put a rug on it

Over the past six months I have been searching tirelessly and fruitlessly for a new rug in my bedroom. Too big, too traditional and too expensive are all the options I have found, but nothing that seems to be the perfect fit.

{via shadesoflight}

Besides its functional use to trap debris and provide cushion and warmth, rugs are an essential visual element in bringing the room's look together. Don't get me wrong, I am crazy for wood flooring, but adding a rug softens the look and provide a resting spot for the eye among the assorted textures and colors of the room.

{via apartmenttherapy}

While on the topic of my never-ending search, I thought it would only make sense to discuss important parameters to keep in mind when selecting a rug to fit your space.

• Consider the hue in selecting your rug. Is it in a high-traffic area or do you have kids or pets? If so, you might want to think twice about lighter shades in the rug you choose. Also, make sure the colors in the rug accent the look you already have. Introducing new colors in your rug have the potential create a discord in the look you are already achieving.
• Often overlooked, but always essential: consider what your rug is made of. Fibers such as chenille are more fragile and may require more maintenance than others. On the other hand, wool is generally of higher quality and will last longer than a polyester rugs. Each type of rug is appropriate for different spaces. Polyester may be the most affordable option, but it also is essential for high-traffic areas. Most rugs out there are a blend of polyester and wool. 
• Be thoughtful of the size of rug you are purchasing. A 2'x3' rug is meant for a doorway or in front of the sink and, conversely, a 4'x6' rug is usually not meant for under a dining room table. The rule of thumb I use when selecting a rug is to choose one that covers at least 50-75% of the area you are covering. Usually, you want the rug to 'touch' nearly all the furniture in the seating area.

Regardless, take risks and have fun with how you select or place your rug. The more unpredictable, the better!

designed to sell

If I had all the time in the world, I bet (and I am not a betting woman) I would spend most of my time repurposing/refurbishing objects to resell. I imagine paint-splattered pants, glue-covered hands and my cat running around with some string essential to my project. Oh, what a beautiful mess.

When I grow up, I suppose.

I've had those thoughts more frequently as of late because of my recent success in selling items on Craigslist. From renting apartments to pianos, I think I have a knack to sell. Correction: designing products to sell.

{home staging ideas via apartment therapy}

So where do you start? Let's take a trip down selling lane:

• Think about what aspects of an ad stick out to you amongst the sea of other posts. Are you the gal who finds 10+ exclamation points in the title appealing? Or are you a strictly posts with photos buyer? Use those guidelines when creating your ad.
• Always include a photo. This is not an exercise in imagination. Folks will not buy your stuff if they don't know what it looks like.
• If you are renting/subleasing an apt, do some research on staging your rooms. A buyer will be more likely to sign on the dotted line if they can picture themselves in your space. They are not looking for unsightly clutter and a dusty room. Make your bed and go wild with throw pillows.
• Be descriptive, but be brief. Assume your audience has a short attention span. Keep your sentences short and to the point but exciting at the same time (and for crying in the night, check your grammar). 

well read

At the risk of sounding like a woman twice my age, I must confess my unabashed love for crafting. It is a compulsion that has left no wall uncovered in my apartment and no weekend without a project.

How I craft: lay out detailed plans, collect materials, stress over infinitesimal details, create, repeat.

{pinwheels draped across bedroom mirror}



This past weekend I met up with two friends to catch up work on own respective projects. I have several craft projects in the hopper at the moment, so I finished up modge podging a lantern I was working on and began making pinwheel garland to accent a mirror in my bedroom. I love the look of old books in decor, so naturally I gravitated towards the idea of making a pinwheel out of book pages.

via {Better Homes and Gardens}

To make a  pinwheel, I folded two old book pages entirely in accordion style. The older the book, the more character your pinwheel will have (however be careful with your paper choice, as some old pages tend to be too frail to fold). This example instructs to trim the ends to create a curve, but I preferred to leave the rough edges. Tie the two pages together and glue the ends to form a circle. I finished off the pinwheel by adding a gold center to cover the tied pages and strung the pinwheels on hemp string.

Customize the pinwheel to your liking or add other components to this garland. I've since decided to update the garland by adding other textiles for balance and added texture.

the dish on a new side dish

Every so often I cruise the web for new recipe ideas to expand my cooking repertoire. Brussel sprouts often get a bad rap, but I have a found a place in my heart for this often unwanted vegetable. I had some hanging out in my fridge waiting to be used, so alas, the search began. 

{fresh ingredients prepped}

The recipe I found stemmed from a search I made for a recipe similar to a dish I used to pick up frequently from a co-op in Burlington, VT, the locavore mecca of the US. It was a tasty, yet healthy dish to pick up for dinner or as part of a quick lunch. That recipe called for pecans, but I found this one as a suitable substitute.

{via Martha Stewart Living}

I was a huge fan of pairing of the glazed onions with the brussel sprouts. Quick, easy and saved in my recipe box for future occasions.

twentytwelve

I was recently looking around for calendar ideas now that the new year is around the corner. I'll be mapping out my life with it, so naturally I has to be something tolerable for 12 full months.

Last year I selected a Charley Harper calendar after a suggestion from a former co-worker. I was enamored with the clean lines and bold geometric shapes.

