The Late Afternoon

“Everything passes, everything changes, just do what you think you should do.” – Bob Dylan

I scribbled this quote out onto a piece of scrap paper after moving into my apartment. It now sits in a frame on top of my dresser as a reminder to always follow my own path, not what others want or expect of me.

Paper Pastries has made traditional pencils cool again! The pencils feature witty little random facts, such as “Largest Mammal – Blue Whale” and “Zest – Grate Color off Citrus,” stamped onto their sides and come in cute pastel colors.  Paper Pastries offers four different sets: Enamored (top right), Know it All (top left), Chef’s pencils (bottom left), and Make a Point (not shown). I rarely use traditional pencils, but these are irresistible! Paper Pastries also offers super cute handmade postcards, labels, and greeting cards. Its always fun finding random small crafty stores tucked away online. Some of my favorites include the “I left my heart in {pick your city} postcard collection and the Cupcake Paper Pastries Stationary line. Paper Pastries’ pencils and online store can be found at: http://www.paperpastries.bigcartel.com/product/enamored-pencil-set

Photo Credits: Paper Pastries Store

Our “How to: Paper Flowers” post was featured in the “Make it from Scratch” blog carnival this week at Frills in the Hills. We are in the Crafts section – check it out at:

http://www.frillsinthehills.com/2010/02/make-it-from-scratch-carnival-156-last.html

This has got to be my most favorite post yet. My sister, Nicole, and I both moved into our own apartments last Autumn. Since moving, we’ve sort of caught the home decorating bug. I’ve been waiting to receive pictures of my sister’s finished project and got these in my email box a few days ago. I’ve been meaning to share these great photos (by Nicole, of course).

Nicole, who lives in San Francisco, has the most fabulously decorated apartment. She has created a warm, modern, kitschy look to this two bedroom upper unit by the beach. Let’s begin with the detailed fireplace – I like how the white of the fireplace contrasts with the warm wall color. Its also great to see a touch of older details mixed with a modern decor. The fish print poster is from Flax Art & Design in San Francisco and the black and yellow collage was made by Nicole. The tiny disco balls are a fun, sparkly was to light up the mantle.

I like how Nicole incorporated a lot of homemade, crafty pieces into her space. The small framed poster on the end table and the poster above her couch are both from Etsy online stores. The end table is very retro, while the plush couch is so posh (and comfortable – I know from experience).

The blue vase, coincidentally a Christmas gift from me, is from Anthropologie. These flowers are a softer variation of paper flowers. These are made with colorful tissue paper and pipe cleaners!

The bedroom has a refreshing, clean feel mixed with splashes of red and pink. The color just pops again the white furniture. The bed and side tables are from iKea, though they were found for a much sweeter deal on Craig’s List.

Even the kitchen sink is cute! The pink bunny sponge from Daiso Japan is adorable and the shiny old soup cans make easy, decorative holders.

I am really liking the look of the solid black frames that Nicole chose to use for her posters. Above is a bookcase featuring a print from an Urban Outfitters Catalogue and a postcard from Florence, Italy. The green rug in the bathroom adds a nice touch of color and design.

Its amazing. Who said you have to be a designer to create a fabulous apartment? Scientists can do it too.

Photo Credits: Nicole Lee

Useful Links & Resources:

http://www.flaxart.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop/laurageorge

http://www.etsy.com/shop/imjustrick

http://www.daisojapan.com

Do you have a cool apartment/home you’d like to share? Email your story and let us know @ thelateafternoon@gmail.com

I came across Sabrina Ward Harrison’s work when I went through a stage of making collages and random scribbled out mixed media artwork a few years ago. Its very liberating to let yourself create and Harrison’s work captures that feeling exactly. Her work literally spills with color, voice, and imagination. Her artwork, featuring a mix writing, photography, painting, and drawing, offers a unique perspective about life, or “The True Living Project.” Its the type of art that leaves you wondering how it was actually created. I like the messy, inky handwriting that she uses. It coveys both a literal and artistic message.

Harrison published her first visual journal, Spilling Open: The Art of Becoming Yourself, at the age of twenty-three. She now has four additional visual journals in print. Though I haven’t had a chance to purchase her books yet, now that I have my own apartment, I may be needing some nice coffee tables books!

Also, here are a few of my own art journal pages from a very long time ago. They are a bit more “collage-ish” and bright. I wish mine were as free-flowing as Harrison’s work.

I would definitely suggest giving “art-journaling” a try. Its fun, relaxing, and also gets your creative mind going!

For more about Sabrina Ward Harrison’s work, visit http://www.sabrinawardharrison.com.

On this particularly quiet Saturday night, I spent my time baking these black bottom cupcakes to the sounds of Switchfoot’s new album, Hello Hurricane. Black bottom cupcakes, for those that haven’t tried one before, are chocolate cupcakes filled with a sugary cream cheese and chocolate chip filling. So delicious! Black bottom cupcakes are a childhood favorite of mine. I remember the first time my mom made them, she explained the delicious filling as a “surprise” in the middle of the cupcake.

As I, unfortunately, didn’t have my mom’s recipe, I used a recipe out of The Complete Magnolia’s Bakery Cookbook by Allysa Torey and Jennifer Appel. The recipe was really easy to follow and I love how the cupcakes puffed up so much when baked. Usually, the cream cheese filling is spooned over the tops of the chocolate batter, but I decided to layer the chocolate batter and cream cheese. They sort of remind me of Oreo cookies.

They taste delicious and I’m not going to lie…I’ve already had three of them tonight.