~Map Mod-Podged Monogram ~

I have been feeling particularily crafty these past weeks. It must be an avoidance tactic, avoiding finishing real projects around the house.

So....

Here is another simple (and cheap) project that is seen everywhere... 

but I like it. 

One of my favourite bloggers and friend, Alissa at 33 Shades of Green, made some decorative letters for her home and I decided to try it for my son's room.

Are you dying to make one? Here's how....

First you will need a wooden letter. I bought mine at Michaels.

Next, paint the edges using a colour of your choice and method of your choice. I used black craft paint but you could use spray paint, leftover wall paint, etc.

After a few coats of paint have dried, lay the letter on an old map, trace and cut it out. 

*Make sure you lay it right side up. I laid it wrong side down, and then when I wanted to glue the traced piece out and it was backwards - sheesh!

Using mod podge glue the paper piece onto the wooden letter, smoothing out bubbles. Then paint a thin coat of mod podge over the entire piece and let dry. Oops  - forgot to take photos of that step!

And then...

Voila!

One more week and the kids are back at school. Hopefully I can get into a routine again and finally finish my daughter's room (I have really procrastinated on that one!)

Also....

Thanks to Jen at Tatertots and Jello for featuring my subway/eyechart art that I made for my son's room!

Linking to:

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous

Eat, Pray, Love & Yoga

It seems with the impending release of the movie Eat, Pray, Love starring Julia Roberts, the yoga fervour is getting stronger especially amongst those of us in the search of inner peace like the ingénue in the story. If reading the book of the same title has sparked you to pursue yoga more seriously, then it would be best for you to practise it in a conducive environment.



Article taken off essortment.com

Designing A Yoga Room

The practice of yoga is continuing to increase in popularity. While many people go to yoga studios to take courses or just for a serene and comfortable place to practice, other people prefer to do yoga at home. For yoga devotees, having a room in their home set up in an ideal way for their practice is just an extension of their commitment to yoga.

A space to practice yoga does not need to be expensively decorated. Neither does it need to be difficult to create. The most important thing in a yoga space is it needs to be pleasant; if it is not somewhere you want to spend time, it will not be conducive to practicing yoga.

The room you choose for your yoga room needs enough free floor space for you to stretch out on the floor lengthwise in any direction with a little extra space for motion. The ceiling should be high enough to allow you to stand on the tips of your toes with your arms stretched as high overhead as you can reach. A space that allows these motions should allow you to do any yoga positions. Of course, if you plan to have more than one person using the room at the same time, you should make sure all of the people can stretch out on the floor, arms fully extended, with at least a foot between you.

If you use a portable yoga mat, you can practice yoga over any flooring surface. However, if you want to go all out, consider flooring made just for yoga studios. Several manufacturers make durable and flexible matting that is designed for covering the floors of yoga studios. It accommodates the heat and humidity of the studio while offering some padding and slip resistance. It can be cut to fit any size or shape studio.

Make sure the lighting for your yoga studio is adjustable; lights on a dimmer often are preferable since you may want different light levels at different times. Use indirect lighting or ensure that none of the lights shine directly on the area where you will be practicing since bright lights or glare can be very distracting and unpleasant.

Build in some storage space for all of your yoga accessories. If you use blocks, a belt, portable mats or pillows, make sure there is a place to keep all of these items put away in between sessions. Clutter is not only unattractive; it is a distraction.

If you enjoy music while you practice yoga, make sure your room is equipped with a sound system and speakers. Ideally, use a system with a remote control so you can adjust volume or change tracks without leaving the mat. If you use videos to advance your yoga techniques, your space will need a TV that you can view from the mat and a DVD player or VCR.

Remember to add some attractive decorations to your yoga room. Whether you choose meaningful artwork to hang on the walls or decorate with candles, plants or flowers, a few ornamental objects can make your space more personal and more enjoyable in which to spend your time.

Canning The Night Away

Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes and more tomatoes.  I wish I could say they were grown in my backyard .. but these came from central Washington state .. not that far away.  Our tomatoes are sparse, green and may still be that color when picked.  Make note to self:  In a bounty year can, can, can those tomatoes to last through a less than perfect growing season .. even if you're sick of canning!  I made spicy, zesty, and fiesta salsas; the first two are medium and hot .. and the fiesta is similar to Ro-tel brand which is super spicy/hot/crunchy/delicious as an ingredient in Tex-Mex recipes ... and a batch of quartered tomatoes packed in their own juice.  All the recipes are found in the Ball Blue Book of Preserving. 

