How to Make a Faux Roman Blind~

I meant to finish sharing how I put my laundry room together but life just kind of got in the way. We do have the Olympics happening here and it is just plain distracting. Who can resist watching the television when hockey is on? People need to understand that the love of hockey runs in most Canadians' blood. If you read my post about the real use of my living room you'd understand.

Tonight is the BIG night.


 It is Canada vs. USA for GOLD. Being Canadian I am hoping we win but I do have a soft spot for Americans because I loved living in US, shhh....don't tell anyone here though - my windows might get egged!

Anyways.....


Here is how to make a faux Roman blind, just in case you wanted to know...

I love the look of Roman blinds but didn't need one for the laundry room as the window is frosted and privacy is not an issue.  I felt the window was plain and it needed something. After the quickest trip to Ikea ever I came back with the ideal fabric, a thick drapery weight cotton with a wonderful black and white graphic print. I made an ironing board cover with the fabric also, you can read about it here.

What you need:


*meter stick (yard stick)
*L-shape ruler (helps to have one to make square corners)
*fabric
*thread
*lining (if you want - I didn't use any)
*balsa wood stick, preferably flat to mount your blind
*staple gun
*nails
*hammer


*My wonderful sister directed my attention to this tutorial, how to fake a roman blind, at Sunset magazine, a great magazine that focusses on the west coast. Check it out.

The first thing that needs to be decided before you start is whether you want the blind to mount outside your window frame or inside. I chose the inside route. I measured the inside of the window frame and decided how long I wanted the blind to hang. Then I had to decide how many pleats I wanted in my faux blind. I chose to have 3.

When cutting out your fabric you need to allow for 2 inches extra along the sides and top for a hem. You then need to allow for the length to include your pleats and the bottom hem. The bottom hem should be about 2 inches, then allow for 2 inches per pleat. I allowed for the pleat to be inch wide and since you need to fold the fabric under you will need 2 inches for each 1 inch pleat. 


(Are you still following me, or is this clear as mud?) 


Since I wanted 3 pleats, that was 6 inches (2 x 3) + 2 inches for the bottom hem + 2 inches for the top hem + desired finished length= total length of fabric. (You must be thinking - that  you would never use math again - little do you know that sewing involves math, especially drapery!)

Using a slip stitch hem all the edges, being careful to make neat corners.

After hemming all the edges you need to decide where you want to pleats to start and finish. I just played around, using pins as markers, until I achieved the look I wanted. 

The next step is to tack the pleats down every few inches. To make a crisp looking blind I ironed my pleats. You don't need to, it all depends on how you want your blind to look.

Measure the width of the blind and cut your balsa wood to fit the width. Taking your staple gun, staple the inside of the top hem to the strip of wood. 

Next step is to mount the strip of wood to the top of the window frame using small nails. Just nail through the wood and fabric. Balsa wood is very light and easy to nail through. 

Then you can step back and admire a job well done.


 After mounting my first attempt I realized the blind was a bit plain and need a bit more pop, so I untacked the pleats and added 2 rows of black grosgrain ribbon on both edges. 


Ahh... much better

I am hoping to get my act together and share how I made the window chalkboard. I am also trying to write a few posts that I can share while I am off suntanning, er, working in Hawaii.


Have a wonderful Sunday and may the best Canadian man win!


Linking to: 
SNS at Funky Junk Interiors
Make it Monday at Cottage Instincts
DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land

Easy Table Floral Arrangement

Looking for a little home DIY project this weekend? Why not try doing your own floral arrangement? Super easy, fast, cheap and impressive!

Ideas For Organizing An Outdoor Holi Party

Holi is synonymous with colors, gujiya, Bollywood numbers and 'bhaang'. Fun and frolic is an integral part of the festival celebrations. If you have a nice outdoor space, do not let go of the opportunity to throw a party. It costs almost nothing, just a thorough clean up campaign after the guests are gone. Here are few easy to execute ideas for Holi celebrations.

