May December Home

Lazy Sunday Links - Final Edition

2009-08-23T13:52:00.001-04:00

It's been over two years since I started this blog. And what an adventure it's been! I've met some great people, learned a little HTML, made a ton of mistakes and, I hope, shared some cool ideas with you. 460 posts on and it's time for some changes. My shop is gone, I'm not going to auctions and thrift stores as often and my interests have changed. I'm not giving up on blogging (perish the

Celebration Fridays - Celebrating the Imposition of New Opportunities

2009-08-21T21:42:00.001-04:00

My parents had a friend who, for reasons I failed to document, regularly found himself out of work. And whenever that happened, there would be a party, with much drinking and hilarity and, I'm sure, occasional tears and bouts of hyperventilating. I lost my job today. The celebrations have begun and will continue throughout the weekend. Because sometimes opportunities arrive when you

Lazy Sunday Links

2009-08-16T12:54:00.001-04:00

Quark expeditions is sponsoring a "Blog Your Way to Antarctica" contest. And, fool that I am, I've entered. So, if you could take a moment to head over and vote for me, I'd be really, really grateful. You'll have to register before you can vote (one vote per valid email address), but it's really easy and they don't seem to be contacting anyone who's voted so far. Thanks so much! Bit of a

A Summer Puzzle

2009-08-12T18:24:00.001-04:00

Why is it: cotton + clothes dryer = meh but: cotton + clothes line = bliss In the same vein: fresh air + outdoors = well, perfectly lovely, actually while: fresh air + indoors = open all the windows it smells so good!!!! Just a little something I puzzle over as I inhale.

Lazy Sunday Links

2009-08-09T11:31:00.001-04:00

I'm enjoying a lovely lazy weekend with nowhere to go and not much that requires my attention. It's even obligingly raining, so I can't get out to do the gardening, which, after a long and difficult week, is a bit of a relief, actually. An article over on Get Rich Slowly, has me intrigued. It introduces the concept of the Swapluck - a get-together of like-minded people to swap goods and

Etsy Mondays - lunarloungedesign

2009-08-03T15:51:00.001-04:00

Pure gold this week my friends! Lunarloungedesign.com "is a very hip, Internet based furniture design company that specializes in handcrafted mid century inspired furnishings." Their pieces "are fun, modern styles dedicated to the mid century modern oriented consumer." I'll say. And this sofa? Packs flat for easy shipping! They also have a website. Gorgeous!!

Lazy Sunday Links

2009-08-02T12:30:00.001-04:00

It's a lovely long weekend here in Canada. I was nearly too lazy to do this. But there are links! And they must be shared! First up is another frugality site called Not Spending Money, subtitled Finding Joy without Buying Stuff, which is a sentiment I heartily support. The post Small Spaces: Articles From the Pros has links to several articles about people living well in smaller spaces.

Really Versatile Furniture

2009-07-30T07:38:00.001-04:00

I think the key to successful small-space living is having a couple of pieces of furniture that do more than their share of the workload. This buffet is just such a piece. Alan and I bought it at an antique shop over twenty years ago for our first B&B. Then when we moved out of town, it lived in my parents' dining room for many years. My mother decided to clear out some clutter, realized

Etsy Mondays - Cheap Treats

2009-07-27T19:06:00.001-04:00

I searched Etsy for the term "cheap" in case anyone's feeling the pinch. I love these little emoticon push-pins (you can also get them as magnets). Because not everything can be digitized. EMOTICON These mini thank you cards are lovely. Never let saving money get in the way of good manners. JPBphotography And this one's a real coup! A cheap clothespin bag that helps you save even

Lazy Sunday Links - Cool Frugal Blogs

2009-07-26T11:14:00.001-04:00

I don't talk much about frugality on this site. I don't talk about it much in my daily life, either. But it's there, in the background, as a sort of underlying theme to all this cool reuse of junk and making your home work for you. There are a lot of sites out there that have saving money at the forefront. And, I hate to bring this up, but they can be a bit grim, many of them. And I know

Lazy Sunday Links

2009-07-19T11:54:00.001-04:00

Hello! I found a couple of really cool things this week, in the spirit of "when life hands you lemons..." First up, an art installation made from garbage that is strangely, wonderfully beautiful. And a great use of all those nasty posters that pile up on telephone poles. Very cool! And a little bit of blog business to report, for those of you who love social media. I've started a May

Celebration Fridays - Celebrating Generosity

2009-07-17T06:48:00.001-04:00

Charity Tuesday - HopePhones

2009-07-14T07:24:00.001-04:00

Pediatric AIDS Canada I found this great charity last week - HopePhones. They take donations of old cellphones (who doesn't have one or more of those lying around), recycle them and then give health workers in developing countries basic model cellphones to take with them as they make their rounds. It may not sound like much, but I made rounds in Kenya and Uganda when I was there and those

Etsy Mondays - Let's Go to the Beach!

