Feeling Thankful

Fall is here.  And, despite the 98 degree weather, it's starting to feel like fall here in southern California.  What is it about the season that makes us so nostalgic, so relaxed, so inclined to appreciate the beauty God's created around us?   I always find myself feeling this sense of calm around now. 

We can tear ourselves apart for what we aren't but let's appreciate what we are.   Today I'm feeling thankful. 

Giving Thanks,

{G3QDesigns}

Polished White Powder Room

Another fab bathroom reno featured today! 

This is a bathroom off the hallway we featured.  

{You can see that here.} 

I used almost all carerra marble but mixed sizes, shapes, and textures to give this powder room a super lavish feel. 

It's white but warm.  Modern but inviting. 

Come have a look:

Before:

The bathroom before was, um, dated?  That's putting it nicely.  The shower was also enclosed like some kind of dark solitary confinement cage.  

Here is the after.  Ahhh, light, bright, open.

After:

Oh! Hey scrub in the mirror with your black demo-day uniform on...

Before:

After:

I. love. this. bathroom. so. much.  

Live in the LA area?

Need a bathroom remodel?

Give us a call we'll give it a haul!

Blessings, 

{G3QDesigns}

Book Review: Back to School Edition

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Happy September! This month always seems a wonder, reviving the year when it seems to have been dragging itself along, (all that sun and relentless heat of summer!), ushering in fresh autumn breezes, stunning and yet comfortably familiar seasonal fashions, (sweaters anyone?), and perhaps the most controversial new beginning, school! I'm not going to lie, I loved school. I have always loved learning new things, and I would be a professional student for the rest of my life if only it were allowed.  But I will content myself with being a life-long learner, even if I am no longer in formal education. So, in honor of back to school season, and in keeping with my belief that there are always opportunities to better oneself, I am revisiting and reviewing Harper Lee's timeless classic To Kill a Mockingbird.

The story takes place in 1930s Alabama, deep in the Great Depression.  We witness a few formative years in the life of young Scout, her brother, Jem, and their lawyer father, Atticus Finch. To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic coming-of-age tale, not only because we witness the physical growth and defining moral struggles of Scout and her older brother Jem, but because it tells the continued tale of the growth and struggles of our own country.  It is the tale of individuals, as well as our collective society, learning to engage with broad ethical dilemmas in an attempt to bring us back to plain human decency. While Jem and Scout slowly grow into the beginnings of more thoughtful and responsible adults, the county of Maycomb undergoes its own battle of moral conscience with regards to legally institutionalized prejudices and racism. We, as readers, struggle along with the characters about matters of justice, hypocrisy, right and wrong, hospitality, cruelty, and all the rights and responsibilities that come with being a part of a community as neighbors and fellow American citizens. 

Harper Lee's novel is a true classic by merit, but it would be a shame if that meant it were confined only to high school classrooms. There are always lessons to be reinforced about empathy, kindness, and, as Scout puts it, "lovin' folks like you love yourself." Whether Maycomb County evolves as much as its young constituents do is debatable, but that seems to be one of the valuable lesson of its tale- that societies can only improve when the individuals themselves decide to change for the better.

Tayler Morrissey received her degree in English from University of California, Santa Barbara.

{Quick & Easy} Party Hair!

Need a quick and really cute do for this weekend?  Try this easy braided crown!

1. Smooth: spray hair spray on your hand to smooth out any crazy stragglers

2.  Lift: tease up the hair on the back of your crown for some lift

3. Pony Up: create two pony tails (I use the little clear rubber bands from the grocery store)

4. Braid 'em: braid the hair from both ponys, put another rubber band at the ends

5. Loop it:  loop one braid over the front of your head, pin it with bobbie pins

6. Repeat: repeat with the other side

7. Mess it up:  I wanted a messier look so we pulled and tugged on the braids to give them a more slept in look!

This style is easily done on your own! 

I just happened to have friends over who do hair for a living!

Nothing like strange jazz hands to start your Thursday!  

Blessings,

{G3QDesigns}

We {Heart} Brass {Animals}

When Brooke and I started our business, we immediately became obsessed with brass animals.  All of them.  Even the not-so-cute ones. 

{Like the weird-flat-faced-cat-ones...}

Then after collecting several of these sweeties, we thought "oh, we were over you".  Well, we quickly came to our senses. Turns out, these little guys have personalities that will win you over, over, over and over again.  Here is part of the family we have now... Enjoy!

Senor crab.  He was likely in many of your homes growing up.  He is an ashtray and his claws hold the smoke.  Not a smoker but genius!

(photo credit: Angela Kohler)

Perhaps Senor G should have been holding the crab!  Alas, the giant rooster.

G1 with El Torro grande.

Nino loco holding the water buffalo.  One of my personal favorites! 

Awe!  Sweet Pea getting sweet with the penguin. 

Ok, maybe not so sweet!

Poor pero.  Really?  Really?

