Last year, I wrote up an article ‘Tools for a Cool Yule’ with a list of the the tools I consider important for my own DIY projects.  Now that this year is coming to a close, and some of you may be thinking of adding a few tools to your holiday list, here’s a revised list of a few I consider essential. 

Those of you just beginning to dip your toes into the DIY pool might consider a few of these handy dandy tools to add to your growing collection.  This list is not exhaustive, nor is this list anything near what a professional might possess.  These are just my personal favorites and the tools I frequently use.  Oh, and if you like the word "Dremel” you’ll love the giveaway at the end! 

Cordless Drill/Driver & Drill Bit Set

I have a DeWalt just like this one.  They are expensive, but worth it.  I use this for everything, from removing seat cushions to assembling furniture to drilling pilot holes with drill bits.  Cordless, powerful, wonderful !   I couldn’t live without it. 

Measuring Tape and Level

Essential for everything from hanging pictures and art, to more advanced projects like installing molding, trim and wainscoting. 

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I love being invited to parties, especially this time of year, don’t you?   Laura from Texas recently wrote to me asking about inexpensive but elegant hostess gifts.  Nothing beats a homemade gift, but time and money are precious and short this season.  If you’re looking for something unique and special and don’t want to spend a lot of moola, here are twelve charming ideas that make great hostess gifts!  All under $25!  

Extra Ingredients Measuring Spoons ($18) and the Castle Key Bottle Opener ($12), both from Anthropologie.

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Heather from Chesapeake, Virginia emailed me yesterday with this question:

"I was wondering if you could email me or blog about where to buy white dinnerware dishes. I am looking for a set and there are so many on the market…but I don’t want to spend a huge amount of money!  I saw in your ’Five Fall Savory Soups’ post that you have a nice set.  Could you please tell me where you bought them?  I am looking for a durable set on a frugal budget."

Sure Heather!

First, let me say I can’t remember the last time I bought a dinnerware set with plates, bowls and mugs.  I prefer to buy open stock plates rather than have extra mugs or bowls I won’t use.  Matching basic plates is perfectly fine for everyday, but when it comes to holidays or dinner parties, I say mix up your settings for more visual appeal. 

That said, it’s so helpful to have a good set of plain white dishes that you can work with on a daily basis, or a basic white dinner plate that you can use when setting a special occasion table.

Here are a few choices:

I like Crate and Barrel’s Essential White plates you can purchase by themselves.  Six white dinner plates will run you $28, the salad plates are $4 each.  Z Gallerie’s St. Helena dinner plates are on sale for $28 for four, salad plates are four for $24.

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Some of you, no, a handful of you have been reading this site since the beginning when I started spray painting all sorts of things on the average of at least once a month and frequently mentioning my affection.  I jumped on the spray paint bandwagon several years ago, cracked the whip, and cried "Faster, faster, take us to a better place!"  I have an entire category dubbed "Spray Paint, My BFF" and I reckon I’ve done my part to keep RustOleum, Valspar, and Krylon in biz.

I’ve spray painted just about everything:  plastic, glass, wood, fiberglass, mirror, metal, ribbon, laminate, etcetera.  I’ll spray paint anything that stands still, mostly because it’s  cheap-n-easy, but also because my curiosity in this wonder product knows no end.  Most especially since I’ve witnessed first hand just how many gosh darn things seem to look better when dosed with Toluene and Xylene (the chemicals in spray paint which we never mention in the light of day, but secretly adore in the private solitude of our well ventilated garages).

Spray paint, when applied correctly, possesses the magical power to transform so many dated looks into a something fresh and modern, all in the course of an afternoon.  I think if I was stranded on a deserted island, a can of spray paint just might be on my wish list, not for the giant ‘SOS’ but to give my pathetic coconut mailbox attached to my hut that extra oomph it needed.

I’m sorry, where was I?  Oh yes. Take this sweet little French style solid wood nightstand I spied while gallivanting around the local thrift store last week.  Fab lines, lovely detail, but with yellowed spotty paint and chipped gold accents.  Facelift needed.

All’s well that ends well when you have a well shaken can of spray paint with which to solve the world’s problems.  The final paint is RustOleum’s ‘Canvas White’ found at True Value Hardware.

Before:

After:

‘Shipwrecked Pitcher’ from Anthropologie

I have used spray paint in so many ways I can’t even count them anymore.  Take a tour through my home and you won’t find a room with at least one spray painted thang.  Since I often get asked questions about spray paint, I reckon I’ll just put all those FAQs in one big post.  Bear with me.  I don’t know all the answers, but that’s where you come in at the end friends.

Away we go.    

1. What surfaces can I spray paint?

What can’t  you spray paint?   Well, perhaps that’s too inclusive.  Here’s the growing list.  Plastic, metal, fiberglass, mirror, glass, wood, wicker, masonry, plaster, concrete, canvas, ceramics, MDF, laminate and particle board.

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