DIY : WHITE OUT PART DEUX

As promised on yesterday's DIY post here is "The After" shot! The 3 amigos casually crisp and cool as they look after my burgeoning collection of Real Living Mags. Ahhh the finished product = DIY fulfilment...

DIY : WHITE OUT

This is a great weekend project that I thought Id share because it is a quick, inexpensive way to turn everyday items into statement decorator pieces.

Everyone knows the quickest way to update your decor is paint... and spray paint is even faster!

I picked up this set of bookends and kids toy giraffe ( for a grand total of $2.50) some forgotten amount of years ago and they have been sitting around looking glum ever since. So over the last couple of days I'm sure they were as thrilled as any inanimate objects can be when I turned my DIY eye upon them. Follow the steps below for your own faux porcelain look and stay tuned for the results in the next couple of days once I get the 'after' pics uploaded.

The first step is always preparation. You are going to need a clean, dust free (and lightly sanded if it's wood or previously painted) object of choice. You will also need a can of undercoat/primer and matt/flat white spray paint. (I got mine from bunnings, but $2 stores generally have them as well) Then set up your 'spray zone' in a well ventilated place with a drop cloth or newspaper to catch the overspray - this is best done outside away from anything you wouldnt want to turn white as well, aka your car, cat or dog.

You are ready to spray the undercoat now...If you are doing multiple objects make sure to space them well to avoid having to pick them up and turn in the middle of things. Most primers need 24hours to set so plan ahead and be patient :)

Originally I had planned to use a gloss enamel (something I had lying around) for the top coat but I actually liked the matt gray look of the primer and when I applied the first coat of gloss white I was a little disappointed with the look and coverage. So a trip to Bunnings and a day later I had my $8 can of flat white and a feeling of DIY contentment.

Im really liking the look and will share the finished product soon! Any questions or advice let me know. Happy Monday!

PHOTO OF THE DAY : COVER STYLE

I really liked this whole editorial for February's Cover Magazine, so expect to see more as POTD. Gertrud Hegelund wears Emelie Johannson ensembles for the shoot by Andreas Ohlund (seen via Fashion Gone Rogue)

EYE CANDY : RUE ISSUE 3

Its that time again - Rue Jan/Feb has hit the virtual news stands and is once again an aspirational treat filled with great spaces and stories from the great people who occupy them! Here are some of my faves to take you to the weekend, head over to Ruemag.com for more. Happy Friday!

Have had this idea on my to do list for a while now, kitchen blackboard with black frame

not a very kid friendly print, or maybe it is... pretty cool

love the spray of patterned light from those lamps

LOOK OF THE DAY : CAN COUTURE CAN CAN?

I was out and about last night donating to the flood recovery efforts with a charity screening of the new movie 'Burlesque' and when I saw this pic this morn it caught my eye for obvious reasons! Although I hardly think anyone could look past it...it was the finalè at Jean Paul Gaultier's Couture show (via Grazia and Style.com)

PHOTO OF THE DAY : ARABIAN DAY

A perfectly placed sun reflection, great juxtaposition of stark desert with overt glamour and sparkle (and theres those bleached eyebrows that kept popping up in twenty10)

"Breaking Dawn" editorial shot last year by Susanne Spiel for Harpers Bazaar Arabia seen via ImageAmplified

RUNWAY TOP 6 : ELIE SAAB COUTURE SPRING 2011

Wow...The Elie Saab couture show...wow. So beautiful, romantic, ethereal, sophisticated..sparkly! If Dior on Monday was Amazing and breathtaking than this show was its unbelievably gorgeous and best of all, wearable, best friend. In my opinion Elie Saab is the master of the gown, red carpets everywhere must watch wide eyed in anticipation and this was probably my fave season yet. There wasn't a single piece I wouldn't covet, choosing a top 6 was darn near impossible! So here is a broad but too quick peek (you have to look at the whole collection). Oh to be a million-heiress ...

