For the Love of Stripes

Today, I am joining my friends Mary Ann and Cindy for favorite finds of the week, and this week, it’s all about stripes. I love stripes in fashion, home decor, and everything in between. I love the French Breton stripe shirt, wallpaper (or paint), rugs and fabrics, ceramics, and striped mats in frames.

I’ve been seeing stripe mats for framing small art pieces on Pinterest. We all sat at the table shortly after Easter lunch and made watercolor notes and tags. I received a postcard from Patrick’s girlfriend, Kate, a week later. I loved it so much that I knew I wanted to frame it—and it would involve stripes!

How to Make a Custom Mat for Art

Art supply stores with a picture frame department sell their leftover scrap mat pieces by size. My local store, Jerry’s Artarama, has a large selection of mats sorted by size and in every color and texture you can imagine. The small 8 x 10 mat boards are only $1. I usually pick up a few white pieces every time I go, just in case I need them.

The supplies you’ll need:

• A piece of matboard cut the same size as your frame
• Artist tape
• Scissors
• Watercolor paints and brush
• Frame

There’s no need to spend the extra money to have your mat cut to the size you need for a quick framing project. You can mount your art directly on the mat, which I did with Kate’s watercolor postcard.

I wanted to customize the mat with watercolor stripes. To do this, I used artist tape in the width that I wanted the stripes. I used artist’s tape because it won’t remove any of the mat board when I remove it after painting stripes, while regular painter’s tape on paper will often remove some of the paper.

How to paint the stripes

I used artist tape in the width that I wanted the stripes and added tape down the piece of 8 x 10 mat board. Then, I removed every other piece. I suppose I could have used half the amount of tape, but doing it this way ensured that I kept the lines straight. Then, using my inexpensive watercolor set of paints, I painted black stripes.

After a few minutes, the paint was dry, and I removed the rest of the tape, leaving black and white stripes. I mounted the small art (the postcard) onto the center of the mat with mounting tape and placed it in the inexpensive frame.

For now, my new piece of art is propped above the crates in the dining room. I think it adds a little something. Consider a DIY frame project the next time you have something to frame. It took about 20 minutes, and I couldn’t be happier.

Here are a few more things with stripes that I love right now!

From Left to Right: Canvas Tote Bag from Boden // Tanlines Stripe Towel from Wonder Valley // Maeve Stripe Indoor/Outdoor Pillows from Anthropologie // Langelid von Bromssen Jagged Stripe Wallpaper from Anthropologie // Pembroke Stripe Linen Sheets/Duvet Cover from Nordstrom // Red Stripe Ceramic Vase from All Modern

Stripe curtains, cushions, and wallpaper set the tone in any situation. Bold and graphic or muted, I love them all. The wallpaper at the top right, in dreamy tomato red, garden green, and blush pink, is from Anthropologie and is called Ottoline French Stripes.

More finds on my radar this week that I’m loving!

NuStory Rugs

NNuStory is a new rug company focusing on quality, design, and sustainability. I loved the process of finding the perfect runner for our kitchen. Their filters allow you to narrow down the choices that best suit the vibe and colors you are looking for in a rug.

The website’s photos are accurate, and the in-room shots are inspiring. I’ll be sharing the rug I chose on Instagram later this week. It’s the Sana rug, and it’s gorgeous! I can’t wait to show you!

TATCHA Face Cream

Mary Ann sent me a jar of TATCHA Dewy Skin Cream, and I love it! It’s for dry or normal skin. My skin looks and feels more hydrated, and my makeup goes on smoother! What’s not to love about that? Thank you, Mary Ann!

Walk With Me: Hamptons

Susan Kauffman’s first book, Walk With Me: New York, was released in May 2022, and now, two years later, she has a new book, Walk With Me: Hamptons. It makes sense, as Susan splits her time between New York City and The Hamptons. Both books are beautiful. Her latest book shares more of the down-to-earth side of the Hamptons in every magical season.

A few sales I came across this week…

GAP is up to 50% off new outfit picks and a 50% off SALE! For example, this Utility Big Shirt comes in three colors, and in regular, tall, and petite!

Serena & Lily is having a VIP Access Memorial Day Sale. Prices are as Marked, like the Riviera Rattan Dining Chairs, which are $218.

J.Crew is 50% off select summer styles. The classic-fit beach shirt dress is on sale, and an extra 60% off. I have it in two colors and wear them all summer long. They are perfect for summer travel.

That’s it for me…Let’s see what Cindy and Mary Ann found this week!

Cindy Hattersley Design

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