Pinterest

[limewave]

I finally started a pinterest account. I found it very interesting for about 48 hours. I have to say, it bothers me. In the same way that the new "it" marketing phrase these days seem to be "because you deserve it." Deserve it? Why?

I know that's a leap in my thinking . . .

Most of the posts I see are fashion ideas, home decorating, etc. And suddenly, my quaint little home seems very dingy. And I want desperately to paint! Add trim! Re-do the wood floors! Or my outfits, they just aren't shiny enough. I need those boots! Or that flowy scarf thing you wrap around your head and neck! Or that sparkly bracelet, cuff thingy! But I can't afford any of that. And is that what I really want anyways? I can't remember.

I was perfectly content before and suddenly, I feel this nagging unrest. Consumerism. Materialism.

However, I did stumble across some "boards" that are print and graphic design related. Those have been interesting and inspiring for me. Looking at what others are doing in design pushes me to do a bit better on the projects I'm currently working on.

That is all.

[grey]

I love Pinterest.
That said, for me & my occupation, I see super gorgeous perfect home photos every day. I just save good ideas I can use for someone else's space, or my space, or a dream space...
My job can be depressing - because I see all those gorgeous photos all day, every day. The thing to remember is, with creativity, good decor is attainable. Just as unusual outfits don't need to cost much (Iris Apfel never paid more than $15 for a pair of jeans) neither do you have to spend an arm and a leg on your home to make it right.

For my collage wall, I didn't pay more than $4 for a single frame. Many were less than that. http://www.crisangsteninteriors.com/blog/2012/01/my-office-sneak-peek/ I made the curtains - the flat fabric came from Walmart of all places, and the beautiful fabric I used on the inside edge was a "scrap" from Boca Bargoons. I am in LOVE with that fabric, but at $45/yard retail, ummm no. I was lucky to get my three yard scrap for that! The copper desk lamp is from Overstock, the desk is from Sam's club, the chair was $20 at auction, and the stool holding the CPU was found curbside, which I then painted.
Found a rug for the space today at an antique shop for $57! It's PERFECT!

I feel the nagging unrest in the wardrobe department sometimes. I don't tend to be one of those fancy-dressed decorators with three-inch heels (as the innkeeper at the B&B I am redecorating noted today), but sometimes I wish I could manage to look a little more fashionable. In that regard, Pinterest has been good and bad. Good in that it has helped me realize I can mix and match things for an outfit I hadn't considered before. Bad in that I see really awesome outfits or accessories that I just can't justify.

By the way - I'll tell you how I'm accessorising: All those big bead necklaces that are in? Antique shops are full of them. For $3 - $30, much better than $45 even in TJ Maxx! Same goes for scarves - $1 instead of $17+. SCORE - and double score because nobody else has one like it. :-)

[VeganBikeChick]

I love Pinterest. It gives me ideas that I otherwise never would have thought of.

The thing with dressing fashionably cheaply is that you have to have that skill. I could never pull off a cheap outfit from TJ Maxx or a great find from a thrift store because my brain lacks an artistic side. If I tried that, it would look like I went into the thrift store and bought the cheapest, homeliest thing. So I envy people who have the talent for great finds at bargain prices.

[shootingstar]

Pinterest works for sparking ideas and solutions through 1 virtual scrapbook board.

I'm not sure how to use it for my personal leisure (I don't have a job that requires that type of inspiration.) and wonder how to find time with....3 blogs to look after. :o

[indysteel]

I'd never heard of Pinterest before thus thread. But I was reading a blog recently called Design Mom the other day that made me feel fairly inadequate in terms of my home and general lack of creativity. It's actually a cool blog though and it's author is big in the world of online networking. I just have to resist the urge to compare myself to people with loads of creativity. Someday I'll just save up enough for Grey to decorate my home!

[Crankin]

My home looks great and I have zero creativity.
I like simple, modern stuff that lasts for years. I've learned the hard way that you get what you pay for in certain home things.
I really don't like spending a lot of time on these things. I like having nice things, but my patience for "designing" and shopping for the stuff is nil. I decide what I want and buy it. I might research where, but that's about it. When we've bought furniture, I found there are 3-4 stores I go to, just like there are 3-4 places I get clothes from. Most of my newer furniture is from Crate and Barrel. I still have the original living room furniture I bought from a Danish modern furniture store in 1980/81.
Clothes, on the other hand, I love buying. But, my tastes are pretty classic, but not in a Talbots way. More like J Crew. I've never heard of half of the places mentioned in the fashion thread, probably since they don't make clothes for short people. Same reason I can't find stuff at Marshall's or TJ Maxx. What few petite sizes they have, are for 80+ year olds. Ones who have no style...

[Brandi]

I like pinterest too. I found a great pasta recipe I am addicted too! And the places you could go. Travel wise that is. And some great craft idea's. I don't pay so much to the fashion stuff because of the same reason you were talking about. I follow my friends pages too who like of mind. Just keep digging you will find fun stuff!

[missjean]

Pinterest can be fun. It's great for recipes - I might not ever try any of them, but boy, they look good! I do window treatment design for a decorator on occasion and have found the decorating ideas inspiring.

Somewhere I remember reading “don’t have anything in your home that isn’t beautiful, or you don’t love.” You can’t always do that, but it’s something to keep in mind when you think about how you want your house to look.

In my former job I use to go to huge, professionally decorated houses and most of the time they were kind of..…flat. That’s the best word I can come up with. All colors were coordinated, the furniture was expensive, and the accessories accented it all just right, but it all lacked character and personality.

The most lovely houses I went to usually were smaller, often with interesting architecture, but not always, and the owners personality always shown through.
There is one house I remember very well. From the outside it was nothing special, but it over looked a pond and woods. When you went inside, it was so bright & comfortable, I just wanted to sit at the table and drink tea and talk.
The folks that owned it were retired; she painted, so there were paintings every where. Books were everywhere. The furniture was older, but clean and comfortable, with bright pillows to lean against; and there were oriental rugs on the floor. There were hangings and prints of all the places they had been and plants in front of the windows. I wanted to move in! It all probably cost 1/100th of what the big houses cost, but it was 1000x nicer.