Archive for Tips and Tricks
katie O home tour
Posted by: | CommentsTake a peek inside my home…get comfortable, it’s almost 10 minutes long.
…I apologize for the blurriness, I can’t figure out how to fix it!
Happy (super creepy clown) Halloween!
Posted by: | CommentsThe art of redesign doesn’t only apply to making things more attractive…sometimes we need to redesign a room (or an entire apartment and its occupants) to resemble an abandoned carnival and it’s terrifying clowns.
My sister in law, Brooke, and her roommate Jamie and their friends hosted a haunted halloween tour in the heart of Wrigleyville last night, Halloween Eve. Each stop was to have its own theme and Brooke & Jamie settled on an abandoned carnival. With my OTHER sister in law, Courtney, by my side I trekked to downtown Chicago to transform an apartment from cheery pale turquoise artist’s haven into a dark and evil stop on the tour.
First we needed to cover the walls and, well, every single surface in the apartment. We opened up large black trash bags and taped them to the walls. Every single wall. Next came black fabric on couch and chairs, then spider webs and creepy clown faces, strings of red lights and shredded streamers. Bunting and balloons were misted with black spray paint to “dirty them up” and tickets strewn across the room. When everything was in place the lights were turned off and the notes of a broken and cracked merry go round filled the room. It was quite scary.
The girls dressed in black shirts and torn tights with our homemade multicolored tulle tutus wrapped around their waists. Everyone chipped in on the hairstyles and I relished every moment of applying creepy clown makeup to all of their faces. By the time we were done they looked terrifying and I am SURE than numerous people who entered the apartment were ill prepared for the sight of five (six with their friend Landon) deathly clowns there to greet them!
Take a look at the photos…and Happy Halloween!
(ps…these pics were taken with my phone on the fly, please forgive the quality!)
Kelly, Jamie and Courtney: residents of the abandoned carnival
Clowns, curtains, black walls and spider webs set the scene
So creepy even with the lights ON! I wish I could show you what it was like when the lights were off. Creeepy.
Brooke at her creepy best
Courtney really got into character. I wonder how many people she terrified last night.
Courtney again. She was really good at the scary face.
She had a thing for that knife.
Kelly getting into (very scary) character
Close up of Kelly.
Could Jamie count as the happy clown?
I don't think I want to know what this clown was happy about...
I can't look at this one for too long. Good job Brooke, you officially scare me.
A little too much creepiness for one photo.
aaaaaaand...I officially have a clown phobia.
Alexshea...happy? Sad? She was good at it, thats all I know.
after all that I did for them and they STILL want to kill me!
How would you like to walk into THIS party?
Toddler Winter Hats (and mittens)
Posted by: | Commentsscroll to bottom of post for updated instructions and sketches!
Check out some pictures of some winter gear I’ve made for Addie over the last month:
She fell in love with a gray bunny hat from babyGap but none of them fit her correctly so I made her my own version:
And a Jingle bell poof top hat with matching mittens:
Contact me if you want some of your own!
UPDATE!
I have had some requests for instructions on how to make the hats and mittens yourselves, here they are! Sketches for this one are much easier to follow than the photos…good luck and stay warm!
Okay, here’s the story:
step one: measure the head for which the hat is intended. Adult, kid – doesn’t matter, the instructions are the same for all sizes.
step two: cut a piece of anti-pill polar fleece to the head measurement by 13″ (if the head is nineteen inches around then your fleece should be 19″ x 13″)
step three: bring the short ends together and sew along edge with a 1/2″ seam allowance (look at figure #1 above) Backstitch both ends of seam. If your fleece has two distinct sides make sure that the right side, or side that you want to see is on the inside during this step.
step four: flip the tube inside out so seam is on the inside. Fold bottom rim up half and inch and then another inch so you don’t see any raw edges. See above figure #2. Now sew a zig zag stitch a quarter inch down from top of fold. If you have elastic thread go ahead and sew a running stitch, but if not the zig zag stitch will help the fabric to stretch around the head.
step five: gather the top of the tube at roughly the height of the head from forehead to crown PLUS one inch. Or just eyeball it, I haven’t measured this step once and have made TONS of hats. Tie with extra strength thread or a long piece of scrap fleece. Once it’s tied off take some thread that is the same color of the fleece and sew through the gathers. Criss cross through so it is super secure. Once the knot is complete, snip the fabric on top of the tied off section in strips, make sure not to cut into the thread or fleece tie off. Cut about 1/4″ away. Look at figure 4 above. And you’re done. Put your hat on.
