This post brought to you by TIKI Brand®. All opinions are 100% mine.
Sigh, its summer friends. Ivie is out of school today. Which means in exactly 9.5 days I am going to be ready for a vacation. Somewhere new and fun. Last year Court and I went to Paris and it was indescribable. This year? We are going on vacation to our backyard (yay?).
One day, many moons from now I am going to have a backyard with huge trees, secret huts, and hidden swings. (And that is just for me.) But until that day comes, I am going to rock what I got in the miniscule backyard that we have.
Also I think I might need to move out of the desert. Just a thought.
If I could describe my dream backyard in 3 words it would be lush, funky, and colorful.
So operation No Ugly Backyard is underway.
And that starts with a Tiki Torch. Or a TIKI Brand Fire Sculptures to be exact.
My parents never had cool stuff like this when I was a kid. I mean. An open flame and me? NEVER a good idea.
But when Tiki sent me their Alumina Fire Sculpture I was super excited about it, open flame and all. I really loved the modern style and just based on the size of the box, this thing is MUCH taller than I expected. One thing that was missing (and you can’t blame them, you just cant bottle this stuff) is a little Mandifying, you know, to up the funk factor.
I used my Silhouette to cut out simple triangle chains out of white vinyl, (you can download my file for free here) and then I just slapped it on the torch base. I LOVE it. Like if it wasn’t an open flame that has mosquito repellant built right in (its amazing, those Tiki guys think of everything) I would totally have this in my bedroom. (If you are loving triangles too, check out Ivie’s tribal triangle wall. Its pretty fantastic!)
So now lets chat about the flame.
Dylan stood by and watched it for a good 20 minutes. This was our convo:
D:Â Mom its SOOOOO pretty!
Me: I know honey, but we don’t touch it.
D: I know, its just so sparkly!
Me:Â It is so sparkly, but it will burn you if you touch it.
D:Â I know Mom. I just love it.
Me: I am so glad, I love it too. But we don’t…
D:Â Maw-yum (you have to say that phonetically to get the true dialect)Â I know. We don’t touch it.
Me:Â Right.
I even secretly recorded a Vine video of it for you. (you have to click the volume control in the upper left hand of the video to hear it!)
That girl will be the death of me.
So if you are in the mood the set the mood for your backyard, pop on over to The Home Depot and pick up your own. This particular style retails for $69.00
Now for the rest of the styling. The rug was $24.99 from HomeGoods, I have been itching for a rag rug since Kelsey’s Room Makeover last year and loved the rainbows on this one. The FREAKING awesome chair, plant shelf and Tiki mask are thrift store scores! Pillow is clearance Homegoods from 9 months ago (does that qualify it as vintage?) And I have tutorials coming next week for the sign and the concrete succulent holders!!
Also did you notice my collection of houseplants is growing!! Don’t you love that succulent bush that looks like a ball?! It was love at first sight. It would make an awesome bouquet if you wanted to get married to a Tiki mask.
ps. Channel your inner pyro decorista and check out TIKI Brand on Facebook for lots of fun ways to style your patio!
pps. Wallace? Cutest puppy ever.
Luv the tiki god art. Only you could make that mask thing look cool, lol. Are those Silhouette kisses?
Hey Nat! No they are just painted on, I have a tutorial next week for the whole sign shebang!
Love your guts
mandi
That sign!!! droooooolll
love it all! Where did you get that pillow?? It’s perfection!
That’s exactly what I was thinking. Did you make it yourself? I’d love to get my hands on the fabric from that pillow.
Thanks for the download. There are some pallets outside I’ve been contemplating snatching and turning into wall art. Love this idea!
NewlyMynted
awesome cool space!!! love the tiki and dylan’s little voice is so sweet!!!
I couldn’t stop scrolling my screen up and down on the close up of the Tiki Torch. LOL! “Mandifying”design is en eye trick that is about as mesmorizing as the flame. Great job and cool torch! XOXO! Rebecca http://www.youaretalkingtoomuch.com
Mandi, I always knew you are the most creative & funky person. But when you got Wallace – that sealed the deal. You r a keeper! !!
We r stone cold Boston Terrier owners!!! Over the years we have had Spike, Willard, Hannah, Harley, Maggie Mae& now Miss Pepper. Each one held our hearts.
We r stone cold Boston Terrier lovers. Over the years we have had 6 Bostons – not at the same time. Sometimes 2 at a time. They will steal your heart.!
I still think you should have your own show!
Mandi, I always knew you are the most creative & funky person. But when you got Wallace – that sealed the deal. You r a keeper! !!
Mandi Hey!
First let me tell you….love you love you love you. Now that’s out of the way….a Tiki is NOT bad Juju. I’m from New Orleans and I would know this…lol. If you have ever been to Hawaii, you understand the beauty of a Tiki. My husband and I bought one on the side of the road in Maui from a local artist. Whoever said it was bad luck, was someone who watched reruns of the Brady Bunch…lol I love it and it reminds me of that wonderful 2 weeks of Heaven I spent in Maui. It looks awesome and I love how you put all together. Love the precious Boston Bull Dog…what a cutie! Also, because you live in the desert, you could create a tremendous stone garden filled with succulents..wouldn’t they survive? Pop in on Adrian & J on Dream Book Design, she lives in your same area and her yard always looked lush, but you prob already knew that….love your guts! Denise
The tiki torch looks 300% better with those triangles. Awesome job. Also love the pops of fuchsia everywhere!
Oh, and I grew up in Hurricane/St. George and still fantasize about having a lush backyard with citrus trees and trailing jasmine and honeysuckle, which is never going to happen. Sitting outside and baking to death is sure an option, though.
They should take your lead and offer different style bases now. The triangles look awesome!
Love your site so much!!!
Love this product but can’t find any Alumina Fire Sculpture or any similar items at all on the site.
Don’t know why!! Not even at Home Depot either.
The link for FB also doesn’t work for me!
Any help? Will try contacting them. Thanks so much
hello, I’m discovering your blog today and can’t stop reading it (thanks for sharing your story by the way, it is so inspiring.) I love your taste and what you do and I can’t help but wonder, where does that rug came from ! I love it ! did you make it ?
Christelle