PHOTO OF THE DAY : HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

Happy belated Australia Day! What perfect (maybe a touch too hot) weather we had in Brisbane yesterday, hope all those Aussie inclined folk got out and celebrated our wonderful country. Thought this pick of Natalie Imbruglia mousing around atop the Opera House was fitting...it was shot by Monster Children co-founder Chris Searl early last year for Harpers Bazaar's wonderland series (seen via Natalie's official site)

RUNWAY TOP 6 : CHRISTIAN DIOR COUTURE 2011

Ah-may-zing! No other way to truly sum up John Galliano's latest display of Brilliance; the silhouettes, the cut and colours, the dramatic tones, even the Hair (Orlando Pita) and makeup (Pat McGrath) were perfection. According to Style.com the collection was inspired by the work of Fashion Illustrator Renè Gruau (who illustrated for Dior in the forties and fifties). You have to go and drool over the whole show here. This is truly couture as it should be...

She almost looks like a porcelain doll

PHOTO OF THE DAY : TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE WHEEL

Had this one for a while so have lost the link... Makes me happy to look at it, must be a reminder of Christmas! Happy Monday

PHOTO OF THE DAY : RUFFLED FEATHERS

Looking perty in golden feathers, a great photographic combo; Anja Rubik and Camilla Akrans. Shot for issue number 77 of Numero Mag...

PHOTO OF THE DAY : DARIA ON THE ROAD TO MARRAKECH

A good illustration of the travel-hippie trend saturating the retail market here at the moment. Layers of pattern, texture, print and colour...when you think you have too much add another layer! Its Daria Werbowy, styled by Lucinda Chambers and shot by Mario Tenstino for Vogue UK...its Marrakech Chic via Trendnista

A COLOURFUL 2011 GOLDEN GLOBES

Well the award season has officially kicked off after this weeks Golden Globes.

I look forward to the next couple of weeks to provide some light hearted fashion distraction from all the sad news lately!

Without fail this time every year always provides plenty of fashion-tainment with 'who will wear what', 'who wore that' and 'why did they wear that?' being chorused from the mouths of style watchers and bloggers worldwide. And the Globes Red carpet certainly didn't disappoint; Ive put together a palette of the emerging colour trends. Enjoy!

Angelina Jolie in Atelier Vercace, Catherine Zeta Jones in Monique Lhuillier and Mila Kunis in Vera Wang
There was plenty of glam sparkle gliding down the carpet this year the best include Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive, Sandra Bullock in Jenny Packham and my fave Olivia Wilde in Marchesa

Eva Longoria in Zac Posen, Piper Perabo in Oscar De La Renta and Julia Stiles in Romona Keveza

Lea Michele in Oscar De la Renta, Natalie Portman in Viktor & Rolf and Megan Fox in Giorgio Armani Prive

Kyra Sedgwick in Emilio Pucci and Claire Danes and Emma Stone both looking peachy keen in Calvin Klein

LOOK OF THE DAY : OLIVIA WILDE SPARKLES

Olivia Wilde I think is my fave from this years Golden Globes, she looks completely like the princess she is! (she is really technically a Princess after marrying Italian Prince Tao Ruspoli in 2003! the things you learn...) Gorgeous (via SocialiteLife)

PHOTO OF THE DAY : GOING UP?

A clever visual illusion

(found here)

PHOTO OF THE DAY : QUEENSLAND SPIRIT

Im sure by now everyone in Australia, and a great deal of people from the rest of the world, are talking about the tough week we here in Brisbane and the rest of Queensland have been having...
Thankfully my home escaped, but a great deal of others haven't and my thoughts are with all those families, I cant even begin to imagine...
However, for as many horrible things we hear about on the news thankfully there seems to be two more positive stories to hear that demonstrate the Aussie spirit in full swing. I love this cheeky shot of a 'flood prepared' Wally Lewis outside Suncorp Stadium.
As an apt newsreader reported today; its been heartbreaking and now it will be backbreaking as the cleanup begins. But I like to think that as gumboot clad, broom wielding Brisbanites rally together, things will start resembling normalcy soon and there is no doubt this is still a wonderful place to live! Please take care and stay safe in what is still a dangerous situation, lets look after each other and make sure no one is left to face this alone. Donate or register to volunteer your time through the Queensland Government site http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/

PHOTO OF THE DAY : ALEXA CHUNG

Another shot of the popular and stylish Alexa Chung.

Im a fan of the top half of this photo...the light and colours and the painting

(Seen on Listal)