2009-07-13T18:02:00.001-04:00

I don't know about the rest of you, but I could definitely use a vacation. Of course, I'm not actually entitled to one until sometime next January. This windchime from Etsy seller Swooziestuff definitely has that away from home vibe. Speaking of doggies, as I so often do... Jenny Armitage does lovely watercolours of dogs and other beach scenes. And then there's this mobile! Such great

Celebration Fridays - Let's Celebrate and Get Really, Really Tired!

2009-07-10T18:48:00.001-04:00

The benefit of running two blogs simultaneously has to be that, once in awhile, you can borrow a post from one or the other. Today is one of those days. Please go and read "My Favourite Mantra". It's a celebration of friendship and being really, really tired. Be sure to read the comment from Mr. Nuggets, too. Dude's brilliant. And if you'd like to leave a comment, here or there and let

Etsy Mondays

2009-07-06T20:11:00.001-04:00

After a ridiculously cold May and June, we're finally getting some warm weather around here. That and the new deck that we're getting built this week has me thinking, PICNIC!!! Now, admittedly walking three steps from the kitchen to the back deck isn't likely to put me in danger of having my food go off, but with a picnic bag as pretty as this, why not be extra careful! JulieMeyer Not that

Celebration Fridays - Same Old Same Old

2009-07-03T17:47:00.001-04:00

You may not have noticed, but Alan and I live a life of constant change, if not outright chaos. In the last year alone, we've moved twice and held five jobs between us. And that is so not unusual. Lately, though, things have been pretty settled. Calm. Peaceful even. And it feels mighty strange, I can tell you! It's at about this point, historically (and after 26 years of wedded bliss,

Lazy Sunday Links - The Uniform Project

2009-06-28T11:51:00.001-04:00

riot jane I love this one! To raise money for The Akanksha Foundation, which is devoted to bringing education to slum children, Sheena Matheiken has vowed to wear the same dress every day for a year. Actually, she has seven identical dresses, designed by Eliza Starbuck, that she's wearing day after day, with different vintage and handmade accessories. Full details and photos of each of

Celebration Saturday - Getting Really Excited About Something

2009-06-27T11:23:00.001-04:00

I came home from work on Tuesday to find that my husband had dug a fire pit in the backyard. He's never been a frat boy, but he found a recipe and "Iwannamakepaella!" We had friends coming for dinner Thursday night, so, cool. Wednesday, we went to Ikea (we were headed there anyway) and bought a pan, stopping for mussels on the way home. When I got home Thursday, he was working away in

Lazy Sunday Links

2009-06-21T11:14:00.001-04:00

*yasuhiro I was very pleased to see that Corine of Hidden in France is on Twitter. She also has a Flickr stream. Looking into all of that, well, one thing led to another and I found inspire*inspire - a truly lovely blog of design inspiration that's been doing good things since December. I can see I have some reading to catch up on! Finding Corine on Twitter led me to find a whole

Celebration Fridays - Celebrating Friendship

2009-06-19T07:26:00.001-04:00

I don't know how it is where you live, but my social life goes a bit dormant in the cold weather. The roads are impassable and most of our friends go Away during the winter. It's when I catch up on my sleep. But once the flowers start to bloom, so do the invitations to dinners and parties. And all of our friends from Away come here. There's been a lovely flurry of activity in my life

Show and Tell: Erin's Invisible Floating Shelves

2009-06-17T18:08:00.001-04:00

I had a lovely email from May December Home reader Erin, who wanted to tell me about the invisible floating shelves she built after reading about mine. AND she included pictures, which makes my job so easy today. I mean, look how great her place is! Which is good, because my job at work is morphing from Director of Communications of Pediatric AIDS Canada to Queen of the Internet. And

Etsy Mondays - Tompkins

2009-06-15T18:33:00.001-04:00

Sometimes it's the little details that make all the difference. Having a place to put all the bits and pieces can make a room feel so much tidier. These tins from Etsy shop Tompkins should help. Tonya Tompkins is an art teacher who travels and works on her art during the summer. I hope her students appreciate her talent!

