Winter Garden: A month ago I purchased a grow light ... I now have lettuce plants growing inside ... the only garden plant I miss in the winter. Will post pics and let you know how it works out.

~Check This Out~

*if you are my sister and are reading this post then go no further - Christmas secret!

    One of my favourite blogs to read is by the dynamic duo Aubrey+Lindsay. They blog about their adventures of decorating their first home in Toronto. I love their style and DIY spirit, not to mention that they are also Canadian! Check them out, maybe they will become a favourite too.

     Lindsay also runs a wonderful letterpress business called Penny People Designs. I love her assortment of cards, invites, stationary and  art. My all time favourite is the wonderful alphabet art you can have personalized. This art has a great vintage feel to it and would look fantastic in a child's room. My kids are too old for that so I ordered one today from Lindsay's etsy shop for my nieces for Christmas. I can't wait until it comes! All I need to get is a frame from Ikea - that is where I am heading tomorrow to pick up a frame for a large map that is going onto my son's wall. I am hoping to have his room mostly put together and to share photos later this week!

Photo: Penny People Design's Etsy Shop

Get your kitchen in the holiday spirit: Kitchen Decorating Tips For Christmas

Christmas decorations take up a lot of time during the season. We are busy with the interior decorations, outdoor decorations, garden decorations, window and door decorations, table decorations, etc etc. A place that we never really think about, is the kitchen. This season make a difference by adorning the in Christmas colors. Here are some easy and inexpensive ways that you can get your kitchen into the holiday spirit.One thing that adds a lot to the kitchen at any time of year is to decorate above the cabinets. If you have a space between the tops of your cabinets and the ceiling.......read the complete article.

~Keep Calm and Carry On~

Yesterday I found my husband printing up a card. I was curious as to what he was printing and I found him printing this:

Image from http://www.keepcalmandcarryon.com

I wanted to get a poster sized print to frame and hang this up in our family room (since I love red). Sometimes my decorating challenged husband surprises me. His idea of decorating is to artfully place his socks on the floor, stack papers on the front console table or store bikes in the bedroom. He loves the idea of decorating with posters and maps, therefore after reading this article in the New York Times online on Tuesday, he wanted the famous British WWII propaganda poster for his office. He explored further and found these tongue-in-cheek posters too:

Image from http://www.threadless.com

Image from http://www.doobybrain.com

I think I want these ones hung up too - they would make great conversation starters!

Decorative Fixtures To Spruce Up Your Garden Lighting

Garden is a place where we want to sit and sip a cup of coffee and just chill. Gardens give us a sense of relaxation and being close to nature. But to enjoy some casual evening walks with your spouse or after dinner strolls with your family, its very important to not just to have a well lit garden but also a dash of beauty and romance to make it the perfect garden. Use a mix of rock lights, garden lanterns, garden torches, vintage carriage lights, pole lamps and other varieties to find the perfect lighting and ambiance for your garden. Hurricane lamp like lanterns hung on the walls or kept on a platform will sprinkle romance in your garden.Patios..read more.

~Red Chair~

I have a love affair with red.

 I love bits of red all over the house. I think my love of red goes back to the day when I had colouring projects at school and I loved to use my Poppy Red pencil crayon whenever I could.  I think most Canadians know what I mean - we have a brand of pencil crayons called Laurentian (named after the St. Lawrence River - I think?) that was in almost every child's desk. The Poppy Red name comes from the colour of the poppies we Canadians wear on our lapels before and during Remembrance Day. You can read about that here.  So now I pop in red whenever I can. 

I am S-L-O-W-L-Y  re-doing my son's room.

I love the vintage, Ralph Laureny look for a boys room with red accents. Most of the furniture has been re-painted. If you want to see a glimpse you can check it out here. One small painting project was to paint a chair I found on Craigslist for cheap. I wanted to paint it red - so off to my favourite paint store - Benjamin Moore!  They know me quite well, so they have given me a great discount! Can't complain about that! I chose a beautiful red, Caliente, from their new Aura line (paint and primer in one!) You can check out another project I did in my son's room using Caliente here.

~before~

~after~

 I absolutely love how it turned out!

