Handmade Gift Planning + Upcoming Link Parties

Nov
12
2012
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On this week’s Holiday Countdown list, I encouraged you to make some gifts for Christmas instead of buying everything. Handmade gifts are not only budget-friendly, but they add a personal touch and really show someone you care. In my experience, what usually stands in the way of getting around to handcrafting gifts rather than purchasing them is careful planning. That’s why I always start no later than mid-November.

If you’re stumped about what to make grandparents, neighbors, friends or anyone else on your gift list, start by looking through magazines or websites for ideas. Some of my favorite sources are Style at Home, Chatelaine, Pinterest, Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart, and other design blogs. Once you’ve found some possibilities, bookmark them or pin them to a board on Pinterest.

{Left to Right: Teacup Candle, Cowgirl Cookie Mix, Christmas in a Jar

After I’ve found some handmade gift possibilities (or at least some inspiration), I think about who the gift would be perfect for. For instance, my husband’s aunt loves sweets, so I always try to bake something to go along with her main gift. Some of my friends are avid readers, so I make something to complement a book. You get the picture…

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Filed Under: Holiday & Seasonal, News & Updates, Organizing Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Pinterest for Holiday Inspiration

Nov
1
2012
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It may only be the first day of November, but I find that the time between now and Christmas flies by quickly. Last year I got into the groove a little sooner than normal and found the time to create some handmade gifts and crafts, two things I’ve wanted to do more of, but never really found the time to squeeze them in. So what was different about last year? First of all, my son no longer plays hockey, which has freed up a lot of time because we’re no longer running around all over the place. Another reason has to do with planning.

I start looking for ideas online and in magazines at the end of October so I will have time to gather everything I need and still have time to put it all together. I find inspiration from Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart, Chatelaine, Style at Home and several blogs. These are all fantastic, but my favorite source of inspiration at the moment is Pinterest, where I can find all sorts of DIY, craft, decorating and gift-wrapping ideas. Currently, I have 4 boards on Pinterest related to Christmas.

Holiday Decorating and Ideas is a general board I created last year for pinning project ideas, music, decorating ideas and other photos to do with the Christmas season.

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Pinterest Boards I’m Hooked On

Aug
13
2012
6 Comments

It’s no secret that I’m addicted to Pinterest. If you haven’t joined the craze, I’m surprised. I feel it’s one of the best sources of inspiration and there’s really no better way to store and categorize pictures along with their links.

 

Although I follow a variety of boards on Pinterest, there are a few that seem to always catch my eye. First up, it’s probably no surprise that I’m drawn to a board called Beach House by Wendy Hicken. Not only do I love the softness of colors, but the light and airy rooms scream summer, meaning rest and relaxation. It’s probably my favorite time of the year, and having a cottage is definitely a dream of mine.

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Styling a Bed

Jun
25
2012
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How was your weekend? We were bombarded with rain, so all outside projects were put on hold until it dries up a bit. However, it did allow me to focus on organizing my office for a while and I’m getting close to having it just the way I want it. Those of you who have been asking about my office closet makeover, I promise you will see the after photos soon. Between our basement renovation, the Outdoor Extravaganza and wrapping up client projects before summer holidays, that particular project took a back seat. I’m sure some of you can relate!

A while back, I stumbled upon a clever visual on Pinterest for arranging pillows on a bed. After tracking down the source, I discovered that Marissa from Marissa Waddell Interiors and Roost was the creator and I asked if she would share some tips for styling a bed. Thankfully she agreed, so here goes…

 

One of my favorite decorating duties is to pick out and arrange pillows. There are literally a million ways to style pillows on a bed! I made this little cheat sheet of my 10 favorite ways… but how do I decide which one to use? That decision process is usually three steps for me:

 

Styling a Bed

 

1. How big is the bed? 
King-size beds usually require arrangements with two or three big Euro pillows. Queen-size beds can handle standard or Euro arrangements. Most of these arrangements work for twin-size beds, too– just half the number of pillows (round down for odd numbers). [Read more...]
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Flower Nostalgia + A New Collection

May
31
2012
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One of the best parts of gardening is being able to cut flowers to bring inside. Growing up, my grandma had the most beautiful peonies and I remember the large green glass vase she’d put them in to grace her dining table. Perhaps it’s those nostalgic feelings that draw me to peonies so much, but who can resist that sweet aroma and lovely gigantic blooms.