The Stuff Folks Leave Behind

2009-06-11T07:05:00.001-04:00

Some of my favourite pieces are things that I've found discarded by previous inhabitants of the houses we've lived in. I'm usually excited to find these treasures. The merits of this piece were not so immediately apparent. For one thing, our bad tenants bought this instead of paying the rent. For another, we found it lying in pieces in our backyard. We stacked the pieces neatly and waited

Etsy Mondays - Janet Hill Studio

2009-06-08T07:06:00.001-04:00

I went to one of my local independent bookstores this week (here in Stratford, we're lucky enough to have four) because Pia's book was in (and it's wonderful!). The man behind the counter and I chatted a bit while he was ringing up my purchase. He didn't know who Pia is (the man obviously spends way too much time off-line) but said that he'd mentioned it to his wife, and of course, she

Book Review - easy Cottage style

2009-06-04T07:47:00.001-04:00

In the six seconds of free time I have every day I've been reading easy Cottage style by Liz Bauwens and Alexandra Campbell. And, aside from loving the pictures, which are seriously gorgeous pics of the kinds of places I'd like to live, I'm really liking the copy. It's just so learn-to-enjoy-what-you've-got-and-quit-stressing. It's actually enticed me to cross a few items off my decorating

Charity Tuesday - Water is Life

2009-06-02T07:30:00.001-04:00

ccarlstead Before I went to Africa, the people at the travel health clinic told me not to drink the water there, not even to use it to brush my teeth. Even in the big cities, the infrastructure doesn't exist to ensure clean, safe drinking water. So every morning, I would order a couple of litre bottles from my server at the hotel and carry them with me through the day. But that was because

Etsy Mondays - The Great Outdoors

2009-06-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

We are having the best spring in years where I live. It's making me excited about my garden. Etsy seller Bunting Boutique makes beautiful fabric buntings, perfect for weddings, birthdays or summer garden parties. Let's not forget our feathered friends while we're having fun. I think they'd love this birdbath by Artyard Studio. Of course, no garden is complete without a sculpture or two

Lazy Sunday Links - Gardening Sites

2009-05-31T09:39:00.001-04:00

I have a love/hate relationship with gardening. I love plants and flowers and, especially, trees. I love the thought of working a patch of soil and making in healthier, of doing my bit to help this old earth. But gardening itself can reduce me to a weeping puddle of ineptness faster than anything I know. Thankfully, there's the internet. You Grow Girl was started in February 2000 for

House Tour - Fiona's New Bedroom

2009-05-28T07:33:00.001-04:00

My friend Fiona had some work done on her house recently. She knocked down the wall between her bedroom and the small office beside it to make room for an ensuite bathroom. I love the end result! The bed is angled to catch the first rays of the rising sun. This chimney was uncovered when the wall came down. It looks like a sculpture in the middle of the room. She has a keen eye for

Etsy Mondays - Doggies

2009-05-25T07:46:00.001-04:00

I did some dog-sitting this weekend. She had ears like the dog in this print by BrightWallPhoto Ooh! I love this little bowl from Elukka And a little someone to hold the leash. Also from Elukka I had fun. I hope she comes back...

Lazy Sunday Links

2009-05-24T12:55:00.001-04:00

Vanessa of Little Gray Pixel left a comment on my Invisible Floating Bookshelves. I checked out her blog and just had to recommend it to the rest of you. There's something for everyone, movie reviews, fashion, interiors and lots of lovely eye-candy. I also received an email this week about the first "Slow Retreat" to be held October 11th - 18th in Italy. Led by Carl Honore, the man who

Celebration Fridays - Celebrating Love

2009-05-22T18:21:00.001-04:00

One from the archives this week. I hope you don't mind. I went to the theatre one night last summer, to see The Music Man. Normally, I avoid musical theatre. I feel about it the way some people feel about clowns - it scares me half to death. I can't help thinking, "What if real life were like this?!!!?!!?" You'd be afraid to start a conversation! But a free ticket is a free ticket. So

Take a Picture Tuesdays

2009-05-20T08:09:00.001-04:00

I realize that today is actually Wednesday. And how's your week going? We're awaiting the re-building of our back porch. It'll be bigger than the one that's there now, which will be really nice. Right now it's only big enough for dinner for two. So, even though the furnace still comes on every night, I'm having back porch dreams. Plants in pots - definitely! (still working on Alan re: the

Etsy Mondays - Talula

2009-05-18T13:31:00.001-04:00

Some weeks this is a really hard post to write. I have to think of a search term. Then I have to actually search (all that clicking!!!), which can lead to coolness or sometimes not. That's what it's like some weeks. This week? Found what I was looking for right on the front page. Clicked over to talula and found even more wonderfulness

Lazy Sunday Links - Esprit Cabane

2009-05-17T10:49:00.001-04:00

I've have had tragically little time for visiting in the blogosphere lately. I'm working on ways to get better organized and tomorrow is a holiday in Canada. I'm planning to spend it surfing. ...in between breakfast with friends, some digging in the garden and dinner and a movie with other friends... huh. The good news is that I did find one treasure recently that I think you'll like.