This project is going to join the many other inspiration projects at:

Metamorphosis Monday at  Between Naps on the Porch
and visiting Kimba at DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land

Zing It With Glow Lights: The New Year Party Flavor 2010

New year, across the world, simply means party time. People get together, hang out, go to private parties or party hard at home. The idea is to have a great time as we enter the new year. Home parties require a lot of effort in terms of managing everything. So for your ease, here are some very simple decorative lighting ideas for new year, which are simple to implement; but appear like expensive installations. LED glow lights are creating a buzz all around the world, and will be visible in almost all new year dos this year end. Neon balls, twinkling string lights, rustic carriage lights, glow accessories and more. So set the party mood with LEDs and get rocking with some unique party lighting ideas.

Read the complete article.

Article Source: Craftsmith, Hubpages

8 Most Popular Traditions For Memorable Thanksgiving Celebrations

Just a week to go for Thanksgiving and for all those who have been too busy to plan for it and are feeling absolutely clueless as to what to do; here is a quick wrap of top Thanksgiving traditions.With prayers,responsive reading and donations, share your blessings with the not-so-blessed.Get together for a family meal - turkey delicacies, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and exotic pumpkin pies.Splash the festive colors by decorating your interiors, garden and specially the Thanksgiving dinner table. Thanksgiving crafts and gifts are a great way to make your loved ones feel special.

Read the complete article.

~Master Bedroom Makeover~

Living in a rental you need to be creative in your decorating. You want to spend the least amount of cash. I know many of you out there are frugalistas -so you know what I mean.

This house was stuck in the 90's with peach everywhere! The walls were screaming, begging to be painted. What is a girl to do but to painted the peach out of our master bedroom.  I chose a beautiful soothing gray-blue called Gray Whisp from Benjamin Moore. Living on the west coast where it rains alot my husband was skeptical but I love it! It is a soothing calming colour that just works wonderfully with the cream bedding and the  mostly white furniture. Every time I walk the colour makes me smile.

The armchair was an ugly 70's armchair from my childhood, you can seen more details here. I usually like dark colours but chose the light coloured dressers from Ikea (I would love some custom ones - one day). The bed frame was an Ikea as-is find for only $100 which I have had for about 6 years.  My dream is to have an upholstered headboard but can't justify that right now. Maybe I can slipcover it somehow, hmm...

~before~

~after~

~this is what our room really looks like - my hubby is a bit bike obsessed - bikes everywhere~

~I do love this print though - the Tour de France in the 20's~

The prints are family photos and a poster in frames from Ikea, Target and a yard sale. Above the bed are photos a friend took of my husband and I when we were still in college. I am looking for more prints to hang up. I have been inspired by the bare branches of the trees against the gray sky. One day when it stops raining I want to play with the camera.

The curtains were 4 panels from Linens and Things. They worked beautifully in my old house in Virginia where you have long rectangular colonial style windows. They needed to fit this wide arched window so I sewed them together, lined them and made pinch pleats. Now they look custom! I am going to show how I made them in a future post. Stay tuned...

The throw pillows are Victoria Hagen from Target in the clearance bin for $5! The lumbar pillow from Homegoods for $15. The bedding I made from sheets my mom gave to me for Christmas one year. Love the crumpled look. I used what I had and a can of paint!

Linking up to some of my favourite blogs:
 Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage
and to Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest
and to Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday
and DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land

The Thrifty Garden/Home has been on an extended vacation. Today I came across this article about the use of clotheslines in the U.S.A. In my opinion, I think a nicely arranged clothesline is a piece of yard art :) I have a retractable one to use outside in the summer .. and a folding one to use inside. People should not be banned from saving electricity. If more and more people start using a clothesline, communities will have to start relaxing their (unrealistic) standards.

~Finally Finished!~

If you read my previous post, you would of read that what should of been a simple Martha-inspired project ended up stressing me out! Well, I am pleased to announce I am finally finished! I used what I had around the house except I bought a can of Rustoleum's Painter's Touch Heirloom White spray paint. 

