This could be the moment all my readers have been waiting for. (The two of you are really going to dig this.) Do you remember my recent ramblings about this couch:
The New York Times article was titled "When perfect is not the goal" and I give full credit to designer Pamela Bell for the idea. She invited her children's classmates over to help draw on a John Derian sofa.
My own John Derian being on a permanent leave of absence, (when he heard the idea he just scampered away, one day he was there and the next, pfff, gone.) my boys and I went at it on our Ikea Klippan. We had fun, (especially me). I bought a large box of permanent markers at target for $18.99, with drool-inducing colors such as "Margarita Green" and 'Polynesian Pink', then prudently confiscated offensive names such as '"Plumtastic Purple", "Tuxedo Black" and "Woodsy Brown" (nine year old boys know three colors: black, red for blood with the occasional touch of white for bones and skulls.)
But enough with the words: Tadaaahhh!
A couple close ups
No, it's not about you Freckles! (she so vain)
And some more close-er ups because I think Picasso has nothing on my kids:
My adolescent might be going through a dark phase.
My nine year old is going through an Ugly Doll phase (note, those are his designs)
Could it be that I'm going through a worried phase?
A propos of nothing, I also bought a new tea kettle because the color was insanely beautiful to me.
Oh, and I also wanted to mention that the fishes on the walls were made by artist and BFF Isabelle Bryer as a baby shower gift 9 years ago. They were intended for the baby's bedroom but by now you all guess who the baby is around here. And many of the flower drawings were inspired by lovely blogger and super talented textile designer Ayelet Iontef of All*over*print.
Voila. Now I'm supposed to do real work. Sheesh...
Brilliant! How beautiful and fun it turned out! I am so glad you did it! again my hero!
ps. (did your husband faint!)
Posted by: nadia | August 13, 2008 at 03:32 PM
This is so brave. So very brave and radical and 'artist-like'. I adore your style and you are my champion stylist!
Posted by: Liberty Post Editor | August 13, 2008 at 04:47 PM
cool! it fits so nicely in the room with the pillows and fish. i personally think the idea is cool, at the very least for it being unconventional.
Posted by: josephine | August 13, 2008 at 05:05 PM
HOLY CRAP! I love it. Your dog is too cute. Way to let loose! Looks like you had fun doing it!
Posted by: erika | August 13, 2008 at 05:32 PM
i love it!!!! you are officially the coolest mom in the world.
Posted by: Jaymee | August 13, 2008 at 06:14 PM
I love everything - couch, dog, teakettle, fish!
Posted by: AnnieG | August 13, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Franchement je trouve que le résultat est drôlement réussi.
Je m'attendais à un carnage et n'y croyait pas trop, mais je suis bluffée !
Posted by: Fressine | August 13, 2008 at 10:18 PM
I think your sofa looks so much better than the inspiration image. Great work! That had to be pretty fun to do.
Posted by: Rachel Mallon | August 14, 2008 at 12:09 AM
Loooooooove it!!! Now you need another little chair to sit on, cause I won't be sitting on the couch while I try to read it!!! lol
Posted by: Muralimanohar | August 14, 2008 at 03:50 AM
how wonderful everyone in the family got into the sofa project...and there
is room for more!i love the guitar!
Posted by: susan buchanan | August 14, 2008 at 07:20 AM
i am thinking how should i reward you for a job well done.
Posted by: anrosh | August 14, 2008 at 07:47 AM
you = all the artists. (ref above comment)
Posted by: anrosh | August 14, 2008 at 07:54 AM
Yours is soooooooooooooooo much better than the one in the NYT! Bravo! It really looks terrific! BTW, have been reading your blog DAILY since I "found" it a couple of weeks ago! Thank you for existing on the web! Your images and aesthetic inspire me daily!
Posted by: Joanne | August 14, 2008 at 08:57 AM
This looks freaking awesome. And way better than the inspiration couch. LOVE IT!
Posted by: artsymomma | August 14, 2008 at 11:26 AM
that couch idea is the coolest thing ever!!
