Aubrey + Lindsay's Blog

Kitchen

2012-01-30T06:29:00.000-08:00

Aubrey and I visited the AyA Kitchens showroom last week and worked with a designer to come up with a potential floor plan - and a potential quote. What I really appreciated was the designer input into the room plan, she mentioned a few things that we hadn't even really considered, and reaffirmed some design decisions that we had done. A few things we have decided, 1. White Cabinetry 2. Shaker Style Doors 3. White Subway Tile 4. We're going to do hardwood floor, continuing the floor from the hall.

The floor was a debate between Aubrey and I. I really wanted to maintain consistency through the house. And since it's a small house, breaking up the floor just visually broke up the house.

And so we wait to see if we can go custom, we'll source a few prices from others. Anyone do custom, and have any recommendations? Things you wish you had thought of?

Photo found on Pinterest, Source is Michael Roberts Construction

Whirlwind Crazy Fun Times

2012-01-29T20:07:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday evening was the start to a very busy 24 hours.

1. Thursday, 5:00pm - Aubrey gets home from work and drives me downtown to the Intercontinental Hotel. There is something I adore about driving into the downtown at night. I love seeing big sky scrapers lit up against the night sky, people dressed up going to shows, shopping, leaving the big towers where they work on Bay Street. I get checked in, and got down to some final preparations for BlogPodium, which was being hosted in the adjoining conference centre the next morning. I unpack, and do some final prep. The room was beautiful, I am a sucker for hotel rooms. I love how everything has a place.

2. 8:00 pm I attended the Interior Design Show Gala with friends (can you spot some awesome bloggers in my midst?) 10:00 pm I ate dinner alone in the Hotel Restaurant. It was kind of weird, but strangely zen eating alone. It was some quiet time I definitely needed. By 110pm, I was back in my hotel room and by Midnight, asleep.

3. Friday, January 27th 6:00 am I wake up to three different alarms (I was so nervous I'd sleep through them all!) - I order room service and Shannon texts me at 7:30 to say she's arrived and is ready to come by to help bring things to our room.

4. 9:30 am BlogPodium was in full gear. Quite simply, it was AWESOME. I was absolutely thrilled at the reaction to the event. And equally excited at the reaction to the fact that our next conversation will be in May, and the topic is "The Business of Blogging" Fun times.

And then....the event ends, I chat unfortunately way too quickly with people, I go back to my hotel room, I have lunch with my brother Peter, who was on site helping us with BlogPodium, and then continue onto the Interior Design Show. By 3pm I was back home, in my own house ....

I'm still unwinding from the high of being around so many cool people. :)

BlogPodium

2012-01-26T08:50:00.001-08:00

Jennifer and I spent 6 hours on Tuesday stuffing the most fabulous swag bags for BlogPodium. I'm pretty proud that this little idea that Jennifer and I had blossomed into what it is today - awesome bloggers attending, an amazing panel of experts, helpful sponsors, and a series of already planned talks for the upcoming year. What could be better than to meet up with your fellow bloggers, learn from experts, talk, collaborate and socialize.

I have to thank the Interior Design Show for hosting us, and Delta Faucets and OlioBoard for sponsoring the event. We couldn't do it without their support. I know that there was a massive waiting list because we sold out, but sign up here for our newsletter to be the first to know about the next event. And follow the hashtag #BlogPodium tomorrow to follow the conversation. It starts at 9am!

Anyhow, I'm going to sign off for the weekend because tomorrow is the big day, and I'll likely come home after it is done and sleep. :)

2012-01-24T08:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday. I'm a little late to the game of Pinterest, partially due to the fact that I used Internet Explorer and it wouldn't let me use the site properly. Since transitioning to Google Chrome, I've now discovered the pure joy in the site. (And also, since downloading the iPhone App.) You'll likely see me pinning a lot at night, as I lie beside Oscar getting him to sleep, choosing a perfect oppertunity to sneak from the dark room and try to avoid the creaky floor spots that may wake him. Any recomendations on good people to follow? (You can follow me, if you would like here)
Ps., That photo is of my Dad and Me on our Father-Daughter trip to Las Vegas that he took me on. :)

napping

2012-01-23T07:15:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I had a weekend of napping. Yes, I napped all weekend. You see Oscar can't fall asleep without one of us lying down beside him. (I've come to grips with it. It will change one day.) And this weekend I decided that after Oscar fell asleep, instead of sneaking out of the room to do laundry, clean up the house or work - I'd just stay in the room with him. Some naps I'd fall asleep, others I'd lie beside him and play on my iPhone while he was nestled beside me. It was so perfect just stopping to have nap time. :) That was my weekend, and now we're back to running around like crazy. :)

What wasn't blogged about

2012-01-20T08:59:00.000-08:00

A lot happened this past week. It was a little nuts, but that seems to be the theme around here.

It has been busy with work, launching new products (see my business blog for some highlights)
We're gearing up for BlogPodim which is next Friday. I had lunch with Leigh Ann and Jennifer on Tuesday to go over the conversation. [Picture]
Oscar, Aubrey and I went to the Ontario Science Centre, which was sooo much fun. [Picture] I love that we have a yearly membership - I plan on going every week during this cold, yucky weather.
We bought a ottoman for our living room from Chair Table Lamp after seeing Kevin do a post about new products. We've been on the lookout for an ottoman for a long time and this was perfect. More on this next week. [Picture above]

Have a lovely weekend!

Art from Etsy

2012-01-18T21:25:00.000-08:00

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

I'm a sucker for original art - paintings to be exact. I see lovely paintings in higher end shops, but the price is very limiting. A week ago I installed the Etsy app on my iphone and I have had the best time finding art as I lie in bed. :) Here are some pieces that I enjoy. Vintage and new, and oh so lovely. (And I may have bought one or two that you see above)

sweet new art

2012-01-16T22:26:00.000-08:00

Awhile back I wrote a piece on ReFormed Art Cubes after spotting them online. The artist Amanda kindly offered to make me something for our house as a gift. I'm sentimental, and like to keep a lot of things, so I thought that Oscar's "take home" outfit from the hospital would be perfect.

And close up...

Isn't it a beautiful piece? She put his birthday on the piece. It's subtle, and oh-so-perfect. To see the little guy wearing it the day he was born, click on Read More. :)
Read more »

your ikea kitchens

2012-01-15T21:30:00.000-08:00

I cannot begin to tell you how helpful your comments were on the kitchen. We're at a weird stage with it, which perhaps many of you were at too when planning? We're figuring out budgets, writing out plans on napkins. We've gotten a quote on our floor, drywall, and the biggest battle is the layout.
Although we're not 100% on Ikea kitchens, it's safe to say that they are a major player in our list of contenders. Lucky for me, that a number of you have awesome IKEA kitchens and shared them with me so here they are for you. (If you shared them via e-mail privately, which some of you were kind enough to do - I didn't want to post your photos- but I appreciated them and owe you a thank you e-mail!)

Some of your kitchens....

Awesome Ikea Kitchen Via the Blog, Our House Swoon. This is my kind of kitchen.

"It's All About The Little Things" Her Ikea Kitchen (Look at those pendants!)

Blogger Kitchen: Moth Design - Link Shared by Jenny B (Thanks!)

Also, one commenter - Anna reminded me of Carol Reed's Ikea Blog Posts which are bookmarked on my end, and for those of you that may consider IKEA like I am, you may find the following blog posts helpful.

1. Carol Reed "Why I love Ikea Kitchens"
2. Carol Reed "Painting Ikea Kitchen Cabinest"

I'm kind of bummed but I had really liked the look of the Tidaholm doors, that are shaker style but I've heard they are no longer available. The next shaker style door is the Adel which we will consider. Anyhow, I thought these photos were so awesome of IKEA kitchens that I had to post. Right now in our kitchen Aubrey and I are in disagreement over where the fridge would go. Our first big decision, and sadly - we can't figure it out. I may just hire a designer to tell us where to put the stupid fridge. Bah.

Woah, I was on HGTV. Kind of.

2012-01-11T07:57:00.000-08:00

I was watching TV with Aub last night, and stopped on HGTV and started watching For Rent, when it hit me that this episode may be the one that had one of my art prints in it. And...it was! Anyways, I kind of freaked out, whipped out my iphone and started snapping pictures. So, I *kind of * was on HGTV. ;)

Kitchen Ideas

2012-01-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

With the arrival of the appliances soon to be upon us, we obviously are thinking of the cabinetry. And when we heard on the radio that IKEA is having their 20% back in Gift cards when you buy a kitchen with them, Aubrey and I both turned to one another one of us, I'm pretty sure was me, said "Maybe we should just "price it out"." The inevitable words that lead to so much more in many households. I don't think we can figure it out in time for the promotion - I'm too much of a worry wart to be rushed.

We will do white cabinets, but the counntertop I'm not sure of- My heart says light grey, but I'm also dawn to the opposite side, of black. Yikes. See what I mean? As IF I could make these decisions in a matter of a few weeks! Anyone have an IKEA kitchen? Any pictures/blogs to show as inspiration?

Photos from my Pinterest Kitchen File but I've attempted to find original sources.
1 (no original source) / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

art in living room

2012-01-03T12:47:00.000-08:00

I finally found some inspiration for what to fill my frames with in my living room. Funny enough, the art was sitting in my basement this whole time. When Jen asked me for my favourite post of 2011, I picked my Flamingo project. Although I loved the project, and the print, the yellow frame I found hard to integrate into my house. So I moved him to the living room. Kind of cheeky, informal, and I love. I'm now trying to find a complimentary print for the other frame

how we spent our new years eve

2012-01-01T18:34:00.000-08:00

7pm. Aubrey walks his little sister down the aisle.

9:30pm. My brother picks Oscar and me up from the wedding, and brings me back to my parents house. I put Oscar to bed in a spare room (I put a mattress on the floor) and slip into jeans. (But leave my gold sparkly top on.)

10 pm - We nibble on some food like my Mom's awesome finger sandwiches. I'm a sucker for finger sandwiches.

10:30: Play Scattegories. Awesome game.

11:45pm. Getting ready to ring in the New Year (Pictured below my little sister, brother, and his girlfriend Lindsay)

12:00 A.M : Aubrey has made it in time to ring in the New Year with me, so I get a kiss. :) The whole family honks our honkers from the dollar store as we wear our fancy hats. Mom breaks out the sparkling juice and we cheers to 2012.
12:45 A.M Wake Oscar for the drive back to our house
1:15 A.M Home
1:30 A.M Oscar and I snuggle in his bed, and fall asleep holding hands.

So many lovely photos to post, but alas, so little time. I hope you all had a lovely night with someone you care about. xo Linds

video from around our house

2011-12-29T21:25:00.000-08:00

I recently switched from a blackberry to an iphone. You likely caught this switch if you follow me on twitter because I suddenly went crazy with finally being able to post instagram photos. :) I'm in LOVE with the phone. I'm slowly finding awesome apps, like the 8mm video app that I'm in obsessed with with. And since I'm on vacation this week I decided to take the opportunity to try something creative non-work related and played around with some videos that have accumulated on my phone the last few weeks. I've never been a video girl, but I think these apps that make it so easy, will make me venture more into this territory. Any apps you love, especially creative ones?

gold sparkly hats + honkers

2011-12-29T16:34:00.000-08:00

After Christmas came and went, I had this immediate overwhelming need of of calm - just wanting to be low key, hang out with Aub and Oscar and my family. No commitments. No major plans. Do you get like that? Sadly, part of that meant that I also avoided my office - where I do my blogging. Oops.

