...a little post

I have new app.  All you Instagramers are gonna love this one.  Its called Over.  I just had to share it!  Check it out.  I put this little guy together this morning after the death of one of my cactus.  Yes, I killed a desert dwelling cactus.... I know.

Happy Friday!

extended coffee break....

Hello, everyone!

For those of you who follow regularly you may have noticed a lack of posts.  Things are changing here at Love Nest Design, as you know, and its taking a little longer than I anticipated.......ok, a lot longer!

I'm really looking forward to 2013 and what it will bring.  So many possibilites lay ahead and I can hardly wait to share them with you.

holiday wrap up

Happy Holidays everyone!  I hope you are all enjoying some time off work, with family or friends, and lots of yummy treats and treasures.

I was able to finish all of the things on my 'TO DO' list this Holiday.......just in time too, as I sat hand stitching stockings Christmas Eve morning!

The girls and I made some pretty new ornaments for that splash of red that our tree was missing.  We used salt dough which allowed us to create whatever shape and color we wanted, and didn't break the bank either.

Have you ever made salt dough ornaments?  It is the easiest recipe, only 3 ingredients, and totally kid friendly.

4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup salt
1 1/2 cups warm water

Combine flour and salt together in a large bowl.  Slowly add water a little at a time, mixing as you go.  Finish by kneading the dough with your hands.  Roll out the dough between two pieces of parchment paper (sprinkle a little flour if you find your dough sticking) and then get out those cookie cutters!

We decided on hearts and stars for our tree this year, but the girls had some fun with the extra dough making 'sculptures' afterwards.

After you have cut or 'sculpted' all your treasures pop them on a cookie sheet and into the 325 F oven for about an hour.  Don't forget to poke holes to tie your string through after.  I remember making these with my mom as a child, and taking them out of storage year after year to put on the tree. They hold up amazingly well and are so fun and easy to make.

Once they are finished in the oven they should be pretty solid.  Let them cool completely before painting.

Because the ornaments are made of food ingredients, they could mould, so after you are all finished painting make sure to seal them with some laquer, and don't miss any spots.

I finally managed to make us all matching stockings this year!  I've had this on my Holiday "TO DO" list for three years running.

I haven't taken any good photos of them yet, but here is a quick one I snapped.  I'm sure you're beginning to wonder......Grey chevron? Again?  Well, I bought 8 yards of it on sale months ago and projects keep popping up that it's just perfect for......  I just have to make sure I leave some for the project it was intended for!

Yep. Stockings. FINALLY. Instead of names I decided on Holiday shapes in everyones favorite color.  I may switch to names next year, but we'll see.  It was a unanimous vote for colored shapes this year so that's what we ended up with.

We're also rocking a new look here at Love Nest Design.  What do you think?




 

i'm dreaming.....

WE. HAVE. SNOW!  ...sorta.  It may be slowly melting....  BUT the weatherman says we may get more tonight.  I am really hoping it sticks around for Christmas, even just enough to cover the grass.

Speaking of white Christmas, here is table spread #2.......

tray {love nest design} marble cheese dish {vintage}

tray {love nest design} white candle sticks {ikea} cheese dish {vintage}

linen napkins {cynthia rowley} snowflake napkin rings {homesense} matchsticks {kiss the cook}

During one of my shopping excursions I found these adorable matchsticks.  They were sitting on the cash desk at Kiss the Cook on Richmond Row.  They were just so cute.....talk about impulse purchase!...don't mind if I do........

star dish {loblaws PC line} soup tureen {homesense}

dinnerware {homesense}  table linens {cynthia rowley}

owl salt and pepper shakers {chapters}

And, I couldn't resist sneaking these little guys in for a close up.......I know, I know....owls.  Its a problem.....

