Archive for the ‘home decor’ Category
I am always a fan of a fruitful collaboration, and this one is no different: Fabien Barral, a graphic designer and owner of Harmonie Interieure in France, and Lettera Magica, a letterpress house out of Poland, have paired up to create the 2012 letterpress calendar project! The limited edition calendar (only 500 copies!) features 12 monthly compositions to help its new owner understand design and designers. I’d hop to ordering now, as last year this calendar sold out. Besides, 2012 is just around the bend.
I rarely get around to reading other blogs these days, at least on a regular basis. But one that I always catch up on (at least once a week) is Creature Comforts. Ez is always selecting the most beautiful things for her blog, which is exactly why I was so happy to be over there sharing my latest holiday diy with her readers yesterday.
The project is for a washi tape star ornament that doubles as decor (image above). So if you’re interested in making your own (I swear it is insanely easy), head over to Creature Comforts for my full step-by-step tutorial.
And if you’re itching for more last minute diy projects for the holidays, check out my free eBook, The Happy Holidays Guide to DIY (filled with eight easy winter project ideas – gifts, wrapping, ornaments, etc).
This contributor post was written by Beth of Parsimonia.
A Christmas poem for the DIYer.
Twas nine days before Christmas,
And all through the house,
Were flashes of red,
And the tree, it was doused,
With ornaments, ribbons
And lights hung with care,
But look at the walls;
They’re dreadfully bare!
No sleigh bells or snowmen,
No reindeer in flight,
No wreaths wrapped with berries,
It just isn’t right!
With so little time left
To make my walls festive,
I’m turning to garlands;
They’re oh-so impressive.
(above) Mini Present Garland by Oh Happy Day
Twisted Felt Garland by The Purl Bee + Easy-Peasy Paper Garland by The Happy Home
Festive Felted Garland by The Purl Bee
Holiday Garlands Three Ways by You Are My Fave
Beth is the writer behind Parsimonia: Secondhand With Style, where she blogs about her first love (thrifting) and her second love (cooking), as well as DIY projects, sustainable style and other bits of inspiration. She lives in St. Louis with one husband, one fuzzy dog and lots of dreams, and recently launched an online vintage store.
These small scale artworks speak volumes. Collage creations, mixed media paintings, and original illustrations all flowing from the hand of Michele Maule in her Portland, OR studio. Influenced by little pieces of her history or her heart, Michele employs such tidbits as vellum, thread, found papers, and pine panels to create her tiny masterpieces.
Every year around the winter holidays, as the stores begin to put up their decorations, and the Christmas tree lots spring up around town, I struggle with how to keep all of those pieces in line with my modern home decor. Of course, many people just go the traditional route and put up all the pieces that they have collected or been given over the years. I have never been a typical red and green Christmas type of girl, so I wanted to pull together a few looks that give off that holiday vibe without looking like the standard fare.
One of my favorite looks is to bring wintertime nature indoors. Twigs, pinecones and basic pine greenery are a great way to holiday-up your space without going overboard. Add in a little sparkle, either through lights, glass or metallic finishes, and you have a subtle winner. My personal favorite is a green, white, silver color scheme. This a great way to pull in modern and traditional pieces while keeping them visually organized. Or try the simplicity of a Scandinavian look, with wooden and geometric pieces and perhaps a shot of bright color. A mid-century vibe can be another great way to go, marrying a silver tree with shots of chartreuse or aqua decorations. When in doubt, opt for a simpler look, but don’t forget to include at least one of those special pieces, either something from your childhood, or something made by your children – one of those pieces that makes you smile each time you see it. And have a happy holiday!
(above) Bringing Nature Indoors
Simple Color Scheme + Scandinavian Wood
Pine and Flowers + Rustic Charm
Yellow and Silver Color Scheme
Amy wrote this post. She is the designer and owner of FormFire Glassworks, where she creates modern lampwork glass beads and jewelry, and by day designs custom homes for a small firm in Southern California. You can follow her twitter @formfireglass.
Ready to tell your loved ones just how much they mean to you? Wanna do it in a bold way? Look into the vivid handmade screenprints from Conilab. Designed and hand printed by graphic designer Coni in her studio in Barcelona, there is something for your family, your partner, and even your mom to feel extra special receiving this season. I’m partial to the We are a team print for my little family.
Rachel Anne wrote this post. She is a 20-something wife and mother of one, who enjoys making things for her embroidery and tiny handmade goodies shop called, Goose and Trisser. You can visit Rachel Anne on her blog here.
I have a few handkerchiefs that I’ve collected over the years, but I never know what to do with them because I feel like they are kind of hard to display. So for Christmas this year, I’ve decided to show off a couple of my favorite hankies in a holiday diy wreath project that is just too easy not to replicate in your own home. The best part is, none of your family heirlooms or your prized fabrics will be damaged in the process – because once the season is over your can simply remove the materials and they are basically as good as new. Interested? Good…
This is what you need to make your own holiday hankie wreath:
1. syrofoam wreath 2. old and antique hankies 3. straight pins 4. ribbon (optional) *NO GLUE REQUIRED. How great is that?
This is how you make it:
1. Grab your materials and take a cozy seat by the fireplace. You can do this project pretty much anywhere because there is no messy glue or tedious sewing.
2. Layout your pieces around your wreath to figure what patterns and colors would be best next to each other, etc.
3. Start with the hankie (or ribbon – I decided to use a little vintage ribbon to bring in another texture) that will be the undermost layer. Fold your first handkerchief in half to form a triangle (seems to work best that way).
4. Using a small straight pin, secure the tip of your hankie to the back of your styrofoam wreath and then begin wrapping it around and around.
5. Secure the other loose end to the wreath with another straight pin.
6. Move on to your next hankie and repeat steps 4 and 5 until the entire wreath has been covered.
7. Create a small bow using some extra ribbon or an additional hankie and attach with another straight pin and you are all set.
**Once the holidays have come to an end, you can easily remove the pins, unwrap your hankies, and put them back in your drawers for safe keeping. No damage and you can use them again next year.
Here’s a step by step in pictures…
And here’s the finished wreath….
What do you think? Pretty easy huh? If you decide to make one of these little guys on your own, please share a link to your finished project in the comments. I’d love to see what you come up with.
And if you like this tutorial… Please help spread the word by sharing it on facebook, twitter, or stumbleupon using the handy buttons below. Then be sure to grab your free copy of The Happy Holidays Guide to DIY by clicking below…
