last one... It took some calculations and a lot of measuring to figure out exactly how much fabric I needed, but with some help from the terrific Marlene at Lincoln Fabrics I figured it out and made a pattern. (Another BIG job. You need a lot of floorspace.)

See?

Just another day at the office. PS- This was December.

Quite a fashionable pattern courtesy of the Last Magazine. Is it bad that I was parading around the fabric store with this thing flashing boobs everywhere?

Ta-Da! The final product. I've actually added grommets to that diagonal bit and tied twelve linen bows that close it off, but didn't take any photos. But the good news is, no more creepy neighbors!

MORE SLIPCOVERS!!

This has become my new favorite way to breathe new life into unfortunate pieces of furniture. Here is a little ottoman from Target. I'm not even really sure how this came into my possession but it's a good size so I'll keep it, but it definitely can't stay looking like that.

I was debating whether to cover it in this snakeskin from New Mexico or this vintage kimono belt from a flea market in Sendai, Japan.

I figured two animal skin ottomans would be too much for one room.
"Have you met my pet ottomans Zebra and Snake? Don't worry they're very docile."
Uh. No thanks.

On second thought... an ottoman as a pet? Maybe I don't need to get a dog after all!

Just kidding! The kimono belt won.

I bought it seven years ago on a trip to Japan, but never figured out what to do with it. Finally this beautiful material can be showcased! I cut four strips to cover the top. Luckily it fit perfectly and there was enough of the embroidery to put together a nice design. I used the second half to cover the sides, but there wasn't enough to go all the way around. I had to rip the seams and split the two sides apart in order to get enough material. While taking it apart I discovered this beautiful Japanese linen, but there was only enough for one side. I realized the delicate old silk would not hold up on its own, so I cut strips of red denim (from the legs of some old jeans I turned into cutoffs, I just knew they'd be useful someday!) to reinforce it.

 

 

 

Now all that's left is to cover those awful aluminum feet!

HOME

This is a couch I found on craigslist. It's faux suede and pretty terrible looking, but it laid flat and was the perfect length to fit into a nook on the other side of my patio.  I went for it, figuring I would throw something pretty over it, but when the couch arrived it was just a few inches too wide. So, with the help of my friend Anthony, we ripped off one side of the armrests and MADE it fit.

Now, I've decided to move it to the other side and lay it flat as a daybed. Thing is, not many places make slipcovers for my newly customized shape, so I did it myself using a beautiful Ikat fabric.

When Tessa suggested we make Indian food last night, I knew exactly who to turn to... Manjula's Kitchen.  I discovered Manjula after I came back from India last year with spices and chickpea flour and was convinced I was going to make Indian food every day (which I didn't). Anyway, one trip to Whole Foods and a newly stocked spice cabinet later, we were cooking up Indian food like it was no big deal. She makes it so easy, all you really need are the right spices.  We made chana masala (chickpeas), baingan bharta (eggplant), raita, cauliflower, brown basmati rice, roti, and steak (which is very un-Indian but whatever I'm vegetarian), along with some naan, chutney, and some Indian beers... What a FEAST.

 

The way she prepares the eggplant here blows my mind. It becomes so soft and creamy and is cooked with zero oil.