Happy Holiday everyone!  Its nearly here!  Are you on the countdown yet?

brown paper packages

I thought I'd try my hand at a few table spreads this holiday.  Much like the mantel project, I have a few ideas floating around my head.  The first showcases a more child friendly center piece.  As in a; if someone decided to drop kick it across the room, mommy won't be in tears, center piece.  Taken from the old and much loved song, this table features many of those favorite holiday things, and who doesn't love brown paper packages tied up with string?

candles, candle holder, striped glasses {ikea}

I created the center piece by simply wrapping up some boxes destined for the recycling bin with brown paper, then adorned each box with ribbon, string and craft tape.  I had never used craft tape before, but I loved this red striped one and thought it gave the impression of an air mailed package (although I believe they used to have blue on them too).  I am very interested in adding to my 'washi tape' collection now!  I wasn't overly impressed with the craft tape that Michaels sells, as it just wasn't sticky enough.  That stuff just wouldn't stay stuck!  I am eager to try another brand, for example the ones that the Freckled Fawn sells.  If theirs sticks better.......oh the possibilites!

napkins, red rimmed bowls {homesense}  red table runner {pier 1}

Red gingham pairs well with gingerbread buttons and eggnog spiked only with a cinnamon stick.  The name stamped napkin rings I created myself.....after a lengthy argument with my printer.  Yes, Pinterest,  you can print directly onto fabric, just don't expect your printer to go along with you and your crafty endeavor!  After MUCH encouragement I did finally get it to print, but I'm not sure that I would force my printer to do it again.  The napkin rings are printed on canvas material with a font I liked in a nice traditional red.

With a candy cane, some greenery and a few vases filled with last years red ornaments, the dining room is complete with Holiday decoration.  This was an easy and affordable table spread that creates a spirited holiday atmosphere to have a relaxed family meal, kiddies included.

I'm all set to pull out the 'fine' china (well, its about as 'fine' as you're gonna get in this house! Thanks Homesense!) and create a 'White Christmas' table.  Check back later this week to see how it all turns out!

How are your table spreads or center pieces shaping up this year?

a traditional holiday mantel

I have a mantel to decorate this year!  Its not much, as most of the prime real estate is taken up by the television set, but you can STILL muster up some WOW in a small space.  I've put together two variations of mantel decor for you this year.  Two differing ideas have been bouncing around my head and I just can't decide which I like best.  This one is more traditional, the other, slightly more modern.

.....do you?

I wanted to work with some items that I already had and not blow the budget, its so easy to go crazy with Holiday decorating!  While digging through my Christmas boxes back in November, I came across this 'vintage' Believe ornament.  Its covered with a 'so-tacky-its-cool' red velvet, and I love the message; a bit of nostalgia for the magic of the season.

evergreen boughs {Sobeys} oversized red ornaments {Homesense} battery operated lights {Michaels}

I had a hard time catching the sparkle of the lights through the boughs with my camera.  Oh how I wish for professional photography skills at times like these!  It really does glitter nicely.  I used live boughs this year and simply wove battery operated string lights through them.  The oversized ornaments were picked up inexpensively at Homesense, and I added the black ribbon myself.  I attached them to the ceiling with thumb tacks and voila! A pretty, easy traditional mantel.

Stay tuned for option two next week!

correction.....

SO.   You know how I was a little tentative about Pantone's Color of the Year way back in October ? I had suspiciously announced that the color of the year was 'Monaco Blue'.  I had seen it floating around the world wide web, but desperately wanted confirmation from the head honcho themselves.... this was not to be found.

It seems that I do stand corrected after all.  A fellow designer alerted me to Pantone's Color of the Year announcement, the problem was, the color was NOT Monaco Blue.  Minutes later, her spidey sense was right and my inbox bleeped with a new message from Pantone.  The 2013 Color of the Year is......

That's right, folks.  Emerald.  There it is, ahem, in green and white.   No way to mistake it, Emerald is IT.  This was the confirmation I had been looking for when I read that Monaco Blue was the rumored color, but could not find it.  I knew something was up!

I, myself am partial to blue.......but the Color of the Year is not selected by aesthetic preference alone.  The color's inherent related emotion is a reflection of how we, as a world, feel about our present and our future.  How we hope to be as we move forward into the new year.

After visiting Pantone's website and perusing the lovely vignettes, showcasing Emerald in all her complexity, its pretty easy to jump on board.

{ via }

This is just a little peek.  Head over to Pantone's website for the full rundown.  What do you think?  Emerald......