Celebration Fridays - Celebrating Insecurity

2009-05-15T07:17:00.001-04:00

hbp_pix The furniture store where I worked last summer is closing its doors. I popped into the going out of business sale to see how my old boss is doing. Surprisingly well, as it turns out. He has plans. He's learned a thing or two. He's laid the idea of financial security to rest. And that's a

I Love P'lovers

2009-05-14T07:40:00.001-04:00

When you're shopping for something for your home, fair trade is one good way to go. Shopping for environmentally-friendly products is also a good idea. P'lovers is a company that offers recycled and/or organic clothing and products for your home. They also have a great selection of books on Simple Living and the

Etsy Mondays - Starving Art Student

2009-05-11T07:30:00.001-04:00

It's gardening season where I live. And, if you do any gardening at all, chances are, you're going to want to save some seeds. It can be tricky to do this and keep things tidy or even remotely stylish. Etsy seller Starving Art Student to the rescue with these recycled seed packets. They started out as a gift to her mother and are now available to all of us through the wonder that is

Lazy Sunday Links

2009-05-10T16:40:00.001-04:00

By now you probably all know that Pia Jane Bijkerk has published her first book. I was lucky enough to see an advance copy of Paris: Made by Hand when I visited with her in Amsterdam last month. And, oh my goodness, it is LOVELY! She's found all sorts of little artisanal shops in Paris and grouped them by 'wanders' - so if you want to use it as a travel guide, you easily can, with plenty

Thanks Apartment Therapy!

2009-05-09T10:46:00.001-04:00

Apartment Therapy featured my Invisible Floating bookshelves the other day (and so did Lifehacker and Austin Kim) and sent literally thousands of new visitors over here. If you've come in from one of those sites, Welcome! I hope you'll take a good look around, maybe say hello. And, y'know, check back for other ideas you might like. Hope you're having a great weekend!

A Wooden Screen Door

2009-05-07T19:24:00.001-04:00

If I were designing a house from scratch, I probably wouldn't put the back door right in the kitchen. I'd put it off to the side, with a mud room and lots of space for boots and coats. But then I would miss out on having this, right next to where I wash the dishes.

Invisible Bookshelves

2009-05-05T19:17:00.002-04:00

You've all seen these invisible bookshelves, right? The books stack horizontally and and appear to just float on the wall. They look really cool, but they can cost a bundle.Fortunately, they're easy and cheap to make from simple L-brackets.A bit of careful measuring and making sure they're level, and you're ready to start stacking. Just make sure they're well anchored to the wall! ***** It's so

Celebration Fridays - Do It Yourself Decadence

2009-05-01T18:49:00.001-04:00

I like nothing better than wallowing in luxury. And if I've learned anything in all my years of mirroring the economy at large in my personal finances, it's how to have a good time without spending any money. Dinner and a movie, for example, is way more fun at home. Put on your comfiest clothes, make some yummy pasta and watch a stack of movies, courtesy of your local library. We watch

Paris Fabric At Bon Bon Atelier

2009-04-30T18:08:00.000-04:00

Ages ago, I received an email from the lovely folks at Bon Bon Atelier announcing their new fabric line. And, being the terrible blogger that I am lately, it's taken me till now to share this with you. THOSE ARE POLKA DOT EIFFEL TOWERS, PEOPLE!!!!!

Ten Thousand Villages

2009-04-28T17:55:00.000-04:00

On my recent trip to Africa (I do love saying that!) I saw some amazing handicrafts for sale in hotel gift shops. I don't bring home a lot of souvenirs when I travel - usually just far too many photos on my laptop (check!) and, depending on where I am and the purpose for the trip, about five extra pounds of ME (but not this time!). There were some really lovely things on offer, but I

Etsy Mondays - Catherine Reece

2009-04-27T19:58:00.000-04:00

I'm dreaming garden dreams these days. It appears I'm not the only one. Etsy seller Catherine Reece features winsome birds and insects on her handmade clay creations. This would be perfect for that first posy of the year. And for a cool drink after a hard morning of digging. Oh dear! We're planning to hang some recycled lanterns along the fence. Do I need to add a hanging vase, too?

Celebration Fridays - You Can Never Hold Back Spring

2009-04-24T16:29:00.001-04:00

In the history of economics, there has never been a recession that didn't end. The darkest night gives way to dawn. And even the longest, coldest winter eventually surrenders to the daffodils. As with most things, Tom Waits said it best...

Spring Forward, OK?

2009-04-22T17:10:00.001-04:00

Spring seems to have stalled here. Maybe it needs a little inspiration. A little of this. A few of these. Leading eventually to this.

