2011 in review

When I thought about writing a post about 2011, I had completely forgotten about some of the projects that I completed this year; it was nice to be reminded of all that I had accomplished.
Take a look through all of the projects that you have completed this year, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Here are few of my favourites. Click on any picture to be taken to the post.

January

I transformed my entry into a soft and welcoming space.

Created a knock off Pottery Barn plate

And used freezer paper to create a Union Jack cushion – had to get in on the Royal Wedding craze early :)

February

I created a silhouette gallery wall of my family and included this vintage, linen tea towel for fun.

Painted a 70’s drum table in silver and created a bird sanctuary LOL

March

March was a month of vinyl and stencilling projects

Spring was beckoning, so I gave my bedroom a fresh new look

April

In April we celebrated my daughters birthday and celebrated my bathroom reno. This is the project that I am most proud of as I did most of it myself; tiling, flooring, moulding, painting and created a really nifty shelf, perfect for small spaces.

I had fun creating this sunburst mirror from paint sticks and skewers

May

I redecorated my daughters bedroom, repurposing a king size headboard to create a daybed, stencilling a floor cloth and a damask pattern for the wall.

With the warm weather around the corner, I finished my patio makeover, you really must see the before!

June

June was a month of crafts, upcycling several items.

A side table from a candlestick and old table top

A tote bag from an old skirt

Recovered chairs with modern fabric

July

Since I had updated my daughters room, my son could not be left out

I made my own rustic herb crates

Updated an old trunk that was being stored in the garage

created a savings bank from an old shadow box

August

I updated an ugly $10 coffee table to something more modern

Created my own version of the Ballard Designs moulin cube

 

Made a rustic looking monogram with an old clock frame

And redecorated my bedroom. This is the easiest headboard ever; two large canvases, some batting and fabric stretched over them. Because it’s so lightweight, it’s easy to hang and change.

September

I made peacock feathers out of vinyl to update my lampshades; easily replaced when I grow tired of them

After 9 years, I finally made over my walk in closet

An old cutlery chest became the perfect place for remote controls and drink coasters

I learned how to split a letter and created several of these to sell

October

Last year I created horizontal stripes in the dining room; I hated them instantly but lived with them until I couldn’t live with them any longer. A fresh coat of paint and I kissed those mind blowing stripes away.

With the purchase of my new to me DSLR, I had to have a camera bag, so I made one

Discovering that brass is back, I found this fantastic partridge for $3.

I got an early start on Christmas decorating

November

A simple Christmas craft

I incorporated purple into my existing Christmas decorations for an update

Once again, I reorganized my craft room to try to make some order of the chaos

December

Always a very busy month for me, it was a little quiet in the home decor front. I did manage a couple of projects like this Trina Turk cushion knock off

And a giant Christmas kissing ball

So what’s in store for 2012?  I have a few projects in mind, like creating a cutting table for my craft room and updating a dining room table. I also would like to continue to sell my custom signs and lettering to earn some extra money for my decorating projects. I look forward to the new year and thank all of you that take time to visit, leave encouraging comments and provide me with such inspiration.

Happy new year!

Sharing at 

Merry Christmas!

It’s been a crazy busy season for me. I apologize for my absence. I have had the chance to visit my favourite blogs and I just love all of the festive spirit that is present at this time of year.

I don’t have a lot of stuff so I set my dinner table very simply with things that I have. I could use some proper napkins :)



One of the best thrifty purchases this year was this brass partridge. I love it and proudly display it every day.

  .

I made him (her?) part of our Christmas dinner too

So, here’s wishing you all the best of this wonderful time of year. Hold it in your heart each and every day. Thank you for sharing your time with me. 

Mel

Christmas Kissing Ball

A friend recently showed me a gorgeous Christmas Kissing Ball that she had purchased. I was intrigued and like any crazy crafter, had to make one for myself. Besides the price tag on a ready made one was out of my league.

I started out by purchasing a really big mercury glass ball for $10 at Home Sense (thank you to Beatrice at The Crafty Bee, I was the recipient of a $75 giveaway and this is one of the things I purchased).

I looked around in my stash of Christmas wrapping paper and found a box that I bought at a garage sale in the summer, which had several of these pretty silver and gold picks.

Using a coffee can to hold it upright (thank goodness that I drink lots of coffee), I glued the picks to the top of the ball.

Because I had to leave the circle “O” at the top exposed, I couldn’t attach a bow as is, I had to cut up ribbon in loops and attach each piece individually.

Next year I can easily remove what’s there and completely change the look.

Here I have hung a regular sized ball to show you how big this ornament is (and heavy).