Start with a guest list
Preparing a guest list does not mean deriving an exact number. It just means getting a rough idea for the food arrangements. Anyways the number of guests will increase your estimates and people tend to roam around in groups. But still a rough idea is important. Include your close relatives, friends, neighbors, a few of the neighbors relatives, and kids' friends for the estimates.

Colors & Water

Needless to say, arrange for colors. Make sure you use only gulaal and the natural colors. Other colors might be harmful for the skin. And since other people will also be using the color that you arrange for the party. So keep it safe.

Also arrange for some plastic pichkaris, water pools, water balloons and enough of water supply. Water will be required in abundance. Get adequate water for the party, at the same time ensure you just don't waste it. Holi without water is no fun, So don't do away with it completely. Not keeping a direct supply, like a tap or a pipe will keep it under control.

Food & Bhaang

Do not go for a caterer and main course meal. Get a desi halwai in the open to make fresh pakoras, gujiya, dahi bhalla, sweets, chai and bhaang. It will be better than arranging for a main course food.

Music

Music is an essential ingredient for a Holi party. A Holi celebration is not complete without a "Rang Barse", or "Holi ke din" or a "Holi kehle raghubira." Bollywood has some amazing numbers for the occasion. Play them. Or alternatively, you can arrange for a dhol.

Holi gifts are also a very integral part of Holi. Make them feel special by gifting sweet nothings to your close ones for the occasion.

Thanks~

I would like to thank Kendall at Finesse Your Nest for doing a little write-up and featuring me and my blog on Feature a Newbie Wednesday! If you want great ideas for your home you need to check her blog out. She is great at re-purposing found objects (you won't believe what she finds in the trash) and creating a wonderful home without spending much. 

Thanks Kendall!

I have also had a busy week. I am getting ready to head out of town to Hawaii for a daughter's track team 12 day training camp trip. I was asked to chaperone and well - gosh darn it -  it is a tough job but somebody has to do it. 

I know life is rough.

 Please don't feel sorry for me.

 I am still going to post how I made the faux roman blinds and chalkboard window for my laundry room. I know I said I would post last week but life has a funny way of getting in the way! 

Serene Coastal Retreat With Nautical Home Decor

If your childhood dream of surfing the high seas still drives you crazy, and the little mermaid in you still finds the charm of sun-kissed sandy beaches and deep blue sea simply irresistible, then a beautiful nautical retreat is all what you are looking for.
Unique in its own way, nautical home decor style has a surreal appeal that is sure to take your breath away. Here are some ideas on how you can decorate your home with simple coastal decorative items. Come, set sail with us. Read more.

Revisiting Cast Iron

Last week I cooked breakfast at my MIL's home.  The skillet used for frying eggs is a non-stick skillet.  A very old non-stick pan at that.  Its surface was compromised with flaking and scratches.  I was so hungry and went ahead and used it.  All the while dreaming of my cast iron skillets back home (sigh;(  There are so many controversies about using non-stick pans that I ditched my old ones a few years ago and replaced them with a nice set of non-coated-stainless-steel ones.  These are in addition to my (3) cast iron skillets, griddle, grill pan and Dutch oven.  When properly seasoned, they are non-stick.  Some studies report that using cast iron for cooking can help impart iron to your diet.

My mid size skillet was in need of being re-seasoned.  It had developed quite a lot of build up on the inside surface.  This skillet was purchased used (at a yard sale) about 13 years ago ... and it's the first time I've super cleaned the surface (scraped/scoured/wiped down/oiled/heated to smoking point 3x's).  The grease rag is stored in a plastic coffee can under my sink and used as a bon fire starter when no longer usable.  (click photos to enlarge view)

Photos:  Top ... cast iron skillet in need of a good scrub, tools of the trade used to clean pan surface, debris removed from skillet, bottom ... re-seasoned skillet with grease rag ... ready to use.

