Winehouse

I love arts and crafts...really, I do. But prepare yourself....I HATE useless crafts! Really someone tell me what I am supposed to do with this as a gift...besides give you the evil eye.

This photo was taken from another blog that had an "ugly crafts party". lol

link to that site at bottom. Visit them!

Someone, anyone, quick! Shoot me with a glue gun!

So I got to thinking, what do I like. Well, I like crafts and I like wine so what says "Hey world! I'm a wino!" more than Wine cork art! YAY VINO!

No seriously, I think this stuff looks great but lets just hope these people purchased the corks and didn't collect them (slides personal collection of corks into hidding)....who does that?!

This and the one below were exeptional!

Tutorial

These may still be available at etsy. Contact the buyer!

Home-sweets-home has a tutorial for this one.

Lots of choices..so little corks...get chuggin!

Ugly Craft party:http://myuglysweater.blogspot.com/2006/06/bad-art-and-ugly-crafts.html



Small Spaces with lots of heart

There are upsides and down sides to renting. Upsides include non existent landscaping responsibility (big in my book!), instant gratification replacements (water heater-fridge-oven out...fix it or I'll hold rent) and above all else flexibility to move with simply 30 days notice.

Lovely freedom.....

but wait

there's more...

The downsides include little to no permission to make changes, rules and regulations on how to live in your apartment (understandable but for some-still a downside), and unless you are a multi millionaire or the newest cast member of some "look at me fake like I'm rich" reality show- small quarters.

Yeah...something like that....(click for photo credit)

Luckily it doesn't have to be that bad. There are so many places on-line you can use to find inspiration. Would you like for me to share some of the tips I have found? Of course you do! Why the heck else would you still be reading...duhhhhh!

1. Declutter

 

No, it is not a coincidence that this is #1. Decluttering is the single best thing you can do for your apartment (and yourself). Carleen Eve Fischer Hoffman of The Clutter Doctor, Inc. says  "A moderately disorganized person loses about two hours every day due to disorder.  Multiply that by 260 business days and you get 520 hours of wasted time each year! How about multiplying that by a hypothetical rate of pay of $50 per hour? You’re losing $26,000 each year!" Sheesh, If that doesn't get your cleaning then just think of how much better everything could look if it had a place- and how much you can do without.

2. Light up the place!

Let the sunshine in everyone! Not only can it make you feel better to see a little light but it can make your room look bigger. Letting in light gives a room more depth and highlights dark spaces which would give the illusion of a room being cut short.

3. Use Mirrors to trick the eye

resist the urge to get lost  in the beauty of your reflection and embrace using mirrors for your room. I have seen time and time again where this has been done in a non-cheesy way. My favorite to today is the pictures above. Take a small kitchen an give the illusion of a grand kitchen.

4. Take it higher!

This tip is two fold. First, raise your curtains higher. This effect has the ability to stretch your room. The eye will tend to "believe" that the room is taller than it is. Secondly, Raise your furniture. I'm not saying to go get anything new, but if you have the chance go for pieces with long legs and no skirt. Being able to see more floor gives the illusion that there is more floor...get it?

5. Make it work!

I love Tim Gunn...

Last tip is to use pieces that provide multiple functions. Don't just get a coffee table get one that stows seating, Use stow and go types of furniture.

 Enjoy all and take this

to this!

Okay maybe not really...but we can all dream!

Distracted by these handmade goodies

So, Today I have been searching for information on uniforms for my little one who starts Kindergarten in September (so excited!). I ran accross this page and I don't know what brought me here -this HAS to be the internet version of walking into a room for something and forgeting what you came for- but I will not be leaving it without sharing!

The36thavenue.com has an article on 25 Handmade gifts under $5, and really they are BEYOND cute! Take a look at some of my favorites:

Paper Clip Earrings

tutorial

 Printed Candles

tutorial

Tile Coaster

tutorial

Bow Belt

tutorial

Mason Jar Sewing Kit

tutorial

Bird Nest Necklaces

tutorial

Tea Cup Lights

tutorial

Lovely Wax Lumieres

tutorial

Reversible Cup Sleeves

tutorial

Beautiful Bookmarks

tutorial

There many more projects that I have not listed...mostly because after the last one I couldn't move without sharing! Beautiful!

Baby girl's first dentist appointment

It's been too long- but there's no time like the present!

Update: I smiled the entire time. My baby is becoming a big girl! She was so brave...and silly. She LOVED the dentist and can't wait to go back. Side note: I was refered to Dr. Renee' Pollis' office in Newtown Square, PA by 1800dentist.com. They gave a glowing review of the hygenist, Gretchen. I honestly thought they were leading me on- they were spot on! Gretchen was fantastic. So great that I plan on taking her here for now on and possibly going myself! Great place. If you live in the area, do yourself  favor and check in with them:

http://www.renepolisdmd.com/
RENE M. POLIS, D.M.D
3534 Rhoads Ave
Newtown Square, PA 19073
610-356-9388

Operation redecorate 2

Things are coming along swimmingly....haha, I am soooooo kidding! Saturday was delivery day and it. Was. Bananas (b.a.n.a.n.a.s!).

One moving couple, two neighbors and a craigslist responder later, this is were we are. It's shaping up.

Turning Pages

Don't judge the book by it's cover. Judge the owner by it's condition.

-me..like just now...lol.

If one were to walk into my home last week you would be greeted by this atrocity...

which would garner this response from you...

...tragic. lol

To stop this reaction from friends and family- as well as make a better home for my family and myself- I have set out to redecorate my living room with a focus on the book case.

I have never been one to like the living room's focus to be the television. I feel it is wormhole of time. You sit on a Saturday to watch one measly HGTV show, next thing you know your entire day is gone. What  I do like is bookcases as the focus of the room. I have seen a few places online that have color coordinated their bookcases and I think it looks fantastic.

These styles look great, but when I was doing research into how this was accomplished I only found two answers. Actually organize the books by spine color or cover them. I don't know about you, but I haven't covered a book since Jr. High and even then it was an ordeal! That got me thinking. If only the spine is showing, why cover the entire book?

Well...I had a stroke of DIY genius this weekend. To coordinate my bookcase I decided to cover the spines of each book. How?

Duct Tape.

No, Seriously! This isn't your grandfather's old roll that he used (sometimes unnecessarily) to do quick (and cheap) repairs around the house!

None of this! Funny ones here

I found a wide range of colors and patters by Duck Brand and Scotch.

I settled on 3 rolls and 3 pens: 

Solid Black (Ace Hardware)

Solid Gold (Duck Brand Duck Tape)

Lace Pattern (Scotch Duct Tape)

1 Black Sharpie

1 Silver Sharpie

1 Krylon Shortcuts Gold Paint Pen

You will also need scissors.

I love the lace pattern.

I also started with 2 new bookcases. I choose to double up because I feel it gives the project a better look.

I simply held the book, spine up, between my knees. I was sure to cover all of the spine to keep this project from looking sloppy and used my scissors to cut the end. DO NOT try to tear this tape. It was created to be flexible but secure. It WILL look bad. When I finished my first book, this is what I got...

After a while it came to this...

Then eventually this...

Who knew a little duct tape could go so far! I am very happy with the result and  love the fact that it only took an hour and  half to complete. None of my books are damaged an everything flows! I accessorised my book case with an old rotary phone from my grandmother, 2 large chess piece candle holders from Target ($2.50 each), an anniversary clock I had lying around and a recently repainted giraffe sculpture.

I am very excited to see what my new space will look like when my gold accessories are hung and the new furniture arrives (read about that here).

Stay tuned for updates!

À bientôt!