Artful table Ideas: For a beautifully thankful Christmas.

1. “Glad you’re here” by Making Lemonade. Image theirs.

As I have mentioned before on this blog, I am very sad that we don’t celebrate thanksgiving in Australia. This however gives me the opportunity to think thankfully at Christmas time.

Here are some simple ideas from around the blog world, that can be incorporated in your Christmas celebrations particularly in regards to the table.

Some are beautifully quirky, some ingenious, some worthy of a yearly repeat, some child friendly and some all of the above. Let me know if you get inspired and use some, it’s great to hear from you.

“The Giving Plate” by Adventures of an Orthodox Mom. Image from there.

“Conversation Plates” by Together Counts Blog. Idea and image sourced there.

DIY minimalistic cultery holder. Image and instructions from A Birds Leap.

A sock for your cutlery. Image from Pinterest.

Single place cards. Image from Pinterest.

Gold Spray painted animals (or possibly nativity characters) with paper luggage tags attached. Image from Style Me Pretty.

Another beautifully simple idea from Style Me Pretty. Image theirs.

Carnival Straws on Bottled drinks with tags. Source: Ruffled.

Would work just as well on green leaves. Image from Once wed.

Gratitude Rolls by Beauty and Bedlam. Image theirs.

SImple sensorial details. Image from Vintage House.

What I want for Christmas is thanksfulness! Source: The cottage at 341 south.

Kraft Paper table of thanks. Image from Art Bar Blog

Fruity Place markers. Image from Style Me Pretty.

THe Thankful Tree. Idea and image from Kids Activities Blog.

Or if you prefer pears….. This idea and image from The Knot.

Fairy Lights in jars. Image from Making Lemonade.

…. and if you just don’t know where to start because Finishing School wasn’t part of yours (or my) education…. Layouts. Source: daniellemj-workspace

Alternatively….. Image from Antiquaria Vintage.

Fabulous!

Hello hello hello….. yes I am still alive and I am slowly coming up for air. Crazy busy last couple of months. I will share with you over the next few weeks some of the highlights and a few other things I have been slowly saving for you over those months.

But for now….. something fabulous. Poppytalk calls it ‘What happen’s when you give kids thousands of stickers. Take it as a pre-Christmas warning….. or Encouragement …. if you like.

Beginning with an all white room …..

…. in the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane …….

Yayoi Kusama…..

….. gave children stickers ……

…… and over two weeks……

….collaborated with the artist …….

….. by placing stickers anywhere they wanted.

Two weeks later…..

…..The Obliteration Room ….. was complete. 

Hat-tip  Poppytalk,  stuart addelsee, sccart, and heybubbles and colossal).  Via The New Domestic. …. so apologies if you have seen it before. 

I think it appeals to me because it’s how the last half of the year has felt like, but makes it look so much more joyful than it was some days.

Though out it all Tim was fabulous and the kids were great. I am hoping and praying that in the next month leading up to Christmas I can embrace the joy in the chaos….. and get to take the opportunity to serve them, and others, like they have been serving me. 

 

“I hacked an Ikea cupboard and you can too” photo tutorial.

Has everyone one in Sydney received there Ikea catalogue in the post?

Exciting times!

This is the first time in 7 years since we have had one delivered, so it’s all pretty amazing.

I love seeing how ideas are styled together more than I like buying things…. which is great and very cheap enjoyment.

Before the catalogue arrived, however, I did purchase ANEBODA, for a linen cupboard.

The beauty of the Aneboda is the $89 price tag, the down side (and the thing that has meant I haven’t purchased it before now) is the ugly see-through plastic panels on the doors.

No doubt this keeps the price low, but ….really…. this is the best option?

Anyway….

I decided to hack the cupboard so I could enjoy it both for it’s price and it’s appearance.

…. and I’ve included a quick tutorial so you can too. There is no sewing required!

What you will need 

• glue gun and glue
• cardboard (I used the box the flat pack came in)
• about 1/2 m of fabric. (if it is wide enough) otherwise approx 2m of fabric

How to do it.

1. Measure carefully the plastic section of the cupboard door you want to cover. Using the cardboard that the cupboard came in cut 2 rectangles the same size as your measurements minus .5cm in the length and width of each piece.