This weekend is New Years Eve, and Aubrey's little sister is also getting married. I'll go to the wedding with Aubrey and Oscar but sneak Oscar away in the evening so Oscar can get some sleep at my parents house - where I'll wear a sparkly gold hat, one of the ones pictured above, and honk in the New Year with the dollar store honkers that I picked up today. New Years at my Mom & Dads is perfection to me, you see about 10-15 years ago I gave up on the parties and came to terms with the fact that eating party sandwiches and being with my family was much more fun than any wild party on the town. Do you have plans?

finding inspiration: kitchen

2011-12-26T19:12:00.000-08:00

Aubrey and I walked to Starbucks today for a lovely coffee date, and on the walk there casually talked about boxing day sales, and perhaps we should look online to see if we should consider any sales. Our focus for the past six months has been to find a new fridge as our current one makes gun shot noises that we've grown to ignore. A few hours after that conversation we were in Lowes and, an hour later, had purchased not only our fridge, but new oven, dishwasher, and above oven microwave. Wow. That was easy. We're no where near being able to afford the rest of the kitchen, but with the appliances all checked off, we're kind of pumped. Which brings me to my latest inspiration for our kitchen. I spotted it on Barbara's latest "So Canadian, eh?" features.

This is the kitchen of Ashli Malinek from Mini Manor in Vancouver. What made me bookmark this was the spot for cook books at the top - the relief of cabinetry to allow for some colour is perfection. So this is totally going into my inspiration folder for our kitchen reno. Which may be that much closer now with all of the appliances. :)

'twas the friday before Christmas....

2011-12-23T11:05:00.000-08:00

A year ago I pondered on our blog, how Santa gets in on Christmas Eve should you not have a chimney. He's got a lot of tricks in that big red bag of his, so I know he always finds a way. But a lovely neighbour/friend of mine saw that post awhile back, and it made for a lovely conversation on how Santa gets into their house. Apparently, he has a special key.

One chilly morning this week I woke up and popped outside to see if the mail had come. Although there was no mail, I found something wrapped ever so nicely in our mailbox. A small little package that had a lot of weight, and a tag read "With Love From Santa". Curious, I opened the parcel.

A key. A beautiful old skeleton key. My heart skipped a beat. I suppose that my lovely neighbour passed along to Santa that we needed a key for our house. Honestly, I love our neighbourhood + neighbours.

Our special key by our tree

Ps., It's my half birthday! Yay! :)

Gifts for Neighbours

2011-12-21T09:57:00.000-08:00

Do you do gifts for neighbours? I try to every year do something small. There are also people that stop to say hello when they see me walking with Oscar, or wave hello as they drive by on the street. Many are simple interactions, but they build up over time, to give me this huge sense of community. Previous years I've made Candy Cane bark. But work was so busy, and adding Oscar into the mix, I really just didn't have time. So I did what anybody with lack of time does - you buy pre-made baking. Don't judge.

The loveliest Biscotti from Costco. A bin cost under $8.00. The aroma of the biscotti is absolutely perfect for this kind of gift.

I put about 4-6 pieces in little paper bags that I have here in stock, that I sell in my shop. But you can find likely at any bulk food store, or packaging store.

Once the cookies were in the bag, I closed it and punched a hole through the bag, and tied red twine through it, and put a little card with a simple Holiday Greeting on the back. [Cards are from my shop but are sold out right now] I then attached a single bell.

This was the scene in our kitchen yesterday afternoon. Even the reindeer got bells!

And ta-da! A lovely gift for those you love that will be very economical and stress-free. :) Oscar and I went door to door last night, the gifts jingling away in his stroller, it was somewhat magical - he and I walking in the dark, looking at all of the Christmas lights and delivering little treats to everyone. Hope this inspires! xo - Linds

Canvas.....check!

2011-12-19T11:41:00.000-08:00

Before the Christmas Tree went in, this was our Living Room. I bought a HUGE canvas to finally make some art. I bought it from the best art supply shop in Toronto, Gwartzman's. Have you been here before? In High School my Mom used to take me all the way downtown to go shop at this store to pick up supplies for my art classes. I remember the trips so fondly, she and I going, and being in awe of all of the supplies to make art. My first easel came from this store. A tip for new visitors - Mr. Gwartzman is notoriously grumpy but I think it only adds to the charm of the store. ;)

When I needed a canvas, I obviously thought of them but I first called DeSerres for a quote [they are closer to me] and they quoted me $120 for the canvas. I them called Gwartmans and the canvas was approximately $30. Gwartmans even shipped it to me the total bill coming to around $50. With the money saved on the canvas, and by me doing the artwork myself, I will likely get it framed, much like this, at my parents house.

Art at my parents house - serving as inspiration for the framing. [Although I'd take that art too]

So the next step is painting it. I've painted on canvas before but the style of art I want is abstract - which I am new at. I may try to find some inspirationa before I put a brush to the canvase. Anyhow, to read more and see more pictures on Gwartzman's click here.

Ps., The bird painting in this post found a home at my sisters apartment. :)

Wrapping Style...

2011-12-16T09:18:00.000-08:00

Every Christmas I find myself wrapping the special gifts to those I love in a theme. It's never elaborate, or intentional. I just happen to find something I love and want to use it on all my gifts. It's either a ribbon I've found that I end up using or a wrapping paper that I adore. This years inspiration was once again unintentional. I have bells in my craft collection and I tied some together for Oscar so he could play some music. I adored the jingling sound as he walked through the house, it seemed so festive. So for 2011, my parcels will all have bells.

I took a card [throw out that plain envelope!] and punched a hole in the top and tied ribbon/twine through it and knotted two bells. The c ard adds beautiful colour but the best part is, the sounds of the jingling bells as you carry them into someones house will be so beautiful. It just brings a smile to my face. [You can do the same style of card, just take a beautiful holiday card and punch a hole through it. Leave the envelope elsewhere so that the card becomes part of the gift.]

A simple wrapping style but oh so sweet. :) Super easy to recreate - you can find packages of bells at the dollar store, or any craft store. xo Linds

2011-12-14T07:03:00.000-08:00

I'm in the final stretch of rush orders for the Holiday Season, but I took a needed break from work and visited the Toronto Christmas Market yesterday. My neighour told me about the market a week ago and it sounded awesome, and when I saw Jen's post it prompted me to tell Aub, an hour later Aubrey, Oscar and I were in the car en route to visit. Cool little vendors...

But my favourite, and, most obviously Oscar's, was the Carousel ride. I was in tears from laughing so hard at how hilarious Oscar's reaction was.

My new camera has a video function that I'm getting used to. Excuse the bumpy video but it was too funny not to share how much Oscar LOVES music.

Front of the house

2011-12-13T18:39:00.000-08:00

Although I love my magazines, my blogs, my Pinterest searches and Google image search, sometimes finding inspiration is a matter of snooping on your neighbours. Previous years we had just strung the white lights straight across the porch. But, that felt a little stuffy as of lately, maybe having a child does that to you. We were on our way to go replace the bulbs with coloured lights when I spotted the neighbours who did this - and we decided to do the same seeing as we already had the white lights. To read about how we hung them read more....

a little more christmas shopping...

2011-12-13T05:58:00.000-08:00

After doing the 4 sponsored posts for Canadian Tire, I got pretty excited about the selection that they had in store, that I went yesterday to my local shop and did some shopping. Although the previous posts were sponsored --- this product was not given to me, I went and bought it myself (vs. the other products that were given to me in a series of "challenges".)

To see what I picked up, read more.
Read more »

wood boxes, little gift idea

2011-12-12T18:45:00.000-08:00

Whenever I see natural wood products I get a excited. The idea of staining something makes my heart go pitter patter. I know. I'm a nerd. When I was at my new favourite store on this planet, the dollar store, I found wooden boxes in a variety of sizes, priced between $1-$3. Here is a really easy project to do if you want to make someone a gift. It's also a project that you can involve kids in on, which makes it extra special. Enjoy!

For this part above, I measured the top of my box and I designed something for the top on the computer. I was inspired by a Tommy mythe Quilt that is red chevrons. You can do the same on your computer or cut a collage out of a magazine, or, glue a drawing to the top (read on) To attach, what I did next was mixed a little water with glue, to create my own "Hodge Podge" mix. My Mom did this for us as a kid, I'm not sure if this is the right way, but it works for me. Alternatively, you could simply just paint the top a fun colour.

But I also did this for Aubrey's Birthday...

I took Oscar's first crayon drawing and attached it to the top of the box. A combined project that Oscar and I did, together. I was pretty happy when Aubrey loved it. And there you go - a really, really inexpensive gift idea for those on your list.

a canadian 12 days of christmas

2011-12-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

I've been searching the used book store for classic Christmas books to have for Oscar each year, but this one has been added to my faves ....A Porcupine in a Pine Tree, A Canadian 12 Days of Christmas by Helaine Becker, is super cute. My Mom picked it up for Oscar, and the illustrations by Werner Zimmermann are toooo sweet.Available at Chapters & Indigo here.

a quiet moment between parties

2011-12-11T23:01:00.000-08:00

It was such a busy + fun weekend. I went to see the Vinyl Cafe with Stuart Mclean Christmas Special on Friday evening with my Mom, Dad, and sister. It was such a great show. Dad bought us second row seats, and I sat back and listened to the master storyteller. I highly recommend going to one of his shows, I left in awe. Saturday and Sunday were filled with Christmas Parties and also celebrating Aubrey's birthday. It was wild and crazy, when you factor in a one and a half year old - but Oscar brings a whole new level of fun, seeing Christmas through him. Between parties this quiet moment happened. Love.

What didn't get blogged...

2011-12-09T09:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday! Here is my usual Friday post where I think of all the things I wanted to write about but I didn't have a chance ...

I love twine and when I saw this photo [above] I fell in love with it even more. [Found here] - they used Divine Twine and tied it to the base of balloons. It's Aubrey's Birthday on Sunday so maybe I'll find some time to accomplish this.
I'm done my fun campaign of sponsored posts with Canadian Tire. My blog posts are showing up on the Canadian Tire site, which is kind of a huge deal to me. Love it. :)
It's Christmas Party weekend over here - we're attending a few Holiday Parties, one at my Dad's club, and another at the Board of Trade on Sunday. The season is in full swing!

And last, but certainly not least I want to tell you that Registration for BlogPodium (Blogs + Media) is open! I'm really, really excited about this because I ache to talk with like minded people. Learning together, debating, talking - it's wonderful. I really love blogging - I don't take myself, or my blog too seriously but it is hard for me to ignore that blogging has had a huge positive impact on my life ... so why not seek out others that love it too? I really hope that if you have a blog and find this topic interesting, you will join us, because it's meant to bring people together. 40 people already registered! [It's free!]

oscar

2011-12-08T12:57:00.000-08:00

Seriously, how does he know that this would be funny? For a good 10 minutes he squished his face all over the window. I was in tears laughing. He cracks me up.

sugar dispenser = twine holder

2011-12-07T15:25:00.000-08:00

Want to know a pretty cool way to hold your twine? Stick it in a sugar container! You can find the containers at the dollar store - cool eh? Idea via. Oh, and for a creative packaging job using the twine, pop over to my very neglected business blog here.

Classic Christmas, Front landscape

2011-12-05T17:35:00.000-08:00

There is a little house by us, that caught my eye while we were at a red light today. I think Aubrey and I are going to attempt to recreate this holiday look for our home. I loved the hanging bows and the white Christmas lights wrapped in them. Isn't it classic?

Etsy Night at West Elm

2011-12-02T06:10:00.000-08:00

Last night was the Etsy evening at West Elm that my shop was invited to participate in and by the nights end I was bursting at the seams with how awesome it was. First of all, West Elm was so kind and welcoming. Every single staff memeber was fantastic, which made me feel right at home.

But the reason why my night was amazing wasn't because of the sales I did or the exposure for my company through an event like this (although, that was nice) I truthfully had the most amazing night because of who I met. I was absolutely amazed at how many of you read my blog and came to say hello. It made my night to meet people who like my silly ramblings that I do and, the fact that you came to lend support.

