The Hydeout

See You Over on Instagram!

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 21:28:00 +0000

As you have probably noticed, I haven't posted anything new for a while, and there are a couple reasons for this. One, I've been working full-time as opposed to part-time since September 2016, and two, I've been doing a whole lot more posting over on Instagram. I've found that I just don't have the time to write lengthy write-ups anymore, and I also love how interactive Instagram is compared to this blog--I love being able to actually see who likes my posts and connect with so many people globally.

This is why I've made the decision to officially put larahyde.blogspot.ca to rest for now. But The Hydeout will live on on Instagram, and I will continue to post select pictures to the Facebook page, as well.

So, a big THANK YOU to everyone who has encouraged and supported me, and read and liked and commented on my posts. Thanks especially to those who took the time to comment. Your feedback is so cherished. :)

I really hope you will all follow me over to Instagram @thehydeoutblog and who knows? The long-format blog just might be brought back to life one day...

My Very Own Authentic Bottle Terrarium

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 21:46:00 +0000

I was having a particularly bad day a few weeks ago. I had just purchased my first-ever smartphone (!) from some kid on Kijiji, and when I arrived at his house to pick it up, I found...nothing. The address didn't exist! Now you may be asking, "What kind of person lures unsuspecting would-be first-time phone buyers to an address that doesn't exist?" or you might be asking, "What kind of fool buys a phone off Kijiji?" Either way, you will be happy to know I was not jumped by a gang of street thugs, I just returned to my house and e-mailed the seller and, apparently he was dyslexic, because he had given me the wrong address.

Long story short, I returned to the correct address, noted the welcome mat outside that said, "Go away," and knew right then and there I was probably screwed. I bought the phone anyway, and BIG SURPRISE, it didn't work.

Anyway, I learned my lesson, but you're probably asking, "Where is this crazy bird going with this story?"

The point is when I got home, feeling totally dejected, I had a message in my in-box from a friend that included a photo of a terrarium her dad had made. This woman's uber-cool father used to make these authentic glass bottle terrariums in the 70s and 80s and sell them at craft shows. He stopped when plants inexplicably went out of style, but knowing how much I love plants, my friend wondered if I would like her dad to make me one.

Uh, heck, yeah!

I have made open terrariums before, the kind that are so popular now, inside glass balls and containers with lids where minimal skill is required (see my blog post, "Make Your Own Terrarium" from August 2014). But this is something else. Somehow, my friend's dad manages to get these fairly large plants inside this teeny tiny bottleneck opening using a coathanger...and magic. I don't fully get it, but I love it. And I am so grateful to Ian Campbell for this gift that made me almost able to forget about my crappy phone situation. My terrarium is beautiful...and in case you are wondering, I did get a phone. From Costco. And it works great.

Easy to Make Beautiful Boho Dream Catcher

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 15:47:00 +0000

One of my favorite things to do is to rehab things that I buy so they suit my tastes perfectly. Often, I will come across something on sale or at a thrift store that I would totally love if only it was a different color or didn't have that chip, or whatever the case may be. But with just a bit of of imagination, you can totally make over just about anything. Spray paint is my homegirl. I've used it to transform so many objects from blah to ooh-la-la. But when I spotted this lone, whimsical dream catcher-like wall hanging in the kids' department at my local HomeSense, I knew I would have to take a different tack. I had to have it right away, but I wasn't crazy about the colors. Cute for a girl's bedroom, but I wanted to hang this in mine. So, I bought it anyway and went to work. This is the result:

And this is what it looked like before:

Definitely just a matter of taste, but the point is the fun of the transformation! Even if you aren't lucky enough to find a similar dream catcher in a color you're not so fond of at YOUR local HomeSense/HomeGoods/Marshalls, you can still make this beauty from scratch in an afternoon. Let me show you how.

What You'll Need:

-Embroidery hoop of any size (my dream catcher is the size of a dinner plate) from a craft supply store or thrift store
-Piece of lace fabric (e.g. a thrifted tablecloth) or a crocheted doily from a thrift store that will fit your embroidery hoop
-Fabric strips, ribbon, lace, etc. in the color scheme of your choice
-Tassels (optional)
-Gold cord (optional)

To start, you will need to cut your lace fabric just slightly larger than the circumference of your embroidery hoop, then unscrew the hoop and place it between the two pieces, so it fits snugly (ditto if you are using a crocheted doily, minus the cutting). Then, turning your hoop around, simply start hot gluing ribbon/fabric strips onto the inside bottom of the embroidery hoop. A variety of textures will produce a more visually appealing effect. I layered beige cotton canvas strips, thinner cotton canvas strips that I had spray painted gold, thick white lace ribbon and thick cotton ribbon in a lighter beige hue. To dress things up even more, I interspersed some silky white tassels that I found at Michaels, tying them with thin gold cord to the ribbon strips at random intervals.

I am quite certain I will sleep well with this dreamy lady watching over me! It only took an hour or so to make, for a total cost of $20, much less than what you would pay if you were to buy one from Etsy. Not that you shouldn't...there are plenty of gorgeous dream catchers available on Etsy. But if you possess even an ounce of creative mojo, you can definitely make this one yourself.

Nobby's Dining Room: Part I

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 02:23:00 +0000

When my dear friend Nobby told me she and her husband Rob were finally going to do something about the big blank wall in their dining room, I was psyched. They have a combination L-shaped living/dining room in their East Toronto home, and the wall at the end of the dining table is also the main view when sitting in one of the super comfy oversize chairs in the living room across from it. The wall was painted brown and used to house a practical but predictable china cabinet. There was nothing wrong with it the way it was, but Nobby wanted to brighten up the room and have it reflect the aesthetic of the rest of her mod 1960s back-split house, which is a blend of Japanese minimalist, contemporary Ikea and authentic mid-century styles.

In Nobby's email to me she said she wanted to do a "fauxdenza" on the wall, which I assumed was a word she made up (Nobby is witty like that) and which I took to mean she was planning to stencil the outline of a trompe l'oeil credenza on the wall then paint it (at first I was skeptical, but Nobby has great taste and I thought if anyone could get away with this, she could)! But after Googling "fauxdenza," I realized I am perhaps not as design savvy as I thought I was because, ladies and gents, a fauxdenza is a real thing. Picture an Ikea cabinet that has been mounted on a wall to mimic the look of that modern design staple--the Danish teak sideboard. Brilliant, if you ask me. This seemed like the perfect replacement for Nobby's china cabinet and I wholeheartedly approved of this idea.

