Shop local first. Support your hometown business first.

Really, it’s important. These terrific t’s at Standard Style.

Photograph by Francesco Lagnese in House Beautiful, July 2009. Interior design by Jonathan Berger for Heather Evans.

I keep a stash of plastic cups in a low cabinet so when the boys groan, “Mom, I’m thirsty!” I can say, “Then you should fix yourself a drink!” We were running low (not sure how these go missing) and I happened upon these at Target this week. They are hard plastic – dishwasher safe and all that. I really like them. The boys don’t get it.

Target also has these in melamine which I also found charming. Here I showed restraint as I am enjoying my melamine plates from La Plates. Hmmm…the smaller size would be fun to mix in and might get me off the hood for snack fixing, too.

So here I am going on and on about myself and I receive a lovely email from a reader.

Dana Gibson writes to tell me that she has just finished a project herself.  Dana painted this poppy pattern on the walls of her bedroom.  Freehand.

I know.  Unbelievable.  

Then, when I emailed back and said, “Get out!” or something like that and she emailed this:

She painted the floor of her dressing room in a hounds tooth pattern. She started the floor using a stencil, but gave it up because of smearing.  So she outlined the pattern and painted from there.

But wait there’s more.  Dana went on to tell me, “The large portrait (above) was one I painted from a magazine clipping. I was looking everywhere for a ‘vintage’ type painting but couldn’t find one and probably could not have afforded it if I could. I saw this in a magazine and just used acrylics to copy. I’m developing this theory that decorating is sometimes a lot of problem solving.”  Problem solving and talent, I think.

But Dana is not the wayward housewife as am I.  Dana is focused.  Dana does things.  In fact, she has her own business.  

She has been a potter for the past fifteen years and her decorative items might look familiar to you.  They are carried by some of the snazziest retailers around.  Here in Kansas City you can find her pieces at Trapp and Webster House.

She has recently expanded the line into tole lamps and wastebaskets.

What she didn’t mention, as she is far too gracious, is that she is the grandniece of Nancy Lancaster and a descendant of Charles Dana Gibson.  (Get it?)

Now you could fuss and fret about not having the time or the talent to paint as Dana does, or you could just pop on over and take a look at her things.

A cheery lamp could easily brighten up a dreary corner.

And a pretty place to toss your tissue will be a creative way to solve an age old problem.  Click and order.  It’s just a different kind of do-it-yourself.