Happy Twenty-Eleven! and Giveaway

Wishing my blogging friends a very Happy New Year!

image: Ontario Travel
 I wish you Health...
So you may enjoy each day in comfort.
I wish you the Love of friends and family...
And Peace within your heart.
I wish you the Beauty of nature...
That you may enjoy the work of God.
I wish you Wisdom to choose priorities...
For those things that really matter in life.
I wish you Generosity so you may share...
All good things that come to you.
I wish you Happiness and Joy...
And Blessings for the New Year.
I wish you the best of everything...
That you so well deserve.
Anonymous
HAPPY NEW YEAR!



The RAMSIGN giveaway continues here at Blue Clear Sky. Click here or in the sidebar to go to the giveaway post.
 

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Happy Twenty-Eleven! and Giveaway

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2010 A Project Year In Review

I have a few bad habits. One bad habit is starting new projects before others are completed. I'm just not a 'do it until it's completely done' kinda gal :) Another is making lists and plans for things I want to accomplish. I have more ideas than I do money and motivation ;-) I've been known to add items to my list that I have already completed, just to make me feel better! Considering all that, I still accomplished more than I thought I did in 2010, in making our home more comfortable for us.
Discovering and working towards my decorating style...


some country rustic, a bit lakeside retreat...farms, barns, agricultural elements, quilts, crochet trims, leather, vintage signs, painted wood, natural pine, white curtains, metal, galvanized, black, browns and tans, shades of blues, whites and naturals... rugged sturdy denim and romantic ruffled simple cottons... selling or letting go of things that don't fit my vision for our home... repurposing or finding items that will work...
Collecting more of my favourite things...
aqua Crown Imperial jars, galvanized sap buckets and watering cans, white linens and crocheted pieces, white dishes, glass storage containers...

Creating (or re-making) things...


crocheted and knitted scarves and throws, hand painted signs, slipcovers and pillows, pillowcases, painting furniture, updating items...

Adding some architectural interest...



trim project to be continued in 2011...


I love getting tons of inspiration and encouragement from all of you! I'm looking forward to continuing the trim project, our basement guest suite update and working on our bedroom closet. What is your favourite project from 2010 at your home?
You can enter my RAMSIGN giveaway here, on the post below, or on my sidebar:



I'm linking to Rhoda's Top Projects 2010 at Southern Hospitality. Thanks for hosting, Rhoda! I've got my tea and I'm off now to see all the great projects. I'm sure I will be inspired to start ANOTHER project!

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2010 A Project Year In Review

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Curb Appeal and a Ramsign Giveaway!

While I am really enjoying the last few days of the holidays, I am also looking forward to enjoying the extra sense of space in our home once the trees are gone and the decorations are stored away until next year. I always make sure to extend this post-Christmas tidying to the exterior of our home. For us this includes putting away the Christmas wreath and lights, a quick sweep (or shovel!) to tidy the porch and walkway, and making sure that our home has some curb appeal despite the winter weather. Everyone wants their home to make a good first impression from the outside, no matter the time of year. One way to make this good first impression is to make sure your address number is visible and in good repair.
RAMSIGN, a Danish company that specializes in manufacturing and selling classic genuine hand-crafted porcelain enamel signs based upon original designs and techniques, contacted me and has generously offered one of my followers a free name or number sign.



RAMSIGN offers real old fashioned, hand stencilled signs, featuring original design, thick and glossy enamel, 30-year warranty, excellent service, free delivery, and a money back guarantee. They are available in five series: Arrowhead, Englehardt, Highlander, Lighthouse, and Metropolitan.


RAMSIGN Arrowhead



 RAMSIGN Engelhardt

 


 RAMSIGN Highlander




 RAMSIGN Lighthouse


 RAMSIGN Metropolitan

To see more of their gorgeous signs, click here.


1. For one chance to win, simply leave a comment.
2. For a second chance to win, add my giveaway to your blog, with a link back and leave a comment here.

I will keep the giveaway open until Saturday January 15th, 2011. Good luck!

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Curb Appeal and a Ramsign Giveaway!

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~Merry Christmas~

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Wishing you a blessed Christmas.

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~Merry Christmas~

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Leather Headboard

One week 'till Christmas and we are busy here finishing some last minute preparations. I don't really have time for more work on the new look for our bedroom, except to keep it tidy, but I wanted to share our new leather headboard.
 
My niece and her hubby bought a new high end bedroom suite and gave us their barely used dark brown king sized leather headboard. We love it! It replaces the Shaker style blue headboard we had for a number of years:

(I sold both IKEA 3 drawer dressers and the king headboard/footboard on kijiji.)
We picked up two night tables and a long dresser with triple mirror, solid pine with dovetailed drawers, from a local lady for $75. I lightly sanded them before the weather got too cold and hope to paint them sometime next year. 

These are some inspiration photos for the changes I have in mind, from the 2008 HGTV Dream Home. We have a similar wall colour and we will use the leather headboard instead of the canopy fabric. I especially like the creamy colour of the night tables and mirrors and will probably use something similar on our dresser and night tables. Instead of the brown quilt I might add some blue. Do you have any inspiration photos or links with leather headboards and neutral colours?


Hoping all your holiday preparations and plans are going well! I'm going to enjoy this week off work, leading up to Christmas. If all goes well, I will get to meet up with a sweet blog friend for the first time. I hope you enjoy your week, too.

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Leather Headboard

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Christmas Home Tour Party at The Nester's

  Welcome to our home. I'm linking to The Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes 2010. 

This year I decided on a Canadiana Christmas theme to try and unite the different areas of our home (and also because so many of our ornaments are outdoorsy.) I only bought six new moose ornaments (.99 each), the skis ($10), two Tim Hortons ornaments ($11) and a couple of rolls of ribbon (3.99 each.) Everything else was reused from previous years.

I really enjoyed decorating our front porch this year, with fresh greenery in the pots and a vintage pair of skis I found for $10.

In our living room is our Canadiana wilderness tree with loons, moose, stars, sleigh bells, and all things outdoors...


and our mantel shelf with the fun buffalo check ribbon.

Our family room has our Canadian family Christmas tree with lots of our special and collected ornaments.

 The little white and sparkly tree in our bedroom is here.

Thanks for stopping by! I'm going to make myself a hot chocolate on this cold and snowy evening and start visiting the many links at The Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes 2010. I wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.


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White and Sparkly Tree ~ Canadiana Christmas Stop Six

Stop six on our Canadiana Christmas home tour is in our bedroom with our white and sparkly mini tree.

Many of the ornaments are special to us and the white and sparkly ornaments remind me of our Canadian winters-lots of snow and frosty days. The year we were married I crocheted the angel, little bells and snowflakes and still love them. This year I put the tree in a little bucket with a cream bow and placed it all on a silver tray. Beads in cream and white act as garland on the tree and spill from the tray. The matte and shiny mini balls on both the tree and the tray reflect the white mini lights at night. 

The little Santa and snowman votive holders are really cute.

 The large clear glass balls in different patterns are from the Alfred Sung collection at Zellers.


I love the mix of shades and materials in the ornaments (matte, shiny, white, cream, silver, pewter, gold, glass, mirror, bead, tin and even frosted plastic.)


 This mirrored and beaded snowflake ornament is really lovely and reflects so much light.


 Each crocheted bell has a different pattern.


I had plans to add some small framed black and white wedding photos but didn't get a chance to search for tiny frames. Maybe next year! Wishing you a wonderful day!
I'm linking up at Faded Charm's 78th White Wednesday. I love all the calming whites at this busy time of year, especially.

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White and Sparkly Tree ~ Canadiana Christmas Stop Six

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