Have you heard about Etsy?  Well, if you haven’t, it’s time for a long overdue introduction.  This is a cozy corner of the Internet where crafty and highly creative people connect with you.

In their simple words:

Etsy is an online marketplace for buying & selling all things handmade. Our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers. Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice: Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade.

The site was launched in 2005 and now has over 100,000 sellers.  You are walking into the world’s best art and craft show that is open 24/7.  You will quickly become hooked, but never fear.  There are many affordable items as well as some real splurges.  I love the jewelry and purses but since I am guiding you in the world of home design, I am going to point in the direction of Art, Housewares and Furniture.  Inspired oil painting and photography, finely upholstered vintage chairs and sublime ceramic work.  It will be hard to choose once you get rolling.

It’s like receiving a handmade gift from your most talented and creative friend (not the kind that you only pull of the closet when they visit)!

Visit Etsy on My Design Secrets!

I call it “Mod-tique”.  Combining timeless beauty with a fresh new twist.  A classic sofa with a contemporary fabric.  A loft decked out in ultra-modern furnishings with a reclaimed wood floor.  State of the art kitchen cabinets with rustic, hand-hewn knobs.  These are choices that are the hallmark of professional designers.  The ability to select items that combine timeless beauty with a bold new look.  It lends an air of sophistication to your design that takes it to a whole new level.

Here are a few items that fall into the “Mod-tique” look.  Check out the colors, finishes and shapes and you will start to see the light.

Create your own Mod-tique look by searching My Secret Database!

Novica Home is like stepping into an international bazaar of furnishings; full of color and life.  Run in association with National Geographic, the website features the work of artists from around our glorious globe.  From fabulous furniture and area rugs to intricate tapestries and mirrors, you will surely discover treasures that will add international zest to your interiors.  The website is easy to navigate and you can search by item, region (Andes, Bali/Java, Brazil, India, Mexico, Thailand & West Africa) or gift theme.  The artists also share their background and artistic vision, which forges a unique connection.

If you sign up for their emails they will send you holiday gift ideas and deals.  Since the items come from far and wide, they provide you with shipping details and lead times.  They also have a category of “fast shipping” gifts if you are in a rush.  The items I have received are well packed and arrive with a card that tells me about the artist and their creation, which adds a really nice touch.  You will instantly connect with artists that will be grateful for your business while you add unique items to your home that are handmade with pride and creativity. 

Explore Novica!

Are you ready to unleash your creativity?  I know, I know…your half-finished scrapbook sits up on the shelf and somehow that inanimate object has the ability to make you feel guilty.  Well, worry no more.  I have an easy project for you that makes the most of family photos by transforming them into clever artwork to hang on your walls.  The fantastic and fool-proof website, Picnik, will guide you through the process step-by-step.  Actually, it’s so much fun that I bet you will spend a lot more time than you need to! 

Go to www.picnik.com and easily upload your photo.  You then can Edit the photo by cropping, rotating or removing red-eye.  Now comes the fun part: Create.  Here you can apply any number of effects to make-over your photo. I chose a photo of my dog, Emma, and applied some technicolor.  You could also go with a simple black and white or sepia tone for an old-fashioned or “gallery” look.

At the end of the process you can save your photo to work on later, print it, email it or make a slide show.  It’s fun to apply different effects or colors to the same photo.  Or if you have several photos, it would be nice to apply the same effect to three different photos and hang them up in a group.  By using the same style, it will unify them.

To finish off these photos I would recommend a simple black frame with a large white mat that you can pick up from several vendors in My Secret Database.  Your friends will be impressed, your photos will come out of the box and your walls will be fashionably decorated.  Who could ask for anything else?

Any day is a good day to pick up a bargain!

Many of the websites I include in My Secret Database have a “Sale” or “Clearance” section where they feature items that have been marked down.  This is a fabulous place to find some incredible value for your money.  Whether you are searching for the finishing touch or seeking a treasure that sets the tone for your room, you are bound to find some awesome deals that are hard to resist.  Here are a few incredible items that are easy on your budget:

First is the Tenpo Open Console Bookcase from Room and Board.  I love the simple lines of this piece which could be used in many settings.  It would be at home in your office, dining room or at the foot of your bed as a bench/storage piece.  $499 (was $999)

Second, while browsing through the Horchow website I found this beautiful Cherry Blossom print that is textured to look like a painting.  The vivid turquoise sky against the delicate pink cherry blossoms would be a fantastic focal point in any room.  The frame alone is worth the price.  $299

Lastly, these elegant Portico Crystal Lamps from Restoration Hardware are one of those great design classics.  Crystal lamps are at home in Modern and Classic homes and I can guarantee you will hang onto them for a long time to come.  Pop a new lamp shade on and you have a whole new look .  They offer two shade styles in ten different colors!  $214.99 (was $444) At this price you can get two for the price of one.  (A little feng shui hint - try to accessorize in pairs in your bedroom to enhance harmonious energy.)

Make sure you read the fine print. Sometimes marked down items are not returnable.  Also, don’t wait too long to make a decision as many of these items are in limited quantities.

This is affordable luxury at its best!

Sometimes you hear a quote or the lyrics to a song and they just ring true. You want to put them in a place so you are reminded of them often.

Well, here is one super cool way to do it and incorporate it into your home design. The company Wonderful Graffiti makes removable letter transfers to put on your walls. They have a variety of great quotes to choose from or you can make up your own. You can choose different sizes, colors and fonts to really personalize it. Lately they have added 2 more products. The first one is called Blank Canvas and you can have anything you like transferred to an artist’s canvas to display as artwork on your wall. The second item is called Graffiti 3D and you can have your words in 3-D enamel letters in Lucite or brushed aluminum.

They have also just added another website tailored specifically to weddings. It is called Wonderful Graffiti Wedding. You can use the lettering for wedding favors, cars, dance floors and place cards. The options are endless. Have fun:-)

“At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe.”

As many of you may know, a devastating earthquake hit Peru on Wednesday, August 15th, and they experienced another one on Friday. I have received an email indicating the employees and families of that NOVICA office are safe but there is much structural damage and they are trying to locate several artists who lived near the epicenter. In the spirit of lending a helping hand, 10% of the purchase price of items from Novica Andes will be donated directly to affected artisans as well as to UNICEF’s relief work in Peru. So if you feel inclined to purchase something, now would be a great time!

Thanks for caring!

Mohena and leather box, ‘Royal Butterfly’
Abel Ríos selects prized Peruvian mohena wood for this design. Crafted by hand, the box is covered with tooled leather. A butterfly graces the lid and the chest features an ornamental bronze clasp and handles.
Your Price: $157.95

Whenever I go to a museum I am inspired by the shapes and colors. Beyond the wonderful artwork on display I observe the colors they select for the walls in a particular exhibit and how they arrange the pictures. There is so much wonderful inspiration and lessons in balance and color. Most of us cannot afford the artwork that is featured in a museum but we can afford some of the great finds in a museum shop. Let me share a few colorful finds:

I love this Nelson Wall Clock from the Museum of Modern Art Store. This clock would look great in your kitchen to add a splash of color. It would also be a fun addition to a home office. This is an exact replica of the one George Nelson designed in 1948.

This Tobacco Leaf Cloisonné Vase from the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a beautiful little item for an end table or night stand. I can picture a bunch of red tulips peaking over the edge. This is a reproduction of a Chinese tobacco leaf design that was popular in the 17th and 18th Century. It’s one of those items that looks like you inherited it!

This cute Balinese Gecko caught my eye and is featured at the Smithsonian Store. For $25 this little guy will add a bright spot of color on your patio or in a child’s room. It makes me smile!