Posted by: Sabina | August 14, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Corine, I think this is the most brilliant family project I have seen! I showed it to my husband who wants to do one for the guest bedroom...we have no kids...let me rephrase that...he is the kid!
Posted by: Tartelette | August 14, 2008 at 07:44 PM
Well done on doing something SO adventurous and coming up with such a great result! Very inspiring!
Posted by: Freshly Found | August 14, 2008 at 10:36 PM
I've only just found your blog and each read proves more that you're a woman after my own heart (particularly after you mentioned M. Gainsbourg...swoon!) We have just acquired the same little ikea sofa on the cheap and plan to host an al fresco couch painting party once the rains stop (if the rains stop?)
Your couch looks wonderful. I'm lovin' the guitar and the patchwork down the arms =)
Posted by: Melanie | August 15, 2008 at 05:56 AM
Love the couch!!Wow.
Posted by: My Notting Hill | August 15, 2008 at 08:07 AM
this came out great - very smart to weed out the colors!
Christine
Posted by: christine | August 15, 2008 at 09:07 AM
I LOVE the juxtaposition of the picture in the middle of the psycho-looking, Dante's Inferno-esque dude right next to the very twee, rainbow lollipop forest. What irony! What contradiction! What artistic genius!:) Seriously, it's fabulous. I want to do it too!
Posted by: Martha | August 15, 2008 at 11:26 AM
i just gave plain canvas couch cushions to a friend's daughter, and a link to this couch.
told her to JUST DO IT, like the nike mantra!
yours is carefree, light-hearted and inspirational!
next, you might try "bleach pens" on brightly colored canvas...then make pillows.
http://artprojectsforkids.blogspot.com/2008/08/bleach-pen-jeans.html
Posted by: virginia | August 15, 2008 at 08:24 PM
elle l'a fait, elle l'a fait !!! délire ! je n'aurais jamais osé ! mais ça rend super bien, congratulations !
Posted by: TheYoupiTouch | August 16, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Love it!
Posted by: Leah | August 16, 2008 at 10:03 PM
well done!! i love it! what a great collection of drawings, i think you have super talented kids (obviously they take after you :-). freckles is gorgeous. px
Posted by: pia | August 17, 2008 at 03:05 AM
exciting - you and your boys will smile for years as you look at the couch - so much fun- and you can keep adding to it - a work in progress until there is not a speck of untouched muslin left
Posted by: Marnie | August 17, 2008 at 05:19 PM
Génial ! Moi non plus je n'aurais jamais osé mais le résultat vaut le coup ! Et pour la bouilloire et la couleur j'aurais craqué également !
Posted by: nutella | August 18, 2008 at 07:40 AM
The couch looks awesome!!! What a great idea to draw on something that kids often draw on anyway...great idea.
Posted by: Kay | August 19, 2008 at 06:55 AM
I am absolutely blown away by your sofa. I am so impressed and admire your bravery. BIG CONGRATULATIONS
Posted by: Di Overton | August 20, 2008 at 01:05 AM
ohlalala corine, mon ami google translation n'est pas très bon, mais en lisant entre les lignes, j'ai trouvé cette idée géniale et graphiquement irrésisitible, en un mot FELICITATIONS
Posted by: adelap | August 20, 2008 at 01:05 AM
May I just say~~~WOOOW!
I was a textile designer and it's the most Avant-Garde pieces I've ever seen.
Maybe it's time to repick up my markers.....
Thanks for sharing
Celine
Posted by: Tsuilin HWANG | August 20, 2008 at 08:01 AM
That is so cool of you. I bet your boys just thought you were the best mom EVER! And it really looks great too. I love this idea:)
Posted by: Melissa Lewis - Off The Wall | August 20, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Love, love your couch!!!!!I guess you won`t be sitting there being bored. You can look at the drawings or maybe even make some more :)
Posted by: appleandeve | August 23, 2008 at 01:10 PM
supper cool!!!
Posted by: michal | December 18, 2011 at 06:07 AM