The mittens are a little more…off the cuff. You may have to take a couple of stabs at this before you get the right fit.
Step one: measure around the hand. The trick to this is to make the tracing MUCH larger than the hand otherwise it will be way to small to fit a hand. Like I said, this one isn’t an exact science. Make sure you cut the fleece long down the arm, so it looks like the glove would cover half the forearm before its sewn. Cut four (or eight or twelve!) of the hand template out of anti-pill fleece.
Step two: Sew around edges with a 1/4″ seam allowance with right sides together if your fleece has discernible sides. Snip TINY cuts into the curve of the thumb (see figure 2 and 2a) This will make the curve on the flip side much smoother. Try the mitten on the intended hand. If it fits go ahead and cut the length of the arm fabric so it ends at least an inch and a half past the wrist. With the glove still right sides together, fold up the bottom edge 1/4″ and sew with zig zag stitch for stretch OR elastic thread if you are adept at using it. Flip the glove inside out so seams are now on inside and put those puppies on and warm those hands up.
You’re done, baby.
Jar o’ Pinecones
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s no secret, I have a thing for apothecary jars. I have seven on our kitchen counter (m&m’s, chocolate covered almonds, tiny chocolate chips – the essentials) and three large jars on our mantle/shelf. Glass jars are an awesome answer to so many decorating dilemmas; just put them in a grouping and add seasonal fillers.
Summer: I like to use citrus (lemons alone, clementines and limes mixed, don’t be afraid to use leaves as well)
Spring: flowers! big, fat, beautiful peonies, roses in five different shades, lilacs. If you’re not a floral kind of person then you can stick with grasses, and call me crazy, but jars of colorful candy look awesome in spring as well; try gumdrops, gumballs, etc. If you’re decorating around easter time stick some easter eggs in your jars, but please make sure they’re fake if you don’t want to smell up your house.
Fall: pinecones, gourds, squash, pumpkins, acorns, leaves, sticks, coffee berries (not roasted beans, although that could be kinda cool) Here is my own fall look:
My jars are full of acorns and pinecones
Once Thanksgiving passes I will change to winter decor in my home. I’m torn whether I’m going to fill the jars with Christmas candy, pine cones and small glass globes or just glass ornaments. I’m leaning away from the candy even though I love the way it looks because Addie will do everything she can to get to candy. I can just picture her scaling the fireplace to get her hands on a candy cane.
Let me know what you put in your jars, I’d love to know!
Lampshade Upgrade
Posted by: | CommentsI am a big fan of design store catalogs. Love them. But what usually happens is I see something I want and then scoff at the price and figure out a way to make one myself.
I immediately fell for this lampshade in the Ballard Designs catalog – I’m a sucker for anything referencing literature:
Ballard Designs "document" lampshade
So I took two plain fabric lampshades I found at Ikea for $8 each, some calligraphy pens (one in black and one in sepia) and Act II Scene II of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, one of my all time favorites.
There isn’t a lot of to do here, just write on the lampshade in various different styles and “fonts”. If I did it again I would vary the size and placement of letters a little more (similar to the Ballard version) but I love reading Shakespeare ON my lamp.
Shakespearean Lampshade (what light through yonder window and so on and so forth)
And on the other end of the couch:
Shakespearean lampshade (a little more Juliet than Romeo)
Pretty easy, I think you should try it out yourself!
Some Autumn Inspiration
Posted by: | CommentsIf you follow this site at all you know that I am constantly inspired by my parents’ home. Everything I know about seasonal decor changes I learned from my mom; as my sisters and I grew up our surroundings evolved from jack o lanterns and turkeys to gourds and bundles of wheat.
