The Design Pages

TAG, You're It!

2012-02-13T04:33:00.000-08:00

I got tagged in a fun game by my friend Heather at Interior Groupie so today you're going to get the chance to learn a bit more about me. In turn, I get to tag a new group of bloggers and get the fresh scoop on them.

RULES
**You must post the rules
**Answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you & then create 11 questions to ask the people you've tagged
**Tag 11 people and link them in your post
**Let them know you have tagged them

1. What is your profession? In no particular order, Interior Designer, Chef, Chauffeur, Referee, Psychiatrist, DJ, Party Planner and Athlete (okay maybe not that one but I secretly have a desire to be a professional athlete).

2. How would you describe your style? My style is ever evolving but I am always eclectic. I am transitioning recently to include a bit more traditional into my normally modern interiors. I always want my home to reflect us so it's a bit quirky and a tad strange.

3. Salty or sweet? Totally and 100% salty.

4. How would you describe your ideal Sunday morning? Waking up when I wake up as opposed to when my alarm tells me to wake up. Enjoying a coffee and then stepping out the door and being magically transported to any one of my favourite cities (Toronto, Vancouver, San Francisco or Paris) and strolling around looking in decor stores, book stores, clothing stores, high-end grocery stores and sipping on a never ending and always warm coffee. Oh yeah, and it's spring!

5. Which celeb would you want to have as a bestie? I'm not a celebrity stalker by any means but I think Heather's answer of Gwyneth Palwtrow is pretty darn good. If she's already taken by Heather then maybe Nate Berkus. Doesn't he just seem like so much fun?!

6. What is the best book you read last year? I love reading and truly can't decide on one so you'll have to bear with me. I LOVED The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Late Nights on Air, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Peel Society and When You Are Engulfed in Flames. Read them all!

7. What is your dream vacation? I am a bit bi-polar when it comes to vacations. On the one hand I love spending time in big cities and going to art galleries and great restaurants but I'm also a rugged girl and some of my most memorable holidays have been outdoor adventures. Can I do both?

8. What's your guilty pleasure? Without a doubt, reality tv. Not proud of it but it's the truth.

For reals Canadian reality tv junkies. I can spot Kim Cattrall, Pamela Anderson and Sarah McLachlan but don't recognize the others.

9. What are your top 3 must have make-up items? Mascara-I have tremendously scrawny eyelashes. A good foundation-I use a Mac product that I"m currently loving. Burt's Bees coloured lip balm. I like to wear lipstick but would definitely survive with just Burt's Bees. It's minty and tingly and gives a nice little hit of colour.

10. What is your dream job? Before studying Interior Designer I briefly studied Journalism so if I could combine those 2 passions and work for a design magazine I would consider that to be perfection.

11. What is the best piece of advice you ever received? Haha, that's funny because I never heed any advice that's ever, ever been given to me. I am very determined and I just do what I want. Not always successfully but at least I have no regrets:)

TAG, YOU'RE IT
I'm being very patriotic and going for an almost 100% Canadian crew.

10 Rooms
Classic Chic Home
Edin's House
Hodge:podge
I Dream of Chairs
Off Her Hinges
Primitive & Proper
Sheila Zeller Interiors
Strictly Simple Style
Tracey Ayton Photography
West Pear Avenue

YOUR QUESTIONS

1. What did you do last Friday night?
2. What is your specialty in the kitchen?
3. What is your favourite nail polish colour?
4. Dogs or cats?
5. What is your favourite computer or phone app?
6. Who inspires you the most?
7. If you and I were going to spend a weekend together what would you plan for us?
8. What was the best book you read last year?
9. What's your biggest accomplishment of 2012?
10. Do you like to dance?
11. Which is your favourite, must read blog?

Thanks for including me Heather. It's so much fun to learn new things about the peeps I love!

Thrift Store Bonanza

2012-02-09T04:56:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've been to a thrift store and I've been going through some serious withdrawl. I finally made a trip yesterday and I think it was worth the wait. Here are the goods...

1. I got a set of 6 decorated glasses that will give a bar cart a serious lift. Now I just need to stumble across a bar cart.
2. The tray has the most fantastic hint of gold. It's made of some type of metal and it's quite a hefty weight so it will definitely work for carrying hors d'oeuvres at all our parties (not me, of course:). There are markings on the silver handles but even with my glasses on I can't read it.
3. I have a big crush on pine trees and this watercolour is stunning. The frame is a bit rickety but for $6.99 I think I can spring for a new frame.

With kelly green's popularity being at an all time high I"m surprised that anyone could part with these. AND they're brand new. Never been worn.

Reunited and it feels so good!! I love you thrift store.

A Little Chiang Mai and a Little Betwixt

2012-02-07T04:26:00.000-08:00

Remember my awesome fabric score? I finally pulled out the old sewing machine and started piecing my scraps together. I knew from the second the box arrived at my house that Chiang Mai Dragon would be a pillow. The dilemma was how to achieve this given the small amount I had to work with. Enter Celerie Kemble Betwixt.

Arent' they a match made in heaven? I planned a tutorial but the camera's exposure setting had been changed and they look as though I was photographing the project directly on top of the sun! Don't worry though because now that the sewing machine is out I'll be whipping up several more.

Psychology of Color

2012-02-06T04:40:00.000-08:00

Have you ever really wondered about the relationship between colour and the emotions of our day-to-day life. Check out this amazing infograph and learn why some colours soothe while others are meant to ignite passion.

Courtesy of NowSourcing, Inc

Gold Leaf a Canvas

2012-02-01T04:27:00.001-08:00

Okay, we all know that gold is the standard at the moment but replacing everything in your home with gold is not going to happen. How can you get the impact without spending a fortune replacing all the silver and nickel of the last 10 years? Gold leaf it!

I gold leafed a plain, inexpensive canvas to add above a cabinet in my dining area. The cabinet is a flat blue and needed some sparkle.

If you're intimidated by the sound of gold leafing you shouldn't be. It's one of the easiest diy projects you can tackle.

SUPPLIES

- Gold leaf found at art supply stores (I found this at Micheal's)

- Gold or Silver Leaf Adhesive Size - found at the same places

- 1 Foam Brush and 1 Soft Bristled Paint Brush

- Tweezers

The brand I used is Mona Lisa

1. Apply an even coat of the adhesive size directly to the canvas. Directions on my bottle told me to wait until a haze has formed before applying the gold leaf. It is impossible to see a haze on a white canvas so wait until the adhesive is no longer wet but tacky. (I'm super impatient and only waited a few minutes).

2. Pick up the gold leaf with tweezers so it doesn't stick to your fingers and become a complete mess. It is so thin it will rip apart into tiny pieces if you try to handle it too much. Lay it down gently on your surface. It will stick upon contact. If you need small pieces, use a sharp knife to cut small pieces before you start.

3. Continue to lay the gold leaf until your entire area is covered.

4. Once the entire surface is covered in leaf, use your soft bristled brush to affix it to the surface and wipe off all the pieces that are excess. Leafing will only stick where there is adhesive size so if there are any overlapping areas you will brush the excess right off.

Tip of the Day- I used a foam brush for this step but wouldn't recommend it. The gold leaf stuck to it and started to pull the leafing from the canvas. Use a soft bristled paint brush instead!

If you're using gold leaf on surfaces that will endure any wear and tear then you should give a coat of sealer. I have used Minwax Polyurethene on furniture that I silver leafed in the past and it protects it well. I won't be touching this at all so I just went without this time.

I love the soft glow that permeates from the area now.

Are Big Box Retailers Reading Blogs?

2012-01-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

I'm not a regular shopper in big box stores but today I was looking for some new wine glasses and headed out to HomeSense. I was gobsmacked to see how many products they are carrying that are making their rounds in blogland. Wow, someone's paying attention.

Here's a sampling of what I saw...

So what do think? Are bloggers influencing the choices of retailers or are bloggers copying what's out in the stores?

Time to Make a Gallery Wall

2012-01-27T04:26:00.000-08:00

I realize I'm a big late to this party but I finally created a gallery wall in my house. I didn't start out with the intentions of creating this but things got a little carried away and here we are.

My Tips for a Great Gallery Wall ...

1. I prefer the look of only one or two different coloured frames. I chose gold and black and by using some Rub 'n Buff magic I was able to reuse some white frames that were about to go to the thrift store.

2. I framed some of my recent fabric acquisitions. Fabric or scrapbook paper is a great way to bring colour to wall.

TGIF. I hope you have some fabulous plans for this weekend.

Why Yes, That IS Designer Toilet Paper

2012-01-25T04:14:00.000-08:00

How do you make toilet paper cool? You ask mega sensational designer Jonathan Adler to help, that's how.

Last week in Toronto, Cottonelle held a media event to launch its "Respect the Roll" campaign and presented the new toilet paper covers created by the design genius.

You all know how much I adore Jonathan Adler and now in my own personal game of 6 Degrees of Separation I can say I'm only one degree away. My good friend and super talented Prop Stylist Christine Roberts was the lucky gal chosen to style the bathroom vignettes and the reception room.

Purdy & Talented

Here's what she did...

images from here except for Chris' photo which I stole from her Facebook page:)

So what do you think? Is there going to be some Jonathan Adler in your bathroom soon?

Curtain Love

2012-01-23T04:39:00.000-08:00

What is the easiest way to add drama to a room? The standard answers are lighting and paint but I have a different answer. It's draperies! In my opinion, nothing adds drama and warmth to a room like a beautiful pair of panels.

I just whipped these up this weekend. There are so many tutorials online that I didn't even bother to slow myself down with picture taking. If you're interested in a good tutorial, Isabella & Max Rooms has a great one here.

