The Great Pumpkin Contest Winners!!

photo: courtesy, Country Home Magazine

Many thanks to those who participated in the contest I co-sponsored with Ki Nassauer of Junk Revolution. We had some great entries, both through this blog and via email. Who knew such creativity could be expressed through some junk and a pumpkin or two? Ki, that's who... and the talented ladies who took part in this challenge.

The first place prize ($100 gift certificate to Ki's online store) goes to: Terri at Paint 'n' Thread. This pumpkin has personality!!

Second place ($50 gift certificate) goes to the super talented Margo/Robolady of Margo's Junkin' Journal :

Third place ($25 gift certificate) goes to Diane Mazur, who emailed us this entry (what a lot of work!!):

The following are the winners of the random prize draw (they each win a $25 gift certificate to Junk Revolution's online shop):

Primtiques and Poetry and her fun entries (my favourite is the greyish-white pumpkin):

Linda Crispell, a very talented artist who junked up her pumpkin with old bottlecaps:

The final random draw winner goes to Karin at The Style Sisters. She took advantage of the revised contest rules and did a post on her blog about Ki's new business, website, and online store (again, opening November 10th).

**So, ladies, please send me your email addresses (to linda@restyledhome.ca) , and I'll hook you up with Ki and she will look after getting your prizes to you. Congratulations!!

The Witch is In...Happy Halloween!!

Taking a page from Matthew Mead's new Halloween magazine, I copied him directly (although not quite as lovely) and staged my own ready-to-wear Witch ensemble in my front entry. This was a fun and easy Halloween display: a pointy, velvet hat with shiny buckle; cape; witchin' shoes;, keys; pet crow; and of course...broom! Every witch needs a broom...

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Traditions are very important to me, and some things just need doin'. In sickness or in health, with brothers or not. With a generous assortment of pumpkins, a bad chest infection (me) and two boy at basketball practice, Sophie and her little friend and her brother (their sister, too, was sick), their mum (my good friend and Scrabble partner) and I decided that pumpkin decorating just can't be skipped.

After a nice supper and some goodbyes to the men in our house, we started carving our pumpkin masterpieces. I made a skeleton, Sophie a scary Jack-o-lantern. Not very creative, I know, but better than nothing, right? I even toasted the pumpkin seeds, which are always a hit with the main man in the house.

After carving, we took the annual porch shot with our pumpkins. It is a bit sad that the boys didn't join in, but it just worked out that way this year, and my oldest had no interest anyway. ~Sigh~

To cap off the evening, the kids decorated some cookies from a kit I bought, and this was a big hit with the girls!

Can you believe I just remembered to dig this great runner out of storage? It is from Pottery Barn (last year).

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**Check out Tanya's (Sunday Baker) post about her take on traditions. She invites you to share yours, and has posted a very special photo of her very own pumpkin carving memories. Tanya is my go-to gal when I don't know what to make for dinner, and I always enjoy each and every one of her posts.

Inexpensive Nature Prints

Botanical prints can be expensive. A great way to have them (or any beautiful artwork for that matter) without paying a fortune for them is to find books with prints in them & tear out or photocopy the pictures & frame them.

I was lucky enough to find a beautiful book of botanical prints at a yardsale & have used lots of the prints in my home. I also scour second-hand stores for unique frames-usually with pictures I don't care for in them that I remove. I purchased all of the frames pictured (above &below) for $1.50- $3.00 each.

Here are some coral & lobster prints I used for a bathroom-in-progress in my dad's lake house:

I do mostly long-distance decorating since it's in Antioch, Illinois, but when I visit, I try to accessorize as quickly as I can on a serious budget. The prints are a great way to accessorize a lake house since they're so fitting and I only had to make 1 purchase so my dad doesn't gripe about me spending too much on decorating every time I come!

Here's a close-up of a fully opened page. You can see the fold in the center, but I think it sort of adds to the charm. Eventually I plan on matting all of the prints, but that's another project on another trip!

Happy hunting!

Inexpensive Nature Prints

Botanical prints can be expensive. A great way to have them (or any beautiful artwork for that matter) without paying a fortune for them is to find books with prints in them & tear out or photocopy the pictures & frame them.

I was lucky enough to find a beautiful book of botanical prints at a yardsale & have used lots of the prints in my home. I also scour second-hand stores for unique frames-usually with pictures I don't care for in them that I remove. I purchased all of the frames pictured (above &below) for $1.50- $3.00 each.

