Sunday 26 July 2009
Friday 24 July 2009
Wednesday 22 July 2009
Tuesday 21 July 2009
Blogger of the day and an eco-trip
What a lovely, peaceful place! A very well designed, easy to the eye blog and website.
Monday 20 July 2009
Tablescapes
(Tablecloth and napkins fabric by Designers Guild, available from The Happy Turtle upon request. Pictures Country Living).
AD Viewer’s Choice
Cosy and welcoming.
Chic and upscale.
Cheerful and elegant.
Original and fun.
Artisitc and special.
All different, all interesting. Cast your votes here. The winner of AD Viewer's Choice will be announced on July 31.
Thursday 16 July 2009
Top 100 blogs
#1 Huffington Post
#14 Seth Godin
#21 Treehugger
#26 The White House
#39 The Pioneer Woman
#58 Apartment Therapy
#66 Zen Habits
#69 The Sartorialist
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Wednesday 15 July 2009
Hampton Court Flower Show 2009
I miss them so much that I took a trip to the most famous ones running this year, with pictures of the most beautiful flowers, gardens and arrangements, and I am sharing them with you, dear friends. Enjoy!
The Chelsea.
South African Disas from Dave Parkinson for disa plants.
I like the posters, too. So very now, in their own ways!
To enjoy more beauty (be warned, you will be surfing for long!)visit the RHS website.
Monday 13 July 2009
Martha Stewart stenciled pillows
Here is the "how to" from Martha Stewart.
Tools and Materials
2 copies of template
2 sheets of 11-by-17-inch waterproof paper
Drafting tape
Cutting mat
Craft knife
Japanese hole punch
Pillowcases
Small sheet of glass (palette)
Palette knife
5 to 7 ounces water-based permanent textile paint in white, black, pink, and orange
Natural sea sponges
Colorless extender
To Create Stencils
1. Affix each template to a sheet of waterproof paper; secure with drafting tape to cutting mat.
2. On first template, cut out large circles and V-shaped notches with craft knife. On second template, cut out leaves with craft knife, and use Japanese hole punch (with attachments for different-size perforations) to punch graduated dots.
3. Remove templates, and discard; the waterproof paper will serve as the stencils.
To Stencil White Pattern
1. Affix pillowcase to a flat, covered surface using drafting tape. Lay stencil with circles and notches on the upper-right corner of pillowcase; secure with tape.
2. Prepare palette with white paint. Use a sponge to apply paint to stencil. Let dry 3 minutes.
3. Shift stencil to the left until only a few painted designs register in the far-right holes. Paint as in step 2.
4. Repeat until front of pillowcase is complete.
To Stencil Black Pattern
Prepare palette with black paint. Lay stencil with leaves and graduated dots over painted white design, so leaves cover white circles. Use another sponge to apply paint to stencil.
Let dry 3 minutes. Shift stencil, and repeat until front of pillowcase is complete.
To Stencil Pink Pattern
Prepare palette: Mix 1 part pink paint (we blended in a touch of orange for vibrancy) and 3 parts colorless extender. Align stencil with circles and notches over white design, then shift stencil slightly for an off-register look. Use a new sponge to apply paint to stencil.
Let dry 3 minutes. Shift stencil, and repeat until front of pillowcase is complete.
Sources
Japanese paper screw punch with 3 mm tip, $44, plus 1 to 5 mm tips, from $7.60 each, nycentralart.com
When stenciling, pat the sponge in a dab of paint, and blot excess on the palette. Then apply paint in thin coats, taking care that it doesn't drip or pool, until the area is covered. If a design requires several colors, use a separate sponge for each. You may opt to adjust a paint's transparency or mix hues.
When using thin fabrics, insert a piece of waxed paper inside the pillowcase before stenciling. The completed projects can be washed and steamed or ironed.
Thursday 9 July 2009
Bathroom Ideas
(From Country Living)