To my delight, Nobby wanted to consult with me about what color to paint the wall behind the fauxdenza. Now, may I reiterate that Nobby has great taste and really didn't need my advice, but it made me so happy that she asked. If it was my wall, I knew I would be wallpapering it, but Nobby was leaning toward paint. After sending a few color options her way, as well as encouraging her to put in the extra effort and go with wallpaper instead, I'm so excited that she and Rob decided to go with this iconic birch tree paper! I have long loved this design and wished I had a place for it in my own home, but the next best thing is getting to see it in a friend's home every time I visit.

The version Nobby and Rob used is from Bouclair, although there are an infinite number of knock-offs of the original 1959 Cole & Son pattern online. Doesn't it look awesome? I am all over it. Stay tuned for Part II of this post, which will include photos of the aforementioned "fauxdenza." I, for one, can't wait. :)

My Dream Florida Room

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 16:41:00 +0000

...which is why when one of South Florida's top real estate companies, Douglas Elliman, asked me if I would create a style board for my ideal Florida Room, I immediately responded with a, "Heck, yeah!" Here are some of their Florida listings if you want to do some browsing!

A Florida Room is typically a screened-in sun porch or glass conservatory--basically any room that is surrounded by windows and can often be used year-round to give one the impression of living in sunnier, warmer climes. These rooms are a haven for indoor plants, and are typically decorated in Floridian themes ranging from nautical to serene to preppy/glam Palm Beach style.

I didn't have to think long or hard about what my Florida Room would look like if I was lucky enough to have one. All I had to do was essentially create my dream room, incorporating all my favorite design elements. Here is what I came up with:

My Florida Room would be a combination of my two favorite interior design styles: Bohemian and Mid-Century Chic. It seems to me that this would be the perfect space to combine these two styles, which already run rampant throughout my house. They both represent Florida in their own way: the laid-back vibe of the colorful, exotic carpet and pillows, as well as the piece de resistance, the swing hammock; and the Palm Beach-esque clean lines and pastel hues of the sofa and atomic tripod planters.

The wood coffee table brings the hit of rusticity that keeps the room feeling down to earth, and the Sputnik light fixture adds a dose of metallic and ties everything together. And, of course, this being a Florida Room, I could not help but throw in an ode to the Sunshine State in the form of the large flamingo print, which is actually my very favorite thing in the room.

One of the best things about Florida in my opinion (aside from its crystal blue beaches, tropical climate and plethora of outlet malls) is its breathtakingly lush foliage. And the number one element in my Florida Room would be a copious abundance of potted plants that, nurtured by the generous sunlight, would flourish into a veritable jungle where I could pretend I was living like Ernest Hemingway every day of the week.

Thanks, Douglas Elliman, for giving me this challenge that allowed me to dream! Until next time, I will be enjoying these unusually high summer temps that really are reminiscent of what you'd expect to find in Florida...

A Canadian Cactus, Eh?

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 18:05:00 +0000

Did you know that there is a species of cactus that is native to Canada? I ain't kidding you, folks--the eastern prickly pear cactus can be found growing in glorious spiky abundance at the southernmost tip of Ontario, in Point Pelee National Park. This blew my mind when I learned about it a few years ago. A species of cactus I could plant in my own garden and that would survive the winter? It was a fantastical revelation for this cactus-obsessed wannabe desert dweller!

So, last winter, I happened upon someone online who was selling cuttings from his outdoor cactus plants and I bought three cute, Mickey Mouse-eared cuttings from him for under $10. I kept them on my windowsill this whole time until today when, with great trepidation, I planted them in my back garden.

If you are lucky enough to get your hands on some cuttings of this rare, at-risk species, you will need to plant them in a sunny spot with excellent drainage, preferably south facing. It is a good idea to plant them against the side of the house, where they will be somewhat sheltered from the weather.

Only time will tell if my guys will take root and survive whatever crazy Canadian weather gets thrown their way. I will be praying for their prickly little souls...

Until next time, happy gardening!

How to Print Instagram Photos

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 18:08:00 +0000

I am very much an old-fashioned type of girl when it comes to things like books and photo albums. I would way rather hold an actual book in my hand than read off a screen or look at pictures on a device. I've been printing photo books of my digital snaps for the last couple of years, using sites like picaboo and blurb, and prior to that, I used to print out all the digital photos I took and put them into old-school photo albums, framing my favorites to display on my walls. But once I got hooked on Instagram, I realized the downside was not being able to print the square format photos from my go-to printer, Costco.

That is why I was so stoked to find an online printer that specializes in printing Instagram photos. At Sticky9 you can print 27 photos for $21.99 (CAD). They are printed on sturdy card stock instead of traditional photo paper and look pretty fantastic, if you ask me.

We had so many amazing Instagram photos from our trip to the American Southwest last spring, but I didn't have a way to display them until now. I found the awesome wood board with metal clips at Michaels (had planned to make one but didn't even need to).

Now I can look at the breathtaking cactus plants that inspired our vacation every day and dream of someday having my own desert garden (as opposed to just an indoor jungle room)! Thank you, Sticky9!

DIY Found Wood Side Table

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 15:11:00 +0000

On a snowy day in January, we were on a family hike in the woods with our dog, Blue, when I spotted what I thought was the most beautiful piece of wood I had ever seen. Someone had been in there, chopping up trees, and I just had to have this particular slice of wood. I could easily envision the rustic-chic little side table I would make with it, and Rob ever-so-sweetly agreed to come back later and haul it out of there for me.

Well, it turned out to be a bigger favor than either one of us imagined, as the slab just barely fit in the giant backpack Rob last used to backpack across Europe in 1998 with me, but it did, and I eagerly began searching online for a place where I could buy hairpin legs for the table to stand on. I was very excited to find a local blacksmith on kijiji who made them in his shop...and even more intrigued when I learned his name was Thor. Rob didn't believe it was his real name, but incredibly, this guy's real name is Thor Sammer, and he looks every bit like a Viking in real life. Awesome. Anyway, got the legs and painted them gold with Rust Oleum spray paint, then waited for Rob to cut the wood slice to the right thickness.