Be It Ever So Humble

2009-04-20T19:26:00.001-04:00

Dorothy Gale had it right. There's no place like it. I'm settling back into my life. And even though it was all pretty fresh and new when I left it in early March, I think I'm seeing it through even newer eyes. Much more appreciative eyes. Add to that the fact that it is Spring and I've been pretty much drunk with joy for the past two weeks. Anyone else being made giddy by the details

Still Adjusting

2009-04-19T14:30:00.001-04:00

Or maybe it's Spring Fever. I'm back at work and over my jet-lag. But the new wrinkle is that my lovely husband, who's been out of work since Christmas, has gone and got himself a job, which, Yay! But it's all an adjustment, isn't it? I'll work on some posts this week. And come and visit all your wonderful blogs again, now that my computer has finally decided that she will, in fact

Walking Through Amsterdam

2009-04-08T17:54:00.001-04:00

After the Africa portion of my trip (there will be pictures and stories, I promise!) I had a couple of days in Amsterdam. It was my first time there and I was utterly charmed. Well, what's not to love? There are canals and bridges. And it's Spring! Water is so soothing to walk beside. Or ride over... And then at the end of the day, I got to return to this hotel room.

Thank you, Merci, Asante....

2009-04-06T17:50:00.001-04:00

Whenever I set out to learn a few words in a new language (so handy when travelling), I always start with thank you. So it seems appropriate that I begin the story of last month at the end, with a thank you. When I found out that we would be finishing our trip to Africa with a few days in Amsterdam, I emailed Pia, to see if there was any chance we could meet. I thought it was a long-shot,

Still Here, But Going Away

2009-02-28T16:04:00.001-05:00

angela7dreams Wow. It's been awhile, hasn't it? Sorry. My new job is pretty intense. And they're sending me to Africa for a month. I leave Monday. I'm probably not going to be doing any posting while I'm there, but I am hoping to be able to post some pictures to our Flickr stream, if you want to check over there. Did you know that you can subscribe to RSS feeds on Flickr? So you can

The Boy in Striped Pajamas

2009-02-17T17:36:00.001-05:00

Once a month, Gallery Stratford has a movie night at our local cinemas as a fundraiser. The movies are always really good - much more to my taste than the geared-to-high-school fare usually on offer. Last night it was The Boy in Striped Pajamas and the theatre was packed. It's always a friendly crowd, the same faces every month, friends saying hi to friends and chatting in the aisles

Celebration Fridays - The Inevitability of Family

2009-02-13T09:08:00.002-05:00

We're heading down to Windsor today. For my cousin's funeral. And for Alan's family's Christmas in February dinner. Which, no surprise, has me thinking of family. And why they mean so much to us. It's not because you can say they're always there for you. They often aren't - that's why we have friends. It's more because they're always there. And no matter how old you get or how far

Dining Room Inspiration

2009-02-11T08:02:00.002-05:00

jawcey We have a friend coming for dinner tonight. Thankfully, she's coming for the food and friendship, rather than the decor. We moved in a couple of months ago, got all the boxes emptied and ran out of cash. Candlelight can make any venue charming and soon enough it will be summer and we can drag a table out under the trees. wanderingone I know my lack of enthusiasm for the

Etsy Mondays - openbooks

2009-02-09T18:10:00.001-05:00

Here's a cool idea. It seems I'm not the only one who's ever wanted to add blank pages to my favourite books, to continue the dialogue. The team at openbooks takes vintage books, saves the best bits, adds 80+ blank pages and a coil binding so the book opens flat, or folds back on itself for convenient jotting while you travel.

Celebrating the Inevitable

2009-01-30T17:03:00.001-05:00

One of the features I really wanted to save from my food blog was "Celebration Fridays" in which I encouraged everyone, myself included, to celebrate anything and everything that life had thrown their way that week. Here's the original Celebration Friday post, reworked and updated. From Pasotraspaso's Flickrstream We are in a state of flux here. I've been to the states of Michigan, Ohio,

Changes Updates and That Sort of Thing

2009-01-28T17:46:00.001-05:00

Boy, when I told you posting would be sporadic, I didn't expect it to be quite this bad! I do feel like I'm starting to get used to the new routine and might be able to re-establish some sort of decent posting schedule soon. But I've also realized that maintaining FOUR blogs is going to be impossible. So I've decided to consolidate a bit. Please make some room for the lovely readers of

Janet and Jim's Apartment Part Two

2009-01-20T18:41:00.001-05:00

They really were willing to work within its small footprint. And I know we could have done some fantastic things with it. But then the man downstairs decided to start smoking in the house. And the landlord chose not to care. So with only a couple of weeks to spare before the wedding, they found a new place. This place.... This, I believe, will be their dining room. I am so in love

Once Upon a Mattress

2009-01-15T09:27:00.001-05:00

I think we've already established that I will go to extreme lengths to keep things out of the landfill. Case in point - our mattress. It was second-hand when we got it (but clean, I assure you). We slept on it happily for many years, but when we moved to Sebringville, we decided to move up a size. Which left me with the dilemma of what to do with the lovely, queen-size foam mattress. With

Show and Tell Week, Anyone?