Our neighborhood moose, old Black-Jack, stomped through my yard this morning waking me from my Saturday morning slumber.  Mr. Mac had just come home from working the night shift ... and let our dawg out for a potty run ... and run she did .. straight away to bark and pester old Black-Jack ... getting charged and tromped on a bit.  I suppose the dawg will one day win a Darwin Award .. but she did keep him from tramping through the gardens.  Perhaps a soft pillow and a few dog biscuits are in order today, eh?

Modern Shower Tower Designs

Bathroom shower towers are funky bathroom accessories that jazz up the whole bathroom with their gushing jet streams of water. The wonderful relaxing effect of the modern shower towers is one of the key reasons why bathroom shower towers are hugely demanded. It works on the principles of hydrotherapy for relaxing the mind, body and the spirit. New age shower towers are high sophisticated and technically sound shower tower models that they offer more than one features in the same panel. They allow you to decide and pick a lot of features and customize your own bathroom shower tower. New high tech features in the modern shower tower designs are ultimate luxury features that make a shower bath an extremely enjoyable and blissful experience.

Check out some interesting information about the specific features of the modern shower towers along with a photo gallery of the trendy & funky models of modern shower tower designs. Read more.

~A CSN Giveaway: Winner~

This the moment you have been waiting for with bated breath

 - the winner of the $40 gift certificate from CSN stores!

#28!!!

Meghan said...

I am a new follower...and excited about a contest that Canadians can win. :D

August 21, 2010 9:43 PM 

Congratulations Meghan!

~ a fellow Canadian!~

 Happy shopping!


Meghan, could you please contact me so I can give you your prize?

I have yet to spend my CSN win from decor happy because there is simply too much to choose from!

Thanks to all who entered. Hopefully CSN (or someone else) will offer another giveaway soon!

Jacuzzi – The King Among Whirlpool Bathtubs & Hot Tubs

A great addition to any bathroom a jacuzzi is the name that most of us think very highly of. Yes, a Jacuzzi whirlpool is what most of the people wish to have in their bathrooms. It is truly a king amongst the huge variety of bathtubs that are available. Bathtubs vary in their types on a number of basis, like the materials, shapes, designs, features and the brand. Jacuzzi whirlpools are considered to be a trustworthy name in quality and technology in the bathtubs lot.

Jacuzzi Whirlpool Features
Whirlpool bathtubs and hot tubs have been a rage among the consumers due to the brilliant features of these bathtubs, Jacuzzi whirlpool offers the best in whirlpool bathtubs and hot tubs. With its various jet points, every stream of water that touches your body feels like massage. The refreshing experience of these Jacuzzi whirlpools helps one relax after a hard day of work. Equipped with a cluster of thoughtfully placed jet streams, Jacuzzi hot tubs and whirlpools are nothing less than a water spa. They work on the concept of hydrotherapy and have therapeutic benefits. They help the tired muscles relax and are specially beneficial to the patients of rheumatism and arthritis. They are helpful in relieving the muscular pain.

Jacuzzi Whirlpool Designs
In terms of modern designs, Jacuzzi has a few of the trendy and funky bathtub models, but mostly the kind of designs offered by Jacuzzi swing between and classic and contemporary designs, with sharp cuts and very soft looks. They are not gaudy and flaunting, rather they are are subtle and smart. A few of the funky designs are just too funky and innovative. An absolute luxury fitting.

Among all the hot tubs, whirlpools and all other types of bathtubs, Jacuzzi bathtubs seriously stand out with their strict technological features that make the brand the best in its market. Be it the features, the designs or the quality Jacuzzi has been a market leader with its consistency in offering the best, most innovative and trusted products over the years.
Check out an interesting photo gallery on Luxury Bathtubs Designs.

Hey Couch Potato!

Oh the feel of a good leather sofa and the joy it brings! Before you rush out to buy one though, ensure that you're getting what you pay for by asking questions about the grade of leather and how to care for that leather once you have it sitting prettily in your living room. Happy couch potato-ing!