My little brother, Peter, came to lend me a hand last night (and do a Starbucks run for me), some of my favourite bloggers came by to say hello, and some amazing women from my neighbourhood came by as well. And when the evening was done I dined at Mildred's Temple with friends (Their burger is the BEST). My cheeks are still hurting from smiling so much. I felt surrounded by amazing people, so if you and I talked - I really loved meeting you. You made my night.

advent bags....on the floor

2011-11-30T22:58:00.000-08:00

It's almost 2am. This is where the advent bags are - my dining room floor. For the life of me, I never clued in to how LONG this bag lineup would be. And I'm not about to figure out where to hang them, or how to, tonight. I do take some comfort in that Oscar is only a year and a half - so the concept of picking 1 bag from a lineup was going to be tough. What I'll likely do is give him a bag a day, so some fun can be had. Oh - and some of you asked what I filled them with - the bags were filled with fun little trinkets from the dollar store. A rubber lizard, a colouring book - fun silly little things. Happy December 1st!! xo Linds

I'm almost there

2011-11-29T23:59:00.000-08:00

I've successfully ironed on 24 numbers onto Oscar's Advent Bags. I was fully inspired by Kai Ethier for House & Home Magazine who did these. And, it only took me a full YEAR to do it. I'm not kidding you, I actually started this last year. But I suck at iron on transfers, maybe trying to peel them back too soon, and 1/2 of the project was a disaster. With December 1st creeping on me way too quickly, I managed to perfect my skills at ironing on, letting them cool off and peeling back. Like my numbers? Because freebies are fun, click here to download my design of 1 - 24 so you can do your own. Now I just have to figure out 1. what to fill them with and 2. where to hang them. :)

West Elm Holiday Picks

2011-11-29T08:44:00.001-08:00

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

This Thursday is the Etsy night at West Elm [Blogged about here] that my shop was invited to participate in. I'm a big fan of Etsy and I'm a big fan of West Elm so the combo is pretty fantastic in my mind. As I gear up for the night, I'm making a list of some West Elm picks I want to grab while there. xo Linds

Gingerbread House

2011-11-28T21:52:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday, Oscar and I decorated a gingerbread house, along with one of Oscar's friends from the street. My friend and I each bought a pre-made gingerbread houses for the boys and stocked up on extra cool candy from the Bulk Barn. I whipped up some extra icing, got out my cake decorating bags (um, yes, I once took a cake decorating course with my Mom) and went to town. My idea of the perfect gingerbread house is recreating Hansel and Gretel's house. To me, that is the perfect candy house imaginable, no? Oscar kind of went bananas on sugar (oops), watched as I decorated, and playing with his buddy. Overall, an amazing time was had by all and will surely be a tradition we continue on. Want to see how excited Oscar was with the final product? .....

New Blog Series - BlogPodium

2011-11-27T22:24:00.000-08:00

So the big news I had to share got announced via Twitter last Friday night. The news is, Jennifer from Rambling Renovators, and Shannon from What's up Whimsy and I, have come together to create an awesome series of talks all around the topic of blogging - a new series of talks called BlogPodium. [See Jennifer's post on it here] It's pretty fantastic.
Read more »

things that make you love where you live

2011-11-27T18:31:00.000-08:00

Do you have things that happen in your neighbourhood that just make you love where you live? This past weekend was one of those reasons. A little Santa Claus Parade for the kids - Complete with homemade floats, the local police division handing out candy canes, the Beach Citizen of the year, the high school band - Things like this are what memories are made of - for kids, and adults. :) I'm sure it takes a great deal of effort, and a lot of volunteers but it is honestly, such a great idea for a neighbourhood.

See more pictures from the parade when you click on read more

What didn't get blogged

2011-11-25T06:05:00.000-08:00

I've been up until 2am most nights working. Being self employed you take the work when you can, and push yourself - because around the corner there is likely going to be a slow period. It's part of the thrill of running your own business. So seeing as it's my busy season for work, my "creative" projects around the house have been put to the side for the next week. Anyhow, here is what didn't get blogged about

I found an old CD Cover I had designed for Markus. (Mine is the one that has the sleeping baby). I totally wish I had more time to illustrate. That is something that I've had to let slide while juggling everything.
Love these shoes
Everything in this inspiration board I want. Especially that Kate Spade bag. I'm a sucker for stripes.
I'm hoping you'll see an announcement from myself and Jen today - we're on the cusp of announcing something that is really very exciting.
We're going to our neighbourhood Santa Claus Parade this Sunday. We went last year and it's SO fun. Aubrey has to work so it's likely going to be me and Oscar party crashing on other peoples family time. ;)

Have a great weekend everyone. xo Linds

Photography

2011-11-22T21:48:00.000-08:00

I get a lot of e-mails about what camera I use so I thought it wouldn't be weird to show you my early Christmas gift. I used to have a Canon Rebel XTi that I've been shooting with for three years, but the camera started to malfunction a bit, and truthfully I was drooling over the features of the updated cameras for awhile. Last week, this beauty came home with me - a gorgeous Canon 60D. For the record, I have a number of cameras in my house including my "purse" camera that I toss in my bag - This camera isn't a "toss in your purse" kind of camera. This is a camera that is off limits to everyone. Even Aubrey. I've VERY territorial with my SLRs. So, the functions on it are crazy cool on this, allowing for wireless speed light control (meaning you can put your external flash somewhere else in the room, and have it go off when you want it to - wireless) This may not seem very important for the regular photographer - but for product photography that I do - this is really cool.

I got my love of photography from my Dad - a shared joy that we have. I remember my first camera that I got, when I showed interest in photography to get a badge for Brownies. Ever since, I've been an avid photographer. I just really, really like it.

Photos I've taken over the years

Sometimes people ask me what the tricks are to good photography and I wish I could be eloquent enough to explain. This isn't a post about my photography tips - There are a lot of factors, all deserving of their own post. But, what I always tell people about (most) of my shots in our house is that one of my BIGGEST tricks is that I really try to avoid flash. By not using your flash, you need to allow that shutter to be open just that much longer to allow more light in - so get a tripod. I don't always use the traditional tripod, I use a stack of books, chairs, tables. But having a camera on something steady when you don't have a lot of natural light is a necessity.

But sometimes what you see, is manipulated after the fact. Take for example my pumpkin shot. Shot in daylight, but even still it seemed dark. So I manipulated the levels of the photo on my computer until it seemed right. It's always easier to manipulate photos that have been shot in daylight vs. artificial light, not sure if that's because I'm a novice, or because working with lighting is just overall hard to do.

The big DSLR isn't for everyone. It's big. It's not something you can toss in your bag (you shouldn't at least) but for someone like me that takes great joy in house shots, product photography, photographing people and events, as well as testing out differen lenses, different settings, it's the best gift ever. :)

Another DIY Advent Calendar

2011-11-22T06:07:00.000-08:00

Image credit: Oh Happy Day

I'm working away on my advent calendar/bag project still - ALMOST done! But when I woke up this morning and read this post on Oh Happy Day, with my morning coffee, I thought it was soo good not to share. You can download the free template from Jordans site when you visit the post, and these are actually the exact same bags you can buy in my little shop. Oh, the uses of bags - the only limitations are your creativity. :) xo Linds

West Elm + Etsy Night with yours truly

2011-11-21T16:12:00.000-08:00

The lovely folks at ETSY e-mailed me awhile back to let me know that West Elm had picked my shop* to be a part of the Holiday Handmade Night at the Toronto West Elm. Apart from the fact that I will be there, it sounds like a really fun night of shopping. If you do come, I hope you say hello! xo
*My 13x19 Prints are sold exclusively in my Etsy Shop Here www.PennyPeople.Etsy.com

the official start to the holidays

2011-11-20T21:30:00.000-08:00

Sunday was the Santa Claus parade in Toronto, which means in our house, that the Holiday Season is now officially open. We went to my parents to watch the parade (which my Dad had taped) and did the usual Stephenson Family traditions to mark the special occasion. I had tried to take more "festive" photos but we have a child that has a molar coming in. He's so unhappy - but I managed to get one shot of the little guy on my lap, in a moment of happiness. And so now, the boxes of decorations will come out of storage, and I won't feel weird about listening to Christmas music in the house. :) Do you have an official date that you consider the start to the holidays?

What didn't get blogged about

2011-11-18T06:05:00.000-08:00

Happy end of the week everyone.Here is my usual end of the week post, just quickly telling you all of the things that didn't get blogged about. :)

We went looking at fridges for research on Wednesday. Can I tell you something? Fridges are EXPENSIVE. Well, maybe it's more like "Lindsay has expensive taste". (That would likely be more accurate.)
Dear Design Gods, I want this house. Maybe because they also have my Lee Jofa Fabric on the couch!
Um, on that note - I still can't find that Lee Jofa Fabric to buy. So bummed. (Any more tips? I just really love that particular print)
Canadian Tire asked me to be a part of their Holiday Decor Crew. Can't wait to share it.

That's it. A lot of random little things this week. xo Linds

Update: Sorry, the Lee Jofa fabric links previously linked to an item in my shop, I should totally check my links before I post. It's been fixed.

Bathroom Thoughts

2011-11-16T18:33:00.000-08:00

Although we're going to do a bathroom reno in the new year we've recently made inexpensive improvements that have made a lot of difference to how our small bathroom functions. I've loved the changes so much that we'll carry through the ideas to the new washroom. First up - Hooks.

I'm not sure if people still install these towel bars [Image 2] but I find them so ackward. You can't just casually hang your towel on one - and if it's wet and you put it back on this bar, it likely won't dry. But for the past three years we've had no where to hang our towels. We could have installed hooks in the washroom iteself - for example, on the back of the washroom door, but it would have been a lot of visual clutter for a small bathroom.

Inspired by the Elmwood Spa, where in their shower stalls they have hooks for your robe, I had Aub install two hooks in our shower stall. There is something nice about showering, and having your towel right there waiting for you. When I'm done, I rehang it in the stall. The hooks are nice for a few reasons. 1. Hooks are easier to hang towels on, than the bars 2. The hooks are behind the shower curtain which means when you're in the washroom and the shower curtain is closed, they aren't seen. Less visual clutter. The hooks are high enough on the wall that they don't get sprayed while you're showering.

Read more »

Bigger sink, or, bigger counter?

2011-11-14T16:27:00.000-08:00

My parents have a little powder room in the front hall that is absolutely stunning. What I simply love about this room is the sink and the gorgeous faucet. Now, since we're considering our bathroom reno, I'm debating whether this sink from Kohler is maybe what we should do. Afterall, we don't need a HUGE sink and this would allow more counter space for putting glasses, electric tooth brushes et. all. The debate is - bigger sink, or, bigger counter space? I mean, do you really need a BIG sink in a washroom?

Ps., My poor parents regularily see me snapping photos of what they have done in their house - I look like a spy. When in fact, I'm trying to replicate what they have done. :)

Master Bathroom

2011-11-13T20:12:00.000-08:00

Last week I blogged for Style at Home Magazine about my mood board for our upcoming bathroom reno. The bathroom reno hasn't really been talked about a lot on my blog because I was really hoping to delay it as much as possible. The kitchen is really my dream, because I'm in it ALL the time with Oscar, so I was hoping to put our funds into that, vs. a bathroom.

But the reality is, is that the bathroom is showing signs of age and quickly getting worse. A lot of logistics are being factored - would we save money to have the trades for the kitchen and bathroom in all at the same time? Mentally is it better to get all of the mess done at once, so we can just be "done" with it? Really what it comes down to is money - Can we afford to do it all, a bathroom and kitchen at once? Probably not. But maybe.