~before~

~Rustoleum Painter's Touch in Heirloom White~

~painted small squares using chalkboard paint~

~painted a frame around the chalkboard square~

~finally finished~

Now I need to have a few days free and no rain to finish painting the furniture in my girls' rooms!

Linking up to some of my favourite blogs: DIY Day at A Soft Place To Land
and The Shabby Nest
and Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Luxurious Designer Sofa Sets For Modern Living Rooms

Planning to replace your old sofa with a luxurious, kingly contemporary sofa set? Designer sofa sets is the answer to all your needs. Compliment your posh apartment with an reclining or a convertible sofa that exudes style and luxury. Check out the new high quality and rich textured designer furniture models that are rage in luxury sofa set category. Read more.

~Martha I am Not~

I came across a simple painting project in an article from an old issue of Martha Stewart Living. I like to clip articles from various magazines and store them in a plastic sleeve in a binder. I have planned on doing this simple project for some time. I thought I would jump on the chalkboard paint bandwagon and attempt what I thought would be a quick and easy project! There are so many projects out there in blogland that use chalkboard paint. 

Well, Martha always makes it look easy.

 I took my small Ikea Fira mini chest of drawers that I used to store my sewing supplies and spray painted it with Heirloom White (jumpin' on the "Heirloom White" bandwagon too).

I followed Martha's directions, painted on the chalkboard paint then attempted to paint a red border. This is where the whole project fell apart. The tape I used caused the red paint to bleed through and now I have a mess. Why is it when you attempt something you think will be easy it ends up being a headache!

Photo from Martha Stewart Omnomedia

I have come to the conclusion, that 

I am not Martha

I am trying to fix my red mess and hopefully can show some after photos. Stay tuned....

Home Decor Trends 2010: Eclectic Mix of Eras, Cultures & Styles

Image Source: wwww.blog.styleestate.com

Trend forecast for 2010 has already begun. Pantone has announced the top 10 colors for women’s fashion for spring 2010. And the announcement has surely to do with Home decor trends too. This article brings a crisp report on dominating colors and styles for the coming year. 2009 saw a mesh of eco friendliness, luxury and individualistic styles and colors in furniture. To some extent, the trends will carry forward to the next year. A mix of home decor items from different eras, modular furniture, geometric designs and going green are the keywords for home styling 2010. This trend report brings to you top 5 home decor trends for 2010. Hope it will help you choose your picks for styling your home for the coming spring.

Read more. >>>

~Lest We Not Forget~

In Canada we remember our fallen soldiers and those that are still in service on November 11, Remembrance Day. We wear a poppy on our left side in honour and remembrance. The symbol of the poppy came from the observation of poppies growing over fallen soldiers graves in Flanders Fields. Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a medical officer with the Canadian Forces, penned the poem that every Canadian child learns in school, "In Flanders Fields." Poppies are a perennial, re-seeding and growing year after year. They represent hope and reassurance. I remember my favourite colour in my pencil crayon box was named "Poppy Red." Maybe that is why I love red throughout my house.

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from falling hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, through poppies grow

In Flanders fields

~Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae~

Glass Lighting : 5 Inexpensive Beauty Additions To Your Space

The tinkling sounds, reflecting shine of colors, and see through beauty. Magic of glass lighting is spell bounding. Its a pleasure to watch light passing through stained glass, painted glass, eyelet creations, translucent models and deep red and blue hues. Creative possibilities in glass lighting manufacture and the variety in choice of decorative glass lighting accessories is unbound. Glass lamps, lampshades, lanterns are the traditional decorative lighting accessories. But there are new additions to decorative glass lighting - pendant lights, wall sconces and glass oil burners. The way glass sconces bar the light and diffuse it, Oil burners that add a divine fragrance and Pendant lamps that look beautiful when put on as a cluster - your new glass additions are sure to catch attention of your guests.

Have a look at different glass lighting accessories and figure out how they make a fit in your living space. Read here.

