Chic and Glamorous Art for the Fashion Lover

Good art isn't always easy to find. Etsy has made it easier though, and has made it possible to connect a lot of artists with people who love art that isn't mass produced or unattainable to most of us. One Etsy artist I'm loving is the Lady Gatsby shop with fashion inspired prints.

I love watercolors, and then paired with the subject matter - gorgeous perfume bottles, shoes, etc., there are quite a few pieces I'd love for my master bath and office. I was lucky enough to receive a gorgeous Chanel No. 5 print and some super chic correspondence cards, and they look even better in person!

Here are a few other prints and cards I'm loving:

Love it?  See more at Lady Gatsby

disclosure: I received these prints as a sample

Make the most of a snow day with some of these projects

Four great ideas of things you can do to change your decor while your stuck inside (since we are snowed in with over a foot of snow here and it's still coming down!). Might as well have fun - and if you're like me I can only watch so much TV before I need to get up and do something!

1. Rearrange your furniture:

via BHG

I get so excited rearranging my furniture.  It is really refreshing and can make old things seem new again. It takes some trial and error to get things just right, and don't forget that you can "shop" furniture from the rest of your house!

2. Clean out your drawers:

via bhg

In your kitchen, bathroom, pantry, bedroom, and more! Clean out those drawers by creating three boxes: throw away, give away, keep. Sort your items and when you get to the keep, figure out if you have any good trays, shoe boxes, or containers laying around that would keep the items corralled.  It looks like the drawer above is using small jelly roll pans, which is really clever.

3. Make that gallery wall you've dreaming about

I like Design Crush's tutorial, but there are a lot of great ideas and step by step instructions online i you just search for something like "create your own gallery wall."  Even i you don't have all the art you want to use yet, gallery walls can be flexible and expand over time, or you can at least decide where you want it and start composing it in kraft paper.

4. Style Your Bookshelves

2 images via DesignSponge

You will be surprised how many compliments you get when you thoughtfully arrange your shelves.  Thinking of a bookcase or set of shelves as a composition really lets you show off your favorite accessories and books while also serving a purpose. I'm not going to lie, it's not always easy to strike that perfect balance, and you'll likely always be making little tweaks.  I would start by pulling a few images that I really like to use as a guide.  Next, collect the items that will be on the shelves.  You may have to omit some items or add some along the way.  You will want items with a variety of heights and widths.  Other than that, a lot of the process is just "feel."  Step back from the shelves from time to time to make sure you are happy with how your "composition" is taking shape.

Show Your Decor: Lisa D'Amato's Modern Nursery

Lisa just had her baby Daxel, and about 3 months ago Vanessa De Varges was hired to decorate her baby's nursery. Her and her husband live in a castle located in the Hollywood Hills - doesn't sound to shabby...

For the room Vanessa chose four basic colors red, gray, black and white - perfect for a little boys room! She wanted the room to have a modern feeling to it with out all the cutie baby stuff. This way the room can be used for years to come with out having to move things out or replace the look. She chose art that was more modern and vintage circus prints that they blew up and framed for the room. 

The walls are all black (its got a slight purple tone to it so its not too harsh on the eyes) and the ceiling and upper walls are painted bright white. Because she chose so many bright colors in the room and accents in white, including the rug, the room doesn't appear to look small, if anything her decorating tricks make the room feel bigger and more spacious. 

All the furniture, bedding and storage came from Land of Nod, the paint from Valspar and the flooring from Lumber Liquidators. The window treatments came from The ReRack Gals and the lighting came from Ikea (they did not donate), fabric from Premier Prints and most of the artwork came from different designers on Etsy were all sponsored for the Lisa's baby's room. 

Don't forget to submit your own show your decor and get your showcased on Decorology!

Last minute gift ideas for nesters and home decor lovers!