Tips For Cleaning & Preserving Antiques

Cleaning and taking care of antiques calls for an extra bit of caution and carefulness. This is because, most of us tend to over clean antique decorative items in a bid to make them sparkle like newly collected articles. What we often forget in the scheme of things is that antiques are valued because of their age and old-world charmIf all these signs and symptoms of age and authenticity are removed, they'll only lose their actual value, which is not intended at all. So how to go about the things Read on.

Willmot Display Cabinet By Ashley Furniture

[ Click D'pic 2 see detail ]

Product Features

• Includes Display Cabinet
• Color: Cherry
• Dimensions: 31"W x 19"D x 41"H

Revamped Waffles

Switching ingredients in standard recipes with whole food ingredients is easy.  Waffles are a good breakfast food that incorporates eggs & milk ... plus you can add fresh berries.  Today the kids said, 'yummmmm' after they handed me their empty plates.

Mrs. Mac's Berry Waffle Recipe:

1-3/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon organic unrefined sugar or honey*
3 egg yolks, beaten
4 tablespoons oil or melted butter
1-1/2 cups milk
3 egg whites, beaten until stiff
1/3 cup fresh or frozen huckleberries (or raspberries/blueberries/blackberries)

Mix the dry ingredients together with a wire whisk, set aside.  Using your stand mixer, add the egg whites to the mixing bowl and beat until stiff.  Beat the yolks in a small bowl, add milk and oil ... mix with a fork.  Remove the egg whites from the mixing bowl ... set aside.  To the same bowl add the flour and egg/milk mixture.  Beat til barely blended.  Carefully fold in the egg whites.  To a preheated and well oiled waffle iron add 1/4 cup of batter.  Top with a small amount of berries .. then cover berries with 1/4 cup of more waffle batter (this helps the waffle not to stick due to the berries).  Bake according to your waffle iron directions.  Mine is old and I just watch for the waffle to stop steaming.

Serve waffles warm with a little butter and real maple syrup.  Your kids won't ever want you to buy Eggo's again ... this whole grain waffle will fill you up until lunch :)

*if using honey ... add it to the liquid egg/milk mix

Yesterday we stopped by a neighbor's ranch and bought some hot off the nest organic chicken eggs.  A cozy feeling came over me holding the warm eggs on the way home ... now that's fresh :)

Latest Trends In Kitchenware For A Smarter Kitchen Outlook

As the global economy roles slowly out of recession and starts to gain normalcy, the housewares industry begins to look up. Now, it's more of a home bound trend of entertainment that consumers prefer to stick to. The focus is more on the comforts and pleasures of home, and spending time with friends and family cooking and sharing food in the kitchen is so much fun all of a sudden.

There is a "budding gourmet chef" in every five families now, and the so called “gastrosexuals" are no more a rare find. All these have led to the emergence of a series of new trends in kitchenware that are exclusively based on class and functionality. Read on for a quick view of the latest trends in kitchenware for a smarter outlook.

To Market To Market To Buy A Fat Pig

....home again, home again ... jiggity jig!

Our recent family vacation is fading into the photo album and memory bank.  It was so nice to visit a warm weather destination, but the comfort of home was calling to me all the while.  Traveling with a special needs child is EXHAUSTING!  Today will bring the challenge of getting Nathan back into the school routine.  My day will begin in about ten minutes when I have to wake him up to catch the school bus. 

The morning will be spent unpacking, sorting laundry, putting away various travel items, and making out the grocery list .... then heading out to the market. 

A good basic turkey soup will be on the menu for dinner ... pulled from the freezer will be deliciously prepared turkey frozen in stock.  It will be a easy-frugal dinner.  Soup, green salad, home baked rolls. 

Afternoon chores should include inspecting the garden grounds, taking stock of the compost pile, turning over some bare soil that I hope is thawed. 

It's so good to be home.

Mozzie Problem?

Are these household pests the bane of your existence? Better nip it in the bud asap, especially when you have children and babies home!


