Top Ten Projects of 2010

                            

In keeping with tradition, I have created a line-up of my favourite projects (decorating or personal) that I tackled in 2010. I didn't do as many hands-on projects this year, which I think is a reflection of the fact that we have been in this house longer than any other home we've had AND my having spent so much of the year in front of my computer...working.

Here is my list:

1.  My $65 bathroom make-over, inspired by the funky wallpaper, above.

 

2. My new "office", Les Nessman style: 

 (above photo, courtesty Matthew Mead)

3. Well, not so much a project, but still something new. My new Ikea chair, which my three cats haven't managed to ruin yet:

 

4. A little Halloween craft: 

 5. My dining area make-over. (Trying to get in touch with my more youthful side ;-)

With my new light from Ikea:

 

6. Decorating Sophie's playhouse for Christmas...why didn't I do this before now?

7. The free $10 light I made for my sister:

8. Christmas snow globes:

9. My Murphy Bed, built by the handyman!!

10. And last but definitely not least, I am so proud of my part in this:

I wrote a large number of the articles, tended the blog, tackled the many letters/emails and questions we received, and had so much fun on the photo shoots I was involved with here and here, and the many other duties that came with my position. Stay tuned to our blog for an exciting announcement (coming soon) about what is coming up next.

Happy New Year, everyone! 

Thank you for following along with my decorating and family adventures in 2010 and I am so grateful for your kind comments, emails and friendship. That is what truly makes blogging a gift.

Top Ten Projects of 2010

                            

In keeping with tradition, I have created a line-up of my favourite projects (decorating or personal) that I tackled in 2010. I didn't do as many hands-on projects this year, which I think is a reflection of the fact that we have been in this house longer than any other home we've had AND my having spent so much of the year in front of my computer...working.

Here is my list:

1.  My $65 bathroom make-over, inspired by the funky wallpaper, above.

 

2. My new "office", Les Nessman style: 

 (above photo, courtesty Matthew Mead)

3. Well, not so much a project, but still something new. My new Ikea chair, which my three cats haven't managed to ruin yet:

 

4. A little Halloween craft: 

 5. My dining area make-over. (Trying to get in touch with my more youthful side ;-)

With my new light from Ikea:

 

6. Decorating Sophie's playhouse for Christmas...why didn't I do this before now?

7. The free $10 light I made for my sister:

8. Christmas snow globes:

9. My Murphy Bed, built by the handyman!!

10. And last but definitely not least, I am so proud of my part in this:

I wrote a large number of the articles, tended the blog, tackled the many letters/emails and questions we received, and had so much fun on the photo shoots I was involved with here and here, and the many other duties that came with my position. Stay tuned to our blog for an exciting announcement (coming soon) about what is coming up next.

Happy New Year, everyone! 

Thank you for following along with my decorating and family adventures in 2010 and I am so grateful for your kind comments, emails and friendship. That is what truly makes blogging a gift.

Free Lighting...made by me!

 This year, I resolved to make many of my gifts - at least the ones I could - and this gift is my favourite yet!

My sister recently did a make-over on her kitchen and eating area but decided to wait until she found the perfect light. I know what kind of lighting she likes, so I decided I would plan a way to make or buy her what she wanted. 

 While on a walk with a friend recently, we were discussing lighting and she told me she had seen an HGTV (I think) feature on how to make your own sphere-style light. She told me it involved a beach ball, some glue and heavy string. Well, she lighted a fire under me and I vowed to make one for my sister. It took me several weeks to finally gather all of my supplies and take the time to make it but it is now complete! Remembering her brief instructions, I used an exercise ball (one I had used when in labour with Sophie), some sisal twine and fabric stiffener.

 I purchased the twine at the Dollar Store and had some fabric stiffener kicking around. So, for less than five dollars I made a replica of this beauty from here (retailing for ~ $160!):

 I also used a light kit I had from one of those paper lanterns, so the cost to me was literally next to nothing! I do wish I had bothered to Google the instructions, though, as I found out later on you should run the sisal through a dish of glue or stiffener as you wrap it around the ball. I didn't do that so I slathered the stiffener all over the ball and hung it up to dry for ~ 36 hrs. Mine isn't perfect, but I think it is pretty good for the price!

I will also assure her she doesn''t have to hang it in her kitchen if it isn't what she had in mind, but I think it will still make a fun light for another area in her home. 