I agonized over the fabric selection but finally settled on Dwell Studio Bella Porte in Charcoal.

I'm getting close to the first room reveal of our new house which will be this room. A few pillows need to be made first using some of my fabric scores.

Here's a sneak peak at which one I might be using.

Giveaway Winner

2012-01-20T04:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday everyone! It's so fun to be able announce the winner of a giveaway on Friday to get things going.

The winner is #30 and that would be...ChristineJan 16, 2012 03:01 PM

green curry and saltwater taffy and I "like" on facebook :-)

Sometimes I say TGIF and I kinda mean it but this week I REALLY mean it. It's been a long week. I''m looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow and waking up to a long and leisurely coffee instead of gulping it down as I multitask 30 or 40 things.

via

We'll be doing a little skiing

And there may be just a teensy bit of wine

via

And not a weekend goes by when I don't hope and pray that we order thai food.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Be an Organized Shopper

2012-01-18T04:10:00.000-08:00

There's so much talk of organizing our homes lately but what about your shopping? I tend to write a list for groceries but nothing else. This means there's been more than one time when I saw the perfect item for a room but didn't have the paint swatches or room measurements to confirm it would work. Hallelujah to these brilliant people for making our lives easier!

Durable Paint Chips - So much smarter than plain old paint chips because these guys won't get ripped in your purse or left in your pocket at home.

Addicted2Decorating

Here's another variation on the same idea.

natty by design

Pocket Sized Floor Plan - I've brought home rugs and furniture on spec because I wasn't properly prepared and then had to lug them back when I find they don't fit. This would have definitely helped me avoid that!

Apartment Therapy

Receipt Folders - I will admit that I have wasted an hour or two searching my purses and pockets for the one receipt that seems to have walked away. Keeping a handy pouch like this in your purse or in the car means you immediately file and organize as you go.

BHG

What's your best tip for being an organized shopper?

Don't forget to enter the draw for Buddha Bowls from Flavour Design. The giveaway closes on Thursday night at 6pm and winner will be announced Friday.

I am Still Resolved

2012-01-16T11:27:00.000-08:00

I don't normally make New Year's Resolutions because I feel like a loser if/when I can't stick to them. This year was different though. Instead of resolving to give up something I decided to resolve to actually do something that I have been wanting to do for a while...P90X.

I'm just finishing week 2 and surprisingly it hasn't killed me yet. After the holiday food and drink-athon I'm hoping to fit into my jeans again very soon .

What about you? Are you still sticking to your resolutions or did you kick them to the curb already?

Giveaway

2012-01-13T04:04:00.000-08:00

The Ikea dresser I transformed and revealed earlier this week (see here if you missed it) was featured on IkeaHackers this week. Kind of exciting to see so many visitors from Europe on my little site.

Earlier this week I introduced you to my newest sponsor Flavour Design and raved about the amazing products.

Well today you have a chance to own 2 of your very own Baby Buddha bowls. If you love to sit at the computer or in front of the tv while you're eating then this is the perfect dish for you. They sit right on top of your palm while your thumb slides into the hole for support. They the perfect soup or cereal bowl. They're completely microwave and dishwasher safe. Can you tell I love these products just a teensy bit?!

The giveaway is open to all residents of Canada and US excluding Hawaii (sorry Hawaii but you have warm weather and beautiful beaches!)
To win:
- Be a follower of The Design Pages
- Visit Flavour Design and look at the Buddha bowls. Come back and tell me which 2 colours you will chose if you win.
- For a second chance to win "like" Flavour Design on facebook and leave me another comment letting me know.

Contest closes next Thursday at 6pm The winner will be announced next Friday, January 20.

Have a great weekend!

Fabric Dye Fail

2012-01-11T04:36:00.000-08:00

Moving to a new house means that some things that formerly worked perfectly may not work at all in the new space. Such was the case for these linen look-alike curtains in a soft sand colour.

We have windows in every single room that need curtains so in an effort to reuse and recycle I thought I"d try dyeing these curtains. I wanted something dark blue so I went with Rit Dye in Royal Blue.

Since our washing machine needs to be replaced I wasn't afraid to go that route (and secretly hoped it would stain the machine so I could replace it:)

Pour powder into a container and add 250 ml (2 cups) of hot water and a little salt.

Add the mixture to the hot water in your washing machine, immerse fabric and let it run through the cycle. Pop it in the dryer and you are done like dinner!

BUT the promised Royal Blue looks more like Faded Denim Blue and is NOT what I had in mind.

I'm going to give it another try with a black dye and see if we can fix the problem but in the meantime there is someone who approves!

Meet My New Sponsor - Flavour Design

Way back when I owned a retail store I was introduced to Flavour Design and immediately started carrying their amazing products. Theirs were some of the very best sellers in the store and to this day the Baby Buddha Bowl is still my #1 go-to whenever I need to buy a present.

Flavour Design is the brainchild of a talented young entrepreneur in White Rock, British Columbia, Canada. Her designs are unique and contemporary and no home should be without them, seriously. We use them daily in our house.

I'm not alone in my love of the Buddha Bowls. Oprah magazine featured them on the O List...impressive!!

Take a look at the range of gorgeous products or check out Flavour Design website.

Come back on Friday when Flavour Design will host a giveaway.

Get Organized - Jewelry

2012-01-09T09:53:00.000-08:00

There's something about the new year that makes you want to throw away all the bad habits and really get organized. I have finally taken the time to organize my jewelry which previously found its way to various drawers, bowls and pockets. I spent many days searching stores for the right jewelry holder. Never happy with what I found, I finally got creative and took matters into my own hands.

Earrings and rings found their new home in tiered dessert trays.

Earrings that can't hang from the edge lay flat in this one.

Bracelets found a new home in a beautiful wooden bowl.

The old silver tray that I purchased from a thrift store is now the landing pad for all my watches and a couple of treasured crystal bottles.

Any organizing tips you'd care to share?

Dresser Transformation

2012-01-06T04:05:00.000-08:00

If you're wondering what the heck I did with the O'verlays I received a while ago, wonder no more.

In case you've been on a Siberian holiday for the last year and haven't heard of O'verlays you can go here and read my post about them or you can go take a look at their site.

This is how the boring Ikea dresser began her life.

I gave the dresser fronts a coat of paint to match the bookcase I made for Olivia's room last year. Read about here if you need a refresher.

Lastly I attached the O'verlay (this one happens to be aptly named "Olivia"). I didn't even bother to photograph it because it's so darn simple. They come with little peel and stick adhesives but I found that wasn't enough so I added finishing nails.

I have a second set to try out on some atrociously ugly side tables and I plan to spray those ones. Look for the exciting post coming soon!

Happy Friday.

How to Score a Deal on Luxury Fabrics

2012-01-04T04:00:00.000-08:00

If you're a regular reader you already know this but if you're new I"ll let you in on a little secret. I'm a fabricaholic and will often stay up late cruising the internet for fabric inspiration. There is usually a bit of fantasizing over the fabrics that are way out of my financial reach and dream about how I would cover my entire house in them.

Recently I discovered a way to get some of those fabrics for myself without actually paying the full pop for them. BIG SECRET REVEAL - I did a search for Schumacher remnants and was immediately transported to an Etsy seller who was looking to part with an entire box of remnants for the very manageable price of $75 plus shipping.

It took a while for the box to make it's way from Utah to British Columbia but it only took 1 second for me to have the box open when it arrived. Here's a peek at what I got.

Celerie Kemble Betwixt for Schumacher - This one came in 5 colours and there is more yardage of this than any other. I see many Betwixt pillows in my future.

I have no idea where this fabric originates from so if anyone knows, share with me please.

Studio Bon Scallops for Schumacher
Quadrille Aga Reverse
David Hicks La Florentina for Lee Jofa
Hable Construction Bead

Martyn Lawrence-Bullard Adras Ikat

There are bunches other remnants that are too small to make into pillows but I'm sure I"ll find something great to do with them.

So who says you can't afford to have luxury fabrics?

A New Year and a New Family Member

2012-01-02T16:04:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to you all. I hope your holidays were fabulous. Mine was a great combination of all my favourite things...time hanging out with my family and great friends, a few days of wonderful skiing and a wee bit too much of the decadent food and delicious wine.

We decided the time was right to bring a new fur baby into the family so let me introduce you to Willis...

We adopted him from the SPCA and they think he is 2-years-old but we'll have a better idea when we take him to see the vet this week.

Don't you just love his houndstooth bed?

Christmas Guest Post - Hyphen Interiors

2011-12-24T10:19:00.000-08:00

Well it's Christmas Eve and the anticipation for the big day couldn't be higher around here. Tonight we are sharing a fabulous seafood extravaganza with good friends including our friend's mother and 97-year-old grandmother. How special is that! Tomorrow we'll be our own little family Christmas.

Today I'm guest posting over at Hyphen Interiors where I share my ideal Christmas. You probably know Kristy from her fabulous Painted Chair makeover. She's a talented designer who is currently moving to a new home so there will be lots of great projects coming up in 2012.

Go here to visit and take a sneak peek at what I would do to make the perfect Christmas party.

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas!!

I'm on Christmas Vacation Already!

2011-12-19T04:32:00.000-08:00

The kids finished school on Friday for the Christmas break. I would really like to have a word with the person who decided that it was a good idea to have the kids at home for 10 days before Christmas!!!

This is the gorgeous chalet we are in right now for a 5 day ski vacation.

There's going to be a whole lot of this going on this week.

And the apres ski is just as much fun.

I'm going to enjoy the time because I haven't finished my Christmas shopping yet so I'll be hitting the stores on the 23rd and 24th when I get home.