I like to give gifts that have a lot of thought in them or I know the recipient really, really wants.  That's not always easy, especially on a budget  If I'm stumped I tend to lean towards something unique that will be a conversation piece in their home.  Here are a few cute ideas I found..

This alpaca blend throw is sure to be a favorite for the lucky someone who gets it.  So pretty!
At Maker and Moss)

A row of glass bubbles that each hold a bud or two - or just looks like cool art when it's empty. At UncommonGoods

This Filigreed Metal votive set is absolutely stunning.
At The Loaded Trunk

These gilt edge agate coasters are so pretty, they will look fab just sitting on the table.
On Etsy

Glass containers for display or even some new candlestick holders! Try to find candlesticks that are sculptural so they look nice even without candles in them.
At Homemakers Online

How great is this book that acts as a router or charger cover? Great for those who love to read!
On XNY

A decorative pillow featuring their favorite pet. Pet-related gifts are always loved by parents of the four-legged kind.
On Etsy

Another great giveaway for art lovers! The unique illustrations of Claire Heffer

Gotta love a giveaway! I was lucky enough to be introduced to the intricate pen and ink illustrations of Claire Heffer just a little while ago. I don't get to draw a lot anymore, but my bachelor's degree is in illustration, and I will always appreciate art. You should also think of it as the jewelry of any room - and we all know it's in the details!!

One lucky winner will win an animal, leaf, or initial print of his/her choosing.

To enter for a chance to win, leave a comment sharing which print you plan on picking if your name is drawn.  Go to Claire Heffer Design on Etsy to see her work and pick out your favorite.

To comment on this post (scroll to the bottom of this post and right above "Labels" you will see a number followed by the word "comments." Click on the word "Comments." Or, you will see a link, "Post a Comment," which you click on to comment.

Or, you can email me at ashley [at] decorologyblog [dot] com to enter and with your favorite.

The contest closes next Tuesday, December 5th at  12 AM EST. I will announce the lucky winner, chosen by random draw. Good luck!

The little pouncing fox is my favorite - so cute!!!

A custom initial would make a great gift for a new baby, or newlyweds.

A Fabulous Giveaway! $50 Gift Card to Urban Decals!

If you've been thinking about adding some visual interest or pop to one of your rooms you're in luck!

The awesome folks at Urban Decals are offering Decorology readers a chance to win a $50 gift card to use on the decal of their choice!

All you have to do to enter is "Like" them on Facebook -  and then go to their Etsy store, check out their decals, and come back here to leave a comment sharing which decal is your favorite! Here are some of my favorites:

These flowers would look great on my bedroom walls, too.

or these...

The contest closes Thursday, March 1st at 6PM EST.  I will select a winner by random draw and announce the lucky gal or guy on Friday, March 2nd.

Good luck!

An amazing Etsy artist - the evocative nature photography of Nicholas Bell

I don't feature independent artists as much as I would like to.  But there's no time like the present, and I was fortunate enough to be introduced to the talented Nicholas Bell from Knoxville, TN.

His work really speaks to me because of it's sense of peace, isolation, and connectedness to our natural surroundings.  Check it out below:

I love the sense of quiet

These last two are my favorite - so beautiful


Pretty fantastic right?
Check out all of his work at his Etsy shop- Nicholas Bell Fine Art Photography.

Hapy Friday - Beautiful art for art's sake

Having majored in illustration from RISD, my first love has always been painting and drawing, and it'll always be close to my heart. So occasionally I like to feature painters and other artists that I discover and like. Here are my most recent finds

Beautiful collages by mixed media artist Kristen Neveu



This one is my favorite. Isn't it gorgeous?
See more at KristenNeveu.com


These striking floral oil paintings are by Jo Beer. I discovered her while working on a design for a wedding invitation and needed a reference photo for ornamental kale. I ran across the painting below




See more of Jo's work at Jo Beer Art


For those who are more into graphic design and poster, check out Fieldtrip's etsy store.


I love this origami heart poster

...and the peace cranes. So pretty.