Article taken off http://hubpages.com

How To Get Rid Of Mosquitos


Mosquito's Can Be Controlled




Safe Ways To Control Mosquitos

The Mosquito has been a pest to man all through history and spread yellow fever and malaria to many people over the years resulting in many many deaths. However there are few things you can do to decrease the Mosquito population in your homes yard and your neighborhood. These are.

Dont Miss How To Get Rid Of Ants

1. Mosquitos need standing water to lay their eggs and for the larva to develop into full grown mosquitos which will be biting you when your outside. Do a complete search of your home to ensure you have no standing water. If you have open trash cans replace those with ones with lids to keep water out. If this is not possible, bore holes into the bottom of your containers to ensure water cannot accumulate and stand in them. It only takes a little water for them to lay eggs in, so be sure you turn over and empty all containers. Turn every container that can hold water upside down if possible.

2. Be sure all your gutters drain well. You would not believe how little water it takes for mosquitos to grow and develop in. So make sure that all your gutters drain well.

3. If you have pools or containers of water that you can not empty add a couple of squirts of dish washing detergent to the water. It will stop the development of the mosquitos and they will not develop into adults.

4. You can fasten a couple of sheets of fabric softner to your clothing to keep mosquitos away when you are working in your garden or yard. You can also work in the garden or yard in clothing that has just been dryed in the dryer with fabric softner. You do want to be sure you use the Bounce Brand of Fabric Softner as it contains oleander and mosquitos can not stand it. If you live in the deep south consider adding some Oleander Bushes to the yard as part of your landscapping.

5. Vicks Vapor Rub or Listirine will also keep Mosquitos away. You can rub either on your exposed skin if your working in your yard , garden or on a fishing trip and no mosquitos will come near you.

6. Hairspray applied to a mosquito bite will stop the itching and pain.

7. You can also plant these plants in your yard and or garden to naturaly repel mosquitos.

A. Horsemint

Horsemint has a scent simular to citronella and mosquitos can not stand it.

B. Rosemary

Yes, the wonderful herb we use to flavor some of our favorite dishes with.

C. Marigolds

Mosquitos simply cannot stand it. Consider adding a row of marigolds to your garden to keep mosquitos and other pests away. Planting a row of Marigolds in your garden will also keep away gophers and moles.

D. Catnip

Yes the common catnip has a lot of other delightful uses also.

Lemon Eucalyptus Oil to Repel Mosquitoes
You can buy Lemon Eucalyptus Oil to repel mosquitos. You can buy it in your local health food store.

Graceful Antique Decor For Your Home

Every individual have their own taste and style of doing up their homes. While some want their homes to look chic and modern all the time, others prefer a much more laid-back and rustic style. But there is one home decor style that is favored by almost all homemakers as it never goes out of time – the very original and the very opulent vintage look.

Some people have a real sense of arty decoration and an eye for all things classy to get that cherished look, but for most it's challenging.

Read on for things to be kept in mind while decorating your home the antique style in a tasteful way.

Once upon a time....

One of my faithful readers, Alissa from 33 Shades of Green, (you have to check out her site - I love her sewing projects, recipes and photographs) asked if there was a story behind the license plate that is hanging on the wall above my laundry room sink. As a matter of fact there is. 

(my husband made me blur the license plate in case there was some identity thief reading my blog)

Our family had the most amazing experience living in the state of Virginia for a few years. Being Canadian we were skeptical about living among the Americans. We have lived in Canada both on the west coast and on the prairies but moving to the east and another country was a scary concept. We would be far from family and familiar surroundings. To convince the kids we declared this was our adventure and we would come to Virginia not expecting anything but to just embrace what comes our way. My husband and my kids have rich American ancestry, family that settled the Plymouth colony to an American Revolutionary war hero great (a few times over) grandfather, Colonel Timothy Bigelow. (You can read about him here) We used that to our advantage embracing American and Virginian history, realizing that it was our children's history. This enriched our experience.

