An Upper East Side Halloween. xoxo

The Challenge: To create a "cool" (think Gossip Girl) Halloween atmosphere for a too-trendy 14 year old, while also protecting the first level of a very nice UES brownstone. Add a small budget and 10 days to do it, and viola!

The Solution: Simple yet elegant: using handcrafted and found materials, with a focus on protecting the walls, artwork and textiles. In the kitchen I covered the cabinets and framed art with spider webbing and handsewn spiders (felt, pipe-cleaners, glitter, and beads). The recently upholstered cushions were taken out and replaced with foam-based cushions and pillows covered with taffeta and velour spiderweb fabric. On the table, intermingled between the snacks, were hand-built Tarantulas (wooden set found at Michaels) coated with Martha Stewart's Onyx black glitter. There was also, of course, a smoke machine (Key for make-out parties). In the dining room I covered the walls with 30 yards of midnight blue fabric; then on the giant table layed out more taffeta, and arranged gold glittered branches, felt birds, and mini pumpkins. To top off the David Lynch-esque table, I put red gels over the track lighting. Outside, I added more webs, spiders, and lots and lots of pumpkins.

Can't help it.

When I was six years old my Grandma, who we call Mema, brought me a gift from Spain. Inside a delicately wrapped box was a beautiful silver-gray lace scarf from Madrid. Ten minutes after opening the package, I proudly sashayed out of my room with a new lace vest, wrap skirt, and handkerchiefs attached to my wrists with red hair ties. Horrified looks aside, I knew I was meant to be a designer. By the time I was old enough to push around some weight, I would rearrange not only my bedroom, but my entire house. I would put up, take down, fix, put together, paint anything that I could.

My life plan, starting at the same age as the scarf fiasco, was to move to Manhattan after college and do something artistic and exciting. That I did, except I moved to the more affordable and, luckily, more my-cup-of-tea borough of Brooklyn. It is here, after four years of art school/beer guzzling, where I began what they call "real life."

Aside from my day job as a modeling agent (flesh peddler), I have continuously flexed my creative muscles with things ranging from photography projects to dinner parties. I think it's imperative that we surround ourselves with beautiful things, colors, and textures that make us feel alive, safe, and happy. This blog will be a collection of my own work and projects; as well as inspirations and etceteras. Thus I begin my journey to help decorate your life.