Check out my mom’s latest exhibition of fall in their Rocky Mountain home:
Formal Dining Room Table
My parents are lucky enough to have: numerous INCREDIBLE antiques and big time storage space in their basement to hold off-season decor. I want both.
detail of formal dining table
If you don’t have the storage space to use things year after year, take inspiration from what you see here and just use one or two pieces. Fill a glass vase with leaves and gourds, go to your local farmer’s market and buy a bunch of miniature pumpkins in various colors and put them on a table runner. The season’s natural decorations speak for themselves; just transfer them to your table.
Pops of color with branches and leaves make an impact
Every once in a while there is an appearance of a friend from our childhood. Hello Mr. Scarecrow.
Changing the color of your candles and adding leaves make it FALL
Use as many surfaces as you can to transform your rooms for the season
Hopefully you are inspired as I am when I visit my family. It’s too bad you can’t see the mountains, Red Rocks and valleys from their windows…kind of incredible.
Now go get some leaves and pumpkins and get to it.
A Little Spray Paint Makes a BIG Difference
Posted by: | CommentsI think the love of spray paint is genetic; I have heard numerous stories of my Grandmother, Virginia, wielding a can of spray paint to jazz things up – more often than not it was turquoise, the official color of the Mize family.
Years later I like to think that Ninny would have been tickled by my love and advocacy of spray paint. I. Love. It. There have been some incredible technological advancements in spray paint formulas and you can pretty much find whatever you need at your local Home Depot (or Lowes, or Menards) I have become a huge fan of Rustoleum Universal paint: no need for primer and it adheres to just about anything. I have not yet found a surface to which it doesn’t stick. And let me tell you, colors GALORE.
A couple of years ago I bought four white frames from Ikea (another passion of mine – love me some affordable Swedish home goods) And I have finally grown tired of the white against our white walls. If I could paint the walls I would but the historical preservation society would have my head. Strictly not allowed in our building. My solution was to paint the frames, have some mats professionally cut and print out some botanical prints.
Take a gander at my painting set up and journey:
I use an old shower curtain liner as my painting dropcloth
If you aren’t painting in your own backyard or garage (always make sure your painting area is properly ventilated) then be courteous about spray over – there is almost always a mist that settles on things around your project. Don’t paint on community grass or near other people’s cars without proper materials to protect their belongings from paint.
Don't restrict yourself - you can paint ANYTHING. These little birds needed a makeover.
Try to follow the instructions - I am too impatient and usually end up with drips
This is an important tip, but I am one to tell you that its not always possible to follow. Remember that a few thin coats are always more durable that one thick coat (this requires a lot of patience and time, neither of which I have in spades) Let each layer dry for half and hour to an hour before applying the next coat (yeah, right) Let dry completely before you handle the painted piece (uh huh, whatever.)
Cover ALL angles of your piece
It is incredibly irritating when you think you are done with the spray painting process and then you realized that you forgot the entire inside border of a frame. Be meticulous about covering all angles. This one isn’t that hard, just do it.
My little birdie buddies in their new duds
I used hammered bronze and glossy hunter green
The glamorous life of an artist. I am literally waiting for paint to dry.
finished frames ... until I repaint them in hammered gold.
After reassembling all the frames with glass, mats, photos, backing and hanging (I have since figured out fantastic way to hang frames in a quad more easily, stay tuned for that) I have decided that the green frames don’t work with my mats and botanical prints. I will be taking them apart and painting them with a hammered gold paint within the next couple of days…maybe I’ll finally be content then!
professionally cut mats can elevate inexpensive frames to lovely art pieces
Easy slide curtains
Posted by: | CommentsMy soon to be niece needed blackout curtains in her nursery but I wanted to make sure that her mom and dad could easily slide the curtains on a rod. Here was my solution using SUPER inexpensive shower rollers and safety pins:
Use rolling shower curtain hooks for easy sliding curtain rings
pin shower curtain rollers onto panel at equal intervals
Easy peezy. Rollers help the curtains slide quietly and easily…you know – so they don’t wake the baby!
