Electric Lighting!

We have been working on updating our place, in ways that we can afford, both time-wise and financially. One thing we did this weekend was paint our hallway and change the 2 light fixtures in it. I'll show you that soon - when we're not experiencing a wet and dreary day - but for now, i wanted to highlight the fun DIY project we did on the fly.
We wanted to get some cool switch plates but either couldn't afford them (um, $22 a piece, Anthro?) or they were just ugly a la Home Depot. So, we thought of decoupaging some fun paper onto the original plates. Then, J thought of a fun idea -why not re-use some of the fun prints from our annual Nikki McClure calandars. Cuz, who doesn't save such fantastic art, right? So, while he painted, i whipped this up. I used the lovely Hodge Podge both as the adhesive and also after, to give that night sheen and protection against messy fingers.
I chose prints that were both small, simple, as well as mainly black and white, so that they blended nicely with our walls and artwork. Not bad for free switch plates, right?

Clem's Secret Garden Room

Not knowing the sex of our baby made no real impact when i started to plan the baby room. I wanted something playful, whimsical, and quintessentially us. So garden decor it was. The room overlooks our backyard, which we find to be such a happy and bright place. Of course we also wish to encourage, if just a bit subtly, a love of dirt, gardening, nature, flowers, and veggies in our little one - hopefully over trucks and aggressive sports! I know, i know, we can't make them like what we like really, but...we can try!
My dad generously offered to help update and insulate the room, being the coldest in the house. So he and J took the two exterior walls down, insulated them, put in a new window, and J refinished the wooden floor. We then painted the walls an ice blue, and used some of our leftover vintage wallpaper for one wall. Then i stepped in with the trinkets and decor magic!

I loved making things for this room, from
- the crib bumper and skirt (for when he eventually sleeps there, right now we just play there)
to
-the birds on the branch and birdhouse i already mentioned here
and
- the curtains from this fabulous line

I can't wait until li'l c is big enough to design his room and that we can make things for it together!

Crafting Up the Baby Room

We've been working on making our own art for the baby's room. I think i'm done now, after making stuff for the last 3 months! Some projects were extra fun as J and i did them together - not something that we do often enough! Here's a photo gallery for you to check out. I've posted some more photos on my Flickr page as well. Stay tuned for photos of the actual room too!Can you tell i have a bit of a theme? Wait till you see more photos of the room, but i am definitely going for a certain feel! I found some of the projects in books and on-line and others we just created ourselves. For instance, i'm sure you've seen the cloth birds around - they've definitely made their way around blogland! But, they are so simple and quick to make, so they make the perfect wall art/mobile! The green leaf pillow (of which i made 2 in different sizes) comes from Simple Gifts to Stitch - i just love that vibrant green.

Thing i made from scratch - 1) the fun storybook blocks. I found images (agan in the same theme) and modge podged them onto blocks of wood. I then added some fun details, to make a simple collage of sorts. To see the details, click here and here. 2) J also has been really into crafting these days, and is especially into screen work and stenciling. So, we decided to work together on making these lovely fabric art pieces, complete with the appropriate black and white art that newborns can actually see. We placed the 5 pieces above the crib, but as babe will be co-sleeping with us most of the time, this will be something to be enjoyed a bit later on. 3) J and i also collaborated on the birdhouse. Growing up, this was a project my parents did together, so it is only fitting that now J and i are - my dad would build the house and my mom would paint it in her folk art glory! We changed it up a bit - J made an alpine-inspired house, and i decorated in some of my favourite vintage green fabrics.

I guess you can call making crafts for the baby's room my take on this whole 'nesting' phase. I have 2 weeks to go today, and am very excited. The room and our home is pretty much ready, and i'm now focusing on preparing myself physically for the birth and mentally for the labour and what comes after!

April Showers....

I've been busy with personal and work stuff outside of my craft blog, and i just noticed it's been weeks since i've posted here. So, i had to get my butt and creative juices in gear, in order to write a new post. I primarily use this blog as a form of 'self-care' and i had to remind myself that i actually really needed self-care over these last few weeks. So, here i am.

Well, now that Spring is officially upon us, i am excitedly learning how to garden. I have a LONG way to go, but am happy about the idea of getting my hands dirty, getting dirt under my nails, digging up worms, smelling the cool Toronto spring air, and reaping in the benefits of my garden. Alright, it may be a year from now when i reap in any of them, but i am really looking forward to planting a herb and veggie garden, and having my favourite flowers in my own background. Now, i am the first to admit that i don't know the first thing about GROWing them, but i plan and vow to learn.