This is where I have to stop and gush about my man just a bit. Rob isn't exactly a handyman type, but he is also a heck of a lot better at wielding a hammer than I am. And when it comes to sawing something...well, let's just say slicing apples makes me nervous, so there was never any question about who was going to actually be making this table.

So, on top of all the other chores Rob does on a weekly basis after spending the whole day defending the Great Lakes from freaky-looking invasive fish species and industrial contaminants, my amaze-balls hubby spent countless hours in the garage hacking away at this piece of wood with a manual saw.

And the result is beautiful--rustic--but just what I wanted. Thank you, Rob.

Oh-So Lovely Pom Pom Wall Hanging

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 01:39:00 +0000

Today's project comes courtesy of the AH-MAZING Aussie design + lifestyle blog, We Are Scout. When I stumbled across this blog, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. It was honestly so overwhelmingly awesome that I had to walk away from my computer screen for a minute and collect myself ( I'm not kidding). The thing that first got my attention was a free e-mag you could download from the site called "Decorating with Plants." I knew then and there that the girls who run this blog and I were kindred spirits. And it didn't take long before I found a DIY on their site that I absolutely had to try.

Isn't this the cutest wall hanging ever?

I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I have become addicted to DIY. I don't even finish a project anymore before starting another one. If it takes longer than a couple of hours to make, I often lose interest and want to start on something else instead. But I did force myself to see this one through to completion, even though it took me several weeks. I have so much respect for all those quilters and knitters out there who tackle big projects that they know will take them a long time to finish. I have such a need for instant gratification...and I change my mind so frequently about what I like that I'm always afraid that halfway through a project, I will decide I don't like it anymore.

That is sort of what happened with this wall hanging. I still think it's really cool, but I had an idea of where I wanted to put it, but then I changed some furniture and art around, and now I have no place for it anymore. So, did I spend the better half of my Christmas money on yarn for nothing? Did I miss some of the best American Idol auditions while I had my head down, concentrating on making pom poms, for nothing? Maybe, maybe not. (I'll let you in on another little secret since I like to keep it real: I style all my photographs so they look great for the site. What you see on this blog is not necessarily what you will see if you come over to my house. Some of it, but not all. If this were an accurate reflection of how our house looks tonight, there would be balled-up socks on the table, Kleenex stashed behind the plant and entirely different art on the wall!)

All the instructions you need to make this yourself are here, but I can tell you that the Extra Large Clover Pom Pom Maker will make your life as a producer of pom poms for this or any other project a million times easier. This handy-dandy contraption comes in several different sizes, but for this project, the Extra Large is a must. (It is not available at Michaels in Canada--I bought mine from Mary Maxim online.)

Oh, yes, the more I look at these pictures, the more I think I need to find a spot for this. It really is so pretty...

Easy DIY Modern Bohemian Wall Hanging

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 18:28:00 +0000

Happy New Year, friends! I apologize for the long gap between posts...everyone in our family has been sick with a cold and/or stomach virus this month and I've had a lot of work lately, but I've also been feeling mega inspired. It happens every year at this time--we take down the Christmas tree and all the decorations and I suddenly feel like giving the house a makeover. This January I decided I wanted the living room to have a slightly "cleaner" feel--and to achieve that I had to give away some of my plants that were causing it to feel just a little too jungly. So, I said goodbye to my six-foot pencil cactus and a couple of smaller plants, and moved around some others. I also acquired a new arm chair to make the space more conducive to conversations (we just had a couch before, forcing extra guests to either pull up a dining chair or sit on the floor), and I switched up some of the wall decor. The main thing I decided I wanted was a new monochromatic wall hanging to replace the one I had already, which was in a color scheme I never really loved (see my blog post from last January, "A Touch of the 70s".) It's funny to me that last January I was so excited to find that wall hanging at Target, as stylish woven wall hangings were really hard to come by a year ago. But now they can be found all over Etsy and in hipster emporiums like Urban Outfitters. The 70s have become really cool again, macrame plant hangers and all! This couldn't make me happier. :)

After doing a thorough search of handmade wall hangings on Etsy, I thought I had decided on a plain black one that was very simple and modern looking, but I found it hard to commit to the $70 price tag. I just kept thinking I bet that would be pretty easy to make. So, after looking to Pinterest for some inspiration, I came across a basic idea I liked and that looked totally doable, then put my own spin on it. Here is the result:

This wall hanging took a bit of time but was super easy to make and cost me a grand total of $15 for the yarn. Here is what I used:

-1 ball of "Ginormous" black acrylic yarn bought at Michaels
-1 ball of regular black wool yarn
-thin black hemp cord
-found branch painted white and gold

To get started, I simply cut a slew of pieces of yarn, doubled the length I wanted them to hang (I believe I did 70 inches), and then I began tying them onto the branch, using a basic macrame knot called the Reverse Larkshead. Once you have strung all your yarn, you can just start going to town, braiding pieces together, knotting them at random intervals, basically doing whatever the heck you want. The "ginormous" acrylic yarn was a great find, because it is so chunky and already has a braided look, so it fills the space up nicely and gives it texture. But supplementing it with the thinner yarn and string makes the piece look much more interesting and complicated. I also added some tassels made from the regular black wool for visual interest (you could also try pom poms). The bottom line is, there are no complicated knots to learn here and no rules to follow. I painted the branch white with gold stripes to give it a more contemporary feel, but you could just leave the wood bare or use a metal dowel instead.

If you are itching to add a touch of the 70s to your space, but are worried about it looking like Marcia Brady moved in, this is a great project to try. Bad news (good news?) is now I'm hooked on wall hangings! I already know what my next project is going to be. Stay tuned for that one and what is likely to be much more 70s style coming your way in 2016!

Christmas Decor: Paper Mounted Deer

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 00:25:00 +0000

One more month until Christmas and I can hardly contain my excitement! Yes, I am one of those people who really LOVES Christmas...especially now that I'm a mom and I get to experience it through my kids' eyes. The Christmas concerts, the family get-togethers, the parties, the parades--I love it all, but I especially love decorating. This coming Sunday we'll go to the tree farm and chop down that most perfect of specimens to grace our living room for the season, but for now, it's all been all about this paper mounted deer. Faux taxidermy has become a real trend in wall decor, and I've wanted my own stag's head for a while. When I saw one made out of white cardboard in a magazine, I got fixated on making my own. And it turned out to be one of the funnest projects I've ever done.

