St. Patrick's Day - Wreath loving

I love wreaths on front doors. They may be considered 'old-fashioned' to some people but I really like them.  I think they dress up the front of your house.  When I was living in apartments and condos, I couldn't have wreaths on my front door but as soon as I owned my own home, I started pulling out the ribbon!

For St. Patrick's Day, I was inspired by some foam, glittery shamrocks I found at the Dollar Store.  I paid $4 for the packets (with extras to spare) and the rest of the materials used were items I already owned.

For the backing, I used cardboard from a leftover moving box I had in the basement.  For the template, I just traced around a glass bowl.

I then traced around a small plate so I could cut out the middle.

Then out came the glue gun and I started to alternate the foam shamrocks by colour around the cardboard circle.

It wasn't a perfect fit and I was left with a bit of a gap at the top, so I just covered it up by layering three of the same shamrocks (glittered of course) at the top.  I ended up really liking the effect.

I finished up the wreath with some green ribbon so I could easily hang it and here is the finished project:

The entire project only took about 20 minutes and with a low cost of $4, it's perfect to hang outside for a couple of weeks.

Still in Paradise

Enjoying my last few days in Maui before I head back home to winter.  Aloha!

Happy Birthday...

... to me!   Spending the day in paradise.

Image by Naomi Rose

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone all the very best in....

Happy New Year from beautiful Maui.

Merry Christmas

Hope Santa put you on the "nice" list this year.  I'll be staying indoors today keeping warm by the fire, helping my nephews break in their new toys and working up an appetite for our big dinner tonight.

/via/

Only one more sleep...

It is a gorgeously white (and chilly) Christmas and I am so glad to be able to spend the holidays with my family.  My nephews are beyond excited for tomorrow and it is so fun seeing Christmas through their eyes.

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Decorating

Here are a few images from my place this year.  I didn't buy many new pieces as everything feels 'new' in my new house.

Runners and candleholders from Ikea.  Bells and glitter stars from Pottery Barn. 

Vases are great for corralling ornaments and garland

Blackboard design

Wreathes hanging from the chairs 

Tree full of glass ornaments (the walls are looking really bare) 

Gifts ready to be opened

I pick up ornaments when I travel

Dressing up a plain window seat with garland and oversized ornaments (cushions coming soon) 

One of a Kind Show

I am so excited to have a business trip next week to Toronto and even more excited that it coincides with the One of a Kind Christmas Show & Sale.  The show happens twice a year (the Spring show falls around Easter) and I tried to go at least once a year when I was living in TO.

The show isn't your typical 'craft show'.  First, it is absolutely massive and takes hours to get through the whole show.  Second, every type of craft is available at all price points and the curators for the show ensure there is a mix of artisans to meet everyone's taste.

Here are the booths I'll be stalking:

Artwork by Kelly Grace

I love Grapefruit Peppermint, Spiced Pumpkin and Cranberry Vanilla

Old Island Stamp Co.

Children's toys by Fidoodle

Amazing printed textiles by Bookhou

And that is just a VERY small sample as each time I visit the show I always find a new and original artist. I also tend to finish most of my x-mas shopping and am planning to bring a large suitcase with me   on this trip to bring back lots of goodies.

Happy Halloween!

Hope everyone has a fun time trick or treating tonight.

Glitter love - Halloween Pumpkins

I purchased a few mini-pumpkins for Thanksgiving and decided to give them a Halloween makeover.  I was working on another project at the time and already had my chalkboard paint out.  The next step was to get out some silver paint and my gigantic box of glitter.

Trying out Martha Stewart's chalkboard paint for the first time 

Big box of glitter - I do have a problem 

Time to try some silver metallic paint

Now add some pumpkin coloured glitter 

So pretty but so messy 

Two-tone effect 

Finished product - a little hairspray seals the glitter and adds some shine

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year in my new place and am extremely thankful to be able to spend this day with my family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Quirky crochet wall hanging from Butteryfly Alley available on etsy.

Happy Valentine's Day

One year older

via Pinterest

because today is mine!

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone all the very best in 2012 - let it be a year full of inspiration!

Decking the Halls

It is officially time to start trimming the tree.  I typically wait until December 1st to pull out the x-mas decorations but am hosting a small dinner party and wanted the house to look festive for my friends.  My parents are also coming to stay with me for the holidays so I wanted to take it up a notch.

I started by moving my living room furniture around to free up the front window as I love how the tree looks there and it provides some interest to the exterior of the house when the lights are on.  The living room is a wee bit cozy but since I have yet to find a coffee table for that room it actually works out perfectly.

Ornaments and shiny bells glitter in the candlelight

Garland via The Bay reconfigured into a wreath

Garland added to the chandelier

Garland and holiday decor on the bookcase

  

Christmas detail added to the mirror

Tree all aglow

Lovely little vignette (large ornaments are from Winners)

Interior wreath - garland is from The Bay

Ornaments on display