Bloggers are the Best Kind of People

2011-12-16T04:21:00.000-08:00

Most of us bloggers put aside time each week to go and read other blogs that we enjoy and leave comments. It's part of the deal when you want to build a network of like-minded followers. Often before I comment I'll peruse the other comments. This week I realized something that I hadn't necessarily taken note of before. Bloggers support each other like you just don't see in any other profession or activity.

image via

The design business is fiercely competitive and people guard their best tips with their lives. Not bloggers. We do something and then we post every single step including our trials and tribulations so that others won't have the same difficulties.

image via

Once our projects or thoughts are posted, bloggers stop by and read and then they take the time to leave warm and encouraging comments. There's no jealousy or spitefulness. Nobody leaves comments saying things like "I'm pretty sure I can make one of those better than that lousy piece of junk" or "what on earth inspired you to do that!". Bloggers tell you how great your project looks or what an insightful thought you just had. Obviously bloggers all had mothers who stressed the importance of not saying anything if there's nothing nice to say.

image via

I've had emails from bloggers who have read about difficulties I'm having with a project. They offer support, suggestions and sources. I also recently received a gift from a blogger that I've never met. Not a giveaway that I won but an actual gift, with handmade wrapping and a cute gift tag (thank you Beatrice). Is there any doubt at all that bloggers are the nicest people!!

Thanks to all of you who make my week with your inspiring and supportive comments. You really do make my day!

Im Making an Upholstered Headboard

2011-12-14T04:38:00.000-08:00

Uh huh, yes I am. The lovely fabric that I've been talking about for ages has arrived. The reason it took so long is that by the time I got around to ordering it, the local supplier had stopped carrying it. I ordered it from Fabric.com and give them props for quick over-the-border delivery. It was a negligible shipping fee and the fabric is made in the US so no customs. Who says cross border shopping isn't easy?

How cute are the birds?

And the butterflies?

This fabric is going to be used to make an upholstered headboard but I'm dizzy from the options. This one is my all-time favourite although level of difficulty looks to be a 10/10.

Design Sponge

Here's another favourite and another 10/10 for difficulty I think.

hodge:podge

At least I'm consistent in what I like

Danielle Oakey Interiors

I'm hoping to complete this some time over the holidays. Wish me luck!!

More Christmas DIY Projects

2011-12-12T04:42:00.000-08:00

Along with the pillow I showed you last week I 've also been whipping up a couple of other diy projects for the Christmas season. These are both inspired by other bloggers. What did our mothers ever do for inspiration without blogs or pinterest???

First is yet another set of Christmas pillows. I made these last year but I wasn't a blogger so there is no photographic evidence of it.

Thanks to Centsational Girl for the instructions on this easy pillow. There is some sewing involved so if you're sew adverse you might have to get out some fabric glue and see how that works.

Next up is the Christmas ornament wreath created by designer extraordinaire, Eddie Ross. Go here for instructions.

My new favourite colour combination is lavender, turquoise and red!!

So what are you making for the holidays?

Pantone Colour of the Year 2012

2011-12-08T04:32:00.000-08:00

It's that time again colour lovers. The time when the illustrious global colour expert, Pantone, sets their Colour of the Year announcement for the upcoming year. And the winner for 2012 is...Tangerine Tango.

"Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive" is how Pantone's executive director describes this year's winner. Scrumpdelicious is how I describe it. I love how electric it is and rather than being overwhelmingly orange it's toned way down with red.

How will you be incorporating tangerine tango into your life?

Bedroom Pillow Rug Lamp Blender Chairs Sweater Curtains

Add Coat Hooks to Your Hallway

2011-12-06T04:36:00.000-08:00

I've never owned a new construction home before so maybe this is typical but we have a strange little alcove beside the front hall closet that is was a useless space. It was calling my name and begging for a makeover. I decided to add an area for the kids to hang wet coats and footwear on "those"days when the stuff is too wet to go straight to the closet.

I forgot to take a photo before I started but here is one from our tour before we bought the house. Ugly, I know but don't judge, people. Shortly I'll be showing you the before and after of this area.

Here's how it all went down.

1. Mark off your stripes to be painted and tape (hello, Frog Tape!).

Painting stripes is a bit mindless so I added a B to the areas to be painted black just to keep me on track.

2. Paint and remove tape. I still maintain that success with crisp stripes is in removing the tape immediately after your final coat is applied.

3. I found some 4 1/2" wood in our garage but use whatever you have. Cut to size keeping in mind that the sides need to be shorter by the thickness of the wood on the back wall. Prepare the walls with anchors and pre-drill the wood, then paint.

4. Add your hooks. I was toying with the idea of adding drawer pulls (as you can see from the photo above) but I thought my kids might end up with coats on the floor so stayed on plan with the hooks.

My Thoughts -- I could have added more hooks on the sides but I didn't want the area to be cluttered. 3 hooks works perfectly without the area being overrun with "stuff".

Here I get to showcase my favourite little pieces including the cat sketch created for us by our 13-year-old family friend.

Christmas Lust List

2011-12-05T04:35:00.000-08:00

I thought maybe it would be helpful to just put it out there. So honey, this is what I want if you're stuck for gift giving ideas this Christmas.

Necklace
Art
Ski Chalet
Wallpaper
Boots

Welcome to The Design Pages' newest sponsor, Flutter Flutter. You are likely familiar with Rosa's Juju hat that she featured on her blog earlier this year. It received much well deserved recognition. If you love it and want to know where to get it you can visit her etsy shop Flutter Flutter studio. There is also a selection of unique and one of a kind Christmas cards for those looking for something lovely for the season.

Make an Advent Calender

2011-12-01T08:54:00.000-08:00

Last Christmas I was not a blogger (gasp!) but I did read blogs. I came across Centsational Girl's tutorial for a Manzanita Advent Tree and made one for our home. Of course I didn't photograph it because I wasn't blogging and really, who photographs their crafts unless they're bloggers!

The beauty of this is that it can be reused year after year with just a top up of goodies.

I decided to hang us on a Norwegian Pine tree but I'm not loving the look. I guess I'll try to track down some branches today. Update coming soon!

Make a Christmas Pillow

2011-11-29T04:38:00.000-08:00

Well the Christmas season is officially upon us and I'm going to kick it off with a fun diy pillow project. It's definitely festive and just about as simple as you can get.

Supplies Needed:

Pre-made pillow cover
Felt or other stiff material
Small piece of brown or black fabric
Fabric Glue
Cardboard

Step 1

Create a cardboard template that is approximately 1 1/2". Using the template, trace the circle onto the felt and cut out. This project required 28 circles.

Step 2

Working with one circle at a time, place a dot of glue at the end and pinch the circle together. Hold the end of the circle together until the glue is dry enough that it will stick together. This should only be a few seconds.

Step 3

Using pins to secure your work to the pillow form, lay out the circles in a line at the bottom and decrease the number of circles in each row until you reach the top.

Step 4

Once you have a pattern that you like, start gluing the circles in place. Using a second, lighter fabric make a trunk for the tree and glue in place.

TIP - The success of this project relies on the circles staying glued together. Buy the very best fabric glue available.

Photos via Tracey Ayton Photography

Giveaway Winner

2011-11-28T05:11:00.000-08:00

It was so fun to have Tracey Ayton here last week offering a beautiful photo to a reader who was able to offer a solution to the great corbel debate.

Drumroll....the winner is...

Laura from Happy Roost. Congratulations Laura. I want to see a photo of the beautiful photo hanging in your place.

Yesterday, my daughter, my mom and I participated in an annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest. Here are the highlights.

Needless to say, we didn't enter the contest. Cupcakes were enjoyed as a consolation. Join me tomorrow for a Christmas diy project.

Amazing Finds

2011-11-24T08:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in October but that doesn't mean I'm not thankful as well this weekend. Here's a roundup of some amazing things that just might make you feel thankful.

via Emilee Wade on Pinterest

via Kristi Butzlaff on Pinterest

via Amie Baron on Pinterest

via Haley Lefevers on Pinterest

via Erika Barney on Pinterest

Don't forget to enter the draw for the Polaroid Photo. Draw closes this Sunday at noon. I'll announce the winner on Monday.

Polaroid Art Giveaway

2011-11-22T04:05:00.000-08:00

Last month I introduced you to Tracey Ayton Photography and today she's back here again with a very fun contest and giveaway.

First we'll start with the giveaway. This lovely piece was photographed using a polaroid camera and is 20"x20" printed onto watercolour paper held up by bulldog clips and wire. There are 2 pieces of dowel on the back of the picture to support it at the bottom and top and the piece is numbered.

Want a chance to win this piece? You need to read about Tracey's dilemma below and help her by suggesting ways to overcome the problem.

My dilemma is ........... I have started this very strange hobby of salvaging corbels off of homes that are getting torn down. I just hate to see such beautiful pieces of architecture getting destroyed, yet alone filling up the landfills. When the season of "tear down" is upon us, I start noticing red fencing around homes that are slated for demolition. After much prying and tugging, the corbels come off in relatively great condition! Now this is where my problem starts...... I get home, my hubby sees my prizes and he flips out. "Where are those going?" "We have no room!!!" "Nooooo!!!, they are not going into the garage ......THEY TAKE UP TOO MUCH ROOM!!!!" Fair enough, yes my corbels can run over 100 pounds. They are about 2-3 feet in height and approximately 1 foot in width. They come in all shapes and sizes. As weeks went by I ignored my husband's rants and continued to store my corbies in the garage until the long awaited Fieldstone Vintage Flea Market in which I sold all 12 pairs of corbels to my hubby's relief. However, here is my dilemma ....... I want to start another year of collecting corbels and we have a brand new garage so I mentioned that I want some room to store my goodies. ....... the battle begins! Tell me, what is the best reason hubby should allow me to take up some space in the garage for my corbels? Any storage ideas would be welcomed too.