Because I love my sister and LOVE making/buying her things!

Free Lighting...made by me!

 This year, I resolved to make many of my gifts - at least the ones I could - and this gift is my favourite yet!

My sister recently did a make-over on her kitchen and eating area but decided to wait until she found the perfect light. I know what kind of lighting she likes, so I decided I would plan a way to make or buy her what she wanted. 

 While on a walk with a friend recently, we were discussing lighting and she told me she had seen an HGTV (I think) feature on how to make your own sphere-style light. She told me it involved a beach ball, some glue and heavy string. Well, she lighted a fire under me and I vowed to make one for my sister. It took me several weeks to finally gather all of my supplies and take the time to make it but it is now complete! Remembering her brief instructions, I used an exercise ball (one I had used when in labour with Sophie), some sisal twine and fabric stiffener.

 I purchased the twine at the Dollar Store and had some fabric stiffener kicking around. So, for less than five dollars I made a replica of this beauty from here (retailing for ~ $160!):

 I also used a light kit I had from one of those paper lanterns, so the cost to me was literally next to nothing! I do wish I had bothered to Google the instructions, though, as I found out later on you should run the sisal through a dish of glue or stiffener as you wrap it around the ball. I didn't do that so I slathered the stiffener all over the ball and hung it up to dry for ~ 36 hrs. Mine isn't perfect, but I think it is pretty good for the price!

I will also assure her she doesn''t have to hang it in her kitchen if it isn't what she had in mind, but I think it will still make a fun light for another area in her home. 

Because I love my sister and LOVE making/buying her things!

Please Knock before Entering...

Well, here is my latest labour of love from the handyman...where all the "magic" happens, I like to joke! As you can see, I have been pretty quiet over here, but that's not to say the keys aren't tapping! Seems it can be difficult to come up with topics of interest when I rarely leave my new perch, and with the adjectives flying, I fear they will be in short supply for my first baby.

Okay.

This was a cost-effective solution to creating a fancy-pants work space from which to write. Indeed, I remain open to passers-by and pretend to tune out those who ask where their socks are when I am trying to write "in peace!" Using some left-over wood (and about $100 of new wood, I'm told), my husband braved the clutter of our garage and made me this little desk. You may recall I was having difficulty deciding upon a colour. Well, practicality reigned, and I decided to use the unopened can of paint that was hiding in my utility closet. It is a happy shade, and the price made the handyman even happier. I even found the pulls left-over from when we built our house so that was a savings, too. I will now be able to be more organized and keep all of my new writing projects straight.

(And I will fill you in on them just as soon as I'm allowed to...)

I searched high and low for a yellow chair or a stylish one I could paint yellow, but no luck. My dream chair would be an Eames chair, but for some reason they seem hard to come by in my tiny town. Go figure!

So, I picked up this white leather chair and although it is not my first choice, it is a very comfortable place to sit while working. Kind of like the sensible shoes option...not stand-out, but serviceable all the same.

I do have some fun fabric I might upholster it in (without damaging it!) just for a change/the summer, but we will see.

It seems I either decorate or write about decorating.

I never was good at chewing gum and skipping!

Top Ten Projects of 2009

In no particular order, here is my list of achievements on the home project front for 2009. I am sure your list is longer, as I seemed to have created and tweaked less than usual:

1. Sophie's room make-over, specifically her built in "windowless window seat:

2. Her ceiling fan make-over (before):

And after:

3. The "Flip House" we renovated and prettied up:

4. The new slipcover my friend made me:

5. My new dress form I finally found after a long search (Thanks Rhenore!):

6. My pool side changing area:

7. My felted doughnuts, which are worth noting due to my aversion to sewing anything!

8. My involvement with the new and upcoming Flea Market Style. Thanks to Matthew Mead and Ki Nassauer for believing in me and my abilities and for bringing me on board as Editor-at-Large (which I had to look up to see what that meant!). An even bigger thrill, was actually meeting Matthew and Jenny when they came to my home and photographed Sophie's playhouse for the magazine! They were as lovely as I imagined them to be, and it was an experience I won't soon forget!

9. The resultant landscaping done in anticipation of that event:

10. The glittered bottles and glittered candle lights I made for the holiday season:

Care to share your project list for 2009? Add your link below!