We're in a lucky position (for budgeting) that our Master Bathroom is SMALL. Like uber small. So that cuts back on expenses right off the bat. Things with our bathroom that we know... 1. Since it is small we don't have much room for creativity of placement of things - so we're not moving plumbing 2. You have to go custom with certain things - like a vanity and 3.You have to really maximize your space well.

In the end, I'm actually excited for the bathroom, because I think it would come together really quickly and we could achieve a great look for not a lot of money if you work in the right pieces. :)

1. Classic White Subway Tile (photo via) 2. Restoration Hardware Medicine Cabinet 3. Lucite Knobs for the vanity 4. Vanity (as inspiration) from Sarah Richardson 5. Need a new tub badly 6. Marble floor much like in our basement bathroom

What didn't get blogged about

2011-11-11T06:12:00.001-08:00

This week was CRAZY busy. Papers are everywhere in my office. We're getting into the really busy time with Christmas orders. Aubrey is really supportive - he's what makes this whole thing work, being a stay at home Mom, working, and life commitments. Speaking of partnerships - I was listening to the John Tesh Show (don't judge) on the radio in the late one night while driving and he was saying that if you're fighting with your partner, you should hold hands while talking to one another. I will admit, I cracked up at the image of Aubrey and I in a disagreement holding hands (or Aubrey trying to escape my grip) I guess the point is, it apparently makes you communicate better. Neat eh? Anyhow, here is what didn't get blogged about this week.

We've been getting the National Post delivered for free here in Toronto (it's a promotion), and I find myself actually reading the paper with my coffee in the morning as Oscar plays. It's quite a nice little ritual now.
Did you see my announcement on twitter? I was chosen by West Elm to be one of their Etsy sellers at their Etsy Holiday Shopping Night, on December 1st here in Toronto. Such a big deal. More info soon, but it's open to everyone to come - so come shop but most importantly, I'd hope you come by and say hello to me. :)
We've added a bathroom reno to our research list. I think this officially puts us in the "crazy" category. Quotes are already being sourced for cabinetry.
Babble put Oscar's Train board in their top 25 DIY Crafts for little dudes. Which I love, because Aubrey calls Oscar "dude" all the time.
Oh, and save 15% on your entire order (no exclusions) when you enter HOLIDAYSALE in my shop. It ends November 14th.

Have a great weekend!

Most popular holiday crafts that you've pinned...

2011-11-09T17:31:00.000-08:00

I see a lot of people pinning our Holiday crafts that we've done, or, in the case of #3, blogged about (I'm almost done making my own version!) Since last Christmas my little blog has new readers who may have missed these - so I thought I'd just do a quick roundup of the popular ones for you.

1. An acorn tree that my Mom made me
2. Simple Candy Cane bark wrapped up in celophane or, maybe a pretty bag make great inexpensive gifts
3. DIY Advent Calendar by Kai Ethier that I adored - I'm in the process of making now for Oscar (stay tuned) and
4. Easy ornaments, perfect for babies first Christmas - I plan on doing this for Oscar many, many years to come. [Blogged here]

xo Lindsay

A day shopping in Rosedale-Summerhill

2011-11-09T07:49:00.001-08:00

Tuesday I spent the afternoon with my Mom. Our destination was to be Farrow & Ball to try to find some wallpaper for her bedroom and bathroom renovation that is going on. But of course when you go to this area in Toronto, you have to stop in at all of the awesome stores. Take a peek at the Rosedale-Summerhill Guide in Toronto Life. The area is a flurry of activity right now with the shops showcasing their winter and holiday wares. (Which I'll be blogging about for Style at Home Magazine) It always amazes me how certain areas of a city are so different. It's a very high end area of the city and I spotted the most fashionable people lunching in the bistros and wonder what they do for a living, what their lives are like. Do you ever wonder that when you step into a wonderland of an area?

[1] We parked in our usual spot by these awesome trees that always love [2] Had a bite to eat at the Rosedale Diner. Please know that the prices are far from diner prices but - the food was absolutely delicious, and in my mind well worth the price for a special treat of lunching with my Mom. [3] After lunch we popped into see Kevin at Chair Table Lamp. Little tidbit of info - Kevin and I attended the same University - Trent. Being a small University, when you find someone who also attended there is an immediate connection. Anyhow, as always the store was packed with awesome treasures. I fell not only for the chair in [4] but the blanket almost came home with me. That pattern was perfect for the upcoming winter ($79). Next we popped into [5] Artifacts that had the most glorious magnolia wreaths that I drooled over. Inside the store is filled to the ceiling with glorious finds. [6] No stop to this area is complete without a pop into L'Atelier that has it's seasonal items out now. It's worthwhile to pop into the store to marvel at their way of combining a mix of unique pieces and we finally made it to Farrow & Ball, our reason for popping into the area. No wallpaper was right for my Moms renovation. So the hunt continues. :)

Art...

2011-11-08T06:48:00.000-08:00

I desperately need art for our living room. The debate for the past few months has been to do a painting, or to do a blown up photograph.

The easiest choice I felt was to do a blown up photograph. But although I love photographs enlarged I feel as though it's a very modern look, which isn't the look of our living room. The alternative was to do a painting - which is harder to do, but I think the look that suits this room most. So, I've trusted my gut and I'm going with a painting.

We debated the size. Do you go larger than the console, or smaller? I chose to go smaller, as I visualized my console as a fireplace mantle. Rarely do you see art that is larger than the mantle...right? And, rarely do you see art that is larger than a couch. As my Dad said, when I asked him - it would look top heavy.

I cut a piece of paper 2" smaller than the console - taking into consideration there will be a frame around the canvas. I pasted that above the console and although it looks a bit weird in the photo above, I feel as though it works. Now, this wouldn't be the only art - I'd also add in some smaller art on the side - totally inspired by this image of Sarah Richardson's farm

I'm on the lookout for nice little landscapes, perhaps I'll find some in my travels. But my next step is making/buying that canvas and painting it. Let's see how long it takes me to accomplish that. ;)

DIY Train Board

2011-11-06T18:22:00.000-08:00

Oscar loves trains. When you go to places like MastermindToys they have an awesome train table by their Thomas section. As much as those tables rock, they are problematic for us. 1. A train table is expensive (A few hundred dollars for just the table) 2. It is also HUGE - It takes up a lot of room and 3. I don't like the look of the tables that they sell. They are really decorated and branded, and not really to my taste. Part of me thinks many times, simpler is, better.

Taking a trip back in time, when we were young, my Dad had actually made the nicest train board for us. It is still is around and Oscar plays on it every week when I visit my family. The minute he is in the door, he bolts to the living room, to where my brother has set it up for Oscars visit. It's SO cute.

The reason why this is awesome vs. a table is that you can slide it under a couch, or, store it somewhere easily compared to a table. Having a party? Pick that board up, and hide it in the furnace room. Aubrey and I spent the last few weeks constructing Oscar his very own board. The board itself is very inexpensive, the expense is all in the track + accessories. And, in terms of time - the most time you will also spend on it, is figuring out a train layout. (I think Aubrey spent a few hours trying to figure out exactly the pattern of the track) You can see the finished product below...

For full instructions, and to see the original that my Dad make, click to see more after the jump...

Read more »

What didn't get blogged about

2011-11-04T08:29:00.001-07:00

Aubrey is leaving for a boys weekend tonight after work, so Oscar and I are hanging solo. Even though I have 3 dedicated days in the office (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays) I find myself having to work when Oscar naps and once Oscar goes to bed. Which makes it feel like I'm always working - which eventually catches up on me and I crash (or get cranky) So, tonight, with Aubrey gone, I may just sit and watch TV on my own. Like all of the Real Housewives series that Aubrey hates. So, tonight is a total trash TV night for me. Yay!

I LOVE this project that Amelia did using our DIY Bunting Flags. So creative and easy.
Thanks to Amy and Shannon for their super sweet posts on my stuff. I love, love seeing photos.
I had a lovely coffee date with Jen, and something REALLY exciting is in the works.
We got our quote from our drywall guy, Joe, and it was totally reasonable, so we're happy with that. Only 1,099 other things to get quotes on. Yay.

Have a great weekend! xo Linds

Etsy Obsessions This Week

2011-11-02T19:13:00.000-07:00

Just some fun shopping finds this week. Number three is a repeat, I've posted about this bag many times because I'm obsessed with it. Are you starting to compile your gift list for people yet? I've been collecting gifts for a number of months because I get SO flustered come the Holidays. I think I'm going to be buying online this year. I'm not putting myself through the madness of the mall, with maybe the exception of once - to get into the Christmas spirit. :)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Suzanne Rheinstein's Ikat for Lee Jofa

2011-11-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

For those of you that think I get a lot done in our house, I'd like to let you know that the two frames in our living room are still hanging with nothing in them, and I'm still struggling with art for above the console. I'm one of those people that likes to wait for the right thing, instead of buying things to just fill a space. The end result is, that our house is taking time to come together. It also is partially due to budget. We don't have tons of cash to throw at a room, so every so often we invest in something. The result is, that we have rooms that are decorated with pieces we love.

One thing I would like is pillows for our couch. Truthfull they aren't necessary, but something I would enjoy and I think add some nice layering to the room . I've struggled to find ones that would work with these lovelies on my chairs. And I think the ones that would work are the ones in the background here...

Yes. I took a picture of the TV Show Million Dollar Decorators. Aubrey thought I was taking a picture of Ross and laughed at me. And I informed him I was actually more smitten with the pillows. fast forward to last week and I was sorting through old Magazines and came across Michael Penney's Living Room and BAM! He had pillows. So I hopped over to his blog and found these photos...

Turns out it is Suzanne Rheinstein's Ikat for Lee Jofa. Which means, um. Pricey. But I'm kind of obsessed. So if you know how I can buy the fabric, or see pre made pillows of it out there, let me know. Because I think they need to be in my house. Well. Maybe. I'm not sure how much it would cost. But aren't they divine?! So obsessed.

2011-11-01T06:33:00.000-07:00

Oscar went as a spider last night, a costume borrowed from a friend of mine. I was strugling at whether I should dress him up at this age but I'm so glad I did because he had a great time running around at night trick-or-treating. Oscar came home with great treats, like a hardcover Halloween Book, a special "baby" treat bag from a friend with the yummy goldfish snacks and baby friendly snacks. (That Aubrey tried to steal last night) Was your neighbourhood busy? I felt as though our street was. Happy Tuesday. xo Linds

Cinderella Pumpkin

2011-10-31T12:39:00.000-07:00

I took this photo prior to drilling holes into it (see this post). I thought it was so beautiful. The man who sold it to me, called it a Cinderella Pumpkin and it brought to mind the wonderful story of the pumpkin transforming into a carriage. I googled it and found the following refrence to Cinderella Pumpkins:

"Cinderella Pumpkins are a unique French heirloom whose correct name is "Rouge vif D'Etampes". The source of their nickname it that they resemble the pumpkin that Cinderella's fairy godmother transformed into a carriage." Via All About Pumpkins

Sketches

2011-10-31T06:59:00.000-07:00

A little break today from projects around the house due to a Dentist appointment and getting Oscar ready for Halloween! Yay! Anyhow, I thought that this was kind of neat ....I was sorting through files last week to find a sketch I had done and came across some old illustrations. I don't illustrate much these days, perhaps I'll get back into it someday soon. It brought back so many memories.

Isn't this one perfect for today? :)

The vampire cracks me up.

All illustrations are copyright of me, Lindsay Stephenson. Just sayin'.

Do you think our neighbours would care?

2011-10-29T16:37:00.000-07:00

This was too funny not to post. Do you think our neighbours would mind if I did this next year? I think a flash mob would break out. Get Oscar to learn some dance moves. ;)

Stamp Winners

2011-10-28T17:30:00.000-07:00

Because so many people commented on the stamp post, I thought announcing that I drew the names for the custom stamp giveaway was appropriate. Winners Screen Names are: Sundeep @ Designwali, Carrie, Bronwyncotter and Kate! Double check to see if your comment won!