I found instructions online for making a mounted deer from foam board. (Thank you Spins & Needles blog!) It sounded super easy, which is always a bonus for me. I printed out the templates and got my husband to enlarge them to the size I wanted on his photocopier at work. Then, instead of tracing the templates onto foam, I chose to use white cardboard boxes, since I still anticipated making a white deer, and foam always makes me think of kids' crafts, and I didn't want this to look like my daughter made it out of one of those kids' craft kits from Michaels.

But when I finished cutting out all the pieces and put my deer together, it just looked a little lackluster--not like the one I saw in the magazine. It also wasn't the sturdiest. I started thinking maybe I should have used the foam. Then, as a last-ditch attempt to make it into something I would want to display, I decided to cover it with decorative paper as they suggested in the online tutorial. And it made all the difference.

I used a heavier weight decorative paper from a book of scrapbook paper I bought at Michaels months ago and which happened to have a faux wood grain paper that I wanted for the "mount." The papers in the book were all coordinating, which made it really easy to find papers that complemented each other, and the 12" x 12" size of the paper was a perfect fit for my templates. The stiffness of the paper also made the overall structure stronger.

But the coolest part of all that I totally wasn't anticipating was that my deer head turned out to be REVERSIBLE! I just used different patterns of paper on both sides of the deer "parts" and now I can have different looks. I call the first one with the floral antlers my "Georgia O'Keeffe-inspired" deer and the other one is my "Cozy Sweater" deer. I think I like "Georgia O'Keeffe" better, but I do like them both. I am SO happy with the outcome of this project, and I loved planning which papers to use. Which "look" do you like best? I would love to hear from you!

Chalk Painted Cabinet with Map Wallpaper

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 01:09:00 +0000

I am so excited to be writing this post because I finally finished a project that I've been wanting to do for years! When my grandmother passed away in 2009, I inherited a china cabinet from her that I had always admired at her house. But although it looked handsome and perfectly at home in her house full of florals and tweeds and needlepoint cushions, I realized that it wouldn't suit my more contemporary decorating style...so what to do?

For years the stinking cabinet sat in my basement storage room while I imagined that one day I would repaint it and turn it into something I would actually use. But it wasn't until I attended a seminar at our local library about chalk painting furniture that I actually got inspired to do it. That was last May--and I bought the paint and supplies last June--so as you can see I am a wee bit of a procrastinator at times.

The cabinet was stained a dark, almost mahogany and had these ornate brass knobs and drawer pulls and glass on three sides. It also had a mirrored back, which made it way too fancy for my taste. I decided to go with a neutral grey shade called "Driftwood" by Bluestone Cottage, which is a local (Ancaster) company that makes a beautiful line of chalk paint. You can find it at Graham & Brooks in Dundas, which is a gorgeous home decor store that you should totally check out if you live in the area and love rustic vintage style.

I also knew I needed to cover that mirrored back with some wallpaper...but after searching the net for hours for the perfect paper that wouldn't break the bank, I realized that wallpaper might not be my best option since it is generally sold by the roll and I only needed about 2 ft x 4 ft. I went to a fancy paper store and almost bought some lovely chiyogami paper that I thought would work, but they didn't have enough sheets in any of the patterns I liked. Sigh.

Then I remembered I had this giant vintage-looking world map that I bought for my husband years ago but that never got put up for some reason... And wouldn't you know it, it was the perfect size when cut in half. Here is the result!

Before

After

I am so pleased with it! Painting with chalk paint is so easy because there is no prep work to be done. I didn't even sand the cabinet before I started. And it only took one coat. I thought I might do some distressing when I was done, but I realized I was happy with it like it is, though if I ever want to give it more of a French Country look, I can just take some sandpaper to it. I also didn't apply the layer of wax they recommend for added protection, though I did purchase a jar and might put it on later.

So, all in all, this project took about three days from start to finish. And the total cost was just around $75 for the whole shebang:

Paint - $25
Wax - $25
Double-sided tape for map - $25

This is a project that anyone can do. Chalk paint is so much fun to work with. I love the patina it instantly gives any piece, and it comes in a whole rainbow of beautiful colors. I know you've got an old chair or bookcase just begging to be brought back to life. Don't wait as long as I did...roll up your sleeves and get to work, yo!

Dace's Room Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 23:15:00 +0000

Last January, I published a post called "Violet's Room Makeover." We really overhauled our youngest daughter's room, covering a focal wall in wallpaper and kitting it out with new bedding, a new rug and cool accessories. Ever since, I've been feeling kind of bad that we haven't done much to our other daughter's room--it's looked pretty much the same since we moved into our house five years ago. I've thought about wallpapering, but, honestly, the thought of it is daunting. And she has a lot of neat stuff on her walls that would probably have to come down in order to let the wallpaper shine.

So, I decided to just make a few easy changes to modernize it a bit and make it a little hipper and more befitting a soon-to-be eight-year-old...just in time for her first sleepover party! See if you can spot the differences...ha ha!

Dace's "New" Room

The Way It Looked Before

The biggest difference is the new hanging light fixture (the MASKROS) from IKEA. It's too bad you can't see the old track lighting in the "before" picture, but I'm not surprised the photographer from the magazine cropped it out because it was pretty ugly! I've always liked the design of the MASKROS ceiling light (I even have a magazine clipping of it from when it first came out) and I finally had the perfect spot for it. It casts really cool shadows on the walls when it's lit, and Dace loves it.

Other than that, I added a fabric banner (the word, "LOVE") that I bought at the newly opened Nordstrom store in Ottawa (love Nordstrom...can't wait for it to open here), some new pillows and some new wall art.

I loved the trendy arrow shape and the dainty vintage-looking knobs on this necklace hanger I found at cute clothing and housewares retailer, Francesca's, in the States, but I was not so sold on the turquoise and coral color it came in. I bought it anyway and painted over it with Bluestone Cottage "Driftwood" chalk paint (Bluestone Cottage makes beautiful colors of chalk paint...and it's made in Canada) and used a bit of dollar store pink acrylic to paint the knobs my favorite shade of pink. The original arrow design is visible through the chalk paint and now looks subtly cool instead of trendy overboard.