And finally the sun decided to shine and I was able to get a photo in natural daylight.

 
I only have two more Christmas parties to do, then I’m done my entertaining for this year; a chance to relax and enjoy the season.

Sharing at

Centsational Girl Holiday Craft Party

Designer cushion knock off

I get a lot of satisfaction from making cushions; they are quick, impactful and are a great way to add colour and contrast, without breaking the bank.

I have had my eye on Trina Turk’s Palm Springs Block cushion for some time. Mine was made by painting some fabric, hers is much more decadent. But, unless you plan on looking up really close, they look remarkably similar.

I used my cricut and freezer paper to cut out the inner design first, painted it in, then cut out strips of freezer paper to block off the outer square.

While I had the sewing machine out, I used one of the remnant pieces that I bought from Tonic Living to make another cushion.

A simple envelope back makes these cushions quick and easy.

Home – my refuge

 

Is where I feel safe, loved, honoured and most comfortable. No matter where I roam, I always feel best at home. 

When I saw this quote, it felt perfect for how I feel when I walk in my door.

  I found the quote via Pinterest on Brown Paper Packages

I used a piece of pine, painted in Ralph Lauren Roadster White, cut the vinyl with my cricut, reverse weeded it and painted it in.

Taming the chaos

I’ve reorganized, cleaned, purged and rethunk my craft room, yet again :)

There is no one else to blame except me; I am a messy crafter and I’m not very well organized. I find it difficult to put like items together and put stuff away after I use it. So here I am trying once again to get it under control. It gets so messy that I dread going to this room, and that’s not a good thing :(

My friend gave me a Rubbermaid closet system when she replaced it with Pax wardrobes (I know, lucky me). I only used about half of the system and came up with some organized storage.

Bins were purchased at the dollar store to contain like items together. Small pieces of fabric were folded and put on the shelf, larger pieces hung on hangers. Cushions and forms are in and on an old ottoman (yeah, it’s stuffed to the gills).

I saw this method of storing wrapping paper on Pinterest; genius!  Right now mine are hung with cord, but it will be replaced and I’ll create even more storage with bungee cords.

Next up, a high island tabletop for cutting fabric on. I’m getting too old to be on my hands and knees on the floor.

Once I get it functional, I will work on the aesthetics.

 

Oh Christmas tree

Once a month I get a Friday off of work, giving me a chance to catch up on things that seem to go by the wayside. This Friday, I spent a leisurely day putting up my tree.

Um, I didn’t have enough of the mini lights to cover the entire tree, so I had to use the led lights at the bottom. There is a noticeable difference in the amount of light they cast, as you can see in the photo. The good thing is that in real life, you don’t notice the difference.

Other than hanging our stockings, I have completed my Christmas decorating. Tomorrow is the first of my entertainment biz bookings.

I have a couple of non-Christmas projects in the works though, and hope to find some time to do them.

My Christmas Fantle

 

Since I don’t have a fireplace in my living room, I use my cubby shelves as a fantle.

 

When I added the crown moulding it gave it some substance, but any item that I placed on top was dwarfed by it. To solve this I cut a piece of drywall, wrapped it in white fabric and placed it on top of books, giving it a platform so items didn’t seem to sink to the bottom.

I took the pine stems from the tree next to my house, but I’m going to replace them with a different type of evergreen, they look a little too sparse. 

We will be putting the tree up this weekend. I’ll be working on making a new tree skirt, so wish me luck :)

Happy Thanks Giving to my friends south of the border.

They’re watching – tweens have good taste too

My daughters girlfriend came to visit after school one day and was completely smitten with my Union Jack cushion.

My daughter volunteered me, to make one for her friend. It has taken me some time to get to it, but I’ve finally done it. I really didn’t think that tweens took notice of home decor, but apparently they do :)

Smaller version in black and grey

Thrifty fabric find

A couple of weeks ago I was at my local Value Village and found metres and metres of fabric.  White, cotton twill, heavy fabric. Total score. Each bolt is at least 30 metres!

And the price?  $9.99 each bolt!

Yeppers, I’ll have white fabric For-Everrrr!

I also ordered a batch of premium scraps from Tonic Living. There are several pretty pieces of fabric, but there are also some duds. I knew when I bought them that I was taking a risk on not getting anything I wanted. Overall I’m happy with what I got, especially this remnant of their Bodega, Navy

Just enough to make two envelope back cushions.  I think I am in love :)

I needed some pattern in this space and these fit the bill. 

Today I am guest blogging over at White Lacquer. Patience has an eye for beautiful things. She is running a series about “things I want/can’t live without” and I contributed 5 things that I can’t live without. Pay her a visit, you will be glad you did.