Here's Tracey at the Fieldstone Vintage Flea Market selling her corbels.

Photo via Darryl Bueckert Photography

Contest is open to all followers of The Design Pages. Here's what to do.

1. Visit Tracey's blog here and subscribe to it. Come back here and tell us what Tracey can do to convince her husband to allow the growing corbel collection to stay in the garage.

2. Follow her on Facebook here and give us your second suggestion.

3. Follow her on Twitter here and qualify for a third opportunity to suggest the winning solution.

Contest will close at noon on Sunday, November 27. Tracey will select the winner based on her favourite solution to her dilemma. Check back on Monday, November 28 for the winner.

Spoiled Rotten

2011-11-21T05:07:00.000-08:00

This weekend we invited our good friends over for dinner. We've seen them A LOT since we've moved here but this weekend they showed up with some housewarming gifts and totally spoiled us. Take a look at our loot.

Are we not the most spoiled people ever??? Look at how darn cute these candles are.

The pink champagne didn't stand a chance of surviving 5 minutes after making its way into our house. It was stupendous!!

Aren't we the luckiest kids around? What a great weekend with great friends!!

2011-11-17T04:48:00.000-08:00

I've spent the last 2 days priming and painting the hallways, dining room and kitchen on our main floor. When we moved in the ENTIRE house was painted in a colour I've been referring to as butterscotch. After a quick scan of my Benjamin Moore colour deck I think it's Toffee Cream CC-380

We have a fairly open main floor. I knew I wanted the main areas to be grey and then I would add a pop of colour in the living room. We have tiles in the entrance way that have quite a bit of blue so the grey we chose had to have a blue undertone. I narrowed it down to these two.

Stonington Grey HC-170

because I loved this...

via

OR this

Coventry Grey HC-169

because I loved this...

via

I went with Stonington Grey. The paint has only been up for a couple of hours but I'm having a hard time calling it grey. It looks more like a light blue. Something like this.

I know that the rooms all need art, fabrics and accessories before the colour will come to life so I'm being patient. This fabric is definitely speaking to me and begging to be turned into curtains in my newly painted space. I think this might pull the grey right out of the paint colour.

via

How to Create a Striped Wall

2011-11-15T04:32:00.000-08:00

Before we moved I was given specific instructions by my 13-year-old son. "I don't want my room looking all designer-y." That was my instruction. I offered to paint graffiti on his wall...no. I offered to paint a bike scene because he's an avid mountain biker...no. I offered to stencil words relating to biking...no. Finally, I begged and pleaded and he agreed to let me paint stripes on ONE wall.

Before doing any of the painting I measured the height of the wall and came up with a scheme that worked to accommodate the height. In this case I basically have a small stripe in the centre of the wall that is surrounded on top and bottom by 2 equal, wide stripes of alternating colour. Each of the stripes has a small stripe of the alternate colour in the centre. I sketched it onto paper and added dotted lines to show which side of the line the tape should sit.

The most important tool for success in creating horizontal stripes is a level. I can't even imagine attempting this without one. I measured down to the bottom of the first stripe, marked it off and then used the level to create the line across the wall. Repeat to the bottom.

Once you complete all the lines start adding your tape. Remember when the stripe is the base colour you need to add the tape above the line rather than below. This will allow you to paint the colour onto the second stripe below.

If you're a little sleepy or your mind is wandering I suggest you come back another day. This part requires astute concentration so as not to paint the wrong colour in the wrong place. Hopefully you use a paint that is one coat only and then you can remove the tape immediately. This helps to avoid peeling the paint when you remove the tape.

TIPS & THOUGHTS

1. I recently had a discussion with Barb about the best tape for painting stripes. I love Frog tape and used it today with much success. She recently painted black stripes on a wall and had a terrible experience with Frog Tape. Her paint required more than one coat and I guess Frog tape wasn't the right tape for paint that is going to dry and receive a second coat. She used the blue tape and thought it worked best for her in this case.

2. I have heard a lot of discussion about the headache of trying to keep vertical stripes straight and spacing them evenly across the wall. If you want stripes but are lazy like me and want to get in done asap then go for horizontal. I did this whole thing in 2 hours.

So there's a sneak peek at the boy's room. Once the rest of the place is un-decorated I'll give you a tour.

Go for Gold

2011-11-14T04:30:00.000-08:00

Oh yeah, it's hot. Gold is the go-to for accessories today but sometimes you come across something that makes all the other gold look drab in comparison. Not only are these fabulous examples of how to use gold in your home but all of these are diy projects. Say no more.

via

Kelly Green - Strong & Sassy Colour

2011-11-10T04:30:00.000-08:00

You probably know by now that kelly green aka emerald green is hot, hot, hot for both interiors and fashion. I think it would be a tricky colour to work with but can be remarkable if done well. My thoughts are that a very neutral palette would work best with this because I am definitely of the opinion that kelly green doesn't play nice with too many other colours.

Let's take a little tour of kelly green shall we...

via

If an entire room in kelly green seems too daunting why not try just a pop of kelly green with an accessory.

Vase Pillow Lamp Chair Stool Dishes

If you feel brave enough to paint some walls in kelly green here's a great option.

Jade Green (Benjamin Moore) 2037-30

My Unsolicited 2 Cents Worth - Aura Paint

2011-11-08T10:19:00.000-08:00

You know I can't resist trying out anything that all the cool kids are using. There's little else happening in my life right now other than painting so naturally I'm on the lookout for the best options. Aura seems to be capturing quite a bit of buzz lately so I thought I'd give it a try.

Remember the paint palette we chose for the bedroom? The white was up and I was ready to tackle the feature wall in blue.

Philippe spied Blueberry in the deck and liked the brightness of it so that's what we went with. See, I do let him make some decorating decisions.

In my excitement at the paint store I only ordered a litre. My Carol-logic told me that if I can normally get away with a gallon for a whole bedroom then a litre should work for one wall. The one thing I didn't consider was the intensity of the colour and that dark colours need more coverage. Continue to read to discover the exciting conclusion to the mystery!

My husband's thoughts on my role in life.

Here's the finished product or at least a peek. I've got a bit of styling to do in this room before you see more.

Here's what BM has to say about Aura paint on their website.

Extreme hide, never more than two coats in any colour
Provides a mildew resistant coating
Colour Lock Technology, no colour rub-off
Stains wash off easily
Excellent touch up
Self priming
Easy application
Long lasting
Easy cleanup

Here are my thoughts on the few things that can be considered after only 24 hours on the wall.

Extreme hide, never more than two coats in any colour

True. The colour was so rich and dark and even so I only needed one coat and then a light second coat.

Self priming

True, I think. These walls had already been primed and painted white so it's hard to say if an unprimed wall could be covered as well. The fact that I didn't need a tinted primer to get the colour so quickly is impressive though.

Easy application

True. The paint went on like butter. It was really a dream to work with. No splatter whatsoever.

Easy cleanup

Not so much. It did seem to come off the tray quite well but I felt like I was washing paint out of the brush for a very long time. I threw the roller away but have to assume it would have been a massively long process there as well. Maybe the superior adhesion is a detriment in washing up.

Verdict - I would definitely use this product again and I would absolutely recommend it. Way to go Bennie!

Monday Love

2011-11-07T04:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday everyone. Last week I was honoured with a Versatile Blogger award from my blog buddy Tanya at Dans Le Townhouse. I realized that in the midst of my move I had also received this award from 2 other blogging friends and I hadn't acknowledged because of my crazy schedule. Now that things are under control here I thought it was time to get on to the acknowledgments.

It's such a crazy thing, this blogging life. We spend time every day researching, writing and reading. There are very few of us who make money from our blog so to be recognized by a peer is so incredibly meaningful. Thank you to Tanya, Wendi from Classic Chic Home and Barbara from Haus Design. You're 3 of my go-to blogs so I appreciate the love:)

As a result of receiving this award, it is required that I tell you 7 things about myself that you may not know and then pass the award on to some of my favourite bloggers. Here we go...

1. 10 Rooms
2. Bijou and Boheme
3. Decor and The Dog
4. Hazardous Design
5. His & Hers
6. Interior Groupie
7. Jax Does Design
8. Strictly Simple Style
9. West Pear Avenue
10. 1/2 Kitchen
11. The Stirring Place
12. The Crafty Bee
13. High Styling
14. Happily Home After
15. The Good Grapes

A bit about me...

1. I'm seriously addicted to thai food. I dream of the vacation we will take in Thailand so I can eat the food all day long.

2. I love reading and until I found blogs I would spend many happy hours reading books on the sofa. Now that I've discovered blogs my book reading has fallen way off. Here's the book I'm currently reading and I'd be embarrassed to admit how long I've actually been reading it for...

3. Dogs vs Cats = Dogs for me. I do like cats but I'm a huge dog lover. We recently lost our fur baby and there are MANY family convos about when the next fur baby will make his/her debut and what the breed will be. This is my childhood dog and what I'm gunning for next.

4. Coffee vs. Tea = Coffee all the way for me. I have tried so many times to like tea but it just doesn't work. I need the kick in the butt from coffee.

5. Red wine vs White wine = Mostly red but I won't say no to white. I prefer a big, bold cabernet or syrah but I have definitely been known to enjoy a glass of chardonnay.

