~A Diamond Tufted Headboard: The Reveal~

This day is long overdue, after starting my daughter's room re-design wa-a-a-a-a-y back in June,


I am finally finished the headboard!


I  could blame my husband for the delay, as I was waiting for him to help me cut out the headboard shape, but two weeks ago with the sun shining I decided to bite the bullet and fire up the jig saw.


 It took some courage to start up the jig saw, I have a fear of lightening fast moving sharp blades with the power to cut off appendages.


I am happy to say that all my fingers are intact and now I can show you the results of all my hard work. 


The headboard has been finished for over a week but I was patiently waiting for the sun to shine. Photographing on the "wet" coast is a challenge as our sunny days are limited.


Without further adieu......




May I present: 

{A diamond tufted headboard}

Made with a luxurious polyester silk in raspberry. 

(No matter how much I tweaked the photo- the colour shows redder than it really is)

Made with LOVE {and blood, sweat and tears}.

Made in Canada {not China}

Made for a wonderful 16 year old.

{Total cost: $55 }

Wood: free

Foam: $30

Batting: $10

Fabric: $5

Buttons: $5

Thread: $5

Not bad...

Come back Monday when I will post the tutorial {its a long one}

Linking to:

Transformation Thursday @ Shabby Chic Cottage

Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

Air Your Laundry @ Freckled Laundry

Feature Yourself Friday@Fingerprints on the Fridge

FFF@Miss Mustard Seed

SNS@Funky Junk Interiors

Remodelaholic Anonymous Party

Sunday Showcase@Under The Table and Dreaming

Make It 4 Monday@Cottage Instincts

~Friday~

I don't have anything to show you yet. 

I know, I am such a tease :)

You have no idea how long it takes to write up a tutorial for a diamond tufted headboard! Between teaching, my family and life, I am lucky if I can sit down to the computer to read my favourite blogs let alone write on mine.

 Back to the headboard....

Mistakes were made along the way and I have a new found appreciation for upholsterers. Lets just say that blood (yes-blood - exacto knives are sharp!), sweat and tears were shed while making the headboard. The end result was worth it and I am going to tackle another one next week for my other daughter.  

Having the headboard done has brought back new-found energy to tackle finishing the eldest's room. I am off to Ikea (a great place for those with limited budgets) next week and plan on hacking this:

for her room.

I am also replacing her shelves with these:

and maybe making drapes with this fabric:

all photos:: Ikea

So fingers are crossed that between my grandma's memorial, soccer games, hockey games, homework, raking leaves, Starbuck's with the hubby, walks with the dog, helping the middle daughter shower with a cast (that's another story), sleeping, etc., I can finally finish my tutorial and reveal the long-awaited headboard!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Ideas and Inspiration : Home decoration for Halloween

Halloween is here ! I see people decorating their homes and I am so inspired. Every year its fun to try new decoration ideas and get creative. For some like me, internet comes to rescue. Halloween decoration is specially fun because of the wackiness and crazy ideas.

I have put together a few decoration ideas for Halloween to inspire you to create your own. Most of these are past year's inspiration from Pottery barn, and some simple diy too. Get your creative juices flowing and let the craziness begin :))

Carving is not for everyone. But with simple stencils or help from internet, one can come up with this stunning decoration. Halloween and pumpkins, but add a twist and try your hand at this. You are sure to get compliments :)

 

Inviting people over, and short of Halloween ideas, this decoration is tasteful and fun, lots of gothic galmour here, black and white with a good dose of orange.Love the table runner !!

It might look like a challenge to decorate your doorway but not so much. Get loads of pumpkin and spay cans in white and silver. Use some thrifted lamps, dollar store candles,dried branches from backyard, get the inspiration. Stunning yet simple.

Loved this Halloween decor idea. Black and orange rules. Get some foamy sheets and stamp out the leaves, need not be so elaborate. Buy some interesting candle stands, use some creativity and bring out good old black umbrellas. Boo !

This has to be the simplest yet the cutest Halloween decoration ever ! Large orange paper lanterns, sprinkling of dried leaves and a spooky tree. Love the evil faces and simple diy project. Get your kids together and make one for your home today ! My favourite :D

This is so elegant, but the inspiration behind is simple to use. Black and white in large glass jars. Befitting treat and a beautiful way to decorate any corner. Use the candies for kids who come knocking too. ;)

A simple and stylish idea for Halloween. Little mess and very pretty. For those who like to celebrate Halloween in quite elegance. Perfect for stairs and  doorway.

I loved this Halloween decoration for bar, there is a lot of thought put into this design.With friends coming over, a good way to keep spirits high on a Halloween night. Perfect !

I would so love to see how some of you decorated your homes for Halloween. Do share any pictures you would like. Send me a message and I will love to post it here :) Happy Halloween everyone !

~A CSN Giveaway: Winner~

Thanks for all who entered my giveaway. It was the most successful one to date! Now let's get down to business.

Drum roll please....

The winner of the $45 CSN gift certificate is......

#49

 Dana @ Bungalow'56 said...

We have the same giveaway going on with the same end date. Maybe this is a sign we will win each others : )

Wouldn't that be great. I would definitely buy a globe. The one that I have pictured on my blog today.

Dana

October 15, 2010 8:39 PM

(couldn't get random.org to embed into the post - would love any suggestions)

Dana - you can buy your globe now!

