My latest project is complete and here it is! One of the popular trends at the moment is art using letters, words or phrases. I have seen it all over in stores like HOMESENSE and in many magazines and books. I decided I could make my own and make it personal to me and my life. I bought a canvas from my local art store and a set of stencil letters from Michael's (crafter's heaven!). I knew I could use those more than once perhaps for other projects like monogrammed linens as Christmas gifts. I used paint I had on hand from previous endeavor's ( there have been one or two!!). Altogether it cost me $20, I brushed on two colours for the background very roughly to achieve an aged look. Next I stenciled the words using black and blue. I decided to use the names of the countries I have lived in up until this point reminding me of how far I have come!
My art work is hanging in my newly painted powder room where it will be seen by everyone at some point! LOL! Take a look below at some other examples of text art on walls, pillows and lamps as well as individual letters in metal or wood. Which is your favourite?
While chatting with my hairdresser Karen the other week about her upcoming renovation on her basement to accommodate her salon. She asked my opinion on cork flooring and I wholeheartedly said yes a great choice for many reasons. It is a natural, renewable resource perfect for many applications. As a flooring option it is hypoallergenic as it resists dust, it is a insulator against heat and cold. It also absorbs sound so in turn reduces the noise level, great for lower level living and working. It resists scuffing and stains making it virtually indestructible! It also just feels great underfoot. What more could you ask from your floor? Oh I forgot it's naturally water resistant too! Cork is the ideal material, here are some great examples of homes using cork.
As well as flooring cork can be used in your home in interesting and often unexpected ways. Try it on the walls not just as a cork board but as wallpaper or on sliding doors. Stencil your own cork coasters or art pieces. Look for lamp bases and hanging pendants. Check out chairs and sofas along with ottomans and tables.
Cork can work in any space- so why not try some. It's available in your local home improvement stores on a roll, put some on a door to make your own message space! Wrap some around an existing lamp or piece of furniture. Make your own coasters and give them as a personalised Christmas gift. Put a cork in it!!
One of the most luxurious fabrics used in design is velvet and I have seen it appear more and more in interiors over the last few months. It has been around for centuries mostly with an association to royalty, used for robes, drapes and bedding. As with everything else it has popped up over time in homes, gaining and waning in popularity. Currently making it's presence known again on chairs, sofas and on pillows and drapery. I have seen soft and subtle colours but most recently bright, saturated colours. Velvet can be woven from many different fibre's but most often from silk. The tufts of fabric are cut, short and dense creating a "velvety" soft feel. What could be more fabulous, luxurious and comforting all at the same time. Check out these velvet delights!
It's the perfect time of year for a little touch of velvet, reach for it.........