6. Skiing vs Snowboarding = Skiing for me. Last year at a weekend getaway to Whistler my son who is a snowboarder and I decided we'd switch it up for a while so I could see if I like boarding. I mustered up the courage and took off all my equipment only to find that my 12-year-old couldn't stuff his feet into my boots.

7. I am on a never ending quest for the perfect pillow. I am a stomach sleeper so I need a flat pillow. After MANY pillow purchases and returns at HomeSense and The Bay I paid a bazzilion dollars for a high end down pillow but I'm still not satisfied. It's making me crazy!!

Have an awesome day!

Colour Progress

2011-11-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

We did it!! Along with the help of a workhorse of a friend we managed to get all 4 bedrooms painted before the movers arrived last weekend. Here's a peek at what's brewing in the rooms. Some will need much work to get to the finish line but I'm excited about where we're going. ps all paint colours referred to are Benjamin Moore.

Master Bedroom

The walls have been painted White Dove. I thought I was going to do a gold treatment as a feature wall but things have changed because I can't find a metallic paint that I love. The image above is not a wall paint but it's excactly what I'm craving. So instead Blue Danube will be the feature wall along with some highlights in a metallic gold. Has anyone used a gold paint or glaze they loved and can recommend?

Reed's Bedroom

When I asked Reed what colour he wanted his room he said purple. While I realize that teen boys like their rooms to be cavelike I thought it might be a bit more uplifting to do White Dove on the walls. I am waiting for the walls to cure before I go crazy with the feature wall that will include the remaining 3 colours. If I start too soon the painters tape could peel off the white. Phew, that should give me another week or two before tackling this monumental project.

Livy's Bedroom

After the immeasurable number of hours spent slaving in Livy's last bedroom there isn't too much I need to do here. The walls are painted and this fabric is going to be used to make a headboard for her bed.

Philippe's Office

Okay honey, I painted the walls. You're done! Years ago I bought a very large teak desk from a client and loved it. We moved to a new house and it didn't ever find a proper home and I came very close to selling it. Now it's in this office and I can't tell you how gorgeous the teak looks against this soft blue. Ahhh!

I promise to share some photos in the future but we're not quite there yet.

O'verlays

2011-11-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

There's a reason that Ikea is so well loved. They make decent furniture for mega inexpensive prices. While I love their functionality I don't always love that they look like everybody else's Ikea pieces. What can a girl do about that? Enter O'verlays.

This company is the creative brain child of two brilliant ladies who clearly saw a need and decided to fill the void. O'verlays is a lightweight, decorative fretwork that attaches to the front of furniture to add pizzaz. It can be painted and repainted so it's a dream for someone like me who likes to change things up every 5 minutes.

Here's what just arrived in the mail for me. This is being added to the front of my daughter's dresser. How awesome that this piece is named Olivia as is my daughter.

This small circle will be wrapped around the sides of an extremely boring side table.

Here are some of the projects featured on O'verlays website.

For all you Canadians who don't like to pay tax on cross border shopping I should mention that these pieces are made in the US so no tax was charged. The only additional cost was the shipping. Stay tuned for the progress of my projects.

Bedroom

2011-10-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm on a whirlwind painting spree at the moment. The movers arrive at the new house tomorrow and I my plan was and currently still is to finish painting 4 bedrooms before that happens. As a result I have nothing but bedrooms on my mind so here are my favourite bedrooms that I"ve recently pinned .

I promise to report back next week with some of the progress and some photos of the freshly painted rooms. Enjoy the weekend friends!!

Hellooooo Kelowna!

2011-10-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

Today my daughter and I say goodbye to Vancouver and head to Kelowna for the next chapter in the book of life. The boys will join us later in the week after the movers come and pack us up.

My past experience tells me that once the furniture is in a bedroom the likelihood of that room being painted is seriously compromised. So over the next few days there's going to be a whole lot of this going on.

For those of you who may be scratching your head wondering what Kelowna looks like, here is a small sampling.

Okanagan Lake is a hotbed of activity in the summer and it's massive size means there's room for everyone.

As I mentioned previously, Kelowna is part of BC's wine country so you can definitely count on some future posts on day trips to the wineries.

Biking of all varieties is right outside our new front door.

Biking season is very soon to be replaced by skiing season and there are 2 world class resorts only 1 hour from home.

While all this beauty and activity is incredibly exciting for us, the thing we're most excited about is being close to our very good friends. We met Kris, Andy and their daughter Piper while living in Toronto over 10 years ago. We spent a huge amount of time together and it was very hard for us all when we moved away Toronto. Shortly after our move, they moved to Kelowna and we've spent years going on ski vacations and flying back and forth to see each other. Our move to Vancouver meant that the travel could be in the form of a car but it was still a weekend trip. Now we are 3 km from their home and I predict many, many hours of fun ahead with these crazy kids. Thanks for all your help my friends! We couldn't have done this without you.

Guest Post - hodge:podge

2011-10-23T11:47:00.000-07:00

It is a very rare and special occasion when I do a post on a Sunday. Usually I'm a strictly weekday blogger but today I'm guest posting at hodge:podge.

Barb is a kindred spirit and we have become great friends through our shared love of blogs, design and the hunt for great finds at the thrift stores. She has an amazing blog full of inspiring diy projects. She's one of the mastermind organizers of the west coast blogging group that gets together regularly AND she recently convinced Ikea to sponsor a swanky evening for all of us.

Here's myself, Barb and Meesh at the Ikea sponsored party

Every Sunday she hosts a series called So Canadian Eh? and interviews some amazing design talent including Tommy Smythe, Christianne Lemieux and Margot Austin. This week I am honoured to be her guest. If you haven't read it already, go here and check it out.

2011-10-21T04:58:00.000-07:00

For all you bloggers who are accustomed to my regular visits to your blogs you may have noticed that I've been a little absent this week. The reason is that I'm finishing my last day of the True Colour Expert Workshop taking place here in Vancouver.

The course is run by Maria Killam, Canadian colour expert and author of the blog Colour Me Happy

I've met some amazing designers, artists and homeowners who have gathered from all over North America. Check out this eclectic roundup...Newfoundland, Massachusetts , Alabama, California, Montana as well as a few BC locals. Pretty cool, huh?

The course is all about learning how to create flow and harmony in a residential space using colour. The most invaluable tool for me this week has been learning to confidently identify the undertone of any colour you can throw at me. Equally important to the designers in the class is that we can all explain to clients WHY we are choosing the colours we choose.

Is it an accident that I am taking this course a week before I move into a new house? Ummm, maybe.

Happy Friday friends. I'll be around to visit you all this weekend.

Craigslist Score

2011-10-19T04:42:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love the iconic Saarinen Tulip table, right? I've planned to buy one for years but recently I saw a photo that inspired me to pull the trigger.

Here's the inspiration photo that started all the fuss. Golden deliciousness!

Adore Magazine

I'd love to get the real-deal Knoll version but it's not in the budget and apparently Ikea in Canada no longer carries the Docksta version. So when in doubt what do you do? You scour Craigslist of course. After a quick search and a trip across the city I was the proud owner of this. You can't see it in the photo but the base is actually quite scuffed up so I don't feel too guilty about my plans.

The paint colour in this photo looks a little green but it's gold. I'm just waiting for the rain to stop before I get going on this (could be a while in Vancouver). I want to get this painted before the big move next week so it can straight to it's new home. I have plans for this to be in the family room for crafts, painting, cards, board games and any other thing that screams family fun.

The table is going to be paired with these chairs that I bought ages ago at the local thrift store and have been procrastinating getting to work on. They're getting sprayed in white and I'll add some fun fur cushions in white as well.

Have you seen any other cool transformations of a tulip table?

Shopping in Seattle

2011-10-17T04:14:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone. This past weekend was an adventure in cross border shopping. Can I tell you American readers how lucky you are to have access to your phenomenal outlet malls without the burden of trying to make it back home across the border with all your goodies.

We spent one night in the US because I thought it was going to make us eligible for a $200/person deduction. It was only at the border on the way home that we found out that 24 hours entitles you to $50/person deduction. Oops! We happily declared our $800 in purchases and were instantly sent to the room for bad boys and girls where we had to submit receipts and pay the hst on everything (our Canadian tax). Oh well, still a deal even with that. Here are the highlights of my shopping spree.

This is the watch my husband bought me for my upcoming birthday. I was completely torn between this one and the white ceramic with gold highlights. Honey, if you're reading I will happily accept the white one for a Christmas gift.

My kids needed to get in on the gift giving action as well and this is what the little darlings are giving me.

My sweet mother sent me some American money to spend on myself. Kate Spade is one of my go-to stores at this outlet and lucky me happened to be there when they were adding an additional 30% off all purses. I chose one that had already been marked down by 40% off so this baby came home with me. Thanks mom!!

I'm sure that if I lived in the US that I'd have the most kick ass wardrobe but I am not convinced we'd ever have any money left over for things like food and shelter.

Pinterest Roundup

2011-10-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

I love pinterest and can spend way too much time just pinning, pinning, pinning hours away. Here are my very favourite pins for this week.

Do I need to even mention why this is here? Holy bannister love!

Pinned from The Enchanted Home Blog

Okay, we all like striped walls but this is stripe overload. In a very good way of course.

Pinned from Samantha Pynn

This wallpaper is amazing but keep looking and see what it's hiding...an ugly closet door. How clever! I also love the brown/green/pink combo. I would never have thought of that.

This is the inspiration photo for my new master bedroom. Can you see it with the gold feature wall I talked about here.

Pinned from Parentables

Chevron, turquoise and gold. Hmmm, does this say Carol or what???

So urban and so great.

I'm going shopping at the Seattle Outlet mall today so I'm on the hunt for an awesome outfit like this one.

