Hello friends, happy spring, the sun is shining today, at last!  There’s just something about sunshine and bright colors that is making me happier this week.  I even painted my toes a bright coral yesterday ~ that’s me, livin’ on the edge. 

Last weekend, I made these sweet little dessert stands for displaying spring and summertime treats when guests come over.  They’re frugal, festive, and fabulous ~ my kind of project!

Pretty Dessert Stands from Goodwill Plates & Glasses:

What You’ll Need:  Miscellaneous stemware and dessert plates; household silicone sealant (the kind used for aquariums); frosted glass spray paint; colored spray paint; paper doilies.

Read the rest of this entry »

Time for a shout out to so many of you who linked up your creativity to this week’s Fair Weather Forum Link Party, all about spring projects.  Thank you to each and every one of you who participated!  There were over 400 inspiring links to browse, I was amazed at all of the creativity out there in blog land! 

Here are some highlights:

This coffee table turned bench by Fab Rehab Creations is a favorite!

I’m loving these chalkboard herb pots at Scissors and Spatulas.  They have me itching to plant my own herb garden whenever I have thyme.  Heh heh. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Every now and then I get an email from a reader that makes for a great post, so rather than a quick email response, I like to answer them here from time to time.  Like this recent question from Jaime:

“Hey Kate!  We’ve been living in our first house for almost a year with mostly leftover furniture from our college days and everything is sooo beige and brown, including our sofa and walls.  I’m really tired of it being so boring, and I’m craving color, but nothing too crazy.  I like neutrals, they feel safe to me, but I’m wondering how to bring some color to our home.  I’m a little afraid of picking something and then hating it.  I’m really not sure where to start.  Could you help, maybe offer a few tips?”  ~ Jaime

Hey Jaime, great question!  I know there are so many people out there who love the idea of color, but tend to play it safe with neutrals.  Having a neutral base in shades of gray, taupe, cream, white, or brown will stand the test of time, and also allow you to experiment with color in different ways.   

First, when thinking about color, my best advice to you is to ask yourself how you want to feel  when you enter your home.  Color is so closely tied to emotion.  Do you want to feel energized, stimulated, and inspired?  Then you’ll likely be looking for bold vibrant colors.  Do you want to be soothed and nurtured?  You are probably more drawn to muted tranquil tones.  Asking yourself how you want to feel is an important first question when looking for ways to bring color into your home.

Ideal Home

Next, find your inspiration.   Your source for choosing color can come from absolutely anything, whether it’s a fabric, a favorite flower, collectible, piece of art, a favorite article of clothing or scarf, or even something more intangible like a favorite vacation destination.  Perhaps you love the colors of the sea, or the vibrant hues of a sunset?  The opalescent tones in an abalone shell?  The intensity of a magenta orchid?  The deep red skin of a ripe heirloom tomato?  Nature is always a great source of inspiration.  Choose something in your home that you love, or look to nature.  Find something that makes you feel good when you look at it, that’s your best cue. 

Once you’ve decided how you want to feel, and what specific things inspire you, then it’s easy to choose a favorite color or colors, and you build from there.  Now that you’ve picked your inspiration color or colors, here are a few ways to incorporate them into your home.

Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve had this vision in my head for months now, a vision of crafting a picnic blanket that we could bring on our outdoor adventures, something with a country feel, but with fresh modern color too.  We’re a picnicking tribe on the weekends when sunny skies appear, whether we head to the coast, the local park or ballgame, or just movies in the park.  Having a cozy picnic blanket is always ideal! 

Read the rest of this entry »

Yo Yo, Spring is in the hizouse, are you ready?  I am, but I have a little bone to pick with you Spring, now that you’ve arrived on my doorstep.  You’ve been playing a little game with me, tormenting me actually, and I’m quite upset with you.  You see, January and February are the toughest months for me, really.  There’s just nada going on, and I’m alone, just me and those leftover five pounds from the holidays.  Then March shows up and the sunshine peeks through and Spring, it’s then you become such a tease.

You start flirting with your budding blossoms, your tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. It’s then that I’m suckered outside, and lured to the garden department.  I start planting flowers on the porch.  I get excited for warmer weather, and even make plans to go picnicking.  What a fool I am.  It’s only after I wander outside, lured by your game, that you send me running indoors with another rain shower.  It’s a seductive game you play, Spring, and it must end!!  *shaking fist in air*

Like today.  Today, I packed a picnic and announced (and tweeted!) we were on our way to Sonoma, only to have my plans ruined yet again by another gust of wind and patch of rain.  Ack!  I can’t take it anymore.  Especially when I spent hours this weekend sewing the cah-uuuutest patchwork picnic blanket.

And baking my favorite orange cake and cupcakes too.

Read the rest of this entry »