2009-01-13T13:03:00.001-05:00

Well, that didn't go very well, did it? With everyone else starting the new year full of fresh resolve and big plans, I guess I decided to go in the opposite direction. Always the contrarian.... But I was busy over the holidays, getting the house ready for overseas guests. So this week I'll show you pictures of what I did. I hope you like them! When we finished our bedroom, there was one

Take a Picture Tuesdays - Bookshelves

2009-01-06T16:19:00.001-05:00

OK. I'm back.... sorry for missing yesterday's post, but my holiday season actually got busier as it wore on and in the end, I succumbed to a cold. Booo! I'm feeling better now though and promise to behave myself from here on in. One of my accomplishments over the holidays was to unpack a couple more boxes of books. Which led me to Flickr, to see what other people do with theirs.... I

Best Christmas Decoration of 2008

2008-12-31T13:12:00.001-05:00

Because, truly, nothing says Festive Yuletide Fun like a running toilet.... I'm enjoying a lovely holiday and just wanted to pop in to wish you a Happy, Healthy and Wonderful New Year!

Merry Christmas!!!

2008-12-24T13:19:00.001-05:00

I had fully planned to post this week. But then the shovelling took over my life. I'll be taking a blogging break over the holidays (but I will be checking in on my favourites - I have some catching up to do!). See you back here on January 5. Hope you all have a lovely couple of weeks!

Build Your Own Closet

2008-12-19T15:32:00.001-05:00

Alan and I have been working on the closet over the last couple of days. It was pretty easy to build - just a few bits of lumber, an old wooden extension ladder and a shelf. Here's the photo essay (scroll over the pictures for explanations): Hmmm.... These pictures make it look like Alan did the whole

We Finally Have a Bedroom

2008-12-17T14:01:00.001-05:00

It's not completely and utterly finished yet (what ever is?), but I'm too excited to wait. I have to show you pictures of the progress so far. Here's the view from the doorway... And from the foot of the bed... And my favourite addition. There was really no room anywhere for a laundry hamper, so we had the carpenter cut a hole in the floor and put in a laundry chute. It needs

Take a Picture Tuesdays

2008-12-16T19:07:00.001-05:00

More bedroom inspiration from Flickr. I love the colours in this quilt. Especially against the crisp, white sheets. Jesse Wagstaff More juxtapositions - the roughness of the wood with the smooth blue glass, the red pillow against the white background. blupics I'm thinking a nap just happened here. miss pupik And another is about to begin... miss pupik

Etsy Mondays

2008-12-15T15:55:00.001-05:00

Some things that have caught my eye. TastySuite Sky Livingston Design CustomhouseLinen I've got a theme going. Can you guess why?

Calling in Sick

2008-12-12T15:08:00.001-05:00

Is it Friday already? Ooops! Well, I've been sick. It's nothing serious, and I put the whole story over here (minus the more graphic details). I'll be back on Monday. Hope you all have a happy, healthy weekend!

Etsy Mondays - Felt to Keep You Warm

2008-12-08T15:30:00.001-05:00

We're having one heck of a cold snap round here. Felt, I think, is what we need. I'm thinking this scarf/necklace would also make a nice decorative garland somewhere in your house. gayeabandon And a lovely felted bowl, so your keys and spare change can stay warm, too. icicle Such happy-looking slippers to combat those cold winter drafts! lusitania And even though I am in deep

Easy Home Made Shower Curtain

2008-12-04T18:08:00.001-05:00

As promised, instructions for your homemade shower curtain. Start with a flat sheet, size double or bigger. The nice, finished top of the sheet will be the top of your shower curtain. One finished side hem will be one side of your curtain (so easy - half your work is already done!) Measure the width you want your curtain to be (front to back of tub plus a bit for fullness). Add one inch

Thrifted Fabric

2008-12-03T18:05:00.001-05:00

I mentioned on Sunday that I'd gone thrifting. My favourite source of fabric is thrift store sheets. They're wider than what you can find at the fabric store. And if you work with the hems that are there when making curtains, you can cut your sewing time in half. Sometimes it seems like all you can find are pilled polyester in unfortunate colours, but if you dig a bit, there are treasures

Janet and Jim's Apartment

2008-12-03T17:52:00.001-05:00

My niece is getting married next month. She and her husband will be living in Stratford after the wedding (wheeee!). They got the keys to their apartment this week and have graciously given me permission to blog about the decorating and settling-in. Here it is, ready for them to make it their own.

