A big trend for 2012 is semi-precious stones and gems.  The concentric, marbleized patterns, and the deep vibrant colours of stones like agate or malachite are popping up all over. 

Agate Trendwatch from Ampersand Design Studio

Feature on malachite as a trend in January 2012 Style at Home Magazine 

Malachite patterned roman shades. Photograph by Simon Upton for Elle Decor

Agate sconces.  Lauren Stern Design.

But for me, it’s not the easiest trend to incorporate - it’s pretty in-your-face, hard to find, and potentially pretty expensive.  But the other day I was painting with watercolours with Little M (watercolours, by the way, are another big trend right now), and figured they’d be the perfect combination for some pretty and trendy art.

SUPPLIES:

• heavy-weight watercolour paper
• watercolour paints
• water in a dish
• paint brush
• paper towel
• painter’s tape 

TIP: In my opinion you need to splurge on the paper with watercolours.  Go to an art supply store and get some pretty heavy stuff, or your paper will warp, tear, peel, and be a general mess of gross-ness.  As far as paints go it depends on how saturated you want your colours.  A cheaper paint set will generally give you paler colours, and a more expensive set will give deeper colours because it will have more concentrated pigment.  That being said, mine was a middle-of-the-road set from DeSerres.

Tape your paper down to your table, or to a large, smooth board.  This not only gives you a nice clean border, but keep the paper taped down until the painting is dry and it will prevent some warping.

I did a few versions of this to try some different techniques…

I’ll share what I thought worked best:

TIP: Pick a colour scheme of harmonious colours - greens and yellows, or reds and oranges, etc.  This is typical of the stones, and it will look better if your colours overlap or bleed into one another.  If you specifically want the malachite look use shades of green.

I found it worked best to put water on the paper first, then get the brush filled with paint and trace along the edge of the water.  The colour bleeds into the water and creates the wavy patterns you want.  

While still wet I added some other colours at times.  Other times I waited until the rings dried then did another puddle.

If the paper is ever too wet and creates more pooling than you want, just use the edge of a piece of paper towel to soak some of it up.

Sometimes if my lines looked too much like a brush stroke I would go over them again with just water to blur the edges.

It’s a pretty random process, so have fun with it and experiment.  It may not look exactly like a chunk of agate, but that’s OK - it can still look interesting and pretty.

And there you go!  A relaxing morning of painting, and a pretty and easy way to incorporate a trend.  And cheap art for your walls!

***UPDATE: See my malachite-inspired art here.

See, here’s the thing: trends are fun. It’s fun to see what “the next big thing” will be, and decide if you like it or not, and find ways to integrate it into your life, and feel all smartypants when you caught onto a trend early in the game.

Take for example the current trend of zigzags/chevrons. So freakin’ big right now.

(Madeline Weinrib Zigzag rug. Room design by Krista Ewart)

(Zigzag duvet cover from Urban Outfitters)

(from Coastal Living)

And I love ‘em! Chevrons are fun, graphic, energetic… But they’re everywhere.  And just like certain songs on the radio reek of “one hit wonder”, zig zags stink of “you’re sooo gonna’ regret this later”.  Not because they’re not a great pattern, but because before you know it a trend is overdone and becomes cliche. And then design snobbery casts it aside with disdain. And that is why I won’t be integrating zig zags into my decor, even though it’s a trend I like.  It’ll be “out” before I finish sewing my chevron pillow cover.  

What’s worse, though, is when you do something you like, just because you like it then it becomes a trend.   What was something you did for yourself now looks like something you did to be trendy. And then the trend comes and goes and you wonder if you still love what you did, and if you keep it to prove a point, or if you change it to avoid looking out-of-style.

All this to say, my kitchen is navy blue. And I love it. I did it because I love navy blue - it can be preppy or edgy, modern or classic.  I thought it would look sharp against the pale wood cabinetry.  And I thought it would be fun to take a design risk in this small space.

But if my spidey-senses are working I can see that navy blue “is the new black”.  While black walls were so huge a few years back (thank you, Jenna Lyons), I see the trend easing into a slightly friendlier, more dynamic way of crossing to the dark side: deep blues like indigo, cobalt, sapphire, denim, and navy

(Design by Michael Angus, Photograph by Michael Graydon, for Canadian House & Home)

(Design by Eric Cohler via Elle Decor)

(Design by Meg Braff via House Beautiful)

(Design by Drake Design Associates)

(Design by Tom Scheerer via House Beautiful)

Which is cool, cuz I like the trend, but now I have to worry about it becoming such a big trend that in a couple years trendy people will look back and say “Remember when everyone painted their walls navy blue?  Ha ha!  That is SO 2011.”

But maybe not.  It does take guts to paint your walls dark, and not many people will do it.  And if they do - oh well.  I like my blue walls, and I’ll like yours too.

So for the next little while I’ll feel all smartypants about my sharp-looking navy blue kitchen.  Until the trend passes.  Then I’ll just hang up a chevron-printed tea towel, my “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster, toss in a few owl accessories and call it a day.

(P.S. I’m showing you my kitchen on Monday.  I’d call it a “kitchen tour”, but the thing is 7’x9’, so it’s more of a “kitchen glance”.)

Well, I’ve reached that stage in my pregnancy.  The one where I’m SO ready to be done.  SO done with Tums (or more so, the heartburn).  SO done with sleeping on my side.  SO done with waddling.  SO ready to hold this Little One in my arms and begin the next stage.

…And I’m SO done with my maternity wardrobe.  I’ve started craving clothes that I just can’t wear when I’m pregnant: either because they don’t fit, or just look funny with a big belly.  Now, I learned last time around that there are restrictions when breastfeeding too (like a lot of my dresses)… but at least it’s a change.

And one trend I’m secretly (and now not-so-secretly) liking is… you ready for this?  Rompers.  Yup.  Like one piece shorts sets.  Like, the thing you see pictures of your mom wearing in the eighties along with her bowl-cut or perm and gigantic glasses.  

But hear me out…

Rover Romper in Indigo from J. Crew

Lucca Couture Floral Romper from Urban Outfitters

Staring at Stars Shirt Romper from Urban Outfitters

Striped Linen-blend Romper from Forever 21

Jungle Safari Romper at shopruche.com

Patch Romper in Navy from Dear Creatures (via Emily Henderson)

Finding the right romper would be key - not something I’d buy online, since the fit would be a major factor.  And I’m not into the tube-top look, and the shorts would have to be a reasonable length.  

But they’re kinda’ cute!  And could be really comfortable.  And they look like they’d be so fun to accessorize!  (Great belts, bracelets, cardigans, sandals…)

But on the other hand, I worry about looking age/life-stage appropriate.  And what if you reeeeally have to pee?  ;)

So, if I go shopping post-baby I won’t shy away from at least trying one on.  But I won’t jump to buy one either.  We’ll see.

Until then, I’m far more likely to be buying this romper:

Baby Girls’ Vibrant Stitched Romper in Turquoise from Baby Gap

What do you think?  Would you/could you wear a romper this summer?  Do you already, and what do you think?