Article taken off styleathome.com

Spotting The Perfect Leather Sofa

Looking for satisfying leather sofa can be difficult because so many alternatives are available, different kinds of leather, different levels of texture, and different prices… buying the most overpriced leather sofa doesn’t always mean you are getting the top-notch sofa or best selection for your needs. So be an educated buyer when looking for leather sofa. It’s better to do your research over the web as many stores hire salespeople who are more about closing the sale than really getting you into the correct leather sofa set. The best thing you can do for yourself is to get self-educated before you go to make your final decision.

First, make sure you selected the high quality leather sofa. Remember that it’s a long time investment that which will last for years. Solid wood with leather covered could be good choice. Because the interior structure may not so serious in the beginning, and the sofa would collapse some day. But solid wood structure could last for hundreds of years.

Second, make sure you have enough space for your selected leather sofa. Before you step into the furniture store, you’d better check the dimensions and the pieces will fit in your designated spot and the doorway to get in. you will have a much better experience planning ahead with this elementary rule.

Third, find a trustworthy furniture store. Make sure the store you decide to go has good reputation and is not new to the business. As you will find, the gimmick store locations with big balloons and other things to lure you in may not be the greatest when a problem arises with your leather sofa. Feel comfort and don’t be squeezed into buying something immediately. Thinking about what genuinely will fit your needs and make an educated decision there.

Sweet Sleep

 ... was had last night on my first crop of sheets line dried outside yesterday :)  Better than any heavily scented liquid fabric softener ... air-sunshine-fresh-goodness! 

Stop Losing Your Keys!

Who needs the added stress of misplacing your keys every single day? No more, with this DIY Key Rack.

Article taken off marthastewart.com


Key Rack

All too often, keys end up in obscure places where you can't remember having put them. Keep all your keys accessible and organized with a functional and easy-to-make rack; hang it on a wall in your kitchen, mudroom, or garage.

Tools and Materials
Primer and paint (optional)
Paintbrushes (optional)
Wooden plaque
Ruler
Pencil
Metal label holders with screws
Awl
Cup hooks

Key Rack How-To
1. Prime and paint your plaque, if desired; let dry.

2. Using a ruler and pencil, make a mark on the front of the plaque 1 inch down and in from the top-left corner; repeat on top-right corner. Working your way down the plaque, make as many equally spaced marks as you'll need for your keys.

3. Place the left-side hole of a label holder over the top-left mark, and use an awl to burrow into the wood; repeat on top-right mark with the right-side hole of the label holder. Drive corresponding screws into the wood. Repeat step for remaining marks.

4. Center a cup hook underneath the top-left label holder, and screw it into the wood. Repeat step for each label holder.

5. Insert labels describing which key is which into holders, and hang the rack on a wall.
From Martha Stewart Living Television, January 2001

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Key Rack and more decorating ideas, organizing tips, and homekeeping and cleaning solutions on marthastewart.com

Onionitis

... has struck with the drying of the onions at the Thrifty Garden/Home.  This year's crop yielded smaller onions compared to the bounty last summer .... but they are very tasty.  Both red and Spanish onions will be savored as long as the storage lasts.  We still have a few weeks to hope the walla walla onions get larger.  They were planted by seed and are still growing showing no sign yet of withering or drooping green tops.

  Soon my garlic shipment should arrive for fall planting ... then next summer we'll have garlicitis for sure (and maybe bad breath;).  Now to build a better mouse (vole) trap ... I'm planning to make (with hubby's help) a raised bed with fine wire mesh at the bottom to deter the varmints from  helping themselves to this prized crop.

Do you have a favorite onion?

Photos:  Mrs. Mac's onions drying prior to storage

~Subway/Eyechart Art ~

My daughter and I had fun one evening with some plain canvasses I had laying around. While she worked on an art piece for her room, I created a piece for my son's room. 


Since subway and typography art is all the rage I thought I would jump on the bandwagon but add a little twist. I love the look of eye charts as well and mixed the two to create something unique. Using the quote" May the force be with you," I created an one-of-a-kind original for my Star Wars fan.

How-to:

Start with a canvas and paint it black (or leave it white to create a classic eye chart). 


Using the computer print up your quote, playing with the font size and arrangement. Classic Snellen eyecharts use the "Courrier" font, which is what I chose to use as well. You can create your own Snellen eyechart here or just play around on the computer until you achieve the look you want.

Next would be to arrange the lettering on your canvas.

Originally I was going to trace the outline of the letters and paint them in but wasn't confident in my detailing-with-paint skills so I highlighted the font with the computer to make the letters white.