My dream garden would include:
* Peonies * Heritage Tomatoes
* Daffodils * Herbs - basil, thyme, mint, rosemary
* Tulips * Lettuce
* Lily of the Valleys under the tree * Cucumbers
* Sunflowers * Raspberry bush
* Lilac Tree * Carrots
With great books like these, i think i'm on a good start. You Grow Girl is written by a local gardener and writer, so i hope it will be the help i need. I love the way it's organized - with sections like Plan, Plant, Grow, Bounty, and Chill. There's also a great website to turn to for added help. The other great book we got as a housewarming gift is A Year on the Garden Path: A 52-Week Organic Gardening Guide. Written for a BC audience, we'll have to adapt it somehow for our Toronto weather. But, it's very educational and has good info on composting, and featuring various plants.

Now, i'll have to get busy with the actual garden work. I've read about it for a few weeks now, we've raked out the dried leaves and garbage, i've cleaned out the greenhouse (yes, it came with the house!). I'm ready.

Kitchen Unconfidential

Having a good kitchen is important to me, both because i love to cook (and eat, ahem!) but also because kitchens mean being cozy and lived in for me, especially when close friends come over. We've already had a couple of dinner parties at our new home, and the room wasn't even done yet. It is now, just about. So, meet our 1950's inspired kitchen, after a trip to Mexico!
After years of having yellow walls, starting at my parents cozy kitchen, we took a bold step and introduced 'Samba Orange' - aka clementine orange - to our kitchen. Our turquoise blue chairs, and all the yellow accessories look just lovely beside the walls. And, since the kitchen is in it's original lay-out (but the cupboards seem to have been reincarnated in at least 3 different colours), i wanted to stay true to its character.












We also really wanted more counter space, so instead of buying an island or totally renovating the place, we came up with a lovely solution. We have a portable dishwasher (which is very exciting as we both hate doing the dishes!) and J made this lovely island out of an old, broken chest of drawers the old owners left behind. We store our frying pans and cookbooks in it, and it has its own cutting board on top. Brilliant! A J original design, too!

Green IS the New Black

Or so they say. We've welcomed this colour in our home with open arms, and going green is something we're committed to - in our living room and in our daily eco-friendly lives!

After a bit of discussion with J, we decided on a very bright and 'earthy' shade of green for our living room. Since we separarted our TV and massive collection of knick knacks from our travels, i thought this fun shade of green would speak for itself. It sure does! This room has become Shuma's favourite hang-out (directly challenging a previous commenters use of the word 'garish'. Ahem), and i also love it to read in, listen to records in, and just sit quietly in.

One other great revelation that we've discovered about the house is the abundance of natural light. Just lovely. So, hanging up curtains is mainly for privacy because i definitely welcome the sun in, as do our plants that got so used to being in a sunroom for 4 years! And, to top it off, i can now proudly display the antique glass curtain holders my sis got me as a present!
The house is coming along nicely and it has taken over all my craft work, except for the periodic sewing of hems for our curtains, and other tasks. This new direction of creativity is very exciting, though, as i know it's for my very own house! Though, our 'to do' list is by no means done, and seems quite endless at this point. So, instead of obsessing over it (which is so me!), i'm tring to take it easy. So, i'm taking time to enjoy it all - like i've tweaked my blog roll call a bit, and have added some great bloggers who feature their design work. They've all been a great inspiration for me, so take a look too!

Things to do with Aprons

As a collector of aprons, i finally found some good use for them, besides the usual wearing of them as i cook. Here are some ways i've found to incorporate my lovely aprons into everyday use.

Since i now own a house with multiple floors, i got inspired to hang up some aprons on the stair railings. I think i might try rotating them based on upcoming holidays (this set is for Valentine's Day) as well as season. I think they'll also bring some colour and quaintness to our hallway.
Another great use is to turn aprons into window coverings - especially for windows that are narrow enough. I used two vintage aprons as curtains in my craft room, and this lovely yellow one has a practical use - it holds up to 4 rolls of toilet paper in my tiny main bath!

Any of you have some great ways to display your aprons?

Meet My New Home

Well, i did it - J and i have gotten our first home. All ours. No bad basement neighbours, a yard to call our own, and a house with 3 floors to put my mark on. Very exciting, very overwhelming, and just incredible. I hope i can sleep like i'm supposed to soon.

So, forgive me if i'm not going to be so active for the next little while. We have a lot of work to do, but i will show you pictures and share my progress with you all. Maybe my blog will become a design blog? I'm sure my craft room will be highlighted here - my very own room! Wow. I'm still stunned.