I have a Designer Crush.
Posted by: | CommentsI watch HGTV all the time, if I have the remote its a no brainer where I’m headed. It is on this amazing channel that I have developed a serious designer crush: Sarah Richardson. Her show is called “Sarah’s House” and I have seen every single episode and am DYING to find a way to get everything she has ever done on DVD.
I am not joking, I watch an episode and my stomach physically hurts from the beauty and the design and the genius and the desire to decorate AN ENTIRE HOUSE.
Check it out sometime, fall in love as I have. Sarah and her assistant Tommy are unbelievable and I want to be friends with them.
Click here to follow my advice and check it out.
Oh, and P.S. I want her wardrobe too. Maternity included.
I’m nuts.
A little paint and a Fireplace screen
Posted by: | CommentsSometimes we surround ourselves with things that are just okay. When we decide we want something to knock our socks off it’s time to grab the paint. That’s right, paint.
simple screen before I got to it
This screen belongs to a client of mine who wanted her simple fireplace screen brought to life. And boy is it alive now!
This is so simple, here’s what you need:
- decorative paint for colors (I used metallic finish for some sheen)
- small, detail brushes
- high heat resistant clear coat spray paint (I used car engine enamel)
Once you have the materials, the artwork is up to you. I slipped a piece of paper between the vines/leaves and the mesh in order to keep the backing clean, leaning it to disappear into the background. With the paper in place I used reds, deep greens, a bright gold metallic and rich bronze metallics to bring the leaves to life. I stippled the bronze around the edges of the screen to brighten it up and give it an aged yet smooth finish. When the artistic work was done I took the screen outside and gave it two meticulous coats of engine enamel – I don’t want the paint bubbling and burning off!
painted leaves on fireplace screen
blend your colors
bronze painted edges of fireplace screen
Boom, plain screen has been transformed into a beautiful art piece. I’m kinda bummed I have to give it back to my client! I’ve grown attached to it in my family room. I just hope she loves it as much as I do!
final painted fireplace screen
Project: How to turn fabric scraps into drink coasters
Posted by: | CommentsWe just redesigned our family room and in the process added some end tables that we didn’t want to ruin with condensation rings. ”We need coasters.” Said my matter of fact husband. So I made some.
What you’ll need:
scrap fabric, any texture as long as its not so nubby that a glass will tip
needle and thread/sewing machine
interfacing (I used heavy weight for a firm coaster)
fabric paint (if you choose to add words etc)
scissors
This is a very simple project. First, decide how many coasters you want and cut twice as many squares of fabric (I wanted five coasters so I cut ten squares) Cut as many matching squares of interfacing. By the time you are done cutting you should have twenty pieces of fabric cut to desired size (mine were 4.5″ square)
4.5" fabric squares
Once you have everything cut out place your interfacing with each corresponding piece of scrap fabric; each piece of colored fabric should be backed by a piece of interfacing. If you have fusible interfacing iron it now to attach the pieces.
Assuming your scraps are fused to interfacing, separate all your pieces into sets (mine separated into yellow with yellow, green with green etc.) Place each pair right sides together (in the case of the brown coaster, the brown sides would be touching and the white interfacing sides would be facing out) Now sew with 1/4″ seam allowance. Leave two inches open on one side to pull right sides through.
Interfacing should be facing out
inside seams with 2" opening and topstitched finished coaster
When the interior seams are done clip the corners and turn inside out. You can iron at this point for crisp edges or go ahead to the top stitching step.
Once the color side is facing out turn the raw edges (where you pulled the fabric through) turn the edges in and topstitch closed. Continue the topstitch on all edges.
Finished top stitching on coasters
Now, you can stop here OR you can get a little fabric paint and add a little somethin somethin to your coasters. I chose the latter.
Not a lot of instruction here, plop a little fabric paint on a scrap piece of paper, take a fine tipped brush and paint!
get ready to paint
I decided to leave instructions for use...
FInished set of coasters
Now, go get a drink and set it on your awesome new coaster.
