Cool Ideas from Blogland

Lots happening at the moment in Blogland. Here are just a few cool ideas, crafts, etc from some of my favorite blogs and more:

House*Tweaking - pretty matchstick holder.

A beautiful book (I have often wanted to document clouds, this definitely has inspired me to start!) by Gavin Pretor-Pinney, "The Cloud Collector's Handbook", published by Chronicle Books (which, by the way, has awesome books). Check out the article in The New York Times and the gorgeous slideshow that accompanies it. Awesome!

A work of art on the floor at Apartment Therapy. This is the "before" photo (click on the photo or Apartment Therapy link to see the after):

An awesome DIY tree bookshelf over at Girl in Air. This would look great in a kids room too!

Open cabinetry at The Lettered Cottage and a great tutorial on how to make cute pillows! 

And one final one - over at Design Sponge their city tour today is of Adelaide, Australia (not my home town, but my home country, so close enough for me :))

Cheers :)

I'm back, with a spring in my step!

We were attacked by the dreaded stomach bug - FOR THE WHOLE SPRING BREAK WEEK!!!! Agghhh!!!!!!

Stuck inside for 6 days, going a little crazy. Actually it was a severe case of cabin-fever!! Friday was the final straw, so we snuck out and went to the movies. Gnomeo and Juliet was the target, but why is that not matter how well organized you are and prepared and on-time that you can never get to the movies in time to NOT being sitting in the second front row!!??


Actually we made it to the third front row, but only just! I guess it is OK for the kids, but my experience is a little too close. Anyway, they both enjoyed it, it just got a little intense/scary with the big tractor thing, but overall a cute movie.

On the home front I got all inspired by The Lettered Cottage and her wonderful spring mantle makeover.

I LOVE her fireplace. Mine is so boring...and dark... and gloomy, so I cleaned it out, removed the screen, and buckets and fire tools. I would like to paint inside and around the fire box black. Then I got the crazy idea to beadboard around the base, board up the side "columns", tile the front with pretty black slate:

Oh, it would look perfect. Guess I'll just have to keep dreaming.

I will try to find some sweet spring decorations for the mantle instead!

Sweet 40

I cannot type today. At all. Maybe because I'm too old now. LOL!

 

I've hit the 4.0. so it is time to reflect back and try to think of my defining moments, or significant things... I don't know, it's such a long way back... ;)

First loves:

Photography

National Geographic. We had a few copies - some how managed to get a "free" subscription for awhile (it was expensive back then). Those copies were read, re-read, studied, tagged, and treasured!

After wanting to be a photographer F.O.R.E.V.E.R. I remember wanting to be a Naturalist (scientist - observes nature). Would have been cool, without all the science stuff, and being out there in the cold, and all ;) (or in the water with these things). But SO glad there are people that will do this, 'cause these images are awesome!

Then came Ancient History. I loved (love) Ancient History. We had a fantastic high school teacher - you could just tell she loved what she taught. And she was super cool, going on archaeological digs herself, traveling the world - awesome! Makes such a BIG difference when kids have great teachers - it inspires them to learn more, to go the extra step...just saying.

Egypt:

 

 Rome:

Greece:

 

 

Of course Architecture came next. After studying for a couple of years, plus working for Architects for a few more years, I decided to love it and leave it. It's a passion, a love, but not my career. Sorry, but Architects (at least the ones I worked for) were too crazy for me!

Russell Hall Architects (Queensland)

Gaudi, Spain

 

Frank Lloyd Wright

Next installment tomorrow. This old bird is ready for bed!

Spring Wreath

With all this beautiful weather lately here (although a little windy) I decided to get out and start tidying up the front yard. Lots of weeding and trying to rack up leaves (sorry, neighbors - it was a little windy and, um, those leaves just flew away too quickly for me...oopps!). Also got the Spring Wreath out and on the front door. Of course I still need to finish painting the front door, but that's for another day ;)

We made our Spring Wreath last April - following is the original post and how we did it!

A TV-free day today, so we had to think of something to occupy our time. The park this morning was great - wore out 2yr old for her nap! Now to occupy 4yr old for a little while - so we decided (well, actually I decided) to make our Spring wreath for the front door!

I purchased a 12" wreath form from Joann's, and some green "grass" knitting wool(? thread? stuff? :D) I purchased 2 balls of the green stuff! You also need flower ribbon and pins (in a color that match your flowers, so for example we used pink, white and red pins for our wreath).

To start I just tied the end onto the wreath form.

Now the fun begins - winding on the wool, around and around and around the form. My 4yr old started out strong, but was soon fatigued and decided drawing was more her style. So I picked up where she left off to carry it on for the team!

She kindly stopped her artwork to take a few photos of the craft project in action! Thanks G!

At the half-way mark I tied on a bow.

I already had some flower ribbon, but you can easily find this type of ribbon at the craft store. Just make sure you are able to cut individual flowers out, or, in my case, a few to pin onto the wreath.

We also had a butterfly to add, and that finishes out the wreath! All ready to hang on the door. This craft was so simple. The only thing was the winding of the wool that took a little time, but once you got started and got to see it "grow" it was so cool and I couldn't wait to see it finished.

Beautiful!

{This is on the "blue door"}

Here it is now, on the yellow door plus some garden/flower photos (had fun testing out my new camera!)