Here are some coral & lobster prints I used for a bathroom-in-progress in my dad's lake house:

I do mostly long-distance decorating since it's in Antioch, Illinois, but when I visit, I try to accessorize as quickly as I can on a serious budget. The prints are a great way to accessorize a lake house since they're so fitting and I only had to make 1 purchase so my dad doesn't gripe about me spending too much on decorating every time I come!

Here's a close-up of a fully opened page. You can see the fold in the center, but I think it sort of adds to the charm. Eventually I plan on matting all of the prints, but that's another project on another trip!

Happy hunting!

A new way to win!

Ki Nassauer of Junk Revolution

For some reason, this Halloween is finding us all very busy, and doing some last minute scrambling to get organized and ready. Costumes planned, pumkins carved, treats bought...decorating pumpkins is often at the bottom of the list, especially if it is not a job you enjoy. I haven't even carved my own yet, although I plan to remedy that tonight! Either way, because you are all so busy, I am opening up the junk pumpkin decorating contest to include those who simply mention Ki's new website and its online shopping debut (the store opens November 10th).

If you include the following in a quick post, you will have a chance to win one of three $25 gift certificates to her online store. As women, we all strive to support other women and their creative endeavours. Ki is a junk expert, and has branched out on her own, once again, and I am hoping you will help me spread the word and allow everyone to benefit from her creativity, imagination, and expertise!

Leave your link in the comment section for this post. This contest will still be ending on October 31st, so hurry and join in. The prizes are great, but the shopping is even better!!

Here is what you need:

Include this logo:

and this information:

Join the Revolution!! Ki Nassauer, Country Home contributing editor, founder of JunkMarket, and now, Junk Revolution is officially getting her online store underway! Keep checking in with her website (http://www.junkrevolution.com/) as she works to expand it to include valuable tips and inspiration. Beginning November 1oth, wonderful junk items will be available to purchase for yourself or the fellow junkers in your life. To get to know Ki better, follow her along on some of her junking jaunts, and to learn more about the history of her business over the years, check out her blog: http://junkcamp.blogspot.com/

And that's it!!

**For those still wishing to enter a "junked up" pumpkin for consideration, go here! The dollar values for the gift certificates are: first prize:$100, second prize: $50, third prize: $25

Also, check out Margo/Robolday's blog for a chance to win this:

It's a beautiful vintage bag designed by Ki and created by her sister. Just a glimpse of the goodness that will be offered for sale on her new website!! Again, the shopping area will be up and running by November 10th.

Be sure to check it out!!

All trimmed out...

I live in a new house. I love the fact that I don't have to worry about mice, critters, weird bugs...frozen pipes, slow-moving toilets, or drafty doors and windows. My house is efficient, cozy, and very low maintenance. My house is also quite devoid of the charm that comes with older homes...

It seems to be the catch twenty-two of choosing old over new. Sure, we could technically have filled our home with salvaged fireplace mantels, banisters, old doors and more. We could have purchased old door knobs and spent hours returning them to their former glory. We could have laid reclaimed hardwood on my floors, too, I guess. However, the truth of it is that we can't. I/we have neither the funds nor easy access to said materials to do so; and the reality is that after living in a less than ideal rental home while building, just getting in seems like the only goal. So, up go the new (designed to look older) doors, lighting, fittings. We lay pre-finished flooring and are happy to have it. We end up with a home that we are happy to call our own, but loaded with architectural detail it is not.

I have long pined for wall panelling/wainscoting/bead board, etc. My doors are trimmed out in a trim style I love (Boston headers), and we don't scrimp and install the cheaper, flimsier version that most contractors use. Still, I dreamed of the flat panel detailing that my dining area and front entry was calling out for (you know what I mean...). Enter my Prince Charming, who casually announced two weeks ago that he would begin the project the very next day. Now, I admire those women who can do such projects themselves with ease. But, if I am to be honest, I don't think I am cut out for it. I am clumsy, accident prone, and like things done yesterday. Definitely not the attributes of a successful carpenter.

Happily, my hard-working husband laboured away installing the detailing, and had it ready for painting after only one day of construction! I dutifully picked up my trusty paintbrush, and after three days of painting, declared the project finished!

Next up is some crown-moulding in the living room, bead board in the mudroom, and something even better in the bathroom (although I have yet to decide what). New home or not, we will work at giving it detail and character, and our kids will do their part by chipping away at its newness by scuffing up walls, denting the hardwood, and dinging the trim work.

It's a family affair...!!

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Another example of my husband's work to add vintage character to our home:

Lovely examples of great details anyone (with a bit of skill and a few tools) can add:

(Note, the following are not photos of my home)

(top photo: source unknown)

Middle and bottom photo: Country Home.com

(Photo below: House to Home.com)

e-design

I'm now offering e-design services! I'm really excited to start it up & I'll keep you posted on how it's going. Check out www.thepurestyle.com/edesign.html for details.

