Rambling Renovators: October 2010

Brown Paper Packages

"Brown paper packages, tied up with string, these are a few of my favourite things!" Maybe it was seeing the recent reunion of the Sound of Music cast on Oprah, but walking through Ikea recently I just HAD to buy some of this kraft paper (a bargain at $1.49 for 8m/26ft!). Immediately, I had visions of creating a vintage Christmas... HandyMan's childhood ornaments decorating the tree, handmade gifts, and presents wrapped in kraft paper and twine.

These images are inspiring me...

Color Me Pretty (via decor8)

Maybe I'll try out the faux bois tool I found this summer and try making Martha's wood grain paper too!

Have you started thinking about the holidays yet?

Almost Famous

Is that...? No, it can't be...

Photos of Chloe... photos of Chloe published in a BOOK!

Yes, my little pumpkin has taken her first step towards stardom, haha! All courtesy of this ol' blog. You see, I wrote this post and this post about our adventures with Baby Led Weaning and the UK author of the book contacted me. She liked my photos and wanted to know if I'd be interested in submitting photos for use in the new Baby Led Weaning cookbook they were putting together. Would I?? Umm, YES please! And that's how my daughter got published :)

Her photo is the first one in the book, right before the Contents, and the biggest in the book! I think she's pretty cute with her 7-month old chubby fingers & cowlick (though I may be biased!).

I can't say enough about BLW. It has been an easy and fascinating food journey for us over the last twelve months. From six months on, Chloe was able to feed herself solid foods. Because she was doing the feeding, and not us, her dexterity came early and quickly, she learned to judge portion sizes (and would push out any excess with her tongue), and we had no choking episodes at all. And now at 18 months, Chloe is an adventurous eater (her faves are sushi, anything with tomato sauce, and sweet potato). She is now transitioning to cutlery and is getting very good at using her fork and spoon at the same time.

If you'd like to know more about Baby-led Weaning, you can get the book here or pre-order the US version of the cookbook here. Now, quick, somebody get this kid an agent!*

* just joking. I have no desires to be a stage mom!

Inspiration

Have you heard of Inspiration for Decoration? Its one of my go-to-blogs when I'm in need of some, well, inspiration for decoration. Here's some of my favourite images (and best of all she provides most of the links to the original image source).

Do you have any inspiration sources you'd like to share? I also like Houzz and the Canadian House & Home website. So many pretty pictures!

Fall Foto Fail

Last weekend, I tried to take some photos of Chloe amongst all the fall colours. All the pieces were in place... the sun was shining, HandyMan raked up a big pile of leaves for us, I took out the red chair to use as a prop, and Chloe was happy to wear her favourite polka dot sweater. I had visions of coming out with vibrant, happy photos that I could use for our holiday cards. Great plan, right?

Right. But someone should have told the 18-month old that getting these photos would actually require her to sit still. She didn't get the memo so here's the photos I got:

Sigh. I was at first a bit disappointed in these photos (we have so few sunny cloudless rainless days here in the fall so a reshoot is iffy!) but then I came across this post from Under The Sycamore and I realized something I hadn't seen before - these photos, while not perfect, truly capture "Chloe". Chloe is a busy busy busy bee. She is always running about, touching things, examining things, poking, prodding, shaking, throwing things. She never sits still. She thinks she is superwoman and will lift and push heavy objects. She is curious and fearless. A ball of energy and determination, all in a tiny 30", 20lbs package.

And I should celebrate that. Thanks ashleyann, for reminding me to take another peek through the lens and look for the true picture.

Speedy Decor

Its 10 days till Halloween and I still don't have any decor up. Any of you readers procrastinating like me? I'm looking for quick and easy decorating ideas, if you'd like to share any. Like our power-tool pumpkin from last year. I like when you can finish a project in three easy steps.

Maybe I will just print off this fun & free banner from Jeanie & Jewell.

Or create some Halloween bunting like this using fabric or scrapbook paper

Then again, I could just spray paint a bunch of pumpkins and call it a day.

Good thing C still fits in her costume for last year. Last-minute-decorator has no time or skills to whip up a new one, haha!

On The Set

I'm back from the Steven & Chris show and my head is dizzy from all the fabulousness. I've watched the S&C show on TV but seeing it live makes for a much more exciting and fun experience. I loved seeing the set (Lindsay just wrote a great post about it) and watching the five cameras being moved with precision to bring those magic images to your screen. The boys were on top of their game - Chris' funny endearing personality was the perfect complement to Steven's more subdued charms.

Liz, Shannon, Tara, Kerry, and me. Pic borrowed from Liz.

Finally seeing blogger friends in person was great fun. Chris, Tara, Lindsay, Liz, Kerry, Janice, Sharon, Vanessa, and Lisa were all there. I am so glad I got to meet you all! And meeting some new-to-me bloggers like LipstickRules, 7 Dollar Pants, and le Petit Reve was nice too. Can I just say that bloggers make the best looking audiences? Because they do. Everyone was so pretty. Speaking of pretty, Jenny McCarthy was a guest on the show and she was stunning, smart, and funny. What a great combination. She talked about everything from buddhism to masturbation bears (you'll have to watch the show to understand that one!).