Thanks for CSN for sponsoring this giveaway again, apparently I am a preferred blogger, that makes me feel special :)

Stay tuned for the headboard reveal and tutorial. Still looking for the stud finder to hang it up - er - dear husband - where is it?

  

~Monday Inspiration and a Sneak Peek~

 There are still 2 days left to enter my giveaway with CSN stores. 
Click here to enter.

We are in the process of re-arranging a few bedrooms upstairs in order to create a family games/computer room. With 2 teenagers and a tween, a space for them to hang out with friends is in order. My son is excited to move his bedroom into the space we now have as our office. It is the smallest room in the house but that doesn't deter my son from wanting it as his room. I will have to pare down some furniture and be creative in the placement but am excited to have a blank slate to work with. I want to use the furniture he currently has maybe re-painting a few pieces. Right now I am collecting inspiration photos as a starting point for his room. We are leaning towards using blue walls, not sure if we are going to go pale or really dark. I love red and would love to incorporate his red desk along with some new crisp white bedding.


Here are some photos I have in my inspirational files of some amazing boys rooms.

via: Design Sponge

via: Young House Love

via : decorpad

Jones Design Company

Playing Sublimely

Kerrisdale Design

 Sarah Richardson Design

Steven Gambrel via Apartment Therapy

 Home to Three Duncan Boys


So many inspirational photos, so many ideas. I will need to sit down with my son and find out what he wants. Hopefully we can come to some agreement and get the ball rolling!


But here is a sneak peek....

 at the diamond tufted headboard I finally finished for my daughter's room. I am in the process of writing up a tutorial (it ended up being harder than I thought - lots of sweat and patience) and hope to have it up in the next few days!

  

Lush color for your home !

I love home decor in bright colors, with season changing, the day getting dull and cold, bright colors bring into our lives the cheer and energy. I love sunny days, and flowers and lush green, if you would like your interior and home decor to keep the summer alive, these home decor ideas may help you design your own little 'summer' :)

Glam up a room, or design a new look, get inspired by some of these colorful nook and areas and let the your heart guide you. With a little inspiration, make your home the perfect haven for you.

Full of flowery design and bright colors, this design would be ideal for summer but if you are like me, love brightness and color all around, this one is a love mish mash of all things wonderful !

Grey wall is the perfect canvas for this colorful display. Its perfect to bring the rainbow of colors into your live.It maybe be grey and snowing outside, but this will keep your spirit cheerful and happy .

The stark white wall and mix of colors in it is so pleasant and crisp.Orange and green stand out the most, and brings in energy and pleasantness.Simple layout for ideal for an apartment.

This decor is not for the timid, its lush in its colorful extravaganza. The pink and yellow along with the mix of colors is so bright and powerful. For the fun and young at heart, I love the energy !

Simple and easy way to add some color to your kitchen is to use a ceramics in a whole array of colors. It is pretty and functional and the cuteness is sure to fetch you loads of compliments.

Its quite amazing how prints and color can transform any room. While its quite a task to change the wall color and furniture, its easier to change the upholstery. The pretty colors and the amazing prints all bring liveliness to this other wise staid room. Love the little stool, with embroidered flowers !

White has a way of reflecting light and opening up areas, the flowers and pretty cushions add the zing and character to this room. A simple way to make a living room stylish and beautiful.

This post has been a riot of colors and I hope you would be as inspired as I am. A little bit of color, tastefully done,can bring a world of a difference to any room.

~One Year Blogversary Giveaway with CSN~

When CSN contacted me again regarding a giveaway I thought the timing couldn't be better.

What a great way to celebrate one year of blogging! 

One lucky winner will win a $45 gift certificate to spend at one of CSN's 200 + online stores where you can even buy gorgeous dining sets!

Love this table. 

It would look good paired with four of these:

Then add a few of these on top:

and a setting of these:

 And you are ready for holiday entertaining!

This giveaway is open to all Canadian and US residents. Please note that shipping and handling may be extra.

How to enter: 

Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Visit CSN and then leave a comment how you would spend $45.

 Bonus entries:

2. Be a follower through Google connect, if you are, let me know.

3.  Subscribe via email.

4. Add a link to this giveaway on your sidebar.

5. Tweet or facebook about this giveaway. 

I will draw via random.org on October 20, 2010


***edited: Thanks Charlene for letting me know that I put in the wrong date, the contest ends OCTOBER not August! Sheesh!

~A Holiday Weekend and a Blogversary~

This weekend us Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving. Our family is excitedly awaiting the arrival of cousins! We are also looking forward to a restful weekend. What I hope to finish is a long overdue project that I started yesterday.

 Yup 

- you guessed it - the never-thought-I'd-ever-start HEADBOARD! 

I bravely plugged in the jigsaw yesterday and went for it. Today I went and bought a few upholstery supplies and hopefully tomorrow it will be done! 

Here is a sneak peek:

Last week our oldest daughter celebrated her sweet 16 - I had fun decorating and organizing a party for her and her friends. We also treated her to a trip to Tiffany's to pick out a quintessential Tiffany's charm bracelet! 

I also just realized that I have been blogging for ONE YEAR! Time flies when you are having fun! I dove into blogging courageously, felt like a new kid in school, but have enjoyed the ride. What I love the most is having met the most amazing and creative blogging friends along the way. It is so wonderful to know there are other OCDers (obsessively consumed with decorating)out there!

SO....

Join me next week as I host another giveaway to celebrate! 

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends 

and 

Happy Columbus Day to my American friends (enjoy the sales!)