Using scissors I cut out each letter and adhered it to the canvas using Mod Podge. I then gave the whole piece a thin coat of Mod Podge.

(hodge:podge does Mod Podge - has a nice rhyme :)

Source: Plaid Products

(This is where it was late, hence bad lighting, and I forgot to take more photos - sorry)

Voila!

I added the subway/eyechart art to a gallery wall I arranged in his room. My son is a collector of sorts and loves to hold onto things that are special, why not display them for all to see?

See the monogram "A"? Come back next week and I'll share how I made it!


I am slowy getting back into a more regular schedule as our summer holidays are winding down, 2 weeks left! My hope is to bring you more projects as I finish them. We are possibly re-arranging 3 bedrooms in our house, moving kids from one space into another to create a games/office room for the kids to hang out. 


Do you know what that means? More rooms to paint and re-design! Just when I thought my to-do list was getting smaller....

DON'T forget to enter my giveaway for a $40 gift certificate from CSN stores. You have until Wednesday, August 25th!

Click here to enter




Sharing at:

Frugal Friday@ Shabby Nest

Power of Paint @ Domestically Speaking

SNS @ Funky Junk

Weekend Wrap Up@Tater Tots and Jello
Frugalicious Friday@Finding Fabulous
Making Monday Marvelous@ C.R.A.F.T.

This Week At Home

We've been busy with company, my folks, and have given a few (ahem) chores to my pop to complete.  He has hooked up a faucet to our new garden sink with cold water, now to tile in the back splash with some mosaic tile 'art' .. and, yesterday, he took charge of putting up my new T-post clothesline by digging post holes and cementing in the galvanized steel posts; tomorrow we can string up the line.  Already the birds have discovered the T-posts.

Yesterday the pea vines growing on the trellis were pulled up .. not before saving some of the pods I left to harvest for seeds.  They were still producing a few peas .. but had gotten rather past their prime.  A new crop is growing to extend the season.

I am so pleased with my nasturtium 'Jewel Mix' seeds that were planted this year.  The colors are so bright they almost hurt your eyes :)  They were ordered from the Good Seed Company (Oroville, Washington) which sells open pollinated and heirloom seeds for northern gardens. 

This year's garden is a mixed review ... yet to be written off ... but already thinking about how to amend the soil for better results next year.  What's your best success (garden wise) this year?

Wear Your Style in the Bathroom too! - With Funky Bath Accessories

Bathroom accessories are mod and funk. There is still an audience for those classic and elegant bathroom accessories. But funky bath accessories are for those who dare to be different. Wear you attitude on your sleeve with this random set of bath accessories that are fun to have. They are fun, they are different and so out of the box. Have a look at few of the trendy, funky bathroom decor accessories.





Choose a theme that fits your sense of style. From soccer paints to animal kingdom accessories, from fun poking basins to explicit accessories, from 'wild in the bathroom' bamboo bath accessories to the antique vessel styles, there is a huge variety to choose from.

~Giveaway Time: CSN Stores~

CSN stores is offering up a $40 gift certificate to one of my lucky followers or subscribers! 

How could you spend your prize money? 

How about a dutch oven, like my {dream} dutch oven by Le Creuset?

or a trendy globe?

or splurge on Dwell Studio bedding for kids {I love the wall colour!}

or why not a locker for the mudroom?

Here's how to enter:

{I just won a CSN gift certificate myself from decor happy, so good luck!}

Entry #1: Be a follower via Google Connect 

Entry #2: Subscribe to my blog, just enter your email in the "subscribe via email" widget {on the sidebar}

Entry #3:  Post about this giveaway on your sidebar

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.

Also, if your email isn't connected to your profile, add it into your comment.

The winner will be chosen via random.org on Wednesday, August 25th!

This giveaway is open to all US and Canadian residents. Remember that you are responsible for any shipping costs that make incur.

Luxury Interior Design Ideas

MODERN AND STYLISH STAIRS

LUXURY INTERIOR DESIGN

Bedroom complete with non-hand clothes furniture is not very attractive place for recreation. There's just something chaotic about it.

LUXURY SOFA DESIGN

Filling your room with modern bedroom, no matter what style, make your bedroom into a place of comfort and relaxation. Eliminating the non-furniture and replace it with modern bedroom furniture set will make your calls.