{Charley Harper}

However, I was recently inspired by some hand-painted, why-didn't-I-think-of-that sort of looks. Take a gander:

{calendar by Philip Sachs}

 

{SteelPetalPress}

{OldSchoolStationers}

a perfectly adequate Christmas letter

Back in 2006, mere days before Christmas, I burst into fits of laughter while sitting at the kitchen table with my mom reading the newspaper. Garrison Keillor, an incredible wordsmith  in my opinion, crafted an article for his column that I continue to read each Christmas. Never have I seen someone so perfectly describe the pathetic nature of people's unabashed bragging in their Christmas letter. I'm not one for writing Christmas letters, but if I would, I think I would take a page out of Garrison Keillor's book.

{a perfectly adequate christmas letter}

{my little family}

cookie factory

In a fleeting moment of insanity, I agreed to take on the task of making 90+ cookies this weekend for a cookie exchange. Do I generally eat loads of cookies? No. Do I have use for 90 cookies? No. Did I commit to making an obscene amount of baked goods? But of course.

{lemon crinkle cookie}

I settled on a drop cookie with hopes of making the process as simple as possible (don't even think I would consider making something like cream wafers for the lot). This particular recipe, the Lemon Crinkle Cookie, was award-winning, so I didn't hesitate for a minute in choosing it. 

Admittedly, I am not much of a fan of chocolate. And since each and every other holiday cookie is bathed in chocolate, I decided to shake things up a bit and go with a citrus cookie. An extra perk was also the fresh scent that lingered in my kitchen while baking them. It was completely nostalgic and reminded me of times of yesteryear where I would bake molasses cookies with my grandma (however, she never cared to use measuring cups those times).

Four batches later, I had the finished product. The perfect combination of citrus and sweet with a melt-in-your-mouth chewy texture. Enough cookies to give out with leftovers to freeze for Christmas day. Next up: Christmas dinner.

making scents of it all

I like a good party. I always have. Probably because I could befriend most anyone even at the age of six. So it goes without saying that when it comes to being gifted, I just happen to have the gift of gab. During the holidays I always manage to have some sort of gathering, so this year I started to piece together my plans for hosting a winter solstice gathering.

When winter arrives I can't help but get hung up on simple touches that make my abode feel more festive when I have guests over. However, having a holiday bash doesn't mean you need to hire a gourmet chef or professional decorator. I'm a firm believer that you don't have to break the bank to prep your place for guests. Have everyone bring their own beverages and an appetizer to share. That way you will have a spread of treats without hours of prep time on your part.

A common mistake made when entertaining is the perceived notion of needing an abode covered in holiday scents. Some overcompensate by doing a veritable crop-dusting of room spray around the house to ensure that every square inch is scented. Like I said, mistake. You don't want your guests to have to wear gas masks to get through a cloud of holiday scents, so take it easy on the room spray.

{via simmering pot recipes}

A more subtle and more natural approach is to make a simmering pot of wonderful spices. Its as easy as filling a pot with water and some of your favorite spices, then let it simmer all day. There really is no wrong way to mix ingredients together -- the success is in finding what mixture works best for you. An extra perk is that it can also humidify your room during dry winter months.

Another small touch is to switch out your bathroom soap and candles around the house to holiday scents. My go-to scent for years now has been Frasier Fir by Thymes. It is the most authentic-smelling holiday candle/soap collection I have found to date. I also appreciate that their products are locally made and are essential oil-based.

{via thymes}

Now to tackle the uphill battle that is my holiday shopping list.

let's get coniferous

In the interest of keeping in the holiday spirit, I can't help but write about my fervent appreciation for pine cones when it comes to holiday decor. Santa and snowmen aside, nothing says 'deck the halls' like the reproductive system of coniferous trees.

My living space is limited, so I opted to decorate sans tree and incorporate other pine-laden elements. I used a full garland wrapped in white lights for my turquoise buffet, the focal point of the room.  The garland was softened with champagne-colored glass beads and a textured taffeta ribbon embellished with small rosettes.

Adding ribbon to garland can be a delicate task. When adding ribbon to a garland it's key to remember to sporadically gather and tuck around the pine cones in an effort to keep a balanced look. Once finished, I slapped some lights on the windows, tossed some ornaments here and there and bada bing bada boom I was set.



Although my style tends to gravitate more towards an eclectic look, I certainly have an appreciation for clean lines in holiday decor as well. This week I stumbled upon another DIY pine cone garland of interest with cleaner lines that would look stunning in any locale.

This garland, for example, is a simple garland made of ribbon, screw hooks and pine cones (I have been known to take the same approach in making pine cone earrings, but that is a whole other post). Screw the hooks into the pine cone and attach where you see fit. Simple, elegant and thrifty. And if you really wanted to shake things up, add paint or glitter.

{via twig and thistle}

 Pine cones can also look tasteful hung by a ribbon from pine garland. An easy way to dress up a window, banister or mantel. These little guys are so versatile that you can de-glitz them from the holidays and transition into winter decor. You're sure to get some 'oohs' and 'ahhs'!

calling all temps

I can hear it now, a collective cheer from all the renters out there. Those of us who are relegated to living with boorishly white walls. Those of us who delight in not having a mortgage.

Today I stumbled upon the most brilliant idea. Removable wallpaper. The folks at Sherwin Williams are ahead of the times with their "Easychange Wallpaper." I wasn't particularly enthralled with all patterns, but there are several good picks after sifting through the duds.

The wallpaper comes prepped with a removeable adhesive which can simply be removed by grabbing the corners and pulling it down. No mess, no re-painting, no sweat!

Now if only I were taller.

via {oh happy day}

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