If you want your own stamp still, now is the time to get it because as I mentioned earlier take advantage of 30% off the stamps when you enter in the code BLOGGERSALE. It ends Sunday at midnight and won't happen again in 2011. Partially because the stamps take awhile to make, so advertising them any later than November, and it's a bit of a rush. So honestly grab one now for your Holiday Cards. Stamps available here. Little drawstring Bags available here.

Have a great weekend. xo Lindsay

Ps., If a stamp isn't claimed by next Wednesday then I'll re-draw. :)

What didn't get blogged about

2011-10-28T06:45:00.000-07:00

What a crazy week it has been. Highs and lows, and, the week ended on a very great high. Halloween is Monday. Oscar and I are attending a "Monster Bash" on Saturday at the local school, our first time - If you see a little spider running around, that is Oscar. My friend lent us a costume this year. But here is what didn't make it into posts this week:

Did you catch Jen's big news? It's exciting when a fellow blogger gets in print.
Leigh, who did our awesome family photos is doing her annual Halloween photoshoot this Sunday and all you need to bring is a food donation.
We made some fun pumpkins in our house this week using a drill [photo above]

Be sure to check back later tonight as I'll draw for the stamps. Because there are so many entries, I've bumped it up to three winners instead of two,but because alot of you liked them, enter BLOGGERSALE when checking out to save 30% on the stamps for this weekend only. It's a secret sale for you, my awesome readers because you really made my week with the support. [If you bought a stamp this week, e-mail me your order # and I will give you the 30% off] Buy online here. xo - Lindsay

Believing in the Good of People

2011-10-26T20:42:00.000-07:00

Do you recall "Bloggers Give Back?" I initially blogged about it here on my blog, and it has its own website here. Essentially (for new readers) it is a charity initiative where this awesome group of bloggers (regardless of where they live) are trying to transform a garden for a a place called George Herman House, a home in Toronto for women living with mental health issues. Now, some delays and roadblocks hit us this Summer, and this Fall we found ourselves looking for a garden designer to help us transform this garden. Tuesday afternoon I went for a lovely coffee date with none other than Carson Arthur. (Photo, second row)

Carson was the host of Green Force on HGTV, Room to Grow on Global and, is a regular guest on The Steven and Chris Show on CBC. You know what else he is? Absolutely amazing and nice. And cutting to the chase - he is the garden designer for our project. YAY! I can't tell you what an amazing feeling it was to have someone of his caliber, join us.

I attended the George Herman Silent Auction at the Drake tonight, and Carson joined me at it so I could make an introduction to attendees. Here are some shots of the event. Oscar stayed for a bit, but Aubrey in the end brought him home. I mingled, and talked to people about this amazing project that has a group of awesome bloggers getting together. (You're welcome to join in)

So I was eager to post this because it made me so happy. I have renewed faith in the good of people. That people will come through, and help make differences for those less fortunate. So although this past week was stressful, having Carson stand up there tonight and talk about how he was excited to join our project, made everything fine. And now, I'm taking the next 2 days off to chill out. :)

If you want to follow Carson on Twitter, he is at @CarsonArthur

Photos from Top: Scene from the Drake, Carson with Stephanie and Sonia, who helped organize the auction, Oscar with my little sister (whom he adores), Aubrey with Oscar, who is chowing down on ice cubes (not sure that is the best thing but it makes his teeth feel good), and, the crowd at the auction.

Fun Font for Halloween

2011-10-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

So moving on from the drama that was yesterday (resolution was reached, see that post for an update) I thought I'd show you what I do when I sometimes get stressed. Craft! Yay! So this is again, a super easy thing to do. Granted, I make stamps for a living so this is kind of easier for me, but you can do this with a store bought stamp. Michaels likely has Halloween stamps out. I found this super cute font called EVILZ, which is free font for personal use. (Need I remind you to please educate yourself on copyright - this font, for example, you can use for your own fun but you can't *sell* it. So have fun crafting but don't think about making a poster out of it)

So I thought it was such a fun font. Now Oscar is way too little for candy this halloween, but he has some buddies on the street who are, so I thought it would be super cute to put special goodie bags together for his special friends. The problem with blogging --- likely everyone who is getting one, will now see my little surprise. So, um, act surprised when you get it. Please and thank you. :)

So I turned one of the font characters into a stamp for my personal colelction. (Note - personal collection, I'm not selling it) Isn't it sooooo cute? Download that font and print out some of the bigger letters and cut them out and make them for your window. Like the crow. SOO awesome. And free. Thanks for your love yesterday. I heart you all.

Update: Sorry, totally forgot to tell you that you can pick up small sets of these bags in my shop, you can also find them on Etsy, and in lots of shipping supply companies. :)

The downside to being a creative...

2011-10-25T17:40:00.000-07:00

So part of the frustration this past week has been a case of copyright infringement. Someone taking my work, and reselling it as their own. I'm not unfamiliar with people copying my work, sadly, it happens quite a lot. Jen Ramos (Made by Girl) and I worked together last June when she found my work, along with hers, being resold by someone else as their own. [See this post here]

Since the popularity of my prints have risen - I've found prints that are mine, being sold by other people. But, all cases have been resolved by a simple e-mail asking someone to stop. I wish I never had to e-mail to ask. People - you just shouldn't copy. Do people think that the web is so big that they will never be caught? Do they not want to feel good about their own creativity, and come up with something original themselves? I often wonder many things when I see work that is copied.

Most recently, there is someone who actually lives in the same town as I do, who has a pattern of mimicking my work and business model of The Penny Paper Co. I'll post a sale, and a few hours later - she'll do the same thing for her business. It happens so much that it has become a little joke. Apart from being a little bit of an annoyance, it's not worth addressing with her. But it was enough to make me keep my eye on her. The joking stopped after this past weekend.

When I checked in on her site this weekend, as I regularly do she took a design of mine, and is selling it as her own. And, I burst out into tears. (Stress makes me maybe more prone to crying - so maybe it was an accumulation of things) Remember my beautiful bunting I made for Oscar?

I allowed people to download it for personal use (I even wrote that in the post)

She had it as an item on her website, selling for resale. [Photo has been removed, explanation below]

The colours of the triangles are identical - she uses 100% of my colours - none of them are different, but she also uses the same pattern/combination of colours - See the second row --- green, pink, blue, orange ... That can't be a coincidence.

I think art is always inspired by someone, or something - I get inspired by a colour I may see used in a magazine, or a font I see somewhere that I think I would like to try. Being "inspired" is much different than copying. And that's why I was so sad, I saw this as a copy.

I'm posting to show you that this kind of stuff above - kills me. If I ever get all up in arms about crediting photos properly, this is why. This is why I posted about sourcing Style at Home for the Ikea Rast project. [Blogged about crediting here] I know how it feels when you do something and it is taken and someone else gets credit for it. Anyhow, this is no longer in my hands - I passed it off to someone else to deal with. But it kind of made me really sad the whole weekend, and for the week.

P.S., I'm not posting her name because I don't want to come off as pointing fingers or attacking someone, it's just that I was so bummed out at this.
----------------------------------
UPDATE: October 26th 3:30pm.
The person and I spoke on the phone with regards to this and came to an agreement. She agreed to remove the design from her site, if I agreed to remove the screen shot in my post, as well as delete the mention of her name directly in this comment section. It was an ackward possition for me, as I have never, ever deleted one of your comments before. But, I felt it best to come to a resolution and move on so I agreed to remove any direct mention of her name, or her company in the comment section. [Once again, for the record, I never once mentioned who it was] I just wanted my design, that I knew was mine, to not be sold elsewhere. We have a resolution, I need to move on and focus on pretty things. :)

Front Hall Table

2011-10-25T06:21:00.000-07:00

I bought this console table at HomeSense awhile ago and I left it like it came for awhile. I loved the casual feel of the wood.

But truthfully it always looked unfinished in our house, because nothing else had that wood tone. While doing an unrelated project with a dark gray/black paint, I took my paintbrush to the table. I wasn't too nervous about it because after living with it exposed like that for so long I was confident that a colour would be more suited to our house.

It kind of ties in with our stripes from our runner. It now grounds the entranceway. I need to find something for above it, not sure what though. Oh, and look at those dust bunnies collecting by the floor vent. Don't you love how photos pick up things you miss? *sigh*

UPDATE: The colour of the paint is CIL Forest Black DL50

Custom Stamp Giveaway

2011-10-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

I've been a little stressed having had to deal with some "conflicts" in the last week. I hate conflict - it turns me into a crazy person. I end up reciting conversations in my head and sometimes find myself talking to myself out loud as I walk Oscar in the stroller - you know, reciting what you would say, if you could. One was resolved, one is outstanding, and, I'm feeling a little in the dumps. What a better time, than to do a little giveaway, they always cheer me up. I had intended (and still do intend) to do a big giveaway from my shop closer to the holidays but two things happened - people are shopping already and, stamps (which I LOVE) take a little bit of extra time to make. So, this little giveaway is for a custom stamp from my shop. I'll pick two winners - Contest ends this Friday. You get to pick ANY stamp from the collection and I'll even possibly create a custom one for you if you want one.

How to Enter:
1. I'd love to know what stamp style was your favourite from my shop
2. I'd love it if you "Liked" my company on Facebook. I had to start a new Facebook page when we went through re branding in the Summer and I'm trying to build it back up. :) If you've liked it, or, like it already - mention so in a second blog reply. [Gets you a second entry]

That is it! Check back next Friday to see if your comment has a reply. I won't e-mail people specifically, so you have to check. If no one claims their prize by the following Monday, I'll re-draw.

A year ago today...

2011-10-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

File this under, "Ways to get distracted".

So sometimes I sit at my computer and wonder, "what was I doing a year ago, today" and I go back and look at pictures on my computer. A year ago today, this was what I snapped photos of - propping Oscar up against my parents dog, Trevor. And, just the other day I did the "What was I doing a year ago...?" search and Aubrey was wearing the *exact* same shirt that day, as he was a year earlier. (We laughed a lot over that one) You should try it, it's kind of fun. :)

Ps. If you commented on the tea post take a peek to see if you were picked as a winner.

What didn't get blogged about...

2011-10-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

What a crazy week it was over here. Truthfully, I'm glad the commotion is over and I can go back to being normal. I'm a creature of habit, and although the excitement was great fun, I was drained afterwards. So, here is what happened this week, that didn't get blogged:

I went on a hunt for the perfect pumpkins, and asked everyone on twitter where to find white pumpkins. Turns out the video store guy down the street has them, and I stocked up on a few. Yay! Um, how cute are the Martha Stewart fanged pumpkins??
We had our drywall guy come and measure for estimates for the kitchen, and he brought along a cabinet guy. It felt premature to talk cabinetry but we'll see what he says in terms of quotes. We're no where near affording it - but research is free.
Dream house. And I love the kitchen.
I want to make these.
Added new stuff to my shop, like new stamps, new accessories, and some new style of art prints. [By the way, save 20% on them until the end of the weekend when you enter ARTSALE when checking out]

Have a great weekend! xo Linds

Giving the Gift of Tea

2011-10-19T15:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at 4pm, I went for an Afternoon Tea with my Mom, Dad and Sister at T-Buds. Have you ever experienced afternoon tea? It's one of my favourite things to do, especially with my family. Tea - finger sandwiches, scones, clotted cream - perfection. [Also, be sure you know the difference between Afternoon Tea and High Tea before talking to my Dad or Sister, they are quite educated on the differences!)