I also hung this sweet word art, which I had out on our patio all summer and which had some water stains...but not before I covered those water stains with a collage of flowers I cut out of old magazines. Nothing like decoupage to refresh old, damaged pieces!

I'm definitely not done with Dace's room...it's still a work in progress, which can be said for pretty much every room in this house. I still think about doing wallpaper--or maybe stenciling a pattern on the wall to mimic wallpaper--but for now, I'm happy with the little changes. And Dace is happy, which is really all that matters when it comes to our kids' rooms, right?

DIY Anthropologie-esque Garland

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 19:11:00 +0000

I love garlands. Birthday parties come and go and I leave the banners hanging up as long as I can get away with it. Swag makes me smile. Go ahead, T.P. my house--it would make me happy! So when I saw this gorgeous, exotic garland on sale on the Anthropologie Web site, I immediately grabbed my credit card. But when the total still came to around $50, even with the sale discount, I sadly removed said item from my shopping cart. I just couldn't spend that much money on what is, essentially, a party decoration.

Anthropologie Skylark Collection Garland

Then I thought to myself, "Hey, I bet I could make something like that." Which is nearly always easier said than done. I knew where to buy tassels (Michaels) and I thought I might be able to find similar lanterns as part of an outdoor string light set. But after checking every store and Web site I could think of, I realized I would have to make the lanterns, themselves, as well. Luckily, it all came together after I found a tutorial on-line.

Here is my completed version. Not exactly the same as the real deal, but I'm really pleased with it. And the whole thing cost me under $12!

My Version

What you need to made this yourself:

-Two sheets of gold foil paper from Michaels
-Tassels in colours of your choice
-String or cord
-Glue gun
-Off-white cotton fabric for bunting (optional)

I got my instructions for the Chinese paper lanterns here: http://www.kidspot.com.au/kids-activities-and-games/Craft-activities+1/Create-Chinese-paper-lanterns+11906.htm. They are really easy to make. I played around with the size and decided on a 3.5 inch lantern. I bought my silky tassels at Michaels, but you could make your own. Let Martha Stewart show you how: http://www.marthastewart.com/908665/how-tie-tassel! You can decide how you want to space out your lanterns and tassels. I just added the bunting for some visual interest, but you don't need to make one. It's very simple, though--just hot glue fabric triangles to string. I like the idea of hanging tassels from the bottom of the lanterns as in the original, too. You could just hot glue a strip of gold paper across the bottom of the lantern and dangle a tassel from it.

There you have it! I've been really digging all things pink and gold and feminine, lately (with a bohemian twist, of course ;)).

OK, off to bake some scones to eat with the strawberry freezer jam that didn't set! If anyone wants a sugar rush, I've got some ultra-sweet strawberry syrup you can have!

Featured Artisan: Pink Wolfe Design

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 16:31:00 +0000

I am incredibly excited to announce that local jewelry designer, Amy Wolfe, will be debuting her original line of bohemian-inspired tassel, feather and pompom-festooned necklaces at the Summer Finds & One of a Kinds Craft Market at the Ancaster Fairgrounds this Saturday, June 20, from
10 to 4!

Sold under the name, Pink Wolfe Design, Amy's jewelry is so of-the-moment and yet different from anything I've seen before. Her bright neon tassels and handmade, multicolored pompoms are simply delightful, and, I think you'll agree, perfect for pairing with cool summer dresses or batik-print tops and jean cut-offs. I can completely picture any of these necklaces in the pages of the Anthropologie catalog...

Long Feather Necklace with Beads

Double-strung Pompom Necklace

Long Beaded Tassel Necklace

Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Amy left a career in marketing to raise her two sons, Henry, 6, and Keith, 3. Being a stay-at-home mom has given her time to indulge her creative side, which is where her passion lies...thank goodness for that, I say! Although she's been making jewelry for her friends and herself for more than a year, this is Amy's first public show.

So, come out to the craft market next Saturday to get your hands on one of these lovelies while you can. There will be plenty of other vendors there, too, and opportunities to pick up a Father's Day present or gifts for your kids' teachers. And if you live out of town, you'll soon be able to find Pink Wolfe Design on Etsy. Stay tuned for that...I will be sure to let you know when the shop is live.

I'm soooo digging the neon tassels right now...

Featured Artisan: Melanie Senko

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Sat, 02 May 2015 15:03:00 +0000

If you are a fan of handmade, one-of-a-kind accessories, you really should check out Melanie Senko's work. An original member of Hamilton's urban homesteading collective, The Beehive, Melanie exudes creative, indie cool. When I first met Mel, she and her husband, Jesse, were blogging for the National Post about their goal to stay out of the supermarket by growing their own produce and sourcing their food locally. They were also featured in Pure Green magazine, which is sold at Anthropologie. (Seriously, Mel, can you get any cooler?)

But I digress...

On Mother's Day weekend, Melanie (who happens to be a mother of four) will be selling her highly covetable leather-and-fabric bags, as well as a selection of quilts and more at Definitely Not The Mall, an artisan fair taking place at the Waterford Old Town Hall, May 8 & 9. The show is open to the public on Saturday and, best of all, it's free! Waterford is only about a 30 minute drive from Hamilton and is where the Senkos now call home. For a taste of what Melanie's been up to, take a look at these lovelies:

Cotton and Leather Zippered Pouch

Cotton Baby Bonnet

Cotton Charley Harper Crib Quilt

Sewing has always been a part of Melanie's life. Her mom was a sewer and Melanie started out doing needlework (rug hooking, embroidery) and progressed to Barbie clothes and pajama pants. She finds much of her inspiration in nature and working in the garden, which is reflected in her choice of fabrics and colours. Decor-wise, Melanie's describes her preferred style as natural, rustic minimalism. She and her husband like to feature old textures and objects in their home, and a tour of their house is like touring a well-edited vintage-modern shop--a veritable feast for the eyes! They are currently in the process of moving into a new country home, but perhaps they will allow me to do a future post on their new house, post-renos...

To see more of Melanie's work, you can visit her Web site at www.melaniesenko.com; you are sure to be inspired. It goes without saying that she consistently inspires me.