Pinned from Polyvore

Once I find my fab outfit I'll hit the town to celebrate my husband's birthday. So it's shopping and celebrating and maybe a teensy bit of packing for me. What are you doing this weekend?

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint & Sponsor Love

2011-10-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

It's here, it's here, it's here!! After waiting a couple of weeks for the backordered paint to arrive my first quart of Annie Sloan chalk paint has arrived.

This is a photo straight from the can although in real life it's a deeper blue.

Here's a look at the sample from the website.

And here's a completely different colour you can achieve by mixing 8 parts white to one part colour above.

In case you've missed the chalk paint phenomenon here are a few reasons to love it. It's the best "lazy person" paint in the world as it doesn't require sanding, prepping or priming. It only needs one coat of paint that is applied directly on top of your piece and a wax finish (or any other sealer). It has extremely low VOCs so you can use it indoors. Apparently it can be used outdoors although I have yet to test that theory. It is a super versatile paint and can act like a wash by watering it down or an impasto by leaving the lid off to let it thicken. How awesome is that? The one thing it isn't is a chalkboard paint.

Here's what I'll be painting and I'm going to get at it right away although you may not see the "after" photo until I'm settled in the new house.

On to the next exciting bit of news. I have my very first sponsor of The Design Pages blog. Please give a big round of applause to Keeping House and Everything Else. This beautiful blog is the baby of Tracey Ayton Photography. Tracey is a lifestyle photographer who has her work published in numerous Canadian lifestyle magazines and also sells her stunning photography work at high end boutiques. Coming up soon you'll have a chance to win your very own beautiful photograph in a giveaway.

Guest Post - The Crafty Bee

2011-10-11T05:06:00.000-07:00

Today I'm guest posting over at The Crafty Bee blog. Beatrice is a diy queen so you know why I love her blog.

I'm posting about whether dark furniture can be paired with white furniture. What do you think? Can you do it or not? Head over and see what I have to say on the topic.

It's Thanksgiving

2011-10-10T11:56:00.000-07:00

It's Thanksgiving in Canada today although many of us host a dinner on Sunday. Sadly, we have no family nearby so we enjoyed our celebration with our good friends who we have adopted as our family.

via

Given that we are moving in 2 short weeks it is not surprising that our house looks like a cardboard box exploded inside it. This is really what I would like my house to look like when I host a Thanksgiving dinner but maybe next year.

via

We divided up the cooking between the 3 families and I somehow managed to get away with hosting a dinner and not having to prepare the turkey.

via

My biggest hostessing nightmare came true last night and we ran out of wine...gasp! Granted it was very late in the evening and I think it's fair to say that today we are all thankful that we did but that's a dining faux pas I do not wish to repeat, ever!

It's a perfect day for me to tell you all how truly thankful I am that you take time to stop and visit my blog and leave me your kind and supportive comments. You make my day!

Stencil or Paper...what would you do?

2011-10-07T04:48:00.000-07:00

I realize wallpaper is hot, hot, hot and I am completely on board with the trend. I was planning the master bedroom design for our new house and came across this...

Petal Pusher by Oh Joy for Hygee & West

It was love at first sight and would work really well with our design. My hesitation in ordering is that I suck at hanging wallpaper and I am the handyperson in our family. The paper is far from inexpensive and if I screw up I'll be smoking mad. I could hire a paper hanger but after the expense of the paper it's getting to be too much of a fantasy.

So I thought about a stencil that would give me the same effect and found this...

Rockin Roses by Royal Design Stencils

Of course, I couldn't stop there and kept looking and now I'm thinking our bedroom could definitely rock this retro stencil...

Modern by Olive Leaf Stencils

So what do you think? Do you love paper and if so, would you consider it a diy project OR would you go the wimpy route and use a stencil?

Happy Friday friends!

Why I Love Being a Blogger

2011-10-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

Canadian west coast bloggers were out in full force this past weekend. Here I told you about IDS West taking place in Vancouver between Thursday and Sunday. I also shared my excitement about getting dressed up and hitting the town on Saturday for our cocktail party sponsored by Ikea for design bloggers. Here's a peek at the some of the fun.

Thursday night we were treated to a private tour of the Interior Design Show by IDS West hosts Jason and Leonie.

The tour included a short visit to the Audi VIP lounge

After the tour we wandered around admiring all the fantastic design

Saturday night we descended upon the Loden Hotel for Blend 2011

We shook hands with design superstars Suzanne Dimma and Mark Challen from Canadian House and Home magazine,

We mingled and laughed,

Hung out with friends,

There were amazing door prizes donated by bloggers and corporate sponsors. Ikea generously donated a $1,000 gift card and Delta sent a happy blogger on her way with a new faucet. These two beauties were won by people other than myself which left me feeling a little bummed. (Tracey Ayton & Nancy Marcus)

We all went home with swag bags full of goodies

A huge thanks to our wonderful organizers Barb, Nancy, Karla and Victoria.

And thanks to Ikea for the evening full of fun.

Photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Family Room Design

2011-10-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday's party was a success on many accounts. There will be a post coming this week with lots of great photos. In the meantime I'm working on the design for the family room of my new house.

We need a place that is a great hangout spot for the kids and their friends. We also need a place the family can enjoy together. I love the flag rug and think this may be a future diy project for me.

I'm Gonna Get My Party On!!

2011-09-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the opening night party for the Interior Design Show West at Vancouver's Convention Centre. I'll be waving my VIP pass, taking in all the sights during the pre-show tour and whooping it up at the party along with Canada's design heavyweights.

But the fun does not stop there my friends. Saturday night I will don a cocktail dress and impractical shoes and head downtown again to attend the party known as Blend 2011 at the Loden Hotel.

The party is for bloggers who are part of the Canadian Design & Lifestyle Bloggers West group. Our organizers Barb, Victoria, Karla and Nancy have done an outstanding job putting this event together along with our super sponsor Ikea.

Now wish me luck in the shoes!

Guest Post - Living Savvy

2011-09-28T16:35:00.000-07:00

Today I'm over at Living Savvy doing a guest post for Tiffany's Spray Painters Anonymous Meeting. This is a really fun series for addicts like myself who like to collect spray paint in every colour under the rainbow. She also has a beautiful blog filled with great design inspiration so hop on over and and visit.

Pumpkin Desserts

2011-09-28T04:24:00.001-07:00

Normally I'd take a cheese plate over a dessert but it's pumpkin time and the rules change. I have never posted a recipe before on this blog but I have been pinning the heck out of pumpkin recipes and had to share.

I just made these and they are quite cake like rather than cookie like but still great. I cut the chocolate chips by 1/2 and I still found them to be overwhelmingly chocolate but maybe if you're choco crazy it will work.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Marianne from Style for Living posted this last week and it's on my radar for this weekend when the cookies are gone.

Pumpkin Spice Muffin

This looks so amazing that I'm quite sure you would get props if you serve that for dessert on Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Praline Trifle

Pumpkin and cream cheese filling baked inside wonton wrappers and served with caramel dipping sauce. Ummm, yes!

Pumpkin Pillows

If you're lazy and/or pressed for time these 2 ingredient pumpkin muffins could be a life saver.

Pumpkin Muffins

Bon appetit!

Can you really? Would you ever?

2011-09-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

Have you ever dyed a carpet? I purchased a gold/tan carpet a few years ago and somehow I have come to hate the colour. It's possible that when we move it will find a happier home and the colour will be more to my liking again. I'm planning for the worst though and thinking this carpet may have outlived its welcome.

I have searched the web for advice on results about dying with Rit and there seems to be a strong division between those who have successfully dyed and those who say the colour comes off on socks and clothes.

The problem seems to be that Rit dye needs to be rinsed and obviously this isn't possible with a carpet.

I found this great tutorial at Leaf House blog on creating a chevron rug with dye. The result is so great that I do believe she has instilled the confidence to go forward with the project.

If anyone has tried dying a carpet, please let me know how it went.

How Do you Start your Room Design?

2011-09-23T04:29:00.000-07:00

Did I mention I'm moving? Yeah, I guess I did. Did I mention that I am obsessed with all the design potential of every single room in our new house? Carrie from Hazardous Design blog made me laugh last week when she asked me if I was lying awake at night planning the rooms. Umm, are you spying on me? I literally cannot fall asleep each night because I'm thinking of colour and fabric and all the magical transformations that will soon take place.

I thought I would start putting together design boards so that I can actually move forward with the creating. I'm sure you will fall off your chair when you discover that the first room to get a board is my daughter's. It all started with this so-sweet fabric by Michael Miller that we both fell in love with. It's not too grown up but she can definitely grown into it.

The fabric is going to be used for curtains. Here's the board that I created.

Oh for the love of all things girly! I want to spend the rest of my life in a room exactly like this.

Happy Friday friends!

Selling on Craigslist

2011-09-21T05:02:00.000-07:00

Who loves Craigslist, put up your hand. I would not classify myself as a regular Craigslist shopper or seller but I have been dabbling in both over the last year. Buying is easy. As long as you have the time to drive to where the goods are, you're done. Selling is a bit trickier and yesterday I posted 2 items. One is already gone and the other has an offer to purchase. I also have some very interesting observations. You know me, I'm a sharing sort so here are the rules of Craigslist according to Carol.

1/ Don't try to get the same price you paid (or more) for your used item.

Here's the bunk bed I sold for $80 after paying $150 for it 2 years ago. $10 worth of paint still nets me a few bucks in my pocket. I had 10 inquiries in 6 hours. Maybe I should have asked for more but it's gone from my house and that was the goal.

Pine bunk bed which may also be an Ikea bed for $200. Ummm, isn't that more than you paid for this bed?