The fun continued well past the Afternoon Tea, as I came home to a lovely e-mail from an old University friend Devon, who, unknowing of my afternoon adventures, asked if I liked tea. I replied "Yes!" ....and this morning I woke up to find a gift basket on my doorstep filled with these...

Yay! So much fun! The reason for the promo was that they are doing this fun event ....

I may go to this - It sounds like fun. But anyhow, back to the teas - I'm pretty darn excited to have this awesome collection. Here's what I did, because the teas smelt SOOOO good, I cracked open the box, and divided up the packets as I was going to give some to my sister .... but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this would make a perfect, affordable holiday gift for friends this year. Because honestly, who has money to buy EVERYONE gifts. So, thanks to Twinnings, and that gift basket I got thanks to my friend Devon, I have come up with a DIY project of giving teas ... What you do is this.

1. Buy an assortment of teas like those that Twinnings gave me
2. Buy some sweet little cotton bags [You can find them on Etsy, or in my shop]
3. Get a stamp set [Like here] and you stamp someones name on the bag.

Stamp anything you want onto the little bags...

Honestly, they make the sweetest gifts! AND, they smell SO nice. [Not to mention super economical].

Because it's fun to share, I've divided up the tea bags and I'll just randomly pick 2 comments from the blog comments between now, and next Monday, and you'll get a sample bag like the one I made for my friends above. I'll even stamp your name on the bag so it's personalized! Because personalized stuff is fun. :)

Bulletin Board Project, Round II

2011-10-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all the super sweet comments of the taping of Steven + Chris. So now that it has aired, I can spill some more beans. Originally, part of my segment for Steven & Chris was going to to show how to make my easy fancy bulletin board board project infront of the audience. But Steven getting sick and the taping date got changed, and, the date I was to come got totally filled up (likely because Rocco totally trumps me in the cool factor) and then my DIY was threatened of being cut all together.

But I was delighted when they proposed that I do an web-exclusive taping (seen here). Before I knew of the style of segement changing I had already done a different bulletin board to show how fabric can totally change a look. My board [seen here] is a feminine look, and, also a plain fabric - so in order to show fabric can totally changea look, I went for a plaid.

Isn't the fabric GORGEOUS!? The fabric is from In Vu Drapery. And, for this board, I made more button tacks. Buttons people - go buy TONS OF BUTTONS! It's the easiest project ever!!

There you go, the bulletin board project that I think would look uber cool in a young guys bachelor pad. (Or my office, because I'm obsessing about that fabric)

Behind the Scenes

2011-10-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

So my segment on Steven + Chris aired. Yay. I'm going to be totally honest and say I only watched my house segment - not me in the audience. When I saw the angle that they filmed me at in the audience I said "OH MY GOD" outloud and turned off the TV. I'm going for a power walk tonight. Honestly, seeing yourself on TV is kind of shocking. Anyhow, here are some photos of them filming in the house. That was great fun - and hopefully I'll get word of when that web segment is live. Welcome to new readers! xo Linds

The evolution of the exterior of the house

2011-10-16T19:37:00.000-07:00

When we bought our house, we described it to people as the ugliest house on the prettiest street. Most streets have a house like ours - a house that has been neglected, and needs some love. Over the past three years we've been focusing the majority of our energy (and finances) the interior of the house but the exterior has been had some major improvements as well. To show you the new walkway we had done last week by Chandler & Co, I think you really have to see the evolution of our house. So, this is what we started with....

The first thing we did was that Spring we added a new wood door (a gift from my parents because we were dead broke) and removed the dead plants and tried fixing the lawn. It was at this time that we noticed our walkway was alternating colours. (True story - we didn't notice the alternating colours until well after we bought! The things you don't notice when you're buying a house!)

Between then and this past Summer, little happened to the front of the house with the exception of some planting. But this Summer and Fall we really made the biggest improvements (and costliest) - the windows, and the walkway. But, although the most expensive of the improvements, they weild the biggest results.

Yay! A totally new house. Although the walkway was a little bit of a surprise expense this Fall, it makes such an improvement to the house and I smile every time I walk up it. I'm so excited to have little Ghosts and Goblins walk up it in a few weeks.

So with the new windows, new front door (style #2744), new walkway, I think our house goes from the ugliest house on the street, to one of the prettiest. The whole process has actually been interesting - where I think for our House #2, we may look for the ugliest house again. Because transforming it has been crazy fun, and great to pick the details.

[Design + Build by Bill Chandler http://www.chandlerandco.ca/]

Ps., My appearance on the Steven and Chris Show I typed the wrong date. It is TUESDAY, October 18th. (I had previously writen Monday, October 18th)

What didn't get blogged about

2011-10-14T08:41:00.000-07:00

Happy weekend. Some things I didn't get to blog about this week....

I found this Etsy Sellers listing of pillows and it totally reminds me of Martyn Lawrence Bullards for some reason. At $180 for 9 pillows, it works out to be $20 a pillow. Which I think is pretty darn crazy. I want them sooo badly but every $ I spend on pillows is a $ taken away from new appliances that we need. :(
I also blog for Style at Home Magazine and Blogged about the Toronto shop, Burnett.
Trying to think if I should make a costume for Oscar for Halloween... I'm not sure what to do. Ack. [This post made me wonder what to do because Toby is the same age as Oscar] It would be pretty darn obvious if we went trick-or-treating that the candy would be for me. ;)
Did you see Janice's Bathroom? Um. AWESOME.
We're going to start appliance research in the next few weeks. My Mom recommended Tasco, and Sears. If you have tips on where to go, I'd be appreciative!

That's it! Have a great weekend. Sorry for the double posting of last nights announcement, (It shows up for people who read my blog in their Google Reader). For some reason I posted the draft and the revised one.

First TV Appearance...

2011-10-13T19:32:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I finally share part of the news that I have been itching to tell you. Next Tuesday, I'll be on the CBC's Steven & Chris Show! So the background is this. A month ago, the show e-mailed me and asked I'd be interested in being on their show for a new feature. My initial reaction was "Oh my god no. No. no. no." There is something comforting about hiding behind a blog. You can compose your words carefully, be in sweat pants. But being on camera - the things you say are taped the first time you say it, the clothes we wear are evident...You have to look put together. And, chasing around after Oscar I rarely feel that I am. But I thought - "Why Not" and not that much later, I was inviting a camera crew into my house. (that I blogged about here)

What they taped that day I've been asked not to be specific about but it's a few completed rooms of my house. :) And there is more...there was Part 2 to the whole production....

I had to go to the set to tape a segement for their website, and, got to sit in the audience and watch the 1st piece with my Mom and Dad beside me. (Sorry Mom for the really awkward shot, I know she'll probably really hate me for that one) I can't get too detailed about it, but it was awesome fun.
In the end, it was a total blast. I'm a huge fan of the show and CBC* to start with, but the graciousness of the whole team that I experienced that day was pretty amazing. To see how the show is put together amazes me. Tune in October 18th to see it air and afterwards I'll post more behind the scenes photos. ;)

That's it. Don't laugh. I'm a huge nerd which will be evident on the show. ;)

Photos: My Mom, My Dad, Steven and Chris, Me with Elizabeth Wharnsby who works for the show (love her!) - you may recognize her from Peter Fallico's Home to Flip Series, and finally a shot of me on set. (Although I didn't tape there, I had to snap a photo)

* Aubrey works for the CBC, so we're big fans of it in our house! Go CBC!

DIY (Fancy) Push Pins

2011-10-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

When I was buying my upholstery tacks for my BIG bultin board at MacFab the other week, I noticed that they have a wall of the most amazing, amazing buttons. I went back the other week and picked up the prettiest buttons I have ever seen and turned them into fancy push pins for my new bulletin board...

Although they technically can work as push pins they are they aren't as easy to pull in and out as a regular tack. So I'm using them more as decoration. However --- because they are so big and - they can actually hold heavy items like keys or necklackes. (So good idea for a dressing room!)

Some Tips:

1. The bigger the button, the better.
2. Different Tack. The upholstery tack I used to go around the buttin board as decorative detail had rounded edges. Those won't work well for this, because of the rounded head. For this project, although technically still upholstery tacks - they have a FLAT head, making it easier to appy to the button.
3. Take a look at the back of the button. Some buttons have little nubs at the back, which makes it hard to glue things onto it. It's not impossible to use, just a little trickier.
4. Use Gorilla Glue - it is THE best glue for this project. I tried a glue gun and although it works for a wee bit, it comes apart when you actually use the push pins.

I am now offically obsessed with buttons.

All Supplies from MacFab in Toronto

mini family vacation

2011-10-10T17:31:00.000-07:00

We have the luxury of being able to sometimes leave the city at a moments notice and take some time away. That's what we did this past week, we headed up to the family cottage a bit early.

Aubrey, Oscar and I stumbled upon Brooks Farms on the way to the cottage, which was great fun - we did some apple picking and had our run of the whole place (We were the only ones there - I guess mid week, at 4pm not many people are out doing apple picking. ;) We continued on to the cottage where we proceeded to have roaring fires, go for "toodles" (our lingo for a boat rides) make smores, do photography, and have fun with the entire family.

So, that's where I was...a mini, somewhat impromptu vacation in the Canadian wilderness :) Oh - and Ps., I know some bloggers get "guest bloggers" to fill a space while they are gone, but honestly, I'm not really all that concerned if there is silence - so I hope you don't either. I blog because I like to write, not because I feel like I have to. Hope you don't mind. :) xo - Linds

Three photos, Oscar at Brooks Farms, Our Lake, My brother boating behind us and us taking photos of him from our boat.

watching the trucks...

2011-10-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

Our morning was spent watching the activity on the front lawn. I was excited for the walkway, Oscar was excited for all of the trucks. I thought the series of photos I snapped for our personal album were too sweet not to show. Look at his hilarious wild curls at the back of his head. (I've given Oscar at least 8 hair cuts already. ;) )

Front walkway - happening right now

2011-10-04T07:22:00.000-07:00

Last January I did graphic design work for Bill Chandler from Chandler Landscaping + Contracting. You may know Bill from having seen his landscaping projects featured in Style at Home Magazine but I also have the luxury of knowing him from doing a major landscaping project on my parents beautiful house. At this point he feels like a friend of the family, so when he came up with a plan for my front yard as a gift last year, I was over the moon. [See the post here]. So, a reminder - here is the plan that he came up with for our front. I love the walkway how it goes up the middle of the lawn, vs. to the side. It then turns and has 2 HUGE stone stairs.

Although it wasn't high on our priority list, I'm a huge beleiver that money should be invested in curb appeal. It's essentially like an invitation to your party - it is someones first experience to your home. And, for resale (one day) I know that it will pay off. Bill was available and rather quickly we went from talking about it to saying "go for it". And, this morning this is what we woke to....

EEEEEK! Due to budget, the plantings that he suggested aren't happening. But that is something I feel confident that I can handle on my own. Installing stone, well, although Aub and I could do it, we're at a time in the season where we are very busy (the Holiday season for work is picking up for me) and Aub is busy at work too.

The previous owners did the WEIRDEST things to the house. Like alternating colour walkways, and carpeting our front porch. Yes. Carpeted our front porch. Stay tuned for some more pictures. So excited!

mini bunting

2011-10-02T18:58:00.000-07:00

Because of Google Analytics I get to see how people come across our blog. And, sometimes I follow links to see what the post, or article may have been about. This is how I stumbled upon this gorgeous, unique nursery. This delightful blogger used my free bunting flag, the same one I used for Oscar's nursery. Want your own? Go back to my original post to download it yourself. But you must go check out this blog, she has the most amazing style.
Photo Via

Temporary Fix to Ugly Tiles...

2011-09-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

One room hasn't been shown, and that is our Master Bathroom. Let me show you what we started with. It was yellow and pretty gross. The following photos were from when we walked through the house right after buying the house + are with the previous owners stuff. I honestly look back at these pictures and think we were pretty brave for taking this house on...