A Designer Look for Peanuts

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 16:42:00 +0000

I have long lusted after Marimekko fabrics, especially the Finnish brand's signature Unikko red and white poppies print, but the price has always been way over my budget. You can buy the fabric at EQ3 in Canada for $80 a yard, or you can get a 20' X 20" pillow for $52. After doing a quick Etsy search, however, I realized I could just buy someone's leftover fabric remnants for ten bucks, and make my own cushion for a fraction of the price. The odd sizing of the remnants means you won't be able to have a nice, square cushion, if that's your bag, but you can likely find the right size to make a lovely lumbar pillow like I did (I actually had enough fabric to make two).

I just made an envelope back style cushion cover, which is, honestly, so easy to make. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, once you learn how to sew the world becomes your oyster!

So, there you have it, my tip for the day. You can have the high-end look you see in all the decor mags AND save a nice chunk of change.

Whimsical Croquet Mallet Boot Rack

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 15:02:00 +0000

I think many people assume that I am the creative one in our family since I always seem to be working on some "project" or other and I blab about it on this blog. But the truth is, my husband, Rob, is a pretty creative guy, too. Not only is he creative, but he is extremely supportive of whatever I want to do around the house (keeping in mind that my ideas are mostly all of the cheap and chic variety--I'm not spending thousands of dollars here). Without Rob's help and proactive nature, a lot of my ideas would remain just that--ideas. Flights of fancy, if you will.

So, while Rob is the muscle behind some of my more ambitious projects (e.g. anything that involves wallpaper) he has also come up with some pretty ingenious ideas of his own. Given that the rainy season is upon us, I thought I would highlight my favourite invention of his: this playfully clever boot rack that he made out of some broken croquet mallets and a few pieces of scrap wood.

Before, we used to keep our boots outside so we wouldn't track mud into the house, but that meant getting our socks wet when we put our boots on after the rain...yuck! Now, we don't have that problem anymore, and the rack looks so gosh-darn cute on our back patio.

I tell ya, I feel like the luckiest woman in the world to be married to this super smart, super funny, talented guy who shares my love of whimsy (and it doesn't hurt that he's easy on the eyes).

Love you forever, Rob...thank you for everything you are and everything you do.

Spring Has Sprung Decorated Birch Poles

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 14:40:00 +0000

Finally...yesterday was the first day it really felt like spring here in Southwestern Ontario. The sun was shining, the mercury reached 18 degrees...it was pure bliss!

But with the trees still noticeably absent of leaves and the grass a mosaic of browns and yellows, it's hardly beautiful to look at. I don't even want to put out a spring planter yet for fear of overnight frost. But the beautiful weather had my creative juices flowing and I wanted to do something to add a little happy to my front porch, so I came up with this super simple idea: decorated birch poles to bridge the gap between winter and spring.

What you''ll need to make this at home:

Two or more birch poles
Scraps of fabric, ribbon and twine
Rusted metal star-shaped ornaments (optional)

I cut several lengths of different scrap fabrics and tied them once tightly around the poles at staggered intervals. (I really like off-white linen for this project because it looks just like peeling birch bark.) I wound some sections with brightly coloured ribbon and black twine for a more random/textured effect and added these star ornaments that I happened to have kicking around. The poles would look just as stunning without the ornaments, though, or perhaps you could use something else to decorate them with--fishing lures might look cool, for example.

This is such an easy project, but I really like how inviting it makes the front porch look in these dull brown days before everything starts to bloom again. It would also be a fun thing to do with the kids.

That's it for now...it's another beautiful day and I've got some "real" work to do before I can go out and enjoy it! Happy Spring, everyone!

DIY Scrabble Tile Clock

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 16:19:00 +0000

When I heard the terrible news that Target was closing all of its stores in Canada, one of the first things I stocked up on was washi tape at 40 per cent off...pretty ridiculous, considering that piles of washi tape (along with Toronto Maple Leafs merchandise) are among the last remaining items in the store.

Still, I was psyched about all the pretty patterns I picked up and itching to do some sort of craft with them, so when I came across this upcycled plastic clock project in the book, Mod Podge Rocks! by Amy Anderson, I knew I had struck gold! Not only does this project make use of many different types of washi tape, it also asks for repurposed Scrabble tiles, which I had a whole box of. I also had a perfectly ugly cheap clock I had no qualms about taking apart.

Before

After

To make this oh-so pretty timepiece, you will need:

Matte Mod Podge (available at Michaels and other craft stores)
Dimensional Magic Mod Podge
Inexpensive clock
1 sheet of scrapbook paper
Repurposed Scrabble tiles
Washi tape in a variety of patterns
X-Acto knife
Glue gun and glue sticks

Begin by carefully removing the clear plastic cover and hands. You can use the cover to trace a circle onto your scrapbook paper and then cut it it out. Position the paper over the clock face and mark a dot where the hole is for the hands. Then remove the paper and make a small "X" over the dot with your X-Acto Knife. Apply a medium layer of Matte Mod Podge to the clock face, position the paper over it and use your fingers to smooth it down. Allow it to dry. Apply two topcoats of Matte Mod Podge to the paper, allowing the first coat to dry before applying the second.

Using your X-Acto knife, cut your washi tape to fit one side of your Scrabble tiles. Apply the Dimensional Magic Mod Podge to over the top of the tiles. (You may need more than one coat to achieve the desired dimension.)

Use a glue gun to attach the tiles to the clock face and replace the hands and cover. (If the hands are too long to fit over the tiles, you may need to trim them with scissors--or wire snips if they're metal.) Ta-da! You are DONE! Now go hang your brand new, beauteous clock somewhere you can admire it and bask in your DIY prowess!

Kids' Sewing Project

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 22:57:00 +0000

I don't know why, but I'd been procrastinating when it came to teaching my kids how to sew. I bought Dace a used Barbie sewing machine over a year ago and she'd asked to use it several times since then but I kept putting it off. But today, being the last day of March Break, seemed as good a time as any!

For my kids' first try at sewing, I had them make super simple "stuffies" out of fabric scraps. They drew their creatures on paper first, and then we cut them out to use as patterns, making sure to keep the shapes as basic as possible so they would be easy to sew. I still ended up helping a lot, but I think the girls had fun. We used my machine, and they were both a little scared of it--Violet couldn't even reach the pedal--but hopefully it was a good experience overall, and their dolls turned out pretty cute.

