Cool Stuff: Tree Curtain

Give me a tree, barren of leaves and set in a stark wintry landscape, and I couldn't be happier. (Admittedly, it's not the cheeriest image -- but it's one I eat up nonetheless. Chalk it up to my slightly morose nature.)

So of course I'm totally digging this new "If a Tree Falls" curtain, generously sized at 52 inches wide by 84 inches long and just $30 at Urban Outfitters.

Mmm -- feels like fall.

Shameless Plug: "Ask Leah"

Confession: I'm the sort of person who color codes my file folders, and who updates my "To Do" list at least twice a day. (OK, fine, I admit it: I'm totally anal.)

Now, as the "Ask Leah" columnist for MSN.com's brand-new Home Sweet Home channel, I get to help other people get organized, too.

To take a look, click here, then click on the "Organization" tab under the Home Sweet Home header. (If you have any organizational challenges of your own, hit the "Submit Your Question" button in the Ask Leah box to send them in, and I'll do my best to offer solutions.)

While you're there, check out the articles, tips, and bulletin boards in the Organization, Home Care, Entertaining, and Family areas, and let the Home Sweet Home editors know what you think.

Etsy Find of the Day: Jefdesigns Silkscreens

I just got an email from Portland, Oregon artist and designer Joe Futschik of Jefdesigns announcing his new collection of sealife-inspired silkscreens (including "Seaweed," above). The 12-by-16-inch panels feature colorful images hand-printed directly onto wood, giving them a beautiful organic quality.

Take a look:
Gorgonia

Octopus

Fritillaria. (This image was created in honor of Futschik's mother, an avid gardener, who died earlier this year from ovarian cancer. Half of all sales of the print will be donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.)

Each image is part of a limited edition of 60 and is signed by the artist. All but the Etsy-only Fritillaria are also being sold through (Jaime of Design Milk's) Vitamin D(esign) Shop, as well as Design Public, 2Modern, and Velocity, and are priced at $150 each.

And be sure to check out the rest of the items (including samples, remainders, and other reduced-priced products) in Jefdesigns brand-new Etsy shop.

Cool Tool: Color Palette Generator

Do you ever see a picture of a gorgeous room (like the one above, from designer Vanessa De Vargas' home) and wish you could find out exactly what shade of paint the walls were washed with? Or maybe you covet a swatch of that sublime hue on the couch so that you can try to match it on your next furniture-shopping expedition. Or perhaps there's a particular piece of art that you dream of literally climbing into, and fantasize about replicating the exact color palette in your own surroundings.

With the help of the Color Palette Generator, you can come pretty darn close. Created by web developer Jeff Minard, the CPG analyzes the colors in an image and then produces a palette based on it.

Here's how it works: Just upload a digital photo of the room or image you have in mind. (For instance, I used a few shots of rooms or art that I like, which I simply pulled off of various web sites.) Within seconds, the Color Palette Generator will present a palette using web-based color codes. Simply print out the resulting palette and match the color swatches to paint chips, fabrics, furniture colors, and so on.

Genius!

Give the Color Palette Generator a whirl right here.

eBay Find of the Day: Yellow Enamel Bowl

Is it possible for a simple yellow bowl to make you happy?

It must be, because it does.

Current bid: $22.

House in Progress: Weekend Styling

I spent Friday afternoon rearranging a few things in the living room to show off my new eBay lamps (yes, I am in a very "Seventies Fabulous" frame of mind right now ... ).

I think the result is smashing -- though of course my kids hate it. (They think I'm weird beyond belief for buying almost everything secondhand and spending my Friday afternoons rearranging lamps and accessories and not, like, taking them candy shopping or something.)

Here's the lowdown:
* Chrome ball lamps: $128 for the pair from eBay. (Click here, here, or here to see similar ones.)

* Black and silver lampshades: $53 for the pair from eBay.

* Burled walnut sideboard: $85 (woo hoo!) from eBay (click here for similar).

* Mirror: $229 from Pottery Barn (click here for similar).

* Roost porcelain sitting sparrow: $7 from Mignonne.

* Glass urn: $15 on super-duper clearance from Pottery Barn (click here for similar).

* Branches: $12 from my local florist.

* Blanc de Chine Guan Yin figurine: $10 from eBay (click here for similar).

* The power of change: Priceless.

That's Random: More Friday Fun

Fact: My first "real" job after journalism school was in the fact-checking department at Parenting magazine, where I toiled for ... oh, way too long.

Fact: This clip is called "FCU: Fact Checkers Unit."

Fact: It features a guest appearance by Bill Murray. (Yes, that is a Wikipedia link -- and yes, it probably was written by a 7-year-old.)

Fact: Bill Murray rocks.

Fact: This clip made my coffee come flying out of my nose.

Enjoy!

Cool Stuff: Corgi Love

Um, have I maybe mentioned my adorable Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Bonnie, here once or twice? Sorry -- I just can't help it. I'm madly in love with her.

