Let's face it. Keeping track of all of the inspirational jpegs that are floating around on your hard drive and on the internets is a pain in the ass. Thank Jebus I now have Pinterest to help me catalog and share all of the images that get me all tingly down there. Head over to the Rural Modernist Furniture Porn page to get more information on the objects above that I've been lusting over, as well as a whole slew of personally curated eye candy that's sure to titillate your design bone and get your creative juices flowing. Now I need a cold shower.

Even the hair dryer is beautiful.

Rural Modernist mascots, Tino and Leo, enjoy a romp in the snow. Our neighbor's dog, Zuzu, makes a special appearance at the end. The soundtrack is Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People which is insanely catchy and happy. I'm surprised that this wasn't a bigger hit. It has whistling!

I finally saw Gertie's directorial debut, Whip It. The movie is predictable, but makes up for it's lack of originality with loads of charm, ass kicking roller derby chicks, an all-girl food fight, and a great soundtrack. I particularly loved this dreamy song by Swedish troubadour Jens Lekman that played during Ellen Page's "losing her virginity in the pool" scene. The humorous/romantic lyrics are sexually ambiguous, involve avocado, blood, and a trip to the E.R. I hear a good dollop of Morrissey, a hearty scoop of Jonathan Richman, a few tablespoons of Billy Bragg, and a soupçon of Damien Dempsey in Mr. Lekmans winsome warbling. He recorded this song in 2007 and doesn't seem to have done anything since then, so Jens, get cracking.

Download "Arms Around Me" or check out Jens' "Presents" page for a slew of other free mp3's.

New hand-poured, 32 oz. clean scented soy candles will be making their debut at the opening of the Rural Modernist holiday pop-up store event later this month. Each one is decoupaged by moi with assorted ephemera that I've been collecting for a zillion years to make each one truly one-of-a-kind and way cooler than some vanilla scented monstrosity from Yankee Candle at the mall. Each one comes with a Rural Modernist matchbox, too.

I also have a selection of votives that have random words, science, and math graphics on them. These are from a series of little flash cards from the 40's I found in a barn sale in Woodstock. Just sorting through the hundreds of cards makes me feel smarter. Each of these are packaged individually and are ideal for stocking stuffing.

NOTE: Since there's no actual foot traffic in Stone Ridge and the studio has exploded with saw dust, Frisket Film, masking tape, and spray paint fumes, I've decided to forego opening on weekends and will re-open later this month as a holiday pop-up store. There will be a proper launch party for the studio and the debut of the new paintings, candles, soaps, ceramics, boxed Handsome Devil Press holiday cards just in time for your seasonal shopping needs. 

Join our page on Facebarf and follow us on Twatter so you don't miss out!

Rural Modernist Studio

3780 Main Street (rear cottage)

Stone Ridge, NY 12484

I started doing these paintings a few months ago and something was missing: COLOR. That's no longer a problem since I received my shipment of professional graffiti artist quality spray paints from 33third.com in L.A. I've been having a blast making these new paintings and I think they compliment the organic shapes of my ceramics nicely. The title of the collection wasn't planned, but as I started doing more of them a theme developed. As I cut out each shape, a little voice in my head kept saying "wishbones and kidneys, wishbones and kidneys..." I'm sure it was the spray paint fumes. 

Peeling off the masking tape to reveal the color underneath is my favorite part. 

I love the combination of orange, chocolate, and cyan.

I might keep this one for myself.

NOTE: Since there's no actual foot traffic in Stone Ridge and the studio has exploded with saw dust, Frisket Film, masking tape, and spray paint fumes, I've decided to forego opening on weekends and will re-open later this month as a holiday pop-up store. There will be a proper launch party for the studio and the debut of the new paintings, and you can do some holiday gift shopping while you're at it. We will have boxed Handsome Devil Press holiday cards, new scented candles, handmade soaps, outsider art, and more. 

Join our page on Facebarf and follow us on Twatter so you don't miss out!

Rural Modernist Studio

3780 Main Street (rear cottage)

Stone Ridge, NY 12484

Hello Rural Modernistas.  I know it's been some time since I offered my two cents on design and home decor.  If you hadn't heard, I picked up and moved far, far away - to San Francisco.  You know the place....gays, hippies, gays, fashion backwards people, gays, Golden Gate Bridge, gays, etc.