Dace's Bunny

Violet's Puppy

We totally cheated by gluing on all the features, including the buttons, but we'd had enough sewing for one afternoon...and there was a lot of clean up to be done!

(BTW, polyester fiberfill is perfect for creating Napoleonic hairstyles!)

I actually think Violet was a little on the young side for this project, although my friend Melanie's five-year-old daughter is already quite the accomplished sewer, so ya never know! I think I might do a basic pillow case with them next time, as the long, straight lines make it an ideal beginner project.

Okay, this wiped-out mama is going to go relax with a glass of wine and an episode of House Hunters now...till next time!

Three Crafts for a Snowy (or Rainy) Afternoon

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 17:13:00 +0000

So, yesterday was a SNOW DAY for the girls (cue ear-splitting screams of joy), and I took it as the perfect opportunity to try out some of the ideas in this terrific book by fellow blogger www.soulemama.com. I got it from the library, and I have to say it is by far my favorite craft book that I've come across in a while.

I love it because of the beautiful, softly lit photographs and the fact that many of the projects are super easy and can be completed in an hour or two. There are some really cool, larger-scale projects that I want to try, but for now I picked three I thought the girls and I could handle in a day: papier-mache bowls, a fabric mouse pad and a "family heart" (AKA the cutest craft ever...scroll down to see what I mean).

I hadn't done papier-mache with the girls at home before and it turned out to be so much fun and way less messy than I anticipated. We made a homemade paste with a 1/2 cup of flour, 2 1/2 cups of water and a tbsp of salt heated in a saucepan over medium heat for 5-10 minutes, then allowed to cool down, and it was ALMOST enough for three medium-size bowls. As per the instructions in the book, we first wrapped our bowls that we used as molds in aluminum foil (making sure to smooth out wrinkles), then covered them in four layers of newspaper strips dipped in glue (covering the outside of the bowl only). For our final layer, we used a decorative paper. Then we left our bowls to dry in the sun.

By the end of the day, they were still not completely dry, so we will have to wait to paint the insides! Once they're dry, all you have to do is gently remove the aluminum foil from the bowl, and then peel it from the papier-mache. Stay tuned for those results!

Next up was this sweet little mouse pad. I had been looking high and low for one of these darned things, but who knew you can't find them anywhere anymore! (Oh, I'm sure Staples carries some basic black ones, but I wanted something prettier.) And for some reason I never thought of making one until I saw the instructions in this book. It's a great, simple project for a beginning sewer and a handy accessory for people like me who are allergic to the built-in touch pad on their laptop. ;)

The project I was most excited about is this "family heart," which I think is the cutest thing ever! The idea is that whenever a family member goes away on business, or for a sleepover, or whatever, they can take this little heart pillow with them and know they are not alone. Sigh. Isn't that awesome? I stuffed mine with dried lavender so it smells lovely and decorated it with this iron-on deer, but you can decorate yours however you like. (The book suggests sewing a tiny woolen pocket to the front--to hold a love note, perhaps?)

Amanda Blake Soule's book gets five big, shiny stars from me. There are so many more projects I would like to try that I'll be renewing this one, fo shizzle! Till next time, friends...

Violet's Room Makeover/Wallpaper Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 16:39:00 +0000

Last weekend we gave Violet's room a makeover, and it has become my favorite project to date! For those of you who know my five-year-old daughter, she definitely has her own sense of style. Part Jersey Shore, part rock-and-roll...what it ain't is remotely girly. But I wasn't ready to give her a skull and crossbones room (although Graham & Brown has a cool wallpaper for that: http://www.grahambrown.com/us/product/19911/skulls), so I went with this stunning pattern from Graham & Brown called Funky Flora, designed by 1960s British fashion icon Barbara Hulanicki.

The daisies are flocked velvet on an almost sheer, rice paper like background with tiny gold threads running through it. On the one hand it feels very sophisticated (especially in the inky purple, almost black shade), but the retro flowers give it such a happy vibe that I thought it could work in a kid's room. Still, I had some reservations: Would it be too overpowering? Too "old" for a five-year-old? As soon as I caught my first glimpse of the half-finished wall (that's my husband, the master wallpaperer), I had my answer. It was just perfect.

We did decide to only do one "feature" wall, as opposed to our original plan to paper the whole room. and I think this helped to keep the room feeling lighter. I love, love the result...and so does Violet!

Before

After

I changed the furniture around in Vi's room to create a little play area for her on the window side of the bed, while her chest of drawers and a mirror take up the opposite side. This layout gives the room more dimension and actually makes it feel larger. The canvas screen prints on the wall are from All Things Grow (www.marcydavy.com).

When it came to dressing the window, I decided to install a roller blind instead of curtains, as curtains covered too much of the wallpaper. I left the rod up so I could hang a garland from it (every little girl's room needs a garland if you ask me, even if your little girl dresses like Eminem) and that way it'll be all ready to go if I ever decide curtains are in order. To keep things bright and cheerful, I added a yellow quilt and framed some of Violet's paintings.

I am totally hooked on wallpaper now. It has an impact you just can't get with paint and it's a lot easier than I ever thought it would be, especially with G&B's "Paste-the-Wall" paper. It only took my husband about two hours to do this wall from start to finish. So maybe I should say it is easy when you have a husband who appears to possess a natural talent for wallpapering (he claims there is "an art to it," which I'm beginning to believe after struggling with making the toy box pictured). Still, if you have the right tools and a smidge more patience than I have, I trust you can do this. :)

If you're interested, keep reading for a step-by-step pictorial of how to put up that wallpaper you've been dreaming about...

What you will need:

Wallpaper

Wallpaper paste

Brush or roller for paste

Wallpaper brush

Scissors

X-Acto knife

Stainless steel ruler

Seam roller

You can buy a wallpaper tool kit at most home improvement stores for under $15 that comes with all of these items, minus the scissors and paste. That's a pretty snazzy deal, imho!

Now that you've got the tools, take the time to prep your wall before you start. Fix any imperfections (i.e. fill large holes) and sand smooth, then get rid of any dust. Make 50 lb puppies and curious children watch from outside the room, and you're ready to roll...err, unroll and paste, that is. ;)

Step 1: Paste the Wall

Starting at the left-hand side of the wall, use a roller or a brush to spread the wallpaper paste on the wall for the entire length of the strip you are using and a bit wider than the paper's width.