Really!!!! (So so impressed that Harley did not take the cereal out of its mouth!)

All of these little fellas (and plenty more!) are available for purchase 

from us directly or in our store on One Kings Lane.

Many blessings & happy Tuesday!

{G3QDesigns}

Happy Sunday

Feeling so thankful.  For my babies, for my life.

Happy Sunday.

Blessings,

{G3QDesigns}

BLOGSHOPLA Day Two

Boot camp, day two.  

I survived.  Sort of. 

The ladies at BLOGSHOP teach you a lot about photoshop.  

There is no question about that!  Today we recapped everything we covered in yesterday's class and went over how to {liquify, mask, black & white, adjusting levels, adding color, gradients, healing, cloning, filters, actions, overlaping and multiplying}.

This little book is the Blog Shop Bible.  

I've got to keep it close, read it, put it into action and repeat. 

Our lunch today was provided by Urban Palate in cute custom painted baskets!

So delish!

We were all so excited to get these BKR bottles!  

Awesome glass bottles with interchangable silicone sleeves.

Coffee was provided by Broome Street General Store.

Overall I was so thrilled to be a part of this workshop.  The food was great, the environment was semi-creative and the content was rich! Most importantly, I met some amazing woman from all over the country.  I can't wait to see what type of amazing creativity they bring to all of our lives!  

Blessings,

{G3QDesigns}

BlogshopLA

Well I've been looking forward to this for months now.  

Photoshop boot camp.  

Specifically, BLOGSHOP.  It is being held in LA right now and man, although I had a great day, I can't help but feel incredibly inadequate.  I love writing this blog.  Heck, I love writing it every day.  But, I know what I see in my head and that's not what's being delivered on these pages....So, I'm trying.  

I will get better and I hope that you help me get there!

My head is spinning.  

Really.  I get very frustrated.  

I generally do things very quickly and picking up on everything we learned today is not one of them.

But, the ladies of Blogshop eased the punch by giving us these goodie bags!

~ MapNote for MapTote

~ Note Cards by Sugar Paper 

~Nail Jewelry by Hex

~ Tote by Baggu

~ Incense by SweetGrass

~ Hand Painted Tiles by Coastal

~ Note Pad by Quill & Fox

~ Clarity Pouch by Truffle (not pictured!)

Lunch was provided by Whoa Nelly. It. Was. Awesome.

~ mini swiss chard, roasted shitiake and emmentaler quiche

~ haricots verts, egg, tapenade vinaigrette, cherry tomato, tuna conserva, crispy fingerling coins

~ cheese, seasonal fruit, & house made crackers

~ chicken paillard club on ficelle with niman ranch bacon, heirloom tomato and avocado

~ sandwich crudite with fennel, cucumber, tomato, and goat cheese on ciabatta

~ chocolate pot de creme, creme fraiche whip

Awe. Snap.  Love my manicure.

So, will I feel better about tomorrow?

Until next post...

Blessings, 

{G3QDesigns}

Easy Polished Pinatas

Want to turn the kids pinatas into polished decor for your 

next baby shower or party!  

Super easy!  

First follow the steps we went over in our Cereal Pinata Post

Once you've wrapped your box, put a wire hanger on it, follow the steps below:

1. Cut your tissue fringe in long pieces

2. Tape top portion of fringe on wrapped box

3. Wrap tissue fringe around box moving up approximately 1/4 each each time

4. Continue until you reach the top

5. Finish the top and bottom of box with fringe

and you're done!!!

Please send us pictures of your pinatas!! These are so so cute!  We can't wait to make more!

Enjoy.

Blessings,

{G3QDesigns}

Cereal Box Pinata!

With my 3Gs being so close in age, it's almost like running a preschool over here~

You probably wont believe me but we make these "cereal" box pinatas almost once a week!!!

Hey, reduce, reuse, recycle right?

What cha'll need:

1. Any empty box laying around your house

2. Tissue paper, newspaper or even cute leftover party napkins!

3. Wire or paperclips (and a nail - not shown)

4. Some tape 

How To:

{Depending on the age of your little ones, these steps might be better left to the big kid}

~ Place treats or even a single "surprise" inside the box (new stuffed toy or lego to give your little one? what a great way for them to get their surprise!)

~ Wrap her up like a present

~ Bend a piece of wire or paper clip into a circle (set aside)

~ Poke two holes in side of box (for larger kids, poke holes on opposing sides of box for more stability)

~ Loop your wire "hook" through the box

Next, Make your fringe!!

Buzz isn't too great with the scissors so I cut up fringe in several colors so he & the other 2 Gs could have options when decorating!

~

Lay the boxes and fringe glue sticks and tape on a table &

turn craft night into a party night!

{we'll share how to make these fun semi home-make snacks and more traditional pinatas later this week!}

It's awesome to see their creative minds go to work!

No rules!  Just fun!

They turned out perfectly!!

Until tomorrow!

Blessings,

{G3QDesigns}