E-clients fill out a questionnaire and then send in photos & room measurements. Pure Style creates a Design Plan accompanied by a Design Board (above) and a Shopping List. Everything the client needs to create the room is provided via email within 2 weeks.

Pass it on if you know anyone interested- thanks!!

e-design

I'm now offering e-design services! I'm really excited to start it up & I'll keep you posted on how it's going. Check out www.thepurestyle.com/edesign.html for details.

E-clients fill out a questionnaire and then send in photos & room measurements. Pure Style creates a Design Plan accompanied by a Design Board (above) and a Shopping List. Everything the client needs to create the room is provided via email within 2 weeks.

Pass it on if you know anyone interested- thanks!!

All Hallow's Eve...

Doesn't everyone have a pet crow? I have had this "caged crow" for a few years, now, and love hanging from my porch.

I plopped this wig on this glass head and it is one of my kids' favourites. Easy peasy decorating!!

It's almost here...soon bags of candy will be stuffed in our children's closet - wrappers will be found under beds, on every flat surface, tucked under pillows, stuffed into pockets. Pumpkins need carving, candles bought, costumes need to be rustled up. For kids, it is a magical day. Honestly, could it get any better than being out after dark, endless treats, and a good game of dress-up? For me, the fun is also in the planning: pizza for a quick supper, costumes layed out on beds, and decorations of course...

A rather unassuming Mona Lisa...

...and her more sinister twin:

(I got this at Zellers (Cdn), and the image changes as you pass by)

I had promised to show you what my mum, Sophie and I made on our annual girls crafting night. Normally, I am very prepared with all the supplies in order. This year, I was betwixt and between over what to make. I saw this fun skeleton over at Julie's blog, and decided on the spot that it was perfect for us: a little glitter, a little happy spookiness, and easy to boot. I hunted down some miniature skeletons and ended up buying a garland of them at Walmart for $4 each. I cut up my garland and decided to instead hang them individually on my Halloween tree, and this is what I ended up with:

I used my crown stamp on some cardstock, and then cut it carefully out, glittered it, and hot-glued it to my skeleton. I have three with crowns, each wearing a framed B or O to spell BOO, of course! For the others, I used a witch hat stamp and also glittered the bones a little to give some added sparkle.

Here are some more "pretties" hanging on my tree:



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Don't forget about the pumpkin decorating contest with Ki...awesome prizes...yours for the taking...and only four days left!!

Highland Fling

I have spoken of my love/hate relationship with plaid/tartan before. However, there is no denying the warmth and coziness and sense of history it conjures up, at least for those with a Scottish or Irish background. Today, I experienced the absolute best of tartan as I watched my daughter and her fellow Highland dance students perform for the residents of a local nursing home. My daughter is shy, but not shy. She is quiet as a mouse in school, but yammers on and on at home. She blushes deeply when performing, yet secretly loves it and enjoys the spotlight, though she is hard pressed to make eye contact as she dances. Today, while watching her dance - and even more so, watching her smile quietly while waiting her turn to take the stage - I felt my heart swell with such pride that it fairly hurt to swallow. At times, I feel a rush of panic as I realize that my years of having a "little girl" are dwindling, and I have a sense of urgency to drink in all of her childhood while it lasts. Of course, there are times that I am a cranky old mother who doesn't see the shine on everything as I should, but I do know that my children are such incredible gifts and that they will only be children for so long. It is our job as parents to make the effort...to spend the time and enjoy the moments while they are still within reach. I know only too well, that my daughter's little hand will reach for mine only so much longer. While my boys are still quite affectionate and loving to me, they are not as dependent on me as perhaps I would like. They years have a way of passing us by and we wake up one day with children that are perhaps taller than us, and certainly full of opinions that we may or may not share. Indeed, it is our job to spend as much time as we can in the days leading up to this half-strength cutting of the apron strings, and of course be there for when our older children do admit to needing us.

Today my girl and I also took in a viewing of the new High School Musical movie. All of the dancing and singing was right up Sophie's alley (and mine, as a lover of musicals), and I found myself sneaking peeks at her reactions to the different scenes as she sat a few seats over with her friends. I found myself wishing she was seated right next to me so we could enjoy it together. As luck would have it, half-way through the movie I felt a little person shuffle past her seatmates and settle herself onto my lap. As she leaned back against me and I breathed in the scent of her hair, I felt just so insanely happy. Happy to be there with her, and happy that she is neither too big nor too grown up to fit snugly into my arms.

Life is good...

Showing me her beach finds this summer...