I thought I would check in and drop a few tips and treats to hold you over, as well as a few things I am obsessed with.

As the holidays loom on the horizon, I thought it would be a great time to plant the design seeds for the upcoming season.  Let's start with Thanksgiving.  I think the ultimate tablescape for this holiday is the well-curated but totally mismatched place settings.  Picture a crisp linen tablecloth with different, but similar place settings, splashes of color in various settings, and different shapes and sizes used in the same amounts across the table.  Here's how: 

• First, start with a solid color tablecloth, and gather solid (tone on tone is fine) color dinner plates.  These do not necessarily need to match in style, but they should match in color and size.  I prefer an all-white dinner plate as a base.  
• On top of those, place your favorite collected salad plates (from eBay, from yard sales or from my favorite, Fishs Eddy (great place to start your collection).  They don't have to match anything but the tablecloth or dinner plate color, and should not match each other.  The commonality is the size.  
• Do this again with a smaller bread plate.  Take inspiration from your collections and your taste; if you are into 50s retro, add some jadeite or maybe a few pieces of of Fiestaware.  If you're more of a modernist, go for some graphic pieces or geometric shapes.  The idea is to personalize it, yet vary it a bit.  
• From the plates, you now have a color palette defined, and use that to choose napkins.  As most napkins are the same size, you only need to choose colors and prints.  This is a great place for a brighter color pulled from one of the plates or even a stripe that corresponds.  Cohesively, the napkins should tell the color story, and you will know how many different ones to use.  The idea is to look simple, not overly chaotic.  
• Top the setting off with glassware (flatware should be matching) - one water glass and one wine glass.  If your palette can handle colored glass, sprinkle a few around the table.  Ideally, you will make one of the glasses cohesive throughout, and the other can be variations of the same.  Perhaps go for the French look of simple tumblers for wine and vary your water glasses.  

I love this look... it screams "Thanksgiving" to me.

Before your turkey carcass has cooled, it's time to look forward to Christmas,  As you may have sensed by now, I respect tradition, but don't necessarily adhere to it.  To that end, there will likely be no bright red and emerald green and gold flocked Christmas tree.  And retail seems to agree!  I think the color palette that is of-the-moment for this season is going to be purple, teal, kiwi and fuchsia.

I am obsessed with this book at the moment.  The Joy Of Home by Naomi Cleaver.  If you own one home design book, make it this one.  Step by step, room by room, it guides you through learning how to design a space according to your own taste.  From making a working budget to sketching the room, you will have all the tools you need.  Check it out here,

As the weather cools, what is more thrilling than hiberating on a sofa wrapped in a cozy and warm throw?  For me, it is ALLLLL about MIssoni throws right now.  MIssoni's prints are often loud and invasive but there is so much more to this chic Italian house.  Their throws run the gamut from simple to overdone, and I love the range.  They are a great kick for most modern decor, and look as good folded up on the ottoman as they do wrapped around you.  Check out the range and get to cuddling!

I have also recently worked with a few great brands and stores that I think I should share with you:

• For nursery and children's rooms, I love Duc Duc.  Bold, modern and graphic.
• Try Spoonflower if you think you have what it takes to design your own fabric.  Get crafty and they will print it up for you! 
• My very favorite fabric line, Of The Young And The Restless, cannot be recommended enough.  Check out the bold prints and colors.  You DO have a room that needs this.

Lastly, and not really design related, I need to leave you all with a few gifts.  While I have been taking time to immerse myself in my new city and my new pursuits, I still want to reach out to my old kinfolk as often as possible and keep in touch.  One thing that my friends know I love is music.  I love to discover it and share it whenever I can.  So, I have been making downloadable playlists that I send around to my little network every few weeks, and I thought it was time to share some of my recent favorites with you all.  Each playlist contains new music discoveries, rare gems you forgot about. one hit wonders from years past, and a few WTF was that??? moments.  A true eclectic collection that is very me.  I think you may find yourselves in some of these as well.  Here are a few, in order from most recent backwards.  I name them all after me, and hey even have artwork!!!

Eat@Joe's

Joe Fuck Yourself

JoedelAyHeeHoo!

Joe Ne Sais Quoi

Joe Your Own Way

Let Go And Let Joe

Joe Armenia from Campagna Home weighs in on his latest design obsessions, tips, and finds on a semi-regular basis for The Rural Modernist. I couldn't be happier since it means less work for me.