I came across this creative idea of recycling an old book on The Happy Home Blog and loved it. (Although I always have trouble getting rid of any of my books!). If you haven't got any books you want to use, go and pick one in the charity shop - plenty there!
Click here for the full How-To
Filed Under: DIY projects, home decor, recycling, wall candy
Ever found yourself looking for that key, coin, remote control or magazine that slipped somewhere between sofa cushions? This design by Daisuke Motogi Architecture is celebrating that very common phenomenon by providing lots of built-in storage. Funny design! Although I hate the idea of having to vacuum clean crums and bits out of every single space! (but hey, never let domestic worries get in the way of good design).
Filed Under: furniture
Here are some of the most creative how to's I've seen yet. Your friends will think you are so creative and your house will look oh so cute!
Magazine Table as seen in Anthrogologie
Junk Mail Wall Art
Though I don't remember it myself, movies from my childhood home in Montreal reveal how much my parents relished creating a magical atmosphere for my brother and me at Christmas. My mother made handmade presents and wrapped them with care, while my father cut out footprints from black card stock and arranged them in parallel lines between the tree and our fireplace. There were always piles of snow outside and warm beverages to be sipped indoors.
With the early fading of daylight and a marked drop in the temperature, December is a time when we want home to feel even more embracing than the rest of the year. My Christmas decorating scheme changes yearly--one year a large bare branch with a handful of ornaments, another year twinkle lights and ornaments in every room of the house. But I always make room for some of the traditions that developed over my youth. My great-grandmother on my mother's side handmade ornaments for each of us that have become a considerable collection--angels and toy soldiers, Santas and reindeer. This is the first Christmas that there will be no new ornament with her stitched signature arriving in the mail. From my father's parents, a sweet little creche with Provencal figurines--a woman carrying a tied bunch of lavender and a shepherd with a lamb across his shoulders--always holds a place of prominence. Though my tastes alternate from minimalist to all-out celebration, a few meaningful family heirlooms always find their way into the mix.
Images: Fresh Home magazine, Fall 2010 issue. Country Living magazine, December/January 2011. Marie Claire Idees magazine, December 2008 issue and December 2009 issue. Canadian House & Home magazine, November 2010 issue. Unknown.
Filed Under: advent, christmas, holiday decor, ornaments
I was one of the crazy people who dragged myself out of bed at 3 am today to go Christmas shopping to get the $9.00 crock pot and $3.00 toaster. One of our stops was at Urban Outfitters and I'm so happy I did because I got to pick up last week's issue of City Weekly.
I did the usual and stuffed it in my purse to read when I get home and finally tonight, opened the thing up to read their 2010 Holiday Gift Guide and saw my stuff in it! How awesome is that! I was so excited I was running around the house screaming for about an hour while my kid just starred at me funny and joined in at times. The only problem is, they switched out issues today and now I have to track down a bunch of last week's issue. Anyway, here's the link. I'm on pg 2 I'm so excited!
Hey everyone! My hubby wrote this blog and I think that its something that we all should read. So here ya go.....
Ok everyone I wanted to throw out a challenge to you. I titled it the “12 Days of Thanksgiving Challenge”.
But before I describe what it is, I want to explain why.
Ya see, every year on Halloween night the Christmas ads start come on. Then next few days the store are all decked out. Then this year I even heard a radio station that went to ALL CHRISTMAS MUSIC on November 1st. Seriously?
Now don’t get me wrong I love celebrating the birth of Jesus, and I think that should be celebrated at all times of the year with our lives. But that’s usually not what is being offered or even talked about. It’s usually all about shopping, presents, making a Christmas list, Santa, two front teeth, and so on and so forth.
But I think there is a very important holiday that is being passed over. Maybe you guessed it with the title and all, but maybe not.
THANKSGIVING - Ya know that holiday on November 24th?
Not that I am into Pilgrims and Indians but I am into being thankful. So many times we as typical Americans have this entitlement thing about us and we get more and more ungrateful for the things that we have been blessed with. We tend to look past the people that have helped us get to where we are now. We overlook the little things in life and never stop to be truly thankful for what we have, who we have, and everything in between.
So I present to you “The 12 days of Thanksgiving Challenge”
Sorry for all of you who thought you would get to eat pumpkin pie, turkey, and watch football for 12 straight days. It’s not about that.
What I wanted to challenge you with is for the next 12 days leading up to and including Thanksgiving go out of your way to tell someone “Thank You” but in detail. Thanks them for being the dad you never had, thank them for being there when nobody else was, thank them for _____________________________. You get the point.
So you in?
Come on you know you want to or even if you don’t you hate to back down from a challenge so go on. Make a list of people or just wing it, but for the next 12 days thank someone in detail for all that they have done for you. Wither big or little. Who knows maybe it could make their day, their month, or maybe even their year.