2. Lay the cardboard pieces down on ironed fabric. I choose stripes….. (I purchased this from Ikea too) and cut around the cardboard leaving about 5cm turnover on all sides. If you are using a changing stripe (like this) or a fabric with a large and obvious repeat…. this is the time to make sure the pieces are cut with this in mind.

3. Using a glue gun (or similar) pull the fabric tightly around the cardboard and glue down. Do this to both sides.

4. Again using the glue gun…. glue panel straight onto the plastic panel in the door.

close up.

5. Repeat for other door panel.

6. Wha-la. Enjoy your much more spunky cupboard for about $5 extra.

 

Facebook Friday

An image from the MET BALL. Image from facebook via Camille Styles Moore.

Each chair was covered with a different Prada print from collections past.

Like Overall Baby, I love a great print. ….. and red.

How Pinteresting are…… pendant light fittings?

Image from hersocialnetwork. Single lights adorned with upcycled items. Bucket, conductor, wine bottle……not sure what that is…..torch and vase. 

Deb has given me the search item for this interctive series… How Pinteresting…..

She is in the early renovation stage and it thinking about light fitting for single pendant lights, for the kitchen dining area. The area she describes is mostly white and wood, and wanted some ideas. She was also keen that I included some DIY’s in the mix…. and of course, I had to include some upcycled ideas as well. Light fitting can be crazily priced, so I have mostly looked around the real world (via the virtual one) rather than in the stores to put together a ‘Light’s for Deb’ pinterest board. I’m sure she will find something here she likes.

With a similar theme to the photo above, light fittings could be made using kitchen items. I am thinking a colander, tupperwear bowl or even a vintage cake tin or mixing bowl. Can you think of any others for Deb?

…. alternatively give me your  ideas to collate on pinterest.

I haven’t forgotten about the fete…. more on that later next week.

Enjoy.

Inspiration 2012

The Little Red Riding Hood Room from my new favourite blog Decor8.

19 Handmade Gifts for Women and Older Girls…. with Tutorials.

1. Chalkboard Necklaces by Henry Happened.

2. Felt Ball Necklace by Purl Bee

3. Twig Necklace by henry Happened.

4. Sewing Kit in a Jar by Martha Stewart.

5. Paper Clip Earrings by Evie-S.

6. Recycled Woven Rug by Craft Passion.

7. Fold-over bag by Noodlehead.

8. Little Letter needle Book by Emaykayee.

9. Silhouette Jewellery by Less than Perfect Bliss.

10. Feather Hair-clips by Henry Happened.

11. Clay Necklace by Henry Happened.

12. Embellished Resin Rings by Tatertots and jello.

13. Beach Towel Tote by Redefining Creativity.

14. Swatch Portraits by Purl bee.

15. Vintage hankie Pillow Cover by Noodle Head.

16. Fabric Beaded Jewellery by Make It and Love It.

17. Dip Died Scarf by Henry Happened.

18. Love letter Corsage by Less Than Perfect Life Of Bliss.

19. Confetti Earrings by Evie-S.

Colour……

A couple of months ago one of my favourite blogs Apartment Therapy posted a series of videos that make sense of colour in interiors (although I think the theories hold true across all colour design fields)

Colour is tricky.

White isn’t white.

Some colours approach and others recede.

There is a reason interior designers get paid to make rooms ‘feel’ a certain way. They know stuff.

It’s a bit like a science that is not taught in schools…. generally.

Like physics or chemistry, some of us have an instinct for it, while others are very afraid. But like physics and chemistry you can learn it (in theory)!

Following are 4 short videos that begin to make sense of some of our big colour questions.

1 Colour Families….. or which colours look good together 

2 Warm and Cool Colours

3. The 80/20 rule 

4. Easily Changeable Colour

Oh to live in a tree-house!

 

Image from the tree-house tour via Apartment Therapy.

The story behind this is quite sweet.

You can read it here if you like here at  Apartment Therapy 

The house was designed around the tree...... image from Apartment Therapy.

I think it has all the makings of a great children’s book.
The tree the house is built in has a story.

Most of the materials used were recycled and reclaimed.

Most of the work was voluntary.

The result is gorgeous!

 Take the (tree)house tour

Ooohhh I would love to have this in my backyard! Photo credit Apartment Therapy.

 

 

 

 

Clipboards as art.

Image (via Apartment Therapy) from Decor8.

I’m loving this super simple idea.