Project: Sunlight Snooze Button
Posted by: | CommentsHere is Addison’s room:
Here is the skylight that brightens up her beautiful room and wakes her up long before mommy and daddy are ready to be awake.
I don’t know if this project will be exactly what you need…unless you live in a hundred year old furniture factory that has been converted into lofts and your skylight is surrounded by thick, wood beams. But if you get anything out of this, just realize that there is always a solution to your problem – and it’s usually a pretty easy solution too.
I knew that I needed to fashion a shade, or cover for the sunlight but didn’t (and couldn’t) make it permanent. So I bought a yard of thick, navy blue felt and four purse making grommets. I already had a container full of screw hooks so I pulled four of those as well.
First: measure the area you need to cover. Then measure the fabric to fit. Cut.
I used two layers of felt to make sure the sunlight doesn’t sneak in for an extra early wake up call. Top stitch layers together and backstitch around corners where grommets will go.
Follow the instructions and apply the grommets to the corners of the fabric. I use metal grommets that require a tiny screwdriver to secure. Make sure you examine the grommets before you take them home and make sure you have the correct tools.
Simple as that. Now grab your ladder and your screw hooks and screw them into the corners of the (in my case) skylight casing.
Repeat on all four corners. Then, easy as pie, hook the fabric onto the screw hooks.
And now all you have to do is sleep in.
What is your problem you need solved?
Let’s figure it out together! Contact me with your issue and we’ll find a way to fix it. I’m well rested now..I can help!
Spring Redesign: Fireplace Display & Color Paper Matting
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s a good thing that our fireplace wall doesn’t have feelings because I change things around SO OFTEN in that spot it would be in a constant state of pain from all the hammering. Christmas called for a red painting flanked by topiaries, mid-seasonal limbo (you know – after christmas but pre-spring) had the large gardenia painting with the same topiaries used at Christmas time, and spring time called for something completely different…again.
I tend to stick to the 36″ x 36″ painting on the wall with some sort of flora on the mantle shelf but this season I decided that I should change it up a bit. So I found three inexpensive 20″ x 20″ natural wood frames with mats included. I knew I wanted a bright color on the frames so I took out the backing, matting and glass then unrolled some old christmas wrapping paper and painted the frames with some grass green acrylic paint. When it gets a little warmer outside I am going to take them apart and paint them over with a super gloss spray paint but one must work with one’s environment and Chicago decided it wasn’t ready for me to decorate outside yet! So, work with what you got, you know?
Even though I decided against the drama of the huge painting I still wanted to highlight the height of our ceilings so I chose to stack the three frames from the shelf to the ceiling. This part may not be hard for those of you that have an aptitude for numbers and logical thinking, but I am pretty much purely a creative thinker and measuring the exact spots to hang these frames took some time…here is a little documentation of the MANY steps. It took a long time and the frames are still not perfectly spaced, but I can live with them.
If you decide to do this project your steps may differ from mine. My thinking process is different than most people’s. I wanted to find the correct placement on the wall, place the nails and THEN fill the frames. This way I could get the “technical” part out of the way and have a clear mind for the creative part, which happened to be three watercolors. I am not a watercolor artist – my mom is so I have witnessed the idea of the medium but my experience doesn’t go much further than a using a kid’s watercolor palette for shading handmade stationary. Because I didn’t have watercolor paper I decided I would use the paper included in the frames, flip it over and just paint on the blank side. My mom, who happened to be visiting, told me that because I wasn’t using watercolor paper I would need to watch the amount of water so the paper didn’t wrinkle. I thought it would be fine.
It ends up that my mom was right, as moms tend to be. The paper ended up being too wrinkly and even though I liked pieces of the paintings, the overall result drove me up the wall. I lived with them for a few days but finally abandoned them for something that would not make me itch with artistic unease every time I looked at the wall. I decided to print out three different photos: cherry blossoms, orange blossoms and lilacs. The openings in the mats measured 12″ x 12″ and my printer could only print as big as 8.5″ x 11″ so I decided to use colored paper in different shades of green as a secondary mat to fill the space.