We fell in love. 

Virginia was a wonderful place to live.

 The people were so amazing and welcoming. Our neighbours were our extended family. It was incredibly heartbreaking to move back to the west and Canada. We miss Virginia daily and would move back in a flash. So instead of handing back the license plates to the DMV we kept them. I mounted them into shadow boxes and wrote about it here. One is hanging in my son's room and the other in the laundry room to remind us of our most amazing time livin' down south with y'all.

Bedroom Furniture Designs

Childrens Bedroom

Lighting Ideas For Children's Room

Chandeliers
Children’s chandeliers are available in beautiful, custom shades and crystal options. They form the perfect accessory to complete a room. Choose a mini pink chandelier for your princess, while for a boy’s room; go for western or frog chandelier. Consider a chandelier with four or five arms, in case you need a lot of illumination, else a three-armed chandelier would be a fine choice. You can also go for ceiling medallions to accent your chandeliers. Since they are beautiful, they catch your attention to other features of the room.

Lamps
Lamps are a must in any kids’ room, for any lighting need. They come in a variety of sizes and designs, to suit your needs. Such lights provide extra illumination and can also be used if you want a softer glow. Choose hand painted lamps and match them to your kids’ room décor. Be it a kids’ fish lamp or a child’s horse lamp or sports’ themed lamp, the market has them all.

Night Lights
The night-lights provide a finishing touch to any room. Almost every kid would love to have a little lighting for comfort. Children’s night lights come in a variety of styles and fabrics to choose from, according to the décor of the room. These lights are no longer boring and unattractive, as they come in decorative mini arts and are even custom-made.

Sconces
Elegant and charming, sconces shed just the right amount of light to provide comfort to your sleeping child. They are very sophisticated and create a charming focal point. Many unique wall sconces are available in elegant timeless crystal, glass and wood. With a variety of colors and fabrics to choose from, give your kids’ room a unique touch with decorative sconces.

Lamp Shades
Since lamps are a must in any kids’ room, the shades have to be mixed with the lamp bases, in order to create the perfect lamp. Silk lamp shades and beaded lamp shades make a dramatic and elegant statement, while linen shades would prove to be simple and versatile. Lamp shades are available in different colors, fabrics, shapes and styles to offer your kids’ room a stylish finishing touch.

Bedroom Designs

Innovative Tips For Your Bedroom Makeover

* If you are looking for a place to start your renovations, why not begin with the bedroom door? Many people tend to forget or overlook this aspect, as they believe that it is only a functional device, without much contribution towards the process of beautification of the interiors. However, this notion is entirely wrong, as the door can set the tone of your bedroom. In this context, there is a wide variety of options to choose from, like sliding panels, leadlight panels, heavy double doors and so on. Decide on your doorway based on what look you want for the room.
* The prime attraction or the main focus of the room is the bed and hence, modifying it can give an entire new look and feel to your room. Whether it is made from bamboo, teak or timber, choose beds that make a statement and give a touch of elegance to your room. Pillow arrangements and decorative bed covers can also change the look of your bedroom.
* Choose the color of the interiors based on your mood and your personality. Keep in mind that every color and shade conveys a different meaning and can have a huge impact on the atmosphere of your house. Blue symbolizes peace, red passion, green is refreshing, while yellow is cheerful. You can also mix and match the shades to give an interesting look to your room.
* Carpets and mats can give a warm feel to your room and so, it won’t be too out of the way to invest in some fluffy carpets. You can also go for straw mats, if you are looking for something earthy and basic.
* Another part that people tend to neglect, while decorating a room, is the ceiling. Here, you need to remember that this is one area where you can use your imagination and creativity beyond any limits.
* The final touch comprises of the overall decor, playing with which can make your room stand out from the crowd. Whether it is by decorating with beautiful ornies or by arranging with books and magazines, it will give a homely and personalized feel to your bedroom.