jacasi's Profile

What a thought provoking post, thank you. I would love to see more.

I have an antique blue-green chenille damask sofa that I like very much. One of my cockatiels likes to fly over and sit with me, so I have a need to poop proof the arms and back. Right now I just have towels on it, but I'd like to find some kind of decent looking solid or minimal pattern washable fabric to drape in places. I've given up on matching the color and am looking at twin size quilts, not finding much. Any suggestions?

Both of my parents were heavy smokers most of their lives and died from smoking related heart disease and COPD. I have asthma and allergies as a result of growing up in a smoke filled home. When I'm around smoke I get a headache and cough uncontrollably. My neighbor below me in my apartment building is a chain smoker and smokes on his porch. I'm not able to use my balcony and the smoke also comes in the windows and fills my apartment. I've tried to deal with it by using a box fan in my patio door but it doesn't really help. So I've had to keep my windows closed and use AC when it is nice outside. I didn't talk to my neighbor about it because I didn't think it would solve anything and I'm sure my own behaviors must impact him in other ways. But his smoking sure impacted me. One day I was out on my balcony filling the bird feeders when the smoke can wafting up and I started coughing. Out of frustration I said to my neighbor below "is there any way you could not smoke on your balcony? I get pretty bad asthma attacks when I'm around smoke." He simply said yes and I told him how much I would appreciate that. And he's been very considerate about it since then.

So if you have a neighbor who complains about your smoking either directly or indirectly, I would try to understand their point of view and see if there could be a simple solution that would work for you both. The barking dogs might be tougher, but a little communication usually goes a long way.

I like it. Where is that big cricket on the mantel from?

Well done, Heather! I am so envious of your Craigslist and thrifted finds. You truly have a gift. And that view! I would love that as my home office, but I wonder how you do it in such a small space. I work with textiles in a smallish apartment and have managed to find a place for everything but when I'm working it looks like a tornado came through. It's an effort to put it all away every day, so ithe apartment stays messy most of the time.

What a beautiful home, thanks for sharing. You have such a unique style that is reflected in the items offered in your shop as well. I love everything about both: abundance of natural textures and color, multicultural arts and objets, humble yet sophisticated, artfully arranged, comfortable and inviting. Truly inspirational to this artist/budding entrepreneur.

I currently have Benjamin Moore's Subtle from the Aura line. Close to #8 on my monitor. In daylight it reads a pale parchment color but at night it is more yellow than I would like. However, it has served the purposes of lightening up an apartment with limited natural light sources.

Did someone intentionally bash that striped lamp shade to "go with" the base?

I have chemical sensitivity and cannot be around artificial fragrance, among other things. Cheap candles and "air fresheners" give me an instant headache and nausea. Same goes for most perfumes. A place I worked at went fragrance free at the supervisor's request to accommodate this, which I really appreciated. Most people I visit know this about me and are very gracious. Another visceral reaction... I simply cannot sit with my back to an entrance. It creeps me out. I have to be able to see who is coming and going.

Thanks for the factory tour! The drawing of the process helped to put the other photos in context. I would love to get an inside peek into other small creative enterprises on AT.