INTERIOR DESIGN DECORATION IDEAS

MODERN LIVIN ROOM DESIGN

Aside from the bed, dresser and night stand, your modern bedroom set is not complete without a practical and attractive armoire. Whether you choose white or black laminate furniture with brass accents, white wicker, and beautiful colored grain, timber, your modern bedroom furniture will be well worth the expense as you begin to feel the benefits of a serene retreat in your own home .

Canvas Fabric Cushions for Indoor and Outdoor Furniture

There are numerous choices of indoor as well as outdoor furniture and all are made from absolutely comfortable and durable fabric. Out of fabric ranges canvas fabric is recommended for the outdoor furniture as it is a very strong fabric. You can place canvas cushions and pillows to beautify your furniture. Canvas is tightly or light woven fabric that is made from cotton, linen, hemp and jute. As canvas is quiet a heavy fabric so considered perfect for the outdoor furniture. You will also find it under the name duck.

Advantages of Canvas Cushions

• Canvas fabric cushions are easy to clean and maintain.
• Very comfortable.
• Easy to change.
• Easy to store. You should store it properly during rainy and winter season.
• Canvas is easy to wash. Just soak it in a mild detergent and water. Gently scrub it and rinse it in water. Let it dry naturally in air if possible.

While purchasing the canvas fabric make sure to read the caring instructions. If you need it for the daily use and care instructions are bit fussy then better not to buy it. Washing may cause mild to large shrinkage of the fabric so this feature must be taken care before washing. You will get this fabric as per weight.

Canvas cushions can also be personalized with picture, name or any other things.

How to Wash Canvas Cushions?

• Mix 1 tsp of detergent, 1 tsp of borax in 1 quart of warm water. Mix these well and put it in spray bottle.
• Sprinkle the solution on both sides of the cushion. Do leave any space and sprinkle enough of solution on canvas cushion covers. Make sure that it also enters into creases and cervices.

• Let this solution rest for 10-15 mins. If you can remove the fabric from the garden furniture or any other kind of furniture then do this to wash it. Otherwise take the scrub brush and rub it gently over the fabric to clean it. The rubbing will remove the stain.

• Now wash it with water. If possible take the hose on high and with pressure remove the detergent and dust. This will knock out the dust, mild or mildew.
• Let the cushion dry till damp condition.
• Use the fabric protector to protect the canvas.

5 Hot New Bathroom Accessories For Eco Friendly Bathroom Decor

Eco friendly bathrooms or the green bathrooms are hot and happening bathroom trends for the summer 2010. A variety of bathroom interior designs along with eco friendly and low water consumption fittings and equipments are used to make the it as environment friendly as possible. Organic bathroom accessories go a long way in controlling water wastage and electricity bills. A few changes, executed during remodeling or the renovation process can make a great change. Check out the 5 hot bathroom accessories that are a rage among the lovers of organic bathroom decor.

Organic linens: Organic linens are basic organic bathroom accessories. Use organic linens, wherever required. Be it the cotton towels, knit rugs or the shower curtains. Make the dull and boring linens even more interesting by lending a personal touch to them. Hand paint your shower curtains, hand knit your mats; spill a touch of your creativity wherever possible.

Bamboo bathroom accessory sets: Bamboo bathroom accessory sets make for not just green bathroom accessory holders, but also look beautiful. With a calm and peaceful look to their color, they make for the typical eco friendly bathroom accessories.
Organic soaps & shampoos: While everything else goes organic in an eco friendly bathroom, the soaps, shampoos, conditions and lotions are best kept herbal. Turn to organic and herbal cosmetics for better health and a better environment. Soaps with mineral salts and organic beauty ingredients like milk, saffron, cucumber, butter, variety of fruits etc are manufactured to cater a variety to the prospective users.

Toilet flush lid sinks: Among the eco friendly accessories is a new kind of toilet basin. This basin is a low water consumption mechanism that uses the flush tank water, thus saving water in huge quantities. Toilet flush lid basin is a small basin atop the flush lid which saves space and water both, The water is then used for flushing purpose only, thus saving the water which was to be used for washing hands in a separate basin.

Use solar lights: The more natural light in a bathroom, the better it is. But if you are not planning a remodeling in near future go for solar lights instead of the regular ones.

Read more about green bathrooms & bathroom accessories:
Go Green Bathroom Ideas
Smart & Stylish Bathroom Accessories Range