2/ If you're going to bother to post a photo, please show me what you're selling.

This was a posting for a wood bed frame with drawers. Yeah, I don't think I'm going to get in my car to see this.

This was posted as RETRO VINTAGE TYPE COUCH FOLD UP BED. I would have to agree this is definitely a couch type thing.

3. Tidy up just a teensy bit.

This is my son's trundle bed we are selling. Do you think my son's bed has EVER looked like this? Never has and never will but if I expect you to fork over $550 then I am more than willing to clean the piles of junk off of it.

Just try and guess what these people are selling. Can't do it, can you? This is a posting for a bar cabinet for sale for $150. Could you at least move the chair out of the way?

4. Be sure to communicate what type of vehicle will be required for pickup.

This was a huge lesson learned today when the lady showed up to buy the bunk bed...with 2 kids in car seats. Yes, we can disassemble it but we cannot magically transform it into the the size of a shoebox. My husband and I ended up delivering it to her because there was no way she was EVER going to get the bed in to her vehicle.

Flickr

So there you have it. I have empowered you with the knowledge to go out and kick some Craigslist butt so off you go. Happy shopping friends!

The Perfect Grey

2011-09-19T05:05:00.000-07:00

I sort of alluded to this last week but now it's official. We're moving...again! This time we're headed to the interior of British Columbia aka wine country but more about that later. I am so excited to get to work on a new home and can't stop thinking of paint colours, fabrics and furniture layouts.

There's no doubt in my mind that grey paint will replace all the taupe neutrals I have been using for so long. Grey has undertones of either green, blue or purple and I am strictly on the lookout for a grey with blue undertones but one that is perceived as only grey.

Here are my top contenders.

1. Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore. Light and soft with a slight cast of blue and it looks great with bold colour which is exactly what I'm looking for.

Eddie Ross

2. Coventry Gray by Benjamin Moore. Perfect mid tone with almost no undertone.

Jenna Lyons

3. Stone Harbor by Benjamin Moore. Super light and easy to live with.

Decorpad

4. Classic Gray by Benjamin Moore. Super light (almost white) and neutral.

Purehome

5. Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore. Another perfect backdrop.

So what do you think? Have you used a grey that you are smitten with because I want to hear all your suggestions and recommendations before taking the giant leap. I happen to really like Benjamin Moore but I should say that I am not against other paint manufacturers so feel free to share whatever great grey experience you have had.

Carpet Tiles

2011-09-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

I recently spotted this photo on Pinterest. I was initially drawn to it because it looks like these chairs I found while thrifting a few months ago (I haven't revealed the after because sadly they're still in their before state). The photo was really to show a funky layout that can be used for the Flor carpet tiles. After recently ditching 2 rugs due to stains caused by red wine, dog pee, muddy footprints and ground in food I am rethinking carpet tiles.

A quick tour of Flor website and I'm convinced that this is a good option for us. Here's a roundup of my favourite patterns.

Seams are inevitable so I'm definitely drawn to styles with pattern.

Yum!

I defy any stain to rear its ugly head on this carpet.

There are also wool options available.

I love the pattern and colour of this bright, cheery rug.

This one is already a set for you but it shows how versatile the tiles are and you can create your own funky pattern by purchasing more than one type of tile.

If you decide that carpet tiles are the way to go, do NOT forget to order extras. The beauty of this option is that is one gets stained it can be replaced. Love!

Have a great weekend everyone!

More Fabric Obsessions

2011-09-14T05:54:00.000-07:00

It's very likely that a new home is in our near future. That means sorting and organizing and packing not to mention the logistics of moving. I should be overwhelmed with details right now but instead I spent the day sitting at the computer scouring my favourite online fabric source, Tonic Living, to look at fabrics. Make sense right?

Here's what I'm dreaming about at this particular moment but you know it could change tomorrow.

The master bedroom has always been the last room in the house to get any love so I am declaring today that the master bedroom in our next house will be swathed in gorgeous fabric and painted before we move in. You heard it here folks!

I'm thinking a soft gray duvet cover with a couple of shams in green and the star of the show would be some smaller pillows in this amazing floral. The ikat would make amazing curtains.

I can't decide whether this would be better for a guest room or my daughter's room. I'm thinking a covered headboard in the plain green with some tufted buttons. A duvet cover in the large floral and some amazing, full curtains in the bird and branch beauty.

Does this not say, "hello, come in here and have some fun"? The citron geometric could be a gorgeous curtain with the stripe and floral for pillows.

I am anticipating many more hours salivating over all these wonderful fabrics.

Thank You and Guest Post

2011-09-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone. I'm on the road to recovery and wanted to send a huge 'thank you' to all of you lovely bloggers for your warm wishes that you sent over the last week. If anyone ever asks why I love blogging so much I'll be able to point to this. How nice it is to have such a great community of friends who reach out with warmth when things go off the track...xo

So the kids are back to school and I anticipate being able to finally get back on track with a regular schedule again. Today I'm over at 10 Rooms talking about my favourite colour with Anne Marie. If you already know this blog, you surely love it and if you don't, get over there now. It's an absolute design lovers extravaganza.

Blogging & Drugs Do NOT Mix

2011-09-06T18:51:00.000-07:00

No, not "those" kinds of drugs. I had a surprise visit to the hospital yesterday to have that pesky appendix removed and I am all kinds of drugged out right now. As a result I will take a very short break and I'm sure I'll come up with all kinds of groovy blog ideas.

Things That Make Me Happy

2011-09-02T05:06:00.000-07:00

It's the simple things that matter in life. Things like the company of a good friend, an afternoon canoeing on the perfect lake, a smile from your favourite baby or you know, the opening of a new West Elm store.

In case you are thinking that I am talking about a Vancouver location, I could only wish for that miracle. The new store is opening in Seattle and while it's not a short jaunt, a 3-hour drive makes Seattle a nice weekend destination. For all of you living in the Pacific Northwest look for the opening this October.

All images via West Elm

Have a happy weekend friends. The only thing better than a weekend is a LONG weekend!

The Ubiquitous Hicks Pendant Light

2011-08-31T04:24:00.000-07:00

Can anyone tell this is my first summer as a blogger? I really had no idea how much time I obviously devote to blogging because since the kids have been home and I'm busy with them I feel like I'm running in circles just trying to get the bare minimum accomplished. Bare with me friends. The kids are on their last week and next week the days will feel long and I'm determined to get back to a regular schedule.

Aside from hanging out with the kids this summer I've been secretly nurturing my latest obsession. The Thomas O'Brien designed Hicks pendant light has me swooning. I realize I'm not alone in this love affair but that does not dissuade me.

My favourite is this...the bronze with hand rubbed antique brass accents and based on the number of images featuring this version I was able to find I'd say the admiration is widespread.

Sketch42

The other one that seems to be mighty popular is the polished nickel version.

decorpad

I love that the designer of this room has hung these as opposed to using table lamps. It's clear that space was limited so this is a clever and super stylish way to deal with that problem. This is the antique nickel finish.

Decorpad

I have to admit I'm completely perplexed as to why the hand rubbed antique brass version is not more popular, at least online. I adore this but I wasn't able to find one single photo with this version being used in a home. Could I persuade my husband we need 2 or 3 based on the argument that I fee sorry for this version?

Circa Lighting

Friday Favs

2011-08-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love Friday? It's kind of like spring with the promise of what's to come. I've been away from home all week so this weekend is going to be all about hanging out with the family. Here is a roundup of my favs for the week.

I adore this simple but fresh table.

I agree and while I don't always love to cook I certainly do love to eat.

I admire the time and patience this must have taken. So cool!

So I think I have figured out what I'll do on the deck this weekend. Popsicles and champagne!!

All images via Pinterest

Happy weekend friends.

Make a Ruffled Table Skirt

2011-08-23T05:07:00.000-07:00

I have always been a big fan of clean, open storage but I continue to resign myself to the fact that those days are gone. My daughter has a doll house that sits on a cute marble table with chrome legs. The idea was that all the accessories would be stored under the table in a cute box. This area also became home to items to be donated, books she's currently reading and more than one family of dust bunnies. Time to get the sewing machine out and deal with this problem asap.

I had already purchased the blue fabric with the intention of doing one long ruffled skirt. That is until I spied this project that super diy'er Anne at House of Newman's had created for her daughter. I was more than happy to use up more scraps of fabric as they seem to be multiplying and taking over my laundry room!

HOW TO:

Measure your table to determine the total perimeter. The width of each piece of fabric is 2x that total perimeter. Determine the length of each piece based on the height of the table allowing for hem allowances. Hem the top and bottom of each piece.

Set your sewing machine to the highest setting for thread width. There's probably a technical term but it's sure not part of my vocabulary. Sew another line across the top of each piece of fabric on this setting.

Once you're finished, separate the pieces of thread. One of them is set and can't be moved but the other will allow the fabric to be pushed along creating a ruffle.

Be careful when you're pushing because you can break the thread.

Using muslin or other light weight fabric, create a base for the ruffles to be attached to. Starting with the bottom ruffle, pin it to your base.

Sew ruffle to base and continue with each layer.

I used velcro tape to attache the skirt to the table. I prefer velco with the sticky back to save time in sewing it to the fabric. And there you have a cute little skirt that will hide a myriad of mess and confusion.

Obsessed With...

2011-08-22T04:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday friends. I'm back up and running after a scare with my mac last week. I came across these images yesterday and haven't been able to stop thinking about them. This mirror is so awesome and could easily become a diy project if the right mirror was to make its appearance in my thrift store shopping. Send some positive vibes my way please!