 {via Simply Seductive}

Last summer, I was at a garden center and I came across a few different varieties of peonies. My grandma always had fuchsia and the classic pale pink, but I was intrigued by the red and white options before my eyes, and thought they’d fit the design of my garden a little better. I decided to purchase a couple and see how they’d do.

red peony Better Homes and Gardens{via Better Homes and Gardens}

After planting the peonies in one of my flower beds, I noticed the stem and leaves were growing over the summer, but there weren’t any buds and they didn’t bloom. Disappointing! When my mom was visiting last summer, she said they probably wouldn’t bloom in the first year, but I would probably see something the next year. [Read more...]

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Front Entrance Freshening

Mar
14
2012
5 Comments

Two weeks ago I wrote about all the problems I have with my front entrance and many of you could relate. In fact, after sharing my front entrance woes, I received an email asking if I would share some tips for organizing and beautifying a front entrance. Since I’m currently working on the plans and sourcing for my own transformation, I thought I’d share the process I’m going through and break it down into 6 steps.

{via Kellee on Pinterest}

 Step One. Purge anything you no longer use and store occasional or seasonal items elsewhere.

{via Breanne on Pinterest}

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Elements of My Dream Kitchen

Feb
24
2012
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Happy Friday! I’ve been dreaming of renovating my kitchen for a long time and it definitely shows by the number of photos I have in my Kitchens to Covet category on Pinterest. I love how a story starts to come together on the boards as linking elements emerge. I always encourage my clients to gather pictures of rooms they love. Quite often they can’t pinpoint exactly what it is that draws them to a particular photo, but as several come together, there are often similarities that shine through. For instance, in a recent bathroom renovation I was involved in, the homeowners’ love of clean lines, white subway tile, and soft blue-grey paint was apparent in almost all of the photos they pulled as inspiration. This gave us a clear jumping off point.

If I take a step back and look at the photos of kitchens I’ve bookmarked, pinned, and torn from magazines, there is a definite pattern. To start with I love a large island with beautiful kitchen lighting hanging over top. In particular I’m drawn to oversized pendant fixtures.

Elements of My Dream Kitchen- Pendants over Island{via Pinterest}

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Good or Bad Decorating Decision? {upholstered headboards}

Feb
17
2012
9 Comments

Sometimes we make design and decorating decisions that we end up regretting. Take the chocolate brown leather ottoman I purchased for my family room 5 years ago. First of all, I’m usually not a fan of leather because I find it cold in the winter and sticky in the summer. Secondly, the color seemed a bit dark for my style. However, I thought it would be durable and it was a bargain. Within a few months I wanted to send it back and it taught me valuable lessons- don’t let price be the deciding factor and go with initial instincts (originally I was looking at a square button-tufted ottoman in blue-green fabric and to this day I wish I had it!). Eventually I’ll sell my ottoman and replace it with something I love, but I have other projects on the go that take precedence.

In contrast, one of the best purchases I made several years ago was an upholstered headboard (inspired by the PB Jameson) for our bedroom. I had it custom made by a mattress maker who charged me less than what it would’ve cost to make my own. The piping detail was something I didn’t think I could get right on my own and I wanted something solid that would last. It was one of those no-brainer purchases! If someone asked me if I’d do it again, my answer would definitely be “Yes!” The only thing I’m considering changing after 6 years is the fabric and that is as easy as making a slipcover (which will be part of another post).

{via Pottery Barn}

Upholstered headboards add softness and warmth to a room that you can’t get with wood. I like to read in bed, so it’s definitely the best option for me. I also love the fact that the options for shape, fabric, size and detailing are unlimited. The best part is they’re fairly easy to construct for the DIY-er and can be changed up down the road.

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