Awesome eh? But we had no room in our budget to replace anything. We were faced with a dilemma. What was a way that we could update the bathroom temporarily and inexpensively, to help us hold off on doing any renovations. I also wanted a nicer bath, as I love my baths. So, our fix was...you paint!

We hired someone to come refinish our tub, and at the same time, paint the yellow tiles.

It was a temporary fix that cost us $1,000. It was money well spent as since them I've been able to enjoy baths and feel as though our bathroom is somewhat appealing.

But here is the flip side. With any temporary fix, there is that word temporary. The bathtub is showing signs of wear and the paint is chipping in certain spots. We are doing everything in our power to extend the life of our little bathroom. The two rooms, our Kitchen, and Master Bath are the only 2 rooms we never touched, and, the two rooms that are showing MAJOR wear. Aubrey actually said to me "It would make sense to do the bathroom at the same time as the kitchen." to which I freaked out at the idea of TWO renos going on. (Not a good freak out, but panic freak out!) So we kind of have two renovations that we are researching now....Give me strengh.

16 months

2011-09-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

Oscar is 16 months tomorrow. I am rather shocked when articles make reference to my "toddler". Surely they are mistaken. I can't believe he is a toddler.

He's at the stage where he is asserting his opinion. Like refusing to allow me to put pants on him.(Hence the missing pants above) or deciding half way through our walk that the stroller is not the mode of transportation he wants - so he starts to whip toys out from the stroller and I know that a meltdown will soon follow. I end up carrying him home to avoid nice old lady neighbours commenting that "The pour child is likely hungry*". (Um, no. He is not hungry, he is just super pissed off at me because I won't let him run into the street...But thank you for your help)

But as quick as he is to turn red and throw himself against a couch in protest to something, he is just as quick to run over with a book and snuggle. He wakes up with me up by putting a toy lion in my face and with a little voice says "ROOOOAR". He's loving the vintage Fisher Price toys I've picked up at Value Village and also on Etsy, where I found this awesome Fisher Price train.

I wanted to say that many of you have commented on my Oscar posts sometimes, offering comforting words. You may not know they are comforting, but to know that for example sleep issues are just at our house, makes everything seem "normal".

Framed Bow Ties

2011-09-27T14:10:00.000-07:00

Did you see Steven + Chris today? Look what project they did... Framed Bow Ties in Ikea Frames! Maybe one of my favourite Designing Duos* saw Oscar's Bow Tie?? :) Love those two.

*Sarah and Tommy are obvioulsy the other Design Duo that we all love!

A lovely weekend

2011-09-26T20:51:00.000-07:00

I went to my cousins wedding on Saturday night. Apart from being a gorgeous evening, the event was adult only affair. I'm not unfamiliar with "adult only" weddings - we made our wedding adult only aswell (young babies who needed their Mommies came, but no toddlers). Oscar needs one of us at home at night* so Aubrey took one for the team and I attended the event with my immediate family. .It was such a nice time. It was a different event (for me) having no child.

My Dad asked me to dance, my sister, Mom and I boogied on the dance floor, and I had amazing conversations with my brother and his awesome girlfriend. I even got to come home with one of the gorgeous centerpieces thanks to a mutual friend and bridesmaid (Hi Courtenay!) who helped make sure I could have one. Not having little Oscar there, I ate at a regular pace had some lovely conversations with those I love. And although I wouldn't change the food being thrown at me at home, it's definitely nice to have a night out with just adults.

*Why didn't we get a babysitter? Oscar is not an easy "bedtime" child, and also sometimes wakes a lot during an evening. We have to go in and help him get back to sleep. So, an event like this we devided and conquer. He's getting better at sleep but for now, we don't want him to wake to someone else and really freak out!

Basement, Completely Done

2011-09-23T06:56:00.001-07:00

Exciting news - The basement is 100% done. All I needed to do was pay some attention to adding extra detail and hanging some art to get me to the finish line. And although the entire basement is considered as my workspace + studio, the space naturally divided itself into sections. This was probably our biggest DIY of all, having broken up the concrete ourselves, replacing the drains, moving plumbing, it took a whole 6 months. I thought a proper showcase of the finished space would be a nice way to close the door on the design process for this space.

1. COMPUTER AREA
My DIY Desk is still going strong. Coming in at around $300 for the project, it really is one of my favourite DIYs. The baskets on the Ikea units acts as drawers, keeping useful things like camera cords, stamps, personal stationery. In this area there are actually 3 bulletin boards (1, 2 having their own blog posts) - and - all different sizes. But I upholstered them all in the same fabric to give them a unified look. Bulletin boards are a necessity in my life, as it helps me be creative.

2. Work TableBehind my DIY Desk and Computer is my IKEA Table where I put together orders and pack + get orders prepped for mailing. The table height is much taller than my desk - a great height for crafting. On the shelves I keep packing materials organized in handy clear boxes to see what is inside. Running an online shop requires a lot of little things, so organization is really key in my space.

3. Lounge I love this area as I think it will be a spot where Oscar can come chill when he is older. With a casual couch covered in a slipcover, and wall mounted TV - it is the perfect space to take a break from work. Unique artwork hangs in this area - I've framed my art that I sell in my shop, as well as pieces like Oscar's first bow tie, and also his awesome moustache on a stick that was wandering around the house looking for a home. Instead of it getting lost, I framed it. New pillows and a great coffee table make this space comfy.

Little Nook By the stairs to the main floor I fit a little vintage desk, where we've put Aubrey's laptop. Aubrey needed a space to work, so this area was perfect as it is separate from my space. This desk was $25 and I updated it by painting it white and adding in new knobs. For seating, you may recognize this chair as the same as in our dining room. Since we had 2 extra chairs from the dining room we put one down here for Aubrey - and if we need it for a dinner party we bring it back upstairs.

There are other areas down here that are worth mentioning. Our Washroom, and Washer + Dryer area. There you have it. A few unique awesome spaces developed over the course of decorating this area. It is kind of nice to look around and not have blank walls that keep screaming for something to be on them. And it is the perfect space to be creative. For those of you just joining my blog --- this is what we started with....

I am sooo proud of this space. And the fact that we did it 99% all on our own, is kind of crazy. :)

What we did today

2011-09-21T16:57:00.000-07:00

The film crew came this morning at 9am and at 4:15pm we were waving goodbye. It was a long day, especially when you factor in managing a one year old. Aubrey actually did the most of that, but as a Mom you're always not too far removed. ;) One funny thing happened - just before the filming at the house started, the postwoman handed me my new pillow cases! I bought them for the couch in the basement as the final touch. I love, love stripes (My wardrobe is right now 1/2 stripes) so it is no surprise that my decor is the same. (Take a look at the runner I chose for our stairs)

Between takes, Oscar and I read Brown Bear, Brown Bear on the couch one of his favourite books that was given to him by my Mom. All in all, quite a lovely day. I'll post more pictures in a bit. Right now I'm going to go curl up on the couch, watch TV and not talk. I'm all talked out. :)

Pillow covers by Milk & Cookies Canada.

Snot Sucker, Tool for Parents

2011-09-20T18:02:00.000-07:00

Oscar has had his first cold right now. :( Poor little guy has a runny stuffy nose which makes it hard for him to sometimes sleep. The problem with baby colds is that they don't know how to blow their nose, and as a parent you want to help them. Which is where Nose Aspirators come in - They help you suck the snot out. My friend Erin told me about the Nose Frida (also known as the Snot Sucker.) And it has been a lifesaver. To see how it works, I'm going to encourage you to visit the Snotsucker website to get the jist of it, but I can tell you it is THE best tool to have. Add this one to your "must buy" list. xo Linds

Updating a regular bulletin board

2011-09-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

I love bulletin boards in my studio. I like to tear things out of magazines for inspiration and have them in front of me. Patterns and colours I see in home decor and fashion magazines help inspire not only my home, but my stationery.

Although I like bulletin boards, the cork colour isn't my favourite. So the same night I updated the bulletin board on the opposite wall, I wrapped this board with the same canvas (the same as we made a tent out of!) This board had a frame that made it the perfect contender for some nail head detail. So this is what I started with...

And I updated it to this...

SUPER easy.
I stapled the canvas over the bulletin board using my desk stapler. Lots of awesome tutorials out there on that but really, you stretch the fabric and staple. Done.

Next, I wanted to make it more finished so I decided to do nail heads. I had heard that upholstery nail head detailing came on "trim". It is quick, and easy. The way that this trim works is that it nail heads (with no pins) come on a piece of "trim". Every 5th nail is a hole, you punch in a "matching" nailhead that has a a tack that holds the trim in place, and it is supposed to blend in. I searched EVERYWHERE for this and finally had to buy it sight unseen from the manufacturer in Toronto. Total cost for this, $30 + shipping.

Problem is. The stupid "Matching Nails" that are every fifth spot didn't match! Want to see the proof, look at the picture below. The best spot to look is the top row. How on earth can they sell it like this? Bah. So mad. I think my exact words when I saw it was "You've GOT to be kidding me". Even though they didn't match I tried to see if it would work. Nope.

In an ode to Tim Gun I said to myself "Make it work". I bought some silver paint and tried to paint the little matching heads to blend in. Looked awful. I then cut pieces off the trim and glue gunned the nice looking pewter heads over the discoloured. But the problem is, the ones I glue gunned we're higher than the rest so, well, they still stood out. I threw my hands up. The easy route of this trim was not for me.

So, I went to MacFab here in Toronto, where they had a HUGE selection of nails and bought 500 individual nails and...

It is a little hard, and requires some concentration to put each one in in a straight line but I had a natural guide of the frame. Even still, any variation in the angle I put one in, could throw the whole look. But I'm really happy at how it looks...

Love it. Probably also because it reminds me of my beloved Colette Bed.

(And pssst, you can see the start of a matching project on the other wall)

Having a deadline to finish decorating...

2011-09-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a lovely weekend. Today Aubrey and I celebrated our 7th Wedding Anniversary. We had a nice quiet dinner, very low key. Just the way I like it. :) I spent the weekend trying to finish random projects that in my studio. I have a bit of a deadline because a TV crew* is coming Wednesday to film my studio. A lot of unfinished projects started accumulating, so having a crew come has been a definite motivator to just get things finished.

So, one change is, is that I changed the art above the couch so now I have an IKEA Ribba picture ledge with some of my favourite art.I love the relaxed feel of these picture ledges, but the only downfall is, is that it doesn't hold really big art. (It falls over). I was kind of bummed because I was looking forward to having big frames on it. That being said, I quite like how it looks.

A few other changes have almost been completed, fingers crossed I can get them all done by Wednesday morning. Totally excited to show you though because I think I needed the deadline to just get it done. :) They pro

*And yes, I'm freaking out about the TV crew.

little changes

2011-09-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

A lot of little changes are happening around here, some DIY projects in the studio/basement are coming together, but aren't yet complete. But another change that I have yet to tell you about is that Oscar has been out of his crib for some time now. Crib is gone, and he is on his own little mattress on the floor in his room. But here is the funny thing....he actually never slept in the crib. He always slept with me. I hadn't intended to be a co-sleeping family but it just worked out that way. But, I was wanting my own bed back and so since August he's been transitioning to his own bed in his room. And it's super cute. So where his crib used to be is now his rocker.

Bulletin Board Revamp

2011-09-14T06:52:00.000-07:00

I had a burst of creative energy the other night in my office and did a lot of projects to try to give this space a cohesive look. One change I did was to my huge bulletin board that rests on my cutting/work space desk in my studio. [Blogged about here, and here]. It never got hung because I never really loved it. So here was the "before"....

And the After....