And, totally tacky though it may be, I couldn't help smiling when my husband sent me a link yesterday to this corgi cookie jar ($50 from Pug Cafe).

That, of course, prompted a search for other tongue-in-cheek Pembroke products.

So, honey? These are officially on my birthday list. (Pssst -- these shops all have lots of stuff for other kinds of dogs, too.)

Corgi Silhouette T-shirt, $21 from Cafe Press

Corgi Mouse Pad, $15 from Menagerie Mayhem

"Corgi-Zilla" Print, $8 from Menagerie Mayhem

Pop Corgi Pillow, $20 from Pet Pop Art

Corgi Cookie Cutter, $8 from Dog Stuff

"Pop Corgis" Giclee Print, $95 from Dog Art Dog

My apologies for this momentary lapse in good taste -- but if loving these is wrong, I don't wanna be right.

Cool Stuff: Designers Guild for Fall

I was so happy when the London-based Designers Guild opened its US online store earlier this year. Finally, we Stateside Tricia Guild fans could scoop up her company's delicious colors and yummy patterns without worrying about exchange rates or shipping from the UK.

I tend to think of Designers Guild wares as being eternally springlike, though, so I was delighted to see the brand-new Autumn/Winter Collection when I checked in on the site this morning. The last few days here have been crisp and cool, and I'm feeling ready for fall. These deeper, richer colors and autumnal and wintry motifs look like the perfect thing to snuggle up in now:

Taillandier Bedding, $45 to $280

Esperanza Noir Bedding, $63 to $280

Caserta Driftwood Throw, $225

Marienlyst Persimmon Throw, $225

Tullgarn Noir Throw, $225

Sarafan Peony Throw, $250

Rocaille Cassis Cushion, $110

Ledoux Cocoa Cushion, $90

Perrault Platinum Cushion, $90

See the entire Designers Guild Collection right here.

Etsy Find of the Day: Kerry Beary Prints

How fun are these colorful limited-edition prints (like "Begging for More," above, $36) from Baton Rouge, Louisiana artist Kerry Beary? I want them all.

Tiki Room, 12 by 18 inches, $45

Cocktail Social, 12 by 16 inches, $45

Radio, 12 by 12 inches, $36

Telephone, 12 by 12 inches, $36

Pinky's Scooter, 12 by 18 inches, $45

Vera Vespa, 12 by 18 inches, $45

Check out Kerry Beary's new "Retro Modern Pop Shop" on Etsy right here.

eBay Find of the Day: Vintage Letters

You want these. Oh Y.E.S. you do.

Current bids: $6, $10, and $10.

Real Estate Envy: Coast to Coast Modern

I picked up a copy of Atomic Ranch magazine recently, and thumbing through it I was struck by how many ads there were from boutique real estate brokerages specializing in midcentury modern homes.

Because I am a shameless lookie-loo when it comes to homes for sale (seriously, the realtors around here all know me by name at this point, since I've been showing up at their Sunday open houses for years now), I couldn't resist checking out some of the MCM real estate on offer around the country. I always wonder what it might be like to live somewhere else, and it's fascinating to me to see just how much -- or how little -- my money might buy in other places.

Let's take a quick tour, shall we?

San Diego: 3BR, 2BA, 1,859 square feet for $815,000, courtesy of San Diego Modern Homes

Palm Springs, California: 3BR, 2BA, 1,225 square feet for
$629,000, courtesy of Midcentury Properties

Corona Del Mar, California: 8BR, 10BA for $75,000,000 (you read that right: 75 million dollars), courtesy of SoCal Modern

Long Beach, California: 3BR, 1.5BA, 2,054 square feet for $849,000, courtesy of SoCal Modern

Los Angeles: 4BR, 3BA for $1,730,000, courtesy of Valley Modern

Ross, California: 7BR, 5BA, 5,000 square feet for $10,450,000, courtesy of Marin Modern

Portland, Oregon: 3BR, 2BA for $525,000, courtesy of Portland Modern

Phoenix: 3BR, 2BA, 1,890 square feet for $315,000, courtesy of Niche Find Yours

Denver: 3BR, 2BA, 3,129 square feet for $875,000, courtesy of Mile Hi Modern

Austin, Texas: 3BR, 2BA, 1,636 square feet for $250,000, courtesy of The Marye Company

Houston: 4BR, 3BA for $150,000, courtesy of Glenbrook Valley

Lake Forest, Illinois: 4BR, 4BA for $1,869,000, courtesy of JetSet Modern

Hamilton, Ohio: 4BR, 3BA for $260,000, courtesy of Cincinnati Modern

Sarasota, Florida: 2BR, 2.5BA, 2,302 square feet for $1,475,000, courtesy of Modern Sarasota

Is it just me, or is Texas suddenly looking really appealing?