B&B Italia

Technology Woes

2011-08-17T04:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning I woke up before the rest of the family and crept downstairs for my 45 minutes of coffee and blog reading before the day begins. Ground the beans, brewed the coffee and sat down to discover my beloved mac was not alive and kicking. Tragedy has struck my home and my life!!! He has been rushed to the macbook emergency room and we are holding vigil that things turn out just fine. Dear macbook...I hope you know I never really meant it when I said you were stupid or slow. I love you and I want you back, exactly as you are!

Source

Given the recent turn of events I will not be posting the lovely tutorial I had planned. I am using the family PC and my photos all reside on the mac. Instead I'll give you a sampling of some of the things I'm currently obsessing about. They are all technology based so design addicts bear with me.

So clever and so darn organized.

Tip Junkie

I see a diy project inj my future.

Source

I don't even drink pop (soda for my American counterparts:) but this is just such an iconic symbol and it's fun.

Source

Want, want, want, want, want!! A solar charger that appears to not be available in North America at the moment. I'll be stalking its arrival.

Source

Give your computers a big hug today. Happy Wednesday!

The Vancouver Chronicles - Bowen Island

2011-08-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday friends. Since it's summer and we're doing lots of exploring around the city you're getting an extra edition of The Vancouver Chronicles this month...good times!

Yesterday we decided to explore Bowen Island. Shamefully, we've lived in Vancouver for 2 years and haven't been. It's not accessible by car but only a 20 minute ferry ride away and you're there. You can bring your car on the ferry but we decided to leave the car and bring the bikes.

Bowen Island is a teensy little island that's only 6 km long by 12 km wide but is home to over 4,000 permanent residents and an additional 1,500 in the summer. Some of those permanent residents commute daily by ferry to work or school. How fun is that? It definitely has a laid back, yesteryear kind of feel to it.

The bulk of our day was spent exploring the bike and hike trails in Crippen Park.

We came across a forest of birch trees which are my very favourite tree and not often found in massive groups like this. I couldn't resist sharing this photo. Please indulge me!

After our ride we headed to one of the many, many beaches on the island. Ice cream and this view is definitely not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

There's a teensy little strip of shops and restaurants that includes a mix of a funky taco stand, what appeared to be a fine dining-ishItalian restaurant, fish and chips and a cute looking pub with an amazing jazz singer who was pumping out the tunes for us to enjoy as we wandered around.

If you're looking for a respite from the city then overall, I'd have to say that it's a pretty decent way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Art Lessons from a 10-year-old

2011-08-11T04:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took my daughter to Micheal's so we could get our craft on. Together we decided it would be the most fun to create an acrylic painting on canvas. You may remember my big aspirations to create a canvas based on a beautiful piece of scrapbook paper I found. If not, you can read 'til your hearts content here.

So we each got our supplies and while I painted the grey background colour Livi started sketching her picture.

Umm, is it just me or is she a teensy bit ahead of me? Let's just say the evening of craft and merriment ended quite a bit sooner than I expected. Livi finished her complete art project as I sat and waited for the grey paint to dry.

Fast forward to today. Here is 10-year-old child's art project.

Here is significantly older mother's grey canvas. What you can't see is that I have sketched the pattern very lightly onto 1/4 of the canvas. This took one hour and coincided with the realization that this was going to have to go into the Never-To-Be-Completed file. The amount of detail in this piece is staggering and while I think I could draw it with pencils I don't think I could draw and then paint this on canvas in a way that would warrant the trillions of hours required.

Lessons Learned

* Just because something looks pretty does not mean we should try to replicate it.

* Kids don't spend hours obsessing over the right colour, the right canvas or the right paint. They get out their supplies and they do it. I need to be more like a kid sometimes.

* If you're planning on doing something with a kid you better pay attention and get it done. Otherwise you'll eat dust as they leave you behind.

Painted Curtains

2011-08-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the right colour or pattern eludes you when looking for curtains. Pre-made panels don't come in a plethora of colours or patterns. The super easy solution to this problem is to do-it-yourself.

I started my project with a simple IKEA panel. Determine how many stripes you want as well as what size each stripe will be. Beginning at the top, start to measure down the curtain marking off the area for each stripe to be painted. My stripes are each 12".

Using your marks to keep your line straight simply lay your tape across the width of the curtain. Once you have the tape in place smooth it down to ensure that no paint can seep underneath it.

Apply a generous amount of paint to your roller and begin to paint the taped off area. If you are using a darker colour give the area a quick second coat just to be sure the area is evenly covered. Tip - Use a flat or eggshell finish. Just like with walls, glossy paint will highlight imperfections (not that you would have any imperfections).

Once the painting is complete remove the tape. Make sure the paint is completely dry before hanging the curtains. Hello easiest diy ever!

One more look. Now off you go and paint some curtains for yourself.

Guest Post - Haus Design

2011-08-07T05:18:00.000-07:00

I have been a very bad blogger lately but I'm back. I've been so distracted by the warm summer weather that took soooo long to make it's appearance on the west coast. I'll be making my rounds to say hello and see all of you very soon.

Today I'm guest blogging over at Haus Design. Barbara is taking a vacation from her home in Germany to travel to Denmark and Norway. Lucky, lucky lady!! I've been following Barbara for a while now and always enjoy her European perspective on design. I'm especially fond of her now that I discovered she's originally from Portland which is my new favourite American city. I'm blogging about decorating your home with elements from nature. Come by Haus Design and say hello.

The Vancouver Chronicles - Chinatown

2011-07-28T05:02:00.000-07:00

I've been doing quite a bit of exploring other great cities recently but also had a visit to our very own Chinatown and thought it was worthy of a post.

Vancouver's Chinatown is the largest in Canada and third largest in North America. You know you've arrived in Chinatown as you are greeted by the Millenium gate and the giant dragons.

There are so many fun shops and here are the highlights of my day. I love the hand painted scenes and the Chinese script.

This store completely drew me in with its whimsical umbrellas and colourful displays.

So pretty and so inexpensive.

If you're not sure where to get incense I'd say check your local Chinatown

Lanterns of all shapes and sizes.

Bamboo screens which look like a diy project just begging to happen don't you think?

Everywhere there are baskets of inexpensive bowls, cups, plates. Better than the dollar store for sure.

The best discovery of the day was a store that carried a gigantic selection of Asian hardware. Definitely tucked that one away for future use. This is only a small section of their offerings.

Food markets are abundant and there are dried fish and legumes lining the sidewalks at every market. It's difficult to tell what some of the food is but it sure looks cool.

While there's plenty of traditional Chinese eateries to satisfy any of your cravings, there's also a small area of Chinatown that's become a little trendy. A couple of fantastic eateries/bars have made their appearance and bring a youthful and hip vibe to the area as well.

Okay, I'm definitely hungry now. If you're planning a trip to Vancouver you gotta put Chinatown on the list friends. And don't forget to call me and I'll meet you there:)

Merry Christmas!

2011-07-26T04:59:00.000-07:00

Is it ever too soon to start thinking about Christmas decorating? Yes, of course it is. July is definitely not the time to be breaking out the tiny Christmas trees and nutcrackers. So what gives you wonder?

Today I will be visited by the lovely and talented Tracey Ayton who is a lifestyle photographer in Vancouver. We are working together on a photo shoot for diy projects that will appear in both the fall and holiday editions of Dabble magazine.

Between a stupendous time in Portland and the preparations for this shoot I have been quite a slacker in the blog department. I promise to be more vigilant in doing my rounds visiting all your blogs very soon.

I'm In Love with You

2011-07-22T04:33:00.000-07:00

You know I love to leave you some of my favourite goodies to cherish on a Friday. Well, as luck would have it, it's Friday!!

Is this amazing or what? All that makeup that's filling your drawers could be neat and organized like this. Magnets is the secret here.

Laura Thoughts

More beauty related projects but you have to admit, this is so fun.

Create-Celebrate-Explore

For those us of us that live in rainy climates we can appreciate the importance of being able to wipe off mud before it gets tracked through the entire house.

Better Homes and Gardens

I don't even need to add a caption to this one because everyone is doing a silent "yessss" right now.

Chiswick Woodworking Company

Happy Friday friends. I'm in Portland right now and having a blast in this funky town. I will give you a sneak peek next week when I'm back.

Design-seeds

Post Alley - Seattle

2011-07-20T04:25:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we took a little road trip down to Seattle. Sadly the weather in Seattle was no improvement over our wet and gray summer here but it was still nice to take a trip.

While wandering around Pike Market area we stumbled across Post Alley. I was initially intrigued by the cool Art Deco sign.

After photographing it we noticed that there were people headed towards the alley so we thought we'd follow them and find out what was going on (what could possibly be wrong with heading down a dark alley???)

As I got closer I saw people photographing a wall. It looked colourful and I'm a huge sucker for installation art so I was definitely game for whatever it was. See if you can guess...

How about a closer look?

I had to be this close before I realized it was gum. Yup, chewed up gum of every colour under the rainbow stuck to the wall. There was also a gumball machine right there so you could join in the fun.

These two weren't in the least bit interested in joining in the gooey fun.

The boy couldn't chew fast enough and all I got was his hand sticking the gum to the wall.

What do you think...gross or cool?

Guest Post - Love Your Space

2011-07-19T05:02:00.000-07:00

Do you know Heather at Love Your Space? If not, you should. She's a decorator, mom and all-round lovely lady. She also happens to be whooping it up in New York with her girlfriends...do you detect a note of envy in my voice?! In the meantime she's got some bloggers filling in and talking about designing with numbers. What does that mean? Get on over there and find out for yourself.

Come back and see me tomorrow and find out what this is...