I originally placed a candle and three decorative birds on the shelf but it proved to be too 'busy' Taking them off lends a cleaner look
To create the secondary mat with colored paper, you’ll need a cutting mat (you could use a piece of cardboard or even an old magazine, something you won’t mind if it gets sliced by the knife) an exacto blade, shades of paper in your chosen color, a ruler and a pen. My frame had a 12″ x 12″ opening and I needed a two inch mat. Starting with 12″ square scrapbooking paper I measured 2″ from the outside edge all the way around the paper. Measure every four inches and make a dot. Line up your ruler on the dots and connect them with a line. Repeat on all four sides of paper. Place your ruler along your drawn line, hold firmly and use as a guide as you cut with the exacto blade. This will leave you with a straight, precise line. Repeat on all sides.
Place your cut paper mat on inside of frame (ant pen marks should be facing INSIDE the frame) tape in place. Repeat with the photo, as seen below.
Pop all the backing materials back into the frame and hang those puppies up on your wall! I am SO much happier with the look of the framed photos. I am looking forward to having glossy frames but until then, I am pleased with our fireplace wall.
Are you going to try this one? Give it a shot, tell me how you like the results or if you change anything. I’d love to have your feedback!
My home. Pre-holiday decor.
Posted by: | CommentsHere is a glimpse into my home so you can see that I actually walk the walk and talk the talk when it comes to redesign. I am going to post the photos of our family room decor pre-holidays so you can see the way it looked in the summer/fall months and when I have all my equipment (I’m currently traveling) I will add the post-decor change photos so you can see the “holiday version.” I would usually have an entirely different look for fall and then change for the holidays but having a two year old means I redesign our home twice a year rather than four times!
Every piece of artwork you see was painted by your good friend Katie (that would be me).
Bright, cheery colors prevail in the summer/fall months
Curtains, pillows, flower arrangements and paintings are pretty much the only things I change for seasonal “updates” and it makes all the difference in the world.
My daughter gets her own special chair
There are little “vignettes” all over the apartment that get little tweaks every season. The shelf over the fireplace (I can’t bring myself to call it a mantle) always looks the same — just a little different.
Light and airy with beautiful flowers
I saw this flower arrangement in Martha Stewart “Living” magazine and loved it so much I recreated it for our home.
From the family room into the kitchen
Little things make all the difference…the chair has multiple slip covers in different colors and patterns to suit my design mood, the ribbon holding the curtain always matches the rest of the room and small flower arrangements placed on little tables bring life to dull corners.
There you go, a little peek into my home. I will post the, haha, post design change photos as soon as I can…keep an eye out!
Decorating a Holiday Table
Posted by: | CommentsOkay, I admit, this post is a little tardy…these photos are from our Thanksgiving table. But if you are going to host your next family holiday and need help with the decor, use these ideas as a jumping off point.
First step, think about what the holiday really means to you – what are your favorite things about the holiday? For our Thanksgiving table, my mom had the great idea of using the produce that is always on the table — only it’s usually baked into casseroles! After talking about it and looking through some magazines, we decided to use fresh fruits and vegetables in a variety of “harvest” colors.
We started with the produce arranged on the table but then decided we needed more depth and dimension to the look. Once we added in two glass cake pedestals and a glass hurricane holding a candle surrounded with cranberries. At that point the table looked nice but it was missing something. So, my ever prepared mama pulled out a bag of fake leaves and after we added those to the table it was PERFECT! Here are the results:
For our second (smaller) table, we needed a similar centerpiece but with half the drama. Here is what we came up with:
What do you do for the upcoming holidays? Well, use colors that inspire you. We celebrate Christmas and I like to mix it up with the colors: like green and red? Go for it. But I like to use metallics. Hunter green and silver, Cranberry red and gold. Try gold and silver or maybe black and white with metallics. Carry the theme throughout your holiday: the tables, the garlands, the tree and wreaths etc. Use the classics of your holiday. Pine cones, evergreen branches, cranberries, glass to represent ice…the options are endless.
Most importantly, have fun! Don’t worry about being perfect, after all, people should be having fun, not just paying attention to your decorations!