I painted it out white, and added some fabric to soften up the cork board. Now, I'm not going to lie. I felt ill as I touched white paint to the gold frame. I was exhausted that night and debated whether I was in the right mind to be making creative choices. This was what was going through my mind as I painted ... "Was it going to look "Shabby Chic"? I really don't like shabby chic.I hope it's not too shabby chic. Maybe I'm ok with Shabby Chic".

So deliriously I just did it - something I likely wouldn't have done if I wasn't a bit loosey goosey from exhaustion. But I love it. Although it *can* be shabby chic it does a better job of blending into my decor than it previously did. It was too dark for the basement and it was too ornate to put anywhere else in my house. (The fabric is actually the same that I used in this project) Sometimes you just have to try something. And I'm glad I did - I love it in the studio. It is softer, and allows other things to stand out. Next up, we have to hang it.

How do you find inspiration?

2011-09-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

At the last Design Blogger Meetup, Tommy Smythe gave a presentation to the crowd showing pictures from a recent trip he and Sarah Richardson took overseas. One of the lessons he wanted to share was that he and Sarah took photos of the lovely architecture and scenes to provide themselves inspiration for future room designs. That story had a lasting impression on me and I also realized that what he did for his interior decorating wasn't far off what I do for looking for inspiration for stationery design. You realize that as a creative you turn to many different things to inspire.

For example, one photo that I snapped on my blackberry inspired a good portion of my new collection for The Penny Paper Co. I was walking home from Starbucks with Oscar and as I approached the school near our house I noticed on this day, that the chain link fence had a lovely pattern - It looked like tear drops and had a Moroccan vibe. I have walked by this chain link fence hundreds of times, but it was on this day that the pattern stood out. I took out my blackberry and snapped a (bad) photo of it and e-mailed it to myself.

It was the inspiration for some stationery.

I sometimes miss school for this reason - learning how to look at things in different ways. You were forced to try new things, push your boundaries. I often debate going back to school to get back into thinking creatively in different ways.

Anyhow, sometimes it's fun to see how people get inspired. And although I still turn to magazines and blogs as my main source of inspiration for the home, you can see that inspiration for certain things can be in the unlikeliest of places.

Top Photo: By Leah Kirin from Forever Moments

Tea Drinkers

2011-09-12T10:11:00.001-07:00

During the day I'm a coffee drinker. Love, love my coffee. But in the evening nothing beats a nice cup of tea. Have you ever noticed that tea it tastes better when someone else makes it for you? Aubrey makes me a cup at night, a little ritual I adore. I've been drinking it more at night, curled up on the couch, playing on my ipad. I'm a fan of the basic flavours, Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Orange Pekoe.

However as much as I adore my "regular" flavours I got to try some "fancy" flavours when I got to go to the Gemini Award Gift Lounge last week and tried a flavour by David's Tea - Movie Night . It's a popcorn tea and it actually is quite warm and sweet, a lovely tea for a cold night. Because it's no fun drinking alone (I do realize that is usually applicable to a different drink) I arranged a little giveaway*. Enter to win a Harvest Tin from David's Tea of your choice Pumpkin Chai, Mom's Apple Pie, or Carrot Cake. And heck, wouldn't you want to try a TEA that tastes like carrot cake?

To Enter: Tell me - Do you like tea? Are you a fan of the simple flavours like I am, or have you been exposed to other flavours? Open To: David's Tea will ship to anyone in North America.
Ends Friday September 16th

* I didn't receive anything in return for this post. At the gift lounge I got to taste the tea, and take a sample of the Movie Night Tea home.

----------------
Comments closed. Winner will be picked soon by someone outside our blog. :)

What didn't get blogged about...

2011-09-09T07:25:00.000-07:00

Here are the things that didn't make it into posts this week but that I'd love to share with you.

Love these painted Sticks Found here. Fun cottage project!
This song is stuck in my head. You can download it for free. (It was sponsored by an alcohol company)
John + Sherry gave us an awesome shout out Thursday (thanks!)
Lauren featured our Nursery on her blog in her roundup of 10 Beautiful Neutral Nurseries
I've launched a whole whack of new designs in my shop, which has been keeping me busy. (I'll be doing a giveaway in the next little bit. :)

I was also blogging over here...

I blogged about Modern Decor for babies on Style at Home*
Did I tell you that I blogged about my love of Chevrons for Style at Home? I can't remember. I'm loosing my marbles. Anyways, here is the link.
I blogged about a Baby Bjorn Travel Crib/Playpen on Dear-Born Baby's blog

Have a great weekend!

xo Lindsay
[*Repeat of this post, accidentally got posted twice]

Doing a reno for resale, but also for enjoyment

2011-09-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

Although I'm bummed we can't afford a kitchen reno right now, I'm taking great delight in planning what our kitchen "could" be. Why I am focusing on this kitchen reno idea? Taking out the emotion of loving the house, it boils down to resale. Although we're not moving any time soon, we will likely move one day.

You see, we've improved the entire rest of the house with the exception of our Master Bathroom. Not doing the kitchen will be a glaring "to-do" for buyers and in my mind, devalue the rest of our investment. [We brought in a local real estate agent who confirmed that thought].

But then there is the enjoyment factor. I'd like to do the reno so we can actually enjoy the kitchen, instead of doing it for someone else. I hate thinking resale because it makes you think it's not your home. But it is our home and I'd love to enjoy the "new" kitchen as well as know it was a solid investment.

Aub and I have no idea how much it would cost us. You see numbers floating around of costs but until we actually hunker down and do spread sheets of expenses we're not sure what we're in for. So Aubrey and I are on board to start researching and planning. Therefore, we're educated and prepared and know a good deal when we see one. Right now the kitchen table is filled with papers of measurements and magazines as we casually look over designs and talk about our wish list. It's kind of nice not having the money to do it right now because there is no pressure. So here is what we're doing...

1. Looking for inspiration. The kitchen in Style at Homes March 2008 by Margot Austin is one I've always had in mind, as it is a small (like ours). Done primarily in IKEA it's something that would be awesome to do.

2. Researching Appliances for a small space. Something I hadn't been prepared for is figuring out appliances as they dictate cabinetry. Did I mention our dishwasher is leaking? So not only is our fridge on the brink of blowing up, our dishwasher is about to join it.

3. Measuring the space. It's good to have the dimensions so we can start researching cabinet sizes, counters, sinks. Oh, well, everything. So Aubrey went through and measured the whole kitchen and I'm translating that into a nicely drawn drawing on the computer.

I know. Pretty boring but all in all kind of fun. Like I said, no pressure because we know we can't do it right now but it means that we can take our time researching and in the end, be prepared. If you did a kitchen reno how long did it take you to plan? Did it cost more than you thought? Any advice to bestow upon us?

No Sew Tent

2011-09-06T04:53:00.000-07:00

I have had an obsession with teepee's and I really wanted to get one for Oscar. Buying one turned out to be expensive , and the DIY method seemed difficult [I don't own a sewing machine]. So I was kind of bummed we wouldn't have one. A few weeks ago, I happened across this post on the blog "Cakies" where Rubyellen made an A-Frame tent. Although her version was 99% perfect, her version still required sewing. So I modified her idea to be a no sew alternative to a teepee and her A-Frame idea. And this is what I made....

I LOVE it. So it's REALLY easy to do. (And so does Oscar as you can see above.) Before I get into my instructions, if you do decide to tackle this project you should see Rubyellens step by step as it is awesome. So my version of the project is broken in to 3 Parts [1] The Frame [2] The Cover and [3] Bunting Flag.

Read more after the jump

Read more »

Etsy Shop: Pigeon Toe Ceramics

2011-09-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

I've been browsing Etsy a lot lately. It's like your own personal "One of a Kind Show" online. I love buying unique quality items with the click of a button. The downside to Etsy is that there are so many shops which makes it hard sometimes to find the good stuff. One way I find new shops is that I rely on the "Suggested Shops" feature in my Etsy account. They provide me a list of shops that they think I may like, based on my favourites already.

One little shop that just came on my radar is Pigeon Toe Ceramic. I hearted about 5 things in a matter of 1 minute. I've been collecting ideas for gifts for birthdays and the Holidays coming up. The simplicity of the white ceramic with the burst of colour on the inside is classic -yet modern.

Items: Top Photo, Clockwise from Top Left: Scan Birdhouse, $120, Rope Birdfeeder $72, Folder Salt & Pepper Cellars, Mini Creamer $20 Bottom Photo: Mason Jar Votive Lantern, $36

Method Cleaning Products + Well.ca

2011-09-01T17:43:00.000-07:00

It's almost the weekend. Yippee! Well. I don't really have weekends like you. Because Aubrey works weekends. But happy early weekend to all of you! To end the week here is a little post about a nice shopping experience I had. Because it's nice to highlight the good companies, don't you agree?

Last week I saw a tweet by @SimplyFrugal saying that there was a Method sale over on a website called Well.ca. I headed on over to check it out. You see, I LOVE Method products, but what got me to order was that Well.ca offers free shipping in Canada. So I ordered, and a few days later [like super quick] my order arrived and I'm now using, and loving my Method cleaning products.

Now, my US friends you may not get the big deal but here in Canada we get shafted on shipping rates a lot. Website that do ship to Canada - always seem to charge. But more often than not, most US website don't ship to us. It's such a bummer. So to find a site that does, and it's no strings attached is pretty newsworthy in my life. So that is all. Just telling you about it. Because I love cleaning and I love myself a good story on how to save money. (Follow @SimplyFrugal, and shop at stores that offer FREE shipping)

*Well.ca does have a referral program as you can read about here but I'm not doing that, so you don't have to click on any links or mention my name. I just like spreading the word on good companies.

Aubrey + Lindsay's Blog

Kitchen

Whirlwind Crazy Fun Times

BlogPodium

Pinterest

napping

What wasn't blogged about

Art from Etsy

sweet new art

your ikea kitchens

Woah, I was on HGTV. Kind of.

Kitchen Ideas

art in living room

how we spent our new years eve

video from around our house

gold sparkly hats + honkers

finding inspiration: kitchen

'twas the friday before Christmas....

Gifts for Neighbours

Canvas.....check!

Wrapping Style...

Front of the house

a little more christmas shopping...

wood boxes, little gift idea

a canadian 12 days of christmas

a quiet moment between parties

What didn't get blogged...

Sponsored Post: Canadian Tire Tree Ornaments

oscar

Sponsored Post: Outdoor Decorating

sugar dispenser = twine holder

Classic Christmas, Front landscape

Sponsored Post: Decorating for the kids

Sponsored Post: Finding ways to work in trends at Christmas

Etsy Night at West Elm

advent bags....on the floor

I'm *almost* there

West Elm Holiday Picks

Gingerbread House

New Blog Series - BlogPodium

things that make you love where you live

What didn't get blogged

Photography

Another DIY Advent Calendar

West Elm + Etsy Night with yours truly

the official start to the holidays

What didn't get blogged about

Bathroom Thoughts

Bigger sink, or, bigger counter?

Master Bathroom

What didn't get blogged about

Most popular holiday crafts that you've pinned...

A day shopping in Rosedale-Summerhill

Art...

DIY Train Board

What didn't get blogged about

Etsy Obsessions This Week

Suzanne Rheinstein's Ikat for Lee Jofa

Cinderella Pumpkin

Sketches

Do you think our neighbours would care?

Stamp Winners

What didn't get blogged about

Believing in the Good of People

Fun Font for Halloween

The downside to being a creative...

Front Hall Table

Custom Stamp Giveaway

A year ago today...

What didn't get blogged about...

Giving the Gift of Tea

Bulletin Board Project, Round II

Behind the Scenes

The evolution of the exterior of the house

What didn't get blogged about

First TV Appearance...

DIY (Fancy) Push Pins

mini family vacation

watching the trucks...

Front walkway - happening right now

I'm almost there