Curtains

2008-12-02T18:52:00.001-05:00

We've been in our new house for six weeks and, aside from one pieced-together temporary thing on the bedroom window (it's held together with pins!), I haven't given a thought to the curtains. This cannot continue. It's time to go searching through Flickr. These would offer a bit of privacy without blocking any precious light. Audinou I love curtains that waft in the breeze. Though maybe

Etsy Mondays - Shaving Kit Supplies

2008-12-01T14:21:00.001-05:00

Shaving Kit Supplies is the Etsy shop of a self-confessed book dork (book dorks are the best folk on earth...) She assures us that she only uses books that have fallen apart to make handmade art as well as selling vintage goods and supplies to make your own treasures. I love this - a collage printed on a dictionary page! Home-brewed walnut ink if you want to try your hand... Vintage

Lazy Sunday Links

2008-11-30T15:10:00.001-05:00

Rearranged Design Today I bring you FORTY house tours. Well, not me personally. They've been organized over on Rearranged Design, a very cool blog that, for reasons I cannot fathom, it's taken me till now to find. Enjoy! Blog Full of Jelly has very generously posted a few holiday gift card pictures for you to download. Now that's starting the holidays off on the right foot! Speaking of

Great Excitement

2008-11-28T15:44:00.001-05:00

The carpenter started work this morning. Things are happening. And yes, Chandan, there will be pictures. Alan was so inspired by all the work getting done that he went down the basement and built a workbench out of the old 2X4's from the closet and a door!

That's It. I'm Moving to Seattle!

2008-11-27T15:42:00.001-05:00

Just seeing if you're still awake... But the temptations of life on the West Coast are adding up. Meyer/Wells is another one. This furniture design team sources their supply of wood from reclaimed trees that have fallen in and around the Seattle area. The story of the wood shows in their furniture. Beautifully designed, beautifully made, with an emphasis on local sources and local

The Ugliest Couch in America

2008-11-26T16:23:00.001-05:00

This is great. Surefit has announced a winner in their 2008 Ugly Couch Contest. Remember when I showed you mine? Well it turns out that even if the contest had been open to Canadians, I still wouldn't have won, 'cuz.... WOW! Julie Lee from San Francisco, CA, is the proud owner of this monstrosity. In her own words, "It's functional, but it really is just so ugly. It’s ‘loud’ and

Take a Picture Tuesdays - I Miss My Bedroom!

2008-11-25T14:11:00.001-05:00

I went wandering through Flickr this morning, looking for bedroom pictures. Soothing.... blupics Restful.... basibanget Because mine still looks like this. But at least it doesn't look like this! Orin Optiglot There is good news on the horizon. The new window should be installed next week, which will do wonders for the coziness factor. And if Murphy's Law is at all

Etsy Mondays - Cushions!

2008-11-24T15:15:00.001-05:00

I already have too many. But there's always room for one more, right? Like this little guy, saving vintage buttons. eggagogo This one's guaranteed to raise a smile. simonseabright Just too gorgeous for words.... Mogwaii Happy shopping, everyone!

Lazy Sunday Links

2008-11-23T09:44:00.001-05:00

One of the best things I've done as a blogger is to sign up with SiteMeter. This free service lets me know where my traffic is coming from and who's linking to me. It's coming from places like Junk Sophisticate. Thanks for the link, Candy! It's also coming from Small Space Style. Thanks for making me your cool blog find of the week, Lisa! And while I check out the blogs I find through

OK, Maybe One Picture

2008-11-21T11:51:00.001-05:00

I did manage to get the pictures hung in my hallway. All paintings, drawings, photographs done by me or people I know and love. I also left some spaces to let the collection grow... I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Make Better Use of Your Hallway

2008-11-20T16:26:00.001-05:00

I'd really love to show you the great uses we're making of our hallway, but, um, it's really not at all finished yet. We're still waiting for the carpenter to come and do the work on our bedroom, which means that we're sleeping in the office and the office furniture is in the hall.... sigh. Flickr to the rescue once again! Here are a few spaces that caught my eye. You really can never have

On Vintage Indie

2008-11-19T17:02:00.001-05:00

I have a new post up on Vintage Indie. A quick little project from my kitchen.