~Slipcovered Armchair~

I love slipcovers. They are a great way to transform a piece of not-so-pretty furniture. This armchair was part of a set that my parents bought in the 70's. Even after 30 years the upholstery and structure has held up. I loved this chair as a child so when my parents were disposing of the set years ago I snapped this piece up. It sat in its original snot green upholstery for so long until my husband gave me an ultimatum - recover it or out to the dumpster it goes. At that time I had about 3 chairs sitting in the basement waiting for me to make them over. I am a bit of a procrastinator. I have a hard time deciding on colours, fabrics, etc. There  are always too many options. We were moving to the US and he didn't want to be carting around junk (those were his words - not mine - I see a diamond in the rough). 

~before~

I went out an got some decorator's canvas and slipcovered the old 70's armchair. This was before my blogging days so no step-by-step photos. It is quite easy though. You measure each part of the chair, cut out a square of fabric, pin the pieces together with wrong side of fabric facing out (I use safety pins), lightly draw in pencil the stitching line and then sew! 

~after~

I realize that after looking at your room through a photo you notice things like the jumble of cords in the corner and our wedding photo that I thought I hung low enough still looks too high!

This post is attending:
Metamorphosis Monday at Naps Between the Porch
 DIY Day @A Soft Place to Land
Transformation Thursday at the Shabby Chic Cottage

and The DIY Showoff
*edited December 19th: Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Feature Friday
*edited May 29th: Funky Junk's SNS

Bathroom Designs Photos

Bathroom Designs

~Sew Something in November~

   One of my favourite blogs is Creative Little Daisy. She is one talented lady with posts on decorating and sewing. This month she encourages everyone to dust off their sewing machine and sew something this November. My love for sewing started when I was about 4 years and my mom taught me how to sew buttons onto fabric. I loved searching through her button jar and just sewing buttons onto scraps of fabric. I believed they were jewels! When I was 8 years old I began to design and sew dresses for my Barbie dolls. I draped fabric over the doll, pinned and then sewed the outfit by hand. It wasn't until I was about 10 that my mom finally let me use her machine. I do recall breaking mom's sewing machine from all the little things I made. I think it was then that my love affair with fabric began! I LOVE fabric stores. The colours, patterns and textures get the creative juices flowing. I even worked at one when my kids were little, but that was bad news. I spent all my pay cheques on fabric! I love to collect fabric - I have bins of fabric with the hope of making something one day.
    Using fabric is a great way to add warmth and colour to your home. I have made pillows for the sofa, bed, curtains, duvet covers, slipcovers, table runners, etc. You name I probably made it!
   One of my favourite fabric designers is Amy Butler. You can check out her amazing site here. I have made a few things with her fabric. They are so inspirational, maybe because I am child of the 70's and these fabrics remind me of that bygone era.
 One of my favourite projects was a baby quilt, crib bed skirt and pillow I made for my niece when she was born. I have photos on another computer and need to post them. But here are a few projects made with her fabric most recently....

* my daughter wanted me to mention that she was the lovely model!
Linking up to DIY Day at a Soft Place to Land

Add Romance To Your Bathroom With Trendy Accessories

Bathroom is our space for relaxation and rejuvenation. After a hectic day, a nice, cozy bathroom is an absolute luxury. But most of us, neither have enough space for it, nor the budgets. Still there are ways to transform your bathrooms into comfort havens. Even things as small as carpets, candles and music can make a change and add a dash of romance to your standard bathroom.These easy tips are useful not only in case of renovations or remodeling but also if you are looking at a transformed bathroom ambiance with just few, inexpensive additions. Read more.

~A Few of my Favourite Things~

*this link is joining Show and Tell at the Romantic Home


I am busy working on a few projects around the house  - a laundry room spruce up, painting a desk and my sewing drawer organizer. In the meantime.....
I thought I'd share with you a few of my favourite things that I just adore. Some are heirlooms, items I bought or just things I made. I find that it is these personal favourites that make a house a home. Enjoy...

Pillows I made....

Dishes my Czech grandmothers gave to me over the years....

A painting I bought in Prague....

A old frame my mom bought in Prague that I spray painted silver and tarnished with some black paint.....

Dishes from Prague that were my great-great Aunt's....

A clear glass lamp I found at Homesense (I wanted one from Crate and Barrel but this was $100 cheaper!)

Hope you all have a great Wednesday. I can't wait to see what will be posted at the The Shabby Chic Cottage Transformation Thursday!