Have fun and remember to thank Jesus for making this all possible.
You can read more of his blogs at http://thatpastorguy.wordpress.com
Filed Under:
Amber Debirk, founder of Urban Scrap is no ordinary artist. She's a teacher, environmentalist, mother, and Glass Artist who makes gorgeous belt buckles, jewelry, and mixed media wall art from recycled glass. I met Amber through the wonderful world of Etsy and am privileged enough to have my work showcased in her studio. Besides being a charming and personable woman, she teaches her methods and even has a monthly Eco craft for kids in her new studio in Millcreek. Amongst her bright walls, cheery glass art, and an overall whimsical atmosphere, my work hangs on a bright purple wall directly parallel to the front french doors. So far so good, I sold a Colleen Clutch on opening night and have sold two more pieces since then that need to be restocked.
One of these days, I would love to be where she is an artist. I would love to have a studio outside my home (especially in an adorable community like hers) and a storefront boutique to showcase other talented artists. Opening night was a great party with wine, live music, and 15 artists work available for the viewing. Incredible.
Some reading nooks are created to make use of dead space--in a bay window, a large foyer or on the landing of a staircase. Others are carved deliberately into the corner of a room. A comfortable chair and good natural or mood lighting are essential. Some folks like to have their books surrounding them, always an arm's length away. Others prefer little embellishment around them. The better to be submerged into the world of their novel. A blanket, candles, flowers or plant life are small additions that raise these small spaces from serving a purpose to inviting us for an extended visit. Some think an afternoon spent reading is a waste of time. My feeling is that time spent reading makes the rest of the day better spent.
Images: House Beautiful magazine, July/August 2010 issue. Marie Claire Idees magazine, January 2010 issue. Period Living magazine, October 2010 issue. Red magazine, November 2010 issue. Tentpitcher Design.
Filed Under: books, libraries, reading nooks
 |
| Image: Ana White |
The next example from www.folksy.com I really like, but... £180 for coffee table made from a reclaimed old pallet? (For US-based readers, that's $288 - yes, you are reading that correctly!). It doesn't look that difficult to screw four wheels under a pallet, give the thing a good varnish and get a cut-to-size piece of glass to put on top of it, does it? Although, glass can be expensive...maybe that's what has put the price up... ;-)
 | |
| Image: mobius-living.co.uk |
Hold on, I just came across this Studio5 website with some tutorials on it... Time to save some money, folks! Tutorial: How to make a coffee table out of a pallet
And another great looking coffee table here... And you know what? I've got the tutorial here just for you: pallet coffee table tutorial
You may be charging £180 for your own home-made creations soon!
This design is very nice too, an ottoman designed by BCK design from Canada. Looks very contemporary, beautiful and functional at the same time.
 |
| Image: Designspotter.com |
The lovely Recicla e Decora blog also shows a great number of recycled pallet projects (although I can't understand the Portuguese text - I always enjoy the pictures!). What about this shoe rack...? I know, a bit basic...but an original idea.
 |
| Image: recicla e decora |
 |
| Image: treesandthings via GrowsonYou |
Pallets are not just great for making tables and benches, London based Studiomama also makes lamps out of them.
 |
| Image: studiomama |
That's it for today! But if you still can't get enough of pallets and the magic you can create with them, go and have a look on www.greenupgrader.com, for many more ideas and "The 8 best resources for Building with Pallets".
Time to dive into the skip, I think, and find some old planks...
Filed Under: DIY projects, furniture, lighting, recycling
Filed Under: icons, illustration
Luna Park a life size sculpture of an Ultrasaurus by artists Heather & Ivan Morison, was to be installed in Colchester's Castle Park. Unfortunately it burnt down in Portsmouth, so rather than the happy amusement park style publication on the left, it is now a more sombre leaflet showing the very sad (but interesting) burnt remains.
 |
| BEFORE! |
 |
| BEFORE! |
 |
| Danny's Grand Design |
As I say, it's not finished yet - and work is becoming harder with colder weather and less light - but I thought I'd show you some pictures of the progress so far. I will upload more pictures once it's all done (especially next Spring when we can start putting plants in and adding the finishing touches). Can't wait till next year....barbecues on our new patio! By the way, that ugly pink screen/fencing in the back will obviously go too!
 |
| My dad, me and Glenn on our patio three years ago |
 |
| Aaaah! The sandstone has arrived!! Now what...? |
 |
| Glenn and Danny |
 |
| Quick! The light is going! November is not ideal for patio building ... |
 |
| Another bit of patio! |
 |
| An outer circle will be added made of pebbles. Other parts will be filled in with soil for planting |
 |
| Happy me - supervising and making lots of cups of tea for the workers...! |
 |
| Our 'upper' patio is finished.... yay! Can't wait to add some plants next year. |
Stay tuned... to be continued....!
----
Filed Under: before and after, DIY projects, garden