Tumbleweed Tiny Houses

2008-11-19T15:46:00.001-05:00

I first came across the work of Jay Schafer and the tiny houses he builds in an issue of Natural Home magazine. He's truly amazing. He lives well in 89 square feet. No, that's not a typo, I really meant eighty-nine. Take a look. I haven't actually measured our new apartment yet, but I'm guessing it's around a thousand square feet. I don't really need to squeeze all the use I can out

Announcing Thrifty Thursdays at bon bon atelier

2008-11-18T16:41:00.001-05:00

I had an email from the lovely folks at bon bon atelier (bon bon atelier is a boutique in Kansas City, MO. that features apparel, jewelry and home decor created by local and small artists around the country), announcing Thrifty Thursdays. I was going to mention it in my Lazy Sunday Links, but I got stranded at my sister's house this weekend. Which was great, except that my computer was at

Take a Picture Tuesdays - Living Small

2008-11-18T15:31:00.001-05:00

We've had our first major snowfall of the year. There's something about the onset of winter that makes me want to draw in and get cozy. Living large is fine for the summer time, but this time of year, I'm all about living small.... PinkMoose Doesn't really look small, but this is the view from the kitchen... jawcey I could spend the entire winter snuggled up in a bed like this.

Etsy Mondays - ShaneLilyRain

2008-11-17T14:46:00.001-05:00

Oooohhh! This could be dangerous! I was still thinking about alternative wallpaper ideas while I wandered through Etsy this morning. ShaneLilyRain sells vintage paper ephemera packs (every one a surprise!). And vintage alphabet flashcards. You can buy a random grouping of 10 and then see what words you can spell. I think that's much more fun than choosing a word and just buying the

Lazy Sunday Links

2008-11-09T09:09:00.001-05:00

First up, I asked if anyone is participating in NaBloPoMo. Sharon tells me that The Key Bunch is. Yay! I've been blogging for nearly two years and this is the first time I've joined. I admire people who are willing to just jump right in! Writing a design blog means I have access to all kinds of good, beautiful design ideas and projects. It can get a little overwhelming sometimes. Sometimes

Alternatives to Wallpaper

2008-11-07T16:38:00.001-05:00

I will state openly that I'm not a huge fan of wallpaper. Sure, it can be beautiful to look at, but when its time is up, there's all that stripping and then the disposal.... Not for me. I just can't justify the design benefits from an environmental viewpoint. But sometimes, paint alone isn't quite enough, either. You may want something really special for a particular wall. Or, as in the case

Take A Picture Tuesdays - More Wallpaper!

2008-11-05T15:31:00.001-05:00

I realize it's actually Wednesday, but it's been that kind of week. My annual cold hit early and I've been chugging the Nyquil. Through a STRAW! Which, while enjoyable, is..... OK. I just can't think of a downside to that one. katielips I'm also NaBloPoMo-ing on my personal blog. Any design bloggers taking part? Leave me a comment and I'll link to you on Sunday. I've taken on some

Etsy Mondays - Fondue and Fondue Jr

2008-11-03T15:21:00.001-05:00

I entered "wallpaper" into the search box on Etsy and found Fondue! And Fondue Jr! Using wonderful vintage wallpapers to make everyday items look cooler and better. Wait. You thought I put a lot of diligence and planning into this, didn't you? Well... um... No. I can't fool you. It's pure serendipity here! As Alan was putting the new box of tissues on the back of the toilet the other day,

My Kitchen Makeover

2008-11-03T15:16:00.001-05:00

Before I get to Etsy Monday's (aka "The Good Stuff"), I just wanted to let you know that I posted my kitchen makeover on my food blog. It seemed appropriate. If you're interested, you can see Part One, Part Two and Part Three. If you're not, stay tuned for Etsy....

Trouble in the Bedroom

2008-10-29T15:11:00.001-04:00

Usually, when we move into a new place, the bedroom is the first thing we set up, followed very closely by the kitchen. But not this time. See, the bedroom had these ugly, nasty cupboards, built, it looked like, from bits and pieces found on all the neighbours' scrapheaps. They cut off the light from the window to an alarming degree. I suspect that in the summertime, they would do the same to

Take a Picture Tuesdays - Moving Day

2008-10-28T15:53:00.001-04:00

Well, Move Number Fifteen is successfully done. We had a lot of stuff... ibm4381 But we worked really hard. popofatticus When it was over, the reward was a hot bath... Todd Baker << technowannabe ...and a good glass of wine. bhollar I'm so happy to have my internet back! I'll be back to regular posting tomorrow!

Lazy Sunday Links

2008-10-19T13:20:00.001-04:00

I had an email from Sharon this week, introducing her lovely blog The Key Bunch, which she writes with her friend Rekha. If you love Indian design (as I do), you will love this blog! And you've probably seen this already, but I wanted to be sure nobody missed it. Pia Jane Bijkerk continues to surprise and amaze with her many, many talents. And this week, she added composing/performing to

Flickr Fridays - Let's Go To Paris For The Weekend....

2008-10-17T12:18:00.001-04:00

Alan sent me a link to this New York Times article. And set my little heart to dreaming (be sure to view the slideshow!).... malias ferminet david.nikonvscanon *Solar ikon* Bonne journee!