Step 2: Hang the Paper

If you are doing the whole length of the wall, you can hang directly from the roll. Unroll paper and position the top edge near the ceiling. Smooth with the wallpaper brush as you work your way down the wall. For subsequent pieces, you will need to make sure patterns match up. When working with smaller areas, such as around windows, you may want to measure and cut your pieces first, remembering to allow for any pattern match when cutting. Always leave a couple of inches at the top and bottom for trimming.

Step 3: Trim Excess Paper

Using a straight edge and an X-Acto knife, carefully trim extra paper at the top and bottom. (Note: This is trickier with flocked or textured wallpaper than the smooth stuff.)

Step 4: Smooth Seams

Once you have two sheets up, use your seam roller to smooth the seam by running the tool down the paper where the sheets meet.

That is pretty much it! If you can manage to stay focused on the work when responding to annoying comments like, "You haven't even started yet?" "That's all you've done so far?" you will be well on your way to success. Better yet, ship the kids off to Grandma's for the afternoon. Then, when you're all done, stand back and admire your handiwork. Stand back and admire it some more. And prepare yourself to do it again in a few months. I'm telling you...once you've wallpapered one wall/room, you will want to wallpaper every wall/room in the house. :)

A Touch of the '70s

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 21:29:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but after Christmas I always seem to get the urge to redecorate. Down come the tree and all the decorations and suddenly the house looks so...naked. It makes me wonder why it didn't bother me before.

Weird.

Anyway, I was thinking about how to punch things up a bit and was drawn--again--to my sad entryway. After taking down the Christmas display I had arranged on the wall above the console table, a single framed 16 X 20 print wasn't cutting it for me anymore. I had to do something more original...something that spoke more to the style of the rest of the house and who we are as a family.

Enter my friend Melissa, who told me on the kids' first day back to school that she had bought me something at a thrift store over the holidays. She wasn't sure if I'd like it, but she thought I might. She could never have known that it was JUST what I needed!

Some 1970s handicrafts are cool. Most are hideous. I am still on the fence about where I stand on macrame plant hangers (leaning toward cool). But to my mind there's something quite lovely about this little piece of wood shaving art. (Who knew that was even a craft form? Seriously!)

It's just subtle enough in its folksy, vintage vibe that I thought it could blend in with other art that I had and not overtake it. And it totally inspired me to create a nature-inspired mini gallery wall above my console table that is just a little more interesting than what I had there before, using small artwork and picture frames I had lying around. Thank you, Melissa! I love it! <3

Then, while I was at Target shopping for a frame for a print my husband got as a gift, I stumbled on something I've been looking for forever. I've long wanted a wall hanging for my living room to fill the space above the TV, but most of the ones I'd seen were either way too expensive or too ugly. I couldn't believe my luck when I found this one by designer Nate Berkus at an awesome price point. I've loved Nate Berkus since I used to watch him on Oprah and I'm so happy his housewares line is available at Target. I was a little disappointed that the picture on the packaging made the wall hanging look twice as long, but ah, well. I still think it's cool beans. :)

So, is a macrame plant hanger far behind? Probably not. I have a real yen for the 1970s that I can't seem to shake (a cleaned-up version, that is...someone please whack me over the head if I start extolling the virtues of shag toilet seat covers)!

Christmas Top Five

noreply@blogger.com (lara) — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 21:10:00 +0000

Ho Ho Holy Moley! I can't believe 2014 is almost over! Thank you so much for dropping in every now and again to see what's new on The Hydeout. I never imagined I would one day be blogging (ew...I still don't like that word), but I love writing about my adventures in home decorating and am looking forward to sharing some exciting new projects next year (read: bold wallpaper for the entryway and a possible fireplace refresh)!

So, I thought it would be relevant to end the year with my Top Five Christmas Decorating Ideas for a Warm and Cozy Family Home. And here they are, in no particular order...

# 1. Retro Hodgepodge Tree

I love a perfectly imperfect tree decorated with a mishmash of ornaments and tinsel and paper decorations the kids have made over the years. The trick to keeping it from looking tacky is sticking to a color scheme and a loosely applied theme (i.e. mine could be rustic vintage). I will take down any completely clashing ornaments the kids put up when they are not looking and hide them at the bottom of the Rubbermaid container. But anything nostalgic goes up, and my favorites are actually the paper decorations for the pops of white they lend to the tree, which really brighten it up.

#2. Mason Jar Snowscapes

This was an activity I did with the kids at one of our Christmas parties a couple of years ago after seeing similar jars in the Anthropologie catalog. All you need are some large Mason jars (vintage ones look nicer but any old spaghetti sauce jar will do), plastic figurines, bottle-brush trees or whatever you can imagine putting inside, Plasticine, sparkly fake snow from a craft store like Michaels, and some Elmer's glue. Begin by coating the inside of the lid with glue, then build up a small mound of Plasticine on the inside of your lid. Cover the Plasticine with glue and sprinkle with fake snow. Finally, insert your figures into the Plasticine, using more glue if necessary. Carefully place jar over top and secure tightly to lid. My friend's kid made one with a pewter owl figurine inside and it looked just like something you would buy at West Elm!

#3. Mid-Century Swedish Gnomes

I picked up this trio at a thrift store waaaay back. I love their wooden vintage looks and their expressive faces. I just bet these guys get up to no good when there is no one at home... ;) I have seen similar Scandinavian style gnomes at stores like HomeSense.

#4. Shelf with Swag/X-mas Card Holder

To display our Christmas cards this year (BIG HUGS to those of you die-hards who still send these out), I thought I would attach some baker's twine to the garland decorating the display shelf above the entry to the living room, and hang cards with mini red paper clips I found at Target. Best thing is that it frees up the fireplace mantel for more decorations!

#5. Retro Plastic Light-up Santa

There is something about an old-fashioned Santa, whether he be the plastic light-up kind or a velvet-suited tree ornament type, that brings me right back to when I was a kid. This guy holds court in my living room every year and I just bought a bigger one to go in my yard this year at Value Village.

And...One for Good Luck

I know I said I was only going to post a Top Five, but I couldn't resist throwing in this pic!

Hope your holidays are merry and bright!

Peace, Love and Joy always,

Lara