Liz and I

The CBC crew on the show has to be commended. They did a wonderful job of making us feel welcome and appreciated. From encouraging us to take pics and tweet during the breaks, serving up a deelish pulled pork sandwich lunch (courtesy of guest Chef Rodney Bowers), to an intimate Q&A after the show and giveaway bags to take home, it was a great experience.

The top 5 things I learned at the Steven & Chris show:

1. You're not a true blogger unless you have a smartphone.
2. Bloggers can put an outfit together just as well as they can decorate a room. They are a stylish bunch.
3. Its really hard to identify bloggers when you've only ever seen them in their 2"x2" blog profile pic.
4. Steven & Chris are a couple on and off the set. I always kind of wondered. Doesn't mean I'll give up the schoolgirl crush I've had on Steven ever since his CityLine days though.
5. Pulled pork + Dr. Pepper secret sauce = a.w.e.s.o.m.e.

Kids & Design

I posted about this on my kids blog, but thought some of you readers would also be interested. Kirsten at 6th Street Design School is featuring a series this week entitled "good design with kids in mind". And she has some of my favourite bloggers contributing like Jenny from Little Green Notebook and Christina of Full House. So if you've ever wondered how to create a beautiful home that can withstand the demands of the littlest folk in your household, check out the series here.

(and just because I dislike pictureless posts, here's a pic of my littlest folk)

Steven & Chris & a whole bunch of bloggers

See this dashing duo? Tomorrow, a whole bunch of bloggers including me will be sitting in the audience for a taping of the Steven and Chris show. (Yes, the producers probably borrowed this idea from the Nate Berkus crew, but I'm hoping it will have a much more positive outcome than 'Nate-gate'.)

While the boys are really talented (I loved their show Designer Guys!), what I'm most looking forward to is seeing these lovely bloggers in person. Let me know if I've missed you off the list!

**edited to add: The show will be airing on Friday, October 22nd**

Artistically Connected
Aubrey and Lindsay
Decor by Christine
Designwali
Desire To Decorate
Decor Happy
Dress Design Decor
First Time Fancy
Just Beachy
Life Begins At Thirty
LipstickRules
Jen Selk
Passport2Design
sarah.wandering
Sharon At Home
Sogni e Sorrisi
Staci Edwards
SweDaisy Spaces
The Cinnamon Post
Wallpaper
What's Up Whimsy

I can't wait! Now if I could only find something to wear...

Canadian Design Bloggers Meetup!

Do you love to talk design? Is your TV permanently tuned to HGTV? Do you want to spend a few hours chatting with similarly-obsessed bloggers? If so, mark your calendars because the 1st Canadian Design Bloggers meetup is happening on the evening November 20th!

Details about the event will be posted on the meetup blogsite. I'm helping organize the meetup along with Vitania from Verdigris Vie and Daniella from Dress Design & Decor and I'd love to meet all of you there in person!

The venue hasn't been finalized yet (so drop us an email and let us know you're coming so we can gauge numbers!) but it will be downtown Toronto.

Hope to see you there!!

The Love List

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my last post! I like getting comments but best of all, I got to see some new commenters... I love following the links and finding out who my readers are. And you folks are a creative and kind bunch! Here's a spin on my semi-regular Friday Love List, filled with great things I found on your blogs...

I'm loving...

A Spoonful of Dish's dining room inspiration board.

Roncesvalles Victorian Reno's sweet & sophisticated nursery. You must check out the built-in wardrobe.

Ten June's stripey office

Shine Your Light's (love that blog name, btw!) post on kindness

Modern Jane's kitchen transformation

Anything Pretty's laundry room (I've got to make one of those wall drying racks!)

Kentucky Mama's kitchen renovation. Oh my!!

Four Little Fishies fall porch decor

Freckles Chick's bedroom vignette

xoxo to you all!

Master Bedroom: The Reveal

Would you like to see the master bedroom... finally? I am really embarrassed to say this is what the room looked like when we started tearing it apart in December (December!!). *shudder* We barely touched the room for the last three years, choosing instead to live with the previous owner's choice of floral border and bland curtains. Its a wonder we ever got a good night's sleep.

But now that's what we get. Blissful nights of sleep.

We started out by building out the wall around the bump out. The bump out really limited placement of the bed so we flushed out the wall and created some interest by panelling it in MDF strips and trim.

We had some potlights installed to highlight the shadows and texture of the wall. Other sources of light include the fab Pottery Barn sconces and my vintage chandelier. At night, the chandelier is like a glowing moon. Chloe loves to look up at it.

The floral motif is repeated throughout the room...on the bedding, the drapery, and the wallpaper top on my vanity. Small touches but they really bring the room together!

Because the little one runs around the room, we've had to keep the rest of the decor fairly sparse and child-friendly. Accessories are mostly functional and there aren't too many things she can get into (unless you count the cordless phone and the iPhone charger... what is it with kids and electronics??)

This is the first white room we've ever had and I must admit we love it. But not as much as we love having the room actually done, finito, finished, decorated. Done!