I Branched Out

I used up all my holiday embellishments to wrap gifts so I ran out to the yard for inspiration. I dipped small branches into Mod Podge and sprinkled with white glitter. It looks like sugar, doesn't it? I guess in a pinch, you could do that too. Wouldn't that be sweet... I love the way they look on package wrapped with kraft paper and raffia. While I was at it, I glittered some pinecones as well.

My Window Wonderland Snow Globe

Here's my take on the classic Snow Globe. Click here to learn how to do it!

Tre(e)s Chic

Here are some holiday decorations I made out of cupcake liners.

Manhattan Transfer

I created a design from vintage illustrations, added some type and printed it out on "T-Shirt Transfer Paper for Dark Images". Who says it's just for T-Shirts? They're like stickers that you iron on. It's a nice way to have some fun with simple, small sewing projects. Under 8 1/2 x 11. And the nice part about this project is that the image doesn't have to be reversed, so you could scan a photo or make a copy right onto the Transfer paper. I ironed it on to a piece of leather, but any somewhat-smooth fabric will do. 

I got this idea from one of my favorite blogs "Just Something I Made"

One of my favorites

One of my favorite blogs is Jessica's of Such Pretty Things. She was visiting NY and I invited her to tour the bakery. She's so talented and it was such a pleasure to meet her in person. Check out her blog and site.

Fruit Flies...by Night

So, I was having a small issue with fruit flies in my apt bathroom...odd, I know. It's not like I'm throwing banana peels in my bathroom garbage. They seemed to be swarming around my toothpaste so I removed it. They were still there. I open my medicine cabinet and quite a few are flying around in there. I check the cabinet, everything looks like it's sealed but I can't figure it out. It was driving me crazy, so I emptied the cabinet, sprayed with bug spray, cleaned up and put everything back in it's place. Well, just about everything, it felt great to clean that thing out and get rid of old makeup, suntan lotion from 2004, medicine, eye creams, etc.

So, I thought the problem was fixed, but a couple of hours later, they're back! I decide to take a break from it all and give myself a mask. Because after cleaning out the cabinet I realized I had some great products and should use them more often. I apply my mask and sit on the couch. A few minutes later, fruit flies are swarming around my face! I run into the bathroom to check out the label... Grape Seed Oil Mask...

Octoboooooo Fun

Continuing a tradition I have with my friend, we carved pumpkins last week. I may not see or talk to my friend very often, but every October (for almost 6 years now), we've had a standing date to create some Halloween fun. I let the kids design the pumpkin and then I carve it. This year, I did have a carving helper...he's the one with the pizza!

We Did It!

Except for a few small projects to complete, the renovation is completed!! Take a look.

Felt So Good

Over the weekend I made myself an iPhone cover/envelope. I love working with felt, because of many reasons. It's inexpensive, comes in many colors, doesn't fray and it's easy to cut and sew.

I'll post the DIY project on how to make one soon!

Queen of the Tile

I love tiling. Maybe it's the puzzle-like work I find so rewarding. This past weekend I started tiling the kitchen backsplash. We bought Ikea kitchen cabinets and we're very impressed by the easy directions and quality of the pieces. It's really coming together!

Our cabinets are in those boxes.

It helps to sort out your pieces before you start assembling

Almost there.

We're going with classic subway tile

Lofty Idea

We weren't quite sure what we were going to do for the loft railing, but I think Gene figured it out and did a really nice job! I love the stairs he designed and built.

High Five!

This was a post from a couple of summers ago but I thought it was perfect for this month.

One of my favorite summer pastimes is looking for 4 leaf clovers. Yeah, I know, quite exciting... but I like searching for them. Sometimes I feel like the clovers are searching me out, because I've found most of them by just looking down into a patch and they're looking right back at me! So, today, while chilling out in Central Park, I peered into the clover patch and pulled out, what I thought was a 4 leaf clover, but turned out to be a 5 leaf clover! Ok, so the 5th leaf is really small, but still. So, I went home with my good luck charm and decided to take a bike ride. I left my apt around 5:50 pm, rode for about 5 minutes and there in the middle of the Central Park bike path on a crowded holiday weekend, I found a $50 bill. 


I googled 5 leaf clovers and they're just mutations of a 3 leaf clover but it also said "The superstition for the 5-leaf clover is extra good luck and attracting money." So, I went out and bought a Take 5 lottery ticket. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Update: I got nuthin'

Don't Put Your Eggs in This Basket

I needed a new hanging light fixture for my kitchen. So, I purchased an old egg basket online, connected a bulb and viola! my new lamp.

They say it's my birthday!

Whew! The years go by so fast. This picture has nothing to do with my birthday and it's not the greatest picture,  I just really like it.

HOME SWEET HOME

Rustic Floors

Gene did a really nice job sanding and staining the floors. He's not as thrilled with them as I am, but I like the rustic look of them. We're so glad we were able to salvage all the floors except for the kitchen floor which he laid in pine to match the living room.

Before

They Finally Got Laid.

This weekend Gene and I laid the kitchen floor with pine planks to match the original living room floor which he refinished. I wanted some sort of transition from the living room to the kitchen since it wasn't going to match exactly. So Gene purchased a rough-sawn piece of lumber and we stained it a dark color.  We nailed it into place with black "hammered" nails to give it a more rustic look. We plan on distressing it a bit. This piece ties into the 3 old posts we installed throughout the living room.

BATHROOM FLOOR

We chose small black and white patterned tiles for the bathroom purchased from Home Depot. Take a look.

BEFORE

My Secret Garden

Just a pretty picture of my garden

All hands on deck

Gene and my brother-in-law Tom building the wrap-around deck.

the finished deck

BEFORE